Brooke’s presentation at Holy Comforter
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Author Archives: brooke
Blog Updates: May 15 2011
Hey everyone! I’m so excited because my blog-viewings have definitely spiked in this last couple of months. If you are new to my blog, be sure to check out the new features I’ve recently added.
Look at the pages listed above: I have added a ‘Presentations’ page and a ‘Q&A w/ Brooke’ page. The ‘Presentations’ page is a sub-page of ‘De Couleur Pale,’ so to view this page find it listed in the left sidebar. 🙂
Those might not seem like major improvements, but I am very excited about them!! I have done 3 school presentations so far, and I would love to do more, so if you’re interested in having me speak at your school take a peak at the ‘Presentations’ page. If you have seen one of my presentations, and didn’t get a chance to ask questions, please submit them to my ‘Q&A’ page so I can provide an answer. If you haven’t seen a presentation, that’s alright too because you also can submit your questions! An email for submission is given on the page, and I have already answered a couple of frequently asked questions.
Alright! Enjoy!! I’m always looking for improvement, so if you have ideas, or critiques, or comments on the new features please let me know!! Either contact me through the email I’ve given on my ‘Q&A’ page or comment on this post.
Thanks Holy Comforter!
Today I made my last presentation of the year, at Holy Comforter, and I had a really great time! I felt very welcomed and I had a wonderful audience.
I’m so sad that the year has come to an end, but hopefully I will be making more presentations in the fall. I really want to upload the video from today’s presentation, so stay tuned!!!
Again, thanks Holy Comforter! I really enjoyed meeting the 5th and 6th grade students, and I hope that they had as much fun as I did!
– Brooke 🙂
The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was really cute, sweet, and lighthearted. It was about the relationship between 4 unlikely friends (who don’t start out that way), and the relationship between these girls and their mothers. It was an easy read, and definitely enjoyable.
The references to Little Women, the book chosen as the first read of the year’s Mother Daughter Book Club, and the ties that the author made between the girls and the March family, gave the book something extra.
The book made me think about my own middle school years, because Emma, Jess, Cassidy, and Megan go through their own 6th grade trials and tribulations, all the while trying to find where they belonged and more about who they were. I’m looking forward to reading ‘Much Ado About Anne,’ during which the girls read Anne of Green Gables. 🙂
Artemis Fowl (The Atlantis Complex): by Eoin Colfer
The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I love the Artemis Fowl books, because Artemis is such a different and interesting character, and so are every one of his adventures. However, after reading the past two AF books, Atlantis Complex was a little bit of a let-down. First of all, Artemis has developed Atlantis Complex, a mental disorder with many side-effects that keeps Artemis from being his genius self. Second, I wasn’t extremely pleased with the plot itself. I don’t want to give too much away, but the ‘problem’ of the book basically solved itself! There was definitely action, but I really considered the plot to be a little weak when compared to the other Artemis Fowl books. The book also ended with a cliffhanger, which was troubling, so there must be another book. Hopefully the next book makes me remember what makes the Artemis Fowl books special! I must say, though, that this book wasn’t a complete disappointment. I’m only comparing it to Eoin Colfer’s other works. I brought the book on vacation and was motivated to finish it; all I’m saying is that (in my opinion) the other Artemis Fowl books were better.
Thanks Trinity Catholic!!
I had a great day yesterday visiting Trinity Catholic School!! I was a student there for 7th and 8th grade, and it was really great to be back. I love sharing my story, and advice on achieving your dreams. 🙂
Another wonderful part about yesterday: I knew almost everyone in the audience!! It made me a little bit more nervous, but I hope they still enjoyed it.
– Brooke
I wish I had gotten this post up sooner, but for some reason I was wasn’t allowed to log in to write a post. 🙁
New Poll
Check out the new poll: Favorite Book Genre. Just scroll down; the poll is toward the bottom of the left sidebar. 🙂
I love polls because everyone has a different opinion – so VOTE!!
– Brooke
Speak With Conviction! by Taylor Mali
So I feel as though I haven’t posted a poem in FOREVER. Which is why I feel like posting one now. 🙂 One of my friends showed me a poem today at school that had become one of her favorites, and it is now one of mine. Read it all the way through and you’ll see what I mean. It is SO TRUE; has a great message.
In case you hadn’t noticed,
it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you’re talking about?
Or believe strongly in what you’re saying?
Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)’s
have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?
Even when those sentences aren’t, like, questions? You know?
Declarative sentences – so-called
because they used to, like, DECLARE things to be true
as opposed to other things which were, like, not –
have been infected by a totally hip
and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know?
Like, don’t think I’m uncool just because I’ve noticed this;
this is just like the word on the street, you know?
It’s like what I’ve heard?
I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay?
I’m just inviting you to join me in my uncertainty?
What has happened to our conviction?
Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?
Have they been, like, chopped down
with the rest of the rain forest?
Or do we have, like, nothing to say?
Has society become so, like, totally . . .
I mean absolutely . . . You know?
That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like . . .
whatever!
And so actually our disarticulation . . . ness
is just a clever sort of . . . thing
to disguise the fact that we’ve become
the most aggressively inarticulate generation
to come along since . . .
you know, a long, long time ago!
I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you,
I challenge you: To speak with conviction.
To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.
Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You have to speak with it, too.
by Taylor Mali
Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I thought this was such an inspiring novel about a real girl who has been forced to learn life lessons very early on in life.
I’m going to write this up front: I only gave this book 3 stars because the writing was very simple, and the story itself was very simple. If I were rating this book based on it’s empowering message, I would give it 7 stars instead of the max of 5!!
I find it so amazing that a girl who had her arm bitten off by a shark could make such a comeback. You can tell by reading this book that Bethany Hamilton is selfless, strong, determined, and spirited. I very much admire her. I thought the book was great, not only because Bethany was able to tell her story firsthand, but the book was more like a journal, with pages here and there listing her favorite surf spots and surf language, as well as pictures. Bethany described the calm before the attack, the attack itself, and the mayhem that followed. Reading about Bethany’s comeback as a surfer was really humbling, as well. It makes you think about how many times you’ve wanted to give up (and have!) and how many times you complain about petty everyday issues.
Bethany wrote about her family, her career as a surfer in her Hawaiian home, and her spiritual life.
I think Christians especially will really love this book (or anyone with religious beliefs) because Bethany is a devout Christian, and God was her rock throughout everything. God was her anchor, and I loved reading about Bethany’s struggles, and her realizations about Christ and the things He has in store for us. Everything about the book was realistic and inspiring, and I think it is more likely for people to listen and take Bethany’s advice than to listen to anyone else, because she was able to go above and beyond even when faced with a traumatic experience like losing an arm.
P.S. The movie was great, too. It stuck to the story and was truly beautiful and inspiring. 🙂
Thanks Community Christian School!!
I had a great day today…thanks to Community Christian!!
They invited me to speak to the 7th and 8th grade students about my books, and about setting goals and achieving your dreams. I think everyone had a great time. I will be posting the video of my presentation soon – so stay tuned! I met so many great kids and was so thankful for the opportunity. They were a great audience and asked wonderful questions.
Hopefully I’ll get to do this again at some of the other schools in Tallahassee. 🙂
– Brooke