Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Weiss


They promised Meredith nine years of safety, but only gave her three. Her father was supposed to be locked up until Meredith was eighteen. She thought she had time to grow up, get out, and start a new life. But Meredith is only fifheen, and today her father is coming home from prison. Today her time runs out.

Review:
What is it that makes this book unique? Seperate from others? Is it the MC's security, safety that she finds in numbers? Is it the MC's paralysis when it comes to the subject, the predator? Or was it just because she was assualted intimately, and mentally unprepared for the situation before her very eyes?
Or was it simply just that the MC was raped, at an age that she didn't even know what her parents do in the bedroom that makes so much noise.
Whatever it is, be it being in the beginning, middle, or end of the story--because that's what it is, a story--its definitely something that stands out from the rest.
Meredith was trudging along those three years of liberty. But even she admits to herself that they were the best years after what happened. Four being her safety number, eight being her double strength. If you don't understand the metaphor, just look down at your clenched fists, you'll get it. For me to just get through the words that the MC's mother exploits was just, so frustrasting, so infuriating, I'm surprised... First, that the book didn't burn into flames from the fire of my own rage. Second, at the fact that anybody in their right mind would say things like that.
Anyway, before I spoil to much... To say this story was informative is just ludicrous. To say this story was inspirational, perceptive, intuitive, still won't do it justice. I don't think any specific word really can, but that doesn't mean I'll stop looking for one.
Check this one girl's story out here, and for the life of me, read what it has to say and the author's answers in the back of the book. You will not regret it, I promise you that.

Grade: B

LiLi

Move

Sorry. Again. I was going to post this sooner, but I did not know that the motel was so cheap that it costs $2.99 to use wifi. Anyway, there are a couple things I learned about road trips, I guess you can call them. For example:

Couple things you apparently cannot be without on your road trip:
• Trucks (a lot of them)
• Road Kill (I am officially traumatized)
• White Lines (I got seriously dizzy)
• “Power” Naps (energizing)

Trucks, what can I say about trucks? First of all that they cut you off and by the time you stop at a rest stop every 3-4 hours, your deaf from hearing your mother curse so much. (Not true, but my mom’s head did look like it was going to explode.) Another fact about the trucks on the road, there are a lot of them. For example, there’s Schneider, Con-way, Wal-mart, U.S. Mail, UPS, Fed-Ex, U-Haul, Penske, on and on and on. (Round and round it goes; where it stops nobody knows.)
On a side note I’m going to put a poll up because I seriously want to know which one you guys think is better: U-Haul or Penske? (My vote:? Tell you once the poll is over…)

Road Kill, what can I say? Well, like I said before I am officially traumatized…I’ve never seen so much road kill in my life. I’m pretty sure other people have seen a lot worse, but c’mon I’m only thirteen, man. Anyway, sometimes it’s not even on the side of the road; it’s right in the middle, blood everywhere but a pinkish color. (So pink in fact that my mom didn’t even notice it, and rode right over…*Shudder*)

White Lines. Not much to say about that, except they’re white lines on black road. (Although, sometimes the roads are gray or white or just plain gravel—that was not good for our moving truck, poor step-daddy…)

And finally, “Power” Naps. Okay, if it was me—since I’m the one who took the naps—I would say I was out for about 20-30 minutes tops. But, sadly, my mother says I was only out for about ten minutes, so she then called them “power” naps. Meaning that they are useful to get more energized—and I think that’s lame. I mean really ten minutes is supposed to get you pepped up somehow, sure…*shaking head* (Don’t tell my mom this, but it actually kinda works; shhh.)

Hopefully, by the time I post this I’ll probably already be in the Miami area; if not in it already. And I’ll probably have finished the review for Such a Pretty Girl by Laure Weiss.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Top Teen Books

Okay, I thought this was pretty cool even though I've probably read less than a third of these, but that doesn't mean I'm ashamed of it; so I'm posting it. :P Anyway, I stole it from . Just to give her props, you know? I tend to do that a lot, don't I? Oh, well. Deal.

The following list of books teens love, books teens should read, and books adults who serve teens should know about was compiled IN ABSOLUTELY NO SCIENTIFIC MANNER and should be taken with a very large grain of salt.

Instructions:
Put an “X” next to the books you’ve read
Put a “+” next to the books you LOVE
Put a “#” next to the books you plan on reading
Tally your “X”s at the bottom
Share with your friends!

I'm also going to use # as books I plan to read that I already own. (Stole this idea from Alea, hope she doesn't mind)
(I wonder if seeing the movie or episode counts? Probably not. Deal.)

1. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams
2. Kit’s Wilderness / David Almond
3. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Sherman Alexie
4. Speak / Laurie Halse Anderson X+
5. Feed / M.T. Anderson
6. Flowers in the Attic / V.C. Andrews
7. 13 Reasons Why / Jay Asher
8. Am I Blue? / Marion Dane Bauer (editor)
9. Audrey Wait! / Robin Benway #
10. Weetzie Bat / Francesca Lia Block
11. Tangerine / Edward Bloor
12. Forever / Judy Blume X+
13. What I Saw and How I Lied / Judy Blundell
14. Tyrell / Coe Booth
15. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Ann Brashares X
16. A Great and Terrible Beauty / Libba Bray
17. The Princess Diaries / Meg Cabot X
18. The Stranger / Albert Camus #
19. Ender’s Game / Orson Scott Card
20. Postcards from No Man’s Land / Aidan Chambers
21. Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky #
22. And Then There Were None / Agatha Christie
23. Gingerbread / Rachel Cohn
24. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist / Rachel Cohn and David Levithan #
25. Artemis Fowl (series) / Eoin Colfer
26. The Hunger Games / Suzanne Collins X+
27. The Midwife’s Apprentice / Karen Cushman
28. The Truth About Forever / Sarah Dessen X+
29. Little Brother / Cory Doctorow
30. A Northern Light / Jennifer Donnelly
31. Tears of a Tiger / Sharon Draper
32. The House of the Scorpion / Nancy Farmer
33. Breathing Underwater / Alex Flinn
34. Stardust / Neil Gaiman #
35. Annie on My Mind / Nancy Garden
36. What Happened to Cass McBride / Gail Giles
37. Fat Kid Rules the World / K.L. Going
38. Lord of the Flies / William Golding
39. Looking for Alaska / John Green
40. Bronx Masquerade / Nikki Grimes
41. Out of the Dust / Karen Hesse
42. Hoot / Carl Hiaasen
43. The Outsiders / S.E. Hinton #
44. Crank / Ellen Hopkins #
45 The First Part Last / Angela Johnson
46. Blood and Chocolate / Annette Curtis Klause X+
47. Arrow’s Flight / Mercedes Lackey
48. Hattie Big Sky / Kirby Larson
49. To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee #
50. Boy Meets Boy / David Levithan
51. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks / E. Lockhart
52. The Giver / Lois Lowry X+
53. Number the Stars / Lois Lowry
54. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie / David Lubar
55. Inexcusable / Chris Lynch
56. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things / Carolyn Mackler
57. Dragonsong / Anne McCaffrey
58. White Darkness / Geraldine McCaughrean
59. Sold / Patricia McCormick
60. Jellicoe Road / Melina Marchetta
61. Wicked Lovely / Melissa Marr X+
62. Twilight / Stephenie Meyer X+
63. Dairy Queen / Catherine Murdock
64. Fallen Angels / Walter Dean Myers
65. Monster / Walter Dean Myers
66. Step From Heaven / An Na
67. Mama Day / Gloria Naylor
68. The Keys to the Kingdom (series) / Garth Nix
69. Sabriel / Garth Nix
70. Airborn / Kenneth Oppel
71. Eragon / Christopher Paolini
72. Hatchet / Gary Paulsen
73. Life As We Knew It / Susan Beth Pfeffer
74. The Golden Compass / Phillip Pullman #
75. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging / Louise Rennison #
76. The Lightning Thief / Rick Riordan
77. Always Running: La Vida Loca / Luis Rodriguez
78. how i live now / Meg Rosoff
79. Harry Potter (series) / J.K. Rowling #
80. Holes / Louis Sachar X
81. Catcher in the Rye / J. D. Salinger #
82. Push / Sapphire
83. Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi
84. Unwind / Neil Shusterman
85. Coldest Winter Ever / Sister Souljah
86. Stargirl / Jerry Spinelli #
87. Chanda’s Secrets / Allan Stratton
88. Tale of One Bad Rat / Brian Talbot
89. Rats Saw God / Rob Thomas
90. Lord of the Rings / J.R.R. Tolkien X
91. Stuck in Neutral / Terry Trueman
92. Gossip Girl / Cecily Von Ziegesar X
93. Uglies / Scott Westerfeld #
94. Every Time a Rainbow Dies / Rita Williams-Garcia
95. Pedro and Me / Judd Winick
96. Hard Love / Ellen Wittlinger
97. American Born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang
98. Elsewhere / Gabrielle Zevin
99. I am the Messenger / Markus Zusak
100. The Book Thief / Markus Zusak

X's: 12 :( Okay, that's just sad dude, but what can I say...I'm lazy? Yeah, that'll work.
I would love to see the results if you add this to your blog, so if you do, please comment leaving a link so I can comment on yours, too.

LILI

Friday, April 3, 2009

Sorry Everyone

Okay, so I know I haven't been on for a while but right now I'm packing because in a few short days I'll be in Miami, where I truly live; once and for all. And just to let you know that I haven't forgotten about my readers, as soon as I get the chance I have three reviews that I have to type up.
So please forgive me for prolonging this so long. I hope I haven't disappointed you guys in any way. And if I get the chance before we leave, I'll at least type up one review; it's a surprise I'm not telling which book I'm reviewing, you'll just have to wait. :P
Or if I don't get the chance to do even that I'll probably just take a picture of what my living room looks like right now. A dump. Lol.

Please forgive, and look forward toward another review and maybe a giveaway later on--if I can convince my mom to take me to the post office, I'm being very optimistic right now.
Lili

Plus I thought I'd add this: Check out my Awesome-ist Sites, I just added a new called Crazy Brillance and I must give props to Chloe Neill for posting this on her blog; thought it was funny!
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