John Green

John Green is one of most popular authors among teenagers in the 21st century. He is also one of the most respected and well-known internet personalities out there. He and his brother, Hank Green, run the YouTube channel 'The VlogBrothers' with over two million subscribers and are the creators of the online video conference VidCon. Green is the author of Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines, The Fault in Our Stars, Will Grayson Will Grayson (co-written with David Levithan), and Let It Snow (co-written with Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle). Both Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines are recipients of the Michael L. Printz Award. The Fault in Our Stars was adapted into a movie, released in 2014, and the Paper Towns film is set to be released this summer.

I am a huge fan of John Green. I have read almost all of his books and cannot wait for the July movie release of Paper Towns. Here's the trailer if you haven't seen it:

If that isn't one of the most beautiful things you have ever seen then I don't know what is.

Green's writing has influenced me and my writing in incredible ways. He was the first contemporary author I read, which helped me with improving my contemporary writing. He also incorporates so much humor into his books so effortlessly, which influenced me to have some of my own woven into my stories. Even though I am still growing as a writer, John Green has helped me learn new techniques to draw readers in just by reading his work.

Now, I spend my days anxiously waiting for the day John Green comes out with a new novel.

PS- there is a glitch on my post on Dystopian Literature. The spacing is all off for the first half of the post, I don't know what's up with it. Sorry:/

Apocalyptic Literature

Ah, the legendary apocalypse. 

If, or when, the world is going to be destroyed and who or what is going to be the destroyer is a question that fascinates almost every human being on Earth. Some people have dedicated their lives to studying the possibilities of an apocalypse, but others have chosen to write about it.

The thing that is so fun about this genre is no books or series is the same; they all have different 'versions' of the apocalypse. This is one of the main reasons why I have been studying Apocalyptic Literature for this marking period.

One of the most critically acclaimed apocalyptic books is The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey, along with the sequel The Infinite Sea. In this world, aliens have invaded Earth in a series of waves. The books begins at the start of the fifth wave, and what it will bring is still yet to be determined.

 After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them.

(Taken from The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey.)


These are the only apocalyptic books I have read, and they have definitely set the bar extremely high. The books are narrated by multiple characters and are written in both first person and third person. The characters' are so dynamic, each having their own distinct voices and personalities. Plus, the writing is absolute gold. Some of the character's rants seem like they're taken right out of the TV show Scandal (Yeah, they're that good). Yancey also mixes the right amount of humor and sarcasm in order to make up for the horrible situation these people have been put it.

 The Fifth Wave is being turned into a movie, starring Chloe Grace Moretz as Cassie, and is to be released in early 2016. (I'M SO EXCITED!!)

Like any alternate universe, there is a lot of world building involved in writing an apocalyptic novel. You need to write it so the reader understands the world, but it still a little lost in terms of what will be discovered next. In simplest terms, an apocalyptic story needs to be understandable, but mysterious.

Through learning more about apocalyptic writing and reading apocalyptic stories, I am very intrigued and excited to write my own.

Dystopian Literature

The technical definition of dystopia is a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding. In simpler words, a dystopian world is a place where suffering is an everyday thing. 

This is one of the genres I have studied for the past ten weeks or so as part of Writing for Publication.

 I have read multiple dystopian books and series. For example, Legend by Marie Lu, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and more. However, the most popular dystopian books out there are The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth. Not only are these trilogies international bestsellers, but they have been adapted into some of the biggest movie blockbusters in the 21st century.

The Hunger Games is set in a world were 12 districts with their own individual characteristics are ruled by the Capital. Once a year, each of the districts have to offer up a boy and a girl, ranging from the ages 12 to 18, as tribute for the uprisings that took place generations ago. These 24 teenagers will be brought to the Capital to fight to the death until only one survives. 

These are some of the most cruel, cry-worthy books I have ever read. Although the writing and characters are brilliant, the plot is absolutely horrifying. It's kids killing kids! However, as the series progresses, Katniss, the narrator, becomes an extraordinary hero and symbol of hope for the ones who see no point in having any. The premise of the books are terrible to think about happening even in an alternate reality, but the underlying messages are something I still live by, three years after reading and completing the series.

 Then there is The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth. 

Told by a young woman named Tris, Divergent is in a world were society is divided into five factions, each with their own values and character traits. Amity farm the land and are always happy and kind. Candor values honesty and order; these are the layers. Erudite are the smart ones who value knowledge and logic--some people think they are the know-it-alls. Abnegation, which is Tris' original faction, are the selfless ones. Since they are public servants, they are trusted to run the government. Then there is Dauntless, who are brave and fearless. Their duty is to protect everyone inside the fence surrounding the city.
 Lastly, and not officially included in the system, are the Factionless--the people who don't fit in anywhere. Everyone who goes into the faction system fears become one of them. However, there are a small number of people who fit into more than one of these factions. These are the Divergent, who are seen as a threat to the faction system. 

When Tris takes the test to determine which faction she is in, she discovers she is divergent. In order to survive, she needs to hide within a faction and try to stay out of the spotlight. The Divergent Trilogy follows Tris as she attempts to survive and change the way the world sees people like her.

Tris and Katniss hold so many qualities that I would like to possess, but they also have to learn about themselves and overcome their inner struggles just like any other human being. What I think is interesting is that Tris and Katniss can't be labeled as heroes. Although they both possess heroic qualities, they both have made mistakes that cause inner and outer conflicts.

This is what I love about dystopian literature: the common themes and events that occur force the characters to become more dynamic for the readers' enjoyment, Tris and Katniss being perfect examples. It seems that the dystopian genre gives women the opportunity to become strong, fearless protagonists, Tris and Katniss again being perfect examples.

I am looking forward to the future of dystopian novels and how that will effect literature in general. I will definitely be reading more dystopian in the near future.

Celebrities

Every human being on the plant knows of some type of celebrity, whether isn't a pop star like Taylor Swift or a well-known local. They're everywhere. People wait in lines just to breathe the same air as them. You would be surprised what fans would do for their idols...

Celebrities seem to have it all-- money, fame, influence, and much much more. But 'having it all' also includes paparazzi following them all over, fans crowding around them everywhere they go, and absolutely no privacy. They have it all, the good and the bad.

My inspiration for this post is something that you have probably already guessed: Zayn Malik leaving One Direction.

Now I'm not a huge fan of One Direction. Yeah, I buy their music and I have a favorite member, but I'm not absolutely insane about them.

So when Zayn left, yes it was a shock, but I literally shrugged and said 'okay.' I got home and started surfing the world wide web, like one does, when I found Instagram and Twitter posts and YouTube videos with girls crying their eyes out and even cutting themselves. Yeah, that happened.

So here's a message to you One Direction fans:

My condolences go out to you for Zayn's departure from One Direction. This is a sad time for the fandom, I get that, but is a single pop star worth hurting yourself over? Zayn left because he was unhappy. And I know more than anyone that if you are in an unhappy situation, you need to get out of it. So don't be mad at him. He is so brave for doing this-- I probably wouldn't have had the guts to do what he did.

Plus, it's not like the entire band is done. Harry, Louis, Liam, and Niall are still at it.

It's okay.

And who knows? Maybe this will be like The Backstreet Boys. Kevin did leave, but now they're back together and going on tour. Maybe Zayn will rejoin in a few years and everything will be right in the world once again.

Just don't give him hate. If you're a true fan, you would tell him it's okay and we'll miss you.

I don't want anyone to think that I eat, sleep, and breathe One Direction; this has just been a trending topic and I wanted to give my input:)

Hope you have a great day!

PS- tell me if there is any typos please (insert cute monkey emoji)

Social Media

Hello:)

I just finished reading The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler.

It's set in the year 1996. Now, if you didn't know, internet wasn't a thing back then; over half of all American teenagers had never searched the world wide web. In order to get internet, you needed a CD-ROM... I still don't know what that is exactly.

Anyways, the protagonists Emma and Josh get a hold of one of these CD-ROM things and discover a website called Facebook... But Facebook hasn't been invented yet... So they're looking at their lives 15 years in the future.

I'm already doing a project on this book for my English class, but this book really got me thinking about how different life was for teenagers in the 90's versus present day.

Like I said before, internet wasn't a thing. Check out this video:

In today's society, kids are growing up in a digital age, and even though there are many benefits that come with advanced technology, there are also some disadvantages.

First of all, cyber bullying. The technical definition of cyber bullying is the use of electronic communication to bully a person. This has become a growing issue among teenagers ever since websites like Facebook have been created. People feel like it's okay to bully someone online because no one can know for sure who is doing the bullying. ABC Family even made a movie about it called Cyber Bully. It's actually a really good movie. You should watch it sometime:) (It's on Netflix)

Don't get me wrong, I love my iPad-- you wouldn't be reading this if it wasn't for good old Apple Incorporated. But now that we have this amazing technology, we need to learn how to use it wisely. Don't get me wrong, most people I know use technology for the right reasons. But there are still those who don't.

Now here's a fun fact about me: I don't have Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, none of that. I only have my Gmail. I know, I'm an alien.

My parents don't allow me to have any of the popular social media accounts. And even though it sucks sometimes, I like that I don't have them. I have my phone and email and that's all I need.

How about this...
If you have any social media accounts, I challenge you to go offline for as long as you can. Try it out. And who knows what will come out of it.

Hope you have a great day my little candy apples!
Bye bye:)

PS- Read The Future of Us!

PPS- tell me if there is any typos please (insert cute monkey emoji)

Personifying a Month

Prompt: Personify a month

September is awkward and shy. She walks through the school corridors with her head hanging and her hands covered by her sweater sleeves.

But she doesn't have to be awkward and shy because she's beautiful. Her long hair flies gracefully behind her as she walks. Her big, round eyes twinkle like diamonds.

As she goes through the year, she blossoms. During the winter sports season she brought the Milton High Girls Basketball team to win the championships. Just last week, she starred in the school play.

But then Summer comes to town and we don't see her for two whole months. Then September comes back, and September is awkward and shy ones again.

Personifying a Season

Prompt: Personify a Season

Spring is beautiful. She wears dresses everyday; she doesn't own pants. She wears blue to remember the forget-me-nots. She wears pink for the cherry blossoms, purple for the lilacs. She dances in the fields of newly-bloomed daises; swims in a warm sea of marigolds.

But then she goes away, hibernates. She's there one second and gone the next. We all want her to leave so Summer can come. But then Fall comes, and then Winter. By then all we want is Spring to come back. And she always does. She's so gullible.

When we kick winter out, Spring comes to our side and makes everything and everyone come alive. The bears wake up from their deep slumber. The flowers yawn and stretch their limbs. The salmon push upstream. People step onto their porch with a cup of whispering coffee and smile in the fresh sunlight. Everything comes alive.

Spring does that. But then we want her gone. So she leaves. But she comes every time.