The Wind Rises Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

As a child, Jiro Horikoshi has always been fascinated by airplanes and their beauty. But because of his poor eyesight Jiro couldn’t pursue his dreams of becoming a pilot; instead pursuing a career as an aeronautical engineer. In the time of World War II, Jiro is on a train ride to Tokyo where a devastating earthquake hits, destroying the town he was passing through. Jiro is then hired to design battle war-crafts for Japan. 

This Japanese-animation is beautifully drawn and landscaped to fit its fascinating storyline. Personally, I found it very interesting to see this tale from the perspective of someone who experienced war from a different point of view. Conceptually, this film was memorable for a variety of reasons. I would recommend this watch to people who are looking for a historical fiction narrative that includes romance, adventure, and moral.

Rated PG-13

Review Written by Isole, 8th Grade

Little Woman Directed by Greta Gerwig

Based on the adored classic novel written by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women retells the story of Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth March. Meg, beautiful and charming, is the eldest of the four followed by Jo, a talented, rather “boyish” writer and storyteller. Beth is a quiet young lady who is a gifted pianist. Amy, the youngest of the March sisters, is an aspiring artist and painter. With their father serving as a soldier in war, the household is left with not much money to rely on despite their generosity and kindness towards those in need. In a society where women are expected to marry, the girls embark on a journey to discover their own path in life. 

Little Women is a wonderfully adapted fictional story that is warm and uplifting. Each characters’ interests and ambitions reflect their personalities, which was delightful even from the start. You grow to love the story and await what direction it takes. In conclusion, I enjoyed this film and would recommend this watch to anyone who is looking for a narrative with romance, moral, and humor. 

Rated PG 

Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott

Review Written by Isole, 8th Grade

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express is a mystery novel takes place aboard the Simplon-route Orient Express. One of the passengers, named Ratchett, is murdered during the first night aboard the train. Hercule Poirot, a famous detective aboard the train, proceeds to solve the case behind the murder. 

I loved this book because of how thrilling and suspenseful it was. There was no obvious or clear answer until the murderer was revealed. I really liked the ending because it was so unpredictable. I also enjoyed the ending because it was really creative and unique to me; I had never read any mystery novel that ended like this one did. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading anything from the mystery genre.

Review Written by Victoria, 9th Grade

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Every morning, Theodore Finch wakes up wondering if today is the right day to die. Still finding himself awake by the sixth day, Finch has always managed to find a reason to keep living. To finally end his life, once and for all, Finch proudly stands on the school’s six-story bell tower to say goodbye to the world. Violet Markey must have thought the same as the two meet each other on the highest ledge. Although they eventually make it down safely, Violet and Finch are soon introduced into each other's worlds. With their past following closely behind them, they discover what it really means to live. 

All The Bright Places is a charmingly written teen romance novel that explores a serious and heartbreaking topic with complexity and emotion. The protagonists themselves are quirky or engaging, which makes the story seem personal and believable. Personally I was not expecting to feel such a wide variety of emotions; despite judging the narrative to look rather humorous and heartfelt. Overall, this novel is one that I would definitely recommend to teen readers who are interested in romance genres.

Review Written by Isole, 8th Grade

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

Echo isn’t just one story, but many, all interwoven throughout a novel that seemed to go by in a flash. The setting differs from story to story, however from pre-holocaust Germany to post-pear harbor California, the locations mirror the loss and suffering attributed to the historical period. Viewing these characters hardships and their determination to see the light in things made me feel grateful for all I have. 

Echo beautifully twists a historical setting with fantasy elements of magical realism in the shape of a harmonica that ties the three young people together. As heart wrenching as the subject matter can get, the characters are lovable and memorable, just like the narrative. 

I just couldn’t put the book down, constantly wanting to know “what happens next” as I dived further into Muñoz’s rich, emotional writing. The best part of Echo is how blatantly raw and real it is, and though the situation is far from relatable, it is immersive, informative, and nearly stole my breath away. 

 Review Written by Emily, 11th Grade

The Hate U Give

Written by Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give is a novel starring Starr Carter, a sixteen year old African-American girl who attends a primarily white school. This novel explores both the black and white communities from the perspective of a black girl, providing insight and allowing the readers to understand how Starr’s identity as a black girl at a white school determines her status.

Through themes of identity, race, and stereotypes, Thomas creates a story that is riveting and strongly needed in today’s climate, as it details the growth and journey of a young woman standing up against many of the issues that our communities still deal with.

Review Written by Elizabeth, 12th Grade

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, where the United States has been replaced by the Republic of Gilead, and women called Handmaids are used to help the elite bear children, as the Republic suffers from low reproduction rates. The book is very interesting and is told from the protagonist, Offred’s (the Handmaid of the Commander of the Republic) perspective. A good portion of the story is told through flashbacks, and the ending is rather cryptic, but the overall novel explores themes such as women and their rights, freedom, and power in an interesting manner. This novel helps people educate themselves on these themes and relate them to issues today (women’s rights), which I thought was very fascinating, as well as important.

Review Written By Elizabeth, 12th Grade

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan is a novel set in a land of luxury with all the drama of the crazy rich and the exorbitant spending that accompanies it. Far away from all this in New York, Rachel is an economics professor who’s dating a fellow teacher named Nick. Other than his British accent and nice manners, Nick doesn’t seem that fancy. But when Nick goes to his cousin’s wedding in Singapore and brings Rachel along to meet his family, Rachel is transported into a land of class and wealth beyond her imagination. In this society where people spend 40 million on a wedding, Rachel is seen as a gold digger who’s taking away their richest bachelor and immediately gets a target on her back. As Rachel tries to make it through the wedding, her relationship with Nick is tested along with her personal resilience to being the object of hatred among the people around her.

I really liked this book. With its constant name-dropping and high fashion, I felt like I was part of this crazy rich world. The way that the novel changed perspective every chapter helped me understand the full scope of the events in the book and helped me get to know all the characters really well. My favorite character was Astrid, the modest yet extremely fashionable cousin of Nick who’s dealing with a failing marriage. Astrid’s character helps the reader see how hard it is to deal with the press and family pressures in this society and how it makes it almost impossible to do what you really want. While this novel is filled with drama and fluff, it also has some deeper meanings as characters discover how much their money is really worth to them and try to escape the requirements that their families have presented. I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars because of how page-turning and encompassing the story is. For fans of books about romance and wealth or wannabe billionaires, I highly recommend you read Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan.

Review Written by Ada, 9th Grade

Checked, by Cynthia Kadohata

Checked is a robust and compelling story of Conor MacRae, a wise boy beyond his years, who lives with his dad, Keith, a cop, and his dog, Sinbad. After he turns 12, he graduates from the Peewee AA team to the legendary AAA team and experiences what it is like going from the best hockey player to the worst on the team. Conor's mom died many years ago, and when Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, the treatments are so costly that Conor cuts back on hockey time to help save money. Team practices and games are expensive, and Connor also has to cut back to his private coaching to lessen the financial strain on his father, who strives for a professional carer from his son. The money that is being saved by Connor and his father is going towards Sinbad's chemo that costs more than 7,000 dollars. The list of responsibilities that Conor manages is fantastic, and the more time he spends off the ice, the more he notices how tough life is. Conor suffers from a concussion and a dog functioning at less than 100 percent. He struggles with multiple real-world issues while sidelined from pursuing his dream of playing in the NHL. Conor is forced to deal with his feelings about his grandparents, who moved away after his mom died and want to be back in his life. By the end of the book, Connor has developed a greater understanding of those around him and leaps forward in the process of growing up.

I believe the book's most appealing aspect is how hard Conor MacRae works to take care of Sinbad. He washes cars and cleans nasty kitchens to get a pill for Sinbad that has a chance it won't cure his cancer. Not only does Connor work day and night trying to make money, but he also puts his favorite sport on hold. In the end, his hard work and perseverance help Sinbad stay in good health. Checked is a compelling story that provides examples of independence and perseverance. Cynthia Kadohata delivers a beautiful story that I would definitely recommend.

Review Written by Anya, 7th Grade