Author: Zakiya N. Jamal

Zakiya N. Jamal was born in Queens, raised in Long Island, and currently resides in Brooklyn. In other words, she’s a New Yorker through and through. She holds a BA in English from Georgetown University and a MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School. She has been published in Romper, BuzzFeed, People.com, Thought Catalog, and more. Her non-fiction essay about her "Cuban Impostor Syndrome" can be found in the Latinx anthology, Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed. You can find her on Twitter at @ZakiyaNJamal.

Dear College Grad Me

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

As I get closer to starting my senior year of college (that came fast) I wanted to write a letter to my future self about some things she needs to do as she prepares to enter the “real world”. Using FutureMe.org I’ll actually get this letter emailed to me on the day of my graduation. It’ll also be here so I can look at it on that day as well but I don’t know if I’ll remember. I recommend all my fellow rising seniors do this too. It’s cool all the things that I found myself writing to myself and these all things I hope to start doing from now. Feel free to add your own letters to your future selves in the comments below.

Dear College Grad,
Congratulations, you made it. After four years of hard work, friendships, drama, and some heartache you’ve survived all the way to the end and I couldn’t be more proud. You’ll thank everyone who helped you get here but don’t forget to thank yourself. It wasn’t easy but you did it.

As you leave Georgetown and head on to do big things there’s some things we have to discuss. I have some hopes for us and not just the usual stuff of making it big and reaching our dreams. I mean the other stuff like being a good person and loving you for you. There’s some things I need to make sure you do as you go out into the real world (or grad school).

First, love yourself. I’m not saying be self-absorbed I’m saying love yourself. Love you for you. Stop comparing yourself to everyone around you and thinking you’re not good enough or pretty enough or even smart enough. Know that you are beautiful and wonderful just the way you are. It’s great when someone else says it but make sure you tell yourself how much you love you. It’s important.

Second, forgive people. I mean really forgive people. Not the fake, “Haha, yeah, we’re all good, no worries.” I mean really forgive them. Don’t dwell on how someone hurt you. Don’t let someone’s hateful words alter who you are. Let it go. Hating someone or resenting them for the rest of your life only hurts you and does nothing to them. Also forgive yourself. Don’t keep reminding yourself of your own mistakes and mess ups. It’ll happen but you just have to learn from it and push on. You have other things to worry about then obsessing over something in the past.

Third, always be open to trying new things. Try doing something you’ve never done before. Go wind surfing or scuba diving. Or audition for something. Don’t close yourself off to things. You can do anything you want to do. Just try it.

Four, let people in. I know this is easier said then done but we’ve never been the most open person. Talking about our favorite TV show or the newest Demi Lovato album, that’s easy. Talking about things that really matter like when we lose someone close to us or when we just feel upset about something or even being honest about how we feel about someone? That’s a bit harder. Truth is we have this tendency to hold in the big stuff. We hate asking for help when we need it and we run from the big stuff. That’s got to change. We can’t just keep writing it all down in our journal. Open up a little bit. I’m sure it won’t kill you. It might even make you better.

Five, never give up on your dreams. We have a lot of dreams. From wanting to be a best selling author to having a family and living in the house with the white picket fence our dreams are big and small. And they vary on a day to day basis. It doesn’t matter what your dreams are just don’t give up on them. Don’t settle for the easy thing and don’t let anyone ever tell you you can’t do it. Not even yourself. Dream big, aim high, and don’t let one “no” stop you from picking yourself up and trying again. Whatever you want to do, do it.

Six, treat others the way you want to be treated. This one is an oldie but it still holds true. Treat people with kindness. Help people when they need help. Don’t turn a blind eye when someone asks for help. Better yet volunteer to help out before someone even asks. Be kind. Be caring. Listen to people. Actually listen to them, not passively but actively. Be there for people the way you might one day need them to be there for you. Just treat them the way you’d want to be treated and you’ll do fine.

Seven, love hard. And tell the people you love, that you love them everyday. We’ve learned the hard way how fast someone can just be gone. Don’t let days or even weeks go by without talking to the people who matter. Let them know how much they mean to you and spend time with them while you can. Whether it’s family, friends, a boyfriend, or whoever. Don’t hide from how much they mean to you. Embrace it. Loved ones are good. Cherish them.

Lastly, be happy. Be really happy. Smile whenever you can. Laugh whenever you’re able. Do whatever makes you happy. Surround yourself with people who make you happy but also know how to be happy by yourself. Obviously you’re not always going to be happy but I challenge you to find a way to smile even through the hard times, the sad times, and the worst times. If you can do that then I know we’ll be okay.

Good luck and conGRADulations. We did it!

Sincerely,
Zakiya

Book Review: Lies

Posted on July 13, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my Dystopia Book Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

It’s been seven months since all the adults disappeared. Gone. It happens in one night: a girl who died now walks among the living; Zil and the Human Crew set fire to Perdido Beach; and amid the flames and smoke, Sam sees the figure of the boy he fears the most: Drake. But Drake is dead—or so they thought.

Perdido Beach burns and battles rage: Astrid against the Town Council; the Human Crew versus the mutants; and Sam against Drake, who is back from the dead and ready to finish where he and Sam left off. They say that death is a way to escape the FAYZ, but are the kids of Perdido Beach desperate enough to believe that death will set them free?

Lies is book three in Michael Grant’s Gone series and it seems these books get progressively darker as we go forward. I enjoyed this book but I also have a few issues with it but let’s start with the good stuff.

I actually liked how dark this book was. Grant doesn’t hold back in the realism of a world with no adults and a lot of chaos. I especially liked that we got to see some character changes and development. Astrid, for one, breaks through her “Astrid the Genius” mold completely in this novel. As head of the council she has all these ideas on how to make Perdido Beach better but is forced to face the fact that some things are out of her control.

Sam, although he did disappoint me at some points, also went through some questions in his character. So far in the series Sam has always been the hero. Even in book two when (*spoiler alert if you haven’t read Hunger*) he kind of loses it and gets beat by Drake, at the end of the day he’s still kind of the hero. He figured out how to take out The Darkness and used his wit (with Duck’s help) to do so.

In Lies Sam really starts to crumble apart and so does Astrid and it really forces them to look at their relationship. One question I think they really need to consider is if the FAYZ ended would they remain together or are they just clinging to each other because the FAYZ sucks and they want to hold onto something good? Who knows? Either way their relationship was seriously tested in this novel.

Now here’s my issues with the book. There will be spoilers so beware. As much as I liked this book the truth of the matter is there were some things in the plot that just didn’t really make sense:

How did no one realize there was an island with a huge mansion and a yacht with a helicopter on it for seven months. Quinn and his fishing crew never saw it? Or in book one when Sam and co. hopped in a boat to the power plant, no one noticed it? Also how did the people on the island not see these people when they were out in the water? Maybe they did but it was never mentioned so I can’t be sure.
The whole half Brittney, half Drake monster makes no sense to me. Lana has the ability to heal and she did give Drake his whip arm but how did The Darkness combine Lana’s healing with Brittney’s immortality. Their bodies weren’t anywhere near each other when they died. Brittney was buried in the plaza and Drake was buried deep in the mine shaft with Caine’s tornado. How did they merge together? It just doesn’t make sense. Of course nothing in this novel is at all plausible but still that’s a big stretch.
The extent of Pete’s powers is getting out of hand. I understand that’s part of the mystery and it does add something to the series that makes it extra interesting but I’m beginning to think Pete can do anything. He can make things/people disappear. He can create things/people. He created the FAYZ. He was able to somehow show Astrid what was happening in some illusion. He can teleport himself and his sister. And he’s The Darkness’ biggest opponent. It feels like with each book Grant makes Pete more and more powerful and although it adds to the story it’s stretching. Everyone else’s powers are focused on one thing (Sam with his laser beam hands, Caine can move things with his mind, Brianna is fast, etc.). Pete has various different powers. Again maybe that’s Grant’s point and we’ll learn more about why Pete’s so different later but at points it feels like Grant is just adding to Pete’s powers to try and make sure the storyline makes sense.

Overall, I did enjoy the book a lot. A lot went down and it was crazy to see just how … well, crazy everything is getting in the FAYZ. Everyone in Perdido Beach is kind of losing it and truthfully I’m wondering how long they’ll all be able to survive like this. Definitely a good read and worth checking out.

Favorite Line:

Yeah, Sam, you’re still necessary. You’re like a god to us mere mortals. We can’t live without you. Later we’re going to build you a temple. Satisfied?

Stars: 4 out of 5. As much as I enjoyed this book I couldn’t ignore the fact that some things just didn’t make sense.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! This is the first book in the series that I bought and I don’t regret it. If I had more money I’d probably buy the whole series.

Other Reviews

The Book Smugglers

Teen Ink

Teen Reads

Author Spotlight: Katie Sise

Posted on July 7, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Author Spotlights

d8fda1dee93cd7672f88bb5ade397781 — Source: Twitter

Katie Sise is multitalented. She makes and sells her own jewelry, been on TV, and has written both nonfiction and fiction books. I had the pleasure of talking to her and learning about her writing, her newest books, her jewelry making, and much more.

What first inspired you to start writing?

“I’ve always loved to write. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing, even as early as seven and eight-years-old. Writing [is] how I understand the world. I always loved stories as a little kid, and still do today. That need to tell a story is what inspires me to write.”

What was the transition from writing a nonfiction book (Creative Girl) to a fiction novel (The Boyfriend App) like?

“Writing fiction is so different from writing nonfiction, which I learned the hard way. I practiced writing fiction for years before The Boyfriend App clicked. Writing fiction every day was how I learned what worked plot-wise, how to create characters, and how to pace a story. I’m still making mistakes and learning with each new book.”

What was the inspiration behind The Boyfriend App?

“I wanted to create an intelligent heroine whose smarts get her into trouble, and then gets her out of it. I also love exploring the effects that technology has on our lives, and this was a fun way to do it.”

What is the sequel to The Boyfriend App about?

“The Pretty App is a companion novel told from Blake Dawkin’s perspective. Blake is Audrey’s sort-of nemesis in The Boyfriend App, so it was a lot of fun to get inside her head and write from her POV. The Pretty App is the story of Blake’s wild and crazy journey to a reality television show in LA based on the premise of The Pretty App, which is another out-of-control app that makes users their most beautiful selves but in a controversial way.”

Are you working on any other novels right now?

“I’m working on a brand new series – I can’t share too much about that one yet, but I’m hoping readers who liked The Boyfriend App will like this one, too.”

Besides writing you also make jewelry. What first got you interested in that profession?

“I’ve always loved creative projects, and when I was in my early twenties I especially loved fashion. I was working in a clothing boutique, and a customer asked how much the necklace I was wearing cost. I’d made the necklace myself but she still wanted to buy it so I quoted a price, she bought it, and the rest was history. The owner of the boutique was very supportive; she cleared a shelf for me and allowed me to start selling my pieces there. Being in her store (Dernier Cri) led to all kinds of fun creative work: I started doing television hosting for style segments, then wrote Creative Girl because of the combination of jewelry and television work, which really then led to writing fiction. I owe a lot to that boutique owner, who I’m still close friends with today.”

Where can fans buy your jewelry?

http://www.katharinesise.com

Outside of writing and jewelry making, what do you do in your free time?

“I read, obsess over movies and my favorite TV shows, and spend time with my family.”

Who are your favorite authors and what are some of your favorite books to read?

I love Kieran Scott’s writing, and particularly love her new book, Only Everything. I also can’t wait for Anna Carey’s Blackbird. This summer I brought Jen Calonita’s Summer State of Mind to the pool and Tana French is my favorite adult writer.”

Do you have any advise for aspiring writers?

“Keep writing! Every day. Set a word goal for yourself ([try] 1000 words per day) and stick to it. You can write an entire book that way in less than three months.”

Is there anything else you would like to add or say to fans?

“Thank you for reading!”

Follow her on Twitter and check her out on Facebook.

Book Review: Hunger

Posted on July 6, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my Dystopia Book Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

It’s been three months since all the adults disappeared. Gone. Food ran out weeks ago and starvation is imminent. Meanwhile, the normal teens have grown resentful of the kids with powers. And when an unthinkable tragedy occurs, chaos descends upon the town. There is no longer right and wrong. Each kid is out for himself and even the good ones turn murderous. But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them.

The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

This is the second novel in Michael Grant’s Gone series and Hunger is just as good, if not better than the first novel.

As the FAYZ continues kids start to go hungry, The Darkness looms ever closer, and there is war between the freaks and the normals brewing. Sam is beginning to crack under the pressure of being in charge and everyone’s kind of losing it. The FAYZ quickly turns dangerous and it’s every boy or girl for themselves.

Gone set the framework for the series but Hunger shows the real consequences of a world where there’s no adults and kids with superpowers. It’s not all fun and games. Of course kids left to do what they want were not planning for the future and only ate junk food and candy rather than preserving the meats and veggies. Meanwhile everyone’s looking for someone to take charge making it easy for the wrong people to gain a following.

It’s a free for all in the FAYZ and lives are taken but what’s worse than what the kids can do to each other is what The Darkness wants to do to them all. I won’t spoil it but it’s crazy how manipulative this antagonist is and what’s worse is everyone’s so busy dealing with the immediate problems n Perdido Beach no one’s really thinking about the bigger danger.

I loved this book and thought it was a great continuation. Grant is very real about this world he’s created. He doesn’t sugar coat things which makes for a very dark novel. However he also provides us with some comic relief and of course the romance between Astrid and Sam is very cute.

This book was very dark and scary but definitely a good read.

Favorite Line:

Superpowers don’t always make you a superhero.

Stars: 5 out of 5. I’m obsessed with this series right now.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! This book gets really intense and crazy. You’ll definitely want to reread.

Other Reviews

Pen to Paper

CuddleBuggery

TeenReads

Book Review: Gone

Posted on July 5, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my Dystopia Book Challenge*

I heard of this series a while back and remember not really being all that interested. Everyone above the age of 15 disappears. What could happen with kids 14 and younger? Well, apparently a lot. I’m already on book three of this series.

Gone is the first in this crazy sci-fi/dystopia series by Michael Grant. As stated one day everyone ages 15 and up disappears. Just like that. Poof. Very similar to HBO’s new show, The Leftovers. Although I don’t how it works on that show but in this series things are very strange. For example kids develop (or already had) powers, there’s a “Darkness” lurking around, and there’s a barrier around the town preventing anyone from leaving. Also the phone lines don’t work so they can’t call anyone either. They’re essentially trapped.

The novel follows various characters as they deal with what becomes known as the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone) but the main protagonist is Sam. “SchoolBus Sam” (as he’s known by many of his classmates because of his heroic actions on a bus after the driver had a heart attack) doesn’t really want any kind of power in the FAYZ and just wants everyone to leave him alone. Unfortunately for Sam he’s a natural born leader and everyone begins looking to him for guidance that truthfully as a 14 year old kid he can’t really give. Plus, Sam’s got his own stuff to worry about as he get’s closer to his 15th birthday also known as the poof point. Oh dear.

I really liked this novel, way more than I thought I would. I liked Sam as a character and felt for him. I also really liked Astrid, Sam’s crush, who’s a cute brainiac that is thrown by the FAYZ. I either loved or loved to hate almost every character in this book which was great. Also, I liked that the book was in third person because we got to see so many different things happen at once. This made things especially interesting when everyone’s stories all come together. It was as if while the characters attempted to figure out the mystery of the FAYZ so was I. It was frustrating and exhilarating.

This book has romance, drama, mystery, adventure, and plot twists to throw you for a serious loop. Definitely a good one to check out.

Favorite Line:

We didn’t make this world we’re just the poor fools who are living in it.

Stars: 5 out of 5. I really enjoyed this book and I’m hooked on this series.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! I’m already wishing I still had it in my possession because I’m only on book three and there’s things I need to remember happened in book one. And there’s a lot of books in this series so it’s sure to get confusing.

Other Reviews:

CuddleBuggery

Passion for Novels

Eric Kent Edstrom

The 20 Funniest Animal GIFs Ever

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Animals in GIF form tend to lead to hilarity. Check out these 20 GIFs and try not to laugh. I bet you don’t make it past #5 without at least a chuckle.

1. “Yo can’t you see I’m walking here?”

(Source: Funoux)

2. “Let me just help you out with that . . .”

(Source: Tumblr)

3. “Ugh, give me water now.”

(Source: GIF Heaven)

4. “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

(Source: Wanna-joke)

5. “Just come here. Stop running away. I love you!”

(Source: GIF Heaven)

6. “I thought I could fit . . .”

(Source: GIF Heaven)

7. “That was fun. Time to rest. Good night.”

(Source: Dope-GIF)

8. “Oh yeah. Full speed. Wait, what?”

(Source: Theloltrain)

9. “All these other llamas are basic.”

(Source: GIFheaven)

10. “Lol. This kid can’t even do the basic of poses.”

(Source: From a Dream Seller)

11. “What’s happening? What’s going on?”

(Source: Imalsoacat)

11. “I’m in the gym all day every day. This is a lifestyle.”

(Source: Wannajoke)

12. “Whoa, who is that?”

(Source: Dope Gif)

13. “Watch me do my dance. Let’s get it.”

(Source: Poetic Cases and Accessories)

14. “Fyi my birthday is next month so . . .”

(Source: Jupiter2)

15. “I just want a taste. Just a little bite.”

(Source: Just For Grins)

16. “Biddies always trying to talk smack. Get at me bro.”

(Source: Daily Dwadle)

17. “So I’m just gonna take this. K, bye!”

(Source: Imgur)

18. “It came out of nowhere!”

(Source: Oh Yarn It!)

19. “But why is it getting closer?”

(Source: Oh Yarn It!)

20. “Dang it! They always leave me behind.”

(Source: Funny Pictures and Photos)

Author Spotlight: Elizabeth Eulberg

Posted on July 3, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Author Spotlights

74266_119475031449013_8172002_n — Source: Facebook

If you’ve never had the chance to meet Elizabeth Eulberg you are certainly missing out. Besides being one of the sweetest authors I’ve ever met, she’s also very talented and very cool. Not only can she write amazing books, such as The Lonely Hearts Club and Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality, she also knows how to play multiple instruments and is an exquisite traveler. Check out my interview with her below.

What first inspired you to start writing?

“I always enjoyed telling myself stories as a kid and thought it would be fun to write a book, but I was too intimidated to start. Then Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants) encouraged me to write. It was the boost I needed to start. I’m so thankful for him!”

What was the first book you ever wrote and what was it about?

“My very first book was The Lonely Hearts Club, which is about a girl who has decided to give up dating guys in high school because they aren’t worth the trouble. What started as something for her to get through heartbreak ends up taking over the school and craziness ensues!”

When will the sequel to The Lonely Hearts Club be released?

“We Can Work It Out is coming out early next year! There are going to be three e-short stories about Penny Lane and the Lonely Hears Club that will be online for FREE this fall [as well]. I can’t say much about them, but the first [one] is coming out Oct. 1 and will be Halloween themed. The others will be out Nov. 1 and Dec. 1. Hopefully I’ll get to share more soon!”

Besides the TLHC sequel, are you working on any other projects right now?

“I’m working on a couple different projects. Unfortunately I can’t say anything about them yet but I’m excited about them both!”

What was the best place you ever visited and where do you still want to go?

“Australia is one of my favorite places – it’s a gorgeous country with wonderful people. I got to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef and hold a Koala – what more could you want! I really want to explore South America more – especially Brazil and Chile.”

Who is your favorite music artist?

“I’m a huge fan of CHVRCHES, Ingrid Michaelson, Tegan and Sara, Panama Wedding, Bastille, Ed Sheeran, and of course, The Beatles!”

What instruments do you play and what kind of music do you like to play?

“I play mostly the guitar and piano (although I can play the clarinet and drums, but it’s been awhile for both). I generally play rock music on the guitar (The Beatles, Oasis, OK Go, Snow Patrol, etc.), but play classical on the piano (Mozart and Beethoven are favorites).”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“What is this ‘free time’ you’re referring to? I’ve actually been working on one of my secret projects for nearly three years now in any spare time I have in between edits, but at night I go to concerts, read, or go to karaoke and pretend that I’m a rock star!

Who are some of your favorite writers and what are some of your favorite books to read?

“So many! I’m fortunate that I get to be friends with a lot of the writers I admire. Some recent favorites are Don’t Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski, The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith, Only Everything by Kieran Scott, and I’ll read anything by Ally Carter and E. Lockhart.

How do you come up with ideas for your novels?

“My ideas come from a lot of different places. The seed for Better Off Friends was planted by my editor, so that was the first book where the original idea didn’t come from me. Take a Bow was inspired by my love of music and my desire as a teen to go to a performing arts high school. The Lonely Hearts Club came from a friend who always dumps her friends when she gets a boyfriend. After I get the original idea, I start building the character and plot from there.”

Do you think you’ll ever write adult novels?

“There may be a possibility that one of my projects that I’m working on is not YA. That’s all I can say.”

What’s your writing process like?

“Everything starts with one idea. Then I work on building on the characters and the arc of the story from there. I spend a lot of time on the characters before I sit down to write. I use index cards to do a basic outline of the plot and I also have a notebook for every book that includes character profiles and chapter outlines. I usually have everything figured out before I sit down to write a single word. I’m a very fast first drafter (I believe in just getting to the end) and then I revise several times on my own before a single person reads it.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Write for yourself, first and foremost. Don’t worry about if anybody will like it or if it will sell. Write the story you want to read. And no matter what, do not give up!

Is there anything else you would like to add or say to fans?

Yes, a BIG THANK YOU! I get to have the best job in the world, which wouldn’t be possible without readers. XOXO

To learn more about Elizabeth Eulberg and her writing check out her website and Facebook page.

Switched at Birth Recap: “Oh, Future!”

Posted on July 1, 2014July 15, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in TV

Let all the Bemmett shippers release a happy sigh. Awwww!

A lot went down in this episode and overall it was fantastic. Let’s begin.

Turns out Bemmett wasn’t the couple that was preggars this season. Instead it’s Emmett’s Dad (Cameron) and his girlfriend (now wife), Debbie. In a very shocking twist Emmett, Bay, Melody, and her new beau, Gabe, went to Cameron’s house for a housewarming party that turned into a wedding and then a baby announcement. Awkward!

Emmett was not in a congratulatory mood, especially since he didn’t even want to go to the party in the first place. The only reason he went was because Bay really wanted to go. Or at least that’s how she made it seem. The truth is she found out that Melody was offered a job in Wisconsin and was scared Emmett would leave with her. Therefore in a poor attempt to show that maybe living with his Dad wouldn’t be a bad idea she insisted on going to the housewarming. Oh Bay. Always scheming.

Obviously Bay’s plan failed not that it mattered because Melody decided she wasn’t going to leave because she had too many reasons to stay (including her hot boyfriend and of course her sons). Emmett eventually accepted that he’s going to have a little bro and by the end actually seems a little excited about it.

The best part of this episode was seeing Bay and Melody be so friendly and Melody saying Emmett needed both of them in his life right now. It’s a big step up from how Melody first felt about the Bemmett pairing. They’ve come a long way.

Speaking of new friendships Kathryn and Sarah Lazar hit it off over lunch when Kathryn tried to explain why she couldn’t get the slutty news reporter character taken out of the book. Although Sarah argued that Kathryn could’ve tried harder she let it go as long as Kathryn agreed to accept the fact that there would be a movie based on Sarah’s switched at birth book.

After that the two became gal pals, drinking wine and even calling Kathryn’s publisher and telling her off. And then what better way to seal a new best friendship than to ask if they’ve ever slept with your spouse. Yeah, that’s not weird. However, Sarah took it in stride, and honestly told Kathryn that although she did try once John never cheated. You go John!

As Daphne and Bay prepare to graduate Daphne has to seriously consider her financial options (college is not free, unfortunately). Bay tells her J&K would be happy to chip in but Daphne isn’t for it. Instead, with the support of Regina, she applies for a Latina scholarship. Although I do get where she’s coming from the truth of the matter is she’s not actually Puerto Rican and it would be unfair if she did get the scholarship.

Also, Regina kind of flipped out on John and Kathryn when they offered to pay Daphne’s tuition but truthfully she was just upset that they could give Daphne something she couldn’t. In the end Regina realized that if there was an opportunity for Daphne to go to a good school and reach her dreams then Regina shouldn’t stand in the way. It was a great moment for them and I get where Regina’s coming from. It’s hard to raise your kid one way and then have someone swoop in and change the game but she definitely made the right choice. To have someone pay your tuition in full is a blessing not a charity.

Lastly, we got to see some great interactions between Mary Beth and Travis (I missed them!). The (cute) couple staked out a BBQ restaurant in the hopes of seeing Travis’ favorite football player, Derrick Coleman, the first deaf offensive player in the NFL. Awesome!

As they waited for Coleman to arrive Mary Beth and Travis ended up in a fight because Travis didn’t want to talk about his family and claimed that Mary Beth never wanted to talk about hers either so she shouldn’t push it. However the truth is Mary Beth felt Travis didn’t want to hear about her brother but she really does want to talk about it. After working it out Travis accepted that Mary Beth needed to talk about her brother even if it made her sad and Mary Beth accepted that Travis wasn’t ready to talk about his family just yet and then all was well in the world again. And of course Coleman did show up and it was fantastic.

That’s about it for this week. Toby comes back next week, yay! But someone gets hurt next week as well. Not yay. I have no guesses on who the person could be (just kidding it’s probably Wes) but it definitely will have something to do with the gun Regina’s getting. Oh, dear. I guess we’ll have to wait until next week to see how this all goes down. Check out the preview below.

Sources for GIF: ABCFamily and Tumblr

Switched at Birth Recap: “Like a Snowball Down a Mountain”

Posted on June 26, 2014June 27, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in TV

SO. MUCH. DRAMA.

This episode was very emotional and I loved every minute of it.

First, let’s begin with Tank finding out the truth behind Bay breaking up with him. Silly John had no idea he was reprimanding the wrong guy and poor Tank had to awkwardly find out his girlfriend cheated on him via her father. I felt so bad for Tank and all I wanted to do was run and give him a hug.

However, I’m glad the truth is out now and Bay can official move on to Emmett. Bemmett is back y’all! Well, for now anyway. Moving on.

Switched at Birth was actually able to surprise me this episode which is rare. Turns out Matthew wasn’t just pretending to be Mandy to get back at Emmett. Instead it actually went much deeper and the truth is he’s gay and has been crushing on Emmett for a while. Go figure.

I actually ended up feeling bad for Matthew as well because although what he did was still very messed up he’s also dealing with some really heavy stuff. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to have to hide such a big part of who you are. To then have people find out that you pretended to be a girl just so you could fake date some guy is even crazier and embarrassing.

Due to these circumstances Bay is able to convince Emmett not to tell the principal the truth about what happened with Matthew even though they were able to delete all the pictures and texts Matthew had. Instead Emmett reconciles with Matthew telling him that he’s going to let go and it’s all over. Not sure if they’ll ever be friends again (probably not) but at least there’s no drama and I’m sure Emmett has now learned his lesson about the dangers of sexting (although I still don’t get what he could’ve sent Matthew if it wasn’t a pic of his “junk” but I’ll leave it alone).

As per usual Daphne has gone through yet another boyfriend in less then a season (shocker!). To be fair it’s not Daphne’s fault that she has a line of boys at her peck and call and then once she picks one they up and leave. Or is it? Hmmm . . .

Either way once Daphne got the assistant job at the clinic and got a little bossy with Campbell he couldn’t handle and took her advice and applied for a higher position . . . at another clinic. Awkward. He then says that he doesn’t think he’ll be able to split his time at this new clinic and make time for her. Really Campbell? You can’t drive you car back to see your girlfriend every once in a while? You’ll be that busy? Okay, sure. More like you can’t handle the fact that Daphne’s moving up in the world. I never liked that guy (Jorge forever!). Anyway Campbell’s now out and God only knows who’ll be in next.

Kathryn is making great strides with her book or at least she was until Sarah Lazar decided to sue because Kathryn created a character based on her and the character is a slutty reporter who sleeps around. Ouch. As much as I get why Kathryn did it (I’m definitely not a Sarah Lazar fan) slut shamming is never okay. After having Regina talk some sense into her Kathryn makes a small effort to have the Sarah Lazar type character changed but to no avail. So with a deep sigh Kathryn leaves her book the way it is and it seems that will cause more problems later down the road but that’s a problem for next week’s episode.

Lastly, now that Angelo has moved in the Vasquez’s are a cute little happy family. Until Wes shows up. Neither Angelo nor Daphne are big fans of his, especially when he reveals he’s carrying a gun (Daphne wasn’t there for that but I know she wouldn’t be too happy about that). Although Regina is at first against the idea of using a gun as protection her paranoia and fear gets the best of her leading her to ask Wes to teach her how to shoot. Truthfully I think Regina has a right to be a little scared but I don’t think getting a gun is going to help the situation. I just hope no one gets shot. Let us pray.

It looks like next week is going to be a little less crazy but still filled with drama. Emmett might be moving (but probably not) and Kathryn confronts Sarah Lazar about a possible affair with John. Also Regina will once again question Daphne’s allegiance to the Vasquez family. Oh dear. Check out the promo below.

Source for photos/GIFs: ABCFamily and Tumblr

Book Review: Divergent

Posted on June 25, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Finally after being on the waitlist at my library (twice!) I finally got and read Divergent and yes it’s as awesome as everyone says.

Not wanting to see the film before reading the book I had to get my hands on the book that is apparently a phenomenon. I resisted at first because it just seemed like another Hunger Games and as much I loved that trilogy I didn’t want to read the same thing all over again.

Although there are obvious correlations between the two dystopian novels Divergent was, well divergent. The main character Beatrice (who later goes by Tris) is born into the Abnegation faction of her dystopian world. There are five factions and Abnegation is the selfless one, which is as boring as it sounds. Tris can only look in her mirror on special occasions and has to wear plain clothes so she doesn’t bring attention to herself. And that’s only scratching the surface of what being in Abnegation means. Not that they’re all bad just that I personally wouldn’t pick that faction.

When Tris takes her aptitude test to help her choose her faction she is told that she is divergent meaning she doesn’t fit perfectly into one faction but instead could belong to three different ones.

In our day being divergent would be just fine but during Tris’ time it’s really dangerous (not that Tris has any idea why but she figures it out). Tris then chooses to join the Dauntless (fearless) faction where she’s put to the test, both physically and mentally.

Of course there’s a love interest. His (nick)name is Four and I personally love him and thanks to the movie I only pictured him in my mind as the handsome Theo James.

Besides trying to survive Dauntless initiation (if Tris fails she becomes factionless which is our equivalent of being broke and on the streets) there’s a revolution forming. The Erudite (smarty pants) faction is rising up against Tris’ old faction (and the faction of her parents). The Erudite want power and they’re willing to do anything to get, even brain wash people.

Overall I love Tris. She’s got a lot on her plate but she handles everything pretty well. Plus it’s really fun to watch her struggle with the idea of physical contact. Truly though it was great to see her come out of her shell and become such a strong girl that comes very close to being fearless. Also her relationship with Four is awesome.

The only negative thing I would say about the book is it is pretty dark. I wasn’t expecting so many people to *spoiler alert* die in the first book of the trilogy. I guess I was still in my Hunger Games mentality and wasn’t expecting a battle until at least the second book. I was highly mistaken.

Still, as tearjerking as this book was I loved it can’t wait until I get the next one. I think I’m number 80 on the waitlist. Oh, dear.

Favorite Line: “Then I realize what it is. It’s him. Something about him makes me feel like I am about to fall. Or turn to liquid. Or burst into flames.”

Stars: 5 out of 5. I loved it!

Borrow or Buy: Definitely buy. I’m already planning on buying it so I’ll have it in my collection always.

Other Reviews:

The Book Smugglers

The Catholic Review of Books

Bitten and Written