4E1 English Blog

Being Nikki
By Meg Cabot

Being Nikki is the perfect novel for one who loves to read books with a touch of science fiction mixed together with romantic suspense. This novel is about a straight-A student and gaming geek Emerson Watts who has had her brain transplanted into the body of teenage supermodel Nikki Howard. She's supposed to keep limited contact with her biological family and her grades are slipping because she's constantly missing school for fashion shows. And, she figures her life can't get much worse since her crush, Christopher, doesn't know she's alive.

But she's wrong, her life does get worse. Em soon discovers that Nikki has a brother no one knew existed and that their mom has been missing since Em's and Nikki's accident. To top it off, Em discovers she has to wear a diamond bra and panty set in a televised lingerie fashion show. Adding to that, Em also has to cohost a holiday party with her socialite roommate Lulu. Which is when she realises that being Nikki isn't easy.

The plot is intriguing, and it urges the reader to read on to the end. It's a good book for teens, and anyone who loves a romantic science fiction story filled with suspense and couture.






Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
By Jonathan Safran Foer

This book is set shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and focuses on its direct effect on a particular family. It is narrated by a highly intelligent, nine year old boy named Oskar Schell, who loses his father on the 9/11/ terrorist attack. However, despite his intelligence that gives him a better understanding of the different aspects of the world, Oskar still has the emotions, confusion, and exasperation of a typical 9-year old.

Oskar lives with his mother, and his mother now has a new friend, Ron, who offers to buy a set of drums for Oskar.

"Money can't buy me love, obviously, but I asked if it would have Zildjian cymbals. He said, "Whatever you want," and then he took my yo-yo off my desk and started to walk the dog with it. I know he just wanted to be friendly, but it made me incredibly angry. "Yo-yo, moi! I told him, grabbing it back. What I really wanted to tell him was, "You're not my dad, and you never will be." "

Oskar then discovers a key in a vase that belonged to his father and this leads him on a mission all around New York City, in search of his fathers secret, to help him understand his father better, and thereby being closer to him even after death.

I feel this novel was really an eye-opener, uplifting and yet soul searing at different times, and being able to see how an event can greatly impact a family and ones life, really made me look at things in a different perspective. Also, beyond the pain that Oskar and his family felt, there was still hope, inspiring me to have great courage, one like Oskar's.





















The five people you meet in heaven
By Mitch Albom

This book is of a man named Eddie, simple and dignified, feels that he has not accomplished everything in life that he should, works as the head of maintenance at an amusement park. Today is Eddie's birthday, and he goes about his daily routine, he hears the scream of a young girl. He manages to save her life, by paying for it with his.

Eddie then finds himself in heaven, which looked like the amusement park during his childhood days. And there in heaven, he would meet five people, specially appointed for him, and the first of whom he meets, is the Blue Man.

The Blue Man then explains that Heaven is not the Eden, like atmosphere often imagined, but rather, it is a personal journey in which you learn a lesson from each of the five individuals and in turn discover your meaning and purpose in life.

Upon meeting Eddie's last appointed person, he finds his true meaning to life, “Children. You keep them safe. You make good for me. Is where you were supposed to be. Eddie Main-ten-ance.” .

The new concept of heaven - a place where you can gain insight into your life after you have died through people you have loved, encountered, or never met in your life, in this book is truly inspiring. It is a very different concept of which many perceive these days. The lessons each person teach to Eddie are touching, meaningful and it made me reflect upon my own life. This book taught me to see the world and the things I do each day in a very different manner, and also to appreciate people I meet each day; no matter how insignificant they are to me, or how insignificant their job may sound, (E.g Eddie the maintenance man) that actually their jobs each each have their own significance and importance. Also at the same time, it teaches me to treasure the people I have around me, for life is fragile. I highly recommend this book to all readers, despite age and gender.





Double Act
By Jacqueline Wilson

This story is about Ruby and Garnet who are ten-year-old twins and have always been close despite their differences. Ruby is an extrovert and Garnet is an introvert, who is content to let Ruby dominate their relationship. Soon their father gets a new girlfriend and a new job, and their once stable relationship is thrown into turmoil. Ruby and Garnet don't fit into their new lifestyle, and they hardly have any friends. Then, the twins find an article about auditions for a television movie, and hence they both run away to London to audition. Although Garnet isn't keen on the idea, whereas Ruby wanted it badly. However, in the end, only Garnet qualifies. Garnet's decision not to go off without her sister allows the pair to reaffirm their love and connection. This story ends with a happy heart.






For one more day
By Mitch Albom

This book with starts a young sports reporter approaching former baseball player Chick Benetto. Chick's first words are, "Let me guess. You want to know why I tried to kill myself." When Chick tried to commit suicide, he woke up in a world between life and death where he gets to spend one more day with his mother, who died years ago. Chick was supposed to be with his mother the day she died, and he still harbors guilt over the fact that he wasn't. The story moves back and forth between memories of Chick's childhood and events with his mother. Ultimately, this is a story of redemption and making peace with one's past. It is a story of love, mistakes and forgiveness.