Dead Girl Walking by Linda Joy Singleton

Amber Borden never had good luck.  She goes to school mostly unnoticed and dreams of being popular.  One day she gets hit by mail truck and suddenly finds herself in heaven with her grandmother and old dog.  Her grandmother tells her she isn’t dead yet and gives her instructions on how to get back into her body and life.  When she tries she forgets which way to turn and ends up in the body of popular girl Leah Montgomery’s body.  Leah had been attempting suicide.  Now that she has the life she always dreamed of, will she try to go back to her old life, or end up staying in this new one?

The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman

Matt Fuller is your average guy, a bit on the lazy side, stuck in a dead end job as a lab assistant at MIT. He is building a calibrator when it suddenly disappears and then reappears a second later. He experiments with the machine and realizes that he has built a time machine. This particular time machine only goes forward in time and the interval it travels into the future increases by 12 each time.

If Matt is touching the time machine, he also travels with it. With nothing going in his life, he decides to travel. The first few times, he only travels a little bit, but he keeps ending up situations where his only escape is to jump forward again. Haldeman offers a unique perspective on the world in each of the futures presented. When he meets and falls for a young woman, he must decide what is best for the two of them and what kind of future world he wants to live in.

This book is a fun and fast sci fi read. It will appeal to sci fi fans as well as your average fiction reader. Nothing is too far "out there" or fantastical for the average readers' taste.  Recommended for high school readers.

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson

To get into the holiday spirit, I just read Let It Snow, a collection of three holiday romance stories.  Though technically romance stories, they are actually really funny and would appeal to some guys as well.  Each of the three stories centers on one town where a train has been stopped on Christmas Eve due to a terrible snowstorm.   The first story is about a girl who was going to Florida on the train, but got stranded in this small town.  At the Waffle House she meets a guy who invites her to spend Christmas with his Jewish family.  The second story is about three friends who are trying to make their way through the snow to the Waffle House for hashbrowns and cheerleaders...   The third story follows a girl who spends her holidays heartbroken after breaking up with her boyfriend and then having him stand her up when she tried to apologize.  Characters and places in all three stories intersect.  Though I enjoyed the stories, they were really "winter stories" rather than holiday.  Didnt get me into the holiday mood, but I did have fun and a few laughs reading the book. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Okay, so I finally caved and read Twilight because I want to see the movie.  It's not the greatest book I've ever read, or even the best that I've read this month, but it's not too shabby. 

It's a typical girl moves to a new town and falls for the unreachable guy scenario.  Except of course for the fact that Edward is a vampire.  I have some issues with the book.  Edward doesn't really keep his vampirism a secret from her, so it's surprising that more people don't know.  Also, Bella seems to fall in love with him even though he is very rude to her.  He seems very controlling and they don't have all that much fun together before they are suddenly "in love."  Otherwise, the story seems to mix reality with fantasy fairly well. 

It's not too "out there" in terms of fantasy, it's more of a romance novel with a fantastical twist.  I think I was expecting a fantasy with a romance twist.    But, being set in modern day and having Bella seem like a pretty average girl (besides her ability to fall completely in love with a jerk), helped make the story accessible to readers who don't necessarily enjoy fantasy or paranormal books. 

I enjoyed reading it and will eventually read the next three, but I'm not chomping at the bit to get to them.  I am excited to go see the movie and compare it to the book.  I would recommend this series for fans of Harry Potter, Libba Bray, Anna Godbersen, and Kate Brian.

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Plain Janes is a great graphic novel for those who have never read this format before.  It follows Jane, who was a victim of a terrorist attack in Metro City.  She survived, but was forever changed by the attack and is much more reserved and lonely.  Her parents fear for their safety, so they move to a small town.  Jane is an outsider there until she meets a group of 3 girls also named Jane.  To spice things up around town, they decide to form a group of guerilla artists.  During the night, they sneak out together and create art in unlikely places.  They don't vandalize any property, they do fun things like creating pyramids from dirt in construction sites and knitting hats for all the fire hydrants. 

This is a fun book to read, but also has a serious side about how Jane and her family have changed after the terrorist attack.  The pictures are great and the story is unique and fun.  Recommended for ages 12+

Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez

This is the first book in a series about a psychic family, the Giordanos.  The mother is a well respected psychic who helps the chief of police solve crimes.  Two of her daughters have powers like ESP and telekinesis.  The third is a "norm."  The book follows the normal daughter, Daisy.  Together the family and the son of the police chief are trying to solve a murder of a teenage girl.  The coroner had no explanation for her death, just that the energy was sapped from her.  Later, Daisy runs into this dead girl walking around and realizes that their must be a vampire about town.  This is a great mystery book thats really fun and not too far out there in terms of the supernatural.  There is also a side story about Daisy and her sorta boyfriend.  Recommended for ages 12+.

Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz

Horowitz, author of the popular Alex Rider series, has written a different kind of novel for tweens.  Groosham Grange is part humor, part horror,  part mystery, and will appeal to tweens and teens 11+. 

David is a twelve year old who has been kicked out of his private school.  His parents are at their wit's end and don't know what to do with him.  Then a letter arrives in the mail from Groosham Grange, a school that sounds perfect for David.  It's on a secluded island that can only be reached by boat and the students only have one day off each year. 

On his way to the school, David meets two other kids going to Groosham Grange.  When they get there, they discover that some weird things are happening at this school, so they decide to stick together and plot an escape.  To find out what strange and scary things are happening at Groosham, you will have to read the book.  For fans of Alex Rider and the old Goosebumps series. 

Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Kristi is psychic.  She can hear people's thoughts but usually chooses to drown them out by listening to opera on her iPod.  Most of the time people aren't thinking nice things about Kristi.  They are thinking how weird she is for making her own clothes and wearing dark eyeliner.  Most of the guys think about her boobs.  And Gusty Peterson just looks at her and thinks, "sick."  Now she is forced to work with Gusty on a school project.  At the same time, her dad who disappeared to work in Africa two years ago, returns to town. 

Vibes is a great read about the problems many teens face in high school.  Kristi is an interesting character who is very real and very funny at times.  Though it is a pretty funny book, it deals with serious issues in a way that makes them seem more manageable.  Recommended for 13+

This Book Isn't Fat, It's Fabulous! by Nina Beck

"This Book" follows the life of the rich and fabulous New Yorker, Riley.  She has always been happy with who she is and her weight, but she is sent to a retreat for overweight girls by her somewhat wicked stepmother. While there, Riley meets some friends who she feels are too different from her to relate, and of course a boy, who happens to be the son of the retreat's director. Meanwhile, her rich and snobby friends back home think she is spending two weeks at a spa upstate.  This book isn't about weight as much as it about friendships and honesty. The dialogue is surprisingly witty and realistic. Cute story for girls ages 14 and older.

The Demon Queen by Richard Lewis

As a baby, Jesse was found on an abandoned ship in the ..Pacific Ocean...  He has been through many foster families in his life and was even held by Homeland Security because he had no background or identity.  He ends up in ....Illinois.... with a new foster family who really seem to care for him.  Any screw ups and he knows that Homeland Security will deport him.  He does well at keeping out of trouble until a new girl arrives.  Her name is Honor and she grew up with American parents in ..Bali...  She chants at lunch, writes in Sanskrit, and makes weird sacrificial shrines to gods.   Jesse befriends her anyway but keeps his distance because something seems off about her.  Then he starts to see this strange old man around town who warns him that the demon queen is coming and only he can stop it.  Soon weird things start happening around town and he is getting the blame.

The ending gets a bit fantastical but the story is very interesting and mysterious.  For fans of Cirque du Freak and other fantasy books set in a real world. 

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Looking for a book packed with magic, action, and murder?  Skulduggery Pleasant is a new series that is just right for you.  The series follows Stephanie, who is your average 12 year old.   Then her famous horror writer uncle dies and leaves her his creepy estate in England.  stuck there alone one night during a storm, an intruder breaks in and threatens her.  A tall mysterious man wearing a trench coat and hat saves her.  He is Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton magician who was friends with her uncle.  Suddenly Stephanie finds herself in a world where the dead can come back to life and magic is real and deadly.

If you are a bit squeamish, this book is probably not for you!  Though much of the violence is created through magic, there is a lot of fighting and death.  Nothing too graphic though.  It is also very funny and has a great story of the struggle between the good and evil magicians.  The second book is also out now, but I haven't read it yet. I would recommend the series for ages 13 and up. 

Read My Lips by Teri Brown

Read My Lips is about a deaf girl named Serena.  She has limited hearing, but is very good at reading lips.  Her voice is distorted when she talks and because of this, she has always felt like an outcast.  Her parents move her to a new school to see if she can fit in better there.  When her new classmates discover that she can lip read, she suddenly becomes one of the most popular girls at school.  They use her to spy on teachers and other students by having her read their lips and telling them what she says.  Serena knows they are using her, but doesn't mind because she feels like she actually fits in at this school.  There is also a romantic side story with a boy named Miller, who lives with her aunt and uncle.  As you can imagine, because of her lip reading gossip, Serena finds herself in a lot of hot water she must deal with. 

This is a great book for fans of Gossip Girl or Private, but is cleaner and will appeal to younger girl readers as well.

Girl in a Fix: Quick Beauty Solutions (and why they work)

Girl in a Fix is a great little reference book for every girl.  It goes through all the little annoyances in life and tells you how to deal with them.  For example, Use too much hair product and now have greasy hair?  Sprinkle some baby powder on and run your fingers through.  It helps absorb the grease.  There are other great tips about dealing with skin, hair, and nail problems.  All of the solutions are cheap and easy to make.  Recommended for all teen girls.

ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

ghostgirl is easily the coolest looking book I have seen in a while.  It is gothic looking, with a hard black cover adorned with silver and pink flowers and a coffin.  The gothic theme continues throughout the book with fancy fonts and intros to each chapter which include a silhouette and quote or poem. 

Although the cover is what drew me to the book, the story is quite good as well.  It's about Charlotte, a teen who desperately wanted to be popular.  She got a makeover and decided to start her new year of school by getting the attention of her unattainable crush, Damen.  Instead, she ends up dead.  Before she can move on, she has to figure out what she needs to do to find her resolution.  She has the help of her Dead High classmates, all recently deceased classmates who are forced to attend classes together before they can reach the other side.  The premise is interesting to say the least, and the story doesn't disappoint.  IN this case, you can judge a book by it's cover. 

Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

This book poses another interesting question.  What if your ex boyfriend wrote a song about you that becomes a huge hit and you suddenly become famous?  Audrey broke up with her boyfriend Evan, lead singer of the band the Do-Gooders.  As she was leaving his room, he cried out, Audrey, wait!  But she kept walking. 
At his band's next show, they debuted a song titled, Audrey, Wait! about their breakup.  Audrey was humiliated, but figured that the song would fizzle out eventually.  She was wrong.  The band got signed to a major label and the song became their first single.  Suddenly everyone wanted to know who Audrey was.  Paparazzi began to follow her around, reporters called her house nonstop, and classmates were being paid for cell phone pictures and info about her. 

I really loved this book.  Audrey and her friends were very realistic and the premise of the book was very believable.  Audrey's adventures were a lot of fun to read about and the book came to a satisfying ending.

Zombie Blondes by Brian James

What if you moved to a small town where almost everyone looked alike?  Would you think it was weird or would you want to fit in? 

Hannah is used to moving.  Her dad decides to up and leave every few months.  This time, they end up in Maplecrest, Vermont, a small town that  is nearly vacant.  When Hannah goes to school, she decides to try and fit in for once.  But her first new friend warns her that fitting in could be deadly.  Hannah just thinks that he is reading too many comic books, but starts to have her suspicions when people begin disappearing.  Nonetheless, she is thrilled when she makes the cheerleading squad.  That's just the beginning of the story.  You'll have to read the book to find out the cheerleaders true identities. 

Zombie Blondes is a great book about high school drama, with a twist.  Lots of fun and action!

The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott

Michael Scott, an Irish author has written a series of books on Nicholas Flamel, who was an acutal alchemist in the 14th century.  It is said that a robber went to dig up his grave and steal his gold but found no body of Flamel.  Scott uses this as the basis for his story about a book that contains the secret of eternal life. 

The book, owned by Flamel, resides in a book store in San Francisco with a couple called the Flemings.  That is, until a gang of Golems storm in, steal the book- except two pages a store clerk Josh manages to grab, and kidnap Nick Fleming.  This is where Josh and Sophie, the main characters come into play, as they attempt to save the world from the evil doctor who has stolen the book. 

Private series by Kate Brian

Private is the first book of the popular series.  It introduces readers to Reed Brennan, a loner looking to escape her mother by attending a prestigious private school.  At first Reed doesn't seem to fit in there either.  She isn't rich like the other girls, and she prefers to read in her room rather than watch movies with her floor mates.  Then Reed discovers the Billings Girls- the most popular girls on campus who live in the private dorm called Billings.  Only those who are invited can live there.  It soon becomes Reed goal, to befriend the Billings girls and become one of them. 

This was a quick read for me, but a lot happened in the story.  Reed's ups and downs with the Billings girls had me wanting to read more.  I couldn't put the book down.  I haven't read the second book yet, but I can see why this is one of the most popular series in the library.  I liked it much better than the Gossip Girls series. 

For fans of the Clique, Pretty Little Liars, and Gossip Girl

Vladmir Tod: Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer

This is the second book in the series about Vlad.  In this book, he starts high school with his best friend Henry and Henry's cousin Joss, who is new to town.  In 9th grade, Vlad gets picked on a lot and still doesn't quite know how to talk to his crush.  To add to his misery, Vlad's uncle warns him that there is a vampire slayer in town out to kill him.  During winter break, Vlad visits his uncle in Siberia and meets with a bunch of vampires who want to teach him how to use his skills.  Unlike the first book, this one delves deeper into this secret world of vampires and describes what kind of powers they have.
There is a lot of mystery and action in this book and a surprise ending will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I can't wait for the next book about 10th grade

Vladmir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

This is the first book in a new series about Vladmir Tod.  Vlad is half vampire.  The only people who know are his best friend and his aunt.  His parents were myseriously killed a few yrs ago, so he lives with his aunt.  Vlad wants to be a normal 8th grader, so he satisfies his thirst for blood with packets his aunt brings home from the hospital. 

One day, Vlad's teacher disappears.  He is soon replaced by a substitute who is very odd and seems to have it out for Vlad. 

This is a great book full of action and humor, I would recommend it to anyone into vampires

Dr. Franklin's ..Island.. by Ann Halam

Follows a group of teens who won a contest through the TV show, Planet Savers.  They won the trip by entering a worldwide science fair.  Their prize was to go with a couple Planet Savers hosts to study and film in the Galapagoes and ....Ecuador.....  On the way to ..Ecuador.. from ....Miami...., the plane begins to nosedive.  It levels out and bounces on the ocean.  The kids put on life jackets and begin to swim into the ocean when suddenly the plane explodes.  Semi, Miranda, and Arnie are the only three to survive.  They swim all night and end up on an island.  They soon realize that they are not alone and the crash may not have been an accident.  A must read for fans of Lost

Platinum by Jennifer Lynn Barnes....

Lilah is one the most popular girls at her high school, Emory High.  She loves her life, except for one thing… she keeps having these strange random visions.  One day in poetry class the teacher asks them to write down, I AM and then continue to describe themselves.  As Lilah daydreams, she suddenly realizes she wrote down, I AM BRIANNA.  This means nothing to her until later in the book.  She also has been seeing a strange boy in the hallways at school.  But no one else can see him.  It's up to Lilah to find out who he is and what he wants with her.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a great author who has written a lot of books about really cool characters.  Definitely check this one out .
....

My Big FAT Manifesto by Susan Vaught

Jamie Carcaterra is fat and proud of it.  She even writes a column for her school newspaper called Fat Girl.  She writes about her experiences being fat and the unfair treatment she gets from being overweight.

Jamie has a boyfriend named Burke, who is also fat, but decides to have bariatric surgery.  This cause Jamie to feel insecure because she thinks Burke won't like her when he is skinny and she is still fat.  Also, bariatric surgery is very dangerous when performed on teenagers.

While Burke is preparing for his surgery, Jamie begins to withdraw from him and spend more time working on her Fat Girl columns.  Incidentally, this also means spending more time with the popular and cute editor-in-chief...but he could never like a fat girl...right?
....

Cheater by Michael Laser

Cheater is about Karl who is an A+ student and although he tries to hide it from his peers, they all know he is a braniac.  He wants to break out of his reputation so he decides to join in on an elaborate cheating ring.  The ring consists of a variety of students, most who do it for the thrill, not because they need the good grades or don't like to study.  In fact, they spend a great deal of time planning elaborate schemes involving graphing calculators, cell phones, laptops, and iPods to help them cheat.  You'll have to read it to find out how the sleazy assistant principal becomes involved in the ruse.

This is an exciting fast paced novel for readers of everything from high school drama books to spy thrillers.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

High school senior Clay receives a strange package in the mail with no return address.  Inside are 7 cassette tapes.  He puts the first one in his walkman and he finds that it is the voice of Hannah, a classmate who recently committed suicide.  He had always had a crush on her, but never had the guts to befriend her.  The first tape begins with Hannah saying, "I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why."  The tapes are to be sent along to the next of the 13 people on the list. This a serious book for reader's who enjoy drama and books with emotional messages.  Thirteen Reasons Why would appeal to either a guy or girl reader.


HUGE by Sasha Paley
Huge follows two girls who are spending their summer at Wellness Canyon aka a "fat camp."  Wil is being forced to go by her parents, very wealthy owners of a chain of gyms.  She decides that, since she must go, she will rebel as much as she can and even try to gain weight.  Her roommate has a different story.  She worked all year to earn enough money to go to camp.  Her goal is to come back as a completely new person to impress all the girls at her high school.  Of course these two don't get along but as the summer progresses they find that they have more in common than they thought.
This was a great read, very fast paced and fun.  Huge has nothing too serious or scandalous, it's just a good book about friendship and self image.

BEIGE by Cecil Castellucci
One of the best books I've read lately, Beige follows Katelyn, a 16 yr old girl who is forced to live with her absentee father over summer break.  The catch is that her father is famous for being in a crazy punk band in the 80s.  The band is still around but the drugs are gone.  Katelyn, who doesn't know her father very well, hates it and spends her days brooding in his apartment in LA.  She is forced to hang out with her dad's bandmate's daughter Lake.  Lake is completely different from Katie-- she is very much into what her father does and even has her own band.  The book is about Lake introducing Katie to the LA scene and getting her acquainted with her father and his lifestyle.  Very good book with a fun ending!

SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE by Jen Calonita
Delve into the lives of young celebrities with this book about the surprisingly down to earth TV star Kaitlin Burke.  Written by a former editor for Teen People and Entertainment Weekly-- who claims it is based on her experiences with young stars,"Secrets" is a fun fast read full of very realistic Hollywood characters. 
Kaitlin spills some Hollywood secrets such as.."When stars go on a talk show, they usually know the questions beforehand."  and "You don't have to be an actor, producer, or writer to be treated like royalty in Hollywood.  It's enough just to be the relative of someone famous."
This is the first book in a series about Kaitlin and it follows her as she decides to take a brief hiatus from acting. During her break, she goes undercover at a high school so she can see what it's like to be a normal teen. 
Despite Kaitlin seeming a bit too normal to be a real celeb, I enjoyed this book .  I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

MIRACLE WIMP by ERIC KRAFT
Tom Mayo is your average sophomore.  He's not a nerd even though he is called Miracle Wimp by the cool kids, he knows it could be a lot worse.  He could be like his friend Larry who is in Special Ed and is picked on by everyone, except Tom.  Tom's friends and him like to drive around and yell out the windows and secretly make fun of the cool kids.  This is Tom's story complete with doodles and sketches.  A very fun real book about the high schoolers who aren't "popular" but aren't the outcasts either.  For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.


ASSASSINATION VACATION by SARAH VOWELL
Venture into the hilarious world of assassinations. Yes, hilarious. Sarah Vowell, a humorist/columnist/voice of public radio has a morbid interest in Presidential assassinations. She set out to visit various sites across the U.S. that are linked to the assassinations and recorded her adventures in this hilarious travelogue.

Vowell brings readers to the homes of Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley as well as to more obscure places such as the Mutter Museum which has specimens of John Wilkes Booth's thorax and Charles Guiteau's (Garfield's assassin) brain.

By speaking with the historians, curators, and tour guides, Vowell brings readers very close to the assassins by revealing their lives, motives, and deaths. For example, she points out that many people hated Lincoln, and Booth thought that he would be a hero. Also revealed is the poor and lonely childhood of McKinley's assassin, Czolgosz. Looking to find a place to fit in, he began attending anarchist meetings and thus began his plan.

Though death is the "theme" of the book, Vowell looks at the assassinations as as story and examines each character objectively and with humor. Those interested in history will be pleased to learn a great deal about the assassinations- much more than is ever taught in any school. Travelers will be inspired to visit the many museums and historical sites mentioned.
Hear her read an excerpt here. <--Click

LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by SUSAN BETH PFEFFER
Everyone in the world gathers for the spectacular sight- an asteroid colliding with the moon.  Scientists predict the results will be a great visual display, but nothing else.  As everyone enjoys their outdoor barbecues and viewing parties, interest soon turns to panic as the moon is pushed off its orbit and closer to the Earth.  Seeing the moon so large in the sky cause mass panic, not to mention drastic changes in tides, weather, and seismic activity.  Life As We Knew It is an action/drama packed story told through the diary of a teenage girl who suddenly finds her world of school and boys turned into a struggle for survival.  Will they make it through winter? 

ONE GOOD PUNCH by RICH WALLACE
Would you rat out a friend if your future was at stake?
Michael Kerrigan, star of East Scranton's track team finds himself in such a predicament.  His loyal friend Joey stashes drugs in his locker the weekend before school officials run an unannounced drug sweep.  Suddenly Michael has lost his job, the track season he worked so hard for, and possible track scholarships for college.  Everyone urges Michael to rat out his friend who really did it, Joey, a known drug dealer, but loyal friend.  What will he do?  What would you do? 
Rich Wallace gives readers that question in the short 115-page drama, One Good Punch.  Recommended for readers who want something short and to the point.

DERBY GIRL by SHAUNA CROSS
Derby Girl is about Bliss, a 16 yr old Pageant Queen...sort of.  Her mother wants her to be a pageant queen but Bliss is into indie music and boys.  She finds a flier for a roller derby match, so she and her friend Pash check it out. Bliss instantly falls in love with the unusual sport and heads to tryouts the next week.  Though she was never very athletic, Bliss discovers that she is really really good at derby.  Even though she is the youngest- and claims to be 18, she becomes one of the stars on her team.  She also meets a hot guy who is into music and derby too.  Suddenly she finds her life consumed by derby and finds herself alienated from her family, who has no idea she is in derby, and her best friend Pash.
This is an exciting story with the usual drama of high school and boys with the added element of derby action and excitement.  Check it out

DAIRY QUEEN by CATHERINE MURDOCK
Sixteen year old DJ has been running the family farm ever since her dad broke his hip and her two older brothers left for college.  It hasn't been easy for her, but she rarely complains and enjoys the hard work.  Her father's friend, football coach for a rival high school's team sends over his quarterback to learn hard work from DJ. She shows him the ropes of working on the farm, helps him train for the upcoming football season, and unexpectedly finds herself falling for him. With his encouragement, DJ begins to speak up for herself and let her family know that she needs a life outside of the farm.  And that life includes trying out for her high school's football team. 

Dairy Queen is a funny book, easy to read, and full of realistic teen dialogue-nothing poetic or airy.  The story has a typical romantic subplot, but takes a few twists and turns, and ultimately focuses on the bigger changes in DJ's life.  
DQ is filled with likeable, real characters- DJ is not your typical smart or beautiful heroine, she is your everyday girl struggling with insecurities and being pulled in many directions.  Although not preachy or cheesy, the book teaches readers the importance of finding balance in life, speaking up for yourself, and overcoming obstacles.