Camp NaNoWriMo!

Hello everyone!  Camp NaNoWriMo is starting very soon!

For those who don't know, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a writing challenge in November, where writers all around the world try to write a 50,000 word novel in just 30 days!

While the actual NaNoWriMo is in November, there is a Camp for it happening in April! Camp NaNoWrimo is different from the one in November because it's less strict. Camp NaNo allows you to write different things, it doesn't have to be a novel. Also, you can adjust your word count! Like the original, Camp NaNoWriMo will be in 30 days. 

This is my first year doing anything like this, so I am very excited! I most of my story planned out and since this is Camp, I will be continuing a story I already have. My word goal will be 50,000 words which I hope to accomplish!

If you are doing Camp NaNoWriMo let me know what strategies you have planned out! :)

Reality Boy by A.S. King

Title: Reality Boy
Author: A.S. King
Pages: 368

Summary:Gerald Faust knows exactly when he started feeling angry: the day his mother invited a reality television crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he’s still haunted by his rage-filled youth—which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle—and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school.

Nothing is ever going to change. No one cares that he’s tried to learn to control himself, and the girl he likes has no idea who he really is. Everyone’s just waiting for him to snap…and he’s starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that.


A.S. King's writing was phenomenal and this book was so incredibly different.  The topic of this book was very different from any other book I've read before and I very much enjoyed it. The story is about a teen boy, Gerald Faust, whose had a troublesome history involving being in a reality TV show. The story switches from the past and present which really helped in understanding the topic. You get the sense of what really happened to Gerald and why he is who he is.
The story of Reality Boy is something that you will never be able to find somewhere else. This is Gerald Faust's story and this book really goes deep into his mind and life. This story was so unique and very fascinating.

 One thing I did not like was the love relationship Gerald had. I think the story  would've been fine without it and it seemed a bit unrealistic to me. 

The writing was great and really helped me understand where Gerald was coming from. All of the profanity and cursing made the book that much better.
Reading about Gerald's past and his family was so different and made me really look at reality TV in a different way. I loved how the characters were their own each individual person. Gerald's mom was one of the most shocking characters I've ever read about. It's very common to read about moms who love their kids or moms who are evil, but the way Gerald's mom was blew me away. His sister, Tasha, actually did frighten me, and A.S. King's writing was really able to show who she was and who all the characters were.

It was very different reading through a perspective of a teen boy who is psychologically troubled. I enjoyed the language used and the constant transportation it Gersday.

My Rating:
✰✰✰✰

This book was very different and out-standing. This story was very traumatic yet intriguing. This coming of age story is definitely one I haven't come across for but really appreciated.

My overall thought: An emotional unique story that I've never ever read before. 

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Title: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Pages: 352

Summary:

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.


Words cannot describe how much I loved this book and the characters in it. This was my first ever road-trip book and I really enjoyed! There were so many fun moments in the car (20 questions!) and fun moments in hotels and restaurants and rest stops!  One of my favorite things about this book were all of the pictures and notes that were taken throughout this trip. I loved seeing the receipts for food, the playlists, the photos and much more! It really gave you a sense of going on this trip with the characters. I loved hearing about each state and what they went through in each one. State after state, this book kept me reading and I loved that.

Amy was a great protagonist and her character was very realistic and relate-able. I found that what she went through was very real and I felt sympathetic for her. Her relationship with Roger, who I also loved, was phenomenal and they both go through some tough changes. Roger was a great cool and caring guy.

My favorite thing about Amy and Roger's relationship was that it wasn't too instalove-y. I think it was great how they first were friends and eventually, they started to have feelings for each other. Everything that these two went through was very fun and nice to read about. (I loved how they called each other Hillary and Edmund!)

All of the other secondary characters were great to read as well. I loved Bronwyn and how she gave Amy that boost of confidence. Lucien was a very interesting and kind character to read about, as well as Walcott. 

My Rating:
✰✰✰✰✰

This book makes me want to go on an epic adventure on my own someday! This book was just a great read and I enjoyed every second of it. It really did feel like I went on an adventure with these wonderful characters without leaving my seat.


My overall thought: A fun enjoyable adventurous road-trip about new discoveries and realizations.

Divergent Movie Discussion

Hello everyone! Happy Divergent Day! \(^0^)/

So yesterday, March 20th 2014, at 8:00 pm, I saw Divergent! IT MADE MY LIFE.


I've been a part of the Divergent fandom for the longest time ever. Divergent was actually the first fandom I ever joined, making it the closest one to my heart. The feeling I had when I sat there in the theater as the movie started cannot be described in words. I've been anticipated this movie for forever, knowing that the cast was great and the book was amazing. I'm always going to be a fangirl, but I will always be the biggest Divergent fangirl.

When the movie started, and "Divergent" appeared on the screen with the names of the cast (I love every single one of them) , I started to cry. It was one of those moments where you are more than just happy and excited and everything just feels unreal. Writing these words out won't interpret my true feelings I had throughout this film, but here is my review.


NON-SPOILER REVIEW


I thought the movie was amazing!!! ASDFGHJKL; It was actually flawless and I loved it way more than I thought possible. Like I knew from the start, the cast was amazing. If you don't already know, Shailene is my favorite celebrity and role model and I'm in love with Theo James.

Although the movie didn't capture every single event of the book, it was an awesome adaptation. It captured all of the main events and aspects in the story and really brought them to life. I loved how the futuristic Chicago looked and how distinct the factions were. The overall look really did feel futuristic.

I couldn't have been more pleased with this film. I did end up sobbing at the end. (Btw, the music used was awesome!)

SPOILER-ISH REVIEW:

Can we take a moment to appreciate all of the scenes they included??

I really loved how the movie began, just like how the book did with Beatrice getting her hair cut. It felt so familiar to the book and I was getting very very emotional.

The aptitude test was pretty similar to the book, but it only had the one test with dog and not the other two that were in the book. The way Beatrice reacts when Tori tells her about Divergents was very similar but in the film, she didn't explain it as much as she did in the book.

The houses in Abnegation really did look the part. I enjoyed the small family moment they had the night before the Choosing Ceremony. Her parents did really reflect the ones in the book.

It was said that in the movie, Jeanine's character was going to be more involved, which it was. Jeanine was introduced more friendly in the book during the Choosing Ceremony, but the suspicion was there. I really liked  the anticipation that lead up to Beatrice choosing; that scene was amazing. The bowls looked great and how we saw Beatrice struggle between choosing Abnegation or Dauntless was done really well.

The way they captured the Dauntless in the movie made me want to jump off a building and train. The energy was so lively and it really showed their braveness! The music was really heart racing! Christina's character was introduced just like how it was in the book and, like the book, they jumped off the train together.

One of the most exact book-to-screen scenes has to be when Beatrice jumps first. I LOVE THEO SO MUCH. He really did portray Four in a great way. In the film, Four at first, seemed a lot more tough and mean than in the book, but I loved that.

I got really excited when I saw Miles Teller as Peter. He was great at portraying that character, but I wish the film showed more of that tension. In the film, it was less violent and it didn't show exactly how mean Peter actually is.

The cafeteria, Pit and the dorm looked great.

The comparison of the two different factions were great. I really liked when all the transfers burnt their clothes and got tattoos!
The montage of Tris getting better at fighting was great as well! I loved how she practice by herself and when Four watched her... *explosion of feels*

The way they did the fighting rounds were different from the book. Instead of pairing up people on the board like the book, it was just called out by Eric. Speaking of Eric, I really liked Jai's interpretation of him!

The chasm did not look like how I pictured it to be. I expected it to be more wet, with a lot of more water sloshing under, but it was understandable why they couldn't do that. I'm glad they included the scene with Christina hanging from it.

There also seemed to be more technological advancements in the film than book. The ranking for the initiates were on a screen, versus a chalkboard, and there where a lot more names than there were in the book.
I really wished we got to see the side characters more, such as Molly.

The relationship between Christina and Will didn't get much screen time sadly. There were some scenes where you can get glimpses of them being together, but it didn't exactly acknowledge it.

The fight between Peter and Tris was pretty cool looking and gruesome. One part that was jaw-dropping was when Eric cut her! I didn't expect that to happen, but I wasn't too upset by it. I loved how she caught up with them in the train and how Four helped her.

The film did miss out on some parts, such as the butterknife scene with Edward,  the drunk chasm. There was no Robert and Susan, or Visiting Day. There was also no romantic connections from Al to Tris.

THE FERRIS WHEEL, KNIFE-THROWING SCENE AND CAPTURE THE FLAG. HAIL TO THOSE SCENES.

The knife throwing scene was just like how it was in the book! When Tris took Al's spot, she got pretty popular over it.

I only wish the Ferris Wheel scene was longer. I loved the capture the flag game! It really stayed true to the book :)

Al's death wasn't as big as it was in the book in my opinion. During that scene when she was getting kidnapped from him, it didn't even show Peter.
I loved when Four came to the rescue her and when he took her to his apartment.

The fear landscapes were done very well although it only seemed that Tris had 5 fears. I loved when Four took her into his fear landscape and helped her practice and show her what a Dauntless would do, not a Divergent.

I think they really captured the whole part when the dauntless were under the simulation
The fight between Tris and Four was pretty intense and I loved the part where she would rather kill herself than him.

Different from the book, Tris and Four used the serum on Jeanine to get her to stop the process. But like the book, the movie ended when they were on the train.

One thing I must say is that the characters did not feel as developed as they were in the book to no surprise. Since the book is pretty long, the movie did seem a slightly rushed, but it was still great. Tris and Four's relationship was different in the movie than it was in the book in my opinion, but it was just as good.

Although some critics aren't in favor of this film, I AM. I think majority of fans, if not all, will appreciate this movie in all its glory.

I couldn't have hoped for a better movie for Veronica Roth's amazing story. It has been announced that Insurgent will be happening! :D Time to sent the countdown again!

(By the way, I totally saw Veronica Roth when she led up some of the Dauntless for the zipline! How awesome!)

For more comparisons from the book and movie go here!:
http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-news/divergent-book-vs-movie-biggest-differences-141358674.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory

This Song WiIl Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Title: This Song Will Save Your Life
Author: Leila Sales
Pages: 279

Summary:
Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.


When I first picked up  this book, I didn't know too much about it. By that, I mean I did not know that this book literally was going to be about "saving your life".  The beginning of the story was okay, but as the story continued, I started to enjoy this book more and more and really appreciate the real characters. I think that many teenagers would be able to relate to her in some way from what she's been through.

The story follows 16 year old Elise, who has been an outcast and very isolated separate person all her life.  This is something commonly seen with teens and high schoolers and I think this book did a great job of showing that. I didn't start liking Elise  immediately, but shortly I grew very fond of her and found similarities we shared.  How Elise is at school and what she goes through is very rough and even reading about it made be sympathize greatly. It did not take long for me to be able to relate the emotions and feelings she experiences. 

One night, Elise meets Vicky and Pippa who she becomes friends with and is introduced to the underground night club party, the Start. And from there, the story takes off as Elise finds her love for DJing.

I really loved all of Elise's friends, especially Vicky. Vicky was a great character and her friendship with Elise really made the story better. I also enjoyed reading about Mel, who we didn't see too much, but I still think he was a cool character.  The other members of Vicky's band, Dirty Curtains, were fun as well. I didn't love Pippa but I didn't hate her either. She was an interesting character for the story, but as an actual person she seemed a bit weak and too dependent on Char.

I'm not sure how most people feel about Char, but I didn't love him like I usually do with most books when it comes to the male love interest. Elise and Char's relationship seemed pointless and didn't really contribute to the story much as a whole. Their relationship seemed a bit too rushed and forced. I think the story could have been more if their relationship was actually focused on a  bit more.

The message this story sends is something that should be acknowledged upon and really looked at. Teenagers that deal with this sort of trauma should really try to find that one thing that they'll love and open up to new opportunities. The quotes and issues in this story made me really think and be grateful for what I have. 

This book was a nice page turner, which is something I don't get a lot when it comes to realistic fiction. I think the story was great and the writing was done well.

My Rating:
✰✰✰✰

I really enjoyed Elise's story and this book overall  and would recommend it to just about everybody. This book gave me the feeling of going through all of this with Elise and  was something that I really appreciated and loved reading about. I think more people should read this book and really listen to the message it potrays.

My overall thought: A thought provoking  story with a wonderful  message.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Pages: 433

Summary:
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?


Rainbow Rowell has been one of those authors that I kept hearing good things about.  Fangirl and Eleanor & Park were getting pretty popular, and I was interested in them (plus I love their covers). I saw quite a few reviews for this book where, the word "cute" popped up a lot. Many people claimed that this was a "cute" read, which I did not really understand until I read it.

The story is about or  main character, Cath, who was  relate-able on so many levels. She goes to college and the story is basically about her experiences. She rarely went out to parties or to bars and she loved writing fanfiction for Simon Snow (similar to Harry Potter). I love the way Cath cares and how much she loves those characters  in Simon Snow. Her fangirling situations are  really familiar feeling with me. I also loved how in the beginning of the story, she thought about living off of protein bars and peanut butter because she couldn't find the dining hall. 

This book had amazing characters and I loved all of the characters so much. The only characters that I didn't love were Nick and Laura.
At first when I read about Nick, I was okay with him. He and Cath both seemed to be working well together in writing and I thought I saw what could be a real relationship. But as the story continued, we got to see Levi a lot more than Nick. ( I preferred Levi from the start and still do). Eventually, it is revealed that Nick basically used her and that made me look at him in disgust. 

Laura, Cath's mother, wasn't someone we got to see much. The story behind the Avery family was very realistic and normal for families nowadays. I completely understood how Cath felt about her mother, and how she wanted nothing to do with her since her mother left her family when she was only 8.

Although I didn't love Nick and Laura, doesn't mean I didn't like them as a character.
The rest of the characters in the book were so lovable and amazing. 

Cath and Wren (her twin sister) had a very realistic relationship  and other than their love for Simon Snow, they were like opposites, which was interesting. ( I think both of their names are very creative Cath+Wren=Catherine).  Wren once was a crazy fangirl over Simon Snow, but as she got older, she stopped, unlike Cath. I also loved their dad who was very realistic and crazy (in a good way).

Cath's roommate, Reagan, was another favorite of mine.  At first, I thought we weren't going to see much of her, but I was very glad that we did. I loved her personality and the dialogue she shared with Cath. (I also love how she always kicks the door open.) At first it seemed that Cath and Reagan weren't going to be interacting a lot, but they did, which I loved. I think she played an important role in the story, especially with her relationship with Levi.

Levi had an amazing charm to him and he was a great character that I instantly liked from page 1. I loved how often it was mentioned that he smiles, which makes me smile. In the beginning of the book, I had a good feeling about him already! He was funny and sweet, and I loved scenes where he and Cath were in her dorm, reading or just talking. I loved picturing those scenes and imagining that they were right there in front of me.

My Rating:
✰✰✰✰✰

I was very surprised by how much I loved this book. I really enjoyed it and it was so fun to read! This book had no parts that were slow, or boring, like most books.  It did not feel rushed, or slow, it was just an amazing coming of age story. Rainbow's writing was great; I loved her dialogue and character development. I usually don't read books written in third point of view and past tense, but I had no problem in this case. I also think the little snippets of Simon Snow were good. Reading this book made me happy, and when it ended, I just wanted more and more. If I had to pick a book, from all of the books I've read that could get 5 stars, this would be it.

My overall thought: A flawless coming of age story with loving characters.

Fire Country by David Estes

Title: Fire Country
Author: David Estes
Pages: 369
Book #1 in the Country Saga

Summary:
In a changed world where the sky bleeds red, winter is hotter than hell and full of sandstorms, and summer's even hotter with raging fires that roam the desert-like country, the Heaters manage to survive, barely. 

Due to toxic air, life expectancies are so low the only way the tribe can survive is by forcing women to procreate when they turn sixteen and every three years thereafter. It is their duty as Bearers.

Fifteen-year-old Siena is a Youngling, soon to be a Bearer, when she starts hearing rumors of another tribe of all women, called the Wild Ones. They are known to kidnap Youngling girls before the Call, the ceremony in which Bearers are given a husband with whom to bear children with. 

As the desert sands run out on her life's hourglass, Siena must uncover the truth about the Wild Ones while untangling the web of lies and deceit her father has masterfully spun.



My Rating:
✰✰✰1/2

My overall thought: A unique story in a very intriguing world.

The Plot: Overall, I enjoyed the plot and I especially loved the world building and background.
There was a lot of cool action going on, but there wasn't enough time spent on each one. This book felt slightly crammed with too many different things happening. Some parts of the book could have been elaborated on more and some things deserved more than just one page or one chapter for an explanation. 

The world building and setting of the story was really unique and different. All of the laws, and just the whole background of the story were  really interesting to read about. I liked how there were other tribes and ending of the book was good as well.


The Writing: The writing was great although the slang terms took some time getting used to. But once you get used to it, it's like a second language!

Other than the slang, I really liked David's writing. It was very descriptive and clear. I loved picturing how the village and the desert looked like.

The Characters: I really liked all of the characters in this story! Siena went through great development and it really showed as the story continued. I also enjoyed Circ but what happened to him (I don't want to spoiler it)  happened a little too soon in my opinion. I think their relationship was great though. Siena's parents were also very interesting characters. Siena's relationship with them, especially with her dad, was very real. 

The other side characters, such as Veeva, Skye, Lara, were also great.

My favorite character has to be Perry! I loved the internal dialogue Siena had with him!

In the End:
I would recommend this book for those who are a fan of post- apocalypses and dysopians. This book was fun to read and was very interesting! The world building is very different and the writing is great. Overall, this book was fantastic and should definitely get more reads!

Thank you David for letting me review this book! :D

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis (Across the Universe #3)

Title: Shades of Earth
Author: Beth Revis
Pages: 369
Book #3 in the Across the Universe series

Summary:
Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceshipGodspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

My Rating:
✰✰✰✰✰

 NOTE: I AM DOING THIS REVIEW IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER STARTING WITH THE WRITING, THE CHARACTERS AND THEN THE PLOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF NOT WANTING TO SPOILING ANYONE WHO HASN'T READ THIS SERIES.


My overall thought: A wonderful conclusion to an amazing series. 


The Writing: Beth Revis's writing was amazing as always. It was very fun to read and the dual perspectives were done great of course. I would love to read more books from her.


The Characters: All of the deaths in this book really struck me. I grew fond of all of the characters in this book: Amy and Elder of course (whom I've loved since the start of this series), Kit, Bartie, Amy's mom and eventually, Amy's dad who annoyed me a bit at first.

I never really liked Chris and there was definitely some reason behind it.


The Plot (non-spoiler): 

The book picks up right after the ending of A Million Suns (Book #2), when Amy and Elder are preparing for landing for Centauri-Earth. This book mainly takes place on the new planet and many new discoveries are made.

I will have to say that at some parts in the beginning, the book was rather slow. Knowing Beth Revis's writing style, I was ready for something big and dramatic to happen, which didn't until the last hundred pages.

With that said, the ending of this book was PHENOMENAL. There was a lot of action and wild things happening towards the end. My heart was just thudding, because I knew something big was going to happen. The ending was perfect and I couldn't have wanted it to end in another way.

The Plot (containing spoilers, for those who do not wish to read this portion, please go to In the End and shied your eyes!) :

*********************************************************************************************


My heart broke when Amy's dad and mother died. It was like my own parents died.

The biggest plot twist for me was when the truth of Chris unveiled. It was jaw-dropping and quite frighting.  The whole scheme of the aliens and the FRX made so much sense and everything was connecting to each other.

I have never shed so many tears for a book. I cried. Happy tears and sad ones when I finished. When the blank pages of Elder's perspective popped up I couldn't control myself. I did not see this coming. After his "death" I didn't want to continue the book. I'll be honest, I did not pay attention that much and I had my blurry vision to blame.

But the BIGGER plot twist was when the escape rocket was found. I literally jumped out of my seat and knew where this was going.

When they reunited, I sobbed. It felt so good, and their reunion just gave me a mix of the feels.

After reading this book, I could not think straight. I was teary-eyed and speechless. My heart was pounding and it felt flooded with feelings and I loved the ending so much.

*********************************************************************************************



In the End:
I would recommend this book for those who are a fan of adventure, fantasy and mystery. Part of my tears were from the sadness of this series ending. I absolutely loved this whole series. Each and every book in it was amazing! Shades of Earth wrapped things up nicely, but still allowed readers to think about what would happen after that?

If you have not read this series, I highly recommend you do so. It is fast paced and thrilling and a perfect Sci-Fi novel.