Welcome to a Super-sized edition of the “If You Ask Me” Q&A, where our four participants --- Cassidy from Allen, TX; Magnolia from Cairo, NE; Kaylie from Ocean City, NJ; and Caroline from Los Angeles, CA --- hail from all across the country. In their answers below, they discuss a diverse range of books like GEEK CHARMING by Robin Palmer, CRANK by Ellen Hopkins and THE TIPPING POINT by Malcolm Gladwell.
Cassidy from Allen, TX
What is the last book you read? Would you suggest it to a friend? Why or why not?
The last book I read was ALONG FOR THE RIDE by Sarah Dessen --- and of course I would recommend it to a friend. It was great because it featured those moments that were so intense so I couldn’t put it down.
Do you have a favorite quote from a book? If so, what is it?
"Music is the greater unit. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common."
-- JUST LISTEN by Sara Dessen
Tell us about your top three favorite books of all time.
STARGIRL by Jerry Spinelli, JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen and THE DOLL PEOPLE by Ann M. Martin et al.
Tell us about your top three favorite books of all time.
STARGIRL by Jerry Spinelli, JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen and THE DOLL PEOPLE by Ann M. Martin et al.
If you had the opportunity to meet any author (dead or alive), who would you choose to meet, and what three questions would you ask him/her?
I would love to meet Sarah Dessen. I would ask her how she gets her ideas to write, if she goes to any special place tor write and how she manages to write 300 page books.
I would love to meet Sarah Dessen. I would ask her how she gets her ideas to write, if she goes to any special place tor write and how she manages to write 300 page books.
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Magnolia from Cairo, NE
If you could trade places with any character from a book for a day, who would you be and why?
I would be Piglet from WINNIE THE POOH by A.A. Milne. I know it sounds really childish, but I've always wondered what it would be like to live in the Hundred Acre Wood.
What is the last book you read? Would you suggest it to a friend? Why or why not?
GEEK CHARMING by Robin Palmer. Yes! It was a fabulous book. Drama, love and accidental betrayal! It was fabulous (as earlier stated)!
Name three characters from a book that you'd like to invite to your birthday party.
I’d invite Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series, Josh from GEEK CHARMING by Robin Palmer and Junie B. Jones from the Junie B. Jones series (I’m a big fan of her!).
Do you have a favorite quote from a book? If so, what is it?
Oh yeah! I have a ton. My favorite though would have to be:
"Maybe I looked ridiculous ordering a quart of frozen yogurt with raspberries and coconut while wearing a black mini-dress with fake leopard fur cuffs and black patent-leather stiletto heels, especially since it was pouring rain, but I like to think of myself as an example for all the other girls who didn’t have dates that night. Even if we didn’t have dates, or weren’t invited out, that didn’t mean we needed to stay home all night in yoga pants and stained sweatshirts feeling sorry for ourselves..."
Tell us about your top three favorite books of all time.
Oh jeez. I only have to pick only three? The Harry Potter series is up there in my list. I fell in love with the series after my X-BFF recommended it. THE SCHOOL FOR DANGEROUS GIRLS by Eliot Schrefer is a good one too. I loved that book. It was suspenseful and exciting! And let’s just go with the Junie B. Jones series. I loved her books when I was little and I own at least one of every book in her series.
If you had the opportunity to meet any author (dead or alive), who would you choose to meet, and what three questions would you ask him/her?
I would choose Barbara Park. She is the author who inspired me to read all the books I could and to write! I plan to become an author or a screenwriter.
What movies have you seen that were based on books? Did you like the book or film version better? Why?
I love the book versions of the Harry Potter series better because they enable you to catch a glimpse into their thoughts. I like to know what they’re thinking.
Tell us about your favorite book series.
Oh jeez, again. I have to choose just one? I would pick the Junie B. Jones series again for sure. I just love her spunky attitude and the way Barbara Park brought her to life! She was so real to me, almost like my best friend. (I got to meet Barbara Park when I was seven. I complimented her on her "excellent, wonderful and fabulous writing talent. I love Junie B.! My daddy reads a chapter of her before I go to sleep every night because I love her so much!" My mom got it all on tape!
Tell us about your top three favorite books of all time.
Oh jeez. I only have to pick only three? The Harry Potter series is up there in my list. I fell in love with the series after my X-BFF recommended it. THE SCHOOL FOR DANGEROUS GIRLS by Eliot Schrefer is a good one too. I loved that book. It was suspenseful and exciting! And let’s just go with the Junie B. Jones series. I loved her books when I was little and I own at least one of every book in her series.
If you had the opportunity to meet any author (dead or alive), who would you choose to meet, and what three questions would you ask him/her?
I would choose Barbara Park. She is the author who inspired me to read all the books I could and to write! I plan to become an author or a screenwriter.
What movies have you seen that were based on books? Did you like the book or film version better? Why?
I love the book versions of the Harry Potter series better because they enable you to catch a glimpse into their thoughts. I like to know what they’re thinking.
Tell us about your favorite book series.
Oh jeez, again. I have to choose just one? I would pick the Junie B. Jones series again for sure. I just love her spunky attitude and the way Barbara Park brought her to life! She was so real to me, almost like my best friend. (I got to meet Barbara Park when I was seven. I complimented her on her "excellent, wonderful and fabulous writing talent. I love Junie B.! My daddy reads a chapter of her before I go to sleep every night because I love her so much!" My mom got it all on tape!
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Kaylie from Ocean City, NJ
If you could trade places with any character from a book for a day, who would you be and why?
Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy because she's too cool and she’s got a bunch of hot guys after her.
What is the last book you read? Would you suggest it to a friend? Why or why not?
CITY OF GLASS by Cassandra Clare. Yes, definitely I’d suggest it! It was so good and action-packed.
Name three characters from a book that you'd like to invite to your birthday party.
Isabelle from the Mortal Instruments Series, Jez from Night World #7 and Adrian from Vampire Academy.
Do you have a favorite quote from a book? If so, what is it?
"We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us."
Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy because she's too cool and she’s got a bunch of hot guys after her.
What is the last book you read? Would you suggest it to a friend? Why or why not?
CITY OF GLASS by Cassandra Clare. Yes, definitely I’d suggest it! It was so good and action-packed.
Name three characters from a book that you'd like to invite to your birthday party.
Isabelle from the Mortal Instruments Series, Jez from Night World #7 and Adrian from Vampire Academy.
Do you have a favorite quote from a book? If so, what is it?
"We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us."
-- OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck (This is the best I can come up with...I just read it for school!).
Tell us about your top three favorite books of all time.
THE TIPPING POINT by Malcolm Gladwell, PERFECT CHEMISTRY by Simone Elkeles and THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls. Those are just three, I have so many more!
If you had the opportunity to meet any author (dead or alive), who would you choose to meet, and what three questions would you ask him/her?
I’d like to meet Nathaniel Hawthorne. I’d ask him the following:
Tell us about your top three favorite books of all time.
THE TIPPING POINT by Malcolm Gladwell, PERFECT CHEMISTRY by Simone Elkeles and THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls. Those are just three, I have so many more!
If you had the opportunity to meet any author (dead or alive), who would you choose to meet, and what three questions would you ask him/her?
I’d like to meet Nathaniel Hawthorne. I’d ask him the following:
1) How do you include symbolism and motifs so well?
2) Why did you decide to portray American life in your novels with sin, guilt, etc.?
3) How come none of your stories have a happy ending (although I know the answer, I just hate sad endings)?
What movies have you seen that were based on books? Did you like the book or film version better? Why?
The Time Traveler's Wife: The book was better. In the movie, everything was so rushed, which is understandable since it's a long read.
What movies have you seen that were based on books? Did you like the book or film version better? Why?
The Time Traveler's Wife: The book was better. In the movie, everything was so rushed, which is understandable since it's a long read.
The Notebook: The movie was better because the book didn’t go into their past like the movie did and didn’t have as many details.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: The book version was better. The second movie squeezed the last three books together.
Twilight Saga: The books are better. The movies were poorly directed and the actors weren’t the best.
My Sister’s Keeper: The book was better. The movie has a completly different ending. I think I might have been the only one in the theater not crying...
Tell us about your favorite book series.
THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins contains so much action, a little romance and a lot of drama. Not to mention the fact that Katniss is tough and probably the most likable character I have ever read about. I like most characters in the book, especially Peeta. The author knows what she’s talking about concerning the survival situations in the arena. Also it is very believable, and Collins is not afraid to kill someone off, as much as it might suck, when it needs to be done. I love this series and can’t wait until MOCKINGJAY!
Tell us about your favorite book series.
THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins contains so much action, a little romance and a lot of drama. Not to mention the fact that Katniss is tough and probably the most likable character I have ever read about. I like most characters in the book, especially Peeta. The author knows what she’s talking about concerning the survival situations in the arena. Also it is very believable, and Collins is not afraid to kill someone off, as much as it might suck, when it needs to be done. I love this series and can’t wait until MOCKINGJAY!
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Caroline from Los Angeles, Ca
What is the last book you read? Would you suggest it to a friend? Why or why not?
The last book I read was CRANK by Ellen Hopkins. It was one of the most amazing books I have ever read. I would most definitely suggest it to a friend. It is completely different to anything I have ever read before. I was skeptical before I started it because it was not written in prose, but in free verse. I thought it would be difficult to follow but it was the opposite. Hopkins creates such powerful imagery and it really made me sympathize with the lead character. It was utterly brilliant.
Name three characters from a book that you'd like to invite to your birthday party.
Jacob Black from The Twilight Saga, Atticus Finch from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee and Harry Potter.
Do you have a favorite quote from a book? If so, what is it?
"Life was good before I met the monster. After, life was great. At least for a little while."
The last book I read was CRANK by Ellen Hopkins. It was one of the most amazing books I have ever read. I would most definitely suggest it to a friend. It is completely different to anything I have ever read before. I was skeptical before I started it because it was not written in prose, but in free verse. I thought it would be difficult to follow but it was the opposite. Hopkins creates such powerful imagery and it really made me sympathize with the lead character. It was utterly brilliant.
Name three characters from a book that you'd like to invite to your birthday party.
Jacob Black from The Twilight Saga, Atticus Finch from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee and Harry Potter.
Do you have a favorite quote from a book? If so, what is it?
"Life was good before I met the monster. After, life was great. At least for a little while."
-- from CRANK by Ellen Hopkins.
Tell us about your top three favorite books of all time.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. It is just one of those books you have to read at least twice to fully comprehend the complex themes and messages. I have read it at least five times and have learnt something new each time.
Tell us about your top three favorite books of all time.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. It is just one of those books you have to read at least twice to fully comprehend the complex themes and messages. I have read it at least five times and have learnt something new each time.
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky is my second choice. Even though it has a disappointing ending, the actual story is beautiful. It is very relatable and explores many challenges that any teenager would face. The narrator is highly frustrating because he has no social skills whatsoever, but he is so loveable that his naivety and ignorance only makes us love him more. A must read for all teens.
JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen would be the third. All teenage girls love a good romance. Throw in a rape scandal, music, modelling and a mysterious boy you get an almost perfect cheesy story. It is just so sweet and addictive. A fairytale set in reality.
Tell us about your favorite book series.
Too many people here will put the Twilight Saga or Harry Potter. I love both series with all my heart but my favorite series is The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan. The world created by Canavan is magical, literally. The intertwining characters are great. The book explores real life themes in a fantasy world such as runaways, homosexuality, peer bullying, being an outcast and many more. These books are relatively unknown but are absolutely amazing.
Tell us about your favorite book series.
Too many people here will put the Twilight Saga or Harry Potter. I love both series with all my heart but my favorite series is The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan. The world created by Canavan is magical, literally. The intertwining characters are great. The book explores real life themes in a fantasy world such as runaways, homosexuality, peer bullying, being an outcast and many more. These books are relatively unknown but are absolutely amazing.
