Top 10 Most Influential Books

Sarah over at Inklined tagged me! =) Thanks Sarah!! =D I'm really excited to do this, you can go on over to Sarah's blog to see what her top 10 most influential books were. =) Now. For mine.


Get ready

TW/Abrielle's Top 10 Most Influential Books

10. The Year of Miss Agnes

My mom read this to me when I was five or six. I loved it so much I was very disappointed that there wasn't a squeal. Like, really disappointed. Then my mom said, why don't you write the next book? It

was the first book that wet my appetite for writing. =) I think I should pick it up and read it again...

9. The Three Musketeers

Ok, I have to admit that when I first read the Children's classic I was in love with this book. Honestly. I loved them. It said that even through bad time, friends should always stick together--I didn't want to pay attention to the 'get back at that person because she killed my love,'. But seriously, I love this book and if you haven't read The Three Musketeers, go to your library now and

pick up that book. You probably (and hopefully) won't be disappointed. *winks*

8. Socks

Surely everyone has read Socks. In my perspective, you cannot have a good childhood without reading that wondrous book. Heh heh, just kidding. But if you want to have an excellent childhood, read Socks. I absolutely adored Socks when my mom read it to me for school. As soon as she was done, I took it and read it in the matter of days (it might have been three or four). Socks taught me that when I grow up and get married and get an animal, then have a baby, to not neglect it. Just try to keep on being as great of a owner as you were before, even if it's hard.
You can read my review here.


7. No Dogs Allowed!

If you know me in person, like know me so very well, you probably know that I love this book and make a habit to read it twice a year (usually). I bought it used in 2011 just thinking about another pet book that I was going to like. WOW. "Like" does not even amount to how much I still adore this book. When in Indonesia, you have dogs--usually. But, unless something really strange happens, those dogs don't last long. I moved to Papua in February of 2012, since April 2012, I have had five dogs, and only

one still remains. And it's really hard to love these dogs when you know that one day they'll be gone, and that day might be today, or tomorrow. This book always reminds me to love our pets, even if they'll disappear tomorrow. They need the love.
You can read my review here.

6. The School Story


I don't know what to say about this book, except WOW. Wow. I love this book so much, it to inspired me to write. Plus, when I read it in the third grade, it made writing and publishing sound like pie. Well, guess what, pie isn't easy and neither is publishing. (Unless you have a Zoe on your hands and your mom works in the publishing company (and you write a really good book)) But, ohmygosh, I read this book at least once a year, and even though I've read it nine million time (not that many, but close) I listened to my mom read it to my other siblings, but I wasn't allowed to answer any questions.

5. The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet

You guys probably think I talk about this book too much, sorry, I can't help it. But The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet totally inspired me in the writing area. She seemed to say that, yah, teens can do things too, people! Even if they have to hide themselves away to write a book. But this book is totally fantastic. Totally. I don't know where I'd be today without reading this book. Ok, I'd probably still be here writing even worse than I do now. But The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet and The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet are both total must reads. (especially if you are a teen writer, go to your library now and demand that they order them. You will not be disappointed.)
You can read my review here.

4. The Hedge of Thorns

I have no idea how many people have read this book, and I'm not sure I would quite be able to sit down and read it myself (yet). But my dad has read it to me and my siblings twice, and it is a very good book. It taught to listen to your parent's instructions (and follow them!) and to stay inside the hedge of thorns. Ok, I can't explain it great, if you want to know what I mean, go pick up the book and you'll understand. *winks*

3. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 

Something a lot of people would personally like to beat me up over is that I have not finished reading the Narnia series. Even though I have a library with all of the books, and my family owns two sets of the series. But, before you cyberly regret yourself, let me say that I have read the first two books and half of The Horse and His Boy--that's where I stopped because I was *all of a sudden* getting moved back to Papua, and I didn't know where to pick back up again. (but i will read the WHOLE Narnia series when we are in America =)) But The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a good one. =) It was kind of like The Three Musketeers when it involves the friendship stuff, but it also said to me that I still needed to have an imagination, even if I was an almost teen. *winks*

2. Left Behind >The Kids<

I am a fangirl to these books I could probably talk them to death. So, I'll *try* not to. Left Behind >The Kids< is a series that I adore, but I didn't even make the pick to read them! LOL, my mom gave me the 1st book and said that she wanted me to read it and see how i liked it. I loved it. So I got book 2, and then I had to stop at book 5 because we were going to Bandung to have my baby brother. *folds arms* I was not able to continue the series until three months later, and then I was flying through the books, they were that good. This series taught me that I should always be ready for Jesus coming. I sure don't want to be left behind!
You can read some of the reviews here.

1. Red Sun Blue Earth

You might be surprised that this is number one, but, well, it is. You might think it is because it's written by my friend's sister. That's not the reason. The reason is this: Red Sun Blue Earth was written after the tsunami hit Japan in 2011. The main character is at school when it hits, but her mom and sister were at the house, so she doesn't know if they're alive or not. Sayaka is on the search for her mom and sister, but also learns to love and inspire others along the way. She goes through hard times, but still tries to be happy. It's a really good book. Very influential on me. =) (but it is a YA book, so 11 or 12+) You can read my review here.

Now. I tag...

• Mary
• Bekah
• Britt
• Ryebrynn
• Wild Horse
• Journey

That's all =) But if you are reading this and want to do it, feel most welcome! =) (And BTW, this is our 100th post! =D)

Abrielle Lindsay

Blog-irthday

One year ago Adelaide, Amanda, and I started this blog. :D
We haven't been the best bloggers ever, but I'm really trying hard to get as many reviews up as I can. But, i don't read as much or as fast as I did a year ago due to my little obsession with writing. :)

Anyway, our blog is one year old! :D We hope you enjoy our posts. :) Even if they're pretty seldom. :)

Abrielle Lindsay for all three :)

Shadow Spinner

I realize that i never did this review. :P I meant to, honest. It has been on of the greatest books I've read for school. I loved it!! :D

Almost 1,000 nights of stories, but she's running out... can a crippled girl help?

Title: Shadow Spinner

Stars: 5

Age Level: 10+

Violence: Um. Eh, the whole point is that one woman is saving the lives of tons of others since the sultan is marrying a woman at night and then killing her in the morning. It's pretty violent. :P

What I thought about the Book:

I was very surprised at how good the Shadow Spinner was. I expected a "so-so" kind of book, an ok book--but I was wrong. 

Marjan's story is enchanting and I loved to read about her escapes out of the harem to visit the "old blind storyteller". *sigh*

I loved Susan Fletcher's voice, description, characters, everything. The story felt real and alive. Fletcher does a perfect job describing certain items, ways that I could never think of. It's amazing.

Shadow Spinner was an amazing book that I was very surprised by. I picked up it to read for school, and loved Marjan from the first page.

About the Author:

Susan Fletcher is the author of a popular trilogy that includes the books Dragon's Milk, Flight of the Dragon Kyn, and Sign of the Dove, as well as of several other novels for young readers.

With a medieval setting inspired by pictures of the Welsh countryside from where Fletcher traces her roots, the dragon trilogy features Fletcher's imaginative, dragon-centered plots, which have won praise from reviewers and readers alike. Calling 1993's Flight of the Dragon Kyn "a joy to read," Booklist contributor Deborah Abbott added: "Fletcher pens some of the best yarns around."

Born in Pasadena, California, in 1951, Fletcher and her family moved to Ohio when she was seven years old. She had dreamed of being a writer ever since she entered the third grade. "Back then my name was Susan Clemens," she once explained. "One day my teacher told us about a famous author named Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, whose daughter's name was Susan. It was fate, I thought. I decided not to become the daughter of a famous author (which is impossible to arrange), but to become a famous author myself (which is difficult enough)."

*Finish reading her bio at GoodReads*

This is a great book! :) And a total must read!! Seriously. I was so surprised at how much I loved this work of art!! :D

Abrielle Lindsay

How I Started Writing by Monica

I am very pleased to have Monica Cole with me today! :) Welcome Monica!! :D

Hi! I’m Monica Cole. I’m a 15 year old homeschool student and blogger from Bellingham, WA. I have been blogging at readingwritinghighschool.blogspot.com for a year, and I blog about books, writing, homeschooling, and more. I have completed NaNoWriMo (a challenge to write a novel in a month) three times, and plan on doing it many, many more. I edit nonfiction books about tracking and more for money, and I love it. My dreams for the future are to be either a librarian or an editor.

How did I start writing? I think that many writers probably can’t name a particular day when they started writing, or when they decided to be a writer, and I am part of that group. Since I was very little, I have loved books and reading, and I think a love of writing came quite naturally from that. I remember writing stories that were a few paragraphs long in kindergarten and 1st grade, but when I was seven years old, my writing career began for real.

It all started one day when I read the book, The Landry News by Andrew Clements. That very day, I decided to start a newspaper. Now, I’m sure lots of kids decide to start a newspaper for their family at some point when they are young, but for some reason, I went a little bigger with my project. I enlisted my mom for help, and then I sent letters to all my aunts and uncles, grandparents, and some close family friends, asking them to subscribe for $10 a year. Many of them did, and in January 2006 the very first edition of the Classical Academy News was sent out. Each copy was two double sided pages, and included a some short pieces about what I was doing in school at the time, a summary of what our family did for Christmas that year, a book review, a recipe, and a short puzzle on the back page.

It was more popular that I had expected, and for the next four years I continued publishing it every month. In the beginning I relied a lot on my mom for help, and her patience with me was truly amazing. :) As time went on, things shifted a little, and I did more and more of the actual work. The newsletter, as it came to be known in our family, was always two double sided pages. Each edition always included a piece or two about what I was studying in school at the time, a recipe, a puzzle, a poll for readers to answer, a book review, and after a while, a feature I called “This Month in History,” which is exactly what it sounds like.

In late 2010, after four years in print, the Classical Academy News was retired. I was now 12, and I was going through a really crazy time in my life. I just didn't have time any more. I didn't do that much writing for about a year, until in September 2011 a friend told me about NaNoWriMo, which is an event that happens every year where you try to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. I went for it that year, and I finished with 50,003 words. The following year, I did it again, ending a day early this time.

In February 2013 I started up my blog. I had had blogs before, but none of them had stuck. This time, though, I was determined that I would stick with it, and I did. I knew from the start that it would be a book blog, and book reviews are still my main type of post. I also post a lot about writing.

Over the past eight years since I first really started writing, I have done a lot of it. I wrote a newsletter, I’ve written hundreds of blog posts, I’ve written three novels, and I’ve written dozens of essays and papers for school. What I’ve realized in that time is that writing isn’t a thing you just do. It’s a thing you work at and refine for years. Now that I’ve written three novels, I can tell you that I don’t really see myself as an author, though I definitely plan on doing NaNoWriMo many more times. I like writing nonfiction and opinion pieces (like blog posts), and I have grown to love language and the written word. I see myself putting all these experiences to good use, maybe as a journalist, or an editor.

I think that when it comes to writing, the journey is far, far more important than the destination. Whatever your destination: a published book, a job as an editor, a successful blog, a completed novel, don’t lose yourself heading towards it. The  journey towards that goal may make you realize that you didn’t even yet know your true destination when you began.

Find her Here::

Reading, Writing, and Graduating Highschool (Someday)

Thanks for coming over, Monica! I loved your posts! :D

TW Wright