The Boy Who Dared By: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Source

• Title: The Boy Who Dared
• Author: Susan Campbell Bartoletti
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication Date:  February 1, 2008
• Pages: 202
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

I was so excited when I found out this book existed because 1) I had read many books by Bartoletti before and have always enjoyed them and 2) the story seemed extremely intriguing because it was told from a viewpoint that not many books delve into. 

Helmut Hubner is a young German boy during the outbreak of World War II. At first he goes along with what everyone else is doing, including joining the compulsory Hitler Youth. However, after listening to multiple illegal BBC broadcasts via his illegal radio, Helmut starts to realize that the German government is lying to the citizens. And what Helmut does next could mean the end of his life. 

This book is based on the true story of Helmut Hubner and is told through a series of flashbacks, but I didn't mind the format at all. It was a little confusing at times to switch perspectives but that was more my fault than the author's; I was simply too caught up in the present story to wrench myself away from it. 

I liked this book because it shows a perspective that is not often portrayed in books, fiction or otherwise. The world often forgets the plight of the average German citizen, many of whom did not approve of Hitler's actions either, and this book gives them a voice. The best-and worst-part of this book was certainly reminding yourself that this was based on a true story and Helmut did do all of these things. One of the great marks of a writer is when you have to remind yourself what is real and what is not, and this book certainly did it for me.

Bartoletti includes additional historical information and this in itself is extremely interesting. And if you don't want to read that (which I wouldn't know why) you can still pick this book up for its story because it is quite engaging.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse By: Rick Riordan

source

• Title: The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3)
• Author: Rick Riordan
• Publisher: Disney Hyperion
• Publication Date:  April 8, 2008 (2007) 
• Pages: 320
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2008
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

Well here we are. Halfway through the series, and I'm as hooked as ever to this world I've become entrenched in.

The titan war is brewing ever closer and it's all Percy and his friends can do to keep the Titans from rising and monsters from killing them. But they do have more help: Thalia, Nico, Zoe, and Bianca all join Percy and Grover to save Annabeth. Can they do it and still stop the Titans from rising?

Hands down this is my favorite book in the series because all of my favorite characters are finally together in one amazing book. I can't bring myself to describe in words just how much this book encapsulates all of my feelings.

But I'm going to try.

Think of your favorite Christmas present or Hanukkah present or birthday present, whatever, then multiply that feeling you had when you first opened it by about ten, and you have an idea of how I felt when I read this book for the first time. And everything I read this book over again, I get that feeling.

The plot of this is simply amazing, and this is the first time that Riordan really pulls on my heart strings by not giving everyone a happy ending But it's understandable; the Titan War is almost upon them, Percy and his friends are maturing, it would be counter-productive if nothing pivotal happened.

So Zoe is hands down my favorite character of all time. She is the sassiest immoral teenager ever and has the perfect job description: a hunter of Artemis. The first time I read this book, I told myself that I wished I was a hunter too, and this wish hasn't yet stopped. Combine this with ominous prophecies, impending world doom, and blue food, and you have the perfect formula for an amazing demigod adventure!

Tutorial: DIY Bookmark

As promised, I am sharing with you guys my favorite way to DIY my bookmarks, which I have been making since I was seven or eight years old, and of course (at least I like to think anyway) my bookmarks have gotten better through the years! I've been doing this for a while, but I promise the process is quite simple!

This is the bookmark I currently have, and I will be teaching you guys to make one in the same style, out of old book pages (don't worry about the books, it's okay, I promise!)

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

I think there is nothing better than being able to make your own bookmark to put a little more of your personality into the books you are reading. After all, you are emotionally investing yourself into these books, so you might as well do this as well. And it's way cheaper than going out and buying a store bought one (unless you really want to of course!)

Materials:

• Thin and flexible cardboard or cardboard like material (cardstock works too)
• Old book
• Thick magazine or cutting mat
• Ruler
• Xcato knife
• Scissors
• Foam brush
• Pencils (I use a wooden one and a mechanical one)
• Hole puncher
• Mod Podge (I use the one with a glossy finish)
• Something to cover your work surface

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

Directions:

• For the sake of this tutorial, I'm going to call the backbone of my bookmark, cardboard, which it is, in the loosest terms. I collected this from a package I received and I thought it would make great bookmark material. Anything will work really, that's decently sturdy, yet flexible. You can use card stock and even the type of packaging they use on ponytail holders and bobby pins. That's what I used for my Eiffel Tower bookmark! So I took my current bookmark and used it as a template to trace my new bookmark. The dimensions for my bookmark are 17 cm x 6.3 cm. But you can make it as big or as small as you want. It's really up to you.

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

• Cut out your template then take two book pages from an old book and trace the newly cut out cardboard onto both book pages. I find that old, yellowed book pages give me the best look I want, especially since I am looking for more of a vintage feel. The books I use for these types of projects are very old books that I took from an art closet in my school. They were rotting away, so I decided to give them new life. But if you're squeamish using old book pages, try using old dictionaries instead because there might be less of an association with killing books. Be sure to hole punch a hole in the cardboard only. We'll deal with putting holes in the book pages in a little while.

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

I like placing the template in the middle and not right on the edge of the page because I like having words throughout the entirety of  the bookmark.

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

• Take the Mod Podge and foam brush and glue the pages onto either side of the cardboard. Now it's starting to look like a bookmark! As for the little hole where the ribbon will be threaded through, I used the tip of a mechanical pencil and carefully poked a hole in the page and found the hole I had already punched earlier and used it as a guide to punch a hole in the book page. The book pages are very delicate so be careful doing this, taking care not to tear the pages away from the hole.

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

• If needed, trim the edges of the bookmark so that the pages line up with the cardboard. It is best to use an Xcato knife for this step because it is easier to trim as it gives a cleaner edge. A pair of scissors works too, but it might be a little harder to do because of the awkward angle you would have to cut with. If you do use an Xcato knife and don't have a cutting mat, you can use a very thick magazine so as to not damage your work surface. 

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

• Now all there's left to do is the fun part: decorating! For this particular bookmark, I will use Prismacolor colored pencils, which are quite possibly my favorite art supplies because of their extremely vibrant pigmentation. Other possibilities include using watercolors, acrylic paint, Sharpies, a combination of these materials, or anything else really; your imagination is your limit! If using watercolors or acrylic paint however, be sure to prime the surface first with gesso or a similar substance so that the pages don't disintegrate as you're painting them. It's also really fun to pick out a ribbon to thread through the bookmark; think of all the choices! Thinner ribbon works best because they are easier to thread, though you can punch a bigger hole and use thicker ribbon if you wish. 

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

• After you have drawn your design on your bookmark, take the Mod Podge one more time and brush a coat on either side of the bookmark and on the edges to seal the design and protect the pages. Putting Mod Podge lets you prolong the life of the bookmark because this way, the book pages do not tear and fray and the design does not get smudged. And if you've never used Mod Podge before as a sealant, don't worry: it goes on white, but dries clear and glossy. Just be careful if you are putting Mod Podge on colored pencils-apply very slowly, being careful not to smudge it. Honestly, I thank whoever invented Mod Podge because it is magical: both a glue and a sealant!

And voila! There you are, a handmade bookmark that you didn't spend any money on! I hope you enjoy your bookmarks and go on many book adventures!

Photo: Mariama Poquiz

The Royal Diaries: Anastasia, the Last Grand Duchess By: Carolyn Meyer

Source

• Title: The Royal Diaries: Anastasia, the Last Grand Duchess
• Author: Carolyn Meyer
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication Date:  September 1, 2000
• Pages: 218
• Genre: Middle Grade/ Historical Fiction
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2013
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

Anastasia is born into a life of privilege and pomp, and she, along with her three sisters and brother are the children of the most powerful man in the world, Tsar Nicholas II. But her life is about to take an interesting turn, and she's not sure if she'll come out of it unscathed.

When I was little, I read every single one of the books in this series, and Anastasia's life particularly captivated me. Her idyllic lifestyle was just so isolated from the common people of Russia, and when I was little, I wanted to be a grand duchess too, and live her life. 

I loved all of the insights into the Romanov way of life and thought it was particularly interesting that her brother, Alexei, had hemophilia, like many of Queen Victoria's descendants. This diary takes place right at the breakout of World War I, when everything starts changing for not only Anastasia, but for her entire country. 

This book is aimed at a younger audience, but I enjoyed it nevertheless because it transported me to early twentieth century Russia, and introduced me to the life of Anastasia Romanov. The ending of this book even gives additional historical information and actual photographs of the Romanov family.

It's a fascinating read that I'm sure everyone will enjoy. 

Never Fall Down By: Patricia McCormick

source

• Title: Never Fall Down
• Author: Patricia McCormick
• Publisher: Baltzer + Bray
• Publication Date:  May 8, 2012
• Pages: 216
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Recommended Age(s): 16+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Library
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

I'm so glad I found this book because it has become one of my favorites for sure. This novel is based on the true story of Arn Chron-Pond and his experiences during the Cambodian genocide of 1975-79. It follows Arn's story of survival from the labor camps of the Khmer Rouge, working in the rice fields and becoming a musician and part of a dance troupe to the refugee camp in Thailand where his future ultimately begins.

Told from his perspective as a child, the novel eloquently captures the sights and sounds of Arn's journey. It is a young adult book that deals with incredibly mature themes in an incredibly tactful way, though there are many instances of graphic depictions, in order to reiterate the horrors of the situations Arn faces.

Before reading this book, I had almost no information about the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge, so it was an incredibly eye-opening read. The language in this book contains no complex descriptions or sentences, as it is told from Arn's childhood perspective when he hadn't quite mastered the nuances of the English language. But the simplicity of the writing style brought a greater weight to the story being told and I just couldn't put the book down.

Though a novel, it is heavily based on Arn's life and reminds me once again just how resilient the human spirit is, and how an imperfect person can go on a quest to create a more perfect world. Arn wasn't anyone particularly special, but his kindness and will to help others strengthened his will to live another day. 

I read this book in one sitting and couldn't find any faults with it. It's simple yet complex, with the most important aspects about Arn's character shown indirectly through his deeds. It's a book I soon won't forget.

The end of the book includes additional information about Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge, and though I'm not sponsored in anyway to mention this, I encourage anyone interested in finding out more about Arn and his humanitarian projects to visit Cambodia Living Arts as a starting point. I also found this Tedx video of Arn, recorded in May 2015, talking about how music saved his life, so I encourage you to check that out as well. When I watched it, after reading about his story, I cried when he played the flute at the very end.

You could say that Arn's just a little bit famous.

The Sea of Monsters By: Rick Riordan

source

• Title: The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)
• Author: Rick Riordan
• Publisher: Disney Hyperion
• Publication Date:  April 1, 2007 (2006) 
• Pages: 288
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2008
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

Percy Jackson and his friends are not normal teenagers. For one, thirteen year old boys usually don't carry swords in their pockets that morph into pens. And it's definitely not normal to have a half-goat boy for a best friend and a Greek god for a dad. But that's the world Percy and his friends find themselves in, and they sure have a heck of a lot of adventures involving nothing short of *almost* certain death.

But it's all in a day's work, right?

Just like The Lightning Thief, this second installment in the Percy Jackson series is chock full of adventure and sassy comebacks that are sure to leave you with a smile, if not a groan exasperation. One of my favorite things about this book-and the series in general-is its ability to make even the direst of situations comical by slipping in an innocuous seeming comment that turns into the most hilarious thing in the entire book. I also like how Percy and his friends reach way outside of heir comfort zone-like in another country outside-in order to complete their quest. Sailing into monster infested waters isn't quite what many consider a *normal* day, if  you know what I'm saying! The fact that Rick Riordan also finds a way to weave a thousands of year old story into a kick-ass modern ale blows my mind. Maybe he should have been in that weaving test with Athena, and left Arachne in the dust. Ha. Get it?

*crickets*

Nobody? Ok.

And the word we're all looking for here is Anyway...

I don't think I have to say anymore. This book definitely exceeds my expectations and keeps the story going in such a way that I felt as if I didn't miss a single thing about the lives of any of the characters. Annabeth, Grover, and a few fresh faces are all here waiting for you, so be sure to pick this up, or Zeus might just smite you with his thunderbolt!

Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of the Little Mermaid By: Debbie Viguié

source

• Title: Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of the Little Mermaid (Once Upon a Time #4)
• Author: Debbie Viguié
• Publisher: Simon Pulse
• Publication Date:  June 1, 2003
• Pages: 208
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

I love fairy tales, the originals and the re-tellings both and I've read a few books from this series. Some are better than others, and this one is certainly one of the top ones on my list. Hans Christian Andersen's original The Little Mermaid is my favorite fairy tale, so I was very excited to come across this book. And I wasn't disappointed at all.

This re-telling is only very loosely based on the original tale, but I really enjoyed it because there were enough twists that it didn't become too cliched. It's a classic tale that was told in an interesting way. 

My favorite part of this book was the beginning and I was in tears by the first sixty pages, which is not an easy thing for a book to do to me. I was feeling emotions that I didn't  even know I had inside of me because you know, feelings. The exposition was extremely well written and I was sucked into the story by the first five pages. I fell in love with Pearl and her family, and cheered for her relationship with her best friend James.

I was fully intending on giving this book a full five stars, but I ended up lowering the ratings because halfway through the book, even more characters showed up who I did not know how to feel about and completely messed up with the love story that was already brewing. And after the first 100 pages or so, the plot started moving at a pace that I did not much appreciate, because I quite liked the existing state of things. Like I said, there were twists, and I couldn't come to terms with some of them, but I still gave this book a solid rating because I enjoyed the story as a whole.

I finished this book in one sitting over the course of a couple hours so it was a fun, fast read. And I'm writing this review just hours after I've read this book, so emotions are still kind of swirling around me. Not as much as they were when I was reading at two in the morning, but they're still there.

Definitely read this curled up under your covers at midnight because there will just be feelings that you can't control and if you're like me, you're in for an interesting ride!

Distant Waves: A Novel of the Titanic By: Suzanne Weyn

source

• Title: Distant Waves: A Novel of the Titanic
• Author: Suzanne Weyn
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
• Publication Date:  May 1, 2011 (2009)
• Pages: 336
• Genre: Historical Fiction 
• Recommended Age(s): 12+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Library 
• Rating:  2.5 / 5.0 stars

So I thought this was a novel about the Titanic. After all, on the front cover, it says "A Novel of the Titanic" and that's why I decided to pick it up. The novel centers around a family of spiritualists and I'm kind of confused as to what the central plot of the entire thing is.

The Titanic is not at the center of the book and I was actually very confused as to where the novel was supposed to go. There are so many characters who I felt were not doing anything to advance the plot, and I felt like the author was trying to name drop as many famous people as possible into the novel to prove that she had knowledge about the historical setting. I just didn't understand why Tesla had to be in the book. The novel would have been perfectly fine without him.

There were also so many conflicting themes going around, pretty irrelevant to what the book promised that it would be. If it did not advance the plot in any way, then I saw no reason for it to be included at all.

I was also just so confused about the pace of the climax and the absurdity of the ending. Everything went too fast, there was really no character development, and I just couldn't wrap my head around the ending, which was totally irrelevant to the entire thing.

What? Just what?

I've read many other historical novels about this famous disaster and I've enjoyed every single one of them, but this one disappointed me so much that I was kind of sad that I had to bump down its rating. This book should have gone done with the ship.

The Lightning Thief By: Rick Riordan

source

• Title: The Lightning Thief  (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)
• Author: Rick Riordan
• Publisher: Disney Hyperion
• Publication Date:  March 1,2006 (2005) 
• Pages: 377
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2008
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

This is one of those books that I regretted not picking up earlier because it has become one of my favorite book series. 

Percy is not what you'd call a model kid. He has ADHD, so he's not what you'd call quiet, and  he's been kicked out of schools in New York faster than his mother can find new ones for him. And there's the fact that strange things seem to happen around Percy...

I fell in love with book. I had never before read about a main character who has had the spunk of Percy. Percy's witty and sarcastic first person point of view is what really sold me with this book because the guy is so freaking sassy. Even in the most dire moments, when he's about to be, oh I don't know, be eaten by a monster, he's still mouthing off and it's just amazing.

I think I liked this series so much because it incorporated Greek mythology in a way that I had never experienced before. I was that kid who loved-and I still do-all the Greek myths so I pretty much memorized them all. So you can just imagine how happy I was when I finally picked this up. Not only were the characters in the ancient stories given new life, but the main characters-who are just regular kids themselves (well other than being demi-gods obviously) were so relatable. I could see a bit of myself in each of them and I think that's what I good book should do to a reader.

Riordan concocted the perfect mix, not only in this book, but in the entire series as well: Greek mythology, sassiness, adventure, and characters who you can't help and fall in love with. I just can't see why anyone would not like this.

As for me? If I had an Olympian parent (though I do love both my parents, don't get me wrong!) I would choose to be daughter of Athena, goddess of wisdom!

Who will you be, hero?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows By: J.K. Rowling

source

• Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)
• Author: J.K. Rowling
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication Date: July 21, 2007
• Pages: 759
• Genre: Fanstasy
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2007
• Source: Gift 
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

Well guys, this is it. Seven books. Eight movies. And millions of fans all around the world. We grew up with Harry Potter. We'll never forget the magic that the series instilled within us. And there was no better way to go out than this book.

I cried. I laughed. But mostly I marveled at how this series became such a part of my life. And though I'm writing this review eight years after the release of the seventh and final book, the magic has has in no way left at all. 

Harry is finally of age. And he believes it his duty to destroy Voldemort once and for all. And though a majority of this book takes place away from the the halls of Hogwarts, there is no shortage of action at all. I really liked the development between the trio and the fact that they can survive the hardships they went through just reveals the lengths to which their friendship will go to. 

Were there deaths? Of course there were. It's war. And I cried-of course I did. But in the end, I felt like all the deaths contributed to the beauty of the overall story, even though I know I will never fully get over some of those who J.K. Rowling decided to kill off. 

What I marvel most about this series is its ability to bring in the past books and make connections with them that pertain with the present situation. It's foreshadowing to the max for sure.

I can't wait to read this book again and again because every time I open this book-or any book in the series really-I feel like I am going home.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by: J.K. Rowling

source

• Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
• Author: J.K. Rowling 
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication Date:  September 16, 2006 (2005)
• Pages: 652
• Genre: Fanstasy
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2006
• Source: Gift
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

So many feelings. Everything is changing and I can't get over all of them. This book is the one that I have read the least out of all the others, but I like it just as much as all the others; I suppose that it just gets lost in the mix, like being a middle child I suppose.

I definitely enjoyed the backstories the most. I got to get inside Voldemort's head and finally find out his ultimate motives. Nothing blows my mind more than all the connections that Rowling oh so subtlety made throughout the series only to come rushing back at you like a giant wave of Ohhhhhhhh. That's why she did that. There is nothing better. I won't give anything away for all you haven't read the Harry Potter books because these subtleties are what make Harry Potter Harry Potter. 

Favorite scene? Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Enough said.

I just wish that Harry wasn't so dense in this book. I feel like he focuses on all the wrong things and does get *ahem* obsessed about a couple of things. He also does not put two and two together fast enough, but I guess that's why Hermione is the the brightest person in their year, and not Harry.

There's no doubting it; Harry is on the edge of a great wizarding war and nothing is going to be the same ever again. But the fact remains that Harry and Hermione and Ron are just sixteen years old. They are a cesspool of raging hormones and I thought it was incredibly interesting to see all those hormones play out in a fantastical world, reminding all of us that though they have magic wands at their disposal, they are not that different from us muggles. They fight, love, and care with as much intensity as anyone I've ever seen or read about.

There's just something addicting about this series and The Half -Blood Prince does not disappoint.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix By: J.K. Rowling

source

• Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5)
• Author: J.K. Rowling
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication Date: August 10, 2004 (2003)
• Pages: 870
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2006
• Source: Gift 
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

**Contains Spoilers!!!**

This being the longest book of the series, I expected it to pack a punch. And it sure lived up to my expectations! I loved this book because it kept me turning the pages-and there are 870 of them-until the very end. There are even more new insights into the wizarding world and a bunch more character development so that I feel like I know Harry's entire soul or something like that.

I loved how long this book was. I really did, because there was so much plot development that went on and it never once felt slow to me. Two words though. Teenage angst. Harry's temper seems to always be just bubbling beneath the surface in this book and sometimes I actually laughed when he started screaming at people because he did it to the point of ridiculousness. But I suppose little Harry is growing up and needs to balance out all his hormones and all that fun stuff. It also probably doesn't help that Voldemort is barraging him with these dreams. But what can you do?

My favorite part of this book was the twins. Seriously. They are wittiest characters I have ever met and my favorite scenes are where they just completely go wild in Hogwarts with all their Weasely's Wizarding Wheezes merchandise. I love it. One of my favorite quotes in the book goes:

"Give [Umbridge] hell from us, Peeves. And Peeves, whom Harry had never seen take an order from a student before, swept his belled hat from his head and sprang to a salute as Fred and George wheeled about to tumultuous applause from the students below and sped out of the open front doors into the glorious sunset."

That has to be the classiest exit out of school I have ever seen.

One of my other favorite parts of the book was the description of the wizard hospital, St. Mungo's. It was so cool to see how Rowling created a place that was both familiar and unfamiliar to the reader at the same time when she wrote the scenes about that place. I quite enjoyed seeing a particular professor again, though I did feel a bit sorry for him.

The most fascinating aspect of this book was when Harry delved into Snape's memory and saw that his dad was not the perfect person that Harry thought he was. That he and Snape had something in common. That people could change. I remember feeling very sorry for Snape indeed when I first read this book all those years ago and thought to myself just how weird that feeling was. Snape was supposed to be the bad guy. It's this memory that makes me realize once again just how complex of a character Snape is and the fact that he was in many ways, not that different from Harry.

And speaking of bad guys, I don't think that I've ever met anyone who I've hated more than Dolores Jane Umbridge. She is not a death eater, but an authority figure, yet I dislike her more than Voldemort (who is supposed to be the capital letter Bad Guy in this entire series) or any of his supporters. I think everyone hates Umbridge more than the dark wizard responsible for so many deaths because everyone knows someone like her. Rowling herself modeled Umbridge on a teacher that she once had, so there is a very real reality that we will all have an Umbridge in our lifetime. An authority figure who abuses their power and is inherently prejudiced against people or beings who are unlike her can be more evil than any death eater. After  all, as Sirius has wisely said,

"The world is not split up into good people and death eaters."

There is no one, I repeat no one, who can make the color pink and cute little kittens seem malevolent and foreboding. But that woman is in a league of her own. She makes the Plastics look tame.

A word about the movie. It was by far my least favorite of all eight movies. It simply did not do book justice. I wish David Yates had incorporated more of the book and did not change so much of the way events took place. I mean, the events he changed weren't even applicable in the long run so why change them?

But overall, it's completely worth it to read all 870 pages of this book! There is nothing better than coming back home to all your wonderful friends and this was what I felt as I read this book.

China Dolls By: Lisa See

source

• Title: China Dolls
• Author: Lisa See
• Publisher: Random House
• Publication Date:  February 25, 2015 
• Pages: 416
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Recommended Age(s): 16+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Goodreads Giveaway 
• Rating:  2.5 / 5.0 stars

I was very excited to receive this book after I won it on a Goodreads Giveaway and had very high hopes for it. As you can see by my rating however, it did not fulfill my expectations.

It started out well enough; the author does a great job of describing the time period and I could tell she extensively researched her history and I greatly appreciated that. She also concocted very interesting back stories for each of the three main characters, Grace, Helen, and Ruby so I thought that the plot would intertwine and blow my mind away in such a way that I would not be able to hold in all my different emotions. Did it do that? Well, no.

The biggest problem I had with this book was not the setting ( which was actually my favorite aspect of this book) nor the premise, but the characters themselves. I often felt confused about the characters' intentions because they would say one thing and act in a completely different way than what their words indicated. One minute they were screaming bloody murder at each other, yet come and comfort each other at the same time. It was highly inconsistent. I did not really understand why these three girls stayed friends because they honestly had nothing in common other than the fact that they all danced in the same night club. And honestly, just because you work with someone doesn't mean that you have to be their "true-heart friend" to quote Helen's ridiculous term to justify her intentions.

I also was often confused as to who was narrating a particular chapter unless I glanced at the chapter name, as there was almost no differentiation between each of the girls so I felt like the characters were extremely flat. None of them really learned from their mistakes; they just made more elaborate versions of essentially the same mistakes. And their voices never matured, never took on that tone that comes with the gaining of more wisdom. All they did was fall into their old traps.

Grace, Helen, and Ruby never did grow on me either. Usually, as you read more of a book, you end up identifying with a character and falling in love with her. In this case, I had no love for any of them, and I was very disappointed about that. At first, I thought that I would come to love Grace, Helen, or both. But as time went on, I realized Grace would never grow out of her naivety and Helen would never develop past the surface. Ruby, who I did not like from the beginning, was also just as shallow and did not become the woman she ought to have become, considering her circumstances.

It's like that feeling when you receive a beautifully wrapped present, but upon opening it, discover only a single paper clip in that giant box.

Incantation By: Alice Hoffman

source

• Title: Incantation
• Author: Alice Hoffman
• Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication Date:  October 1, 2006 
• Pages: 166
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Library
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

It seems that I have been in a historical fiction phase lately; all I have read for the last few months are these types of books. But they are just so good that I can't resist. This book is about an obscure, yet terrible phase in world history-during the Spanish persecution of their Jewish population.

In all accounts, Incantation is very short, with less than 200 pages, yet it packed quite a lot in its 166 pages. After finishing this book in a couple hours, I was left reeling because everything had just happened so fast. I am usually used to historical novels taking their time, as there is a breadth of historical facts that are usually embedded into the framework of the plot. Here though, everything goes from Pleasantville to Crazy Town in a few short chapters. I suppose that it fits in with the type of story that is being told because Estrella had her life yanked from her in such a forceful manner that the reader has to have that same sense too. In my case, the pace was almost dizzying, but I liked it.

For such a short book, it sure had a lot of themes in it-friendship, loyalty, betrayal, identity- that I think were covered pretty well. The most interesting aspect of this book is the fact that Estrella and her family had to hide their true identities for so long and the lengths to which they went to ensure their survival. It shows an aspect of the human race that speaks to everyone-that people will do anything to survive. I also thought that Estrella's relationship with her best friend Catalina was incredibly interesting because it represented what did happen in real life to people during that time period. No one was safe anymore. And the the chilling fact is that what happened between Catalina and Estrella happens throughout the world every single day.

If I had anything bad to say about this book, it would only be that all the dialogue is set in italics without the traditional quotation marks and that disconcerted me a bit when I first started reading. However, I soon got used to it and the beautiful writing style and symbolism more than made up for my nit picky self. 

So if you're looking for a quick, yet powerful read, this book is the way to go.