The Program

Could you imagine what it would be like to completely restart your life? Do you want fresh memories that may or may not be lies? Do you want to know about your past? Do you want fragments of memories that eat at your heart? No one wants this; especially not Sloane and James. Suicide has become an ever-growing epidemic in teens. At school, they start with a small questionnaire to see if the student is depressed. There are handlers all around the school, in classes, in the hallways, even in the cafeteria. These handlers watch their every move. If flagged by a handler, you get sent to The Program. The Program was designed to cure the infected ones. When they arrive, they fight. Obviously. They know the Program is going to take their memories. Everything they have ever known will be erased from their minds. The Program recreates their lives so that there is no longer despair and loneliness. After leaving The Program, they start their entire lives over. Well, the lovebirds, James and Sloane, get taken into The Program. James goes first and Sloane just knows she's going to be next. But she knows she can't forget James. We follow Sloane through her treatment and her fighting. We watch after she gets out. We even see what fate is like. Could two hearts actually be linked together? Read The Program to find out! Trust me, April 2014 cannot come soon enough. I want to pick up the next one right now!!

Anthologies:

Behind the Song

Insurgent

Insurgent, one choice can destroy you. The leader of Erudite, Jeanie, is trying to capture all of the Divergent. The war continuously gets worse, faction against faction. We also meet the factionless. Tris wants to be the hero. She is no longer afraid of death. She has come to despise the majority of the people working with them. But she has a few close friends she can trust. Honestly, I thought this focused more on Tris and Tobias's relationship more than the action. Don't get me wrong, it is still completely jam-packed with action. The only thing is, Tris and Tobias view things a little differently. Of course, in the end it all works out. In this book, we get introduced to every faction there is. Tris finally realizes the need for all of the factions. They have to rely on each other to live, or obviously everything is chaos. I wish I could talk about Insurgent as much as I talked about Divergent, but I didn't like this one as much. Towards the end, it picks back up and leaves a cliffhanger. The next book in this series, Allegiant, comes out in October. Be ready for my review on that one, I cannot wait to pick it up!

Looking for the rest of the series?

Divergent (Divergent #1)

Allegiant (Divergent #3)

Four (Divergent #4)

Looking for other books by Veronica Roth?

Carve the Mark (CTM #1)

 The Fates Divide (CTM #2)

The End and Other Beginnings

Chosen Ones

Here is the first trailer for Insurgent!

Staying Strong

Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year is Demi's way of trying to help. She gives us insight into her struggling and what it was like overcoming self-harm along with addiction. Start each day with a quote to get through the day. Know that nothing can harm you, but yourself and the thoughts you're having. Demi Lovato wholeheartedly put her entire soul into this book. She wants young girls to have a role model. In all honesty, this is a feel good kind of book. Almost everyone can relate to the things she's saying. Whether you've been bullied or not bullied, you need to read this book. We as people need to stop the hatred and violence going on in the world. We may not be able to do this one by one, but it's a start. Demi wants all of you to know that she is there for you, as do I. If anyone ever needs a shoulder to cry on, or someone to confide in, I will be here for you. Feel free to reach out to me, I'll be there for you 100% of the time.

The Fault in Our Stars

Let me start out by saying "My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations." That quote right there describes the entire book. When I started The Fault in Our Stars, I didn't know it was about cancer kids. I thought it was going to be one big teenage sob story, but it wasn't. Hazel is not like the normal teenager, she wheels around her breathing cart, Philip, and obviously cannot do most teenage things. However, she does go to the Cancer Support Group, to "live the best life today!" It's a drag most of the time. She speaks in sighs with her acquaintance, Isaac. Then she meets Augustus Waters, one of Isaac's friends. Of course they fall in love. But the steps they take together makes up the whole book. The three of them have different forms of cancer. Isaac eventually has to have his eyes removed, becoming permanently blind. Hazel has water in her lungs. And Augustus has a fake leg. Hazel and Augustus are two very bright teenagers. Using Augustus's only wish, they travel to Amsterdam to visit an author. The trip wasn't a total bust, but quite unexpected. I would continue on, but my tears are starting to cloud my vision. Fabulous book, almost any age can read it, just please pick up a copy as soon as you can!

THE MOVIE TRAILER IS HERE!! Took me forever to find, so I'll just make it easy for all of my readers. :)
Click this link to watch!!

Others by John Green:
Looking for Alaska
Paper Towns
Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Turtles All the Way Down 

The Anthropocene Reviewed

The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars

Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches.

The title says it all! The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars covers everyone from 1915 to now. Jeremy Simmonds laid it out for us in a very neat way. In the beginning there is a page of symbols to show how that particular rock star died. Every page has a different story. We get an inside look into that rock star's life. Everyone from Elvis Presley, to Jimi Hendrix, to Sid Vicious is in this book! We get a little taste of their life along with interesting facts that are not always known. Not to mention he even includes some obituaries in there as well! Jeremy Simmonds did a great job counting through the years in an awesome chronological fashion. He literally counts up to modern rock stars from just a few years ago. I encourage any rock fan to pick up a copy of this book. Find your favorite musician and learn something new!

The Family

Ed Sanders wrote The Family for us to grasp the entirety of The Manson Family. He retells us about the gruesome murders, while giving us insight into what the Family was thinking that very night. We learn all about life on the ranch and life on the run. Keep in mind, I have also read Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi. These two novels show us a few different sides to the Family. Helter Skelter shows how cruel and vicious they truly were. It also takes place more in the courthouse than within the actual Family. The Family, however, tells us their tales. A little known fact about Ed Sanders, he spent time with the Family. They welcomed him and told him their tales. They thought being with him would make him even more famous. For the most part, they trusted him. Not to mention, Squeaky and Gypsy made Sanders a shirt for coming to sing with them on the ranch. Sanders has more information on the trials and the Family than anyone else. He also has the biggest Manson "shrine" so to speak. In all honesty, Sanders is an old hippie. We catch on to that early in the book, due to the phrases he uses. The Family is a quick read if you are truly interested.. Otherwise, it is kind of slow and hard to understand at parts. But this book did have some things in it that were not in Helter Skelter, almost giving us a full understanding of the Family. Lets face it, we'll never really know what was going through their heads those few years.

Looking for other books on Charles Manson?

The Girls

Allegiant

I think I'm in love with this book. 

Allegiant is written from two different points of view, Tris AND Tobias. Our journey starts with Tris, awaiting her trial. Tobias is forbidden to see her because of his mother, Evelyn, the leader of the factionless. But of course, we know he's going to talk to Tris. Soon enough, the unexpected happens. There's a rebel group called Allegiant forming. They are dead set against the factionless and Evelyn. They want to send some of the Divergent into the city. Tris is invited to join, and in turn tells Tobias about it. A small group is chosen to go to the city, including the two of them. Arriving in the city, they come across Tobias's Dauntless leader. Another twist, everyone in the city knows Tris's mother. But how could that be? The government leader gives Tris her mother's old journal, giving her only a few answers and a lot more questions. Soon after, the greatest twist of ever happens. TOBIAS TURNS ON TRIS. He joins the rebellion group within the government! Not realizing the terrible plans that he was a part of. In turn, Tris starts ANOTHER rebellion group, using the plans from the first group and improving them. There's so much that happens, and I left A LOT out. But this whole review would be spoilers. 

Lets just put it this way:

I cried.

I hated Tobias, just to love him again.

I cried again.

I hated my life.

I cried some more.

I felt like my whole life was built on lies.

Oh, did I mention I cried?

All in all, very VERY well done Veronica. 

Looking for the rest of the series?

Divergent (Divergent #1)

Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Four (Divergent #4)

Looking for other books by Veronica Roth?

Carve the Mark (CTM #1)

The Fates Divide (CTM #2)

The End and Other Beginnings

Chosen Ones

Every Day

Ever wonder what it would be like to be someone different everyday? Well, this guy does. He can be Kimberly, or Michael, or Jose, or Rhiannon, or any other person. But here's the catch, he only stays in their body for one day. Every day starts out the same, waking up and discovering who he is today. Just going day by day, learning and discovering new things, only wondering what awaits him tomorrow. One day, he wakes up in the body of Justin. He meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon, and falls in love with her. He knows Justin isn't good to her, but he could be. He lets her see what Justin could be like. She falls in love with him all over again. Too bad it's not really Justin. "A" wants to show Rhiannon what happens to him everyday, thinking he could finally let someone see the real person he is. There is so much to this book, I don't know how to explain without giving away spoilers. I never expected half the stuff in this book to happen. Please, please, PLEASE read this amazing book and give me some feedback! It definitely pulled on my heartstrings, and I would love to talk about it!

Looking for the rest of the series?

Another Day (Every Day #2)
Someday (Every Day #3)

Looking for other books by David Levithan?

Will Grayson, Will Grayson (Will Grayson #1)
Hold Me Closer (Will Grayson #2)

The Realm of Possibility

Answers in the Pages

Empty

 

What would the world be like without fossil fuels? In Empty, Suzanne Weyn introduces us to the small town of Sage Valley. We see first hand how crazy the world would be without oil. Oil is a non-renewable resource that we never really expected to run out of. Without oil, cars cannot get around, boats can't run, and the truckers can't come deliver food or any other necessities of life. It makes the reader feel as if it's the end of the world. Everything is rundown and a complete mess.. I haven't talked about the characters very much, because they aren't near as important. But, Gwen's brother, Luke, is selling black market oil. He stashes the oil cans in the house, causing it to catch fire. Due to their family problems, Gwen runs off to a mine shaft they played in as kids. She finds an extremely up-to-date eco-friendly house. However, during the oil shortage super-hurricane, OscPearl, hits Sage Valley and the other towns extremely hard. People and towns are fighting each other for food. Gwen decides they need to help. The angry civilians break into the house and eventually get arrested. The characters really didn't do anything for me. But the idea of running out of fossil fuels terrifies me. This really opened my eyes to how badly our environment needs us. 

Smoke

In Smoke, we pick back up with Pattyn on the run and Jackie is trying to forget that night. Pattyn makes friends with a Hispanic girl on the subway. They help each other get through the train ride, and eventually the girl and her family takes Pattyn under their wing. They help her get a job, and find love once again. Hopping back to Jackie's story, she is trying to cope with moving into a new house and dealing with her ex-boyfriend/rapist Caleb. Jackie thinks her mother is being inconsiderate having Caleb and his father at the house all the time. She confronts Caleb at school one day and threatens to tell everyone what he really did to her. After he pushes her down, Gavin comes to the rescue. We learn all about Gavin and his two mothers. He loves Jackie, and Jackie just might love him too. Pattyn on the other hand is trying to very hard to hold onto Ethan. But could she really love her new friend's brother, Angel? I could keep going, but it would literally ruin the story. 

If anyone would like to talk one-on-one with me about the book, I would be MORE than happy to! This book left me with my jaw hanging open at some parts and I would love to know if any of you felt the same way. :)

Looking for more books by Ellen Hopkins?

 

Middle-Grade:

Closer to Nowhere

What About Will

Teen:

Crank Trilogy (Crank 1-3)

 Flirtin' with the Monster (Crank anthology)

Rumble

Burned (Burned #1)

Tricks (Tricks #1)

Traffick (Tricks #2)

The You I've Never Known
People Kill People

Adult Fiction:

Love Lies Beneath (LLB #1)
A Sin Such as This (LLB #2)

Collateral

Triangles (Tilt #2)

 Anthologies:

One Death, Nine Stories

Behind the Song 
Life Inside My Mind

Burned

It's been a good couple of years since I first read Burned. So bear with me, I'm a little bit fuzzy on the exact details of the book. But here goes nothing! Burned is where we meet the Von Stratten family. Good ole Johnny Black is part of the family as well. They were raised to be a perfect little mormon family. Life couldn't be better having 7 girls running around the house. This story is told through Pattyn's and Jackie's eyes. Pattyn is the oldest and is slowly realizing how disturbing the LDS Community really is. She begins experimenting with alcohol and gets herself involved with boys. When her father finds out, he beats her and then sends her off to her Aunt J's ranch. Pattyn found true love with a boy named Ethan. While she's away, her mother is pregnant with her eighth child and cannot take a beating from her husband every day. The next oldest sister, Jackie, now becomes the center of attention.  Eventually, Pattyn becomes pregnant. Her father obviously would never approve of that. Suddenly, Ethan and Pattyn are in a car crash. This kills Ethan and causes Pattyn to lose the baby. Pattyn vows to avenge Ethan's death and plans to kill her father. Skipping back to Jackie's side of the story, she "fell in love" with a boy named Caleb. She just wanted to find love the same way Pattyn did. She didn't know that Caleb wouldn't stop when she said no. The end of the book is a complete surprise. Pattyn shows up as Jackie is getting a beating. Then, shots were fired...

Looking for more books by Ellen Hopkins?

 

Middle-Grade:

Closer to Nowhere

What About Will

Teen:

Crank Trilogy (Crank 1-3)

 Flirtin' with the Monster (Crank anthology)

Rumble

Smoke (Burned #2)

Tricks (Tricks #1)

Traffick (Tricks #2)

The You I've Never Known
People Kill People

Adult Fiction:

Love Lies Beneath (LLB #1)
A Sin Such as This (LLB #2)

Collateral

Triangles (Tilt #2)

 Anthologies:

One Death, Nine Stories

Behind the Song 
Life Inside My Mind

Divergent

Divergent, one choice can transform you. Let's meet the factions. We have Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Erudite, and Dauntless. Each of these factions rely on each other to live. The kids within each faction have to take an aptitude test when they turn 16. This test gives you two choices, the faction they're already in or a faction they can switch to. However, Beatrice Prior, got three. This makes her divergent. Being divergent is a good thing and a very, very, very bad thing. Her brother, Caleb, leaves Abnegation for Erudite. Beatrice also leaves Abnegation, but for Dauntless. She takes on the new identity of Tris. She is fearless. During the initiation, they go through different hardships and trainings. While there, she gets her first tattoo, and her very first kiss. She falls in love with Four, the one training them. Not to mention, all hell breaks loose when Erudite starts using transmitters to control most of the Dauntless. They open fire on innocents in Abnegation, and start a war of factions.

Looking for the rest of the series?

Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Allegiant (Divergent #3)

Four (Divergent #4)

Looking for other books by Veronica Roth?

Carve the Mark (CTM #1)
The Fates Divide (CTM #2)
The End and Other Beginnings

Chosen Ones

The Metamorphosis

 

 The Metamorphosis is exactly what it says; Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning as a disgusting and horrifying bug. He tries to talk to his family and his boss, but winds up terrifying them. He lays in his room trying to adapt to his new body. His 16 year old sister picks up the task of cleaning his room and bringing him food. While he is very grateful for her doings, she doesn't know. She sees her brothers as an atrocious bug. The family is slowing losing more and more money, so they rented out 3 of the rooms in the house. Gregor wrecked that plan. One night, while his sister was playing violin for the roomers, Gregor wandered into the living room only to be run back into his room. The family talks of giving up hope that Gregor will ever actually come back. They feel as if they must get rid of the bug. The next morning, Gregor is found dead in his room. All of the other reviews I have read on this book have said it has a deep underlying message; fear, loneliness, and isolation. I feel like I missed that part of the book. If Kafka would have written more of Gregor's feelings in the book, it may have made more sense.

The Boy with the Thorn in His Side

 Clandestine Industries Presents: The Boy with the Thorn in His Side. These 43 pages put you inside the head of Pete Wentz. He starts out saying this story absolutely does not have a point; it was just one of his reoccurring nightmares. We meet The Boy. We follow him through this new world he has created. His parents may not notice him, but the sisters, Rattail and Flattop do. They show him the happy things about this world. Later on, they see what they think is a person. It is The Boy's old Buddy doll, hanging from a noose in the tree. This world is really just all of the forgotten and misled things. It was a little odd, and a little dark, but it makes you realize that this is really everyday life. Pete Wentz's message came across loud and clear to me. The Boy is gold.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

 

My boyfriend begged and begged me to read this book; I finally caved and decided to pick up a copy. This book is a bit all over the place. But what do you expect when you're reading the writings of Hunter S. Thompson, Doctor of Journalism. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is all about the trip he and his attorney took to Vegas to cover a story on the Mint 400, a motorcycle race. But lets not forget the insane amount of drugs they had in their rental car. Not to mention the massive amounts they were taking all throughout the book. The attorney actually leaves town about halfway through the book, only to come back with a young runaway named Lucy. After ditching Lucy, they get called in to cover the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Conference, which they attend on drugs. The paranoia kicks in and they realize there are police all around them. Fleeing the Conference, they stumbled upon a Georgia officer and tell him all about the Manson Murders, scaring the hell out of him and the bartender. Hunter and his attorney take us on tons of wild adventures in Las Vegas. We follow the 1970's culture to a point no one has ever tried to bring forward before. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was actually written as a 2 part story in the Rolling Stone Magazine, but eventually was turned into this book. Quite frankly, this book was so jumbled it took me a much longer time to read than I expected. It's safe to say this was not one of my favorites. Maybe the movie was better? I guess I'll have to find out!

Rest in Peace
Hunter S. Thompson
February 20, 2005 

Rolling Stone The '90s

 

The cover says it all, the inside stories from the decade that rocked! Who didn't love the '90s?! Even though I was just a baby, I can imagine how awesome being a teenager was during the '90s. This book covers everything from Tupac, to Nirvana, to the Backstreet Boys. It takes us back in time to rehash the good times. Remember when the Red Hot Chili Peppers only wore socks? Or when Justin and Brittney showed up at the VMA's wearing straight denim? Lets not forget the Battle of the Bands: The Backstreet Boys or N'Sync? This book also tells you which album had the #1 spot each year. Which band or artist had the top single of the year. And a timeline highlighting the high's and lows of the decade. Lets not forget it's jam-packed with tons and tons of pictures! My favorite part was at the very end, Rolling Stone tells us the Top 100 Albums of the decade! One of my absolute favorites, Nirvana's Nevermind, holds the top spot! We wind our way down from there and end with Moby's Everything is Wrong. This was one big book of wonderful to me. I suggest everyone who loved the '90s to take a peek. :)

Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie is the story of Mitch Albom's old college professor, who is dying. He has ALS. Mitch hasn't spoken to Morrie in 16 years. He was too absorbed in his everyday life, he had almost forgotten when he caught wind of the Nightlife episode where they were interviewing Morrie. Almost 40 years ago, Mitch and Morrie wrote their first thesis together. This one, would be their last. Back in the college years, they would meet on Tuesdays to have lunch or talk. Some 20 years later, Mitch finds himself sitting in the study with his old professor every Tuesday. For a 78 year old man who had ALS, Morrie was happier than ever. He was embracing death. He wanted to make death his "final class". He was receiving letters from all over the world with people thanking him for being such an inspiration. This is a rather heartfelt book and an amazing memoir. Morrie and Mitch's final thesis is one to be remembered for many, many years. This book will help to make you feel at peace with yourself. This is one great read, I encourage everyone to pick up a copy.

Looking for other books by Mitch Albom?
The First Phone Call from Heaven

Letting Ana Go

Everyone, I think I have an obsession with these published journals... I read Letting Ana Go in a total of 4 hours. For some reason, her journal took ahold of my heart and actually made me cry. It was shocking reading about a 16 year old girl who thought she was fat, when she only weighed 125 lbs at most. This is her story of what she calls "willpower". She ran track and had to keep up with her calories for the coach. However, her best friend, Jill was a ballerina who had to keep up with her calories as well. They were both obsessed with losing as much weight as possible. They were addicted to being thin, they both created forums where they would post pictures of themselves looking like skeletons. It broke my heart reading this journal. It hit me, this was a recent thing. Ana writes about going to see Perks of Being a Wallflower, which I also did a review on. That movie came out last winter. The fact that this is happening to my generation is honestly heartbreaking. Girls, you are all beautiful. Weighing as little as possible isn't healthy, the severity of what happens next is what scares me the most. Everyone please read Letting Ana Go. I promise it will open your eyes to things you could have never imagined.

Looking for the rest of the series?
The Book of David
Calling Maggie May
Lucy in the Sky
Breaking Bailey

Go Ask Alice

 

Looking for books that feature this series?

Unmask Alice

The Stranger Beside Me

The Stranger Beside Me is the shocking true story of serial killer, Ted Bundy. The amazing thing about this book is that it was written by a close friend of his, Ann Rule. Ann and Ted worked together at the Crisis Hotline many years ago while Ted was a psychology student at the nearby University. Ann recalls hearing his soothing voice as he talked with someone about their problems. They spent many nights at the Crisis Hotline and soon became friends. Although Ann was never attracted to Ted, she admitted he was extremely handsome. As time went on, they went their separate ways. Ann's life would change forever when she began putting the pieces together after a few young ladies went missing and others were killed. She doubted it was Ted, but at the same time believed it was his doings. This chilling novel allows us to see the other side of Ted Bundy. The side that actually cared about people and just wanted freedom. He had such a bright future ahead of him, but something set him off and he began his infamous killings, killing around 40 girls and women. The viewpoint of this book is something I never expected. Ann was his friend, even though she worked very closely with the police. But no matter what, she stuck with Ted until the very end. If you love a good thriller, or a real life murder mystery, I highly recommend The Stranger Beside Me.

Looking for other books on Ted Bundy?
Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer
The Phantom Prince

Looking for other books by Ann Rule?
Lust Killer

Lying in Wait

Without Pity

Just an Update

My fellow readers! It is time to update this post once again! Early this week, A Reader's Diary started an Instagram page, areaders.diary!! I will frequently be posting photos of the books I have read, am currently reading, and will read. Not to mention we have started doing giveaways!! Giveaways are easy to enter: follow the blog, follow the instagram, and enter to win! I cannot wait to show all of you the new and improved Reader's Diary. I hope you guys enjoy!!
As always, Jessica

Hey there readers! Updating this post yet again. As I said in my earlier post, this is no longer a school project for me. Although it is no longer summer vacation, I've had quite a bit on my plate! No more free time for this college freshman. ): I'm hoping to add many more new books of different genres this year, but who knows. I'm also trying to let everyone know that I DO HAVE A GOODREADS ACCOUNT. I encourage all readers to get one, they are so helpful!! Here is the link to my account: https://www.goodreads.com/jessicalynn1784
Enjoy, Jessica. :)

Hey everybody. Sorry I haven't been keeping up with my blog lately, its been so busy! If it isn't obvious, it's summer vacation and that means my blog as a school project is OVER. I do plan on keeping it up, but it will no longer be weekly. Whenever I finish a book, I'll post my review! Thanks for keeping up with A Reader's Diary, I really do appreciate it!! Much love, Jessica. :)

Lucy in the Sky

Yet again, another review on a published journal. Obviously, these are my favorite! Lucy in the Sky is about a 16 year old girl trying to make decisions for herself. She doesn't want to be left in the shadows of her older brother. She goes to yoga with him everyday, and meets a boy named Ross. He's a super hot surfer dude. He introduces her to marijuana and starts taking her to parties. She makes friends with a couple of girls and almost hooks up with a 20 year old guy! Eventually she's drinking and doing drugs every single day. She feels the urge to try everything there is. Which leads her to cocaine, crystal meth, and heroin. She accidentally overdosed and found herself in Palm Springs Rehab Facility. She finally turns her life around and realizes she never wants to be that girl again. However, the shocking last page was not something I expected. This anonymous journal is a crazy roller coaster ride of all the highs and lows of this poor girls life. Everyone should take a look into Lucy's life. You'd be surprised.

Looking for the rest of the series?
The Book of David
Calling Maggie May
Letting Ana Go
Breaking Bailey

Go Ask Alice

Looking for books that feature this series?

Unmask Alice

It's Kind of a Funny Story

The title says it all! It's Kind of a Funny Story, is kind of a funny story. We see life through Craig Gilner's point of view. This 15 year old boy likes to party with his friends, but they don't know how suicidal he really is. One night, Craig calls the suicide hotline and they convince him to check into a hospital. They place him in the adult portion of a mental hospital, along with another 15 year old girl with cuts on her face. In the hospital, Craig strikes up friendships with just about everyone there. They all adore him and his brain maps. He discovers how easy life is within the hospital. There are no "Tentacles" or worries. It's as if the outside would never really existed. Will Craig ever get the major "Shift" or will he just give into his suicidal thoughts? Read It's Kind of a Funny Story to find out. :)


"Every day for the rest of my life I’ll remember my wonderful friend because he jumped, but his readers — including millions of them not yet born — will remember him because he soared." -Marty Beckerman

Rest in Peace
Ned Vizzini
December 19, 2013

Looking for other books by Ned Vizzini?
 Teen Angst? Naaah...

The Road to Woodstock

Ever wonder what it was like to experience Woodstock? 3 Days of Peace and Music, who could ask for anything more? The Road to Woodstock takes us on a journey through time, back to the makings of Woodstock. This book was written by Michael Lang, one of the Woodstock creators. He takes us behind the scenes and tells all the hard things they had to go through trying to find a location for the festivities to take place. Everyone was broke, it was just a few friends trying to put together a huge event. Little did they know, it would go down in history as one of the biggest gatherings of free souls. Lets not forget that some of the worlds most famous artists played at Woodstock. Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, and Nash & Young. Not to mention it started the career of Carlos Santana! My obsession with Woodstock was intensified after reading this book. I really wish I was around to witness these 3 Days of Peace and Music!

Looking for other books on Woodstock?
Woodstock

Tommyland

Sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, that was a day in the life of Tommy Lee. Tommy Lee goes back and tells us about his monsters. He struggled with drugs and alcohol. And yes, he does go VERY in depth about his sex life. Married former playboy bunny, Pamela Anderson, after knowing her only 2 weeks. Together, they designed their dream home and started their family. Bringing 2 little boys into this world caused Tommy to create some of his most intense songs ever. This book is not just about Tommy Lee and his time with Motley Crüe, it's the story of his life. He just recreates the memories for us and doesn't try to change the facts all too much. When he does, his good friend Anthony Bozza, is there to bring him back down to reality. Anyone that loved Motley Crüe will enjoy this story. Although he doesn't talk about the Crüe all too much, we get the main feel of what it's like to be in a major rock band that changed the world.

Looking for other books featuring Tommy Lee?

Love, Pamela

 

Looking for other books by Motley Crue Members?

The Heroin Diaries

The First 21

 

Looking for other books featuring Motley Crue?
Life on Planet Rock

The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games, a televised event showing the fight to the death of children within the 12 districts of Panem. Some districts have volunteers that have been in training for years. Others, well it's just luck of the draw! The Capital does this as a punishment for District 13, who rebelled many years earlier and is now extinct. Before actually going to the games, we see how they train and how well they get along with their mentors. Each district gets their own mentor to help guide them and a stylist to make them pretty for interviews. Obviously, Katniss and someone else *hint hint Peeta* win the first Hunger Games. Going on to Catching Fire, we see them travel on the Victory Tour to all of the other Districts. Not long after, President Snow, declares the new rules for the game, throwing Katniss and Peeta back into the arena. Katniss, the girl on fire, shows everyone what she's really made of. We also get the inside scoop on the Peeta-Katniss-Gale love triangle! The third and final book, Mockingjay, is just full of spoilers and I don't want to ruin that for anyone! But I will tell you, we see the happenings of District 13, that's right, DISTRICT 13. Its 100% real. This trilogy will keep you on your toes and then leave you begging for more!

Looking for The Hunger Games prequel?

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

A Stolen Life

Doing a review on A Stolen Life is going to be extremely hard. In her own words, Jaycee Dugard opened up and told the world the horrible things Phillip and Nancy Garrido did to a helpless eleven year old girl. She talks about the abduction, her family, and everything else she fears. She describes her time spent in the secret backyard. We learned about the "runs" Phillip would take her on. Which was really just him on drugs for days on end. She recreates the horrors of being pregnant at age 14 and knowing her kidnapper is the father of her two little girls. She had to raise them in the captivity of the backyard. Not soon after, the Garrido's became Jaycee's whole world and she relied heavily on them for everything. She and her girls were finally rescued in 2009 when Phillip had a meeting with his parole officer. Jaycee describes to us the feeling she got just being able to write her name for the first time in 18 years. All in all, this is an inspiring true story of how our whole life could change in the blink of an eye. 

For information, visit The JAYC Foundation. And always remember, "Just Ask Yourself to Care."

Check out Jaycee's book of firsts, Freedom!

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time

Christopher John Francis Boone, age 15. He can tell you all the countries in the world and every prime number up to 7,057; but he hates the colors yellow and brown. Christopher's special teacher, Siobhan, prompts him to write a book. The curious incident of the dog in the night-time is just that. He decides to write about his investigation on who killed his neighbors dog, Wellington. After he promises his father that he won't investigate anymore, he learns some disturbing family secrets. So, he grabs his pet rat, a bag of food, and runs away. When he arrives at the train station he comes across many problems; he's 15 years old, hates to be in a crowd, and doesn't like traveling to new places. 

While I was reading this story, I had to keep reminding myself Christopher was 15. He jumps around quite a bit, this is more of a journal than a book. This tell-all story made me realize how different everyone really is. Christopher is a genius, but has a few difficulties. His journey to London and finding out who killed Wellington made him realize how strong of a person he really was. I encourage everyone to read this amazing book. You won't regret it.

Looking for other books by Mark Haddon?
The Pier Falls and Other Short Stories

Crank Trilogy

Crank begins the story of the monster Kristina created. Spending the summer with her dad, she meets a boy and her struggle with drugs begins. Not soon after, she becomes pregnant and decided to keep the baby. This story is told completely through the eyes of Kristina and Bree, her other personality. We see her friendships crumble and her crack addiction worsen.

In Glass, Kristina meets a new monster, meth. After being kicked out of her mothers house and losing custody of her son, Hunter, she finds a new boyfriend. Trey is everything she could ever ask for and more. The only catch is he's a drug dealer. Kristina gets caught in Trey's drug web and they both find themselves sitting in jail. With Kristina pregnant, yet again.

We all wanted to see what happened to Hunter, and what will happen with her new baby. Fallout is exactly that. We get to look into the lives of 3 of Kristina's children. They grew up in different households with different last names and have an odd relationship with their mother. We see the pain that Kristina has caused them and the mess she has made. We watch their everyday lives and get a peek at Christmas with the family.

These 3 hectic books are based on true stories. If you or someone you know is struggling with drugs, there are hotlines to help! Just check out this website for more information on overcoming an addiction: http://drugabuse.com/library/drug-abuse-hotlines/

Looking for more books by Ellen Hopkins?

 

Middle-Grade:

Closer to Nowhere

What About Will

Teen:

 Flirtin' with the Monster (Crank Anthology)

Rumble

Burned (Burned #1)
Smoke (Burned #2)

Tricks (Tricks #1)

Traffick (Tricks #2)

The You I've Never Known
People Kill People

Adult Fiction:

Love Lies Beneath (LLB #1)
A Sin Such as This (LLB #2)

Collateral

Triangles (Tilt #2)

 Anthologies:

One Death, Nine Stories

Behind the Song
Life Inside My Mind

The Best of Me

Nicholas Sparks can easily write a heart wrenching novel. The Best of Me is a great example of a love story with a twist. High school sweethearts, Dawson and Amanda, go their separate ways when Dawson breaks up with her so her parents will pay for her college education. 30 something years later, their mutual friend Tuck, dies of old age. Over the years, Amanda had been visiting Tuck and getting to know him rather well. For Dawson, he hadn't seen Tuck in years, but thought of him as a father. When the two meet again, the  old flame lights up. Amanda forgets all her motherly worries for a weekend and lets Dawson have every bit of her. Upon leaving this mini-vacation, Amanda gets a call saying her family is in the hospital. Dawson on the other hand, is facing his crazy cousins. The end of the novel is downright crazy. I couldn't believe it; I literally threw the book across the room.  This is the reason Nicholas Sparks is one of the best romance novelists. 

Ali's Pretty Little Lies

This is for anyone who has kept up with the Pretty Little Liars series! We all know Ali, we love to hate her; but deep down, we all wish we could be her. Lets take a step back and actually meet her twin sister, Courtney. How did Courtney become Ali? Well, Ali's Pretty Little Lies is the story of how Courtney tricked her parents into believing she was Ali. When she was visiting home from her mental hospital, The Radley, she snagged some of Ali's clothes and her favorite ring. Pretty soon, Courtney becomes Ali and Ali becomes Courtney. After watching her sister get shipped off to the psych ward, Courtney realizes she can never be herself again. We get the inside scoop on all things Ali. This prequel will leave you wondering. Could this be the start of A?

Looking for other YA books by Sara Shepard?
The Perfectionists (Perfectionists #1)
The Good Girls (Perfectionists #2)

Looking for adult books by Sara Shepard?
The Heiresses

Reputation

Meet Hunter

This isn't about books, but it is a matter that is very close to my heart. 

Everyone meet Hunter. 

This kid didn't have a care in the world. He was the sweetest boy I'd ever met. Not once did I ever see a frown on his face. He really was an all around great kid. I remember riding the bus with him, eating his pop tarts everyday, even picking on him for the way he laced his vans, or the first time he met my sister and told me about how much he liked her. He used to have a banana suit, and loved neon colors. I remember when he wore one bright orange shoe and the other bright green and he was so proud of it. There's so much more I could say. Honestly, I will never forget him.

Just yesterday, Hunter was hit by a car while he was longboarding. He was killed on impact. He was only 14 years old..  He had his entire life ahead of him, but one little accident cost him his life. My heart goes out to his family and friends. So all you fellow skaters out there, please be careful on the roads. To the drivers out there, PLEASE watch for skaters. I'll miss you, kid. <3

Only the good die young.

 

Rest in Peace

Hunter Sorensen

March 10, 2013

Amy, My Daughter

Amy, My Daughter was written by Amy Winehouse's father, Mitch. He takes us through the life of Amy. Welcoming us to the Winehouse family, we hear all about the happy times, and not so happy times. Reading this book really made me feel like part of the family. Mitch talks about the home videos he started making not long after Amy was born. He tells us what it was like to live without his beloved daughter around. They were always close; when he found out she was doing drugs they fought like crazy. Amy didn't have the best of luck with her relationships, and her father let her know it. Although Amy had drug and alcohol problems, many don't know that isn't what killed her. Mitch gives us this wonderful insight on what Amy was really like. I loved every page of this book, hopefully you all will too!


R.I.P. Amy <3
7-23-11

Looking for other books on Amy Winehouse?
27

The Books of Awesome

The title explains it all! The Book of Awesome and The Book of (Even More) Awesome reminds us of the little things in life that we take advantage of. Who else loves the way sheets feel after being taken straight out of the dryer? Or the smell of freshly baked bread? Or even when a baby holds onto one of our fingers? Some things in life are just there to make us smile. Neil Pasricha gives us the run down on all the wonderful things we seem to just forget about. These two books remind us to cherish the things we don't think of everyday. If anyone is ever in the need for a smile, just pick up one of these. I promise, they will make your day. :)

Check out his website 1000awesomethings.com You won't regret it!

Looking for other awesome books?
The Book of (Holiday) Awesome 

Our Book of Awesome

My Intro. :)

The intro to my blog!

The Twilight Saga

Hello Twilight fans! If you haven't read these four books, you're missing out. Stephanie Meyer really took hold of my emotions and sent them flying through a whirlwind of feelings. Twilight starts off with a teenage girl named Bella who moves to the rainy city of Forks, Washington. Starting off her new life with her father, she falls for childhood friend, Jacob Black. Not long after starting at her new school, she catches the eye of Edward Cullen. 

In the second book, New Moon, Bella finds out Jacob is a werewolf! Not to mention, her boyfriend Edward is a vampire! The Cullen clan moves away from Forks, claiming to be putting Bella into extreme danger. However, Edward is still madly in love with her. His sister, Alice, has a vision of Bella jumping off a cliff. Thinking his one and only is dead, he rushes to Italy to ask the Volturi to kill him! In the end, Bella agrees to marry Edward.

In Eclipse, the love triangle flares up more than ever. Bella and Edward are making wedding plans and deciding on a date to turn her into a vampire. Then, Jacob kisses Bella and makes her so angry she punches him in the face and breaks her hand. Suddenly, a group of newborn vampires are hunting Bella. The Cullen clan and Jacob's werewolf pack band together to protect her.

Breaking Dawn, the best and final book in the saga. Edward and Bella finally get married! They have a cute little girl named Renesmee, a mix between both of their mother's names. Renesmee is half human, half vampire because Bella has not been turned yet. While in labor, Bella must become a vampire to live. Jacob actually imprints, or falls in love with, Renesmee. Once again, the werewolves and the vampires ban together to fight the Volturi to the death. 

So, Team Edward or Team Jacob? Comment. :)

Looking for the rest of the series?

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (Twilight Saga #3.5)

Midnight Sun 

The Catcher In The Rye

Everyone can relate to the awkwardness of Holden Caulfield. Growing up is hard when no one is there for you. After being kicked out of school, Holden's family sends him to an all boys boarding school, where he rooms with an extremely conceited boy. Quickly, he gets kicked out of here too. On the up side, Holden can't wait to see his little sister, but he's scared of facing his parents. Sneaking into his own house, Holden tells Phoebe she can't tell anyone where he is or where he's going. Leaving school, Phoebe tries to run away with him. Holden has to grow up and realize the things happening to him are not the end of the world. The Catcher In The Rye is also a coming of age book. I recommend to everyone to pick up a copy of this great read. 

Thankfully, this book is no longer banned in schools. I honestly cannot see why it ever was. How do all of you feel about the controversy over The Catcher In The Rye? Give me your opinions. :)

Heavier Than Heaven

Charles Cross leads you through the rise and fall of Nirvana's frontman, Kurt Cobain. Cross examines the Cobain households and talks to Kurt's former classmates. As he retells the horrific home life of Kurt, we feel the heartache that Kurt was feeling as a child. Loneliness and hurt was evident from the very beginning. All throughout his childhood and teen years, Kurt constantly felt rejected and alone. Early on, Kurt possessed an amazing amount of talent. Although he had a tough time at home, and a tough time at school, he knew he would one day be in a band. Cross takes us on Kurt's journey to fame. After marrying Courtney Love and having his baby girl, Francis Bean Cobain, Kurt shot himself. Leaving behind a chilling suicide note, Kurt leaves us hanging. What made him want to leave this beautiful world for us to live in without this magnificent musical icon from the '90s? We may never know. If you grew up listening to Nirvana and are a die-hard Kurt Cobain fan, you will absolutely love this book!

"It's better to burn out than fade away."

Rest in Peace
Kurt Cobain
April 5, 1994

To read more on Kurt Cobain's life, check out my website: http://thelifeofkurtcobain.weebly.com

Enjoy. :)

Looking for other books on Kurt Cobain?
27
Life on Planet Rock
Who Killed Kurt Cobain?

Kurt Cobain: The Last Interview 

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Every wonder what other people are thinking? Well, Young Todd knows all about that. Being the last boy in a town of all men, he hears the others thoughts. In fact, everyone can hear thoughts. This "noise" is a never ending world of chaos and confusion. After sensing something was wrong, he gets sent off on a mad chase to find New Haven. While traveling with his loyal dog, Manchee, they find a girl. The first girl Todd has ever seen. Todd, Manchee, and the girl have to fend for themselves in the crazy New World. We watch them try to survive with no knowledge of what to do or where they are headed. Running on, we watch the girl struggle with the loss of her parents, and Todd's inner struggle with himself. The love they share with each other is one that you will never forget. Patrick Ness does an excellent job of making the characters vulnerable and believable. The twist at the end will make you want to finish the entire trilogy. Keep waiting for the next two summaries. :)

Looking for other books by Patrick Ness?

More Than This

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Lets take a journey through the anonymous letters sent by a troublesome teen. Charlie was starting his freshman year of high school, with no friends. He just could not fit in. Overhearing other kids talking about this person who listens to your problems and doesn't judge, Charlie began to writing letters to this person. He tells about his childhood, his family, his struggle to fit in, and his first experiences. Making his first friend, a senior called "Nothing", Charlie finally finds a place. Instantly, he falls in love with Nothing's stepsister and the story goes on from there. This collection of Charlie's letters will leave you speechless. Chbosky makes his characters so lovable. You want to make them feel wanted. Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age book that I feel most teenagers could relate to.

Looking for other books by Stephen Chbosky?

Imaginary Friend

Perks of Being a Wallflower (Updated Review)

On another note, Perks of Being a Wallflower was made into a movie in October of 2012. It follows the story line almost perfectly. The roles could not have been cast any better. And the movie soundtrack was to die for. I recommend reading the book before seeing the movie. It's much more enjoyable that way. Anyways, take a peek at the movie trailer. :)