Zero by Tom Leveen is a young adult novel about the aspiring artist Amanda Walsh, who calls herself Zero. Her home life is less than stellar, with her father drinking all the time and her parents arguing daily. She had plans to go away to a great art school and escape, but when her scholarship fell through all her plans went up in smoke. Her best friend Jenn is not in the picture, after an awkward situation, and Zero feels lost. One night she heads out to a local club to lose herself in some punk music. Somehow she finds the courage to talk to a drummer, Mike, who's eyes capture her attention. Amidst doubts about her talent and fear for the future, Zero and Mike find themselves working towards their goals together and encouraging each other. Is Zero's art really worth continuing, will Mike's band find success, and will success bring them together or tear them apart?
Zero is a great novel about following your dreams, while still staying grounded. I really liked that Zero grows and changes in the novel, evolving to better understand herself and those around her. She starts off showing more respect for her father, because he seems to offer her more support and freedom, but comes to respect her mother's inner strength and love. Zero has several moments of thought that include running away from it all. She considers cashing in her education account, but does not. This is partly in fear and doubt in herself, but it is also because she knows that it would be breaking her parent's trust. The development of Zero and Mike's relationship is full of the doubt and stomach butterflies that naturally comes with teen relationships. I think all aspects of the relationship were handled extremely well. I also liked the fact that Zero is not a fairy tale story, it is realistic and full of the decisions that people really have to make, with no perfect choice.
I highly recommend Zero to young adult and adult readers. It is a story that captured my attention on the first page and had me reading well past the time I had intended to go to sleep. Zero, Mike, and the other characters are complex and thoroughly realistic. I feel like they might really be wondering around somewhere working toward their dreams. Zero was so real to me that I was amazed that Leveen could so thoroughly understand the inner workings of a teenage girl's mind.
Book Review: Alice-Miranda on Vacation by Jacqueline Harvey
Alice-Miranda on Vacation was a fun children's book. I think I would have enjoyed it even more had I read Alice-Miranda at School, which I plan on going back to read. The characters are complicated and well developed, more so than I sometimes see in adult and young adult stories. I recommend Alice-Miranda on Vacation to young readers that enjoy mysteries, adventure, and a good read. Children that are reading at advanced levels, or are often referred to as advanced in their school work, will especially enjoy this book because Alice-Miranda shares similar traits.
Q is for Quest- A to Z Challenge
Q is for Quest. Is it ironic that I have been quietly questing and questioning what to write about for some of the more challenging letters (like Q) since taking on this challenge? After picking Quest, I began questioning what to write about, and decided to return to my quest to live the happiest life I can, and offer my children the same.
My quest has taken many forms in the last few years.I have ventured into freelance writing, blogging, book reviews, and increased my reading somehow. I have found, and found a way to pay for, a preschool for the kids that I trust and the kids love. They have each grown and learned so much since starting. I have changed my cooking and eating habits to offer my family the healthiest food I can. I think we have been successful since my kids prefer fruits and veggies to just about everything, except maybe bread. My husband is off all medication for diabetes, which he was diagnosed with prior to our diet changes.
My quest has taken turns in the last two years, increasing my gardening and home made health and beauty products, which I talked about yesterday, so I will not bore you with more about that. However, I have been making efforts to grow more and more food and herbs, and doing so in green and creative ways. In turn, those quest efforts have fueled more writing, and more ideas, which in turn fuel more articles. It is a fun cycle, but one I do not always take full advantage of.
My next step in the quest to have a fulfilling life and secure the same for the rest of my family? Continuing on and seeing where it takes me. When everyone is in school full time, should be September of 2013, I can step up my endeavors to earn money while doing what I live. Perhaps more library hours, perhaps going back to school, perhaps writing more, perhaps making more candles and skin care products or jewelry to sell, or maybe it will be something new by then. Much can happen in a year and a half.
What is your current quest? Where do you think it will take you?
My quest has taken many forms in the last few years.I have ventured into freelance writing, blogging, book reviews, and increased my reading somehow. I have found, and found a way to pay for, a preschool for the kids that I trust and the kids love. They have each grown and learned so much since starting. I have changed my cooking and eating habits to offer my family the healthiest food I can. I think we have been successful since my kids prefer fruits and veggies to just about everything, except maybe bread. My husband is off all medication for diabetes, which he was diagnosed with prior to our diet changes.
My quest has taken turns in the last two years, increasing my gardening and home made health and beauty products, which I talked about yesterday, so I will not bore you with more about that. However, I have been making efforts to grow more and more food and herbs, and doing so in green and creative ways. In turn, those quest efforts have fueled more writing, and more ideas, which in turn fuel more articles. It is a fun cycle, but one I do not always take full advantage of.
My next step in the quest to have a fulfilling life and secure the same for the rest of my family? Continuing on and seeing where it takes me. When everyone is in school full time, should be September of 2013, I can step up my endeavors to earn money while doing what I live. Perhaps more library hours, perhaps going back to school, perhaps writing more, perhaps making more candles and skin care products or jewelry to sell, or maybe it will be something new by then. Much can happen in a year and a half.
What is your current quest? Where do you think it will take you?
Book Review: The White Oak by Kim White
The White Oak by Kim White is the first book in the new young adult series, Imperfect Darkness. The story opens with Cora Alexander and her twin brother falling into their fathers grave during the funeral, but it does not end there. The ground gives way sending Cora into the network of caves that lies under the hill, and ultimately to the Underworld. There she is faced with untrustworthy guides and challenges she could never have anticipated. Minotaur is her official guide, sent by a mysterious authority figure, who is a creature of artificial intelligence on a mission. Sybil is the underworld librarian and keeper of the books of life, who's gift to Cora should give her the ability to write her own future. The only ones Cora can fully trust are herself and the shade of her brother Lucas. However, something is happening to Lucas that even his computer skills leave him unable to fully understand. Will Cora be able to get out of the Underworld at all, and if she does will it be with her life intact.The White Oak holds a lot of promise. Cora and Lucas have a family that is believed to carry a curse, which centers on bullying and being mean to those closest to them. They have struggled to overcome the family legacy, only to literally succumb to their father's less than loving influence as thy are buried with him. The twins are very close, and have spent time examining the caves in order to spend less time under their father's thumb. The background is woven into the story well, and important.
The world building in the Underworld itself, and those that reside there, is extremely complicated and well executed. Now, there were also some things that seemed so well layered, that I felt like I might be missing something or waiting for something that had not yet been uncovered. I felt like there were important things hinted at due to names or references to mythology that never came to the forefront. There are switches of perspective through out the story, and it sometimes got a little confusing, but for the most part that was handled well. Then there was the huge cliffhanger at the end, that left nothing resolved for me, if felt like there should be another chapter or that the book had gotten too long when being written, so it was decided to stretch it into a series. I did enjoy the book while I was reading, but was disappointed when I put it away.
I recommend The White Oak to readers that enjoy young adult novels with a technical, and mystical, twist. The story is very involving, but I felt like there was potential for it to be even better. I think that most of my disappoint with it came from how excited the idea of the book had me, and how much potential I saw in it rather than any actual fault in the story itself. I do think that this book was a good read, and do recommend it. However, you might want to wait until the sequel, Sword of Souls, is released in August of 2012 so that you do not become frustrated with the ending of The White Oak.
P is for Patience- A to Z Challenge
P is for patience, something I lack. I often am too eager to hear the end of a story, to know than answer. Too eager for my kids to get dressed, eat, or sleep. Too eager to finish getting my thoughts onto paper, or saved into the computer. Too eager to get everything done all at once, usually resulting in frustration or something going wrong. The only thing that does not leave me impatient is books, usually. I like the unfolding of the story and only skip to the end if the book is one that I am not planning to read or cannot make myself finish.
My children are the tools that are finally teaching me to master my lack of patience, and daily testers of my limits. My son speaks slowly, repeating the first part of a sentence a few times, before getting to the point he desperately wants to share. my daughter mumbles. She will talk softly into her hand, or facing the other way, or in some other manner that makes it impossible to figure out what she is saying. They both like to tell stories and make up words, making communicating all the more difficult. Although, when I actually hear all of the parts of their stories I am typically highly entertained.
I am usually the most lacking in patience for myself. My own failings leave me frustrated and readying to stop trying. But then I tell myself the same thing I find myself saying to me son. Things that are difficult take time and practice. Just like he should not give up on jump roping after five minutes, I should not give up on myself for procrastinating, or eating too much chocolate again, or taking on too much at the same time. I need to keep trying to be the best I can, and grant myself the same patience that I try to give the people around me.
What tries your patience the most? Do different things test your patience in others than in yourself?
My children are the tools that are finally teaching me to master my lack of patience, and daily testers of my limits. My son speaks slowly, repeating the first part of a sentence a few times, before getting to the point he desperately wants to share. my daughter mumbles. She will talk softly into her hand, or facing the other way, or in some other manner that makes it impossible to figure out what she is saying. They both like to tell stories and make up words, making communicating all the more difficult. Although, when I actually hear all of the parts of their stories I am typically highly entertained.
I am usually the most lacking in patience for myself. My own failings leave me frustrated and readying to stop trying. But then I tell myself the same thing I find myself saying to me son. Things that are difficult take time and practice. Just like he should not give up on jump roping after five minutes, I should not give up on myself for procrastinating, or eating too much chocolate again, or taking on too much at the same time. I need to keep trying to be the best I can, and grant myself the same patience that I try to give the people around me.
What tries your patience the most? Do different things test your patience in others than in yourself?
O is for Options- A to Z Challenge
O is for options. Lately I have been pondering options, and taking steps to make the most of the opportunities those options allow me. I have the option to sit on my tush doing nothing, or reading, or writing, or crafting, or whatever (between taking care of and playing with the kids). I have been focusing on the reading and writing- but I am branching out. I am taking more time to explore my crafting options- though I am still writing and reading.
I have been experimenting with greener options for feeding my family, hair care, skin care, and cleaning products. As my garden of viable herbs and skill at creating increases, so does my drive to do more. Between experimenting with creating products for myself and writing articles about the recipes that I have been working with, an I getting set to ramp up production. So, I am stocking up on oils, wax, and other supplies to start selling on Esty and possibly in a local health food store that works with local vendors.
Every time I consider all the options, I start to get overwhelmed. There are so many herbs, flowers, and trees I have access to that smell great and have beneficial properties. There are so many ideas in my head. So, I write them down. I list my options and try to start small, but the ideas keep getting out of control, since there are so many options. Then, reality enters and I think about the little things that I need to do before getting lost in the more entertaining big things. Before creating lip balms, hand cream, candles, and such that are coming into existence around me I need to take care of practical matters like a name and labels. And again, the options multiple and need to be written down and organized. (I am thinking of a play on at least one of my kid's name in the name, but still playing with it.)
Every time I think I am out of options, or have the viable ones organized, new ones can be found. I just need to look a little harder. The harder options are to find, the more likely they are sitting right in front of me, but frustration, depression, or grief are hiding them from view.
I have been experimenting with greener options for feeding my family, hair care, skin care, and cleaning products. As my garden of viable herbs and skill at creating increases, so does my drive to do more. Between experimenting with creating products for myself and writing articles about the recipes that I have been working with, an I getting set to ramp up production. So, I am stocking up on oils, wax, and other supplies to start selling on Esty and possibly in a local health food store that works with local vendors.
Every time I consider all the options, I start to get overwhelmed. There are so many herbs, flowers, and trees I have access to that smell great and have beneficial properties. There are so many ideas in my head. So, I write them down. I list my options and try to start small, but the ideas keep getting out of control, since there are so many options. Then, reality enters and I think about the little things that I need to do before getting lost in the more entertaining big things. Before creating lip balms, hand cream, candles, and such that are coming into existence around me I need to take care of practical matters like a name and labels. And again, the options multiple and need to be written down and organized. (I am thinking of a play on at least one of my kid's name in the name, but still playing with it.)
Every time I think I am out of options, or have the viable ones organized, new ones can be found. I just need to look a little harder. The harder options are to find, the more likely they are sitting right in front of me, but frustration, depression, or grief are hiding them from view.
Book Review: Courtney Crumrin Volume 1 by Ted Naifeh
Courtney Crumrin Volume 1: The Night Things Special Edition by Ted Naifeh is graphic novel suitable for older children, young adults, and adults. Courtney's parents are simple, they just want money and a little power but are clueless about everything else. When they have spent all their money and stretched their credit to the limit they decide to move the family in with Great Uncle Aloysuis under the premise that they will be taking care of him in his old age. The family house is creepy and full of secrets, which Courtney discovers fairly early on. She is an outspoken and sassy character that does not fit in, and refuses to be like her parents. As she discovers the hidden world around her, Courtney gains some control over that world.
Courtney Crumrin is a fun and creepy graphic novel, with some very dark aspects fairy tales. Courtney is struggling in a culture that is all about money and status when she does not care for any of that. She, instead, gains knowledge and a little power in the world that most everyone is ignoring. Children disappear in the woods, and no one seems to care. I think this is more about people only seeing what they want to see, rather than them ignoring the fact that goblins have eaten their child. How many people today are more focused on status than what their teens, or younger children, are doing?
Courtney Crumrin is a dark but very interesting graphic novel. The artwork is unique, and does a good job or portraying Courtney and her uncle as separate from the rest of the characters. The only thing that could have made this a better story, is further development and detail abut Uncle Aloysuis and the relationship Courtney has with him. However, reading the summaries for the volumes that follow this, I am confident that this does take shape in the series. I will definitely read the future volumes to see where it goes.
Courtney Crumrin is a fun and creepy graphic novel, with some very dark aspects fairy tales. Courtney is struggling in a culture that is all about money and status when she does not care for any of that. She, instead, gains knowledge and a little power in the world that most everyone is ignoring. Children disappear in the woods, and no one seems to care. I think this is more about people only seeing what they want to see, rather than them ignoring the fact that goblins have eaten their child. How many people today are more focused on status than what their teens, or younger children, are doing?
Courtney Crumrin is a dark but very interesting graphic novel. The artwork is unique, and does a good job or portraying Courtney and her uncle as separate from the rest of the characters. The only thing that could have made this a better story, is further development and detail abut Uncle Aloysuis and the relationship Courtney has with him. However, reading the summaries for the volumes that follow this, I am confident that this does take shape in the series. I will definitely read the future volumes to see where it goes.
Early Book Review: Alphabet Everywhere by Elliott Kaufman
I highly recommend Alphabet Everywhere to libraries, schools, and personal libraries. This collection of photographs of letters found our surroundings will inspire you, and the children that look at this book, to look a little closer at their surroundings. Perhaps it can spark a discussion about looking deeper, or the start of your own game of searching for things that look like letters in your own backyard or during a walk or car ride.
N is for Noise- A to Z Challenge
N is for noise. On this first day of spring break for my preschoolers, I am in for a week full of noise. I am steeling myself.I am already home with them three days a week, sometimes more, so I am used to the chaos, but I enjoy the rare moments when they are at school and I am home. Every day is noisy already, and each day holds its own kinds of noise. There is the noise of trying to get everyone ready to leave the house, including the daily argument of one copying the other with their choice for breakfast. There is the arguing over shows and snacks and games to play. Then the sounds of playing and singing and whatever .It is just constant noise of all kinds.
To fully understand the joy, you must have had small children. Mine are only 21 months apart and look like they could be twins. My son, the oldest, is five and was a late talker. Since he was with family most of the time he had no need to talk, since we often anticipated his needs. It was only when he was forced to use his words, and his younger sister started talking a mile a minute, that he finally relented and began to use his words. Now, neither ever seems to stop talking, singing, screaming, muttering, you get the idea. In some sort of cosmic revenge, my son has started making up randoms songs and singing. This is revenge because my father and uncle often entertained me when I was little by doing the very same thing.
This constant noise from my children sometimes fades into the background and barely registers. There are other moments when I cannot even think because of the overlapping chatter. Since the noise comes from my children, I cannot put in earplugs or earbuds to listen to music or an audio book- because I do need to hear the rises and lulls in conversation that signal that my full attention is required. The funny thing is that I do not function well in complete silence, I need music or the television on for background noise to get serious work done.
What are the most frequent causes of noise in your life that distract you? Do you work best with background noise, or in complete silence? How do you deal with trying to work in less than your optimal work conditions.
To fully understand the joy, you must have had small children. Mine are only 21 months apart and look like they could be twins. My son, the oldest, is five and was a late talker. Since he was with family most of the time he had no need to talk, since we often anticipated his needs. It was only when he was forced to use his words, and his younger sister started talking a mile a minute, that he finally relented and began to use his words. Now, neither ever seems to stop talking, singing, screaming, muttering, you get the idea. In some sort of cosmic revenge, my son has started making up randoms songs and singing. This is revenge because my father and uncle often entertained me when I was little by doing the very same thing.
This constant noise from my children sometimes fades into the background and barely registers. There are other moments when I cannot even think because of the overlapping chatter. Since the noise comes from my children, I cannot put in earplugs or earbuds to listen to music or an audio book- because I do need to hear the rises and lulls in conversation that signal that my full attention is required. The funny thing is that I do not function well in complete silence, I need music or the television on for background noise to get serious work done.
What are the most frequent causes of noise in your life that distract you? Do you work best with background noise, or in complete silence? How do you deal with trying to work in less than your optimal work conditions.
Early Book Review: Color Game for Chester Raccoon by Audrey Penn
Color Game for Chester Raccoon, written by Audrey Penn and illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson, is a cute board book. It is scheduled for release on May 15 20212. Chester and his friends take part in a rhyming I Spy game. They find some wonderful items in the natural world, and show counting and color recognition skills. The group of animals is well varied, and have fun with their finds. The illustrations are adorable, with fun cheerful faces and good detail work. The book is cute, short, and sweet; like any good board book should be.
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