REVIEW: A Time to Dance

Time for another review!  I read this book back over the summer, but I'm finally cranking out a review for it (isn't it crazy how life can just put things on the back burner?!).  Today's review is on A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman.

 

• Realistic fiction/Multicultural
• Standalone novel 

The Gist: 
Veda is a dance prodigy in India and defines herself by her dance ability.  After being elated at winning a competition, she is in an awful accident and loses a leg.  Veda must now learn to adjust to her new life and learn how to dance all over again.

What I Loved:

• This book showed me a side of a culture that I had never seen before.  I felt like I was learning as I was reading.
• Veda's feelings for her therapist (and his lack of feelings in return) was very real.  I've seen this happen in school settings before and found this representation to be spot-on.
• This book wasn't just about preparing for a competition; it was about learning to readjust your life and loving something so important to you.
• I loved Veda's grandmother.  A great role model in a fictional character! 

 What I Didn't Love:

• As much as I enjoyed learning, there was a LOT to take in with this book.  I did have to do some research (especially on bharatanatyam) to make sure I was following the story correctly.
• Veda's recovery seemed REALLY fast.  From reading Josh Bleill's nonfiction book One Step at a Time, I learned a lot about recovery from losing a body part.  I think Veda should have had more recovery time before dancing so soon.

My favorite quote:
"I love that he's such a gentleman.  I hate that he's such a gentleman."

A fairly enjoyable read for me, but one that I had to focus on in order to fully follow.  Three stars from me!

 
I'll have an outfit for Veda this week so come back to check it out!

REVIEW--Darius & Twig

Today I'm bringing you a review of Walter Dean Myers' Darius & Twig.  This was a quick read for me (it's a fairly short book) since I kind of knew what to expect with Myers.  So enough chit chat...let's jump right in!

• Realistic/Urban fiction
• Standalone novel

The Gist:
Twig is a competitive and skilled long-distance runner.  Darius is a writer who creates Fury, his peregrine alter ego.  Both want to pursue their passions but are growing up in the dangerous, unpredictable Harlem.  And that setting doesn't make it easy to go after their dreams.

What I Loved:

• This book gets to the heart of the characters.  It sends a message that there is so much more to a person than the outside.  

What I Didn't Love:

•  I wanted more from the minor characters--Darius' mom, Twig's uncle, Herb, Sammy.  Maybe because the book was so short it just didn't go past a surface level characterization.   
• I couldn't understand what Twig wanted.  Did he want to be a runner?  Did he want to give up?  Confusing. 
• The mom's advice seemed hard to follow.    

Favorite quote:
"Idiots don't know they're idiots, which is unfortunate."

As you can see, this was not a favorite of mine.  I just felt that overall it was lacking.  Which is too bad, because Walter Dean Myers is a renowned author, and I just wasn't invested in the story.  Only 3 stars for me.

 
I'll be designing an outfit for Twig tomorrow--catch you then!

REVIEW--Throne of Glass

It's time for another review!  I'm a little behind on the Throne of Glass bandwagon, but nevertheless I read the first in the series back in June.  This series is SO popular and everyone is anticipating Sarah J. Maas's newest book (coming out in September, I believe).  So let's jump right in!

• First in the Throne of Glass series
• Fantasy

Gist:
Celaena is an assassin--a REALLY good assassin.  But after being forced to work in a labor camp for her crimes, she has the chance to free herself.  She will compete against 23 other killers, thieves, and warriors so that the last standing can serve as the king's champion.  Celaena definitely needs to win in order to find her freedom.
But this is no easy competition, and soon Celaena's competitors start getting murdered.  And if Celaena doesn't discover what's happening, she is likely to be the next victim.

What I Loved: 

• This book could easily have been straight-up dystopian, but it has fantasy all over it.  That kept it unexpected and exciting!
• Celaena's characterization was very well-done--she's a kick butt assassin but still has vulnerabilities, like her fear of the king.
• The love triangle in this book is so good!  I love both Chaol AND Dorian...I don't know which one Celaena should choose!
• I was definitely in suspense as to where this book was headed.  I couldn't figure out where it was going nevertheless how it would end.   

 What I Didn't Love:

• This book was long.  It took me a long time to read...a lot of words.
• I didn't really get to know many of the other competitors, so that part fell a little flat for me.
• I got a little confused as to what was happening in the fantasy part of the book.  Especially at the end, I just wasn't following what the spiritual world was doing.
• The cover is too futuristic to me.  She looks even a little Manga-ish on the cover.
• And the title...I always have to think to myself "Throne of Glass not Game of Thrones."  Gets me every time.

I hate to say it, but I think this book was a 3/5 for me.  So many people absolutely rave about the series, but maybe it's because I'm not completely into the fey world...?

But I'll still be designing and outfit inspired by Celaena!  Check back for that soon!

REVIEW: Like Water on Stone and a GIVEAWAY

Today I'm reviewing Like Water on Stone, a historical novel-in-verse that shows a family trying to survive during the Armenian genocide of 1915.  Powerful and solid novel for sure.

Check out my video to hear all about it!  And don't forget to enter the giveaway--I'm giving away a copy of the book!

REVIEW: Unravel Me

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  Man, this weekend we had BEAUTIFUL weather in Indiana!  I took my boys to the park (the park? in February?!) and they LOVED crawling and running and sliding all over the place.  I so needed that for my soul, and I feel completely refreshed in starting off a new week!

Today I'm reviewing Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi.  But before I jump into it, can we just talk about Mafi and her husband Ransom Riggs for a minute?  I mean, talk about a dynamic duo!  Those two would be a BLAST to have over for dinner.

I read Shatter Me, the first in the Shatter Me series, which follows Juliette and her "gift" of being able to kill with her touch.  Unravel Me is the second in the series and picks up when Juliette finds safety with others like her.  So let's jump right in!

 

• Dystopian
• Second book in the Shatter Me series

The Gist:
Juliette is now at Omega Point, an underground sanctuary for people like her, people with gifts that set them apart.  It's also the headquarters for the rebel resistance, and Juliette finds herself in the smack dab of the plans to take down Warner and his father.  Juliette isn't comfortable with the new population and desperately wants to be with Adam alone, but this is a new environment that she won't be able to escape.

What I Loved:

• There was so much character development in this second installment.  I felt like we moved past just Juliette and Adam and got to see so much more into Kenji, Castle, Warner, and even Warner's dad.  I loved digging deeper.
• I love Mafi's writing style.  Although not as many strike outs in this book, it is nevertheless filled with such beautiful writing.  Mafi's words just flow together like they were meant to be.

What I Didn't Love:

• This book is L-O-N-G...I think it's like 465 pages.  And there just wasn't much action involved.  A lot of internal thinking...like A LOT of internal thinking, and that just wasn't enough to keep me turning pages quickly.  Took me awhile to read the book.
• I just didn't like Juliette very much.  She was moody, antisocial, and a loner.  I wanted to scream "You can't put everything into Adam and give nothing to anyone else!"  A tragic case of girl who falls in love and drops everyone else.  So Juliette's storyline just dragged on to me.
• In other words, I just needed this book to move faster.  I needed the characters to get out of Omega Point earlier and move on toward the action.

I will definitely finish this series, but this book was a little too stagnant for me.  Ready for an exciting end to the trilogy!

Juliette wears this awesome spandex suit for most of the book...can't wait to show you my inspiration for it!  And a Valentines Day outfit coming, too!

REVIEW: This Star Won't Go Out

I first heard about Esther Earl, like so many of us did, from John Green.  Inspired by the anger he felt at Esther's young death, he finished The Fault in Our Stars and dedicated it to her.  I was eager to read her book, a collection of her words and thoughts leading up through her funeral.

But let me tell you a little about Esther if she's new to you.  Esther was only 16 in 2010 when she passed away from cancer.  She left behind a YouTube channel filled with her quirky yet mature personality and a family that missed her immensely.  So they took Esther's diary, letters, and sketches and combined them into This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl.  

You have to prepare yourself when you read a book like this; you know it won't be a fast, cheery read.  You want to savor each detail, knowing that they represent a lifetime lost too soon.  What was even more interesting (even emotional) for me was that I listened to it on audiobook and Esther's parents read part of the book.  It takes a book to a whole new level when a person so involved in a life partakes in the reading.  So let's jump into the review:

 

• Standalone book
• Memoir/Nonfiction

What I Loved:

• The reader of this book was amazing!  I've watched Esther's YouTube videos and I think the reader captured her personality perfectly.  And hearing Esther's parents read parts of the story added such depth to the emotion of the story.  
• Speaking of Esther's parents reading on the audiobook, the actual recording from the funeral was used; readers hear Esther's father speaking at the funeral with the audience vocal reactions.  A breathtaking moment of listening to the story.
• Esther is raw, honest, and herself.  She doesn't make her story "pretty."  She is completely upfront with how she's feeling about her life, death, and everything in between.
• I left this book feeling inspired to appreciate every moment I have, but I also felt like it was okay to be sad, annoyed, and even angry.  This is a book that makes you feel.

What I Didn't Live:

• Like I mentioned earlier, this isn't a book that you breeze through.  You have to take it in stride, knowing you'll be laughing and sighing within pages of each other.
• And in addition to not breezing through the book, you have to understand as a reader that you know from the get-go what you're going to get with this book.  Esther didn't take a surprise trip, make a jaw-dropping discovery, write something profound, etc.  In other words, Esther was a normal girl and you will read about how her life was normal despite her having a cancer diagnosis.  You will read the journals of a girl leading up to her death.  And you must be prepared for that.  

Three heels for me--a solid, emotional read that gives you exactly what you expect!

I hope you read Esther's words to keep her star from going out, to remember that sometimes our lives are taken just way too early.

REVIEW--Prisoner B-3087

Good morning, readers!

As a librarian, I am constantly asked by parents for book recommendations for their kiddos, especially recommendations for students who read at a higher reading level.  Unfortunately since I work in a high school, it's often difficult for me to come up with book recommendations for strong elementary readers (because I don't know the middle school books very well and high school books have more mature content).  So I was very excited to pick up Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz because it is a great choice for strong elementary and middle school readers.  Let's jump into the review!

• Historical fiction
• Standalone novel

The Gist:
In the 1930s, Yanek, a boy who loves the movies, lives in Poland with his family.  When their town is taken over by Nazis, they survive in hiding for awhile on the roof of their apartment building.  But they cannot escape the tragedies of the Holocaust for long, and before the War is over, Yanek finds himself sent to 10 concentration camps.  And he is sent on two death marches.  But amidst the nightmare of his life, he is able to find glimmers of hope that help him survive.  Based on the true story of the life of Jack Gruener.

What I Loved:

• Like I said, this book, although probably a middle school or freshman-level read, could easily be read by strong elementary readers.  
• Despite the heavy Holocaust content--gas chambers, death marches, etc.--the book was "clean" and appropriate.  In other words, not too gruesome for readers.  I say that I loved this only because I know younger readers will grab this book.
• I've read a lot of Holocaust fiction--wow!  Ten concentration camps and two death marches?!  I'm so glad this story was told since it is based off a true life.  

What I Didn't Love:

• Like I said, I've read a lot of Holocaust fiction.  And even though this book covers ten concentration camps and is based on a true story, I didn't read anything here that surprised me.  Nothing new.  Not that I want to belittle Jack Gruener's story.  But in terms of literature, I didn't read anything different from the hundreds of other Holocaust stories.
• This book was so broad, so vague.  Chapters could have been spent on what was skimmed over.  Covering ten concentration camps is a lot, but it all seemed so vague and hazy in the end.

A decent read for me--one that's good for anyone new to reading about the Holocaust.  Three of five high heels for me!

What are some of your favorite Holocaust reads?

Stop back by to see an outfit based on the 1930s in Europe!

REVIEW--To Be Perfectly Honest

Wow, what a few weeks!  

You know what happens when you let your three-year-old watch train videos on your phone?!  You run out of data!  So blogging from home has been VERY challenging lately, which leads me to my two-week hiatus.  Plus we had Thanksgiving--ours was fantastic and relaxing and I hope yours was, too! 

Our sweet little family on Thanksgiving--all 3 of my guys are in plaid!

My first pecan pie--it was DELICIOUS!

Today's post is a review for To Be Perfectly Honest by Sonya Sones.  This is a novel in verse (I feel like such a speed reader when I read these!) about a big fat liar.  Well, maybe she's not big and fat--just a liar.  Let's jump right in!

Such a sweet face--but she's a liar.  Don't trust her!

• Standalone novel
• Realistic fiction, novel in verse

The Gist:
Colette is a liar, and she'll tell you that she is (that's pretty much the one thing you can trust her on).  Her lying probably comes from the fact that her mother is a HUGE celebrity, which often puts Colette and her younger brother on the sidelines.  Lying gives Colette something to do and allows her to escape her feelings of being left out.
When Colette's mother takes the family to the middle of nowhere so she can film her next movie, Colette is completely annoyed.  Until she meets Connor--a sexy motorcycle rider who also shares feelings for her.  Colette hides her mother's identity so Connor won't ditch her for an autograph...but then starts to wonder if Connor will still like her once he knows about her lies.

What I Loved:

• The title.  So clever and cute.
• Colette's younger brother has the CUTEST lisp...it's so fun to read all the "thweet" things he says.
• I loved that Colette was such an unreliable narrator.  Maybe it's the English major in me, but I loved having something so literary like that to discuss with my students.
• As a novel in verse, the book is a quick read, but it's also pretty light; despite some heavy issues that pop up, I didn't feel overwhelmed and felt it was overall a little "fluffier."

What I Didn't Love:

• I knew every time that Colette was lying.  She didn't fool me once.  She'd tell a story and then say something like "Aren't you shocked that everything I just told you wasn't true?!"  Um, nope.  I knew it all along.
• A trick that Colette and her family play on someone near the end of the book was over-the-top and completely unrealistic.  I think I even rolled my eyes as I was reading.
• There's a little twist at the end with Connor that I saw coming from the start.  Just sayin'--if you're a liar, you better be prepared for liars.
• The cover--she's a pretty girl, but the cover just doesn't get much across.

My favorite quote:  
"Only idiots believe everything they read in the National Enquirer.  Unfortunately, most people are idiots." 

An ok read for me, but a bit forgettable.  I wish I'd had the audio version, though, just to hear the little brother's lisp!

Some outfits coming up soon!

REVIEW--Glow

Happy Monday, readers and fashionistas!  Today is the start of a crazy busy week for me!  We're talking house meetings (we're moving!), library meetings, church retreats, etc.  But all super fun!

Today's review is for the book Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan; it's a sci fi thriller, a perfect genre for the Halloween month.  So let's jump right in!

• First in the Sky Chasers series
• Science Fiction / Thriller

The Gist:
Waverly (girl) and Kieran (boy) are on the Empyrean, a ship that is bound for a new world in space.  Their ship is filled with non-religious people while a sister ship making the same destination is filled with religious travelers.   The ships aren't traveling together but are basically allies in their destinations.  Kieran proposes to Waverly and anxiously awaits her response.  But she doesn't have a chance to answer him when their supposed ally ship attacks and kidnaps all of the young females.  And what was once a quiet trip in space turns in to a dangerous race for all their lives.

What I Loved:

•  I really enjoy the genre of sci fi / thriller, because it throws in the unexpected in a fast, action-packed plot.
• The author did such a great job at manipulating my emotions when it came to the characters.  I would be leaning towards loving Kieran, but then his adversary Seth seemed like the nicer guy.  And this happened throughout the whole book (the ships' captains, especially), bringing up the question "is there a little bit of evil in all of us?"
• For the most part, I liked the dual narration between Waverly and Kieran.  I preferred Waverly's storyline, but nevertheless it was nice to switch it up throughout the book.

What I Didn't Love:

• The title only makes sense to me when you compare the book to the other titles in the series.  On its own, however, Glow just doesn't fit the book.   What does it have to do with anything?
• The religious vs. nonreligious issues of the ships didn't seem to make sense to me, especially when the religious ship seemed to be more evil.  Not sure why that part of the book was needed.
• I just could not grasp the look of the ship, so when the attack happened, I had no idea where everyone was, what size space they were in, etc.  I needed a better "visual" of the ships.

An enjoyable read, but I'm not sure I'll continue with the series.  My confusion of the ships' set-up along with the various character traits left me puzzled most of the time, making it (as I said) enjoyable but not super fun.  Three heels for me!

 I'll have a space-themed outfit for us soon, along with some stylish kid clothes!

REVIEW--The Testing

Good morning, readers and fashionistas!  Today's post is a review on the book The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau.  Yep, it's a dystopian book with a female protagonist in a world controlled by the government.  Oh, and it's the first in a series.  That seems to be the trend nowadays, huh?  So let's jump into my thoughts on the book!

• First book in The Testing series
• Dystopian

The Gist:
After the Seven Stages War, our planet is basically a charred wasteland.  So citizens must now colonize and rebuild an acceptable society.  But only the elite are chosen to enter the university to specialize in an area and hold the responsibilities of this rebuilding.  And these elite must first pass the Testing, a rigorous program of challenges and tests that result in fewer survivors than graduates.  Cia Vale is surprised yet honored when she is chosen to enter The Testing.  She is following in her father's legacy as a Testing candidate and desperately wants a college education.  But the Testing will push her farther emotionally, mentally, and physically than she has ever gone.  And she quickly learns that allies and enemies may be synonymous...

What I Loved:

•  The ending was the perfect way to hook me into the second book.  I want to continue with Cia's story and see what decisions she makes next.
• There was definitely unpredictability in who could be trusted.  Cia's fellow Testing candidates, the Testing officials, and the strange man that's watching Cia in the final test are all suspicious, and the fact that some are trustworthy and others aren't kept the book interesting.

What I Didn't Love:

• Like I alluded in the beginning of this post, this is a little over-done.  In fact, at times I felt like I was reading The Hunger Games.  Especially during Cia's final test, when she's basically in an arena with her life on the line...it just seemed a little late for its time.  I think I would've loved it more if I had read it two years ago.
• I wasn't in love with the characters that Cia liked, especially Tomas.  I was too skeptical of him to care enough for him or appreciate him.  He didn't become the "Peeta" or "Gale" that I would have wanted.  Maybe it was because Cia kept giving away secrets to him (despite her father's warnings), but I kept thinking he'd turn on her at any moment.
• Speaking of Tomas, the romance between him and Cia felt a little unnatural.  Maybe there wasn't enough character-building for me to really invest in them.

An enjoyable read, but one that just seemed a little too familiar for me.  I just couldn't fall in love with it--it was a good read, but I know as soon as I booktalk it, students are going to raise their hands and say "isn't it like ____ book?" 

REVIEW--45 Pounds (More or Less)

Hi, readers and fashionistas!  Time for another review...in fact, I need to get my booty in gear and get these posted since I have a few stockpiled up!  Today's review was one of my vacation reads--45 Pounds (More or Less) by K.A. Barson.  I think summer is the perfect time to read a weight-loss book since the weather is so warm and everyone wants to look good in a bathing suit, right?

So let's jump into the review!

• Standalone novel
• Realistic fiction

The Gist:

Ann is pretty overweight and everyone knows it.  What makes this even more obvious is the fact that her mother is definitely NOT overweight and can fit into the teen clothes that Ann can't.  And even though Ann has tried losing weight MANY times in the past, her getting asked to be a bridesmaid in her aunt's wedding has sped that desire up.  In fact, Ann wants to lose about 45 pounds by the end of summer and in time for the wedding.  But doing this will force her to face skepticism, criticism, and doubt--and not just from others.  She'll have to face herself.

What I Loved:

• There was a very positive message by the end of the book, especially in how Ann viewed her and her half-sister's relationships with food.  It's not about the number, folks.
• I really believed Ann's journey in losing weight.  It was very realistic--she tried to keep dieting secret, lusted over food, kept pushing back start dates, etc.  Been there for each of those so I know it's real!
• This book also looks at the layers beneath weight (ok, that was probably a bad pun) and gets into the emotional reasons for how we view ourselves and especially our weight.  Dr. Phil would agree with that and would suggest you confront the family/self issues that are causing you to live an unhealthy lifestyle.

What I Didn't Love:

• Weak adults.  Goodness I hate weak adults.  Ann's mother just threw her daughter's weight in her face so much.  And I felt like Ann's mother and grandmother were over-the-top.
• I didn't believe Ann's romantic interactions with the guy at the mall, nor her quick friendship with one of her co-workers.  Based on her social issues, I just felt like those characters would have strayed away from her.
• Pretty predictable.  Even though the premise of this book is very different than Robin Brande's Fat Cat, I couldn't stop thinking how much more I preferred Brande's book for its characters and plot.

Honestly, I didn't love this one.  I wasn't engaged in the plot and the characters overall bothered me.  Sorry to say that it won't be a re-read for me, which is disappointing since I think we need more healthier-image books for teens!

However, I will be back with some fashion tips to show off your favorite parts of your body--because we shouldn't be obsessing over what we dislike but tastefully show off our preferred features!

REVIEW--My Antonia

Happy Monday, readers and fashionistas!  I hope you had a fantastic weekend!  Normally I have pretty good weekends, but they're usually filled with chores and errands.  This past weekend, though, was so super--I visited my parents in my hometown, did some awesome yard-saling, and had my first Tropical Snos of the year.  Yes, a fine weekend indeed!

I recently finished coaching my season for my high school Academic Superbowl team.  This year's theme was "Westward Expansion," and my English team was assigned to read My Antonia by Willa Cather.  Since I don't talk much about classics on this blog, I thought I'd review the book...basically just to prove that I do read more than just YA fiction!

• Standalone novel
• Classics (Historical fiction)

 The Gist:
Young boy Jim Burden is sent out West to live with his grandparents in Nebraska after his parents die.  Here he learns about both life on a farm and life in town, but it is his relationship with Bohemian Antonia that truly shapes him as a man.  As they grow up and experience Western life together, the pair always seem to find their way back to each other.

What I Loved:

• A very sweet and even humorous look at times of life out West.  The connection of neighbors and farmhands, the scenery, and Jim's reflections on his childhood gave the book a soft, sweet character.
• The characters--especially Antonia's family.  They were so diverse in personalities and behaviors, which often left them a bit unpredictable.
• The Burden family...Jim's grandparents took him in with some compassion and comfort, and they treated their hired farmhands as extended family members.  I would have wanted to live with them!

What I Didn't Love:

• For a boy living out West, Jim sure didn't have to do much.  Here his neighbors were being worked dawn to dusk and he just helped his grandmother in the kitchen.  Even though he had grown up in the East, I expected his grandparents to get him helping in the fields.
• The ending disappointed me.  I was left feeling like the characters all just grew up and went their separate ways.  I wanted surprise marriages, shocking accidents...something to validate all of the reading I'd just done. 

Overall a nice read, but not necessarily a page-turner.  Great for fans of classic books or those who just like to read about nice scenery and country life.

I'll be designing an outfit based off this book--check back tomorrow to see it!

REVIEW--One Step at a Time

I'm back!!!  Wow has it been a crazy few weeks, so I'm glad to get back to a normal routine again!  And that includes blogging, too.  :)

So today let's get going with a good-old review.  I recently read One Step at a Time by Josh Bleill, a former Marine and now community spokesperson for the Indianapolis Colts.  I'm actually hoping to have Bleill come to my school next year to speak with students and staff about the experiences he wrote in this book.  So let's get to it:

 

•  Standalone novel
• Nonfiction

The Gist:
After 9/11, Josh Bleill knew he wanted to serve his country.  So he joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 2004.  He was sent for a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006, where he lost both legs in an IED explosion.  In this book, he discusses this incident and how he learned to move past his injuries (both physical and mental).  He was later hired by the Indianapolis Colts, his favorite NFL team, where he currently serves as a community spokesperson.

What I Loved:

• For me, this is a hometown story.  Although I didn't grow up in Greenfield (where Bleill lived), I also grew up in a small Indiana town and could relate to Bleill's growing-up stories. 
• It's a very inspirational story--Bleill could very easily live in depression and self-pity because of all that he's been through, but he doesn't.  A great story for students to hear!
• I was afraid that Bleill was going to start with a LOT of background about his upbringing and young life, but he doesn't.  He jumps right into the main story for you, and I really appreciated that!

What I Didn't Love:

• I know Bleill isn't a professional writer, but he did have a ghostwriter for this book.  And honestly I wasn't very impressed with the ghostwriter.  The writing seemed basic and even elementary at times.  This is a book you read for the information, not for the writing style.
• At one point Bleill talks about how he waited to tell his family that he had joined the Marines.  And he says "I told myself I hadn't broken the news to them yet because I wanted to tell the entire family at one time.  My other sister, Julie, lived in Fishers, Indiana, and my parents lived 40 minutes from her in Greenfield.  And I lived all the way in Indianapolis, right in between them.  Getting all of us together at the same time from such great distances was hard to do--or at least it is when you don't want to do it."  I know this are very well, and describing 40 minutes as "great distances" was pretty silly to me.  We live in the world of automobiles, not horse and buggy...that's not a great distance at all. 
• Bleill writes MULTIPLE times about how great the Marines are and how they are such a family.  And I'm sure they are and I TOTALLY respect the Marines.  Just got a little repetitive after awhile.

My favorite quote:  "I didn't mind going back to California, especially not after living through another Indiana winter."  Amen, Bleill.  Amen.

So a good read for the inspirational story of Bleill's time in the Marines, but not a great example of writing style.  I'm really looking forward to having my students read this (and hopefully meet Bleill!).

I'll be back tomorrow with a Marine-inspired outfit!  And then I'll have my own outfit post up soon!

REVIEW--Balancing It All

Any Full House fans out there?  C'mon, you can admit that you were glued to your TV on Friday nights for TGIF!  I definitely was, and Full House was one of my favorites.

I've kept up with Candace Cameron Bure since she's returned to acting in the last few years (she took a break to raise her three children) and just enjoy her all around--she's adorable, stylish, an unapologetic Christian, and just real.  I love following her on Twitter and reading her blog posts.  In fact, my friend Ariel and I traveled a year-ish ago to see Candace speak at an event and I got to meet Candace and have this cool T-shirt signed:

It's a great addition to my office!

So I was really excited when I saw that Candace had written her second book, Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose.  It's basically Candace writing down the answers to the question she is constantly asked: how do you balance everything--being a mom, wife, actress, Christian...?  I read the book in two days, which is super fast for me.  So let's jump into the review, shall we?

 

Cute cover, don'tcha think?

The Gist:

Candace Cameron Bure is often asked how she balances being a mom, wife, and actress who loves to shop, work out, and share her love of Jesus.  How can she be strong in everything with limited time during the day?  In this book, she answers that question by targeting specific parts of her life that she's had to learn to balance.  She honestly discusses her marriage, parenting, and womanhood and how she keeps it all from overwhelming her.

What I Loved:

•  Candace doesn't play it safe in this book.  She's willing to talk about her faith, the ups and downs of parenting, and the lessons she's learned through her marriage.  In fact, she even sparked a little "controversy" on her recent book tour when discussing her passive role as a wife--and she didn't back down from discussing it!  I appreciated her candor in this book, because it's just so easy for Christians to lay low in Hollywood (and in life in general).  
• I remember that some readers criticized Bure's first book for having quite a few fan letters expressing their love of Candace and Full House (when it seemed a little over the top).  Bure keeps this book focused on the overall topic and really downplays her fame.  So I really appreciated the focus of this book.

What I Didn't Love:

• Because I'm a Candace Cameron Bure fan, I know a lot about her.  Like I said, I've seen her speak in public and I'm an avid Twitter follower.  So there were some parts of the book that I already knew about her--I'm very aware how she met her husband, when she first started taking her faith seriously, that she spent her first years of marriage as a stay-at-home wife and mom.  And while I understand that she had to include some of these details, I felt like I'd heard them a lot before now.  It made me really appreciate the stories that I didn't know about her, though!
• I'll admit it--I don't know if this topic required an entire book.  I felt like I had the gist of what Bure was trying to say by the middle of the book.  I thought some parts, like discussing picking your child's school, were very spread out just to make more pages in the book.  As a reader, I think I only needed a few sentences to know what she meant.

A fun read for me since I'm a Bure fan and a fairly quick read, too!  I give it three stars!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing an outfit from my own wardrobe--an outfit for how to look like you've got it all together even when you don't feel like it!  I'll share some of my favorite accessories to use when you need to look balanced!  See you then!

REVIEW--Level Up

Happy Monday!  Ahh, it's Valentines Week and I have some fun projects planned for my family!!  Most of them are surprises, but I will share them with you, too!  Stay tuned this week to see what we're making to stay in the lovey dovey spirit!

Today's review is on the graphic novel Level Up by Gene Luen Yang.  I'm not a big graphic novel fan, but this book is on an Indiana reading list for high school students and has gotten a lot of attention, so I knew I needed to try it.  So let's jump in!

 

• Standalone 
• Graphic novel

The Gist:

Dennis is a big-time gamer.  He is really good at all kinds of video games, but his dad wants him to do "more" with his life, like be a doctor.  After his father dies, Dennis' life goes dramatically downhill, and he eventually drops out of college and spends all his time on his video games.  But when it appears that his father has sent him some "angels" to get him back on track, Dennis realizes it is time to figure out his destiny in life.

What I Loved:

• The cover!  Brings back memories of playing Tetris on my old GameBoy.
• How Dennis' relationship with his father wraps up.  Despite his father being dead, there was some resolution in that story.
• What Dennis' "destiny" ends up being...it's a little cheesy but fun, and I found myself thinking about it the next day.

What I Didn't Love:

• This book had some gross parts (probably made grosser by the fact that's in all images), especially a certain med school scene.  Bleh.
• The angels were a little cheesy, although that seems to happen for me in graphic novels.  Just a bit bizarre for my taste, though. 

My favorite quote:  "So basically, you get to play Super Mario all you want, any time you want, for FREE?  That is the single most amazing thing I've ever heard."

An ok read for me, but a little bizarre since graphic novels aren't my thing.  I'm giving it three heels. :)

Tomorrow I'll be back with a "gamer" outfit...that should be a fun challenge!  See you then!

REVIEW--How to Lead a Life of Crime

Good afternoon, friends!  Unfortunately all that anyone can talk about in Indiana is that we're supposed to get MORE SNOW today....sigh.  I don't know how much more of winter snow I can handle!  Maybe a book review will cheer me up!

Today's review is on How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller.  It's dangerous, intense, surprising, and a great read!  So let's jump in!

• Standalone novel
• Thriller

The Gist:
Teenager Flick (at least that's the name he goes by) was raised in a very wealthy family.  He could probably have anything he wants based on his family's financial situation.  But Flick's dad is incredibly abusive, and Flick only gets away from his abuse when he goes to a military school.  But Flick leaves school and starts living on the streets as a thief when his dad gets away with killing his younger brother, Jude.  Flick is a good thief, in fact a pretty professional pick-pocket, so he isn't interested when Lucius Mandel invites him to attend the Mandel Academy.  This academy is for teen criminals and works to make those criminals even better at what they do.  But when Flick hears that Mandel has the evidence to put his father in prison for the rest of his life, he agrees to attend the academy through graduation.  But there is MUCH MORE to this academy than Flick first suspected, and when the love of his life becomes a student, too, Flick knows he must risk his race to the top to save both himself and the ones he loves.

What I Loved:

• Such a cool premise--a school for criminals to make them better criminals!  You can take a class on assassination techniques or human trafficking...it's wrong but pretty funny, too.
• The villains in this book weren't just one step ahead of Flick--they seemed to be five steps ahead of him.  Kept the book very mysterious.
• This is a standalone book when I was certain it would be part of a series.  I appreciate having a book wrap everything up. 
• There is so much that can be explored in this book, especially the characters' obsession with revenge or success (or both!).  

What I Didn't Love:

• A pretty gory, disturbing, gross book at times.  Took things beyond the boundary that I expected.
• Flick's communication with "Peter Pan" Jude was just a little bizarre at times.
• The ending wasn't completely satisfactory for me.  After all Flick went through, I found myself thinking "that was it?"
• The extra reading material at the end (like the files of characters and the class descriptions) told me things I already knew.  They just weren't necessary.  

I'd say a 3-heel read for me.  A good read with a few problems for me.  What did you think of the book?

I'll be back tomorrow (hopefully not buried in the snow!) with an outfit based off this book.  See you then!

REVIEW--Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Hello, friends!

Snow, sickness--we're all feeling ready for Spring!  But sometimes that's the best time to read a book, right?!  

Today's book review is on Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin.  This book is totally out of my comfort zone in that it's nonfiction.  And I just rarely read nonfiction (unless it's a biography).  But I had heard great things about this book AND I wanted to read more about the key "players" involved in building the atomic bomb.  So let's get right to it:

• Standalone book
• Nonfiction

The Gist:
This book starts with a German chemist's discovery that uranium atoms can split at two.  This discovery led to a scientific race to build an atomic bomb and control power in WWII.  The U.S., the Soviet Union, and Germany were in a literal race, knowing that whoever built the bomb first would win the war.  The Soviets sent spies to the U.S., Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Einstein sent a letter to FDR, and secrets were everywhere.  

What I Loved:

• I literally had no idea how many people were involved in building (or stealing plans for building) the atomic bomb.  This book was very well-researched--the best word to describe it is thorough.     
• The format of the book.  There were photos at the beginning of each section that showed key players, settings, situations; this added a lot to the reading of the book.
• I love narrative nonfiction because it doesn't read like a textbook.  I appreciated that this book so often read like a story.
• The ending was haunting--as it should be!  We're definitely not free from atomic bombs, and the book made them perfectly clear.
• There were so many perspectives and characters that it was very interesting to see the various points of view.  I especially enjoyed reading about the man who flew the plane that bombed Hiroshima; I'd always wondered about his opinion of the event.

What I Didn't Love:

• Although I loved all the points of view, there were SO MANY people involved that sometimes it was overwhelming.  It was hard to keep everyone straight (at least to the novice of me).
• I was told that this book read like a high intense spy novel, so I expected I read that I couldn't put down.  But even though it is nonfiction, it wasn't a thriller for me.  It was me reading history--enjoyable, but not edge-of-my-seat. 

My favorite quote: "It's a story with no end in sight.  And, like it or not, you're in it."  (The last lines of the book)

So an enjoyable read for those interested in history or those wanting more knowledge of the atomic bomb.  I give it three high heels.  Now let's just hope that everyone keeps their bombs inactive...right?

I'll be back soon with an outfit inspired by WWII, since that's the time period of this book.  See you then!