I'm Not Her

I'm Not Her is a novel written by Janet Gurtler.

Kristina is is not the same person as her sister. In fact, Kristina could be the complete opposite. She is the sporty one, the popular one and the beautiful one. Her life is seemingly perfect. That is, until she gets cancer in her knee. It is now Tess, Kristina's younger sister, that everyone is interested in. She suddenly becomes popular after years of being a 'nobody'. Boys like her. She starts to like boys. Her first date, her first kiss, loss of a friend, ect. The day that Tess's older sister, Kristina, got cancer, was the day that Tess's life changed forever.

I got this book in a contest and from first glance thought it would be about a girl trying to live up to be another girl. Probably some teen romance.

I was right on one account, but not on the other. Although this book has some romance within it, it is, more-or-less, about the sisterly bond between Tess and Kristina and how they come to cope and deal with everything happening.

I stopped reading this book around page 88 the first time I picked it up. I figured, 'hey, I don't like crying like an idiot in the car ride just from reading a book.' This book hit home hard. It was realistic with the family problems and everything else that I saw playing over those pages. So, of course, I had to keep reading the book and I was glad I did. I would almost call it inspiring, but I won't.

Although it's a great book with lovely writing, it's a story we have all heard before, just with a new cover and different details. It's the classic sibling gets sick, unpopular sibling has to deal with it and goes through shit. Badabling, badaboom. If you aren't for the touchy stuff like that, I wouldn't recommend it. If you are, go for it.

Personally, I liked the book and I'm not complaining about it even though it had tears pouring down my face most of the time. It was great.

Laters.

I asked my mom for a burger and this is what she got me. A hamburger cake.

What if red ran out

The other night while eating dinner, my mother aksed, "What if red ran out?" Natrally, she explained why she asked before we could even answer. It ends up that it's the title of a poetry book by Katia Grubisic.

Personally, I wonder what it means by 'what if red ran out', but it's a poery book, so you can't really expect it to make too much sense. But it got me thinking nonetheless. What's red?

Apples.
Blood.
Wine.
Strawberries.
Rasberries.
Love.

What if all of that just vanished? We would die, of course. People can't live without blood! And red means blood, and without red, we are without blood.

So if red ran out, we would all die. TA-DA!

Laters.

All photo credit should go to myself, just because, well, I took the picture. Just saying.

Currently, there is snow on the ground, so this picture could be counted as misleading, but those leaves are real and from sometime earlier when I could still go outside without a sweater on without freezing to death!

Been an off-season for my blogging and such, maybe it's school, maybe it's my exams next week. Maybe it's my playing of flute recently. Seriously, as a flute-player, I often find myself lightheaded; bringing on less thought process and getting lazier and not comprehending simple things.

Perhaps it's having a boyfriend? Maybe it's that the girl I have been calling my sister who had been living in my house is going back to her original country, not sure. All I know is that I am tired for once.
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It's a funny occurrence, actually. I had never been tired last year, but then again, I only got up around 9 am last year, this year is three hours earlier and staying up until the dead hours of night trying to get to sleep or listening to silly, teen (well, Shannon) music. Mom says I may have a low Iron level, but whatever.

Now here is what I have done for fun as a rebellious teenager in past not so far away. Math. Pthhhbbtthth. I take that and BANG! But anyway, other hobbies include the brand new and flourishing knitting of a blue scarf. I believe the pattern turned out to be knit 9 rows, pearl 1. Looks good so far, should be putting up pictures if I ever finish it!

Regardless, I'm tired as nothing else. I feel like a sloth.

Laters.

Call of the Wild

Recently, I have been listening to Call of the Wild on my ipod while riding the bus to and fro from school. The book was written by Jack London.

At first, I didn't really get it, but then realised that it was all about this one dog: Buck. Now, At times, I would be sitting there wringing my hands in anticipation of what would happen next, but then have to get off the bus to go to class or something silly like that. Or perhaps it would be my friend started to talk to me, so I would press pause and wind up my headphones again, and wait until I could listen to it next.

It had taken a little time to get into the writing style, but I'm thinking I'll go back and listen to it again to pick up all the details I missed, but I can tell you one thing, I loved this one sled dog that Buck was put into a group with. Buck being a dog himself, he was large and with an unbreakable spirit. Personally, my favourite dog from it all was Dave, what with him being so relaxed and to himself, he reminded me of my friend's dog who I had adored.

All together, I liked the book and would have possibly wanted to have seen more violence, but that's just me. Again, this would be a book challenge book! I give it a good thumbs-up and can't wait to get my hands on a paper copy.

Laters.

Modeling?

So the other weekend I went and modeled some masks and crowns for my friends store. In no way was it normal, but in many ways was it awesome.

Getting to wear the white mask in the picture above was my highlight. That's for sure. Also popping on the giant velvet cloak was amazing. But those are not even the best parts.

I got paid in cookies!

I know, good price for a model, huh? And I think next up I get to wear a fancy dress and prance all around Shakespeare (the town) in it while pictures are taken! This should be good, and by good, I mean entirely and stupendously awesome.

Aside from that, I'm just modeling my Halloween costume tomorrow. Perhaps I'll pull one f those deep-in-thought poses with an additional far-away-wistful-gaze. Oh yeah, that would work.

Nonetheless, I should sleep and such silliness like that. Well, read, actually! Catching Fire. Amazing book.

Laters.

Wow.

Never thought I'd admit it, but it does hurt.

You know,

When you get rejected.

But more without them telling you to your face.

I guess...

It always hurts more when it's behind your back.

Especially when you get thinking...

'Hey, this could be fun.'

When deep down in your gut,

You know that you're wrong about it.

Even worse when you get your hopes up.

Now I know not to wait next time.

If there is a next time...

But I doubt that.

I'm done with this shit.

A sad,

Sad,

Sad day.

Good god, what will they come up with next?

Some way to just...

Make all the teasing worse

And worse,

And so, so much worse

Than it could possibly be now.

.

But perhaps it is only

Because we refuse to give in?

So perhaps it would just be better if

We simply listened to them?

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No, not at all what we were thinking originally.

Possibly something to consider, but just not now.

Not ready for anything like that yet,

I mean...

Who would want to date anyway?

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Welcome to forty-seventh Hunger Games! Gather round one and all to see the events that has graced our lovely capitol for seventy-three years! This year will be like any other, just as exciting but even more than the year before. New tributes from out 12 districts! Now I am pleased to announce the names of your tributes...

Just kidding, I don't know all the names by heart. Only a couple stuck in my mind. Thresh. Cato. Glimmer. Rue. 'Foxface'. And who can forget our heroine, Katniss, who's view we see how this whole "game" unfolds. Not to mention the boy who aids in it, helping her and hurting her. That boy with the bread, Peeta Mellark.

The Hunger Games are actually sport that is televised in The Capitol, and all over the distracts. After pollution destroyed the earth, Panem was created and made to work. With a single rebellion, The Hunger Games bloomed in order to show that it is the heart of Panem, the Capitol, has all the power over the rest.

How I would describe this game is... Just 24 kids between the ages of 12 and 18 go in. Names drawn at random from a box. Twelve districts. Two kinds from each district. One boy, on girl. What they go into is a man-made arena just for the games. An arena designed with cameras at every point to watch as the fight for survival unfolds.

Yes, 24 kids go in, but only one comes out alive.

Weeks are spent with the contestants being forced to kill each other off so that they can live to fear the tale, have their hair turn white from stress or even go crazy.


When Katniss is pitched into the games with Peeta, they have an interesting strategy, no matter how one-sided it is, it works. A lovely little love edge. True or false? Possibly both.

Things happen in the novel to tell you it is both true love and not, but it is all seen as how Katniss sees it and interprets things. Though, to my thankful relief, the whole book is not about love. Actions, fighting, planning, survival and pure instinct keep this book fueled until the end... and there you just find yourself grabbing for the second book: Catching Fire.

Personally, this is one my favourite books I have ever read. Bringing me to tears while on the bus, walking down the street, sitting in science class, eating in the cafeteria and at home in my room. I will read it over, and over, and over again and know it will catch me every single time.

Simply, I love it.

*cough* Book challenge book! *cough*

Now, I should be practicing flute.

Laters.

Could it be?

No, no it really couldn't.

But it's real, I mean...

It has to be.

Perhaps it was just an after thought.

I mean,

The thought never occurred to me before.

...

Now I just feel silly.

It's not like he would like me back

...

Or something like that.

No way,

Not in a million years.

Or

...

Perhaps my friends were right.

Maybe he

...

Does like

Me

Simply the scariest day of my life.

So people think it's an easy way to go, but let me tell you now: It's not.

Taking a leap from such a small area and going into something far larger in size is horrifying.

In other words, I don't want to do it. People have said I will be fine. People who have gone through the same thing say I will love it. Parents tell me I will adapt. Other parents tell me of the worst that could happen. The support isn't very good, and the comments are only mildly encouraging.

No, I don't want to take a step forward in my life. No, I don't want to grow up. No. No, no, no. I want to stay exactly where I am, and be happy right here. Right where no one can touch me. I'm in my safe house and putting it into lock down so I never have to leave it. Don't you people understand what I'm trying to say? You don't. No one does.

I don't want to go.

To go and walk the short walk of doom down the descending staircase and past the closed doors and constant watching eyes of those surrounding my destination. Even when I'm there, I won't be alone. For there are other just like myself dreading this day, or maybe they're celebrating it. I can only imagine how it would be to feel good about the horror coming.

But there is no escape.

I'm stuck going to high school after all.

This sucks.

Later.

Graceling

Graceling. A book by Kristin Cashore.

What is a graceling? I is someone who has been graced. Say you are graced with cooking, you would be an exceptional cook. Say you are graced with speed, you may be able to run faster than a cheetah. Or suppose you have been graced with the skill of killing.

Meet my new friend Katsa. Ever since the age of eight-years-old when she killed a man, that has become her reputation. Being a niece of the King, she went to live with him and became his "Lady Killer".

Katsa would be sent out on errands by her uncle to deal with people who did not comply with him, pay him or give him what he had demanded. All in all, Katsa did his dirty work, and got her killer reputation from it. Almost no one would dare look into her eyes. Strange thing about those who are graced, their eyes never match in colour.

Things start to change in Katsa's life when she rescues someone from another kingdom. The grandfather of the royal family who live on a far away island. Soon after taking him back to the kingdom where Katsa resides with her uncle, the King, a Prince from the island kingdom visits. Though Prince Po was looking for his grandfather and didn't know he was safe with Katsa, he remained in the castle. Prince Po had a fighting grace and decidedly to stay to train with Katsa.

Soon, their relationship grows, and they set off to find who had kidnapped the grandfather in the first place.

The story progresses into an adventuresome tale as Katsa and Prince Po set off, finding trouble, Kings and Princess Bitterblue. With anther rescue at their hands, Katsa and Prince Po's relationship takes twist and turns, but eventually settles. The question is, does it settle happy, or not?

All in all, I enjoyed the book. It was a big 500 pages, but they flew by quickly while I was caught up in the story. I read it mostly in the car with my ipod glued to my ears. Any break I could take after that, I would read it.

I found it an exciting read, filled with adventure and surprises that you just KNOW are coming. I was gasping and leaping off the sofa to point at the book and say, "I knnnewww it! I KNEW IT!"

But the odd thought kept scratching at the back of my mind. I had kept thinking, through the whole book, that Katsa's name was actually 'Kasta'. Silly me.

So really, I enjoyed it and would suggest it to everyone! It's also a book from my book challenge, which is a bonus on this awesome book. Not too much romance, but I think that's a plus.

And, I just cannot wait to read the book that comes after it!

Laters.

Sick Day--RENT

Alright. I admit it. I'm sick.

No, that is not a good reason to not blog, so I feel I should. Even though I'm still sick, and feeling horrible, and my hair is currently green. I guess it is a reflection of the feeling in my stomach. Fun.

The week was uneventful, but the very, very, very unfortunate thing is... I got the sickness on the day of my last show of RENTRENT is a fantastic musical with upbeat, modern music. It will not have you falling asleep during it. And let me tell you, the music is not easy, and neither are the harmonies. Some points in the music, there will be five scenes going on--at the same time.

In this story, there is no specific bad guy like in most Disney classics. I suppose RENT is not for everyone. There are gay couples, and language that may offend young ears. When Jonathan Larson wrote RENT, he did not intend for the stage to be used realistically. Characters changing to become another character, one object being used to represent another.

I find that the story was confusing when I first watched it, so I had to go over it another time, and things really made sense when my director explained parts to us. When I really understood it, I found I could enjoy the musical far more.

Although I could go and explain the entire show to you, I think I'll just... not. But at one moment it will be having on the verge of tears, then suddenly it will seem like a party. You can't call RENT a tragedy, or romance, or comedy, but it's some of all of them. And personally, I love it.

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Anyway.

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So I was in my RENT workshop/rehearsal thingy for two weeks straight. Getting up at 6am, and getting home around 6pm. Over 9 hours a day. Longer than school! But we put that baby together.

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We had 4 shows, and my sickness came the night after the third one. On the morning of the fourth show, I was up around 4am and pacing around the house. My head hurt, and my stomach was worse. Uhg.

.

But, I went on stage anyway. The whole cast was saying I was being "A Little Trooper", which was kind of true. I moved around less on the stage than normal, and fixed where I went so I could sit and lean on things. Otherwise... I would have fallen over for sure.

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But! I had a great costume. Picture it. Black, fluffy, knee-length coat. Bright red pants. Red shoes. A black hat with a red feather. Hell, I looked like a pimp. Ironically (and awesomely) I did do some pimping in-character.

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All in all, I'm pooped after these two weeks, and I need to step up my reading and reviewing.

.

Laters.

Piercing, Falling and Laughing

Here we see an ear. Imagine that is now my ear. Not my left ear, but my right ear. Now, you see that funny red thing? It should be grey, but I made it red so it would show better.

That is my new cartilage piercing--that my brother did for me... for a fee. Jerk? I know.

Anyway, my parents were probably against it, but I got it. The jewellery is a 'horseshoe ring' which looks like a horse shoe with little balls on the ends. I'm not only going to tell you this pointless information about my ear, but I will add on the story of what happened. (Even though my mom's gunna be reading this for sure.)

So I get an IM reading:

lemme pierce yur ear cuz im bored

So... I went upstairs because it was my bro who sent me the message. He was laughing, of course, and I grabbed the jewellery he had picked me up earlier in the week.

Now, I trust my bro to hell about this because he has more piercings than I can care to count, and I've seen him give a couple, too. Actually, I saw him give my friends the same piercing I was going to get. They had wanted me to get it when they were there... but thank jeepers they weren't here for it!

After that, my bro set up his normal station while I was just there, sitting on the folded down toilet seat. He asked me the usual: "Mom's not gonna flip when she sees you got this right?" I give the obvious reply: "Psshhhhh, noooooo." And that worked and was true as far as I know. As long as I keep cleaning it, I think she won't mind too much.

So I learned right then that Sea Salt + Water + Ear Spoon = Happy, clean piercing

Right, so I was just sitting there and trying not to stare at the needle that would be going right through my ear. It was like 3 inchs long. Scary stuff. Now, this isn't like a sewing needle, this needle is hollow because it punches right through the cartilage. So I was all like, "Wheeee, this'll be fuuuuun!"

I had no idea how right I was at that thought! Onward with my story, I closed my eyes and my bro put this clamp on my ear to hold it steady. So he was all like, "Whenever you're ready." So of course I was like, "Count it!" so he was like, "1... 47... 94!" and then I was like "GASP"!

I'm kidding, it didn't hurt at all really. Mine didn't really bleed either. So I stood up to check my new piercing in the mirror when the headrush hit me. My brother said it was from my blood pressure dropping which shocked my body.

Spots flooded my vision and I felt odd, I dunno why, but I walked toward the door. So, my brother was talking to me, but my hearing was all weird and ringing and shit, and he was asking me if I was going to puke. I didn't up chuck, but I did turn bone white.

I kinda also... fell over. Like, all my sense of direction and steadyness was gone. I didn't move, the world tilted and I just went with it!

I could just tell my bro was laughing, but he told me I landed directly in the bath tub, so there's a win for me! You know, that headrush just kept getting worse.

It was like when the pressure in your ears changes, and it actually gets painful and it's harder to hear, and when your vision gets all spotty after rubbing your eyes too hard. Now imagine that five or six times worse.

I didn't fall over after that, but just gave up and went back to my seat on the toilet seat cover. I was laughing most of this time because... it was exactly like something I would do, and I felt pretty weird.

It was pretty awesome, but I'm sure I hit my head on the tub beause my head hurt afterward. >_> Luckily, when I fell, I didn't feel a thing.

Note: this was my fist piercing, but I think I handled it better than how my bro handled his first piercing. Jeeze, he started turning blue.

Anyway, until my next stupid thing.

laters.

Crank

Crank, a book by Ellen Hopkins that is one of the thickest books I have ever read. My copy standing at 3.8 cm thick.
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The sum up:
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Kristina is the most perfect daughter anyone could ask for. This high school junior is quiet, works hard in school and never gets into trouble. Until she meets the monster, that is. Crank is the single thing to turn this girls world upside down as her ride along with it turn into a struggle to regain control over her mind, soul--and her life.
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What I say:

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What can I say? I loved the book. From cover to insides and further. This book is written in poetic form and that makes it a quick and easy read.
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I admit I was confused by the style at first but I quickly settled into it. Needless to say, I bought two more of Ellen Hopkins' books just from reading this one. Twisting and turning just how I like my books and almost finishing up, but setting for more.
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I just thought the ending of the book was a little rushed, but it does lead onto the next one, so I will let it slide.

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I seriously can't wait to read the next one, and the one after that, and after that. Did I mention Crank is part of my recent reading challenge?

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Happy reading, Y'all!

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Laters.

Someone Like You

Someone Like You is a book. This book was written by Sarah Dessen.

A sum up:

This book is about Two girls and their lives as friends in another high school year. There is Halley (The book is from her point of view) and her best friend, Scarlett. Ever since the two had met, they had been the best of friends. Halley always more to the quiet side while Scarlett was more outgoing.

During the summer Scarlett acquired a new boyfriend. The mysterious Michael Sherwood. Soon after Sherwood is killed in a motorcycle accident, Scarlett finds herself pregnant with his kid.

Through this book you follow the new hardship in Scarlett's life and in Halley's. What with Halley drifting further from her mother. The Mother who had been closer than any best friend just before the summer. But it all changed. It all changed along with her relationship status. She fell in with Macon Faulkner, a boy with a reputation for trouble.

What I really thought:

Just from reading this book, I can safely say that I will never ever read another Sarah Dessen book.

Sure, my friends told me the book was "a bit confusing at the start" and that it "got better as you went on." As I soon found out, they were very, very wrong on one thing.

I found this book had the perfectly bad ending to a confusing start and a truly awful middle chunk. I don't know what most girls see in Sarah Dessen books, but I'm not looking again. I will not read any other book by her unless forced to.

Why? This book was not a good read. I don't know how it managed to get an award. I don't even know why you would pay $10.00 for this.

The beginning was vague, worded badly, and plain old confusing. The story started to build up and I was hoping for the book to get better. It was starting to until the real "climax" started. Get this:

A girl having her dead boyfriend's baby at prom.

Please explain to me how this is a good ending to a book. Along with all the loose ends that needed to be tied up. What about the mother? What about Scarlett's mom? What happens with Halley and Macon? Every question I had was not answered. As I said before, I will never read another book by this author.

Why, oh why did I read this book? For my book challenge of course! I can mark this off and then toss the book for the nothingness it's worth. Or just return it to my friend.

Laters.

Blood Feud

The book which comes right after Hearts at Stake in Alxyandra Harvey's new vampire series about Solange, her best friend, and her seven older brothers.

After reading the first book, I fell in love with the series. Luckily, I got an advanced copy of Blood Feud which is going to be released into stores in August 2010.

There is a new character introduced in this text. Isabeau St. Croix, a girl who survived through the Terror in France to live with an uncle after her family had died. After that, she went through 200 years buried in a coffin as a vampire, until she was rescued, that is.

This book comes from the view of one of the many Drake brothers, Logan, and Isabeau. Through their views, you can see problems in the Drake family unfold along with a twist of romance between two different vampire kinds. Now with bits told here-and-there from Isabeaus' past and the present, more information is told and seen. Mysteries grow deeper, but the story winds up neatly at the end with a battle that even had me biting my lip.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think the action picked up at the perfect time. I, however, as not very fond of the cover art on the book. But, this book was a great read. I skipped out on watching a movie in class to polish it off.

I say anyone and everyone who thinks vampire novels are good for them should try this one out. The teen dialogue impressed me with how real it is. Pretty great book. Can't wait for the next!

Laters.

A Little Life Update

Far too much time has passed since I blogged last, so I'll just add this up in a jiffy!

I have been cutting up my Journal slowly, and colouring it more-so. The innards are screaming in fear now, I think. Maybe all books should watch out as I walk by...

In other book news, I am currently indulging in a few good ones.

• Soul of the Fire by Terry Goodkind
• Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
• Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer
• New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
• Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
• Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey
• Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith
• Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen

All good books so far, and I can't wait to get through them so I can review and skip along to the next bundle!

So, that's it for right now.

Laters.

Daemon Hall

One of my all-time favourite books. Daemon Hall by Andrew Nance.

A thrilling read and page flipped. I could barely put it down, no joke. I read through recess. And math. And science. I wish I could have read it through gym too.

With a creepy tale to tell about a Horror Novelist writer Ian Tremblin and five aspiring horror writers. The five teenagers entered a contest by submitting there short stories, which are told by each teen in candle light, and they are all taken with the famous author to a supposedly haunted mansion. Daemon Hall. A mysterious house with murder and insanity in its history.

From the point-of-view from one of the five teens, Wade, the text unfolds with creeps and chills in every chapter. The six people must try and survive the house's twists and turns of horror while telling the ten stories to finish the contest and try to leave the mansion safe and still alive. Is a contest worth dying for?

I must say that this book gives me the slightest creeps. I love it and recommend to anyone who can handle a spooky story. I strongly suggest reading this book alone, in candle light, no sounds in the room, and all in one sitting.

It is not a frightfully long book, so this can be done easily, and I tell you, it pays off. I read it outside on my deck nearing midnight and it gave me the goosebumps all over my arms. I loved it!

This book also happens to be part of the Book Challenge I am currently working on.

Happy reading t'y'all!

Laters.

Shiver

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

A whopping 392 pages.I snagged this book from my friend, Danielle, and I trekked along the adventure this book drew out with anticipation for the end. Close to tears at a time or another, covering my mouth with shock while reading in class, yelled at many times to put my book down and do math, it was great.

This was a teen novel that I read for my recent book challenge. I have been reading up on my vampire fiction, but this was a twist to my plot. A book based on wolves and werewolves.

The female lead as Grace, a 17-year-old girl who was attacked by the pack of wolves at a young age, but was saved by the one who she soon fell in love with. Dearest Sam, our special wolf with yellow eyes, soon reveals himself as a werewolf and spends more-and-more time with Grace. The two of them wind down the twisting and turning road that is there new, complicated relationship.

When trying to avoid the cold weather that would make Sam turn into a wolf, trouble comes with a boy from Grace's school and anger brews in the Wolf pack. Sam and Grace have to sort through this all together, and apart, to be together and live through the shivering cold nights.

I can safely recommend this to any vampire lover, mystery fan, fiction follower or anyone else. I would say to read it in Grade 7 or 8 and even after your teen years are done. I loved it.

Enjoy your reading. I know I did.

Laters.