Litspiration Challenge

Playlist for Miranda (From Life As We Knew It):

Titanium By: David Guetta – I think that this song shows how she may feel with all the death that is around her. She may feel like she is undefeatable but scared. She may feel left out because there is no one there. She may feel like all those who left her abandoned her.

Stronger By: Kelly Clarkson – I think that the chorus is sort of boosting her confidence. Again it talks about how she is completely alone. It is mainly just the chorus though, the rest of the song is of a break up. 

Lights By: Ellie Goulding – The dark could be the death around her. “And so I tell myself that I’ll be strong.” Again a huge motivation. Throughout the book, Miranda faces a lot of hardships, I would show her this song.

Wide Awake By: Katy Perry – Wide awake could mean that she is one of the only ones alive. Her eyes are still open, she isn’t dead. “Dreaming too long” She didn’t realize what she had, hence the title Life As We Knew It. It shows that dreams don’t last forever and I think that she can relate to this song in more ways than one.

Feel Again By: One Republic – In this book, Miranda’s dad goes away. I think that this is sort of saying don’t worry, he is ok. You will find other friends and your life will start again.

We Are Young By: FUN – I think this shows that she may show what she wishes to do. Just cut loose and have fun but she knows that she can’t. Not anymore. I know that a lot of people like to find their dreams hidden in songs…

My Heart Will Go On By: Celine Dion – This would apply to everyone missing someone in the book. Her whole family could relate to this song. It is the sweetest and saddest song I have ever heard and I think that it truly relates to Miranda’s situation. I think that this is saying to always have faith which is something that Miranda would really need.

Burn It Down By: Linkin Park – The chorus could be talking about her hope that she builds up with so much effort but it just gets destroyed. This is a song of her life.

Waiting For The End By: Linkin Park – When you read the book and listen to this song, it is as if they based this song on the book or vice versa. There is only one difference, which is that Miranda didn’t want to forget what her life used to be like. She wants the memories to stay with her.

Skyscraper By: Demi Lavato – Her biggest fear. Losing one of her family members. I guarantee she feels just like the song. She would be begging for god to break her instead of one of the only people she has left. Also it has some abandonment in the song. She could be feeling like that because of her father leaving her family.

My Immortal By: Evanescence – Again I feel like this talks about how she may feel abandoned. With death all around her it is obvious that she feels pain. If you see your friend/family’s body in a pile of forgotten, you have to feel pain.

Hit And Run Book Review

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Hit and Run

By: Norah McClintock

Book Review By: Maitri P. 

At first glance, Mike McGill was just an ordinary rebellious boy. No one would ever guess the horrors and loss that he faced. Four years before, Mike’s mom was killed in a car accident. Mike, furious at the police for not solving the mystery of his mom’s death, starts to wonder whether or not her death was an accident… or a murder. With the help of an unlikely ally, Mike starts to investigate his mother’s death again.  Little did he know what he was getting himself into…

Hit and Run was very enjoyable read for me, especially the mystery factor. One of the things I really enjoyed was that the characters were realistic and very relatable. It was something that any normal kid with an ambition would do. I think that it is quite sad that these sorts of things do happen to kids all over the world with there being nothing they can do about it. I believe that the theme that the author was conveying was to always have faith. Mike faces many challenges throughout this book but he never wonders off track from his goal. There is also a very strong message embedded in the text. It shows the importance of your family and how important it is to be with the right kinds of people. This is one of the few books that I actually enjoyed that was about teen issues and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery novels.

Life As We Knew It Book Review

Life As We Knew It
By: Susan Pfeffer
Book Review By: Maitri P.

When news stations first alert the world of an asteroid about to hit they Earth, no one expected any big changes. No interest was shown and no preparations were made. Miranda, a 16 year old girl, was just one of these people. However when the asteroid did hit, disaster struck. With the moon so close to the Earth, chaos spread and almost all life on Earth disappeared. That’s when she knew the life that she loved, the life that she knew, was gone. Forever.

I have to say that this is my absolutely favourite novel. The emotion and the suspense that was present throughout the book wouldn’t let me put the book down! The main audience for this book would be teenage girls but that doesn’t mean that everyone can’t enjoy it. Even though all these disasters are occurring all over the world and Miranda has to worry about whether or not her family would find food on their plates, her actions and her thoughts were very much like an ordinary teenage girl. I think that the theme of this novel was the value of life. There were constant hints of the value of life. It showed that death was definitely the easier choice but in the end life would prove it’s importance. In the text I read about piles of death everywhere, full of bodies that had been forgotten. It also talked about how hard life was. Even though it didn’t say in the novel, I think that all individuals would have preferred life even with all the hardships that you would have to face. You should definitely read this book, I promise it is worth your time!

Wave Book Review

                                                WAVE

By: Eric Walter

Book Review By: Maitri P.

            Thailand would be an ideal place for an annual Winter Break vacation right? No worries, no regrets, and no cold. Well that was not the case for Sam and his family in the winter of 2004. He and his family set off, right after saying goodbye to his sister, Beth, at the airport. If only they knew the disaster that was about to tear the family apart… Based on a true disastrous event, Wave reminds us once again of the importance of your family at a time of fear and desperation.

            I believe that the themes that the author is trying to portray were hope and the relationship between humans and nature. Each time a wave came, it crushed even more of the few surviving humans. Which goes to show how naïve we truly are. It also shows that no matter what happens, hope is what pushes us forward and leads us to safety. I found this quote in the text: “We’re not giving up,” I said. “It’s to light the way for her to come back to us.” Neither of us could give up on that last grain of hope. I truly appreciated the message that the author was trying to put through. This book reminds us about how fortunate we are. As I read this novel I felt the emotions rushing through me. The sorrow of those who lost people they love, or the joy of some people who got to be reunited with their families. Overall, this book was amazing and I feel that everyone should take the time to read it.