I am currently reading 'Beautiful' by Amy Reed. I finished this book last night, it was the second time I had read it. 'Beautiful' is a very good book in my opinion and that is what compelled me to read it again. It is in the genera of realistic fiction. This book is about a girl named Cassie. She was always invisible, even to her own parents. She is moved to a new area and she finally gets noticed by people there. The people who notice her, befriend her, and take her into their group. They are a little older than her and are not the best kids. They are mixed up in drinking and drugs and do not care about school or anything that would develop their futures in a good way. She is desperate for the new found attention, so she follows along.  As she becomes more involved with her new friends she gets swept into the mix and is stuck with no one to help her, only she can help herself. This book is very eye opening because you realize that this isn't complete fiction. This type of story happens in real life. It is startling when you read the book because Cassie starts out as a normal girl but goes into a steep downward spiral as the story progresses. I like that when it comes down to the raw situation for her, that she has to be her own hero in order to survive. She can't rely on anyone but her, she has to trust herself.

   One of my favorite books to date is 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' by Ned Vizzini. My copy of the book is worn, and I think that's how you tell what a good book is. I think that a good book has you stunned and wishing there were more when you finish. I remember that this summer I had found my summer reading book, and it was so good and was such a good story I stayed up until 4:00am just to finish it. The only books I can read over are the ones that have me emotionally attached to characters that aren't animals, but the people too. In 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' the story was very complex that I had to read it a second time to get the full grasp of the story and understand it all the way. I think it is very important that you find yourself being pulled into a book so much so that you just don't want to put it down. I think that it is an amazing feeling when you just completely fall in love with a book. Another book that I have recently read is 'When You Reach Me' by Rebecca Stead. It isn't a very thick book and it doesn't seem to be very enticing from the cover. I thought I would read it just because I was bored and had empty time on my hands. I was so surprised when I found myself finishing that book in one and a half days. The plot it great and the entire book as a whole is a masterpiece. Goes to show that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

                                           

   I read the book "Kill Me Softly" by Sarah Cross for my summer reading project.
   In the book the main character, Mira, in the beginning is very shy and reserved. If something were to bother her, she wouldn't have spoken up and told anyone she was bothered. When she spoke, her dialogue was reserved in the most part.

   "So you don't know the city very well?" he said.
   "No," Mira admitted. "I have a map but-it's hard to know where to start." (page 25) 

   Mira, in the beginning part of the book, is reserved and she had a lot more thoughts than dialogue. As she progresses she begins to ask more questions and be more out spoken because she has a goal in her head and she really wants to figure some things out.  

   "Freddie!" she snapped. "Happily ever after isn't real! Not everything is a fairy tale!" her voice seemed louder suddenly, and she realized he'd shut off the car. (page 162) 

  Another character that is very important is Blue. He is a very outspoken person. He says exactly what hes thinking or if he doesn't it usually comes out the wrong way. 

   "Jealous?" Blue narrowed his eyes, looking angry finally. It gave his face a different cast from the cocky obnoxiousness he usually wore. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Now do what I say before I do something I'll regret."  (page 36)

   Throughout the book Blue's true colors show and he isn't really just a big jerk trying to start conflict, he is actually trying to protect Mira but he has his guard up so he came off as rude in the beginning, but now she sees that he is just trying to do the right thing. 
   
   Blue shook his head. "You don't know all of me; I don't even know all of me. But I know that the more I'm with you, the more I want to be with you. It's been over a year since the last-" His voice broke, and he stopped. (page 314)

   This article is about what the reviewer thought of the book and who they thought would most enjoy the book.

'Kill Me Softly' Article

   Kill Me Softly Video