A Corner of the Universe

Hattie lives in a boarding house.

Its's exactly where she wants to be-

her corner of the universe.

And then Adam comes, and they fit together,

like they were meant to be.

But he won't stay,

or maybe it's that he can't stay.

Either way, Hattie will have to learn how to fit back into her world without him.

I enjoyed this book. The ending really caught me off guard. Although, I should have seen it coming.
The book is children's fiction, however, I think it is better understood/appreciated by an older audience.

I really liked this book trailer, but if you want the ending to surprise  you DON'T WATCH IT!

Lots of ♥,

Rapunzel 

Ten Miles Past Normal

Janie thought living on a farm was a great idea...

when she was in fourth grade.

Now she is starting her first year of high school, and has new feelings about it.

It hasn't been winning her any popularity points so far.

Like when she ends up going to school with goat pop on her shoe.

Or the boy who charges her five dollars to drive her home because gas is expensive and its out of his way.

Something has got to change.

And it does when she meets Monster.

He doesn't care about the things everyone else does.

He likes Janie because she is...Janie.

And for once, she doesn't have to blend in.



I liked this book for a lot of reasons. The setting was defiantly one of them. The farm was a refreshing and fun place to read about it.

Janie's feelings are very universal to most teenage girls, which made the book relate able. Being able to relate to the book and care about the charters it a huge selling point for me.

And, it was funny:)

Lots of ♥,

Rapunzel 

The Summer Before Boys

Do you remember...

The moments when fantasy and real...

coexisted in your world?

Where the world was yours.

Everything was as simple

as it seemed.

Do you remember...

when all this changed?

This is the summer where all this happens for Julia.

But Eliza isn't ready.

Will this tear them apart?

Are they strong enough to make it through?

Lots of ♥,

Rapunzel 

Dog Tag Summer

These dog tags mean something. Tracie knows that. And although she doesn't know how, she knows she is connected to them somehow.

Tracie is the daughter of a Vietnamese women and and American GI, like many other children born during  the Vietnamese war in Vietnam. And although she now leads a comfortable, safe life in the United States with her adoptive family, she has questions about her past. Lots of them.

This story was very unique and interesting. Although I've read lots of historical fiction, I'd never read a book on the Vietnam war. I appreciated all the facts the author put in back of the book to answer any questions you as the reader might have.

It was also a short read. I started it at 10:00pm one night, and finished at 5:30 pm the next day.

I guess the really shows how much I loved it.

Lots of ♥,

Rapunzel 

The Penderwicks

Meet the Penderwicks. Four enchanting sisters, and their lovable dog Hound who can't help but get into trouble wherever they go.

Rosalind, the oldest has her hands full filling in for their mother, who passed away when Batty was small.
Falling in love for the first time only complicates things more.

Skye, the only sister with blue eyes, loves her soccer ball more than anything, except for maybe math, and definitely science.

Then there's Jane, the writer, with her slightly dramatic flare.

And don't forget Batty. Its not hard to tell her apart form the others. She's the small one wearing butterfly wings.

This summer will be different for the girls. Rather than their typical summer get away, they find themselves at Arundel. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was and accident. All they know, is they'll never forget this summer.

This is my all time favorite book. Pascal and I read it together not to long ago, and he definitely agreed.

Its hard to explain why I liked it so much, but I'll give it a try.

 Its a feel good book.

I relate to the characters, and see myself in each sister.

The adventure's are things I'd love to do.

And who doesn't want to read about summer?

enjoy!

Lots of  ♥,

Rapunzel 

Christmas Day 6

Angel on Eleventh Avenue.

 I've Lost track of how many times I've read this one.

I loved it each and every one.

It it an amazing story about a young girl going through terrible things and the journey to coping her mother makes.

So worth reading.

Christmas Day 4

Nothing is better than a Christmas story you read year and year again...

Here is a super good one. 

Steel

Pirates?

This doesn't doesn't like a girly book.

In fact,

this sounds like a book for a boy....

WAIT???? What did you say?

The captain of the ship is a girl?


And one of the crew members is exceptional cute?

And there are sword fights?

Maybe I'll consider it...


Actually,

You definitely should consider it.

It is currently one of my favorite books. It is really captivating and exciting. Although I still think pirates weren't the kindest folks, I now see what was appealing about the  life style.

Adventure.

You never knew what each day would bring.

And although none of us can live like that (well we could, its just not advisable..)  you can read this book adn get an idea of what it would be like:)

Lots of Love,

Rapunzel 

Entwined

There is a price for playing with magic. A price Azalea and her eleven sisters are not aware of.

If they wish to spend nights dancing a Keeper’s enchanted pavilion, they are more than welcome to. But there is a cost, and Keeper will make them pay.

But the harder Azalea tries to even the balance, the worse things get. And she becomes trapped in a web of secrets, enchantment, and dancing. Especially dancing.

Entwined is Heather Dixon’s retelling of the “Twelve Dancing Princesses. However, in making it her own, some majored details were omitted.

To tell the truth, I was grateful. It was a relief that this version didn’t hold as many deaths as the original.

The atmosphere through much of the story is intense and dark, which makes the need for goodness to triumph more necessary.

One way this atmosphere is achieved is the concept of magic having two parts, goodness, and darkness.

Part of the way Dixon keeps the mood is how she picks her wording. She keeps a sense of humor, even it when things aren’t going well, but she avoids being cheesy. The only part where this isn't true is the ending. For such an emotional book, the ending seemed too silly. It was cute, but not right for this book.

Over all, I loved it. I became addicted. It was the prefect, stay-up-all-night-scare-yourself -silly-fall-in-love-make-you-smile-kind-of-book.

Lots of Love,

Rapunzel 

A Tale of Two Castles

You may remember that I previously posted that I couldn't get my hands on this book because EVERY one else wanted to read it ...


Well, I finally was able to obtain it on CDs, as an audio book. The woman who read the story did an excellent job portraying the voices. I would definitely recommend listening to it, if you can't read it. 


This story takes place in a fantasy kingdom by the name of  'Two Castles', where a young girl named Elodie has come to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress. 


When the situation doesn't turn as she planned, she becomes a Dragon's Assistant, and discovers she is more talented and skilled than she would have ever imagined.


Elodie is a believable character. I felt that it was easy to relate to her feelings of loneliness, and that of an outsider as she first arrives in Two Castles. And more importantly than that, Elodie grows on your heart. She becomes a person that you want to succeed, and a person you want to be like. 


Hope you enjoy! 


Lots of Love, 

Rapunzel 

Gail Carson Levine

Rather than posting about one good book, today I'm going to post about an author who has written a lot of really amazing fantasy books. She has even written a book about writing fantasy books! Her name is Gail Carson Levine. 

Her stories seem to fly off the page, you can't help but fall in love with them!!!

Her newest book is called A Tale of Two Castles.

It looks so good, but I haven't read it yet because there are 32 people in front of me on the hold list who also think it looks good. 

But, I have read most of her other books.

Last night I finished reading Fairest. 

Well, re-reading to be exact.

This book takes an exciting twist on the tale of Snow White. 

But, it is much more exciting. The Snow White character, Aza, is ugly. She is a hard worker, and does much more than just sing and look cute, although she does have an amazing voice. And her prince is much more than just handsome. 

The first books I read by her were the Princess Tales.

These are six, short easier to read fairy tale retellings. Personally, I think they are hysterical. Pascal doesn't see why, so maybe it is just me. You'll have to read them for yourself and tell me what you think. 

Then, there is Ella Enchanted. 

I have only read it once, and that was so long ago, I don't remember much about it except that I loved it! 

This one twist up Cinderella. 

And then there is the book Ever.

I don't think it is a fairy tale retelling, but I could be wrong. Rather than having the usual castle and kingdom flair of her other books, this one is set in a middle eastern type of world, very exotic. 

This next book was originally supposed to be a retelling ot the 12 dancing princesses. It is called The Two Princesses of Bamarre.

It didn't turn out that way though. I read it so long ago, that, once again, I don't remember much. But it is a very powerful story. 

And I can't forget The Wish!

This story takes place in our modern world. But, of course, it has a little bit of a magical twist.

But wait! There is still more!

She has written three Disney fairy books, I have only read Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, but there are also Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand, and Fairies and the Quest for Neverland.

Then, there is the book Dave at Night.

Once again, I haven't read this one, but everything else she has written has been good, so I have high hopes.

And, then she has also written a few picture books!

Betsy Who cried Wolf, and Betsy Red Hoodie.

And, if you read her books, and want to write like her, you'll need Writing Magic:Creating Stories that Fly!

I love this book because I feel connected to Ms. Levine when I read it. I feel like I can do anything, and that someday, I 'll become a great writer!

I hope you find something you like. I know the I can't wait to read the ones that I haven't gotten to yet!

Lots of Love and Happy Reading,

Rapunzel

Hua Mulan

I love stories with strong female leads...

I also love fairy tales, although I prefer my princesses to be, as I said before, STRONG. 

Maybe that is why I am so drawn to the story a Hua Mulan. 

Now I am sure you have heard the Disney version of the story, but the Ballad of Mulan is equally beautiful, if not more so. I love this link because it has the characters, the pinyin, the direct translation, AND the poetic translation of the song. I have yet to find the music for the song. 

I also love fairytale retellings. The Once Upon a Time series is a collection of fabulous books, written by assorted authors, that all are based on a fairy tale. 

Recently, I jut finished reading, this one, Wild Orchid. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you, that one is a retelling of Mulan. 

This book was extremely addicting, I was swept away by just the first page of it. Everything about was just my style, not to mention the extremely attractive male characters...


It was also very inspiring, since it was about finding yourself. The message was positive,as well as thought provocative. 

Author: Cameron Dokey

Pages: 224

Genre: Fairy Tale/ Historical Fiction

My opinon: I really enjoyed escaping to ancient China. This book was entertaining, and exciting.I couldn't put it down, I was hooked. 

This book also reminded me of another book  I have read. 

This book was also about a female warrior, and shared very similar concepts to Wild Orchid. But, it was also very different. It you like stories about strong women, this is a book for you! 

Author: Dori Jones Yang

Pages: 352

Genre: Historical Fiction

My opinon: As I said before, I loved this book. It was inspiring,and amazing. Very romantic, and it made you think. 

Happy Reading!!!

Lots of Love,

Rapunzel

Palace of Mirrors

Cecilia is a girl who has been told her whole life that she is a princess. Every night she sits up late studding all the things that she needs to know to become a princess. But, as every fairy tail goes, there is a twist in her fate, and everything she thought she knew changes. Now, it is up to her to make choices that only the true princess could. Author: Margret Peterson Haddix Pages: 320 Genre: Fairy Tale  My opinon: As you will learn, I am not a picky reader. This book delivered what I wanted. It was romantic and funny. It is the perfect ticket-out-of-your-life kind of read.  Lots of Love, Rapunzel