Review: The Patron Saint of Butterflies

The Patron Saint of Butterflies

Cecilia Galante

Honey and Agnes are two very different girls with one very big thing in common: they both live in Mount Blessing, a religious commune. While Agnes has a family with her and she tries to live a saintly life, Honey is by herself and doesn’t care to be a saint.

When Agnes’ Nana Pete comes for a visit and learns that the girls were punished in what the commune calls the “regulation room,” she decides that she’s going to take her grandchildren away. Her plan is suddenly set into motion when Agnes’s brother hurts his fingers and the commune leaders “perform a miracle” to put them back on. So she takes Agnes, her brother, and Honey back into the real world, and there, all of Honey’s questions about her past are answered.

The Patron Saint of Butterflies was hard for me to get into at first. But as the story went on, it was easier to see why the characters acted the way they did and why the plot moved as it did. It was pretty good, but one of those novels that I don’t think I’ll read again. The Patron Saint of Butterflies is, however, a novel worth looking for.

Contest: Cynsations and The Juliet Club

Hey guys! Now, I'm not breaking the schedule. I just found out about this contest, and it ends before my now-normal time to post contest links. So, here you go!

Cynthia Leitich Smith is giving away a copy of The Juliet Club on her blog, Cynsations. Make sure to tell her what your favorite Shakespear quote is.

If you enter, leave a comment on this post from now until June 16th (which is the day that her contest ends) telling me your favorite Shakespear quote, and you'll get an extra entry to le concours de mystère (with the help of my French book and an online translator, mystery contest).

If the scheduled post thing's working correctly, I'll be taking the ACT again at this time. Cross your fingers for a better score (not like I need a better one, anyways. lol)

Only a week until FBLA Nationals. I'm so nervous. Our school has a tradition that mustn't be broken.

Is anyone else going? Let me know :]

Review: Violet by Design

Violet by Design

Melissa Walker

Violet’s definitely enjoying her break back in her home town in North Carolina. She’s been ignoring all of her agents calls, determined to relax and be with her friends. But when she finally answers Angela’s call, she gets the offer of a lifetime. They want her to go to Brazil. She can see the world.

But in Brazil, Violet gets tangled up in a relationship that ends badly. And instead of wallowing in exercise, she wallows in pints of ice cream. Needless to say, she gains weight, and her agent isn’t very happy about it. When she gets an offer to be in a huge fashion show for one of the top designers, she couldn’t be more amazed. Except for the tiny fact that they want her to lose weight, scarily fast. Can she stay with her morals and be a true role model, or will she give into the time honored tradition of the modeling world?

And then there’s that thing with Roger. The Kiss. What does it mean to her? To him? Does he have any ties to the “I heart Violet Greenfield” that was scrawled on her locker junior year? Will she realize the truth too late?

Once again, Melissa Walker completely dragged me into Violet’s world. I was intrigued when I found out that Melissa brought out the dangerous topic of eating disorders in her novel. Not only was it interesting, but it showed readers that although many people worry about the way they look, it takes amazing courage to have the strength to turn away from those bad habits. On another note, I wanted to scream when the book was over about the tangled web that is the friendship of Roger and Violet. I can only hope to get my hands on the next installment, Violet in Private, as soon as I’m able.

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Okay, so I'm trying out that cool thing to have the posts show up at a later time, so if I posted twice today, I didn't mean to. I meant for it to post Tuesday.

I've got to figure this thing out since I won't be able to update personally with reviews and such between the 23rd and the 30th since I'll be at FBLA Nationals.

AND If someone knows how to put a drop down arrow thingy on my blog so I don't have a huge list of reviews in my TBR list, please tell me how to do it! I'd appreciate greatly!

Airhead on the Story Siren's Blog

The Story Siren is giving away an ARC copy of Airhead by Meg Cabot on her blog. (yes! even though she just had a contest!)

Check out her blog for more information on how to enter her contest.

At FBLA STATE right now. YAY!!! We WILL win! Mwhahahahahahahahahahaha!