A Girls Best Friend

A Girl's Best Friend by Catherine Stine 

Reviewed by Tilly 10yr. old Book Reviewer and Sometimes Writer

A Girl's Best Friend is about a girl... who is you! Yes, the person who wrote this book wrote it about you! Also, you get to make your own decisions in the story and choose what happens next. So it's a book with more than 20 possible endings.

In this book you get 8 friends... (if you chose the right ending)

Emmy ~ A brave girl who loves swimming and  boating.

Isabel ~ A confident girl with a funky sense of style.

Amber ~ An animal lover and loyal friend.

Neely ~ A creative girl who loves dance, music and art.

Riley ~ A good sport on the field and off.

Paige ~ A nature lover who leads hikes an campus cleanups.

Logan ~ A super smart girl who is curious about everything.

Shelby ~ A kind of girl who is there for her friends and loves making new ones.

A Girl's Best Friend... well hopefully everyone knows what that is (here's a clue is it's a mans best friend too).

A Girl's Best Friend has a puppy in it. The puppy's name is Pepper and in this story you are intreserd in the Pepper (you work at a dog place). Pepper is more energetic than the other dogs all together. Pepper is a Husky. In this story you worry that he is in danger and you might have to break some rules to protect him - will you choose loyalty?

When my mum gave me this book, I was so excited, I jumped up and down. I've never read a 'choose your own adventure' book before and couldn't wait! I sat down straight away and read the story to the end. Now I can read it again and have different endings! It's not a long story, like a novel, but it was fun. I also like that the book has a nice hardcover.

I rate this book out of 5 paper dolls...

Here's a dog paper doll you can click on and print:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/319876600_3157917a38_o.jpg

THE LOOKING GLASS WARS

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Reviewed by Milly 13 yrs. old - Book Reviewer and Sometimes Baker

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor is a book about a girl named Alice, who lives in Wonderland (Oh! I almost forgot, she isn't any ordinary girl, she's a princess!). But on her 7th birthday her aunt, Red, attacked the Queendom! In all the massacre, Red killed Alice's mum & dad and tried to kill Alice!

Luckily the Hatter got her safely to the pool of tears. She had been wishing for an adventure for her birthday, she certainly got what she wished for as she jumped into the pool of tears and came out to a whole new place called London. Meanwhile the Hatter was in a place called Paris. Not knowing were Alice was he searched the whole country for her and would search the hole world for her if he had to so she can fulfil her destiny and kill Red!

There are more problems - Alice is adopted and is told that what she says about Wonderland is nonsense, she finally believed her new family and forgot all about her aunt & Wonderland. Now she is 20 and going tho marry a prince! Will she remember who she is in time to go back and save Wonderland?

Sound slightly familiar? This story is like a reversal of Alice in Wonderland. But there are many differences - it's much darker. This excellent book is a book that was chosen by the book club I go to so I do have to thank them because otherwise I would have never read it!

This is a wonderful book and I give it out of 5 paper dolls :

This is a great book but a warning to my followers that are a bit squeamish this book has a lot of gore and is NOT a little kids book.

Toppling

Toppling by Sally Murphy 

Reviewed by Tilly 10yr. old Book Reviewer and Sometimes Writer

Toppling is about a boy named John who is addicted to dominos. His best friend in the story, Dom, gets cancer. 

This story is about friendship. John gets sad and worried for his friend Dominick. We've been reading this novel in my classroom, and a lot of John's story happens at his school and in his year 6 classroom.

John says the best thing about his school is his mates. The next best thing? Lilly, a girl he likes. School becomes less fun for John when Dom stops coming because he's too sick. John goes to visit Dom in the hospital but doesn't recognise his friend at first because he looked so pale and thin... and he was bald! This is the first time in John's life he had to deal with a possibility of a death.

This novel gets serious in parts but does have some funny and happy moments.

I thought it was an okay book. My favourite part was the ending, I thought it was really funny but I won't spoil it for you. Some parts of the book were a bit slow.

I rate this book out of 5 paper dolls...

Imagination Sparks - Dream Exercise

Writing Exercise by Milly 13yrs. old - Book Reviewer and Sometimes Baker

Imagination Sparks is an awesome blogfest to share your favourite creativity exercise and I have decided to join.

The creativity task I chose is called dream + pen + paper = story.

What you will need for this exercise is a pen, paper and a dream or nightmare (I know you don't like having nightmares, but they make the best stories!).

Before you go to sleep make sure you have a pen and paper right next to your bed. If it's not close you won't feel like looking for it in the dark.

I'm going to try other bloggers ideas from the blogfest, and I'll post about what story ideas I get.

I sometimes fall asleep listening to an audiobook, and this seems to help me dream. But keep in mind if you dream about being a young girl getting sent off to games where you have to fight the death - this might not be your own original idea (Hunger Games). There are also some hypnosis recordings that can help you think imaginatively if you listen to them right before you go to sleep.

If you wake during the night, after a brilliant dream/nightmare, force yourself to write down some notes or even just key words. If you don't, chances are you'll forget it in the morning.

Even the weirdest dreams can be used for a story. If your dream makes no sense to you (people merging into rabbits and flying off), still write it down. You might be able to separate each idea for an element towards a story - or you may have the next Alice in Wonderland!

When you're ready to write your story. Try doing a couple of minutes of just free-writing or brainstorming to see how many story ideas you can get from your dream.

If you have some fun creativity exercises, it's not to late to join just go to Wagging Tales and sign on!

Hex Hall

Hex hall by Rachel Hawkins

Reviewed by Milly 13 yrs. old - Book Reviewer and Sometimes Baker

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins is a novel about a girl (I mean Witch) who uses a love spell and... well, it went wrong. Really wrong. So she was sent to Hecate, a boarding school for witches, warlocks, shape-shifters and fairies (the kids call it Hex Hall) as a punishment. But everything is not how it seems. Not too long ago a student had her blood drained. Oh, and the best part is Sophie's roommate, Jenna, is a vampire.

Hex hall is a mystery/fantasy. I would like to say which it is more than the other, but, it is equally a mystery as it is a fantasy.

This is an awesome book but it got a bit boring towards the middle. So I give it out of 5 paper dolls:

One of the main reasons that I didn't give it a 4 is because there is no cat even though it is clearly featured on the cover and is also on the second book cover as well. A black cat would have definitely scored an extra doll. However, even without the cat, I will still read the next book in the series, Demon Glass.

Tiger's Curse

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Reviewed by Tilly 9yrs. old (nearly 10!) - Tween Book Reviewer and Sometimes Writer

Tiger's Curse is about a teen girl named Kelsey who lives with her foster parents. Kelsey decides she needs a job for the school holidays, so she gets a couple of days at the circus. Her biggest worry is that she might have to clean up elephant poo. In the circus she sees a rare white and black tiger called Ren, named after an ancient Indian prince. One day a mysterious and strange man comes to the circus and wants to buy Ren. The circus owner said yes to his great offer. This man also asked Kelsey if she could come on the trip to look after Ren, because she's has such a special bond with the white tiger. Kelsey doesn't know yet how special her and Ren's bond really is.

During their journey, Kelsey and Ren get lost in a forest in India. Is Ren an ordinary white tiger or does he have a trick up his paws? This story is mystery, adventure, and romance, and it is so good it should be made into a movie. If it does I'm definitely watching it!

The mystery is to solve the curse and get Ren back to normal. And is Ren the only special tiger?

I rate this book out of 5....

Yes, that's right 7 out of 5 it's that fantastic!

Oh wait, don't forget Milly told you about my birthday this weekend - when we go to Supernova.

But she didn't tell you my character. I'm going as Frankie Stein from Monster High. I'll let you know how it goes :)

now for the paper doll today I have a white tiger paper doll

MAXIMUM RIDE

Maximum Ride by James Patterson

Reviewed by Milly 13 yrs. old - Book Reviewer and Sometimes Baker

Maximum Ride by James Patterson is a popular YA novel about group of 6 kids who run away from a government facility called 'The School'. They try to build a safe house, knowing they will never be normal again or have a normal life. Or will they? And is their safe house as safe as they think?

Today though, I am reviewing the graphic novel adaptation. I personally think this is an awesome book. It is a an adventure to save the youngest in their clan, Angel. And the kids might find some friends along the way. The story is quite funny too. Oh, I forgot to mention, there is something a little bit different about these kids -- when they were babies 'The School' put bird DNA into their bodies so they had lighter bones, and... wings. So, of course, they can FLY!

The illustrations by Narae Lee are awesome - Max looks really pretty. The characters are portrayed in a manga style with beautiful large eyes. If you're a fan of the novel, check out the graphic novel.

I rate the manga adaptation out of 5 paper dolls:

SUPERNOVA!

Next weekend my family and I are going to SUPERNOVA! Which is a pop-culture expo, where you dress up as a popular character from a book, tv show, movie or anything. I am going as Katniss Everdeen! I decided to give the book another go and now I love it. Click info for more information.

Teen Read

Next thursday I will also be joining Teen Read. a reading group for teens at my local library. We all read... you guessed it, The Hunger Games. So this time I had to finish the book (I'm glad I did - but more on that later).

My recipe for you this week is one of my favourites to make - I've made up lots of different variations, but here is one I do a fair bit:

Cheesy-Italian Sausage Rolls

The perfect thing to have for dinner after a long week is some yummy sausage rolls.

Ingredients:

1/4 of a cup of tomato sauce

1/4 of a cup of basil

500g of mince

200g of pizza plus cheese

4 diced tomatos

paprika

ricotta

12 - more puff pastry sheets

Equipment:

large bowl

2 - 3 oven trays lined with baking paper

wooden spoon

Put mince, cheese, tomato, sauce and basil and stir until it is mixed in.leave pastry to thaw. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius.

Cut pastry sheets in half and put mixed ingredients on the sheets. Roll sheets up.

Cut rolled sheets into 4 and put them on a tray. Place a dollop of ricotta on each one and sprinkle with paprika.

Put in the oven from 15 min. or until pastry has puffed and is golden brown.

Put on a tray to cool then enjoy!

The Amanda Project

The Amanda Project by Stella Lennon

Reviewed by Tilly 9yrs. old - Tween Book Reviewer and Sometimes Writer

The Amanda Project is about a girl named Cali (there is an Amanda in this book) who's friend named Amanda is missing Cali and two other people named Howl and Nia get a series of detention from their  principal, Thornhill. Will the three of them be able to find Amanda? or will Amanda stay hiding forever?

This book's genre is mystery. It is also about friendship, does Cali want to stay with the popular 'I' girls (their names all end in I) or does she choose Howl and Nia? Howl was once her childhood friend.  Will her mum come back? And why did her mother run away in the first place? Life is confusing and difficult for Cali, she also has to deal with her father's drinking problem. 

Will she ever find her friend Amanda? Lots of questions and you will have to read the book to get any answers!

I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery with Cali, but the end did not meet my expectations. 

This book was good.

I rate this book out of 5...

Today I have a bear paper doll (you will figure out why in the book)...

PARANORMALCY

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Reviewed by Milly 13yrs. old - Book Reviewer and Sometimes Baker

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White is a story about 16 year old girl, Evie, who works (well I mean lives) at a secret underground facility. Her job is not your normal teenage after-school job, she is employed to put ankle trackers on paranormals. Evie calls this a bag and tag job. You wouldn't think this would get boring, but for Evie it's always the same thing, catch the pathetic vampire and head straight home for homework. Until... someone (or should I say something) breaks into the facility and is looking through their files. That someone turns out to be a boy her own age, and funny. It doesn't hurt that he's also cute... sort of. He's not your average boy, but Evie's not your average girl either.

This paranormal fantasy story is a fun to read book with lots of action and lots of kissing. My favourite character was Lish, Evie's best friend, and a Mermaid. I liked her robotic voice when she tried to swear (it bleeps the words out). Evie also has a pretty glam friend called 'Tasey' - her pink taser! I listened to this one on my iPod twice and I'm going tolisten to it agin! I have to say the reader is perfect for it!

There is one sad part to this story... but I'm not going to tell you what!

I'm also going to get the paperback book and can not wait for Supernaturally to come out.

I think that Paranormalcy is an AWESOME book! So I rate this out of 5 paper dolls:

You can also follow Kiersten White on her blog.