Book Review: Noteworthy by Riley Redgate

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I bought this book 🙂

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Noteworthy by Riley Redgate

Genre: Contemporary, YA

Pages: 400

Edition: Hardcover

Published: May 2, 2017

Catch it here: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

Blurb:

A cappella just got a makeover.

Jordan Sun is embarking on her junior year at the Kensington-Blaine Boarding School for the Performing Arts, hopeful that this will be her time: the year she finally gets cast in the school musical. But when her low Alto 2 voice gets her shut out for the third straight year—threatening her future at Kensington-Blaine and jeopardizing her college applications—she’s forced to consider nontraditional options.

In Jordan’s case, really nontraditional. A spot has opened up in the Sharpshooters, Kensington’s elite a cappella octet. Worshipped…revered…all male. Desperate to prove herself, Jordan auditions in her most convincing drag, and it turns out that Jordan Sun, Tenor 1, is exactly what the Sharps are looking for.

Jordan finds herself enmeshed in a precarious juggling act: making friends, alienating friends, crushing on a guy, crushing on a girl, and navigating decades-old rivalries. With her secret growing heavier every day, Jordan pushes beyond gender norms to confront what it means to be a girl (and a guy) in a male-dominated society, and—most importantly—what it means to be herself.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read Noteworthy, because I have read so many cross-dressing manga narratives that I felt kind of burnt out by the whole troupe. However, I needed a book for AsianLitBingo (read until bottom for details), and I thought “why not?” So I gave it a try, and I’m so glad I did! Continue reading Book Review: Noteworthy by Riley Redgate →

Book Review: In the Country by Mia Alvar

Books, Reviews, , , , , , ,

I bought this book 🙂


alvar-turquoiseIn the Country by Mia Alvar

Stand Alone

Genre: Short Stories, Contemporary, Adult

Pages: 368

Edition: Paperback

Published: 06.16.2015

Catch it Here: Goodreads,B&N, Amazon

Blurb:

“These nine globe-trotting, unforgettable stories from Mia Alvar, a remarkable new literary talent, vividly give voice to the women and men of the Filipino diaspora. Here are exiles, emigrants, and wanderers uprooting their families from the Philippines to begin new lives in the Middle East, the United States, and elsewhere—and, sometimes, turning back again.

A pharmacist living in New York smuggles drugs to his ailing father in Manila, only to discover alarming truths about his family and his past. In Bahrain, a Filipina teacher drawn to a special pupil finds, to her surprise, that she is questioning her own marriage. A college student leans on her brother, a laborer in Saudi Arabia, to support her writing ambitions, without realizing that his is the life truly made for fiction. And in the title story, a journalist and a nurse face an unspeakable trauma amidst the political turmoil of the Philippines in the 1970s and ’80s.

In the Country speaks to the heart of everyone who has ever searched for a place to call home. From teachers to housemaids, from mothers to sons, Alvar’s powerful debut collection explores the universal experiences of loss, displacement, and the longing to connect across borders both real and imagined. Deeply compassionate and richly felt, In the Country marks the emergence of a formidable new writer.”

**Note: I read this as part of the #AsianLitBingo event, read until the end for details!

If you aren’t aware already, I’m Filipino American, so I definitely wanted to read something about the Philippines for Asian American Heritage Month! I originally bought In the Country for my mom to read on the plane back in December; she really liked it and told me to read it too. Continue reading Book Review: In the Country by Mia Alvar →

One Year Blogiversary! + How has blogging changed me?

Books

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Hi all, it’s been awhile…

So I passed all my classes, and I’m moving from my house in the city to my hometown in the country! I’m going to be helping my dad on our family farm, and my mom with her business. I predict that I’ll have a lot more free time than I usually do, so I’ll try to read and blog a lot more!

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Speaking of reading, this brings me to the next thing I want to address. How has blogging changed me? Continue reading One Year Blogiversary! + How has blogging changed me? →

Book Review: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

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I bought this book 🙂


30095464The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Volume: One

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 400

Edition: Hardcover

Published: 03.07.17

Catch it Here: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

Blurb:

The beast raged; it punctured the air with its spite. But the girl was fiercer.

Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living—and of the human.

Great power comes at a price, forcing Tea to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch. There, Tea puts all of her energy into becoming an asha, learning to control her elemental magic and those beasts who will submit by no other force. And Tea must be strong—stronger than she even believes possible. Because war is brewing in the eight kingdoms, war that will threaten the sovereignty of her homeland…and threaten the very survival of those she loves.

**note: I’m reading this book as part of #AsianLitBingo, read until end for details.

Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bone Witch, with it’s enticing cover, dark magic, and anti-heroes. I particularly enjoyed the world it’s built around; an Asian fantasyland. The point of view is split into two perspectives, the past and present. We begin with older Tea training a new asha about the ways of dark magic, and then we explore the world with young Tea, which is what makes up most of the story. Continue reading Book Review: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco →

Makeup Inspired by Girl’s Day Yura (I’ll Be Yours MV)

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Hi all, so I attempted a look I saw on my favorite k-pop idol; the gorgeous Yura from Girl’s Day! I love Girl’s Day a lot, and I am so hype for their comeback! I’ve seen the “I’ll be Your’s” MV like at least a million times. I wanted to try to recreate Yura’s look, and it looks a lot better in person I think. The pink didn’t show up very well on camera, but what can you do?9a54674b064b116a13a2c9d14920b773930768ba_hq

Continue reading Makeup Inspired by Girl’s Day Yura (I’ll Be Yours MV) →

Top 7 Apps I Use to Learn Languages (Mandarin, Japanese, and Tagalog)

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7 Apps I Use to Learn Languages

I enjoy learning new languages; I think it’s really fun! On top of that, I went to a Chinese school while I was living in the Philippines, and that’s what sparked my interest! It’s really cool to study and then watch movies or listen to music and actually understand what people are saying, even if it’s only a few words. Plus I like to learn about, and appreciate other people’s cultures, and I find it really humbling. So without further ado, let’s go~~

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Continue reading Top 7 Apps I Use to Learn Languages (Mandarin, Japanese, and Tagalog) →

February&March 2017 Recap

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February-March-2017-Recap

Hi all, I have another recap post for you. I didn’t do that much in February, so I decided to do another combined post! I haven’t done that much reading, because I’m busy with classes, but I managed to get a few reviews out! I’ve also made great progress on a book I’m working on, so I’m really happy about that! Anyway, let’s get into it!

tumblr_obkzycikfg1sk2kqwo1_500 Continue reading February&March 2017 Recap →

Book Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Books, Reviews, , , , , , , , , , ,

I bought this book 🙂

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Edition: Hardcover

Pages: 464

Published: 02.28.17

Catch it here: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, Khalil’s death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Starr’s best friend at school suggests he may have had it coming. When it becomes clear the police have little interest in investigating the incident, protesters take to the streets and Starr’s neighborhood becomes a war zone. What everyone wants to know is: What really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could destroy her community. It could also endanger her life.

The Hate U Give is the debut novel of Angie Thomas, which topped the New York Times Best Seller list within two weeks of it’s release. It’s raw, real, and powerful. It 100% deserves the hype it’s been given. If you haven’t yet, go read it. It’s so important and relevant to current events happening in the USA today, and I think everyone needs to read it. Continue reading Book Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas →