tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13620612050749544712024-03-14T11:06:17.134-07:00Reading is EntertainmentBooks | Libraries | WritingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-61267262600918550992018-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:002018-04-30T07:00:00.622-07:00Book Review: Polly Diamond and the Magic Book <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508341099l/36204764.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508341099l/36204764.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<table border="0" cellspacing="1" class="myActivity" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="readable reviewText" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>Polly Diamond and the Magic Book </i>by Alice Kuipers<br />4/5 Stars<br />Publish Date: May 1st, 2018<br /><br />***I received an ARC from Chronicle Books***<br /><br />Everything Polly writes in her magic book comes true. She wishes for all kinds of wacky things but doesn’t always quite get what she asked for. She has to be detailed enough when writing. This book is about changing family dynamics and appreciating things as they are.<br /><br />Note that this is a straightforward book meant for 1st to 2nd-grade children, so the book doesn't have a whole lot of depth. It really is "this happened, then that happened, then this unhappened, and that unhappened." <br /><br />To read more of my reviews, follow or friend me on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1536210-a-c-paige" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-91487375534001551322018-03-23T08:44:00.000-07:002018-03-23T08:44:00.214-07:00Book Review: Herding Cats by Sarah C. Andersen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508668572l/35924705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508668572l/35924705.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<i>Herding Cats </i>by Sarah C. Andersen<br />
Release date: March 27, 2018<br />
4/5<br />
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***I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review***<br />
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While I enjoy reviewing books by new authors with not much of a following, I have to say how much I really love <i>Sarah's Scribbles</i>! Her popularity is much deserved, and much I personally relate to everyday angst (perhaps why I'm also an alt-rock girl).<br />
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<a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1512046315i/24566805._SY540_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="357" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1512046315i/24566805._SY540_.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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Anyhow, if you follow Sarah online many of her cartoons will be familiar when you read her books. You are getting some of what she has posted online in book format. Of course, she does add extra to her books. You get a little more inside her head, and in <i>Herding Cats </i>she gives advice on being an artist on the internet, which can really be applied in many walks of life.<br />
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I liked this book a lot, but considering that I follow Sarah online, there was less new material for me. But I do highly recommend her. Check her out at <a href="http://www.gocomics.com/sarahs-scribbles" target="_blank">Go Comics</a>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-18222920563590746022018-02-12T13:38:00.000-08:002018-02-12T13:38:21.932-08:00Book Review: The 11:11 Wish <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498497549l/35181316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498497549l/35181316.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<i>The 11:11 Wish </i>by Kim Tomsic<br />
4/5 Stars<br />
Publish Date: February 13, 2018<br />
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***I received this book from Edelweiss for an honest review***<br />
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Cute, sweet, and witty! With an enchanting spell and a whimsical clock, Megan Meyers is bound to reinvent herself at her new school. However, things aren't always as they seem with this magical clock. Wishes have a way of being misinterpreted and going awry.<br />
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Though Megan has many an embarrassing moment because of her wishes, she realizes it doesn't matter so much, because she made some real friends at the beginning of the year after all. This is an excellent read for children who've moved or felt like they would never fit in. The characters are relatable and amusing, and though familiar, the plot is done charmingly as the voice oozes through every page.<br />
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Great for the Disney Channel addicted child.<br />
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For more of my reviews, check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1536210-a-c-paige" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> page.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-31635379099233683642018-01-17T21:49:00.000-08:002018-01-17T22:15:18.234-08:00Book Review: Reign of the Fallen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495054794l/29906017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495054794l/29906017.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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"Reign of the Fallen" by Sarah Glenn Marsh<br />
5/5 Stars<br />
Publish Date: January 23, 2018<br />
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***I received an ARC from Edelweiss for an honest review***<br />
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I loved this book so much! Odessa, an orphaned girl, makes her way gaining the respect of nobles through her necromancy magic. She brings the king and royalty back to the land of the living creating a situation where the dead reign. All magic has a cost, and the cost of bringing back the dead is the risk of creating creatures called shades. Shades destroy and have an appetite for the living.<br />
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Odessa faces loss after an encounter with one of these terrible creatures. She doesn't know how to face her emotions and only with the aid of potions can she face each new day. Unfortunately, the potions have side effects that make it hard for Odessa to do her job. Then someone comes into her life making her realize it's time to process her feelings.<br />
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My heart took so many turns through this story. I related to the characters and enjoyed the voice of the author. Sarah Glenn Marsh delivers with a fresh, sweet perspective. I love the way she expresses the main character's sexuality. I look forward to future titles from this author.<br />
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See more of my reviews and friend me on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1536210-a-c-paige" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-3220517518765240372017-12-27T07:00:00.000-08:002017-12-27T07:00:37.186-08:00Short Review: The First Rule of Punk<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32050089-the-first-rule-of-punk" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The First Rule of Punk" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497633275m/32050089.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32050089-the-first-rule-of-punk">The First Rule of Punk</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9838714.Celia_C_P_rez">Celia C. Pérez</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2123248747">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Fun book! The voice of the girl sounds much like that of a middle schooler. Though there are moments where you get a hint of grown up author. Cute story about a girl who doesn’t want to be like her “Super Mexican” mom. She wants to be more punk rock like her American dad. The story is about how she can embrace both cultures and really live the first rule of punk.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1536210-a-c-paige">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-78319192411881756222017-12-25T14:11:00.000-08:002017-12-25T14:11:47.914-08:00Happy HolidaysHi everyone,<br />
Hope you are having a wonderful holiday month filled with joy and being with your loved ones. Today I'm just chillaxing with the family and keeping warm in our winter wonderland.<br />
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Happy Holidays to you and yours.<br />
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Meanwhile, a little snippet of how the holidays have been around here:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC9OVVMrzVr10sgQtWe8Wgpg805S1I6m6W0OA772HhIi_z7OIKhYiJ91YCRy8EWVJY7HurHaEKClgD-xHMIHnGq_4gX0GB0pW1nWwFDwD9YizMT8Ubv59_SWmPXRua5rtpC6nQau6H3g/s1600/IMG_1937%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC9OVVMrzVr10sgQtWe8Wgpg805S1I6m6W0OA772HhIi_z7OIKhYiJ91YCRy8EWVJY7HurHaEKClgD-xHMIHnGq_4gX0GB0pW1nWwFDwD9YizMT8Ubv59_SWmPXRua5rtpC6nQau6H3g/s320/IMG_1937%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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My sissies and I did Secret Sisters for Christmas this year through <a href="https://www.drawnames.com/">Draw Names</a>, and these are my only bookish gifts this year as I got a new bed (that delayed delivery until right before the New Year). My family has been enjoying their Christmas, but for privacy, I do not post about them much online. They did get a new gaming console and have been playing pretty much non-stop. Anyhoo, check out a tag from one of my "Novel Teas." Each tag has a literary quote. Kind of a fun way to drink tea. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlbBBngPg5LIaSnPUzH7Nkd6dImKG4u4bDNePrK0wm-2uQHH7MeUQtJq9Sus-A4n_B5j6MSSiwUi7jh2hQ3lXHRb_b7jZOVarvtLogO_Wjxa4q6eXq0B6CMIsd2bxYtdMOQT_13ZGWDo/s1600/IMG_1938%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlbBBngPg5LIaSnPUzH7Nkd6dImKG4u4bDNePrK0wm-2uQHH7MeUQtJq9Sus-A4n_B5j6MSSiwUi7jh2hQ3lXHRb_b7jZOVarvtLogO_Wjxa4q6eXq0B6CMIsd2bxYtdMOQT_13ZGWDo/s320/IMG_1938%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-36043053412972603752017-12-25T13:37:00.002-08:002017-12-25T13:37:51.557-08:00Book Review: Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts by Esta Spalding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1452369596l/25648162.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1452369596l/25648162.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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<i>Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts </i>by Esta Spalding<br />
4/5 Stars<br />
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I have to say that when I first saw the title and cover of this book I wasn't inclined to want to read it. I am one of those people who judges a book by its cover. Don't get me wrong, I like the art, it's just the subject expectation that comes with the art. The main reason I read this book, is because I'm reviewing it for an award committee. My expectations of this book were meager, and that may be why I was so pleased with it. This book is about a sibling group who's been abandoned by the adults in their lives. They basically have to take care of each other and make sure that they survive.<br />
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My favorite part of the book is when the kids are looking for a new home (because they are growing out of the car they live in) and attempt to live in an Ikea-like furniture store and claim their rooms. The characters are great as they watch out for each other and have defined characteristics. The premise of the story is sad, and the adults are total idiots, but the way they take care of one another is heartfelt, even though they don't always get along.<br />
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Overall, I really loved the story.<br />
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For more of my reviews, follow or friend me on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1536210-a-c-paige">Goodreads</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-32183505280975756532017-12-13T09:17:00.000-08:002017-12-13T09:18:05.168-08:00Book Review: Uglies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443904172l/24770.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443904172l/24770.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<i>Uglies </i>by Scott Westerfield<br />
Stars 5/5<br />
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I am always hesitant to post reviews of things that are:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Older</li>
<li>Already very popular to the millionth degree</li>
<li>Already very popular to the millionth degree</li>
</ol>
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But here we are.</div>
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Look at those perfect stars! I really liked this book a lot. I enjoyed the journey, the twists and turns, the love interest<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">—all of it! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tally lives in Uglyville, is about to turn 16, and get her wish to turn pretty (as everyone in Uglyville does when they turn 16). However, Tally won't get her wish until she has betrayed her newest friend. Tally is frustrated because she didn't want any part of Shay's new world, but when she gets to know the people Shay told her about and the secrets of New Pretty Town, Tally has a change of heart. There's only one problem, and it's something she was wearing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After reading the book, I can't wait to get my hands on the next one. Also, I now know that I am a Scott Westerfield fan. I saw that an ARC by Scott Westerfield for the 3rd book in the <i>Zeroes </i>series was available and am now going to have to read the first two. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, thanks to <i>Uglies</i>, I am now on the hook to read five more books by Scott Westerfield. </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-49163882137371205132017-12-06T09:52:00.001-08:002017-12-06T09:52:14.957-08:00Book Review: The Adventurer's Guild<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9781484788011_p0_v2_s600x595.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9781484788011_p0_v2_s600x595.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<i>The Adventurer's Guild </i>by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos<br />
4/5 Stars<br />
***I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review***<br />
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Two young boys think they are set when it comes to the guilds that will pick them. Their confidence is rightly placed, but The Adventurer's Guild has a right to nullify all decisions and draft for their own purposes. Zed and Brock must become heroes for their city, fighting monsters and uncovering conspiracies.<br />
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This book is the first in a series and leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger. I enjoyed the magic and the twists. I recommend this title to anyone that enjoyed <i>The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes </i>by Wade Albert White.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-20123226104785094082017-11-29T09:57:00.000-08:002017-11-29T09:57:05.826-08:00Book Review: Lucky Broken Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470324089l/31247023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470324089l/31247023.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i>Lucky Broken Girl </i>by Ruth Behar<br />
3.7/5 Stars<br />
***I received an ARC from Edelweiss for an honest review***<br />
***This review contains spoilers***<br />
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After moving to America from Cuba, a young girl gets in an accident and must cope with the aftermath. She ends up in a full body cast with her mother waiting on her. While in the cast she paints and reads much of the time. After the cast, she must learn to walk again.<br />
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There are some lovely moments in this story, and I really liked it. Unfortunately, the cast isn't the only thing that Ruthie has to deal with. Below are some things you may want to consider before recommending this book to a sensitive child:<br />
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<ol>
<li>I worried a lot about the tone of the father and if the father was possibly violent. It at least seemed to be hinted at. Someone with PTSD might have a hard time with the father, so trigger warning.</li>
<li>Ruthie's mother forces an enema on her at one point because Ruthie is constipated. I don't know how I feel about that fact. She wasn't talked to about the enema beforehand, so it felt like a bit of a violation. </li>
<li>A little neighbor boy falls off the patio after dropping a toy. He dies, and their family (which includes one of Ruthie's friends) has to move.</li>
</ol>
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While I loved many parts of this story, I wonder if it shouldn't have been told as memoirs for an adult audience. This story is very autobiographical and involves a time period younger children may not be interested in. The real test is always how children respond to the story. </div>
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I find the author, Ruth Behar, and her early life to be intriguing. Here is a link an author interview to learn more about her:</div>
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<a href="http://www.penguin.com/school-library/qa-ruth-behar-author-lucky-broken-girl/" target="_blank">http://www.penguin.com/school-library/qa-ruth-behar-author-lucky-broken-girl/</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-44552204204539527192017-11-27T07:00:00.000-08:002017-11-27T07:00:23.087-08:00Writing Process: The Kitchen Timer MethodOn November 19th I tried something new with my writing. This is basically a process outlined in Lauren Graham's book "Talking as Fast as I Can," but isn't actually her idea. See she had so many projects going at once (one of which was a book), that she asked for advice on the matter. The advice came from oh-so-wise screenwriter Don Roos (<i>Marley and Me</i>). It's called "The Kitchen Timer Method." Here is my takeaway from how it works:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Rid yourself of distraction </li>
<ul>
<li>Most especially your phone and/or internet</li>
</ul>
<li>Set a timer for anywhere between 30 mins to 2 hrs</li>
<ul>
<li>If you struggle to go a full 2 hours, this just means you need to set the timer for less time next time</li>
</ul>
<li>Write! </li>
<ul>
<li>You can have a journal as backup in case you need a break from a manuscript</li>
<li>You do not have to write chronologically</li>
<li>You can outline or brainstorm ideas if needed</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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I've now used this process twice and found it especially useful. I really want to write a middle-grade novel highlighting the experiences of growing up poor. I plan to use "The Kitchen Timer Method" throughout my writing and hope it gets me where I want to go. You really do have to put in the hours to get those words on paper/the screen. That is the goal here. I may never be able to proudly accomplish a NaNoWriMo, but I'm pretty sure that I can put in a few hours of writing each week. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-42832750829706557412017-11-26T18:08:00.001-08:002017-11-26T19:33:52.260-08:00Writing: Goodnight Diabetes<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I usually don't write rhyming poetry (I'm more of a free verse girl), but I wrote this poem just playing off of <i>Goodnight Moon</i>:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodnight pump, goodnight test strip, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">goodnight meter, goodnight fingertip. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodnight Dex, goodnight juice box, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">goodnight lancet, goodnight wool socks.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote this because I have diabetes. I know I haven't mentioned this fact on my blog yet, but I want to go ahead and do so now. I am currently on a pump and management is very high maintenance. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway, while I'm sharing about this topic, I'd also like to redirect you to my "On Mornings" contribution on HitRecord. It's called <a href="https://www.hitrecord.org/records/3373644">Hiding the Type 1</a> and I hope you like it. I posted it on the eve of World Diabetes Day. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Image from my insulin pump unboxing</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">While we are on the topic of diabetes, I'm wondering if any of you all have read any children's literature with a type 1 diabetic as the main character? If so, would you mind posting it in the comments? I once had a mom of a T1 come to the reference desk at the library and ask me what books I'd recommend. She wanted to help her son see that he wasn't alone. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cheers, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A.C. Paige</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 27px; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-39586311867151013782017-11-23T09:45:00.000-08:002017-11-23T09:45:06.569-08:00Book Review: Click'd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493673235l/33785212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493673235l/33785212.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<i>Click'd </i>by Tamara Ireland Stone<br />
4.5/5 Stars<br />
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***I received a review copy of this title from NetGalley for my honest review***<br />
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Fast-paced book about a girl who gains confidence after going to coding camp over the summer. While there she came up with an app that helps people to make friends. She introduces the app to her peers at school and gains popularity due to the app. People actually know her. She's very proud of her work and is hoping to win a contest she's entered her app into. However, there is a small glitch in the app that may cause privacy issues, and she has to fix it before the contest show date.<br />
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I enjoyed this book and was able to truly empathize with Allie and her dilemma. I love the relationship between her and her coding nemesis. This is a fun read, and I hope it inspires girls wanting to learn code to go for it!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-5355172405122734032017-11-20T19:00:00.000-08:002017-11-21T13:52:57.137-08:00Read it First? Believe it or not, this Children's Librarian hasn't read either of these two books yet:<br />
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<i>Wonder</i> looks so very sweet and lovely.<br />
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This one seems quite chilling. I did try reading it once, but I think I remember the author talking to the reader a few times and I didn't like the way she did that.<br />
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The question is, should I read them or watch them first?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-36075898591274798172017-11-19T10:27:00.000-08:002017-11-19T10:38:38.976-08:00STEAM Storytime: ShapesThis fall I've been experimenting with STEAM Storytime, and this last week I did a shapes theme.<br />
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<i>Triangle </i>by Mac Barnett</div>
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The kids laughed and had fun predicting what would happen next. I enjoyed sharing this story and seeing the expressions on the children's faces as I read it. It's kind of a trickster story.</div>
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My rating 4/5 stars</div>
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<i style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit;">Friendshape </i><span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit;">by Amy Krouse Rosenthal</span></div>
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Both the children and the parents enjoyed this book. Everyone seemed to like the cute little puns spread throughout the story. Of course, this book may also be used with a friends theme. </div>
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My rating: 4/5 stars</div>
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Between readings, we talked about shapes using cutout felt shapes on the felt board. Then we played a song using scarfs, and I asked what shape the scarf was (a square).</div>
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I ended the storytime using a variety of free play shape activities:</div>
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<li>I printed, laminated, and cut out tangram shapes for the children to make things with</li>
<li>The littles played with shape sorters we have on hand for playgroup</li>
<li>I also borrowed shape puzzles from playgroup</li>
<li>I set out rubber bands and pegboards that I borrowed from my elementary STEAM Club - I also supervised and scaffolded this particular activity as stretching the rubberbands was new for the children</li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-11164573068819273032017-11-15T09:11:00.000-08:002017-11-15T09:12:11.888-08:00Book Review: Turtles All the Way Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Turtles All the Way Down</i> by John Green<br />
3.7/5<br />
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***Possible spoilers***<br />
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Aza believes the world will come crashing down at any moment, and c. diff will be the cause. Aza wants so much to think ordinary thoughts, but once the spiral of anxious thoughts start, it's hard to escape them. She ends up putting her life in danger at one point because her fear of microbes is so intense.<br />
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While Aza is dealing with anxiety, she is also trying to live her life. It just so happens that her life is quite complicated. She has a bit of a crush on her wealthy friend, Davis, whose dad is on the run from the law. At first Aza and her best friend Daisy try to find clues to earn the bounty for finding Davis' dad, but something changes this. Throughout the story, Aza wonders what the right thing to do is. She hates watching Davis and his younger brother suffer. All the money the brothers have serving them while their dad is away can only do so much.<br />
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I think many people can relate to some of Aza's worries, but hers are really to the point of mental illness. I'm glad John Green came out and spoke about these issues through his character. It was interesting to see how anxiety and OCD can be hard on relationships.<br />
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I ended up giving the book 3.7 stars because one of the occurrences in the book happens too coincidentally for my mind.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1536210-a-c-paige" target="_blank">See more of my reviews here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-63433686843749149512017-11-12T16:59:00.000-08:002017-11-12T17:02:30.986-08:0011/12/2017 - Sunday Write-InToday's challenge is to write about a friendship between two culturally different characters.<br />
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6 to 8 pm MSTUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-55732492533527450922017-11-10T12:40:00.001-08:002017-11-10T12:49:32.900-08:00Book Review: See You in the Cosmos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481081985l/33282947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481081985l/33282947.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<i>See You in the Cosmos</i> by Jack Cheng</div>
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5/5 Stars</div>
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This was the best book I've read all year! Alex is a smart kid who is left to his own devices when it comes to taking care of himself. He takes care of his mom, and his dad has long passed, or has he? </div>
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While away from home on a mission to launch his golden iPod up into space, Alex gets a phone call from Ancestry.com and learns some new information about his "maybe dad." His dad's information is attached to an address in Las Vegas an there he learns some life-changing information.</div>
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Alex is a beautiful and optimistic child who is excited about astronomy and truth. He looks up to Carl Sagan and has named his dog after him. In fact, Carl Sagan (the dog) causes a bit of trouble throughout the story. </div>
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This book deserves all of the attention it is getting on Goodreads. Read it. Vote for it. </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1536210-a-c-paige">See more of my reviews here</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-82641268675801425332017-11-08T09:49:00.000-08:002017-11-08T09:49:28.684-08:00Book Review: The Cruel Prince | Expected January 2, 2018***I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. Review may contain spoilers.***<br />
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493047153l/26032825.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493047153l/26032825.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>The Cruel Prince</i> by Holly Black<br />
4/5 Stars<br />
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A hard man murdered Jude's parents in front of her when she was a young girl. The murderer then abducted her family to a place of magic and faeries. Though Jude hated the man, she couldn't help but want to feel a part of the world she was taken to. However, faeries saw humans as less than. Jude and her non-faerie family members were treated harshly by the fey. One faerie was particularly cruel to Jude and her twin sister. Jude set out on a quest to prove to this cruel Prince Cardon that she can be as good as him and win a place at court.<br />
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In her quest, Jude's world turns upside-down. Upon discovering a family secret, she must ally with the one person she hates most. She must use her best human attribute, deception, to carry out her plan.<br />
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This story was so good but also frustrating at times. You have to get used to the violence right away as the book was kind of a bloodbath. My main gripe: Jude's attitude toward herself and males. If someone liked her, she was immediately inclined to reciprocate. I hope in future books she can realize what real chemistry and relational respect look like. I hope she grows in that way and doesn't just settle.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1536210-a-c-paige">See more reviews here</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-75661154757806987002017-11-05T17:03:00.002-08:002017-11-05T17:08:57.100-08:00Sunday Evening Write-InI think I need a dance session before I get started. Borns "Past Lives" keeps running through my head.
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Anyhow, today's picture book challenge is to write a picture book in the 2nd person point of view. Find a character/object for your MC to talk to and have fun with it! :) We go from 6 pm to 8 pm MST.
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cux2qJjApGA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-26430529726065007382017-11-02T21:28:00.000-07:002017-11-03T19:50:23.406-07:00Book Review: Chester and Gus<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30653839-chester-and-gus" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Chester and Gus" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1478308725m/30653839.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30653839-chester-and-gus">Chester and Gus</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36320.Cammie_McGovern">Cammie McGovern</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1944689415">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
***I received an ARC from Edelweiss for an honest review***<br /><br />I loved how sweet this book was. A dog named Chester helps and protects an autistic boy named Gus by letting others know when the boy is having problems. Both Chester and Gus make progress during the story, and they both need each other. <br /><br />I enjoyed seeing how the relationship and story progressed. I also like how one of the primary characters has special needs, and the author was able to articulate the story so sensitively. At first, I was unsure of the author's choice to write the book in the dog's point of view, but considering the theme, this ended up being a good choice.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1536210-a-c-paige">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-1996456938899554012017-11-01T10:43:00.000-07:002017-11-01T10:43:09.013-07:00NaNoWriMoI had it in my mind that I was going to work on writing a middlegrade novel during the month of November, but man am I ever having a hard time getting started. I'm at 811 words and I'm coming up short. I made a goal of 1700 for each day. I'm estimating I have an hour of writing time between now and work. Unless I skip lunch, which I am not going to do.<br />
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So time to get my head back in the game.<br />
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A.C. PaigeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-77123725180158099002017-10-31T17:48:00.004-07:002017-10-31T18:20:59.361-07:00Book Review: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31448946-clayton-byrd-goes-underground" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486803166m/31448946.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31448946-clayton-byrd-goes-underground">Clayton Byrd Goes Underground</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/123330.Rita_Williams_Garcia">Rita Williams-Garcia</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2101107215">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Clayton Byrd loves playing the blues with his Cool Papa. He is talented with the blues harp and doesn't like when people call it a harmonica. Cool Papa typically watches Clayton because his mom works long hours. Cool Papa and Clayton have a beautiful relationship, but Clayton's mom doesn't particularly like the influence the blues might have on her son.<br />
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This book is a sweet story about love and acceptance. It is also a story about coping with loss and grief. Highly recommend.<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1536210-a-c-paige">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-88016985725126511832017-10-29T16:55:00.001-07:002017-10-29T16:55:38.173-07:00Weekly Sunday Write-In 10/29/017Hi there,<br />
Today I am hosting my first Weekly Sunday Evening Write-In. Please join me every week and I will issue a challenge to help out with writer's block (you don't have to do the challenge to participate in the write-in). We will start at 6 pm MST and go until 8 pm.<br />
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Today's challenge is:<br />
Write a picture book completely in a dialogue between two characters.<br />
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Best of luck,<br />
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A.C. PaigeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1362061205074954471.post-33700369822640360662017-10-28T17:03:00.000-07:002017-10-28T17:18:59.618-07:00Sunday Afternoon Write-Ins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://openclipart.org/image/2400px/svg_to_png/192993/famale-computer-silhouette.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://openclipart.org/image/2400px/svg_to_png/192993/famale-computer-silhouette.png" width="191" height="200" data-original-width="763" data-original-height="800" /></a></div> <br/> Hey all,<br />
It looks like Sundays are the best days for me to take some time to write. I will be starting weekly write-ins between 6 to 8 pm MST. I'll say "hi" on Twitter, post a writing challenge, and then we all can get down to business. Looking forward to getting some writing in.<br />
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A.C. Paige<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0