*sniffle* well, Goodbye summer...

Yep, it is true. I have to go back to school. On monday. So sad. Wish me luck, because I will NEED it. (Secretly though, I'm happy. Shhh! dont tell 8D)

The Riddle By: Allison Croggon

The Riddle is the second book of Pellinor in which Maerad travels with her teacher up north. On the way there she argues a LOT with her mentor, and when he is killed, in a rock slide, she is beside herself with grief and guilt. She nearly dies herself, but is rescued by a senile old woman and is nursed back to health. Upon leaving the woman, she meets long lost family members, finds out more about her mystical powers as a partial Elemental spirit, and is kidnapped by one of said spirits. The riddle is and AMAZINGLY AWESOME read and is something I would recommend to almost anyone. Be sure to read The Naming first though.

top 20 Authors (listed in no particular order)

The books listed after these amazingly talented people are the best of their writing, not their entire collection.

1) Shannon Hale (Bayern series ie: Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River secrets, and Forrest Born *haven't had a chance to read Forrest Born yet.*, Princess Academy, Austenland)

2) Janette Rallison (My Fair Godmother, All's Fair in Love, War, and Highschool, Its a Mall World After All)

3)Christopher Paolini (the Inheritance Cycle ie: Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr)

4)Orson Scott Card (Enders Game)

5)Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)

6)Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyer)

7)Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians series)

8)Ji-li Jiang (Red Scarf Girl)

5)Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted, Fairest, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, and Ever)

6)Diana Wynn Jones (Castle Series, The Merlin Conspiracy)

8)Tamora Peirce (Terrier, Bloodhound)

9)Jo Whittemore (Silverskin Legacy)

10)Stuart Hill (Cry of the Icemark)

11)Sherewood Smith (Crown Duel, Posse of Princesses)

12)Nancy Farmer (The House of the Scorpion)

13)Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games)

14)Marrissa Doyle (Bewitching Season)

15)Eion Colfer (Artemis Fowl Series, Airman, Half Moon Investigations)

16)Brandon Mull (Fablehaven series)

17)Allison Croggon (Chronicles of Pelinor ie: The Naming, The Riddle, The Crow, The Singing)

18)Mark Walden (HIVE Series)

19) Jeanne DuPrau (City of Ember, People of the Sparks)

20)David Eddings ( The Belgariad (Volumes 1 and 2), The Mallorean (Volumes 1 and 2), Belgarath the Sorcerer, Polgara the Sorceress)
And that concludes my extensively long post. Happy reading!

FREEEDOM!!

WHAHAHAHAHAHA...ha...ha...ha...ok, outburst over. I sold all my twilight books! So well, LIBERATING! To explain myself, I should let you all know that I am not a Twilight fangirl, and I am also OCD. The story is that I bought the first book, and then, since I can't stand not having the entire series when I've started it, I had to buy the rest, and once I decided I couldn't stand them anymore, I sold them.

Remembering Raquel By: Vivian Vande Velde

Cool name for an author huh? Great alliteration. This is in response to a request from a friend to reveiw a sad book. So here ya go! Remembering Raquel is a story about a girl named Raquel who was killed when she stepped (or fell) off a street corner, and was hit by a car. It is told from the perspective of kids at her school and the witnesses to the accident. It is sad, certainly, but it also raises the question: how would you like to be remembered when you die? It is a very sweet book, and some of the insights from the girls at her school are very true in real life. I am definatly going to suck it up and buy this one!

WOOOHOOO

School is FINALLY out for summer break (a whopping six weeks! They wouldn't want to spoil us now would they?) Now I can focus on freaking out about stuff and getting more stressed than I do during the school year! (sound familiar to anyone?)

The Swan Maiden By: Heather Tomlinson

This book is one that I would reccomend for any female. It is (yet another) fairytale retelling (I read a lot of those. They are too good to pass up!) It is the story of Doucette, the youngest doughter of a french count who has always wished to be a Swan Maiden like her older sisters, but she was supposedly born without a swan skin like they were. When she discovers her skin, she decides that her life has been a lie for far too long, and goes to train in the study of magic with her Aunt. Along the way she falls in love with a shepherd, and is forbidden marriage with him. I will NOT give away the ending, but it is fairly obvious, no? Innocent romance, well written, great plot, familiarity, what's not to like?

Terrier by Tamora Peirce

Sorry it has been SO LONG since my last post. Girls camp and straight on to finals week (tis the season to be jolly. Anyways, this book is one that I finished a while ago, and just loved! It is about a girl named Beka Cooper who wants to become a Guards woman (the guards are known of as Dogs) for her city, and is assigned (at her request) to the slums. As a Dog in training (a Puppy) she discoverers that her ability to communicate with ghosts of the dead that have been murdered can tip her off about whom to have her Dogs arrest (Puppies aren't allowed to arrest folks). Its the typical hero against overwhelming odds medieval/mystery/action novel, and is (in my opinion) one of the best written books in the world. (WARNING: mild adult content. Not too bad however, because the dialect they speak in has a few different words. Not a good idea for small children about ten and under to read. After that, you may want to preview it.)

The Hunger Games By: Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games takes place far into the future, when The Americas are controlled by one Giant government centered in the Capital as it is called. The rest of the continents are divided into twelve areas that each specialize in a certain industry there used to be thirteen of these provinces, but thirteen was destroyed when the areas tried to revolt against the Capital. After the revolution was subdued, the Hunger games were introduced by the capital to keep the territories in line. The hunger games, broadcast on television take place once a year, and all children twelve to eighteen are required to be in it, with one boy tribute and one girl tribute from each territory. If your name is selected you are shipped off to the Capital, pampered for about two weeks, and then put into an arena with the other tributes, and forced by the gamemakers to fight to the death, until only one competitor survives. This is the world Katniss Everdeen is used to living in every day of her life. She feels that one day soon, her luck will run out and she will be selected for the hunger games. What she is entirely unprepared for however, is for her younger sister Prim (short for Primrose) to be called to the hunger games. Panic stricken that her sister will die, she volunteers to take her sisters place and save her. The rest of the book is about her experience at the Hunger Games. This book is officially my favorite book at the moment, and I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a little romance in their literature.

Changing my background.

Ok people, could you please tell me EXACTLY what you think? Thanks!

Ok, more randomness...

I found this picture on a Lion King fanart website and I thoght it was adoreable. The storyline is that The cub you see at the end of the first Lion King is Nala and Simba's first cub (Kopa). But when he was still little, Zira (the evil lioness from the sencond Lion King) killed him, thus explaining the exiled lions. This picture is of Kopa with his Grandparents watching the presentation of his sister, Kiara.

His comment right then, according to the artist is:"Look, I have a little sister! That's my little sister! Grandpa, Grandma, I'm a big brother!"
NOTE* I am having an issue with size, so to see the whole thing, kindly click on the picture. Thank you.

Ghost Boy By: Iain Lawrence

Ok, its the last day of the month. I may as well get my rear in gear, and post another reveiw....
Ghost boy is about an Ablino boy who cant see very well because his eyes twitch around in their sockets so much. He cant heelp it. they just do. The only things he can actually see are very brightly colored, and even then he has problems sometimes focusing on them. He lives wiht his mother, ans his Stepfather, and waits anxiously for his older brother to come home from War. (Assumedly, his brother, who besides his dog is the only one he has ever met who truly understands him, is dead) When the circus comes to town, he tries to run away to join it, but they move on too fast. he decides to follow them because he cant stand the thought of one more day of cruel ridicule from the children in town. The rest of the book follows his life in the circus as he graduates from a freakshow attraction to an elephant trainer.
This book was depressing, and frankly, I hated it. True, it does have an interesting storyline, but the fact that it was so over the top all the time turned me off right away. i finished it, because it DID hold the attention really well. i would never read it again though. (Sorry to all of you who loved this, please don't kill me. It si only an opinion.)

Here I go again.

Oh boy. Another fencing tournament on the ninth of may! wish me luck! (hopefully I wont need it, and I can give it back to you generous people.)

Two girls of Gettysburg By: Lisa M. Klein

Two girls of Gettysburg was places in the civil war and told from the POV of two cousins, one on the north, and one from the south. The cousin from the south goes back to her home in Virginia, and her cousin stays in gettysburg. The entire story leads up to the meeting again after the battle of gettysburg. Amazing story, I would give it about fifty stars. (sorry about the short posts lately, I am diong and impression of epic failure at the moment...)

*GASP! WHEEZE*

The above title is the sounds my poor brain has been making all week. I think I may have truely killed it by now however. I thought all those upperclassmen telling me that World History AP was murder were trying to intimidate the strange freshie. Heh. Right. No. They were dead serious. its now last quarter, and I have to attempt to survive another seven weeks of school with only one break for girls camp (far all you non lds people out there, its a completely,totally,extraordinarilly AWESOME camp for LDS girls.) Yep, dont be suprised if I am a corpse writing reveiws from beyond the grave before long.

Aurelie : a faerie tale By: Heather Tomlinson

Aurelie is another retold fairy tale (I tend to read a lot of those...wonder why?) Its about a princess named Aurelie who used to be friends with a faerie, but then one of her other two friends who, like her, was friends with the fairy and could therefore see them, addressed a fully grown water fairy in public, and waas blinded. Shortly after that Aurelie's mother died, and one of her best friends is called back to his country because his country and Aurelie's are now at war.

Great story with just the right ammount of CLEAN romance (yes, of course its clean Ive thrown a book in the pool before because it was dirty...my mom has too. it may be a family trait) Anyways, if you like magical mysteries and retold fairy tales READ THIS!

The House of the Scorpion By: Nacy Farmer

Ok, this was a book that I read a LONG time ago, but thats ok. Late is better than never right? Anyway this book is about a boy who is a clone, and his journey to become a real boy. (wow...put that way he sounds like pinnochio..) But anyway, it is placed in the future and has really interesting new ways of veiwing racism (cloneism?) and lots of new technologies. I loved every moment of it and now give it five stars (ooh in public too!)

The Naming By: Alison Croggon

Ok, this book (and likely those that follow, once I get to the library to rescue them from the hold shelf) is now officially tied for my third favorite series (hey, third id high up on the list!)
Anyhoo, this was an amazing story about a girl named Maerad (MY-rad) who has an extraordinary gift with music. She is a slave in a hidden stronghold, and is rescued by a man who is in a group of magicians known as Bards. I cant say any more, because if I did, you all would be chasing after me with pitchforks and torches. (heh, silly me. if anyone actually bothers to read this blog, other than family *love you guys* I would be amazed) One BIG warning though, do NOT read this book when you are going to possibly be busy for the next day or so (if you read as fast as I do) because this is one of the best books in the world, andt putting it down for something as trivial as oh, say, homework, will make you very very grumpy. Ok. Thats it I guess. Anya Luvs You all!

Ok... yet ANOTHER random happening that I could have MENTIONED earlier.

Ok...as promised this is really random (and, no, it does not have anything to do with conference, though it should.) I found a baby hummingbird that looked a lot like this (sorry its so small, just click on the picture to see a larger version.)
Note: this is not the one I found. It is a lot less terrified looking. Hey, you'd be terrified too if one second you were in your nice warm nest, and the next, someone's phycho (but strangely not out to kill you) Basset was barking at you as ssoon as you landed! Anyhoo, my mom and I found a place near our house that rescues birds, so it was a happy ending! YAY ^_^

Alrighty, not that this really MATTERS, But...

Ok, I lied. It matters to me. I will try to say this calmly.
I WON MY FIRST EVER FENCING TOURNAMENT!!!!!
Ok, looks like I lied about saying it calmly as well. Wow, I am on a roll today! Ah well, now the happy tide is over. Back to normal now. (This term 'normal' begs the question: is Anya EVER normal? Acording to my friends, the answer is no. Hmmm.)

I am the Great Horse By: Katherine Roberts

Ok, you know those books that are history told by animals? This was that times about ten million. Its the story of Alexander the Great's conquest of most of the known world told through the eyes of his trusty horse Bucephalus. (No, I do NOT know how to pronounce that so do not ask!) This book was admittedly slow at times, and really, its not my type of book (I've had bad experiences with books told by animals). However, this was DEFINATLY the exeption to the rule, and I LOVED it! Best like in the world was in this book in fact (well, best line that I remember reading recently at least): "Lets get away from these idiots, shall we?" LOVE IT! How can you see that and NOT read it? I defy all of you who do not! You are Definatly missing out!

New list of words that make me happy!

Yes, I know, this is sad.
- Per-thetic (yes, pronounced just like that)
- Inferior
- Incompotent
- Yes
- Insanity
- Senility
- Loopy
- Sing
- Wolf
- Requiem
- Dog
- Animal
- Barking Rat ( yes I know those are two words, but they describe so many small dogs that I know and despise)\
- Sabre
- Katana
- Archery
- WATER!!!! (should have been at the top of my list says the dismayed hydromaniac)
- Fire (in relation to marshmallows going through midlife crisis, and trying to become torches. Soaking wet marshmallows taste horrible, trust me.)
- Moon
welll...thats all I can think of at the moment....I will eventually think up more (i HOPE)

The Summer King By O.R. Melling

Ok, I think that I am slowly going nuts (more so that I already was i mean.) I have this weird THING about not being able to read the second book in a series without reading the books that come prior to it. This time, I took a chance, and *gasp* started with the second book. Note: the only reason I did something so totally against my OCD tendencies was that the book jacket said that it can be read in any order. (they were telling the truth!) I am going to steal the book jacket description however, because it is WAY to hard to describe without having spoilers.

On the anniversary of her twin sister’s mysterious death, 17 year old Laurel returns to Ireland in search of answers. Her sister, Honor, believed in fairies. Laurel does not. Then ‘the roly poly man’ approaches Laurel with a mission and offers her the chance to save her sister. She accepts his advice: act as if ye believe and see what happens. Setting out in search of the Summer King, she unearths old hatreds in the Faerie Realm and rekindles an old romance of her own. But is the handsome dark-haired Ian friend or foe?

Awesome book! Semi confusing at times if you try to explain it (details are so INTRICATE absolootly amazing!)A and B the C of D!

This Guy Deserves an AWARD!

This is AMAZING
cut and paste:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4

Girlwood By Claire Dean

Girlwood is something that I got at the library to fill up my bag of books and POSSIBLY read if i had time to do so before it was due. Knowing me, I finished all my must read right now books, and started moving on to other books. This one was AMAZING and has gone from my: 'Meh, I'll read it if I need to' list, to my 'OMYGOSH this book was AWESOME' list in less than 24 hours. Girlwood is about a girl named Polly who loves the forrest by her house, and loves her grandmother. The forrest is being threatened by a HUGE building company, and her crack head sister Bree runs away to live in the forrest just as the Building project gets under way. She now has to save not only her sister, but the forrest and her Grandma. Honestly, I thought I would hate it but being me, I HAD to give it a chance, and I loved it. P.S. it made me cry. That NEVER happens

The Red Queen's Daughter By: Jaqueline Kolosov

The Red Queen's Daughter is a Elizabthian coming of age story about the daughter of Queen Katherine Parr, who oh by the way, just happens to be the good witch in the court of Queen Elizabeth. (The daughter, not the Queen) The girl, Mary has had a hard childhood, is rescued by a good witch, and then, when she is old enough sent to the court of Queen Elizabeth, to keep Evil from destroying England. Yes, this sounds a little cleche, but trust me, it is anything but.(Yes, I know I'm telling you to trust an insane person, but you know what, it was YOUR choice to read this blog.) Warning: if you do not like ANY type of romance whatsoever do not read this, and if you do read it, keep in mind the culture of the time period, as portrayed in the book, was actually really common with the nobility, so keep that in mind with the romance as well.

The Deed Of Paksenarrion By: Elizabeth Moon

This is one of my all time favorite books. It is TECHNICALLY three different books: Sheepfarmers Daughter, Divided Alleigence, and Oath Of Gold; but why bother with going through the hassle of finding the three seperate books? Its basically a raggs to riches story of a girl (Paksenarrion)who wants to be a warrior and joins a mercenary company. The books from then on just follow her story. As i said before, this is one of my all time favorite books. In fact, I have now read it too much, and its falling apart. *sob* Ah well, its just a new excuse to go to Borders (avoiding all contact with other people in there. Especially the ones that robotically spout the phrase 'Do you need any help?' *shudders* I mean, seriosly people! If anyone NEEDS the help, they will ask! Dont scare away shy custumers! Ok then. Rant over.)

My Fair Godmother By: Janette Rallison

This was a HILARIOUS read! My mom borrowed it, and woke everyone up in the middle of the night with her holws of laughter. It was a tragic comedy (yes, I know, that makes NO sense.) about a girl named Savannah, whose boyfreind breaks up with her, not just for another girl, but for her sister. Thats where her fair godmother comes in. Unfourtunatly, they match godmothers by personality,and this godmother is well, INTERESTING to say the least.

New Blog REJECTED Names for obvious (I hope) reasons

Well, lucky you! I have now started up a blog! Now, all you poor souls that know me can in all likelyhood be irritated by me anywhere with internet access! All part of my grand scheme and all that jazz dontcha know.

Well anyhoo, I had the easiest time figuring out a blog name. (Note: easiest is pronounced exactly like the words nearly impossible.) HOWEVER, I digress. Here is the list of Rejected names for this blog:

• Bouncybooks. I am a VERY enegetic person...usually. This WOULD bave been THE ONE if my mom had not pointed out to me that it sounds like rubber books for toddlers. erm, NEXT!
• VLGR Books. This was NOT my idea. it was said Mothers'. Her reasoning was: Virtuous, Lovely, of Good Report, or Virgin Lips Girl. All I could see was the word vulgar. scratch that one off the list.
• Anyas Book Nook. Yes, I actually said it in my desperation. Moving on.
• Stupendus or Stupid. Not sure WHY I didn't go with this...oh well.

And that was my oh-so-exhaustive list of reject names. Do you have a headache yet? Good. Finally, I dragged out a thesourus, and looked up book (can you say desperate?) i found Scroll listed in there. So, there you have it folks. It had to do with something used only CENTURIES ago. I was sold.