Wanted to knit a pair of leg warmers for the fall season? You've come to the right place. This very easy leg warmer that uses the 2×2 rib stitch is perfect for those who are new to knitting or a great palate cleanser for experienced knitters. This leg warmer is stretchy, reversible and perfect for keeping your legs cosy on cold days. It's knitted in the round. Scroll down for a free pattern of these snuggly leg warmers or you can check out my YouTube channel with a video tutorial on how to knit one. Watch the step-by-step video tutorial! 2×2 Ribbed Leg Warmers The yarn used to make this pair of leg warmers is the Abbey Road Wool to be Wild yarn in Pink Mix. Materials 1 skein of bulky-weight yarn approximately 125m/ 100g A pair of 5.5mm circular needles with a 22cm cord Scissors Tapestry needle 1 stitch marker Measuring tape Size Guide + Finished Measurements Pattern is written for sizes XS (S, M/ L) XL/ 2XL. Disclaimer: Not all sizes for this pattern have been tested. Sample was made in size XS. Techniques used long-tail cast-on (knitwise and purlwise) knitting in the round Abbreviations BOR Beginning-of-round marker K Knit (E.g. "K1" = knit 1 stitch) P Purl (E.g. "P2" = purl 2 stitches) rep Repeat 2x2 Ribbed Leg Warmers Cast on 41 (45, 49) 53 stitches using the long-tail cast-on method, alternating between casting on two stitches knitwise then two stitches purlwise. To join in the round, slip the first stitch on the left needle onto the right needle purlwise. Knit the two stitches on the right needle together. You will have 40 (44, 48) 52 stitches remaining on your needle. Place BOR marker. You will slip this marker when you come to it. Row 1: *K2, P2 rep from * until end. Rep Row 1 until you've reached the desired length for your leg warmer. Cast off your stitches. To cast off, knit the first two stitches. Knit the two stitches on your right needle together. Purl the next stitch on your left needle. Purl the two stitches on your right needle together. Rep until one stitch left on your needle. Cut a 5cm tail of yarn. Wrap the tail around the needle and bring the stitch over the yarn, pulling the tail through. Rep for a second leg warmer. Weave in the loose ends. Your leg warmers are complete! Please share your finished works on Instagram and tag me @daylightsbynurin. I’d love to see and share your posts. This pattern is for personal use only. Please do not sell finished items made using this pattern, however you may gift the final product. Thank you.

Delicates, the second novel in the Sheets duology, tackles issues that may require a more delicate approach than it's predecessor. Delicates is the second novel in the Sheets trilogy by Brenna Thummler. You can read my review of Sheets here. About Delicates Marjorie Glatt, a fresh eighth-grader, has been accepted into the clique with the popular kids. Fearing that her new friends will find her weird for having a ghost friend, she keeps her friendship with Wendell a secret from the rest of the world. With Marjorie’s insistence on keeping Wendell locked inside the laundromat, Wendell feels more invisible now more than ever. Eliza Duncan feels invisible too. She’s an avid photographer, but her obsession with finding and photographing ghosts gets her outcast from the other kids in school. Marjorie is caught in the middle. She must come to terms with the price she has to pay to be accepted by the popular kids, and if that’s worth losing her only true friend. Delicates Review Unlike Sheets, Delicates is told from two different points of view—Marjorie’s and Eliza’s. Contrary to the first book, the characters in Delicate were unlikeable. I found the protagonist, Marjorie, to lack compassion, something that was her main trait in Sheets and what made me adore her in the first place. The other characters, Tessi and Colton, were supposed to be the antagonists of the story but they felt underdeveloped and two-dimensional. They were spoiled kids who picked on the “less popular” students, a trope which I found cliché. On the other hand, the author wanted me to feel bad for Eliza who was being bullied but all I felt for her was irritation. She interrupted people’s conversations, was pushy when she tried to make friends, and invaded people’s privacy by taking photos of them in their homes. There were fewer anecdotes about the ghosts in Delicates compared to Sheets, which is definitely a bummer since those were the chapters that I especially enjoyed. Also, something that I surprisingly missed were the laundry scenes. There were not as many scenes of the laundromat as Marjorie was in school or hanging out with her friends. The author tried to tackle an important subject in Delicates but I felt that it was not done efficiently, as I had not noticed what was supposed to happen until the very end. It felt like a haphazard afterthought that was added to the book. However, there was a bigger emphasis placed on the grief that Marjorie goes through after losing her mother. It was reassuring to see her find closure in her mother’s death and make her peace together with her other family members. Seeing the Glatts united was a refreshing sight, especially when they could not get along with each other in Sheets. Delicates Recommendation ★★★☆☆ (3/5) This is a quick graphic novel to get through and I loved seeing the wonderful drawings. However, storyline-wise I did not enjoy it as much as its predecessor. If you love photography, ghosts or paranormal activity, Delicates would be a fun read for you. Delicates is the second book in the Sheets trilogy so I’d highly recommend reading that first before going into this one. About the Author Brenna Thummler has always known her life is haunted. Much like Marjorie Glatt, she grew up in a small Pennsylvania town, where piano practice and ghost stories were part of her daily routine. It wasn't until she attended Ringling College of Art and Design, however, that she realised her passion for storytelling (as well as her hatred for laundry). Now back in her hometown, she spends her days drawing, writing, and suspicious of her sheets.

In this innocent and inspiring tale, a young girl gets her laundromat turned upside down by a lost ghost, causing an unlikely friendship to form. About Sheets Marjorie Glatt feels like a ghost. The 13-year-old has a lot on her shoulders—her family’s laundromat business, unforgiving customers, school, and Mr. Saubertruck who is determined to destroy everything she’s worked for. Wendell is a ghost. The, then 11-year-old, lost his life too young and now he has to navigate this new world, the Land of Ghosts. There are rules and regulations he’s unfamiliar with and it’s all too tough on the little ghost. When Marjorie and Wendell’s life collides, it all changes for better… and for worse. Marjorie’s laundromat runs havoc with her clothes messed up and stained, as Wendell has happily turned it into his midnight playground. Appearing as merely a white sheet during the day, Marjorie is in for a surprise when she finds out her work is being sabotaged by a young ghost. But unbeknownst to Marjorie, this relationship will have its unforeseen benefits as well. Sheets Review The first thing that caught my attention was the style of illustration. Obviously, the cover design enticed me to pick this book up. And the illustrations are so adorable. I wish I could adopt a ghost so that we can be best friends. They are seriously the cutest little things. That being said, the colours of this graphic novel were my absolute favourite. I would live in this world of cotton candy skies and 2019 Tumblr outfits forever if I could. The different colour tones made it easy to differentiate which part of the story I was in—be it in the past or present, or if we were in the ghost world. The different world-building was also interesting to read about. I love exploring the Land of Ghosts because they had unconventional laws that were intriguing, compared to the Land of Humans. Sheets was written from two points of view—Marjorie’s, the main human protagonist, and Wendell’s, the main ghost protagonist. It was largely focussed on Marjorie though. From having to deal with the loss of her mother, singlehandedly financially supporting her family and dealing with loneliness, Sheets sheds light on the hardships that Marjorie had to go through. Despite everything, I admired Marjorie for staying compassionate throughout. She’s a courageous girl who has endured so much. The writing was easy-going and conversational, making me feel like I was a part of their story. The layout of the panels was smooth and straightforward to follow. I revelled in the wide-shot illustrations that gave me a break from the mini comic strips. It was fun to admire the small details that went into the bigger drawings. The text is clearly differentiated from the illustrations through conversation bubbles and pop-up text, making it easy on the eyes. Sheets Recommendation ★★★★☆ (4/5) Sheets was a great palate cleanser and I adored the simplicity of this story, while still being able to learn an important lesson or two. This book is perfect for young adults, or adults who are procrastinating doing the laundry. About the Author Brenna Thummler has always known her life is haunted. Much like Marjorie Glatt, she grew up in a small Pennsylvania town, where piano practice and ghost stories were part of her daily routine. It wasn't until she attended Ringling College of Art and Design, however, that she realised her passion for storytelling (as well as her hatred for laundry). Now back in her hometown, she spends her days drawing, writing, and suspicious of her sheets.

The Deal of a Lifetime shares how precious life is and how quickly that can change in an instant. About The Deal of a Lifetime A father and son are finally seeing each other eye to eye, after years of arguments. He wants to tell his son a story before it’s too late. He tells him of a young, brave girl who’s lying in a hospital bed and knows that drawing with crayons won’t make the cancer go away but as it makes the adults happy, she continues to do it. When the father witnesses a woman with a clipboard go into the little girl’s room, he gets the chance to do something remarkable for her. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must find out what his own life has actually been worth, and only his son can reveal that answer. The Deal of a Lifetime Review I adored the premise of The Deal of a Lifetime. The story encapsulates how precious life is and how quickly that can change in an instant. The illustrations laced between each chapters was a nice addition. One thing I adore about Backman’s books is the creation of his characters and unfortunately in short stories, there are not a lot of pages for me to get to know them. I found the father in The Deal of a Lifetime slightly underdeveloped. There was a lot of talk about how he was not a good parent to his son, but the author did not show how he wasn’t a good parent. It was difficult for me to believe what the narrator was trying to prove to me when there wasn’t enough evidence to back up his claim. There also wasn’t much information given about the little girl suffering from cancer, which is crucial for the reader to understand and empathise with the father’s decisions later on in the book. Backman’s writing is usually phenomenal but this one lacked it for me. The emotions I usually get from his other books could not be found here. In fact, I found the author’s note to be more emotional than the story itself. Maybe all people have that feeling deep down, that your hometown is something you can never really escape, but can never really go home to, either. Because it's not home anymore. As a Backman fan, this one was slightly disappointing but I adored the little insights into Backman’s personal life, such as the places he’s been to and grew up in, squeezed in there. The Deal of a Lifetime Recommendation ★★★☆☆ (3/5) If you’re short on time, this book is ideal for you. It’s a short 65-page book that only took me 50 minutes to complete. About Fredrik Backman Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, and a novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. His books are published in more than forty countries. He lives in Stockholm with his wife and two children.

Three novella-length tales packed into one horror-filled book, Into the Pit is a book that will keep you up at night. I recently watched the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie starring Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Lail, and I adored it. The characters won over my heart and I wanted to delve deeper into the Freddy Fazbear world. Five Nights at Freddy's trailer by Universal Pictures. When I found out there were books written as part of the Five Nights at Freddy’s universe, I was determined to get my hands on them. About Into the Pit Into the Pit is the first instalment in the Five Nights at Freddy’s book series. However, the books act as a standalone as the stories do not continue from one book to the next. The idea of Five Nights at Freddy’s was created by Scott Cawthon and the book was written by Elley Cooper. Into the Pit follows three 14-year-olds, Oswald, Sarah and Millie, as they go through the struggles of being a teenager. Oswald doesn’t have any friends, Sarah isn’t pretty enough and Millie wishes she could just disappear from this world. With the help of their robotic friends from Five Nights at Freddy’s, these three get their wishes granted, but at a terrifying cost. Into the Pit Review Even though Into the Pit is part of the Five Nights at Freddy’s universe, you can easily understand the stories without needing to get any prior information or context about the series. Everything is laid out fresh for the reader. As someone who gets scared easily, I appreciate that the horror in this book was on the tamer side. There was not an overwhelming amount of horror laced into every page, and the suspense builds up smoothly so I can anticipate when the scares were likely to come. The book was written for young adults, aged between 13 and 17, and I find the writing style to be extremely digestible for this age range. The stories also move at a fast pace which makes me feel like I’m flying through the book quickly. The protagonists in the stories were unlikeable—the only exception was probably Oswald, who lost his only friend who had moved away. Sarah kept obsessing about her looks—how she wasn’t pretty enough, how she wasn’t skinny enough, how she wasn’t popular enough. It was exhausting to read about and I really do not need to be reminded about how much she hates her body in every other sentence. Millie enjoyed all things dark—wearing black clothes, Victorian mourning jewellery, and reading poems about death. These two girls were insufferable and treated the people around them horribly. That being said, I did enjoy Sarah’s story the most out of the three. That was the most intriguing. Into the Pit Recommendation ★★★☆☆ (3/5) If you’re a teenager who’s a fan of horror stories, this book would definitely be up your alley. As the age range of this book is for young adults, teens would be able to relate perfectly with the characters from this book. I think if you enjoyed the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie like I did, this would be a nice addition to complement the film. As the plot only revolves around the animatronic animals, you get a bigger glimpse into the Five Nights at Freddy’s realm while still having the freedom of each media being standalone. About the Creators Scott Cawthon Scott Cawthon is the author of the bestselling video game series Five Nights at Freddy’s, and while he is a game designer by trade, he is first and foremost a storyteller at heart. He is a graduate of The Art Institute of Houston and lives in Texas with his wife and four sons. Elley Cooper Elley Cooper writes fiction for young adults and adults. She has always loved horror and is grateful to Scott Cawthon for letting her spend time in his dark and twisted universe. Cooper lives in Tennessee with her family and many spoiled pets and can often be found writing books with Kevin Anderson & Associates.

How far would you go to survive? Unsurprisingly, Coriolanus Snow would do everything it takes in the Hunger Games prequel, the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. When I first found out the iconic Hunger Games series was getting a fourth book literally 10 years later, I was beyond thrilled. The book that sparked my interest in reading again was going to be rebirthed into a new form! But when I realised that the plot was about Snow, I was slightly taken aback. Usually, in the villain’s perspective, the author would sympathise with the antagonist—blaming their traumatic past as a result of their current actions. I was not looking forward to seeing Snow's redemption arc after all he’s done. About The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes It’s 65 years in the past. The 10th annual Hunger Games has a special addition to the competition—the best of the Capitol students are assigned a tribute from the reaping to mentor as part of their final year assignment. The new “alliance” formed between Capitol and District was meant to push the citizens into watching the games. As the Snow household has recently crumbled, Coriolanus is putting in his all to restore his family’s name and honour. However, the odds are not in his favour. When he is paired up with the worst tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, the girl from District 12, his hopes of glory diminish. Coriolanus has to weigh his decisions, as every choice he makes could make or break his future. It will be a fight to the death in the arena but he has to survive, no matter what. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Review The premise of the novel is interesting, and a nice fan service to the original trilogy. It was a nice surprise to see the lyrics of The Hanging Tree again, although it was slightly different to Katniss’s version. Speaking of Katniss, the novel also explains Snow's hatred for Katniss since the beginning. Besides Snow, we also got more insight into the creation of the Games and how it was in the early days. The elephant in the room: Coriolanus Snow. While the book doesn’t provide any redemption for Snow (thankfully), it does help us understand him and his actions better. Coriolanus is brutal and he would do everything in his power for his own benefit, and this book proved that. I do find it interesting to see his “villain origin story” unfold, even though it wasn’t much of an origin since he was always like that. On the other hand, it felt as though Snow wasn’t a main character in his own book. He was going through the motions of the story, without much thought of his own. Knowing of his manipulative and cunning behaviour, you’d think he would play a more active role in his own story. It was difficult for me to connect with him, not just because of his personality, but because his character felt so distant from the story. The romance is so icky... The way the romance is portrayed between Lucy Gray and Coriolanus gave me a weird feeling. Coriolanus views Lucy Gray as nothing but a trophy and to see her affection being manipulated by someone she cares about did not feel right. I'm not sure if forcing another star-crossed lover trope to draw parallels between them and Katniss and Peeta was a good idea... Slow burn but the only thing I wanted to burn was this book. The story is so slow: We’re talking about the speed of a snail. Then suddenly at the end, the snail miraculously transforms into Turbo. What a shocker it was for me to endure. While I did appreciate the quick end (the book is already 517 pages long), it would have been nice if the pacing of the book was a bit more uniform throughout. That being said, I enjoyed the slower bits more than I did the faster ones. It gave more depth into the story which I found more enjoyable than the bits we sped through. My Recommendation ★★★☆☆ (3/5) There were so many things that could’ve been improved with the book but overall I thought it was an okay addition to the series. If you enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy, this would be a nice inclusion to your read to tie up the series together. For fans of the dystopian genre, you’ll be in better hands in the Hunger Games trilogy than you'll be in here. Movie adaption of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, released by Lionsgate, will be out in cinemas on November 17th. I am so excited for the movie adaptation of the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The Hunger Games movies were so splendidly done, and knowing that the same person who directed the Catching Fire and Mockingjay movies is back for this adaptation is a confirmation that the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie will be a banger. In the meantime, hold on a little longer because you don't need to read this book beforehand. You wouldn't be able to finish it in time for the movie anyway considering how draggy and long it was. About Suzanne Collins Suzanne Collins is the author of the best-selling Underland Chronicles series, which started with Gregor the Overlander. Her groundbreaking young adult novels, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, were New York Times bestsellers, received wide praise, and were the basis for four popular films. She returned to the world of Panem with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Year of the Jungle, her picture book based on the year her father was deployed in Vietnam, was published in 2013 to great critical acclaim. To date, her books have been published in 53 languages around the world.

Join Katniss Everdeen on her battle as she unites the districts in the ultimate end to the Hunger Games series, and the rule of the Capitol. Mockingjay is the third instalment in The Hunger Games series and the last book that follows Girl on Fire, Katniss Everdeen. You can catch up on my reviews on The Hunger Games and Catching Fire as this review will contain spoilers from the previous two books. About Mockingjay Katniss Everdeen has done the impossible. She's survived not one, but two Hunger Games. Rescued from the Quarter Quell, Panem is at the cusp of a rebellion by District 13, a district once thought to be gone but has been thriving underground for decades. Everyone around her seems to have played a part in the rise of the rebellion, yet Katniss doesn't have a clue. Katniss, unknowingly becoming the face of the rebellion, makes or breaks their plan. Katniss must put aside her feelings of distrust towards everyone who had a role in the rise of the rebellion, be willing to become their pawn and take responsibility for the loss of lives so that they can change the course of the future of Panem. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay, no matter the personal cost. Mockingjay Review Once again, Collins's writing skills are not to be undermined. Her portrayal of Katniss's pain, trauma and grief was realistic and simply understood by someone who has not gone through such hardship. While there are still the same few characters that I've grown to adore over the past two books, they're slightly different in Mockingjay. Without spoiling too much, I found some of them slightly unlikeable at parts of the story where their fear took over any reasonable thinking. That being said, to see them grow throughout the book is a wonderful sight. The payoff for their dramatic outbursts and slight annoyance is worth it in the end. There are a few significant deaths in Mockingjay that don't go unnoticed. However, their deaths were underplayed, rushed and felt anti-climatic. There wasn't time for the pain to settle in before Katniss immediately went on to doing something else. It felt like these characters had to die, just for a big jaw-dropping moment that kind of fell flat in the end. The love triangle is not so much of a triangle. To be frank, when I first read this trilogy about ten years ago, I was unabashedly Team Gale. There wasn't a single bone in my body that rooted for Peeta. Gale's strong, reliable, resourceful and understands Katniss in and out. Compared to Gale, what does Peeta have? Frosting cakes? How wrong I was. It's clear to me this time around that there wasn't a competition at all. Maybe in The Hunger Games there was a triangle, but it's so obviously just a line now. I felt that the love triangle might have been dragged on for too long but at the same time, Katniss's love life was mentioned more of an afterthought rather than it being the main plot line so I didn't mind it too much. Panem is kind of boring without the Capitol. As Panem is in the middle of a war, Panem has rid of the year's Hunger Games. With the districts rebelling against the Capitol, there are no children to be sent for the annual Games. Without the modern technology the Capitol and thus the Games provide, there isn't much that we don't already know about Panem. Therefore, I found the world-building to be quite unsatisfactory. And District 13 is too dull and stringent a place for me to be remotely interested in. The Mockingjay might be fast but Mockingjay is slow. Again, without the Games, everything is a little slower-paced. It's basically a waiting game for who's going to surrender first. To be honest, I lost interest about three-quarters of the way through and ditched this book for a few weeks before I forced myself to pick it up again. ★★★☆☆ (3/5) Mockingjay was an interesting end to the Hunger Games series. It does feel ideal and on par with the series so it made sense to end the way it did. However, compared to the first two novels in the instalment, this one was a little more uneventful and slow-moving. If you'd like to read Mockingjay for yourself, you can purchase a copy here. About Suzanne Collins Suzanne Collins is the author of the best-selling Underland Chronicles series, which started with Gregor the Overlander. Her groundbreaking young adult novels, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, were New York Times bestsellers, received wide praise, and were the basis for four popular films. She returned to the world of Panem with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Year of the Jungle, her picture book based on the year her father was deployed in Vietnam, was published in 2013 to great critical acclaim. To date, her books have been published in 53 languages around the world.

The perfect combination of angst, love and all things dystopian, Catching Fire is another fire read by Suzanne Collins. Catching Fire is the second novel in The Hunger Games series. If you haven't read it, you can check out my review of The Hunger Games here! About Catching Fire After surviving the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen has been subjected to a life full of glory. She has all the wealth she'll ever need, her family always has food on the table, and she's finally safe from the Games. Or so she thinks. The nightmares haunt her in her sleep, Gale keeps her at a distance, and Peeta has avoided her. There's talk of a rebellion happening against the Capitol amongst the Districts—a rebellion that Katniss unknowingly sparked. The 75th Hunger Games is a special one as it's also the third Quarter Quell. The theme of the Games? The male and female tributes reaped for the Games will be from the existing pool of Victors. As the odds aren't on Katniss's side, being the only female Victor from District 12, there's no choice for her but to come back to the Games. Catching Fire Review The 75th Hunger Games was action-packed. The layout and premise of the Games is more interesting than the one in the first novel. While The Hunger Games focuses more on the morality of killing fellow tributes for the sake of one's own survival, Catching Fire is made up of intelligent, seasoned killers. They've all won the games before and are basically pros at this. Therefore, the dilemmas faced by the characters are surrounded by the harsh dictatorship of the Capitol, rather than the morality of their actions in the Games. The baker's boy and the "cousin". The romance in Catching Fire is phenomenal. Katniss is caught in a love triangle between her long-time best friend, Gale Hawthorne, and fellow victor, Peeta Mellark who won when they feigned a relationship of being star-crossed lovers in their games. She loves Gale as one loves their best friend but when Gale starts expressing romantic feelings for her, she's unsure how to feel about it. On the other hand, Peeta, the boy who saved her life by loving her, is the kindest soul. Katniss thinks Peeta's act is just for the cameras but after going through such a traumatic event together, Katniss can't help wondering if Peeta is being true about his feelings towards her. "Why don't you get some sleep?" he says. Because I can't handle the nightmares. Not without you, I think. If you ask me, there is very obviously a clear winner in this love triangle... More interesting characters are added to the mix. In The Hunger Games, we didn't get the opportunity to get to know the other tributes from the other Districts. However, since these new tributes are already famous Victors and beloved in the Capitol, there's more depth and information about them. That being said though, it makes it a lot harder to say goodbye to them when you find yourself adoring these fictional people. There's also more bonding between Katniss and the other tributes in the Games, something we rarely saw in the first novel. Someone I loved finding out more about was Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta's mentor, and how he won his Games. Another person I adored is the charming Finnick Odair. He might be the Capitol's sweetheart, but he has my heart. "Better not exert yourself. Not in your condition," he says, and reaches down and pats my abdomen. [...] "Cover me," he says. He disappears with a flawless dive. Imagine blushing at words on paper; That's the Finnick Odair effect. He's so swoon-worthy. World-building perfection. Catching Fire also develops on the world-building developed in the first novel. While The Hunger Games focussed more on District 12 and its inhabitants, Catching Fire delved more into Panem as a whole. There was also more talk about the other districts and the roles they play in the Capitol's success when Katniss and Peeta went on their Victory Tour. You’ll definitely love Catching Fire, if you liked The Hunger Games. For those who have not read The Hunger Games yet, you'll be able to go into Catching Fire without reading the first one since a lot of the jargon is explained again. However, you might miss out on some of the sneaky references and will be spoiled by what happened in the first novel. The cliffhanger at the end of Catching Fire has me at the edge of my seat. I am ecstatic to get started on Mockingjay, the last in the The Hunger Games trilogy before it's prequel. ★★★★★ (5/5) About Suzanne Collins Suzanne Collins is the author of the best-selling Underland Chronicles series, which started with Gregor the Overlander. Her groundbreaking young adult novels, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, were New York Times bestsellers, received wide praise, and were the basis for four popular films. She returned to the world of Panem with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Year of the Jungle, her picture book based on the year her father was deployed in Vietnam, was published in 2013 to great critical acclaim. To date, her books have been published in 53 languages around the world.

The Hunger Games will make you hungry for more. I first read this book when I was thirteen. My English Grammar teacher put aside a few weeks to go through The Hunger Games alongside our syllabus. A lot of my classmates had already read the book or had some idea of what happens in the story. I was the only one there who was hearing of this peculiar story for the first time. I sat there, clueless, really only focusing on the fact that Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and Rue were really odd names to give human babies. However, by the end of those few weeks, I was hooked on the brief synopsis my teacher told us. I had to find out more. I scoured the school library for a copy, which surprisingly wasn’t that difficult, and devoured the book in days. It was the beginning of 2015 so the whole trilogy had already been released. I went through all three books in the span of a few weeks. Lucky for me too, the movies were already released as well. I got through all of them quickly but had to endure a little suffering while I waited for Mockingjay Part 2 to be screened at the end of the year. Watching it in the cinema, I knew the wait was worth it. About The Hunger Games A place once known as North America, it has transformed into what we now know as Panem. Together with twelve broken-down districts lies the heart of Panem, a shining, rich Capitol. The Capitol keeps all the districts together, giving them peace and security in return for what each of the districts can offer them. It’s a cruel scheme, the Capitol benefitting greatly from this deal, while the districts are left to starve. Every year, a barbaric event, called The Hunger Games, brings the people together. Two tributes from each district, a boy and a girl, are surrendered to the Capitol to fight to the death on live television. It’s the people’s reminder that the Capitol is in charge of them all. When Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old, volunteers to take her 12-year-old sister’s place in the Games, she regards it as a death sentence. But she promises her sister that she’ll do her best to survive. The Games change people and soon Katniss finds herself in a dilemma. If she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. The Hunger Games is the first book in the The Hunger Games trilogy. The Hunger Games Review A best-selling novel turned into one of the biggest movies to date, The Hunger Games is a classic. There is no debate that this is one of the best post-apocalyptic dystopian YA novels ever. Even if you’ve never read it or watched the movies, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. The Hunger Games has an original and unique storyline. I have never read another story with such out-of-this-world, realistic world-building. It really felt as though I was a part of the games with the characters. Katniss Everdeen is literally a girl on fire. She’s brave, independent and smart. She powers through the challenges the Capitol, the Games and whatever life can throw at her. She may appear cold to many but she clearly has the purest heart. I'm in awe of her and sympathise with the trauma and pain she went through in the Games. Then the male tribute from District 12, Peeta Mellark. We didn’t get much of him but from the little instances he interacts with Katniss, it's obvious he’s a kind, genuine and sensitive person. He can easily work a crowd and is such a charming boy. I felt Katniss's anguish every time this boy was hurt or in trouble. To be honest, the writing was a little difficult for me to get into at first, but once I got the hang of it by the end of the first chapter, I was hooked. The book is split into three parts: The Tributes, The Games and The Victor. By the second part, I was wolfing the book down like I hadn't eaten in days. ★★★★☆ (4/5) I feel like it goes without saying that you should definitely give this book a read, no matter what age you're at. Unless you're under 12, then maybe I wouldn't recommend this one for you. It's an empowering and inspiring story that everyone can learn something from. About Suzanne Collins Suzanne Collins is the author of the best-selling Underland Chronicles series, which started with Gregor the Overlander. Her groundbreaking young adult novels, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, were New York Times bestsellers, received wide praise, and were the basis for four popular films. She returned to the world of Panem with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Year of the Jungle, her picture book based on the year her father was deployed in Vietnam, was published in 2013 to great critical acclaim. To date, her books have been published in 53 languages around the world.

A tale of locked doors, dancing rats and a magical world, Neil Gaiman takes you on a horrific adventure in Coraline. I'm the biggest fan of the film, Coraline. Like any other kid, I was terrified the first time I watched it. But as time went on and I watched the movie over and over again, I grew to enjoy and love it. At 20 years old, I can proudly say that it is one of my favourite movies. The skill and talent that went into making the film are phenomenal. It blew me away when I found out it was a stop-motion film! I was convinced they were lying until I saw behind-the-scenes footage of all the different Coraline heads with their own unique expressions. I decided to take this love of mine further and read the book. I first read this in 2020 so this is my second time re-reading Coraline. About Coraline Coraline is an 11-year-old explorer. The Joneses have just moved into a new home and Coraline is determined to scout every nook and cranny in her neighbourhood. However, the weather's been wet and dreary and Coraline has no choice but to stay home. She explores her new home instead, counting the windows and all things blue, when she discovers a tiny door. What Coraline finds behind the door is a bricked-up wall but she's going to discover new mysteries that lay behind it. With dancing rats and a magical world, Coraline will go through the adventure of a lifetime. Differences Between The Film And The Book Since I'm a film-to-book reader (in this rare instance), I'll just go through the main differences between the two forms of media to let any movie-watcher know before they are turned off. Wybie (short for Wyborn) is not in the book. Most of his roles are replaced by the cat. All the animals can talk in the other world, not just the cat. The other garden is not built in the book (nor is the garden in the real world, in fact). And there are a few other minor changes such as a mix of sequences of the scenes, but it doesn't make a big difference to the plot. Coraline Review Obviously, I loved the storyline. I also found myself enjoying the characters more in the book. The characters are better explored in the book because I get to understand Coraline’s thought process and motives behind her actions. It really solidified the reasoning behind what she did and closed the story wonderfully. The other characters were just as interesting. The Other Mother had more depth to her character and she was an interesting one to understand and analyse. Neil Gaiman also has written some beautiful words. I was teleported into this world he created. The book was interesting and immersive. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend my time with Coraline as she explored this newfound world of hers. Coraline is a children's horror book. And I felt that the horror was perfectly executed. It created suspense for the reader but it wasn't overly scary for the average 9-year-old reading this. However, I would not recommend reading the copy with the illustrations at night because the drawings gave me goosebumps. They were eerie. Props to Chris Riddell for the source of my nightmares. My Recommendation ★★★★☆ (4/5) I really enjoyed Coraline. The pacing of the book is perfect to keep the little ones engaged, and so mesmerising! This book is perfect for older kids as it demonstrates the importance of bravery and curiosity. And if you're a movie-lover like me, you'll definitely enjoy the written copy of Coraline. About Neil Gaiman Neil Gaiman has written highly acclaimed books for both children and adults and is the first author to have won the Carnegie and Newbery Medals for the same work — The Graveyard Book. Many of his books, including Coraline and Stardust, have been made into films; Neverwhere has been adapted for TV and radio; and American Gods and Good Omens have been adapted into major TV series. He has also written two amazing episodes of Doctor Who and appeared in The Simpsons as himself.

The son of Cupid and a toxic relationship; How bad could it be? About Arrows Karma Clark just can’t leave her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does to her, she can’t seem to stay angry at him for long. She loves him. If people understood love, they’d understand why she stays with Danny. But her situation was caused by Aaryn. Aaryn, the son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny with his arrows. But after shooting Karma, he finds the other arrow to be fake. It’s an utter disaster. But he comes home after his mission, pretending like everything went alright. A year later, Aaryn is given the chance to set things right with Karma and Danny. All he has to do is make him propose to her. But it’s a difficult task to do when he finds himself falling in love with her. Arrows Review This is an important story about physical, emotional and verbal abuse in toxic relationships that I think everyone should read. It puts out a great message that it’s possible for those in such relationships to be able to get out of it. Not only that, but it’s helpful for friends and family to spot the signs in these kinds of relationships. Aaryn and Karma are such loveable characters. Aaryn has the body of a Greek god (duh!) and is such a swoony love interest. His naivety about Earth comes across as charming and he’s such a kind-hearted person, it’s obvious how everyone fell for him. Karma, on the other hand, has gone through so much, I wish I could just give her a hug. While there were times when I wanted to smack some sense into her, her willingness to stay with Danny for so long just proves how intense the effect of the arrow lasts on an individual. And it just further proves how strong she was to break out of her relationship. Plus, I wanted to jump into the book and bring Nell in for a cuddle before I beat her father up. Don't let the Greek mythology aspect scare you away. As someone who's not the biggest fan of Greek mythology in books, this was an interesting take on the subject. The terminology presented in the book is highly digestible, even for those who aren’t into Greek mythology. Every concept is simply explained to the reader, without it being too technical. Furthermore, while it’s one of the main plot points of the book, the scenes that happen on Mount Olympus don’t happen too often. If you loved The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, you’ll enjoy Arrows. Or if you're just looking for the next romance book to read, you should give Arrows a try. ★★★★☆ (4/5) About Melissa Gorzelanczyk Melissa Gorzelanczyk is a writer influenced by her belief in pleasure, creativity, nature, ritual, and self-love. She holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her debut novel, Arrows, was published by Penguin Random House. She lives with her husband near a meadow she adores in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

American singer-songwriter, Madison Beer, shares how having a life in the spotlight from a young age has affected her in her debut memoir. About The Half Of It The Half Of It is a memoir that details American singer-songwriter Madison Beer’s life. Coming into fame at the innocent age of 12, the majority of her life was spent in the spotlight for everyone to criticise. From having her nudes leaked to dealing with substance abuse and suicidal thoughts, Beer writes in her memoir the backstory behind these experiences, showing us the other half of it. She explains how having her life documented online for over a decade has affected her childhood, teenage years and how she has grown from these experiences as a 23-year-old woman. The Half Of It Review Let’s start with the most jarring part of the book which is the journal prompts. While I do understand Beer’s interest in psychology and mental health, these journal prompts felt random and were unnecessary in telling her story. This is a biography, not a journal. If I wanted to talk about my feelings, I would go see a therapist. The Half Of It showed me a different view of Madison Beer. I practically grew up with her. I was there when she announced her third single, Something Sweet, and I adored this girl for a long time to come. Even though I was disheartened to know that the songs that held such a special place in my heart were despised by Beer herself, I’m glad she was brave enough to admit it. When talking about her struggles early on in life, I sympathised with her. That being said, I wished she had gone deeper into the scandals that she’d been through. She talks about opening up and sharing her story but when she talks about the drama, she only discusses it on a surface level. There’s not much that I don’t already know from reading articles on the Internet, especially since I was one of the few who grew up around these events. As Beer mentions in her introductory chapter, I get wanting to have privacy, especially after going through traumatic events on the Internet, but her memoir still feels lacklustre. The Half Of It is highly repetitive. As much as I empathise with her and understand that what she went through took a toll on her, it felt draining reading the same things over and over again. Three-quarters of the memoir is written in a distinctly pessimistic manner that could feel quite exhausting to read if you aren’t in the right headspace. Beer discusses her suicide attempts, drug addiction as well as other sensitive and triggering topics. While the book still ends on a somewhat happy ending, the majority of it was gloomy. For fans of Madison Beer, this memoir will give you some insight into her life but it's nothing that you can't already find on the Internet. And if you haven't heard of Beer, the Half Of It is a good introduction to the singer-songwriter's life. If you decide to read this book, I'd highly recommend listening to the audio book at the same time. It's narrated by Beer herself. ★★★☆☆ (3/5) About Madison Beer After going viral at just 12 years old, Madison Beer publicly navigated the transition from childhood star to global entertainer, undergoing a record-breaking run as an independent artist before signing with Epic Records and releasing her long-awaited debut album, Life Support, in 2021. Known for her vulnerability and authenticity both inside and outside of the music industry, Beer has built her platform on speaking openly about her experiences with being in the public eye at such a young age. Through sharing the highs and lows of her journey, Beer resonates deeply with an audience that looks to her as more of a friend than as an untouchable celebrity. Beer is now the master of her own creative domain, from inception to realisation, including writing and producing her own music to conceptualising and directing her music videos. In addition to her art, Beer also provides her work as a mental health advocate and philanthropist, with hopes of returning to school to study psychology. She currently resides in Los Angeles.