Movie Review: You've Got Mail

This charming 90's romantic comedy is funny and cute. It's cozy, mostly clean except for a few suggestive comments, and it stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It's about two rival bookstore owners: she owns a cozy, family heirloom children's book shop, and he's the owner of a major bookstore chain. The two despise each other in real life, but do not realize that their online chatting partners they're slowly falling in love with...are each other.
You will not regret watching this fun movie.

Parents, this movie is rated PG-13. Here's the link to Kids in Mind:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/y/youve_got_mail_1998__203.htm

Book Review: The Sisters Grimm

The Sisters Grimm is a 9 book series written by Micheal Buckley where the leading protagonists Sabrina and Daphne Grimm move to Ferry Port Landing with their Grandma that was said to be dead, after their parents disappeared mysteriously from their home in New York. They soon find out that Ferry Port Landing isn't as ordinary as it seems with the fairy-tale characters trapped in the town by Sabrina and Daphne's ancestors,  the Grimm Brothers. (Kinda like Once Upon a Time, but not really) Sabrina and Daphne soon join the family business and become fairy tale detectives. With the help of Granny Relda, Mr. Canis, Puck, and Elvis their  Great Dane, they solve mysteries and work to bring down the elusive Scarlet Hand.
 I looooooooooooooooooooooooove this series. Every book is just as amazing as the next. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good series.

Star Trek Into Darkness Movie Review

Okay so this is a very late review but better late than never I suppose. Anyway if you liked the first movie you'll love the sequel. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto return to the big screen for a high-action adventure with a spectacular villain played by the fantastic Benedict Cumberbatch going by the name of John Harrison. I admit I didn't actually expect much out of it  (I like Star Wars better than Star Trek don't hate me:) but I was very impressed with how well done the movie was. It kept me on the edge of my seat (and not only because of Benedict) I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first movie. It was just amazing so if you haven't already get your behind to a red box or to a friends house to see it!

Parents: Um it's rated PG-13 for reasons so I'd check it out here:
 http://www.kids-in-mind.com/s/startrekintodarkness.htm

Word of the Day: Euphoric

Happy FRIDAY!!! We made it through the week, so let's get a round of applause!!!
*stadium screaming applause*
Why, thank you. I suppose I had a pretty good week as well. September, September. I love it!
So, I suppose we are all pretty euphoric today. Wait, you ask, Hailee, what does euphoric mean? Well, euphoric means overjoyed. Ecstatic. Jubilant. I'm moving on, so if you don't get it by now, too bad. We're all in a case of Friday euphoria, so enjoy it. Go home, eat nachos and watch Duck Dynasty. Live it up.

Si gets euphoric around firecrackers.

(we disclaim duck dynasty to a and e and all associates.)

Word of the Day: Sagacious

Welcome to the word of the day of the ONLY September 7, 2013 you will ever have!
Today's fantabulous word is sagacious.

This word means the exact opposite of ignorant, stupid, idiotic, dim-witted, etc.

Sagacious is a fancy word for smart or perspicacious (which, now that I think about it, is a veeeery fancy word itself.) If you call someone sagacious, you are notifying their intelligence and, as some people would say, Smarticle Particles.
So, sound sagacious and say it! You don't even have to tell people you found it online.

Bye, bye, my swanky readers!
(\o.o/)
(I'm not sure if I just typed a gremlin thing or a bunny rabbit. Comment below to voice your sagacious opinion.)

DISCLAIMER: I use www.dictionary.reference.com to look up this word. And I don't own this beautiful Psych picture, I believe USA does. But, don't steal this post. Not cooool.

Word of the Day: Flamboyant

This fun word to say means strikingly bold or brilliant or showy (courtesy of www.dictionary.reference.com, my source for sounding intelligent when I talk.) So, when your mom buys a painting of a flower or tree or something, tell her it's flamboyant and she'll love you forever.
Or, if you're writing your Christmas list and you want to make it extra clear that you don't want just any old crap, you can say, "I would like some positively flamboyant whateverjunk for Christmas."

Fangirl relation: "Captain America's star-spangled suit is adorably flamboyant."
                           "Sherlock's cheekbones are nicely flamboyant."
                           "Shawn, your pinapple hat is flamboyant."

Movie Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters

So, if you're a major PJ fangirl, like myself, you found yourself furiously panting after watching the first movie. The plot was distorted and it was wrong in so many ways. But, if you're letting that keep you from going to see Sea of Monsters, push aside the memory of the destroyed first film and buy your flippin' ticket! For a movie, it was an excellent representation of Rick Riordan's bestselling sequel. The guys were hot (Percy and Luke....ah), Annabeth's hair was BLOND (a detail they could've fixed in the first movie), they had all the characters (Clarisse and Thalia and Mr. D) and it was hilarious and awesome!

Camp Half-Blood is going great when suddenly the magical borders that protect its contents start to flicker, caused by the poisoning of Thalia's pine tree. The only thing that can heal the tree-and the camp- is the Golden Fleece, a special artifact that can heal anything. However, it is in the Bermuda Triangle (most commonly referred by demigods as the Sea of Monsters) and guarded by the deadly cyclops Polyphemus. Not only that, but right when Percy is feeling like a lousy one-quest wonder, Poseidon sends him what seems like a manifestation of humiliation: a cyclops brother named Tyson.

Watch it. Fangirls, try not to judge it for content and details. I mean, as much as we want a three-hour copy of the book, Hollywood has not yet unlocked the fullness of the literature it portrays. So enjoy!

Parents, this film features thematic action: monsters, fighting, etc. If you're unsure whether it suits your family, consult these awesome websites that outline every bit of adult content for you:

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/p/percyjacksonseaofmonsters.htm
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/percy-jackson-sea-of-monsters

Movie Review: Now You See Me

I LOVED THIS MOVIE! It's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. It's more than good. I'd watch it ten times in a row. Well, maybe like days in a row. It's about a group of four magicians that believe in the Robin Hood principle: robbing the rich to feed the poor, taking back the money scoundrels swindled from the people of America. But they do it through magic.
This movie is so good because of its intriguing plot.
Cynical FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) gets the assignment to nail these guys, and gets paired up with an INTERPOL agent (Melanie Laurent) and begins working with Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), a man that makes his living on pointing out how magicians do their tricks and tearing down their careers. Although no one, not even the Four Horseman themselves, know who the fifth magician helping them is.
This movie is reveal after reveal, action on top of action. Debating about watching it or not? Think it looks stupid? Well, it isn't. Mwa ha ha ha ha!

Parents, this movie isn't exactly kid-friendly for a few reasons. Check out what these cool sites have to say:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/n/nowyouseeme.htm
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/now-you-see-me
Thanks!

HELLO EVERYONE!
Okay so I'm McKenna Andersen
I love reading, writing, sports, and TV. (more than I should:)
I,like my friends, is also a big Psych fan a long with Sherlock BBC, Doctor Who, and Once Upon A Time. The Percy Jackson series is one my favorites with Harry Potter, the Sisters Grimm, The Hobbit, and Artemis Fowl.
I have a strange fear of statues, bugs and fish.
Well that's about all you'll need to know about me.
Bye :D

Anticipation Empathy Post no.1: House of Hades by Rick Riordan

"Oh, poor thing!"
"Poor unfortunate soul!"
"That's too bad."
These are only some of society's sympathetic expressions. None of which have any effect on a mourning, impatient bookworm.
The Mark of Athena ended with a tragic and horribly horrid cliffhanger (leave NOW if you don't know what this means) and we fans, PJ psychopaths (or, Sherlockians will relate, highly functioning sociopaths) are mourning, and we have no idea about what yet.
This is a Great Depression in this flourishing fandom. Fangirls everywhere are drawing fan pictures, writing fan fiction about the next book, and crying into their pillows. I am writing this post to let you know that, like you, I am one of those fan-fiction writers and potential post-tartarus fall criers.

"Don't worry. I'm going to crawl to the ends of the earth, suffer loss and hatred, narrowly escape sudden death and utter starvation and come back with a copy of the House of Hades."

"Pre-order The House of Hades today on Amazon Kindle."

Are the only words we want to hear.

Book Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

Austenland is a lovely-and pretty dang hilarious- Jane Austen fan-fiction novel. I would recommend it for thirteen and older (for a few kissing scenes and some references). I loved this book! Also, read the sequel, Midnight in Austenland.

Jane Hayes is entirely given up on men...except for Mr. Darcy, played by Colin Firth (see Movie Review: Pride and Prejudice), whom she secretly wishes could be a reality. She's sure her obsession is unhealthy, but then her late Aunt Carolyn (who had recently found her stash of Pride and Prejudice DVD's) leaves a special vacation in her will. A trip to Pembrook Park, a destination that totally immerses its visitors in an Austen-esque story for two weeks. She thinks it's all a fake story with fake actors and a remedy for her Darcy-mania, or is it?
Shannon Hale has truly done it again in this adorable tale fit for the Austen-lover!
I would at least read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice first (see review on this blog) or watch one of the movies (see other review, also on this blog).

Word of the Day: Homo-Sapien

 

Okay. So, I got this hilarious word from our friend Melyna, and I totally love it. If you're ever in a position where you want to insult someone but you don't want to really insult them, you're in luck. Calling them a Homo-Sapien is perfect- all you're calling them is a human! This word means, yes, a member of humankind. So call someone a homo-sapien and all you're doing is stating the obvious! :)

Movie Review: Pride & Prejudice

I recently received this movie, and watched ALL 5 1/2 HOURS of it...yep!
It may seem daunting, and you may be obsessed with the Keira Knightley and Matthew Mcfayden version (also amazing), but you'll change your tune when you allow yourself to experience the charming glow of this classic. It's practically word-for-word, and Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle are amazing as Lizzie and Mr. Darcy. Five hundred stars, and I recommend it to anyone!

Mrs. Bennet, hyperactive, annoying and a fidgety flibbertigibbet at times, is bent on marrying off all five of her daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Lydia, and Mary. All are excited when charming Mr. Bingley moves into a manor not far from their own, and he has a grumpy and unmannered yet extremely handsome friend, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth hate each other, you could cut the tension with a knife. But will Lizzie's slight curious interest-and Darcy's undying admiration- spark a new and beautiful romance?

Kids-in-Mind and Common Sense Media do not have reviews, but there is nothing visually explicit, no violence, but there might be a religious exclamation or two in there. Gee, after five hours of movie you forget!

Movie Review: Iron Man

Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, is an epic superhero tale about a snarky billionaire weapons-developer, Tony Stark, who doesn't see anyone's needs but his own and doesn't care about anything but money, fame and ladies...until he's kidnapped by terrorists in Afghanistan. He was shot in the chest, but a brilliant doctor inserts a small arc reactor, connected to a car battery, that is keeping the shrapnel from entering Tony Stark's heart. He is then ordered to build a Stark Industries missile for the terrorist, but has a different idea. Under harsh conditions, he invents something new: the Iron Man suit.
This movie teaches about changing for the better. It teaches about realizing what truly matters and taking responsibility for one's actions. And, of course, how awesome it is to be a hero with a missile-shooting super suit. Anyway, this movie deserves five stars. It's a start to an incredibly freaking awesome series. Watch it. Love it. Obsess over it.

As far as parent reviews go, Iron Man contains lots of violence (it's a superhero movie, for crying out loud :), some language, and an...erm, adult scene. Here are the links to Common Sense Media and Kids in Mind:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/i/ironman.htm
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/iron-man

Book Review: Heidi by Johanna Spyri

        Heidi is a charming classic tale of, yes, Heidi, a young orphan girl with no stable place to belong to. This all changes when her Aunt Detie delivers her to her gruff grandfather (who everyone calls Uncle Alp) to live with him on a mountainside in the Swiss Alps. He had a frightening reputation, but Heidi knew better. She discovers a beautiful natural world on the mountainside, making friends and discoveries and wondering, dreaming, and adoring everything. This footloose and fancy-free life is altered when Aunt Detie comes to get her and take her to live with a family in Frankfurt, as a playmate for a twelve-year-old invalid named Clara. It is here that Heidi realizes how rare-and special- God's blessing of home is.

This book was enchanting and especially cute; I recommend this to anyone. Five stars!

Book Review: Cycles by Lois D. Brown

           Cycles is impressive. Its plot entangles you and keeps you there past the back cover; Lois D. Brown is a living legend.

Renee Beaumont is about to die....again.
That is the slogan for this teen urban-fantasy. This book is unexpected. It's intense. It's...incredible!

Renee has weird flashbacks, her next-door neighbor has samples of her blood for no apparent reason whatsoever, and, even worse, her parents have a dark, dark secret that could very well decide Renee's fate.
 Any more explanation of this thrilling novel will completely and totally spoil its dynamic plot for you. Anyway, this novel is probably grade-school appropriate for sci-fi action. Five stars! Five freaking stars!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Check out its equally amazing sequel, Spaces)

Movie Review: Iron Man 3

    Last night I went to see Iron Man 3, and frankly, it is the best movie I have ever seen before. It is also the best out of all three Iron Man movies and out of all the Avengers movies. I enjoyed every second of it! Marvel has truly outdone itself with this action-packed (seriously- it's better to keep track of what didn't explode), intensely intense, amazingly incredible, fantastic movie. In this third installment to the Iron Man story, America is having scary, mysterious surprise attacks from an insane terrorist that calls himself the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). His bombings and attacks have got everyone terrified, except, of course, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). All he's scared about is how on Earth he's going to protect his girlfriend, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). He has anxiety attacks everywhere he goes, everyone is expecting him to do something (but how can he when no one knows where the lunatic Mandarin is), and he needs the help of a friend, Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), or, with his new star-spangled suit courtesy of Tony himself, The Iron Patriot. At the same time, a creepy science experiment gone evil is threatening the stability of the world itself. This was a fantastic and amazing movie, 10 out of 5 stars.
As far as parent reviews go, Iron Man 3 contains almost constant scenes of violence (it is, after all, a superhero movie). Here are  the Kids-In-Mind and Common Sense Media reviews:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com/i/ironman3.htm
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/iron-man-3
Scroll to the bottom of the home page to see a poster.

MORE of A Bit About the Authors of This Blog

Thanks, Maisy, for the wonderrful introduction! I'm Hailee, in case we've never met, and here is a pic of Sydney too:

Yes, we are Avengers Fans, Psych--o's, and Half-Bloods with Percy Jackson. We are readers, writers, movie-watchers, Mormons...and much, much more. Thanks for reading our about the authors!

A bit about the authors of this blog

 

In this photo you see me, Maisy, and Hailee, one of my very best friends. Let's start with Hailee. She is the sweetest girl you will ever meet and the founder of this blog. She is kind and creative and helpful and a great sense of humor. She's got a thing for Captain America and Psych and writing. Now Sydney! She is a great person. So sweet. She is a wonderful author like Hailee. She seems to take after Hailee when it comes to Psych and the avengers. She has diabetes (you can ask her which type she has but I think it's one) and is very good at giving herself shots. As for me, well, I could never measure up to these wonderful people! I love to do hair, and write and read. I have a gluten allergy, and in case you were wondering, gluten is in wheat, barley and rye. I will post some recipes for you Celiac people out there. Also, a hair tutorial here and there. Enjoy!

Book Review: The Fablehaven series

In this terrific series by author Brandon Mull, join Kendra and Seth as they embark on a journey that depends on the fate of the world, beginning when their parents go on a two-month cruise (please excuse my accuracy; it's been a while since I read it) and they stay at their grandparent's house. Slowly they begin to realize that this is no ordinary home! Magical creatures inhabit the forests around the yard. In order to protect this magical sanctuary (and the world) they must make sacrifices and face betrayal by loved ones.

Four and 1/2 stars. Just to let you know, the second and fourth one are the best. :)
Okay for kids 8+. Kind of violent, lots of death, and kind of hard to read. It uses lots of big words:)

Tribute to the Victims at the Boston Marathon, 4-15-13

Our condolences go out to the victims and their families who were affected by the attack at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. We are praying that they can be healed and comforted. Families can be together forever. <3

Movie Review: Captain America: The First Avenger

   This excellently crafted movie starring the excellent looking Chris Evans is intense, inspiring, and all-out awesome. Scrawny Steve Rogers wants desperately to serve his country and enlist in World War II, but has too many physical flaws and just…isn’t built for it. But when kind Dr. Erskine gives him a chance- a chance to become more than he is physically with a special new experiment, he hesitantly-but gladly- accepts. This movie follows good-hearted Steve in his quest to serve his country- and he ultimately becomes Captain America: America’s Super Soldier.

As a parent review, I recommend this movie for at least thirteen years and older, for some references and superhero violence. I think I should always include Kids in Mind or Common Sense Media with PG-13, so here’s the link:

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/c/captainamericathefirstavenger3d.htm

Anyway, this is a five-star movie. Loved it!

Book Review: The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

This is one of my most favorite series I have ever read! Join Percy Jackson and friends on an amazing adventure to avenge the world from the evil Titans (In case you didn't know, these are the peeps before the Greek gods). I would recommend this book to history lovers, mythology nerds, obsessive people, people who need a good laugh, anyone who likes to read AT ALL. This book will satisfy anyone. It sure kept me up all night! Enjoy!

Ok for kids 9+ (for constant violence)
And this is my first review! Yay me!
The heroes of Olympus series is a follow up series, in case you were wondering. :)

Word of the Day: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

This hilariously weird, long, and supercalifragilisticexpialidociouslike word is actually real, and it means, ironic enough, the fear of long words.

I know what you're thinking. I'm laughing too. Ha-ha, if any of you suffer from hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, I'm sorry. That is unfortunate.

This is another Word of the Day. LOL!

Word of the Day: Gongoozle

This hilarious REAL word means to leisurely watch boats from a bridge or a canal, or observe things lazily or idly. Just found this word on the World Wide Interweb- I love it already. So don't gongoozle around all day- go use this word! Confuse people! That's exactly what I'm going to do. Thank you for reading today's Word of the Day!

Movie Review: Miss Congeniality

Miss Congeniality, rated PG-13, is a hilarious comedy about FBI Agent Gracie Hart, who is enlisted to go undercover as a Miss United States contestant. She claims all the talent she has is sarcasm and a gun, and she's as cynical as they get about Miss United States. All her opinions change as Gracie Hart, stuffed into a dress, given a sash and renamed "Gracie Lou Freebush", meets the other contestants and finds out that it isn't any old beauty pageant; it's a 'scholarship program.' Sandra Bullock stars and does a fantastic job, if I do say so myself.
(as far as parental reviews go, I'd watch it before you let your kids see it. If you don't have it but you want to screen it first, Kids In Mind has reviewed it in detail for you: http://www.kids-in-mind.com/m/miss_congeniality_2000.htm. Five stars.

Word of the Day: Ort

This hilarious word means a morsel or scrap of food left at a meal. I believe this word would only be best explained using sentences:

"All I got was an ort at dinner, thanks to my family."

"You have the brain the size of an ort."

So anyway, this is yet another funny word that is super fun to hear and say. Thanks for reading today's Word of the Day!

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This sophisticated classic about love and first impressions made me smile. Even though you kind of have to interpret the old English language Jane Austen so artfully uses, when you do the romance is so delightfully clear. Fretful and excited Mrs. Bennet is so worked up and determined to marry each of her daughters off to rich men. Rumor has it that a wealthy young man named Mr. Bingley has moved in across the village, and Mrs. Bennet jumps at the opportunity when her eldest, Jane, is invited. This quickly turns into a romance, and then the real attraction starts- merely by chance. When Jane falls ill at Netherfield, Bingely's mansion, young and attractive Elizabeth Bennet goes to take care of her, catching the eye of antisocial Mr. Darcy. She hates him, he thinks her "tolerable, but not handsome enough" but that quickly changes when his love for this beautiful young woman grows. She finds even more ways to hate him- when he professes his love she couldn't care less- but romance quickly sparks in this amazing and world-renowned piece of literature. I loved the story, and I know
you will too. I strongly recommend it. Five stars!
Oh, and several movie versions of this wonderful story have been made. I watched the one with Keira Knightley and Matthew McFayden, and it was charming.

Don't be a Mr. Collins! Read it!

Word of the Day: Swanky

So, it may seem nerdy, but hey; we're all nerds, deep down- I'm doing words of the day.

Today's Word of the Day is SWANKY. Now, the real meaning is fancy, obstentatious, or elegant.
But that's no fun if nothing's ever fancy!
So, it may seem weird, but my friends and I like to use it in place of awesome or cool. But, you know, the real meaning is fancy, so I guess if you're royalty or something you'll have LOTS of chances to use it correctly... :)
Start a trend in your school! Use swanky...bring it back! :)

Bringin' swanky back...lalalala

Wattpad

Wattpad is an online community for reading and sharing stories.
Guess what! I'm also crazy4storiez!
Check out my stories and profile at

www.wattpad.com/crazy4storiez
Thanks so much! Wattpad is open to the public, so you don't have to be a member to read.

Book Review: Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Loved it! This story focuses on Desi Bascomb, normal teenager from Sproutville, Idaho, who has a love for old movies. She doesn't feel special. She doesn't feel like she has anything to be confident about, when all of a sudden, from a bubble, comes Meredith, her "agent." Meredith works for Façade, a Princess Substitute agency. She's whisked off to get the job every girl would die to have- transforming into princesses using magical Royal Rouge. But is Façade all it's cracked up to be? Read this fun, modern teen fairytale to find out. This book is funny, sweet, and a must-read for girls of all ages. I give this one five stars!

Book Review: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

This, I must say, is my favorite book. The reunion of my favorite fictional couple EVER- Percy Jackson and Annabeth- is amazing. WARNING: Percabeth fans will cry with joy. Everyone joins forces. That's right- Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Hazel, Piper, Frank, and Jason- the Seven- will join forces, go to the ancient lands, find the answer to prophecy, save someone very special in particular- and, yes, follow the Mark of Athena. I won't spoil anything, but it leaves you at a GIGANTIC cliffhanger. And we have to wait until OCTOBER 2013 to find out what happens! I am definitely pre-ordering it on my Kindle. Anyway, ten stars for this one. :)

Book Review: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

YES! YES YES YES YES YES! Percy finally appears in this second installment of the Heroes of Olympus, when he carries Juno (Hera's roman form, disguised as a hippie lady in Berkeley) across a California highway and into a Roman camp for demigods. All he remembers is a name: Annabeth. Annabeth Chase. (Ikr- couldn't you just die!) They make him praetor, filling in for some guy named Jason Grace. He meets Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang, Roman demigods, in a quest to fight Gaea (mother of all gods- Earth herself- stirring and ready to start a war). Meanwhile, Leo, Annabeth, Jason, and Piper figure out a way to get to Percy. This book was bursting with reveals, witty, smart, sad, and at times very funny. This is definitely a must-read for Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus fans. Five Stars.

Book Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

I love Percy Jackson. It mildly bothered me that he wasn't in this one, because he's such a great character and my central focus when I read these awesome books. Plus, you hardly saw any of Annabeth. It was a good break, though, with fresh new characters beginning to fulfill the Prophecy of the Seven. This story focuses mainly on three characters: Piper McLean, Leo Valdez, and Jason Grace. Jason wakes up on a bus one day with a girl, Piper, and a guy named Leo. Everyone is saying that Piper's his girlfriend and Leo's his best friend, but he doesn't remember anything. They find out they're demigods- and get this, some guy named Percy Jackson is missing from Camp Half Blood. This book mixes both sides- Greek and Roman mythology- and provides intriguing backstory. It's a fresh start to the trilogy, even though Percy doesn't appear at all. It definitely leaves you wondering.
Four and a half stars!

Book Review: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Inkheart is indescribable. It's a mysterious fantasy, with plenty of action. "Bookdoctor" Mortimer Folchart and his daughter Meggie have a seemingly normal life. Sure, she's hardly ever at school and travels all over with Mo for book-fixing visits, but it's her life. It's suddenly different when a mysterious man named Dustfinger shows up, talking about names and creepy things that Meggie doesn't understand. Mo's keeping secrets, and he's never kept secrets. So what's up? This book opens into an entire trilogy, unlocking the mysteries. I liked it. Four and a half stars!

Book Review: The Total Tragedy of a Girl named Hamlet by Erin Dionne

This is a lovable comedy about Hamlet, a girl whose parents are obviously obsessed with Shakespeare. She has to live in the shadow of her seven-year-old sister Desdemona, who has recently started high school with Hamlet. If that isn't enough, her parents dress in full Shakespearean costume and speak like 16th century royalty. Hamlet's life is anything but normal! But maybe, just maybe, she doesn't have to be embarrassed. She finds that she can be her own person- she doesn't have to be known by the antics of the people she loves. Read it to find out what happens! This book is hilarious and heartwarming. It's good- I bet you'd like it! Five stars!

Book Review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. This. Book. So. Freaking. Much.
This book is by one of my favorite authors, and I loved it even more than expected! This book follows Peyton Gritas, a mild-mannered, studious girl with a seemingly mediocre life. Everything changes when she finds out horrific news: her dad has Multiple Schlerosis, a crippling disease. Peyton hesitantly visits her school counselor, who gives her an assignment: find a single object and keep a Focus Journal about it for several weeks. After searching and searching, she finally picks one: the blond head of Sean Griswold, the boy who sits in front of her in Biology. This novel is serious at times, humorous at times, and romantic all the way. It gives the message of being driven, inspired, and determined.
Besides being an adorable romance. Five stars!

Book Review: A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

This book is adorable. I'd been eying it for years, and got it at a writing conference. I loved it! It sheds light on the life of ten-year-old Zoe, who's always had the dream to play the piano, play at Carnegie Hall, and wear a tiara and ballgown somewhere in the process. But no- her socially awkward father accidentally buys her an organ instead- namely the Perfectone D-60. The opposite of elegant. It's no Carnegie Hall instrument. Instead, included in the purchase of the Perfectone D-60, are complimentary lessons from Mabelline Person, an instructor who knows exactly what she's doing. And there aren't recitals; there's Perform-O-Rama, where everyone sits in metal folding chairs and listen to you play Hits From the Seventies. But maybe it's a blessing in disguise-she finds a talent and an unexpected friend. So, in conclusion, this is a very cute, very enjoyable book that I'm glad I read. Four and a half stars.

Book Review: Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett

I recently borrowed this awesome book from a close friend, and am now strongly tempted to buy it for myself. A fantastic modern retelling of a classic fairytale, this book was romantic, sweet, funny, and at times very intense. Teenage Rapunzel has lived contained in three rooms her entire life, seeing only her mother in person, told she has a disease called SCID's and that any interaction with the outside world or other people would kill her. She buys this story until one day, near her eighteenth birthday, she ventures into uncharted territory: Facebook. Unsure of anything as to this mysterious website, she stumbles upon the profile of "Fab" Fane Flannigan, a cool guy with a rebellious twinge, dripping with humor and swagger. Visit upon visit with Fane finally give Rapunzel the curiosity to ask herself: What if everything I've been told-about my self, about my world- a lie?
This novel is gripping, tear-jerking, romantic beyond comparison, and I think every teen- and adult-should read it. Trust me- you won't be able to put it down. Five stars!

Howdy, Hi, Hello, Bonjour, Konnichi Wa, Hey!

So, I'm The Girl Who Writes. I love love love love and infinetely adore reading and writing. To sum it up, the English geek of the century.
*cue laughter and understanding of definition of sarcasm*
*me-insecurely plays with hands while breaking down into giggles*

Anyway, I hope to be published one day, a fully fledged author, footloose and fancy-free. But for now, I'm writing and reading as much as I can. So, yeah! The boring intro to this blog is OVER!