Awards
This book is not for the weak hearted. It is the prequel to The Hunger Games, and this tale follows Haymitch, a former victor and Katniss's mentor, as he tries to survive a deadly Quarter Quell in a beautifully cruel arena. With double the tributes, chances for Haymitch are small, but he decides to either break the arena or die trying, leaving his lover back in District 12. Possibly the saddest of the Hunger Games series, but a definite must read. After all, someone has to stop that sunrise from rising on the reaping. You'll catch my reference if you read the book.
This book is not for the weak hearted. It is the prequel to The Hunger Games, and this tale follows Haymitch, a former victor and Katniss's mentor, as he tries to survive a deadly Quarter Quell in a beautifully cruel arena. With double the tributes, chances for Haymitch are small, but he decides to either break the arena or die trying, leaving his lover back in District 12. Possibly the saddest of the Hunger Games series, but a definite must read. After all, someone has to stop that sunrise from rising on the reaping. You'll catch my reference if you read the book.
This book is not for the weak hearted. It is the prequel to The Hunger Games, and this tale follows Haymitch, a former victor and Katniss's mentor, as he tries to survive a deadly Quarter Quell in a beautifully cruel arena. With double the tributes, chances for Haymitch are small, but he decides to either break the arena or die trying, leaving his lover back in District 12. Possibly the saddest of the Hunger Games series, but a definite must read. After all, someone has to stop that sunrise from rising on the reaping. You'll catch my reference if you read the book.
I believe this book is a must read, if you can stomach it. It’s a classic dystopian novel about a dictatorship government and an annual event: The Hunger Games. Kids are reaped from the outlying districts and forced to compete to the death in exchange for extra food that year. This whole series follows a young victor and her attempt to overthrow the Capitol, and change the way the games are played forever. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Reviewer Grade 8
I believe this book is a must read, if you can stomach it. It’s a classic dystopian novel about a dictatorship government and an annual event: The Hunger Games. Kids are reaped from the outlying districts and forced to compete to the death in exchange for extra food that year. This whole series follows a young victor and her attempt to overthrow the Capitol, and change the way the games are played forever. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Reviewer Grade 8
In the second book of the “This Woven Kingdom” series, Alizeh must decide whether or not she will accept the ruler of Tulan’s deal to marry him for a kingdom, or risk falling into a trap set by the Devil. Prince Kamran must also choose whether to follow in his grandfather’s steps, or forge his own path as crown prince of Ardunia.
I’m so excited to continue this series! I read somewhere that this book was “no plot but all vibes,” and while I agree with this statement, I feel as though it still served its purpose in continuing the story and building the characters. While there was no action packed excitement in this book, Mafi subtly raises the stakes of this series, and I feel like I’m on the edge of my seat in suspense wondering where this story will go!
This book is exciting but I can't say it was my favorite. It is fun, as it follows the storyline of a god's child, Percy Jackson and his satyr friend Grover. After getting trouble at school, he finds himself fighting a minotaur trying to get to Camp Half Blood, a group of half gods like him. He quickly makes enemies, and two friends--Lucas and Annabelle. He begins to traverse on a journey to help Zeus get his lightning bolt back, hence the title of the book. Anyway, I think it's worth reading, especially for younger kids who like adventure.
This book is exciting but I can't say it was my favorite. It is fun, as it follows the storyline of a god's child, Percy Jackson and his satyr friend Grover. After getting trouble at school, he finds himself fighting a minotaur trying to get to Camp Half Blood, a group of half gods like him. He quickly makes enemies, and two friends--Lucas and Annabelle. He begins to traverse on a journey to help Zeus get his lightning bolt back, hence the title of the book. Anyway, I think it's worth reading, especially for younger kids who like adventure.
This book is exciting but I can't say it was my favorite. It is fun, as it follows the storyline of a god's child, Percy Jackson and his satyr friend Grover. After getting trouble at school, he finds himself fighting a minotaur trying to get to Camp Half Blood, a group of half gods like him. He quickly makes enemies, and two friends--Lucas and Annabelle. He begins to traverse on a journey to help Zeus get his lightning bolt back, hence the title of the book. Anyway, I think it's worth reading, especially for younger kids who like adventure.
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa as a chilling yet heartwarming dystopia that dives into the intricacies of memory and identity. It follows the journey of the protagonist, an unnamed female novelist, as she navigates her changing world. The story is set on a remote island where objects and memories systematically disappear, leaving holes in the hearts and minds of the people. It leads the reader to question, alongside the protagonist, what role our pasts and our memories play in shaping our identities, and it masterfully taps into the fear of losing oneself. I have only rated this book three stars because although it was an enjoyable read, it got dull at times and I found some of the subplots to be more distracting than impactful.
Avatar: The Last Airbender~The Search follows Zuko and Azula’s search for their estranged mother, who disappeared when they were kids.
This book is interesting for a lot of reasons, the main one being the character development that occurs during it. Seeing Zuko and Azula’s relationship after the events of the main story is another interesting aspect of his book. It’s clear that nothing has changed since the last time they spoke, but Zuko seems to feel a bit sorry for Azula despite knowing that they’ll never have the kind of relationship that he wants them to have. The bait and switch done towards the beginning and end of the story is really good. It allows Zuko a moment of reflection about everything that’s happened to him.
Overall, this book was good. The characterization for some of the members of Team Avatar was a little odd in places, but otherwise, there wasn’t anything jarring. I would recommend this book as it’s an entertaining read.
Videographer Katie has just been offered the gig of a lifetime: the opportunity to interview a Coast Guard super hero in Florida Keys. One problem: she can’t swim. Also, the swimmer she’s interviewing happens to be the most scientifically good looking guy she’s ever seen. In a series of crazy conflicts and the swimmer’s eccentric aunt, Rue, Katie learns what it means to be in love, and love herself.
This book was really cute! I absolutely love how simple Center’s writing is, it made the book fly by! I also adored all the characters in this novel, even the complex characters I believe I was supposed to not like I ended up enjoying them as well. The overall plot was crazy. It seemed like conflict after conflict was occurring, but it didn’t feel excessive, and in a way I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! As for the love story, it was really cute. While there was a little more miscommunication than I would have liked, I really enjoyed the story between Katie and Hutch. My only complaint was there wasn’t more of them together!
Right off the bat this book destroys the surface of Earth and turns the survivors into a deadly video game: Dungeon Crawlers: Earth Addition. This is not your average action book but instead an unpredictable battle for survival as Carl, and his cat Donut, enter the dungeon where they are forced to fight mobs, gain upgrades, and raise their level to survive. It's like a video game but all too real. If you are looking for a sweet book, maybe pass this one. I think it's a good book, but there is some language and adult jokes, so not for really young kids. Best of all, it is in a series, so once you put this one down, you can pick up another!
"The Sun and the Star" follows Nico di Angelo, who has been tormented with nightmares ever since Gaea was defeated. In his dreams, a voice calls out from the depths of Tartarus, begging for his help. Refusing to leave the cry unanswered, Nico and his boyfriend, Will Solace, set out on a quest to travel to the depths of the Underworld. Now, Nico and Will must not only confront the monsters and sinister forces that try to stop them, but also their own differences as they navigate their new relationship. "The Sun and the Star" is not a standalone novel; you will need to have read Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, and Trials of Apollo in order to enjoy this story and understand all the references and plot points.
As someone who has been a Rick Riordan fan since elementary school, I am shocked and disappointed to give one of his books a two-star review. As much as I love Nico and Will and was excited for them to get their own spinoff book, I couldn't bring myself to like "The Sun and the Star." Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro's writing styles did not blend together cohesively, which left the book with an inconsistent and overall disappointing voice that was extremely hard to read. Additionally, the pacing was off - even though the entire premise of the story was them going to Tartarus, only 20% of the book was actually spent in Tartarus and the buildup just got to be frustrating. Overall, I think the biggest reason I was so disappointed in this book was because of the plot holes (especially for a book made for Percy Jackson fans who have read all the other series) mistakes (e.g., Nico referring to his mother by his sister's name), and mischaracterization. "The Sun and the Star" had a lot of potential to be representation for the LGBTQ+ community and an awesome Percy Jackson spinoff, however, it was executed poorly, anticlimactic, and just made me frustrated. I would still recommend book this book to diehard Percy Jackson fans, but be warned that it is incredibly underwhelming.
My one complaint with this book, was the underwhelming synopsis. The summary included on the back of the book doesn't do it the proper justice it deserves. Remarkably Bright Creatures is not just a novel about an octopus solving a mystery, but also self-discovery, family ties, and unlikely connections. It deals with deeply emotional concepts, and the characters feel real as they struggle through their lives, each trying to achieve their individual goals that all somehow intertwine.
My favorite part of this book was the characters. I came to love Marcellus, Tova, and Cameron immensely by the end of the book. The development of these three characters was easily my favorite part. The suspense is not as high stakes as some other realistic fiction novels, but it still had me flipping page after page, yearning for more.
I would describe Remarkably Bright Creatures as a "chill" read. A book you can read to cleanse the pallet in between intense fantasy books, or a book you can read over the course of a month if you're busy and still enjoy.
“Weyward” tells the story of three women across generations. 1619: Altha is on trial in a town unforgiving of unusual women. 1942: During World War 2, Violet works to uncover the mysteries of her family lineage all while suffering tragedy on her own. 2019: On the run from her abusive ex, Kate navigates the hardships of starting over, all while discovering who she is in the process. All three women’s stories are woven together to form one story about women’s empowerment spanning generations.
I was very disappointed in this book. The premise sounded so interesting, and I was excited to read a story centering around female strength. Unfortunately, while the empowerment of women is a common theme, the story was so slow and actually made me feel bored. I was also shocked at how depressing some of the elements of the novel were. I wasn’t expecting a happy story, but so much of the book described tragedy and hardship that it was hard to feel rejoiced when the empowerment piece finally occurred. Also, this fiction novel includes elements of magical realism, which I felt did not serve a purpose to the point the author was trying to make. While I believe the women’s connection with nature was supposed to be a representation of their strength, the execution of the “magic” just made the story more confusing and did not add much importance compared to the other more significant aspects of the story.
“Weyward” tells the story of three women across generations. 1619: Altha is on trial in a town unforgiving of unusual women. 1942: During World War 2, Violet works to uncover the mysteries of her family lineage all while suffering tragedy on her own. 2019: On the run from her abusive ex, Kate navigates the hardships of starting over, all while discovering who she is in the process. All three women’s stories are woven together to form one story about women’s empowerment spanning generations.
I was very disappointed in this book. The premise sounded so interesting, and I was excited to read a story centering around female strength. Unfortunately, while the empowerment of women is a common theme, the story was so slow and actually made me feel bored. I was also shocked at how depressing some of the elements of the novel were. I wasn’t expecting a happy story, but so much of the book described tragedy and hardship that it was hard to feel rejoiced when the empowerment piece finally occurred. Also, this fiction novel includes elements of magical realism, which I felt did not serve a purpose to the point the author was trying to make. While I believe the women’s connection with nature was supposed to be a representation of their strength, the execution of the “magic” just made the story more confusing and did not add much importance compared to the other more significant aspects of the story.
Milkweed is a novel that takes place during World War II in a ghetto in Warsaw. The book flows a little boy who is an orphan with no memory of his past and has to traverse Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. He eventually find a Jewish Girl named Janina whose family takes him in and takes care of him when he comes by. They eventually all get sent to a ghetto where they have to learn how to survive in their new circumstances.
Milkweed is a powerful and emotional novel. It’s written beautifully that is able to put you in the world of World War II Warsaw. The characters are well written, and deeply developed with an engaging plot. I would recommend anyone read Milkweed.
Milkweed is a novel that takes place during World War II in a ghetto in Warsaw. The book flows a little boy who is an orphan with no memory of his past and has to traverse Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. He eventually find a Jewish Girl named Janina whose family takes him in and takes care of him when he comes by. They eventually all get sent to a ghetto where they have to learn how to survive in their new circumstances.
Milkweed is a powerful and emotional novel. It’s written beautifully that is able to put you in the world of World War II Warsaw. The characters are well written, and deeply developed with an engaging plot. I would recommend anyone read Milkweed.
Milkweed is a novel that takes place during World War II in a ghetto in Warsaw. The book flows a little boy who is an orphan with no memory of his past and has to traverse Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. He eventually find a Jewish Girl named Janina whose family takes him in and takes care of him when he comes by. They eventually all get sent to a ghetto where they have to learn how to survive in their new circumstances.
Milkweed is a powerful and emotional novel. It’s written beautifully that is able to put you in the world of World War II Warsaw. The characters are well written, and deeply developed with an engaging plot. I would recommend anyone read Milkweed.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a brilliant and heart-warming book truly worth reading. The novel follows 17-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster dealing with stage 4 cancer as she faces teenage life, family, her inevitable decline, and her heart. During support group she meets Augustus Waters an intelligent and funny guy who desires to be remembered. They form a close-knit friendship and bond over the book “An Imperial Affliction” until soon their friendship turns into their star-crossed love. They adventure with Issac —another guy from support group—, see the art piece “Funky Bones”, and eventually travel to Amsterdam to see the author of “An Imperial Affliction”. But awaiting their return to the U.S. is the devastating turn around that no one expects.
This book will make you laugh, cry, and will leave you wanting to reread it. John Green’s writing style is beautiful and the love story he writes is one of the greatest ever told. The characters are written incredibly and the attachment I personally felt with this book is one I have never felt before. The novel is captivating and I recommend it to anyone because everyone can find some piece relatable. You will not regret reading this book!
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a brilliant and heart-warming book truly worth reading. The novel follows 17-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster dealing with stage 4 cancer as she faces teenage life, family, her inevitable decline, and her heart. During support group she meets Augustus Waters an intelligent and funny guy who desires to be remembered. They form a close-knit friendship and bond over the book “An Imperial Affliction” until soon their friendship turns into their star-crossed love. They adventure with Issac —another guy from support group—, see the art piece “Funky Bones”, and eventually travel to Amsterdam to see the author of “An Imperial Affliction”. But awaiting their return to the U.S. is the devastating turn around that no one expects.
This book will make you laugh, cry, and will leave you wanting to reread it. John Green’s writing style is beautiful and the love story he writes is one of the greatest ever told. The characters are written incredibly and the attachment I personally felt with this book is one I have never felt before. The novel is captivating and I recommend it to anyone because everyone can find some piece relatable. You will not regret reading this book!
The Selection by Kiera Cass is a romance novel, set in a dystopian future where there is a strict caste system (with one being the royals and eight being the criminals) that decides what job you have in the kingdom of Illea.
The story is centered on America Singer, a girl from caste five who has a future in music, when she is chosen for The Selection. The Selection is a televised contest where 35 girls vie for the hand of Prince Maxon, heir to the throne.
America, in the beginning, has no interest in the prince and harbors feelings for her secret boyfriend Aspen, from caste six. But as she gets to know Maxon, they develop a complicated romantic connection.
In my opinion, the book was entertaining, and Kiera Cass’s writing has a distinct voice. However, America was a frustrating main character. The story was rather predictable and the love triangle drama seemed almost forced at points.
I would recommend this book to people who like romance novels, dystopian settings, and lighthearted love triangle drama.
Casey needed to get away; that's why she moved to a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere New Hampshire, where her closest neighbor is miles away. Of course, Casey starts questioning her choices as a storm begins to roll in and the roof of her cabin is not looking promising. As the storm rolls in Casey's worry about her roof is momentarily disrupted when she receives an unexpected guess; a young girl covered in blood that isn't her own. Casey knows this girl is hiding something... and she's determined to figure out exactly what that is; but she has to survive the night if she wants to figure it out.
"The Intruder" is a fascinating book with a surprising plot twist. I would recommend it to anyone who likes vigilante thrillers and plot's that are far from what they seem to be.
Reviewer Grade: 12
Gachiakuta follows 15-year-old Rudo. After being wrongly convicted of murder, he is punished by being sent to “The Pit,” where all garbage is thrown away. He ends up on the “Ground” and meets a man named Enjin, who teaches him about the existence of a group called “Givers,” who use their powers to protect the people of the Ground from monsters.
I think this book has a really good hook for a first volume. It establishes the world-building almost immediately, even if it is a little exposition-dump-y at times. Rudo is a really interesting main character for a couple of reasons, but the one that stood out to me the most is that he actually feels and looks like a fifteen-year-old boy, which isn’t something you see a lot in manga. He’s reactive and a little judgy, but he’s also very kind and receptive to feedback, and it makes the audience want to get to know him better. My rating is so low because the first volume is very short, and I really did not like how “in your face” some of the explanations felt. Otherwise, it’s quite literally the very beginning, so there’s not a lot to really form an opinion about, but I did enjoy this volume and am looking forward to reading the next.
Joan Goodwin has always dreamed of the stars. In 1980s Houston, NASA is finally willing to begin integrating women astronauts into the program. With her group of fellow astronaut candidates, Joan navigates a world of love, family, and friends in a word slowly beginning to accept diversity.
I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Having enjoyed other Reid books, I knew I would have some level of enthusiasm, but I liked it much more than I thought I would. For starters, I have always been intrigued by space and space travel, so I especially enjoyed the whimsical personality Joan obtained throughout the story. I also absolutely adored the relationship between Joan and her niece, Frances. Frances was probably my favorite character by far, as she was so lively and felt so real even as a fictional child. I didn’t care for the love story much, which would be my only complaint, but I was fascinated at how well Reid weaved the intricacies of romance and occupations in the time period of the 1980s.
Joan Goodwin has always dreamed of the stars. In 1980s Houston, NASA is finally willing to begin integrating women astronauts into the program. With her group of fellow astronaut candidates, Joan navigates a world of love, family, and friends in a word slowly beginning to accept diversity.
I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Having enjoyed other Reid books, I knew I would have some level of enthusiasm, but I liked it much more than I thought I would. For starters, I have always been intrigued by space and space travel, so I especially enjoyed the whimsical personality Joan obtained throughout the story. I also absolutely adored the relationship between Joan and her niece, Frances. Frances was probably my favorite character by far, as she was so lively and felt so real even as a fictional child. I didn’t care for the love story much, which would be my only complaint, but I was fascinated at how well Reid weaved the intricacies of romance and occupations in the time period of the 1980s.
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the third book in The Inheritance Games series and cannot be read as a standalone.
The final installment follows the final weeks leading up to Avery Grambs’s eighteenth birthday when she will officially inherit Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. This book introduces a visitor from outside the Hawthorne family, adding a new mystery and extra layers of conflict.
In my opinion, while I enjoy the concept of the universe and the puzzles, this book felt somewhat unnecessary. I understand that a satisfying conclusion was required, but by this point, the mystery felt forced and the love triangle drama felt like filler. Additionally, Avery’s character still felt overly adaptable and lacked distinctive growth, and the series’ signature riddles and puzzles, while clever, no longer felt as engaging or surprising. The resolution wrapped up loose ends but did so in a way that sometimes felt rushed or convenient.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first two books in the series and enjoy puzzle-driven mysteries, family intrigue, and romantic tension.
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the second book in The Inheritance Games series and it can’t be read as a standalone.
The book is about solving the mystery of how Avery Grambs is connected to Tobias Hawthorne and why she inherited his fortune. The story introduces more riddles, puzzles, and twists, while simultaneously intensifying the love triangle conflicts between Grayson Hawthorne and Jameson Hawthorne.
In my opinion, the book was engaging and kept me turning pages quickly, with clever puzzles and moments of suspense that made it fun to read. But, while the sequel expands the mystery, it lacks the tight-pacing or the satisfying puzzle-solving of the first book, often leading to repetition of structure. The novel leans heavily into the love triangle and ongoing riddles, but the central reveal doesn’t feel as impactful as the buildup suggests. Like many middle books in a trilogy, it spends more time setting up future twists than delivering a fully satisfying story on its own.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first book in the series and enjoy mysteries, clever puzzles, and romantic tension.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs, a teenage girl living in her car, when she—out of the blue—becomes the youngest billionaire when she inherits billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s money.
The catch? She has to live in the Hawthorne Mansion alongside the family Tobias Hawthorne just disinherited while solving riddles and puzzles.
In my opinion, this book was enjoyable. The short chapters led to a fast-paced book with a love-triangle subplot. Personally, I found most of the characters likable except for Jameson Hawthorne—one of Tobias’s four grandsons—and Avery, herself. Jameson had a tendency to speak in riddles and nonsense that made no sense, and his “rebellious” behavior was, at points, irritating. While Avery Kylie Grambs is positioned as a relatable and grounded protagonist, her personality often feels too adaptable and indistinct, making it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with her.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy fast-paced mysteries, riddles and brain teasers, and love triangles.