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In my last book review I talked about the book, “Matched.” Now I am talking about the first sequel to that book. The book is named, “Crossed.” The author who is named Ally Condie wrote this book.

“Crossed” is much darker than the first book. In “Matched” the book ends with Cassia as she is taken from her safe home in the Society. Cassia is separated from her family and from the boy who she loves. That boy is named Ky Markham. Ky is also taken from his home to some unknown location.

Cassia is taken to a work camp somewhere in the Outter Provinces of the Society. However, all Cassia can think about is finding Ky. In Cassia’s work camp a group of women are taken to another camp in the Outter Provinces. Cassia slips into the group. She hopes that her transfer to another group will lead her to Ky.

Ky is in another work camp. He makes a plan to run away. He takes two people with him: a boy named Victor and a younger boy who is named Eli. They make it into an area with tall cliffs and caverns.

Later on Cassia is taken to Ky’s work camp… but Ky is not there. Cassia decides to run away, too. Cassia goes with two other people. One of the people that goes with her dies. The other person who travels with Cassia is a girl named Indie. The two become friends. They travel throughout the cavern and cliff area until they find Ky, Victor and Eli.

Throughout the whole book there are conversations about “The Pilot.” “The Pilot” is a person who allegedly runs a resistance group against the Society. The resistance group is known as, “The Rising.”

The second book in this series is much darker than the first book. “Crossed” focuses on Cassia and Ky as they live in a camp in the Outter Provinces. It focuses on the two’s struggle for survival in a region of cliffs.

The two need help. But do they find it?

Overall, I have luke-warm feelings about this book. It was a long book that did not have as much action in it as I would like to see. The book was mostly about the characters’ thoughts. I would have liked to see more scenes between Cassia and Ky. I would have liked the two of them to have conversations about the two’s feelings for one another.

I give this book a 3-star rating. I liked the first book that is named “Matched” much more than its sequel.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

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Today I want to talk about a book that is named, “Matched.” “Matched” is a book by the author who is named Ally Condie. First and foremost, I want to start by saying that I’ve heard good things about this book. So, did my experience live up to the book’s reputation? Here it goes:

I really liked this book. “Matched” is about a girl named Cassia. Cassia lives in a world that is ruled by “The Society.” “The Society” dictates everything that a person does in his or in her life. It even dictates the person that you marry.

At a certain age all the young people go through a “Matching” ceremony. This is one of the most important nights for a person who lives in “The Society.” Cassia is lucky on this night. Cassia is matched with one of her best friends. She is matched to the boy who is named Xander Carrow.

Once everyone is “matched” at the matching ceremony all those who are “matched” are given a micro-card. This micro-card has pictures and has information on the person that you are matched to at the ceremony. Cassia looks at her micro-card after the ceremony… but for a second a new picture shows up on the screen. It is not Xander. It is another boy instead… a boy who is named Ky Markam. Ky is an Aberration. An Aberration is a person who was singled out in “The Society” because of a rebellious act that he or she did at one time. It can also occur if someone in your family participates in an act of rebellion, too.

Cassia is intrigued by the picture on her micro-card. She begins to notice Ky Markam. She notices that he holds many secrets inside. And she wants to know more about him.

The book, “Matched,” is a love story. It is about a young woman who begins to rebel against the system that she is a part of simply because she wants to follow her heart. There are many consequences to Cassia’s rebellion… and they affect her and everyone in her family.

I really enjoyed this book. It was serious and thoughtful. Cassia is a smart person. She tries to follow the rules but goes with her gut instinct. She doesn’t plan to disobey “The Society.” She just wants to be happy. In doing so Cassia shows-off her strength. She shows that sometimes you can not let others dictate your life.

The end of this book was sad. However, there are two more sequels to this book that I am reading right now. The two books are named “Crossed” and “Reached.” I can’t wait to see how all the loose ends are tied in the next book that is named “Crossed.”

I liked this book. I loved Cassia. I give this book a 4-star rating.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

Rick Riordan is releasing a new published work in October. It will be out on Tuesday October 5, 2021. The book is named Daughter of the Deep.

Rick Riordan is the author who wrote the wildly-popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series. There are two movies that were made based-off of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series. The star who is named Logan Lerman plays Percy Jackson. The star who is named Alexandra Daddario plays Annabeth Chase who is another important character in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series.

The book that is named Daughter of the Deep is an homage of the classic book that is named 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was written by the author who is named Jules Verne.

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These are Rick Riordan’s thoughts on his new book:

“I am so excited for this book for a number of reasons. You guys have been asking me for a long time: ‘When will you do a book that is exclusively focused on a female protagonist?’ This is that book! Though obviously I’ve had lots of female protagonists in my previous novels, this book is told first-person solely from the point of view of Ana Dakkar, a high school freshman who learns her parentage is every bit as complicated as Percy Jackson’s, though it has to do with science, not Greek gods . . .

I’ve had this idea percolating in my head since at least 2008, and it was so great to finally have the space to write it. I have been a fan of Captain Nemo’s story since I was a little kid. Finally, I get to go under the sea in his wake! It was so different than my usual mythology fantasy, and so much fun, but you can expect my usual blend of action and humor, twists and turns. As part of my research over the last decade, I’ve gotten my advanced diver certification with PADI, gone on numerous dives in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, become a lifetime member of the U.S. Naval Institute so I can keep up with news of the marine services through their journal proceedings, and done a ton of reading on submarines and the sea. Right now the book is in the final edit phases, which includes a line editor for grammar, typos, etc., a sensitivity reader, and a science editor to make sure I got my fish and facts right! I’ll be so excited to get this into your hands in October, by which time the deck should be properly swabbed, the sails trimmed, and the hatches battened down!

Okay, but now real talk. Which HP house are you?

And when I say HP, of course I mean Harding-Pencroft Academy. What else?

House Dolphin—communications, exploration, cryptography, counterintelligence

House Shark—command, combat, weapons systems, logistics

House Cephalopod—engineering, applied mechanics, innovation, defensive systems

House Orca—medicine, psychology, education, marine biology, communal memory

More on this later, but that will give you just a first look at Ana Dakkar’s world . . . I cannot wait for you to meet her!

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I’m excited for this new book. I love Rick Riordan’s books. My favorite books by the author are the Percy Jackson books, the Jason Grace books, and the Magnus Chase books. I can’t wait to read Daughter of the Deep and to learn more about the female main character who is named Ana Dakkar.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

Great news, everyone! The author who is named John Green will release a new book next Tuesday May 18. The book is named, “The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human Centered Planet.” “The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human Centered Planet” is not a novel. It is a series of essays that John Green has compiled about the planet Earth and how human-beings have shaped it. It talks about everything from the keyboard as-we-know-it-now and the current environmental crisis. Here is a blurb about the book:

A deeply moving collection of personal essays from John Green, the #1 bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down.

“Every page is full of insight. I loved it.” –Roman Mars, creator and host of 99% Invisible

The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale—from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar.

Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together.

John Green’s gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.

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John Green is an author who has wrote wildly popular books like, “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Paper Towns,” and “Looking for Alaska.” All three books have become well-loved movies of the same name.

I am excited for John Green’s new collection of essays. This is sure to be an insightful, memorable, and smart read for all of his fans. I will definitely pick-it-up as soon as it comes out.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

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Hi, there. Today I will talk about the book that is named “First There was Forever.” The author who is named Juliana Romano wrote this book. The first book I read by the author, Juliana Romano, is the book that is named, “Summer in the Invisible City.” I liked that book so I was excited to read this book by the same author.

So, what were my thoughts on this novel? Here it is. “First There was Forever” is a book about a girl who is named Lima. Lima has a best-friend. Her best-friend is named Hailey. The two girls were best-friends since they were children. However, something changes between the two girls. Lima is making new friends…. and so is Hailey. The two are interested in boys…. in fact, the two are interested in the same boy. Nate is the name of the boy who Hailey has always had a crush on. But Nate doesn’t glance at Hailey more than once…. he is interested in Lima instead of her.

“First There was Forever” is a book about growing-up, new-and-old friends, and love. Lima learns how to let-go of her friendship with Hailey. She makes a new friend crew. She falls for Nate. Hailey spends time with other people. She doesn’t seem interested in her friendship with Lima anymore.

So, how do I feel about this book? Well, I enjoyed this book. I loved getting into Lima’s head-space. I think many girls can relate to her. Sometimes when you grow-up your friendships change. Sometimes you make new friends…. sometimes you let old friends go there own way. Lima starts to figure-it-out…. and all of this leads to Nate.

Hailey has always loved Nate. Hailey throws herself at Nate whenever she can do so. But Hailey has his eyes set on Lima. And Lima needs to figure-out what to tell her former-best friend.

I enjoyed this book for its realistic portrayal of a young girl who is growing-up. Lima is a sensitive, thoughtful, and smart girl. I liked her a lot. I would definitely read another Juliana Romano book if I came across the book at the book store.

What rating would I give this book? I give this book a 4-star rating. It’s a great book for a teenage girl to read. It would be a great beach book. It would be a great book for a girl to read when she is relaxing this summer.

I hope you’re having a great summer.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

Great news! Right now there are auditions open for the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” television show that will play on Disney+. This is the beginning of the preliminary search for the title role of, “Percy Jackson.”

Rick Riordan is the author of the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” book series. Riordan hopes that the actor to play “Percy Jackson” will be around twelve-years-old old to sixteen-years-old. He wants “Percy Jackson” to be as similar to the “Percy Jackson” of the books as he can be. He wants to see the actor who plays “Percy Jackson” age on-screen just like “Percy” did in Riordan’s books.

Disney wants people of different ethnicity to enter an audition tape.

Disney states:

“We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to disability, gender, race and ethnicity, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other basis prohibited by law.”

The production team behind the “Percy Jackson” television show is not looking for the actors who will play Annabeth Chase, Grover, and Chiron yet. The production team wants to find the right “Percy Jackson” right now. The reason for this is because the actor who is chosen to play “Percy Jackson” will affect the other television roles.

If you are interested in auditioning for the role of “Percy Jackson” then check-out this Disney informational website for more information. You will be able to send in an audition tape with the help of your parent if you wish to audition.

Good luck to any of you out there who plan to audition.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

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Hi, there. I hope you are all doing all right during this COVID-19 pandemic. I have spent most of my time focused on school…. and on reading. I don’t update here too often but I plan to change that very soon. I’ve read a lot of great books out there that I want to talk to you about on here. One of the books on that list is named, “My Life with the Walter Boys.” The book is a novel by the author who is named Ali Novak.

Let’s talk.

“The Life with the Walter Boys” is a fun and a well-written story. The book is about a girl who is named Jackie. Jackie owns zero pairs of jeans. Jackie hates it when things get out-of-her-control. However, suddenly, her whole life changes.

Jackie’s parents and her sister die in a car accident. This means that Jackie is sent to live with the Walter family…. a family of twelve boys (well, eleven boys and one girl, but the girl is so similar to her brothers that she counts as a “Walter boy” anyway).

Everything in Jackie’s life is different than it was before when she lives with the Walters. Jackie’s rules go out the window. The boys (and the one girl) give Jackie a run-for-her-money. But can Jackie survive in the Walter boys’ world?

Jackie does. However, the star (or perhaps, “the stars,” is more apt) of this book are the eleven Walter boys and the single Walter girl. Novak is a talented writer. She doesn’t have the room to write pages and pages describing each Walter boy in minute detail. However, she writes enough about the boys in the limited amount of space that she has on hand. She does a good job of showing the readers who the different Walter boys are to each other. Each boy that she writes about has his own opinions, his own interests, and his own idiosyncrasies.

There’s more to this novel then the group of “Walter boys.” In the novel, Jackie is in a love-triangle between two of the “Walter boys” in the Walter family. The two boys are named Cole Walter and Alex Walter. Cole and Alex are very different from one another. Cole loves being in the lime-light. Alex loves to relax and to play video games. Jackie likes both of the boys…. but which one is the right one for her to choose from?

This book was a great read. I loved the interaction between Jackie and the Walter boys. Those moments were the moments that made the book shine bright. However, one thing that I didn’t like about the book was how Jackie’s emotions were portrayed when it came down to the death of her parents and the death of her sister. Jackie’s family died horribly in a freak car accident…. however, Jackie’s reaction to the death of her family isn’t a center-point of the story. We never delve into Jackie’s thoughts on the matter for long. This decision by Novak is a huge hole in the story in my opinion.

So, do I think you should read, “My Life with the Walter Boys” by Ali Novak? The answer is a definitive, “yes.”

There is one more thing to note. The author, Ali Novak, started this book on an on-line writing community that is known as, “Wattpad.” She later changed her on-line story. In time it became the original novel that is named, “My Life with the Walter Boys.”

I don’t think that this affects the story in any way. Novak is a skilled writer. This book is a good one. Overall, I give it a 4-star rating. I loved it.

The next book that I will write about on here is the book that is named, “First there was Forever.” “First there was Forever” is a book by the author who is named Juliana Romano. It looks like a promising read.

You should stop by again soon to see what else I have in store for you.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

An anthology by Rick Riordan and a group of other authors will be out this September 28, 2021. The book is named The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities. The book that is named The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities is an anthology.

An anthology is a book of selected writings by different authors. The selected writings may be about the same subject, may have the same theme, or may be from the same time period.

However, the series of stories in this anthology are not about the same culture. The stories in this anthology are from different cultures. They are from these cultures: Indian, Mesoamerican, Korean, Cuban, Black American, African, Navajo, Mexican, Mesopotamian, and Celtic.

Below is a short summary about the anthology:

A cave monster…. an abandoned demon…. a ghost who wants to erase history…. a killer commandment…. These are just some of the challenges confronting the young heroes in this highly entertaining anthology.

This is what Rick Riordan had to say about the new anthology: “I hope you enjoy your trip through the multiverse mansion as much as I did. The real danger is that once you start exploring all the wonders herin, you may want to stay forever.”

Ten best-selling and award-winning authors contributed to this anthology. The author’s names are: Carlos Hernandez, Graci Kim, J.C. Cervantes, Rebecca Roanhorse, Sarwat Chadda, Roshani Chokshi, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Yoon Ha Lee, Kwame Mbalia, and Rick Riordan himself.

I am excited to read this anthology by these respected group of authors.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

George R. R. Martin is the author behind the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series. The “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series is the basis of the popular HBO television show that is named, “Game of Thrones.”

George R. R. Martin is still in the midst of working on the next book in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series. The next book installment of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series will be a book that is named, “The Winds of Winter.” It will be the sixth book in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series.

At the moment George R. R. Martin is in the middle of developing several new television shows on the HBO Max television network. He signed a 5-year television contract with the HBO television network.

The new television show that he is working on will be a prequel to the “Game of Thrones” television show. The television show will be set three-hundred years before the “Game of Thrones” television show.

The new television show will focus on the royal family in the House of Targaryen. At the moment there are plans for the television show to be one season. The first season of the show will be a 10-episode season. The production of the television show will start next month.

The new television show will be on air in the year 2022. It will star the actresses that are named Olivia Cooke and Emma E’Arcy. It will also star the actors that are named Matt Smith and Paddy Considine.

The “Game of Thrones” television show played on the HBO television network in the year of 2011. The “Game of Thrones” television show ended in the year of 2019.

It seems like George R. R. Martin will have many more things to show his fans.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London

The children’s book author who is named Beverly Cleary died last Thursday. Beverly was 104-years-old. Beverly was the author of many books like the books that are named Ramona the Brave, Henry Huggins, Beezus and Ramona, and Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

Beverly died in her hometown of Carmel, California.

Beverly was known to be a respected children’s book author that got into the mind of the kids that she wrote her books for.

“I think children want to read about normal, everyday kids. That’s what I wanted to read about when I was growing up,” said Beverly. “I wanted to read about the sort of boys and girls that I knew in my neighborhood and in my school.

And in my childhood, many years ago, children’s books seemed to be about English children, or pioneer children. And that wasn’t what I wanted to read. And I think children like to find themselves in books.”

The first book that Beverly published in her book-writing career is a book that is named Henry Huggins. The book was named after the main character in the novel. Henry Huggins lived on Klickitat Street in Portland, Oregon.

People loved the book that is named Henry Huggins. The readers of Beverly’s books also loved another character in the book. They loved the little girl who lived down the street to Henry. The little girl was named Ramona Quimby.

Beverly branched out and also wrote books about Ramona. Ramona was known to be very sprited and also very smart. Ramona aslo had an older sister who was named Beezus. Beezus is another important character in the Ramona Quimby books.

It is sad to hear about the passing of Beverly Cleary. One thing is for certain though… her books will always be remembered by the fans who grew-up with them.

Rest in Peace, Beverly.

Always with infinite love,
Selena London