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.

Great book found in the depths of the library...

This post, I want to tell you about a very nice fiction book that I read. I happened to stumble across this book while a was reading a book order packet thingy. The book is ...

Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings

In many ways, Natalie O'Reilly is a typical fourteen year old girl, but she was born without irises, and has juvenile glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease where fluid builds up in the eye, causing pressure on the vital organs. But then Natalie learns she will lose her sight within a few months. Natalie is sent to a school for the blind in Baltimore to learn skills such as Braille and how to use a cane. Outwardly, she does as she's told-- inwardly, she hopes for a miracle that will free her from a dreaded life of blindness. 

But the miracle does not come. In just one night, she turns completely blind. Natalie must confront every blind person's dilemma. Will she go home to live scared? Or will she embrace the skills she needs to make it in a world without sight?

This book really teaches the readers that the blind and others with disabilities are capable of doing things that those without disabilities can. The book talked about many everyday obstacles blind people have, which are things people just take for granted.They find ways to get around the obstacles. This book has many unexpected twists and turns. Natalie's internal conflicts make it easier for the readers to sympathize with her. Let me know what you think! :)

The Wonder of Wonder

Hello again! This post is going to be about one of my favorite books. It is so heart wrenching but has lots of meaning in the plot.

I am going to write about the wonder of ...
Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder's message to all it's readers

August (also known as Auggie), is not an ordinary boy. Deep inside he is, but outside, he is not. His face isn't ordinary. He has Treacher-Collins syndrome which deforms the face. August's parents think that he should go to school instead of home-schooling, beginning in fifth grade. He wonders if he will be able to fit in at school at all. 
He finds out it's much like he expected. All the kids try to ignore August and pass around rumors that you can catch a disease from him. Auggie does make two close friends: Summer, a girl who actually enjoys Auggie for who he is, and Jack. Jack started out as Auggie’s “assigned” friend, and when Auggie finds this out, he and Jack have a falling out. Will Auggie be able to fight his way to the end, or will he be crushed by the prejudice of his enemies?

I strongly recommend this book. The narrator changes every few chapters from August to his sister to a few of his friends. All of the points of view help the reader picture the story more completely. This book is fit for everybody young to old. One thing I didn't like was there were some points of view that I didn't think were necessary, and they slowed the book down. But overall, it was a very enjoyable book. August's story of courage and friendship really melted my heart. The author writes about middle school pretty realistically and how cruel (and how compassionate) kids can be.

What if?

I actually borrowed this book from the library, misreading the title. As you can see in the picture on the left, the font is hard to read. However, my mistake introduced me into a new series. The first book is...

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

One of the many versions of Unwind's covers

The story takes place in a society where unwanted teens ages 13-18 are salvaged for their body parts. Three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them. Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs-- and she isn't talented enough to keep. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religious custom to donate 10% of everything to the church. 

Brought together, they stick together through desperation, and they make a cross-country journey, knowing their lives are in danger. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed, but when they and their bodies are wanted by their society, eighteen seems far away. Will they find a safe sanctuary to stay in?

This book is a must read for those who enjoy science fiction/ fantasy. Unwind is a very touching story. The book has some very important themes that you learn as you read this book.  I would not recommend this to anybody under the age of 10.  This book will make you think and influence your opinions about society in the past, present, and future. I feel the author is relating many details from his story with our world today. 

I think that this book is a satire of the future based on the abortion conflict in our present day society.  The author talks to you in a casual, but well- written style. It is very easy to get lost in the book, look up, and realize, it has been like 5 hours and OMG you were supposed to finish your homework ages ago...
But that didn't happen to me(luckily), so I spend quality time with it over the weekend. There is lots of suspense throughout the book, and kept my eyes glued to the page! 

P.S. The book Unwind is part of the Unwind series. A list of the books can be found here. I have not read them yet, but comments about the whole series are welcome. As always, feel free to include constructive feedback, comments, and/or questions about the books or the blog.

Why do people enjoy fiction?

Recently, I asked myself, "Why do people enjoy reading so much?" Based on my observances, people enjoy books that have the following features:

1. It takes you away and focuses the reader on the characters problems, and away from your own problems
2. A book that has lots of good suspense
3. A resonance that leaves a lasting impression
4. A reader will find something in the book that reminds them of themselves.
5. The readers get to know characters that you feel you can identify with and talk to if they existed in real life.

Thus, I have tried to choose books that will interest readers and fit the standard model for books that young adults/teens will like. So I have included my first post ever(!) also.

My first review is...
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl is a girl that is very different from the average high school student. Students are slow to warm up to her. She is nothing like what they had experienced before. They cannot place her in a certain group, stereotype, or clique, so they shun her are "weird." After she joins the cheer-leading team, she suddenly becomes popular. Leo, the protagonist, begins to think more and more about her. 

Stargirl's message to all her readers

But there is one problem: Stargirl cheers for EVERYONE as a cheerleader. Her school mates completely turn on her after she extends her kindness to the opposing team. Leo must decide who he cares about more: Stargirl, or everyone else/ his reputation. Later on, he begs Stargirl to be the only thing that would destroy her: Normal.

This book was appealing for me because it demonstrates the conflicts in popularity and the importance of being oneself.
Stargirl is the first book in the Stargirl trilogy. Have fun reading!

"She was illusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin went through and away she flew."

~ Leo