Monthly Archives: August 2023

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones

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I have many favorite book series, but The 39 Clues is the best. 

If you are a bookworm like me, you’ll know what I’m talking about regarding your favorite books. The book series, The 39 Clues, is an exciting adventure action pack that hooked me from the first page. 

The first book in the series is The Maze of Bones, written by the talented author Rick Riordan. It is filled with action from start to finish. 

It all began when their grandmother, Grace Cahill, was very sick and dying. Minutes before she passed away, Grace changed her will, leaving her descendants a new will with an impossible decision. They have two choices- take one million dollars or a clue from the 39 clues to an immense fortune and power. The Cahills were the world’s most influential family. The most well-known or influential people in the world are related to the Cahills, like Napoleon, Houdini, and even Mark Twain are all Cahills. 

Amy and Dan Cahill are two ordinary kids who suddenly find their family secrets- The 39 Clues. There are also super secrets and ancient societies. And some of their family members will stop at nothing to become the most influential people on earth. 

In this first book, The Maze of Bones, Amy, Dan, and their cousin Jonah dive headfirst into a whirlwind adventure that takes them worldwide. Their mission? To uncover the 39 clues that will lead them to a unique serum with world-changing powers. The hunt is on, and these kids are at the center to discover the Cahill family secrets.

The Maze of Bones is a worthwhile read, packed with action, adventure, family loyalty, and love. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as the plot’s unexpected ending will take you on a rollercoaster of suspense and action. It’s a non-stop, exhilarating read that’ll keep you past bedtime. It did me all summer of my middle school years.

The characters set The Maze of Bones apart. Amy and Dan are relatable characters, typical kids like us, and you’ll find yourself cheering them on every step of the way. 

The plot surprises and clever puzzles will challenge your brain to solve them before the characters in the book do.

So, if you’re in the mood to read an adventure mystery book, I highly recommend The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones for you. It’s an absolute page-turner and you will experience all the actions and adventures alongside these relatable characters and feel like you are solving the clue yourself. So buckle up and prepare yourself for a non-stop action-solving experience with Amy and Dan that will capture your imagination as they navigate a world full of secrets, where each decision means victory or defeat. 

Happy Reading!

Bella H.

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Gone: An Awesome Book That Doesn’t Get Enough Fame

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In a post-apocalyptic world called the FAYZ, kids battle each other and a rising threat called the gaiaphage to try and stay alive.

This is the basic concept of Gone written by Michael Grant. Gone is the first book of a six-book-long series in which a bunch of kids have to cope with extreme hunger, looming danger, and confronting their greatest fears.

Gone starts off with the coming of an impenetrable barrier, called the FAYZ (or Fallout Alley Youth Zone) by its occupants. This barrier traps all kids under the age of fifteen in a certain area in southern California, cutting them off from the rest of the world. Their parents, teachers, older siblings, and even the police officers and firefighters that keep them safe have disappeared mysteriously, leaving the children to fend for themselves. A few brave youngsters–Sam Temple, Edilio Escobar, Caine Soren, and Diana Ladris–step up to try and keep the conditions inside the FAYZ under control, but their methods differ in drastic and dangerous ways. Groups begin to form within the barrier, causing tensions to spring up and fights to break out. The once-peaceful world of southern California turns savage and corrupt as every FAYZ occupant tries to find the best method of survival for his or herself.

The main issue of the first book (and the one I’m reviewing) is the possible disappearance of two of the main characters. In the FAYZ, once you turn fifteen, you disappear, and no one knows where you go. Maybe you go to the outside world, maybe you die. The two boys–Caine and Sam–try to find a way to fight the disappearance, to say no to the temptation of a possible way out of their new, war-torn world. In the meantime, however, each boy has to deal with other problems–fighting fires, trying to keep the FAYZ kids under control, stopping battles from ending in deaths. And of course, the other characters inject their own issues into the mix. Drake Merwin, a troubled and sadistic kid of fourteen, keeps trying to gain power within the FAYZ–doing anything to achieve his goal . . . including killing anyone who stands in his way. Conspiracies develop, causing seemingly loyal kids to turn evil.

The reason why I love this book so much is that it has great, lovable characters (such as Edilio Escobar) and a compelling plot. It draws me in because the characters are kids, everyday kids. The story shows that something this horrible could happen to people like me. This is what makes the characters so relatable. This book is up there with my favorites, and I’d recommend it to any lover of science fiction. It keeps readers asking the same question over and over: Which side will prevail in the end? What sacrifices will the characters make to keep their loved ones alive? Want to know the answers to these questions? Read the book to find out!

Gone by Michael Grant is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

My Podcast (Daily Dub Nation) on Spotify

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I have been listening to podcasts for a very long time, whether they are while I am chilling at home or in the car with my dad. I’m a fan of different shows and this summer, I decided to make my own podcast. 

Introducing to you, Daily Dub Nation! My podcast is based around the NBA world and I like to give my thoughts on different events that happen in the NBA. I am also a huge Warriors fan, so the podcast includes a lot of content about the Golden State Warriors. So far, the types of episodes I have been working on include game reactions, responses to rumors, and news updates. I have some exciting plans coming up for the podcast and would love to use my creativity to find new ideas. 

 If you like basketball, this podcast could be for you!

Additionally, if anyone is interested, you can check out the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching “Daily Dub Nation”. If you find it intriguing and would like to hear more, I would appreciate it if you were to follow.

Also, if anyone else has an interest in making their own podcast, you can create an account on Spotify for Podcasters and Apple Podcasts Connect and drop your show there. I am a big fan of the speed and efficiency in the Spotify for Podcasters website and love using it. 

Dodosolsollalasol Show Review

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Spoilers are contained in this post!

Dodosolsollalasol is a romance and comedy K-drama that features the actors Go Ara and Lee Jae-Wook. It aired on October 7, 2020. It can be watched on Netflix and it has 16 episodes.

The main character, Goo Ra-ra, finds herself in shambles after her father dies the day of her wedding and her fiancé runs away during the wedding. Her life completely changes as she has to adapt from riches to rags. The male lead, Sunwoo Jun, is a high schooler who runs away from his parents due to high expectations and is currently hiding away from his parents.

Both characters find themselves closer to each other after an incident that led Ra-Ra to the hospital and due to financial reasons, Ra-Ra ends up staying with Jun and this develops their relationship. In the second half of the show, it’s more serious as the characters start to uncover each other’s secrets, but this problem is soon resolved. Although, after Jun’s secret is exposed, Ra-Ra and Jun are separated by Jun’s mother and Ra-Ra finds out Jun has an illness. Jun goes abroad for treatment of his illness and after a while, Jun was supposed to come back to the town on the day of Christmas, but he doesn’t show up. Ra-Ra thinks Jun is just running late but her world is shattered when Jun’s mother breaks the news of Jun’s passing.5 years after Jun’s death and everyone is trying to move on, but Jun comes back and tells Ra-Ra that he did not want her to see him sick so he faked his death for 5 years.

Most of the plot of the drama is Ra-Ra trying to survive on her own with the help of Jun and I honestly really loved it. The first half of the story is really cute and wholesome and I loved the interactions with the characters. The second half of the story was more serious but it was still really interesting and cute. However, like most people who watched Dodosolsollalasol, I did not like the ending of Dodosolsollalasol because the main male lead just randomly shows up after 5 years of faking his death. I felt like the ending was rushed and I honestly didn’t like it, but the show is overall really good and I definitely recommend it.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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In mid-July, I had the opportunity to fly across the world to the Middle East and visit Dubai. It was a fascinating experience. In the early 60’s, Dubai was a complete desert with no buildings in sight. Now, just over 50 years later, there are many skyscrapers and towers, making it a beautiful city.

The most famous and well-known building in Dubai is the Burj Khalifa. With its 163 floors, it happens to be the tallest building in the world at a staggering 2716.5 feet (or 828m). Visitors are able to go to the top and see the city from above. The sandy origins of Dubai are still visible from the top, but the added buildings make for a fantastic view. Underneath the skyscraper, there is a giant area of water that somewhat resembles a pool. This place contains what is known as the Dubai Fountain. Each day, from 6pm-11pm, the Dubai Fountain show takes place every 30 minutes. It is a spectacular event with its bright lights and unique water movements.

Right beside the Burj Khalifa is the Dubai Mall, which is the largest mall in the world. In fact, the only entrance to the Burj Khalifa is through the Dubai Mall, which is why construction for both places began around the same time. The way the mall was built from the inside and outside is outstanding. The architecture was unlike any other mall I had ever seen. There are over 1200 retail stores and 200+ food and beverage outlets, making the mall worth approximately $20 million. Unfortunately, this also causes the item prices to be far higher than just shopping at Amazon.

All in all, Dubai is a wonderful city and I would highly recommend visiting it. It is a very tourist-friendly place and has some magnificent locations for families to visit. I greatly enjoyed my 9-day stay and would hope for other travelers to do so as well.

Incoming Freshmen: Join a sport!

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With summer coming to a close, it is time to consider classes and extracurriculars for the upcoming school year.

If you are an incoming freshman or an upperclassman looking to be more active, you should join a sport. It will help you make friends, promote team building, and help you stay active. Sports are a worthwhile investment for any student, even if you are nervous about high school or unconfident in your abilities.

High school can be an exciting experience, especially if you do not know anyone. Besides joining clubs and classes, another option for making friends is sports. Sports often help you meet new people with common interests. Working hard and training together can help build strong relationships. Teammates can also ensure that you do not slack off and may help keep you accountable.

Personally, before I joined my high school swim team, club swimming was much more about setting personal records and getting certain time cuts. But in high school, the focus is winning as a team. Depending on how you place in your race, you gain a certain number of points. The winner is decided by which team has the most combined points overall. Even if you are not getting as many points as your other teammates, every single point counts.

The outcome of a meet or game is decided by the team as a whole. This may motivate you to work harder and dedicate more time to your craft. In team sports, everyone has to work hard in order to win.

Finally, sports give you a much-needed break from more educational classes. No matter how good of a student you are, you will eventually be subject to burnout. Getting outside and enjoying the fresh air gives you a break from the classroom. This exercise could be beneficial for you both mentally and physically. Sometimes in media, athletes are portrayed as having lower grades. But, as long as you are managing your time wisely, you can succeed in both sports and education.

Whether you are looking to make new friends, get a break from the classroom, or better yourself, joining high school sports is a great option. Remember, no one is great when they first start, but all it takes is hard work and practice.

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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Genre: Young-Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

In the not so distant future, in a place once called “North America” lies a not so distant country named Panem. Divided into 13 districts, with an uber rich Capitol, much of Panem lives in poverty and is there to serve only the uber rich. Every year the Capitol, where the country’s most rich and powerful people live, hosts a large, televised event called the Hunger Games: where 2 people from each district are chosen to fight to the death.

In District 12, Primrose Everdeen is chosen, until her sister, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her spot, along with a boy named Peeta. Once Katniss makes it to the Capitol, her eyes are opened to how the other side lives as everyone is well fed and healthy, showing her the unjust reality of life in the districts.

Once in the Hunger Games, Katniss must try and survive the harsh conditions of the environment while also trying to survive against her competitors who all also want to survive. From the twisting terrors that Katniss goes through, to the emotional challenges she faces, The Hunger Games is a truly enjoyable page turner.

Review:

I would give this book a 9/10 because it was a very interesting read that any teen or adult could enjoy. Here are some of my notes that though when I read this book:

  1. I really enjoyed this book because while it was interesting and mainly serious and dark, I liked how it was lightened with friendships and relationships that grew in the competition and throughout the book.
  1. I thought that the concept of this book was a very interesting one because, it sort of relates the past with the future as I thought that the games were similar to gladiator battles in Ancient Rome
  1. I thought that this book was a very captivating book that will make you never want to put it down until you finish it.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz

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The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz was a book I found while roaming the library. I impulsively threw it in my basket and am so happy I did that. I love this book and its sequel! It is absolutely amazing and one of my favorite books. The main topic of this book is immigration and the hardships it takes to immigrate safely. I actually found this topic really interesting and Alexandra Diaz immersed the reader very well.

The book centers around tween Jaime (Hay-meh) Rivera and his older cousin Ángela (An-juh-luh). After Jaime´s cousin (and Ángela´s brother), Miguel, gets viciously murdered by the local gang, they are forced to leave their home, family and life in Guatemala and travel to the United States of America, illegally. The Riveras sacrifice many things, but scrape up enough money to send their children in as much comfort as possible. Jaime and Angela get smuggled by a friend across the Guatemala-México border and have to embark on their journey through the giant Hispanic country.

Along the way, they meet some friends who are attempting the same journey, but they are from different countries. I really liked how Alexandra Diaz included immigrants from various Central American countries, including El Salvador and Honduras. Back to the point, Jaime and Angela meet their friends and continue getting farther into México. As more obstacles occur, Jaime and Angela fight and learn who they really want to be and who they are traveling for. They also continue to mourn Miguel as the book goes on, understandably.

This book is so good that I don’t want to spoil it at all, hence the short and vague summary. I especially like how Alexandra Diaz includes Spanish words, even if it’s just one here or there. I recommend this book for anyone whos parents, or themselves, have immigrated here and its sequel too. I hope you enjoy The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz!

The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season One

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The Summer I Turned Pretty: Season One, which was released on Amazon Prime was an instant hit. The trilogy shattered many reader’s hearts but the show ultimately uplifted the audience’s hope for a different ending.

There are two main love interests which are brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly is the main character of the show and she has this transformation that she went through in which she becomes prettier.

In the first scene of the show, we see past photos of her and then it transitions to Belly as of right now, where she looks like a completely different person. Her hair is flowy and long, her braces are gone as well as her glasses.

She goes to Cousin’s Beach every summer and spends time with her other “family,” brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, along with their mother, Susannah, who is best friends with Belly’s mom. They spend every summer in the dream beach house that Susannah owns.

The drive down to Cousin’s Beach is idyllic and beautiful. Every year leads up to the feeling of summer where Belly is able to let go and be herself. This summer feels different, however. Tense feelings replace feelings of excitement and problems arise. Conrad has withdrawn into himself and Belly is having more trouble fitting in as she’s going out more. A love triangle springs up between Conrad, Jeremiah, and Belly.

As summer comes to an end, we watch shocking and deeply saddening events unfold. The Summer I Turned Pretty is an uplifting and heartfelt show that will tug at your heartstrings while drawing you in. It is a must watch as the awaited season two has come out. Both seasons are available on Amazon Prime. 

Book Review: Life of Pi by Yann Martel

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This Summer, I read Life of Pi, an extraordinary story detailing the adventures and survival of Pi Patel, a young Indian boy who fell victim to a shipwreck, and was stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. This book was definitely a interesting one from my perspective, as it involves a diverse amount of characters, as well as plenty of symbolism to go with it.

I’ll try my best to avoid spoiling the book, although in describing the story, sometimes I can’t, so be aware, Spoilers Ahead! With that out of the way, the book begins with an author’s note, explaining how he was inspired to write the book because he met a mysterious man who would tell him a story that would make him “believe in god” However, it is later implied this is all part of the story.

At the start of his story, Pi would explain how he was brought up near a zoo owned by his father, as well as how he was always ridiculed for his original French name, the boys at school would often mispronounce “Piscine,” calling him names. to prevent this from happening in the future, he just told everybody to call him Pi. Later, he explains how he adheres to multiple religions, even asking to be baptized and to get a prayer rug at the same time, which is in my opinion one of the most interesting and unique parts of the book

As the years passed the family realized they couldn’t stay in India any longer. it was 1977, and the “emergency” declared by the government had no end, with traces of tyranny being shown through the leaders of Tamil Nadu, the Patels’ home state, being quietly placed into “house arrest”. Because of this, Pi’s family decided to make the decision to sell the animals and move to Canada.

Shortly after the Patels board the cargo ship Tsimtsum, it sinks, leaving Pi the only survivor along with a 300-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, a wounded zebra, a hyena, and a female orangutan. during the first week, the zebra and orangutan fall one by one to the hyena, which is shortly after killed by Richard Parker. Pi learns to coexist with Richard Parker, eventually training him to some degree, making it relatively safe for them to be on the same boat. they pass trial after trial together, braving massive storms at sea, and eventually a man-eating island. after they leave the island, Pi “turns to god” and survives the rest of his long and arduous journey at sea.

I won’t spoil the ending of the book, because the story ends with another author’s note, structured like an interview between Pi and some investigators in an extremely unexpected way. All in all, this was a great book that will make anyone interested in reading the whole thing after a few pages!

Life of Pi by Yann Martel is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.