It's A New Week And I Have Cupcakes

I've been telling myself a lot of things this week. First of all, to stop giving out six stars on every single review, because if I could I would. But I can't so I shan't. And also to not eat that cupcake sandwich with strawberries in the middle. It's not that good Annabeth, step AWAY from the plate.
Anyway, it's been a busy week for me over here. There's school, writing AND reading books, them it's like "Holy poop!! It's Sunday!!!!" Then you know, scramble to the computer to write this post. So I'm trying to sound somewhat composed as I find out something to ramble about. So first let me do the weekly search for a decent book in my bookshelf to review.
Aha!! The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis!

Right now, you probably think you're normal. Well, so did I. I'm Jack McKinley. Relatively normal kid who is destined to die in six months. I have the G7W, a gene that makes you have seriously awesome super powers. Cool, I know. But there's a catch. If you don't find the cure made of 7 Loculuses in the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, I die. And that task, by the way, is pretty much impossible.

Peter's book is through Jack's POV, like the summary above. I love the way he wrote it, really forming each character's personality. You really get to know Jack throughout the book, and in the second book too. (I'm in the middle of reading it, an it's one of those rare sequels that are better than the first book.) If you liked Percy Jackson and the Olympians you're probably going to like this book. That's why THE COLOSSUS RISES has made it to *** three stars!! The only problem I had with this book is that it wasn't relatable for me. I mean Peter had a challenge here. He was doing a concept that has never been done before, and is not relatable. Partly because we know it's not going to happen sometime in the future. Some of the characters you can relate to, but what they feel, I cannot. But you do sometimes feel bad for the characters. Jack went through a lot of hard adventures, and in the end, I hope it gets better, because then, after all that, there might just be cupcakes!!

Flop de Flop (I don't know what it really means, but it sounds cool.)

If we have a roller coaster of blog posts, last week and this week are a big part of it. First we're going up the hill with WONDER, then it's like, "NEEEERRRR...KERSPLAT!!!!!!!" with this week's post. Long story short, we have another Flop on our hands. Flop #2 goes to...
Out of the Dust by Karen Heese

The sound of the piano. That is all that matters to Billie Jo anymore. Her mother has died. Her father is a stubborn man who's only goal in life is to grow wheat. Her home--what's left of it anyway--is a dust landfill, one of many during the Dust Bowl. Almost everyone is leaving to the legend land of California, except Billie Jo and her father. How much longer can she live with the raging dust and her quiet father? The only hope is in her hands and heart, the same hands that used to play quick tunes and the heart that used to be happy and in love. Before all the dust storms.


I had to read this one for school, and I didn't have very high expectations for it, because most of the books we are required to read are AWFUL. (With the exception of Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm.) This book is written in free verse poem, a style I didn't enjoy. I mean, if you're going to write a book, I would prefer if you wrote it like a normal person, please. There was a lot of action, but the author didn't deliver the action scenes well. And in the end, that is not good. This book was also a Newberry Medal winner, and probably for the historical accuracy. I found this book rather depressing. It didn't-- how do old people say it? Ah, yes-- tickle my fancy. (I'm kidding, I say that occasionally...so does that make me an old person?) So this book met my expectations at:
** Two Stars.

Have a good week guys! :{D

If There's Anything Better Than Sliced Bread, It's Unicorns. But If There's Anything Better Than That, It's This Book.

So now I have brought to you the bestest book in the universe. (If aliens had a better book, I want it--NOW.) And this book is...
Drum roll please!!!
(OK guys, that's just wimpy. Now give me a REAL drum roll...)
WONDER BY R.J. PALACIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guys, this book is like Because of Mr.Terupt on steroids. If there were six stars, Wonder would get seven stars. I cannot scream this from the top of the Empire State Building enough times. (You think I'm kidding.) So I guess I should stop ranting, because I'm pretty sure you don't want to read a whole post of ranting and ramblings.

Most people think they have it bad. Like, "Oh No!I don't know what to wear!" Well you don't know the definition of having it bad. If you look it up in the dictionary, August Pullman's picture is next to it. Auggie has a face deformity that had been "..caused by a recessive mutation in the TCOF1 gene..." that makes kids run and scream and other kids make fun of him. He's been home-schooled by his mother because of that. And then middle school comes along.
August goes to Beecher Prep, a private school near his home in New York. He's welcomed by Mr.Tushman and three students, Charlotte, the nice and smart kid, Julian, the bully, and Jack Will, Auggie's new friend. Really, sending August to middle school is like sending "...a lamb to the slaughter...", and according to Google, that isn't good for August.

I think I already gave you a preview of what Wonder will get this week. So now we get to the suspense...
****** The Never Before Seen Six Stars!!!!! OK, if a tornado with sharks in it is possible (in a movie), than this is possible. Wonder is a moving book sure to touch the hearts of manys. I may sound like a buisness person, but I'm not kidding. I sobbed during this book. (Maybe it was with the help of the dramatic music I was playing, but that doesn't matter.) Wonder rocks my socks. This book is for anyone older than 10 years old, and for everyone, no matter what genre you like. Wonder is realistic fiction with action and heartfelt moments. Wonder is the whole package!

My favorite quote from the book: "Everyone needs a standing ovation at least once in their life, because we all overcometh the world." -August Pullman
(It's my official motto) :)

Gross Lunches and Homework: Yeah School's Back (Groan...)

For some of us, school's right around the corner. I kind of realized this at the end of the week, so I was desperate to come up with some brilliant idea I could either a), rant about, or b) fangirl about. (OK guys, I think at least one of us has totally FREAKED OUT about a book.) And so on Sunday, The Swing of Things Series was created. The Swing of Things Series features a few books to get you "back in the swing of things" for school. I don't want this post to be super long, so I'll have a summary from Goodreads and then my review. Alright, let's get reading!
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Sixth Grade: Glommers, Norks, and Me By Lisa Papademetriou

Allie Kimball is excited to be starting sixth grade. Her best friend is going to be in the same school and she is going to try out for the soccer team. But she soon learns that middle school is a very different world, full of strange new beasts, like glommers--girls who never go anywhere alone--and norks-a combination of a nerd and a dork. Allie realizes it's time to define herself before she gets lost in the sixth-grade jungle. Sixth Grade: Glommers, Norks and Me is a funny and poignant look at sixth-grade friendships, crushes, and trying to define yourself.

What I Thought:
**** Four Stars- Sixth Grade is one of those books that you walk away from feeling you learned something. In short, this book is a bit like one of Aesop's Fables(except for all of the characters being animals). Allie finds herself drifting away from her best friend, Tam, throughout the year, and sees that the new Tam is a very different Tam. Allie makes new friends that Tam has a problem with, so Allie has to deal with that, and all the other lies Tam is telling. After reading it, I realized that it's OK to make new friends and let go of some of your old friends, because people change. As much as I liked this book, it ended way too quickly. On the last page, I thought excitedly, Alright, another chapter! *tuning page* Wait...that was the last page...sad face. And so, the downgrade was necessary.
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Because of Mr.Terupt By Bob Buyea

It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school.
Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone.

What I Thought:
***** Five Stars- The characters may be going into fifth grade, but the experience with the students doesn't change. This book will make you laugh, cry, and scream at the book and chuck it at the wall. (Yes, I know, pretty extreme) You look through the student's eyes, and also as Sharanya put it, "It felt (perhaps unsurprisingly) like I was actually seeing things through the teacher's eyes..."
Because of Mr.Terupt takes you on a roller coaster of the kid's emotions and inside life, from Alexia's experience practically being in the movie "Mean Girls", to Luke's obsession with dollar words. You go inside the children's heads and find out about them. For some people the book may sound lame at first, but I assure you this book is way far away from lame. I cannot say how much I LOVED this book enough. And this is when I go fangirl on you guys.
: )
See you next week!