Book Reviews

I read this book when I was in middle school, and I loved it then. I think it's a wonderful fantasy read with a story told in multiple points of view. The story follows a girl named Luna, who is raised by a witch, and Antain who is trying to hint the witch. Luna was accidentally fed moonlight by the witch, which gives her magical abilities. As she grows older, Luna struggles to contain and control these powers. I think the story is touching and a makes it a good coming of age book about love and self-discovery.

I would say I enjoyed this book. It's about a small group of people, but mainly a young Nick Carraway and a Jay Gatsby. One thing I like about the book is the complex relationships across the characters. Their interactions with each other as the story progresses become more interesting as you learn more. There were some parts during the reading when I got confused by the plot, but that was probably just me. I also feel that towards the end, the plot moves way quicker and intensifies in drama. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it because it's just a classic American novel.

This book is a good resource historically. Hosseini's writing provides a good perspective of what it's like to have lived in Afghanistan. The story itself is interesting. There is plenty of text to analyze about the struggles of an impending war, which I think is good to gain understanding from other cultures. However, I found that there were some scenes throughout the book that were unnecessary. They were a part of the story but went into extreme detail that made me uncomfortable and covered very mature topics. Overall, I give this a three. It's not bad, just not my cup of tea, so I wouldn't be recommending it to someone myself.

This book was definitely interesting to read. I didn't exactly dislike it but it wasn't my favorite book ever. The book is about a dystopian world with a special act that lets people "unwind" their teenagers. This process involves repurposing their organs and body parts, donating them to people in need and justified this as the life doesn't really end. It's the premise of the book and brings up some heartbreaking scenes to read. In my opinion the plot isn't bad. It's about three teens that come together to try and escape being unwound. What I like about it is that it's a powerful adventure and there's a lot of unique characters. Even though it wasn't my favorite book I've read, I don't think it a waste of time and would recommend it to those who enjoy science fiction and action.

After reading Gary Paulsen’s other Hatchet books, I knew I had to read The River. The story is simple: Brian has been rescued from the horrors of the wilderness, with scars to prove them; but a group of men who want to educate people on nature survival are asking him to travel back to the desolate Canadian Forests! Read as a simple, and seemingly safe, plan falters and leaves Brian back in the wild, alone. His only hope: to raft down a river and hope for somebody to rescue him.
Although this novel gives off a less tense survival vibe, it is certainly still entertaining. I would certainly recommend this entire series to anyone who loves a good nature book with a twist. The River: A Hatchet Adventure, is worthwhile. Read and submerse yourself in a survival book of hardships and adventure!

Gary Paulsen has done it again in his fifth and final Hatchet series book. Brian is back in the comfort of the Canadian wilderness, and he has promised to visit a native hunting family on his venture back into the forests. However, his trip turns into a massacre when Brian arrives to a horrific scene. Brian must claim vengeance over whoever, or whatever did this. Join Brian on his hunt in another excellent adventure from Gray Paulsen. This book is yet another wilderness hit! Totally recommended to anyone who loves a good nature book.

He has finally done it: Brian survived the terrors of nature and has finally returned to his home town in New York. Everything is better now, or is it? Is city life as wonderful as Brian dreamed it to be while stuck in the middle of the Canadian Forests? Or has Brian become part of nature? To find out, read the third book in the Hatchet series, Brian’s Return.

I knew that I had to read this book after completing Gary Paulsen’s previous two books in the series. Brian kept growing on me the more I read, and I couldn’t get enough of Gray Paulsen’s descriptive writing. Although this book holds less of Brian’s wilderness struggles, Brian now encounters a whole different kind of hardship. I completely suggest this book to any wilderness lovers out there!

When I finished reading Gary Paulsen’s initial book to the series, Brian’s Winter was on my list. The novel twists the first book, Hatchet, with an alternate ending! Brian now remains stranded in the Canadian Wilderness, but here’s the catch: in order for Brian to survive, he must endure Canada’s brutal winters. Can Brian get lucky enough to survive yet another season in the wild, or will he succumb to the sheer power of Mother Nature? Find out by reading Gary Paulsen’s Brian’s Winter.

A fake king, Rhian, has tricked the people of Camelot and taken the throne for himself. Now, he’s sentencing Tedros to death! Agatha barely manages to get out of his clutches, and hides in the School for Good and Evil, but Sophie has fallen into his trap, and must pretend to love him to survive. Sophie and Aggie find secret ways to communicate, and try to return Tedros to the throne before all stories and their friendship is torn apart.

Another amazing book by Jim Benton, You can bet on that follows Jamie and Angeline’s relationship as they face Isabella, and make multiple bets. Jamie complains about homework, ugly clothing, and feeling inferior, which we can all relate to. She and Angeline make a bet that whoever loses at a fair game has to kiss the worst boy in school. On the lips. Jamie really doesn’t want to lose, but what happens if she does?

I don’t know about other readers, but generally, as soon as a jacket blurb mentions something like “intergenerational saga” or “centuries-long family lore,” I roll my eyes and drop the book like the proverbial hot potato, sure it’s going to tax me with keeping track of 27 characters and five time periods. For whatever reason, this time, I kept reading past that ominous descriptor, and I’m so glad I did as Margaret Wilkerson Sexton’s moving and engrossing novel, The Revisioners, is one of the best I have read in recent years.

Chapters rotate across three time periods and center on two main characters, Josephine, who was born into slavery but who claims freedom at an early age and lives a long life in Louisiana, and Ava, her great, great-granddaughter, who lives in contemporary New Orleans with her pre-teen son and—in an unexpected twist that becomes increasingly unsettling—her wealthy, white paternal grandmother with dementia. In addition, both Josephine’s and Ava’s own mothers feature vividly in their respective chapters, deepening the layers of national and personal history that Sexton so realistically and poignantly depicts. The maternal line in this family is also characterized by certain gifts of understanding and sight, both earthly and other-earthly, which create a shadowy but certain bond that steadily solidifies among the women as the plot progresses.

Conflicts between our protagonists and somewhat minor but all too powerful white characters in all time periods make for suspenseful, unsettling scenes and, as you might expect, lead to heartbreak and trauma for both Josephine and Ava. Believe me, I cried (well, even sobbed) more than once at the outcome of certain events, but Sexton isn’t after “easy tears”; they would be pointless if not accompanied by genuine acknowledgment of and determination not to hide from our nation’s painful and shameful past, especially on the part of white readers. Even so, the novel’s conclusion (in Ava’s time/place) points towards healing and hope for this family that has endured so much.

I won’t spoil the surprise of the title’s origin and its place in this book (or in which of the three generations of Black American women it is featured), but I found this plot-dependent entity and the way it informs and almost foretells key characters’ lives one of the most poignant and satisfying conceits Sexton employs. I couldn’t recommend this book more emphatically for anyone looking for a serious and unforgettable, not to mention timely, contribution to American literature.

If you are a fan of Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum, you will love Finlay Donovan! Finlay is a freshly divorced single mother of two and a struggling novelist. Somehow she gets mistaken for a contract killer and "accepts" a job to get rid of a problem husband. This is when the craziness ensues! There is a fun cast of characters - the ex-husband, the mysterious nanny, and a sexy cop! A fun, fast read!

This is my favorite book out of the series. Sophie is GOOD, so why is the prince of evil proposing to her every day? And, of course, he says that because she kissed him, and it brought him back, that it was true loves kiss. She accepts his proposal, and becomes the queen of evil. But she’s still mad at Agatha. Agatha is hiding out in Galvadon with Tedros, her true love, and prince of Camelot. The two are still best friends, but find themselves on opposite sides of a war. Can they survive this with their relationship intact?

This is a hilarious book, and really relatable to anyone going through the ordeal of middle school. Jamie recounts old memories, like the time she dressed a snowman in her friend Isabella’s mother’s underwear. She also shares funny opinions on matters, and stories about puppies. Combined with amazing drawings, this book by Jim Benton will have you hooked.

Really good book! Ty loves to swim in the ocean, but he knows that dangerous things lurk under the surface. He comes from a subsea farm, and he’s ready to face anything. Except an entire underwater township that’s connected to a sunken airplane. It’s a clue in a mystery that has killed hundreds of people, and threatens to claim his and his friend, Gemma. Ty and Gemma are in a race for their lives, and have to deal with outlaws, officers and other dangerous people. Can Ty and Gemma save everyone in time?

Calling all Jane Austen fans! See the world of Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of Mary Bennet, the oft-overlooked, bookish, and socially awkward middle sister. Watch as she steps out of the shadow of her more charming sisters forging her own path as an independent woman. Loved that I could dive back into the Austen world and that Mary Bennett got the story she deserves!

Our relationship to where we live is so multilayered. As a fellow resident of the front range I savored how Camille Dungy ‘spoke my language’ as much as she brought aliveness to her own experience and our current, heartbreakingly fractured American existence. Highly recommend.

Pretty good, but the ending is not what I would have liked. Morgan is an introvert. And she’s a lesbian. Ever since her dad left the family, things have been getting tense between her and her mother and her brother. So one night, after a big fight, she goes down to the rocks. She slips and falls into the ocean, almost drowning. A silky rescues her, and Morgan is convinced that it is a near death experience when she kisses her. But when Kelpie shows up the next day with human legs, things get awkward.

Aster and Charlie defeated Mikasi. Now, Charlie made a new friend named April. Trouble is, April is a witch, but she doesn’t know how to control her magic. Aster is finally able to take classes with the witches, but he’s still getting tested differently, so he takes an internship under his grandmother. Together, her and Aster start to drain Mikasi’s bad magic, but it’s taking some time. Now Aster and Charlie have to save April before it’s too late.

Aster is a boy. This is not a problem in itself, but he wants to be a witch. And in his family, girls are witches, and boys are shifters. It’s plain and simple. No exceptions. Aster sneaks around, learning the secrets, and is cast out every time. One day, he goes out, and meets a new friend, Charlie. Later, Aster has to take part in a family ritual where shifters get their animal spirits, and his cousin Sedge is taken in front of his eyes! Together, he and Charlie unearth long buried family secrets, and have to fight an old foe. Can they do it?

An amazing book, including mystery, psychology, and self identity. Hannah Gold isn’t crazy, right? Over the summer, she went to early college classes, where she met her new best friend, Agnes Smith. But one night, when they were playing truth or dare, Agnes fell. Off the window ledge of a second story room. Hannah is sure she didn’t push her, but she remembers it clearly, right? Hannah is moved under psychological observation, under the care of doctor Lightfoot. She spends a lot of time in the mental hospital, and makes a NEW best friend, Lucy. But one day, Lucy disappears.

Really, really good! Neil Gaiman is an awesome storyteller, and the tale flows great. Really good pace, and some mysteries still left unsolved for the reader to figure out. Nobody Owens’ family was killed when he was a baby. He was adopted by ghosts, and Silas chose to be his guardian. This book is a tale of how Bod (with a D), grew up, his adventures and his friends, all along weaving a story of betrayal and murder into the background. Amazing Book.

The magical story of Alma, who sees the world with childlike wonder. Living in a simpler world around the turn of the last century, her fascination and passion for working with moss is a unique backdrop for a tale of a woman's growth, empowerment, and reflection amidst a burgeoning world of scientific advancements and great changes in world philosophies.

Ten strangers, all holding secrets are invited to an island together. No one knows the man that invited them and soon they will all reveal that they are trapped there. They will have to find creative approaches to make sense of what will happen on that island before all of them are gone. And Then There Were None by world-renowned author Agatha Christie is another great murder mystery. Throughout the entire book you will be thinking of who the murderer is, and every twist and turn will put you on the edge of your seat. This is an amazing book and murder mystery lovers would really enjoy this book.

Katniss lives in an unfair society; the poor and unfortunate people are famished and weak and must work for the rich to supply them of all their needs. Every part of the country was split into districts apart from the Capitol, where the rich people resided. Each district had a job and must also supply two random tributes to the Capitol for the annual hunger games. The hunger games started after the districts were made because of a large uprising that caused a war amongst the districts and the capitol. The hunger games was a competition made for the Capitols enjoyment to get a message to the districts. The two tributes from each district would have to fight to the death with the other districts in a large arena until only one survivor remained. Unfortunately, at the reaping (where they pick the tributes) Katniss’ sister was called, what with Katniss do, will she be able to help?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an amazing novel. The book is incredibly thrilling and keeps you on your toes. However, even though it is very action packed it also makes you think, and the book is filled with a rich history and thought-out lore. Each character is unique and has different insights and opinions regarding the place they live in. I believe that Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games is a perfect dystopian novel and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read it.

I chose this book because the cover page is beautiful and the premise sounded interesting; I was not disappointed. A slight twist on the beloved fairy tale of sleeping beauty. After the evil fairy arrives to curse Miriam's younger sister Aurora, Miriam becomes Aurora's protector, and Miriam, along with some of her friends, begin training to both protect Aurora on the battle field and against magical forces as Aurora grows. The plot is unique, fast paced, and very interesting! I also enjoyed exploring the magic system Miriam is learning to work with, and I felt a connection to the main characters that Miriam works with.

However the main drawback for me was the writing style. Instead of allowing me to become part of the story, it almost pulled me out of it with how choppy I felt the writing was. The only reason I wanted to read the story was because of the plot. I do understand that the writing style could be geared towards a more younger audience, and if you don't mind writing that isn't super poetic or smooth, but rather has an interesting plot, I would recommend this book to you!

Are you a fan of Sonic The Hedgehog and all his awesome friends? Do you like high-speed action adventures? Are you just looking for a good comic book to read while you kick back with an afternoon chili dog? If so, then this is the perfect book for you! The amazing first installment in this action-packed series, writer Ian Flynn wows his readers with the latest escapades of the Blue Blur himself! Set after the story of the new Nintendo Switch release Sonic Forces, the collection follows Sonic as he races around the world following the war with his arch-nemesis Dr. Eggman, who has seemingly disappeared. However, his maniacal machines are still a threat to Green Hill, and Sonic, with his best friends Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, along side Princess Blaze, all must shut them down. Can Sonic solve the mystery that presents itself as events unfold? Featuring pages of magnificent cover art and the debut of a brand new character, this super-powered comic is guaranteed to be a smash hit!

This book was weird.
It felt like a windstorm of ideas blowing in my face; a mad prophet's ravings before catastrophe, and a tangled mess of actions and consequences - but somehow they all connected together? It was a bit of an experience.
Grasshopper Jungle is a story about the end of the world, but like many teen novels, it is simply a backdrop to Austin's personal dramas. One of its tags on Libby is "humor" but I think it's more of a tragedy if anything. The main character and his best friend inadvertently bring about an apocalypse by way of 6-foot tall, ravenous grasshoppers after accidentally breaking a jar they really shouldn't have broken.
The book weaves together the stories of Austin, his childhood experiences, as well as those of his brother, Polish ancestor, the mutant grasshoppers, and random strangers around town (such as his principal, his friend's mom's boyfriend, and a vulgar policeman being memorable ones). It's a lot.
I found this story's distinctive style very difficult to tear myself away from. It was authentic to the protagonist's personality, and it reminded me of the narration of classic epics. It stands out in its themes of memory, religious trauma, sexuality, and identity (and somehow being an apocalyptic story as well). The symbolism was uncanny, and the way the outside world and past timelines mirrored Austin's mental state was very artistic and unique.
Onto my criticisms and confusions: #1 has to be the male characters. I think that every single male character in this story thinks constantly about every other character in a grossly objectifying way. Honestly though, this applies to most of the female characters as well, who are just as lustfully self-interested. Very interesting, but it was a... strange experience to read the nuanced and morally grey portrayal of Austin's ancestor, a gay man who had not-consensual relations with a woman to see if he could "love" anyone other than his dead Communist lover.
Austin himself relates to this ancestor because he, too, is "confused". His gay best friend Robby continually makes advances on Austin, and Austin reciprocates because he is completely in love with Robby. He is also in love with his girlfriend, who doesn't take too kindly to the fact that Austin has kissed Robby during their relationship. Austin even documents the POV of the murderous, bi-curious, mutant grasshoppers.
The ending was extremely abrupt. I'll admit, I was glued to this book for the last quarter, and the ending made me stand up and think "what in the world did I just read". However, in all honesty, it very much suited the style of the book. It never deviates from being a chronicle of the end of the world, and the world around Austin certainly comes crashing down.
Grasshopper Jungle is a weird book that made me think, and I don't regret reading it. It is quite graphic, but if you're interested in this swarm of a book, I highly recommend reading it and forming your own opinion. I might read the sequel, but I'm a bit afraid of what it might hold.

Now that I'm older, I really should be reading at a level closer to that of my peers. However, there's just something about some children's books that draws me to them, and The Popularity Papers definitely has that spark.
Lydia and her best friend Julie are in their last year of elementary school. Lydia's older sister underwent a dramatic change between elementary and middle school, in which she embraced goth fashion, secluded herself from others, and generally became a stranger to them. To avoid becoming like her, Julie and Lydia decide to observe and emulate the "popular" kids in order to get more friends before going into sixth grade.

First off, this book has no clear antagonist. Instead of "the popular kids" and the "nerds" being a black-and-white distinction, its easy to see how all the children in the story are just that - children. For example, popular girl Gretchen has no qualms over calling out another girl's odd and homophobic questioning of Julie's two dads.
I also love the diary-style dialogue in which Julie and Lydia communicate through scribbled notes in the margins, and the art in this story is very unique.
The book embodies a child's curious, scatter-brained nature while still being entertaining and maintaining themes of kindness, authenticity, and finding friends in unexpected places. It's a favorite of mine to re-read, and I highly recommend this book to read with young siblings, to clear the mind between heavier books, or just as a fun, rainy-day read.

When I had initially read this book I had given it five stars, but now that I look back, it definitely got knocked down to a four.
Feyre, a human, ends up killing a wolf and is taken away by a fae for retribution. This book was supposedly a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it did not seem like it, at all. I did like the concept of the book, but some of the characters are so unlikeable I was confused with the motives behind their actions. That kind of made it hard to enjoy some of the plotlines. This book was a lot of world building, which I enjoyed, but it does not pick up until closer to the end. I did overall like this book and I think it is worth picking up.