A fast-paced, nerve-fraying contemporary thriller that questions loyalties and twists truths.

Appearances can be deceiving.

In the Community, life seems perfect. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pioneer invited Lyla’s family to join his group and escape the evil in the world. They were happy to be chosen, happy to move away from New York and start over in such an idyllic gated community. Now seventeen, Lyla knows that Pioneer is more than just their charismatic leader, he is their prophet . . . but his visions have grown dark.

Lyla is a loyal member of the Community, but a chance encounter with an outsider boy has her questioning Pioneer, the Community—everything. And if there’s one thing not allowed in the Community, it’s doubt. Her family and friends are certain in their belief. Lyla wishes she could feel the same. As Pioneer begins to manipulate his flock toward disaster, the question remains: Will Lyla follow them over the edge?

From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand why anyone would join a cult. But Gated tells the story of the Community from the inside looking out, and from behind the gates things are not quite so simple. Amy Christine Parker’s beautiful writing creates a chilling, utterly unique YA story. Perfect for fans of creepy thrillers and contemporary fiction alike.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published August 6th 2013 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Living behind the gates is not so bad for most of the community. They know what’s expected of them and the adults in particular like the safety that the walls provide. Then the prophet—or Pioneer—tells them that the world is ending and soon it will be their turn to fight for survival. The adults know how bad it is on the outside and only want to provide safety for themselves and their families. Lyla knows that her mother feels safe there; she loves her parents and believes they would do the right thing. But when Lyla is asked to do things she is uncomfortable with, she begins to question the community.

Lyla’s first sign of defiance is in shooting class. They are taught to prepare for the end of the world by learning how to guard their community. Lyla doesn’t disagree with the shooting lessons in principle and she always hits her mark, yet her idea of aiming to maim instead of kill pushes Pioneer’s buttons. She seems to always be pushing Pioneer to his limits and forcing him to take extreme measures to make sure his Flock stays in line.

While Lyla is on guard duty, they receive visitors from town and she’s asked to give a young teen boy a tour. His questions spark ideas in her head and she begins to question things around her and analyse the decisions Pioneer makes.

This story has a relentless build-up of tension and paranoia. Although the whole story is told from Lyla’s perspective, we get to see all sides of the situation. We see the town’s perspective of the community through the teenage boy, and Pioneer’s and most of the adult’s perspectives through his rules and interactions with Lyla.

What I loved about this story, and why I recommend it to others, is the connection I felt to Lyla and her situation. Most people do not have firsthand experiences with cults, and this puts us right in the middle of what appears to be a happy, tight-knit community. But when Pioneer is pushed too far, there are consequences. The writing pulls you into the story, and the great setting and perfect placing of events builds the tension and fear for how this story might end. It transports you into another world and way of seeing different communities. The tension grows and intensifies right up to the last page.

It was one of those Monday afternoons. You know the kind, we all have them. Our home is currently undergoing huge renovations, with most rooms involved – thankfully not the kitchen, been there, done that – we’re talking dust, chunks of plaster, holes in the roof and walls, new windows going in, old ones going out, floor coming up, floor going down, walls being chainsawed completely out of the way. And dust. Again.

Anyway, I was madly preparing ‘stuff’ for my oldest son who was to undergo oral surgery the next morning**, middle son had been in a wonky-computer related meltdown all weekend that I hadn’t quite managed to resolve, and then, with an hour to go before school-pick up, Lovely Husband reminded me that I’d promised to make youngest son cupcakes, to be ready when he got home. Of course.

No time to make the real deal from scratch, and no time to get to the shop. So this is what I made:

(And this is why it helps to keep a pretty well-stacked pantry)

What You Need:

1 packet of commercial chocolate cake mix.

Cupcake liners.

60g dark cooking chocolate.

125g butter.

6 tablespoons of milk.

500g of icing sugar.

Lollies. I used jellybeans and M&M’s.

How It’s Done:

Make and bake cupcakes according to the directions on the packet. I always keep a chocolate and a vanilla cake mix on hand for emergencies like this one. And, you know, lazy baking days.

Allow cupcakes to cool completely. Confession – I ran out of time, so cooling happened while I did the school pick-up. But it worked out okay because the boys helped decorate, which is apparently, almost as fun as eating the cupcakes.

 For the icing, add chocolate, butter and milk to a large saucepan. Bring to boil, giving it a good stir frequently. Remove from heat and beat in icing sugar until smooth. You might find you need to add a little more icing sugar or milk, depending on consistency. You can either pipe the icing on (beware though, it stiffens quite quickly) or just smooth it on with a knife. We are talking emergency cupcakes, after all. Chop around half of your desired lollies, leaving some whole. Press into icing and you’re done!

 **this may or may not translate into ‘I was having a complete and utter freak-out at the thought of my son undergoing surgery’. He did fine, by the way.  

What is cosplay without killer accessories? by Melanie Stevens.

Props and finishing touches are my favourite part of cosplaying. When I see something I want to create, more often than not I’m drawn to the gizmos, the gadgets, and the weapons. There are many different tools you can use to create your props— in fact so many that it would be hard to list them all without knowing what exactly you’re creating. So today, I’m going to name a few of my favourite all-purpose cosplay tools and tricks!

Lumpy Space Princess

Image: My latest Cosplay – Lumpy Space Princess, Adventure Time

Where to start

Cosplay props can be so overwhelming that it’s hard to get a clear image in your mind of how you will even start. My advice is to deconstruct! What does that mean? Let me show you using something I created: Sakura’s Wand from Cardcaptors.

Sakura’s Wand

Image: Sakura’s Wand

There is: The stick that makes the rod, the end piece, and the bird-looking top. I went further to break down the top into a ball shape, a cone shape, then added the cover to make it smooth, followed by the wings. My top piece of advice would be to, if you can, paint last! Get the construction down before worrying about painting. Also, take this process slowly. This is hard for me because I like to do things bam-bam-bam! But I force myself to wait 24 hours for paint to dry, glue to set, and so-forth and trust me, it’s worth it.

MEL’S TIP: If you’re going to a convention and your character has a massive weapon that will only end up having to be checked in and sit somewhere for the entire show, then there is no point in making/bringing one. Save it for a photoshoot. Alternatively, make it the size required by convention regulations. But personally… if the sword is supposed to be as long as you and you have to make it so it’s miniature… maybe skip it if it looks weird.

What is this, what is that?

Sailor Moon Steampunk Gun

Image: Sailor Moon Steampunk Gun

Take a good look at what you want to create. Burn it into your mind. Deconstruct and memorise the parts.

Why? You need to be able to identify shapes and patterns instantly. So the next time you’re pushing through Saturday gardeners down at your local hardware store, you can see a weirdly shaped curtain rod and think: ‘That’s the perfect base from my Super Duper Action Kawaii Power Magic Wand!’ Yes, I made that up. But man, that would be cool…

MEL’S TIP: Don’t let other people like friends, family, or even nosey neighbours interfere with your work (especially if they don’t cosplay!). Put your favourite playlist on, grab some headphones, and tune them out. Mainly because they’re annoying! But also if the first attempt doesn’t work, which is highly possible, then you might need to start over. The last thing you want is their voice or a negative attitude looming in the back of your mind while you do this. Stay positive!

Shut out the world your own way!

Image: Shut out the world your own way!

All Purpose Tools

Newspaper

Before you start, make sure you have an abundance of old newspapers. That way you won’t get paint all over everything, you will have something to wipe your hands on, and even maybe something to read while things dry… (Caution: Wet paint + newspaper = news imprints on your cosplay!)

Worbla: See Ruth’s blog!

Modge Podge

Please, please, please… if you need to use foam, buy some Modge Podge! It paints on smooth and dries clear. Foam melts at the sight of paint! Using a coating of Modge Podge will help you seal the foam!

Hearty Clay

Hearty Clay

Image: Hearty Clay

I recently discovered this clay (purchasable online from regions of Asia) and I’m smitten! It’s easy to mould, comes pre-coloured and AIR DRIES! Say goodbye to baking your clay. Plus it’s infused with air bubbles so it’s really light weight. Most people use it for Decoden art (Japanese craft where you make sweet treats for boxes or other cute accessories), but it’s so much more than that. Where have you been all my life?

Glues

Take a good look at the glues you intend to use. Read the backs! Hot glue is the best thing ever, but it may not be suitable for particular projects. Nowadays there is glue for everything, including specialised foam glue and fabric glues. Research before you stick!

Finishing spray

You can buy sealing sprays from most good craft stores. It stops paint from running in the wet and seals details like things drawn in pastels or other drawing materials. 

 #5 Grab a little exercise – Personally, I find it really difficult to stay angry when I’m walking. Try bike riding (on a safe track if you’re really angry), running, walking, or even punching a punching bag if you have one.

 #4 Gardening – Slow down and create something on a crummy day. It will be beautiful on a better day, get you back to nature, and give you something to look forward to. Try growing food-producing plants such as vegetables and herbs to be able to ‘eat your rage’ in a more literal sense.

 #3 Talk to someone – If you don’t have a trusted adult, teacher, or school councillor, call Lifeline (13 11 14) or Kids Help Line (1800 55 1800) to vent and externalise the internal maelstrom of emotion. Someone may be able to help you find your way through the tangle.

 #2 Wash away the bad day – Have a shower and visualise the horrible feelings going down the drain with the water. When you step out squeaky clean, you can picture the rest of the day to be the same.

 #1 Have a good cry – Sometimes a crummy day just can’t be helped and you need to have a good cry about it.

 “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” 

― L.M. Montgomery

Five ways to deal with your teen’s crummy days (for adults or friends)

#5 Listen actively to what is being said – Ask questions about the crummy day to let them know you’re up to speed with them.

#4 Leave them alone – Sometimes they’ll ask you to just leave them to calm down before anything can be resolved or talked about. This one always worries me personally, but as long as it isn’t a constant silence and they do eventually seek someone out to talk, it should be fine.

 #3 Offer them help – You can offer help, but remember not to try and solve the issue for the person. Working through adversity builds character and fosters resilience. If it’s a matter of helping them study, or preparing for an exam, then sure: Saddle up for the race to the finish line!

 #2 Show them you care about them – A thinking of you card, a hand written letter, or a small, thoughtful gift can lift someone’s spirits.

 #1 Give them a hug – It’s free, it feels good, and most people I know (adults and teens alike) really need one after they’ve had a crummy day. 

Here’s my Cod with Cream recipe because many, MANY people have asked for it ~ Diana Pinguicha

Ok, so, you need:

– 2 very generous slices of cod

– eggs (ideally, 1 per person, but more if you want to make extra for lunch/whenever — I’ve seen this eaten at 10 a.m.)

– Potatoes (ideally of this type. If you don’t have them, regular fries will do)

– onion & garlic (it IS a Portuguese dish)

– bay laurel (2 or 3 leaves)

– salt & pepper

– parsley

– cream (if it’s heavy, dilute it!)

– milk

– flour

How You Do It!

1. Boil the cod with the eggs until cooked. Turn the over on at around 150ºC or 200ºC.

2. Meanwhile, fry onion, chopped parsley, bay laurel, pepper and garlic in olive oil. Once the cod is done, slice it and put it with the onions/parsley/etc mix. Wait a bit then throw in the chips and the sliced eggs. Salt it to your taste, but I usually just use two pinches.

The Béchamel Sauce!

This tricked me for a while, getting all lumpy and stuff — but no longer! You can buy pre-made béchamel sauce, but I’d rather do my own.

1. Put 3 spoons of flour in a bowl with a bit of cold milk (enough to dissolve).

2. Heat 3 spoons of olive oil; once it’s hot, put in the flour with the milk. Now, add more milk while stirring, stopping when the sauce is creamy and consistent. Around half a litre of milk should be enough for the sauce, but I never measure it. I just add until I feel it’s right.

The Finale!

Now, all you have to do is add the béchamel sauce to the cod/chips/eggs /etc. Add some cream (not too much). Put it in an ovenproof dish and cover it with cream.

Put it in the oven until the top is brown.

Ta-daaa! You’re done! If you want, add some bread crumbs or cheese on top. Bread crumbs can make the top crunchier, but the cheese will change the flavor significantly. Try with and without to see how you prefer it.

Some notes to consider:

– If you buy salted cod, do not forget to de-salt it! Put it in water for a day or two while changing the water 2-3 times a day!

– You can accompany the cod with tomato salad! I season mine with olive oil, fleur du sal, balsamic vinegar and soy sauce.

It’s delicious!