The best way to entertain and educate yourself is to read a book. Books can take you to interesting places and teach you new things. Some might even change the way you see life. Books that do this are among the best. Anyone who wants to write an award-winning story should know that certain qualities are required of the book. The ingredients for a good book are a huge amount of detail, a fast-paced plot, and a lovable main character. As with any writing, the more detailed, the better. Books rich in detail are loved by readers. Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin has excellent reviews and descriptions of the world the characters live in. When Phoebe visits the fairy kingdom for the first time, the reader can clearly imagine it in her head. “In the exact center of the garden, surrounded by flowerbeds, was a circular clearing or terrace, paved with the same soft gray stone. Right next to this terrace, a large oak tree raised its harmonious branches towards the sky. (Werlin) Thanks to the details contained in this section, the reader can follow it easily. Werlin clearly describes the terrace and the oak tree in this quote. The details in the books prevent confusion and allow for a better mental picture of the scene. Fast-paced plots are great for books because they keep the reader alert. The average attention span of a child is three to five minutes, while for adults it is twenty minutes, which is why award-winning fiction has an adventure on every page. There was always something interesting happening in Ally Carter's Only the Good Spy Young. The scene in which the protagonist realizes she is being followed is a great example of a fast-paced plot. "'Cammie?' Mr. Baxter's hand was on my shoulder. 'What is it?' 'I don't... half the paper... better so you can get more out of the book. As you can see, to write an entertaining book, these qualities are essential. Good characters allow you to understand the character better and therefore also the story. Fast-paced plots satisfy our attention span and keep us interested. Finally, detail allows you to imagine what is happening in the story in your head. Keeping this in mind when choosing a book will provide a better experience attention media." Reference.com. Dictionary.com, LLC, 2014. Web. March 16, 2014. Carter, Ally. Only the Good Young Spy. New York: Disney/Hyperion for Kids, 2010. Print. Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Disney Hyperion, 2006. Print. Werlin, Nancy. New York: Dial for Young Readers, 2011. Print.