"Jurassic Park" by Michael Crichton follows Alan Grant (a paleontologist), Ellie Sattler (a paleobotanist), and Ian Malcom, (a mathematician) who have been invited to John Hammond's private island. But they are not prepared for what awaits them there; somehow, Hammond has found a way to bring back creatures that have been extinct for millions of years. Soon, Jurassic Park will be opened to the public, placing these newly-made dinosaurs on display for all to see. But the unpredictability of nature and the corruption within the park itself soon makes this adventure deadly. Now, the survivors on the island must find a way to escape - before it is too late.

I watched the movie adaptation of "Jurassic Park" before actually reading the book - and I was surprised to see that the original novel was even more chilling and captivating than the film had been. Normally, I don't read a lot of science fiction, but "Jurassic Park" has a completely different take on this genre. Not only is the possibility of scientific advancement - like genetically engineering dinosaurs - explored (which is especially relevant today!), but human nature and many deeper themes are also incorporated within this story. The disturbing and realistic notions and the page-turning plot makes this book an absolute must-read.

"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury is set in a futuristic world teetering on the edge of war. But for Guy Montag, the war feels like a distant problem compared to his own. He is a fireman, whose job is to burn any books and houses in which they were found. He does it without emotion, believing he is bettering society, until he meets a new neighbor, Clarisse McClellan, who changes his whole perspective on the world in which he lives, and makes him question everything he is told to believe. He begins to realize the true and terrible state of the world, and wonders if the books he destroys might be the solution. Guy Montag is a great character to watch develop, as he is relatable and flawed, but is still incredibly understandable, so you end up rooting for him to win. The writing style of the book is also amazing, full of convincing imagery and thought provoking ideas. I liked the book more as I read it and got to know the complex characters, and would recommend it to people looking for a short and interesting read.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is a dystopian novel set in a future where people are strictly divided by age and appearance. Littlies are young children who live with their parents until they turn twelve, when they are labeled Uglies and move into dormitories in Uglyville. When they turn sixteen, they are pressured into undergoing an operation that changes their appearance to become Pretties, who can move to the paradise of New Pretty Town. The story follows Tally, a fifteen-year-old girl a few months from her sixteenth birthday, who is looking forward to becoming a Pretty and joining her best friend Peris in New Pretty Town. Like most Uglies, Tally sees the operation as a turning point in her life, as Uglies are treated in a way that makes them feel inferior to the Pretties and pushes them to undergo the surgery. One day, Tally befriends another girl her age named Shay, who doesn't want to become a pretty and tries to convince Tally to join her before running away. Things only go down from here, as Tally is offered an impossible decision by the authorities and begins to learn the truth about the operation and the seemingly idyllic nature of the society she grew up in.
This book was a great read, and I really enjoyed the concept. The characters were written well and were realistic in a way that showed off their individual motivations and traits. Shay and Tally's views on society and being pretty are clearly different, and that affects their actions throughout the story. The ending is powerful, written so similarly yet different from the beginning of the story, which helps to emphasize Tally's character development and shows how much the events of the story changed things. Something I especially liked about the story was its unexpected plot twists. Some parts surprised me, proving my predictions wrong and making the story even more engaging. The novel is packed with symbolism and themes of conformity, individuality, and beauty while being easy to read and understand. It does great as the first book for the series, sparking interest in the world and characters and making readers want to know what happens next. I recommend this book for fans of science fiction and dystopian novels with some adventure and good plot twists.

Outwalkers takes place in a dystopian near-future England where the government implants tracking chips into its people at birth to maintain surveillance over everyone, preventing anyone from leaving the country, which has been closed off from the rest of the world. The story follows Jacob Riley, or Jake, whose parents died in a car accident three months prior to the events of the novel. As an orphan, Jake is sent to a Home Academy, a dismal, oppressive orphanage run by the government. But Jake's main goal throughout the entire story is to find his grandparents in Scotland, keeping the promise he made to his parents if anything ever happened to them. Jake escapes, reuniting with his dog, Jet, and comes across a gang of children like him called the Outwalkers. He travels with this group of runaways through the heavily monitored and dangerous country in hopes of finding safety beyond the borders, relying on each other and doing whatever it takes to survive.
This book was an amazing read, full of action, emotion, and chilling realism. The characters are very well-written, each shaped by their different lives, circumstances, and goals, making them feel real and human. Each character has their own distinct voice and personality, which helps the reader truly connect with the individual members of the group. The story has powerful themes of survival, freedom, and loyalty. While there are a few topics that may be better suited for slightly older audiences, Outwalkers is overall a compelling adventure with a very strong emotional core, perfect for fans of dystopian novels or character-driven stories.

Harley Quinn Ravenous is a YA fantasy superhero novel. This book is the second of three Harley Quinn novels in the DC icon series. The DC icon series is known for its unique, intriguing, and refreshing take on DC villains and heroes; this book encompasses all of these traits. Harley Quinn Ravenous continues to follow Harley's adventures throughout college. My review grade of Harley Quinn Ravenous is a solid 10.

Brought to readers as the #1 New York Times Bestseller book by Adam Silvera, a tiny glance of the genius title and its illustrative cover leaves readers wondering. “Never judge a book by its cover” they say. But doesn’t the cover define the book? Doesn’t the cover give us an insight on to what the author is feeling? “A bold, lovely, and haunting story of loss, hope, and the redeeming power of friendship” -Lauren Oliver writes on the cover. A tragedy in fact. Silvera’s catching title uncovers a world in which a calling service called the “Death-Cast” calls people 24 hours before they die. On September 5, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio. With totally different reactions, emotions, and experiences, Mateo and Rufus greet each other on their End Day through an app called the Last Friend. Now, the two strangers spend their final hours together on an epic adventure through their city to live up their last day without any regrets.

I immediately noticed this book through its title. I thought to myself, “Who would give a book such a depressing title?!” I mean it’s certainly unique?! I enjoyed hearing different perspectives and stories throughout the book. The switching of characters throughout the chapters was really interesting. The author shows how much death affects people. The death of a loved one affects every relationship the deceased had in their life. Silvera did a very good job at demonstrating that. The book was very predictable but a heartfelt story. I can relate to Rufus’s friends Malcolm and Tagoe who so desperately want their friend to be okay. This book was one of the best tragedies I have read this year, and I hope to see more books like it.

The Winter Soldier: Cold Front is a YA novel that focuses on Bucky Barnes' life before and after WW2. What I like most about this book is that it goes back to the comic book origins of the winter soldier. One thing I disliked about the book is how he and Steve Rogers met. This is an intriguing story that combines Bucky's past and his future. My review grade on The Winter Soldier: Cold Front is a solid 7.

The Fever Code is a fictional YA dystopian book and is one of the prequel books to The Maze Runner series. It provides context on the character's decisions and choices later on in the original series in a comprehensive and intriguing way. This book is one of my personal favorites because of one character named Thomas. The Fever Code shows his journey to the man he becomes later on in the books; a man who would do anything to save his friends and figure out the truth. My review grade on The Fever Code is a solid 9.

Imagine being violently thrust overboard into the ocean and taken aboard a mysterious submersible inhabited by a man filled with vengeance and brilliance. This is exactly what happened to Pierre Aronnax, a french naturalist and assistant professor at the Paris Museum of Natural History in the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The book starts by describing very odd occurrences happening at sea thought to be caused by a massive sea creature. Aronnax and his friend Conseil set off on an expedition to find and kill the beast. What they don’t know is this is a much different kind of beast. One made of steel and brimming with the power and knowledge of its creator. This beast, the Nautilus, becomes their captor and their home as they journey through the ocean’s depths. This is a classic tale of adventure, excitement, and revenge. I really enjoyed how this novel is very quick to action. The story begins almost instantly. While this novel is among my top favorite books, I did not appreciate some of the racist depictions of the natives inhabiting Papau New Guinea, which did not age well. This book is a perfect quick read for kids or adults seeking a fun narrative about adventure. I believe that this book is a fantastic book, and my favorite classic. Overall, this book is a wonderful and insightful story full of imagination and excitement.

In “The Darkest Minds”, the first book in the Darkest Minds trilogy, a disease called Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration (IAAN) has killed 98% of the population aged 18 and under. Those that survive the disease obtain powers, each classified by a color. These surviving children are put in camps to help “rehabilitate” them. The main character, Ruby, is an Orange hiding as a Green. However, when she gets the opportunity to escape from her camp, she finds herself on the run across the country with other kids like her. With everyone after them, will they be able to stay safe, or will Ruby and the others get sent back to their camps?

This book is an exciting story with relatable characters. It’s full of action while still discussing themes such as the darkness of human nature, and what people will do to survive. Bracken weaves a wonderful story where the characters feel like your friends and the world is similar enough that it is easily relatable. Several times throughout this book, I found myself thinking of what I would do in this situation, or of what it would feel like.

The movie adaptation of this book was similar and followed the same general plot. While several events differed, it was very similar. Still, I would recommend reading the book first so you can understand the depth of the plot line and the characters, as the movie is unable to show this to the same extent.