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People We Meet on Vacation
Henry, Emily
Reviewed: May 11, 2022
I am personally not into books whatsoever but this book really caught my attention because of the plot. It's about a girl and a guy who were best friends and they would go on yearly vacations in the Summer until one year, something happened that resulted in them not speaking again. This is something that could happen to anyone which is why I found it very relatable. Then it unravels into a story about how they rekindled their relationship and how it eventually turned into something even more. This is definitely a romance novel and I would definitely recommend it to anybody who likes... Read Full Review
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The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Brown, Daniel James
Reviewed: May 4, 2022
I never thought it was truly ever really possible for a book based on events of the past to be so entrancing and genuinely interesting. This is where the book Boys in the Boat comes into play and completely proves me wrong. I was given this book to read for an academic event, and when I was fully ready to forcefully drag myself through this book it took me by surprise. This book encapsulates themes of harsh reality, hard work, and the joys of life through its story about one boy’s journey to survive to one group’s journey to grow strong enough to brave what was outside the lands... Read Full Review
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The House on Mango Street
Cisneros, Sandra.
Reviewed: April 27, 2022
Bilingual (English/Spanish) Book Review
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is a fictional novel that tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, a 12-year-old Mexican girl growing up in a Latino neighborhood in Chicago. She has moved numerous times before, but in this new house on Mango Street, she forms special bonds with her neighbors, all of whom help her understand the real world. She explores her dreams and aspirations, as well as her identity, all while learning about the harsh truth of social class, gender, and race. Through many hardships, Esperanza is able to... Read Full Review
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Today Tonight Tomorrow
Solomon, Rachel Lynn
Reviewed: April 20, 2022
Today Tonight Tomorrow revolves around two high school seniors, Rowan and Neil, who have a lifelong rivalry when it comes to academics. With graduation around the corner, they both strive for the valedictorian position. However, the school has a tradition for seniors called the HOWEL, a scavenger hunt throughout the city of Seattle, leaving the two to end up pairing up to win. But as the night progresses, these two rivals undergo an unexpected turn of events.
The title of this book is straightforward, as the events happen in that sequence. At first glance, however, I... Read Full Review
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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Riggs, Ransom
Reviewed: March 16, 2022
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is the first in a series of novels in which Jacob Portman embarks on a journey to find Miss Peregrine and solve the mysteries of his grandfather’s past. Jacob ends up in a special home for peculiar children and learns about every person there and what their abilities are. He soon realizes that he has a unique ability, just like them—and he learns about what he can do with this. Jacob also learns about a girl named Emma who was in love with his grandfather, and why he abandoned these children after growing up with them. The reader learns... Read Full Review
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The Giver
Lowry, Lois
Reviewed: March 16, 2022
The Giver by Lois Lowry focuses on 11-year-old Jonas who lives in a “Utopian” society where everyone follows strict rules in order maintain their society. Everyone in this society is given a job or “life assignment” by the elders and is expected to take orders and do the job. They are given their jobs at a ceremony after they turn 12 years old. When Jonas turns 12 he is invited to the ceremony where it is revealed to Jonas what his “life assignment” is: the Receiver of Memory. He is confused at first about his assignment but eventually starts working with the current Receiver, an... Read Full Review
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Speak
Anderson, Laurie Halse
Reviewed: March 9, 2022
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a young adult fiction book about a girl named Melinda and an event that happened to her in the summer before starting high school. Melinda Sordino is a thirteen-year-old girl who becomes closed off to everyone and has a hard time communicating with others. Throughout the book we learn more about her, and what really happened during that summer and caused her to become this way. Melinda begins to try and go back to living her normal life like before, and she learns new things about herself. She is able to accept herself, even after what happened to... Read Full Review
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Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Stevenson, Bryan
Reviewed: February 23, 2022
This book really got to me! I originally watched the movie first and then read the book but either way I loved this book. It is a true story novel about a man who was falsely accused of murder. His lawyer was Bryan Stevenson (also the author) and he tries everything to get him out of prison. This story really got to me because especially after everything that had happened last Summer, his story really appealed to me. This book is also part of the reason why I found my passion in life which is becoming a lawyer. He made me want to pursue something that can really help the world. 10... Read Full Review
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It Ends With Us
Hoover, Colleen,
Reviewed: February 23, 2022
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover is a contemporary romance novel that follows the life of the main character named Lily Bloom. Lily never had an easy life growing up in a toxic household, but she never gave up and worked hard. She came from a small town, but moved away and allowed herself to grow—she never gave up on her dreams and was able to achieve them. The story takes place after her father’s funeral, and we begin to learn more about her past and how she feels about it. She is met with very complicated feelings for a guy named Ryle that she met in Boston. As Lily begins to... Read Full Review
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The Fault in Our Stars
Green, John
Reviewed: February 16, 2022
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a young adult fiction novel that narrates the story of a 16-year-old girl who is diagnosed with cancer. She joins a support group where she meets Augustus, and there is a rollercoaster of emotions throughout this novel as the relationship between Hazel and Augustus develops. Hazel and Augustus are able to find comfort in each other through the tough times and learn to lean into each other which makes them both realize that they are not alone. They find love in each other and feel hopeful for each other, also while allowing the readers to... Read Full Review
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The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
Alender, Katie
Reviewed: February 9, 2022
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender is a horror-mystery book about a girl who inherits an institute for troubled females. This book follows the story of the main character Delia—named after her great-aunt Cordelia, whom she inherited the institute from. She soon learns that there are many things wrong with the house, and dark secrets lie within. She realizes that she must save her family and get them out of the house as soon as possible. Delia begins to discover many secrets during her time there and has to figure out why the house has become so evil.
This... Read Full Review
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Ramayana: Divine Loophole
Patel, Sanjay
Reviewed: February 2, 2022
Sanjay Patel retells an epic tale from ancient times which builds up around the life of Rama, a prince living in India, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was raised to be a brave and honest warrior capable of vanquishing demons and expected to marry the most beautiful woman. But, the story takes a turn when Rama’s stepmother, Kaikeyi, exiles him to the forest for 14 years. There are further entanglements and tragedy when Ravana, a demonic king who wishes to control the world using terror and power, mounts trouble for Rama and his wife.
Lord Vishnu completes his task... Read Full Review