Category: writing

Top reads of July

Here are my top reads for July!

  1. The Sun and The Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
    This was an incredible book! I’d always adored Nico and Will’s relationship in the Heroes of Olympus series, so I was really excited when I heard about this book. Nico and Will are adorable in this book and I really enjoyed the way the story progressed. I also liked the way Nico’s grief and trauma were addressed. This was a great book!
  2. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
    This was a great book! I haven’t read the Cruel Prince series yet, but, while being set in the same universe, this book was still understandable without prior knowledge. I loved the queer and the relationship between Hazel and Ben. I really enjoyed this book!
  3. Connect the Stars by David Teague and Marisa de los Santos
    I really enjoyed this book! Audrey can tell when anyone is lying and Aaron can remember everything he’s seen. Both of them don’t fit in at their schools, but when their parents send them to a wilderness camp, they find each other. The two also make friends with Kate and Louis and the group face the challenges together. I really enjoyed this book!
  4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
    This was a great book! I enjoyed the descriptions of the circus and the way we got many POVS showing us how different people experience it. The descriptions were detailed and I loved how it all tied in at the end. The characters were also intricate and I enjoyed getting to read about them. It was a great book!
  5. The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
    This was an amazing reread! 4 siblings and none of them alike, yet they have to journey together to find the mythical Ivory Key. They each have different reasons for wanting it, but if they fail, they could all lose everything. I love the characters so much and the plot twists along the way. I really enjoyed this book!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here

The Everglades

Recently, I’ve been trying to experiment around with different poem styles- instead of classics like free style, limericks, or sonnets, I’ve been trying to find some unique styles- like the nonet! The nonet is based on syllable count and each line decreases, starting from 9 syllables-1 syllable.

I decided to write my nonet about the Everglades, which I got to visit when I went to Miami. They were incredible, and we even got to see an alligator, plus a heron! I enjoyed it a lot, so here’s my nonet about the Everglades!

You would think that in swampy waters
Nothing would dare to grow or live
I can prove you wrong, just take
a look at Florida’s 
Everglades, where
wildlife thrives
everywhere,
just find
it

Here are some of the pictures from the Everglades!

What are some unique poetry styles that you know of?

Dystopian Societies

In my new high school, they’ve assigned us summer work. Part of our English work was to read one out of four dystopian books and answer some guiding questions about them. I ended up reading The Grace Year by Kim Liggett and Feed by M.T. Anderson. These are the questions and answers for those two books!

THE GRACE YEAR:

Q: What things in this society seem wrong to you? Why?

A: In this society, women are valued even less than they are in today’s world. They are treated as devices, used only for giving birth. Women are also considered to have “magic”, which on further inspection turns out to be the result of hallucinations caused by poisoned well water. 

Q: What things in this society might be similar to the world we live in?

A: This society expands on the sexism often seen in the world we live in. While the society seen in this world is incredibly exemplified, our world too, often faces problems of not being accepting and open-minded enough.

FEED:

Q: What things in this society seem wrong to you? Why?

Everyone in this society relies on a stream of information called The Feed that is constantly being streamed into their brain. It tells them everything they need to know and is how most people function in this society.

Q: What things in this society might be similar to the world we live in?

A: This book seems to take people’s total reliance on the internet to an exemplified level in this society, drawing on how some people can base their whole life off of what they find online. 

What are some good dystopian books you’ve read?

Top reads of June!

Here are my top books of June!

  1. The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    This was such a perfect ending to a series I had enjoyed a lot! I’ve enjoyed this book series for a while and I have been so excited to read the last book! The Hawthorne Mansion is almost Avery’s, but she has one more year to get through. When a visitor turns up at the Mansion, Avery doesn’t know whether to trust them or not, but misplaced trust could hurt them all. This book was incredibly written, with an amazing plot filled with puzzles, riddles, and mysteries- just like the whole series. I totally recommend this series to you!
  2. The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea
    I loved this book so much. It’s a great re-read about different kids who deal with different thing in life. They have nothing in common until they are placed together in Mrs. Woods 6th grade class. Even then, at the beginning, they are reluctant to work with each other, but as the time for the statewide tests draw closer, they learn to trust each either and how to be a good team. This book is so emotionally touching and I loved all the ups and downs. The characters are also really great. I totally recommend this series to you!
  3. The Ivies by Alexa Donne
    This was an incredible murder mystery! Olivia is part of the Ivies, a group of high school students who would do anything to get into the Ivy League schools they want. But when one of the Ivies is murdered, Olivia starts to question her friendship and everything she knows. I really enjoyed this book and the way the characters were created! There was a lot of layers and I enjoyed reading through them all. This is a great book!

  4. Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
    I adored this book! It’s another re-read from an amazing author. Similarly to The Perfect Score, kids who normally despise each other are forced to be in their 6th grade class together. I loved exploring each of their unique personalities and characteristics! Soon, tragedy befalls the class and they each have to learn how to cope with their grief while still caring for everyone. This was an incredibly book and I totally recommend it to you!
  5. Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
    This was an incredible book! Saoirse is used to telling lies to survive. It’s how she climbed to the top of training and gets offered a job to be a guard to the Prince. But being a siren is dangerous, especially when all the prince’s guards are on the hunt for a beautiful woman who just happens to be Saoirse in disguise. This was an amazing book and I totally enjoyed it!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here

Leadership EOY

In one of my recent posts, I talked about graduating! In one of my classes, leadership, we had an EOY party. There, different students had the opportunity to give a speech or presentation. I had the chance to give a speech in which I thanked it all- the year, the teacher, the class, the experience. Here’s my speech, I hope you enjoy it!

Leadership is a class I’ll look back on with fond memories. It’s a class that has helped me grow, flourish, and thrive through my 8th grade years. I’ve learnt things I never thought I would learn and experienced things I never thought I would experience. So this is a thank you. A thank you to people, classes, and experiences that have helped me learn. A thank you to those who have molded me and made me more of myself. A thank you to the closing of middle school and the opening of high school. This is a thank you.
First, a huge thank you to Mr. Marshall. The teacher of Leadership, a torch in the darkness. His brightness and energy made my day, no matter what. Every P day, or really, every single day, I knew that I had a respite in Mr. Marshall’s classroom. He was kind and caring to everyone, no matter who you were or what you did. He heard out everyone through all their ideas, silly or serious. Not only that, he addressed all topics. He didn’t shy away from the serious, no matter what. Mr. Marshall was an incredible role model, not only for me, but for everyone who was in his class.
Next, a thank you to the class of leadership itself. This class has given me so much to look forward to and so much to enjoy. It’s a class where I know I can relax and simply focus on the lesson without worrying about anything else. Our lessons are practical, but fun, teaching us skills that’ll be important in our day-to-day lives. For example, our lesson on framing, a lesson that taught me how to take the most ordinary or boring things and spin them so that I have a positive viewpoint. Or our lesson on writing reference letters, a skill that’ll surely be useful in any job we take up.
Lastly, a thank you to these experiences. Leadership has been one experience after another and I am so thankful to be able to be a part of it all. Starting from 7th grade, with our trial PUPS lessons, to now, giving a speech in front of everyone from leadership, I’ve never stopped to question it, letting myself enjoy it all. There’ve been so many fond memories made with the people in this room- Leadership Camp, PUP Camp, all the socials, making presentations together, giving tours together, teaching classes together, and so, so many more. I don’t think I’ve ever stopped growing or changing and I don’t plan to now, as I enter high school. Through it all, we’ve been one big, happy group. One big, happy ship. Leadership.
Leadership has created so many opportunities not for just me, but for all of us. I’ve seen everyone around me learn more about themselves and grow into the best version of ourselves. We’ve all grown and blossomed- just like our plants! I don’t think anything can change the memories we made here or the fun times we had. And all those memories, all those fun times are thanks to one shared class- leadership. So thank you to leadership. Thank you to all the people in this room- every single one of you. Thank for always being all aboard.

This class has created some of my best memories and I will miss it a lot. What classes like that have you taken?

The Miami Botanical Gardens

Recently, we traveled to Miami! While exploring the city, we discovered the Miami Botanical Gardens, a beautiful garden filled with plants and wildlife. Here’s an acrostic poem based on what I saw in the gardens!

Miami, a busy city, bustling to the brim
Isn’t just noise and hustle,
An adventure is waiting, in
Miami, so what are you waiting for?
It’s time to explore!

Behind the Convention Center,
Over past the beach,
Towards the quiet side of the city,
A secret gem lies in wait, just for you
Nature blossoms, blooms, and grows, an
Incredible, inviting space
Come on in
Amazing awaits,
Let’s experience it!

Grand, open
Area, filled with
Radiance, light
Dazzling, incredible
Extraordinarily, wonderful
No time to waste!

Graduation!

Recently, on Wednesday, I finished up 8th grade, my last year of middle school. It was a momentous occasion and I was so happy to be part of it, though of course, it was also incredibly bittersweet.

I’ve enjoyed middle school a lot. It’s been filled with a lot of new things- new classes, new people, and new experiences. I’ve learned a lot and I’m so glad that I’ve been able to experience it all. Middle school has opened me up to new experiences, like theater, something that I’m incredibly passionate about today, which you might know if you’ve seen some of my previous blog posts.

Also, leadership! Leadership is a class I’d been hoping to get into ever since I first went on a tour and I was so happy to get the acceptance email. The classes, the teacher, and all the experiences have been one fun time and I’m so glad to have been part of it.

Lastly, I’ve made a lot of new friends, who I’ll miss so much in high school. They all mean a lot to me and while some of them are continuing on with me to the next year, I will unfortunately have to part ways with some people who mean a lot to me, though we have made promises to keep in touch.

On the other hand, I can’t wait to experience so much in high school! I’ve already gotten my classes for next school year, so I know what classes I’ll be taking. I’ll be continuing theater, which I’m super excited for! I’ll also be taking my first AP course- AP Human Geography. I know high school will be an extraordinary experience!

How were your school experiences?

Top Books of April and May

Here are my top reads of April and May! April’s books are the first 2 and May’s are the last 3.

  1. The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood
    This was a great book about one of the “heroes” from Greek mythology! Perseus is commonly known as the only hero with a happy ending, but this fails to consider the women in his life. I loved the way the story flowed and its plot! I also enjoyed how we got 3 POVs from the most important women in his life- Danaë, his mother, Medusa, the woman he killed, and Andromeda, his wife. It was such a great book and I really enjoyed it!
  2. The Cobra’s Song by Supriya Kelkar
    I loved this book! When Geetanjali gets stage fright for the first time in her life, she’s sure it’s over. She can’t stand up for her friends and now, she might be at risk of losing her best friend. Not only that, her usually kind and caring neighbor is now cold and distant-possible possessed by the snake gem. I really enjoyed the story and the way that the book’s characters were developed! I totally recommend it to you!
  3. Wretched Waterpark by Kiersten White
    I really enjoyed this book! When Theo, Alexander, and Wil are suddenly told to go spend the summer with their mysterious Aunt Saffronia, they aren’t sure how to react, especially when their aunt decides to deposit them at the Fathoms of Fun waterpark, a waterpark that looks more like a nightmare zone. Then comes the problem of all the staff suddenly changing their personalities…This was such a great read and I totally recommend it to you! I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series!
  4. Family of Liars by Emily Lockhart
    This was the prequel to We Were Liars! In this book, Caroline’s own story comes to life during the summer that the boys arrived. The island is their own safe haven and soon, the boys both help build that up and break that down. Carrie falls for Pfeff, though he doesn’t seem to reciprocate the same feelings. As Pfeff shows just how much he doesn’t care for Carrie, their relationship splinters, to the point where she hates him. I really enjoyed this book and the way it defines the book after it! I totally recommend it to you!
  5. The Ojja Wojja by Magdalene Visaggio
    This was a graphic novel about two misfits in a “perfect” town. They’re terrorized by a bully, but find solace in each other and their small projects. Until one of those projects accidentally awakens a demon who takes over their town and makes their bully the center of it all. Only the two and their friends are spared. But the ritual to recapture the demon is tricky and they have to learn that sometimes, violence isn’t always the answer!

Say No to Book Bans- my IB Project

For my last year at middle school, we’ve been doing projects about a cause we’re passionate about. Because of this, I picked books and book bans. I did research about book bans around the US and the history of this practice. To take action, I emailed my state representatives, posted frequent Instagram posts, and wrote this essay. I hope you enjoy!

Books have been a part of my life since an early age. My parents have only encouraged this love and so it’s become something that has defined my life. Books have guided me through tumultuous times and have been some of my closest companions when I needed them. Not only that, books have helped me figure out who I am. As an Indian, my identity isn’t very commonly represented, especially in TV shows or movies. But books have let me, and so many other people I know, figure out who we are and how we want to exist in the world.
But book banning and book censorship seeks to erase these books that have created a safe space for so many people. Reports issued by PEN America, a foundation that seeks to prevent book banning, shows how in 2021-2022, 41% of books banned had LGBT+ characters and 40% of books banned featured characters of color. Additionally, books with religious minorities, books that dealt with race/racism, and books that dealt with themes of rights and activism were also frequently banned.
Not only does banning books limit students’ safe places, banning books is a slippery slope to censorship and eradication of the first amendment, which grants everyone freedom of the press. Banning books is unconstitutional and only succeeds in suppressing the thoughts and opinions of others. This could easily lead to the erosion of how our country commits to freedom of expression.
While parents have the right to choose what their child can read, that does not mean they have the right to decide for a large group of students, especially when all of these students have different views, different opinions, and different mindsets. One person’s opinions do not apply to everyone. Parents are allowed to ask that their children do not read a certain book at a certain time, but when this grows into policing a whole group, it is undemocratic.
Therefore, I believe that book banning is an abhorrent practice. It limits who sees themselves in books, the first amendment, and lets a small group of people decide for a larger group. Support stopping book bans today!

The Beatles Tour

During our Manchester trip, we got to go to Liverpool, where I got to visit the Beatles Museum. This was an amazing opportunity as I really enjoy the Beatles’ music. The museum was filled with information from their childhood to (some of) their deaths. It was also decorated beautifully, with certain rooms dedicated to a certain song or album and other rooms showing how they became such a popular band.

After that, we decided to go on a hop on-hop off style bus tour of famous Beatles locations. This included Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, and the Beatles’ childhood homes. It was amazing to see how each of these places inspired the 4 so much that they went on to write award-winning songs about them.