Senior Year is a pain

So, as many of you know I am currently in my senior year at school. It is basically, as my title states...a pain.

Not only do I have to work on school work and Chinese School homework, I also have to study for my SATs (Retaking them in October because they weren't up to the Asian standard...), Do college apps (!!! :((( ), practice piano and practice tennis.

So, yeah, I am totally busy...and another thing that comes with this busy-ness is, well, less time to blog (Five million sad faces). Yeah, I feel like I've been complaing a lot lately and I am really sorry I am complaining a lot right now...but I would just like to say that I am very sorry for the lack of posts. I have been reading some (both YA and books for AP Lit), so wish me luck during Senior year and hopefully this year goes smoothly. I cannot wait for college :)

Wdebo :)

Future Product Review!

So, I just got another email from CSN and they want to work with me :) So I've decided that this time I want to do a product review. CSN is a wonderful chain of online stores, they have everything from clothing, to dinning tables (Check out this drop leaf table!), to office supplies and to bookshelves.

I was thinking I wanted to do a product review on bookshelves. They have some pretty great ones.

Check it out and wait for my review!

Wdebo :)

Mockingjay By: Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins

HARDBACK

Amount of Pages: 398

Release Date: August 24, 2010

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Geared Towards: Teens

From: Bought

"'I'm going to be the Mockingjay'"

Summary (From Front Flap):

MY NAME IS KATNISS EVERDEEN

WHY AM I NOT DEAD?

I SHOULD BE DEAD

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans-except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a prawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put asie her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay-no matter what the personal cost.

Wdebo's Review: I had been waiting forever for the release of Mockingjay, I am a giant Hunger Games fan, so when I saw Mockingjay at Costco I knew I HAD to buy it. And now, that I have finished, I feel a mix of emotions, for one, I am very satisfied with the ending, but there were also some parts that I felt weren't written up to par with the rest of the trilogy.

I always believe in bad news first that way there's always something good to look forward to, so as much as I enjoyed this book, I still felt that the beginning part of the book wasn't as addicting as the other books in the trilogy, the other books, I had no ability to put it down, I just had to keep reading until I was finished with the book, but with this one, I could put it down, and not feel awfully horrible and like I couldn't live if I didn't read even just one more page.

I also felt that Katniss was awfully whinny. It wasn't until the end when she finally got her strength and was the strong Katniss I was used to reading about. She also seemed too nice, I know her heart is in the right place, but she was just way too nice, always there to sacrifice her life for others.

While there were bad parts, there were still very good parts. The writing was still done very well and there was a lot of adventure, but mostly in the end. I really really liked the ending, it was very well done and filled with lots of twists, turns, and action, it was very exciting to read. But the main reason I loved the ending was for the romance aspect of it ;) As can be seen with the last line...

"So after, when he whispers, 'You love me. Real or not
real?'

I tell him, 'Real.'"

And of course Peeettttttaaaaa!!!! I love him a lot...haha...he was so wonderful in this book, he will forever be my favorite Hunger Games character ;)

Cover Chit Chat: I am so happy there is a blue cover!! Hehe, my favorite color is blue so love! But I like it when they have a shadow of the Mockingjay more because the eye is really scary. == (B+)

All in all, not the best end to a trilogy, but defidently a satisfying ending for all Hunger Games lovers, and the ending was very well written and sure to make you very addicted even if the beginning doesn't.

Grade: A-

Wdebo :)

First Time-Guang Liang

-ENGLISH SUBBED-

Chinese Title: 第一次 (Di Yi Ci)

English Title: First Time

Artist: Guang Liang (光良/Michael Wong)

Language: Chinese (Mandarin)

TTS: None

Wdebo's Notes: The first time I heard this song I really loved it. It is just such a cute little song. And the mv is very cute and funny too...that is the worst reaction to get when you confess to someone...but I love this song a lot!! Guang Liang is so awesome! (Except there are really bad angles of him while he is playing piano). Listen and Love!

Enjoy!

Hope you enjoy! And please comment!

Wdebo :)

Giveaway: Bitter Frost Prize!!

Click HERE to see my Bitter Frost review and Guest Post.

So, T2T has decided to do a group giveaway in celebration of Bitter Frost! It's pretty awesome. All you guys have to do is go to the form HERE and enter your information. And if you comment on my review/guest post you will get an extra entree!!!!!! (Isn't that fun?)

What are you waiting for? Join now!!

Wdebo :)

Relatives-Ding Dang

-ENGLISH SUBBED-

Chinese Title: 親人

English Title: Relatives

Artist: Ding Dang (丁噹)

Language: Chinese (Mandarin)

TTS: HERE!

Wdebo's Notes: I first heard this song while watching Autumn's Concerto (the world's best drama...one of my favorites!!) and I was so excitied to hear it, here was one of my favorite dramas and one of my favorite singers...together!! Ding Dang's voice is so gorgeous and soothing in this song, especially in the chorus part, it just makes you want to sing along and try to mimick her wonderful voice. Listen and Love!

Enjoy!

Hope you enjoy! And please comment!

Wdebo :)

The Graveyard Book By: Neil Gaiman

Title: The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 320
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins
Geared Towards: Mystery/fantasy readers
From: Library

"There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife."

Summary: It was just an ordinary night, it was just an ordinary night until a family was murdered by a man named Jack. The man Jack was getting ready to go to the baby's room to finish the job, until he discovered the baby had disappered!

At the same time, the baby was wandering around the cemertary. The ghosts had no idea what to do, unti lthe baby's dead parents pleaded with them to take the child in and protect him. Which the ghosts did. And so the baby was adopte by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, and given the name Nobdoy, or Bod for short. Nobody. Nobody Owens.

The book follows Bod's childhood in the graveyard, the adventures inside it, and the dangers outside of it, as the man named Jack hides in the shadows waiting to finish the job he started so many years ago.

Wdebo's Review: I remember reading Coraline (another book by Neil Gaiman) in fifth grade. From the moment I opened it, I was in love and frieghtened and disgusted at the same time. So when I saw The Graveyard Book on a shelf in my library, I knew I HAD to read it. I did and LOVED it!

The book had me hooked from the very beginning. It was very masterfully written, the adventure aspect of the story drags the reader in, and the wonderfully novel idea of growing up in a graveyard, the supernatural storyline and Body's journey, that is his life, keeps the reader hooked until the satisfying yet cliffhanger-ish ending.

I absolutely loved how the novel was written. All of the small adventures of Body's life in the graveyard come together as a whole and for the story. It was quite majical.

I really liked the character of Bod, he is such an entertaining character and I wish that I could keep reading his stories.

Cafe Cover Chat: Not the biggest fan of the cover, but I guess it is kind of symbolic though. (B-)

All in all, a wonderfully written, imaginative story by the talented storyteller, Neil Gaiman.

Grade: A

Wdebo :)

Vic Chou (F4)

Sorry for the very late continuation of the F4 cycle...

Chinese Name: 周渝民

English Name: Vic Chou/Zhou

Nickname: Zai Zai (仔仔)

Birthday: June 9, 1981

Age: 29

Birthplace: Taiwan
What he does: Actor, singer, model

TDramas: Silence, Black & White, Mars, Meteor Garden (I/II/Meteor Rain), and more.

Background Info: Vic was first discovered when he accompanied his friend to the Meteor Garden audition. While waiting for his friend, one of the staff thought he looked like Hua Ze Lei and he was asked to audition, he later got the part and played Lei next to his future girlfriend, Barbie Hsu.

Because of Meteor Garden, Vic was part of...bingo...F4. He was also the very first F4 to release his own solo album. He has two solo songs in F4's album Waiting Here For You.

Now onto songs...

This song is called Let Me Love You (讓我愛你) it is a duet between him and Barbie...for their drama Mars.

And just for fun, here is a cute commercial of Vic and Cyndi Wang (Smiling Pasta).



And here is the song, Familiar Gentleness (English Subbed!) that was apart of the drama Silence.



Hope you enjoy!

Wdebo :)

Endless Love-Jackie Chan ft. Kim Hee Seon

-ENGLISH SUBBED-

Title: Endless Love

Artist(s): Jackie Chan ft. Kim Hee Seon

Language: Chinese (Mandarin)-Jackie and Korean-Kim Hee Seon

TTS: None

Wdebo's Notes: This song is from one of my most favorite Jackie Chan movies ever Myth...you should defidently check it out if you can, such a wonderful movie!

I just love both of their voices, Jackie has a very deep voice and Kim Hee Seon's voice is so light and melodious but also strong, the Chinese and Korean mix so well together, it is just goregous! Listen and Love!

Enjoy!

Hope you enjoy! And please comment!

Wdebo :)

Wishlist Wednesday (1)

So instead of doing Waiting on Wednesday, I have decided to do Wishlist Wednesday (I know it's a very unimaginative title...but please bear with me)...so instead of just waiting for books that are coming out...these can also be books that have already been published....Yeah!

[Click pictures for more information]

So, that's my wishlist. What are you wishing for?

Wdebo :)

T2T: Bitter Frost By: Kailin Gow

Title: Bitter Frost
Author: Kailin Gow
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 240
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Publisher: The EDGE
Geared Towards: Teenage Readers
From: T2T

"'You are my Queen. I cannot deny it. You have always been.'"

Summary (From B.O.B): All her life, Breena had always dreamed about fairies as though she lived among them...beautiful fairies living among mortals and living in Feyland. In her dreams, he was always there the breathtakingly handsome but dangerous Winter Prince, Kian, who is her intended. When Breena turns sixteen, she begins seeing fairies and other creatures mortals don't see. Her best friend Logan, suddenly acts very protective. Then she sees Kian, who seems intent on finding her and carrying her off to Feyland. That's fine and all, but for the fact that humans rarely survive a trip to Feyland, a kiss from a fairy generally means death to the human unless that human has fairy blood in them or is very strong, and although Kian seemed to be her intended, he seems to hate her and wants her dead.

Wdebo's Review: Bitter Frost has the whole paranormal romance thing going on, (hot) werewolves, fairies, fey, love, hate...it's basically all mixed in there, and for that I enjoyed it quite immensly.

Though in the beginning it felt kind of awkward and slow, but after a while the story got addicting and it was hard to put down, I felt that I HAD to finish it, and finished it in less then a day. And after I was done, I felt like I needed to read the next one, because it was left at such a cliffhanger. There was so much adventure and romance it was so great!

I liked the romance in the story...the whole destined/promised to be together thing is pretty intense and nice. I really liked the character of Logan, he played the best friend in love role and it was just so sweet, even though the whole "Popular/hot Guy" in love with the "Nerdy Girl" is pretty cliche but it's always sweet and fantasized about :). And I also liked, though it took a bit, Kian, because even though he was very sweet and intense and rude-ish in the beginning he had that cool-hot guy thing going on...which is totally funster =]

Cafe Cover Chat: Ooo I really like the cover, the blue lipstick is pretty wonderfully cool, and the font is pretty too! (A)

All in all, a great paranormal romance/adventure for most readers and will hopefully make you, like me, be waiting for the next book.

Grade: B++

~~~~

And now for Kailin Gow's Guest post :) She will be talking from the point of Raine Malloy.

~~~~

Hi Girls and Guys,

It’s me. Raine Malloy. I’m Breena’s mother from The Frost Series. Just stopping by to say Bitter Frost and the second book in The Frost Series, Forever Frost, is now available on Kindle now so you can get a copy downloaded and ready to read within minutes without paying for shipping or gas. They’re available for less than $5 each at the moment for a special release price. It’s also available in print, too. Right now, if you purchase a copy of Bitter Frost and Forever Frost, and send an email receipt of the purchase to theedgebooks@yahoo.com , you can get a signed bookmark of the corresponding bookmark you purchased. While supplies last so hurry up before they’re all gone!

Why should you download Bitter Frost and Forever Frost right now? Well, besides it featuring a cast of supernatural paranormal creatures that range from werewolves, goblins, minotaurs, kewpies, pixies, and fairies; it’s a story about the power and strength of love. I’m the only human in this series, and turns out because I’m human, I have given Breena, who is half-human, half-fairy the strength and combination to become the strongest fairy in Feyland. You see, humans who are able to enter Feyland are stronger than pure fairies. And the royal fairies are no longer able to bear children. The last one who could was Prince Kian’s mother, the Winter Queen. Feyland is where all these magical creatures live, and it is at once beautiful, yet dangerous. When Breena was born in Feyland, it was the most beautiful place you can imagine. When the wind blows through trees in Feyland, you can hear the faint twinkling of music. The land in Summer glows with warmth and life, and there are two suns – one for Summer and the other for Winter. Her father’s kingdom, the Summer Court was at peace with the Winter Court. That is a rarity, as Winter and Summer has always been at odds with each other, fighting so they have dominance over the seasons and time. Countless poems, fairy tales, and even children’s cartoons have depicted this war between Summer and Winter. But because of the growing dangers in Feyland and the politics within the Summer Court, I had to finally take Breena away from Feyland and live in Oregon where Breena can be safe. Now Breena’s back. Into Feyland she went because of her destiny, her calling. She couldn’t help it. She’s now of age, and she is to rule the Summer Court one day. She’s still so young, she doesn’t know the danger she’s in. She’s also beginning to find out what falling in love means. Maybe the kind of love she feels for Prince Kian will turn out to be the kind of love I have with Breena’s father, the Summer King. Maybe it will be more. I don’t want her to find out what heartbreak is, but this love with Kian may lead to it. I want to protect her, keep her away from all the dangers, but I can’t. She’s growing up and becoming a young woman who I am proud of – strong and willing to fight for what she believes is right.

There is a discussion sheet available to download on the publisher’s website, theEDGEbooks.com for Bitter Frost. Is Breena a role model, can being protected by others when she needs it, be considered “weak”? These are some of the questions you can find on the discussion sheet. Bitter Frost and Forever Frost is written by Kailin Gow, whose books have been accepted into classrooms across the United States, recommended by PBS Kids, the PTA and other educational organizations.

~~~

Thanks Raine/Kailin...Be sure to check out/support Bitter Frost!

Wdebo :)

Traveling To Teens can be found HERE.

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else By: Erin McCahan

Title: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
Author: Erin McCahan
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 258
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Geared Towards: Teenagers
From: Book Tour

"They're all blond. Like Mother. Like Peter. And like me, except not like me.

Not at all.

Not even that."

Summary: Eighteen-year-old Bronwen Oliver is the surest about one thing, she is not Bronwen Alexis Oliver, as her "mother" and stepfather and everyone believe, no, she is actually Phoebe, the long-lost daughter of the Lilywhite family. How does she know this? Simple, she is nothing like her "outer-beauty" loving blonde mother or her "perfect" brother, and she is sure that her Lilywhite parents are going to come at any time now and take her away to her deserved family happily ever after.

Until she meets Jared Sondervan. Jared is...perfect. He's everything she ever wanted, he is sweet, cute, and funy. He's perfect and so is his family. Before she knows it she is head over heels in love with him, and when he proposes, well, of course she will marry him! But, maybe, marrying so soon could cause some not so happy things? Or will it be happily-ever-after for Bronwen.

Wdebo's Review: When I first started, I was kind of skeptical of the book, I am skeptical of very early marriages, I feel that when you get married when you're eighteen, it just doesn't seem to be a very good garauntee that it will work (some do, but most don't). So when I heard that part of the plot is about an 18 year old getting married to a guy she meet for not a very long amount of time, I didn't think I would like it at all; however, it turned out to be a pretty good book.

The writing was very nice, I like Bronwen's voice, it's sarcastical but has a maturity in it that is nice. Even though Bronwen has very good morales, about no sex before marriage kind of things, I felt though that she did let emotions dictate her actions when it came to Jared. Which is kind of hypocritacal of what she usually believed in, but I guess it was her desire to be accepted, to finally have a family that "loves" her.

Apart from that the book does have a very good message about finding yourself and accepting yourself for who you are. Even though it is told in a kind of Chick Lit novel way but it does have a very nice little message embedded in it.

I was not exactly the biggest fan of Jared in the beginning, because he just seemed too perfect, no one is that perfect, and it is scary, and when they got engaged and Jared turned into this person with a lots of faults I didn't like him but I was happy he was more human.

Cafe Cover Chat: I really like the cover, it's quite cute, and I love the blue and pink (My favorite color combination.) (A-)

All in all, a good book with a good message, that will leave you with a feeling that maybe there is love out there even if it is not perfectly smooth, it is still there, and it also has another good message of accepting yourself.

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)

Fall in Love as Soon as the Flowers Bloom-Ariel Lin

-ENGLISH SUBBED-

Chinese Title: 花一開就相愛吧 (Hua Yi Kai Jiu Xiang Ai Ba)
English Title: Fall in Love as Soon as the Flowers Bloom
Artist: Ariel Lin
Language: Chinese (Mandarin)
TTS: HERE

Wdebo's Notes: Aww Ariel is such a good singer...and I love this song a lot it is so sweet and cute!! It is really addictive...as are all Ariel Lin songs...lol...well, listen and love!

Enjoy!

Hope you enjoy! And please comment!

Wdebo :)

Jack Blank And the Imagine Nation

Title: Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation
Author: Matt Myklusch
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 480
Release Date: August 3, 2010
Publisher: Aladdin (Simon & Schuster)
Geared Towards: Middle Grade (Mainly boys)
From: Publisher

"'If you want to go to the Imagine Nation, there's one very important rule. You have to believe in it first.'"

Summary: Jack Blank feels absolutely miserable at St. Barnaby's Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost. He is picked on by his fellow students and even teachers for being "weird," he knows nothing of his past, not even his last name, and he feels this feeling of not belonging anywhere he goes. Jack escapes to the world of comic books (Which are banned at St. Barnaby's).


One day, while sneaking in some reading time of one of his comics, Jack is caught. After that two things happen that take him away from St. Barnaby's and into the land of Imagine Nation to his new found powers. And to a nw found danger that he might just be the cause of.


Wdebo's Review: When I first got Jack Blank I didn't think I would like it at all, Middle Grade Guy Books aren't exactly on the top of my list of "Most Loved Categories!" But after I read the first few pages I really started to enjoy the book, which surprised me immensly.


Jack Blank was very good and very addicting. There is this sense of adventure that fills the book that appeals to younger readers and also the young at heart, and even teens (Cause we all need some adventure huh? ;) ) The imagination/comic book-ness was wonderful too...The superheros are some people that we all look up to and wish we could become so reading about superpowers is so fun and addicting. And Jack's power is very interesting and novel to say the least. Great idea from Matt!!


However, the imagination made the book seem so unrealistic that I thought at any time Jack would just wake up and be "Oh it was just a dream." But it didn't, the ending was actually very well written, I really liked it (I didn't see it coming at all), there were a lot of twists and turns which = great!


I liked the character of Jack he is timid like myself, but he also has courage that most 12 year olds don't have, he has this strength about him which is very nice to read about. And I love how all the characters grown and mature together.


Cafe Cover Chat: Not really the fondest of covers like that...seeing as how I am a total judge-the-book-by-its-cover girl...I wouldn't read it for its cover, which is a pity because the book is really good. (B-)


All in all, though at first glance it seems to just be a book geared towards middle grade boys it is much more then that...the feeling of wanting to belong and adventure can appeal to readers of all ages and demographics.

Grade: A-

Wdebo :)