Something you probably don't know about me...

Water. It fascinates me and freaks me out.

Freaks Me Out: I'm not sure why it scares me so much, because I've only had a couple of scary but not dramatic incidents. One of my worst fears is to drown in a car. I pray that it will never happen.

Fascinates Me: Waves. As long as I'm miles away I think they are amazing creations by God.

One of my favorite books of all time is Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson. [Disclaimer: this adult book has lots of language, but I went through with a marker and scribbled everything out...;)]

Anyways, it focuses on the lives of a couple of underwater divers. For a living they worked on underwater structures and conducted tours of common underwater wrecks. That was not all they did though. When they had the chance, these men would go looking for undiscovered underwater wrecks. One of the first steps they would take was to find out what the name of the ship they had discovered was, then they would actually swim inside the tight spaces looking for historical artifacts or if they hadn't found the name of the ship, documents or other things that would help them determine the identify of the ship.

This book also had a really interesting twist by taking the reader back to Germany during World War II and introducing us to some of the young men that traveled on a U-boat that mysteriously disappeared and tying that to the lives of some of the present underwater divers.

I know I would never be able to dive down to an underground wreck (you have to be specially trained and everything), but I really enjoy reading about what it takes and how because of what they find we can discover more about the history of the sunken ships and the people on them.

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Ok, so Miss Erin said if I write a bookish post (that was so bookish and deep) she would give me permission to post a random animal picture. hehe

SO, what about this one:
Okey-dokey, I challenge Hannah, Rosie, Miss Erin, and Michelle to find something that is prominent in your life that not that many people would know and tell us about it!! (And it has to be something you are willing to share...*smiles*)

Disguised by Rita De Clercq Zubli

Disguised - A War Time Memoir by Rita De Clercq Zubli

Growing up during any kind of war can be very difficult, but Rita’s family made the most of it even though they were living in the Dutch West Indies during World War II. Their family was very close which is always good and even when they were separated, the hope they hung onto until their next meeting was amazing. For fear of what the Japanese soldiers would do to a young girl for ‘fun’, Rita’s father guided her in cutting her hair and becoming a boy for the rest of the war. She transformed herself into Rick. Though at the time, that was difficult for her, the experiences and trials following were even more taxing. She was able to overcome many dangers, but she also felt all the blows of war. Will her deception put her in a position no other girl could have in the presence of Japanese officials? But, is that what she wants, to serve her enemies?

All books have reasons for being written, some of which are to entertain, to share historical knowledge, to scare you out of your nerves, and to inspire you. Rita’s true story has a little bit of all those things. All teens and pre-teens struggle with at least one problem they think can’t be fixed and many authors write to directly address those issues. This book, wasn’t written for those specific reasons, but covered them. Rita’s strength and bravery to fight for what she wanted, what was right, and what was best for her family really helped me out with some things I have been dealing with and I think they will help and inspire others as well.

Firsts

Miss Erin does this and I liked it and wanted to share some of my favorite first sentences....

I really thought my life would be different after my death. (ok, how cool is that?)

Henry, Kansas, is a hot town. And a cold town.

Before we begin, take a quick peek out your window. (I don't know about you, but I couldn't not look out MY window)

FINALLY - THE DAY HAS ARRIVED!

CYBILS HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED! *screams*

SO, for YA FANTASY/ SCIENCE FICTION:

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Since I live in the East I had to wait a good amount of time for the final Cybils list to come out. I woke up at about 6:0o (to go to school) and at that time I wasn't thinking about the time so I was VERY disappointed when I realized that I had to wait until later on in the morning to find out the results. So I got to school and during my 4th period (History) my mom came in and gave me "the piece of paper." I opened it up and I must have been babbling and screaming and stuff like that become all my classmates were asking me if I had just gotten accepted to Harvard or something. lol :)

ANYWAYS, I was so so so excited that Book of a Thousand Days won *faints for the 5 millionth time* and literally shocked that The True Meaning of Smekday won. I was really really happy because I loved that book, but I was not expecting it to win...but since it has...SO EXCITED!
To see the rest of the winners go HERE.

Congratulations all authors! Don't books rock? :D

Countdown to Cybils

Oh my gosh I hope Shannon Hale's book wins! - Hippo

Well everyone, CYBILS IS ANNOUNCED TOMORROW!!!!!
*does dance of jig, while juggling 25 books, while eating ice cream, and screaming at top of lungs*

GO SKULDUGGERY! - Ostrich

Northlander, Northlander, Northlander! - Bear

CATS - The Musical

Well, about a week ago yours truly was able to go see an off-broadway production of CATS! I will be turning 16 next week, so my wonderful grandparents treated my mom and I to a special weekend. We went shopping, out to lunch, saw CATs, went out to dinner, and then ended the perfect day at a lovely B and B.

CATS was absolutley amazing. The music, set, props, make up, costumes, songs, dances, actors, actresses, EVERYTHING was eye ball popping. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this musical because it has really no dialogue at all, just dancing and singing, but that was enough!

The feelings I get when I watch or listen to strong plays, emotion withdrawing songs, and tear jerking performers are very overwhelming. I really live and breath all things theater(ok that sounded kind of werid, but I'm stilling saying it).

Here is one of my favorite songs:

if only...