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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus This is such an amazing book! When Brynn moves back to her hometown, she’s sure nothing good can happen. That is until she gets a job at a murder investigation podcast by pitching the story of her dead teacher. I really loved this story and the way the plot unfolded. It was a great read!
The Dead Queens Club by Hannah Capin This was such a great book! Annie, or Cleves, as she’s known, has been Henry’s best friend for a long time. She’s seen him go through a girlfriend, get angry at the slightest mention of her cheating then break up with her. But as her friends propose a theory that is certainly possible, she has to figure what is right or wrong. This is such a great book!
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue This was such a cool book! When Maeve’s temper gets her into detention, where she has to clean an old storage cupboard, she’s horrified. But when she finds a deck of tarot cards that call to her, she’s suddenly immersed in a world of magic and her life begins to change for the better. Until she accidentally makes someone disappear. I really enjoyed this book and I totally recommend it to you!
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. I loved this story and how it was written! I totally recommend it to you!
In our English class, we got the assignment to write a non-fiction essay about any topic we wanted. I decided to write about British colonization and the extremely negative impacts of it. I hope you like it!
British colonization has left a negative imprint on all the countries affected by its invasion. Many ideas that define the countries were lost to this colonization. Countries’ progressive ideas were lost because of British colonization, like female rights in India, Two-Spirit in many indigenous cultures, and samurai and generals in Japan.
In Indian mythology, there have been many instances of strong female characters, such as Devi, Parvati, Saraswati, Kali, and many, many more. These characters are all incredibly powerful and have been the reason wars are won. This inclusiveness shows how powerful they can be and how they are a part of everyday life and culture. The Vedas themselves state that, “Where women are worshiped, there the gods dwell”, showing how important and deeply rooted women are in Hinduism. Strong female characters emerge from all corners of the mythology to prove time and time again that women and men are equal. However, all of these myths and livelihoods died down because of British rule and are not very popular today. Now, in India, many women feel persecuted and have to face abuse and poverty, going against what is defined in the Vedas, the ancient and sacred script, meaning that the effects of British colonization live on today in India.
In Japan, during the 1500s-1600, all men who had a high rank had a boy/male lover accompanying them in the battlefields. All men of rank had these lovers documented, except for one example only. As Keiko Akagi, someone who is originally from Japan has said, “It was almost mandatory custom to have a male lover [for feudal lords], especially for higher ranking ones”,and “It’s almost men’s etiquette to have it [a male lover] at that time”. While Japan was never formally colonized by the British, it was incredibly influenced by western culture, especially through the period of the 1800s- 1900s. During this time, many of these traditions were taken away, almost purged. Even today, same-sex couples are not allowed the same legal protection that opposite-sex couples are allowed to have and Japan is known to be extremely homophobic.
Two-Spirit is an Indigenous term, where a person might have diverse cultural, spiritual, sexual, and gender-wise identities. It is an umbrella term that varies depending on each nation, but encompasses one main idea of someone who is not cisgender or heterosexual. As the Provincial Health Services Authority says, “Before colonization, Two-Spirit people were included and respected as valued community members, often holding revered roles”. However, the main keyword here is before colonization. With the British values that came along with colonization, so came the erasure of Two-Spirit identities. They were cast out and occasionally killed, leading to a harsh environment for many people who identified as Two-Spirit. Today, increased amounts of homophobia and transphobia exist because of this colonization, which can harm Two-Spirit people quite a lot.
Opponents might say that the British didn’t actually mean to spread these ideas and never wanted to in the first place. However, when in India, the British solidified the caste system and placed women at the very bottom of it. So, the British did in fact spready sexism/homophobia where they went. Many countries’ progressive ideas were lost because of British colonization, like female rights in India, Two-Spirit in many indigenous cultures, and samurai and generals in Japan.
In my last post, I talked about the places we went to in Boston which had historical significance. Along with those places, we also went to many places that inspired/housed authors, like the Louisa May Alcott house and the Walden pond. We also visited 3 bookstores and they each had their own uniqueness to offer.
We started with the house of the author of Little Women. While we arrived at the Louisa May Alcott house late and therefore couldn’t get a tour, we did get see view the outside of it and the gardens outside. The gardens were planted according to the book, a section corresponding to each sister and what they had planted in the book.
After that we drove to Walden pond and Henry David Thoreau’s house. He drew inspiration from the pond to write his book, so we decided to visit it. The sun was setting just as we arrived, casting everything in a golden glow. It was incredibly beautiful and I enjoyed it a lot! We also saw an eagle on top of a replica of his cabin which was nice.
We also visited many bookstores! On the first day we visited posman books and Brattle Book Shop. posman had many great books and I loved how the shop was decorated. Brattle was unique because it was an used bookshop. However, on the third floor, they had a collection of rare/unique books, like the original Federalist papers and the aeronautical pamphlets from the Wright brothers. Later, we also visited Beacon Hill Books and Cafe, which was such an amazing place. The bookshop was cozy and inviting and I loved their atmosphere.
Lastly, we visited the Boston Library. It’s a beautiful place with paintings and sculptures scattered throughout the library. I really enjoyed walking through it!
Do you know any cities that have thriving areas to write?
The Town with No Mirrors by Christina Collins This was such a cool book! It’s set in a town where mirrors, or any way you can see your reflection, are not allowed. Yet, Zailey keeps having superficial thoughts, telling her to draw what other people look like and wonder about how exactly she looks. However, before she figures herself out, something happens that changes her life forever. I really liked the dystopian element in this book and how it unfolds. It’s a great read!
Harley Quinn: Ravenous by Rachael Allen I really enjoyed this book! This is actually the second book in a series, but you can read it by itself, without any prior knowledge. When Harley Quinn wakes up in a hospital room with no memory of where she is, how she got there, or who the people surrounding her are, she knows she needs her memories back. She was interning at a college when…something happened. This was such a great book and I loved the LGBT+ rep!
Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sugiura Momo isn’t the most popular person in school by a long shot. She’s often bullied and mocked for being “out of date” or for the traditional mythology stories her mom would tell her. But when a fox who can shapeshift shows up at her door telling her to follow him to save her mother, Momo has no choice but to follow him, teaming up with her worst enemy throughout the way. This is such a great story!
Cat’s Cradle: The Golden Twine by Jo Rioux This was a great book! Suri has always wanted to be a monster catcher, so when someone in her caravan brings in a giant cage, presumably holding a monster, she jumps at the chance to meet it. But when an encounter with a strange boy goes wrong, things start to get hecticc. This was such an interesting story and I totally recommend it to you!
Attack of the Black Rectangles by A. S. King This was an amazing book about censorship! Ms. Sett isn’t the best teacher. She has always been on the lookout for people who aren’t following the town’s precise rules. But when Mac gets her as his teacher, she seems nice. That is, until she begins blacking out words in their class copy of “The Devil’s Arithmetic”. Mac and his friends are outraged and immediately begin to fight against this. I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend it to you!
