The Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) A novel by Kody Keplinger

So far in The Duff, we meet the main character Bianca Piper, who is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. Wesley Rush, the (excuse my language) man-slut of the school tells Bianca she is the DUFF. She is the Designated Ugly Fat Friend. You see, Wesley Rush thinks to get Bianca’s friends to hook up with him; he has to converse with, befriend, and get along with the DUFF, aka Bianca. Of course, this novel doesn’t sound like the average story you’d tell your teacher about, but hey, I can only imagine some of the blogs he’s read.

Even though I’ve only started this book yesterday (*cough* last minute check out *cough*) every time I have the chance to read it, I do! It is the basic love story; the hot guy ends up with the not-so-popular girl. But somehow I just can’t get enough of this book. “Duff” is a new term that I’ve never heard of before, although the author was introduced to it during her senior year. The biography at the end says, “When I realized that my friends felt like Duffs, too, I knew I had to write this story.” Many girls in high school feel this – I know I do! And even though we may think it, it’s just a word some stupid, arrogant jerk says to make him feel better. I’m very excited to continue reading this book to figure out how Bianca overcomes her new “nightmare word,” being called the Duff. 

PERSONALITY TEST

Qualitative analysis of your type formula
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• distinctively expressed extravert
• slightly expressed sensing personality
• moderately expressed feeling personality
• moderately expressed judging personality

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This week: 138 pages

This semester: 138 pages

1. Maybe we are too educated, too "smart," to name these creatures in the simple language of a child: monsters.

2. And to imagine God answerings it by "shooting down prayer"...well. it was just incredible.

3. But now he (Colton), had become a messenger, a tiny tour guide for a departing heavenly traveler.



My favorite sentence is number one. I like this one best because it tells that adults spend too much time using "up-scale" words and definitions, when there is another word for it that is much smaller. Perhaps you should ask a child to define every word you say, it becomes very innocent. A monster in the definition of a child is a big, scary creature, who hides under your bed, who creates shadows in your room, and the creaking and ticking you hear. Adults may say a monster is an imaginary or legendary creature, that combines parts from various animal or human forms. And foror me, when I think of monsters, I think of Sully from Monsters Inc.

RAINBOWS IN HEAVEN

After reading Heaven is for Real, I would really recommend this book to just about anybody. Those who believe in an afterlife and those who don’t, it gives you an inside look on a little boys trip to heaven and back, and everything he claims to have witnessed. Colton tells everything from the gates of heaven, to what Jesus looks like, to what God’s throne looks like, and how it never gets dark in heaven. This book makes me never want it to end, thinking there’s more and more to learn from about heaven, just from a tiny 4 year old’s mind.

It’s hard to believe that reading something like this that a four year old tells is real. Children often have the mind that can go on and on for forever, and make up thinks that seem lie impossible. Although Colton’s father who tells the story claim everything’s true, from Colton’s little sister who was miscarried that he met in heaven, to asking God to send down a rainbow that resembles the one he saw in heaven.

Colton’s childlike attitude and faith in this story is remarkable. He reminds his family that God really does love his children, and that God answer’s the prayers of friends. Everything in this book is interesting, and I never want to put it down. I plan on reading even more books like this, because it gives me a little faith that this is really what God has waiting for me in heaven. Without this book, I couldn’t even try to think of what I have waiting in store for me in my afterlife.

I am sad to see this book coming to an end, and I wish I could read more of what Colton has to say about his trip to heaven and back. 

Reading Heaven is for Real makes you think a lot about your life and how it can change in a matter of seconds. Todd and Sonja Burpo realized this, when their son Colton became increasingly ill in a matter of days. It started out as a little stomach ache and what looked like to be a fever. Turns out, after 10 days he was in the hospital recovering from an emergency appendectomy, and was lucky to have survived. Months later, a conversation about the hospital brought an astonishing story of Colton’s claim to have gone from heaven and back.

Until reading this book, you don’t realize how close you can be to death, until you’re there. Colton was lucky enough to have God on his side and survived this strange mysterious disease, and this book brings you back into reality of how serious bad things can easily come and linger for a while. In the end though, everything will fall into place.

I remember a time in my life when I had a scary situation. It was when my half-sister Paige was born. She was born on March 26, 2011. When she was born, there were some complications that had to be under watch. When she was first born, we quickly noticed her breathing patterns were very heavy. We had to get her tested for Cystic Fibrosis, she had a sweat test done, and many other medical tests. She has a little hole in her hear, about the size of a millimeter. But the doctor said that most babies are born with holes in their hearts, and it wasn’t something much to worry about.

Paige is now four and a half months old, and very healthy. She is a very active little playful baby. She loves putting things in her mouth, squealing, and making bubbles. And she is the highlight of my life. Much like Colton is to Todd and Sonja.