This week, I've been reading a dystopian fantasy novel for teens. Marie Lu's The Young Elites takes place in a world where survivors of the Blood Plague are feared and ostracized. The king has an organization called The Inquisition, which aims to eliminate the malfettos, or survivors.
These survivors are all marked in one way or another, with strange colorations of hair or skin. Adelina is one such survivor; she lost an eye to the plague, and her hair is now silver. The story begins when Adelina is about to be executed for the murder of her abusive father; she quickly discovers that she is one of the rare malfettos with special powers--an elite. She finds herself joining The Daggers, a group of young elites who are using their powers to protect other malfettos from The Inquisition.
You may remember that Marie Lu is the author of the Legend Series. The Young Elites is the first novel in a new series for teens. It is recommended for ages 12 through 17.
While I was reading The Young Elites, I was reminded of a classic series by Alexandre Dumas, The D'Artagnan Romances, including The Three Musketeers.
The iconic Musketeers have been featured in countless adaptations on the big and small screen. D'Artagnan and his fellow Musketeers fight with swords, not superpowers, but I think people who like Alexandre Dumas' stories would like Lu's book.
The sequel to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), titled The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, is coming out this weekend as a limited release. The original film is based on the novel There Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach (later re-released under the movie title).
When Dr. Ravi Kapoor's cousin sets up a retirement home in India, Ravi's father-in-law is one of its first guests, but what the renovation lacks in promised amenities and luxury, it makes up for in adventure, stunning beauty, and unexpected love.
According to a few craft blogs, macramé will be making a big comeback in 2015. Macramé is one of those classic crafts that's never really out of style yet seems to go in and out of mega-popularity in regular intervals.
You know, just in case you have never come face to face with a friendship bracelet, macramé purse, hanging plant-holder, choker, or more macramé owls than you ever thought possible.
The neat thing about a classic craft becoming popular and trendy is that more
books might be written, classes might start to popping up, and those who
jumped on the macramé band wagon the last time will most likely feel
their interest renewed and bring their experience along with them to
share with beginners.
I haven't macraméd (is that a word?) in quite a few years. The last time I tied a square knot I was making bracelets out of waxed cotton cord with fun art glass beads. Now that I have reminded myself that macramé exists I do find myself intrigued in a few new projects.
The YouTube channel Macrame School features many wonderful video tutorials that show viewers from start to finish, and through every knot, how to make beautiful macrame jewelry. I'm a sucker for jewelry and found two necklaces that I can't wait to make. It helps that the videos are well made and surprisingly relaxing! The music is soothing and although there is no dialogue, the video is shot and edited in a way that makes the tutorial easy to follow. There are so many videos to watch from this channel I could easily get sucked in for hours.
I'm excited to see what renewed interest will bring to the macramé craft. What trends might surface. For now, we just have to wait and see if the trendsetters and crafty forecasters are right.
Or...
We can have some fun, make some trends, and blaze our own trails!
Jane Yolen has written some great picture books about dinosaurs. The very first time I came across one of her books, I was so impressed. I love the rhyming in her books and the dinosaur pictures are just extraordinary.
These dinosaur picture books are short and sweet and perfect for bedtime stories.
So, if you have a little dinosaur lover at home, check out one of these picture books. Your little one is going to like it a lot. The pictures in these books are so vivid and brilliant and the words are so simple but melodic. So check out one of these books from your local library for your little dinosaur lover at home.
