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.