Remedyleaf here-
I don't post as much about writing specifically on here as much as I'd like to, but I hope to more in the future!
My new favorite writing resource:
Go Teen Writers
It's a blog specifically for teenage writers, like myself!
On top of that, I've also just gotten a copy of the Go Teen Writers book!
Go Teen Writers: How To Turn Your First Draft Into a Published Book by Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson
I haven't gotten to totally analyze it yet, considering I only got it today (!) but I have a feeling that this book will be falling apart from use by the end of the summer.
What are you guys reading? Writing much?
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Talk
Today I just want to talk. About books. Heehee, I'm funny, right?
Anyway, this summer I'm going to be a book addict. Well, I am one now, but I swear that I am going to be reading every second that I get.
There are multiple reasons for this; reading is amazing, it's my passion, I have reviews to post on here, I have sequels to read, authors to catch up on, series to finish and so on.
One of my problems about why I can't do that during the rest of the year is that I am an easily distractible person. So instead of staying with a series until I finish it, I get lost in stand alone novels and things that never get huge fandoms, even though they're really good. Of course, I eventually finish the series I intended to, and in the process give some lesser known books a chance, but then I end up behind in what everyone is talking about.
Can you see my problem?
However I've always been a reader to not necessarily go with the flow, and I intend to continue with that. I read books no ones heard of, I try a lot of debut authors, I add poetry, graphic novels, and to my mix. I read books over again. I read classics. And of course, I do other things with my life too, so it's not like I'm going to become an outcast who only reads, because that wouldn't get me anywhere.
Reading will just always be that quirky part of me that people better like. :)
Anyway, my blog this summer will have some tastes of interesting things. I'm not sure yet. But it never stays the same.
~Remedyleaf
Anyway, this summer I'm going to be a book addict. Well, I am one now, but I swear that I am going to be reading every second that I get.
There are multiple reasons for this; reading is amazing, it's my passion, I have reviews to post on here, I have sequels to read, authors to catch up on, series to finish and so on.
One of my problems about why I can't do that during the rest of the year is that I am an easily distractible person. So instead of staying with a series until I finish it, I get lost in stand alone novels and things that never get huge fandoms, even though they're really good. Of course, I eventually finish the series I intended to, and in the process give some lesser known books a chance, but then I end up behind in what everyone is talking about.
Can you see my problem?
However I've always been a reader to not necessarily go with the flow, and I intend to continue with that. I read books no ones heard of, I try a lot of debut authors, I add poetry, graphic novels, and to my mix. I read books over again. I read classics. And of course, I do other things with my life too, so it's not like I'm going to become an outcast who only reads, because that wouldn't get me anywhere.
Reading will just always be that quirky part of me that people better like. :)
Anyway, my blog this summer will have some tastes of interesting things. I'm not sure yet. But it never stays the same.
~Remedyleaf
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Through to You
Through to You by Emily Hainsworth
Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he'd give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv's deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn't Viv.
The apparition's name is Nina, and she's not a ghost. She's a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can't believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn't the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he's forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.
This book, wow, this book explored grief in a way I'd never thought to explore it. A second chance with your lost love, but do you really want a second chance?
*SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING*
Camden is introduced as a struggling teenager. He refuses help from adults in his life and even his friends. As we dive into the first couple of chapters, the reasoning behind Camden's odd behavior is perhaps explained. The plot arrives fairly quickly as well, but the book has a nice set up.
Nina is a lovely side character. From the moment you meet her you can tell her love for Cam, and as much as she doesn't want to, she's sort of let him go.
Camedon's overall change throughout the book is astounding. He makes mistakes, learns, realizes things but in a way that not a lot of other protagonists do. This was also a very good romantic YA book from a guy's point of view, which you don't see very often.
Viv on the other hand, (the alive one) is a very good lesson for Cam. He saw the way that his life could have gone if they (the other Viv) both would have made some different decisions. Although his memories of Viv were sort of tarnished, it was a lesson on his character judgment, and to not be so shrouded in love.
There are a couple of moments, the delicious kind, when you realize something right before Cam does. It's different than seeing through the plot, because you're almost in the same place as the protagonist. Those moment's in this book were lovely and thoughtful. This was a very lovely read!
The only negative aspect that I have to point out is that the concept is very confusing, and it was not very well portrayed.
As the reader, you never find out why Nina is able to come through the portal. She never seems to have a reaction to it, while Camden does. That whole bit was a little off, but overall the book was very well delivered.
Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he'd give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv's deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn't Viv.
The apparition's name is Nina, and she's not a ghost. She's a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can't believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn't the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he's forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.
This book, wow, this book explored grief in a way I'd never thought to explore it. A second chance with your lost love, but do you really want a second chance?
*SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING*
Camden is introduced as a struggling teenager. He refuses help from adults in his life and even his friends. As we dive into the first couple of chapters, the reasoning behind Camden's odd behavior is perhaps explained. The plot arrives fairly quickly as well, but the book has a nice set up.
Nina is a lovely side character. From the moment you meet her you can tell her love for Cam, and as much as she doesn't want to, she's sort of let him go.
Camedon's overall change throughout the book is astounding. He makes mistakes, learns, realizes things but in a way that not a lot of other protagonists do. This was also a very good romantic YA book from a guy's point of view, which you don't see very often.
Viv on the other hand, (the alive one) is a very good lesson for Cam. He saw the way that his life could have gone if they (the other Viv) both would have made some different decisions. Although his memories of Viv were sort of tarnished, it was a lesson on his character judgment, and to not be so shrouded in love.
There are a couple of moments, the delicious kind, when you realize something right before Cam does. It's different than seeing through the plot, because you're almost in the same place as the protagonist. Those moment's in this book were lovely and thoughtful. This was a very lovely read!
The only negative aspect that I have to point out is that the concept is very confusing, and it was not very well portrayed.
As the reader, you never find out why Nina is able to come through the portal. She never seems to have a reaction to it, while Camden does. That whole bit was a little off, but overall the book was very well delivered.
✎✎✎✎
~Remedyleaf
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy by Gary Soto
The fleeting emotions of teenagers, as changeable as the weather, ring true in these emotionally resonant poems. Told from the point of view of both boys and girls, narrators of various ethnicities fall in love for the first time, pine over crushes, and brood over broken hearts. Tender, lighthearted, and surprising, this collection will capture teens, tweens, and anyone who remembers what it’s like to be a young person in love.
I had the same trouble with this book as I do with many poetry collections; only some of them are good. The other ones aren't necessarily terrible just okay. But you have to pick through all the other stuff to get to the refined goodness that Soto is capable of.
Out of the collection, nine poems in particular stuck out at me, so if you pick up this book at all, read:
Don't You See
The Invisible Girl
Lazy Cupid
Pears
Time With You
Sparks
Simple Me
Driftwood
Spreading Love
Other than those ones, eh, they weren't all that great. But still check out the book, after all, it is national poetry month!
~Remedyleaf
The fleeting emotions of teenagers, as changeable as the weather, ring true in these emotionally resonant poems. Told from the point of view of both boys and girls, narrators of various ethnicities fall in love for the first time, pine over crushes, and brood over broken hearts. Tender, lighthearted, and surprising, this collection will capture teens, tweens, and anyone who remembers what it’s like to be a young person in love.
I had the same trouble with this book as I do with many poetry collections; only some of them are good. The other ones aren't necessarily terrible just okay. But you have to pick through all the other stuff to get to the refined goodness that Soto is capable of.
Out of the collection, nine poems in particular stuck out at me, so if you pick up this book at all, read:
Don't You See
The Invisible Girl
Lazy Cupid
Pears
Time With You
Sparks
Simple Me
Driftwood
Spreading Love
Other than those ones, eh, they weren't all that great. But still check out the book, after all, it is national poetry month!
~Remedyleaf
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