Anti-Bullying Zone Review: "Saved"

I: "Blending In"
II: "Chuckie"

Jeff Erno
Dreamspinner Press, 158 pages
August 12, 2011

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"Saved" Mini Review

"Saved" is the third short story in Jeff Erno's Bullied, and this one centers on interpretation of religion and relating that to homosexuals. The bullying, while it bothered me immensely, wasn't what stood out to me in this story. It was actually the focus on Christianity and how homosexuals are viewed in religion. How tormented followers full of faith must feel when they realize their true sexuality. It's heartbreaking and horrible to imagine how this must tear up the mind. The fact that God might not accept you or love you if you veer off the beaten path.

In "Saved" two boys named Jonathon and Curtis have been longtime best friends, since grade school. Jon hasn't fully realized Curtis's sexuality. Until they hit high school. It was painful to read on as Jon slowly distanced himself from Curtis once he started becoming popular and Curtis was accused of being gay, like it's an insult. Jon abandons his friend (much to my chagrin) and leaves him helpless in the face of his new 'friends' who act as Curtis's tormentors. I honestly felt sick to my stomach, to think of myself doing that to a friend...

And while the bullies wield the bible as a hurtful weapon against Curtis, Curtis is the one who truly portrays what the Bible is all about - love, forgiveness, respect, among other themes. Curtis is quick to forgive and forget, do his best to move on, and treasure his lost friend although Jon treated him so badly. Curtis is a kind of person I can admire, someone who I want desperately to emulate.

While the writing wasn't as appealing in this story, the story itself moved me in a different way than the previous two have. I can appreciate the execution of the message of "Saved."

(Note: I'll be reading a single short story from this book every week and reviewing it for my anti-bullying campaign! If you would like to help in any way, please feel free to fill out this form.)

Jonathon,
I'll always cherish your friendship, and I hope you have the best Christmas ever.
Love
Curtis

Anti-Bullying Zone Review: "Chuckie"

I: "Blending In"

Jeff Erno
Dreamspinner Press, 158 pages
August 12, 2011

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"Chuckie" Mini Review

Chuckie is the second short story in the book Bullied by Jeff Erno, and it is another heartwrenching one, guys. With overlying homophobic bullying is the center of the book overall, this one concentrates much more on the physical violence involved in bullying. Whereas last time, in Blending In, I felt helpless and moved to tears. This time, in Chuckie, I got angry. Really angry and hurt, and I cried frustrated tears until the ending. To find power in one's physical capabilities in overpowering another person is one of the ugliest facets of human nature. Some of these teens are so defenseless against it, and being that they don't open up about it, they get beaten up day after day, and become a big fat target every day.

Chuckie is about a teenage boy who gets tossed around and pummeled every day in the boy's locker room, for being assumed homosexual and weak. His name is actually Charles but the guys intentionally call him Chuckie, a name that he hates. The main one pounding on him, David, is one of the honcho jocks, and he takes pleasure and power out of beating him every day. It isn't until David's girlfriend, a drama star and close friend of Charles, takes a stand and asks him to look after Charles that he stops incessantly ridiculing him and hurting him. He even gets to know him a little bit.

For me, it was very hard to just forgive David, even when he redeems himself in the end by sticking up for Charles. The things that he did to Charles caused so much pain in me, I just... I found it hard to let it go. There's one tear-jerker of a scene that made me hate him until the very end of the book. For someone to take it upon themselves to punish someone with public humiliation is downright atrocious. And I admired Charles for being so brave.

The ending, I'm glad to say, left me satisfied and content. I was happy with the way things turned out for Charles. My heart warmed at the thought of him finally being safe.

(Note: I'll be reading a single short story from this book every week and reviewing it for my anti-bullying campaign! If you would like to help in any way, please feel free to fill out this form.)

...But the song's not a solo; she's singing to the male lead. I'm shocked when he turns to face the audience and begins to sing. Confidently and clearly he delivers his musical lines, and is presence on stage is commanding. I can't believe it's Chuckie.

I feel my mouth drop open, and I shake my head, somewhat bewildered...

He now doesn't seem so wimpy.

Anti-Bullying Zone Review: "Blending In"

Jeff Erno
Dreamspinner Press, 158 pages
August 12, 2011

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"Blending In"

Blending In is one of and the first of the short stories inside Bullied's pages. And it's a story that straight away got the overlying message of the book across. I was horrified by what I witnessed happening to one of the guys in the story, the kind of craptastic and hurtful things they did to that one particular character.

Blending In features Bryan Stevens, a high school junior and an in-the-closet gay male, who works very hard to stay hidden and blend in. He doesn't know what he wants in life and has a secret crush on one of the guys in his class. He can't stand Christian Michaelson, an especially flamboyant gay student, who acts feminine and outrageous and dramatic. As an introverted person, he automatically blames Christian for any of the nasty acts done to him for his extroverted ways. He rationalizes that it's all Christian's fault that he gets bullied...

This story got to me because, when it showed the brutal things being done to poor Christian, I instantly visualized other kids in his place receiving the same torture, such as vandalism, death threats, and verbal as well as physical abuse! Pure hate crimes. I swear I almost cried because I felt helpless. I wanted to physically reach into the book and protect him! Eventually Bryan notices the toll the bullying is taking on Christian and tries his best to reach out.

It was sweet, watching Bryan's immediate growth once he witnesses the terrible things done to the other boy. And it becomes clear that he starts to admire Christian for being nothing but what he is, acting however he feels like, being whoever he wants to be. Having that courage to be different. The ending was adorable and sweet and awe-inducing, leaving me with a heartwarming sensation to take away from this first story in this collection of GBLT-based bully stories within the book.

I'll be reading a single short story from this book every week and reviewing it for my anti-bullying campaign! If you would like to help in any way, please feel free to fill out this form.

...the two cheerleaders alternating as they announce the team. The other cheerleaders are behind them, kicking and applauding, chanting the name of each player who enters the gym. Chris steps forward again, takes a deep breath, and announces, "Number thirty-seven, Troy Cooper!" The crowd goes nuts as Troy dashes out from the locker room.

The cheerleaders are chanting, "Troy! Troy! He's our boy!"

Troy takes center stage, turning to high-five each of his teammates. 

I remember the rock. I remember Chris in the office, and what he said about Troy. I stop clapping as I realize how hard this must be for him. He's up there publicly cheering his tormentor.

Why do I need snow if I'm just gonna melt?

S n o w  i n  L o v e by Claire Ray

Release Date: 1/1/09 (Paperback)

Publisher: Dutton

For: Tween Tuesday hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen!

Pages: 304

Source: Own/got it as a present
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle
Word Blurb: Simple, light, and cute!

Welcome to Alaska!

A special welcome to my boyfriend, Jake, the cutest tourist I've ever met!

Explore our natural beauties and untouched wilderness.

Jake and I like to hike our great (romantic!) nature trails. . . .

Enjoy our perfect skiing and snowboarding conditions.

Be sure to catch Will Parker doing his snowboarding tricks. He makes all the girls in town melt. (Except for me. Who needs Will when you've got Jake?)

Experience our world-class resorts and spas.

While you're there, find out what's up with that hot girl Jake brought to the lodge this year. She's probably just his cousin or something. Right?!

Get ready for a vacation you'll never forget!

Being that it's been ages since I've read this book and I'm too pressed for time to reinvest myself in this story, I'm going to make this talk super brief...

I picked Snow in Love because there's such a young voice behind the narrator that I thought it'd fit well with tweens. It's a story of crushes, first relationships, and cute romance all around. You've got pretty great best friends - Erin and Abby - accompanying Jess, tagging along and helping out. There's Jake, who like most boys at his age, totally sucks. I distinctly remember being incredibly frustrated with Jess for keeping feelings for this Jake, when the oh-so-completely-delectable Will - as Wills of the fictional world tend to be - is standing right in front of her, offering to take her to her school dance!

I was rooting for Cam and Abby to get together since, like, page one! Not kidding. They're that couple that have you rolling your eyes at their shyness and, most times, their stupidity. Leave it to a dumb boy to choose the bitchy Sabrina first, realize his mistakes, and finally realize that a sweet girl like Abby's been in front of him the whole time! But, it was pretty cute when it happened. Trust me, I remember that much. ;)

And that's the whole air surrounding the entire read. It's fun and light, at the same time very sweet and cutely romantic. The writing is simplistic... I'm pretty sure that anyone in that tween range can relate to a read like this one.

Verdict: Had I read this in the present, and considering my current tastes, I'd've liked it, translating to three happy/smiley faces.

Brief Review: Bloody Valentine by Melissa De La Cruz

WARNING: If you haven't read previous books from the BLUE BLOODS series, then you probably shouldn't read this review. Especially since it may contain spoilers!

B l o o d y  V a l e n t i n e by Melissa De La Cruz (Website★Twitter)

Release Date: 12/28/10 (Hardcover)

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 160 
Series: Blue Bloods (#1-5)

Source: Bought (Amazon)
Summary: Goodreads»»
Warning: Those who have not read the Blue Bloods series 1-5 may not want to read this review, because it does contain a few spoilers. 

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"Just Another Night in Suck City"
Summary: Oliver Hazard Perry hasn't been doing so well since his best friend, Schuyler Van Allen, skipped town to fulfill the legacy her grandfather left her with the help of her love, Jack Force. Their vampire-familiar connection not yet severed, Oliver is having a rather hard time moving on. "Might a new witchy girl help cure Oliver's broken heart?"
Review: Once I finished Misguided Angel, I assumed Oliver was going to be alright, that he'd be able to move forward despite having such a strong and deep connection with Schuyler as her familiar. And honestly, I was too busy ogling at Schuyler and Jack, and the latest development in their relationship by the end of book five, that I didn't pay much attention to Oliver. After reading this though, I truly got inside Oli's head, got inside his feelings and the tragedy of his situation, and I started to sympathize with Oliver's character.That's why I was glad that Freya came into the picture. Though their relationship didn't amount to what I had hoped, I still felt content by the end of the story, with the thought that I will refrain from being careless with Oliver in future books.


Melissa writes: Check out Melissa's new, upcoming adult fantasy series Witches of East End releasing in the summer of 2011!

"Hyperion has signed Melissa de la Cruz — whose Blue Bloods vampire books have all been huge YA hits —to a two-book deal for an adult paranormal series. The first, The Witches of East End, will go on sale in May 2011. “It’s about a mother and two daughters who move to town and shake things up,” says de la Cruz. “There’s already a family of warlocks living there who aren’t too happy with their arrival…It’s based on old Norse mythology.” She notes that characters from Blue Bloods will show up in the books — “some in essential roles; others more tangential” and says, of her switch to adult fiction, “I’ve been writing YA books for more than a decade. Many of my fans have grown up. Now I can have more grown-up themes: One character works in a bar; another gets involved with the mayor. There are romantic entanglements that are not so innocent!”" --shelf-life.ew.com»

"Always Something There to Remind Me"
Summary: At last, the untold love story of Allegra Van Allen and Schuyler's human father, Bendix Chase. Blond and gorgeous is Bendix, but more, a love blossoms between these two unlikely characters who are from two entirely different worlds (pardon the cliche). Follow Allegra's story, discover what would make her--Gabrielle, the Uncorrupted--abandon the love of Michael, law and tradition. Just "how did Allegra fall in love with a human?"
Review: I was definitely overly anxious to dive into this story. I've been dying to know all about Allegra, a little bit of her history and feelings, uncover some of the huge mystery, part of which began with Schuyler's human dad. Seeing life through her eyes, I couldn't help but feel empathy toward her. The poor girl's got it rough, her being Gabrielle and all. And that aspect of her life, just how hard it is to be her and live up to those expectations, I don't feel was ever conveyed in the other novels so it was great to finally see a piece of Allegra that I hadn't seen before. My only complaint was that it ended too soon and abruptly. I felt like I was just learning more and then got cut off in the middle, which I guess was the point. If The Reader found out too much, what would be the point of the rest of the series...? *shrugs*


"Ring of Fire"
Summary: Bloody Valentine goes out with a bang, as it closes with an incredible, romantic peak in Schuyler Van Allen and Jack Force's one-of-a-kind, absolutely forbidden love! Before the couple separates: Schuyler to find the remaining gates of Hell; Jack to travel back to New York to face off his unhappy, betrayed twin, Mimi, the two have put together a beautiful ceremony display their cultivated love. "Will Schuyler and Jack finally be bonded?"
Review: This story did it for me. Bracing myself for the worst, I'm not going to lie, I thought that it would all turn out to be a horrible disaster of an event, that something would go wrong. I've been rooting for Jack and Schuyler since the beginning and to finally see them move to something so huge, it quite simply took my breath away. For that small amount of time, I wasn't worried about the problems they were going to have to face in due time. Instead, I was completely focused on this romantic ceremony that truly gave The Reader an inkling as to how much these two love each other, as if they hadn't showed it before. It was so wonderful to journey with two such amazing characters and finally see the lovely end result! I'm so happy for Schuyler and Jack... my only hope is that nothing breaks what they've built up thus far.


Melissa writes: Also, be sure to check out Wolf Pact, a Blue Bloods spinoff series starring one of the protagonists Bliss Llewellyn, which is going to be hitting the shelves April of 2012!

"Wolf Pact will follow the adventures of Bliss Llewellyn, a central character in the Blue Bloods novels, as she goes on a quest to find the legendary Hounds of Hell and convince them to join the Blue Blood vampires in their war against the Silver Bloods. The Wolf Pact series will reinvent the myth of the werewolf in the same way that Blue Bloods breathed new life into the vampire genre." --from Melissa's 'Site

& Heads up! Want a special preview of this highly anticipated kick off the upcoming Blue Bloods spinoff? Go and buy the Keys to the Repository (here) and read a delicious excerpt!


Thanks for reading!

Brief Review: Nightlight by The Harvard Lampoon

Nightlight: A Parody

Author: The Harvard Lampoon (Site)

Release Date: 11/3/09 (Paperback)

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Age Group: Young Adult (13+)

Pages: 154

Source: Public Library (Local)

Go Buy It: Amazon★Barnes&Noble
★BookDepository

Overall Feelings: Fun and comical!

"When I saw [my dad] waiting for me outside the terminal, I walked towards him shyly, tripping over a toddler and soaring into a keychain display. Embarrassed, I straightened up and fell down the escalator, somersaulting over the roller luggage inconsiderately placed on the left side. I get my lack of coordination from my dad, who always used to push me down when I was learning how to walk" (5).

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(Goodreads) Nightlight was a light, entertaining, silly read that had me cracking up by the time I got to page two.

The Harvard Lampoon's Nightlight effectively mocks not only the Twilight series, but vampires in general, in a hilariously appealing way as an excellent parody should. Looking back on the Twilight series, I realized there were several points throughout the series where someone with a good, tolerable sense of humor could easily...make fun of, I guess...maybe more like tease. This book's only function, to me, is to get anyone who reads it laughing. And I did, laugh a lot I mean.

The comical duo of Belle and Edwart was priceless. You see, Belle Goose (that's right, they went there) is this odd, kooky girl who's majorly obsessed with the idea of dating someone supernatural. Cue in Edwart Mullen, the pale, nerdy, computer-whiz who consistently, mysteriously saves her life: once from a deadly flying snowball headed in her direction and next from an old man chasing her down an alley attempting to sell her a Sega video game controller. Very funny, indeed.

I definitely enjoyed reading this particular parody, and will look forward to reading more similar to this one that aim toward the paranormal. If you're looking for a quick laugh and light read, then Nightlight would be a good selection.

Thanks for reading!

Brief Review: The Fledgling Handbook 101

House of Night Series: (#1) Marked★ (#2) Betrayed★ (#3) Chosen★ (#4) Untamed★ (#5) Hunted★ (#6) Tempted★ (#7) Burned

Upcoming: (#8) Awakened 1/4/11; 336 pages

Authors: P.C. Cast☆Kristin Cast

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Thanks Picasa 3 and Youtube.com for helping me put up this video!

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If you've watched the above video, you'll see that the handbook looks pretty neat. It has a lot of great pictures, mostly depicting ancient paintings and artifacts, which aroused my interest while reading. The thing I found the coolest about this first guide into the HoN series was it being written as though you are a student in the House of Night, as if you're a fledgling making the transition to adult vampyre. It talks a lot about what happens, in terms of biology, when you are Marked and are making the Change. It goes onto the rituals performed throughout HoN, their histories, the priestesses who performed them over the centuries. The handbook then proceeds to talk about human connection to vampyre history, the vampyres as a whole, and how the stories and myths humans grow up with aren't actually the entire truth. The story that held the most appeal for me would be "The Tragedy of Pompeii", where the story of Theodora and Antonia is told. The love between Theodora and her warrior; the bond of sisterhood, of twins; the selfish Brutus whose madness cost many; and the unexpected outburst of the "brooding mountain" Vesuvius that consumed "Pompeii and Herculaneum, [where] so many human consorts [died] that it is said that an uncountable number of vampyres lost their lives that day attempting to save their humans from death..." (106), makes for an incredibly woven tragedy story by the remarkable P.C. Cast.

When I was done reading it, I did feel that I gained some, if only small, previously unknown knowledge of the vampyres of the House of Night. I'm glad that I have the Fledgling Handbook 101 in my possession, a new addition to my growing collection of this amazing series.

Thanks for reading!

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By far the best cover in the entire series...

...right?