KATE'S CHOICE: Cinderella Cleaners: Mask Appeal by Maya Gold

"When Dianna finds a luxurious gown on the rack at Cinderella Cleanres, she knows it would be perfect for the masquerade ball in town. Too bad she's not allowed to attend the star-studded event.
But thanks to a mask and a few friends, Diana sneaks in. Once there, she's excited to dance with her new crush- thst is until she runs into another crush from her past! Even worse, she spots some other unexpected guests who could ruin everything for her. Will Dianna be unmasked before the night is up?"

Kate's Rating: 8.5/10

The Interview:
1. Did you enjoy this book? Why and why not?♥ I really enjoyed this book because it was a good story line.

2. What was your favorite part of this book?♥ Everything! The setting, characters, story line, description and point of view are all amazing.

3. What is your favorite character and why?♥ I like Nelson. Could there be a cooler tailor?

4. Have you read the other Cinderella CLeaners?♥ I started the first one, but never finished it. I should get on that...

5. What was your favorite part?♥ When Diana danced with the surprise person at the ball.

6. Was this different from other books you've read? Why?♥Yes, it was different. I have never read a book by Maya Gold and the way she writes is awesome.

7. Least favorite part?♥ Don't have one.

8. Why did you pick this book out?♥  It looked interesting.

9. Who would you recommend it to?♥ Girls whoo like fashion and interesting stories.

10. If you could speak to the author, what would you say?♥I'd ask about other books she has written.

Well that's it that's all.
Love,
Sidny & Kate ♥♪♫

Book Review: Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

Title: Ask Me No Questions
Author: Marina Budhos
Pages: 162
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Year Published: 2006

"Since emigrating from Bangladesh, fourteen-year-old Nadira and her family have been living in New York City on expired visas, hoping to realize their dream of becoming legal U.S. citizens. But after 9/11, everything changes. Suddenly being Muslim means you are dangerous- a suspected terrorist.
When Nadira's father is arrested and detained at the U.S.- Canadian border, Nadira and her older sister, Aisha, are told to carry on as if everything is the same. The teachers at Flushing High don't ask any questions, but Aisha falls apart. nothing matters to her anymore- not even college.
It's up to Nadira to be the strong one and bring her family back together again."


My Rating: 8/ 10


I didn't really know much about the illegal immigrants in the USA. This story really opened my eyes to reasons people come to North America and what life is like for them where they live. I enjoyed many aspects of this book, but mainly the story behind the novel. The fact that this has happened for so many years to innocent people is down right depressing. Although after a terrorist attack, people have the right to be upset and scared, you can not simply be stereotypical. Saying all Muslims are terrorists is like saying all Canadians are Inuit, it's simply not true but a round about way of looking at things. I sincerely hope that you have the time to read this book. Thank you Marina Budhos for opening peoples eyes!


Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Spoiler: Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

This book was very fascinating and while it proved a point, it wasn't a perfect piece of literary work, but as good books do it shows something and proves the point that makes people think. I thought a lot about how I judge and how other people must view the judge mental. We have no right to judge about what is going in others peoples lives and its up to us to think about our future and help if we can with others.


Characters:
Nadira: Is the younger sister, who everyone kind of takes for granted. In the end she comes out the strongest of everyone. Unwilling to break and settle she guides her family back to greatness.

Aisha: Is the smart older sister who is willing to give anything to get into school, but in the end Aisha is not nearly as mature as once thought. She is, in her own way, a phony. She practices what to say each night, picks out her clothes to fit the role etc.

Abba: I find that there are many more strong women like Abba then there are men. Although the character Abba is a man, he reminds me of my mom. Strong and full of hope.

Ma: A loving woman is willing to stay by her husbands side.


♥Pg. 9-10
"Mas served them sweets a doodh-cha -- milky tea-- and they'd talk. About starting again in the cold country up north. A new life. The Canadians are friendly, they liked to say."

Have a good week everyone,
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Book Review: Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer

Title: Tenth Grade Bleeds
Author: Heather Brewer
Pages: 292
Publisher: Speak, an imprint of Penguin Group
Year Published: 2009

"It’s another sucky year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod. The evil vampire D’Ablo is hunting for the ritual that could steal Vlad’s powers. His best friend Henry doesn’t want to be his drudge anymore. And as if all that weren’t enough, it’s getting harder for Vlad to resist feeding on the people around him. When months go by with no word from Uncle Otis and D’Ablo shows up demanding Vlad’s father’s journal, Vlad realizes that having a normal high school year is the least of his concerns. Vlad needs to act fast, and even his status as the Pravus won’t save him this time . . ." - Amazon

 

My Rating: 8/10

 

This series is only getting more and more intense. In this installment Vlad is in his second year of high school and dating the girl of his dreams. It shows a different side off Vlad, the side that is totally in love with Meredith, but thankfully not to mushy. 
This book is also less dramatic with suspense. I had to deduct the 2 marks off my rating for that one. When I guess what is going on 1/4 of the way through a book, it's kind of a good way to tick me off (pet peeve). Fortunately, the good sense of humor continues!!!!! I do enjoy a good laugh and with The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, it's not hard to find one.
THANK YOU HEATHER BREWER FOR NOT GOING MUSHY ON US EVEN THOUGH VLAD FELL IN LOVE!   

 

Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫ 

Spoiler: Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer

I was slightly disappointed in this novel as it was so predictable. Did anyone else guess that Otis was sending Vlad the dreams? I hope so otherwise I'm far to suspicious. I hope that the next book is slightly more shocking. I still can't get over Heather Brewer's use of humor! I love it so much! A good laugh in any book, makes it a better book, at least in my opinion. I was happy with the use of family and other vampires in this book, we learn alot more about their culture and society.

Let's talk about some characters:
Vlad: The main character in these books has changed alot since we were introduced to him in the first novel. He is slowly changing into a man. I think I like it! Slowly, but surely we witness Vlad breaking out of his shell. Firstly, by dating Meredith and later by hanging out with the goth group. With Meredith he is so loving and kind, that is until he tries to eat her! I felt horrible that he broke up with her at the end, but I guess it was so he didn't kill her. With the goth group, suprising but I figured eventually he'd get the confidence to go and talk to them. There is only so much people watching you can do before you become a stalker. I can hardly wait to read more about Vlad in the next book!!!

Otis: This man must be the best Uncle ever to deal with Vlad's slight stupidity. How could Vlad not know that Otis was sending him the messages/dreams??? Even I guessed it and I'm not the sharpest bulb. In this book, we notice that Otis is falling harder and harder for Nelly, which would be him breaking yet another rule (SHOCKING I KNOW ! :P )  He makes me smile, mostly because of the way he thinks about the world. 

Meredith: What a sweetie! I wish that her and Vlad would have worked out, but it appears that he only wishes to eat her at the moment, but I'm sure we'll see her in the third book.

Nelly: Nelly is growing increasingly protective, and with reason. Her 15 year old nephew is growing impressively thirsty. I hope she doesn't think that she'll be next, but it is a possibility. After all he did almost eat his girlfriend.

Henry: A best friend through it all? I think not! We see Vlad and Henry fight alot in this book. Vlad is starting to order Henry around instead of asking and Henry is not going to take it. THAT A BOY!

D'ablo: Will this guy just die? For frick sakes. How much can you live through!?!?!?!?

Ignatius: How crazy is it that Vlad's own grandpa tries to kill him? It was the biggest shock in the book. There was some crazy stuff going on when I read that and I seriously swore extrememly loud about this family drama. Talk about family problems!

Goth Group: This is a group that Vlad branches out to in order to prove Meredith and Henry wrong about stereotyping and everything goes well, that is until he bites Snow. I was disappointed that Vlad didn't tell anyone about them. It's almost like a sexual affair if you think about it.

 

 

My Favorite Lines & Moments:

♥Pg. 21
" 'She's not walking with us. Her dad kinda thinks I might be a serial killer.'
'On account of what, exactly?'
'On account of I'm dating his daughter, I think.' "

♥Pg. 28
"Mr. Cartel cleared his throat and shifted in his seat a little before standing up. he picked up a long wooden pointer and, much to Vlad's horror, smacked the pointer against the nether regions of the man on the poster."

♥Pg. 39
"Suddenly the realization fell on Otis that to a human, the scene around them made it look as though he and Vlad had been making a nice stew out of the neighborhood children."

♥Pg. 79
"Sometimes Vlad wished that he were home-schooled. At least for health class.
Vlad shook his head. Strike that- the last thing he wanted was to listen to Nelly explain where babies came from. With puppets. Again."

♥Pg. 107
" 'Nelly seriously thinks I'm going to have Meredith for dinner.'
Henry shook his head. 'That's ridiculous.'
Vlad groaned. 'I know!'
'Meredith is way too small for dinner. If anything, she'd be lunch, or maybe a big breakfast.' "

♥Pg. 192
" 'So should we hug now, or...?'
Vlad chuckled, putting a hand up. 'Hey man, I missed you. But I didn't miss you that much.' "

 

Hope you have a great week,
Love,
Sidny♥♪♫

Book Review: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Title: The Absolutely True Diar of a Part-Time Indian Author: Sherman Alexie Pages: 230 Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Year Published: 2007 "Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to recieve a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers a strength inside himself that he never knew existed." My Rating: 9/10 I know what you're thinking, isn't that a bit racist of a title, but let me explain. This book is the story of an american indian/first nations boy who tells what some reservations are really like. It is both interesting and insightful. For many people, you have never seen a reservation, never been on a reservation or even really thought about what one would be like before. And that is understandable, you don't live in those conditions so you kind of block them out. This book showed me a side to reservations that I never really saw before, I realized that some conditions were bad, but I didn't really think about the violence, or the drinking. And I know that just because this talks about one reservation doesn't mean I need to judge the others, and I don't. I just wonder how there is such a great difference between them. This was not only a fictional story. This story was based on the author's, Sherman Alexie's, real life experience. I think by using something close to his heart Sherman Alexie hit a home run with this novel. THANK YOU SHERMAN ALEXIE FOR SHOWING THE TRUTH YOU HAVE KNOWN! Hope you all are having a good June :) Love, Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: The Absolutely Ture Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

This book was amazing! Insightful, humor-filled and right into the mind of teenager. This book is the story of Junior, or Arnold Spirit, a boy who has grown up on the Spokane reservation. He ends up leaving this reservation after a talk with a teacher. Going to a white school is probably the hardest thing he has ever done but I think for him it was worth it. I know that people are going to think that this book is racist, but it is really proving a point. Its showing that it doesn't matter where you come from, what race you are, what gender you are, or whether your the brightest bulb on the tree everyone has a right to a life, education and oppurtonity. This isn't always offered in the real world, but it needs to stop being an issue. If we all work together we can give children a quality education, food and over all life. Characters: Junior: Although the rest of the tribe doesn't think he's smart, he is incredibly intellegent and talented. He has a passion for learning and without Junior there wouldn't be a book. Rowdy: Junior's best friend who acts like a jerk sometimes, mostly because he's had a rough life. All and all, a good guy. Penelope: I can't believe no one did anything about her eating disorder. WTF!!!! Gordy: A small town sheldon cooper. But more awesome! Favorite/Memorable Lines and Moments: ♥Pg. 17 "He was always cring and screaming and kicking and punching. He bit his mother's breast when she tried to nurse him. He kept bitting her, so she gave up and fed him formula. He really hasn't changed much since then. Well, at fourteen years old, it's not like he runs around biting women's breasts, but he does punch and kick and spit." ♥Pg. 21 "I was lying on the ground, holding my nuts as tenderly as a squirrel holds his nuts, when Rowdy walked up." ♥Pg. 94 " 'I want us to be friends,' I said. 'Excuse me?' he asked. 'I want us to be friends,' I said. Gordy stepped back. 'I assure you,' he said. 'I am not homosexual.' " ♥Pg. 109 " 'Kid, you better keep your hands out of my daughter's panties. She's only dating you because she knows it will piss me off. So I ain't going to get pissed. And if I ain't pissed then she'll stop dating you. In the meantime, you just keep your trouser snake in your trousers and I won't have to punch you in the stomach.' " ♥Pg. 155 "My grandmother had no use for all the gay bashing and homophobia in the world, especially among other Indians. 'Jeez,' she said. 'Who cares if a man wants to marry another man? All I want to know is who's going to pick up all the dirty socks?' " ♥Pg. 191 "I mean you have to love somebody that much to also hate them that much, too." Have a good week folks, Love, Sidny♥♪♫

Book Review: Sarah by Margueritte Harmon Bro

Title: Sarah Author: Margueritte Harmon Bro Pages: 364 Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside Year Published: 2001 Sarah's beloved father is killed in an accident, leaving the young girl and her sister with a mother barely able to cope and expecting another child. Heartbroken, she learns that her father's last words were about her. "Sarah's got to be something ... something grand. An artist..." Grimly determined to fulfill her father's ambition for her, young Sarah sets out to become an artist. But the challenge to be something more than a proficient if uninspired painter is overwhelming; Sarah has to work for every tiny step in progress. It is her music that gives her joy, however, and those who love her recognize her stunning talent at the piano - a talent that Sarah takes for granted. As Sarah matures and finds love, she gradually learns to give up whatever future her family and friends might envision for her and, right or wrong, look to her own soul to find the answers. My Rating: 9/10 This book caught me by suprise. Not only did I find that I could relate to Bro's character Sarah. She isn't sure about life and many times I think teenagers, or at least this one, feel the same way. The feeling of being unsure is found throughout the course of this book, but mainly all I wanted for Sarah was to find her calling and what she needed. Anything she needed. This book gives an insight to world around World War I. Sarah is a great role model for teenage girls to have. She is indecisive, and a romantic (i believe) at heart. The only reason this book didn't make a 10 was because during the first part, I felt frustrated by the way time moved between the chapters. I got lost in the years. All and all I love this book, and I would like to suggest it to anybody who enjoys history based novels and needs a little lift. THANK YOU MARGUERITTE HARMON BRO FOR A FANTASTIC ROLE MODEL! Love, Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Sarah by Margueritte Harmon Bro

I loved this book, sorry to all readers that it took me so long to finish it. I enjoyed the way that this book was geared to young adults. It felt like someone wrote this book just for me to be geared toward what i'm going through. The indecision that comes with adolencense can be found in this book quite easily. The change of settings were exciting and allowed my imagination to become adventurous. This sounds awful, but my favorite place in the story was when Sarah traveled to Europe during the war to play piano for the troops. I feel that she did her part for society that way. Let's talk about some characters: Sarah: I think Sarah is a bit like me. Tall, slightly awkward, musical and lost. She is my favorite main character of the moment and she made me cry and smile. I think Margueritte Harmon Bro did an excellent job making a relatable main character. Rachel: A cutesy best bud is always needed with an undecisive main :) this is how I catagorize Rachel. Leslie: I thought he was interesting in Sarah at first to be honest, but Rachel and him make a very cute couple. He seems to understand Sarah completely. Dr. Rivera: A great friend of her father's and a true saint. He and his wife help Sarah find her calling. Mrs. Rivera: A true find. She is older than Sarah but has the energy of a young child, filled with many thoughts at once and is quite capable of leaving a man breathless. Grandpa: A man of few words, but wise ones at that. He has many long discussions with his granddaughter and helps her get through the good and the bad. Alan: I only wish he hadn't died in the war, but rather had stayed with Sarah and had a wonderful life. It was unfortunately bound to happen. He was a great character, one who i fell in love with to be quite honest. Erik: What a sweetheart? Although he has trouble with his hand loss, I'm happy that he found happiness with Sarah :) Memorable/Favorite Lines and Moments: ♥Pg. 3 " 'She takes after the Ducans; they're all tall. But her ankles she gets from Ma. The O'Malleys have good figures. Ma has the prettiest ankles I ever saw.' " ♥Pg. 113 " 'I do no make mistakes; not about musicians. Mistakes about cards, yes. About women, it could be. About horses, but always. But not about musicians...." ♥Pg. 119 " 'Number twelve has missed his calling,' said Mr. Templeton. 'He doesn't care whether he paints, and we do not care whether he pains.' The class laughed. Howard Powers took art because it was a painless way of gathering enough credits to play football. " ♥Pg. 139 " 'Shall we bring Penelope in the house, Sarah?' Penelope was the goat his grandfather had given him. 'I would like very much to teach Penelope to sit on a chair.' 'Maybe it would be better to take the chair to Penelope,' Sarah suggested. 'All in all, it seems to me that a chair would be more usueful in the garden than a goat would be in the parlor.' Baldy debated the matter seriously. 'Other people could sit on a chair in the garden, but we could very well have other goats in the parlor. For one thing, we don't know any other goats, do we? Why do we know so few many goats?' " ♥Pg. 162 "She only realized at last her mother was a woman with a life to live. before that time mama had been mama. One loved her and gave her presents, ran errands, looked to her for advice. Sometimes one rebelled at a restriction and inwardly called her unreasonable, old-fashioned, even silly about such things as never crossing one's legs in public. But she was a fixture in life, like the furniture, the house. Now all at once she was watching her mother's contorted face, she realized that here was a person with struggles of her own. Her mother had dissappointments and ambitions. She had personal plans. And now Dr. Rivera was bending over her anxiousy because she might die." ♥ Pg. 204 "It was like asking someone to look into the sun, or was she herself the sun, or was she going to have sunstroke right here in the middle of the dance floor?" ♥ Pg. 210 " 'I don't know what your custom is, but for me, whenever I kiss a woman the way I've been kissing you- and intend to go on kissing you- and right away- like this- and this- and this- why then I marry the woman at the first possible moment.' " ♥ Pg. 362 " 'He is a heathen,' said his wife fondly." Hope you all have a good week! Love, Sidny ♥♪♫