Being Honest ~ An Update

Hi there.  Long time no blog post.  I know.

I want to say sorry, but that doesn't make up for my absence.

Source

2016 Biennial Writers' Conference Recap

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the 2016 Biennial Writers' Conference as a student scholarship recipient.  I spent the entirety of my morning and afternoon sitting in workshops and listening to a top pick of skilled writers and orators.  Here's a quick recap of my experience.

Peach Picks: 5 YA Contemporary Recs

Ina Hattenhauer, Hallo Heute

YA contemporary is one of my favorite genres, and I've devoured a good share of YA contemporary books over the years.  In no particular order, here are five YA contemporary books I particularly hold near and dear to my heart.

Book Review: The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian
Author: Andy Weir
Publication Date: February 11, 2014
Publisher: Crown
Genre: Science Fiction
Page Length: 369 pages
Goodreads

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive — and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive.

Grounded in real, present-day science from the first page to the last, yet propelled by a brilliantly ingenious plot that surprises the reader again and again, The Martian is a truly remarkable thriller: an impossible-to-put-down suspense novel that manages to read like a real-life survival tale.

Book + Movie Review: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders
Author: S.E. Hinton
Genre: YA Fiction
Goodreads

Ponyboy can count on his brothers and his friends, but not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids who get away with everything, including beating up greasers like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect--until the night someone takes things too far.

Written forty-five years ago, S. E. Hinton's classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was written.

Julia's Life Updates: January & February

Hi there!

So as you can tell, my New Year's Resolutions aren't going too wonderfully.  (*cough, cough* post more often...)

I swear I have good excuses this time, haha.  So for this first post in a long, long while, I thought I'd show you all what I've been up to these past couple of months!  Here goes:

Second Semester started off for me, and that means all new teachers, all new classes, all new lessons and homework.  This semester I'm particularly excited to be taking a YA Literature class and an Astronomy class.

For Astronomy, our first project has been keeping a Moon Journal.  We've been tasked with watching the moon over a course of a month through its phases, and reporting on its nightly position and shape among the stars via short video logs.  I'm an absolutely terrible astrophotographer, so no photo.  Sorry to disappoint. ;-)

Book Review: Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Saving Francesca
Author: Melina Marchetta
Publication Date: May 9, 2006
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Contemporary
Page Length: 243 pages
Goodreads

A compelling story of romance, family, and friendship with humor and heart, perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Lauren Myracle.

Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.

Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling of who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.

2015, Thanks for the Memories.

Pudge the Cat

Well, it's exactly 11:59 PM here in Honolulu . . . only one minute 'till the new year.  To send off 2015 in an appropriate fashion, I decided to make one big wrap-up post to commemorate another year gone by.  This post includes favorite books, favorite memories, and pretty much anything random that pops into my head at this ungodly hour -- ha, ha!

Happy New Year everyone!  Here's to 2016.

Top Ten Tuesday: Santa Baby, Slip These Books Under the Tree ♪

Ina Hattenhauer, Hallo Heute

There are only a few more days until the long-awaited holiday, Christmas!  Here are ten books I'm hoping to see under the tree this year . . . (even though most haven't been released yet).

But, hey, Santa can grant ANY Christmas wish, right?

♪ Santa baby, just slip these books under the tree for me ♪

Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: YA (Contemporary) Fantasy
Page Length: 522 pages
Goodreads

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.

Series Review: The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Infernal Devices #1
Publication Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Page Length: 479 pages
Goodreads

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever.  Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878.  Tessa Gray descends into London's dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother.  She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters --- including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to.  Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans.  Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them . . . 

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: NA Contemporary
Page Length: 433 pages

CATH IS A SIMON SNOW FAN.  Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . . But for Cath, being a fan is her life -- and she's really good at it.  She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading.  Rereading.  Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go.  She doesn't want to.

Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath that she doesn't want to be roommates.  Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone.  She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . and she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?  Can she make it without Wren holding her hand?  Is she ready to start living her own life?  And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Book Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows 
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Six of Crows #1
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 465
Goodreads

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price - and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker.  Ka is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams.  But he can't pull it off alone . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts.  One impossible heist.  Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction - if they don't kill each other first.

Book Review: Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

Made You Up
Author: Francesca Zappia
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genre: YA Contemporary
Page Length: 428 pages
Goodreads

Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion.  Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college.  She's pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles.  Didn't she imagine him?  Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers.  But Alex is used to being crazy.  She's not prepared for normal.

Six Quotes From Six of Crows

Last Sunday, I finished reading Leigh Bardugo's masterpiece that is Six of Crows, and to say I loved it is quite the understatement.  I was completely blown away with six all too amazing characters to love.

My review's in the making, and should be up in a few days' time.  Until then, I thought I'd share six Six of Crows quotes.  The entire book is filled with quotable words, but here's just a handful to pique prospective readers' interests until they have the privilege of claiming their own copy.

And . . . I'm not sorry to say most of these are Kanej quotes (Kaz + Inej).

School, Reading & Life (among other things)

Book Review: Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Finding Audrey

Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: June 9, 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Press for Young Readers
Genre: YA Contemporary
Page Length: 288 pages
Goodreads

With her genuine gift for comic writing, Sophie Kinsella blends comedy, romance, and psychological insight in this contemporary YA novel sure to inspire and delight.

Audrey loves her family, even if they are a bit off-the-wall.  When Audrey develops an anxiety disorder as a result of an unpleasant incident, her family is there to help.  Audrey now wears dark glasses whenever she feels the need to protect herself, but she's also making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah.

Then Audrey meets Linus, her brother's gaming teammate, and she is energized.  She can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she's never been able to do with anyone before.  As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.

Book Review: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 656
Goodreads

Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her.  But she's at last returned to the empire - for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again.  She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison.  And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena's epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe.  This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena's story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter the world.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (Release Day Blitz + Giveaway!)

Queen of Shadows
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 656

Read CHAPTERS 1-5
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her.  But she's at last returned to the empire - for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again.  She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison.  And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena's epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe.  This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena's story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter the world.

Book Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 562 pages

The king's assassin takes on an even greater destiny and burns brighter than ever before in this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Crown of Midnight.

She was the heir of ash and fire, and she would bow to no one.

Celaena Sardothien has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak - but at an unspeakable cost.  Now she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life - and her future - forever.

Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world.  To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed.