Category: writing

My Top Books of March ’23

  1. Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
    This was such an amazing book! I’d heard about it for a really long time and so when I was able to get it, I was really excited! This book is about Queen Clytemnestra, one of the most infamous characters in Greek mythology, as she murdered her own husband after watching him kill their daughter as a sacrifice. I loved the way Clytemnestra was portrayed in the book, especially as we got to see her early years and how that led up to who she is. It’s a great story!
  2. Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
    I really enjoyed this book! It creates an intriguing world where the gods have died and humans and otherborns alike are left to fend for themselves. The otherborns are descendants of magical creatures, like the Fates, the Furies, the Graces and many others. Each otherborn has a special ability that they can use to change the world around them. I loved the worldbuilding that happened in this book and the way that they story evolved. This is a great read!
  3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    This was such a good book! Starr knows grief. She’s witnessed it with Natasha, and now, she witnesses it with Khalil. Now, she’s the only one left out of their friend group. Starr has to figure out where her loyalties lie as she struggles through family and school life. I really enjoyed this book and the way that the story was created. It was powerful and held strength in each sentence. I totally recommend it to you!
  4. Brighter Than the Moon by David Valdes
    Jonas and Shani met online. Ash and Shani are childhood friends. When Shani suspects something isn’t right, she asks Ash to investigate. But soon, they all find themselves stressed out and dealing with all their problems. Not to mention, that their feelings are confused and they don’t know what to do with their lives. I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters and the different perspectives, so you could see how each character reacts to what. It’s such an amazing book and I love how it ends!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here

Libraries I Visited in Spring Break

Recently, I went to Manchester. I spent a week there and explored the city. While it was really cold, I enjoyed everywhere we went to! Some of my favorite places were the libraries. We visited Chetham’s Library in Manchester, which is the oldest public library in the world, and the Liverpool Central Library.

The Chetham’s Library first served as housing for the priests of Manchester’s Collegiate Church in 1421. Since then, it has become a library, housing many unique and rare books for over 350 years. We were lucky enough to get a tour of the library and therefore learned about the history. The library contains a few intact rooms that represent what life might have looked like for the priests and the warden that watched over them.

Later in the trip, we went to Liverpool, where we decided to visit the Liverpool Central Library. This library is relatively modern, with some beautiful older rooms. Outside the library, book titles are engraved (as shown in the first picture) and I loved the way that it looked. It was totally unique and I haven’t seen other libraries which had decorations like that before! The main room was beautiful and I especially enjoyed the second “floor” which curved around the whole room. There were also certain exhibits when we went, like an Audubon birds exhibit and a Chinese and British exhibit (last picture).

I really enjoyed visiting these libraries! Which library that you’ve visited is your favorite?

Black-Out Poetry

Recently, in my English class, we learned about Black-Out poetry. Black-out poetry is when you take an article, books, existing poetry, or any written material and black out some of the words to create new sentences and poetry. It’s a really fun creative exercise and I enjoyed it a lot! Here’s some of the black-out poetry that I did.

Poem 1:

Poem 2:

Poem 3:

The first poem was created out of an article about basements, the second was about a musical, and the third was about wild turkeys. As you can tell, none of the poems really stick with the themes of those articles, which is what makes black-out poetry so fun. You can play around with your topics and what’s important in your poem.

If you’d like to try black-out poetry here are the simple steps!

  1. Find an article or piece of writing that you enjoy or would like to try writing with. This can be any article and does not have to align with your end product!
  2. Start blacking out swathes of text so you are left with words or phrases that you enjoy and you think add to your poem.
  3. If you find yourself getting stuck or are not sure what to black out, try a pattern! Maybe black out every ten words, then save the eleventh! Even just by trying, you can create something extraordinary.
  4. You can also try to be artistic! Many poets who do black out poetry drawing pictures or make illustrations out of their work and it can end up looking beautiful.

Have/Will you try blackout poetry? What other kinds of poetry do you like?

My Top Books of Feb ’23

Here are my top books for this month!

  1. Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
    Seven has been waiting her whole life to be sorted into coven and so when the sorting ceremony comes, she can’t wait. But when she doesn’t get sorted and becomes a Spare, she’s distraught. Along with her worst enemy and the new girl, Seven must battle the monster that’s been plaguing their town to stay alive. This is an amazing book and I totally recommend it to you!
  2. Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie
    This was such an amazing book! I really enjoyed getting to read all the different stories- some that were serious and some that were fun and light. All the stories had different plots, different characters, and overall, different fun experiences to dive into. This is a great book and I totally recommend it to you!
  3. Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith
    This was such an amazing book! We get to see 3 different perspectives, Mary’s and her parents’. I loved the style of writing and the way poetry was eloquently used to tell the story of a French-Greek girl struggling to fit in. The author also included many beautifully written lines that still stick with me. It’s an amazing book!
  4. Curses by Lish McBride
    When Merit refused to marry the suitor her mother picked for her, she was cursed and transformed into a beast. A few years later, her 18th birthday is coming up and if she doesn’t marry soon, she’ll be a beast forever. However, she’s found a band of criminals who promise to help her meet her match. I really enjoyed this book!

Top Books of January: click here

The Lightning Thief Musical

Recently, I went to go see a musical based on the first Percy Jackson book- The Lightning Thief. As you may know, I’m a huge fan of Percy Jackson and Greek mythology by extension, so I was really excited to see how this musical turned out. I’d already listened to the songs, so I knew most of it, and as I’d read the book before, I knew how the plot was going to turn out. Still, I was incredibly excited to see how it would be interpreted.

I really enjoyed the set and how, while the overall pieces and elements were the same, a simple change of banners or how the set pieces were placed could change the vibe of a scene and show a different setting (and obviously the lights helped with this too). Even though there was a smaller cast, I loved getting to see all the characters and their costumes for each character. Some of my favorite characters were Grover/Mr. D as well as Annabeth. They portrayed their characters really well and I enjoyed it all!

While it was a smaller scale production, I still really enjoyed how the scenes in the book leapt off the pages to be seen in real life. I especially enjoyed how some lines from the book were taken word for word, and it was so much fun to recognize these lines!

Kalkandu Sadam

Recently I made a quick and easy Kalkandu Sadam in my Ninja Foodi. I really liked it and wanted to share it with you!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup kalkandu (sugar candy)
  • 2 and 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 and 1/2 tbsp ghee
  • 2 tsp cashews
  • 2 tsp raisins
  • a pinch of saffron

Recipe:

  1. Wash the rice and powder the kalkandu until it forms a coarse powder
  2. Add the rice (washed), water, and 1 cup of milk to the Foodi.
  3. Cook for 5 minutes and let the pressure release naturally, then open lid and mash the rice.
  4. Set the Foodi in saute mode and add the rest of the milk, the powdered kalkandu, and the cardamom.
  5. Mix well and cook for around 3-5 minutes.
  6. In a separate pan, heat the ghee then add the cashews and raisins to fry.
  7. Add this to the Foodi and mix well.
  8. Garnish with saffron and enjoy!

Chicago: The Musical

Recently, I went to see a new musical, Chicago. This added to the collection of musicals I’ve seen and (spoiler alert) that list is only going to grow this year.

I really enjoyed this musical, especially the music. The music set the scene incredibly well and I also loved how the conductor was involved in the story line at times. The choreography was also done incredibly well and you could tell the actors were thoroughly involved in the musical. I found the set interesting, as it was only a blank stage, with the occasional prop of a chair or two.

The musical was based on a play made in 1926, about the corruption in Chicago. The original play was based off of real criminals and real stories. The musical features Velma and Roxie, two women who have both ended up in jail. Velma’s famous and she’s been in the papers a lot, so when Roxie takes her spot, she’s upset. Again, I loved the songs and the choreography and the way the musical flowed. It was amazing to watch!

Have you been to see any musicals? Which ones are your favorites?

2023 goals

2023 is hopefully going to be a big year! I’m graduating middle school and moving on to high school, so that’s a pretty big milestone for me. I’m also hoping to work on things I’m passionate about and get much better at them.

Dance:

Dance, especially Bharatanatyam, is already a huge part of my life and I want that to continue through the new year. I hope to practice a lot more, learn many new items, and get more opportunities to perform.
This year, I’ll also get to perform in my school’s Spring Show, where I’ll be able to perform 4 dances in front of parents and friends. This is something I’m really excited for and I can’t wait to grow my contemporary dancing skills as well!

Writing:

I really want to work on my writing, as well as my use of vocabulary. Writing is already a huge passion of mine and I definitely want to grow that this year. I’m also auditioning for a creative-arts school in the category of writing!

Art:

Along with my writing, I would like to get better at my art skills! Currently, I might not be the best artist, however, I definitely want to practice a lot this year and hopefully learn more about art and develop an art style (or any semblance of one)

Books:

This year, I’m going to be trying to “read my bookshelf” more and get through many of the books on my bookshelf instead of always getting new ones. I hope to maybe finish more series and discover a lot of good books!

School:

This year, I’ll be going into high school and I hope to find my footing quickly. I’ll definitely keep working hard in my new school (and for the rest of middle school).

What goals do you have for 2023?

2022 Top Books

Here are my overall top books of 2022!

  1. If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch
    This was such a amazing book! Clark is stuck in a time loop. No matter what he tries to say or do will get him out of it and he is sure this is how life will be forever. Until he meets Beau. Beau walks into his calculus class one day and creates a ruckus, so Clark knows that he has to follow Beau. Beau introduces him to a life filled with love and joy and Clark realizes how much Beau means to him. But the next day, Beau is missing and Clark can’t find him anywhere.

    I really enjoyed this book because of how beautifully detailed the story was. It was an amazing ride and I loved the whole story from start to finish.
  2. Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole
    I really loved how powerful this book was. Alicia has gotten used to being bullied, being an outcast, her only friend being one she made in detention. But when she gets to meet with a mentor, she learned just how to channel that anger out and how to become the most powerful version of herself.

    I really enjoyed this book because of how the eloquent the writing style flowed. The poetry was beautiful and there were a lot of beautiful lines and quotes. The book also displayed sexual abuse very well.
  3. Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
    This was such an interesting book! Noah and Lewis used to be best friends. But when Lewis dies in a car accident, Noah is forced to survive alone. He decides to do his science project on Mothman to honor Lewis’ legacy, but when his teachers and his parents start to doubt him, he knows he needs real evidence. As he continues his search for the legendary creature, he learns how to make friends and move on while honoring Lewis.

    I really enjoyed this book and the portrayal or LGBT+ characters. The writing style, in letters and poetry, was incredible and I really liked the drawings. The story flowed incredibly well and I loved the quotes I got from it too.
  4. The Insiders by Mark Oshiro
    This was such an amazing book! Back home, Héctor being gay didn’t change anything. But now, when he gets bullied relentlessly, he needs a safe space…and finds it in the janitor’s closet that isn’t exactly what it seems. Soon he meets 2 other students who also don’t exactly fit in at their schools. The Room gives them a safe space, but they have to learn to face their problems on their own too.

    I really enjoyed this book and the way that Héctor and his friends are written. They are all incredibly lifelike and I loved the LGBT+ representation. The story was beautiful and can easily help people feel more welcome.
  5. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
    When Hani comes out to her friends as bisexual after they try to set her up, they don’t believe her. When they confront her about it, she panics and claims she’s dating her friends’ enemy- Ishita Dey. Ishita agrees on pretend to date Hani on one condition- she helps Ishita win the election to be head girl. But as Hani and Ishu get closer, Hani’s friends get jealous, punishing her and pushing her out.

    I really enjoyed this book because of how realistic the two main characters were. The representation was also beautiful and I enjoyed the book a lot.
  6. Loveless by Alice Oseman
    This is such a great read. Georgia has never had a crush, only one that she’s forced onto herself. So when university starts, she is determined to date someone. But when no one, male or female, appeals to her, and she joins the LGBT+ soc in her school, she realizes that maybe she’s a little different. I really loved coming along on the journey of Georgia figuring out who she is, while navigating her friends and their own feelings.

    I really enjoyed this book because of how beautifully Georgia’s college life is portrayed, especially as she and her friends learn how they are. It’s such a nicely written book.

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September: click here
Top Books of October: click here
Top Books of November: click here
Top Books of December: click here

2022 lookback

January:

I started the year in India. We didn’t really do much that first month, but it was a good and clean beginning to the new year.

February:

We took a quick staycation in Downtown, which was definitely a lot of fun. It was a great opportunity to relax while staying in the city.

March:

We went to Miami this year which was a lot of fun! We got to see a lighthouse and also got to visit Calle Ocho, which I had been learning about in school. I also visited the science museum which was a fun experience.
We also got to see Hamilton, which was awesome. I loved watching the songs come to life and it was overall a great experience.

April:

I did two dance performances this month- an annual recital for Bharatanatyam and my first ever Mohiniyattam performance!
I also got to watch an arangetram which was a new experience for me.

May:

We went to New Mexico which was really cool! I really enjoyed viewing the Carlsbad Caverns and the Petroleum Museum, as well as Monahans Sandhills State Park.
Our school also put on Matilda the Musical and I really enjoyed watching it, especially as a lot of my friends starred in it.

June:

Right before 7th grade ended, we had our schoolwide International Peace Festival, in which my friend and I put together a project on gender equality. During summer, I went to India which was a lot of fun, as usual.

July:

I went to Delhi in the beginning of July, which was a place I’d never been before. I really enjoyed visiting The Taj Mahal, Qutab Minar, and Isa Khan’s tomb, as well as other places.
I came home from India early (☹️) to go to Leadership Camp, hosted by my Leadership teacher for 8th grade. I really enjoyed camp and definitely made a lot of memories there.

August:

I started 8th grade around the middle of August which was an incredible new experience.
I also competed in a duet and a group Bharatanatyam competition and won first place for the duet!

September:

I celebrated my birthday this month and turned 13! Other than that we didn’t do much, but I really enjoyed celebrating my birthday and cherished everyone in my life that day (and month).

October:

I started the month with a roller skating party for everyone in Leadership. At first, I was a bit shaky, but I eventually got the hang of it and had a lot of fun!
I also got to see another musical- Hadestown, which was inspired by Greek mythology, which I love.
After that, we had Homecoming, which is definitely one of my highlights this year, as I got to have a lot of fun that night.

November:

I started November off with my UIL theater class performing twice, once for parents and once at a competition. I had a lot of fun both times and I can’t wait to do it again in the spring!
After that, we went to my last musical of the year- SIX the Musical. I also saw two of my friends there which was such a fun experience!
Then, during Fall Break, we went to Boston and I saw a lot of historical monuments, which went perfectly with what we were learning in US History.
Lastly, I ended the month with Fall Show, a performance organized by the dance teachers so we can show off what we have learnt in the first semester.

December:

Our school’s first semester has ended, meaning we’re halfway through the school year. This was also the first year I had to do midterms, because I’ve started taking high-school level courses.
As the semester ended, I went to our school’s winter concert, as I had many friends in orchestra. I really enjoyed watching them perform and they did great!
Lastly, I closed the year off by going to India for winter break.

How has your year been?