Monday, September 13, 2010

Top 10 FUN back to school reading!

Hey All! So at first i was going to make a list of great summer books, but now that summer has ended I'm gonna make the top 10 books that you should check out for back to school reading...kinda like a pleasure book to read to take your mind of stress and school stuff. So if you don't already know and/or read these books check it out! Please Remember that this is just MY opinion, and the order of these books is just based on MY ranks. These books are all great and I just wanted to put some spotlight on them, so you could see what it is about. With all that said-or typed- please enjoy my first top ten back to school reading (for fun, of course). Oh, and i'll try to not spill any spoilers, but if i do i'll post a warning :)

Number 10: Wenny Has Wings By Janet Less Carey
Book Summary: Is there life after death? Will North thinks so. Will has a near-death experience in the accident that kills his younger sister, Wenny. He remembers how happy he felt zooming through the light when he died; he remembers seeing his sister flying ahead of him. Will wants to tell his mom and dad about his near-death experience but the family isn’t ready to talk about the accident yet. So he decides to go on a daring adventure down “the tunnel of death” with his best friend Gallagher and his dog, Bullwinkle. Can Will prove there’s a connection between this world and the afterlife?
My Opinion: Wenny Has Wings is a very touching book, but at first i didn't really like it. It was still compelling though, because you wanna find out what happens in the end, and it really gets better. It's about Will's struggle to be back home and around his parents after his sister's death. Will goes through a series of things to help him cope and let go of what happened, and open up to his parents. This is a truly touching book and in the end, it made me a little teary eyed.


Number 9: The Face On The Milk Carton By Caroline B. Cooney
Book Summary:  No one ever really paid close attention to the faces of the missing children on the milk cartons. But as Janie Johnson glanced at the face of the ordinary little girl with her hair in tight pigtails, wearing a dress with a narrow white collar--a three-year-old who had been kidnapped twelve years before from a shopping mall in New Jersey--she felt overcome with shock. She recognized that little girl--it was she. How could it possibly be true? Janie can't believe that her loving parents kidnapped her, but as she begins to piece things together, nothing makes sense. Something is terribly wrong. Are Mr. and Mrs. Johnson really Janie's parents? And if not, who is Janie Johnson, and what really happened?
My Opinion: This is the first book of the Janie Johnson series, and it is my favorite. The book is unpredictable which i like. It's about Janie, your typical teen girl; who wants to hangout with her friends and get the guy she likes. But things change for Janie once she sees her self on the milk carton one day and starts questioning who she is, where she's from. But it doesn't stop their with Janie, she starts to have flash backs of the day she was kidnapped and starts to question her parents. This is a really good book mixed with mystery, romance, and some fun.


Number 8: Restoring Grace By Katie Eforde
Book Summary: Ellie Summers' life is unravelling. A couple of months ago, she was quite happy living with her boyfriend Rick in their little cottage, producing paintings of local people's homes. But now, finding herself pregnant - and discovering that Rick is less than enthusiastic about imminent parenthood - things seem rather more complicated. Grace Soudley's life has been coming apart for more than a couple of months. Abandoned by her unsuitable husband for another woman, her only real security is the wonderful old house she was left by her godmother. She's scraped together enough money to repair the roof but, riddled with damp and dry rot, Luckenham House is in serious danger of disintegrating around her unless she finds some more money fast. When Ellie and Grace meet, the two very different women suddenly find they can help each other out. Ellie needs a place to stay; Grace needs a lodger. Both of them need a friend. But then Grace's step-daughter Demi arrives on the scene, followed by the disconcertingly engaging Flynn Cormack - who seems determined to help. And when Grace discovers some beautiful painted panels - which may or may not be rather valuable - hidden behind the tattered dining
My Opinion: So at first, i'll admit i thought this book was kind of boring. But it doesn't take long for that to change, after Ellie- the outgoing, full of life one- meets Grace- the more quite, and gentle one, yet still entertaining- things get interesting fast. Ellie and Grace both find themselves in a unique situation when they find a priceless painting in Graces home, and the work it takes to restore this painting brings both Grace and Ellie love, closure and most of all a lifetime friendship. It's a really sweet book and i think it will leave you going "awww" :)



Number 7: Anne Frank And Me By Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld Cherie
Book Summary: In one moment Nicole Burns's life changes forever. The sound of gunfire at an Anne Frank exhibit, the panic, the crowd, and Nicole is no longer Nicole. Whiplashed through time and space, she wakes to find herself a privileged Jewish girl living in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II. No more Internet diaries and boy troubles for Nicole-now she's a carefree Jewish girl, with wonderful friends and a charming boyfriend. But when the Nazi death grip tightens over France, Nicole is forced into hiding, and begins a struggle for survival that brings her face to face with Anne Frank.
My Opinion: I love this book. I really, really do. It's about a girl named Nick Burns and how she goes from a normal teenager, with guy troubles, an annoying sibling, and horrible homework. But when Nicole and her school go to a museum and gun shots start fairing she gets transported back in time to World War 2 and is now a French Jew living in Paris. Now the troubles she has before was like cupcake, as she struggles with going from a privileged girl to having limited fun, going into hiding, and not knowing what's going to happen to you or your family next. This book was way better than i thought it was going to be and in my opinion it's so good, you can read it over and over again and never get tired of it!



Number 6: The Serious Kiss By Mary Hogan
Book Summary: 14-year-old Libby wants one thing: a serious kiss. Not some slobber session beneath the bleachers. Not some lap-kiss in somebody's basement or fake kiss 'cause a guy wants you to think he loves you so you'll do more. No, not a liar's kiss. Libby wants a kiss that's the real deal: Love. True love. Only problem is, her family is in a meltdown, her life is a toxic waste dump, the guy she likes already has a girlfriend, and her best friend just fell in love during detention. Even Juan Dog, her chihuahua, is beginning to wish he were in another family! When it can't possibly get any worse--you got it--it does.
My Opinion: I feel in love with this book from the first chapter. That's how captivating and interesting this book is, and not to mention the our funny, easy to love main character, Libby. The way she narrates the book makes it easy to understand everything that's going on. So basically, the book is about- well, duhh- a...no... the Serious kiss. So Libby and her best friend Nadine both pledged to having a serious kiss by their 15th birthdays. But then Libby and her family move away to a place that she absolutely hates; she's away from her school, the guy she's in love with it, and her best friend- not to mention that she knows no one in this new place and she feels out of place in her home and school. But as Libby comes to terms with the kind of person she is, the family she has, and accepts that- she finds exactly wants she's been wanting all along. Love. And of course, A Serious Kiss. This is truly an awesome book that yall should check out!





Number 5: The Heavenstone Secrets By V.C. Andrews
Book Summary: SECRETS ARE AT HOME HERE...The Heavenstone sisters live with their mother and father in a grand old mansion in bluegrass Kentucky. Semantha, the younger and prettier one, is afraid of so many things -- darkness, strange noises, mysterious whispers in the night. But nothing frightens her more than her sister, Cassie. She is older and wiser, and always telling Semantha what to do, what to wear, and how to behave around those wicked boys at school. Semantha has her eye on one special guy -- but Cassie has other plans for her. In the Heavenstone house, big sister knows best...AND THERE'S NO ESCAPE.
Then tragedy strikes like a lightning bolt from heaven, and Semantha's life becomes a living hell. Under Cassie's constant, watchful eye, she feels like a prisoner -- a helpless pawn in her sister's cruel game. When Cassie begins wearing their mother's clothes and vying for their dad's affections, Semantha realizes she must bring their twisted sibling rivalry to an end...before a new generation is born.
My Opinion: This book was so not what i expected. When you first pick it up, you think its gonna end one way- but it doesn't. It's about the heavenstone sisters- Semantha (yes, Semantha- isnt that cool!) and her older sister Cassie. So what happens is their father wants a son, Asa ( i think...) to take on their last name and family legacy. But the thing is, both their parents are getting older...so having a baby gets harder, and even more worse- (SPOILER ALERT!- SKIP THIS LINE) the mom looses the baby! and of course when that happens, it's very hard to deal with- especially the mother. (YOU CAN READ THE FOLLOWING) So anyways, just like the summary says- big sister Cassie knows what's best...but is Cassie's intentions good or bad? and what will happen when all of the secrets are out and in the open? You gotta read it to find out! It's really a great book, with suspense, mystery and it's just a book you wont wanna put down.



Number 4: The Truth About Forever By Sarah Dessen
Book Summary: Macy's summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development. But Macy's plans don't anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or ... Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn't fit Macy's life at all--so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So ... happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before? But Macy's plans don't anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or ... Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn't fit Macy's life at all--so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So ... happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before? Sarah Dessen delivers a page-turning novel that carries readers on a roller coaster of denial, grief, comfort, and love as we watch a broken but resilient girl pick up the pieces of her life and fit them back together.
My Opinion: First of all, Sarah Dessen has become one of my favorite author's real fast. I love the way she writes her books, and she is by far like one the best romance author's ever. So The Truth about Forever is a book i read recently and was one of the best books i've read from her. It's about a girl names Macy and how she lives her life after her father's death. She blames her self for her father's death and now tries to live a life or perfection for he rmom- who she barely communicates with. Her life is perfect- or very close to it; she has a smart boy friend, a big beautiful home...but no real happiness. Not until she meets Wes, and joins Wish Catering. Now Macy goes out and party's every night, she's admitting how she feels about her father's death, she's actually opening up and most of all, Love. But is this transformation enough to help her fill the void she has with her mother, come to terms that Jason-the smart boyfriend- is not the person for her, and that it's time to let her self grieve for her father the way that she is suppose to? well, you gotta read it to find out. And if you are a romance book fanatic- you will certainly not be disappointed.



Number 3: Scrambled Eggs at Midnight By Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler
Book Summary: Calliope (or Cal as she calls herself ) wants nothing more than to stay put, to stop traveling cross-country with her mother, sleeping in a tent, abandoning all belongings whenever they pull up stakes. Eliot misses the happy times he left behind when his father decided to open a camp for kids looking to lose weight and find Jesus.When Cal and Eliot meet by chance, they feel an immediate connection.Together they must face their isolation, the threat of yet another move, and the deepening of Eliot’s father’s obsession with money and God.This smart novel, featuring unforgettable characters, colorful backdrops, and even a few recipes, is as funny as it is romantic.
My Opinion: Scrambled eggs at Midnight had me thinking, right from the start. It made m think of "fat camps" and how it affects people's lives, it made me think of Jesus and how people use to that affect someone else's life. And of course, it had me thinking about green lips. You'd have to read the book to get what i mean ;)
So this book is about Cal and Eliot. Cal lives- or rather, travels with her carefree mother. Eliot has both parents and helps out with their Christan based "fat camp". Cal misses the time she with her parents as a family; Eliot thinks his Father and mother need to work on their relationship or get a divorce. Basically, Cal and Eliot are opposites- and of course opposites attract. In this funny, lively, and relatable book find out how Cal and Eliot overcome their differences within their families, unite with what they have in common, and how to get green lips!



Number 2: Dragon's Keep By Janet Lee Carey
Book Summary: Far away on Wilde Island, Princess Rosalind is born with a dragon claw where her ring finger should be. To hide the secret, the Queen forces her to wear gloves at all times until a cure can be found, so Rosalind can fulfill the prophecy to restore the family to their rightful throne. But Rosalind’s flaw cannot be separated from her fate. When she is carried off by the dragon, everything she thought she knew falls apart. The dragon sees beauty in her talon where her mother saw only shame, and Rosalind finally understands what her mother has truly denied her.
My Opinion: I LOVE THIS BOOK! Really, it is one of those books you can connect to, relate with...just enjoy! So this book kind of ties in with the Arthurian legends and the Pendragons. It's about Rosalind's family being cast out from the Pendragons and as they were about to go, Merlin tells them a prophecy about a girl who will save them from their exhale. Like a 100 years later, Rosalind was born- but with a MAJOR flaw...she has a claw. a real dragon claw on her right hand wedding finger. How is the person that is suppose to save her family from being an exhaled royalty have a claw as a finger?! But things get worse when a dragon takes Rosland away, and the secrets her mother tried so hard to hide away is reveled, and most importantly, what happens when the person Rosaland loves has seen this unforgettable flaw? Well, you gotta read this amazing book to find out!



Last but not least in our back to school countdown....BELLA AT MIDNIGHT!!!!...by Diane Stanley :) *crazy crowd cheers*
Book Summary: In the little village of Castle Down, in a kingdom plagued by war, lives a peasant girl called Bella. Blessed with a kind family and a loving friend, she manages to create her own small patch of sunlight in a dark and dangerous world. Bella is a blacksmith's daughter; her friend Julian is a prince -- yet neither seems to notice the great gulf that divides his world from hers. Suddenly Bella's world collapses. First Julian betrays her. Then it is revealed that she is not the peasant she believed herself to be: She is Isabel, the daughter of a knight who abandoned her in infancy. Now he wants her back, so Bella is torn from her beloved foster family and sent to live with her deranged father and his resentful new wife. Soon Bella is caught up in a terrible plot that will change her life -- and the kingdom -- forever. With the help of her godmother and three enchanted gifts, she sets out on a journey in disguise that will lead her to a destiny far greater than any she could have imagined.
My Opinion: *screams at the top longs* Finally! This book, in my opinion is AMAZING! the plot is unpredictable, fun and memorable. Really, it's been almost 2 years since i last read it...but i remember everything! So what is this amazing book about? well I'll spill *WARNING!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!* So the book is centered in the 19th century and of course about Bella. Bella was raised by her peasant family which she always believed was her real family, her best friend is Prince Julian who was kind of raised by this peasant family also. They grew up together and ended up best friends. Bella's life isn't full of much but she is very happy with it. Though now, that is all about to change. Bella's aunt-her real mother's sister- has come to take her back to her father-who after his wife (Bella's mother) died, didn't want her (Bella) anymore- and live with him. A series of pain, and hurt, and anger follows but in the end Bella must go. By the time Bella is ready to go things with her and her best friend isn't in the best place, so this leaves another hole in Bella's heart. But awesome long story short, Bella isn't happy with her new family and her aunt can help change that. As Bella discovers who she really is- not a peasant daughter, not a knights daughter- but Bella, Just Bella- a girl who is destined for great things and a great life. Not just for herself of course, but also for her kingdom. If you don't check out any of the books in the list that's fine...but you have GOT to check this one out!!



So that's it. That's my top 10 easy going, carefree, and light book to check out for fun for your back to school reading. It doesn't have to be a back to school reading either, it could be a whenever i want reading. :) I hope you guys enjoyed the list and remember...your comments are welcome! if you have any opinion, questions or whatever please don't hesitate to say whatever you want. And if you like this blog, please pass it on to someone you think will enjoy it also!

God Bless YOU!

Monday, September 6, 2010

HEYYY!!

Hey Everyone! (side note: I dont know anyone yet...so if there is like only one person reading this...then God Bless you. You made my day...no week...no month! ^.^ so...thank you!! and pass the word about this blog site to everyone. so anyways, thank you very much- whoever is reading this...that's right. I'm talking to you.) Anyways, this is my very first blog :) i don't know how this works...but i hope it'll be fun. So, mostly my blog will be about books. I know, I know- some people think reading is *yawnnn* BUT- they're are some people who think otherwise...like me! But i'm a person of many thoughts and not all of them is about books. I travel alot, so i will blog about that too. I'll blog about everything and anything and i hope you'll read it, i'll also blog about anything you want me too, just send me a message, or comment or whatever it is and i'll check it out. If you wanna get to know me, just ask. I'm not shy-well...a little. but who isn't sometimes?!- so you can ask what you want. I do know that the Internet can be a dangerous place to share info, so i'll tell what i can,- and i dont mean to be rude- but somethings i just aint gonna share. If you think this blog site is cool, PLEASE tell your friends, and i'll only be happy to do the same for you. Anyways, i'm the PinkReaderr and this is my first blog...yayy! haha and yeah...i can be a weirdo sometimes...but yaknowwhat? i dont care. Cuz life to short to be anyone but yourself.
And yes, i made up that quote my self...i think =P


PS- I will blog 2-3 times every week so check out my site as often as you can, and sometimes i'll blog about random facts and interesting-yet totally unnecessary things for you know about. 'Cause ya know...thats just the type of person I is. =P
PSS- when i did the spellcheck on "yaknowwhat" the only thing it suggested was "skinhead" ... i mean, how did it even come up with that. haha just thought you should know (:


Stay blessed everyone =)