End of the Year

Over the semester I have read How to Salsa in a Sari, Keysha's Drama, If I Were Your Boyfriend, Jaded, The Pact, Fast Forward,   Shrink to Fit, and Indigo Summer. During this semester of Reading for Pleasure I've learned how to expand my reading. I also learned how to analyse what I have read. Reading these books I have learned a few life lessons. This semester I have actually read a lot more. My reading experience hasn't changed much because I have always liked to read, but I have never blogged about it. I actually liked this class because I was able to read freely.

Jaded by Monica McKayhan

The biggest lesson that I've learned from this book is that you shouldn't turn your back on someone, especially when they need you the most. Unfortunately, Jade had to learn that the hard way. She turned her back on her boyfriend after he trusted her, he opened up to her and expected her to be there for him. He was wrong. At that point of time Jade was being selfish, she didn't care about anyone but herself. She broke up with her boyfriend because some of the troubles that were in his life, she claimed that she was too young to deal with his problems. She later figured out that she should have been there for him, but she realizes too late. Along with the problems of her ex Jade has some of her own problems. Her parents are divorced, but lately they have been sending mixed signals lately. It crosses Jade's mind that they might be getting back together, but there's a problem named       Victoria. She finds out that her father is engaged to be married to someone who isn't her mother.

I think that Jade was being so selfish, she could made some sacrifices for everyone's happiness. She was also not a good person to her boyfriend Terrence. She turned her back on him when he needed her the most.

Shrink To Fit by Dona Sarkar

The biggest lesson of this book is to never try to fit in because if people don't accept you as you are then they don't deserve you. You can't expect others to accept you if you don't accept yourself first. Leah started off at about six feet tall and two hundred pounds. She seems to have a problem with her weight because she wants to "fit in". She goes about her situation all of the wrong ways. She began taking diet pills, starving herself, and working her body too much. She loses weight constantly and it still isn't enough. At her turning point she is at 140 pounds. She only decides to make a change because she breaks two of her ribs at a basketball game. She damaged her body, she ends up bulimic and anorexic. While she was  in the hospital she discovered that her friend who had been engaging in the same methods as her lost her life. The doctor informed her that could have and would have been her if she had not ended up in the hospital.

Leah had to get hurt and lose a friend to realize that she needed to find herself. Everyone of her real friends accepted her because they thought she couldn't be anyone but her self. Unfortunately she wanted to change that and had a tough outcome. 

The Pact by Monica McKayhan

This was my favorite book of the four that I have read so far. I think its because this one relates to me the most. So the book starts off with Marcus and Indigo making a pact to break up, but just for the summer. Stupid! I thought that idea was so stupid because if you love or care for someone, then you should never, ever want to let them go. I don't know how she found it in her heart to make a decision like that. She was being selfish. She didn't want to feel guilty if she met someone new and developed feelings for them. That is crap. She never thought that he would meet someone new. What if he decided to move on from her without looking back? Then she would be completely heartbroken, right ?

 Well as the summer goes on she has yet to find someone. On the other hand Marcus is having a great time with a girl that he has just met. As the summer goes on they encounter some drama, and then they realize just how much they miss and need each other. So before the summer's end they're back together, and happier than ever. They were there for each other even after the summer monstrosity.

This book just opened up to let you know that you can depend on the people you love even when you don't think that you can. Throughout their summers, both Indigo and Marcus made some mistakes and learned from them. At the end it doesn't even matter because they have each other.

Fast Forward by Celeste O. Norfleet

When I first began to read this book I didn't like it, but then it became more interesting. So, where do I start? So much has happened within this book. There is so much to talk about, and so many lessons to be learned. First off Kenisha gets put out of her private school for fighting! She lives with her father because she lost her mother a few months earlier. On top of that she doesn't like her step mother, but has to live with her. She decides to move in with her grandmother after getting suspended from school. She also transfer to the school in her grandmother's neighborhood. She gains some friends and some enemies. Along with enemies, she encounters some drama. She catches the eyes of a neighborhood boy named Darien, and that doesn't sit too well with Darien's ex. Even though Kenisha starts to like Darien, and becomes convinced that he is not a bad guy. She has   been warned that he is not the person to become friends with. She ends up learning, but unfortunately she learns the hard way. She always has her friends by her side.

The biggest lesson of this book is to not judge someone too quickly, but get to know the real person that they are. Trust has to be earned, it's not something that needs to be given away because some people don't deserve it. It always helps to have true friends in a rough situation.

If I Were Your Boyfriend by Earl Sewell

This book is part two of Keysha's Drama. It instantly jumps back into Keysha's drama and the drama continues! You're going to ask yourself what happens next because it's something that you want to know. Keysha has been suspended from school for something that she didn't do. When she returns to school she notices this boy, who seems to be catching up on make-up work just like her. She doesn't pay him much attention until he intervenes in an altercation that she is involved in. She doesn't understand why this boy was being so nice to her with all of the drama and rumors involving Keysha. However, his life hasn't been the best for him lately either. As she get to know Wesley more, she notices how much they have in common and how much they like each other. Unfortunately, their like for each other isn't enough to stop their drama, instead things gets worse. They don't give up on each other, they stand strong by each others side and supports each other.

This books teaches a lot of life lessons, I'm sure there are many people who can relate to this book. It teaches about making the right decisions for yourself, choosing the right friends. This book relates to me as far as friends wise. In my past friendships some of the friends that I have chosen for myself have not been the best choices. It also teaches about the company you want in your presence whether its positive or negative. My least favorite character was Liz because she was evil, conniving, backstabbing, she wasn't anywhere close to the definition of a real friend. My favorite character was Wesley because he was Keysha's hero. He has made his mistakes, but he has learned from them and is willing to correct himself. Overall this was a great book, and I can't wait to read the next one.

Keysha's Drama by Earl Sewell

The title of this books fits it perfectly. Keysha who is the main character has nothing but drama. She is only sixteen, but is forced to grow way faster than she has to. She doesn't have anyone to turn to after her mother is sent to jail. She is then sent to a group home to live with complete strangers. Until one day her social worker stumbles across a man who is possibly Keysha's father. Great news he is, but maybe its not so good. She has never met this man, but now she has to go live with him. She moves in Keysha's new grandmother act like she has known Keysha since she was born and accepts her. On the other hand, Keysha's new step mom and brother want her gone. She gets settled in to her new school and Keysha meets more drama. Her life is just as dramatic as a circus.

The thing that impressed me the most about this book is how she kept her head up, she never gave up on herself even when she thought everyone else did. I learned that you can't always be friends with someone because they're nice to you. I also learned that trust needs to be limited because friends can turn into enemies really quick.

How To Salsa In A Sari by Dona Sarkar

The book was  a very interesting book. I really liked the book a lot. Although it didn't relate to me it may have related to other people. It teaches a lesson and shows that you can not fight fire with fire. It also teaches that you should stay true to yourself, and if you have a problem then it will most likely work itself out. The story was good and got even better once you got into it, but I don't like the fact that the book was so predictable. It didn't have any suspense at all, it never keeps you guessing because you could predict what was coming next. The book has multiple themes, and one of them are to think about others and not just care for yourself. The main character which was Issa had to learn that the hard way. She was all wrapped up in what was best for and her happiness,but she forgot about the happiness of her mother. She addressed her problems the wrong way and caused a huge problem. She was careless and selfish, but by the end of the book she learned her lesson. As the story concluded everyone might not have gotten what they wanted, but everyone was happy.

I, LaNesha Lewis will read  minimum of four books and make a conscientous effort to meet my individual goals both inside and outside of the class. I plan to blog weekly about my experience of "reading for pleasure." The four books I plan to read are:

1.How To Salsa In A Sari by Dona Sarkar
2.Keysha's Drama by Earl Sewell
3.If I Were Your Boyfriend by Earl Sewell
4.The Pact by Monica McKayhan