Reviews! In the plural!

Oh, hai, guys.
So. My Junior year of high school is DONE. Yeah. I know, right? It was awful and awesome and now I'm done, and I can BLOG YAY WOOT WOOT. (Well. When I have internet. Which is when I go to the library. Which is often. So yeah...)
Also, erm, if you'd like to not point out what a crappy blogger I've been these past couple of months, that would be awesome.Cool? COOL. Guys, I love you. I love you like, this much.

Anyway. I've been promising reviews for -- okay, we're not going to say how long -- so, to make up for it, I'm putting up several mini reviews.
First:
Bitter End.


I like Jennifer Brown. I liked Hate List. I liked Bitter End, too. The story revolves around an abusive relationship, but it's told in a way that really gets inside of the victims head. The story is as about platonic love from friends and how to get out of a bad situation before things get deadly. The main character is degraded, abused, traumatized -- and still stays. This book is about why that happens, and what to do if it happens to you. It's a little bit slow to start, but I ended up being really fond of it.
Also, unrelated, but the cover is freaking awesome. There are words in the black part at the bottom, and I find it kind of awesome.
Here's the Amazon page for more reviews.

Next up, Firelight by Sophie Jordan.
Okay, okay. It's paranormal. It's a tad predictable. But Firelight had some interesting twists to it. Granted, there were moments that I was reminded a little bit too much of Twilight (New girl in school, hot guy that doesn't talk to anyone but her, ect) but the idea of dragons put a new and different twist on it. I wish the novel would've spent more time focusing on the dragon aspect and a little bit less on the high school stuff -- the dragon was new and fresh, and I think that would've made the book stand out more.
Amazon page here.


Third: Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray.
Zomg, guys. I laughed so hard at this book. Libba Bray hits every stereotype on the head and keeps on smashing at it until something real is left underneath. Seriously. Think of a teenage girl stereotype. Ms. Bray goes over it, conquers it, and does it with humor. It's not anything like I've ever read before. The book is thick with all sorts of satire and I loved it. Best girl power book I've read in a long time, and possibly ever.
Amazon page here.



Where She Went, by Gayle Forman.
I didn't think If I Stay needed a sequel. I just -- I didn't. And honestly? If the sequel had been bungled, it would've been bad.
But Where She Went didn't read like the second in a series. It's from a different point of view, telling a different story, and I actually really enjoyed it. It gave me more time with characters I liked and cared about without dragging on a story that didn't have the conviction to make another novel.
I'm still not sure a sequel was necessary, but I'm actually glad it available; the book ended up being much better than I would've expected.
Here's the Amazon page.

Okay, I have more reviews, but this post is going to get way too long. Also, Nationals for debate are next week and I have been procrastinating on research  I am an amazing student that is going to go above and beyond working for it.
So, farewell, m'dears. Go out and enjoy the summer!
More later.

When I Grow Up

Hey, guys! -waves-
So, today I turned 17. Yeah. I know. Exciting, right?
...
.....
-crickets-
....
Oh, yeah, good point. 17 isn't all that spectacular. I mean, last year I started to drive. Next year I vote. This year ... not much.
Except -- WAIT. I can buy duct tape now! Legally!

(Sadly enough, I did actually buy that for a friend once, as a birthday present. My maturity has always been superior.)

Anyway. :P
This past year has been hard. Everyone said junior year is hard, and I laughed at them, and now they are at melaughing as I pull out my hair and cry in the corner   stoically move through the end of the year. But I made it to Nationals, and I made it into Alpha. I got through incessant drama with some hair left  sanity remaining --
Oh, wait, sanity. I never had much to start with...
Eh, whatever.
Anyway again.
People always ask what we want to be when we grow up. At 17, you're expected to have an answer.
I still don't. I don't know exactly what I am going to be.
But I know who I want to be like.

Authors like Daisy Whitney, Stephanie Perkins, Kiersten White -- authors that respond to readers and write books to brighten up the darkest days. Authors like JK Rowling and Tamora Pierce -- authors that change a kid's life. Librarians like my own amazing and fantabulous Sarah -- an adult who is always there if I needed her, and who put me on hold for a book about 'How To Get Over That Jerk' when I showed up at the library depressed and pulling out even more hair   whining. People like Myra McEntire, who not only write amazing books but tweet niceness at teens who are now sad and bald  having incredibly bad days.
They're who I want to be like.
Plus, you know, there is this.

-grins- I like it.

I'm glad for this past year. I'm glad that, at 16, I've had some of the best role models a kid could ask for.
Anyway. (For the last time, promise!)
 I'm off to figure out what the heck a boutonniere is, because I've got prom on Saturday and I have been informed that I was supposed to figure that out weeks ago. -coughs- I am officially a fail as a date. Anyone wanna help me out here? It's a flower, right?
...
Meh. Google will teach me.
For now, thanks to all of you. Thanks for making last year great.
More later.