Chasing Brooklyn

I just finished reading a book called "Chasing Brooklyn" by Lisa Schroeder which is about a girl named Brooklyn whose boyfriend dies and she has a hard time coping with that. Her boyfriend, Lucca, was in a car crash and was the one that died, he had a friend Gabe and he couldn't take the stress of losing Lucca and ended up killing himself. Throughout the book Brooklyn finds hanging out with Nico, Lucca's brother, and training for a triathalon. I won't give anything thing away about the end of the book in case you decide to read it.

This book is modeled like the Ellen Hopkins books that I love to read, free verse poetry, which is weird that I like reading books structured that way because I hate poetry but hey it is what it is. I have never lost a boyfriend, or friend, or sibling in a car crash or been haunted by a ghost so I cannot say I can identify with what Brooklyn goes through in the book but the storyline is a really good one.

Lisa Schroeder has another book, which I guess technically is the first one, but I had to be different and read them backwards, but the first book is called "I Heart You, You Haunt Me" and I have not finished that one yet, almost there, but it is great as well. The books are similar in plot and a character from the first makes an appearence in "Chasing Brooklyn" and helps her get through her confusion on her situation. I really like both of these books and I would suggest that you read them as well.

"Perfect"-times 2

"Perfect"- times 2 (Pages 253-622)

 I finished reading my book about four days ago which means I have had some serious time to think about the book. Most all of the books written by Ellen Hopkins have a serious message in them and they all deal with something life changing; by the title, “Perfect”, this book deals with how we see ourselves and the goal to be “perfect”.

I don’t want to ruin the book for anyone in case you decide that you would like to read it, but before you read “Perfect” I would read “Impulse” which is also by Ellen Hopkins but in a sense it is like a prequel to “Perfect”. The book has a sad ending and it deals with an issue that is serious, I will tell you now that the issue is suicide but I won’t tell you who just in case you are reading it or would like to read it.

Along with the goal of being perfect the book also deals with following your dreams. Someone, I am not sure who, once said “If you can dream it, be it.” Sometimes we let what others may think if they found out about our dream or what our parents say hold us back from going for what matters to us and what we believe. Throughout the book that is the case with one of the characters but at the end of the book he changes his mind and goes for it because one guys view on life inspires him.

                This is an excerpt from page 1 of “Perfect” by Ellen Hopkins

How

                do you define a word without

                concrete meaning? To each

                his own, the saying goes, so

why

                push to attain an ideal

                state of being that no two

                random people will agree is

where

                you want to be? Faultless.

                Finished. Incomparable. People

                can never be these, and anyway

when

                did creating a flawless façade

                become a more vital goal

                than learning to love the person

who

                lives inside your skin?

                The outside belongs to others.

                Only you should decide for you—

what

                is perfect.

This is my favorite page from the book because it looks at the “meaning” of being perfect to people. We should all be okay with who we are and strive to be what we want to be not who others want us to be. We shouldn’t let what others think or how they look dictate how we live our lives. With this review my challenge to you, the reader, is to step out of the strive to be perfect in the eyes of those around you and embrace who you are because you are perfect just by being yourself.



Perfect by Pink

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins: Reflection 1

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

                The first book I chose to read and start my blog on is entitled “Perfect” by Ellen Hopkins. As the title states this book is about what it means to be perfect or better yet what it means to have imperfections. This book is not a chapter book, it switches between characters; there are four main characters- Cara, Kendra, Sean, and Andre.

              

                Cara is what you would consider the “perfect” girl, she is smart and pretty and also a cheerleader. Kendra is the girl who is pretty but sees every little thing that is wrong with her, and is trying to be a model and is also a cheerleader. Sean is the jock who is dating Cara and thinks he is in love with her. Andre is the kid who has big dreams but keeps them to himself because his parent will not approve.

                So far I am up to page 253, which would seem like a lot in any other book but in an Ellen Hopkins book it is not a lot at all. The book is written in a free verse poem form, which makes it weird that I love all of her books because I, for one, hate poetry!

                The title of the book in one of the things that intrigued me because what is perfect? What is the definition of the word? Does it vary from person to person? How do you define a word that cannot be used to describe a race that is so imperfect?

                Going through this book makes me take a step back and wonder about the people around me, makes me wonder if the people I know feel the way that the people in the book feel? Up to the point I am in the book, this will sound corny, but it makes me want to be a better person, to make sure I treat people right because the truth is no one is perfect.