Character Love

To Kill A Mockingbird

I just finished the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee for the third time in my life, and I'm telling you, this book never gets old! It is one of the great American classics that everyone needs to experience at least once. Scout is growing up in the South when racial tensions are high and her father is assigned to be the lawyer defending a black man who is accused of raping a white girl. Although this book suggests a serious plot Harper Lee tales the story from a witty and sometimes even comical tone of voice. You can't help but love Scout with all of her crazy antics. This is a page turner and amazing writing. If you haven't read it then I highly recommend doing so at least once in your lifetime. Or at least watch the movie anyway.

A Good Book Teaches...

A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.
Henry David Thoreau

Funny

English Hard!

Live More Than One Life

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins, has become a national phenomenon.  And like all phenomenons, there is bound to be some controversy. In case you don't know anything about this series, it is about a futuristic country that includes the capitol and thirteen districts. There was a time when the districts rebelled against the capitol and to prove their power the capitol initiated something known as The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games requires two children, a boy and a girl, from each district to be put in an arena and fight to the death. The last child standing wins fame, fortune, and best yet- extra food for their district for that year.  One guess what the controversy is over... You got it. The kids killing kids part. And of course that is absolutely awful! But to me, that is kind of the point. It should shock you. It should make you stop and think. It should make you question your government instead of following along like a mindless robot. And I think the biggest lesson of all, is that kids should NOT hurt one another. It has been said that these books model our society- and I must admit, I agree. How many violent games are there? How many gangs involve too many kids? And remember how we are in the middle of a national bullying crisis? Violence has become socially acceptable in our society and I feel like these books kind of draw us out on that. These books teach, inspire, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you skip meals because you literally cannot put them down. Suzanne Collins is an amazing author and she deserves credit where credit is due. The movie is indeed incredible, but nothing beats the books. So read it and decide for yourself. And I would love to hear your opinion on this series!

“Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when it's morning again, they'll wash away
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.” 

Book Hangover

I experience this ALL the time!

The Shadow Children

Today I finished the seventh book of an amazing series called The Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. These series are set in the future after the country has experienced a major drought and famine with thousands of people starving to death. The government decided to pass a law that limits parents to have only two children. Luke however, is unfortunate enough to have two older brothers, making him a third child. It is illegal for him to be alive- so he has to stay in hiding for his entire life. If anyone sees Luke, both him and his family can be shot to death on the spot. Luke's whole life he has been living in fear of being discovered- until he meets another third child that is determined to do something about it. Third children are referred to as 'shadow children' because they aren't supposed to exist. This series is about these children's struggle for freedom.

These books are not very long and are definitely page turners making them fast, fun reads. I honestly couldn't  put them down and when I finished one of them I rushed to buy the next one. My husband was definitely ready for the Barnes and Noble charges that went on my Nook to stop, but I couldn't NOT finish the series. The were just too good. Read them, you won't be disappointed!

The Shadow Children Series in Order:
1. Among the Hidden
2. Among the Imposters
3. Among the Betrayed
4. Among the Barons
5. Among the Brave
6. Among the Enemy
7. Among the Free

The Beauty of Literature