On Highschool (And how it makes it impossible to do my job)

I started this blog when I was in 8th grade. It was something that I could consistently do. And I enjoyed it. Through out the course of the year I tried to stay on top of this little blog as it grew.

That summer, I read-a lot. And I struggled to keep up with all the books I read, but I did it. However, before I knew it the school year was upon me. And I discovered High School is no easy task. It is tedious, it requires so much of my attention.

Between my other hobbies (writing, orchestra etc.) and school, this blog was neglected. I have barely even had a chance to read at all this summer because of all the writing I was doing.

I feel terrible for abandoning my blog for how I did, and I have a pile of about 30 books that I read during the course of my freshman year. However now I am approaching Sophmore year, and all I can think is how I simply wont be able to keep up.

I dont want to give this up, but I simply do not know what else to do.

My plan is to attempt to schedule as many reviews as possible right now, before school starts. I hope after that I can try to get into the groove of writing reviews again.

I feel as though I have made so many promises to you guys, and that I broke all of them. So thank you so much for sticking around. If worst comes to worst I will find a dear friend to hand this blog off to who can truly take care of it.

Until then.
Ari

News

So for those of you still hanging around, Im back to work this summer! I totally ignored this poor place during the school year so I will make up for it this summer. Start June 5, Ill start having reviews posted again. A few of my first reviews will consist of.....

So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev
Mystify by Artist Arthur
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

And about another 40 or so books I read during the school year!

Remember I can ALWAYS be contacted at teensactuallyread@gmail.com or you can tweet me at @sheba201

Im so sorry you guys. Ill be sure to set up posts for a while so I dont completely desert you guys again!

Ari

Blogger OF DOOM

No not me. Yes this lovely set up which i use to post.

It no let me post.

I was all happy and posting. THEN BAM. Sadness. And all reviews are gone.

I had a shiny 10 reviews all set up. ANd now? They are dead *hangs head sadly*

So I have to not only deal with school, and writing, but now also the reformation of my blog.

Ill keep this one all shiny. Odds are Im going to get fed up, and branch it off onto live journal or something also.

But that will be just in case.

Lets HOPE this doesnt die on me again (because i truly do love blogger. its just not my friend at the moment)

KAY?!
Kay

Fresh Off The Boat by Melissa De La Cruz

Fresh Off The Boat by Melissa De La Cruz

Pages: 256
Pub Date: April 23, 2005
Author Website/Blog: http://www.melissa-delacruz.com/
Synopsis: Dear Peaches,
America is PERFECT! I love it here. I wish you could come visit -- we could go shopping on Market Street and you could meet all my new friends. . . .
Okay, so Vicenza isn't being totally honest with Peaches, her best friend back in Manila. But what fun is it being the new girl at snooty Grosvernor High? Or rooting through the Salvation Army for unholey cashmere sweaters? Or having culture-shocked, embarrassingly clueless parents? Maybe being Claude Caligari's ignored geometry partner is sort of fun, but Vicenza would rather be his girlfriend . . . or at least his date to the annual fancy-schmancy Soire d'Hiver.
But Vicenza won't be friendless, fashionless, or "fresh off the boat" for long -- it's only a matter of time before she sees what's right before her eyes and her luck begins to change.


Naw. Heart breaking :( I mean. It tried to seem uplifting but this girls life is just down the drain. And she has no idea WHY her life is down the drain. I just feel so bad for her :( I mean she went from a life of brilliance and glamor to having lawn chairs in her living room. She's desperately holding onto a scholarship at a school where it seems like she just doesnt fit in. This girl has the worst of it. Its just a sad story. I mean its AMAZING. But its SAD. It just makes you look on whats happening in our country right now and go "maybe its not that amazing that we are sending people out." this story just supports the idea that these people are coming here for better lives. This also shows poverty, but not in the way everyone imagines it. Granted this story was written before the recession but it is encompassing the situation most americans are stuck in right now. if you havent read this book yet, read it. Youll fall in love.

Sex In YA

Apparently its a big issue.
So ill save all of you the trouble and say this.
Teens. Find. Sex. Hilarious
Sure fourty year old women drool over sap. However I can tell you right now, every sixteen year old girl reading that same line is snorting and making fun of it.
I know. You doubt me.
I believe all my evidence lies in a story....
Sex ed. Question box time. Teacher pulls out question.
"If you have sex under water will your baby be a mermaid?"
The rest of the week was similar to this along with things involving beastiality and skittles....
So guys, ill leave it at this. Do what you want with sex in your story. It wont encourage sex, it will simple cause a boat load of giggles and skittles. (and no your baby wont be a mermaid)

The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt

The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt

Pages: 272
Pub Date: May 3, 2011
Author Website/Blog: http://www.lindseyleavitt.com
Synopsis: Desi Bascomb's job as a princess substitute has gotten a whole lot more glamorous now that she's advanced to Level 2 within the Facade Agency. Magical make-up, roller-skating celebrities, and the chance to see Prince Karl again are just some of the major perks. Not to mention, she's landed the role of Fairy Queen in her school's production of Midsummer's Night Dream (opposite her best friend's crush. Which is a little weird, but at least he wears a donkey head during their kissing scene). Life should be perfect, but Desi can't seem to shake the feeling that there is more going on with the agency's magic than she's told. Like why is this mind-bending power exclusive to royals? Is it possible that there could be a bigger way to make an impact in both parts of her life?


SQUEE. Lindsey. I. LOVE. YOU. You write the cutest books ever! And this book is just so PERFECT compared to the last one. Hard to do considering, well PRINCESS FOR HIRE was perfect also! In my review for PRINCESS FOR HIRE I said you wrote for mostly the MG audience. You made me eat my words in this one. Desi grows up so much in this book. She seems more like she is a mature 17 instead of a Middle Schooler! Just love. It just shows how much this job changed her in the last book. OO and the sexy new boy! I love sexy boys. I mean hes just perfect. And its so obvious that he loves Desi. Lindsey, you made me so happy with this book. Im now dying for the next installment. I mean... (insert me blabbing about spoilers that I shouldn't spill)! Now Im just tempting myself to type things I shouldnt. So Ill go. Before I ruin this AMAZING BEAUTIFUL BOOK FOR EVERYONE! (leaves)

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Pages: 404
Pub Date: December 28, 2010
Author Website/Blog: http://www.breedespain.com
Synopsis:A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns. Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with he werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger -- in more ways than one. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her -- not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.


*shakes hands desperately beginning to plead* Bree... your killing me here. Please please please. Too much background. Good storyline. But it focuses too much on the first book. I loved the first book. But honestly this was a sequel problem that constantly occurs. A hundred pages wasted on catching the rest of the newer readers up and refreshing the old ones. I loved. I repeat LOVED The Dark Divine, and I really did enjoy this book. But this is a moment of EPIC facepalm. You had a great hook. Made me hate myself for starting it in Geometry. But it took too long for us to get to know Talbot, to find out about Jude and urgh... I dont want to mention the usual "I know you hate me but lets be friends again" thing....No superhero stuff. Other than those few things (I cant help it. Best friends annoy me) I loved the book. Honestly. So amazing. Im dying for the next one. Especially after an ending like THAT. Secrets oh secrets! I love this book Bree. Just irritated the usual sequel mistakes  occurred. Hoping you dont pull an Eclipse and make sequel mistakes on the third book. Great story line. Great everything. Love. Love. Love.

Aye, It Be A Sad Tale Of UNFOLLOWING

So yes...

Ive come to the realization that perhaps my one true way of decluttering my life and making my (failure of a) career at Blogging more successful I need to clean things up.

This will consist of cleaning up my FB.
Configuring the Teens Actually Read page so you can go on there and find current posts.
Unfollowing the unnecessary people on twitter.
And unfollowing blogs that are irrelevant (Sorry lunch lady blog)

If you feel a desperate need for me to continue to watch your social media rise and feel you may be eliminated please tweet me or comment below.

Ari

Birthday Birthday POST!!!

*drowns under confetti*

I SAID NO CONFETTI! *sees crowd*

Oh hello :) I just wanted to say this year I was to lazy to review Edgar Allan Poes stuff again.

So ill just say this :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR EDGAR (AND ARI)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

So may you all go out and wish EGAR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (Okay and Ill be selfish MAYBE ME)
(You dont have to!)

Guardian Of The Gate by Michelle Zink

Guardian Of The Gate by Michelle Zink

Pages: 340
Pub Date: August 1, 2010
Author Website/Blog: http://www.theprophecyofthesisters.com
Synopsis: The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James. Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing,

A bumpy continuance of the first book. Being left on a dramatic edge with PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS readers are confused entering the sequel. We forget much of the information we are given in the first book and we waste most of GUARDIAN OF THE GATE trying to rediscover the characters. The book wastes a good chunk of it simply trying to get to this mysterious island. Very little to do with the overall plot of the series. If I had to compare this sequel to another book? Its the ECLIPSE of its series, meaningless information, character discoveries, and a pathway to the next, much more important book. I enjoyed the first book, but I truly hope that Michelle Zink puts a little more effort, and makes the book more relevant to the series overall next time.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Pages: 363
Pub Date: February 1, 2010
Author Website/Blog: http://www.juliekagawa.com
Synopsis: Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined… Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

This book is centered around fairies, and well feeling invisible in your own home. Meghan feels that ever since her real father disappeared, and her mother remarried shes no longer important. She has no idea that this is because of a secret thats been hidden from her. With her one real friend as the only person acknowledging her, her 16 birthday is nothing its cracked up to be. But then as always, there is that one mystical night. And Meghan finds out the truth about why she is no longer as important to her mother, as she was years ago. Filled with discoveries, drama, and well shakespeares fairy court its a story that no one ever really put much thought into writing. Julie Kagawa decides to take a leap and be one of the few who continue the back story to the kingdoms that shakespeare created.

One Is Not A Lonely Number CONTEST

So remember I wrote a dandy little review of a book from a jewish publisher. The book was called ONE IS NOT A LONELY NUMBER.

Ya well they asked me to help promote their contest also :)

http://www.oneisnotalonelynumber.com/one-on-one-challenge.html

Go and enter! YOU CAN WIN BOOKS! AND FANCY TECHNOLOGICAL THINGS I CANT REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE! YA IM JUST THAT AWKWARD!

Enter.

Oh and it runs from NOW TO 1/11/11!!!!