My Name is Memory

This book is quite the opposite of the previous book mentioned last week, it touches upon a completely different age group and its story is much more dense and intricate.  If you are someone who loved the Twilight Saga and enjoys romance as well as a bit of mystery and magic, this novel is just the right read for you.  My Name is Memory is by the same author that wrote The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Ann Brashares.  The story is about an average girl, Lucy Broward and a not so average boy, Daniel Grey.  This story is about a romance that stands the test of time, countless of times.

This story shows that love is less about the outer appearance and more about whats inside a person, that if you really love a person it can last more than just a lifetime.  It shows that if someone is truly meant for someone else, no matter what life they are living they will always be drawn to each other and keep fighting for one another.  There are a handful of unhappy endings but the great thing about the two characters, specifically Daniel is that the rough times were never able to hold him down.  Their love surpasses everything and knows no boundaries, it stands the true test of time for years to go and come.  

I have no intention of giving away the ending but for me that was the biggest issue, I wish I knew more and I definitely wish there was a sequel.  One thing is for sure, this story will keep you guessing because you never know where the characters will end up or who they will end up as.  The story jumps from continent to continent and it gives you a taste of different parts of the world.  It is a great read intended for young adults but I think anyone would like it.

The Cozy Kitten

It is probably impossible for you to remember your first book growing up, unless your parents kept it after all those years as a keepsake or you just so happened to find it amongst your belongings up in your attic boxed away all those years.  For most babies and toddlers their first books are usually less about the story but more about the visual aspect of the physical book itself. 

 These books may be animated in many ways, they may make noise, play music, they may come with accessory toys, they may be brights and colorful, they may feel a certain way as well; basically, these books will contain one or many aspects that evoke the senses to catch a young child's wandering and imaginative mind.  The first book I wanted to introduce to you all is one of those books, it has an adorable story and looks almost like a stuffed animal.  The Cozy Kitten by Shaheen Bilgrami can find its way next a little boy or girl asleep in bed after it has been read to them for bedtime  much like a teddy bear.

The story is about Kitten's adventure with other animals  and realizing its own talent just like other animals have their own talent, all this goes on as Mommy Cat is fast asleep.  The last page is the cutest thing, it leaves a part of Kitten's stomach to be felt so the readers can pretend to rub its belly.  The illustrations are engaging and easy for a child to understand.  This book is great for children being read to but also children that are just learning to read on their own.  Interactive books are the best thing for young children because its fun and interesting to a young curious mind.  

Aside from being cute and fuzzy this book is safe for young children as well.  No sharp pointy edges give parents and teachers more of a reason to hand a child a book of this kind.  Kids of all ages will love something as adorable as a kitten and the story of its adventure will teach them that each person has their own talent or skill.  So besides having a cute new stuffed/book animal, the child reading this will also gain some insight on growing up and themselves. 

Introduction

     Books, especially great ones, can take you places.  They can move you from the very pages to whole new worlds.  Children and young adults are known for their imagination and curiosity and they are capable of creating their own worlds through those characteristics which is why I find children's and young adult's literature to be quite exceptional, almost magical.
     This blog will touch up on various book by different authors who have written stories for these particular age groups.  This may range from a baby's first touch and feel book to classics that we've all heard of like Harry Potter.  It will include short summaries for those who do not know the backgrounds of the books but there will also be opinions and outlooks on each specific book and how it touches its intended audience.  Most importantly I'll end each blog by trying to get across to all of you how that particular story takes these kids into a whole different environment without ever having them leave those same pages they are engaged in.
     Even though I'm twenty one years old now I still find myself drawn to children's and young adult books because growing up it was what I was most familiar with.  As wonderful as Pride and Prejudice is (and it truly is because it is my favorite book of all time) there is something just as wonderful about The Very Hungry Caterpillar or any one of Dr. Seuss's stories.  Each book is amazing for it's own reasons and just as we say no one person is better than the next because they are individuals that are special for their own reasons, the same goes for books.  I feel as if the books one reads growing up is essentially the very reason why they'll be reading once they are all grown up and therefor each and every book meant for children and teenagers are rather special.