The House of Night series by Kristin and P.C. Cast

This picture shows only some of the series. More books are currently being written.

The House of Night series focuses around Zoey Redbird, a teenage girl who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here, in this modern world, Vampyres have always existed, though they don't need human blood every night to survive, you don't become one if you're bitten, and they can come into your house... even if you don't invite them in.

       Zoey is Marked as a fledgling vampyre and moves to the House of Night, a vampyre finishing school. Here she meets her friends Stevie Rae, Shaunee, Erin, Damien, Aphrodite, Erik, Jack, Stark, Rephaim, and many more as the series goes along. Zoey learns she has an affinity for each of the elements⎯earth, air, fire, water, and spirit⎯and her friends each have affinities themselves. Soon, a demon rises among them and more impossibilities are proved possible as Zoey burns her way through life, saving the world every few days. But hey, that's called being a teenager.

I would recommend these books for anyone 12 and older, because it does have some language and adult situations. But really most anyone would enjoy it because it's so interesting! Although, there are some points where you just can't seem to get rid of a tagalong and it gets annoying. But you must. Keep. Reading! 

I would rate these a 10 out of 10 because it is soooo addictive and interesting. It's such a creative idea and wonderfully written series. P.C. Cast and her daughter, Kristin Cast, write wonderfully together. I'd love to figure out how they write with each other.

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

In this collection of short stories all squished into one plot line, you follow Hansel and Gretel through a series of tragic endings, beginnings, and all in between. Adam Gidwitz read the original stories by the Brothers Grimm. Adam puts in his thoughts in between the paragraphs in the story and more than once he tells you not to tell these to children. A Tale Dark and Grimm is a very eye-opening book and makes you think about what you believe in life, what has meaning to you, and, of course, what is real and what isn't what it seems to be.

I would recommend this book to readers of all ages and preferences⎯except, possibly, young children⎯because it was very enjoyable and interesting. Personally, once I finished, I felt it was something I could have written. I hope to write something like this someday.

I'd rate this book a 9 out of 10 because it was incredibly interesting and I always felt the need to read on. This was creative and inspiring, even throughout the evil twisted into its pages. Sadly, though, not everyone would enjoy it. I think some things could have been revised better, but over all it was a great book to read.

Shelf Life collected by Gary Paulsen

Shelf Life is a collection of short stories, collected and put together by the famous Gary Paulsen. He decided to put in these specific stories to help people understand more meaning of happiness and life. It's not cheesy at all, but rather very uplifting. One of my favorite of the short stories is Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 by A. LaFaye. 

Table of Contents

Foreward  pg. ix
Introduction  pg 1
In Your Hat  pg 11
Escape  pg 23
Follow the Water  pg 33
Testing Testing 123  pg 55
Tea Party Ends in Bloody Massacre, Film at 11  pg 67
What's a Fellow To Do?  pg 81
Wet Hens  pg 91
The Good Deed  pg 109
Barcarole for Paper and Bones  pg 127
Clean Sweep  pg 151
About the Contributors  pg 165

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes short stories, but even if you don't like short stories specifically, I'm sure you would enjoy it. If you like philosophy and thinking of family and what is the limit on life happenings. This truly is a very interesting book.

I would rate this book a 9 because not all of them are the best, but most of it was very good.

Taylor Swift by Liv Spencer

Everyone knows Taylor Swift, the country and country-pop singer. But in this book, 255 pages long, Liv Spencer lets you in on the inside of Taylor's life and her childhood. You don't have to like her music, you don't have to like her looks, but this shows another thing to like about her: who Taylor Alison Swift is.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Taylor Swift: her music, her looks, her personality, what she does. For any hard-core Swiftie.

I would rate this book a 10 because there are so many things that it shows without painting Taylor as the big-headed pop star that all the haters try to tell people she is. It's just the inside scoop in Taylor's life and how she came to be one of the world-famous musicians.