Showing posts with label Rachel Renee Russell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel Renee Russell. Show all posts

17.9.10

Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl by Rachel Renee Russell

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:
Recipe for disaster:

4 parties.
Add 2 friends and 1 crush.
Divide by 1 mean girl out to RUIN Nikki.
Mix well, put fingers over eyes, and CRINGE!

Settled in at her new school and flanked by awesome friends Chloe and Zoey, life is looking up for Nikki Maxwell, especially since her crush, Brandon, asked her to be his lab partner—a seriously awesome development. However, when Nikki overhears mean girl Mackenzie bragging that Brandon's taking her to the Halloween dance, a bummed Nikki signs on to spend Halloween at a kids' party with her little sister, Brianna, instead. After she finds out Mackenzie was lying and her dream of going to the party with Brandon could be a reality, Nikki has two events to juggle . . . plus plenty of other entertaining trials and tribulations along the way!
Review:

After reading the first Dork Diaries book I couldn't wait to read the second addition, and luckily enough, Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl was even better than the original book!

From the first page of Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl the reader is thrown back into the hectic life of seventh grader Nikki Maxwell, dork extraordinaire. Much to Nikki's surprise she's quickly adjusting to middle school life and is actually enjoying it. You see, she has her two equally dorky side-kicks Chloe and Zoey on her side and her crush Brandon is starting to notice her. Plus, she's been invited to popular/ mean girl Mackenzie’s latest party. Though soon enough all the good things in Nikki's life come to an end when Nikki finds out Mackenzie is set to not only sabotage Nikki's chances with Brandon but the Halloween party Nikki is now in charge of as well. What will one No-So-Popular Dorky Party Girl do? Well, only time and more pages can tell!

Nikki is such a fabulous main character! Sure, she's awkward and dorky, but she's hilarious, a great friend, and full of snark in all the best kind of ways as well. While Nikki is a lot younger than me, I can still find myself relating to her, especially when I think back to my own middle-school days, and I feel most people will feel the same kind of way if they give this series a chance. I also loved the additions of Nikki's best friends, Chloe and Zoey, two girls anyone would be lucky to have on their side, and Brandon, the seventh grade's token cutie.

Another aspect I love about this series is how it's told through Nikki's own personal diary entries. I feel that they give the reader a great and a more personal look into Nikki's life than what a regular narration would provide. Plus, I have to admit the pictures and comic strips included are simply hilarious!

While the story is a bit predictable, it never stopped it from being cute and laugh-out-loud funny. I loved being there right along with Nikki as she went through planning the Halloween party to attending two parties at once.

In all, the Dork Diaries is well-worth the read no matter how old you are, and I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who can't wait to read more about Nikki's adventures!

Grade: B+


Source: Publisher. Thanks Simon and Schuster! :)

4.7.09

Winner of the Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life Contest!


The winner is:

Laina from Laina Has Too Much Spare Time

Congrats! I just sent you an email so be sure to respond in the next 72 hours or I'll have to pick a new winner. Also, thanks to everyone who entered!

Didn't Win?

Well be sure to enter my Along For The Ride contest! Link is on the right sidebar under contests.

PS) Happy Forth Of July to all my American readers! I hope you have fabulous day filled with cookouts and fireworks. To my non-USA winners, I still hope you have a great Saturday!

22.6.09

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell and Contest!!


Summary:

Dork Diaries follows eighth grader Nikki Maxwell as she chronicles through text and sketches her move to a snooty new school; her epic battle wither her mom for an iPhone; her enthusiasm for drawing and art; and a love/hate fascination with the new school's queen bee, a girl named Mackenzie, who becomes Nikki's rival a school wide art competition. Nikki writes about friendships, crushes, popularity, and family with a unique and fresh voice that still conveys a universal authenticity. Nikki's sketches throughout her diary and add humor and spunk to the book, a surefire hit with tween girls.

Review:


Dork Diaries
is one of the cutest and most hilarious middle grade novels I have read in a while.

Nikki Maxwell was an extremely funny protagonist. Her takes on life always provided for laugh or two. Plus, Dork Diaries is told completely in diary entries and sketch drawings making me think that she could be the next Princess Mia, well with out being a princess. The other characters were nice additions, also. Though, they seemed a bit like cookie cuter cutouts because there was the typical mean girl, the two dweeby best friends, and the cool but nerdy guy that Nikki wanted to be with.

The plot was basic and a bit predictable, but with Nikki's humor it quickly became a fast read that I adored. I truly hope there is going to be a second book because it was sad to let Nikki and her posse go at the end.

Overall, Dork Diaries is the perfect read any girl looking for Meg Cabot like writer and a new series to become addicted to. I look forward to reading more by Rachel.

Grade: B+

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell is now out!


Also, check out the cute Dork Diaries artwork Rachel sent me!
Ha ha, I love it! :)

Okay, so now on to the supper awesome giveaway.


Do you want to win your own copy of Dork Diaries along with some very cool swag, well look no further because what is pictured above is what you shall win.

How To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post along with a email address if you don't have a blogger profile.

Extra Entries:

+4 for following/ subscribing to my blog
+2 for becoming a follower/ subscriber to my blog
+3 for posting a link to this contest somewhere on the Internet ( blog, Myspace, Twitter, ex.)
+1 for adding me to your blogroll

Ends:

June 30th at midnight Eastern time.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
Design by Imagination Designs
Artwork by www.CreateTheCut.com