1st Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

The Pretty One by Cheryl Klam Delacorte press,

2008 Fiction

The Pretty One is the typical teen girl’s romance book. It is very real. It is about this girl named Megan Fletcher. She is jealous of her sisters’ gorgeous looks and popularity status because unlike her sister she is overweight. The girl goes to the school dance and over hears her sister and a friend talking about her behind her back. She runs out into the street without being carful where she is going and is almost run over by a car. Now she must go through cosmetic surgery. Everything the girl had wished for now comes true- she is being asked out by the hottest guys but she is now upset people don’t like her for who she is. On top of that she and her sister fight over a guy.
The Pretty One is a gripping emotional ride that has budding romance, tension, sibling rivalry, social tensions, and gives a strong feeling of what it’s like to be an outsider, as well as what it’s like to be liked for your looks. The Pretty One is one of those books that you’ll find yourself turning the pages fast to find out what happens next–and not wanting to stop ’til you get to the end. -by Tanita Davis
This book is written in first person. This book is about a young girl to doesn’t really understand what she wants. In this book the reader is put into Megan’s’ body to see how she feels and reacts to everything.
“In the rodent’s defense, it’s hard not to stare at Lucy. Actually, it’s a phenomenon similar to rubbernecking; only in this case people don’t stare at my sister because she looks like a car wreck. Men, women, children, animals, and zygotes (I’m guessing) can’t take their eyes off Lucy because she is absolutely, undeniably perfect. Like airbrushed “men’s interest” magazine kind of perfect.” Pg 1
I have not read any other book by Cheryl Klam but I would definitely consider reading another one. The only other book she has written was Swimming lessons and from the summary off the back of the book I would be interested in reading it. I like romantic novels and that is what she tends to write.

skating to the music

In reality, how can you put value on something? In a world that expects everyone to own shirts that cost hundreds of dollars you wouldn’t think that eighty dollar shoes would be worth anything to me. Surprisingly, they are the only thing that keeps me going. I live to put them on and wander out into the cold air of the rink.
I put my foot in the boot. I tap my boot against the ground with my foot inside. I pull my laces to get the extra out of the way. I do it again except this time I tighten it as tight as I can get it. I repeat this process with my other skate. Before stretching I throw on my coat. Rinks can get as low as forty three degrees so it can get cold. I turn on my mp3 player before I start to stretch. Now I stand against the wall of the rink and put my foot up on it. I hold it there for as long as possible. As soon as I finish, the zamboni finishes. I step out onto what is supposed to be “clean” ice. I don’t think they should schedule hockey right before a public session. I wish there was some other rink nearby that I could go to. This ice is practically not worth skating on it’s so crappy.
I begin to skate around the rink. These are my warm up laps. I feel the wind against my face. After a few minutes I begin to do actual stroking. Then I do my figure eight. Already I am working up a sweat so I take off my coat. Then I begin to do some real interesting moves. As I skate around the rink I feel the eyes of the other sixty people on the rink watch me. I am not the only serious skater on the rink but I am the only one wearing a skating dress. I squeeze past a group of college kids which make up most of the college kids on the rink. I do this so I can get to the open part of the rink to do a spiral. I finish this and two seconds later all the college kids are imitating me or a female fiqure skater. I find this annoying. If they aren’t imitating me they are “speed skating” or bending over with their arms behind their backs.
I do this routine only one a week unfortunately. I strive for two but it doesn’t happen. Without this coming to welcome the weekend I would have no reason to make it through the day.
My mp3 is very important to me as well. I have pictures of my family on it and songs my friends have sung. I don’t think I could survive without it. It is a maroonish color. It has a screen on the left side and a scroll button on the left with a play button in the middle. At the top right corner is a menu button. I have headphone that match. As well as about 3 other pairs.Without it I wouldn’t be able to take my music everywhere I go. Music inspires me. Music keeps me going through the day. I live to skate programs to music. I live to listen to certain songs. I live to dance to certain songs. Without this item I would not be able to enjoy my life. It is also a present from my parents. So that makes it special and close to my heart. I got it for Christmas and I hadn’t asked for one. It shows my parents care enough to keep up with the teen world.

Both my mp3 and my ice skating are very important to me. One has value to me through its rareness while the other is expensive. I couldn't live without either one. Just like some peoples dogs are valuable to them my skating and my mp3 are that valuable to me. Skating is something that is hard to do because you can’t do it in your backyard. You have to go to a rink and not just anyone can afford that. Skating also is just a seasonal sport which means during summer I go through 4 painful months of agony waiting for skating to start up again.