Category: Review

4 Reasons Why You Should Read Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a great series by Rick Riordan. There are ups and down, laughter and tears. It’s full of mythology, but also has an added touch which you’ll discover if you read the books. Each book leads into the next, and I can guarantee you won’t be able to put it down.

1. The Characters

I love learning about the characters ups and downs and how they have progressed through the story. It’s so fun to see how much they’ve matured and changed throughout the course of 5 books. (In which the main characters age from 12-16). I especially love the realism and how the characters seem to come to life in my head. It’s a crazy ride, starting from barely knowing someone to crying when they die.

2. The Plot

What would a good book be without a good plot? This series has funny moments and tearful moments, moments of extreme joy, and times where you hope for the best. With unexpected twists at every page, what you expect is never what’s going to happen. The plot always makes me want to go back and dive deep into the book. Rick Riordan writes in so much detail that it’s always a great read.

3. The Mythology

Rick Riordan takes Greek mythology, then twists it to come up with the most marvelous things. These books include heroes like the Greek gods and goddesses and monsters like the minotaurs or empousas. I’ve definitely learned a lot from this series. While it might not be totally accurate, I definitely know a lot more than I did 2 years ago.

4. The Other Series

There are so many other series born out of this one. Currently, the Percy Jackson universe has come to a close, with 5 series, but you never know. Maybe we’ll get another one. Everything starts falling into place as you read the other series, especially the Heroes of Olympus. It’s so amazing to keep seeing these characters growing and changing in front of my eyes, through, and I am really excited to read the other series.

I’ve had so much fun while reading this series. I really enjoy these books and I totally encourage you to check out all of them!

My 2020 #mgbooktober posts

Last month, I participated in #mgbooktober on Instagram. #Mgbooktober is a fun book challenge which requires you to post something every day. I decided to share a few of my favorite posts on my blog as well. You can check out my other posts on Instagram and hopefully follow me!

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Day 12 of October and #mgbooktober ! Today’s prompt is a book that got you out of a reading slump. I don’t really have reading slumps, but if I just need a book to read, I always go for this one. I love reading the ending in which Sophie realizes who she really is and knows that she is and will always be loved by Agatha, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. This scene is so sweet and always brings tears to my eyes. If you haven’t read this series, I totally recommend it to you. Current Reads: 1. Of a Feather by @daynalorentzbooks 2. The Elephant’s Girl by @celesta_rimington #schoolforgoodandevil #sge #ilovethisseries #ilovethisbook #lovethisending #amazingbook #sophie #agatha #anadil #dot #hester #tedros #theschoolyears #thecamelotyears

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Day 24 of October and #mgbooktober ! Today’s prompt is a fictional book setting you wish you could visit. I have always wanted to go to Camp Half-Blood and meet the demigods like Percy, Annabeth, or Piper! Ever since I started read this series, it has been my dream. By the way, I’m a daughter of either Poseidon or Athena. What about you? Current Reads: 1. A Woman in the House (and Senate) by Ilene Cooper 2. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart Unexpected Reads: 1. The Bookshop Girl by Sylvia Bishop 2. One Last Word by Nikki Grimes #camphalfblood #percyjackson #percyjacksonandtheolympians #heroesofolympus #demigods #halfbloods #campjupiter #goodseries #goodbooks #annabethchase #pipermclean #7demigods

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Day 26 of October and #mgbooktober ! Today’s prompt is a book that made you laugh. I love this series and Mr Lemencello’s crazy and wacky imagination. It’s so amazing to just open a book and fall into a new world with magical and bizarre games. This series has taken me on a wild ride and I am constantly excited for the next one to come out! Current Reads: 1. The Graveyard Book by @neilhimself 2. Over the Underworld by Adam Shaughnessy #mrlemencello #thetitaniumticket #chrisgrabenstein #goodauthor #greatseries #ilovethisgame #ilovethisseries #ilovethisbook #thisissuperfunny #boardgames #kylekeeley #akimihughes #miguelfernandez #sierarussel #andrewpeckleman #charleschilington #ireadmgbooks #ireadmglit #ireadmg #ireadmgfantasy #ireadmgfiction

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3 Spooky Reads for This Halloween

Halloween is a great time to explore some spooky reads. That’s why I have put together a list of 3 great Halloween reads.

  1. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
    This spooky book talks about family, friendship, and courage. This book is perfect if you want to have a bit of a scare, but not that much. The whole idea of the book is fantastical and I love it. This has definitely been one of my favorite books this year and I definitely recommend it to you.
  2. Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega
    This book talks about friendship and family. I got immersed in the story of the 2 friends, Syd and Lucely and their crazy adventure with ghosts. The magical element in this book was perfect and I know that I definitely loved it. I totally recommend this. It was such a great book!
  3. Nightbooks by J. A White
    This book is a modern day Scheherazade story, just woven a bit differently. It talks about friendship and trust and how you can overcome someone with love. The idea of the magical witch, Natasha, is enough to give anyone shivers down their spines, but as you continue reading and get a closer look at her life, you start to realize what has happened leading to her. An amazing and spooky read, perfect for Halloween.

These are some of my favorite Halloween reads! What are your favorites?

Mint Girl Reads What Stars Are Made of by Sarah Allen

I recently read the book, “What Stars Are Made Of” by Sarah Allen. It’s a book that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time.

It’s about a 12 year old girl, Libby Monroe, who is born with Turner syndrome. This impacts how she acts in certain situations, but it doesn’t make her any less of a determined girl. When her big sister, Nonny, announces that she is pregnant, Libby is thrilled. She decides to make a deal with the universe. If she is able to give credit to Celia Payne, a lesser known scientist , through a Smithsonian contest, then Nonny’s baby will be fine. She tries hard to get Celia into her school textbook, but when that doesn’t work, she is heartbroken. Along with her friends though, she creates a new stunning project.

I loved learning about how Libby overcomes her shyness and is able to show who she really is in this book. I think it was a sweet book and I could never put it down.

In this book, y0u will learn how Libby makes friends and comes to realize that she is perfect, just the way she is. I really enjoyed reading this book and thought it was amazing. I definitely recommend you to check out this book if you haven’t read it.

4 Graphic Novels I Enjoyed

Graphic novels are almost like normal books. They capture a lot of the same emotions and talk about problems in the same way. The only difference is that they are usually lighter and more fun to read. Here are some of my favorite graphic novels.

  1. Raina Telgemeier books

I absolutely love the graphic novels that Raina Telgemeier writes. She writes many different ranges of books. 2 of my favorite books by her are Smile and Sisters which talk about her experiences with mouth troubles and her relationship with her sister. I also enjoy her graphic novel take on the novels written by Ann M Martin. The Baby-Sitters Club series is so lively and it’s one of my favorites. I also love her stand alone books.

2. Go With The Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann

This book talks about periods and how one certain middle school never had pads and tampons stocked up. It is really exciting and I love how the authors tied in the theme of friendship in as well. Each character’s personality is so different and I loved the idea of protests. This is such a great book and you should totally read it!

3. 5 Worlds series by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel

This series is so captivating and exciting. Each graphic novel ends with an enthralling cliffhanger and makes you want to read the next book. It follows the story of Oona Lee and her friends who are trying to save the 5 worlds from extinction. There are so many plot twists and everyone has secrets. I love the fantasy element and it’s so fun to read! This is a great series and the last book is coming out soon!

4. Emmie and Friends series by Terri Libenson

This series is so upbeat and I love the problems and solutions. It’s really fun to read and each book can be read as a stand-alone or a series. It’s one of my favorite series, because of the realistic characters. It’s so fun to read and I always can count on Emmie, Brianna, and Jamie (even though I haven’t read her book yet- it’s on my TBR) to cheer me up. This is such a great series and I really think you should read it.

What are some of your favorite series?

6 Book Series you Should Totally Read

I really love books that are series. These are some of my favorite series, which are ages 9-12.

Fantasy:

  1. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

This series is amazing. I just love the crazy plot twists that no one ever sees coming (unless you’ve already read the series). This series has recently come to an end and I know that I’ve cried a lot and laughed a lot when reading these books. All the characters are either princes/princesses or their sons/daughters. When you start reading this, make sure you are reading for one of the craziest series ever. This is a great series!

2. The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

This series takes place in a storybook world. Two twins, Alex and Conner Bailey, accidently fall into a storybook! They meet their beloved fairy tale characters, but they are all different. In this series, you’ll figure out how Alex and Connor adjust to this new world. They make friends with some unlikely friends and go on many adventures with them. Also, the backstory to this story is being explained in The Tale of Magic series. I really love this series!

Realistic Fiction:

  1. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

This book is hilarious and sweet. I love how I always feel immersed in the adorable story. Every part plays out well and I love the writing style. This book makes me feel happy and I giggle every time I read it. You’ll definitely go on an adventure with Rosalind, Skye, Jane, Batty, Hound and their friends. Each of the Penderwicks has a different personality which makes this series perfect. The sisters get along well (usually) and you can count on them to spice things up!

2. The Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers is another lively series with siblings. Journey along with Isa, Jessie, Oliver, Hyacinth, Laney, and their many pets in this series. You’ll also get introduced to many loving characters like Ms. Josie, Mr Jeet, and Orlando. These siblings try to help, but sometimes (usually) it doesn’t work out well. I love the relatable events that happen and the addition of writing magic. I really love this style of writing as well. You can count on these kids to take you on the adventure of your life!

Historical Fiction:

  1. The Seeds of America trilogy by Laurie Halse Anderson

This series talks about slavery. The first book, Chains, is in the perspective of Isabel, a young girl born into slavery. The second book, Forge, is in the perspective of Isabel’s friend, Curzon. The last book, Ashes, was in the perspective of Isabel again. These books talk about heavy issues as Isabel and Curzon go on a quest to escape slavery and find Isabel’s sister. There are a couple of plot twists and you might be surprised at what happens.

2. Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale (not the spy, the author)

This graphic novel style comic is hilarious and informative. I learn so much about the Civil War just by reading one of these books. They are hilarious and make me laugh every time. There is an element of fiction for sure and I recommend that you start from the beginning to fully understand the series. In it, the spy Nathan Hale tells tales of what will happen in the future. It is super interesting and I love the writing style.

These are some of my favorite series to read in multiple genres. What are some of your favorite series?

Mint Girl Reads Why is my Hair Curly? by Lakshmi Iyer

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Why is my Hair Curly? by Lakshmi Iyer. This book talks about a girl whose hair is curly and wild and how she learns to accept it. I enjoyed the plot and the small mystery along the way.

Avantika has a really bright personality that I love and I was carried along on her story. I can relate to her hair struggles, as I also have curly and unruly hair. This book is funny, while also having a message about being different. It was very open and I loved how Avantika’s problems get solved at the end. It was very sweet and had diverse voices, with a glimpse into an Indian lifestyle. Another great thing about this book was how the author talked about adoption. Avantika and her brother are both adopted and I like how that element was incorporated.

My favorite part of the book is when Patti (a mysterious stranger who she’s been meeting with) and her family meet. She then figures out who Patti really is and realizes that her and Patti’s hair are very similar. Patti also shows her various ways to comb her hair. I really enjoyed this book and think that you should read it.

Mint Girl Goes to Verandah

I went to Verandah recently and tried the chef tasting menu there. Here are some of my favorite parts about it.

1. The Flavors

The flavors were very vibrant and came through well. The spices were added perfectly to create a stunning and tasty masterpiece. This food was familiar to me but still very exotic and on a new level. Paneer and gulab jamun always remind me of home, but when I tried them in Verandah, it was like rereading my favorite book and finding a new thing in the midst of it that I wasn’t able to figure out before.

2. The Presentation

This was fine-dining at its best. The service was impeccable and the food was plated perfectly. My favorite plating was the dessert course. The way it was arranged looked marvelous and delicious. It was also my favorite course.

3. Indulgence

I really liked how they provided special mocktails with different courses. They paired perfectly and added a nice sweetness.

4. Freshness

The vegetables and greens on the plate were all home-grown, adding to the fresh taste of the dishes. They also provided a crunchiness, that made eating them all the more delicious. I especially liked the edible flowers for decoration. They looked really nice and acted as a palette cleanser. A special mention to the chocolate mint decorating the dessert.

All of these elements tied together really nicely and made my dinner at Verandah a 5 star experience. I highly recommend everyone trying the chef tasting menu at Verandah.

Board Games to Play with Your Family

During the quarantine, I am spending a lot more time with my family. Board games are really fun to play (even if some of them are a bit long). They bring my family together and we can spend a lot of time laughing over these games. These are some of my favorite fun driven games. I do play some strategy board games like Photosynthesis and 7 Wonders, though.

Telestrations:

This is a drawing/writing version of the classic game, Telephone. This game relies on your artistic ability and your interpretive ability (don’t worry, the worse you draw, the funnier it is). Keep passing your board until you end up with yours. My family’s favorite part about this game was when we shared how our first word had evolved into something totally different. I was always in fits of laughter during this game and I definitely recommend it.

Double Ditto:

This game is perfect for all ages. Try to choose the same answers as your opponents and score a “double ditto”! Before the time is up, you should have written 2 answers for a topic which you think everyone else would write. My family’s favorite part about this game is when we compare the answers and see how alike we thought.

Imagine:

This game challenges how you describe a job, an object, a movie, and many more. With the transparent cards that are included, you get to act out something that you choose. My family’s favorite part was when we tried very hard to get it but to no avail.

Sushi Go!:

This game is very fun and easy. You’ll start collecting cards and trying to score the most points quickly. This game has 3 rounds and is very enjoyable. My family’s favorite part about this game is when we compare and hand out the points accordingly. Another fun thing about the game is the types of food. There are nigiris, puddings, sashimis and so much more!

These are some of my favorite games to play. What are yours?

The Mint Girl Reads The Heath Cousins and The Moonstone Cave by Eileen Hobbs

Recently, I received a copy of the book, The Heath Cousins and the Moonstone Cave by Eileen Hobbs. This is the first book in a trilogy and I am really excited to read the other books.

Addie B. is a young girl who lives in London. She comes to her grandparent’s beach house in Maine. She is excited to meet her grandfather, but not at all excited to see her 3 cousins: Jack, Beanie, and Bodie. Addie’s grandfather gives her a treasure book, which her grandmother once owned. Inside it is a moonstone ring and a poem. These lead Addie and her cousins to a cave. The adventure that they go on is unlike any other.

My favorite part of the book was when Addie and Jack (and the other cousins) start to understand each other. This helps them get along better and work together to get out of the cave.

This book is perfect if you love mystery and fantasy. I was kept on the edge of my toes while following the story of Addie B., Bodie, Jack, and Beanie.