The Rainstorm In The Woods

                           The leafy branches prevent the cold drops of water from falling on my head. Soon the load grows too heavy for the leaves and the icy water falls onto my already soaked head. I shiver with the cold. The sky becomes an even darker gray as I hear thunder rumbling in the woods around me. My attention is attracted by the sound of objects flying around. Upon further examination I realize that people are throwing around small seedlings with spikes attached on them. They lay all around on the ground. The seedlings are hidden among the brown leaves and twigs that line the forest floor. The sky lights up with a flash of lightning. I sigh when I realize it will be a long time before we are on our way again.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

                     The kingdom of Goredd is inhabited by two primary creatures. Humans and dragons. Seraphina Dombegh is a young woman who has managed to get herself in between this ancient and recently healed division. Soon Prince Rufus is murdered and many people throughout the kingdom have a suspicion that the dragons murdered him. Seraphina must work hard to keep her own secret, protect the people around her, solve a mystery, and try to keep the castles events on track for she is the assistant music mistress. While she tries to balance all of that, something new comes into her life. Something that reminds her that she is truly not alone. Can she do it or will there be more deaths of important figures in the future? Overall Seraphina is a great tale that weaves an incredible world full of descriptive characters that you feel you know by the end of the book. Because of scary and romantic parts of the book I would recommend it to people over the age of eleven. If you are a fan of fantasy and adventure this is the book for you.

5 out of 5 stars

What I am currently reading:

Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton

Prudence by Gail Carriger

The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie by Alan Brandley

Wings: A Fairy Tale by E.D Baker

                  Tamisin Warner has always been different from everyone else. She has pointy ears like an elf and feels a calling to dance during full moon. She also remembers seeing strange creatures during Halloween several years earlier.  Tamisin attempts to lead a normal life until a boy named Jak comes to her school. What she doesn't know is that Jak is on a mission to find her. Soon two things happen that will change Tamisin's life forever. She grows wings and is taken over to the land of the fey. In this mysterious land she must keep the peace between the goblins and the fairy queen Titania. Can she do it or will a dark secret overwhelm her first? Wings is an interesting story that would interest fans of fantasy and fairy tale books. This book would be appropriate for anyone above ten years old. If you are looking for a great book that is a little bit of a happier read, Wings is the book for you.

The books I am currently reading:

Hard Choices by Hilary Rodham Clinton

Prudence:The Custard Protocol Series Book 1 by Gail Carriger

To My Dearest Stepmother

This is an apology poem written from the perspective of Snow White to her evil stepmother.

Mirror, mirror

On the wall,

Who is the fairest of them all?

I am.

 Constantly raising up a storm,

Because your not the one.

Never a fault,

In my glistening face, white as snow.

Forgive me,

Being the fairest is so

Unexcruciatingly wonderful,

That I’m positive you would enjoy it.

Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

              In a small town by the name of Strattenburg lives a young boy by the name of Theodore Boone. Theodore Boone dreams of becoming a great lawyer one day. He loves giving legal advice to other kids.  At first he goes about his normal retune until the beginning of the trial of Pete Duffy. Pete Duffy is accused of murdering his wife. Theodore believes he is guilty. One day he learns of a person that could change the whole course of the trial. A person who he thinks will make it so Pete Duffy is brought to justice. He must find a way to get this person to come forward, while keeping the whole thing a secret.

          Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer is a phenomenal book that is a story of justice and adventure with a legal twist. As soon as you start reading the book you are sucked into the world that master storyteller John Grisham creates. The book is a fairly easy read that I would recommend for anyone above ten. If you are a fan of mysteries interlocked with trials this is the book for you.

5 out of 5 stars.

I am currently reading:

Hard Choices by Hilary Clinton

and

Timeless by Gail Carriger

Wind

             The wind brushes my hair. I feel as though I am in my own world, wrapped in a constantly moving blanket of wind. I haven't felt wind like this for a while. I wonder how mother nature can manage to create a wind that is so strong and powerful that stops shortly after it starts. I know that the wonderful majesty of a wind like this one will live in my mind forever. For now I just relax and feel as though I am flying, the wind as my guide.

The One And Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

                 Ivan is a gorilla who lives in a small domain (cage) in a mall. The malls business has gone down since Ivan has grown in age. Ivan is accompanied by several other animals including an Elephant named Stella, a dog named Snickers, a dog named Bob, and a parrot. Ivan likes to paint with the supplies the janitors daughter, Julia gives him. The owner of this mall, Mack buys a baby elephant to drum up business. This elephant is named Ruby. When Ruby comes to the mall she is shy. Stella looks after her. When Stella passes away, Ivan must work hard to give Ruby a better life. Will he succeed? This heartwarming tale written by Katherine Applegate paints a picture of an unlikely friendship. In a way this book is almost a verse novel. It is amazing how the author is able to supply you with so much information in short sentences. The One And Only Ivan is a great read that children 9 and older would enjoy.

5 out of 5 stars.

I am currently reading:

Blameless by Gail Carriger

Etiquette And Espionage by Gail Carriger

                     Sophronia Angelia Teminick is a 14 year old girl who lives in England under the rule of Queen Victoria.  The country of England endures a few changes in this book. For instance supernaturals (werewolf's and vampires) also live under British rule . Sophronia does not live up to her mothers fantasy of a young lady. Because of this she is sent to a finishing school by the name of Madimoselle Geraldines School for Young Ladies of Quality. Sophronia soon learns that this finishing school teaches espionage and that everyone is after a prototype hidden by Monique de Pelouse, her arch nemesis. Sophronia must figure out the location of the prototype and ace all of her lessons on top of this monstrous challenge. Gail Carriger did a great job combining english culture with machinery and fantasy. By the end of the book you feel a bond with the main character. The best part about this book was the plot. The plot will keep you interested until the end of the book. If you are under 12 this book is not for you. If you are looking for a steampunk novel with a little bit of british culture mixed in, Etiquette And Espionage is the book for you.

The Girl Sitting On The Red Brick Column

                 Two red brick column stand on the sides of a stone pathway. One brick column stands next to the fence the other column stands next to the house. On top of the column that stands near the fence is a girl. The girl sits with her legs crossed and holds a bright red notebook. She is furiously scribbling on one of the notebooks pages. The air is pleasantly warm, but the girl still wears a red fleece. Her yellow #2 pencil suddenly stops. The girls small forehead deepens as a frown creases it. She stares off into space and appears to be thinking. The girl then resumes to writing, her blond hair flying out behind her as a breeze drifts.

The Woman Who Fell From The Sky by Jennifer Steil

                              Jennifer Steil, an American journalist who lives in New York and is an employee of the magazine The Week, is sent to Sanaa Yemen. Not just for a high risk vacation, but to educate the staff of the Yemen newspaper The Yemen Observer in the ways of journalism. Jennifer soon returns back to New York with a job offer to consider. She soon decides to take on The Yemen Observer's offer, and assumes the position of editor at the Yemen Observer. Jennifer must push herself to the breaking point in order to restructure the Yemen Observer and get an edition of the newspaper out twice a week.  In this excellent memoir Jennifer Steil paints a picture of her life in the capitol of Yemen, and the culture and life of others around her. The Woman Who Fell From The Sky offers a visitors view of Yemen and the culture of the people of Yemen. Readers under 13 should not read this book because of the romance and violence that is included. If you are looking for a beautifully written book that describes living in a new place, The Woman Who Fell From The Sky is the book for you.

Reflection On The Slice Of Life Challenge - SOL#31

                   Throughout this challenge I have learned many things. I have learned good ways to get over writers block, I have found many diverse ways to write a slice of life, and last but not least I have learned the types of writing that appeal to me. This challenge has been beneficial in many ways. It has helped me practice the craft of writing and learn all about having a blog. One of the best things about the slice of life challenge is how it has helped me become a better writer. This challenge helped me become a better writer because the challenge itself revolves around writing, and the more I practice writing the better I get. Overall I am grateful that I had a chance to participate in the 2015 slice of life challenge.

A Robin's View - SOL#30

           I look around the yard. My eyes are drawn to the tall pine tree in the corner of the yard. I chirp in surprise when I see a flash of black in the tree. My eyes are soon able to make out the shape of a young girl. The girl is sitting on a thin branch. Her hands grip two other branches. The girl has an oval face, blond hair, and bright green eyes. Her face is dotted with small circular freckles. The girl seems completely at ease, despite the fact that she is several dozen feet above ground. Her eyes are focused of the clear blue sky. I imagine that she must have a great view. Soon the girl tires me and I return to the gray birdbath that is full of clear water. I soon fly away into the blue sky.

The Dancers In Front Of The Blue Background - SOL#29

                   The ballerina waltzes across the stage. Her brown hair is tied in a bun. The dancers partner holds her high up in the air. The ballerinas costume appears to blend into the blue background, as she twirls and leaps around the stage. Her pale arms raise up into the air to form an oval. The ballerina and her partner are the only ones on the stage. They perform lift after lift, sequence after sequence. The dancers stay close together during this complicated dance. Soon the ballerina is raised high into the air. She reoriented herself in such a way that her legs are above her head. She stays in this pose for a few more seconds, but then moves so her feet are touching the ground, and begins to twirl. She twirls around the stage. Everyones eyes are on her instead of her partner. As the dance comes to a close, the two dancers gracefully walk off the stage, and the front of the blue background is left empty.

The Fish That Swim Around - SOL#28

                   My eyes stare down at the murky water. I can barely make out the shape of my toes. My eyes can just make out fish swimming around my feet. The fish look small compared to my feet. The fish are black in color.  They appear to be busy exploring there underwater world.  They flit about the sand and swim between the reeds. The fish appear to be happy, living there lives out swimming and exploring. I wonder how they view me, if they are scared of me. Some of the fish are brave and swim close to my toes. Others stay far away. Either way I appear to be a small distraction from there agendas.

Round And Round - SOL#27

Round and round in a circle they go.
This sums up the life of fish,
When they live,
In a clear glass tank.

Sometimes they seem content,
Other times they seem bored.

I wonder if the fish like their watery world,
If they like spending their lives staring at multicolor rocks.

I wonder if the fish can talk to each other,
If they spend the days talking to their friends,
And swimming round,
And round.

The City By The Bay - SOL#26

As the leaves fall away,
A breeze ripples through the bay.

When you cannot find your way,
Go to the city by the bay.

Go to the city that thrives in May,
Where people are who they are each and every day.

The city where people don't listen to those that say nay,
Where a Government Shutdown can happen every day.

The city where there is no hay,
Where no one thinks to repay,

The people that say yay,
And definitely not the ones that say nay.

Not everyone says yay in the city by the bay,
But the no's are outweighed by those who repay.

The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch - SOL#25

                        In a small town (the true name of which can't be told for the characters protection), lived a girl who we will refer to as Cassandra. Cassandra considered herself to be a survivalist and always thought that bad things were happening. One day Cassandra was searching for proof for another one of her outlandish theories, when another child came up to her. We will call this child Max Ernest. Max Ernest dreamed of becoming a comedian, but couldn't find any funny jokes. The two began a conversation and soon made plans to explore the house of a recently deceased magician. Upon exploring the house the two discovered the magicians journal. After a narrow escape from two "prospective buyers" of the house, the two friends are able to crack the code of the journal and learn the magicians story. This story will change there lives forever. The learn the tale of two brothers. They learn that one was taken away by a certain lady with a voice like ice. The two friends learn of another kidnapping and connect the dots. The two are soon sent on a whirling adventure involving a secret society, an ancient secret, and synthesia.

                     This book is an intricate tall of two friends and there interesting discovery. I enjoyed how the author had the narrator, at first refuse to tell the story. The author made the book suspenseful and creepy in many parts. Because of this suspense I couldn't put this book down. The author also did a great job making you feel a connection with the characters. This made the book more enjoyable. Readers of fiction and horror would enjoy this book. Because of scary parts in this book, children under 10 should not read The Name of This Book Is Secret.

3.5 out of 5 stars

My Favorite Place - SOL#24

               Of all the places in the world one particular place stands out to me. This place goes by the name The District of Columbia. The District of Columbia stands out to me because for some reason I feel safer there, than in any other city. D.C is also home to many cool museums and historical sights. D.C also is home to The Supreme Court, The White House, and The United States of America's Capitol. When I grow up I dream of becoming a Supreme Court Justice and maybe pursuing a career in politics. The fact that my current ideas for my career will take me to D.C adds even more to this wonderful place. These are some of the reasons why D.C is my favorite place in the world.

My Favorite Quote - SOL#23

              Of all the quotes in the world there is one that stands out to me. "Give me liberty or give me death." Patrick Henry once said on this very day, many years ago. I don't know why I love this quote so much, I just know that this quote is one of the more powerful quotes to me. This quote also reminds me of when I was younger and free of many of the worries that now weigh down on my shoulders. This ancient quote ignites my patriotic spirit and reminds me of many of the issues I am passionate about. I think that the purpose of this quote was to get people all riled up about the cause Patrick Henry was preaching. I think this quote has succeeded in fulfilling that mission and it has succeeded in remaining my favorite quote.

The Monument By The Reflecting Pool - SOL#22

                    The sky is a beautiful blue. The kind of blue that attracts attention. My eyes can't keep from looking at it's grand expanses. My eyes soon drift towards the white monument that lies across from the pool. The monument is reflected in the pool hence determining it's name The Reflecting Pool.  On the sides of the pool lie crisp gray sidewalks and rows of deciduous trees. I stare at this neat arrangement, noticing the tiny people that walk on the sidewalks. This perfect picture is interrupted by the metal caging that surrounds a portion of The Washington Monument. I wonder if someone is at the top of the monument, staring down at The Lincoln Memorial. Maybe they notice the young girl with blond hair and green eyes that is me. Or maybe they just notice the majestic expanse of The Lincoln Memorial and the sprawling mess of The District of Columbia around it. Either way I hope that person also notices the beautiful blue waters of The Reflecting Pool.

Rainbows And Pots Of Gold - SOL#21

               The sky is a light gray. The land is covered with rolling hills and evergreen trees.  The landscapes most beautiful feature is the rainbow that cuts through the sky. The rainbow is a beautiful mix of purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. The rainbow seems to reach from the ground to the end of earths atmosphere. When one looks at the rainbow all of there worries are forgotten. The rainbow can't help drawing attention to itself. Its just what it does. I wonder if at the end of that rainbow a pot of gold and a leprechaun lie. I wonder how big the pot is and what color it is. I wonder what the leprechauns name is, if there even is a leprechaun at the end of the rainbow. Then the rainbow begins to fade away. Away from this place. Away from the hills and the trees. At least away for now.

The Girl On The Water - SOL #20

                  A breeze blows over the lake. The sun begins to set. The orange and pink bringing life to the sky.  A pontoon boat rests on the water. The boat is full of young girls. One particular girl stands out. The girl is staring out at the water, clutching the rim of the boat. Her blond hair is to her shoulders and her bright green eyes stare intensely out at the gray waves. She shivers from the cold. The girl frowns, as though she isn't seeing what she wishes to see. Soon her frown goes away, just as the sun rises below the horizon.

A Place - SOL#19

Down the beaten path,

Lies a place unknown to many.

A place full of love and acceptance.

A place where people go to have fun.

A place that is different to everyone.

A place that resides in a different location for everyone.

A place that is hard to find.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente - SOL#18

           A girl named September lives in Omaha, Nebraska. One day she is whisked away to a mysterious land called Fairyland by a being or a wind that watches over Fairyland by the name of the Green Wind. When September arrives in Fairyland she meets two witches and a Weiurwulf that have lost their magic spoon to Fairylands leader the Marquess. September meets a creature called A through L on her journey to this strange new lands Capitol. She also meets many other new friends on her journey to defeat the Marquess and discover the secret of the past queen of Fairyland Queen Mallow. Will she succeed on her quest or will she get sent back to earth first?

        This book is really good. The author did a great job making the book entertaining. Once I started reading this book I couldn't stop reading it.  I also like all of the description the author included in the book. I could picture the locations used in this book. One of the reasons why this book is so good is that the author made many of the things in the book really different from objects and people in reality. I also liked how this book is more of a challenging read than other books ought there such as the Divergent Series. This book would be appropriate for ten and eleven year olds. Fans of fantasy would enjoy this book.

5 out of 5 stars

Virtue of The Small - SOL # 17

Tiny objects can sometimes have the most value of all. This was the beings thoughts as it ripped open the wrapping paper. The being held its breath in anticipation. The suspense was unbearable for it’s tiny heart. The being gasped as the gift was revealed. A perfect present, that also came with a lesson. A lesson that clearly displayed the virtue of the small. Sometimes the best objects are small. The being would often go first for the big objects. It now would go first for the small objects, finally realizing that size doesn’t matter, the thought is all that counts.

Peace At Last - SOL #16

        A breeze blows over the crystal clear lake. The sun begins to fade over the horizon. The orange ball of light illuminates the swim dock.  The stars shine high in the sky. The beach is silent and peaceful. The only people in the area are a group of 11 people laying down on the four score court. Despite there varying ages the girls are all peacefully gazing up at the stars, the moon, and the receding sun. The trees rustle with the faint breeze. The girls are enthralled with the stunning sights. They stay staring up at the sky for a long time. The girls then slowly and silently get up and walk up the black asphalt road towards the trees. They walk up a short staircase and continue on there journey, despite the fact that they have been swallowed by the trees. As there footsteps recede the moon seems to sigh, being given peace at last.

When the Camp Fell Silent - SOL #15

The light reflects off of the drops of dew on the grass. The sound of footsteps echoes around the amphitheater. People begin to drift into a horseshoe formation. More and more people walk into the amphitheater. Soon there is not a space to be seen in the horseshoe. The oldest girls in camp line up in a line at the front of the horseshoe. Three of these girls step forward, two of which are carrying flags. The girls clip our countries flag onto the rope that runs up the length of the flagpole. They then clip our camps flag to the rope. When both flags are flapping in the wind the three girls step back  to the line. Together all the girls turn around to face the rest of camp. We all break into song. The whole camp falls silent. With the flags flapping in the wind we all head to breakfast.

Above The World - SOL # 14

                The rough needles scrape my skin. I continue to climb. I clutch the branches, knowing that one misstep could mean severe injury or death. I continue to climb looking down at the world around me. A person stands in the driveway. She calls up to me. “Where are you?”. 

“Up here.” I reply. She scans the sky, her eyes finally resting on the tall evergreen tree. She continues to look upward, frantically searching for any sign of human inhabitance. Her eyes finally rest on me. 

“What are you doing up there?” She asks. 

“I’m observing.” I say. She returns to her work. My attention is turned upward. I stare at the blue sky with white puffs of clouds. My view is unobscured. As I stare up at the sky I realize that I am truly above the world.

The Ever Searching Girl - SOL #13

        A large boat rides the violent waves. The boat uses all of it’s might to stay atop the rocky waves. The waves still manage to toss the boat around as if it is a ball. The boat calls out in despair for the sea to stop its merciless pounding. The ocean pauses for a second and all is calm. Then appearing to change it’s mind the ocean continues to attack the boat. There on the back deck of the boat a girl stands. The girl has straight blond hair, hazel eyes, and a freckled face. Her red fleece makes her stand out from the crowd. She has a smile on her face as she looks out at the sea. Despite her ease she jumps back when the waves get to harsh. She holds out her hand and points toward a nearby point in the water. She gasps in delight as the gray whales back moves out of the water ever so slightly. When the whale submerges itself she frowns. The girl stares out at the sea, ever searching for life on the barren landscape.

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7705025@N08/4634022604">Body Parts</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>

The Parade of Lights - SOL#12

Down the hill they walk. Parading towards the water. Carrying flickering candles that rest upon pieces of birch bark. They sing as they walk. More and more girls receive their candles, silently accepting them and going on their way. The girls have big smiles on their faces as they carry the candles. They gently place them in the water and sit down. They continue too sing but fall silent when the counselors walk out on the deck, ending the parade of lights.

I got this photo from:

 photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30397914@N06/11839861885">DSC_0849</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>

The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale - SOL #11

        Miri Larendaughter lives on the mountain of Mount Eskel where the only natural resource is a stone called Linder. When the prince of Danland (the country in which Mount Eskel resides) comes of age to become king, he must take a bride. Mount Eskel is chosen by the priests of Danland to be the home of the future bride of the prince. Because the Mount Eskel girls are uneducated in the ways of the nobles of Danland, a princess academy is formed for the girls to spend a year at before the prince chooses his bride from among them. Since Miri is of the right age she is one of the girls sent to the princess academy. The girls must conquer many challenges during the course of the year. They must also find ways to work together despite the brutal competition between themselves. Miri must decide what she wants and also unravel the secret of the way of communication the girls parents use to communicate when mining Linder. Will the girls succeed and find out who the prince will choose as his bride, or will they succumb to the harsh winter of Mount Eskel and those who do not want them to succeed?

 I loved the plot of The Princess Academy. The plot is really interesting and suspenseful. I think that the author did a great job making you connect to the characters. This connection improved the book. I liked the description in this book. I think that anyone would love this book. I would recommend this book to fans of fiction. This book would be appropriate for children age 10 and up because of the intense action and touches of romance.

5 out of 5 stars

The Hallowed Song - SOL#10

                My footsteps echo around the room. The candlelight illuminates the faces of the children around me. The flickering lights cast shadows on the walls. The other children open their mouths and begin a hallowed tune. I walk around the candle in the center of the room. They continue to say the song that has been sung to many. Around the candle I walk listening to the words and feeling special, for it was my birthday. I feel as though I am on top of the world and looking down at everyone else.  Nothing could bring me down today. The children continue to sing the song. When the song comes to a close I stop walking around the candle. I stand still and beam at the children around me, proud of my accomplishment.

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89769912@N05/14845092111">OKIMG_6683</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>

The View From The Red Bricked House - SOL #9

A red brick house sits across from a school. The red brick house proudly sits across the way not fearing the wetlands that lays before it. If a person in the red brick house were to sit on the second story and look out one of the front windows, they would see a school. And if they looked at a certain window on the second story they would see a girl. They would see a girl that has blond hair and green eyes. They would see her looking across the way towards themselves. The person would see the girl furiously typing up a document, it’s contents unknown to them. Suddenly the persons eyes would meet with the girls eyes. They would stare at each other, a bright green meeting an unknown color. All this would happen if a person decides to look through a certain window towards a certain school, in which a girl looked out through a certain window. Now that is the view from the red bricked house across the way.

The Experience in the Sky - SOL#8

Round and round I go. The wind blows against my face as I spin around. I look up at the fluffy white clouds and the blue sky. I stare down at all the people waiting below. The circular motion of the ride is comforting and familiar. I am high enough off the ground that I feel as though I am flying. The ride goes at a breathtaking speed. So fast at times that the people below are no more than a blur. I gasp as the ride accelerates even more. Soon it begins to slow. It is time for me to go back to the ground, where I belong.

I got this photo from:

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10492049@N08/1368972764">Clouds</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>