The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti Review

The Nature of Jade
by Deb Caletti 4/5 Stars 304 pages
Published February 27th 2007 by Simon Pulse 

“The Nature of Jade” isn’t just another book about a girl. It’s about a girl with real problems, and she creates real solutions for herself. Although most of the solutions are just wait until your anxiety is over, she does manage to get through everything she thinks she can’t do, and I think that’s important.

Jade is an 18 year old girl with an anxiety problem. She sees a councilor, goes to school, and eventually gets a volunteer job at the zoo that she’s been live steaming for who knows how long. That all changes, however, the day she see’s a boy sneak over the fence with his baby to look at the elephants and the stars one night. Although she doesn’t know it yet, he’ll change her life completely.

She faces a lot of problems in her daily life, an absent father who despite being around all the time, isn’t quite there, you know? He seems like he’s lost himself, and her mother is always busy. Her brother is pushed into sports he doesn’t like, and around all the homework she has, her mother pushes her to have the life she wasn’t able to. That isn’t what Jade wants.

I love the characters in this book, especially Sebastian. He just had such a refreshing view of things that it really changed the way I thought about some situations. The characters in this book are very realistic, and you could very well know them in real life if they weren’t stuck in this book. They adapt to the changes around them, and really grow as people, and that’s what I like.. The only reason I’ve knocked a star off the rating, is that at some points in the story, I found that the book was just telling me what was happening through a passage of time, rather than showing me, and I kind of glossed over those parts.

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this book, but I’m glad I got the chance to check it out. It’s a easy and relaxing read, despite some of the problems that the characters face, and I think it’s a perfect summer read because it not only moves quickly, but it’s easy to sink into. Something I’d like to remember from this book is when her councilor, Abe, tells jade that he never said growth doesn’t hurt, because that’s true, and I’m someone who always wonders if certain things are worth the pain. I’m glad things turned out in the end, and although we don’t get to see hardly any of Jade’s new life, I’m glad she moved on.

The book is available here, and here’s a link to the author’s Twitter.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

 

Favourite Books for August

Hey! Back again for another favourite’s post.

I read a lot of different books this month, some about people on other planets, some comics that were hits and some that were misses. Some of the books were based around everyday life that everyone lives in, and some of them were completely the opposite, although I’m glad I read them all.

I’ve picked five that I liked the most and put them in random order.

Hope you enjoy! Definitely  give these books a chance if you think you’d like any of them, I’ll include links to my full review and where you can get them.

 

1. Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King

“Whisper Me This” is a book about a woman who’s had a confusing life. As a child, she had an imaginary friend named Marley, who her mother clearly disliked, and tried to send her to therapy to get rid of her, saying she was too old for imaginary friends. Her mother was always closely guarded, and she never seemed to be enough for her. The woman that she is today however, isn’t anything like how her mother is. She has a daughter, and an ex boyfriend whom she shares custody with. Her life is plain, though she can’t seem to keep a job, but she likes it that way. That is, until she gets a call from her old neighbor one day, saying that her mother has been taken away in an ambulance, and that her father is facing negligence and abuse charges, though he’s clearly not well, and possibly has dementia. Not realizing things had gone so downhill for her parents so quickly, she rushes to their side not only to help them, but to find out what’s going on. This book is filled with secrets that she never expected, and I never expected, but I love it.

The book is available here, and here‘s my full review.

 

2. Out of Sight by Matthew S. Cox

“Out of Sight”, though completely different from the last book is a story about a girl who’s been homeless for years. Escaping her mother, and her mother’s abusive boyfriends, she ran away from home four years ago. Because she’s getting older though, it’s becoming more and more difficult for her to earn enough money to eat every day, through begging. Her only options at this point in her overpopulated dystopia, are either to join a brothel, or become a middle man for who knows what. That is, until kids start getting scooped up by the local police force and disappearing. She’s then arrested on false charges, and told that she can either join them in going on a colony ship to a far away planet, or face jail time for crimes she didn’t commit. I loved the characters in this story a lot, as well as the setting they’re in, even when they’re in an overcrowded city. Everything was easy to imagine, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

The book is available here, and here‘s my full review.

 

3. In a Cottage In a Wood by Cass Green

“In a Cottage In a Wood” is a mysterious story about a woman who finds another woman who’s going to kill herself. She gives her a package, and with that, jumps off the bridge. Neve is shocked and devastated, not only because of what she’s just witnessed, but that the woman chose her to give the package to. This is the beginning of Neve’s life crashing down around her. She then inherits a house, and decides this will fix everything. What she finds though, isn’t like anything she expects. The house is scary, and she’s more than afraid to stay by herself in it. This causes her to discover things that she never expected, and I certainly didn’t expect either. I really enjoyed reading this, and while the setting it’s in isn’t much different than our own, it gave the story a kind of realistically scary aspect to it, like this could happen to anyone.

The book is available here, and here‘s my full review.

 

4. The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas

I love “The Psychology of Time Travel” not only because the world it’s in is mostly the same as ours, but with a few small changes like time travel, but it shows what other books I’ve read on this topic won’t, like how time travel effects the characters that go through it, and shows so many different viewpoints from different people, some of which have mental illness. My favourite part of this book was when the characters are going to see different versions of themselves, and their loved ones who may or may not have passed on. It changes how people think about death, because you may see them in different times at different ages. This is also the only story I’ve read lately that contains only female viewpoints, which I thought was really cool. The story is amazing, and I just really enjoyed this book.

It’s available here, and so is my full review.

 

5.  Fizz, Boom, Bath! by Isabel and Caroline Bercaw

This book is completely different from the other’s in this list, and that’s because it’s one of those do it youself books. It shows you how to make tons of different kinds of bath and body products, including scrubs, bath bombs, and face masks, which I love. The pictures are bright, and the recipe’s are simple and easy to follow. I made one of the recipe’s here. I really enjoyed reading this book just because it’s fun to make things, and see how they work outside of the book. I want to make everything!

The book is available here, and so is my full review.

 

Thanks for reading! Sorry I posted so late today. Let me know what you thought about these books if you read them, or if you’re interested in any of them!

The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin by Sylvain Savoia Review

The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin by Sylvain Savoia 3/5 Stars 123 pages
Published September 16th 2016 by Europe Comics

This book is a comic version of a real story. Over two hundred years ago, a ship crashed near a tiny speck of an island and caused the entirety of their crew to be stranded, including the slaves they had stolen from their homes. This story also shows the author and the people documenting their struggles in comic form, as well as in actual documents and pictures from their study.

 

For fifteen years, they’re stranded, despite battling frantic depression, starving, having almost no water, and losing tons of their own people, they’re able to survive. Although the french crew eventually opts out, building a ship and abandoning the slaves, they’re strong enough to keep themselves alive without them. I think this book really shows the strength of people, even when they’re hopeless and on death’s bed.

Though I loved the story of the slaves, I found the comic documentation of the people in present day bland and boring. I would have loved to see the slaves part of the story by itself, with the actual photos and documentations of their study at the end, but I was sad to see that the only real evidence was jammed into the last two pages of the book.

If you love true stories turned into comic books, you’re going to love this. It’s a fast read, and I’m glad I got the chance to check it out. The book is available here.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

5 Comics that Hit Hard, But in a Good Way

Hey! Hope you’re having a good day. If you’re looking for a good cry, here are some books that might make that happen for you. Because sometimes you just want to read something sad and emotional to torture yourself. These stories are short, but man do they pack a punch.

In no specific order,

1. Perfect World, Vol. 1 by Rie Aruga

Although completely different than what I usually read, Perfect World is a story about a girl who reunites with her high school crush, and is shocked to learn that he’s now in a wheelchair, permanently. At first she thinks that she can’t love someone in that situation, but her feelings change when she realizes that he’s the same person she always liked. It faces a real problem that a lot of people have, and it was really refreshing and emotional, especially for something so short. The book is available here, and so is my full review.

 

2. A Dream for Three by Jérôme Hamon

A little different from the last book, A Dream For Three shows the struggles of a girl who’s trying to follow her family’s dream, but is lost in trying to find herself. After her sister, who she’s been doing ballet with since they were kids gets into a dance school and she doesn’t, she’s devastated and doesn’t know what to do with herself. I think that more people are affected by this than we realize, and although this story is also short, it’s really something I want to remember because of the end. The book is available here, and so in my Full Review.

 

3. Disney Pixar Manga: Wall-E by Shiro Shirai

Yes this is just the book version of the movie, and yes there are two books on this list of very similar style, but because I loved the movie so much I couldn’t say no to checking this one out. It follows Wall-E, a little cleaning robot, as he cleans up the earth completely alone, and then one day goes on the adventure of his little life. People have been moved up into space as a last attempt at keeping them alive, among the planet that they ruined. Like I said, the exact same as the movie. Everything about this is just so heartbreaking and cute, how could you not feel a little torn up about the planet? The book is available here, and so is

my full review.

4. I Really Didn’t Think This Through: Tales from My So-Called Adult Life by Beth Evans

If you’ve ever felt hopeless with your anxiety, depression, or other problem that affects your life, this book is for you. Beth Evans simple and hilarious art style bring forward problems and solutions for those problems in your everyday life, as well as any feelings you may have along the way. An instant favourite, this book is something everyone should read and have on their shelf. I’d love to read it anytime I’m feeling bad. The book is available here, and so is my full review.

5.  How to Appear Normal at Social Events: and Other Essential Wisdom by Lord Birthday

Another instant favourite like the last, with a hilarious art style, and way of writing. This book has not only lists but just everything you could think of jammed into one when you’re feeling awkward. Although some of it is just completely out of nowhere and surprising in a funny way, a lot of the stuff you can really learn from if you search deep down, looking in between the funny pictures and silly jokes. This is another book that I would love to have on my shelf to cheer me up when I’m feeling bad. The book is available here, and so is my full review.

Thanks for reading! I hope you like these books as much as I do. They’re perfect for a quick read that really hurts in a real sense, as well as sometimes having some advice and jokes along the ride. Hope you have a good day.

Thresher: A Deep Sea Thriller by Michael Cole Review

Thresher: A Deep Sea Thriller
by Michael Cole 4/5 Stars 307 pages
Published July 8th 2018 by Severed Press

If you’re looking for an exciting and fast paced novel filled with police and a giant shark as well as government secrets, you’ve found your perfect match. “Thresher” is the newest deep sea creature novel by Michael Cole, and because of this book, I would love to check out his other deep sea thrillers. Not only does the violence kind of sneak up on you, but the characters are hilarious in ways you wouldn’t expect. Though deeply hurt by the world around them, they’re tough as nails and they’re ready to take on anything.

The book was a little hard to get into at the beginning, but once I was into it, I could see it play out like a movie in my head. After Hurricane Deckard strikes down, strange marine life are taken far from their homes. Even worse, some of them seem to be almost insane sizes, growing way past what they should be. The story follows one particularly aggressive shark, as well as two police officers, and two scientists. The point of view bounces around a lot, and it really gives you a chance to see the story from all angles, especially the people suffering from the shark’s attacks.

The main characters, though facing real problems like anxiety, depression, and alcoholism, are sort of cartoon like at times, but in the best way. They really make the book come alive. This book is a lot different than other’s that I’ve read lately, and I loved all the violence. You never expect it to actually happen, like it downplays it, and then all of the sudden it’s happened and it’s way worse than you would imagine it to be.

I loved that you got to see things from the shark’s point of view as well, because I feel like I really learned a lot about sharks, even if that wasn’t the point. For instance, did you know that if they stop swimming, they stop breathing? The story was way better than I expected it to be, and I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did. Overall, I think it would be the perfect summer read to scare you away from the beaches. The book is available here.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King Review

Whisper Me This
by Kerry Anne King 5/5 Stars 362 pages
Published August 1st 2018 by Lake Union Publishing

“Whisper Me This” is a mysterious and heartbreaking story of Maisey, a woman who suddenly returns home with her daughter to find her mother in a coma, and her father confused and facing charges. With every second chapter being Leah’s journal, it shows a haunting glance into her dangerous past. If anything, this book teaches you how strong you need to be in the face of death. I loved every bit of it.

In a world every bit the same as our own, there’s a lot of things that you don’t want to talk about, but you have to. Leah kept secrets all her life, and continued to until the very end. Her life was destroyed but she was able to rebuild. Maisey didn’t think anything other than her mother was tough on her. Although this book is only half told through Leah’s point of view, I feel like it was equally important to the other half, in the present day. The description doesn’t really explain as much as you’d think it does, and I was surprised to find this book as exciting as it was. I took my time reading it, stretching it out as long as I could, because I didn’t want it to end.

The characters are so realistic, that you’d think that this was a true story. Not only did they learn from each other, but they learned for themselves, and changed a lot through the book. Maisey, the main viewpoint, was quiet and always drifting off into her imagination. Throughout the book, she got her footing back, and really became the confident person we wanted her to be. Not only do you need to be strong, but you need to stick up for yourself throughout your life. It doesn’t matter when you start, but you need to eventually and I think that’s an important thing to have in a story.

I was lost in the story from the moment I started the book, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you’re looking for a page turning, stomach twisting mysterious story, you’re looking in the right place. This book had turns I never expected, and i don’t think you’ll expect either. If you like strong female characters, this book is for you. Not only does it have a cool looking cover, but the insides are just amazing and I definitely recommend you check it out.

The book is available here, and so is the author’s Twitter.

Thanks for reading!

DIY Sugar Scrub from “Fizz Boom Bath!” by Isabel Bercaw and Caroline Bercaw

Today I thought I would do something a little different.

I’ve recently been reading a lot of do it yourself books, about food and crafts and things like that, so I thought I would try and make one of them on my blog, since it came out of one of the books I’ve reviewed.

 

Today I made the Strawberry Fields Face Scrub, from the book “Fizz Boom Bath!” by Isabel Bercaw and Caroline Bercaw. I chose this one specifically because it seemed so easy to make, and would actually be something I used, rather than making it and letting it sit around.

 

The scrub only needs three things, strawberries, coconut oil, and sugar. That means although its simple, it doesn’t have any preservatives, so you need to use it quickly.

First you set out all the ingredients in front of you. The recipe doesn’t specify how big the strawberries should be, but I chose the biggest ones I had. Also included, a quarter cup of sugar, and a spoonful of coconut oil.

Next, you mash the strawberries with a fork until they’re easy to mix into the other ingredients.

Then you add the coconut oil and the sugar, and you’re ready to go. 

It smells amazing, and I used it on my hands even though its a facial scrub, and it left them super soft and smooth and smelling really good. The recipe makes way more than one scrub, so I put the rest of it in the fridge for later.

Overall this was a super quick product to make, and I would definitely do it again. Of course since its a sugar scrub you can use it almost anywhere, and I’m glad I tried it out. The products I bought can make TONS of these.

 

Here are links to some of the products I’ve used, and also a link to the book itself, if you’re interested in checking it out.

Sugar

Coconut Oil

Fizz Boom Bath! by Isabel Bercaw, and Caroline Bercaw

 

My full review of the book is also available here.

 

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to see me try out more things from books, let me know! This was fun and I’m hoping I can find more things to make and post about.

Tebori – Volume 1 (Tebori #1) by José Manuel Robledo Review

Tebori – Volume 1 (Tebori #1)
by José Manuel Robledo 5/5 Stars 51 pages
Published October 5th 2016 by Europe Comics

“Tebori” is a beautifully put together comic filled with blood, guts, tattoos, and motorcycles. Although it was a little confusing  at first, it proved to be exciting and full of stories.

The main character, Yoshi, is a young tattoo artist who’s also in a gang. He spends most of his time either tattooing, or at the club. That is, until his Master goes into retirement, and loses his finger. He can’t tattoo anymore, and Yoshi must take over his work. Now working day and night, he’s exhausted but exhilarated by the stories he hears. He’s learning so much, and his life in changing so quickly. But there’s a dark secret hidden in the shop.

This story was very short. I read all seventy five pages of it very quickly, and really enjoyed the art. Where it’s lacking in superheroes, it makes up for in rich backstory of the characters. It’s slow paced, but gory, and it’s perfect if you want to read something interesting but also quick. I’m not sure what to compare it to, but you should check it out if you see it.

It’s available here.

Thanks for reading!

No. 1 With A Bullet #1 (No. 1 With A Bullet #1) by Jacob Semahn, & Jorge Corona Review

No. 1 With A Bullet #1 (No. 1 With A Bullet #1)
by Jacob Semahn,
 Jorge Corona 3/5 Stars 31 pages
Published November 1st 2017 by Image 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Her social media, strong. Her variety show segments, a hit. Nash Huang is at the top of her game. But when the iRis Shutter contact lens hits the market, Nash’s life is personally invaded. The latest leap forward in “technological progress,” these contacts not only play video or augment reality…but also record footage. Fighting to keep her life together after a leaked sex tape goes viral, a clingy super-fan is the last thing on Nash’s mind…but that’s exactly when the bodies pile up and the terror begins. From the bestselling team that brought you GONERS, comes NO. 1 WITH A BULLET!

My Review:

Although I had high hopes for this story, it kind of fell flat for me. I loved the art, don’t get me wrong, and the story was really interesting, but it just didn’t do it for me. I felt confused more times than I’d like to admit.

It begins with a lady coming home, and in her house there’s an intruder with a gun. He says he’s her number one fan, and how could she do this to him, and then proceeds to shoot himself in the head.

The rest of the story is a little hard to follow, although it did seem exciting, it just wasn’t my new favourite book. It seemed to bounce around a lot. A sex tape gets released and a girl gets dumped, and her world just falls apart. I feel like most of this was people freaking out, and although I understand, it just didn’t make the story any more interesting. I wanted to love it, but not like this. I liked the ending though.

The book is available here, and here is a link to one of the creator’s Twitter accounts.

Thanks for reading!

 

The Wormworld Saga: The Journey Begins (Wormworld Saga #1) by Daniel Lieske Review

The Wormworld Saga: The Journey Begins (Wormworld Saga #1)
by Daniel Lieske 5/5 Stars 126 pages
Published 2014 by Tokyopop

Goodreads Synopsis:
Are you ready to enter the Wormworld?

Jonas is a dreamer. During his summer holidays he stays at his Grandmas house on the countryside. In the attic he discovers a strange painting, which turns out to be an entrance to the mysterious Wormworld. Jonas steps through the picture into the foreign world and loses connection to his home right at that moment. Completely left on his own, he has to face the biggest adventure of his young life…

 

My Review:

I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but the art is something that really stood out to me, aside from the story. From the moment I started reading it I was sucked in completely. It begins by asking how you can tell the difference between which memories are real and which are dreams and fantasies.

It all started in 1977 when the main character, a young boy named Jonas, went on summer vacation from his last year in elementary school. His friends all know which school they’re going to next, but Jonas’s dad hasn’t told him yet, it might be because all he cares about are his grades. He’s always daydreaming and drawing instead of doing his homework. He feels like big things are happening around him, and he can’t control them. After three years, they’re able to go to his Granny’s house for vacation, which is secluded in a really nice forest. But crazy things await him in the other half of the book.

Overall I loved it, the style, the story, the characters who were surprisingly super easy to relate to, mostly Jonas having a panic attack, despite the fantastic world he’s transported to. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next volume, and although the character is a child, I think anyone will easily understand his point of view and like him. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.

The book is available here, and also check out the author’s Twitter.

Thanks for reading!