Welcome to my Blog!

 

Welcome readers, to my blog! I have always been interested in books ever since I was little, so I decided to write a blog about books. I will write a short synopsis and comments about it. I will write about interesting books that I read recently. Feel free to give constructive feedback, criticism, comments, and/or questions about the books or the blog. Hope you have fun reading! :)

Eat to Live, Live to Read

I really enjoy reading books about food, so I started reading The Third Plate by Dan Barber. (I'm also talking about this book in the spirit of Thanksgiving, which involves lots of food)


The book is divided into 4 sections: Soil, Land, Sea, and Seed. The sections mainly encompass the who farm to for movement and the search of sustainable food, whether it is from foie gras to the perfect flour. 

Barber discusses the progression of American food from the "first plate" of industrial, protein-rich meals, to the "second plate" of organics and grass-fed meat. He discusses his beliefs on how neither of the approaches are ultimately sustainable or healthy. Barber proposes moving on to the "third plate" based on seasonal choices, livestock patterns and rhythms, whole-grains, and small amounts of free-range meet.
In a summary, this may seem very dull and uninteresting, but Barber manages to incorporated his proposals into a richly woven tale of the search for a truly sustainable meal. 

Obviously, my interests are different than yours, but if you enjoy reading The Third Plate, I also recommend reading The Omnivore's Dilemma and Fast- Food Nation. 

Let me know what you think in the comments section below. Happy Thanksgiving!! :)

A Classic Mystery

Okay, so the 21st of June was the last day of school, so I'm officially in 8th grade! Yay! And congratulations to all the graduates of 2015, high school or not. (But I digress.) My English teacher assigned summer reading assignments for all of us. Having projects to do over the summer is not really the best thing you want to do, although reading is fun. So, I have to finish a study guide on The Hound of the Baskervilles.

So, some of you readers may be thinking now, "Classics?? They are boooring." However, this Sherlock Holmes book really threw me off guard. It was the best mystery story I've read in a long time. There is a right amount of suspense and spookiness mixed in that keeps your eyes glued to the page.

The original cover published in 1902

The plot is centered around an age-old story/curse that has been passed down along the Baskerville family. I can only tell you so much without spoiling the book! So, I guess you will just have to find out for yourself what happens. Basically, Holmes and his sidekick/ assistant Watson go to Devonshire to investigate the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville. The next in line has already arrived at the estate, only to be threatened with an anonymous note and the theft of one of his boots. 

So basically, I learned that the word "classic" does not necessarily mean a very long, boring book that you are forced to read. Classics can be extremely interesting and fun to read. So next time you see a Sherlock Holmes book, do not walk by it, even if you don't like mysteries! Pick it up and read one chapter. YOU WILL BE HOOKED. If you enjoy reading this short story, you can buy the other stories in big volumes in bookstores such as Barnes and Noble. I've burned my way through the first book and I'm working on the second.

Another post is coming up! You can see that my blogging skills have sort of improved(at least in my opinion).

PS If you enjoyed The Hound of the Baskervilles, I also recommend A Story in Scarlet. It's about a murder mystery, but Sherlock Holmes' deduction skills make the plot line very interesting!

PPS And Oh. My. Goodness. The new TV series Sherlock is sooooo GOOD!!! I recommend them, but some of them may be more on the PG-13 side.

The Right Book at the Right Time

Similar to Wonder and Unwind, this is an intensely moving novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. I really enjoy writing about these types of books, because they have really interesting character development. I also recommend reading Out of My Mind, which is similar to Wonder. 

Counting By Sevens by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius. When I mean genius, I mean GENIUS. She's like a girl Einstein. She is obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, and finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life... until now.

Willow's parents both die in a car crash, after her mother's diagnose of breast cancer, leaving Willow alone in a confusing world. She meets Mai, a Vietnamese girl, whose family goes out of their way to make Willow feel at home.

The best part about this book is that this is not (I repeat, not) a tragedy. This odd, but endearing girl manages to push through her grief. By the end of the book, Willow has even stopped counting by sevens. Her journey to find a family is a touching and action- filled book that is a must read.

There is no such thing as a perfect book. But I strongly believe that there is such a thing as the right book at the right time for the right person. Counting by 7s was the right book at the right time for the right person(me). And for that reason, it is one of my favorite books, and for that reason, I will probably love it forever. #CountingBy7s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. For those who enjoyed the book, I believe it has been turned into a movie.

For your information...

Hello readers, 
I just wanted to let you know that I am still alive and I am still going to be writing. Hope you enjoy what will come in the following years. Keep coming to my blog! I would appreciate comments and suggestions in the comments box. I would especially appreciate constructive feedback, comments on books you have read, or suggestions on other books to read and review. Have fun reading! :)

Discover the Art of Flying!

I just checked out some books from the library, and one of them is...
The Girl Who Could Fly By Victoria Forester


Piper McCloud is an 11 year old girl who was born with the ability to fly. She lives in a small country home in the south, where life is pretty much normal. Well, that is, until Piper shows her impressive flying skills. Ma and Pa McCloud are reluctant to give Piper away to I.N.S.A.N.E, an organization where Piper is promised to learn to develop her flying skills. The institute is run by Dr. Hellion and Agent A. Agent(yes, that is his real name.) 
There are other children there too, with powers, just like Piper. There, she grows to love her home... until the truth gets out.

But one day, Piper and her friends find out that the institute was not what it was all cut out to be. I.N.S.A.N.E.'s purpose was to erase all traces of individuality in the world. An escape plan involves them pushing their strengths and willpower to the breaking point. Will Piper and her friends be able to defeat Dr. Hellion and be free again? Or will they stay there while their powers are disappearing? Read the book and find out!

I really liked this book, mainly because the characters seemed so real!(other than their magical powers.) I personally especially enjoy reading about characters that I feel I could reach out and touch, or talk to in real life. Although books with not as realistic characters can also be well developed, Piper appealed to me in this way. 

As always, feel free to comment on any books you have questions on, you have read, or I have written about in the past. :)    

A Tale of Heroism and Sacrifice

I recently borrowed this book from the library. It's called

I Am Malala

Some of you may have read it. If so, tell me what you think in the Comments section.
This was a very intriguing autobiography.

Malala Yousafzai spoke out for girls' rights to an education. After the 9/11 attack, the Taliban took control of Swat Valley, where Malala lived. On October 9,2012, She was shot in the head while riding the bus home from school. Miraculously, she recovered and had become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize. She has also spoken to the United Nation in New York after her recovery. I Am Malala has a very touching ending," I am Malala. My world has changed but I have not." I am Malala will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.


I will apologize for the lack of posts this week. I had my annual standardized tests and was unable to keep up with my blogging. Now, you can look forward(hopefully) to consistent posts on the latest books.

Malala was ranked 6th place