This blog is Najwa’s personal writing, recommendations, analysis, trope discussions, opinions, stories, reviews on books, music, TV shows and movies.

Sunday, 18 November 2018

Scarlett and the twin sister problem.

“No way! Are you wearing that to the ultimate surfing competition?” asked Avery, my twin sister, glaring at the ‘Cooking Club Shirt’.
“Yeah, what’s the big problem?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. I looked down.
“You know this is the nationals and I don’t want my family to be lame supporters,” said Avery, her arms folded.
“Here comes another tantrum,” I mumbled.
“You seriously need to get a grip, Scarlett or you will be totally out of hand when you’re a teenager,” said Avery. “Anyway, I’m off, Kiera’s waiting for me.” As soon as Avery left, I slumped down on my bed…

Ever since I quit surfing, me and Avery have drifted apart. We used to hang out together, have the same interests, and laugh at the popular kids. We used to be Twin Sisters. After I started doing different things, Avery acted snobby. She acted as the popular kids were royalty. We didn’t have the same interests. We hardly even talked to each other at school, let alone play together. I wish we could be the twin sisters we used to be. I shook away my thoughts and stood up. I had to figure out a solution, it needed to be stopped…

I trundled downstairs, to find a solution but to find Mum yelling on the phone.
All I could hear was ‘Ave, no surfing, get a grip,'
Ave was what my Mum called Avery. She calls me Carly.
“We’ll work something out,” yelled Mum, before slamming her phone on the table. She turned around.
“Hey Carly, didn’t see you there, Avery’s surfing comp got put on hold because the lifeguards had an accident and we need to help raise money,” said Mum.
‘Oh great, another problem’ I thought.
“And…” hesitated Mum. “I thought it will be a lovely opportunity for you and Avery to make a bond,” she said.
“But that won’t work,” I practically scream in my head.
"But it won't work," I say calmly, but on the inside I was fuming. 
"Remember Sisters are sisters through thick and thin, remember, you might have lost each other once, but you're still twin sisters,"Mum reminds me. It was what Mum used to tell me and Avery when we had mini-fights like who got the last chocolate bar.
But the idea of my Mum’s ‘fundraising’ idea was worse than I thought.…

“Why are you getting your hands dirty?” asked Avery, wrinkling her nose.
“That’s what you’re supposed to do,” I said, mixing the dough. I couldn’t believe Mum said I had to cook with Avery.
“Why are you so mean,?” said Avery, sticking out her tongue.  
“Sorry, but I’m not a mature buffoon like you.” I replied, putting the dough in the oven.
“Look, I’m sorry about how I acted since high school, I was just stupid,” said Avery, staring out to the distance.
“What, like always?” I say but I stop when I see Avery, arms folded, “Sorry, it’s been a long time since you didn’t be mean.” I said.
“I’d thought you’d never forgive me,” said Avery hugging me. “Ewwww, dough alert,” said Avery stepping back and laughing. 
“Sisters are sisters through thick and thin, remember, we might have lost each other once, but we’re still twin sisters,” I said, smiling at the joke Mum told me.
“Gee, I wonder where you heard that,” teased Avery.
Then we laughed, we were back to normal.


Wednesday, 10 October 2018

Review- Kensy and Max: Disappearing Act

The second book of Kensy and Max, written by Jacqueline Harvey, was exciting because they got to go on their very first mission with Autumn and Carlos. I wish I had a watch like them. Every time they decode a new message, I'm always so excited about what it's going to say! I think Max's is right about Uncle Rupert. He's uncanny. At the start of the book when they did that maze competition, I would not want to get hit by those bullets. I love all the gadgets that they use. The most useful one for me would probably be the hairclip that Kensy wears. Useful for picking locks. The most exciting moment would be the chasing and running away from the people in the orphanage. I still can't believe that they met their mum and dad again even if it was for a few minutes. I still don't understand how Lola's mother doesn't know that Lola's father is a... Diavolo. Wait, does she know? Out of Kensy and Max's gifts, I like Max's better. I love code-cracking. I don't have a photographic memory for anything, but I have an uncanny thing where I can remember book conversations. Like out of nowhere, I can remember things from other books that I've read like 2 months ago.

A thing I didn't like was on Chapter 2 when they were split in 2's and had to find their own way to Dame Spencer's country estate in North Yorkshire, it didn't say anything about how they managed to get there.

When Mr Nutting said 'Your lucky I'm not in the mood for blood tonight, girls,' did he actually mean blood? When Misha left Lola, it said Lola attached herself to Hattie. Is Hattie, Harriet? Are all the next books going to have that case note that Fitz wrote? In the case note it said Kensy and Max were admitted Agents-In-Training at eleven years and one month. Does that mean they had their birthday one month ago? Did their parents disappear in that one month? It said they they were entered in formal training on 17 November, how long was that before they were admitted agents in training?

Overall, I think this book is Awesome and a great book for kids to read. I think it would be suitable for kids age 9+. I love this book so much, I give it ⭐⭐⭐🌟/ 5 stars.

Friday, 7 September 2018

Everything is possible and that matters

Everything is possible. I know that's true. A girl once said... If I can’t dream something and make it work, what’s the point in even having a dream? We spend 47% of our lives daydreaming. Unbelievable! We spend that much time thinking and we don’t even know it. People say that dreams are way too hard to accomplish, so why don’t we try to achieve it by working harder? If your friends are telling you, you won’t accomplish that dream, then don’t listen to them. We need to follow what we want to do and not what they want us to do... We should all know there’s a solution to everything, we just have to make it possible.

People give up on their dreams… they give up on things like university because they don’t want to practise much and end up slacking off. People need to build up, get stronger and accomplish whatever they do, don’t just stand there and watch. ‘Birds don’t just fly, they fall down and get up’ - Shakira. You don’t just give up, keep on going and you’ll reach the top. Kids need to stop giving up and need to start trying again. If everyone gave up, then we wouldn’t have anything! We wouldn’t have doctors, nurses, dentists, authors or pretty much anything. A journey of a thousand miles starts with one single step. All those careers start with you as kids, it starts with us being kids, the journey begins with that step… Kids. We want the world to know your there, to show them your talent and it all starts with a kids dream...

We daydream (or mind wander) on 2 levels: 1. When we realize we’re of task or 2. When we don’t realize we’re drifting off. Grown ups often say daydreaming is bad, as it takes you from your learning but it actually helps you learn better. Imagine if we couldn’t daydream, have an imagination… How would you feel? You couldn’t dream about a new Ipad or a new television to replace your old, broken one. You don’t have an imagination. Everyone should have one, even you. So get out of a screen and reach out for your dreams. I know who’s hiding from the real world… Just to play some boring, old video games. ;-)

If you're too scared to do your dream because of some of your friends saying ‘no’ and ‘don’t do it’. Then what’s the point of even being friends with them if you can’t even follow what you want. ‘It's hard to stand up to your enemies but it's even harder to stand up to your friends’ - Harry Potter. I know saying no is hard to say to your friends but is it really worth it to not be friends with that person or not having a job or money and any where to live. See the difference?   
So, just remember no matter how big or small your dream is, you can always make it and it's always possible... You can dream a story, a new life, it's up to you to dream your dream. What are you dreaming now? 👍

The writing above that I wrote, has been enter in the "What Matters Competition"


Saturday, 4 August 2018

The Spider Prank

Quincy Quack tripped over her schoolbag. Her feathers were a mess and she didn’t have any breakfast. She slammed the door of her bedroom and waddled downstairs. She squawked ‘hello’ to her parents before flying out the door. After a few minutes, Quincy opened the door again looking sheepish. She forgot her schoolbag! After a few minutes searching the kitchen, she found some money for lunch as well. Then she flew out the door again, well not before checking she had everything. 

As Quincy reached the bus stop just in time, she spotted her best friend, Sally Squawk and flew over. They squawked the greetings and talked about their epic weekends. Sally had been river-rafting, while Quincy had got some Roller-skates and Roller-skating lessons. Sally laughed when Quincy told her that she fell over so many times that she got a bruise shaped like a roller-skate! 

As the Quack-bus drove towards them. Quincy noticed a cool-looking group of ducklings at the far side of the bus stop. Selina Squabble was among the group. Selina didn’t just get her last name for no reason. She squabbled A LOT! She was the most popular Duckling in Duck-School. Quincy and Sally glared at her. Selina had a reputation for being a bad-tempered duckling. Quincy entered the Quack-bus with Sally on her tail. They got the seats at the front. Soon, a dark shadow covered them…

“Hey! You guys look who it is, Scaredy Sally and Baby Quincy,” laughed Selina, brushing her feathers. Then she and her two minions, Violet and Sky flew out to get some seats at the back.
“Argh! I hate it when they do that!” groaned Sally.
Suddenly, Quincy had an idea. “I’ve got an idea, a really funny one,” she grinned. Quincy whispered it to her.
Sally nodded. “Now that’s funny payback,”
As the bus pulled over. Quincy waddled out. Selina, Sky and Violet flew out and almost crashed her. “Hey!” Quincy squawked.
“Sorry, it’s not my fault you chose to waddle out of the bus,” replied Selina, not sounding sorry at all.

As Selina flew to class, Sally and Quincy grinned. Maybe, just maybe, this funny plan would work. In class, Quincy's teacher, Mrs. Waddle smiled and told us we were gonna do Quack-math. The class groaned. Quincy smiled, this was easy. She was one of the smartest ducklings.
At Recess, Quincy pulled out a toy spider from her lunch box and slipped it into her pocket. Sally grabbed some string, sticky tape and scissors. They had everything we needed...

Back in class, Selina screamed. In front of her was a big, black spider. “THERE’S A SPIDER ON MY DESK! THERE’S A BIG, HUMONGOUS SPIDER! EEK! AAH! GET ME OUT OF HERE!” screamed Selina. She made so much commotion that the two classes next door and the Quack-school principal, Mr. Duck peeked inside to see what the screaming was all about. Sally and Quincy stifled a giggle. Mrs. Flap, a class teacher from next door examined the spider.
“It seems it isn’t real,” explained Mrs. Flap.
Selina’s face turned a dark shade of angry red. “WHO DID THIS!” shrieked Selina.

Quincy and Sally still tried to remain stony and calm but, on the inside, they were laughing so hard. Quincy tried to sit still, while Sally had to stuff her feathers into her beak. They had abolished Selina! Sky and Violet, Selina’s minions and practically everyone in the classroom were laughing. Quincy and Sally gave in and joined laughing with everyone. “Looks like you have a huge Quack-up to fix!” giggled Sky. Violet turned to Sally and Quincy who were behind her.
“I’m sorry for all those mean things Selina has said to you guys,” apologized Violet. Then she lowered her voice. “It was you right?”
Quincy and Sally stared at each other. Should they tell? “Yes!” said Sally and Quincy at the same time. Then they burst out laughing. Quincy and Sally didn’t realize they were gonna make up their minds at the exact same time or say it at the exact same time. 

Sky turned around.
“From now on, I think me and Violet will hang out with you guys instead of Selina,” Sky said.
Violet, Sally and Quincy nodded.
Selina rushed out of the room, demanding to be expelled. Mrs. Flap and Mrs. Waddle rushed out to comfort her.
“No way is she gonna be comfortable at a time like this,” said Sally, shaking her head.
Sky, Quincy, Violet and Sally laughed. From now on they were gonna be friends. Selina, the most popular duckling, was demanding to be expelled, now everyone had seen her other side and Sally and Quincy had done their payback. The day couldn’t have gotten any better.