Author Archives: Sophie L.

They Both Die at the End – Spoiler Free Review

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This title caught my eye immediately, as it probably did yours. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find out if it’s true just yet – this will be a spoiler-free review!

This story follows two teens from New York City – Mateo, aged 18, and Rufus, aged 17. Their world is set in 2017 and is mostly similar to ours….except for the organization of Death-Cast, which can predict deaths. They call people to inform them that they’ll die in the next twenty-four hours. These doomed people are called Deckers. Death-Cast is meant to help people live their last days to the fullest, and another person even invented her own app called Last Friend to match the service – it pairs Deckers with each other so they can spend their last day in someone else’s company. Mateo and Rufus meet on this app for their last day.

This book brings up a lot of different perspectives and thoughts on mortality. Is it better to know when you’ll die? Some think it is, and some think it isn’t. Additionally, Adam Silvera switches between different character perspectives to give fresh takes on the story.

I do love how interconnected the book feels. It cuts away to another character occasionally, shares a sliver of their story, and always gets it back to the main course. It’s just the right amount not to be distracting to the main course, and it really helps to both broaden the story and give me a little breathing time from the main pair.

Out of the pair, I enjoy Mateo more. Rufus felt a little too much sometimes, and I couldn’t always take him seriously. Overall, I was still invested in their romance and relationship. The dynamic between a softer and a tougher character is always very endearing.

Mateo and Lydia, his best friend, were actually amazing. My favorite relationship in the book (sorry Rufus). Imagine your best friend dying within 24 hours, the person you’ve relied on your whole life…and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. 

There are some other things I would love to expand on but alas, no spoilers. Overall, this book was a solid read! Do check it out.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Social Media Isn’t All That Bad

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In today’s world, ninety percent of teenagers utilize some type of social media daily. Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube are the most popular among twelve to eighteen-year-olds in the US. Even though these apps can be used in some negative ways, it’s good to remember that people can also use social media to spread positivity and help others, as well as interact with friends and communities. Social media can have many positive impacts on teenagers’ lives.

Through social media people can rally for positive causes and support each other. Additionally, social media can assist teens in connecting with others and strengthening relationships. Teenagers view social media as a source of confidence and a way to build bonds, not some evil entity out to destroy their esteem. Teenagers are who we should be looking to, as they are the most affected by this argument. Some people say that social media can cause a negative lifestyle, forcing people to be perfect all the time; however, it’s incredibly easy to private your social media if you want, and not all social media are focused on selfies and looks. People too often group all social media into one category – there are tons of social media accounts on plants, animals, photography, art, and more. Thus, social media can reinforce people’s friendships and connections.

Despite what many think, social media is not the terrifying online crevasse that news headlines insist on propagandizing. Social media is a way to strengthen and build relationships and gather to support others. People must understand that these platforms aren’t all negative and that it isn’t all cyber bullying, spam, and hate. That’s just what people see on the news. Realizing the positives will help us come to a better understanding of social media, and allow us to navigate it safely.

TFIOS: An Updated Review

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It’s irrational to think that no book has flaws. It’s silly to imagine it. Alas, I was still in the stage after reading a book where you haven’t quite processed everything, and you can only think of either brilliant praises or detestful criticism. My original review of The Fault in Our Stars on the blog was skewed in the former. This is my redo.

Needless to say, I still love this book. I didn’t have a complete change of heart like that, but now I am more able to recognize faults and places where the writing fell short.

My biggest gripe upon rereading and rethinking is that while there are some great, really quotable, and flowy lines, they don’t always fit naturally into the dialogue. if you can suspend your disbelief and accept that all of this is apparently normal people things for these teens, you can really enjoy the poeticism of it all. Seriously though, they pull monologues as normal conversation starters. In particular, the cigarette metaphor was not resonant with me

Fortunately, for the most part, I was able to overlook this and let myself sink into the writing.

I enjoyed Augustus’ character over Hazels, the trope of “We can’t be together cause I could die!” is particularly grating but thankfully the plot graces over this fairly quickly.

Again, there were some monologues and dialogue that really, really, REALLY worked for me. It wasn’t all a bit meandering, I promise.

For all of the criticism that this review seems to hold, I promise you that this book still holds a place in my heart. I merely wanted to present that this book, like all others, has flaws. What worked for me might not work for you, or vice versa.

Either way, you should still check it out. A lot of what I said in the first review still applies. It’s beautiful writing, a beautiful story, and it’s a beautiful experience to read. Do check it out.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Fault in Our Stars: A Masterpiece

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The Fault in Our Stars has been talked about a lot. It’s moving, it’s tragic, it’s so wonderfully and horribly true.

(It’s making me wax poetic as we speak!)

I don’t know quite what I would say in a spoiler review, so instead let this post be here to convince you, to be that sign to check out TFIOS. You won’t regret it.

A sixteen year old girl named Hazel Grace has, as she puts it, lungs that “suck at being lungs.” She uses a cannula to breathe and carries an oxygen tank around; she suffers from thyroid cancer. Every week she goes to a cancer meeting of survivors and patients, as forced by her mother. Hazel, of course, is in the patients group- her disease is terminal and always has been.

Eventually, Augustus Waters, who has been cancer-free for a year and bears a prosthetic leg for his burden, comes into a meeting. And so the two click.

Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters; love in its rawest, purest, most untainted form. As John Green so famously wrote, and as Hazel Grace so famously said: “…I fell in love the way you fall asleep. Slowly, and then all at once.” 

Filled to the brim with enough wit and metaphors to last a lifetime, the pair thrives off of each other’s sharp and astute nature. Books and poems, the thrill of the chase.

It’s filled with rides and waves and those beautiful aha moments and those crushing, sweep you off your feet realizations. 

Oh, this book takes your heart and whips it up into a pretty cream just to drop it and watch it splatter on the sidewalk

In a good way, of course.

I developed a tendency to put mini-sticky bookmarks over particularly good quotes, scenes, or anything I might want to come back to.

And I have to say, this book is an endless trove of remarkable quotes – I ran out of bookmarks

I’ll have to stop here before I ramble on any longer. Seriously, genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, read this. Maybe there are a few tropes in the plot, but the writing far outweighs it. Brilliant execution.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It’s one of the best reads I’ve ever had.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Lunar Chronicles: Winter (SPOILER REVIEW)

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There’s a definitely a certain amount of pressure, I think, on writing the final book in a series.

It has to wrap up all the characters’ goals, defeat the antagonist, and resolve the overall plot, with no threads hung loose.

Yeah, a lot of pressure.

Does Winter live up to the standard? (Beware of spoilers!)

Winter takes a deep dive into the Winter’s pysche like none of the other books before. I find her to be an extremely compelling character. The mental willpower to hold herself back from using her manipulation even when she knew she would start to hallucinate and lose her mind is impossibly strong. It’s the exact opposite from what the entire Lunar court thinks of her. She is the most powerful of any of them.

Winter went through so much.

I wish there was more of her. She’s such an amazing character but despite the book being named after her I felt like there wasn’t nearly enough attention on her. She almost seemed thrown in, which is the opposite of what she deserves as such a rich and compelling character.

I also don’t think Wolf got a finished ending. The book was all nonstop plot and twists, with hardly any room for the characters. And there’s a lot of characters.

The climax between Cinder and Levana was bloody and dramatic, though it was really a bit of an idiotic move on Cinder’s part to think that the mass murderer wouldn’t try to kill her as soon as she put down the gun.

I have to say, I do love the ending. Cinder dropping it off the same balcony she’d jumped off of? The tiniest reference to the glass slipper? Kai and Cinder’s relationship finally resolved, with hope for the future? It’s all beautiful, tinged with just the right amount of bittersweet, knowing that the battle was far from over.

I do think explicitly having all four main characters end up in a neatly established romance made it feel forced instead of natural. I also have some problems with Cress and Thorne’s relationship, but I might save that for a review on Cress instead.

There was so much good in this book, but also a lot I didn’t like.

Still, everyone has the right to their own opinions. What do you think?

Winter by Marissa Meyer is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.



Where the Red Fern Grows: A Spoiler-Free Review

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Sometimes the summary of a book doesn’t quite tell you enough about the book. You want something more detailed, to tell you if this book is truly for YOU. (Cause not every book is, and that’s okay!) So here is my spoiler-free review of the book. Is it for you? Let’s find out!

Where the Red Fern Grows is a story of a young boy named Billy growing up in the Ozarks with his family. His parents want to move out of the country and to a town so their boys can get education, but they are poor and money is few and far between. Billy, on the other hand, has no dreams of that. He wants, above all else, two beautiful coonhounds (hunting dogs).

Unfortunately, the dogs are far too expensive for them. Despite this, Billy thinks that with hard work and determination, he will be able to reach his dreams.

First, the basics!

This book is historical fiction, and stands at 304 pages, or 76,000 words. Not too long, for any worried about it! In comparison, its about the same length as the first book in the Harry Potter series.

A picture from the 1974 movie

You saw the cover with dogs, you knew it was coming-

This is a tragic story. It might be one of the things this book is most well-known for.

But…sometimes the most heartbreaking tales are the most powerful. I think that applies to this book. It’s heartwarming, heartbreaking, and wonderfully touching. Don’t let the sorrowful part of it stop you!

The book just makes you love these two dogs, Ann and Dan. Their bond is frankly inspiring, their empathy for each other unmatched.

(Personally, my dog could never do what they do. She’d give up in the first few minutes of hunting…)

I hope something in this post inspired you to read Where the Red Fern Grows, because it was definitely a hit for me. Thanks for reading!

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Tips for Your New Book Club

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Starting a book club is a great way to fight summer brain drain, motivate you to read, or to try some new books! Either way, you might be a little overwhelmed at the thought. Here’s a small guide on how to start your own book club after you’ve gathered all the right people.

Setting ground rules is a must. Things like location of your meetings, or time. You should decide these first to avoid miscommunication and frustration down the line.

Ground Rules Checklist

• How often will you meet up?

• Where will you meet up?

• What times will you meet up?

• Will you spend the whole time discussing books, or spend some hanging out?

• What type of books will you read, and how will you decide them?

Another important tidbit to remember is questions and conversation starters. It’s hard to just start talking about a book, so look up open-ended questions to spark some chatter around your table! Print these out or bookmark them on a device.

Alternatively, have each member prep a few questions themselves to discuss with the group!

Fun Ideas

• Bringing food! Something light is ideal – drinks or snacks are best!

• Group read the few final pages of the book together! This can lead to be memorable, capturing the live reactions of your fellow readers.

There are so many different ways you can take your book club! Get creative, and have fun.

Book Review: Cinder

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You’ve probably heard of the Cinderella fairy tale before.

But you probably haven’t heard of the story becoming a sci-fi dystopian romance series, have you?

Marissa Meyer’s series The Lunar Chronicles is amazing. Today, we’ll just be reviewing the first book, called Cinder.

Book Blurb

In this novel, Linh Cinder is a talented mechanic and cyborg, living many years after the Fourth World War in New Beijing.

There are laws that demolish cyborg rights to nothing, and her stepmother treats her like trash, calling her junk. Her only friend is an android named Iko, who Cinder built out of spare parts.

A plague by the name of letumosis is raging through the world, killing countless people.

Cinder’s life is routine and repetitive, until Prince Kaito shows up at her mechanic stand with a repair request for a damaged android. Romance, death, adventure, and more await…

This book does contain dark themes, and the series as a whole touches on gore, death, etc. Just a friendly disclaimer!

This book absolutely hooked me right into the rest of the series: which I love to death. But let’s hop into the actual review to see if this book is right for you!

Let’s start with the pros.

Marissa Meyer does an AMAZING job of executing the plot twists, and I just love the dialogue between characters. It flows so naturally.

This story pulls you in with an engaging hook, setting up the absolute masterpieces that are the rest of the series.

The world is so immersive – the book doesn’t throw a ton of exposition at you for you to understand certain parts of the culture, world, etc.

The morality of mind control and influencing others emotions, what makes someone human, and more is tackled in this book and the rest of the series. It’s beautiful to read.

I could not recommend this book more. The series is close to my heart, and Cinder is a stellar hook to pull you in.

You might be wondering – where are the cons?

Books are subjective. Since I love this novel a TON, it was hard for me to find things I didn’t like.

It is pretty lengthy, standing at 387 pages. Cinder is also more tame compared to the rest of the series – and if you read this you’ll want to read the rest, so be wary!

If you’re looking for a dark, yet thrilling sci-fi adventure with a creative world, sparks of romance, and a wealth of references to fairy tales? This one’s for you.

(not sure if there’s anybody specifically looking for that last part, but regardless :p )

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

de Portola 50th Anniversary Poem

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de Portola Elementary, my school, had its 50th Anniversary celebration on March 31st.

I got to read this poem I wrote during the assembly!

–

“Thank you, de Portola”

Celebrating these 50 years

Is a beautiful achievement

To think of all of the blood, sweat and tears

Put into this school and made whole 

–

Celebrating 50 years

At first sight so much more than it appears 

for so many students are taught here each day

Taught to learn how to foray into our world

And this school has helped fifty years of students,

Urged their creativity, made hard problems unfurl.

–

They’ve played on this playground,

Ran in these fields

Learned in this building

And here ate their meals.

–

Those 50 years of students

Learned to do math and read and write

Those skills will forever help them

To guide their dreams in sight;

it helps them fight for their future

–

This school has given so much education

Like a train station, its

Helped so many reach their wanted destination

Because this school has made the difference

In so, so many lives

–

And do you know how?

It’s the staff make this school whole

They teach us and guide us and help us when we fall

They’ve cared for us and rewarded us as far as we can recall,

their patience should be recorded for all.

–

They are kind when we are not,

Patient when we are not,

And help us when we’ve forgot – 

because we all do.

–

So thank you, staff of this school.

But it’s not just them that have built this community; 

it’s you too.

–

So thank you, de Portola.

Thank you for making the difference for 50 years.

Thank you for helping us past our fears

Thank you de Portola.

And thank you…

For listening 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: a Review

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Being 517 pages, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a pretty long book. Despite this, it’s become one of my all-time favorites to pick up off the bookshelf.

Let’s talk about why. (No spoilers!)

SUMMARY –

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy. If you haven’t already read that, it’s amazing, go do it. It will help make the prequel make far more sense, as well.

The book features Coriolanus Snow as the protagonist, reliving the events of his life after the Dark Days war.

Part One- Positives

The book draws from a lot of the philosophical questions in the original trilogy. Good and bad, black and white.,

The characters are phenomenal, with believable development throughout. It was hard to imagine how Suzanne Collins was going to be able to write such a downright coldhearted individual to be a believable protagonist, but it totally worked.

The book makes it clear that Snow isn’t in the right by any means – but it still makes sense why he does it.

Part Two: Negatives

Admittedly, this book features a bit of repetition, especially in the beginning. Snow goes through the same routine, over and over. Additionally, the plot can get a bit twisty and confusing, and can give you a bit of whiplash.

Part 3: Conclusion

Let’s sum up.

• Fast-paced/Action-packed

•Builds on the original trilogy

• Confusing at times

I’d say that’s a net positive!

This book is beautiful for those who have already read the original trilogy. If you have, definitely check this out!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.