Category: Uncategorized

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.

3 amazing podcasts for kids

I have been listening to a lot of podcasts during the quarantine and they all make me laugh and giggle. Here are 3 of my favorite podcasts to listen to.

  1. Brains On!

In each episode, the host, Molly Bloom, will answer questions about one topic with a kid host. There are also additional fun activities like the mystery sound. You can send in questions and mystery sounds as well. It’s really fun and I always learn a lot of things after each show.

Did you know that my question was featured in a episode? It was in the episode about color! This is the episode

2. The Big Fib

In this podcast, the hosts, Deborah Goldstein and Ethan Berlin (L.I.S.A), invite 2 adults to talk about a topic and 1 child to guess which adult is telling the truth and which one is telling a lie. Along the way are hilarious comments and sound-effects. I really enjoy this show and totally recommend it to you.

3. Smash Boom Best

In each episode, there are 2 debaters, each arguing for a different topic. A kid host listens to each round of debating and marks a point for the side which they think won that round. I love the different rounds of debating and how fierce it can get. It’s really a great podcast.

These are some of my favorite podcasts which I think you should listen to. What are some of your favorite podcasts?

We All Sing America

We All Sing America

We all sing America,

The future dancers, teachers, and musicians. 

We all sing America,

We are here to protect and defend our culture,

no matter where we came from, because

We all sing America

the Indians, Japanese, and Australians

We all sing America

the land which keeps us free

We all sing America

everyone who lives here

We all sing America

and we stand together for everyone to see

I wrote this poem as a part of my WITS writing camp. Happy July 4th to everyone!❤🤍💙

A Science-Fiction Story

As a part of my WITS writing camp, I wrote a science fiction story. Using the Namibia desert as inspiration, I wrote a story about a 10 year old girl from Saturn.

“All buckled in?” my dad called from the front of the ship. I rolled my eyes. “I’m ten. I know when to buckle in” I replied. He sighed. “Just making sure. Saturn’s atmosphere might give us a bit of trouble.” “Then why are we even going? What’s so great on Earth that we need to leave Bao Mi and Sila and Moila behind?” “We know that you’ll feel more at peace there,” Mom reminded gently,”and we have decided to go to a little island near the- hmmm, what was it called? Oh that’s right!- the Bahamas! You’ll love it there!” “Ok, let me get my facts straight. We’re going to an island which you barely know the name of, where you think I’ll be happy, we’re leaving behind my greatest supporter, my sister and best friend, and my pet, and you didn’t even ask my opinion? Well thanks, I know I’ll be really happy there.” I said sarcastically.  I grabbed my headphones and cranked up the volume. It had started as a normal Saturday. Mom, Dad, and I had gone to get ice cream at Burgle burg’s , but instead of going there they took me to the spaceship. I didn’t know we were going to Earth until we got to the landing dock. Dad proudly looked back, only to see my horrified expression. That’s when we had started this whole argument. We took off, flying at an incredible rate. As we were flying over Earth, our system suddenly malfunctioned and we started to fall. We fell at an alarming rate until we fell into a pile of sand. “I told you this wasn’t a good idea” I told my parents. They sighed. “Let’s go explore for some time,” I suggested. We explored the dry and barren plains.  As we reached the end, I drew out a crystal ball. They gasped. “Where did you get that from?” my mom asked. She couldn’t contain her shock. I grinned. “Moila,” I replied as casually as I could. “Arnan, what was the name of that island again?” Mom asked Dad. “Mmm, I think it was Lofu,” he replied. Mom turned excitedly to me. “Beam us to Lofu!” I ignored her. “If it’s my ball, shouldn’t I choose?” I asked. “Fine” Mom couldn’t hide her frustration with me. “Beam me back to Saturn” I whispered. “No!” Dad yelled and ran for me. Mom grabbed him back, “No Arnan. If that’s what she wants, then she can have it.””But Frugi,” Dad protested. Suddenly a beam of light hit us and we started to rise up. I felt the pressure, but I knew that I could handle it. Suddenly, we were in Saturn! I ran home and hugged everyone. My mom and dad watched silently from the doorway. I didn’t care. I was happy and glad to be home and I knew that I would never try to go back to Earth.

This is my first attempt in writing science fiction. I really enjoyed it. I hope you like it too!

Author Biography

In my WITS writing camp, we had to write a 5-10 line author biography about ourselves. Here is mine!

The Mint Girl is an acclaimed author and TV host. She is most famous for her books Say it Like it is and its sister, Say it Like You Mean it. She hosts the game show What Do you Mean?. She has 3 cats and a hedgehog. She lives in Honolulu, Hawaii and has dreamt about going to live in Japan. Her next book, The Best Place to Live?, is coming out in September and is highly anticipated. 

When she’s not writing, you can find the Mint Girl reading, dancing, and ziplining. You can connect with her on Instagram.

What will your dream author bio look like?

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?

Courage

Courage is trying something new

Courage is following your heart even when you’re not sure

Courage is knowing when to stop, but still being able to step out,

just a little bit,

out of your comfort zone

Courage is helping,

Courage is doing,

Courage is being kind.

We are made of courage

and we are here because of courage.

We need to be brave for ourselves and others.

In this world, we need to be courageous and share our voices. We need to be kind and open-minded. Be brave and kind! We can do this

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.

Arriving in Chennai

I recently attended my second WITS writing workshop with Omer Ahmed. In this workshop, we thought about the small things we did and how we can exaggerate them. I learned about some great tools to improve my writing skills. This is what I wrote during the session.

Arriving in Chennai feels like stepping into a desert. There are no ACs and everyone waits outside. When I round the corner, I see monkeys, jumping up and down, all wanting to get their customers first. Suddenly, I spot my grandparents, though one needs a telescope to see them. I rush through the crowds like a cheetah, anxious to get to them. They laugh and put their arms around me and we hurry off to the car before we melt into a puddle of nothing. I turn on the AC and the change from desert to polar vortex is very welcome. The suitcases and bags my grandparents bought are laden with gifts and I long to peek inside. I try to be sneaky like a snake, but the unwrapping of the gifts sounds as loud as a chainsaw. My grandmother glances back at me and her eyes pierce through me. After what seems like a million years, she smiles and I happily start to unwrap it again. I am joyful as I ride down the streets. I lean back, ready to make the most of this vacation.

If everything had gone by plan, I would be packing my suitcases and getting ready to see my grandparents this year. Instead, I’m at home, face-timing and messaging them, but at least I can still have fun with them!