Graphic Novel Recommendations!

Hello, everybody! Today I wanted to recommend some graphic novels to you all! I've written up some children's books and summer reading recommendations in the past but I've never actually recommended some graphic novels. I adore graphic novels since I love seeing stories come to life either cinematically or through awesome illustrations so I love finding a new one to pick up! 

I also really like reading manga but since I feel like I haven't read enough to recommend any to you guys, we'll stick with graphic novels for today.

I hope you guys end up finding some books that peak your interest and maybe check some of them out! Here are my personal recommendations!

Title: Anya's Ghost

Author: Vera Brosgol

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Review: My Thoughts

Synopsis: Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn't kidding about the "Forever" part.

Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya's normal life might actually be worse. She's embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she's pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs.

Or so she thinks. Spooky, sardonic, and secretly sincere, Anya's Ghost is a wonderfully entertaining debut from author/artist Vera Brosgol.

Title: Friends With Boys

Author: Faith Erin Hicks

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Review: My Thoughts

Synopsis: After years of homeschooling, Maggie is starting high school. It's pretty terrifying.

Maggie's big brothers are there to watch her back, but ever since Mom left it just hasn't been the same. 

Besides her brothers, Maggie's never had any real friends before. Lucy and Alistair don't have lots of friends either. But they eat lunch with her at school and bring her along on their small-town adventures.

Missing mothers...distant brothers...high school...new friends... It's a lot to deal with. But there's just one more thing. MAGGIE IS HAUNTED.

Title: The Adventures Of Superhero Girl

Author: Faith Erin Hicks

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Review: My Thoughts

Synopsis: What if you can leap tall buildings and defeat alien monsters with your bare hands, but you buy your capes at secondhand stores, and have a weakness for kittens, and a snarky comment from Skeptical Guy can ruin a whole afternoon? Cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks brings her skills in character design and sharp, charming humor to the trials and tribulations of a young, superhero battling monsters both supernatural and mundane in an all-too-ordinary world.

Title: Awkward

Author: Svetlana Chmakova

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Review: My Thoughts

Synopsis: Cardinal rule #1 for surviving school: Don't get noticed by the mean kids.

Cardinal rule #2 for surviving school: Seek out groups with similar interests and join them.

On her first day at her new school, Penelope--Peppi--Torres reminds herself of these basics. But when she trips into a quiet boy in the hall, Jaime Thompson, she's already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her the "nerder girlfriend." How does she handle this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away!

Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi still can't help feeling ashamed about the way she treated Jaime. Things are already awkward enough between the two, but to make matters worse, he's a member of her own club's archrivals--the science club! And when the two clubs go to war, Peppi realizes that sometimes you have to break the rules to survive middle school! 

Title: Through The Woods

Author: Emily Carroll

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Review: My Thoughts

Synopsis: 'It came from the woods. Most strange things do.'

Five mysterious, spine-tingling stories follow journeys into (and out of?) the eerie abyss.

These chilling tales spring from the macabre imagination of acclaimed and award-winning comic creator Emily Carroll.

Come take a walk in the woods and see what awaits you there...

Review: The Only Pirate at The Party by Lindsey Stirling and Brooke S. Passey

The Only Pirate at The Party by Lindsey Stirling and Brooke S. Passey

Rating: PG

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, Music

Score:

Page Count: 272

Stand Alone

Publisher: Gallery Books

Published: January 12, 2016

Electronic and dancing violinist Lindsey Stirling shares her unconventional journey in an inspiring memoir filled with the energy, persistence, and humor that have helped her successfully pursue a passion outside the box.

A classically trained musician gone rogue, Lindsey Stirling is the epitome of independent, millennial-defined success: after being voted off the set of America’s Got Talent, she went on to amass more than ten million social media fans, record two full-length albums, release multiple hits with billions of YouTube views, and tour sold-out venues across the world.Lindsey is not afraid to be herself. In fact, it’s her confidence and individuality that have propelled her into the spotlight. But the road hasn’t been easy. After being rejected by talent scouts, music reps, and eventually national television, Lindsey forged her own path, step by step. Here, for the first time, she shares every triumph and trial she has faced until now. Beginning in a humble yet charmed childhood, this book follows Lindsey through a humorous adolescence, to her life as a struggling musician, through her personal struggles with anorexia, and finally all the way to her success as a world-class entertainer. Lindsey’s magnetizing story is at once remarkable and universal—a testimony that there is no singular recipe for success. And a witness that, despite what people may say, sometimes it’s okay to be The Only Pirate at the Party.

Review:

PROS:

1. I've been a fan of Lindsey Stirling's since 2013 and have since fallen madly in love with not only her music but her amazing personality and ability to just be herself in the music industry. Since discovering her music, the first video I ever watched being 'Crystalized' when it was a small count of over 100,000,000 views, I have been able to switch many friends onto her music and it has been something we're able to bond over which is something amazing that music is able to do. Over the years, I've stayed up to date on her new music and videos and hope to one day see her live so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! When I found out about Lindsey's book, I was pretty dead set on reading it and now I've finally gotten around to picking it up, I'm so excited to review it for you guys!

2. The book obviously follows Lindsey from the time she's a child up until today as her career is in full swing and bigger than ever. It was such a nice inside look into the kind of person Lindsey was as a child and how she changed over the years for both the best and sometimes the worst. In the book, she doesn't hold back from pointing out her own flaws and mistakes that she uses as a reminder to never let little things get to her and not to live for people's approval. She talks about self-image and how it can play a role in building your confidence as well as how she let opinions of others affect how she lived her life, what she loved, who she was and ultimately how these things led to her low self-esteem and eating disorder and depression. I appreciated the honesty of this book and I think it's definitely a book that offers valuable advice on the long process that is building confidence.

3. Lindsey also talks about the struggles she had to face with making her music and all that went into not only learning how to play the violin but also working on original music, getting her name out there, focusing on her personal accomplishments as well as discovering where she really belonged in music. She talks about the kind of people that she met along the way, discusses the importance of staying focused on whatever it is your passionate about and how falling in love, making friends, having bad days and just going through the motions is all a part of this crazy thing called life. She provides a unique insight when it comes to the process of learning to accept who you are and knowing you might not be the best of something but as long as you're enough for yourself and the people who support you through and through, that's all you need to be the best.

4. Throughout the book, the common theme was simply hard work and having a passion for the thing you love you most. Whether you want to be a dancer, an actor, a musician or any kind of artist or any other kind of dream job you wish to achieve, Lindsey shines a light on the fact that it will come easy enough for some but won't come as easily for others. Her main point was to not give up as long as you know in your heart that what you want to do for a living and whatever dream you want to chase after is something you feel you need to go after. I think this book is one I'd recommend to anyone looking for some advice on going after your dreams, regardless if you're a fan of Lindsey Stirling or not.

5. Overall, I will totally be reading this book again in the future whether it's from the first page to the last or simply opening it up to a certain passage for some advice. This book is in hindsight a success story but Lindsey Stirling also makes a point on what success really is in her personal opinion: if you're enjoying what you're doing, happy with where you are and determined to continue to improve and become better at your craft and you realize your own talents for what they are, that's success ten times over. There's nothing wrong with being a little different and sometimes, as Lindsey put it, it can be cool to be the only pirate at the party.

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! What's something you're passionate about and a dream you hope to achieve? Let me know because I would LOVE to see what your dreams are! Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

My Second Blogiversary!

Hello, everybody! Today I just wanted to write up a quick little post about my little blog turning two years old today! Back in 2014, I finally got off my rear end and decided to dive into the blogosphere with no idea how to run a blog let alone what to do about navigating my way through blogs. I had always read blogs and liked what the people were talking about but I had no idea if I even had anything new to add to the conversation on a place of my own.

I knew I loved books and movies and music and probably WAY too much coffee but I didn't know how those things would be interesting enough to people in my own words. I decided to just go for it and ever since creating my blog, I have made so many good friends in the blogger community and have grown so much as both a reader and a person because of simply having a public place to get some things off my chest.

I am so thankful to every single one of my readers including those who only stopped by once and never came back again. Your view still counts in my book!! Because of blogging, I feel like I have also become more active and passionate about writing both for this blog and for the stories in my head that I have published and hope to publish in the future! 

I just want to give a special shout out to two amazing bloggers who showed their support from the very beginning,  Soudha from Of Stacks and Cups and Olivia from Olivia's Catastrophe for being huge inspirations to me and for telling me to keep up the blogging from the very start! You guys rock!

Blogging is so much more to me than just talking about my favorite books and sharing my thoughts on movies and music, it's become a way for me to open up a little more, which is something I struggle to do with actual people. Call me stoic or too selfless, but I would much rather be the friend someone comes to when they need to talk than to cry about my own problems that I feel like I can handle on my own.

If you're someone who is considering taking on creating your own blog, I encourage you to do so this instant!! Even if you end up not really loving it, at least you gave it a chance. So now that I've rambled on for long enough, I just want to say a huge thank you for reading this post and other posts, for commenting and most of all, being my buddies! I love you all to Pluto and back!!

P.S. Since we're on the whole blogging subject, head over to by best friend's blog! She's new to the community and I'm so happy she's joined the blogger family! Be sure to send Abby some love and tell her I sent you by checking out Musicals Heart & Soul if you're into Broadway, musicals and all things of that nature! K bye!

Summer Reading Recommendations!

Hello, my lovely readers! Today I thought it would be lots of fun to recommend some summer reads to you all in case anyone out there is looking for something new to read this summer season! Some of these recommendations you might have already read but hopefully, you find one that peaks your interest. So, without further ado, here are my recommendations!

As a side note, there are PLENTY of summer reads that I have yet to get around to reading so I'll be tackling my own summer reading list along with all of you. I might even reread some of my favorites in this list, we'll see what happens over the next few weeks.

Title: Along For The Ride

Author: Sarah Dessen

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Synopsis: It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

Title: Anna and the French Kiss (AATFK #1)

Author: Stephanie Perkins

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Synopsis: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes (13 Little Blue Envelopes #1)

Author: Maureen Johnson

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Synopsis: Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.

In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat.

The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.

Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/ bloke–about–town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous–though utterly romantic–results. But will she ever see him again?

Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it's all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.

Title: Miki Falls: Spring (Miki Falls #1)

Author: Mark Crilley

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Synopsis: It's spring--a time for new beginnings. This is Miki Yoshida's final year of high school, and she's determined to make this the best year yet. Miki is in control . . .

. . . until Hiro Sakurai shows up.

The tall, handsome new student is hiding something, and Miki wants to know what. As she breaks down Hiro's defenses, she is unnerved by how much she cares about him. Too bad he is the one guy who can't care for her back. But Miki is falling for Hiro, and nothing's going to stop her from getting close to him--not even his dangerous secret.

Title: The Heartbreakers (The Heartbreakers #1)

Author: Ali Novak

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Synopsis: "When I met Oliver Perry, I had no clue he was the lead singer for The Heartbreakers. Unbeknownst to him, I was the only girl in the world who hated his music."

Stella will do anything for her sister—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD... for three hours. At least she met a cute boy at the Starbucks beforehand. A blue-eyed boy who looks an awful lot like...

Oliver Perry. Of course Starbucks guy is the lead singer for her least favorite band. Thanks, universe. But there may be more to Oliver than his world-famous charm, because even after she insults his music—to his face—he still gives her his number. Seriously, what is her life?

But how can Stella even think about being with Oliver—dating and laughing and pulling pranks with the band—when her sister could be dying of cancer? 

Title: Friends With Boys

Author: Faith Erin Hicks

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Synopsis: After years of homeschooling, Maggie is starting high school. It's pretty terrifying.

Maggie's big brothers are there to watch her back, but ever since Mom left it just hasn't been the same. 

Besides her brothers, Maggie's never had any real friends before. Lucy and Alistair don't have lots of friends either. But they eat lunch with her at school and bring her along on their small-town adventures.

Missing mothers...distant brothers...high school...new friends... It's a lot to deal with. But there's just one more thing.

MAGGIE IS HAUNTED.

Music Matching Monday: The Rose Society

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SEQUEL SYNOPSIS:

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she flees Kenettra with her sister to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good when her very existence depends on darkness?

Bestselling author Marie Lu delivers another heart-pounding adventure in this exhilarating sequel to The Young Elites.
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So for those of you who have maybe already read this book and it's previous one, you'll know about all that goes down in the first book and what plays out in this second book in the series. So as not to spoil anyone, I'll just say a lot of enemies and not-so-good friends are made in this book and Adelina is finding it even harder to control her powers when the only thing that fuels her is the darkness. In the first book, she struggles to control it then and continues to face many problems as her story continues in The Rose Society. As her character grows, we see Adelina become darker, more sinister and justify her questionable actions for the greater good of her people. I think Adelina is a character you both feel sorry and route for. Which is why I chose a song that pretty much was written for Adelina in my mind. 

The song talks about not knowing who to trust, as well as hoping that when the time comes that you're in the most need, someone will be there for you even if they haven't been there for you in the past. No one wants to be let down and I think Adelina is one character that needs someone to lean on in her toughest moments.

DON'T LET ME DOWN by The Chainsmokers ft. Daya

__________________________________________

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I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. 

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. 

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.
It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

__________________________________________

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu (The Young Elites #3)

Available: October 11, 2016

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May Wrap-Up and Haul!

Hello, everybody! Today I have my monthly wrap-up and haul so I'm excited to show you guys what I read and bought! First off, I'm still on my book buying somewhat ban so I didn't buy that many books this month BUT I only bought books I know for sure I'm going to read! I'm also currently in the process of getting rid of more books that will give me more room for new books so YAY FOR SUMMER!

Anyhoo, let's get started with the books I read this month.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

The Heir by Kiera Cass (The Selection #4)

The Crown by Kiera Cass (The Selection #5)

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak (The Heartbreakers #1)

And now the haul!!

Walt Disney's Cinderella -Library- $0.50

Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Frost -Dollar Tree- $1

The Crown by Kiera Cass -Barnes & Noble- $15

Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes (Queen of Hearts #1) -Barnes & Noble- $17

The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry -Library- $0.50

CDS:

Tangled Soundtrack by Various Artists -Library- $0.50

Storyteller by Carrie Underwood -Gift-

So that's my mini haul for this month! I hope you guys enjoyed this month's haul but I want to know what you guys bought this month as for books or CD's. Let me know in the comments down below!

Also, what was your favorite read of May? I think mine was The Crown but I read some really good books this month. Hopefully, June is much the same. Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Top 5 Favorite Documentaries!

Hello, everybody! Today, I thought I'd post something that was a little unrelated to books just for fun. Don't worry, the regular scheduled programming of book posts will still be forthcoming, but I wanted to share with you guys another one of my interests other than books and music. One thing I love as much as reading is going to the theater or logging onto Netflix to watch a movie. I'm at the theater more often than I go to the store because I just LOVE movies! 

However, I also enjoy documentaries and I can't seem to get enough of them. I'm pretty picky on the ones I watch because I do have my preferences but I have found a few favorites that I've rewatched many times and I thought I'd recommend them to you guys if you're looking for something to watch or want to get into documentaries. 

All of these documentaries can be found on Netflix in the US but depending on where you live, some of these might not be available so check online for yourself to make sure. Now without further ado, here are my top five favorite documentaries at the moment!

Bridgend by John Michael Williams

The film explores the stories of many victims who were found hanged due to suicide in the town of Bridgend in Wales. Over 100+ teens and kids have committed suicide in this town over the past few years with little explanation as to why. Many friends of the victims have also committed suicide, only adding to the questions of the people living there as to why this has plagued their town and providing a never-ending connection between every person found dead.

This is a very powerful and eye-opening film that is obviously very emotional but well worth watching. If you have any triggers, I would highly suggest passing on this film.

Killer Legends by Joshua Zemon

This documentary explores four urban legends that have all fueled the minds of people believing in these legends when real crimes are investigated in connection with such urban legends such as the Killer Clown, Poisoned Halloween candy, The Hook-Handed Man, and more. Some of these legends are sprouted from real life crimes from the past while others seem to be nothing more than our own imagination playing tricks on us.

As a lover of all things having to do with urban legends, I was so excited to find this one and have watched it too many times to count. If you love mystery and suspense and anything creepy, check this one out for sure!

Cropsey by Joshua Zemon

In this film, it documents the story of 'Cropsey' that ended up turning from fiction into reality when the urban legend of a drifter who snatches children off the street became real when a criminal named Cropsey, believed to be an escaped mental patient started kidnapping and killing young children. Truly an urban legend that fuels our many nightmares and the reality becomes more frightful.

As I said, I love urban legends and anything to do with creepy or thriller storylines. If you too love creepy things that are based on real life, totally check this one out!

My Beautiful, Broken Brain by David Lynch, Sophie Robinson, & Lotje Soderland

This film follows a young woman in her early thirties who suffers from a severe stroke that leaves permanent damage to her brain as well as provides many more roadblocks into Lotje's recovery. The documentary follows Lotje for a year as she begins her journey to recovering from her stroke and a new life begins for her.

It's truly an amazing film that opens your eyes to what it takes in order to begin again in a sense and just how complicated the brain really is. I've seen this film a few times now and each time I watch it, I learn something new.

I Know That Voice! by Lawrence Shapiro

This film goes behind the scenes of the voice actors we all know in some way or another and explores just what goes into creating an iconic voice such as Spongebob Squarepants, Scooby-Doo and other characters we all know and love. 

Voice acting has always been interesting to me and this documentary sheds light on the fact that voice acting is a lot more than just talking in a funny voice. A lot more details, characterization, and hard work go into creating a voice for a character and it was very interesting to learn about that.

So, I hope you guys enjoyed creeping on what I watch on the weekends! Even though I watch more Disney than anything else. Read on, bookworms! See you in the next chapter!