REVIEW and Outfit--The Bridge from Me to You

Happy Monday!  A new week...and a new review!  Today's review is one of my June reads--The Bridge from Me to You by Lisa Schroeder.  This was a super quick read for me--I read it in ONE day with my two boys at home (applause, please).  

I have so much I want to share this week--reviews, videos, an outfit--that I'm also sharing the outfit that I designed for this book in this post.  Bonus!  So let's jump right in!

• Standalone novel
• Romance/Realistic

The Gist:

Lauren has a secret, a secret that has taken her away from her mother and to live her senior year with her uncle and his family.  

Colby is a star football player and he doesn't know how he's going to tell his family that he doesn't want to play college ball.

Two lives that will intersect.  When maybe they need it the most.

What I Loved:

• This book is cute, wholesome, and hopeful.  Like a Hallmark movie in a book!
• The book is told through both poetry and prose.  Lauren's side is told through poetry while Colby's is in prose.
• Lauren's secret isn't revealed right away, which keeps you wondering why she's really living with her extended family.

What I Didn't Love:

• Ok, this book is pretty darn cheesy.  Now I know I compared it to a Hallmark movie above, and Hallmark movies are relatively cheesy.  But there were some eye-rolling moments.  I work with football-playing teens everyday...they don't talk like Colby.  A too-good-to-be-true story.
• What Colby's friend Benny was doing/what caused his accident was never explored.  This could've been an interesting side plot.
• We never see Colby and Lauren's lives in school, the football game details.  I just think so much more meat could've been added to the book.
• The cover--it carries from the front to the back...but what's with the fence?  They don't walk on a fence...
• Because of the different in voice (poetry v. prose), I felt like I knew SO MUCH about Colby's story but not nearly as much about Lauren's.  Prose just goes so much further than poetry and when it's divided, the attention between the characters is obviously different.

A quick read, yes, but a cheesy one that wasn't overly impressive.  Only 2 stars for me.

 

But even though this read wasn't at the top of my list, I DID want to design a great outfit for Lauren!  Lauren's cousins are known for their matching stocking hats that they wear to the football games and Lauren even herself joins in.  So this outfit is what I would wear if I were wearing a stocking hat to a game:

It doesn't scream football, right?  Lauren isn't a "yay go rah!" kind of girl, but she does join her younger cousins in wearing a matching ski hat to a game, so this outfit is a really trendy outfit to wear even when you have to match a crowd.

• Colby's school colors were blue and gold, so I made gold a main feature of this outfit.
• Plaid and quilted vests are staple items for Fall, and they are perfect for football games.
• Distressed skinny jeans and combat booties give an edge while the monogrammed earrings keep it girly.

I totally want to wear something like this to a football game--would you?

For details on this outfit, check here.

So much to come this week!  Check back for all kinds of book/fashion goodness!

REVIEW--Pretty Girl-13

Hi, readers and fashionistas!  So guess what today was--yep, the first day of school!  Wow, the first day is always exhausting but yet fun at the same time.  I can already tell that it's going to be a really fun year with my students--they seem excited to be in the library and they all seem to be readers.  We are ready to tackle the school year!

Today's review is on Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley.  I'm so glad that I read this book and Elizabeth Smart's memoir so close to each other.  Even though the stories have definite differences, they nevertheless connect in their content.  So let's jump right in!

 

• Realistic fiction
• Standalone novel

The Gist:
When Angie Chapman went on a camping trip at age 13, the unthinkable happened--she was kidnapped.  Just gone, and no amounts of searching or media pleas brought her home.  Fast forward three years later, and Angie walks in her front door, completely unaware that she has been missing.  Her memory loss of where she has been and how she returned home is a complete mystery, and it will take a deep look into her psyche to find the answers.

What I Loved:

• I have not read anything about this kind of psychological situation before.  Angie suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder, and I was fascinated by the way it impacted Angie's life.  She could fall into another identity so quickly and unexpected, and I found it so interesting to see how she responded to that.
• I love the cover.  The doorway really fits the plot.

What I Didn't Love:

• Angie is gone for three years and I didn't find her return home to be that welcoming.  Students at school didn't care, her dad has anger/blame issues that prevent him from caring for her, there's little media attention--I just expected so much more from a kidnapped girl case.
• I found Angie's therapy sessions, which were highly successful in eliminating various identities, to be a little unrealistic.  Seemed a little too good to be true and the longer I read the more I found it unbelievable.
• Just lacked depth for me--I couldn't relate to Angie or her parents or her friends. 
• If I had been kidnapped, I would want to know what the heck happened/who was involved.  But when Angie has the chance to uncover some secrets, like the odd inscription on her ring, she keeps the message to herself and doesn't investigate.
• Didn't care for the title.

Just not a big fan of this one.  I didn't find it believable--not just Angie's split personalities but the side characters as well.  Just two stars for me.

I'll be posting an outfit, though, to fit a few of Angie's personalities, so check back for that tomorrow!

REVIEW--Panic

Well, it's a new week and we DIDN'T get as much snow as predicted!  Yes!  Although it can be fun to be snuggled inside with a good book, I am thankful for spring to get here soon.

A few weeks ago I read Panic by Sharon Draper, so that's what I'm reviewing today.  Even though Draper's books are super popular in my library, this was my first of hers to read.  I chose it because she visited our middle school and I wanted to read something of hers before hearing her speak.

And let me say, Sharon Draper is a hoot!  She was absolutely hilarious!  Once she got that microphone, she was talking with the students as if she had known them for years, and I just loved listening to her.  And I appreciated her speaking to the students about how they most likely won't get published as middle school students--even though it is great to have big dreams, so many students expect publishing to be an easy business, and it is far from it!  She used the Olympics as an example--they need to be training and practicing already but probably won't make the "big Games" until they're older.  Very fitting and creative!

Unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of Panic, as you'll see below.  But, like I said, Draper's books are really popular, so I know she has an audience that loves her work.

 

Do you notice that the butterfly is pinned down?  I think this cover is very clever!

• Standalone novel
• Realistic fiction

The Gist:

Diamond is in a dance troupe and loves taking dance classes with her friends.  Her troupe is preparing for their upcoming production of Peter Pan and Diamond, like most of the girls, wants the part of Wendy.  But she doesn't get Wendy (or Tinker Bell, or Tiger Lily)...she gets Mr. Smee.  Depressing.  While in the mall one day, she is approached by a man who is auditioning dancers for an upcoming movie he's making, and his movie just happens to feature some of the hottest young stars in the industry.  Diamond leaves with him to audition, only to discover that he's actually just kidnapping her in order to make sex videos. 

What I Loved:

• I just love the cover...it portrays something beautiful that desperately wants freed.
• Diamond isn't the only one telling the story--her dance mates also speak, and I appreciated the multiple points of view.
• Diamond and Layla's situations, though very different, also have pointed similarities.  Their struggle against oppressive men really carried the book.

What I Didn't Love:

• Even though I liked having multiple characters tell the story, I felt like Diamond's story just wasn't told enough.  She'd only get a few pages while the other characters would each get 13+.  Her situation was the most interesting to me so I wanted more of it.
• Ok, I'm just going to throw it out there--I thought the writing was cheesy and cliche.  I know, I know!  Like I said, I LOVED meeting Sharon Draper, but I just couldn't handle her writing.  For example, one chapter ends with the line Justin and Layla sat quietly in the darkness of the auditorium, but for the first time in a long time, Layla was beginning to see a bit of light.  I just couldn't handle it.
• Diamond's "friends" didn't worry about her as much as I expected--they were pretty consumed with their own lives after she'd only been missing for a few days.
• This book is meant for high school students, and I felt like the plot was high school but the writing was middle school.  

My favorite quote:  
"'Ah. Let me go dig out my book called Why Women Do Stuff.'
'You need to write it, Dad.  Guys my age could use it.'
'The whole thing would be two hundred blank pages, kiddo.  The real answer is, nobody knows!'"

I hate to give a critical review, but this one just didn't work for me.

But I'll be designing an outfit for Diamond on Wednesday, so come back to check it out!  Plus check out an outfit tomorrow that I put together for a night out with the girls!

REVIEW--Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone

Happy Wednesday, readers and fashionistas!  Today I'm revieweing Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield.  My students often joke with me because I read so many murder mysteries--well, here's another one!  I think I just like a good challenge of guessing a murderer (although I'm usually wrong!).  So let's get started!

•  Standalone novel
• Mystery

The Gist:
Becca just graduated from high school as salutatorian.  She's always thought that she is ready to get out of her hometown and never look back...that is, until a girl (Amelia Anne) is discovered dead on the side of the road.  Even though Becca knows nothing about Amelia Anne, she is completely shaken up by her murder and just isn't sure of anything anymore.  But she may have reason to be shaken up, because there may be people from her life who are more involved than she realizes.

What I Loved:

• This book had a double point of view.  Becca often tells the story, but every so often Amelia Anne is the highlight.  I really liked this, especially reading about Amelia Anne since I knew she would end up dead.
• There are similarities between Becca and Amelia Anne that kept the story interesting, like them both feeling trapped in their lives.
• Richly written, just beautiful prose. 
• The cover--so creepy and yet so beautiful!

 What I Didn't Love:

• Becca really hung out with a rough crowd...and I found this hard to believe for a salutatorian (hey, I know that's stereotypical, but I work in a school and I still believe it).
• I really didn't know much about Becca except that she was obsessed with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, James.  I was just over her.
• Some intense, climactic scenes were a little muddled, and I was a little confused at some of the worst times.  I hate having to re-read because I didn't fully understand something, but I had to a few times.
• I wanted to see more action--the police, their investigation, etc.  I felt so trapped inside Becca's depressed mind.
• A lot of sex in this book...a little too much!

My favorite quote: "When you made plans, the saboteurs came out to play."

Well, as you can see, I struggled with this one and had a lot of issues with it.  So it's just two stars for me...

I'm designing an outfit based off of Amelia Anne tomorrow, though!  Come back and check it out!

REVIEW--The Way I See It: A Look Back at my Life on Little House

Happy Monday, everyone!  I have a book confession to make: I love reading autobiographies.  Serious or silly, autobiographies just keep me engaged.  Sometimes I just peruse the biography section of the library...it's in my nerdy nature!

So I was really excited to read Melissa Anderson's autobiography called The Way I See It: A Look Back at my Life on Little House.  Anderson played Mary, the oldest of the Ingalls children who is infamous for her character going blind.  Even though Little House aired before my time, I still watched re-runs as a child (my favorite episode was "Sweet Sixteen" when Laura finally falls in love).  And I love reading behind-the-scenes info on TV shows and movies, so this book was an easy choice for me.

 

• Standalone book
• Autobiography

The Gist:

Melissa Anderson documents her life during her time as Mary Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie.  She starts with her audition and runs through each season she was on the show.

What I Loved:

• I loved reading the inside snippets that Anderson gave about actors/actresses and show production.  Did you know that Miss Beadle was a very fashionable woman?!  I just love trivia like that!
• I like how she explained what the actors were known for later on in life...I believe her character's husband was later a producer for Malcolm in the Middle...just interesting information. 

What I Didn't Love:

• Even though I did need some episode recap to understand some of the stories, it was excessive.  Some chapters seemed to only be episode summaries--this would probably be pretty boring to a hard core Little House fan.
• I wish Anderson would have shared more about her family background.  There was just very little about her personally.
• In addition to wanting fewer episode summaries, I wanted MORE of Anderson's feelings.  Again, she just kept herself out of it and stuck to the episodes.
• There were a few "inside sentences" here and there that left me wanting so much more.  That would be my main frustration with the book--I just wanted more.
• The ending was pretty abrupt.  She mentions her marriage and children just within the last few pages. 

So an enjoyable read for Little House fans, but don't expect much meat from it.  A book that seemed to play up her celebrity status.

 

I'll be back on Wednesday with a prairie-inspired outfit!  See you then!

REVIEW--The Boy on the Bridge

Well, it's definitely getting colder here in Indiana!  The forecasters are predicting 5 inches tonight which has all my students buzzing about delays or school closings (I'm sure all you in the West are laughing about that!).  So today is a PERFECT day to review The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford, a book set in the cold and dreary Soviet Union.  So let's get to it!

 

•  Standalone novel
• Romance

The Gist:

Laura, an American, is studying abroad in Leningrad (the Soviet Union) in 1982.  An odd choice for studying abroad, yes, but she has always been fascinated by their violent history.  Despite all the warnings she receives from her teachers and guides, she falls in love with Alyosha, a Russian who is fascinated by American culture.  But Laura soon starts to question whether Alyosha really loves her or just wants to use her as a ticket to America.

What I Loved:

• I LOVED the setting--1982, Soviet Union.  You just don't get this very much in YA literature and I really appreciated it.  It definitely opened my eyes to the USSR at this time.
• I enjoyed seeing the Soviet Union from Laura's point of view.  She didn't love it all the time--actually, A LOT of the time--due to its depressing climate and even its temperament at times.  I probably would have felt the same way.
• I liked how things wrapped up with Alyosha at the end.  And that's all I'll say :)

What I Didn't Love (which, unfortunately, was a lot):

• The cover and the title...UGH!  Ok, this is not a 1982 couple on the cover.  He is wearing skinny jeans, for goodness sake.  And they don't have coats in the freezing USSR temps!  And "The Boy on the Bridge" is just too cheesy for my taste.
• There was just no growth in Laura throughout the book.  I just never saw her change.  And she made dumb decisions over and over--not going back for curfew, saying yes to getting married...oh Laura.
• I didn't care for Alyosha throughout the entire book.  Especially when he showed up on Laura's field trip...umm, possessive much?!  Regardless of the ending, I believe he had major ulterior motives.
• The college essays that Laura wrote?!  I'd be disappointed if a high school student wrote them!  Very low level.
• Olga--I just never fully understood her.
• The minor characters that lived in Laura's dorm--I never saw enough of them to keep them all straight.

My favorite quote: "She decided that day to study Russian, the language of violence, terror, and absurdity.  She knew she would never be bored."

Yeah, not my favorite read of the year for sure.  I'm only able to give this one two heels.  But I'll be back tomorrow with a very fun outfit inspired by some traditional Russian toys!  Can't wait to show you!

                                                     

REVIEW--Black Boy, White School

Happy Thursday!  Ok, I know I've gone on and on about Ruta Sepetys the last few days, so I will switch now to a completely new book review.  Today's review is on Black Boy, White School by Brian F. Walker.  So let's jump right into it!

 

• Standalone novel
• Realistic 

The Gist: 
Anthony "Ant" lives in Cleveland, Ohio...in the ghetto.  He witnesses his friend's murder and knows he just has to get out of Cleveland.  So he gets a scholarship to attend a prep school in Maine.  But learning to change his image to fit in at his new school may cause him to lose his identity at home.

What I Loved:

• I loved the idea of the book (which was actually based on the author's own life).  Kid from rough area goes to new, safer area and learns how to adapt.
• The title--it's really simple but it gets to the heart of all the issues within the book.

What I Didn't Love:

• The cover--it's just blah for me.  I don't get the half face thing...maybe it's showing him being torn between two places?  Just didn't work for me... 
• There just wasn't enough depth for me.  It was too short for what it was trying to achieve.  So therefore, the character development was pretty shallow for me--both with Anthony's character and especially the other African American characters.
• So NO ONE would call him by his preferred nickname of Ant...everyone at his school called him Tony.  This stereotype just got a little far-fetched...NO teacher or student remembered to call him Ant?  Really?
• The scenes should have incited feelings in me and they just didn't.  Maybe it shouldn't have been in third person so I could have felt more connected...

My favorite quote: "Ant didn't like her because she told everybody he couldn't kiss.  He could kiss just fine, though.  He just hadn't liked kissing her."

Well, as you can probably tell from above, this book just didn't do much for me.  I just wasn't invested in it, despite loving the initial premise.  Two stars for me.

 Tomorrow I'll be back with an outfit based off of Ant himself!  See you then!