As Sadie's life begins to fall apart, she is confronted with heartache, family quarrels and the occasional miscommunication. But of course, this all comes down to one thing, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Sadie is an artist but as her work starts to lack fewness, she is let go from one of the stores who showcase and sell her work. As she battles the rude comments from her friends and her ow self-doubt, Sadie is confronted with her panic attack. As her take on ignoring life results unsuccessful, Sadie tries to take her own life by taking sleeping pills. Fortunately, her friend Aldo is there to save her. Through a new journey for Sadie, she comes across as othing but confusig times and attacking thoughts that land her the diagnosis of anxiety, depression and panic attacks. With the help of friends Ruby and Aldo, Sadie soon sees how much life has to offer and this too shall pass. Finding her place in the world is Sadie's only chance to defeat her mental illness. I love how Lacey London creates the character, Ruby, to have anxiety as well but didn't have the same circumstances as the main character Sadie. Sadie's anxiety is caused by a breakup, financial and relationship issues, alongside the mother who isn't really in the picture. Ruby states that she has always been this way since she was a child but says her anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of. "Would you be embarrassed about a headache or a broken leg? Ruby names her anxiety as Frank. "You're making it stronger, more powerful. Think of anxiety as an actual person, like a living thing that you can name. I LOVE this idea and as someone who was directed to medication immediately, I wish would have gone to counselling and saw a professional other than my doctor. I named my anxiety, Toby. This book is not just a story, it's a lifestyle and to me is more so book full of useful ways to cope with mental health. Extremely happy that this book crossed my path.
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A boy with extraordinary powers. An army of deadly monsters. An epic battle for the future of peculiardom. The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children. They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience. A war between the most unlikely of teams gives the name of judgment of others a run for their lives. Lies to not only yourself but the ones you care about more than life itself. A love that shouldn't be between a peculiar and a normal. The souls being taken and your power is only useful when you truly know how to manipulate your mind into doing so. When your life is in danger yet you must not only save yourself but those who became the family you always wanted. When fate is decided for you it may be hard to be a part of something that is, per say, beyond your most peculiar dreams. The anxiety of not being able to save the ones you love but wanting to sacrifice your life for those who gave there's the same. As aging catches up, it's hard to believe that the world you've come to cherish more than the one you're from, isn't where you belong. Everything you've experienced, learned and the people you met is something only you know and have to live with. But when you return to your normal life, nothing is the same as it was before and it never will be. Feeling betrayed, embarrassed and foolish beyond belief, your parents find the letters Emma wrote when you returned home and of course, they think you're mad. But what if they came to your rescue, knowing you didn’t belong in the world you live in. "We're here to save you. Like you saved us" I rate this book 3/5, wasn't my favourite of the series but was still worth the read! 4/12/2017 0 Comments REVIEW- Cracked by K.M.Walton"Dear Victor, I am glad that you're still alive. I thought about you a lot. I even went to church to pray for you. I know you don't known me really well yet, but that was big for me, the going-to-church thing. When I listen to Coldplay's ' Everything's Not Lost', I think of you. It could-it should – be your theme song. Love, Patty" Sometimes there's no easy way out. Victor hates his life. He has no friends, gets beaten up at school, and his parents are always criticizing him. Tired of feeling miserable, Victor takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills—only to wake up in the hospital. Bull is angry, and takes all of his rage out on Victor. That makes him feel better, at least a little. But it doesn't stop Bull's grandfather from getting drunk and hitting him. So Bull tries to defend himself with a loaded gun. When Victor and Bull end up as roommates in the same psych ward, there's no way to escape each other or their problems. Which means things are going to get worse—much worse—before they get better I picked up this book at Coles yesterday, it immediately caught my attention as I love reading coming of age stories. These two characters' Victor and Bull, come from very different living situations. Both face undoubtedly different criticism from their parents and friends, if any. As they both hate life, both end up in a psych ward and find their lives aren't very different but both similarly wanted to take their lives. Things always get worse before they get better. This book also demonstrated how your life would pay out after attempting to take your life. I felt as if the author told the story through a very real perspective and gave more in depth of the characters' lives as they grew as people. Love captured both characters through the realistically element of connection. Their love grew as they got closer to opening up and felt the compassion of others they haven't felt before. I rate this book 5/5 5-year-old Nikka is invited to attend Wildwood Academy, a prestigious but secret boarding school for talented youth located deep in the Californian mountains. Once there, Nikka quickly falls in love with her bizarre classes, the jaw-dropping scenery and… two very different boys. However, Wildwood Academy has a dark and twisted secret, one that could cost Nikka the one thing she had never imagined she could lose, the one thing that money can’t buy. It is this very thing that Wildwood Academy was created to steal. Nikka can stay and lose everything, or she can risk death and run. I would like to start off with saying I could not put this book down. Jacqueline Silvester is my new favourite author by far, I was captivated with every word and stunned with every chapter. This book turned coming of age to investigation super quick and I could not be more pleased with how it ended. Of course, I was not expecting the ending and I NEED to read Part 2 when it comes out but yes, by far my new favourite read. For a short run-down for those who are interested in reading Wunderkids, I leave you with a quote from the book that has been stuck in my head. "Run Nikka and take loved ones with you." Nikka's character was so vibrantly talented and full of wisdom. I could not wrap my head around how well-written this character was played out to be. I could imagine everything about her and I instantly wanted to befriend the girl beyond the pages. Wunderkids fits into so many genres: mystery, thriller and romance, action, adventure and drama. I still cannot put into words how much I loved this book. I cannot wait for part 2! I rate this book 5/5! I rate this book, 4 out of 5 stars! A powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during World War II, The Orphan's Tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of sacrifice and survival Sixteen-year-old Noa has been cast out in disgrace after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby. She lives above a small rail station, which she cleans in order to earn her keep… When Noa discovers a boxcar containing dozens of Jewish infants bound for a concentration camp, she is reminded of the child that was taken from her. And in a moment that will change the course of her life, she snatches one of the babies and flees into the snowy night. Noa finds refuge with a German circus, but she must learn the flying trapeze act so she can blend in undetected, spurning the resentment of the lead aerialist, Astrid. At first rivals, Noa and Astrid soon forge a powerful bond. But as the facade that protects them proves increasingly tenuous, Noa and Astrid must decide whether their friendship is enough to save one another—or if the secrets that burn between them will destroy everything. I would first like to start by saying I read this book in four hours. I usually let a book linger on for a couple days in order to get other things done but this one I just simply could not put down. I move from one room to the next, constantly reading and trying to guess what would happen next. The book is told from two different points of view: Noa and Astrid's. Both come from similar but different sides of the world and need each other to survive. Astrid's character was my favourite. Her rebellious status gave her such an edge and made her character really stand out. She came across as determined yet she didn't want anyone coming before her in the long run. She fought for the ones she loved and never gave up on not only her dream but her family as well. This is a story that I am so glad was told the way it was. I have read many Holocaust stories but never one like this. Taking risks for another's life gave this book such an uplifting message and storyline that I was captivated with every chapter. I found it a very moving yet extremely sad read. I want to cry for the lives lost but I also want to cry for how amazingly written this book was. I wish the characters would have been in different dilemmas but it was still a great read! In the summer of 2006, Emma Price watched helplessly as her six-year-old son’s red coat was fished out of the River Ouse. It was the tragic story of the year – a little boy, Aiden, wandered away from school during a terrible flood, fell into the river, and drowned. His body was never recovered. Ten years later, Emma has finally rediscovered the joy in life. She’s married, pregnant, and in control again... ... until Aiden returns. Too traumatized to speak, he raises endless questions and answers none. Only his body tells the story of his decade-long disappearance. The historic broken bones and injuries cast a mere glimpse into the horrors Aiden has experienced. Aiden never drowned. Aiden was taken. As Emma attempts to reconnect with her now teenage son, she must unmask the monster who took him away from her. But who, in their tiny village, could be capable of such a crime? It's Aiden who has the answers, but he cannot tell the unspeakable. Silent Child by Sarah Denzil was the first book I purchased off Amazon in a very long time due to my love for a physical book in my hands rather than one on my phone. The start of the book was really well written and kept me reading but the ending is what ruined it for me. To say the least, it wasn't my favourite book. I didn't enjoy the ending at all. I felt as if it was rushed and didn't add up as much as it would if the author would have expanded more on the boy's abduction and treated it more realistically. I felt as the author realized how far they were into the book and gave up and blamed the abduction on just anyone when it would have made more sense to blame it on someone closer to the family and not just a friend. A lot of the book didn't add up for me at the end and I wasn't impressed at all. I would rate this book a 2/5. I had REALLY high hopes and expectations for this book as I love a good abduction story as they are very realistic and a childs adaptation to their new world is very intriguing. SPOILER ALERT Aiden, who was mute since he came home from a 10 year abduction, awkwardly enough starts talking out of the blue when his mother follows him to the spot where he lived while he was abducted. I found this VERY unrealistic and the author could have elaborated more on how he all of a sudden found his voice again. Also, the mother kills her husband and Amy, the woman who told her son 10 years ago to go down to the river in which he "fell" into. I also found this a tad dramatic as in this situation I would have thought she would call her detective friend who was her number contact the entire time and made a deal with him and told him everything. A lot of the book didn't add up for me at the end and I wasn't impressed at all. I would rate this book a 2/5. Meet Francie Mills. She’s 16. Lives in the boring burbs of L.A. Is super determined and hopeful. And wants one thing: to be an amazing tennis player. Because if something exponentially, brilliantly wonderful like that happened, like winning the U.S. Open or even getting to nationals, everything would be okay. Her life. Her family. Her. She would matter. Be part of something important. And wouldn’t have to feel so unbearably sad and alone every time her dad gets drunk, again. But the likelihood of amazingness starts to seem impossible when Francie injures her knee…that is, until she meets Chet Jones, lead singer of the band Blues Harp Jones, in Austin, on location for her dad’s movie job. Francie instantly falls for Chet, in his weird blazer and “God Save the Queen” t-shirt, sexy, genuine, funny. And she’s sure something wonderful is finally happening, especially when Chet miraculously falls for her too. But the closer Francie gets to Chet back in L.A. and the more her dad’s drinking tears her apart, the more she realizes the best kind of something wonderful isn’t at all what she expected… Blues Harp Jones is a book of twists and unforeseen love in the life of a young teenager who just can't seem to catch a break. Her parents don't understand how much tennis means to her but she is forced to give up something she loves in order to let an injury heal. Francie soon finds something else to love and it isn't a sport. I felt for Francie in so many ways throughout the novel. Her childhood stripped away from her, forced to act like an adult at such a young age only to find out her parents are the ones acting like children. Her deceptive lies are clever yet you can tell her character is unsure if her actions match what's in her heart. Francie is more of a tom boy with the mind of a girly girl but her life is simply turned upside down when she injures her knee before a big tennis tournament. She met a boy named Chet while walking home from one of her dad's movie dinners but didn’t think anything of it, at first. Chet instantly makes Francie happier, feel safe and is the one thing she can't seem to stop thinking about. Chet instantly relates to Francie as he knows the pressures of family, burdens and expectations that are placed upon the children of successful families. Francie feels as if nothing else matters, as long as she's with Chet. This book screams the common saying, "everything happens for a reason" as Francie went through a lot within such a short amount of time that she changed as a person throughout the novel. She gives every young woman out there the desire to pursue their dreams and never give up no matter what life throws your way. Especially if it's a cute boy in a band. When Nicole contacted me asking if I would like to read Blues Harp Green, I was immediately excited. After reading the blurb on the book, I was sold. Blues Harp Green ultimately deserves a 5/5 simply because of the easy to read story and exciting plot that left me wanting more. I personally would love to read a sequel to this book in order to answer some of unanswered questions I have about Francie's life after the ending. You'll have to read the book to know what I'm talking about. I recommend this book to lovers of romance, lifestyle and challenge. Not once did I get bored while reading nor did I want to stop. Congratulations on a magnificent novel. I look forward to reading more from the amazing author, Nicole Schubert. She was left fighting her demons alone . . . For sixteen-year-old Danielle DeCorso, the old house in Glastonbury was an eerie place to grow up. Coping with mental health challenges exacerbated by a traumatic family dynamic, Danielle watches from the window for two men in a dusty black sedan who keep circling the house and harassing her with phone calls. The two predators drugged her and her cousin, Angie, and then lured them from Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport to a secluded cottage on Long Beach West. She remembers feeling dizzy, the room spinning. She recalls screaming, crying, fighting, and then slipping in and out of consciousness. Angie, however, has no recollection of the incident. When Danielle attempts to jog Angie’s memory and convince their best friend, Farran, that the two strangers had victimized them, no one seems to believe her. Alone in her pain, Danielle remains guarded, obsessed, and withdrawn. Soon she is sinking deeper into a tumultuous world of adolescent isolation and change. Grief, guilt, and anger send her spiraling into an even darker place. Tormented by terrifying nightmares, she fears she will lose her sanity, or possibly her soul. Is she having post-traumatic stress hallucinations, as one of her friends suggest, or are her recurring nightmares as real as they seem? Trapped in an unyielding emotional bondage, Danielle continues the fight to reclaim her power. Startling revelations awaken her newfound spirit, inspiring a once naïve girl to grow into a woman of defiance and courage. I would just like to start off by saying how much I love when an author starts with "Dear Reader," it gives the reader an opportunity to jump through the mind of the creator and a more in depth view of the world they are about to jump into. Lyndon starts out with, "This story, while not for the faint of heart, is about one young woman's path to healing from trauma." Boom, captured my attention instantly and gave me the interest and desire to read on. I obviously don't want to spoil the book because I highly recommend this good read but make sure you go into this book with an open mind and a strong heart, not everything is as it seems. A confused teen with a rough past has her conflicts conveying more than it may seem. Love Triangles, teases and mysterious character's leave the story with your mind wandering. An abusive, bi-polar family leaves the Danielle with what life has to offer and it's for her to determine if it's good or bad. There is some comic relief that shows she is still young and learning about who she is and what she wants to do with her future. Dani moves jobs, boundaries are broken and new friends make her life a little more trouble than she expected. A writer, singer and poet with dreams but her career aspirations are the least of her worries. I pictured Danielle as someone with social anxiety, she seems confident when in group settings yet has her moments when she is around uncomfortable people. Her dreams left fears in my mind and I certainly could not get some of her thoughts out of my head. The novel was fast paced and had a great couple twists that kept me reading. I was very connected to the main character Danielle, simply because she was a powerful teenage who knows where she stands in the world and will do anything to get where she wants to be. There is always a twist but never to many to have your mind fixated on one problem than quickly moved to the next. The healing process is never easy but it's those we trust and those who we tell about what happened is what makes the process go smoothly or just another problem. I would like to thank Kyrian Lyndon for the opportunity to review her book, it was truly a novel I will always cherish and always remember. As for the book, Shattering Truths is a great book to read. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. I am a huge fan of books dedicated to finding ones self and this book really took me by surprise with the twists it took. This is a book you NEED to read. "Kind of a bizarre love story with a few twists...turns into a mystery" - Shattering Truths 3/5/2017 0 Comments Review- Hollow City- The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children by Random RiggsSeptember 3, 1940. Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them—but she’s trapped in the body of a bird. The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom. I have never read a book so fast then I did while reading Hollow City, I simply could not put the book down. I am not one to share any teasers about books but this a one that kept me thinking about what would happen next. I constantly could not stop thinking about Jacob's safety and what him and the other peculiars would come across. Would they finally get to Miss Peregrine and finally save her, or better yet, themselves? So many parts of the book would make a great horror film, the descriptive environments make for an amazingly scary setting for this novel. Still, so many questions are left unanswered but of course, that's why there is a third book. "We love you, too, Jake, and if it's drugs, or whatever it is, we don't care. We'll get you right again. Like I said, you're confused." "No, Dad. I'm peculiar." I felt so attached to Emma throughout this novel, her quick thinking and will to survive kept me reading and had me on my toes. Jacob and Emma's love really grew throughout this novel through not only an emotional battle but also an adventurous journey they took together. I tend to dig deep into the novels I read and with this specific novel, I drew from the characters "peculiarities". They were all different yet extremely similar as they drew up together, all came from different backgrounds yet grew as a family of differences. I found this profoundly beautiful and memorizing. I love how they refer to themselves as peculiar, and not as different. I believe this gives the book a mystery time of feel, one in which the children know they are different but choose to accept it and live as they should, happily. I cannot wait for the movie of Hollow City to come out, there are so many scenes I pictured that have been imbedded into my mind and I would love to see how they come to life. A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows. After reading this captivating book, I found myself meditating on the thought of a world apart from the one I live within. My favorite character is Millard Nullings, an invisible boy. I feel as if Millard has a darker side to him, aside from being invisible, he breathes to embrace his differences, even if that means running around the house naked to not be seen. Even though he didn't play the biggest part, he stuck out to me as he cleverly was always in the right place at the right time. Thank you Ransom Riggs for this beautiful book, on to book number two: Hollow City. |
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May 2017
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