Monthly Review: Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys

2 For what audience(s) is this book intended, and how can you tell? (In other words, for whom would you recommend this book?)

4 How would you describe the author's style of writing? What's your opinion of the style?
(You must include a passage or two from the text if you choose this question.)

8 Pick a character that interested you and write about them in depth. You can also analyze a relationship between two different characters.

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys is a fictional novel written by Kate Brian tells the story about a 16 years old junior army tomboy "brat" who has to live with (cute) 7 “Abercrombie God” boys while her parents have been transferred overseas to Korea for the military. Megan never actually had an ordinary life, having real best friends, or stayed at a place for no more than 3 years; her whole life consists of moving here and there from all over the world. This time, Megan has the decision to either stay here in the United States or move all the way to Korea with her parents. She decides to stay in the United States, but then she’s going to have to live with her dad’s friends’ family, the McGowans, which are in Massachusetts. Megan currently lives in Texas.

Megan wonders how things will be like living with 7 boys, and assuming that those boys are the kind of

boys with missing teeth, smeared faces of red Popsicle goo, beady little eyes laughing at her as they lured her behind their house to see their “puppy” and then lassoed her to a tree and hung her upside down. Greasy-haired, chubby-legged, evil little boys. Boys with worms in their pockets who ate gum off the ground and pulled her hair. P.6

Living with hot guys in one house doesn't mean that things will turn out so smoothly. Megan and her parents use to go visit the McGowans all the time back in the days, and she use to play with a few of those 7 boys too. They were nothing but trouble! Once Megan arrived at their house again, she see all the 7 boys outside in the yard playing ball with the younger sons. They all seem so magical to her as if she was in heaven. And she thought living with boys were nothing but trouble and disgusting greasy hands. Well boy was she ever wrong. All the boys… I mean, teenage boys are H-O-T!

Out of all the 7 McGowan boys, Megan, and Megan’s friends, I would have to say that Finn interested me the most. He’s the only guy that stood out in the story, to me anyways. He’s the 4th son in the family and he is super nice to Megan and he‘s practically her only friend out of all the 7 boys. Finn is an artist and he paints for fun. He hides in the shed in the backyard to paint and it’s sort of like his little studio. Throughout the whole story, Finn and Megan got closer and closer to each other that they were kissing each other in the shed!

Megan stopped [talking] suddenly - Finn’s face had gone all weird. He wasn’t smiling anymore. It seemed like he had stopped breathing… And then he leaned forward and kissed her… Megan froze. P. 224

Oh wow! So Megan wasted her whole time focusing on Evan, falling in love with Evan, tolerating with Hailey’s shit towards Megan, wanting to be with Evan, everything with Evan, that she totally missed out on the obvious. When Finn and Megan started talking, I knew for sure that Finn was such a nice guy and that they were going to get together anyways. I mean, when I didn’t even read this book yet, I kind of knew there were going to have a little bit of romance in it anyways; Megan living with 7 guys? Of course something was bound to happen. And I knew all along that Finn was going to be the guy that Megan have affections to. She was just too blind in the first place.
I also remember that when Megan was still new to living with them, all the boys got together in Evan’s room and talked about how to get rid of Megan, because they think now that she’s living with them, there are certain rules to follow, and Finn was in it too.

'This sucks,’ someone whispered. “Since when are they so big on us following the rules?' … 'We had this place wired tight, yo,' Doug sad. '…I say we ice her until she cracks. We make it so bad she’ll be beggin’ to jet to Korea.' Megan swallowed hard. Wasn’t anyone going to defend her? Finn? Evan? Anyone? P. 78

Well, Megan wasn’t so comfortable living with them just yet, and of course, since Finn is one of the guys in the family, he’s like practically one of them! So of course he has to be in with them. But Megan didn’t hear him say a word about what Doug had said. The next day, Megan told Finn what she had heard and then Finn said to not worry about it and don’t let his brothers get to her. Then he smiled at her and she smiled back.

I have to say that this book was absolutely entertaining and I can totally imagine all the scenes out perfectly and easily. The way Kate Brian writes in this book makes it like a teen’s book, even though it is one, but her style is just absolutely amazing. I don’t know how she made the dramatic part of the book so dramatic. I wish this could be a movie though. It would be so cool! And I can already think of all the actors to play out every single person from the novel. I wonder what it would be like if I had to live with 7 sons of all ages under one roof. This tomboy brat experienced a lot for the past year, living with those Abercrombie Gods. And it was pretty tough for her to go to a new school too, even though she’s use to it. But overall, I’m really impressed and I’m pretty satisfied after finished reading this book. I’d give this book a 10 out of 10 because of its uniqueness. Priscilla recommended this book to me actually, and I would recommend this book to any girl who likes reading book with school drama, adventure, and a little bit of a cheesy romance. This book is really easy to read and I know for sure that if I have some extra money, I’m seriously going to walk down to Borders and buy more of Kate Brian’s books. Recently, I’ve checked online to see if there are any other information about Kate Brian and her books and I’ve come across her website called Private and it consists of online web series of her book Private. It looks pretty cool although I didn’t watch a clip just yet. I want to know if there is a sequel to Megan Meade’s Guide to the McGowan boys though. If so, I would get it right away!

Last Weekly Blog Post

So I just found out this is the last weekly blog post of the year. It’s pretty sad, because I remember the very first time that I made a Blogger in classroom 204. Ever since school started on August 31st until today May 21st, I’ve made so many memories with old friends and new friends. Not only in school but outside of school too. So many memories are running through my mind now. I mean, where do I start? I guess I can just say whatever pops into my mind. I can say for a fact that I’ve been parting away with some close friends and eventually I made new friends this year too. I’ve gotten closer with some friends I don’t even talk to that much as well and that was a good thing. High school is half way over.
According to today’s senior talent show assembly, us sophomores have 700 something more days of school until we graduate. It’s really scary how time is flying by so fast though. I’m really not ready to grow up just yet, not matter how much I really want to move out of this annoying and loud house of mine. This year, I’ve had a lot of problems with my family, especially the people I live with; my parents and grandpa. I remember when I was little, only my parents use to have arguments with each other, and it didn’t even involve my grandpa, and now it did. It’s really sad and messed up. But there’s nothing I can do about it, because to them, I’m just an immature teen who doesn’t even know anything yet.
I remember in elementary school, I use to have these silly fights with my friends and we don’t talk to each other for at few days; I remember the longest was a week, and it felt like forever. Now when I think about it, all those fights were really silly, but we were only in what, 3rd? 5th grade. What do you expect, right?
When middle school started, I don’t think I had an argument with any of my friends. And also I was new to Alameda and it was never my intention to start some random argument with my friends and then start ignoring each other. But the only worse thing today is just being apart from friends that I normally talk to in middle school. But it’s okay, we still have contact with each other and whenever we see each other we still smile and wave to each other so that’s still a good thing.
Right now, I’m thinking all the times I had throughout 16 years of living my life. I can’t believe 16 years have passed so quickly. Another 16 years will pass by again and then I will be 32 years old. Oh no! I’m going to be so old! I can’t even picture myself that old! Maybe I can sort of picture myself being 20 something and graduate college already, but 32? No I don’t think I can imagine that just yet.
Just the thought about the 16 years that have passed by and thinking about the other 10 years that will come soon is very scary. I have a feeling that junior year and senior year will pass by fast too.
Sophomore year was amazing. I have to say it was better than freshmen year. It was a lot easier too for some reason. Isn’t it suppose to be the other way around? I still couldn’t believe I had a 2.6 last year but this year I practically have all A’s! This is unbelievable. Even though I know for a fact that junior year and senior year will go by super fast, I still hope that I will have straight A’s again!
So until … whenever … I’ll continue to keep living my life to the fullest! With my friends, family, boyfriend, and who else is there? New friends! You will never know what kind of surprise we will encounter in our path. There will be ups and downs, but hey! That’ just life, right?

Lit Circle #3: Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys

In part 3 of Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys, the part I think is interesting is when Megan went to Christian Todd’s party. Almost all the juniors and seniors were there. A few of the McGowan boys were there too. Megan, usually a tomboy, dressed all up and looked girly for once just for this party. She also wore pink too.
Since Evan and his girlfriend Hailey were having trust issue with each other, well more like Hailey were having trust issues with Evan, Evan told Megan it wasn’t a good idea if they went inside the house together because people will start assuming things and Hailey will get even more pissed. Megan’s heart dropped and she just ran out of the car and ran inside the house, feeling like she was going to tear. When she went inside, she saw her friends and wandered around the party. The girls started dancing randomly to the music. Megan was actually having fun. She’s never been to anything like this before and this was actually pretty fun for her. Megan dancing with her new friends caught her off guard. She still have like a little crush for Evan. When she saw the front door open, Hailey was there, being all drunk. Her outfit made her look like a slut. She was wearing a black tube top and short shorts that can practically be her panties.
There were many guys surrounding her and her arm was around one guy’s neck for support. Evan went over to her and Megan saw them talking. Evan’s look was disappointed and Hailey was yelling at him. Then she ran out the back door. Megan knew that Evan was upset. Evan then went to a bedroom and laid there for a bit, thinking. Megan went inside because she thought it was a bathroom. When she was about to leave, Evan told her to come in and they both had a talk. While they were talking, Megan felt that Evan was really going to kiss her because his face was going near his face. Just then, Hailey smashed open the door against the wall because she want to have a talk when she started assuming things. She thought that just because Evan and Megan were in a bedroom together, they’d start banging each other, because Hailey got mad. Then what happens after? Some people caught Doug McGowan banging Hailey behind a tree outside.
When I read those few lines I really have to say that Hailey is such a dramatic whiny ass bitch who needs to stop assuming shit if she don’t have good solid proof. And she definitely does not deserve Evan. He’s too good for her. I honestly believe that Evan would do a lot better if he wasn’t with Hailey. Hailey don’t even consider Evan’s feelings and think that banging another guy will make everything better. And worse of all, Doug is Evan’s little brother. And when Evan found out, he beat up Doug so badly that he had to go to the hospital. At least Megan was there for Evan when he needed a shoulder to cry on, when he needed someone to talk things out with, when he needed a friend, a true friend.

Rules of Love?

Rules of Love? Do we really need rules if we want to be in a relationship with someone? Can't we just do whatever we want? Well obviously not! In my opinion, there are certain rules that must be followed when you're in a relationship. I know, right? Rules? I thought rules are suppose to be followed in school but we can do whatever we want outside of school. If you think that, then you're totally wrong.
Rules, or should I say, "common sense", is the ability to know what's right from wrong and know the obvious. Some of the most important rules in a relationship is obviously no lying, no cheating, don't do whatever that will hurt your boyfriend/girlfriend. I think those are the major rules you have to follow.
But for most people, people will already follow those rules, because they are smart enough to not do that. Being in a relationship, or I mean, in love means that you actually care for that person and that you will practically do anything for them. Maybe not anything but at least it shows that you care for that special love one. When you're in a relationship, it's when you're in a committed relationship and that you won't play around with their hearts and feelings.
What happens if you break these rules? Why would you even break these rules? Why would you even lie and cheat? Are they not enough? Are they not good enough? Are you some kind of player or slut who needs multiple girls or guys to be satisfied? Think about the other person for once! Once you break these rules, you break their heart and that is not a good thing to do. What happens if they're stupid enough to kill themselves? And it's all your fault. If you can't handle that person, you can't handle being in a committed relationship.
Nice girls? Nice guys? Do they even exist nowadays? I suppose back then in the 1980's or so, they did have nicer people but today? I don't think we have any of those people anymore. I mean I guess people can be nice and friendly and all but honestly saying, everyone can be selfish, rude, jealous, and what not in their own ways. Some things that nice girls won't do is be confident about herself and that guys will probably take advantage of her. Some things that nice guys won't do is treat girls like shit.
These rules aren't invented by anybody. There's no book of rules of love written by someone. People have different expectations of rules and how they want someone to treat them. It actually depends on their personality. But all you need is just common sense... or else you're not ready to be in a relationship.

summer vacation;; iron man 2;; tired

I can't believe this year is almost over. 20 more school days. 4 more weeks. This is absurd! Almost 180 days have passed already? I really have to say this year went by FAST! Faster than freshman year!! Is it because all my classes this year is really easy and it felt like I didn't have t0 do much work? No, I had to do a lot of work even if the classes or teachers are easy or not. I remember in my previous blog posts, I researched about the end of the world, earthquakes, and stuff and I remember that one of the earthquakes, (I think the one from Cuba or was it Chile? I don't know, I'll look back to at it later, because I'm in my 3rd period class right now; computers, and the bell is about to ring so I'll check later) that it made the earth's rotation go by faster than usual!
Oh this is just crazy! Watch, in a blink of an eye, I will be 21 years old already. Gosh why is time flying so fast? I mean ... I sort of like it going by fast but then again, I don't want to grow up so quickly! I'm gonna have so much responsibilities to take care of.
But what I'm super excited right now is summer vacation! I haven't traveled that much for these last few summers because we don't really have enough money right now due to building a new house at our back yard! So this summer, I'll be doing the same as last summer, which is going to take a class at Laney for 6 weeks and hang out with friends.
Last year, I took Chinese 1 with Katherine. This summer I will be taking pre calculus with analytical geometry with Leon, my friend Brian, Ryan, Melissa, and some more people. I also heard a whole bunch of San Leandro High School students are taking that class in the morning too from one of my friends.
Okay, right now it is exactly 8:41 PM. I just came back from watching Iron Man 2 with Leon. Asmita and Alejandra was there too. Iron Man 2 was pretty good. It was funny too. Some friends told me the first movie was better and the second movie was only funny and there wasn't that much action in it. Other friends said it was just as cool as the first one. And some more friends said it sucked. In my opinion, I think it was pretty good. I like the first and second one. The movie was 2 hours long but it seemed shorter. I guess I was too into the movie that I didn't realize how fast time was flying. After the movie, Leon and I went to Quickly to get milk tea. It was around 7 something by that time.
My mom called me and she asked where I am and she wanted me to come home. So Leon waited for the bus to go to Fruitvale bart to bart back home. I walked towards home and I saw my mom walking towards AMPM. She wanted to buy a lottery ticket. After that, we walked back home, ate dinner, went on the computer to finish my blog posts.
I am really exhausted. This week was a long and tiring week. I already reached the limit here so I will finish up my lit circle, take a shower, then have a good night's sleep.
:]

Lit Circle #2: Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys

In part 2 of Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys, Megan started school already and she was kind of struggling. Well, more than just struggling. She encountered some troubles. So we all know that Megan likes the senior, Evan. Well, actually, she doesn’t really like him that much. She just think he’s hot and good looking and stuff. Plus Evan has a girlfriend named Hailey Farmer, also known as “Queen Bitch Farmer” according to her younger sister Aimee Farmer. Hailey and Aimee are both in the soccer team that Megan tried out for. Megan was actually pretty good. Hailey got pissed and was jealous because she thought Megan was good too. So starting from that point, Hailey started giving Megan the cold shoulder.
After soccer practice, Evan went to the field and waved at Megan and Hailey completely ran up to him and started making out with him. All the girls’ felt disgusted. Megan felt her heart drop. Evan called for Megan to go home. Hailey felt kind of insecure now knowing they live with each other.
That night, Evan and his friends are going out to the lagoon to watch planes take off. Evan invited Megan. When they got there, Megan saw Hailey there. Of course she would be there… When Evan left Megan and Hailey alone for a bit, Megan tried to start a friendly conversation with Hailey.

“So, Hailey, what was the team’s record lasts year?” she asked. “We won more than we lost,” Hailey said, pushing her hands into the front pockets of her tight jeans. “Why? Worried the team’s not good enough for you?”
Megan stared at her. “No. I’m just making conversation.”
“Well, we made it to counties, but we didn’t win the final…Of course, Coach thinks that with you around, it’ll happen this year.”
“Thanks,” Megan said.”
“I said, ‘Coach thinks.’”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“What?”
“Did I do something? I mean, to offend you?” Megan asked. “All I’m trying to do is settle in at a new school, maybe make some friends, play a little soccer. But you seem to really not like me.”
Megan held her breath, unable to believe that her thoughts had actually come out in a semi-coherent way. For a split second, Hailey’s face softened and Megan realized that the girl was really pretty when she didn’t have her scowl on. She even looked like she was going to say something semi-human. Then Evan broke away from the crowd with his beers and Hailey saw him coming. She glanced at Evan, then at Megan, and reached out her arm to him.
“Come on, baby,” she said, latching onto his side. “Let’s go find someplace a little more private.”

So from this giant blurb from the part two, I have to say that Hailey really does despise Megan. I’m guessing it’s because Hailey is jealous. One, because Megan is super good at soccer, and Hailey had to be a little bit more aggressive to be a little bit better than Megan, just a little bit. Megan being good at soccer kind of ticks Hailey a bit, so Hailey had to be a show off. Two, because Megan lives with a whole bunch of hot boys, and especially living with her boyfriend that Hailey feels insecure about the whole thing.

For this part of part 2, I think since Hailey is in the same soccer team as Megan. And since Megan is new to the state, and the school, Hailey really shouldn’t be a total bitch towards her. Just because she’s good at soccer and lives with 7 boys doesn’t mean she’s all that. It probably seems like it, like I guess I can tell Hailey thinks that Megan is probably a show off slut but Megan is actually a tomboy. To be honest, Hailey is the one who’s like a slut. Hailey really should think twice before she starts talking more shit about Megan and criticizing her. She should be more like the other girls in the soccer team; make her feel welcome to the new school, the new place, and have her catch up on stuff.

Lit Circle #1: Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys

For this last lit circle, I will be reading Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys written by Kate Brian. Priscilla recommended this book to me and so far, I like it a lot. This book should become a movie someday because I honestly think it's not that hard to film or direct. Anyways, from what I read so far in the story, Megan Meade, a typical tomboy Junior army girl and her parents move from place to place all over the world. Megan Meade currently lives in Texas and one day her parents told her they were going to move to South Korea. Megan felt like she has finally found a home to live in and she wants to stay here for her whole life so she told her parents No, she's not moving again, she's staying here.

She had a real best friend, Tracy Dale-Franklin. And this year, on the first day of school, she was going to talk to Ben Palmer. Finally, finally talk to him. She even had the outfit all picked out and had practiced her greeting three hundred and fifty-one times in front of the mirror. This was suppose to be The Year of Megan. Why was this happening?

Her parents decided that she can stay in the United States, but she's going to have to live with their friends, the John and Regina McGowan and their seven boys who lives in Massachusetts. Megan and her best friend Tracy talked through instant messaging. Tracy reminds me of a preppy drama chick who loves fashion, shopping, and cute boys. She even told Megan to make a guide book about what it's going to be like living with seven guys "where testosterone is the king and she is an outcast."

When she arrived at their house, the boys were outside playing. There were so many of them and they "have been touched by Abercrombie gods". Megan finally noticed this guy who's super hot and has six-pack abs. His smile sent shivers right through Megan's core. He had shaggy blond hair, a square chin, and the most perfect shoulder muscles Megan had ever seen. He went over to help Megan with her bags. He introduced him; Evan. Megan got so surprised because she remembers Evan when they were little. Evan use to be this really pudgy, stringy haired, snot bubble blowing little boy, but now he's like a GOD.

The rest of the boys introduced themselves when they got into the house. So there are Evan, the senior; Doug, the 2nd to oldest son who reminds me of a gangster; Miller, 3rd son who has Asperger's Syndrome. Finn, the nice guy; Sean, who loves motorcycles; Ian and Caleb are the youngest who goes through Megan's stuff and trouble makers.

Megan starts school with the boys and things are sort of better at school. To her it’s just “a piece of cake”. But trying to survive a house full of boys is just complicated.

Giving up something for 48 hours

If I could give up anything for 48 hours, I would choose my laptop. You have no idea how many hours I spend on my laptop everyday right when I come home from school. Usually I check my facebook, chat with people on AIM, and of course do my homework. Even though there aren't that many things to do on Face Book, I'm still on it a log. That is why it takes me so long to finish my homework, when it doesn't really take that long to finish.
A few years ago, probably when I was in middle school, I always go online to watch those really cheesy Asian dramas every single day. During the summer, when I didn't have summer school, when I stayed home all summer, the first thing I do when I wake up was turn on my computer, sign on AIM, and watch Asian dramas. I think I watched about 4 dramas that summer. I'm surprised my eye sight is still perfect. But right now, I don't even have time to watch dramas anymore.
For these past years, I've been going on the computer a lot. So I would like to try this little experiment soon, just to see what the results would be like. To do so, I really need to put my laptop somewhere where I won't be able to reach to. I guess I can give it to my mom and she can take it to her to work for the whole day until when she comes back home which is around 6PM. But that doesn't mean that when she comes back I can go on my laptop!

I think I really am addicted to my laptop. It would be kind of hard because this is like a typical routine I do every single day. What would I do though? Well I can get my homework finished early and I'd probably have a few hours of free time before I go to bed (during the weekday). I can probably practice my piano! I have piano lessons every Saturday and I don't really practice that much... because I'm always on the computer! (Duh). Also I can probably read a book. What about during the weekend? I would have so much free time. Maybe I can go out and take a walk? My parents probably won't even let because they think it's "dangerous". But if I go with friends then I will be able to go! Maybe during the weekend, my family and I should go out to have a picnic somewhere. When I was little, we use to have picnics at Bay Farm. We should have that more often.
Now when I think about it, I think I would prefer to not go on my laptop for like a week. I've been on it too much for all these years and I want to do something nice and useful. I don't want to just sit there staring at a screen for 7+ hours. And despite the fact that I still have perfect eye sight, I might not have perfect eye sight when I will be older! I don't even like wearing glasses anyways, and by going on the computer a lot, I will be wearing glasses soon.
Because I am addicted to going on the computer just to go on Face Book and chat on AIM with friends and go on You Tube, I am so glad that I am not addicted to any sort of video games. A lot of my friends tried to convince me to play video games with them like Maple Story, Witch of Warcraft, Modern Warfare, Call of Duty and other kinds of fighting/shooting games, that I don't even know if girls play. But I said no, because I don't even like playing video games. I don't even have a DS or PSP or Wii or anything. If I do play those games a lot, then I will be in serious trouble. But I'm glad I'm not. And I really do think I can not use the computer for 48 hours. Or more. Maybe. I should try it and I'll blog about what it's like.