Category: Reading/Books

・❥・ An update of my life ・❥・

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hey, y’all! My name is Q’Zion and welcome to my blog, The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. I’m so sorry y’all; it’s officially been a week since my last post. But to be fair, I’ve been working on some other special projects that I haven’t shared quite yet…but we’ll get into that during my next post.

For the past month (and over) I’ve mainly been blogging about my updates with NaNoWriMo–the 30-day challenge of November where writers all over the world are challenged to write 50,000 words in 30 days. And I have some great news, for y’all; I won! Yayyyyy! But that’s not all; I’ve realized that in my time of doing nanowrimo posts, I haven’t given you guys an update on what I’ve been doing in the past month. And since November and December have been so amazing, so far, I thought it would be an amazing time to catch up. Here is an update on my life!

If I could describe my November in two words, it would probably be writing and books. I’ve went to Books-a-Million and Barnes and Nobles, and taken a lot of bookish/writerly pictures while doing it. I feel like nano also really helped me be able to write faster, as well, so it’s really helpful for writing blog posts and my writing projects!

As far as school goes, I’m nearly finished with semester one of the 2022-2023 school year. And I’ve got to say, as much as I love learning, it’s such a huge relief to be halfway there to summer break. How good it will feel to have freedom for a whole two/three months! Okay, so usually summer break would be about two, but considering that I usually finish up early, I’m anticipating on having longer.

I had a really great time on Thanksgiving; it was really nice to see my cousins and other extended family who I hadn’t seen in like a YEAR. I must say that it was super great to get a taste of my great-grandma’s famous meatballs and mac and cheese (my favorites.) And that makes me even more excited to go back, this Christmas!

Speaking of family, it’s been a while since I’ve given you all an update on Peace (my betta fish.) In short, it’s been a while since he’s grown, so I think my fish baby isn’t a baby fish anymore. As bittersweet as it is to see Peace growing up, I’m happy to say that he’s remained as energetic and loving as ever.

As far as my usual walking and running outside three times a week, I’ve got to admit that I’ve kind of slowed up on that. However, me and Goodmommy have still been finding and searching for nutritious and delicious alternatives to serve in our healthy eating (minus the ocassional milkshake, ice cream, or fruit smoothie.) We are also constantly working out in our home. I’m continuing to see progress in how I feel, how I look, and my everyday quality of life. So in short, I’m very happy!

I OFFICIALLY STARTED A NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL!!! Sorry for the ambush of all caps lol. But I’m just super excited since Goodmommy had been pushing me to start a channel on Youtube for the longest, and I finally settled on a book/writing channel since nano got me back into the groove of reading and writing. I’d really appreciate it if you guys would please check out my channel, Write It Right, on YouTube! All of your awesome support means the world! ❤

I hope you all enjoyed this life update, and I hope it was a nice refresher after all of my posts about NaNoWriMo. Please let me know down below in the comments, what were your favorite parts of your November, and is there anything you are looking forward to in December (including Christmas, of course!)

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all and I will catch you next time! Peace in, y’all! ♡

How I’m Preparing for NaNoWriMo [Preptober]

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What’s up, everybody! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen!

If you haven’t already heard, National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo fo short) starts on November 1st … and that means that it’s time to write a novel! In case you aren’t familiar with NaNoWriMo, here is the official website’s description of their Young Writers’ Program;

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, empowering approach to creative writing. The challenge: draft an entire novel in just one month. For 30 wild, exciting, surprising days, you get to lock away your inner editor, let your imagination take over, and just create!

Our Young Writers Program supports under-18 writers and K-12 educators as they participate in our flagship event each November, and take part in smaller writing challenges year-round.

–ywp.nanowrimo.org

In other words, NaNoWriMo is a writing challenge–both for adults and kids/teens in the Young Writers Program–to reach a personalized word goal by writing every day until November 30th! No editing or revising; just writing.

I’ve “participated” in this challenge for the last couple years, but I’ve never actually gotten my project off of the ground. However, this year I’m planning on writing a 50,000 word novel, starting on Tuesday! Ambitious, right? But don’t be fooled; I didn’t decide to do this challenge unprepared. Today, I’ll be discussing some of the ways that I’ve been preparing for National Novel Writing Month! Let’s get started!

Established my goals for the challenge

For me, NaNoWriMo is an opportunity for me to write everyday, quit worrying about making my writing perfect, have fun, and produce a novel in the process. Although my blog has significantly increased the amount that I write, NaNoWriMo will push that to the next level, and I think that my word goal will really challenge me to increase my writing skills and hold back on my perfectionist ways. The challenge is really all about having a good time doing what I love to do; write. So that’s something I plan to keep in mind throughout the entire process.

Made a schedule (sort of)

Okay, so I haven’t made a schedule where I’ve figured out the exact dates and times that I will be working on my novel; after all, every day is different. But I do know that in order to reach my word count goal by the end of November, I’m going to need to write 1667 words every day. That means that even if I can’t write that many words on a day that I’m busy, I could make up for it on a weekend or on a day when I don’t have much on my schedule. Having an idea of how much you need to write to reach your goal–in baby steps–is super helpful to break down the task in front of you without it being too intimidating.

Gotten to know my characters

In the novel that I am almost done with drafting, I pretty much dove into the writing process with the idea and built on that from there. And while that was fun to try, that project has been at a stand-still for a while, now. Since writer’s block is not really an option when you have 30 days to write a novel, I did a little (no a LOT) more planning this time around. For each of my characters I filled out a questionare on who they are, what they like to do, where they live, their personalities, etc., and I think that really payed off. Now, I can picture how each of the characters look in my head, and I have a better perspective on who they are as individuals. And considering that characters are one of the most important parts of a story, that will be super helpful for me, later on.

Established my setting

Usually, settings aren’t something I do a whole lot of thinking about when I get an idea for a story. Like with my characters, I kind of go where the plot wants me to go. But this time, my novel takes place in a magical kingdom split into 4 (meaning there are four pairs of a king and queen.) Each kingdom has their own customs, geography, and citizens with their own personalities and behaviors. Therefore, establishing my complex setting for this story was a crucial part of making my novel’s first draft as well-executed as possible.

Prepared small rewards with my family

Right after I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo, I made sure I discussed it with Goodmommy. She was so supportive that she even purposed that every time I write 5,000 words toward my goal, she’ll give me 5 bucks! And every 25,000 words, we’ll go out for ice cream! Awesome, right?!? To be honest, I think getting family support and small rewards to look forward to will make NaNoWriMo so much more fun!

Outlined my plot

Finally, I outlined all of the major events of my plot. At first, I wasn’t planning on doing this AT ALL. But I’ve had a pint full of motivation lately, thank God, so I ended up going for it. Now that my plot outline is complete, it will most likely save me from running into writer’s block halfway through November. And as a writer, that’s almost always something to celebrate.

By now, I’m quite sure you guys can already tell, but I’m super stoked to get involved in the hype of NaNoWriMo. Although I realize 50,000 words is a pretty steep goal for my first time doing this challenge, I’m more than confident that I can reach it! Please tell me down below, are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? If so, what are some things you’re doing to prepare? And if not, have you ever heard of National Novel Writing Month?

Have a happy and healthy rest of your day, everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you next time! Peace in! ♡

How to Get an Idea for a Novel

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Hey, everyone! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen!

Writing a novel is one of the most rewarding things one could do as a writer. You put your ideas, creativity, and time into a story and your hard work payed off; what a feeling! But the thing is, how can you know what that’s like when your stumped on what you want your novel to be about?

Brainstorming the conflict or plot of your own story can be intimidating to think about, but there are so many ways to get your creative juices flowing and your fingers typing. We just need to use our imaginations. With these easy-to-follow yet effective tips, you are likely to come up with a fresh, awesome story idea in the blink of an eye. Let’s get started!

1.) Think about a story that you want to read, but hasn’t been written.

If you’re a writer and a bookworm, like me, its likely that you’ve come across many awesome novels. But have you ever thought about a story that you’d love to read . . . that hasn’t been written, yet? Whether this is a random thought or a new discovery, there is always an awesome story that hasn’t been told. And since this idea hasn’t yet been taken, it could be the perfect starting point of your very own story.

2.) Write a novel with a spin on a classic story.

From fairy tales, to fables, to the bedtime stories that every kid grew up reading, we’ve all had our fair share on classic, timeless stories. People are used to hearing them be told a certain way, but the perfect way to spice things up is to retell one of your favorite fairytales with a special twist. Although this can be a risky topic for a story, if it is well executed and thought out, it could make for a fantastic novel.

3.) Try the ‘words in a jar’ method.

This might sound a little confusing, so let me further elaborate. The ‘words in a jar’ method is when you put a bunch of words in a jar that you’re interested in, curious about or like to read about. Some examples are rollerblading, magical creatures, France in the early 1900s, factories, Columbian culture, etc. Then, you pick out three random words and try to make a novel idea out of it. You may not be crazy about every idea, but you could also find something that you really love. Either way, this method is perfect to get your brain . . . storming when you need some inspiration.

4.) Use the genre that you like to read.

Let’s face it, if you like to read realistic fiction, you’re probably not going to be as familiar with the fantasy genre. Although writing a novel in a genre that is newer to you can make for a fun challenge, its not the most practical for a well-developed story. The books that we read are a representation of what we like in literature. Therefore, what makes more sense than to write in the genre that you like? If you write a book that you are already passionate about, then your readers likely will be, too.

5.) Create a character based off of you or someone you know.

Characters are like the building blocks of a Lego wall. They are the people that your readers relate to, participate in dialogue to move the plot along, and portray the theme that you want your novel to represent. And making a character from scratch is not always a walk in the park. Therefore, using an experience of yours, or basing your character off of you or someone you know well (with their permission, of course) can be a good solution. If your character has a similar personality to you or a friend/family member, you can already have a sense of who they are and what they believe. Besides, writing is even better when we include the ones that we love.

6.) Just write.

Although all of these activities can be life-saving in the writing world, sometimes nothing beats facing writers block like the old fashioned way: just writing. Even if you jot down the first thing that comes to your mind, random ideas could turn into a bestselling novel; just like every single good book of the past. All we have to do is sit down, open our laptop, and write.

Finding an idea for a novel can be harder said that done . . . but with fun, creative ideas like these, it can be another challenging yet rewarding writing task that can lead to a one-of-a-kind story. Please tell me in the comments, what are some other ways that someone could find an idea for a narrative? Also, which of these tips did you like the best or find the most helpful?

Thank you all so much for joining me, today! God bless you all, and have an amazing rest of your day! Peace in! ~ Q’Zion ♡

Mid-October Thrift Book Haul | 2022 ♡

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Hey, everyone! This is Q’Zion and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. Yes, yes I am posting a second bookish post, this week. But I decided to spice things up by posting something that I’ve never done before: a book haul! This month, I’ve already got 8 new books! I don’t know about you guys, but for me, that’s a lot for only half a month!

My favorite place to buy thrift books, which are awesome if you are on a budget, is Goodwill. Before last week, it had been about 2 1/2 years since we’d last stopped by, since we didn’t want to buy any pre-used items during COVID-19. But now that the virus appears to be subsiding, me and Goodmommy (my grandmother and guardian) figured that it’s a good time to start again! So, without further ado, here’s all the books I’ve received this month!

  • Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana Lopez

I stumbled upon this one by just browsing a large bookshelf in a thrift store. And of course, the bright colors were quick to catch my attention. I had never heard of this author or book before, but when I looked at the back and saw that 1) It’s a contemporary Christian novel and 2) It had a super interesting plot; the protagonist’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, I was immediately sold.

  • Savvy by Ingrid Law

I don’t think any fan of fantasy middle grade books would reject this novel. As soon as I saw the striking cover art of Savvy, I knew that it would be a book that I would like. It’s about a girl named Mibs, short for Mississippi, who is about to turn thirteen and earn her “savvy,” which is a superpower that is earned by each member of her family on their 13th birthday. I can’t wait to get into this one; it’s seems like such a good read!

  • Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek

To be honest, by the title of this book, you’d think it’d be about food lol. But I was pleasantly surprised to see a little baby goat on the front. This cute novel is about a girl with anxiety who learns to face her fears when fate leads her to a little baby goat, whom she names Butter. There’s something about books involving cute animals that makes them so tempting to read. I hope this book is as good as it is adorable.

  • Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

Books that take place in the summer are always so refreshing…even when it’s not actually summertime. And they’re almost always the most colorful, so that’s always a plus. But from the start, this vibrant novel seemed like such a blast–and the plot about a teenage girl becoming a CIT at a summer camp to avoid being a third wheel with her best friend’s new boyfriend and some subtopics like friendship seemed pretty promising. I’m looking forward to giving this one a shot.

  • The Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin

Believe it or not, I actually found this book at Dollar Tree. There is so much going on in this cover art… but I actually kind of liked it. The art style almost reminds me of Gordon Korman’s novels–especially the cute banana peel. I actually started this one about a week ago, and while it was pretty confusing at the beginning–kind of like the cover–it’s growing on me the more I read it. So, keep looking out for my review on this book throughout the next few weeks.

  • Scat by Carl Miaasen

The first thing that caught my attention about this novel was the name. Scat. To be honest, that within itself seems like a pretty odd name for a book. Then, when I read the synopsis the first thing I could think of was the word “quirky.” It looks like this will be such a strange, yet fun book. And I can’t wait to read what this story has up its sleeve!

  • Chicken Noodle Soup for the Teenage Soul I by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kerberger

It’s very rare that I read a book that’s not fiction, but this popular classic became an exception when Goodmommy brought it to my attention. Chicken Noodle Soup is an entire, Christian based, self-help series filled with a bunch of inspirational short stories and poems sent by either teenagers and/or adults—depending on the target age group—about their personal life experiences, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. And better yet, they have a book(s) for parents, college students, Christians, kids, dog lover’s, teachers, etc. so there’s really a book in this series for everyone. But of course, I got the teenage version. I’ve already read 1 1/2 of the 8 sections, and I’m already loving it!

  • Chicken Noodle Soup for the Teenage Soul II by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kerberger

Surpise! Turns out, we were able to spot the second edition to this trilogy in the Chicken Soup series. To be honest, I could not be more thrilled–and tempted to get the third book, plus a version specifically for Christian teens, to complete my collection lol.

  • Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, and Marci Shimoff.

Double surprise! God surely provides us with what we need; and apparently Goodmommy needed a Chicken Soup book, too. It’s so awesome to see her expanding her book collection, as well. In fact, I think my bookish ways are starting to rub off on her. Whether or not Goodmommy is turning into a bookworm, I’m glad to see her buying new books. Besides, this one practically screams her name with the design!

From now on, I just might make book hauls a monthly (or half-a-monthly) tradition on my blog. This was so much fun! Also, I would love to know if YOU like shopping for thrift books in the comments. If you do, what’s your favorite place to get them? But if not, what book format do you prefer (brand new physical books, eBooks, audiobooks, etc.?)

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all, and I’ll catch you later! Bye, for now! ♡

For the Love of Fall | Book Tag ♡

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Hey, everyone! This is Q’Zion, and welcome to the Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. It’s the middle of fall, and I’ve seen so many awesome tags on WordPress Reader. It has been a while since I’ve done a book tag on here, and I’ve been in a bookish mood lately. So today, I decided to create a fall tag of my own; For the Love of Fall. So without further ado, let’s get into it!

1.) Pumpkin Harvest: What is your most anticipated fall release?

As I get older, I am beginning to notice that I care much more about the diversity and representation in the books that I read. Frizzy is a graphic novel about a girl who wants to express herself through her frizzy hair. It is said to address how societies have been calling natural hair “unprofessional” or “ugly,” which is one of the many critical topics that is not often openly addressed in literature. Plus, the cover art is gorgeous, don’t you think? Based on what I’ve read about this soon-to-be-released novel, I’m super excited to add it to my graphic novel collection, in the future.

2.) Hot Chocolate: What is your ultimate comfort novel?

As much as I am one of the biggest bookworms you’ll ever meet, it’s not often that I find myself wanting to read an entire book over again–most of the time, I’d rather just start a new book. But the classic Little Women by Louisa May Allcott and the stunning debut novel From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks are a couple of the few that I’d read several times over. They both make me feel so warm inside with their happy endings, and that I think makes them the perfect books to read this time of year. (Read my review of From the Desk of Zoe Washington here.)

3.) What’s your favorite place to read?

For me, nothing compares to getting cozied up on the couch or in my bed with a book in my hand. Reading is such a satisfying and relaxing activity, and I’ll do it no matter where I am. But in the autumn, nothing compares to getting cozy and doing one of my favorite things in the world a few minutes before it’s time for bed.

4.) Windy Day: Name a book that had it’s ups and downs.

Although I really liked Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega–who is also the author of my anticipated fall release, Frizzy–it had moments where things were kind of casual and slow. Then, five seconds later, I was on the edge of my seat. I mentioned in my review that the beginning was also pretty slow, since there was a huge portion before the action got started. The main characters of the book were witches in training, or as the title points out, witchlings. The overall feel of the book is perfect for autumn, with just enough angst to keep you reading and wholesome moments that will remind most readers of the comforting fall season. (Read my review for Witchlings here.)

5.) Pile of Leaves: Name a book that had a lot of subplots.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt has recently become one of my favorite novels that I’ve read so far. The protagonist is a girl with dyslexia named Ally who learns how to appreciate the differences of herself and those around her. There were a lot of subplots about her family and friends, mixed in with the main conflict, but they weren’t super overwhelming or distracting, which was nice. This middle grade contemporary novel has a simple yet profound writing style that is sure to make for a quirky, fun, and rewarding read for bookworms of any age. (Read my review for Fish in a Tree here.)

6.) Do you prefer to read old books or classic ones?

Honestly, this all depends on the book, for me. A majority of my books are from the 2010-2020s, and I guess they tend to appeal more to me as a girl growing up in the 21st century. But I occasionally do find books that I like from the 90s and 2000s, as well. At the end of the day, although contemporary novels are my go-to, a good book is a good book in my eyes.

7.) Costume: What’s a book that was different than what you expected?

The main reason why Guts by Raina Telgemeier was different from what I was expecting is because I kind of bought it without much knowledge on it, firsthand. All I knew was that I had read the first too additions of this triology, Smile and Sisters, and I loved them. So I just thought, “I know this one’s going to be good, so let’s go ahead and buy it!” But that risk really payed off considering that although the storyline was different than what I had assumed from the cover and synopsis, Guts is such a wholesome story, that I had finished within a day’s time. I guess that goes to show that sometimes its good to go with your gut (pun intended.) (Read my review for Guts here)

8.) Pumpkin: Name a book with a cover that says “Fall”

I couldn’t really find many books in my collection that went with the fall theme (besides just being the color orange) so I decided to just to my best and choose Beacon Street Girls: Bad News/Good News by Annie Bryant and All Four Stars by Tara Dairman because they have what is somewhat reminiscent of fall colors or backgrounds. But, they’re both really cute books, so I don’t really mind adding them in this fall tag.

9.) What’s your favorite autumnal activity?

If I had to pick my favorite season, I’d pick either summer or fall. Like many people, I especially enjoy making hot chocolate, reading all snuggled up on the couch, shopping, and taking mile walks in the autumn. There are so many fun fall activities, that it’s almost impossible for me to choose just one!

The Questions

If you’d like to do this tag for yourself, here are the questions for you to copy and paste. And in case you do The For the Love of Fall Book Tag, please tag me so that I can check out your awesome answers!

1.) Pumpkin Harvest: What is your most anticipated fall release?

2.) Hot Chocolate: What is your ultimate comfort novel?

3.) What’s your favorite place to read?

4.) Windy Day: Name a book that had it’s ups and downs.

5.) Pile of Leaves: Name a book that had a lot of subplots.

6.) Do you prefer to read old books or classic ones?

7.) Costume: What’s a book that was different than what you expected?

8.) Pumpkin: Name a book with a cover that says “Fall”

9.) What’s your favorite autumnal activity?

I won’t be tagging anyone for this tag, but If you’d like to do it feel free to give it a go! I had so much fun creating this, and I hope you all enjoyed it, as well! Also, let me know in the comments what your favorite place to read and autumn activity is.

Have a fantastic rest of your day/night everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

Book Review: From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

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BOOK INFORMATION

Publication Date: January 14, 2020

Genre: Family, Mystery, Realistic Fiction

Age Category: Middle Grade (MG)

Pages: 304

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

SYNOPSIS

Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime?

A crime he says he never committed.

Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge.

But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance.

MY TAKEAWAYS

I’m a huge fan of baking shows on the Food Network, and while I wouldn’t consider baking one of my main hobbies, I do like to get in the kitchen every once in a while. Therefore, I really enjoyed how the protagonist, Zoe, had an interest in baking and entering a kids baking competition as a sub-plot of the novel. But in reality, this realistic fiction story was about much more than baking.

The main conflict was when Zoe found a letter in the mail on her twelfth birthday . . . and it was from her father, Marcus, who she’s never met due to him going to prison when she was a baby. Although she’s skeptical about writing back to her father at first, she begins to build a relationship with Marcus through their back and fourth written conversations. He even gave Zoe a new R&B song for her to listen to in each of his letters, which Zoe dubbed “Little’s Tomato’s Playlist” after Marcus’ nickname for her. Cute, right?

I truly enjoyed Zoe and Marcus’ relationship throughout the entire novel, and it was really refreshing to have a book that contains representation of the many fatherless daughters (and sons) that are around the world, specifically so among members of the Black community.

Other topics like systemic racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, and other examples of racial inequality were addressed in a conversation between Zoe and her grandmother. But I admire Janae Marks’ ability to address these topics which can be hard to swallow in a tasteful yet informative way, making this book a great option for kids of all races to learn about the ins and outs of racism and its effect on people of color.

Throughout the story, Zoe had to keep her letters a secret from most of her family–except for her grandmother, whom she has a very close relationship with, and her best friend Trevor–in order to continue to get to know her father. I was rooting for Zoe throughout the entire novel to prove her father innocent of his crime. And while her actions of sneaking out to do so ended up coming back to bite her towards the end, when both her and her blended family’s secrets are revealed, the revolution of this inspiring tale was like the icing on the cake.

Overall, if you’re looking for a book that will tear your heart into pieces and glue it back together again, From the Desk of Zoe Washington is the perfect middle-grade novel for you. From the likeable characters, to the well-delivered hard topics, to the African-American author and protagonist, this heartwarming novel is an appetizing choice that most kids in their pre-teens and teens will happily relate to, while learning important lessons along the way!

Rating: ★★★★✯ (4.5/5 stars)

Recommended Age: for readers 11/12+

Although this novel happened to be a book that I stumbled upon during a trip to a book store, I’m so thankful to God that I gave it a chance! If anyone else has added this to their TBR list, or is contemplating doing so, I highly recommend that you give this novel a try, as well. But if you have already read this literature masterpiece, please tell me some of your thoughts on it–or some other book recommendations–down below!

Have a beautiful and blessed day everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Bye, for now! ♡

Book Review #6: Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt

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BOOK INFORMATION

Publication Date: February 5th, 2015

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Category: Middle Grade (MG)

Pages: 320

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

SYNOPSIS

“Fans of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder will appreciate this feel-good story of friendship and unconventional smarts.” —Kirkus Reviews

Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.  She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label.

A New York Times Bestseller! 

MY TAKEAWAYS

With her father deployed in the Army, Ally Nickerson has transferred to seven schools within the past seven years, and each time its the same story: her teacher asks her to read aloud to the class, she creates a distraction, and she gets sent to the principal’s office. Little does everyone know, Ally’s antics are only a method to cover up the fact that she doesn’t know how to read. But when Ally gains a new teacher, Mr. Daniels, who sees the super smart kid hidden behind her explosions, she begins to embrace the things that make her–and her classmates–unique.

The protagonist, Ally, could not be more relatable and realistic. Although she’s super creative and intelligent, which was put on display in the first-person POV, she started off lacking the vision of how awesome she really is. I think that most, if not all, kids have felt out of place at least once in their life, and Ally is a great representation of what it means to come from a place of wanting to be like everyone else to embracing not fitting in. Which in her case, is dyslexia. 

"One thing's for sure. We're not gonna fit in, but we're gonna stand out. All three of us. You wait and see. You're going to be a famous artist and Albert is going to cure cancer or invent talking fish or something."

But I can’t go without mentioning the best friends that Ally makes on her journey to self esteem. Introverted Albert, who is basically a human encyclopedia who gets teased for being “nerdy”, and fun-loving Keisha, a girl with a passion for baking who happens to be the only black person in her class, form a bond with Ally because of their differences. Don’t get me wrong: I absolutely love Ally as a character. . . but Albert and Keisha stole the show, for me.

They were both involved in little sub-plots of the book, but I really liked how they all related to a common theme. And honestly, the entire novel wouldn’t be the same without the trio’s wholesome friendship. I could see both Keisha and Albert being the main character of their own novel.

Ally also faces bullying throughout the course of the novel by a girl named Shay, and I will give the author props that she did a great job with making her unlikeable. Let’s just say that Shay will probably remind you of a girl or two that we’ve all had in our class. But I really appreciate how Ally learns to rise above the bullying by holding her an olive branch. It was almost like when Ally learned how to love herself, she began to embrace other people–even those who did her wrong–that much more. And that was a sweet addition to this novel that I couldn’t help but appreciate.

“You know, a wise person once said, ‘Everyone is smart in their own way, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking that its stupid.'”

If you’ve been here for a while, you already know how I’d been raving about the book Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. And while that book is great, and all . . . I think I may officially have a new favorite! I would agree that for tweens and teens who are fans of classic stories like Wonder, Out of My Mind, or any other story about “the underdogs” learning to love what makes them unique, Fish in a Tree is an absolute must-read!

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars, and if I was able to give it 6 stars, I would!)

Recommended Age: for readers 11+

So that was my review of Fish in a Tree, and I’ve got to say that it was such a great read! I may even have to read it again, in the near future! If you’ve already read this masterpiece, I’d love to hear some of your takeaways and thoughts on it! But if not, I highly encourage you to give it a shot!

Thanks so much for stopping by! God bless you all, and I will catch you later! Peace in! ♡

Graphic Novel Review: Guts by Raina Telgemeier

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BOOK INFORMATION

Publication Date: September 17, 2019

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Category: Middle Grade (MG)

Pages: 224

Publisher: Graphix

SYNOPSIS

A true story from Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts!

Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it’s probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she’s dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. It soon becomes clear that Raina’s tummy trouble isn’t going away… and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. What’s going on? Raina Telgemeier once again brings us a thoughtful, charming, and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face — and conquer — her fears.

MY TAKEAWAYS

I remember the moment I got the first two editions of this triology, Smile and Sisters, when I was nine years old. To make a long story short, I fell in love immediately, and I still re-read them every now and then to this day. On a recent trip to Barnes & Nobles, I finally got my hands on Guts, a highly-anticipated graphic novel for all of Telgemeier’s loyal fans–and let me tell you, it was all worth the wait! Guts is an absolute masterpiece!

At the beginning of this gem for tweens and teens, Raina (who is the author when she was in 4th grade), catches the stomach flu that had been spreading in her family. And when her stomach problems continue, she develops the fear of getting sick and throwing up (emetophobia) to the point where she is worried about catching something from her family and classmates. Eventually, her family signs her up to see a children’a therapist, and she progresses throughout the story learning how to face her fear while making new friends along the way.

Raina is such a quirky, fun, and relatable protagonist, so its not hard to take a liking to her character within the first few pages of the story. She seems like someone that I would’ve liked to be around back in elementary school. And believe me, having the protagonist be someone who I actually like as a person is critical to me when I read a novel for the first time.

While I thank God that I’m not a victim of anxiety, there are so many young people who struggle with their mental health, even if they fear something small like the dark or going to the doctor. Stories like Guts are not only relatable to a large range of audiences, but they also teach us that while fear is a normal feeling, we shouldn’t let the things that scare us take over our lives. And like any trial, fears can be conquered.

Like always, the vibrant illustrations on each page of this masterpiece illuminated the story, making it that much more entertaining for readers of all ages. Even though the topic of mental health among youth was discussed throughout the course of this story, the funny, light-hearted moments within the book didn’t fail to put a smile on my face.

Overall, Guts is a must-read for bookworms–and even non-bookworms–of all ages! I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!

Rating: ★★★★✯ (4.5/5 stars, 5 being the best of the best)

Recommended Age: for readers 9+

I’ve got to admit that I am very pleased with Guts. It was one of the three books that I got for my birthday, earlier this week, and I’ve got to admit that I made some pretty good choices. Be on the look out for the book reviews for the other two novels of my choice; they’re coming soon!

If you haven’t read this book already, I hope my opinion will encourage you to give it a try! However, if you already have this book in your collection, tell me your thoughts on it in the comments!

Have a wonderful rest of your day/night, everybody! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

Paperback vs. Hardcover Books: Where Do I Stand? ♡

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What’s up, my fabulous followers! This is Princess Q (a.k.a. Q’Zion) and welcome to my blog! ♡

Now, to all of my fellow book fanatics, there’s really no such thing as a bad way to read a good book. From audiobooks, to hardcovers, there are so many different ways to read! And while all bookworms love a good story, we each have our own preferences for how we like to read. One of the largest debates among the bookworm community is the simple question: Are paperback or hardcover books better?

Although it may seem silly to most people, a majority of bookworms have a preference between the two. Honestly, I have both paperback and hardcover books in my collection, and as long as I have a book that I can hold, I’m a happy camper! But I thought it’d be cool if I had a little discussion about what I like about each, and whether or not I have a true preference between the two. Let’s go!

Paperbacks

I think we can all agree that paperbacks are probably the most convenient when compared to hardcovers. They’re cheaper, lighter, easier to transport while traveling, and they take up less space, which is super helpful for those of us who have hundreds of books in our collection.

I have to admit that if I put a book in my purse to take with me while I go out, it’s most likely going to be a paperback. They just have this classic “homey” feeling when holding them in my hands; and since I love to read while getting comfy in my bead or on the couch, that is a huge bonus!

Hardcovers

Whenever I get a hardcover book, the one thing that I can think is “fancy.” If you’re someone who highly values the aesthetic of your bookshelf, these are probably the way to go. Hardcover books last longer, are harder to stain due to dust jackets–or those little thick wrappers that wrap around the cover–and make for a much more luxurious reading experience.

It would be a lie for me to say that I don’t love all of my hardcover books. Not only is the cover art absolutely gorgeous, but they are also so nice to look at on a shelf. Although, when I’m reading them they are a lot heavier to hold, which isn’t the best as someone who likes to be comfortable while reading. And even though I adore dust jackets for their function and how they look, I almost always end up setting them to the side while I read. Despite these few drawbacks, I can’t deny that the fact that hardcover books are so gorgeous makes up for them.

Okay, so I know that you guys are still waiting for me to answer the question. Which type of book do I like the most: paperbacks or hardcovers? But to be honest with you, I’d have to say neither. At the end of the day, they both have their pros and cons. As long as it’s a good book–and preferably one that I can physically hold–I couldn’t be happier.

Well, I’ve already told you all where I stand in the paperback vs. hardcover debate. But what about you? Do you prefer paperbacks, hardcover, eBooks, or audiobooks? In fact, do you have a preference at all? I would love to hear from all my fellow bookworms in the comments!

Have an awesome rest of your week, everybody! God bless you all, and I will catch you later! Peace in! ♡

The Best Ways to Celebrate National Book Lover’s Day ♡

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A/N~I’ve got a small announcement to make. Today is the last day of me posting every single day on my blog–as I mentioned that I would do in my 1 year blogiversary post. From now on, I will be posting every two days, meaning I post today, skip tomorrow, post Thursday, and the cycle goes on. Besides that, there will be no other changes to my blog or content. Okay–you are free to read the actual post now!

Happy Tuesday, y’all! This is Q’Zion and welcome back to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. To all my fellow bookworms and bibliophiles, we all know that there are few–if any–gifts that we can get in life that are better than a good book. After all, literature is like the foundation for learning just about anything. A world without books would be like a world without color. Just plan boring.

So in celebration of books and all the people around the world who love them, July 9th is proclaimed as Book Lover’s Day. And I’m going to share a few creative ideas for how we bookworms can celebrate to the fullest. Let’s get this show on the road!

Reorganize Your Book Shelf

Almost every bookworm has a shelf that’s just about filled with books. And as we constantly read and add to our vast collection, it can be easy for our books to get mixed and matched. If your bookshelf needs a little tender love and care, today is the perfect opportunity to make it look as neat as a display in a bookstore.

Make a Book Mark

I remember doing a craft a couple years ago where I made my own colorful bookmark, and I had so much fun with it that I had to make an entire series of custom-made bookmarks afterwards. The more books we get, the more bookmarks we need. That means that there’s no such thing as having too many bookmarks. So getting a little crafty and personalizing bookmarks of your own–especially while using colors that match with a particular book–would be an awesome way to celebrate being a bookworm.

Visit your Local Library

Honestly, this one is like muscle memory to anyone who loves books. However, going to the library to borrow a few books–and maybe even sit down and read for a couple hours–will likely give any bookworm some entertainment.

Recommend Some of Your Favorite Books to Someone Else

There aren’t many things that I love to do more than I love reading. But I have to admit that it always puts a smile on my face when I’m able to share some of the novels that I love the most with family and friends. Reading is a gift from God, and it is truly a great experience to be able to see others embracing it. So try showing some of your favorite books to a friend of yours–you never know; they might just turn them into a bookworm, too.

Try an eBook

If you’re like me, you have a huge preference for physical books. You know, the ones that you can feel, smell and hold. But if there’s anything that many of my books have taught me, it’s that sometimes it can be good to try new things. Whether you are used to reading books in the physical or digital world, it can be a great experience to try buying an eBook or purchasing a physical book from a bookstore for a change. Even if you end up switching to your preference afterwards, it’s always good to explore the different ways to read.

Create an Account on Goodreads

Are you looking for a digital platform where you can discover new books, write reviews for books you’ve read, and connect with other bookworms? Well then you might want to check out Goodreads. While I’ve never actually made an account of my own, I often look to Goodreads when I am looking for ratings and opinions on books that catch my interest. So Goodreads is a good option if you are someone who likes eBooks and/or you are on a mission to read more books.

Replace Your Screen Time for Reading Time

I know, I know. For most teenagers, our phones are like an extension of our arms. But every now and again, it’s really healthy to take a break and do something that doesn’t involve a screen. Instead of playing video games all Friday night when you finish your homework after school, reading could be a really productive way to wind down before bedtime–or any time, for that matter!

Join a Book Club

I’ve participated in a handful of clubs over the last couple years, and I’ve got to say that Book Club is one of my favorites. Not only is this a wonderful option for those who need an extra push to read more novels this year, but it’s also a great way to connect and interact with people who love books just as much as you do. And as a bookworm, that’s almost always a bonus!

I hope you all enjoyed these tips for making the most of National Book Lover’s Day–which if you think about it, is everyday. I thank God for books and how much He has taught me through them. Hopefully, you all found a great way to celebrate.

Have a happy rest of your day or night, everyone! Peace in! ♡