"Twilight (The Mediator, #6)" by Meg Cabot

Oh what an ending (no spoilers, I promise)! I am not nearly as attached to Suze like I am to some of Meg Cabot's other characters, but I could not stop reading Twilight. In the final installment of The Mediator series, Suze is still dealing with Paul, still in love with Jesse but soon nothing will ever be the same. Turns out Paul has a plan that would stop Suze from ever meeting Jesse. Can she stop him or will she loose the love of her life forever?

I was never into The Mediator books like I have been with the rest of Cabot's books. I think it's because the paranormal just don't interest me as much. However, this series is still quite good. It has many of the same elements that Cabot's other books for teens include; bad ass main character, romance, something that stands in front of said romance (this time around it's the face that Suze's love interest is a ghost) and at least one character that will drive you nuts. Thankfully Cabot is a talented writer so it doesn't feel like I am always re-reading the same book just with different characters. I also love that she almost always throws in a Star Wars reference somewhere in her many series (seriously I want to be friends with Meg Cabot. She comes across as girly but she makes multiple Star Wars references). I haven't read much like this series (again, the not being a fan of the paranormal comes into play here) but there is so much about this series to enjoy that I highly suggest that fans of Cabot;s other work should check these out as well as those that like non-scary ghost stories.

Happy Reading!
-Melly

"Haunted" by Meg Cabot (The Mediator #5)

I have read just about all of Meg Cabot's YA stuff.  The Princess Diaries are among the books that I have bought on the day they came out and many of her books fill my list of favorite books of all time.  However, it took me a very long time for me to read The Mediator series.  I realize the reason for that now.  I had read everything of hers I could get my hands on (so not all she had written, just all the the library had and what I had bought [and as my town is seriously lacking in bookstores, a good chunk of my book buying takes place out of town, with the exception of the used bookstore of course]) when my school library got a copy of Haunted.  I had no clue that it was part 5 of a series.  So I didn't fully know what was going on or why.  It wasn't until I reached a scene about 2/3 of the way through (this time reading it, not the first time which was somewhere around 8 years ago) that I remembered that I had mostly read this book before.  So now that I am making my way through the series in order I am enjoying it quite a bit.

Suze can see and communicate with the dead (turn Odd Thomas into a teenage girl who is far more feisty and ready to kick ass at a moment's notice) only no one really knows this about her.  She lives in California with her mom, stepfather, stepbrothers and the ghost that just happens to haunt her bedroom (and who she happens to be in love with).  In this particular volume, Suze has to deal with Paul, a "shifter" that is a little too interested in Suze, horribly blistered feet, and the fact that her stepbrother is planning a major party while their parents are out of town.  Needless to say, Suze's life is pretty stressful.

These books are relatively different from most of Cabot's other teen books (well, those written at that time). This series isn't as girly as some of her other books and of course focuses more on the paranormal.  I don't like it nearly as much as I like The Princess Diaries or 1-800-Where-R-U series.  I think that readers who enjoyed Abandon will be into this series (and vice versa).  I do really like that Cabot covers a range of topics and genres in her books and doesn't just re-tell the same story over and over again.

The Complete Series
Shadowland 
Ninth Key 

Reunion 
Darkest Hour 

Haunted 
Twilight 

*so in getting all the links I needed for this post, I saw where The Mediator has been optioned for a movie. Not sure how I feel about this.  I have been rather disappointed by the adaptations of Cabot's other novels.  The Princess Diaries was alright, but the sequel really was a head shaker.  Missing was really good, if you forgot that it was based on a book.  Otherwise it just made no sense (and no Rob?  Really?).  And don't get me started on Avalon High was beyond disappointing for me.  I am totally willing to give a movie of The Mediator a shot, but I have extremely low expectations. What do you think?*

Happy Reading!

-Melly

Banned Books Week

"A word to the unwise.

Torch every book.
Char every page.
Burn every word to ash.
Ideas are incombustible.

And therein lies your real fear."

-Ellen Hopkins

Banned Books Week is taking place September 24 - October 1, 2011. For those of you not in the know, Banned Books Week, an American Library Association event, celebrates your right to read. More information on the laws and First Amendment can be found on ALA’s website.

I love Banned Books Week. I feel very strongly that is up to a child’s parent or guardian (not their teachers, librarians, or friends’ parents) to monitor what they read and the make the decision if a particular book is appropriate. In my opinion a second grader is likely not ready to read Judy Blume’s (the queen of the banned book) Forever, but that doesn’t give me the right to tell someone else that their child can’t read it. Following that logic, I feel that no one else has the right to tell me I cannot read something. It seems like this should be a reasonable solution; take care of yourself and your children but don’t force your beliefs on anyone else. However, every year the content of books is questioned and sometimes access to those books is limited or revoked. As someone who was never once denied the right to read (with the exception of teachers who told me to stop reading and do my class assignment-a fairly common occurrence) I strongly feel that everyone should have the option to read what they want, when they want (my only exception is that parents also should be parents and be aware of what their children are reading, but that’s another rant completely).

Every year I go through the list of most challenged books and find that I have usually two or three of them (at least!) and often find myself confused. It seems that the majority of the banners haven’t even skimmed the book in question and make their accusations based on the description on the back of the book. Yes, there may be questionable content in the book, but notice that the character usually learns something by the end it? And if not the character, the reader certainly should have come away a better person by reading of a character’s struggle. Sometimes I read about the reason a book was challenged and have to re-read a book, because I don’t that reason being mentioned in the book. Again, this is why I feel parents should be involved with what their children read. Let’s say your child wants to read Ellen Hopkins’ Crank. Take the time to talk with your child about the content of the book. Make sure they are aware that the book is not glorifying drug use and that they see how Kristina’s life spirals out of control due to her decisions. Answer any questions they may have. Build a better bond with your child because you’ve opened up communication. And, please don’t discourage your child from reading!

So that’s how I stand. Basically, I want everyone to read. Books, magazines, instruction manuals- just read something! And if you don’t like something in a book, you always have the option to stop and read something else.

I Read Banned Books

I Am a Reader, Not a Writer

I don’t make it a point to read a book because it is banned, but it turns out that quite a few of the books I’ve read (and enjoyed!) have been challenged or banned. Below is a list of such books that are listed in Banned Books: Chalenging Our Freedom to Read by Robert P. Doyle (2010 by American Library Association).

Abel's Island by William Steig

A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Abel's Island by William Steig

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Anastasia Again by Lois Lowry

Anastasia at Your Service by Lois Lowry

Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Deenie by Judy Blume

Doctor Doolittle by Hugh John Lofting

Don't You Dare Read This Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Forever by Judy Blume

Forever in Pants by Anne Brashares

Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Harriet the Spy by Loise Fitzhugh

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

Here's to You Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume

It's Not the End of the World by Judy Blume

Jay's Journal by Beatrice Sparks

L8R G8TR by Lauren Myracle

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Marvin Redpost: Is He a Girl by Louis Sachar

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Mississippi Bridge by Mildred D. Taylor

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

One of those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones

Otherwise Known as Shelia the Great by Judy Blume

Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Romitette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper and Adam Lowenbein

Ryan White: My Own Story by Ryan White and Ann Marie Cunningham

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Superfudge by Judy Blume

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Caroline Mackler

The Egypt Game by Zalpha Keatley Snyder

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Headless Cupid by Zalpha Keatley Snyder

The Kid Who Only Hit Homers by Matt Christopher

The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

The Notebook Girls: Four Friends, One Diary, Real Life by Julia Baskin, Lindsey Newman, Sophie Pollit-Cohn and Courtney Toombs

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck

The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume

There's a Boy in the Girls Bathroom by Louis Sachar

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

TTFN by Lauren Myracle

TTYL by Lauren Myracle

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Where the Heart is by Billie Letts

Where's Waldo by Martin Handford

How many have you read?

Judy Blume & Lauren Myracle help launch Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out!

Lauren Myracle was 2009’s most
challenged author. She has written
many novels including the TTYL
series, Kissing Kate and Shine.

Ellen Hopkins is the brilliant author 

of Crank, Tricks, the newly released 

Perfect amongst other YA novels. In

 2010, Crank was #4 on ALA’s list of 

Top Ten Challenged Books. Due to the

 content of her books, Hopkins was 

uninvited to the Humble ISD

 Libraries’ Teen Lit Festival.

"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer (Review Courtesy of Jonathan Bacon)

My good friend Jonathan wrote this review of Twilight several years ago. It is always good for a laugh (and yes, I got permission before posting). In addition, below is the review translated into "pirate speak" in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Enjoy!

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Review by Jonathan Bacon

“About these three things I was absolutely positive.” First, this is a story of a young, completely normal girl. Second, she is somehow the most sought after human by those with tainted blood. Third, for some reason vampires now glitter in the sunlight.

This book, and the series that it belongs to, has quickly become one the most popular book series since the Harry Potter series. When I was told by countless people about how great this book was, I felt obligated to read it. I should have known better considering the fact that some of those who were big fans of the book told me to skip the first five chapters because they were “pointless and boring.” Now that I have finished the book, I can truthfully say that the rest of the 24 chapters are equally uninteresting.

For any true fans of vampires and the undead, this book can only be described as a disgrace to all that is unholy. The vampire stories of old set the foundation for all that we have been taught about vampires. One key point is that they do not go out during the day because the sunlight will literally toast the skin off of their body and destroy every part of them, thus giving them a “final death.” Twilight twists this well known fact about vampires to say that they just don’t like going outside because it makes them looks funny. Think of it like this, if a vampire in the Twilight series goes outside on a bright, sunny day, all it does is make them look “sparkly.” One huge problem with the sparkling is that the book does not give an adequate description of what kind of sparkle it is. Do they twinkle like a bright star on a clear night, or do they just look like a high school girl who pours glittery makeup on themselves right before prom? I personally like to think of them as looking like a vat of glitter glue has been poured all over their body. What we can be sure about is that sparkling in the sun does not hurt anything but their self esteem. The only reason they avoid it because it makes them look so stupid.


Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Review by Jonathan "I Be Cuttin' Off Your Peg-Leg" Bacon
Translated by Translate-Pirate.com

“About these three things I be absolutely positive.” First, this be a story o' a blunderbustingly young, completely normal lassey. Second, she be somehow th' most sought aft crewmate by those wi' tainted blood. Third, fer some reason vampires now glitter in th' sunlight.

This book, an' th' series that it belongs t', has quickly become one th' most popular book series since th' Harry Potter series. When I be told by countless people bout how great this book be, I felt obligated t' read it. I should have known better consider'n th' fact that some o' those who were blitheringly big fans o' th' book told me t' skip th' first five chapters cause they were “pointless an' bor'n.” Now that I have finished th' book, I can truthfully say that th' rest o' th' 24 chapters be equally uninterest'n.

Fer any true fans o' vampires an' th' undead, this book can only be described as a disgrace t' all that be unholy. Th' vampire stories o' old set th' foundation fer all that we have b'n taught bout vampires. One o' th' key points be'n that they do nay go out dur'n th' day cause th' sunlight will literally toast th' skin off o' their body an' destroy ere part o' them, thus giv'n them a “final davy jones locker.” Twilight twists this well known fact bout vampires t' say that they just don’t like go'n abroadside cause it makes them looks blunderbustingly funny. Think o' it like this, if a vampire in th' twilight series goes abroadside on a blastedly bright, sunny day, all it does be make them look “sparkly.” One huge problem wi' th' sparkl'n be that th' book does nay give an adequate description o' what blistering kind o' sparkle it be. Do they twinkle like a carbunculously bright star on a unseaworthily clear night, or do they just look like a high school lassey who pours glittery makeup on they's self right b'fore prom? I personally like t' think o' them as look'n like a vat o' glitter glue has b'n poured all o'er their body. What we can be sure bout be that sparkl'n in th' sun does nay hurt anyth'n but their self esteem. Th' only reason they avoid it cause it makes them look so swashbuckling stupid.