Love, Stargirl By: Jerry Spinelli

This was an interesting book, I personally like the first one better. This one focuses solely on Stargirl and the people she touches. I do love the fact that she has moved to a place where people truly seem to appreciate her uniqueness.

LOVE, STARGIRL picks up a year after Stargirl ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who moved away so suddenly at the end of Stargirl. The novel takes the form of "the world's longest letter," in diary form, going from date to date through a little more than a year's time. In her writing, Stargirl mixes memories of her bittersweet time in Mica, Arizona, with involvements with new people in her life.

In Love, Stargirl, we hear the voice of Stargirl herself as she reflects on time, life, Leo, and - of course - love.

Stargirl By: Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl is a story about how overrated it is to fit in. Stand out and as long as you're happy that is all that matters. I think it is a great book for anyone, boys or girls, who don't think they fit in or care a little too much about what everyones else thinks. It makes you step back and look at your life and ask yourself, am I happy with who I am?

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first. 

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

Uprising By: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Margaret Peterson Haddix did an amazing job showing us just what could have gone on, on that tragic day. I love the fact that with this book she tells of workers but also of a high society girl who is also greatly impacted by the fire. Definitely a good read for anyone who likes to read about historical events.

Oh, please, God, don't let me die, she thought. I've never even had a chance to live.

Bella, newly arrived in New York from Italy, gets a job at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. There, along with hundreds of other immigrants, she works long hours at a grueling job under terrible conditions. Yetta, a coworker from Russia, has been crusading for a union, and when factory conditions worsen, she helps workers rise up in a strike. Wealthy Jane learns of the plight of the workers and becomes involved with their cause.

Bella and Yetta are at work -- and Jane is visiting the factory -- on March 25, 1911, when a spark ignites some cloth and the building is engulfed in fire, leading to one of the worst workplace disasters ever.

Margaret Peterson Haddix draws on extensive historical research to bring the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire to tangible life through her thrilling story of Bella, Yetta, and Jane.

New Old Fan!!

So I was really getting tired of my old white fan, I decided to give it a makeover!! The center disk is painted with chalkboard paint. Not really sure how much that will actually get used but it looks nice having the matte center. I'm thinking that I will wrap the white cord  in green duct tape for a pop of color. I wanted to modge podge the fan blades but I couldn't get the middle curve just right.

New York Cheesecake

This is a really great textured cheesecake. It is baked so it doesn't have a smooth light texture. I'm going to try making this again but not baking it which means not using any eggs.

what you need

6  HONEY MAID Honey Grahams, finely crushed (about 1 cup)

3Tbsp.  sugar

3Tbsp.  butter or margarine, melted

5pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1cup  sugar

3Tbsp.  flour

1Tbsp.  vanilla

1cup  BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

4  eggs

1can  (21 oz.) cherry pie filling (optional)

Directions

HEAT oven to 325°F.

Step 1: Mix graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottom of 9X13 pan. Bake 10 min.

Step 2 MEANWHILE, beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

Step 3 BAKE 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve. Top with pie filling.

Next time I would go through step 2 but stop at the eggs, the flavor and consistency was delicious. I don't usually put any pie filling on top but it would probably be pretty good.