Awards

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata is such an interesting and unique book, following a woman throughout her life facing trauma and coping with it in many unhealthy ways. She's unable to become a "cog in the machine" as she grows up, straying further and further from society. This book changed my perspective on many things, and I found some parts unsettlingly familiar. I went into the book without any knowledge of it, however as it is a sort of psychological horror and there were quite a few scenes with disturbing topics such as sexual assault, violence, and child abuse/neglect. Without spoiling too many things it's safe to say it's a very heavy read, but I found it to be extremely worth it, as it was thrilling, captivating, and I loved how the characters were written. (I'm in grade 12)

Jurassic Park is a sci-fi thriller about a park that has figured out how to clone once-extinct dinosaurs and has invited two paleontologists to tour it. I chose to read this book because I love dinosaurs and have seen all the Jurassic movies. I enjoyed this book because it is an exciting thriller with lots of dinosaur action. I also appreciated how the author didn't hold back with the consequences of bringing back dinosaurs. Overall, this is a creative and masterful novel that I highly recommend.

Jurassic Park is a sci-fi thriller about a park that has figured out how to clone once-extinct dinosaurs and has invited two paleontologists to tour it. I chose to read this book because I love dinosaurs and have seen all the Jurassic movies. I enjoyed this book because it is an exciting thriller with lots of dinosaur action. I also appreciated how the author didn't hold back with the consequences of bringing back dinosaurs. Overall, this is a creative and masterful novel that I highly recommend.

Jurassic Park is a sci-fi thriller about a park that has figured out how to clone once-extinct dinosaurs and has invited two paleontologists to tour it. I chose to read this book because I love dinosaurs and have seen all the Jurassic movies. I enjoyed this book because it is an exciting thriller with lots of dinosaur action. I also appreciated how the author didn't hold back with the consequences of bringing back dinosaurs. Overall, this is a creative and masterful novel that I highly recommend.

Project Hail Mary is a sci-fi adventure book about a scientist and former schoolteacher, Ryland Grace, who has been tasked with a mission to explore another planetary system to discover the secrets of a sun-dimming microbe that threatens Earth. I enjoyed this book because it is filled with heart and comedy. I also appreciated how the author took time to explore the science of Grace's discoveries. It had a few flaws- sometimes the science distracted from the pacing, and some characters' choices didn't make sense. Overall, this is an amazing book that I enjoyed- I highly recommend it!

The highest honor a girl in Huaxia can achieve is to become a concubine pilot, to be paired with a boy to power the giant robots, called Chrysalises, that defend their nation from aliens lurking outside the Great Wall. But this profession results in a high mortality rate for girls, who always seem to be less capable of withstanding the mental and physical strain of piloting than their male counterparts, and their contributions are largely ignored. When Zetian's older sister is killed during a battle by her male co-pilot, Zetian offers herself up to the system with one goal in mind: avenge her sister by killing her killer. She succeeds and gains notoriety as the Iron Widow, a woman who sacrifices male pilots in battles instead of the opposite. In an effort to control her newfound power, Zetian is paired with the most powerful - and the most hated - male pilot in Huaxia, Li Shimin, known mainly for murdering his brothers and his father. But even with the world hellbent on keeping her on a leash, Zetian refuses to be silenced. She will do everything in her power to tear apart the pilot system responsible for the death of her sister and thousands of other girls.

This book is the exact definition of unhinged - it gave a raw and unfiltered depiction of female rage that was at times a little relatable. The author was able to encapsulate Zetian's feelings about her status in such a visceral and devastating way that I could not help but root for her. The story was fast paced and intriguing, with many twists in both the characters backstories and the plot that left me continuously turning at the pages to read more. I also loved the China-based setting coupled with the futuristic technology and mechas - it was truly unique. However, as much as I loved this book, I still do have some issues with it. The nation's patriarchal system isn't really given any historical context, even with the secrets Zetian uncovers in the end. I also found some of the characters, including Zetian at times, stereotypical or lacking in depth. The ending was full of giant plot twists, some of which I found a little rushed or random. But despite these critiques, I did enjoy this book for its boldness, and I might consider reading its sequel as well. And as a side note: the author is hilarious, I love them, and I also love Yizhi.

Clarice Starling is only a trainee at the FBI Academy, so when Jack Crawford, Section Chief of the Behavioral Science Unit, asks her to interview the infamous cannibal serial killer, Hannibal Lector, she jumps at the chance to come face-to-face with one of the most infamous criminals of all time and prove herself in the eyes of the Academy. And even though Lector has refused to speak with any interviewers from his cell in Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, he takes a special interest in Clarice. Soon, it becomes apparent to Clarice and the FBI that "Hannibal the Cannibal" knows the true identity of Buffalo Bill - the serial murderer the FBI has been working desperately to catch. Soon, Clarice is swept up in the frantic pursuit of Buffalo Bill, racing against the clock with the help of Lector's clues to find him before he claims his next victim.

I watched the film adaptation of "The Silence of the Lambs" before reading the book, and I was shocked to find that this is one of the most accurate book-to-film adaptations I've ever seen. Almost every plot point and sequence was accurate, and many times entire scenes were taken word-for-word from the book. That said, already knowing the plot of the movie did not take away from my enjoyment of "The Silence of the Lambs." The perspective switches from Clarice Starling to Hannibal Lector to Buffalo Bill himself built the suspense and perfectly portrayed each plot twist. I was also pleasantly surprised with the portrayal of Clarice as a main character (however, I will say that she and many other aspects are a book are sexist and outdated, as it was published in 1988). Overall, though, this book is iconic, and I would recommend it to preexisting fans of the movie and those that enjoy thrillers and serial killers!

Five years ago, the small town of Fairview was struck by a tragedy: popular high school senior Andie Bell had gone missing. Her body never turned up during the investigation, but all the evidence found pointed to only one prime suspect: her boyfriend, Sal Singh. Thus, the story goes: Sal Singh murdered Andie and then committed suicide. The case was closed. The proof was clear as day. Everyone believed it.

But Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure.

Now in her senior year of high school, Pippa chooses to do her capstone project on this very case, first only just to cast doubt on the results of the original investigation and on Sal's guilt. But her research sends her down an entirely different path: the more Pippa examines the circumstances surrounding Andie's disappearance, the more clues she finds pointing to the possibility that Sal maybe wasn't guilty of anything after all. And it is these leads that eventually put Pippa's life in danger, as threats from a mysterious someone begin to pop up left and right; someone here definitely does not want her unearthing Fairview's - and Andie's - secrets.

I think the first thing that stood out to me in this book was the formatting: it switches between Pippa's project log entries and a more conventional third-person viewpoint of the story, which I think was an interesting literary choice. It was nice seeing glimpses into Pippa's head and the results of her research as well as how the people surrounding her interacted with her. The story was paced decently, I liked seeing the humorous banter between some of the main characters, and although I must admit that certain parts of the plot sounded a little unrealistic, it is ultimately just a novel, so I wasn't too bothered by it. I think the main problem I had with this book was that the writing felt a little juvenile and awkward at times, but overall, this book was decent. I doubt I'm going to continue with the trilogy, but the first installment wasn't that bad in my opinion.

Five years ago, the small town of Fairview was struck by a tragedy: popular high school senior Andie Bell had gone missing. Her body never turned up during the investigation, but all the evidence found pointed to only one prime suspect: her boyfriend, Sal Singh. Thus, the story goes: Sal Singh murdered Andie and then committed suicide. The case was closed. The proof was clear as day. Everyone believed it.

But Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure.

Now in her senior year of high school, Pippa chooses to do her capstone project on this very case, first only just to cast doubt on the results of the original investigation and on Sal's guilt. But her research sends her down an entirely different path: the more Pippa examines the circumstances surrounding Andie's disappearance, the more clues she finds pointing to the possibility that Sal maybe wasn't guilty of anything after all. And it is these leads that eventually put Pippa's life in danger, as threats from a mysterious someone begin to pop up left and right; someone here definitely does not want her unearthing Fairview's - and Andie's - secrets.

I think the first thing that stood out to me in this book was the formatting: it switches between Pippa's project log entries and a more conventional third-person viewpoint of the story, which I think was an interesting literary choice. It was nice seeing glimpses into Pippa's head and the results of her research as well as how the people surrounding her interacted with her. The story was paced decently, I liked seeing the humorous banter between some of the main characters, and although I must admit that certain parts of the plot sounded a little unrealistic, it is ultimately just a novel, so I wasn't too bothered by it. I think the main problem I had with this book was that the writing felt a little juvenile and awkward at times, but overall, this book was decent. I doubt I'm going to continue with the trilogy, but the first installment wasn't that bad in my opinion.

The world building in this book was amazing and made the story feel so immersive. I loved the dual perspectives because they helped show both sides of the conflict and made the characters more complex. The pacing was fast, and there were so many emotional and suspenseful moments throughout the novel. Some scenes were heartbreaking, but that made the story even more memorable. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy and dystopian romance.

The world building in this book was amazing and made the story feel so immersive. I loved the dual perspectives because they helped show both sides of the conflict and made the characters more complex. The pacing was fast, and there were so many emotional and suspenseful moments throughout the novel. Some scenes were heartbreaking, but that made the story even more memorable. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy and dystopian romance.

The world building in this book was amazing and made the story feel so immersive. I loved the dual perspectives because they helped show both sides of the conflict and made the characters more complex. The pacing was fast, and there were so many emotional and suspenseful moments throughout the novel. Some scenes were heartbreaking, but that made the story even more memorable. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy and dystopian romance.

The world building in this book was amazing and made the story feel so immersive. I loved the dual perspectives because they helped show both sides of the conflict and made the characters more complex. The pacing was fast, and there were so many emotional and suspenseful moments throughout the novel. Some scenes were heartbreaking, but that made the story even more memorable. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy and dystopian romance.

This book was intense, disturbing, and impossible to put down. The suspense kept building with every chapter, and the anonymous messages created so much tension. I really appreciated how the story addressed racism, privilege, and toxic school environments in a way that felt powerful and realistic. Chiamaka and Devon were both compelling characters. The twists had me genuinely shocked and would highly recommend to those who enjoy YA mystery and thriller!

This book was intense, disturbing, and impossible to put down. The suspense kept building with every chapter, and the anonymous messages created so much tension. I really appreciated how the story addressed racism, privilege, and toxic school environments in a way that felt powerful and realistic. Chiamaka and Devon were both compelling characters. The twists had me genuinely shocked and would highly recommend to those who enjoy YA mystery and thriller!

This book was intense, disturbing, and impossible to put down. The suspense kept building with every chapter, and the anonymous messages created so much tension. I really appreciated how the story addressed racism, privilege, and toxic school environments in a way that felt powerful and realistic. Chiamaka and Devon were both compelling characters. The twists had me genuinely shocked and would highly recommend to those who enjoy YA mystery and thriller!

This book was intense, disturbing, and impossible to put down. The suspense kept building with every chapter, and the anonymous messages created so much tension. I really appreciated how the story addressed racism, privilege, and toxic school environments in a way that felt powerful and realistic. Chiamaka and Devon were both compelling characters. The twists had me genuinely shocked and would highly recommend to those who enjoy YA mystery and thriller!

This sequel somehow managed to be even more intense than the first book. The action scenes were amazing, and the dragons were still my favorite part of the series. This is a massive roman-tasy novel and really delivers high stakes, intense political building, and a dramatic climax. Violet’s growth throughout the story made her feel even stronger as a protagonist, and the emotional tension kept me invested the entire time. The ending completely shocked me and left me desperate for the next book.

I honestly did not expect to enjoy chess this much in a book, but this story made it so entertaining. Mallory was funny, smart, and relatable, and the chemistry between her and Nolan was adorable without feeling overly dramatic. I liked how the book balanced romance with themes of pressure, ambition, and family responsibility. Some parts felt a little predictable, but overall it was a super fun and addictive read. Highly recommended for those who enjoy contemporary romance!

I honestly did not expect to enjoy chess this much in a book, but this story made it so entertaining. Mallory was funny, smart, and relatable, and the chemistry between her and Nolan was adorable without feeling overly dramatic. I liked how the book balanced romance with themes of pressure, ambition, and family responsibility. Some parts felt a little predictable, but overall it was a super fun and addictive read. Highly recommended for those who enjoy contemporary romance!

This book was incredible from start to finish. The mystery kept me hooked, but what really stood out was how deeply the story explored family, identity, and culture. Daunis was such a strong and realistic main character, and I loved learning about Ojibwe traditions throughout the novel. The plot twists genuinely surprised me, and the emotional moments hit hard. Definitely one of the most meaningful YA thrillers I’ve read!!

This book was incredible from start to finish. The mystery kept me hooked, but what really stood out was how deeply the story explored family, identity, and culture. Daunis was such a strong and realistic main character, and I loved learning about Ojibwe traditions throughout the novel. The plot twists genuinely surprised me, and the emotional moments hit hard. Definitely one of the most meaningful YA thrillers I’ve read!!

This book was incredible from start to finish. The mystery kept me hooked, but what really stood out was how deeply the story explored family, identity, and culture. Daunis was such a strong and realistic main character, and I loved learning about Ojibwe traditions throughout the novel. The plot twists genuinely surprised me, and the emotional moments hit hard. Definitely one of the most meaningful YA thrillers I’ve read!!

This book was incredible from start to finish. The mystery kept me hooked, but what really stood out was how deeply the story explored family, identity, and culture. Daunis was such a strong and realistic main character, and I loved learning about Ojibwe traditions throughout the novel. The plot twists genuinely surprised me, and the emotional moments hit hard. Definitely one of the most meaningful YA thrillers I’ve read!!

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!