The Parent's Guide to Banned Books

Recently my father described puberty as discovering your parents' mistakes. He figured there were three stages. 1. Annoyance. 2. Pity. 3. Endearment. As a teenager, their irrational rules and repetitive faults frustrate you. Once you've made peace with it for yourself, you can focus on the way they suffer from them. And eventually, it becomes a kind of cute trademark flaw which continues to mess up their wrinkled little lives. Since I'm stuck in stage one for another year or three, here's an ode to all the mistakes parents might make in regards to Banned Books. So hand your laptop to your folks and allow them to suck in every last detail about avoiding some tricky but tempting fatal missteps in the world of censorship.

The Parent's Guide to Banned Books by Sennett Young

Well isn't it good to get together and talk about this? Today, I'm addressing you. You who have been complaining all our lives we didn't read anymore. You who simultaneously deny us the privilege of doing so. Here're the things you should always and never do, along with a step by step guide on how to treat your child's questionable book choices.

Banned Books: Eleanor & Park

At thirteen, I went to a friend's home for a sleepover. We were in the bathroom with the four of us, and one of my fellow guests proposed taking her curling irons and curling our hair. My friend told us we couldn't because it would raise the electricity bill. I imagine I stared at her as if she'd committed a murder. I'd never encountered problems with money in my life. We're not extravagantly rich or anything. We live in a middle-sized terraced house. But never had my parents told me not to do something like use a curling iron because it cost money. They were always able to pay their bills and even set some money aside. My mother's a bit of a cheapskate, but not because we can't afford anything else. I remember it because it was the first time I ever realized how privileged I was compared to people even in my own country.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: There Is A Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths

Rating: *****

Risk: XX

Banned Books: 1984

Last year, I was in Berlin with my German class. We were in a hostel. We walked a lot. We slept very little. To conclude our journey, we went to an old DDR prison. It was interesting, but I would have probably enjoyed it more if every bone in my body didn't ache under the crushing force of physical exertion and sleep deprivation. All I wanted to do throughout the whole thing was sit my lazy butt on a chair. Or a stool. Or a boulder. I actually sat on the floor at some point. Anyway, this would have been bearable on its own, but we were observing a communist prison, right? So this guide proceeded to tell us, in detail, about the forms of torture used in cells. A repeated punishment was some variation on not sitting or not being forced to walk constantly. I HAVE NEVER RELATED MORE TO ENEMIES OF THE STATE THAN IN THAT MOMENT.

Right before we would be allowed to sit down during the conclusion of the tour, our guide asked us if any of us had read the novel 1984. I was sad I couldn't play Literate Kid since I hadn't read it yet, but he told us the premise (which I already knew about) and how it was based on totalitarian governments in real life (which wasn't new to me either). Still, he was interesting to listen to, putting from of speech on a pedestal that was almost too much for my democratic socialist brain. Almost.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel

Rating: ***1/2

Risk: X. Like no, this is not risky whatsoever.

Banned Books: The Diary of a Young Girl

I remember, once, at age ten, watching this series in class. It's called Thirteen During the War. Basically, it's a Dutch series about WWII from different perspectives to teach to older children (first years of middle grade). One episode was about concentration camps and Jews, and there was this one scene ín the gas chambers. You saw all of these bare feet walking through the ways first, their owners believing they were going to take a shower. Then the camera cut to a mother and daughter, who had been followed throughout two episodes. The two of them talked a little until a horrified scream cuts through and the mother kind of holds the girl and then the camera cuts away. I was near tears, but the boys were laughing because the mom's bare br**sts had been showing. I laughed along to mask my emotions. I hadn't even noticed. For weeks, those bare feet haunted my waking hours.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: You by Keaton Henson

Rating: ***

Risk: X

Banned Books: The Giver

Justification: Ungranted.

Anthem: Clarity by Zedd

Rating: ***1/2

Risk: X, all but nothing.

Review: I read this book over a year ago and saw the movie even before that. The sequels are okay, but nothing tops this first installment. The book is middle grade, which is noticeable in the style, but overall it's an atmospheric novel enjoyable for everyone. I would round off to four stars on Goodreads.

Banned Books: Fahrenheit 451

I'm an opposer of censorship. I wouldn't be writing about banned books if I was in favor of it. But because the discussions about censorship are often related to human rights issues, it fascinates me in its horrificness. So when Youtube's new advertising policies dropped, I was both furious and intrigued.

Content that is considered "not advertiser-friendly" includes, but is not limited to: 

"Controversial or sensitive subjects and events, including subjects related to war, political conflicts, natural disasters and tragedies, even if graphic imagery is not shown"

At first glance, this doesn't suggest censorship since the channels aren't forbidden. They just stop receiving money for their work. But in a way, that's the same. Imagine authors who write critical books don't receive any kind of 'salary' anymore for their work. They'd stop. I wouldn't have anything left to watch if these channels go bankrupt.

What I like to watch:

1. Human and social rights issues
2. Political satire and news programs
3. Movies about psychology (Anesthesia, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Perfect Sisters) and talks about movies.

The beauty of the internet is its ability to stream information freely all over the world. No matter what the government thinks or the big media has time or money for, everyone can have a voice. Fahrenheit 451 celebrates our freedom of speech. Our freedom to read. We are responsible for this freedom and should protect it, maybe at all costs even.

Interesting videos on Youtube's policy: Comicbookgirl19 & The Young Turks Explain #YoutubeIsOverParty

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: Creep by Radiohead

Rating: ***3/4

Risk: X

Banned Books: Looking For Alaska

I love this book in a painstakingly agonizing way. Because Miles and I have, even though in different depths, the same reason to believe in the afterlife and the soul that will life forth there: the labyrinth of suffering.

A wise man once said, "The only normal people are the ones we don't know very well." Having found it recently, I believe it might be my favorite non-literary quote ever, which says a lot, since I adore quotes as much as the next person. I have come to find it true. As soon as you start paying attention to any given individual, you will find they are less happy than they made out to be. Once you know this, it hurts. It will always hurt, for various reasons for various people. Whether you notice that a supposedly perfectly happy girl is at a loss as soon as she's parted from her two friends or witness an outburst from the normally so calm boy, it stings in a way I can't explain. Maybe it's the way I see myself in that girl, and my brother in that boy. Maybe it's because neither of the two will ever know I saw or cared. Maybe it's the way I can only think of Alaska with the picture of my self-harming friend inhabiting the back of my mind, who wears long sleeves even in the heart of summer. And because I can't muster the strength and bravery to tell anyone that I saw and cared, I pray. And I just hope that God makes them feel a tiny bit better the next day. But I'm happy I see it now, too, because the knowing has flooded my mind with little bells that ring at the touch of an individual I dislike. They warn me he or she suffers or will suffer or has suffered, and I have no right to judge him/her.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: Off I Go by Greg Laswell

Rating: *****

Risk: XXXX. I'm not brave enough to recommend this to my formerly depressed, smoking, drinking friend.

Banned Books: Lord of the Flies

Throughout my life, I've never been part of the popular clique. I know what you're thinking. Wow, Sennett, I'd have never guessed that! Yeah, thanks for the compliment. Seriously, though, in high school, I didn't even try to wriggle my way into that mystical sphere. I pay for it dearly sometimes, but I suppose I couldn't be a member even if I tried, so it's okay. However, my whole life I have watched them, and if you have, too, you will have seen the same things. Humans have a tendency to follow the dominant. Born leaders. This forms the pattern of the educational system: you've got your dominant but morally deficient leaders, your blind followers, and your outcasts. Even if the outcasts are smarter or more compassionate and ethically guided, the odds of them forming a majority to stand up to the masses are not in their favor.

Then there are the weak. Like me. We try not to hate the masses too much, though that is our first instinct. What use would it be, if we have to live with them in our lives all the time? We watch them and fear them. We realize we will never be in charge and settle for a place in the background.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: Bang Bang by Green Day (October 7th, my fellow Idiots)

Rating: ***1/2

Risk: X

Banned Books: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

We're currently reading The Tempest in English class, and somewhere in October, we have to write an essay about it. We can pick one of two options for the subject: colonization or Biblical parallels. If you know me, it's quite obvious that my choice will be the former. We're supposed to compare the meaning of Shakespeare's play in colonial times vs. post-colonial times, which moves my teacher into continuous ramblings about how timeless Shakespeare's writing is.

Then, Ms. Teacher, let me please convince you of the timelessness of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. About how with each mentioning of the n-word, I felt a slight stab near my chest. How the discussion of slavery makes me wish for different ancestors. And exactly those things make me understand, for the first time this month, the reason for banning a particular book.

Justification: Not granted, but I do understand the problem.

Anthem: Don't Panic by Coldplay

Rating: ***1/2

Risk: XXX for younger, mean teens

Banned Books: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

I remember, as a kid, I avoided books from a male POV like the flu. Even into my teenage life have I tended to cling to my beloved girl MCs. Which is funny, since most literature is written from the points of view of men.

Reading The Absolutely True Diary, I realized this:
Thus far, I have read The Perks, The Kite Runner, The Catcher in the Rye, and this book. Those four books have three things in common:
1. They're written in first person.
2. They're narrated by a male character.
3. They're all a lot more depressing than you expect them to be.
This, in turn, made me realize three other things:
1. I read many books written in first person.
2. I would have been reluctant to pick these books up in the past.
3. I am not helping myself by reading these saddening coming-of-age novels during my least favorite time of the year: the start of school.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: Couldn't find one

Rating: ***

Risk: XX

Banned Books: The Catcher in the Rye

I remember when I finished Paper Towns. It made me want to go on this spectacular road trip without my parents or friends, just all on my own. To look around in the world for a bit. Stir up something by running away. I know I could never do it, though. How could I make my parents worry or my brother? And it's not like my friends would embark on a crazy journey to find me or anything, let alone a boy who'd had his eyes on me forever.

I think Holden is a better version of Margot. He's adventurous like her, but he legitimately cares a great deal about everyone in his life. He pities practically everyone.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: 21 Guns by Green Day OR Would It Matter by Skillet

Rating: ****?

Risk: X

Banned Books: The Kite Runner

***Sorry for the switch of Catcher in the Rye and The Kite Runner. I had some trouble getting my hands on J.D. Salinger.***

I was beyond shocked when I learned this book was banned. Why? Because we watched the movie in adolescent catechesis. (That's a thing in my church where a group of teenagers eats cookies, watches movies, and makes mind maps about biblical texts. It's as boring and unnaturally social as it sounds. The latter is why I don't go anymore.) Surely nothing is holier and purer in the US than that?! (In Europe, the holiest and purest things are secularism and bureaucracy.) And it was a great choice for an activity, too, because it's one Friday evening on the first floor of my church building that I can actually recall as pleasant and memorable. If even my church people approve, and the Taliban doesn't, how can US conservative folks not declare love to this novel?

Justification: Refused

Anthem: None

Rating: ****

Risk: XX (might scare young readers)

Banned Books: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I've been pondering what to write for the personal story here. At last, I've figured something out to share with you.
This summer, I went to a restaurant with my friends for the first time. We ate delicious pasta for a mere seven dollars and my friend gorged herself on a giant salami pizza. We feasted and talked and I don't know how, but my friend told me something she'd overheard once.
There are two people in my year who've been dating forever. Once, my friend overheard the girl complaining, mildly distressed, about the way her boyfriend would kiss her with his tongue all the way into her mouth and how she didn't like that. To her friends. And mine brushed it off. Giggled even. I was a little appalled hearing this, but I didn't want to make a scene. Though in retrospect, I wish I had made a tiny, inconspicuous scene. I wish I'd told them very sternly that if something like that was ever the case with them, they shouldn't complain about it to their friends, but talk to their boyfriends. And every time I remember this, I feel sad. I need someone to tell my friends that even when people kiss, the act and its details should be consented to by both parties.

Justification: Not granted

Anthem: Dear Wormwood by The Oh Hellos

Rating: *****

Risk: XXX

Banned Books: The Hunger Games

After over a year of book blogging, I have finally found a justifiable reason to ramble about one of my favorite book series of all time: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It’s especially appropriate to talk about this bestseller in a banned books discussion because my parents and I have (had?) grave disagreements about it to a point where my mother forbade me to read it. My first act of teenage rebellion actually was reading it anyway.

Justification: Ungranted. This trilogy should not be banned.

Anthem: So much to choose from, but I'll go with Shattered by Trading Yesterday.

Rating: ***** stars.

Risk: XXXX in the wrong hands.

The Banned Books Reading Months

The Banned Books Reading Months

It’s finally time to begin my biggest project on this blog to date: The Banned Books Reading Months. To kick off this event, I want to go over a couple of things that will improve our discussion later on. I’m going to define some terms, symbols, and sources here, and you’ll get a list of the order in which my selection of books will be read and/or discussed. I’ll explain why I’ve picked these books and why I’m leaving numerous classics alone. I have charts, endless streams of information, and concepts to discuss. Be seated and I hope you will engage in conversation in the comment section for the upcoming weeks.

Banned Books: Harry Potter

When I first told my mother I had been reading The Hunger Games, she looked at me with a rather puzzled expression. Not much later, though, my dad chimed in and asked me whether I was going to read Harry Potter. I mimicked my mother's features, struck by shock. Ever since my youth, my mother (and father, admittedly) had silently forbidden us to read the books or watch the movies. My bewilderment only grew when my mother told me it was fine with her if I read them. We were older now. We would be able to take the scariness.
You might think I immediately rushed to the library to start reading. You are mistaken.

Now it was my turn to doubt the morals of this books. I'm religious, so how could I read a book about witches and wizards? In the end, I decided to see for myself whether this series was any good. To my delight, they were.

Justification: Understandable, but not justified.

Anthem: Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap

Rating: *****

Risk: XX without parental guidance in extreme cases.

Second Phase Wrap Up and Third Phase Plans

Wow, where did those three to four months go? Sorry for my lack of activity in this section of the year. My reading and reviewing life have gone to the backdrop a little to give way to lots of writing and quality time. Anyway, there's an exciting time coming, so I look forward to telling you about it.

For Your Information:
First Period: 1-1 to 8-5
Second Period: 9-5 to 21-8
Third Period: 22-8 to 31-12
Note: The first period does not have a 'plans', nor does the last period have a 'wrap up'. These will be semi-included in the 2016 Recap and 2017 Goals and Plans.

The Blood of Olympus Book Review

After a slumpy read, three full days out with my friends, and much neglect of my first draft, I have finally finished The Blood of Olympus. I have thoughts, lingering disappointment, and praise in store for you. Grab some tea. Buckle your seat belts. Unsalted opinions will follow.

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The following contains spoilers for books 1-4 of HoO, but not The Blood of Olympus.

Title: The Blood of Olympus

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Heroes of Olympus #5

Spin off to: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Pages: 516

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publishing date: October 7th, 2014

Rating: 4 stars ):

Spotify playlist: The Blood of Olympus

Previous reviews: The Lost Hero, The House of Hades

Songs I Ship With Books

I have missed you all so much, I thought I would do this thing I came up with. Some songs are just magically linked to particular books in my warped brain. Maybe because I've bawled to the pair of them at 1 am, or because they both ruled my life for a week. I'm just going to name the book with the designated song and a short elaboration.

Matching Books and Music

The House of Hades Book Review

I'M BACK! As you can see, I changed the blog's URL in the hopes that this one is a.) a bit less angsty and b.) a bit more fitting with the purpose of the blog. My vacation to England was really nice, but I'm not writing a recap because I'm working very hard on my book right now. I'm about 20,000 words in, so I've still got a lot of work to do. But first, after the absence of Son of Neptune and Mark of Athena, let's get into The House of Hades.

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

This entire review contains spoilers for the previous books in the HoO series. Read at your own peril. I'll warn you once the spoilers for House of Hades arrive.

Title: The House of Hades

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Heroes of Olympus #4

Spin off to: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Pages: 597

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publishing date: October 8th, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Spotify playlist: none, I've been a bit loose with playlists lately. There will probably be one for Blood of Olympus, though.

Previous reviews: The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero Book Review

This is my last chance to write a review because tomorrow I will be making my journey to Britain. I grossly dislike typing reviews on my tablet and I can't bring my PC, so this is the last you'll see of me for now. I loved this book, even though it pissed me off a couple times.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Title: The Lost Hero

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Heroes of Olympus #1

Spin off to: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Pages: 557

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publishing date: October 12th, 2010

Rating: 5 stars

Spotify playlist: none, but I am currently quite addicted to Daughter's album Not To Disappear

Previous reviews: take a look at my reviews for Percy Jackson and the Olympians

I knew it from the get-go: this book is amazing. I started reading this during my test week -- yes, I dragged this heavyweight around in my school bag -- and I could not put it down, even when my classmates stared at my Longman-dictionary-sized hardcover. I was a little depressed at times about Percy's absence, but Leo, Piper, and Jason made up for it most of the time.

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian Book Review

A little late, probably very short, but nonetheless very well-deserved, here is the review for the final book in the PJO series. (I'm too lazy for full names.) My vacation has unofficially started and I'm already more productive in writing than ever. That being said, I really want to get back to either reading The Lost Hero or writing my story. Still, I feel like I can't let this book pass without a review, so here you go.

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Title: The Last Olympian

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5

Pages: 381

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publishing date: May 5th, 2009

Rating: 5 stars

Spotify playlist: none

Previous reviews: the Lightning Thie, the Sea of Monsters, the Titan's Curse, the Battle of the Labyrinth

Okay, this book completely blew my mind. I think it's an amazing finale for this series and that's definitely not an easy thing to write. The final book in a series is often disliked and because of all the high expectation, people get disappointed a million times easier. However, similar to miss J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan knows exactly how to write a satisfactory last installment.

Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth

It feels good to be back with Percy after a month or two. This will be a short review because a.) I have studying to do still and b.) I have writing to do, which I feel a little more motivated for at the moment. I have finished my first chapter of my first rough draft and am already bursting with ideas for the next one. But first, we'll have to discuss this amazing book together.

Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Title: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4

Pages: 361

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publishing date: March 6th, 2008

Rating: 5 stars

Spotify playlist: none, but I have been listening to a nightcore mix while reading this book.

Previous reviews: the Lightning Thief, the Sea of Monsters, the Titan's Curse

(I'm going to become an expert on worthless book data with these lists.)

The Winner's Kiss Book Review

I don't really feel review-y today but I have tons to learn for the test week (organic chemistry, evolution theory, half-life, radians, and all those other things nobody likes) and now I have a moment to spare for you so hereby I'm reviewing this awesome book.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

Memo to myself: If I ever discover a foreign continent, I will NOT allow people to keep their surnames if they choose to move there. In the Netherlands, everyone at least has their old boring names. It prevents me from reading three of your books and loving them and still being absolutely incapable of remembering whether it's Rutkoski or Rutkotski or Rutkostki.
Memo to author: If you ever read this, I'm dying to hear a.) where your name comes from and b.) whether you are working on another book series.

The Puppet Boy of Warsaw

I'm back to review a book I read about a week ago. (My apologies, but school is attempting to murder me right now. They are using the dishonorable method of dumping assignments on my sleep-deprived brain while it's 23 degrees outside.) So let's make up for it by reviewing the shit out of this depressing little war story and linking you to my beautiful Spotify playlist for this book.

The Puppet Boy of Warsaw by Eva Weaver

Graceling Book Review

I'm so sorry that this review will be as short as it will be but I read this book before going to Berlin and after that I didn't have time (school assignments) or energy (I barely slept) to write a review. So here is my belated, ridiculously short review of this New York Times Bestseller that you've probably all already read.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

This, for me, was a typical 4-star read. It was good, solid, a little slow, intriguing, but not a favorite. The concept is cool and interesting, the characters are fun, but the love interest kind of didn't work fangirl-y for me. I feel obliged to tell you what it's about first, though.

The Hybrid Chronicles Book Review

This was a very interesting holiday read. I read a good portion of the last book outside because the weather was heavenly. (And I got sunburned, thanks to my pale skin and unwillingness to put on sunblock.) This is my last review before I leave for Berlin, which I will in four days. So enjoy your last cookie before the jar closes with this spoiler free review.

The Hybrid Chronicles by Kat Zhang

This trilogy is a lot less mainstream than what I normally read. I turned to it anyway because of that exact reason. I felt like reading a dystopian-ish novel, but things like Delirium, Uglies, and Matched are always so focused on the romance, which I think is often a waste of an intriguing concept. So I picked up that one special book on my shelf of sci-fi-or-dystopian that did not mention a boy in the synopsis. And I am so very glad I did.

First Phase Wrap Up and Second Phase Plans

Time flies when you're having fun. I'm an overly organized reader. I plan how much I need to read a day on average and love to plan events months in advance. In order to plan my reading easily, I have divided the year into three zones/phases/periods corresponding with my big holidays. Now that the first period is coming to its end, I want to share my feelings on the past four-and-a-bit months and tell you what I'm planning.

For Your Information:
First Period: 1-1 to 8-5
Second Period: 9-5 to 21-8
Third Period: 22-8 to 31-12
Note: The first period does not have a 'plans', nor does the last period have a 'wrap up'. These will be semi-included in the 2016 Recap and 2017 Goals and Plans.

After You Book Review

I have a theory that if you write a brilliant book, dealing with complex and interesting subjects, you should think rather carefully about the decision to write a sequel. And don't get me wrong, I would be a very unhappy creature if Harry Potter or the Hunger Games was a standalone book. Fact remains, if an author decides on a sequel, I often feel that their beautiful ideas are corrupted by the human greed and consumerism. This is the case with After You.

After You by Jojo Moyes

This review obviously contains spoilers for Me Before You.

A wise lady with pink hair once said,

"He (Alan Moore) says that the job of the artist is to give people what they need, not what they want." - Force Awakens Honest Review

And she's absolutely right. That's why I love authors who give their fans a book that's not what they asked for, but what they need. I admire that because that shows that you, as an artist, know your shit better than all those peasants you're writing for. That's what I loved in Allegiant and Mockingjay. Those ladies tell the story they feel is important, rather than what everyone will be okay with. That takes guts, and I love them for it.
Jojo Moyes wrote a sequel that didn't need to exist with characters that I didn't need to know about, which just makes the book feel like another unnecessary sequel that only exists for the sake of existence. I don't always want there to be more to a stand alone, because in the end, less is sometimes more. It's like sequels to Disney movies. You get in your seat and you just know that it will never even get close to the last one.

Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse Book Review

I really love when a series starts to up its game. When a character death makes me tear up. When the plot becomes like my own car, rather than a chaotic joyride. But I don't have that much motivation to review this book since I'm well into After You, which got me into that tea-and-toast contemporary mood. But it's finally vacation over here, so I don't really have an excuse, have I? (Also, look at my pretty new blog background! It was time to replace that awful pink brawl of flowers and logos, right? After hours of frustration, rage, and tears, I have succeeded and it's so worth it.)

Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

I'm really not in the mood for a long review because
A. I have discussed the last two books in my previous reviews (Lightning Thief & Sea of Monsters).
B. I am currently drowning in all the things I can't do during school and force myself to attend to during the holidays.
C. I'm lazy.
D. I'm preparing for the Banned Books Feature I will have this September-October, which is a lot more fun.

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters Book Review

I knew it. I knew this one would be better. It had to be. The action was awesome, I finally read until deep into the night again, and the plot felt way less predictable. Yes, there were some typical tropes that annoyed me, but overall, I was a lot more pleased with this one.

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Pet peeve: when you Google the book and they give you the movie.

Guys, I'm so happy I liked it. I'm so happy I could just put on music and read for two hours straight in the middle of the night while my body was craving sleep. I'm so happy I stopped subconsciously comparing this to Harry Potter every other 5 pages (I think we reached 20 at least a couple times)! I feel like the key to reading this series is not demanding too much depth and metaphor. It's like eating strawberry ice cream. You should never go into strawberry ice cream hoping that you'll taste layers and multiple flavors. You should go into strawberry ice cream hoping for a bomb of slightly sour-ish sugar and a painful tongue.

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief Book Review

Finally, after all this time, I am reading another one of the five most beloved and well-known children/teen/YA book series out there. I've been planning to read this series since the start of the year, but because it gave me a bit of a summer-y feeling, I decided to wait until the weather was good enough to read outside. And a couple of good backyard reading sessions later, I have finished Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. And it was pretty good.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Oh guys, don't make me do this. I have such conflicting emotions regarding this book. And it's a good book, it really is! I just had some grounded issues with it for multiple reasons, often not even caused by the book itself. It's just that all my associantions and mind-bridges make judging this book a little harder. And, discussing such an admired and hyped book is hard in itself. I feel like that conservative Republican politician speeching for a group of teen moms considering abortion.

Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass Book Review

My father gave me this book as a gift I think two years ago, and I couldn't get into it. It was before I'd started reading as much as I do and this book did not work for me. The small pages, the fancy old language, the utter chaos. I got about 30 pages in and quit reading.
Then we moved, and right after that, I discovered reading. So this book popped into my head because shit, I had this beautiful edition of a beloved classic and it was just lying around. Issue: you know when you move to a house with less storage room, and in your attic will for a period of 1,5 years be situated, The Box Stash Of Doom? True story. But finally, my parents cleared out the book boxes and Alice in Wonderland appeared out of the rabbit hole.

Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol

This edition is beautiful. The pages are gold, the pictures are wonderful, and the cover is just *swoons*. But after my fascinating back story and exaggerating about the extravagant looks of this book, let's talk a little about the interior of the collector's copy.

Stars Above Book Review

After the very much intense and fiery Fire-Breathing Bitch Queen that was Queen of Shadows, I needed some warm fluff. Warm fluff that I could read through the last days of Dutch winter and squeeze tightly to my chest while consuming hot chocolate. And I'd never read novellas before so why not?

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

(ever noticed how many authors' surnames start with Ms or Rs?)

This isn't going to be an overly detailed review because it was just a collection of short stories. I overall very much enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as I did the original tLC stories. (This abbreviation causes confusion to all Dutch fans of this series because there's a TV channel called TLC here. I happen to frequently marathon its bridal dresses and cakes with my mom.)

Books and Judgement

I had to do this. I'm pretty much on schedule with my reviews and this just caught my attention and refused to let me go. This discussion will be all about people hating on you or judging you because of your reading style or just the general fact that you read as much as you do. This is going to be a rather emotionally charged post so I'd like to warn in advance that I do not have the intention to hurt anyone. If this accidently happens, I very much regret that.

So, last week, I went to see my friends at one of their houses and somehow the subject of sleep and lack thereof came up. When I said I hadn't slept very much lately, my friends immediately asked me whether it was a book. I replied that this wasn't the case. (It was the Hamilton soundtrack. Judge me.) We were in the car, and her mom was driving us and we talked about my reading so much. Which is fine! I'm not happy that everyone knows how much of a book nerd I am, but I don't respect their privacy, either, so it's okay. But then one of my friends found it necessary to inform me that a girl in our year asked her whether I actually had any other hobbies than reading. When I asked how she got that idea, my friend said that she'd seen me reading on my phone during lunch break and in studying hours in a physical book. Okay. No. This is where it ends.

Queen of Shadows Book Review

This book, you guys. This is that point in a series where shit hits the fan and it's beautiful. It almost feels like the series could end here, except for some teensy tiny details that haven't been resolved yet. But wow, this is a perfect example of a book series that just keeps on getting better. I've also been able to get tons of reading and YouTube and blogging done thanks to my free days for Easter and my test week, so I was just so nice and relaxed and comfy during these entire 648 pages.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Books and Gender: Age Differences

When I was reading the Lunar Chronicles' last book Winter this December, something came to my attention that I hadn't quite realized before: a lot of our favorite couples have a significant age gap. And that on its own is interesting, but what I think is more relevant is that the female lover is almost always the youngest counterpart in this dynamic. So let's discuss this and you'll see what I mean.

Looking for Alaska Book Review

Thank you, test week, because you have done the impossible: I'm on schedule with my reviews.
You know how we all have this one crazy talent that's not as much a talent as more of a curse? Mine is becoming friends with either complete train wrecks or condescending dominating dictators. You know, you befriend someone at the start of the school year and you're halfway through and it's like, "What have I done?" So yeah, I could, in a sick and unhealthy way, relate to some aspects of this book.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Heir of Fire Book Review

My sincere apologies in advance, because to my dismay, I am not going to write a review for Crown of Midnight, lest I plan to reread it. The reason for this is that while I should have been writing one, I had already started Heir of Fire and some of the events in this book made my emotions change directions. I don't feel like writing a review for it now would give an adequate view of my opinion of the book and its content. That being said, I did really love CoM (is it a thing?) even more so than I did ToG (it's a thing or I'll make it one).

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Me Before You Book Review

I feel so guilty for getting behind on my reviews again! Sorry. But now that I've got my first page views from China and the Filipians in my pocket and the test week has started, I am getting inspiration!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Books and the YA Genre

I am miles behind on my reviews and I should be getting to my school work, but I have inspiration born from rage, embarrassment, and curiosity to your opinions on the subject. So forget priorities or studying so I can have a good future and career because I need to do this now.

So for a while, I've been wanting to start this feature with discussions called 'Books and ', focusing on a risky, interesting, or just important side of books. I wanted to do 'Books and Religion', 'Books and Censorship' (that one will be a little extravagant and is currently scheduled for September), and 'Books and Gender Roles'. But what better place to start than at my most read genre, namely the YA genre. I'm going to discuss mainly the judgment on both the books and the movies and talk about all the doubts and questions I have and you might have as well. So without further ado, let's get started.

Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Movie Review

The time has come to select one super fangirly Saturday night to finally witness the epic conclusion of one of my favorite franchises. May the odds be ever in our favor, even now that the series has resigned and vacated both page and screen.


Title: Hunger Games: Mockingjay part 2 (I don't know a soul within the target group that doesn't
know that Mockingjay part 2 is a part of The Hunger Games Series, but that's fine.)
Genre: Adventure, Sci-fi
Director: Francis Lawrence
Based on: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
IMDb rating: 6,8/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 70%
My rating: I just can't afford to think like that.

Delirium Book Review

This is a book I read during my days as a slumping, half-dead one-sickness-a-year patient, so that might have influenced my enjoyment a little. All I know is that I landed in a gruesome reading slump during Pandemonium and didn't finish it. (Great, a couple of my hard-earned vacation days wasted.) I have some mixed feelings about this first book and want to discuss those. The main thing that this book made me feel was a fear that I might be permanently done with dystopian fiction. Help. Me.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Graphic Novel, Tintenherz, and Finding Audrey Book Review

The last three books in the I-Am-So-Sorry-For-My-Laziness Review Marathon. I couldn't do all of these separately, and since I was muh-muh on all three, I thought it wouldn't be worth the effort anyway. I have also recovered from my zombie-tacular fever parade, so reading is going better. On the downside, school started again. That being said, here's my short spoiler-free review of:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Graphic Novel by Ransom Riggs (Please this title!)

Tintenherz by Cornelia Funke

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Throne of Glass Book Review

I will admit that this is not the right order to catch up with my reviews, but I luved this book. I know that even I was waiting for me to read this, so here we finally bleeping are to celebrate Sarah J. Maas' disgustingly beautiful fantasy heap of I NEED THE NEXT ONE AND I NEED IT NOW! This book knew exactly what it was, where it was going, and what the reader needed it to be. Also, I love this Love Triangle because it kills me and torments me but I can't help it I just ship it so hard. Please forgive me for calling it a Hunger Games rip-off.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Hogwarts Library Book Review

I am dying of fever and sore fever legs and disgusting lump in my throat (wanted to spare you the details but failed), so here's a short review of three cute short books.

The Hogwarts Library by J.K. Rowling

To Kill A Mockingbird Book Review

So sorry for updating my reviews so late for the last couple of weeks. I got a whole lot of reading done, but writing the reviews got a bit overshadowed by school. Anyway, now my holidays have started and I need to make up for my laziness and educational priorities. Here's the review for To Kill A Mockingbird, an assignment on my TBR.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Animal Farm Book Review

The first book I ever finished in ONE sitting. Finally. My sleeping schedule is ruined now, but still. I'm proud of the accomplishment. It's also the first classic I'm reviewing. I hadn't really planned on reading Animal Farm, but since I suddenly wasn't going to proceed reading the Remnant Chronicles, I needed a new book. I'd seen this in my public library (the English YA section is getting bigger every time I come there, which is often) and thought I might as well try it out. So here we are.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The Kiss of Deception Book Review

My sincere apologies for the lateness of this review. (I'm three/four books behind, time for my walk of shame.) I'd been wondering when the moment would come when I would be reading four books at once. The tragic day has come. I've been reading a 17th century play for Dutch, To Kill a Mockingbird for English (I haven't said Mockingjay ONCE in public, applaud me), Tintenherz for German, and the Kiss of Deception for fun. I feel so proud that I managed to finish this book. I hated it. I really did.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Carry On Book Review

It's been a long time since I finished this cursed book and I still haven't decided how to rate it. I have all the reasons to love it: It was a fast-paced, fun fantasy read, that dared to poke fun at today's urban fantasy, magical extravagancas. The thing that makes this rating process really complex is that I also have all the reasons to dislike this book: It took its time to pull me in, and I argue that poking fun at existing stuff is not as original as coming up with your own pokable stuff. What makes this really impossible is that I also have all the reason to burn this book: It sent me into an unbearable favorite-books withdrawal.

Fangirl Book Review

Even though I love escaping to futuristic science fiction worlds or fantasies with dragons and magical powers, sometimes a human being from the 21th century longs for characters who know about things like Google or X Men or 9/11. And when those moods come around, I set aside my typical preferences and pick up a contemporary novel. And sometimes, I just freakin' love it.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I loved this book. I related to it so much and had so much fun reading it. And I don't mean we're-on-an-epic-and-dangerous-quest-and-people-die-but-we're-funny fun. I mean real mindless fun with no one being in mortal peril. And I needed that so badly. What I also needed so very much was a main character that was just as socially awkward and a tearcano as I am. When Cath almost cried in the first chapter already only because she was extremely nervous I was THIS far from actually doing a happy dance in public. (But because it's not exactly advisable to dance in school hallways during lunch time, I did not.) (And because I don't dance. Period.)