Read & Review

99 Days was an enticing story that had been extremely intriguing from the start. As the story progressed, more context and background details were added to the massive event the book revolved around. There was not any tiptoeing around the major conflict and the author did a nice job establishing the presence and effect of it. The plot follows Molly, a high school graduate, spending her last summer in her hometown she fled from a year prior. The circumstances of her departure are fascinating, as she has tensions and loose ends with several characters. The series of events in each chapter were captivating for sure, as I couldn’t put the book down. Yet at the same time, the decisions and morals of nearly every character did tend to bother me. I couldn’t really find myself agreeing with plot points of the story, but I did find myself rolling my eyes or sighing in exasperation at times! Given that the book was told from a first person point of view, I was able to see into the mind of Molly as she navigated through the summer and life choices. This further pushed my dissatisfaction with her choices as I could not see much justification for them, yet the author’s word choice and description were done well. The town the story took place in was one I could picture myself, as well as the characters and their actions.

Paulo Coehlo’s masterful writing and [the use of] many details hidden in the text come together to create a beautiful story of self-discovery and self-fulfillment. In the story, a boy by the name of Santiago has a dream that he finds treasure, somewhere within the pyramids of egypt. He sets out [on] his journey, and while he doesn’t quite know what he is searching for yet, he is determined to find it. He learns many lessons along the way, as well as important values such as trust, loyalty, and adventure. The boy, as he is referred to in the book, travels with many people. The most important being The Alchemist, who teaches him many important life lessons and reminds him to live out his Personal Legend or his dreams, regardless of what anyone says. While the book may be a little dull at times to those who don’t read deep to uncover all the hidden details, The Alchemist provides a strong story line, with many important messages to be found.

Highly recommended book for high schoolers and all adults seeking self-value and wanting to rediscover themselves.

I found this book to be very engaging, with a relatable but still interesting plot. The main character, Mei’s, conflict of being stuck between two cultures, would be very familiar to anybody who has family with ideas/culture that they disagree with, and her conflicts are written very poignantly and believably. The supporting characters were all very interesting in their own right, and there wasn’t a single one that felt flat or unnatural.

One of my favorite parts of this book was how masterfully the romantic subplot was done. It didn’t feel like an unnecessary addition that took away from the main plot, but rather one that added to Mei’s character and conflict which helped her to develop, besides also moving the overall plot forward.

My favorite part of the story however, was Mei herself. Her character is multifaceted and very well-developed. Which, combined with the fact that her journey is one of self-discovery, means that you never really stop learning more about her. Though I do think that there were some things that went a bit neglected at times. Overall, while this story is a very typical coming of age story, it’s very well executed and never boring.

I really enjoyed reading this book, not just for the information but the stories told and the habits mentioned in the book. As my dad said, most of the information should feel like common knowledge when you read it, but having all the concepts and stories put together makes it clear as to what someone needs to do in order to change a habit. This book also made me reflect on my own habits, and think about what I would like to achieve and where I would like to go in the future. Even if you are not looking to improve yourself, anyone could benefit from reading this book for the compilation of ideas and inspiration it could give someone.

As a Marvel Fan, I loved this movie; but, even if you are not a Marvel fan, you will still enjoy it! I was thoroughly wrapped up with incredible action, excitement, wow moments and humor. It delivers on its promise by providing a truly epic conclusion (in the grandest fashion possible!) to the 11 years of Marvel. This one, indeed felt like an emotional roller-coaster ride, and managed to stage a perfect farewell that our beloved superheroes deserved. The Russo brothers have genuinely redefined the art of classic comic book storytelling and set the standards really high with their final installment. Despite the long 3 hour movie, the film is so enjoyable that it’s quite impossible for anyone to get their eyes off the screen for even a split second. It was cultivating, captivating, and emotional that it did not even feel like it was 3 hours. This is probably one of the most emotional films I’ve ever come across, with tears in the corner of my eyes during the final moments and witnessing the whole crowd inside the theatre giving a standing ovation as it drew to a close. Endgame faithfully shines in every department, while honoring the past in an incredibly satisfying finale. If you are a Marvel fan I highly recommend watching and even if you are not, still enjoy the film as it is one of my favorite movies!

After reading this book, I feel that the CEO of Theranos: Elizabeth Holmes, is a genius… at fooling people. Look at how many smart business people invested in her product, believing that it will change the world! Of course, it didn’t. She found out the machine’s prototype [had] many problems, like overheating. It is easy to tell that stuffing so many features into a tiny box is not recommended through later prototypes. So, here’s a question: what happens when your product [does] not meet the expectation of your investors? You pretend that it is successful! The investors didn’t question anything until someone found discrepancies about the company. I will recommend this book to people who want to improve their writing, especially on making your possibly-bland story sound exciting and being more narrative, unlike me. I will not recommend this book to people looking for a more complex moral to this story because, after all, this is just a story about a liar who’s been successful for a long time.

The Blind Side, written by Michael Lewis, is a non-fiction book about football and its effect on Michael Oher. I found this book to be very enjoyable. Although at first I was confused as to why the author was talking about Lawrence Taylor, his goal very quickly became apparent to me. This happened as Michael Lewis showed us Taylor’s effect on the very foundation of football. Reading about Michael Oher’s life story really puts into perspective the struggle that some people go through in some of Americas less affluent neighborhoods. The portions where Michael Lewis talks about the transformation of the NFL, and strategy in games, is both informative and simple. I am no expert in NFL formations and philosophies, but Michael Lewis explains it in a way that even I could understand the depth of. The use of two main storylines means that whether you read this book for the story, or for the evolution of the offensive lineman, there is something you can enjoy. I would recommend this book to any football fan who wants to gain a better understanding of one of the best offensive line prospects in college football history, or of the changing role of the offensive lineman in the modern era.

Though Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief is over 500 pages, I found this war drama a very easy and enjoyable read. I love books with a WWII Germany setting as I always wonder how everyday Germans of the time were impacted by Hitler’s maniacal ambitions. I loved the fact that Zusak chose many young characters, including the protagonist Liesel Meminger, as it helps see Nazi Germany from the perspective of teens and young adults. The other reason I loved this book was the detailed description of events and emotions, which made me feel as if I was actually in the scenes myself. Zusak portrays how Hitler’s propaganda deeply resonated with many youngsters like Hans Hubermann Jr., the son of Liesel’s foster father. Hans Jr.’s character helped me understand how many people in Germany ‘drank the Kool-Aid’ served up by Hitler and the Nazi regime. At the same time, through the characters of Liesel and her friend Rudy, Zusak shows how other youngsters just hated Hitler’s guts. While the underlying theme of the horrors of war and Hitler’s anti-Semitism run throughout the book, Zusak infuses enough humor, action, and even some romantic tension that made the book very enjoyable. One other thing that makes the book interesting is the use of Death as the narrator. Sounds weird, right?? Interestingly, Death is not some creepy, bony person wearing a dark robe and floating around with a weapon in hand. Rather, as a narrator, Death is quite reflective and, dare I say, likeable!

Call Me By Your Name is my favorite book of all time for its touching universal messages about love. The quotes you may recognize from the book or film have stuck to my mind for life; “Is it better to speak or die?”. The book will teach you an unforgettable answer to this question, whether or not you agree with it.

Call Me By Your Name submerges you into this romance between Elio and Oliver, whilst feeling as though you are in a beautiful town of Northern Italy. Aciman’s writing touches people of all sexualities, genders, and past and future generations. Though, Elio and Oliver’s internal struggles with sexuality highlight a part of the hardships that LGBTQ+ people live with everyday. This book will expose you to the beauty and pain of love, and make you feel the same highs and lows as the main characters do. You will smile and you will cry. This is my favorite book of all time, and I hope you let this book touch you as I have.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. The main reason this book was a fun read for me is the character of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. A good chunk of the story is about a period of unbridled freedom and adventure that Holden gets to experience. I mean, which 16-year old gets to stay alone in a hotel, bar hop, flirt with women, drink like an adult, and be carefree without having to worry about the pressures of family and school? This alternate reality is quite fascinating. At the same time, Holden is not that different from most high schoolers in other respects. The rebel in him, his disgust with some of the “phoniness” of adulthood, and his desire to feel loved are all things that I can relate to. Although understandably off putting to some, in my view, Salinger’s use of blunt and offensive language makes Holden’s character better and realistic. At the same time, Holden is a troubled kid. He has a hard time bridging the gap between childhood and adulthood, flunks out of school a few times, and even has a mental breakdown, which only made me feel sorry for him. All of this combined to make the book hard for me to put down once I started reading it.

Excellent book with practical wisdom and knowledge. The author’s purpose is in the title, but the book’s topic is Taoism philosophy. The author provides his translation of the Tao Te Ching, the Chinese classic text written by Lao Tzu, along with daily practice and quotes. It’s very good if you’re looking for Taoism or philosophy, otherwise it may be nonsense to the reader. I loved how the author provided a simple and straightforward translation of text so I didn’t have to infer anything. Don’t judge a book by the cover!

I loved the virtues and principles the book preached, and it made me feel more grounded, peaceful, and connected to life. So many “AHA” moments! I feel as if my headspace is now more clear, and relaxed. I love the concepts that love and humility will always persevere against anger and abuse. The text is very repetitive, but I believe that’s his (Lao Tzu) way of reinforcing important principles. Wonderful advice and wisdom.

In her book, Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo masterfully threads together a world of worlds. A world of pickpockets. A world of lockpickers. A world of criminals. A Grishaverse. What I admire most about Bardugo’s writing are her meticulously thought out characters. Each character, protagonist or not, has a backstory which Bardugo teases to the reader in small morsels. The framework story has stories which have stories. The quick thinking of Kaz Brekker, a master lock-picker and leader of the gang, surprised me at every turn. He gambles the lives of his comrades, and it’s no exaggeration to say that he thinks on a higher plane than most characters. The only thing I dislike is how realistic the books may seem. The book draws heavily on the idea of fairness. Bardugo illustrates harsh reality like it is. The protagonist murders. He steals. He tortures. There is no eye for an eye in his society since he takes all of them. The protagonist is the lesser evil which punishes the greater evil out of selfishness and vengeance. What is similar to our reality is how humanizing Bardugo creates her characters. We are not perfect beings, and we are—at our core—selfish. I would definitely give this book a 5/5 for its worldbuilding and realistic themes.

This Fantasy Fiction book was a thrill to read. This is one of those books with an anti-hero in it. Her personality was refreshing, unlike many Young Adult fiction characters who is either not sure of herself or too sure of herself. She was also self-sufficient, and there was no “damsel in distress” side of her. This girl knew her limits and had a strong personality but none of it was considered a weakness. This is not very often when it comes to girl heroes in Young Adult fiction. This book did not make the characters flawless either. The characters each had their flaws -making them very balanced. The story had many twists and turns and witty banter, making it hard to put down. The storyline was also very interesting with nothing in the book getting wasted. There are no unnecessary scenes and each thing the character does has a reason. Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone wanting a breath of fresh air in the YA fiction genre with well-developed characters, thrilling plot twists and lots of laughs in between.

Divergent is probably my favorite book so far! It made me laugh, cry, and smile- while reading it, you will find yourself in a world with mixed emotions. It is very exciting to read because it is a blend of thrill, mystery, and even romance all in one. This book, and its series, teaches you lessons: to never give up on yourself, and that you can be different from everyone else. One thing I liked about how Veronica Roth wrote this book is that she tried to engage the readers with the characters and know exactly how they feel. She wrote this book showing depth in emotional and intense ways. As you are reading in the beginning you will find unanswered questions which will make you read more and will make the book mysterious. This book is probably the best in the series and you get some amazing plot twists and heartbreak the farther into the book series you read. I really recommend it to everyone who likes sci-fi, fantasy, romance, action or just reading in general!

This book was amazingly written. As a YA dystopian novel, I think it does a very good job. When the character was scared, I was scared, when the character was happy, I was happy. I felt like I was in the book write next to the character. There are also many twists and turns, it never gets boring. It is almost impossible to see where the book is going from the start. The book was also action-packed. From the start to the end, there is action. There is a little bit of gore in the book, so for those that may not be into this type of action, I would not suggest it. The romance side of it is not the focus so if someone is looking for a dystopian-romance I would not recommend it either. I personally loved this novel. It is very much like Hunger Games, without feeling like a copycat, so I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading the Hunger Games.

Educated, by Tara Westover, is a beautifully written memoir. It is an emotional recount of Tara Westover’s life. She grew up in Idaho with her eccentric father who refused the government, hospital, etc. They lived in isolation and in fear. Tara leaves her family and moves on to gain an education, despite being denied one for the entirety of her childhood. Despite the limitations that put her at a disadvantage, she managed to prosper and thrive. She wrote this memoir to tell others of her story of how education shaped her life. It is fascinating how someone who never got a proper elementary/middle/high school education managed to become a wonderful author with a thrilling book. Educated brings up themes of race, gender, mental illness, and abuse. I would highly recommend this book for anyone. It is fascinating to learn about Westover’s family and the struggles she went through to become the person she is today. Learning about different perspectives of other lives is fascinating.

I really liked the first book of this series: The Selection, but I am disappointed with this one. There is no plot, it expands a little on their world but it felt like a filler. The Main character acted like a terrible person for most of the book, and it was frustrating to read. There is a love triangle, mind you one that none of the guys know about, that has lasted two books, and the main character just cannot seem to pick one. I understand that she has her struggles, but after a while it gets a little off. She is technically cheating on both guys but then gets mad when they do something. And then she forgets about them the minute they leave the room. Then there were two love triangles, and that just became too much. There is also a lot of crying. A lot. The Main character also makes mistakes that can easily be avoided. Is she really the person anyone would trust as a monarch? The characters are not well developed at all. They do not have much of a personality and even the scenes feel scripted. I am not even going to talk about the rebels. I find it funny that my favorite character ends up being one of the maids. Overall, this book was a real let down compared to the first one, and the only reason I would tell someone to read it is so they can just finish the series.

Now, when I saw that this book was also a movie, I was ecstatic! But while watching I found that even though the pace was fast it was almost hard to follow. Ender would be somewhere amateur and then after a single practice game, he would be promoted. As well, I think the managers of the army were alluding to it being a real war so much I was surprised Ender did not realize he was being used. I was also slightly disappointed that Ender was not younger in the movie. In my opinion, it would seem a lot more magical if there was a child mastermind, since in the book there was a large emphasis that Ender was younger than most of the children aboard the ship. One thing I did really enjoy in the movie was how they showed the aliens trying to contact him. It started with the video game, then into foreshadowing when he thought they could contact him through his mind. Although I will say the ending did not feel like a story ending, but more so a closing of the last five minutes -which was underwhelming.

This was overall a good dystopian watch, but I wouldn’t recommend people to watch this, but they should read the book!

[This] book portrays the principles of optimism, enthusiasm, love, and purpose through an unexpected occurrence that happened to the author. The author, Jon Gordon, makes it an easy read with 10 simple rules to adhere by for positive energy.

The story may come off as corny or unbelievable, but I find that the principles are absolutely true and relevant to everyday life no matter who you are. Applying these principles have had such a dramatic effect on my life and happiness. I love how Jon Gordon illustrated that no matter how unfortunate things seem, you can always be enthusiastic and find a positive mindset. I wish everyone [would] read the story, it’s life changing and imperative for inner joy. The book is cringe when he uses terms such as “energy vampire,” or “chief energy officer,” or asking his employees to “get on his energy bus,” but I would advise you to not let that blur the main point.

I recently finished reading A Face Like Glass, by Frances Hardinge. This is a beautifully written fantasy novel. The setting is a richly imagined underground city of Caverna: full of magic, intrigue and danger. People in the city lack the ability to show their emotions. Instead, they have to rely on Facesmiths, who create masks that can show a range of human expressions. Only the privileged people can own numerous masks. The rest can only  afford one or two, which means they can only display a very limited range of expressions. The protagonist is a young girl named Neverfell, who has a face that betrays her every  emotion and a talent that makes people see the truth.

The world building in the book is truly exceptional, creating a very unique and fantasy society filled with eccentric characters and mysterious secrets. The book subtly explores themes such as identity, free will and the power of storytelling. It does so with nuance, giving readers much to ponder.

The character of Neverfell is well developed. She is relatable and sympathetic. Her journey of self-discovery and growth is very compelling. The author’s prose is poetic and enchanting. The fantasy world she created feels both familiar and strange at the same time.

Overall, this is a beautifully crafted novel. I highly recommend it to fans of fantasy stories.

I recently finished reading Lamar Gile’s novel Fake ID and really loved the story.

The book is about the journey of a teenager Nick Pearson, who was falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. On the run from the law, he must find a way to clear his name and figure out the truth behind the fake ID that got him in trouble. With the help from his friends, he was able to eventually figure things out.

The author does a great job of telling a fascinating story. The narrative is very fast-paced and exciting. The characters are well developed. The plot is full of twists and turns. The author very skillfully explored the theme of identity. After reading this book, I had a much better appreciation of how it can be both a blessing and a curse. It also shows us that things are not always as they seem and that the truth can be elusive and difficult to uncover.

In summary, for anyone who loves mystery and suspense novels, I would highly recommend “Fake ID”. It is a fantastic read that will keep you thoroughly entertained. I can’t wait to read more from Lamar Giles in the future.

Though an amazing book, those who read must realize the strong trigger warnings it comes with. It’s a story of a girl, Charlie, and the challenges life continuously throws at her. As an avid reader, this book struck me with how personal it is. Each challenge beats you down just as it does the characters. All the twists and turns and death and breakups are all worth it by the end. While sad as your reading, this is truly a book about maturity, independence, and learning whom to trust. Truly, the only reason this is not rated higher on my list is that it wasn’t such a fast read for me. However, it may be for other people. This book does a fantastic job at being honest and blunt and even uncomfortable in a sense. To me, this is a good thing because it is important for books not to romanticize these issues that, sadly, seem to be romanticized on social media sometimes. If you are one that likes to read books where you can really get into the mind of the characters, especially those going through things mentally, this is a great book and I would definitely recommend it. The only thing to do first is to look through a list of triggers that go along with this book and be sure none will affect you too negatively. Enjoy!

As a dedicated fan of science fiction, this novel was right down my alley. At first, I was hesitant to start reading as its plot resembles other science fiction novels, such as The Young Elites by Marie Lu (which was a mind-blowing novel that I would read again and again), and I didn’t want to feel disappointed by potential repetitiveness. However, when my book club decided to pick up this book and start reading, I had no choice. And to say the least, I was surprised. Even though I’ve read similar plots in other novels, this one was different (for lack of a better adjective). The combination of its simpler and clearer language with an overall more modern touch definitely made sure I wasn’t bored and convinced me to continue reading. On the back of my purchased copy, VOYA explains, “If Stephen King had written Lord of the Flies, it might have been a little like this.” And although I haven’t read any of Stephen Kings’ novels yet, I have to agree that Gone is a contemporary spin-off– with its own little niches– of Lord of the Flies. The power dynamic? The sense of impending doom? Confusion? It’s all there with a twist.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would do it in a heartbeat. I have never really been a fan of murder mysteries. To me, they all seem the same; everyone’s together, lights go out, someone dies, someone’s falsely accused, murderer found, yay! I can never seem to follow along. However, this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It has everything a reader could ask for; mystery, romance, plot twists, etc. From the introduction, this book had me hooked. I read all 387 pages in just two days. Pip and Ravi have an inspiring sense of determination throughout the book. They never give up and always double and triple-check their assumptions. They are fearless and feel the need to do what’s right. Their thoughts and accusations are easy to follow along and it makes it very easy for the reader to come up with their own theories. Usually, I hate reading books written in the third person. However, Jackson does a fantastic job writing her book alternating between the third person and Pip’s notes (in the first person). I would do nearly anything to be able to read this book for the first time again and it definitely holds a spot in my top 5 books of all time.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson was an interesting read. It followed Pippa, who is doing a project on a teen who was murdered. Andie Bell was supposedly murdered by Sal Singh but Pippa disagrees with this. For her senior capstone project, she decides to discover the truth about Andie Bell. We follow her as she, quite literally, solves a murder. Overall, I liked this novel’s plot. It was very interesting. It really built up at the end, taking the reader on a roller coaster of emotions. Personally, I was so upset that I cried. The plot is wonderfully shocking. However, I do have some complaints. I found that writing was cringey. It was cliche. I wasn’t very fond of it. The plot did, however, make up for the writing. Overall, I would recommend reading this book. It’s more of a read in one go at midnight type of book. 

Though I loved the previous book, I thought this one was just okay. It still had the thrilling factor of a kidnapping and the cutesy romance progression through Pip and Ravi, however, it doesn’t compare to the amount that the first book, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, kept me on the edge of my seat. Because this book didn’t make me feel as much as the first did, I decided not to read the third. This disappointed me because I love reading series. This book took me much longer to read than the first, though only 20 pages longer. Now that I am done with the negative factors of it, onto the positive. The only reason I feel negatively towards this book is that I loved the first one too much. I do like how this book is set up not in chapters, but instead in how many days are missing. Pip is an inspiring character who puts her own mental health on the line to help her family friend. The book is persistent and this book presents a healthy relationship between Pip and Ravi. Overall, I don’t think this book is bad, just average compared to the first. I would still recommend giving it a read if you enjoyed the first book.

Watching ‘The Graduate’ in my freshman year film class made me believe that it changed the trajectory of my life. It provided a sense of comfort that I’m not always going to know what to do, and therefore should explore and develop myself before it becomes too late. In the movie, it’s shown that Benjamin Braddocks’s unbeknownst future drastically differs from the adults around him. They have steady jobs, steady families, and an overall contented-ness and full awareness of their life. I sometimes feel the same with my peers, trying to applaud them for knowing what to pursue but instead, my jealousy grows. The expectations and overall pressure imposed on Braddock by all the adults in his life caused him to immerse himself in a series of impulsive decisions. Another thing I will always love about Hoffman’s iconic character is how awkward he was. At the beginning of the movie, he seems to always be unsure of himself and displays this by stuttering and falling over. Of course, it adds comic relief, but it also hints at the fact that Benjamin is still somewhat of a child, even after graduating college. He still is unsure of himself in many ways that I am and will continue to be. ‘The Graduate’ will always be one of my favorite films for providing relatability when it comes to the future, something that seems so distant but is slowly, but surely, creeping up on me.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling is a superb book. The first installment of this iconic series has all the necessary elements of an amazing novel. Firstly, the characters in the book are very well represented. With just a few pages each character is described in lots of details and is flushed out. The appearance, motives, ideals, and philosophies of each character are creatively shown through the book with various situations and dialogue. The characters beg the reader’s sympathy and continue to make the reader want to learn more. The numerous exquisite details mixed in with the most creative scenarios results in an amazing read. The remarkable world of magic the book is taken place in opens up the endless possibilities for hooking adventures in the future. In conclusion, this book is very good for readers of all levels, adults and children. It does not take much to get hooked to the story. The book is structured and written amazingly along with amazing character descriptions that are very well developed. I am super excited to read the following books in the series given how great the first one was to me.

“What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?” [quote from the film]

‘High Fidelity’ is, in my opinion, an underrated John Cusack classic. It tells the story of Rob Gordan (Cusack) navigating his way through his past relationships, trying to find why his last one went wrong. One of my favorite parts about the movie is the fact that Gordan is a record store owner, the movie is filled with never-ending references to fantastic music. The soundtrack includes The Velvet Underground, Elvis Costello, The Beta Band, and many more. There’s even a cameo of Bruce Springsteen advising Rob. Even with playlists and applications replacing record stores and mixtapes, there still is valuable advice on relationships and love. One of the major parts of the film is Rob’s narrative to the audience. Through the complexities of love (and his relationships), the narratives help the viewers better understand his feelings and thoughts. It’s also through these narrations that we get a taste of Rob’s enjoyable (and sometimes insufferable) character. I will always hail this movie as one of my favorites, from the first line to the last I was hooked in.

After rewatching “The Hunger Games”, I decided to reread the novel as well. Personally, I love dystopian settings so I love The Hunger Games and other novels/movies like it such as The Maze Runner and Divergent series. The Hunger Games is such a thrilling and fascinating novel due to its character development and plot twists. [It] also has a unique storyline that makes you want to live in it. Furthermore, the Hunger games does an excellent job in portraying the parallel between Katniss’s district and the capitol, portraying the economic and social differences, which all culminate to its ultimate corruption. The Hunger Games is a wonderful read and I would highly recommend. However, I would like to make one distinction between the movie and the novel. I feel that the movie does not portray Peeta and Katniss’s relationship as well [as the novel]. [It] does not have as many genuine interactions as the novel does.

Hush by Dylan Farrow is a dystopian fantasy fiction. The setting is a long time ago in the land of Montane. There is a pandemic disease called the Blot going on. The disease spreads by ink, turning the veins of whoever touches it indigo, and leading to eventual deaths. The land is ruled by a powerful group of mostly male people, called the Bards. Claiming to protect the people, the Bards ban common people from reading and writing. As the story begins, the protagonist, Shae, a seventeen years old girl, just lost her brother to the Blot. She lives with fear that she might be the reason behind her town’s suffering.

Her mother is murdered after a few Bards visit her town. She believes the Bards are somehow involved in her mother’s death, but no one will listen. She sets out to find answers on her own. She eventually finds out that the danger is way bigger than she imagines.

The book explores a few important themes: male propaganda, oppression by suppressing speeches, and truth telling. Through a system of suppression, The Bards are able to manipulate people’s living realities. It is hard for people to tell the truth from fiction. The pressure for people to stay silent is very tangible. These themes are important in the real world: what can we do when the people in power are lying?

Overall, Hush is an interesting read for fans of fantasy fiction. The plot is engaging and full of twists. The story ends on a suspense, and I’m curious to see what’s next in a sequel. A small warning though: the tone of the book is a little dark. Some readers may find it somewhat disturbing.

Finding the right book to read may be challenging for some. This is something that I struggle with as there are many different genres to choose from. I try to focus on books that interest me and that I am able to relate with. One of these books has been I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, written by Erika Sanchez. After I finished reading, I only had one thing to say; Wow. This book takes you on a journey involving the declining mental health and battle between the main character, Julia Reyes, and her family. Coming from personal experience, a perfect Mexican daughter is a woman who always puts her family first and obeys the rules of the house. Reading this book and knowing the insane standards makes the novel relatable and interesting as I am able to see the different perspectives that some had to go through. My family has traditional views and the author writes about an experience like no other. Not only does the novel dive into traditional values that Mexican culture amplifies, the words are able to guide you through an investigation through the death of Julia’s sister, Olga, that gives insight to the true life of the Reyes Family. In addition, Sanchez incorporates romance and the strict rules for dating in a household with traditional beliefs. Overall, this novel has been able to keep me reading. I would recommend this novel to everyone, even if you do not know much about Mexican Culture.

This book will never not be my favorite book. I have read it 4 times now and am brought to tears every time. This book highlights some of the misconceptions as well as the need for help in some African countries. Though it started as a simple school project, this book highlights the true story of a growing friendship across oceans. It shows how much a little kindness really goes a long way and how not to take your life for granted. I really like that this book is not only a true story, but is written by both the characters. It brings hope that everything will end up okay. This book is truly eye opening and though long, a quick and easy read. I first read this summer 2020, and I think it is the perfect vacation/summer read, and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an amazing and inspiring book to read. 

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. As suggested in the title, this book is about a girl who inherits a large sum of money. While the base plot of this novel is nothing new, it was extremely adventurous and engaging, partly because of its structure (the short chapters allowed for a quicker pace). The entire time I was reading, I felt as if I was playing the game and I became extremely invested in finding the answers to the mystery alongside the characters. Another aspect of the book I enjoyed were the characters. The protagonist (Avery Kylie Grambs) was well written, and a strong, female lead. The supporting characters (Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander) each had a unique personality and had different ways they interacted with Avery. Their distinct personalities were clearly expressed and I ended up bonding and loving all of the boys for different reasons. I will admit that I was hesitant to read this book at first because of the chosen one trope. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author was able to use this plot line without it being predictable or cringy.

I believe that both middle and high school students could enjoy this book, and readers who enjoy an adventure will find this novel to be an exciting read.

This book was probably one of the best stand-alone books I have read. It is not a part of a series yet the plot unfolded beautifully. So much action and adventure was packed into that book, with a satisfying romance side too. It was actually recommended to me by an 8th grade teacher, but I ended up taking it up in my own spare time. It never gets boring and is a relatively fast action book. The plot line was unique and had twists and turns one may not expect. The characters were well developed, too.

I want to talk a little bit about the romance in this story. The romantic sub plot was developed very well, and the romance that played out did not seem forceful. In stand-alone books, sometimes things can feel rushed or forced or incomplete, but this novel did a good job of preventing any feelings like that. Overall, I would recommend it to anyone that wants a quick yet thrilling read to pass time.

I’d rate The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab a B+ book, both entertaining and poorly executed. With a premise full of potential and an immersive writing style, I was initially impressed. However, I soon noticed multiple aspects of the novel that were either distracting or overlooked. The prose is beautiful but excessive, often elaborating unnecessarily on insignificant details. It drags out the exposition, although the fast-paced climax somewhat makes up for it. Worse, there are discrepancies between what’s told about Addie (specifically that she’s curious and a traveler) and what’s shown. Despite her penchant for exploration, the story is entirely eurocentric—Addie only knows European languages and English; there are no flashbacks to adventures anywhere except Europe and America. Despite what one would expect from the queer, feminist main character, there is no mention of women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, or other civil rights movements. Nor does Schwab touch on climate change, something that an immortal being should find concerning. Considering the novel’s genre of historical fiction, it does not feel like a well-researched representation of a woman living through centuries of a changing world.

I did not like how long and loosely-aimed it was. I like books that I can read in a reasonable amount of time and then take home a message, and this was not one of those books. This novel had so much going on that it was hard to piece together its different moving parts. I did not take home an aching message after reading it, though I do appreciate its themes that stick out throughout the book. 

I appreciate that most of the book is spent indirectly criticizing Victorian standards. I like how each of the characters are crafted as well. The reader really gets to know who Jane is as a person through her observations and reactions. I liked that she was persistent and true to herself in her relationship while handling adults and Mr. Rochester– it’s a good feeling when you like the main character in a book. I like how all of the characters are easily distinguished; Mr. Rochester’s overly-critical and flowery speech, for example, comes alive to create his character. I liked to examine the religious imagery and symbols piercing through the book, and enjoyed following the mysterious romance between Jane and Mr. Rochester. 

If you’re a long book-reader, this is for you! If you’re not, I’d recommend skipping this one.

Just Kids by Patti Smith is one of my favorite books. I reread it often, referring to it as a guide. It describes the meeting of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe and their struggles in becoming the artists they are hailed to be today. One thing I’ve always loved about this book is Smith’s ability to intertwine meaningful lessons into her flashbacks of the past. Her wisdom is simply communicated to readers. One of the biggest lessons is the difference between wealth and talent. She often brings up the lack of money most artists around her had. She uses this to enrich her belief that talent and money are separate. One does not equal the other. Another thing that will always make me smile as I read the book is her references. Throughout the book, she establishes her Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison (with The Doors), and Brian Jones obsessions. She writes about their music, and rock music as a whole, as a spiritual entity. Similar to the way some write about religion, she wrote about rock music saving her. She writes on page 249, “The gratitude I had for rock and roll as it pulled me through a difficult adolescence.” Overall, I think Just Kids is a must-read (especially for future artists) because Patti Smith compares art to oxygen, she lives and breathes it completely. To read about that extent of passion and admiration for art is enthralling.

Kafka on the Shore by Japanese author Haruki Murakami is a story of prophecy, family, and love that follows the parallel stories of two main characters: the young, angsty Kafka Tamura and the lost, old Nakata whose paths eventually converge as Kafka’s search for his identity meets Nakata’s search for a missing cat. Music is a creative, recurring theme Murakami seamlessly works into the story, serving as a medium through which characters can express themselves and further the plot. Like a movie soundtrack, it subtly conveys the ambiance of the story. Although the book is written in the surrealist style with supernatural events, it can still feel grounded and relatable. The characters are imperfect yet endearing: each showcases a different perspective on the nature of life. Their relationships are real and organic: their lives are riddled with tragedy, shaping the way they think. On the other hand, the surreal aspect of the story showcases Murakami’s talent as a writer. His eloquent writing carries readers to another world of magic and destiny, where nothing is as it seems. The sensation of reading certain moments of the story can only be described as floating. Filled with metaphors and symbolism, the story takes twists and turns that all tie together in the end. The dream-like quality of Murakami’s storytelling, coupled with vibrant imagery and complex characters, make Kafka on the Shore a must-read.

The Land of Stories, by Chris Colfer, has always been a constant in my life. It has always been my go to book since I was young. This book revolves around twins who discover a magical world within their grandmother’s storybook. Reading this book, I always feel a sense of nostalgia. I love the magical world full of Cinderella, Rumplestiltskin, the fairy godmother, Snow White, and Rapunzel. This story creates a new world for the magical characters in which they are all connected. Upon re-reading this book, I found that it can be a little childish and cliche. However, I still love it due to its classic nature. I like the childishness. I recommend reading this just for fun. This novel is not necessarily a serious book, so people with specific tastes for maturity would not like this book.  Nonetheless, this novel will bring you back to your childhood with its innocence and magic.

I recently finished reading Courtney C. Steven’s novel, The Lies About Truth, and was really impressed by the story. The book is about the journey of a teenage girl, Sadie Kingston, who is struggling to deal with the loss of her best friend.

The author creates an engaging protagonist in Sadie. The character development is strong, and it is very easy for the reader to connect with Sadie and understand her motivations and emotions. The plot is well designed, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. 

One particular thing I like about the book is the way that the author explores the theme of grief and how it can affect all of us. It shows us that grief is a universal experience, and that we all must find our own unique way to cope with it. As Sadie learns in the end, telling lies is not the right answer and being honest with ourselves and others is the ultimate key to moving forward. 

In summary, for anyone who loves contemporary young adult fiction, I would highly recommend “The Lies About Truth”. It is a thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you finish it.

I just finished reading Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. This is a timely novel that explores themes of government surveillance and personal freedom in a post-9/11 America. The background of the story is after a terrorist attack on San Francisco, which leads to increased government surveillance and loss of liberties. The main protagonist is a teenage hacker named Marcus. He got deeply involved in a battle versus the Department of Homeland Security.

The novel is nicely written. The narrative is very strong. And the plot is compelling that keeps readers thoroughly engaged. The attention to details and use of technical terms make the story feel vivid and authentic. This gives readers a sense of urgency. 

One nice feature of the book is that it presents complicated ethical issues in a way that is relatable to young adult readers. Issues about the user of violence, the role of government in society and the balance between security and civil liberties are very difficult and complex for any person, young or old. Marcus and his group of friends are forced to face these issues in their teenage years. 

Overall, this is a very powerful and thought-provoking novel. It resonates with readers of all ages. It reminds today’s young people that their rights and freedoms do not come for free. To take control of their lives, they have to stand up and fight with vigilance and determination.

There was a lot of hype surrounding this book and; honestly, after reading it, I do not feel like it was well deserved. Usually, I love a book that switches points of view, however I did not really see the relevance in including the modern-day point of view for this story. I feel that I would have liked the story more if it only included the past point of view, or if the modern-day had more of a plot or was more interesting. I felt like this book was a very slow read, and it took around 100 pages to begin to understand the plot and connection between the past and present points of view. However, I did enjoy the point of view from the past, and I found myself being able to read those chapters fast, which made me almost dread reading the modern-day portions. This would not really be high on my list of book recommendations, but it really does just depend on what kinds of books you are into. If you are someone who is interested in the unspoken parts of European history and the roles of forgotten women, I would say this is a book to read. Also, towards the end of the book, I do think it gets more interesting, but you just need to be patient through the story, if it is something you would be interested in.

I really liked this play of ‘Macbeth’. I think that it is well written by Shakespeare, who is a brilliant poet and playwright. Macbeth is a tragic story but has a great theme of many life lessons in life; such as, take responsibility for your actions, be careful of people you trust, and don’t be easily persuaded. I thought that the witches and the heroes and villains were a great part of the play. This play showed how a person is changed with the influence of evil behavior which leads him to lose everything. I think that this is a great play of Shakespeare that I have read because it teaches you a lesson that never do anything if you even have a little bit of doubt. 

This book is one of my favorite books by far and I find myself coming back to it time and time again. The story includes a moral and theme which is cleverly hidden throughout the novel. [It] centers around a girl named Mia and how she struggles to fit in amongst other kids at her school. Unfortunately, Mia has been diagnosed with synesthesia which is a condition causing Mia to see sounds, smell colors, and taste shapes. The novel centers around Mia’s struggle with her condition and the sorrow of her grandfather’s death. This story leads a very emotional path for the reader. One reason I love this novel is because it brings awareness to disabilities and the hardship that comes with. I also thought that the title of the novel can be quite deceiving but once I finished the novel the title is quite brilliant. Overall, I believe Wendy Mass did an astonishing job with this novel and I highly recommend reading this novel!

The‌ ‌butler‌ ‌did‌ ‌it…‌ ‌right?‌ ‌Think‌ ‌again.‌ ‌Hercule‌ ‌Poirot‌ ‌stars‌ ‌in‌ ‌this‌ ‌bestselling‌ ‌thriller‌ ‌mystery with‌ ‌an‌ ‌unexpected‌ ‌twist‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌end.‌ ‌Poirot‌ ‌is‌ ‌on‌ ‌vacation,‌ ‌riding‌ ‌on ‌‌M.‌ ‌Bouc’s‌ train,‌ the‌ ‌Orient‌ ‌Express.‌ ‌One‌ ‌day,‌ ‌a‌ ‌passenger‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌train,‌ ‌Ratchett,‌ ‌comes‌ ‌up‌ ‌to‌ ‌him.‌ ‌He‌ tells‌ ‌Poirot‌ ‌that‌ ‌his‌ ‌life‌ ‌is‌ ‌in‌ ‌danger,‌ ‌and‌ ‌Poirot‌ ‌needs‌ ‌to‌ ‌protect‌ ‌him.‌ ‌He‌ ‌politely‌ ‌declines‌ ‌the‌ offer,‌ ‌but‌ ‌soon‌ ‌after,‌ ‌Ratchett‌ ‌is‌ ‌found‌ ‌dead‌ ‌in‌ ‌his‌ ‌compartment.‌ ‌Someone‌ ‌stabbed‌ ‌him‌ ‌12‌ times,‌ ‌in‌ ‌12‌ ‌different‌ ‌ways.‌ ‌Who‌ ‌did‌ ‌it?‌ ‌Could‌ ‌it‌ ‌have‌ ‌been‌ ‌his‌ ‌secretary,‌ ‌Hector‌ ‌MacQueen? Poirot‌ ‌uses‌ ‌details‌ ‌generally‌ ‌useless ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌human‌ ‌eye‌ ‌to‌ ‌solve‌ ‌the‌ ‌case.‌ Read‌ ‌the‌ ‌book‌ ‌and‌ ‌see‌ ‌how‌ ‌this‌ ‌mystery‌ ‌unravels.‌ ‌The‌ ‌truth‌ ‌will‌ ‌shock‌ ‌you.‌

‌This‌ ‌book‌ ‌is‌ recommended‌ ‌for‌ ‌readers‌ ‌from‌ ‌ages‌ ‌12‌ ‌and‌ ‌up‌ who‌ ‌love‌ ‌murder‌ ‌mysteries.‌

[some of this review has been edited for potential spoilers]

I found this novel to be wonderful to read. This story follows a family of five– parents Sara and Brian, and children Jesse, Anna, and Kate. Kate has leukemia. Seemingly a simple story, Picoult makes the reader feel many emotions. The novel is written from the perspectives of each character. Understanding the feelings of each character, the reader is able to establish a connection with each reader, which is essential to enjoy the novel. The novel’s theme of family makes the reader reflect on what it means to be a parent. It dives into the moral dilemma of doing quite literally everything to save your child. This novel was beautifully written, as it was heartwarming, upsetting, and saddening. This book evokes many emotions and thoughts regarding family. I recommend this book, especially for those who want to start reading again. This book hooks you in and makes you want to read more. Never boring, this book is full of surprises and emotions.

As a self-help book and a book meant to guide people, it came off fairly aggressive, as if everyone reading the book was not doing the things they should do in order to reach their goals- but I don’t think this is an effective approach because most people that read self help books are in the interest in helping themselves and have motivation. I do like his perspective though, and that is confidence and the ability to get things done trinkle down to a person’s ability to be disciplined with themselves. While I don’t think reading the book was the most enjoyable thing in the world for me, I found the way he explained some of his ideas very refreshing, and the prompts he gave throughout the book for reflection very helpful. This book could definitely be worth a read if you are looking for a newer take on self development.

The One and Only Ivan is a beautiful story that teaches kids and teens about the reality of how animals are treated in many facilities around the world, and the importance of friendship and family in one’s life. It’s definitely one of my favorite books and I think it teaches important lessons on the value of keeping promises. The style of writing with brief paragraphs and short chapters continues the flow of the story easily, and it’s a book that can be enjoyed at all reading levels. Ivan’s character is realistic in its fluidity and the changes he goes through in the story. The way Katherine Applegate effortlessly establishes a connection between the reader and individual characters, human or animal, truly brings it to life. This book is a really well written feel good book that reveals a lot about human nature, and I think it can be enjoyed by anyone.

This was only my second or third contemporary fiction book that I’ve read, and I loved it. Looking at the reviews, there were mixed feelings, so I was hesitant to pick it up. I’m so glad I did. One aspect I appreciated was that the relationships were always changing and I became so invested in these characters. This book had a one of a kind plot that started with love-at-first-sight to star-crossed lovers. Anyone who enjoys the genre of contemporary fiction and romance will absolutely love this book. The plot twists and turns kept me wanting more and I could not put it down. I think that teens/young adults would most likely enjoy this book. My only regret is that I missed the holiday season. I would definitely recommend reading this book in December just for the vibes, but of course you can read it anytime of the year!

One of Us Is Lying is a very suspenseful, exciting book. Right as readers open the book, they are bombarded with a series of events that keep the readers gripping the edge of their seats (or books). As the book goes on, we discover some of the secrets and thoughts of the main characters, and their connection to the events taking place. The [story] is very interesting, as it is told interchangeably from the points of view of the four different characters. This book will have the readers guessing, thinking, and will keep them in suspense until the very end. Readers will see a fiction in which gossip, depression, and violence dominates high school, and can compare this with their everyday lives and schooling experience. A must-read for Middle and High Schoolers, One of Us Is Lying looks into some of the ugly aspects of our lives.

One of Us Is Next is a stunning sequel to One of Us Is Lying. With the previous characters gone, McManus provides us a completely new plotline with an addition of four new, younger, main characters. The plot is somewhat similar to that of the first book, but with a strange new twist. The different elements of surprise, anger, and confusion blend together to make a harmony of emotions that leads to a very exciting and interesting read. One issue, however, with One of Us Is Next, is the lack of suspense and excitement. There are not many twists and unexpected turns, unlike its predecessor, One of Us Is Lying. It seems to follow a more basic storyline, and there isn’t much that gets past unseen or misunderstood. At times, the book can be a little monotonous, and there aren’t many different subplots to keep the reader interested. One of Us Is Next may be a slight downgrade from One of Us Is Lying, it is definitely just as stunning as the first book, despite its lack of excitement.

A must read for middle and high-schoolers, One of Us Is Next is a very well done sequel to its forerunner.

What first drew me to this book was the fact that it is almost, if not entirely, a true story. As I read it, I was astounded by the amount of courage and trauma held by the main character. She blames herself for loads of things that are out of her control and learns ways to put herself first while trying to help everyone around her along the way. During the time this book was set, it was still looked down upon for women to voice their opinion so strongly. This book showcases many different class, race, and patriarchal struggles. It is set beginning and during the holocaust while not being directly about that awful point in history. I am not usually that big on historical fiction, but there were so many aspects of this book that make it truly special. Hedy, the main character, has an extremely important story to tell and everything she goes through is so deep, yet through it all she is able to stay composed and even be able to manipulate some of the most powerful men of her time. I really enjoyed the emotions of empowerment and empathy that this book brought to me as well as that it led me to feel the need to learn more about the famous actress Hedy Lemarr. This book does a really good job of demonstrating what a difficult time it was to be living in Austria and how some compromises have much worse consequences than first assumed. I think this is a really important read for everyone and that her story deserves to be a well known one.

I just finished reading Paper Towns by John Green. This is a beautiful and thought provoking novel. The book is about a teenage boy named Quentin. Being an outcast at school, Quentin spends time with his two best friends. However, he has been secretly in love with a neighborhood girl named Margo Roth Spiegelman for years. One night before their graduation Margo shows up in Quentin’s life, asking his help to carry out revenge pranks against her ex-boyfriend and some other classmates. The pranks are successful. However, the next day Margo simply disappears. Quentin then starts on a journey with his friends to try to find Margo.

One particularly interesting thing about this book is the way characters are developed. Margo shows up in only about one third of the book; but her character is fully developed through clues in the book. It is almost like going through a maze for the reader to find out who she is. Overall the characters are well developed and relatable. Their relationships feel very genuine.

The author does a great job of telling a fascinating story. The narrative is very fast-paced and exciting. Margo’s mysterious disappearance keeps the reader engaged, and the journey Quentin takes on is replete with twists and turns. Overall, Paper Towns is a well written book. It explores themes of love, friendship, and self discovery. It shows us what it really means to know and understand another person. I highly recommend this book.

What I love most about this movie is just how great the feeling it is to watch this movie again. It is just one of those films that never gets tiring. It is [so] enjoying to watch the twins evolve with every viewing, and taking a deeper look into the movie and realizing how intricate their plan and preparation was. Hallie had to both learn a British accent and a whole-on hand shake, while Annie had to commit to cutting her hair and getting her ears pierced. I just truly find it remarkable that those two girls were able to do it in the time they had, as well they brought their parents back together. Not to mention the story quite literally ended with a happily ever after. 

This movie is great to watch with family since it is truly hysterically funny and amusing to all ages.

I first got the interest of this book after hearing the line of “We were infinite” since I wondered what the rest of the description would be. What does it mean to feel infinite? This book goes through that and the rest of the thoughts that I feel any teenager could relate to themselves in some way, even if the story itself is fairly unique. I really enjoyed reading this book, and following the progression of the narrator, and I think any teenager could get something out of this book- the moral lessons are beautiful.

*I would recommend searching up trigger warnings before reading. 

As someone who returns to The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky every winter without fail, I can proudly say that it is my to-go for a comfort (re)read. It’s a story that has touched so many teenagers and adults since 1999 and continues to do so regardless of the technological developments each generation faces. The main character, Charlie Kelmeckis, is a shy, thoughtful high school freshman that has been surrounded by mental health struggles all his life. One of my favorite things about this book is the versatility of Charlie’s teenage experience. Charlie had been surrounded by mental illness and trauma for most of his life and continued to be reminded of it throughout his adolescence. While the novel does struggle with themes like sexuality, rape, and drug addiction, Chbosky never fails to remind us how exciting and “dreamy” being a teenager is. Charlie is surrounded by several of these themes but also has several positive experiences. I think Chbosky does a great job of showing the good and bad of Charlie’s experience by showing us the versatility of his teenage years. And by doing so he creates an authentic teenage character with so much depth. As said before, this book is a comfort read, and rediscovering Charlie and his stories will always feel like being embraced by an old friend.

Throughout the story, the book Phantom Limbs creates an aura of mystery and suspense as hidden details are unraveled. Tension and anticipation slowly builds, as the plot uncovers a world full of memories, secrets and love between Otis and Meg. Within each page sat a reminiscent past time between the characters, establishing a clear connection that strengthened the storyline. With each new plot point, I was kept thoroughly entertained, though I had wished these elements were spread out more in the book. Aside from these factors that build the storyline, the characters themselves were written in a descriptive, consistent manner. The presence of anxiety, stress and grief in each character is portrayed in ways that add dimension and understanding to each of them, as they grow and progress as people. These deep themes helped me recognize the actions and decisions that each character made, while also being able to relate to characteristics such as clumsiness or nervousness. Phantom Limbs was able to emphasize the importance of all relationships told in the story, whether it be a love interest, a friend or family. All of these relations were given equal importance in the book, allowing each character to be assessed in different ways, making the book a meaningful and heart wrenching story.

Part of being a high school student, we may have to read a couple of books that we would otherwise not read ourselves. We began the unit with a couple of novels involving stories from Shakespeare time. Over the course of a couple of  months, we moved onto Jane Austen. Jane Austen created different kinds of novels that challenged the view of the role of a woman. She often used satire and irony to enhance the plot of the novel. One of her most famous pieces of writing was Pride and Prejudice. This writing piece was interesting, although it did confuse me at times. The novel starts by introducing the main characters. These main characters were the Bennet sisters and their family. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are written as complete opposites. Mr. Bennet wants his daughters to think for themselves and be quick witted. While Mrs. Bennet wants her daughters to be dependent on men. The main character is Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth is the wittiest and one of the prettiest girls in Merryton, England. The author focuses on the insane pressure to get married to the right guy. Elizabeth knows that she must marry but she does not want to marry without love. Although the book takes place in the 1700’s, some values have still been around in our modern society. My final review of this novel has been that it does have some interesting parts of romance and emotion but it does seem predictable.

Usually I’m not very picky with books -it doesn’t take a lot for me to like something I read. This book was meh. It was popular on TikTok, so I decided to try it out. The first thing is, it is a high school romance which I wasn’t too sure about. Second, this book is NA (new adult), but I read it in tenth grade. I would definitely say to be at least in high school if you’re going to try this book. The reason I wasn’t in love was that the plot was a little confusing and the characters (Misha and Ryen) were not very likable. I feel like they didn’t have any depth to them, and they didn’t develop as the story went on. I also feel like the plot was predictable. Ryen is a stereotypical high school cheerleader, who is a little full of herself. Misha was the epitome of the “new high school boy who shows up at school and causes trouble” character. I will say though that there are some moments in the story where I was surprised, and that made it easier to read. I would recommend that if you’re in a reading slump and you need something to fill your time, this book would be okay. However, there are better books out there.

This book lived up to the reputation that I’ve heard so much about from Adichie’s writing. The book itself is a short, emotional read that I think a lot of people would be able to relate to in some way, whether it be in the manner that Kambili and Jaja (the main characters were raised), or finding peace in a world full of hardship. Not to mention the poetic nature of this book makes it very interpretive and just overall, a nice book that I’m grateful to have read, would definitely recommend!

As someone who has adored Anthony Bourdain for quite some time, I was hopeful about this movie. While watching ‘Roadrunner’, I was ecstatic seeing the intimate footage of Bourdain as a newly celebrated journalist. He was optimistic about his future (after working a blue-collar job for more than 20 years). As the film went on, the audience sees Bourdain travel and taste the world, and they fall in love with him (once again) and reconnect with his alluring personality. Several scenes served as a reminder of his authenticity, which in my opinion is something that no other celebrity has come close to today. The majority of the film went on like this. It was accompanied by his voiceover, and interviews with his close friends and family.

My issue arose nearing the end of the movie. The focus changed to Bourdain’s death. Many interviewees attempted to decipher his death, make excuses for it, and indirectly point fingers for its cause. In my opinion, that was completely unnecessary. I agree that it was relevant to show the versatility of Bourdain (the pain and joy), yet to treat the film like some crime documentary. That ruined the ending for me. It created the notion that he should be remembered for his death, which is untrue for many reasons. I believe the film should’ve celebrated Bourdain for who he was and his impact on others.

Personally, this novel was extremely difficult to read. It was not the language that was difficult, but it was the plot and the pace of the book. The novel was so slow paced that I never understood the purpose of the novel. I felt that it never got to the point. I had to force myself to continue reading. It was boring -taking almost 200 pages to get to some form of suspense. Throughout a majority of the novel, it was leading up to something. However, it took too long to actually have a jaw dropping moment. Nonetheless, his writing was wonderful. I enjoyed his writing style as it was descriptive. However, it just did not have enough plot to it. I had very high expectations for this novel. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met. That said, I do not think Stephen King is a bad writer. Personally, his style is not compatible with my interests.

This book was so good I don’t even know where to start. First of all, the book had so many plot twists and it always made you want to read more. Secondly, I’m gonna dive a little bit into the book. So at the start of the book, Claire and her sister reach the gemmer school because Claire actually has magical powers. She is a gemmer, so she has to learn how to use her powers. So Sophie, who is Claire’s sister, thought that if Claire was a gemmer there might be a chance that she was also a gemmer. Soon, they are accepted into the school because when a stone guard was going to kill them he suddenly bowed down to Claire knowing that she was a princess. The gemmers wondered why the stone knight bowed down to her and decided to welcome her. But at the start, she doesn’t exactly fit in with the others at gemmer school.

Also, this is the second book so you might want to start off with the first one. I recommend you join Claire and Sophie on their adventure to awaken the unicorns and save the dying world of Arden.

I heard a lot of praise about this book before I read it, so I already held high expectations. However, this book easily exceeded them. It is empowering and impressive to hear how Monique writes Evelyn’s story. She is so open and real when telling the stories of her prime. This book drew me in from the start. The way it was written, switching from past to present, being completely on Evelyn’s terms, kept me needing to read more and learn the story. It shows how she revolutionized being the “it” girl and all her forbidden loves. It displays a true “rags to riches” story. There is so much feeling and passion through the ups and downs of her life while keeping an obvious question in mind, “why tell Monique now?”. I tend to enjoy books with questions like these because it makes me want to finish them. However, this was one of the books that left a void in me once I finished, I needed more. For anyone who feels the same after reading this book, I would recommend reading Daisy and the Six, also by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 

I really loved this book, and not just for the stories Evelyn Shares, but the messages behind them. This story truly captivated the importance of living out the life you want and searching for that., and also realizing there can be a balance between what your head wants and what your heart wants. The story goes through the heartbreak you can feel, and how you never truly lose people who are close to you. This book resonated with me, and while surface level, it’s another fun novel, but a bit deeper and it goes through the importance and value of love and what it can do to people. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend -a good story, with messages hidden on every page.

I thought this novel was exceptional. When I first opened the book, I was skeptical if I would like it. I didn’t like how the novel was structured. This novel is structured in an interview form, with Evelyn Hugo being interviewed. However, as I kept reading, the novel did not feel like an interview. It felt like I was living in the world of Evelyn Hugo. This novel was fascinating. At first, I thought it was simply about Evelyn Hugo’s seven husbands. However, the novel was so much more. It was about a development of secrets, alliances, friendships, love, and the LGBTQ community. This novel was a great representation of what it means to hold secrets for the ones you love. This novel was amazing and I look forward to reading other novels from Taylor Reid Jenkins.

I love this movie (‘The Shack’) because it is wonderful, educational, and important -especially for all parents who had just lost a child recently. I wanna say I’m sorry for your loss, but I would like to recommend this movie for you [instead]. I’m sure you’ll love it. It is about a father who lost his daughter and never gotten to be back to who he used to be -what I mean is that he’s really changed ever since he lost his child. It was very tough for him and that is the part where the movie gets so intense and thrilling. This is about God. We are reminded about His unconditional love no matter how bad our past mistakes are. Whether you are fond [of] reading the bible or not, there’s many things you can learn from this film. I really love this movie -I even watched this twice this year and maybe I would again next year. My point is that you don’t get bored while watching this movie because you need the lines mentioned here every time you’re anxious and worried. This is also good for those who find it difficult to forgive somebody who has hurt them [in the past] or currently. I don’t usually approve often [of] some movies, but this one has really gotten my attention.

This novel surrounds a girl, Juliette, with supernatural powers in a dystopian society. Her power, which makes her a weapon, is that she can kill someone just by touching them. As she survives in a world that is destroyed, she also falls in love. Personally, I love dystopian novels so I naturally enjoyed the plot. I felt the novel resembled the Divergent Series and the Maze Runner series, which I also loved. However, I am also not the biggest fan of romance novels. I enjoyed Juliette’s personal story much better than her love life. I felt the novel was a bit too focused on love, and could have dived deeper into her own life story. I also felt that the story left some parts of the plot unfinished– like how some people can touch her and others can’t. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading the next few books in the series.

From the beginning, I knew this book would be a new favorite. As someone who would like to move forward in studying psychology, I tend to really enjoy reading books that psychoanalyze people. This book did that perfectly, especially by portraying the thoughts of the narrator, who had a really tough childhood and attempted to fix himself by becoming a psychotherapist. This book was filled with turns that were completely unexpected, keeping it super entertaining. I was able to finish this book in one day, despite it being somewhat long. What I really liked about this book is that the biggest plot twist was in the very last line. This left me in shock and really thinking about it after. The characters were written very well, which I felt truly tied into the plot twists. From the first page, this book was already entertaining. I started reading it thinking it would be a lot more about psychology than it was, yet I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the plot. I would recommend this book to just about anyone, it is definitely a book that I think is severely underrated.

Before I read this book, I heard lots of mixed reviews about it. Some said it wasn’t worth the read while others said even with all the hype, it is still underrated. I decided to give it a read and am so glad I did. It depicts the story of Achilles becoming a feared and respected warrior while also portraying the love story of he and his best friend, the narrator, Patroclus. I especially liked how each of the characters had their own story and there was not one character that was boring in any way. Each character brings more and more to the story. I especially liked how Thetis, Achilles’ mother, was explained. Though Patroclus was fearful of her, she was still explained as caring for her son. I think this book was written extraordinarily well and would do anything to be able to read it for the first time again.

I am not much of a nonfiction person, but this book blew me away. Written so much like a spy action thriller, there are twist and turns the readers won’t see coming. Many times, I found myself forgetting that these events actually happened. There were excerpts from interviews and books which made seeing things from their eyes all the more interesting. This book also does a good job of looking at both America’s and Russia’s side of the story. The book also did not end at the end of the Cold War. It looked at the spy agencies in present times, relating what happened then to what is happening now. At the end of the book, there were glossaries, keys, references, research materials and more. These would be very helpful for those that want to dig further into this subject. I had a blast reading this and I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to read about the Cold War and to people who had never even heard about it before.

In this book, we follow Audrey Rose through the documented murders by Jack the Ripper -a serial killer from the [1800’s]. Even though the start was slow, this book gives a mysterious and first person point of view of the forensic sciences in a fictional manner. In the beginning: it was all just Audrey and her peer, Thomas, being taught and understanding the possible crimes committed on a person. It was interesting to see how the characters evolved and used those skills on catching the serial killer. My favorite part of it was the way the mystery unfolds since, from the protagonist’s perspective, it seemed almost impossible. As well, this story truly embodies the setting and time period through the way it is written. The author often mentions the large skirts Audrey had to wear, the cobblestone streets, and the carriages as means of transportation. And lastly, the romance in this book fits in well. It isn’t too potent in the story, but it definitely makes the story feel right and fits in so well into the plot. Overall, this book is a fantastic read with true crime and romance. The only critique I have with this book is that I feel it started too late. It was very hard for me to get “hooked” onto this book unlike with others. 

If you enjoy this read, you might like to check out “A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder“, which has a female protagonist and another true crime mystery.

Nunn’s storytelling, in addition to the strong female characters, was enjoyable to follow. The story, like the colorful cover, was enchanting. However, it fell flat for me.
The writing was great. Nunn seamlessly wove themes and social commentary into the novel without making it sound awkward. And there were also a couple of quotes that I adored. Amandla’s narrative voice was strong throughout the novel and captivating to read.
My favorite part was learning about the characters. I love the trio of Amandla, Lil Bit, and Goodness and how supportive they were of each other. Individually, Amandla’s character arc was quite nice to follow. And her mother’s character was undoubtedly an interesting one. However, the rest of the characters were underdeveloped. Lil Bit and Goodness were only sidekicks for Amandla without strong personalities of their own. And certain character changes were way too abrupt. Also, there was no reason for the romance to be in the book when it was completely unnecessary.
The plot disappointed me. The first 50% was well-paced with discoveries that continually intrigued me. However, the story then slowed down and stayed too stagnant. I expected the secret that’s hinted in the blurb to be grander, but it wasn’t. And, like I previously mentioned, there were some developments in the latter half that felt way too abrupt and came out of nowhere.
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who’d love a good family drama and coming-of-age story with mystery elements!

This was a great book to read. It is a book about Nel and Sula growing up, surrounded by racism, injustice and coming women. Their close friendship is pulled apart, from being best friends to becoming enemies. This novel shows the ideas of good and evil through the friendship of two childhood best friends who have gone through so much together. Following a traumatic incident, the death of a child (also their friend), have led them to grow apart. This book was shocking in many ways, I did not expect it to end this way- to be honest. In addition, I really liked how this book is filled with metaphors and symbolism which produces more impact on the reader. Overall, I think that this is a thought provoking book that you should read.

This was a very fun environmental thriller. The seemingly unrelated events in the beginning are eventually brought to a single culprit. Not only are the events frighteningly plausible, it also points out that we must do more to help the climate and protect nature. Schatzing clearly did a lot of research into the novel, since the biological, geographical, and geological knowledge in the novel is very accurate, making the novel seem more real. When I read this book, I found myself contemplating the harm that our actions have on the environment. I believe that anyone with a love for the environment and thrillers should definitely give this book a try. However, one of the flaws in this novel is that the characters are a little stereotypical and one-dimensional, and draw upon overused tropes in fiction. Nevertheless, the book really makes the reader think more about the consequences of their actions and encourages them to do more for the environment.

I thought that this was a pretty good book. I think that the way the author wrote was unique. She varied the points of views, using four very distinctive narrators, Jena, Dakota, Skye and Owen. The format of the story, was comparable to R.J. Palacio’s, Wonder. They all meet in a resort named Paradise in the Caribbean. By using different characters, Mackler conveyed different themes, ideas and approaches to certain situations. She used lots of allusions and references, to make the book more understandable. It explored lots of ideas, coming of age and taking risks to even exploring ideas of death. The author also plays with the mood, there are drastic changes between each of the sections (narrator changes). [She] not only brings in many perspectives and raises awareness of the kinds of situations people go through but, really conveys the message of how people affect each other. She shows how people change each other.

Going into this, I did not expect it to be as scary as it was. I tend to get scared easily, but if you like thrillers I absolutely recommend this book. Reading the book, you think you will be able to guess the ending, yet there are so many twists and turns that this book left me thinking about it for weeks. I went into it thinking it would be more positive, a story about a mother recovering from her child’s kidnapping. But it exceeded my thoughts completely. This book displays so much feeling from Laurel, the main character, and each of the characters in her life play a specific part. It is terrifying thinking about all the plans going into the plot of this book, yet it gives many of the characters a certain intellectual depth that is not found so often. I think it is written in the most perfect and eerie way, leaving more information with the readers than many characters. The only issue I have with it is that it was somewhat slow in the beginning, but once I got to part 3, I finished it in one sitting, however, many mysteries like this tend to need a set up. I think anyone who enjoys being kept on their toes while reading should try this book.

This book is amazing. It is a great YA fantasy book, and the first in a duology (the second/final book, Our Violent Ends is already out). The premise of the novel is that it is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai. I don’t come across many retellings, but this book had me hooked. Chloe Gong writes beautifully and the plot twists are perfectly timed. Just as I was about to put the book down, a surprise would come up that kept me reading. What I particularly enjoyed about this novel was that it was set in Shanghai. Being Chinese, I was eager to start a book that had Asian main characters, and I was not disappointed. I felt like the Asian culture was accurately represented and the setting of 1920s Shanghai was politically correct. Gong studied international relations in college, and that is evident in her writing. Throughout the book the main characters and people in Shanghai are constantly interacting with foreign culture and that plays into the chaotic political scene. I personally enjoyed the challenging environment, but there were moments where it did get confusing. I also loved the development of relationships between characters, and despite the fact that I knew the story of Romeo and Juliet, I was never bored. Overall this novel was an exciting read and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

It took me a while to get started on this book, but once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. This book sounds like it would be spoiled by the title, it is about so much more than death. It is about truly living. One of my favorite quotes from the book was, “Maybe it’s better to have gotten it right and been happy for one day instead of living a lifetime of wrongs.” This book follows two teenage boys on the day they were told they would die. They spend the day navigating what is truly important to them. Though they come from different backgrounds, they learn to truly understand each other. One of the main things about this novel is how it views death in a new light. I thought this was a really interesting take because everyone gets told the day they die. This made me really think about whether or not I would actually want that. I spent weeks thinking about this book after reading it and only now am reading the second book. This is a thought provoking book and truly is an important read.

This book was sitting in my “to-read” pile for quite some time, yet I’m really glad I decided to read it. Yes, this book was a lot of pages, but it was so interesting that I was able to read it quite quickly. As someone who has sisters, I feel like the character Naomi was written in a way that makes it really easy to understand and sympathize with her. This book was complicated, yet funny and heartwarming still. Each of the characters were written so well and really just felt real, which allowed me to be able to stay on the story completely. This was one of the best-written books I have ever read. What I really liked about it was that it pretty much was a mix of all genres. There was romance, action, and a bit of mystery. Usually, I would not call a book this long a “light read” but honestly I do feel like this was. It was a pretty easy and definitely fun read. I would recommend it to anyone ready to commit to it. 

Every time I watch ‘Titanic’, it is like nothing changed. I feel the same emotions as if watching it for the first time and the effects and acting never fail to astonish me. Being a movie about a tragic historical event, the actors do an amazing job portraying the sentimentality of the event. The actors were chosen perfectly, with Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose Bukater. They really made the story extraordinary. The relationship between Jack and Rose was beautifully created by these actors and their love ties the story together, creating many of the humorous moments in the film. Although there were laughs, there were many cries as well. Being the Titanic, the visuals of the ship sinking added to my awe while watching. The Titanic was amazingly directed and the visuals allow us to envision the real event. Every single minute evokes one emotion or the other, and the story is beautifully created along with the plot.

This book was a great middle grade/ya read. I liked how it was face paced, included Asian representation, and had an interesting relationship trope. This book is pretty short, so it was quick to read. The chapters had a good balance of engaging plot, while also including character development. There was a crazy surprise at the end which left me speechless and I honestly could not have predicted what was going to happen. This book is about a girl named Izumi who finds out her dad is royalty. She then goes to visit him and immerses herself in this whole new world and tries to fit in. I think this book could appeal to Asians and also anybody who deals with being separated from their parents (I found that reading this book as an adoptee made me appreciate the plot of finding one’s parent even more). It’s a beautiful story about discovering who your family is while not being cheesy or predictable. There is also the bodyguard romance trope, which I didn’t think I would be fond of, but it ended up surprising me. The author is coming out with a sequel in 2022 and I look forward to reading it.

Two Summers is a fascinating book that explores the storylines of two separate realities experienced by the main character, Summer. The story follows her summer vacation and switches back and forth from potential scenarios that could have happened. One story follows her stay in Paris, while another follows her life in her hometown. As the plot advances, a big secret is eventually revealed. This big event was often hinted at throughout the story, with several details and suspicion planted before. I think that this secret was one meant to twist the plot and shock readers immensely, but I was able to figure it out early on. Generally speaking, sometimes it is more or less difficult to pick up on these details depending on the reader. Once I did, the hints and clues written in the book became more obvious to me and it became less of a surprise. Aside from this, I found the story itself to be quite enjoyable. Given that the story shifted back and forth between two very different locations, the change in scenery and great descriptions provided made the story more interesting to read, and I did not lose my interest. I felt like I was physically there, in whatever location or place the author described.

I recently finished reading Unbecoming by Jenny Downham. This is a very emotional novel. It talks about several important themes such as identity, family, and self-discovery. The protagonist of the book is a 17-year-old girl, Katie, who struggles to find her place in the world. When she meets her estranged grandmother, Mary, she starts to find out the secrets of her family’s past and understands the true meaning of acceptance and forgiveness.

Downham’s writing is raw and honest, and she does an excellent job of capturing the emotional turmoil that Katie is going through. The relationship between generations depicted in the book offers readers of all ages something to reflect on. In particular, the relationship between Katie and Mary is heartwarming and uplifting, and their bond helps Katie come to terms with her own identity and the events of her past.

Overall, Unbecoming is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that tackles important themes such as identity, family, and the importance of forgiveness. I highly recommend it to any reader who is interested in these themes.

Unravel Me is the sequel to Shatter Me. It is set in a rebel establishment in which they are rebelling against “The Reestablishment.” Juliette, the main character, is tasked with having to fight with Omega Point, the rebel center. At the same time, she has a dilemma in which she is put in between two boys in love with her. There are other plot twists in the story connecting the two boys to each other. Although I thought the novel was interesting, I felt that the plot was cliche. It was a love triangle in a dystopian society where the protagonist saves the world. Personally, this plot is a bit too slow for me. Regardless, I still enjoyed the book due to its emotional language. I still enjoyed the book and I found it addicting. I read it in a day. I look forward to reading the next books in the series.

I liked Unspeakable, the autobiography written by the former speaker of the House of Commons, the Right Honourable John Bercow; It is a book with great historical values and prices to be studied, especially for the ones who want to study him. The book summarized Bercow’s story from his family to his resignation as Speaker. Which gave an insight to the people who are curious about what impact that he was imposed upon when he decided that he would start leaning the left when he was completely the opposite when younger. The book also offered some peculiar details, including the famous action of rubbing the Statue of Winston Churchill’s toe when talking into the House of Commons chamber, and the fact that some Tory members are actually ashamed that the government decided to prorogue the parliament illegally as described in the “Prorogue” an insight that will never be revealed by the media. Overall, great book. I would recommend this book to anyone that will not fall asleep 5 seconds into a conversation about politics.

When I first picked up this book, I knew I was in for the emotional rollercoaster that came with it. Jodi Picoult has this incredible ability to write about universal topics in the disguise of a story, This book, while presenting a case of kidnapping and what it means to be lost, also dives into what it means for something to be true, and that in some cases, many things can be true and false at once. This story made me think a lot about my own life and values I had not thought of them prior, and how grateful I am for the life I have because at any moment, something could change or a truth could be uncovered that could disrupt it. Jodi Picoult has many fascinating books, another one I enjoyed was The Book of Two Ways. 

For the amount of books I’ve read and the variety of genres I’ve read from, I can confidently say that this book was one of the most disturbing books I’ve read. The romance and suspension parts of the book were very well formed throughout the book, and the formatting of the book itself was very creative, but actually reading this book and its plot made me nauseous and just was not a pleasant experience. I did end up finishing this book rather quickly though, but I would not read this again nor recommend it to people who are first starting to read Colleen Hoover books. 

We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver, is a chilling and thought-provoking novel that analyzes the aftermath of a school massacre from the perspective of the perpetrator’s mother. It raises important questions about nature vs. nurture, the responsibilities of parenthood, and the limits of human empathy. Personally, I am super into psychology, especially nature vs. nurture, so this was a really interesting read for me. It’s told through a series of letters written by Eva Khatchadourian to her estranged husband, Franklin, as she reflects on their life together and the events that led to their son Kevin’s horrific act of violence. It teaches a lesson that sometimes there is just too much we cannot control about our lives. Shriver’s writing is raw and unflinching, painting a vivid and unsettling portrait of a dysfunctional family struggling to cope with the aftermath of tragedy. The character of Kevin, in particular, is a fascinating and complex study in psychopathy, and the novel leaves the reader questioning whether his actions were a result of his upbringing or simply a manifestation of his own innate darkness. With all that, it is still an extremely dark and challenging book to get through without needing to take a breath. Personally, I really enjoyed reading this book, but I would only recommend it to someone who is ready to read it.

The book, as its title suggests, tries to explain “what will happen” scientifically when an unnatural/unscientific event has occurred. The book contains a lot of questions, and it is generally great for people who are interested in science. The only thing this book isn’t great at is that, in an attempt to keep the reader’s interest, it makes a lot of outdated jokes and references that most young readers may not get. My favorite question is “If every person on Earth aimed a laser pointer at the Moon at the same time, would it change color?” The author’s repeated use of “What if we tried more power?”, and “Setup – Target – Effect” brings people a good laugh when seeing things getting worse and worse when we tried to put more and more powers into it. And ending up yielding disastrous results after we gave everyone a laser that NIF uses that fires continuously.

Although the title of the book implies that the book is a sequel to the first What If?, in reality, no additional knowledge from book one is required to understand what is happening in book two. The only unchanging thing is the author’s continuation of the first book’s humorous style and drawings, with another set of interesting / ridiculous questions to be answered. The second book is also more recent, referencing more recent “current events”, jokes, and other references. Which may be more understandable to younger people. One of the chapters I liked is “BLACK HOLE MOON” Where the moon is suddenly magically turned into a blackhole at an instance, and then everything else stays the same. The answer surprised me at first, then I realized that I am just not good at physics to understand why the answer is like that. So the book definitely requires its reader to have some understanding (or at least passion) towards science.

Upon starting this novel, I did not have high expectations. I was reading it because it was popular. I expected a typical romance book. However, this novel was much more than that. A heartbreaking novel, we dive deep into Kya’s family troubles. As she grows up, we follow her journey of loneliness and distress. Her story makes you fall in love with both her and the story. This story is about prejudices and how the opinions of others will affect how you develop as a person. This story had different time periods, moving back and forth from the past and the present. The reader is able to fully understand all sides of Kya’s story this way. We  see the truth about her, and how people perceive her. This novel is compelling, and will make you sit down and read it in one sitting. This story was beautifully written, and I would definitely recommend it.

A man reflects on his childhood of hunting ol’ coons with his two redbone coonhounds. I wouldn’t normally read a book about coon hunting, but when I looked up at the corner, I was already at page 61.

It’s a very feel-good book. The author set up the story, so we could follow along Billy’s journey to cure his “dog-wanting disease” and his hunts as the youngest coon hunter in the Ozark mountains. His dreams sound very stereotypical for a boy living in the countryside; however, Billy’s stubborn passion for living his dreams as a boy hunter swayed me. It reminded me of the way I wanted to live when I was younger: free, aspiring, and steadfast. This book would greatly appeal to any audience, in the simplistic way it’s told and the powerful story it brings.

The best parts of the story are the coon hunts. For those who wouldn’t even care about hunting raccoons, trust me, you would be surprised at how much skill it takes to catch one. The smart old coons know how to backtrack, swim upstream, escape through trees. However, Billy wouldn’t be called the protagonist for nothing. He trains his hounds to follow the trails, sniff the coon scents, bawl when they treed a coon (running a coon up a tree), and respond to his cries.

Coon hunting and camping in caves makes this book a perfect read for the summer. I was excited every time he embarked on another coon hunt, ready to be surprised by the wily, old coons and the ingenious hunting hounds.

“The phoenix must burn to emerge.”

Janet Finch’s story of Astrid Magnussen detaching herself from her mother’s shadow and finding herself tells a powerful story of self-discovery. Through several foster homes, Astrid meets so many new people and goes through so many traumatic experiences. These experiences help her learn the brutalities of life. Finch does an impressive job of speaking about such harsh situations in the most beautiful, poetic way. In my opinion, if you’re looking for a book with irresistible writing White Oleander is the way to go. As someone who annotates their books, I seemed to be picking up my pen every couple of pages to highlight Finch’s unimaginable wordplay. While looking back on Astrid’s journey in navigating herself, I seem to relate to her harder than any other book character. Astrid faces a constant sense of loneliness and neglect from those around her, which makes her self-exploration even more satisfying for readers. It’s almost as if you’re with her in every situation. I also adored Finch’s mastery of painting the dry, sweaty atmosphere of California. The attention to detail included throughout the book makes all the difference when reading Astrid’s story.  All in all, I think White Oleander is an excellent book because of its writing, powerful display of girlhood, and a perfect example of how you never know what’s going on behind closed doors. 

*I would recommend looking up triggers in the book before reading it.

Within These Gilded Halls is a story that explores mystery and romance all at once, done in great detail and suspense. The story quickly establishes the main storyline with a surprising event in the beginning, that the rest of the novel uncovers. From the description of the exquisite setting to the inner thoughts and emotions of characters, the author does a great job creating an expressive and exemplifying novel. The scenery is easily imagined, as well as interactions between individual characters. Given that the story follows an intensive hunt for treasure, staying unsolved for years, the illusive clues and ways they are solved are done in clever and unique style. These hints and suspense are able to remain consistent throughout the pages, which are able to keep the reader entertained. Of course, the added plot twists and revelations are added and further advance the story’s interesting plot. All in all, the book was a great read that kept my mind spinning. 

I love how this movie was based on a true story and its theme resonates with me as it is important to work for what you want. The main character, Jordan Belfort, went from little fortune to being rich through his own dedication and work. The cast was extremely talented, with actors like Leonardo DiCaprio (Jordan Belfort), Jonah Hill, and Mathew McConaughy. I loved the work ethic portrayed in this film and how they showed its clear impact on Belfort’s life. Being disciplined and learning to work for your wishes is important and Martin Scorsese truly emphasized this theme in a resonating way. While embarking on this theme, Scorsese also created many “obstacles” to show that it is never really easy to get what you want, whether it’s others guiding you in another direction or even just discouraging you. People like this truly affected Belfort, but he succeeded anyways. Overall, I loved this movie for its planning and goal, which were perfectly executed to create such an outstanding movie.