Catching Fire

          I started reading Catching Fire. It is the second book of The Hunger Games series by Duzanna Collins. I have also already read this book. But I wanted to read this series again so I can better visualize it now that I have seen the movies. I really liked this series. In this particular book, I loved meeting Finnick.

          Finnick starts out as a shady character who everyone thinks is against Peeta and Katniss. But they all end up becoming allies in the arena and they ultimately become friends. Finnick is good-looking and kind. He saved Peeta's life which showed that he truly is on their side. I also met Beetee and Johanna Mason.

         These are also characters that Katniss meets and befriends while she's in the arena for The Hunger Games. Beetee is a middle-aged man who is extremely intelligent and very good with technology. He won the Games in the past because of his brains. Johanna is a girl who hates the Capitol and wants to fight them. She is loud and speaks outwardly. She is a fun and well-written character.



http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/meet-the-hunger-games-tributes/josh-hutcherson-peeta-district12/

Finished The Hunger Games

          I have finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I thought the ending was very well written. In the book, Peeta and Katniss are only fake "star-crossed lovers" so that they can survive in The Hunger Games. But the ending truly shows their real love for each other. One of them has to die in order for there to be a winner and for The Hinger Games to be over. But because they both love each other, neither of them can see the other one die so they threaten the Capitol to kill themselves at the same time. The Capitol surrenders so there are two winners of The Hunger Games.

          When I was reading this book all I could think was how could an author come up with a plot like this. "The Hunger Games" must have come to her in a dream or something. I think Collins is a very great writer with a great imagination. I love all of the characterization and the setting of this book. The theme is thought-out as wel.

          The characters from each of the districts are planned out very well. I love how each of the districts have a different theme and a different job for Panem; a different way for them to provide for and work for the government. I love how this book takes place in a Dystopian society. If you liked this book, I would also suggest reading Divergent, Matched and Delirium.



http://www.thecapitol.pn

The Hunger Games

           I have decided to reread The Hunger Games series. So this week, I started the first book. I have always loved this series and reading it after I saw the movie really helps me to envision the characters and settings better. I really love Katniss Everdeen, the main character, who has an amazing personality and very interesting characteristics that keep the reader intrigued. I also love the setting of this book. I love the dystopian society that this book takes place in. I love the plot and conflict as well. It makes you think about what would happen if you were put into the Hunger Games.

            If you haven't read the book, I would definitely recommend this book. Suzanne Collins, the author, keeps the story rolling. It never gets boring and something's always happening. There's always a different conflict that's occurring. I love the theme of war, survival and hope. I love how the main character is a girl. This way it shows all of the emotions going through her head and proves that woman can be strong and independent.

             I also love the love triangle in this book series. Gale is Katniss' hometown friend from District 12. They hunt for food together and they have been best friends for a really long time. They also may like each other more than friends. Then Katniss has to go into the Hunger Games and Gale has to stay home. The other tribute from District 12 is Peeta Mellark. Katniss meets him and they have to act like they're in love to stay alive so they can get the Capital on their side. But then they actually fall in love and this creates a love triangle.

http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/

Finished Soul Surfer!

           I have finished Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton. After she gets bit by the shark and finds out that she lost her arm, she's angry and frustrated because she can't do the simple things that she used to be able to do. She's on the brink of giving up when she turns to God for answers. She finds herself going on a mission trip where she sees other people who are struggling with issues that are greater than her problems. She later decides that she wants to get back in the water. She's going to surf again! With God's encouragement and help from her family, she trains hard so that she will be able to compete at a surfing competition. She gets in fifth place at the regional event which is her first competition with one arm.

          I love that this book proves that you can't let any of your problems get in the way of what you really want to do. Just because you might have a disability, it doesn't mean you should let it get in the way of following your dreams. Life's a roller coaster and anything can happen. It's unpredictable and when something goes terribly wrong, know that it will get better and you can fix it. The theme of this book really touched me and I hope it moved you too.

        I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a good true story. It's a non-fiction story that really touches the heart. The fact that it's a true story, makes the story so much more emotionally powerful. If you are struggling with a problem in your life, I would suggest reading this book. It might give you advice on how to solve your problems or at least make them less painful. Go to the library and pick it up! Enjoy. :)

http://bethanyhamilton.com/about/career-highlights/

Soul Surfer Continued...

      This week, I continued reading Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton. So far I am really enjoying this book. I love all of the characters. Her family is very close. I bet you could walk into their house and just feel the loving atmosphere. I love how Bethany Hamilton has a serious passion that she really enjoys. She is driven and knows where she wants to go in life. I love how her best friend is practically her sister and they love the same thing: surfing.

       I'm at the point in the book where she just got bit by the shark and the doctor's telling her parents that she has lost her arm. This is a tragic, emotional part in the story. Surprisingly, this doesn't happen until about two thirds the was through the story. Because this is what the story's about, I didn't think the conflict would occur so late in the story. It came almost right away in the movie. If you only watched the movie, there's a lot of background information about Bethany and some other characters that you might not know. So I would suggest picking up this book.

       Because I know more background information about Bethany, I feel even more attached to her and when the shark bite happens in the book I feel more distressed than I did in the movie. I can't wait to read about how she is resilient during her recovery. After turning to God, she finally decides that she wants to get back in the water and start surfing again. But this time, she'll be surfing with one arm. I am also a Christian and I love how this book shows that great things can happen when you look for God for help.

http://www.surfer-guide.com/

Started Soul Surfer

        I just started Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton. Everyone knows this story. Whether it's because they watched the movie, read the book, or have just heard the story because someone told them about it. I have watched the movie. I thought it was an outstanding movie so I decided I wanted to read the book too. I also decided to read this book because if you read my last post, you know that I wanted to try reading a non-fiction book. This is a non-fiction book because it is a true story written by Bethany Hamilton and written about her. It is a narrative about a specific time in Bethany's life.

        She loves to surf and she is really good at it too. She lives in Hawaii and surfs all the time, usually with her best friend, Alana. Everything is perfect. She has a wonderful family. She has a strong faith in God. She models for a swim suit company. She has her best friend and she is a champion surfer.

         But one day everything goes horribly wrong when she gets attacked by a shark. She loses her entire arm in the accident. She thinks everything could be lost forever. Everything that was perfect. But she keeps a strong connection with God and fights through it. So after a while of recovery, she decides she wants to get back in the water... So far I am really enjoying this book. I love this story. Bethany Hamilton really inspires me. If you haven't already, you should read this book and get inspired too!

http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfing-lifestyle/life-as-a-surfer/avoiding-shark-attacks/


Actor that plays Bethany Hamilton and the real Bethany Hamilton :)

The Rule of Thirds Abandoned

             I started reading The Rule of Thirds by Chantel Guertin. I, however decided I didn't like it. I did like the topic and the characterization. I just don't like realistic fiction that much. That doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. I thought it was a good book. I just think realistic fiction is boring.

            This is my opinion: I like science fiction or fantasy because they can't happen. When I read the story I can dive into a world that doesn't exist. I can imagine things that could never really occur. That's what I like about reading. If the things that I read could actually happen then what's the point of reading it. I could just live the story for all I know. You may have your own opinions about this which I would love to hear.

             On a different topic, I am going to continue my search for other genres. I have decided to read a non-fiction book now. Not because my english teacher told me I have to (well that's part of the reason) but it's also because I want to. I want to explore new genres and topics. There could be so many great books that I'm missing out on because I haven't even tried reading a non-fiction book. If you have an good recommendations for non-fiction books, please let me know in the comments.

http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/teen-nonfiction



           

Started The Rule of Thirds

         I just started The Rule of Thirds by Chantel Guertin. So far it seems like a good book. It's a realistic fiction book. Usually I don't read realistic fiction but now I have grown to like it because of my recently read books: Roadside Assistance and The Fault in Our Stars. So far I like this book because I can relate to the main character. The main character is a girl in high school who loves photography. I also am a girl in high school who loves photography.

          This book is about the drama a teenage girl endures during her junior year of high school. Her name is Pippa. She and her friend Dace have their lives planned out. They are going to travel the world. Dace will be a model and Pippa will take the photos of her. But then things change and Pippa faces some challenges.

          Pippa struggles with her photography project for the statewide photography competition while struggling with her love life. She likes two boys who want her attention. But who will she pick? If you want to find out, I would recommend reading this book. Especially if you like love triangles. Enjoy the good read!

http://www.photographytips.com/

Roadside Assistance Review

                I have finished reading Roadside Assistance by Amy Clipston. I loved this book. The conclusion was well-written and the problems were resolved very well. If you have read this book you know that even though Whitney isn't a main character, she is a round character. She develops and changes throughout the story. At the beginning of the story Emily, the main character, describes Whitney as a snobby, rich girl who gets everything handed to her. She doesn't like her Aunt or cousin and hates that she has to move in with them.

               At the end of the story, Whitney and Emily's Aunt come around and prove to be kind, loving people who just want to make Emily happy. All of the things they did that Emily thought was out of pity was really out of love and generosity. Zander and Emily get back together which, if you read the book makes you happy. At the very end of the book when Emily finally gets back to her faith and everything is coming to a close, an unexpected twist occurs.

             When her dad is at work, he slices his arm with a tool in the car shop and almost dies from blood loss. Emily was very scared and upset while her father was in surgery. The doctor was worried he would lose function in his arm but after some rehabilitation Emily's dad will be fine. I think the incident actually made Emily closer to Christ which is a very good ending to this amazing story. I would recommend you read it if you haven't.



http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/6-ways-to-praise-god-during-hard-times/

Roadside Assistance Continued...

         I have continued reading Roadside Assistance by Amy Clipston. I am really enjoying this book. On my last post I said that I was more interested in who "the boy next door" was. I have found out more about his character. He has extremely blue eyes that contrast with his dark hair. He loves to work on cars just like Emily. He is cute and polite and his name is Zander Stewart. Emily likes him but is nervous to talk to him.
        
          So far in the book, Emily Curtis, moves into a huge house with her snotty rich Aunt and cousins (Logan and Whitney). Whitney is a popular, cheerleader, social butterfly. Emily is the opposite. Her and her dad love to work in the garage on cars and Emily isn't popular or social. She rights in her diary. She doesn't write "Dear Diary". She writes "Dear Mom" instead because she died of cancer.

          She's leaving for the first day of school and almost crashes into Zander when pulling out of the driveway. When Whitney picks up her friend Kristen they gossip about school and also think Zander is really cute. The way the narrator describes Zander foreshadows that they will fall in love throughout the story. I wonder what will happen next...

http://www.ehow.com/list_6504879_first-high-school-tips-tricks.html

Started Roadside Assistance!

           Roadside Assistance, by Amy Clipston, seems to be a very good book so far. I don't usually read realistic fiction because I usually don't like realistic fiction, but this book is really good. It's also romance and the only other romance and realistic fiction book that I have thoroughly enjoyed is The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. But who hasn't read and enjoyed that book? If you like this genre I would definitely recommend this book.

         I just started reading Roadside Assistance. The author gets straight to the point and you don't have to read a ton of boring introduction in the beginning. The characters are well developed. The main character is a girl who doesn't like to stand out. She is kind of anti-social, she loves working on cars and she is a little depressed because her dad doesn't have a job and her mother just died of cancer. This is a good character because she has a personality, a hobby, and has struggled with loss in the past.

       I am excited to learn more about "the boy next door". Emily (the main character) and her dad move in with her Aunt and her cousin, Whitney, who are a little bit on the snotty rich side. The only positive thing about the move is the boy next door. So far I don't know much about him, but I can tell he is going to be what makes this book a romance novel. I can tell I am going to like this book. :)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/similar/14767832-roadside-assistance

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-if-you-liked-the-fault-in-our-stars#3w35jv4

The Secret Vampire (The First Book in the Night World Series)

             I read The Secret Vampire by L.J. Smith. This amazing author has also written the series, The Vampire Diaries, which is another great book series that you may have heard of. This series  has also actually become a very entertaining TV show. I love this book because I love the genre. "The Vampire Craze" lives on in my mind. I got into all the vampire books a little late. For example, I just read the Twilight series this past year and I loved it! Since then I have read other vampire books and have really enjoyed them. So if you like fantasy, romance and anything involving vampires and witches, I would suggest you read this book.

             This book is about a girl, named Poppy, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. She had absolutely no chance of survival until her best friend, James reveals his secret, He is a vampire! So he decides that her only chance at life is to turn her into a vampire. There is only one problem. She must fake her death, because no one can know she is a vampire. It goes against the laws of the Night World-the world of vampires, witches and werewolves. Since vampires don't age, people will eventually figure out she is a vampire. So with the help of James and Poppy's brother, Phil who finds out about vampires, Poppy fakes her death. When she wakes up she is thirsty for blood but doesn't know how to feed without stopping, which could kill the victim. Throughout everything, Poppy and James have fallen in love and they are soul mates, until James' cousin comes to town. His name is Ash. He rips Poppy from James when he tells her that she is putting James in danger by being around him because she is an illegal vampire, So they run away leaving James behind. If you want to know what happens next, pick this book off the shelf!

              This book is very well written. I love all the characters and their personalities. James, the good guy who will do anything to protect Poppy. Poppy, the innocent girl who just wants to make everything right. Ash, the unpredictable bad boy and Phil, the overprotective yet annoying brother. This book grabs you and pulls you in with all of it's twists and turns. Read and enjoy! :)

http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/best-of-vampire-craze/

The Fault in Our Stars (Spoiler Alert!!!)

               I read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green this summer. In this book, there is a girl, named Hazel Grace Lancaster, with Stage IV Thyroid Cancer. She meets a boy, who used to have cancer, named Augustus Waters at a cancer support group. They both love, An Imperial Affliction, a book by Peter Van Houten who lives in Amsterdam. After some conflict the two of them finally get to go to Europe to meet the author. Throughout their time together, they fall in love. Sadly, at the end of the trip, Gus tells Hazel that his cancer came back. A little while later Gus dies. Hazel and his parents suffered through a lot of pain and grief. But just like it says in the book “Pain demands to be felt” and “The world’s not a wish-granting factory”.

               I love this book because it is very inspirational and deep. Be ready for tears, because this book is very sad if you get attached to the characters. If you like realistic fiction and/or romance books, then you would love this book! I also love this book because it opens your eyes to the real world. You can see that lots of people struggle with cancer. Cancer is a terrible thing that can happen to anyone and most people take their good health for granted. We don't see how lucky we are to be healthy and living. I also love this book because I love the theme.

               The theme of this book is to live in the present and to never worry about if you are going to be remembered when you die. It doesn't matter if you are a famous movie actor or a MVP Basketball Star. Just like it says in the book, being loved widely isn't as important as being loved deeply. Another theme of this book is about struggling with loss. Pain is temporary. Dolly Parton says a quote that was used in the movie. That quote is, "If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.

http://www.alexslemonade.org/