KT Blog 3: Shadow Fall

Okay, I'm going to kinda write this in a book format-type-deal-thingy. Lol.

- Book Name: Shadow Fall (Book one in the Shadow Fall Series)
- Author: Audrey Grey
- Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Dystopia, I'd say kind of a thriller, and some romance.
- A crazily detailed description/summary: (CAUTION! I'm kind of a spoiler. Some of the summary might be spoilers, I'll try not to, but I sometimes just put it there without realizing that it's a potential spoiler, but I'll try my best to not spoil too much while still telling a lot about the story) Since we got that out of the way, let's go!
~
Maia Graystone has lived in the Pit for years, surviving only by digging holes, earning herself the name Digger Girl, and with measly scraps of food. It's a game of predator and prey in the Pit, roaming with murders and psychopaths. One wrong move and you'll be eaten alive, literally. The Pit is below Rhine prison, it's residents deemed “non-helpful” to society and of low income. As if being trapped in the Pit wasn't bad enough, the world is only days away from being struck by an asteroid that will likely kill everyone. But of course, the Emperor and his Gold Court will be perfectly safe at their space station, watching from the stars. The Silvers will be protected underground, in a deep sleep. But the Bronzes? They'll have to fight to survive.

When a mysterious benefactor offers Maya the chance to compete in the Shadow Trials to win a spot on the space station for herself and her little brother, she takes it. She'll have to completely change her identity and do the unthinkable to win. Partnered with a psychopath from the Pit, allies of the benefactor who seem to have an agenda of their own, and a locked memory of what her late father was trying to accomplish before he was brutally murdered, she doesn't know who to trust, let alone how to win the Shadow Trials.
~
My thoughts: I honestly really liked this story. I've already read the second book, Shadow Rise, and the third book should be coming out sometime this year. I got the book free through Kindle Unlimited on Amazon. (When you read WAY too much). In my opinion, it was kinda better than the Divergent and Maze Runner series. The story just felt so real. And a little terrifying, truthfully. But I really liked this book and I would definitely recommend it.

I'm out!

~Katie Towery

KT Blog 2: BTS

Heya! I need to start putting alarm clocks or something to remember to write these blogs. Anyways... have you guys heard of BTS? (I'm promoting, don't hate) They're a K-Pop group (South Korean). They consist of 7 amazing members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. My favorite is Suga, known as a bias in the K-Pop world, and BTS as a whole are all bias wreckers. They just released their new album, Love Yourself 'Tear', with their title song "Fake Love,” (Click song name to listen to song) which continues the story from their Wings and Love Yourself “Her” albums. RM quote from an interview when asked to explain their song “Fake Love”: “How can you love the things and people that surround you, if you can't love yourself?” The man can be pretty deep…(I say this, but I'm literally talking about the same guy that in their “BTS are interviewed with puppies” interview one of the puppies accidentally pees on the floor and he had to make the pun that’s why they are called puppies.. pup-pees. Lol)

They've won many awards since debuting in 2013, 12 this year, actually! They won the award for Top Social Artist at the BBMAs twice this year, and have been nominated for 4 awards in the RDMAs. (Army, fandom name, were also nominated for an award at the RDMAs: Squad Goals)

Anyways, if you want a more English Song (The whole song pretty much besides the first part) "Mic Drop" Steve Aoki remix would be a good choice for you. (Click link on name to listen to song)

And if you think it's silly that I posted something like this, let me just state something. Have you listened to "Despacito"? That song is literally in SPANISH, and you're telling me you can't be open to Korean? But your opinion, I guess. I just felt like ranting for a minute.

Okay, I think that's close enough to the word count. (I honestly just put this to add more words). I'll probably do another blog about BTS, I can't help it, they literally just about took over my whole life. I'll probably even add more kpop groups as I go. So yeah, I'm out!

~Katie Towery

Blog 3 by Eli G

Back at the beginning of January, I finally got the chance to see one of my idols. It was my all time favorite NASCAR driver Carl Edwards. Carl had been racing in NASCAR since about 2003 or 2004. He started out in NASCAR's truck series where he won his first race at Daytona. He went on the next couple of years to race part time with Roush Fenway Racing. In 2005 he landed a full time ride with the team and had a full time sponsor too. He also raced in the Busch Series, what is now the Xfinity Series. Carl had a very consistent career. He stayed with Roush Fenway up until the 2015 season. He then switched over to Joe Gibbs Racing. He put together two really nice seasons in the number 19 Arris Toyota. In 2008, 2011, and 2016 he came so close to winning the championship. In 2008 he won about 8 or 9 races. In 2011, he only won one race but the championship ended up being the closest finish in the championship ever. Him and Tony Stewart were tied at the end of the race but the championship went to Stewart because he had more wins on the year. 2016 was a heartbreaker. Carl had 3 wins on the year. His last coming in Texas. He dominated the championship race but with 13 to go a caution came out. A late race restart caused Carl to wreck out of the championship battle. Sadly that was the last time he would be in a car. With about a month away from the start of the season, Carl decided to retire. That's why I was able to meet one of my lifelong idols on January 6th in Springfield. It was awesome though because I got his autograph and got to talk to him. He is probably the nicest person in the world. I got to watch him be inducted into the Ozark Racers Hall of Fame. It was truly something that I will never forget.

Lexi B’s Blog #3

What’s up, my fellow intelligent classmates? I almost forgot about this until about 2 days ago. I decided to do a blog, but I couldn’t log in on my computer. Thanks, Google for wanting to protect our gmail account, but you’re seriously being a pain in the butt. So, here am I, 8 on a Saturday night writing a blog post for school. What a loser, am I right? Anyways, my summer has been spent either by a pool or babysitting my step brother. It’s only June, and this summer has lasted what seems like a lifetime. I suppose I should make this summer super fantastic considering we have one more summer of high school after this one. For example, today, I woke up at the wonderful time of 6:45 am (gross, I know). I went with my dad to get his oil changed. After this, we went and took my granny shopping. We then ate and went swimming. I spent the rest of my day babysitting. Try not to be too horribly jealous of my day. I just hope you guys are having the summer of your lives! This means laughing until you can’t breath and making memories that last you a lifetime. I know I have already made quite a few memories.This also means to stay safe. Every single time you get in a vehicle, buckle up. It doesn’t matter if you’re going right down the street or to the beach put that seatbelt on! Seatbelts will literally save your life. Also, wear sunscreen!! I can’t stress how important it is to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Failure to wear sunscreen can cause skin cancer and wrinkles. I know you probably don’t care about wrinkles considering we’re not even adults yet, but one day you will care about wrinkles! I always see these commercials for anti-aging and de-wrinkling creams, but you don’t have to worry about wrinkles if you take care of your skin now! Please stay safe this summer and make this one the best one yet. Make good decisions, kiddos!!

Blog #2 - Carmen Campbell

Alrighty guys wassup?? It feels like we haven’t been outta school for the time we have, and i’ve literally been spending ever waking moment in the sun. Proll gonna get skin cancer before the age of 20 but it’s fine at least i won’t be pale for the rest of my life. but on a serious note my dudes me and my sister have been arguing like cats and dogs because she thinks she’s the mother hen and can stick her two sense in. how rude, i know right?! on the other hand my whole working out thing hasn’t been working out (hahaha that’s funny bc ike it’s called working out but it’s not “working out” okay sorry back to my story) mostly for the reason being that i get such a work out cleaning around the house and outside i don’t feel like doing it, so maybe i am getting a working just not the way i see it. besides from these blogs i have been writing personal journals. doing this makes it so easy to over come and get over things in my opinion. it lets things out of your brain and on to a piece of paper where you can reflect on everything. it’s a great idea if you wanna not be so cranky or anger about something. other than my life, summers been great and i honestly thinks it’s gonna be the best one yet. i wish the same for everyone else and hope that it is safe but still manageable fun. so ima go now but once again i don’t know how many words i have so theres a chance ima ramble, haha look i am. okay bye. peace out girls<3 oh and p.s. i know no one cares but i only have 284 words but i cracked my phone but it’s fine because it’s just the screen protector, i almost started crying when i thought it wasn’t. okay bye now:))

Blog #4 One Direction - Brittany Fulcher

Hey guys! I am having a boring day, so I thought why not write a blog and have one less to worry about. This is gonna be a short rant about my favorite band ever. It probably seems childish, but I do not care about your opinion. One Direction is a great band even if they all have solo careers now. I started listening when the first album came out, which was Up All Night. That is when I first realized I liked to listen to their music. So when the other four albums came out, I listened to them just as much. I like each of the band members, even Zayn after he left the band. Harry has always been my favorite though. The songs are great and I listen to them all the time. I love most of them, some are not my favorite, but I still listen. The ones that I like most include some of the most known songs such as One Thing, Little Things, What Makes you Beautiful, Midnight Memories, and If I Could Fly. My other favorites are not as known or appreciated. They are Love You Goodbye, Truly, Madly, Deeply, Happily, Don’t Forget Where You Belong, Fool’s Gold, and Stockholm Syndrome. Of course I like plenty of the other songs, but those are some of the top ones on my list. Their solo careers are great too. Harry, Niall, and Zayn have all released albums. Louis and Liam have released several singles. I like their solo music just as much as their music together.
Okay, so I am not sure if this is three hundred and fifty words, but I tried. I would keep going, but my phone keeps losing service. Hope you enjoyed listening to my small rant. Just be happy it was not more because I could go on and on about this group. As you can see now I am rambling, desperate to get the word count needed. I will stop now.
Bye guys :) Continue enjoying your summer! - Brittany Fulcher

Blog 2 by Eli G

I have been watching my favorite MLB team the Texas Rangers since about 2009. I would say I have been a loyal fan throughout all these years. I have stuck with them through their tough years of finishing below .500 and through their strong years of making the World Series. In 2010, the Rangers put together a really strong year. They finished the regular season with a record of 90-72. They won their division which is the AL West. Their season was strong enough that they kept it running into the postseason. They flew through the ALDS and ALCS. They were set to take on the San Francisco Giants in the Fall Classic. Unfortunately they lost to the Giants in a close and entertaining series. The following season in 2011 was an even stronger season. Their record at the end of the regular season was 97-65. It was the second best record in the American League behind the New York Yankees. Again that season they made the World Series and took on the St. Louis Cardinals. Yet again that series was great. It is known as one of the best in history. The series went 7 games and yet again ended with a loss. In 2012, the Rangers proved again that they could be a threat for the championship. They ended the season with a record of 93-69. Their playoff hopes ended early when they lost in the Wildcard game to the Orioles. After that they haven't been the same. Their worst season was 2014. In 2015 and 2016 they made it to the ALDS. 2017 was not strong at all. 2018 is starting the same way too. - Eli G