Panic-Inspired Outfit

Happy Monday, all!  Anyone else as tired as I am with Daylight Savings Time?  Man, this morning wore. me. out.  But after a super fun day with my students (we made paper cranes today to celebrate peace and diversity!) I'm bringing you an outfit inspired by Panic by Lauren Oliver--loved that book!

In Panic, teens have to face some pretty major challenges--the terrifying, daring, and unusual.  Most of their challenges are physical, so having an outfit fit for movement is key.  For one of our main characters, Heather, I designed this outfit:

Here's how I chose this look:

• We have the basics for any kind of exercise/working out.  The workout cropped pants, t-shirt, and jacket.  I chose black and gray in case a challenge caused the teen to need to be as "invisible" as possible.
• I love this graphic gray tee.  The finger point gives off the message of "Hey, I'm coming for you and going to win this game!"  And in the game of Panic, the teens need every amount of courage they can muster.
• The pink shoes and watch are again staples for a fitness challenge.  I chose deep pink in case the teen would want to be seen in some way, as a safety precaution.

So what do you think?  I would TOTALLY wear this outfit when working out or doing a physical challenge.  Would you?

Another review coming soon in one of the most disgusting, surprising series I have ever read!

Want to see more of this outfit?  Check out the details here!  

REVIEW: Panic

Happy Monday, everyone!  We got COVERED in snow this weekend in Indiana, but that gave my family a chance to watch movies, eat chicken soup, and just nap around...it was perfect!

Today's review is on Lauren Oliver's book Panic.  I listened to this book on my way home from YALLFEST and was able to listen to it all within that setting.  And what an experience that was--I was gripping the steering wheel so tightly during a tiger scene (yes, there are tigers!)!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's jump into the review:

 

• Standalone novel
• Realistic

The Gist:
In the town of Carp, graduating seniors join in a thrilling game of Panic.  The game started since there's nothing else to do in Carp, but has grown to be a much-anticipated and even deadly part of summer.  Here's how it works: graduating seniors who join the game complete very dangerous, terrifying tasks.  If they finish the task, they move on to the next round.  If they refuse to compete or fail, they are out of the game (if they aren't killed in the process).  The winner receives $50,000.
Heather wasn't expecting to play the game...but when she sees her recent ex-boyfriend pawing his new girlfriend, she impulsively joins the game.  She joins Dodge, a player who is out for revenge, and other friends in a game that will prove to be completely life-changing...and life-threatening.

What I Loved:

• I love reading about games and challenges and reality show-like dares (my favorite childhood book is The Westing Game).  And that's completely what this book is about.  The challenges are fun to read (and thrilling and terrifying as well!) and are unpredictable.
• Even though this is a book about a death-defying game, it's also all about relationships.  I loved getting into the deep stories of Heather and Dodge.  With this being a 400+ page book, it was nice to have a mix of the nail-biting with the relationships.
• The ending!  Everything wrapped up in a very surprising way for me.  This was the part that got me so impressed with Oliver's writing.
• There are some big issues (especially teen issues) in the book that made me feel like the read was worth my time.  Issues like family troubles, revenge, a secret crush, and secrets in general.  And like I said, they all wrapped up so well for as much as what was going on.

What I Didn't Love:

• Ok, so it was a little unbelievable.  This game could not be pulled off year after year with teenagers, at least not the teenagers that I'm used to working with everyday.  Teens can't keep secrets and this game is a complete secret every summer.  It was fun to think it could happen, though!
• The cover--I think it's a cool cover but I really don't think it fits the book that well. 

Such a fun read and so fun to read with my friend Emily on the way home from South Carolina!

Yep, 5 stars!  I know, that doesn't happen very often.  But so so good!

Panic-Inspired Outfit

Hi, friends!

In my review of Panic by Sharon Draper, I explained how protagonist Diamond is a dancer in an after-school dance troupe.  So for today's outfit, I thought I'd show an outfit that shows off you're a dancer but isn't in-your-face.  Does that make sense?  And this would be a super cute outfit for someone walking to dance class after school.

Here's the outfit:

I kind of wish I was a dancer, because this is super cute!

Here's the breakdown:

• Ballerina skirts are the best!  So adorable.  And this one is delicate and not too over-the-top.
• The black tee gives off the look of a black leotard, and the dance sweatshirt is casual and fun.
• Ballet flats--should I even explain this?
• Minimal jewelry like pearl stud earrings keep the outfit soft, and dancers are often known for being light and flowing.

So what do you think?  Could you see a dancer wearing this on her time off?

Tee--ACNE Trans Dance Tee
Skirt--USTrendy.com
Sweatshirt--Forever 21
Flats--Charlotte Russe
Earrings--Reeds White Pearls

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned. 

I'll be back next week with a new review and Friday Find!  See you then!

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!