New Blog

Hey everyone!

Just a quick FYI!

I have a new blog where I'm going to put all the cool graphics and stuff I design.

It's called Designs by Katie.

Go Check it out!

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Name: Ella Enchanted

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Brief summary: When Ella of Frell was born, the foolish fairy, Lucinda, gave her the gift of obedience. Of course, as Ella grows up, she looks at that "gift" as a curse. Any command she is given, Ella has to obey. It could be something as simple as, "Clean your room." or something much worse, like, "Chop your head off.". When Ella is fifteen, she decides to find the foolish Lucinda and ask her to talk the curse off. This book follows Ella as she goes to finishing school, her father gets remarried and ultimately, she falls in love with the gorgeous Prince Charmont, Prince Char for short. Will Ella get the curse off and get the happy ending that she dreams of?

Grade/Age level: 10 and up

Cautions: None

If you like this book, you will also like.... Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Personal Opinion: I read this book when I was about ten and it's been my totally favorite book since. It was always at the top of my "favorite books list", even above Harry Potter! Those who knew me at this age will find this as a shock, as I was a Harry obsessor from ages 8-12.

Rating: 10/10

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Name: Princess Academy
Author: Shannon Hale

Brief summary: When the priests predict that the prince's future wife will come from the mountains, everyone is shocked at the idea. When the King's Men come to let those from the "chosen" mountain town know that every girl aged 12-18 must come to "The Princess Academy", Miri is less than thrilled. Miri, a girl filled with imagination, character and wit, is angered when she is told she doesn't get a choice and must go to the Princess Academy, especially when she realizes her sister, Marda, is a few days too old to go with her. Miri, along with every other girl, goes to the Princess Academy to be taught how to act, dress, eat and do everything else a princess must. Along the way, Miri makes an unexpected friend, Britta. Britta recently moved to the mountains from a city and was recently orphaned. This book was filled to the brim with adventure and romance.
Grade/Age level: 12 and up
Cautions: None
If you like this book, you will also like....Any book by Gail Carson Levine, Especially Ella Enchanted.
Personal Opinion: The same cousin who gave me Cycler gave me this book YEARS ago. I randomly found it while cleaning my room and decided to give it a shot. As I read it, memories of me rereading Ella Enchanted for the trillionth time filled my head. Miri and Ella have much in common, including that both are spunky and they both fight their way through different trials. Princess Academy was a fun book that I HATED to put down.

Rating: 9/10

Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin

Name: Cycler

Author: Lauren McLaughlin

Brief summary: Everyone hates "That time of month", right? Jill has a different reason than most girls to hate her period. For four days every month, Jill turns into Jack, a rebellious teenage boy. With the help of her "anti- Jack" mother, everytime Jack turns back to Jill, she meditates on the fact that she is "All Girl" and forgets everything that Jack did during his visit. With the help of his yoga loving father, Jack is able to be a normal teenage boy, complete with sneaking out, food and porn. Her friends all think that during those four days when she's out of school and can't see or talk to any of her friends, that she's getting blood transfusions. When Jill developes a crush on a cute bi-sexual boy, she is determined to go to prom with him. The only problem? Jack will be visiting.

Grade/Age level: 14 and up

Cautions: Jack sleeps with a girl, Jack asks for porn (and gets it), A boy is bi-sexual, Jill and her friend kiss on the lips, just as a joke though.

If you like this book, you will also like....I have no idea! This book is so unique...

Personal Opinion: When my cousin gave me this book and told me what it was about, I laughed. A girl who turns into a guy during her period? FUNNY! Makes my period seem alot easier. :P But as I randomly started to read it, I was mesmorized. I meant just to read a chapter or two, but instead I stayed up all night reading it. It was funny, touching and WAY different than any book I've ever read.

The only thing I really had a problem with was the porn. It made me uncomfortable, and that's probably the only reason I'm not letting my sister read it.

Rating: 9/10

An Old Fashioned Girl book review

Name: An Old Fashioned Girl
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Brief summary: Polly, a naive country girl, goes to the city to visit her friend, Fanny Shaw, and her family. While she's there, Polly realizes that people are growing up a lot earlier now. Her friend, Fanny, dresses different, and goes to adult activities. Polly, on the other hand, prefers playing with little Maude Shaw, or sledding with Tom Shaw, Fanny's brother, to spending time with Fanny and her high society friends. This touching book is the story of Polly's journey to staying true to herself while in a place where it's odd to be yourself.
Grade/Age level: 10 and up
Cautions: None
If you like this book, you will also like....Eight Cousins and Little Women, both by Louisa May Alcott
Personal Opinion: This was probably the first book that I had to read for school that I actually really really enjoyed. Wait, no. I liked Lilies of the Field too. Ninth grade books are better than any of the other years. *shrug*

I highly, highly highly recommend you read this. It's SUCH a good book!
Rating: 10/10

Coming soon!

Song by Song Review of the Wicked Soundtrack (Gotta love iTunes giftcards!)

Song by Song Review of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Soundtrack.

Song by Song Review of Rascal Flatts newest CD: Still Feels Good (Gotta love sisters!)

Movie Review of Mamma Mia! Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth

Book Review of Little House on The Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Book Review of Holy Father: Pope Benedict XVI: Pontiff for a new era by Greg Tobin.

Book Review of Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer.

Song by Song Review of the Enchanted Soundtrack featuring Carrie Underwood

Book Review of Come Juneteenth by Ann Rinaldi

Book Review of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Book Review of Anne of Avonlea By L.M. Montgomery

Book Review of An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott

Soundtrack Review: Twilight: The Major Motion Picture

Name: Twilight: The Major Motion Picture Soundtrack

Artist: Various

Favorite songs: Decode, Bella's Lullaby, Supermassive Black Hole, Leave Out All The Rest, and Flightless Bird, American Mouth.

Song by Song Review:

Supermassive Black Hole by Muse- 9.5/10 -- This song has a great beat and is alot of fun to dance and sing along to!

Favorite lyrics: "I thought I was a fool for no-one, Oh baby I'm a fool for you. You're the queen of the superficial, And how long before you tell the truth?"

Decode by Paramore- 10/10 -- AAHH! This song is AMAZING!!!! This is the song that made me obsessed with Paramore. :)

Favorite lyrics: "How can I decide what's right, When you're clouding up my mind?

Full Moon by the Black Ghosts- 7/10 -- The song's cool, it just gets kind of repetitive after a while.

Favorite lyrics: "In the full moons light I listen to the stream. And in between the silence hear you calling me. But I don't know where I am and I don't trust who I've been. And If I come home how will I ever leave"

Leave out All The Rest by Linkin Park- 10/10 -- AHHH!! THIS SONG Is the best on the album!!!!!!!

Favorite lyrics: Ahh, I love all the lyrics, but here's thee chorus which is totally amazing. "When my time comes, Forget the wrong that I've done. Help me leave behind some Reasons to be missed. And don't resent me, And when you're feeling empty,Keep me in your memory. Leave out all the rest. Leave out all the rest."

Spotlight (Twilight Mix) by Mutemath- 8/10 --Fun song! I like it lots. :)

Favorite lyrics: "You know the one thing you're fighting to hold Will be the one thing you've got to let go."

Go All The Way (Into The Twilight) by Perry Ferrell- 4/10 -- AHHHH! MAKE IT STOP! AUGH! This is my least favorite song on the album. SO repetitive and ANNOYING!!!! It's the song that's playing when Bella and Edward walk into the prom. *shudders* augh.

Favorite lyrics: "La la la la la lalalala la la la la la Tonight! Lightning strikes! Let's go into Twilight!"-- Sorry couldn't help it. This is pretty much the whole song.

Tremble For My Beloved by Collective Soul- 7/10 -- It's pretty cool. The tune at the beginning seems like the music that they play throughout the movie.

Favorite lyrics: "Its a world where madness craves. Its a world where hopes enslaved. Oh, I tremble for my love always"

I Caught Myself by Paramore- 8/10 -- I love this song! It has a great beat and great lyrics. :) Pretty much, typical Paramore. :)

Favorite lyrics: "You got it, you got it. Some kind of magic, Hypnotic, hypnotic. You're leaving me breathless, I hate this, I hate this."

Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation- 8/10 -- Awesome awesome song! They also play this one throughout the movie randomly. It's just the song that just has the "lalala's"

Favorite lyrics: "I won't soothe your pain. I won't ease your strain. You'll be waiting in vain. I got nothing for you to gain

Never Think by Rob Pattinson- 8/10 -- Heyyy who knew he sang?!? When I first heard this, I was like, "nooo way." It's awesome, but it's just that... his voice sounds so much DIFFERENT when he's talking! It's crazy! But a good crazy. :) He has a very unique voice, one you wouldn't expect Mr. Hot Voice to have, but... he does.

Favorite lyrics: "I should never think What's in your heart. What's in our home. So I won't. You'll learn to hate me, But still call me baby. Oh love, So call me by my name

Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine- 10/10 -- I LOVE THIS SONG!! It's the song they dance to at the prom. Sooo romantic!!!! <33

Favorite Lyrics: Have I found you, Flightless bird, jealous, weeping or lost you, american mouth. Big pill looming."

Let Me Sign by Rob Pattinson- 10/10 -- *swoons* His voice makes me swoon. *sigh*

Favorite lyrics: "She spoke with a voice That struck at the sky. She said, "come on over Bittersweet I'll wrap you in my arms" ."

Bella's Lullaby by Carter Burwell- 9/10 -- I WOULD have given it 10/10, but it's SO not Bella's Lullaby. It's amazing and I love it, but it's not Bella's Lullaby.

Clair De Lune- 10/10 -- I listened to it over and over so I could recognize it and hum it. Cuz Edward likes it. :P I need a life.

La Traviata- 8/10 -- EMBRACE YOUR ITALIAN HERITAGE!

Inappropriate lyrics: Uhh, I think there may be some. I'll look again later.

Overall rating: 8.5/10