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The Grace Year
Liggett, Kim
Reviewed: December 20, 2023
If the Hunger Games was decidedly more feminist, gory, and creepy, it would be The Grace Year by Kim Liggett. Set in a dystopian society that more closely resembles colonial America than your classic futuristic frontier, The Grace Year manages to capture girlhood at its worst and best.
Every year, Garner County sends its sixteen-year-old female population into exile so that the girls can rid their bodies of dangerous magic. The girls return the following year broken, both emotionally and physically, ready to be married off to the bachelors of the county... Read Full Review
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How to Fix a Broken Heart
Winch, Guy
Reviewed: December 13, 2023
Life is full of ups and downs. But sometimes, one focuses only on the downs, falling into a rabbit hole of negativity. A primary example of a "down" is heartbreak. Heartbreak comes in many forms, and all these forms hurt an individual physically and mentally.
How To Fix A Broken Heart addresses two types of heartbreak: one from a romantic relationship, such as a boyfriend or girlfriend, and the other from losing a beloved pet. The reason for focusing on these two forms of heartbreak is that most people do not understand the seriousness of the pain arising from losing a non-... Read Full Review
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Kingdom of the Wicked
Maniscalco, Kerri
Reviewed: December 6, 2023
Kingdom of the Wicked (2019), by Kerri Maniscalco, is a fantasy novel that touches on loss and revenge in a way you couldn’t imagine. In desperation to avenge the death of her twin sister Vittoria, Emilia calls to darker forces for additional help. Living in a world where her existence is a crime, Emilia must be careful to hide her witchcraft activities. Going against everything she’s been warned from doing, Emilia casts a spell intended to summon a demon—and she accidentally summons Wrath, one of the 7 princes of hell. Wrath is bound to Emilia, and in order to go back to hell, he... Read Full Review
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Eragon
Paolini, Christopher
Reviewed: November 29, 2023
Eragon by Christopher Paolini is the first in a series of four books called the Inheritance Cycle. This science fiction adventure takes place in a land called Alagaësia, and it starts with the main character, Eragon, who finds a stone in the woods. He later finds out that the rock is a dragon egg that soon hatches to reveal his dragon companion, Saphira. To truly enjoy this series, you have to read all of the novels of the Inheritance Cycle. As you go from book to book, you meet new dragons and their riders—some friends, some foes.
My favorite character in this... Read Full Review
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Igor
Tyler, the Creator
Reviewed: November 22, 2023
Igor (2019), a Tyler The Creator album, follows his popular album Flower Boy (2017). The album Flower Boy followed Tyler's introduction to a broader spectrum of love, highlighting his self-discovery toward understanding himself personally, facing his feelings towards homosexuality, and coming to terms with his sexuality. In contrast, Igor approaches love through the lens of another character. The album follows a cynical adventure in terms of love and discovery, shadowing an underlying storyline following the love mishaps of Igor, creating a confusing cycle through the... Read Full Review
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I Know What You Did Last Summer
Duncan, Lois
Reviewed: November 15, 2023
No matter the situation or choice, one cannot turn back the hands of time.
High school friends Barry, Julie, Ray, and Helen face the consequences of their actions on the worst summer of their lives. Readers are, at first, unaware of the atrocity that occurred but will later discover the mystery that lies between the once close-knit group of friends. An anonymous witness threatens the four friends, who constantly torments them with letters only the ones present at the event (mentioned in the letter) would understand. Barry, the careless jock, believes the mysterious notes are part... Read Full Review
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The Silent Patient
Michaelides, Alex
Reviewed: November 8, 2023
The thriller novel The Silent Patient by Alex Michealides begins with an abrupt and startling introduction to Alicia Berenson, the main protagonist of the story. She is introduced as an emotionally driven artist, married to a talented photographer whom she is deeply in love with. One night, while home with her husband, she gruesomely and without warning murders him in cold blood, the motive unknown. She is immediately put on trial and sentenced to rehabilitation in a psychiatric ward. Throughout her sentencing and questioning, she doesn’t utter a single word.
Years later... Read Full Review
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And Then There Were None
Christie, Agatha
Reviewed: November 1, 2023
If you are searching for a horror/mystery/thriller-type book, look no further than And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. This book discusses ten guests being tricked into being sent to Soldier Island in Southwest England. The story is about the mysterious disappearances of the guests living on the island. It explains what the guests think and how terrified they are of dying and being killed by a crazy lunatic on the island.
And Then There Were None is a true depiction of horror, full of surprises that keep you guessing about what is happening and who the... Read Full Review
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Divergent
Roth, Veronica
Reviewed: October 25, 2023
Divergent by Veronica Roth is a series with four books. (The fourth one is not necessary to read, but you can if you want.) Divergent features a world divided into five Factions: Erudite the smart ones (scientists), Dauntless the brave ones (soldiers), Abnegation the selfless ones (helpers), Candor the truth-telling ones (judges), and Amity, the happy ones (farmers). Everyone at the age of 16 takes a test to see which Faction they belong to.
The main character, Beatrice, was born in Abnegation. Beatrice hopes her test results will be Dauntless. However, her test... Read Full Review
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Pretties
Westerfeld, Scott
Reviewed: October 11, 2023
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld is the second book of the series Uglies. The book is about Tally Youngblood turning "pretty" and the side effects she endures when she becomes "pretty." The side effects make people sort of dumb, unable to think problems through, and she cannot cause a dispute. In the world of the Pretties, robots do everything for the people, making people lazy and think less.
After Tally becomes "pretty," she believes she is living the life. She is really popular and has a hot boyfriend. Tally's looks are beyond perfect, and she is extremely rich.... Read Full Review
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Mockingjay
Collins, Suzanne.
Reviewed: October 4, 2023
Mockingjay Suzanne Collins continues where Catching Fire left off. Katniss gets rescued from the arena and starts to live in District 13. Katniss is in shock and right away tries to find Peeta. She later finds out President Snow kidnapped him (I swear I hate this man!). Katniss tries to find and rescue Peeta, and she spreads propaganda with other people rescued from the arena like her. Eventually, Katniss saves Peeta, and I am going to stop there because that is when things get exciting!
I loved the end of this book! It is a beautiful tragedy. It was amazing but... Read Full Review
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The Education of Margot Sanchez
Rivera, Lilliam
Reviewed: September 27, 2023
The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera is an admirable novel that wonderfully captures the challenge of being yourself while being in an intimidating social circle. Throughout the novel, we follow the main character, Margo, whose family makes sacrifices to ensure she can attend a school that offers her the most lavish education one can receive. There’s only one problem: Margot doesn’t come from where her peers come from; her demographic background makes it hard for her to fully be herself. The pressure to “fit in” with the kids around her leads her to make bad choices.... Read Full Review