October Books: Reviewed 8 Books
How I Made It To Eighteen by Tracy White
Start Date: October 28th
End Date: October 29th
STARS: 4 1/2
GENRE: YA Graphic Novel, YA Realistic, YA Mental Illness
REVIEW: In this "mostly true story", we're told about Stacy Black in her teen years. She's into drugs and is trying to shake off her bulimia. But once she decides to break a window on drugs, she realizes then that she needs to check into a hospital. She checks into a mental hospital, she comes to realize that the drugs and her bulimia are not the cause of her depression and suicidality, but the deeper feelings from her past. Can she repair her past to fix her future, or will history just repeat itself?
There's an odd story as to how this book came to fall into my hands. I was at my local library (I hate that term, "My local Library". I blame it on the show, Arthur.) ans I was browsing the manga section for my latest manga series binge. At the end of every shelf is a small shelf with books just sitting there in no order. I saw this book and once I saw on the cover by Tracy's arm "Scars- self inflicted", I snatched up this book like a gold nugget. I am a sucker for Mental Illness books! I actually heard someone say the title before and it peeked my interest. Anyway, I was a little startled to find it was a graphic novel book, but it does fit White's writing style. I don't think a lot of people would appreciate the level this book is on unless you've gone through something like White has. This is why it's hard to write this opinion section. I know just how White felt in this time, and the causes of it, but to have someone, in a sense, "sheltered" pick up this book and read it, that's too big a feat. However, i felt the intimacy of this book and the pain of this book for such little writing. I recommend it for people studying psych or have an interest in it, or those who can relate to White.
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End Date: October 29th
STARS: 4 1/2
GENRE: YA Graphic Novel, YA Realistic, YA Mental Illness
REVIEW: In this "mostly true story", we're told about Stacy Black in her teen years. She's into drugs and is trying to shake off her bulimia. But once she decides to break a window on drugs, she realizes then that she needs to check into a hospital. She checks into a mental hospital, she comes to realize that the drugs and her bulimia are not the cause of her depression and suicidality, but the deeper feelings from her past. Can she repair her past to fix her future, or will history just repeat itself?
There's an odd story as to how this book came to fall into my hands. I was at my local library (I hate that term, "My local Library". I blame it on the show, Arthur.) ans I was browsing the manga section for my latest manga series binge. At the end of every shelf is a small shelf with books just sitting there in no order. I saw this book and once I saw on the cover by Tracy's arm "Scars- self inflicted", I snatched up this book like a gold nugget. I am a sucker for Mental Illness books! I actually heard someone say the title before and it peeked my interest. Anyway, I was a little startled to find it was a graphic novel book, but it does fit White's writing style. I don't think a lot of people would appreciate the level this book is on unless you've gone through something like White has. This is why it's hard to write this opinion section. I know just how White felt in this time, and the causes of it, but to have someone, in a sense, "sheltered" pick up this book and read it, that's too big a feat. However, i felt the intimacy of this book and the pain of this book for such little writing. I recommend it for people studying psych or have an interest in it, or those who can relate to White.
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Rot And Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Start Date: October 22nd
End Date: October 28th
STARS: 4 1/2
GENRE: YA Sci-Fi, YA Zombies, YA Paranormal
REVIEW: In Rot And Ruin, Its been 14 years since the horrible First Night- where the dead rose up and attacked the world. Now, some who survived live in Mountainside, surrounded by the Rot and Ruin- an area full of zombies and people who choose to live among them. Benny Imura remembers when he was taken away by his older brother on First Night. Now, 15 years old, he's trying to find a job to keep his Ration dollars, and he would rather lose an arm than work for his Bounty Hunter brother, Tom, but he has no choice and becomes his apprentice. Is Tom's job all Benny thinks it is? Or is this the opportunity Benny needs to learn more about the world and himself?
This is another book where its hard to describe the story without giving away the story! I love the setting of the book! A Post-apocalypse age now overrun with zombies, but they want flesh instead of brains, and the surviving society is too afraid to venture outside the gates of Mountainside. It really is a metaphoric book of how people don't like to venture outside their own bubble, or take on new concepts and just want to believe their own version of the truth. Now, I only gave this book 4 1/2 stars ( And it could've gotten 5!) but there were very annoying typos! Like in a scene where Benny and Tom are surrounded by zombies and closing in, Benny says "400 feet, Tom" And the next time he measures to tell tom, he says " 300 yards". Really? The zombies backtracked really fast? But aside from that, the book was very well written and, for a large book, it kept me entertained with many surprises, and the characters are very deep and thought out, Recommended for Dystopian fans and zombie lovers.
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End Date: October 28th
STARS: 4 1/2
GENRE: YA Sci-Fi, YA Zombies, YA Paranormal
REVIEW: In Rot And Ruin, Its been 14 years since the horrible First Night- where the dead rose up and attacked the world. Now, some who survived live in Mountainside, surrounded by the Rot and Ruin- an area full of zombies and people who choose to live among them. Benny Imura remembers when he was taken away by his older brother on First Night. Now, 15 years old, he's trying to find a job to keep his Ration dollars, and he would rather lose an arm than work for his Bounty Hunter brother, Tom, but he has no choice and becomes his apprentice. Is Tom's job all Benny thinks it is? Or is this the opportunity Benny needs to learn more about the world and himself?
This is another book where its hard to describe the story without giving away the story! I love the setting of the book! A Post-apocalypse age now overrun with zombies, but they want flesh instead of brains, and the surviving society is too afraid to venture outside the gates of Mountainside. It really is a metaphoric book of how people don't like to venture outside their own bubble, or take on new concepts and just want to believe their own version of the truth. Now, I only gave this book 4 1/2 stars ( And it could've gotten 5!) but there were very annoying typos! Like in a scene where Benny and Tom are surrounded by zombies and closing in, Benny says "400 feet, Tom" And the next time he measures to tell tom, he says " 300 yards". Really? The zombies backtracked really fast? But aside from that, the book was very well written and, for a large book, it kept me entertained with many surprises, and the characters are very deep and thought out, Recommended for Dystopian fans and zombie lovers.
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Blood by K.J. Wignall
Start Date: October 18th
End Date: October 21st
STARS: 2 1/2
GENRE: YA Vampyre, YA Romance, YA Historical Fiction
REVIEW: Blood is the story of Will, Earl of Mercia, a 750 year old vampire trapped in his 16 year old body. After re-awakening from his slumber in 1986 (He sleeps for decades and only his teeth, hair, and nails grow in that time) and finding his usual feast after awakening, he discovers in his feast's journal a prophecy about him and a girl. He has never met the man who bit him and gave him this terrible curse, but now it seems, after 750 years, that his destiny has arrived with this girl, named Eloise. Where will this girl take him? Will Will meet the one who cursed him and took away his place as the real Earl of Mercia? Or will Will and Eloise die first?
This was a bad book! It honestly should've gone to my "Rejected Books" area, but I wanted to see if it would get better. It didn't much. I never grabbed onto this story, nor was it interesting. Don't get me wrong, the whole "Vampire-sleeps-for-decades-and-can-hypnotize-people" thing is amazing! The plot was just buried under weak writing that never was interesting. I painfully skimmed this book.This book never took off until more than half way into the book. And the story was just a little too obsessed with destiny. I felt like it was like Unnatural by Michael Griffo - Good plot, horrid writing. I wouldn't recommend this book to people.
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End Date: October 21st
STARS: 2 1/2
GENRE: YA Vampyre, YA Romance, YA Historical Fiction
REVIEW: Blood is the story of Will, Earl of Mercia, a 750 year old vampire trapped in his 16 year old body. After re-awakening from his slumber in 1986 (He sleeps for decades and only his teeth, hair, and nails grow in that time) and finding his usual feast after awakening, he discovers in his feast's journal a prophecy about him and a girl. He has never met the man who bit him and gave him this terrible curse, but now it seems, after 750 years, that his destiny has arrived with this girl, named Eloise. Where will this girl take him? Will Will meet the one who cursed him and took away his place as the real Earl of Mercia? Or will Will and Eloise die first?
This was a bad book! It honestly should've gone to my "Rejected Books" area, but I wanted to see if it would get better. It didn't much. I never grabbed onto this story, nor was it interesting. Don't get me wrong, the whole "Vampire-sleeps-for-decades-and-can-hypnotize-people" thing is amazing! The plot was just buried under weak writing that never was interesting. I painfully skimmed this book.This book never took off until more than half way into the book. And the story was just a little too obsessed with destiny. I felt like it was like Unnatural by Michael Griffo - Good plot, horrid writing. I wouldn't recommend this book to people.
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Leap by Jodi Lundgren
Start Date: October 15th
End Date: October 18th
STARS: 4 1/2
GENRE: YA Realistic Fiction, YA dysfunctional family, YA Romance
REVIEW: In Leap, Natalie is an aspiring dancer with teenage problems that suck. It's summer and Natalie just turned 15. Her Dad divorced her mother to go be a workaholic and leave her and her younger sister, Paige. Her summer dance classes are about to start up again, but has time weathered some relationships between the dance team? Natalie begins to fall for Sasha's, her best friend, brother, Kevin, and Sasha is protective of her friends getting into a relationship with her brother after an incident. Will this destroy their friendship, or will Kevin destroy Natalie first? And will she leave her beloved dance studio behind?
I really liked this book! It progressed like so for me; about 30 pages in, I wasn't in love with it. About 50 pages in, it picked up, and by page 100, I was crying for Natalie! This was a very fast-paced book, what with the journalistic style of writing, which isn't necessarily a good thing. I felt like I read 200 pages, to look and see i read just 100. Another thing though is that this book is a wonderful break from the typical "Dancer/Eating Disorder" stereotype. There are times where Natalie wishes she hadn't eaten or opts for a smaller meal, but everyone does that! You have to feel guilt after pigging out on a 1/4 gallon of ice cream, or regretting eating more when you have to perform with a bunch of stick thin dancers. I love that Lundgren didn't give in and have her have an eating disorder and I could see how easily it would've been to write in an eating disorder. Having the book take place in Canada didn't bother me too much, either. I gave the book 4 1/2 stars because the style of writing through the time of the story out the window, and I wish Lundgren took the mother's secret farther. Recommended for Sarah Dessen lovers!
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End Date: October 18th
STARS: 4 1/2
GENRE: YA Realistic Fiction, YA dysfunctional family, YA Romance
REVIEW: In Leap, Natalie is an aspiring dancer with teenage problems that suck. It's summer and Natalie just turned 15. Her Dad divorced her mother to go be a workaholic and leave her and her younger sister, Paige. Her summer dance classes are about to start up again, but has time weathered some relationships between the dance team? Natalie begins to fall for Sasha's, her best friend, brother, Kevin, and Sasha is protective of her friends getting into a relationship with her brother after an incident. Will this destroy their friendship, or will Kevin destroy Natalie first? And will she leave her beloved dance studio behind?
I really liked this book! It progressed like so for me; about 30 pages in, I wasn't in love with it. About 50 pages in, it picked up, and by page 100, I was crying for Natalie! This was a very fast-paced book, what with the journalistic style of writing, which isn't necessarily a good thing. I felt like I read 200 pages, to look and see i read just 100. Another thing though is that this book is a wonderful break from the typical "Dancer/Eating Disorder" stereotype. There are times where Natalie wishes she hadn't eaten or opts for a smaller meal, but everyone does that! You have to feel guilt after pigging out on a 1/4 gallon of ice cream, or regretting eating more when you have to perform with a bunch of stick thin dancers. I love that Lundgren didn't give in and have her have an eating disorder and I could see how easily it would've been to write in an eating disorder. Having the book take place in Canada didn't bother me too much, either. I gave the book 4 1/2 stars because the style of writing through the time of the story out the window, and I wish Lundgren took the mother's secret farther. Recommended for Sarah Dessen lovers!
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Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Start Date: October 14th
End Date: October 15th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Dystopian, YA Sci-Fi, YA Realistic Fiction (Weird how the last 2 work in this book)
REVIEW: In Bumped, we meet 16-year old Melody, living in modern 2035, where all teens are obsessed, not with boys and fashion, but getting pregnant! As a virus with no cure threatens to sterilize anyone over the age of 18, society fears the virus succeeding and destroying civilization, so teenage Surrogettes are hired! Melody is signed on as a pro Surrogette and about to make the best deal ever! Bumping, or having sex, with pro athlete Jondoe! Too bad her Churchie twin, Harmony comes to visit! Harmony lives in Goodside, where Church rules the land, and the virus is rare what with limited contact between people. Melody and Harmony were split at birth, only to be reunited by Harmony who wants to take Melody to be Saved. As Melody is a dying breed of Europeans, could her sister pose as a threat to counterfeit her?
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I would've given it 5 stars but the beginning was a little oddly structured for me and the middle was too intense for me. This Dystopian theme is an amazingly structured one! Where Pregging is the norm for teenagers and its what teens, pre-teens, even kids(!) rave about! I thought it would be like Uglies by Scott Westerfield (Barf!) when the term "Tocin" came up (Its a drug that acts like a depressant for the mind). But it was BETTER! I think its hard for the first 50 pages, maybe less, while you're trying to catch on to the theme, but McCafferty takes off with this! And, even though it has the dreaded dystopian love triangle, McCafferty was able to turn it into like a love pentagon with many intersecting characters! I can't wait for the sequel, because it left with a nasty cliff-hanger! Recommended for Dystopian lovers!
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End Date: October 15th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Dystopian, YA Sci-Fi, YA Realistic Fiction (Weird how the last 2 work in this book)
REVIEW: In Bumped, we meet 16-year old Melody, living in modern 2035, where all teens are obsessed, not with boys and fashion, but getting pregnant! As a virus with no cure threatens to sterilize anyone over the age of 18, society fears the virus succeeding and destroying civilization, so teenage Surrogettes are hired! Melody is signed on as a pro Surrogette and about to make the best deal ever! Bumping, or having sex, with pro athlete Jondoe! Too bad her Churchie twin, Harmony comes to visit! Harmony lives in Goodside, where Church rules the land, and the virus is rare what with limited contact between people. Melody and Harmony were split at birth, only to be reunited by Harmony who wants to take Melody to be Saved. As Melody is a dying breed of Europeans, could her sister pose as a threat to counterfeit her?
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I would've given it 5 stars but the beginning was a little oddly structured for me and the middle was too intense for me. This Dystopian theme is an amazingly structured one! Where Pregging is the norm for teenagers and its what teens, pre-teens, even kids(!) rave about! I thought it would be like Uglies by Scott Westerfield (Barf!) when the term "Tocin" came up (Its a drug that acts like a depressant for the mind). But it was BETTER! I think its hard for the first 50 pages, maybe less, while you're trying to catch on to the theme, but McCafferty takes off with this! And, even though it has the dreaded dystopian love triangle, McCafferty was able to turn it into like a love pentagon with many intersecting characters! I can't wait for the sequel, because it left with a nasty cliff-hanger! Recommended for Dystopian lovers!
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Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
Start Date: October 10th
End Date: October 14th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Fantasy. YA Wolves, YA romance
REVIEW: In the sequel to Nightshade, Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, but they claim to be on her side. After finding out that Shay is fine, she relaxes around them to learn she will be working with Ethan, who she despises. She learns that the Keepers have lied to he and the Guardians and must be stopped, but after a reconnaissance goes wrong. Things look bleak. Until Ansel, Calla's brother, shows up, depressed and dead inside. Calla decided to go on an improv mission- to free her pack. Will bonds still last in the pack? Will Ren still love Calla? Or will the Scion steal Calla's heart?
I was confused for a good part of the beginning of the book. I blame that on time between publications. I'd forgotten who Ethan, Connor, Sabine, Logan, Cosette, who everyone was! I also thought the beginning was slow, yet helpful with flashbacks from Calla's point of view. Then it finally picked up! The action was intense! I was a little annoyed with EVERY chapter ending in a cliff-hanger, but there were some deserved cliff-hangers in there! I was so annoyed with the ending as one giant cliff-hanger and now having to wait for Bloodrose (pub. 2012)! The writing was a little weak, more when it came to detail than anything, but still a good plot to grab onto. And I would wait to start this series until Bloodrose comes out, or close to it. There's a lot of time between publication and it's easy to get lost. Otherwise, recommended for fantasy lovers and wolf lovers!
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End Date: October 14th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Fantasy. YA Wolves, YA romance
REVIEW: In the sequel to Nightshade, Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, but they claim to be on her side. After finding out that Shay is fine, she relaxes around them to learn she will be working with Ethan, who she despises. She learns that the Keepers have lied to he and the Guardians and must be stopped, but after a reconnaissance goes wrong. Things look bleak. Until Ansel, Calla's brother, shows up, depressed and dead inside. Calla decided to go on an improv mission- to free her pack. Will bonds still last in the pack? Will Ren still love Calla? Or will the Scion steal Calla's heart?
I was confused for a good part of the beginning of the book. I blame that on time between publications. I'd forgotten who Ethan, Connor, Sabine, Logan, Cosette, who everyone was! I also thought the beginning was slow, yet helpful with flashbacks from Calla's point of view. Then it finally picked up! The action was intense! I was a little annoyed with EVERY chapter ending in a cliff-hanger, but there were some deserved cliff-hangers in there! I was so annoyed with the ending as one giant cliff-hanger and now having to wait for Bloodrose (pub. 2012)! The writing was a little weak, more when it came to detail than anything, but still a good plot to grab onto. And I would wait to start this series until Bloodrose comes out, or close to it. There's a lot of time between publication and it's easy to get lost. Otherwise, recommended for fantasy lovers and wolf lovers!
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Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones
Start Date: October 6th
End Date: October 10th
STARS: 5!
GENRE: YA Anthologies, YA Non Fiction, Short Stories
REVIEW: Dear Bully is the collection of 70 popular YA authors and their experiences with bullying, from playground bullying to adult life. The book was born as a result of all the hype a Facebook page for authors against bullying created. From Lisa Schroeder (Chasing Brooklyn, I Heart You, You Haunt Me) to Allyson Noel (the Ever series), Megan McCafferty (Bumped) to Ellen Hopkins (the Crank series). The authors tell their personal tales of being a bully, being bullied, all the forms they were bullied, and how they overcame it. Every author has a heartbreaking tale to tell, all for the victims and those who died from being bullied.
I had my heart broken and repaired 70 times in this book and I couldn't put it down! Every story is painfully true that everyone (EVERYONE!) can relate to. I enjoyed this book equally and was sadder than any story in there that the book ended! I enjoyed the stories about school bullying and seeing how it impacted these influential authors. If you are a bully, or being bullied, to being a different sexual orientation, to being a different skin color, to being a different religion, to being a nerd or top of the food chain, you NEED to read this book. I have been a victim time and time again and it has pushed me into a dark place before. I admit to have been a bully sometimes in my life! This book is the beginning! This is how we end bullying! Bring it into the light and DO NOT ignore it! Open the blind eyes and save another child's life. Recommended for EVERYONE! Age 5 to 105!
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End Date: October 10th
STARS: 5!
GENRE: YA Anthologies, YA Non Fiction, Short Stories
REVIEW: Dear Bully is the collection of 70 popular YA authors and their experiences with bullying, from playground bullying to adult life. The book was born as a result of all the hype a Facebook page for authors against bullying created. From Lisa Schroeder (Chasing Brooklyn, I Heart You, You Haunt Me) to Allyson Noel (the Ever series), Megan McCafferty (Bumped) to Ellen Hopkins (the Crank series). The authors tell their personal tales of being a bully, being bullied, all the forms they were bullied, and how they overcame it. Every author has a heartbreaking tale to tell, all for the victims and those who died from being bullied.
I had my heart broken and repaired 70 times in this book and I couldn't put it down! Every story is painfully true that everyone (EVERYONE!) can relate to. I enjoyed this book equally and was sadder than any story in there that the book ended! I enjoyed the stories about school bullying and seeing how it impacted these influential authors. If you are a bully, or being bullied, to being a different sexual orientation, to being a different skin color, to being a different religion, to being a nerd or top of the food chain, you NEED to read this book. I have been a victim time and time again and it has pushed me into a dark place before. I admit to have been a bully sometimes in my life! This book is the beginning! This is how we end bullying! Bring it into the light and DO NOT ignore it! Open the blind eyes and save another child's life. Recommended for EVERYONE! Age 5 to 105!
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Die For Me by Amy Plum
Start Date: September 30th
End Date: October 6th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Paranormal Romance, YA international, YA Horror
REVIEW: In Die For Me, Katya, a 16 year old girl, trying to get over the death of her parents in a car accident that happened a bit back, finds herself living in Paris with her grandparents and her sister, Georgia, now orphaned. Katya, or Kate, just cannot get over her parents death, until one day, on a brave adventure out to the neighborhood cafe, she meets Vincent. Kate quickly takes up an interest in this mysterious boy, but is he really who Kate thinks he is? Will she get mixed up in his past, or be left brokenhearted?
I hate these kinds of books because I can't say much without spoiling the whole book! I found the beginning to be slow and confusing, but it picked up pretty quickly. There are a few things that bug me about this book. The cover for one. IT'S NOT ACCURATE!! The edition with the red dress is wrong! She is supposed to be in blue (it's in the end)! The one with a girl in a boat in a blue dress is spot-on. Next, the character's name. Its like one of those weird names that are shortened into something you just can't see. Like William to Bill, I just have a hard time seeing Katya go to Kate. And lastly, the language! I didn't know whether to picture them talking in French or English. The characters added French to their dialogue, but it's Paris! just kind of weird. Anyway, i did enjoy the romance scenes, but I wish that Plum wrote Vincent to be a little more adventurous than he is. But the combat scenes were rich in detail! And very suspenseful! A lovely written book! Recommended for paranormal romance lovers!
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End Date: October 6th
STARS: 4
GENRE: YA Paranormal Romance, YA international, YA Horror
REVIEW: In Die For Me, Katya, a 16 year old girl, trying to get over the death of her parents in a car accident that happened a bit back, finds herself living in Paris with her grandparents and her sister, Georgia, now orphaned. Katya, or Kate, just cannot get over her parents death, until one day, on a brave adventure out to the neighborhood cafe, she meets Vincent. Kate quickly takes up an interest in this mysterious boy, but is he really who Kate thinks he is? Will she get mixed up in his past, or be left brokenhearted?
I hate these kinds of books because I can't say much without spoiling the whole book! I found the beginning to be slow and confusing, but it picked up pretty quickly. There are a few things that bug me about this book. The cover for one. IT'S NOT ACCURATE!! The edition with the red dress is wrong! She is supposed to be in blue (it's in the end)! The one with a girl in a boat in a blue dress is spot-on. Next, the character's name. Its like one of those weird names that are shortened into something you just can't see. Like William to Bill, I just have a hard time seeing Katya go to Kate. And lastly, the language! I didn't know whether to picture them talking in French or English. The characters added French to their dialogue, but it's Paris! just kind of weird. Anyway, i did enjoy the romance scenes, but I wish that Plum wrote Vincent to be a little more adventurous than he is. But the combat scenes were rich in detail! And very suspenseful! A lovely written book! Recommended for paranormal romance lovers!
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