Review #4 - Indigo Blue - !

Indigo Blue is another favourite of mine. Indie loves to daydream, she's an 11-year-old who lives with her mum, little sister Misti, and her mum's boyfriend, Max. Indie's mum and Max fight a lot, but she trys to ignore it. So when her mum suddenly announces one day that they're moving house (and leaving Max behind) Indie is confused. She doesn't know where they are going or why they are in such a hurry. But her mum has a good reason for going away, one that Indie has worked out, but doesn't want to believe.

Their new house is old, without electricity and with little to eat, but the family of three manage to make it a home. Indie's not sure if life will ever go back to normal again. She seems to be taking care of everyone else. And while all this is happening, she's losing her best friend too.

In this book Cathy touches on a few different family and growing up issues, a lot of readers can really relate to her books.

I think that Indigo Blue is different from her other books, but I love everything about it. This story can be sad, but it's also completely heart-warming and hopeful. This book is about dreams too. Indigo has always daydreamed about a perfect life and perfect scenarios. And even thought what they have isn't near perfect, they manage to get through by loving and caring for each other and moving on from the past.

This image is of my notebook when I was writing the review, I started again so many times! I had to keep crossing them out and it was all a mess in the end. Oh the life of being a writer!! Ha.

Bluejay xxx

Neon City!

Oh lackaday! I am re-doing this whole post, because, it really was very BAD. I'm not even going to bother about re-writing all about how I've hardly posted lately. Before I put up any more reviews (which I have written now) I am going to edit this.
So almost two weeks ago I went to the launch of Neon City. Neon City is a new totally sweet pop/rock band of four members; Liam Dalby (vocals), Simon McKenna (guitars,backing vocals. He served me at the music shop when I bought my new guitar last week! How awesome is that?!), Adam Pica (bass), and Travis May (keyboards).
They are a local band at the moment (they come from Albury, which is where I live) but I swear, they have to go international! Or Australia-wide at least, they may already be starting!!!
The launch was held at a bar/bistro/pub and it was there that I saw for the first time what people do for fun; stand around drinking and smoking and 'dancing'(which for most was just side-stepping and bopping to the beat).

And THEN, then Neon City came on stage and it was like a breath of fresh air!!! For me anyway. Oh, these guys were awesome! I'm pretty sure they have to become huge and well-known or I will cry, because these guys are brilliant! I bought their CD, or EP. It's their sample CD. Usually they only have vocals, guitar, bass and keyboard - no drums. That night they did, but when they usually perform at the hotel every Thursday, it's just the four of them. They are great, they are amazing live too!

That image at the top is their album cover, isn't it awesome?! I love it.
So check out their website! Or Facebook page at least, you don't have to have an account to see it.
Click here for the link!

I hope that was an improvement on what I originally wrote!

Bluejay xxx

Review #3 - Driftwood - !

Driftwood is about best friends, Hannah and Joey. It's always been just the two of them. But things start to change when Joey's new foster brother, Paul, arrives.

First, Joey falls for Hannah's brother Kit. Hannah thinks she might be starting to like Paul, but Paul's having troubles in his new home and with being accepted by the other kids at school and Hannah is being pulled into it as well.

Everything in Hannah's life is changing and she doesn't know how it will all work out in the end.

Driftwood deals with a lot of friendship and bullying troubles. Hannah, the main character, has to get used to the change in her life and still manages to be there for Paul in his troubles and doubts. Somehow, this book always links to the ocean and the calm and beauty of it.

I think Driftwood is my least fave Cathy Cassidy book. But it is different because while most of her books are about family problems, Driftwood is one that is really about friendships and life change over time.

Bluejay xxx

Littering is a global problem.

Yesterday, I handed in an assignment for my Religion class, and I wanted to talk about it on my blog. The task was to make an ad about an environmental issue in the world, we had to choose an issue, use verses from the Bible in it to prove our point etc. So I did mine on littering and rubbish dumps around the world. I actually like it, and I spent Thursday night doing it.
Making this video has made me think a lot, although I never used to litter anyway, so I'm proud of that. I guess it's just made me more aware of my day to day actions and how they could add up and one day affect the einvironment. Well, they already are. At school we watched a documentary called 'The Inconvenient Truth'. I think that was great, it talked a lot about global warming and I just learnt a lot about what will happen to the world if we don't do anything about it. We have a lot of power, as humans, we can really do anything. All we were asked to do was treat each other right and take care of the earth and all that lives and grows in it. But really most of us are treating it like crap (don't mind my language). A lot of people don't know the impact they can have. This is our only home!

I hope you like the video =]

Bluejay xxx

REVIEW #3 COMING SOON

Meeting Cathy

I would like to mention the day I met Cathy Cassidy
I love this picture, I think after I met her, I still couldn't believe it, and I must have looked at the picture again and again.
I met Cathy on a Thursday in May, 2009.
The time leading up to that day had been sad, because my family lost a family friend to breast cancer. We'd travelled to Sydney for the funeral.
That Thursday morning I was going to be late for school, so my mum just let me stay at home for the day. What I didn't know was that she had packed my suitcase, packed my Cathy Cassidy books and had them all waiting in the car before she asked me if I wanted to go to Melbourne. We live about 3-4 hours away from Melbourne and my auntie lives there, so it would just be a break for us to go down and spend some time with her. A break from the previous weeks.
During the car drive down, my mum said she had a surprise for me in Melbourne, so I pretty much racked my brain trying to figure out what it could be. Then, it was probably like a light bulb switched on in my head -ding!- and I took a guess.
''Cathy Cassidy! Are we going to see her?! She was going around Australia wasn't she? Wasn't she just in Sydney? ...No, it wouldn't be that, she probably isn't in Melbourne anymore."
Sure enough, that's what we were doing, my mum kept quiet a few more minutes and then she just turned proudly to me, nodded and said,"We are!"
It was in a cafe next to a Dymocks store, and we got there before most of the mad rush of other excited school girls. The cafe was so crammed once everyone came in! I remember Cathy coming into the cafe, and after we'd calmed down she talked to us all and there was time to ask questions before we lined up to get our books signed. I was last in line with my eight books in a pink string bag and cute ribbon wrapped around them.

I love how Cathy took the time to talk to each of us when it was our turn to to meet her and get our books signed, she was so lovely.

Bluejay xxx

REVIEW #3 COMING SOON

Review #2 - Scarlett - !

If you don't believe in wishes... will they still come true?

Scarlett was the fourth book released by Cathy (Dizzy the first), but I really wanted to write about it now.
Out of all of Cathy Cassidy's books, Scarlett, is the most magical to me. Perhaps it's because it is about wishes or because of the setting or the book cover. Whatever it is, that's what I think of when I see Scarlett; magic.
This book is set on the west coast of Ireland in a cottage (in the middle of nowhere according to main character, Scarlett).
Scarlett is an angry, bright girl who basically does whatever she wants to and isn't afraid to be herself. Her attitude and explosive behavior doesn't always help and after being expelled from her fifth school in two years, she is sent to live with her dad in Ireland, who is the last person she'd want to see. Scarlett's infamous spirit doesn't let her down, she still puts up a fight and resists the whole change. Gradually, the peacefulness, beauty and love that surrounds her in her new home calms her down. Of course, the mysterious and gorgeous local boy, Kian, is helping too. Soon, Scarlett learns to love more and feel more and accept her family and herself.

Scarlett is a gorgeous book. When I read this book, I desperately wanted to go to Ireland or at least find a place like the river, where Scarlett spends a lot ot time! When there weren't events taking place in the book, it just relaxed me and introduced me to new things - like making soap!
The whole feeling of the book is one of hope, peace and love.
So, book number two! Check it out as well!

Bluejay xxx

Hmm, is this a diary or blog?

So, the past weekend was quite busy, Saturday was anyway. As I mentioned, I had a JUSTICE CREW and STAN WALKER concert in the morning, and that was absolutely super! Really. Practically half of the people in my year were there (well, not nearly, but wherever I looked there was at least one person I knew). It was quite disastrous before the show though, because well, me being me, I forgot my ticket at home. Gah! It's just as well that we don't live far from the venue, so my ever so kind, frazzled mother personally went home to get it for me. Wow. That was nerve-wracking. Here's a video out of many that I took at the concert, so yeah the quality isn't movie-standard and the screams from the fans sound terrible, but here it is. (Hopefully it works, sorry if it doesn't. =/)

After that energetic, awesomely AWESOME show, I went to another show. (Not quite so fast, the JC show was in the morning and the other show I went to was in the evening.)
This show was You Can't Stop The Beat. That was great too. A selection of rather delightful and entertaining musical numbers from different musicals performed by excited, talented people. It was a local show, and my mum was in it, which was swell, I felt happy for her. And of course I must add that she is an AMAZING singer. And I'll put up a video of her singing in my next post.
(Ah. Joking! She'd freak out. Don't worry Mother! I haven't got a video of you singing anyway!)
Well, that's it really. My next review should be up either tomorrow or the next day.
I'm sorry if this is starting to sound like a diary.

Bluejay =] xxx

Review #1 - Dizzy - !

So, Dizzy is one of my favourite books (all of Cathy Cassidy's books are) and I've read it so many times. Well, I'm going to explain the story in my own way and hope it's alright and doesn't give the story away!
This book is about a girl called Dizzy who's mum left her when she was small. Since she was four, the only contact she's had from her mum has been a letter of gift through the post each year, on her birthday. The year she turns 12, her life changes. Dizzy is taken back to the places of her early childhood and meets people who used to be like family. She finds love and a sense of peace and calm, but not everything turns out right. Dizzy faces problems and soon discovers who the most important people are in her life, the people who really care.

Dizzy is a wonderful book! So good in fact, that most people can read it in a day, because you can't put it down! That's what I love about Cathy's writing, it's always exciting and new and totally real. Every time I read this book, I fall in love with the characters and settings and events that place. I also love how it's set at hippy festivals!

So, you really must read this book, or at least look at the others or Cathy Cassidy's website!

Bluejay xxx

Meet 'Set Fire To The Rain' by Adele.

So, this is my fave song at the moment! I saw it two weeks ago on the Graham Norton Show, it's just one of those songs that I hear for the first time and love instantly. So I decided to link this live version, because she sings it so well, it sounds exactly like the recorded version.
Talk/write/type later.
Goodnight world!!
Goodnight, my lovely friends who are reading this!
Bluejay xxx

My blog journal is filling up fast! I am glad, I feel as though I must be buzzing with ideas and stories to tell to the world!!?!!
Perhaps.
Maybe it's due to the fact that I wrote 22 pages about Tasmania. It does not matter, today I am going to write a bit more about Cathy Cassidy and her books, and about my memories of reading them, yes, yes, yes. I'm pretty sure my next post will be the first review.
So it all started with Dizzy. I first read it when I was in year 3 or 4. It came free with a Total Girl Magazine (which I was obsessed with at the time). I didn't start it but then my mum got me into it. She read me the first chapter and I totally fell in love with it, in that 8 year old crazy bookworm way. The way my mum read it and the way Cathy wrote. It was so different from any other book I'd read. (Now I know I said I read it when I was eight, but seriously, these books are amazing, my mum has read a few of them too)
So my mum and I took turns reading a chapter each to each other. I have two clear memories of reading Dizzy. The first is when we started it, we were sitting in our car in a shopping centre carpark. I must have carried that magazine and book with me for a while, before that day, because I had it with me when my mum told me I should read it. So that's what I remember, me sitting in the back while my mum sat in the passenger seat and read to me.
The second memory was my mum reading again, I think. This time we were at the pool where I used to have swimming lessons, it was a really nice day, bright and sunny. We were sitting in a grass spot next to the pool, reading the book to each other.
Now I don't have memories of reading the other books. But I remember how excited I was when a new book had come out that I hadn't heard about, and my mum would buy it for me and bring it home. =]

Bluejay xxx

Pointless homework on warm winter days

First day of Winter! That doesn't really mean much to me besides that it was a gorgeous day and it doesn't seem like winter is upon us yet, except for the fact that it's getting dark earlier in the evening (I've finally gotten used to that again) and I'm wearing winter uniform at school.
So... with this blog I'm going to be posting at least every second day (that's my aim!), I was hoping to write last night but I've been finishing homework, you know how it is... Well, that's something I'll have to work on, getting the right balance of work and blog time. Of course, school work must be my 'Number One Priority!' and really, I'm only starting to get the hang of doing homework. I've been doing homework for about seven years, so you would hope that I'm used to homework by now. You see, I'm good at procrastinating and I've been doing that for two years when it comes to homework. I still get the work done (in a rush of regret mixed with annoyance) and I'm actually good at most of my work. Ah, so what, the word 'homework' doesn't exactly thrill me, as I'm sure it doesn't for many other kids. I'm getting better at it though.
Well, I feel as though I've completely sidetracked off whatever I was going to talk about. What was that exactly? I'm not too sure, I just wanted to write. And now I've got my blog title....
I do have one more thing I can write about before I finish up, two actually.
ONE: I will do the book reviews, just on a day when I can gather everything and not worry about homework (that ghastly word pops up yet again).

TWO: This weekend I'll be going to a Stan Walker and Justice Crew concert! One of the best parts about going: tickets only cost 15 dollars. Oh yes.

Anyway, that's all. This whole blog has been fun so far, for once I can actually write and not sit for ages wondering what to type next.
Bluejay xxx

It's getting late, time to write!

So, now I'm ready to start. Finally. I've had a blog before, with my mum. It only lasted for three posts, and then we were busy all over again with life! Gosh.
It's still tricky making this blog even though I've made one before. I guess I was hoping to make it look all fancy but really, at the moment it's just about getting started and actually writing.
My blog description pretty much describes -well, obviously =/- what I'm hoping to do with my blog. Just write about interests, things that are happening in the world and in my life. I also want to do some book reviews, because I'm a major bookworm! These days I find that most kids my age have little interest in books or the 'written word!'. I want to change that a bit, hopefully. Or at least write about books that many people might not have heard of.
I've decided that I'm starting with books by Cathy Cassidy. Now, Cathy Cassidy is my absolute favourite author since I read her book Dizzy. Altogether I'll be writing about nine books, all by Cathy Cassidy. Cathy writes so differently to any other author, and anyone can find something to relate to in her books.
Well, I suppose that's all I need to say for now. Wait, no, one more thing! Last Thursday I got back from a six day school trip to Tasmania and I'm probably going to write about that whole trip on my blog. I took my 'blog journal'* with me and wrote everyday about what we did, so that should be another good thing to write about.
*My blog journal is just where I write down things that will go on my blog! I've put my reviews in there so far and I'll just use it to write down blogpost ideas. This post was not written in advance. Anyway, who really cares?! =]

That's it then. Time to go.
Bluejay. xxx