Matched... The Most Intriguing Book I've Read This Year

     As you can probably tell from the title of this blog I have started a new series and am loving it so far!   "Matched" by: Ally Condie is about a society in the future. A higher power thought we were unfit to be living the way we were. They decided that they would start over with a new generation that would be conservative and intelligent. I really like that the novel isn't the same boring apocalypse plot. The author is creative with her writing style and loves to leave the reader questioning what will happen in the next chapter. 
     I have dedicated 1 chapter for every night before I go to sleep. So far I am on page 115. The main character, Cassia is a young lady who has recently been matched with her best friend Xander. In the society, you are rarely matched with someone that you know, let alone your next-door neighbor! It is quite an advantage because this way the two don't have to take time to get to know one another. Cassia is happy that she is matched with her best friend. The night of the matching banquet Cassia and Xander are both give flash drive like devices that they can plug into their computer for a full back ground check on the other person. But, when Cassia goes back to review Xavier's file she gets a different boy's file who is known to be a criminal. Later, Cassia goes with a group of friends to a gaming center where a city official pulls her aside and reassures her that the criminal is not her real match. In the society nobody ever makes mistakes. It is very difficult to make one because everything is set up so geniusly. The officer tells her that Xander is still her true match and that everything would proceed as planned.
     The studies showed that once the average human has reached the age of 80 they have lived a full life. So, in order to have a perfect life you must always die at 80. The medics give you certain medicines that slowly shut down your body so you can die quickly and peacefully. Cassia's grandfather just died 2 weeks ago. It still makes her sick to think that he is gone because they were so close. Before you die each person has their own "last banquet" this is when you invite your friends and family to celebrate your life. At his last banquet, each person in his son's family gives him a present. Bram, Cassia's younger brother gives him a rock from the Arboretum where their mother works. Cassia gives him a letter that has sentiments from the computer printed on. Grandfather tells Cassia that he loves it but also tells her that she needs to express her own originality and use her own words which is not allowed in the society. When the higher power killed off the old generation, they made a council that decided what poems, songs, games and other things they should keep. 100 of each category was kept so the citizens are not allowed to write their own words just print them off a computer program. Grandfather also gives a face compact to Cassia that was her Grandmothers but it has a note in it. 
     I haven't gotten up to the point in the book where she opens it and revels what the note says. I think it will be a letter containing secrets about the society from her Grandmother who was on the council. Or it might be from her Grandfather. As soon as I read up to that point I'll make sure that I report back! 

Book Review

     Over and Done with "Fat Boy Chronicles", it was a good book overall. I thought that it was a great opportunity that I got to read this book. If I didn't have to read it for school, I would  have never chosen to read it. My health teacher says, "In this class we will do things out of the ordinary and open up you guys to new experiences." I'm sure he means it in a different way but it fits perfectly in this situation. There was some inappropriate language within the text but I thought that was creative of the author to use it because in reality, that's the language that most teenagers use these days. 
     The format of the novel was one of the highlights for me. It was nice to step outside of the traditional format onto a creative new setting. I liked that the writing was personal and emotional. Not only was it realistic but also opened the audience up to a new type of life that some (most) have never experienced, firsthand.
     The characters were their own individuals, Sable was a gothic, rocker chick. She used to cut her wrists but after Jimmy encouraged her to get help, she stopped. This demonstrated his emotional side and also a new charistic, compassion. I know several individuals who would understand Sable's situation and never help her or ignore her completely. Not only did Sable stop but **spoiler alert** they fall in love! I was so happy for jimmy after he asked her out. He had so much more courage after dropping a few pounds. I think it an exceptional book everyone should take a look at "Fat Boy Chronicles" by Diane Lang. If you aren't a reader, there is also a movie based entirely off the the book.

http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Boy-Chronicles-Diane-Lang/dp/1585365432/ref=sr_sp-atf_image_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378829560&sr=1-1&keywords=fatboy+chronicles

New Book: Fat Boy Chronicles

     I have recently started a new book, "Fat Boy Chronicles." The setting is actually in Mason, Ohio. It is about a young boy named Jimmy who is obese. Jimmy is bullied a lot and in the beginning doesn't know how to stand up for himself. He knows that if he doesn't loose the weight fast it will turn into diabetes and stay with him forever. The doctors have told Jimmy that his weight has also started to affect his mood, he is diagnosed with teen depression. At school, the teachers don't stand up for him and watch while he gets teased daily.
     His English teacher, Mrs. Pope has assigned the students to journal about their lives throughout freshman year and at the end of the year, they turn in the journals as a grade. Mrs. Pope encourages them to talk about their day-to-day lives and what influences them. Jimmy titles his journal, "The Fat Boy Chronicles" and journals about his experiences with bullying. Jimmy can choose to let her read the entries or start with a header of, Please Don't Read This Page. The layout of the book is his journal entries.
    Jimmy doesn't have many friends and the friends he does have aren't great. Paul, one of his friends is even more messed up then the rest. He is into drugs and drinking. Paul's parents fight a lot and abuse him. They lost their house to foreclosure and had to move into Paul's uncle's basement. Paul's only escape (like jimmy's) is youth group at church. They both go there to talk about their problems and a youth minister gives them advice. Youth group and church are the only places where Jimmy and Paul feel accepted. I understand, I can see how being obese in high school could be a recipe for disaster. So many cruel children without morals are typically what roam the halls.
    I am at the part in the book when Jimmy is just starting to loose weight. Him and his mom throw out all the junk food in his house so they can start off by not being tempted with unhealthy snacks. Every morning Jimmy runs 2.5 miles with his dad before he goes to school. After school, Jimmy comes home and works out on the Total Gym machine his dad bought the family for Christmas. He has lost 12 pounds so far and his goal is 45. Stay tuned to see what happens next in, "The Fat Boy Chronicles."



This is the trailer for the movie, "The Fat Boy Chronicles" :

Summer Reading 2013

     "Pure" by Julianna Baggott is an action-packed nonfiction with great setting s and a twisting plot. "Pure" is about how one man selfishlessy blew up planet Earth. The book is told by multiply views, Partridge lives in the Dome which was untouched when the detonations occured. He is not deformered or hurt at all. Partridge is also the son of Ellery Willux, the most powerful man in the dome and the one who had the idea to detonate the planet. Lyda also lives in the dome and is Partridge's sweetheart. you might ven say that they briefly dates before he escaped the Dome. Lyda and Partridge went to a school dance that can be related to homecoming. It is here that Partridge steals the key to the Domestoicity display. ( which Lyda is in charge and in posession of) Partridge left Lyda and went to the display where he stole a knif efrom on of the sculptures. Lyda liked Prtridge so she let him steal the knife not kowing what he was going to use it for.
     The book is also told in Pressia's point of view who lives with her grandfather and survived the detonations. Her fist was fused with a doll head and she now cannot use her left hand. She is courageous and one tough cookie! Pressia helps a total stranger and contributes to the uncovering the Dome and their wrong actions. El Capitan is the last point of view the book includes. His brother is fused to his back and they have survived the detonations. They work for the O.S.R and are of a high rank. Each point of view is unique and offers a different perspective. I thought it was creative of the author to include the thoughts and personal actions of the main characters.
   
   

"Pure" Article: This article is almost like a review for the audiences that have already read the book.