Becoming Naomi Leon - review

Review:

One of her favorite sayings was that the good and the bad of any situation were sometimes the same.

 

My thoughts dived into a jumble in the middle of my mind, wrestled around until they were wadded into a fisted knot, and attached themselves to my brain like a burr matted in a long-haired dog.

 

I always thought the biggest problem in my life was my name, Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw, but little did I know that it was the least of my troubles, or that someday I would live up to it.

 

 

When Naomi was 4 and her brother was 1, their mother left them with their grandmother. Seven years later, the mother (Skyla) shows up on their doorstep wanting to "get to know her children". But, she has other motives. A chain of events sends Naomi, Owen, and Gram on a trip to Mexico where Naomi discovers more about her Mexican heritage and finds something unexpected.

 

This is a lovely story. The characters are likable. I enjoyed reading about Naomi's journey and how she reasoned things out in her head. Her devotion to her brother is admirable. She doesn't let anyone stop her when she needs something. 

 

The book is culturally authentic and contains many examples of Spanish words and Mexican culture. Readers, especially girls, will enjoy reading about Naomi's determination and her adventures. The ending doesn't take the easy way out and is pretty realistic, as opposed to being too perfect and happy. 

 

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1545769/becoming-naomi-leon-review

3 ways to put quotes in the spotlight on your blog

Reblogged from: Yodamom Finds her Force

I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts

one might have beautifully expressed...

Marlene Dietrich

If you're a fan of quotes too let's have a look at several ways to highlight the precious words on your book blog.

 

1. Write a quote post

This type of post is one among five visible on the wooden bar on the top of your Dashboard. The quote post let you publish a quotation with a source and /or a book cover, you can also mark it as a review and add tags.

 

 

2. Add a blockquote in your text

In order to highlight the the words you cherish the most, make them stand out in your review or text post. Just mark the words and click the quotation mark on the top border of the editor box and the quote will receive a central placing in your writing. You can switch on/off the blockquote option for the paragraph any time.

 

 

3. Use the Quote Widget

If you've recently published a quote you adore make it more visible by using the quote widget. You can use the widget on your BookLikes blog page as well as on any other webpage you have.

 

To create a widget with your most recent quote post go to Goodies/Widgets (the main menu -> Goodies -> Widgets), find the Quote Widget spot, adjust the widget if necessary and copy the code.

 

 

If you wish to add the widget to your BookLikes blog, paste the code in the Widget Area in the customization tab (follow the instruction under the widget), and if you want to add it to your other page, just copy/paste the widget code into your other website's code.

 

 

 

What's your favorite quote? We think that the following ones are very powerful and worth remembering:

 

You are your best thing

Beloved, Toni Morrison

 

We were the people who were not in the papers.

We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print.

It gave us more freedom. 

We lived in the gaps between the stories.

The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

 

P.S.

Let's share book love!

February was all about love, book love. But let's face it, in book lover's world the book affection lasts 24/7 all year long. If you've missed BookLikes bloggers book love stories, here is your chance to sneek peek into the pieces once again. Read all readers' testimonies and get the insights of book bloggers' reading preferences and favorite genres.

 

We'd love to read your Book Love Story! Tell the world why you love reading books and we'll be more than happy to spread the word, feature and interview you on the BookLikes blog! Remember to add why I love tag to your post :) continue reading

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1545761/3-ways-to-put-quotes-in-the-spotlight-on-your-blog

Resistance - Book 1

Review:

 

This graphic novel gives us a look at the French Resistance during World War II, and how the war affected everyone, including children. The resistance was a complicated thing, but all efforts were crucial in the fight.

 

This story centers on kids who are naive at first, but gradually realize how dangerous the war is and how much it affects their lives and the people they love.

 

I enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to reading the sequel. I felt for the kids and was as nervous as they were around the soldiers.

 

Great graphic novel for middle school aged kids. My son (8th grader) liked it and brought it home so I could read it too.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1543581/resistance-book-1

Review:

 

Danny and Isko are pretty much 100 percent American. It’s as if my parents are first-generation immigrants and they’re second generation. But I’m stuck somewhere between both of them, trying to figure out how to help them understand each other.

 

I’m breaking apart, shattering. Who am I? Where do I belong? I’m not American. I’m not a legal resident. I don’t even have a green card.

I’m nothing. Nobody.

Illegal.

 

Jasmine is a senior in high school. She is cheer captain, honor roll, volunteer and now a National Scholarship Award winner. The award includes four years of college tuition. Jasmine is so excited to tell her parents, but they don’t react as she expects. Turns out her parents’ work visas expired and they weren’t unable to get new ones. Instead of going back to the Philippines, her parents kept the family in the United States. They are all undocumented and Jasmine can’t accept the scholarship.

 

This was a touching story about how a young girl deals with finding out she is undocumented. Who can she tell? She is ashamed of her status, and now she can’t even go to college.

 

This was the third book I read for my multicultural issue paper. I enjoyed the story. Jasmine is a strong female character and she doesn’t give up.

 

Another good book for teens (and anyone) to read to help understand what undocumented children experience.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1543452/post

Creepy... and really gross

Review:

 

I listened to this book on audio, and while I didn't find it scary, it was definitely bloody and gory in a slasher film kind of way. 

 

Sara and Martin are guardians to six difficult, troubled, teenagers. They take them camping on an island that is supposedly deserted. But, surprise, the island is home to a doctor and his vicious creations. And they have no way to get off the island. These are city kids, and they are easily spooked, but we find out they have a good reason. The island is crawling with cannibals and worse...

 

The cannibals are scary, but also a bit silly - some of them carry forks and knives, and even salt shakers. So...

 

There are a few twists I didn't expect, and they were quite clever. But, the gross-out parts were a bit much for me.

 

This book was ok for me, but if you are a gore/slasher fan, then you will enjoy this one.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1543441/creepy-and-really-gross