Zodiac by Romina Russell

Rho is a Cancerian, always will be. From the very start she’s loved her home and has a deep connection with it. But when her home planet is attacked by an unknown planet, everything changes. Rho is called in to be the new leader of Cancer after the old leader died from the attack. Without much experience, Rho must set on an expedition across the galaxy of zodiacs to find the one who’s responsible for the destruction of her own home. Her friend, Matias accompanies her, and along the way they meet Hysan wants to help them as well.

Zodiac is a Sci-fi, fantasy, romance, and adventure novel for readers age 12 to 17, though I’d personally say age 14 and older. It takes place in a futuristic solar system-like galaxy where each planet is representative of a zodiac and one personality trait. Other than the main space exposition plot, there is a love triangle as well. While many people like the book, one criticism I could give is that the author does not do enough to build each character’s personality. What I mean by this is that we are already given a single personality trait for each zodiac, and the author uses that trait to write each character from that house. We are told that Rho is nurturing because she is from Cancer, but it isn’t shown too well in the writing. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who like romance and sci-fi, but it personally wasn’t for me - though don’t let that stop you from reading the book if it sounds interesting.

Review written by Quincy, Grade 9

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Friends Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy spent their entire childhood at the English boarding school Hailsham. It was an intriguing place, filled with mysterious teachers, strange rules, and seemingly harmless discussion topics that were off-limits. Students were told that they were different from the other children outside of the fence, and for the most part, Hailsham was entirely normal. Yet a few of them sensed something off about the school, something the teachers were hiding from them. After leaving Hailsham and parting ways, the three, now young adults, reunite many years later. As the narrator, Kathy reflects on their past experiences, searching for their true purpose in life with the help of her loyal friends. 

 Though Never Let Me Go is classified as science fiction and lacks the common elements one usually sees in the genre, it still keeps that curious feeling lurking in the back of the reader’s mind. The novel is written almost in a stream of consciousness, with Kathy often getting distracted by other stories in the middle of narrating an anecdote, for example. Set in the past, present, and future, the book accurately captures her fluctuating feelings as she progresses from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. This eccentric tale is obscure and complex at times and may be difficult to initially comprehend, but it brings to light moral controversies that still afflict society today.

Review written by Eliana, Grade 11

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Behold the Dreamers, by Imbolo Mbue, is about a Cameroonian-American immigrant family, struggling through to achieve their official right to stay in the United States. The story takes place in the time of worldwide financial crisis in 2008-2009. A father of the family, Jende works as a chauffeur of a prosperous white man, working at the Lehman Brothers office in New York. He fights hard, including the help from the man to get his green card and guarantee a fulfilled life for his children in the United States. His wife, Neni, studies at a medical school to be a physician. She is also a mother of an elementary-school old son and a newborn girl (who’s born near the end of the story) and she endeavors balancing out her dream of becoming a physician and raising her children born in the United States.

Throughout the story, there are many dreadful and unexpected events raiding the family’s bond and trust. Each character is special and they all support the family. Each character, including the children. It was very interesting to explore the topics from the perspectives of an innocent child. The emotions and feelings each character had is very clear and is also dramatic, which enhances the mood of the ongoing plots. (For example, Jende, a hard working, diligent man, suddenly becomes outraged from the struggle. This shows how serious the challenges are to them, in a recognizable way) The plot is pretty understandable and fast-moving, so you would never get tired or bored reading this book. 

What I liked about this book is that unlike A Raisin in the Sun, a book that I reviewed earlier, this story takes place in modern day New York. Therefore, there are few to no plots with families being discriminated against. In the book it even says that Neni feels safe being in the United States. I really liked the plot in general along with the unpredictable ending. I 100% recommend this book and it is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.

Review written by Yuuto, Grade 9

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

“If you’re lost, you might need to swim against the tide.”

Counting By 7s is a realistic fiction novel by Holly Goldberg Sloan. It’s sad, funny, beautiful, and heartwarming, and it tugs on your heartstrings in all the right ways. The novel focuses on an extremely intelligent 12 year old girl named Willow Chance who has a love for gardening. She has two loving adoptive parents who have taken care of her since she was born, and they all care for each other very much. When she starts at the middle school, she aces a test using her own knowledge, which no one had ever done before. Because she finished so quickly and accurately, the principal falsely accuses her of cheating and puts her into counseling. There, she meets the lazy but caring counselor named Dell Duke, a friendly and persistent high schooler named Mai, and Mai’s troublemaking, artistic brother Quang-Ha. However, when tragedy strikes, Willow will find new family in unexpected ways, whether it be a new friend or even a kind taxi driver.

Overall, Counting by 7s was a fantastic read. The way it was written invokes all these different strong emotions, whether it’s frustration at the principal for an accusation of cheating or sympathy for what Willow has to go through. It might even make you cry! The characters are so well-written and fleshed out, and they each have their own unique personalities. By the end, you care about them each for a different reason. Another thing that stood out as I was reading was how I was glued to the pages. It’s one thing to simply read a book, it’s another to be glued. It’s just one of those books where it is so well-written that the story keeps you trapped and makes you want to find out what’s next.

If you like realistic fiction books like One for the Murphys or Out of My Mind, this is a great book for you to read. I’d recommend it for ages eleven to fourteen and up, but really, anyone from any age can read this novel.

Review written by Silas, Grade 8

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee

Skye Shin, a Korean American teen, has stunning talent as both a stylish dancer and a powerful singer. But because she’s not the same shape as the lean women on the runway, society has told her all her life that she shouldn’t call attention to herself. Even her own mother believes that our society has no place for fat girls to be stars. She has told Skye time and time again that she’s better off as a singer, she should try a new diet, she should exercise more, and many other passive-aggressive pieces of advice. Despite all the rules placed on her back, Skye auditions for a K-Pop reality show and disrupts the competition being the only plus-sized girl brave enough to compete. As she fights against the societal norms telling her she’s not enough while also competing in a K-Pop competition that has its own beauty standards, she uses her talent, hard work, and positivity, to continue to overcome. But will it be enough? 

Skye Shin has faced all that society has thrown at her, and now it’s her turn to celebrate her true self in author Lyla Lee’s charming rom-com about a plus-sized girl trying to make her way in the K-pop universe. 

This book is special because of the representation it delivers. As a Korean-American myself, I was excited to read a story about another Korean-American teen written by a female Korean-American author. Skye Shin, the main protagonist, is fat, an aspiring K-Pop Star, bisexual, and unapologetic about who she is. She is someone who has the audience rooting for her success and happiness from the very beginning. As a reader, you follow this book from Skye’s first person perspective, and it provides a fresh and new perspective into the K-Pop world. Although I’m not the biggest BTS or Blackpink stan, I still enjoyed this story because of the fun and quirky characters that stand alongside Skye and the journey that she goes on navigating her life. Overall, this novel is a light and modern read, that still contains depth and authenticity. 

For fans of young adult writers, like Julie Murphy (author of Dumplin’) and Jenny Han (author of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Lyla Lee’s debut novel is the perfect next read. I would recommend I’ll Be The One for ages 13-17, to inspire other young teens to stay true to themselves despite the rules placed on their backs by society.

Review written by Sydney, Grade 10

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

"Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever.” 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is about a woman named Nora Seed, exploring her “alternative lives” after committing a suicide in her original life. Each book in the library is filled with “other lives” she could have lived. All of the lives she could’ve lived starts in the “Book of Regrets”. There, every “regrets” she made or other path she didn’t pick are listed from the age of 0. Picking one brings her to a completely different life, after all. 

 Throughout the story, she learns what it means to live and die, and about her existence and its meanings. At first, she was desperate to die as soon as possible, but she realizes the importance of being alive and living a life that is irreplaceable. Most of the life she experienced wasn't as good, or even worse. But still, she had the courage to be in each one of those lives to learn distinctive lessons. 

I personally contemplated life and death a lot during the pandemic. I’ve spent hours of nights thinking about why I exist and the meaning of living a life, in general. Death has also become something really close to us this past year. Many people, including kids and teens might have experienced depression, lack of motivation, and hopelessness. I experienced a serious lack of motivation a few months ago, from not having any exciting events and not seeing people for so long. But this book has taught me and aided me to keep on moving forward and live your life and also to be proud about what I selected in my life choices. 

I really enjoyed reading through how once choice leads to a completely different life and personality of the person. All of the scenes are beautifully written and I really liked how the main characters were able to start thinking about life more valuable through her experience. This book was a great read and I recommend it to everyone, especially as we start to see a light in the dark, endless tunnel.

Review written by Yuuto, Grade 9

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

In Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray possesses everything one may wish for -beauty, purity, and goodness - untainted by the corruption that lurks in Victorian society. But when he gets his portrait painted by his friend Basil Hallward, he meets the enigmatic Lord Henry Wotton, who plants in his mind the idea that youth is fleeting yet most valued. Influenced by Lord Henry, Dorian wishes for the everlasting beauty that his portrait holds and that it be touched by time instead. His wish is granted, but he pays a terrible price for his newfound hedonism: the deterioration of his once-flawless portrait for every sin that he commits.

Beautifully written with flowery yet precise word choice, this haunting tale illustrates how the innocent, untried human mind can so easily be bent to one’s crooked will on false promises of pleasure. Figurative language is omnipresent in the novel, providing a unique and refreshing perspective on the internal conflicts that plague Dorian. Though this book was rather scandalous during the Victorian era, it allows one in modern times to self-reflect on the superficial qualities that were as attractive to Dorian as they are to us today. With the sophistication that is characteristic of Victorian literature and a touch of eeriness, The Picture of Dorian Gray will leave readers full of empty sorrow for the destruction of such a pure soul like Dorian Gray.

Review written by Eliana, Grade 11

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Bella Swan has finally finished her senior year of high school, and she is engaged to the love of her life, Edward Cullen, who happens to be a vampire. After their wedding, Edward whisks Bella away to Isle Esme, his family’s private island off the coast of Brazil. Two weeks into their honeymoon, Bella becomes very sick. After observing her symptoms, they discover that she is pregnant! Edward is extremely worried by this new information. Vampire and human DNA have never before come into contact, and there is no telling the ways in which this fetus will affect Bella. The newlyweds rush back to Washington in the hopes of finding more answers. 

Meanwhile, Jacob Black has finally shifted out of his werewolf form. Upon hearing that Bella is sick, he decides to view her condition for himself. Jacob is enraged when he sees the state that she is in. The fetus is sucking the life out of her, and she refuses to do anything that might harm it. When Bella finally goes into labor, the baby nearly kills her, and Edward has to inject vampire venom into her veins in order to save her life. After Bella rejoins her new family, another vampire outside of the Cullen Coven encounters the baby girl. Misunderstanding the circumstances, the vampire thinks that Bella has bitten a human child. As the rumor spreads, an army is recruited to exterminate the Cullens for this unspeakable crime. Bella and her family begin to recruit an army of their own in order to plead their case and clear up the miscommunication.

I absolutely loved Breaking Dawn. The story is incredibly fast-paced, and I was completely engaged the entire time. The electric connection between Edward and Bella is as enticing as ever. Seeing them get the happiness they deserve was wonderful. The story’s buildup and suspense was extreme, a wonderful ending to the Twilight Saga.

Breaking Dawn is a very long book, nearly 800 pages. The vocabulary itself is not challenging, however, this is the final installment in a very detailed saga and having read the first three stories is necessary.

I would recommend Breaking Dawn to fans of Romance, Drama, Sci-Fi, and Mystery for readers aged 11 and up.

Review written by Asha, Grade 9

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson follows a high school senior, Pippa, as she tries to solve a mystery that happened in her town years ago. Five years prior, a girl from Pippa’s school went missing and presumed dead. Her boyfriend, who was one of the suspects in the murder case, was found soon after overdosed on sleeping pills with a plastic bag over his head and her blood under his nails. The police deemed this enough proof that he was the murderer and closed the case. Something doesn’t add up to Pippa though and she is determined to prove the boy’s innocence since the family has become the town pariah and she knew the boy through a friend’s sister. As Pippa digs deeper, someone really doesn’t want her to keep going and starts sending anonymous threats. Will Pippa back down or will she solve this cold case?

I really loved this book and had so much fun trying to solve the murder with Pippa. This fast-paced novel is consistently enthralling and perfect if you need to get out of a reading slump or even if you’re just looking for a quick read. Fans of One of Us is Lying and The Inheritance Games will definitely love this book as the style of the book and complexity of the language and mysteries are all very similar, but different enough that it’s not like reading the same book multiple times. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has an extraordinarily well thought out plot along with genuine emotional connections and engrossing drama. Overall, I give this book a rating of 10/10 and recommend it to all readers 13 and up who enjoy mysteries. 

 Review written by Ada, Grade 10

The Sound of Freedom by Kathy Kacer

Anna is a Jewish girl growing up in the time of WWII and Hitler. Anna, her father, and her baba live in Poland, where rising tensions against Jews is rising. Jewish stores are being vandalized, people are being abused on the streets. Anna is shocked to find that police officers will stand by and enjoy the scene. Not even the comfort of music can calm her the more this goes on. As more and more Jews start to leave Poland, Anna finds herself wanting to leave the country too.

The Sound of Freedom is a children and teens book that teaches about sticking together as a family and defining what ‘home’ truly is. It is a short historical fiction novel that combines real world events with the life of a musician’s daughter. I enjoyed reading this book and I’d recommend it to people who like reading historical fiction.

Review written by Quincy, Grade 9

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

The Da Vinci Code is a mystery book about a murder that occurred in a museum. A symbologist named Robert Langdon and a cryptologist named Sophie Neveu follow clues, unravelling secrets after secrets while trying to solve the murder.

I love mystery books, and this one was no different. The Da Vinci Code was a really cool book to read. I liked how the author created clues throughout the story and linked them to specific objects or figures in history. (ex. Making up an object called the cryptex and saying Da Vinci designed it) This made the book more interesting, and I found myself more hooked, especially when everything connects together at the end. I also liked how there were a lot of plot twists throughout the story. This made it a real page-turner and I could hardly put it down. I would recommend this book to any mystery lovers out there.

Review written by Victoria, Grade 9

Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Katie is a Japanese-American who often faces racism. But for Katie, it doesn’t matter too much since she has her older sister, Lynn, to play and talk to. However, Lynn falls ill one day and it begins to tear apart her family. Katie must learn how to take care of her sister and the world around her. She never realized how much her family relied on Lynn until she was gone. 

Kira Kira is a historical fiction book made for children 10+. It is written from the perspective of Katie, which is well shown. She is 5-12 years old from the beginning of the book to the end and the author did a good job of showing how her thought process and ideas change. There are a few points where swear words are referenced, so if you are sensitive to that, beware of that in this book. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it.

Review written by Quincy, Grade 9

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass, a book by Philip Pullman is the first book of the His Dark Materials series. The main character, Lyra Belacqua joins the expedition to the north in search of the secrets of the “Dust” and the alethiometer, a tool used to tell the truth. The story takes place in the parallel world, where every human exists with a daemon, which shows the person’s external expression. The name of the city and places she visits are just like the one in the actual world. The story begins with Lyra saving Lord Asriel from the poison at Jordan College at Oxford. There, she grabs information about the “Dust” and gets the alethiometer. She later goes to Mrs. Coulter, who claims to be Lyra’s “mother”. Lyra suspects that she is trying to steal her alethiometer, so she runs away and joins the expedition to the north. 

As I read this book, I had a slightly harder time understanding each detail of the plot and settings, but it was for sure interesting. It made me want to read again to discover something new. This book is fantasy, but it is also based on religion. It was curious about how they used one of the most sensitive topics to the plot to add some spice to the story. Overall, I think the story is fine. I would definitely like to watch the movie version of this, as the scenery of this book is beautiful and fascinating. I recommend giving this one a try for a nice fantasy story.

Review written by Yuuto, Grade 9

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

King of Scars is a book about a young king named Nikolai Lantsov, who is struggling to conceal a dark secret: he has an uncontrollable ability to turn into a winged monster every night. While trying to find a cure for his condition, he continues to work to revive Ravka, his country that is still recovering after almost being torn apart from a civil war. I found King of Scars to be a great read. 

There was a nice combination of elements I enjoy in most books: fantasy, action, and humor. The main character Nikolai’s personality had a nice balance between humor and seriousness. As a king, he has his moments of arrogance, saying things like “I excel at most things”, and “The public may forget how handsome I am”. But he also shows responsibility and maturity as a leader, bringing Ravka to victory in the recent civil war and being referred to as a war hero by his citizens. 

Another character, Zoya Nazyalensky, is second-in-command to Nikolai. Her personality is described as serious and cold, someone who could “pulp your heart and drink it”. Although her and Nikolai are near polar opposites, the author did a great job of writing their relationship. They have a really nice chemistry, with lots of playful banter and snarky comments. One excerpt of their dialogue is: “’I like to keep you on your toes, Nazyalensky. Constant anxiety does wonders for the complexion.’ ‘I’ll send you a thank-you card’. ‘Make sure of it. You’re positively glowing.’” 

The last main character is Nina Zenik, a soldier under Nikolai’s army. Nina is a very flashy and bold character, and as Zoya describes her: “She doesn’t have a single subtle bone in her body. Asking Nina not to draw attention is like asking water no to run downhill.” She is also very loyal to the king, and although has a hard time with undercover missions, tries her best to succeed. (“The king had taken a chance on Nina, and she would not squander the opportunity. She would not jeopardize the mission.”) 

One thing that felt a little off with this book was how well everything connected together. Nina’s part of the story is set in a different setting as Nikolai’s and Zoya’s, so whenever the story switches point of views to and from Nina’s, the change feels very abrupt. It feels like I’m reading two separate stories in one book, because Nina’s story never joins back to Nikolai’s and Zoya’s.

Review written by Victoria, Grade 9

The Fever King by Victoria Lee

The Fever King by Victoria Lee is a science fiction book where we follow Noam Álvaro, a survivor of a magic virus outbreak. This magic virus would kill his entire family, but his survival would give him the ability of being a technopath, the ability to manipulate technology around him. He is forced into the magical elite of Carolina by the minister of defense, where he meets the minister’s son, and learns the secrets and corruptions of the government. 

I loved The Fever King by Victoria Lee. The book is set in a futuristic dystopian society where a magical virus sweeps through states killing almost everybody, rarely leaving people to live. The main character, Noam, struggles to decide who to trust and who not to trust after developing magical powers and being put in a whole different world to what he was used to. It was a thrilling story to read and always kept me on my toes. Victoria Lee is incredibly talented with creating and demonstrating many different magical abilities. 

Review written by Evi, Grade 10

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

A Raisin in the Sun, a play by Lorraine Hansberry illustrates the life of an African American family living in Chicago. Each of the family members hold a dream, that is unique and different in it’s own ways, but it roots to the simple fact - to live a better life. One day, they have gotten a chance to fulfill that dream. It was the insurance check of $10,000 from the death of a grandfather in the family. Will they be able to fulfill their dream? 

The story takes place in a time where ethnic minorities were discriminated against by society. The story is also based on Hansberry’s childhood’s experience. The title is taken from Langston Hughes’ poem, Dream Deferred from Harlem. Both Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry were writers and authors that represented the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural flourish within the African Americans living in the United States. The story is also based on Hansberry’s childhood’s experience. 

The theme of this play isn't just racism. They also include social status problems, economic disparity, feminism, sexual prejudice, and more. But all of these we still deal with. This play conveys so many important messages that we should understand and acknowledge today. 

 I really enjoyed the play as the ending was pretty unpredictable for some characters. I liked how each character had a story behind it which has allowed me to dive in deeper to the setting of the story. I would like to recommend this book to everyone, since it conveys a strong message to people of all ages and races. Younger kids might want to look at the movie version of this, since the book contains complex vocabularies and plots.

Review written by Yuuto, Grade 9

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is one of the best historical fiction/espionage novels I have ever read. The book follows two women in different times of war: Eve, a spy under the code name Alice during the first world war, and an American girl who, just following World War II, gets sent to Europe for an abortion after she became pregnant outside of wedlock. Charlie, the American girl, has her own purpose for Europe though. Her cousin went missing during the war and Charlie is intent on finding her. When Charlie finds Eve on her quest, Eve has to work through her trauma, a task that, while not easy, may give them answers they didn’t even know they were looking for.

This novel seriously blew my mind with how well it covered so many women’s issues so subtly while having one of the best plots and layout of any historical fiction book I’ve read. I was constantly enthralled in the story and cried multiple times because of the intense way the author gets you to connect with the characters. While this novel does get dark at times, especially when Eve recounts her time as a spy, the book has many instances where you’re cheering the characters on. That said, because of the mature themes in the book, I wouldn’t recommend it for those under 15, as it is definitely an adult novel. One of my favorite parts of this book is the personal journey that Charlie makes. In the adventure Europe takes them on, Charlie develops so much as a person and learns how to separate herself from her family and upbringing. Overall, I highly recommend reading this if you are a fan of espionage or historical fiction, you will not regret it.

Review written by Ada, Grade 10

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X is a book made entirely of poems. It’s about a young girl named Xiomara Batista who feels lost, alone, and unheard in her life. Using slam poetry, she works to understand the world and find her identity.

Although I personally don’t enjoy poetry, The Poet X was a great read. I liked how the author wrote the story in poems rather than a more traditional format. Being a slam poet herself, I feel like Acevedo was able to portray Xiomara’s emotions more deeply through this format. I also liked how the story reached out to many young readers who have similar thoughts and conflicts as Xiomara. Feeling alone and unheard, even around people who are supposed to be supporting you in your life can feel awful, and I’m glad that this book was able to portray that. I would recommend this novel to anyone who needs a boost of confidence or reassurance in their lives.

Review written by Victoria, Grade 9

Parasite directed by Bong Joon-ho

Parasite is a film about a poor family of four, a son, a daughter, and a mother and father. They work as pizza box folders and struggle to make enough money. One day they are given a scholar’s rock by a friend of the son. This friend suggests the son, Ki-woo, to tutor the daughter of the Park family by pretending to be a university student. The Park family is extremely wealthy and hires Ki-woo. Ki-woo then makes a place for his entire family to work in the Park family house. They all successfully find themselves working for the Park family, but it suddenly all changes. 

Parasite was an incredible movie with beautiful cinematic shots and held an interesting message about the relationship between the wealthy and poor in our society. I loved Parasite as it provided a great amount of shock-factor to the table. Parasite is one of my favorite movies because of its well created story and its execution.

Rated R 

Review written by Evi, Grade 10

A Step from Heaven by An Na

A Step from Heaven is a book about a young girl named Young Ju, who moved to America from Korea at a young age. The book narrates her struggles to adapting to the new lifestyle.

As a Korean-American, I was looking forward to reading this book. One thing I really enjoyed was how the author added many parts of Korean culture into the story, despite it being set in America. I also liked how a lot of the struggles Young Ju had experienced in the story were relatable and understandable. This made the book seem more realistic, even though it is fiction. 

One thing I didn’t like was how some Korean terms were incorrectly used (ex. “noona” should have been used instead of “uhn-nee). I felt disappointed that the author didn’t do enough research of basic terminology to write their story. Other than that, the story was very nice. It was really intriguing and realistic. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a more serious and thoughtful read.

Review written by Victoria, Grade 9

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Seattle is under attack. A group of mass murders are decimating the city. What seems like a horrible crime to most appears to be something more supernatural to the nearby town of Forks. The Cullen family begins to investigate these killings, wondering if the cause might be one of their fellow vampires. Bella Swan is much opposed to this, as she just recently reunited with Edward Cullen. Losing him again is not an option for her. Upon Edward’s return, his relationship with Bella grew a bit more complicated. Jacob Black is now a very large part of her life, and neither he nor Edward feels like sharing their time with the other. Unfortunately, the Seattle killings may force them to unite. In the midst of danger, Bella must decide whether to remain friends with Jacob, or become a vampire and spend eternity with Edward.

The Edward vs. Jacob conflict in Eclipse is wonderfully excruciating. It is impossible to picture Bella living without either of them. Jacob is a ray of sunshine, and he was always there when Bella needed it most. However, Edward is the love of Bella’s life. I can’t imagine choosing between my closest friend and the desire to become a vampire. This story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The reading level is not difficult, but understanding the first two books is very necessary. I would recommend Eclipse to fans of Romance, Sci-Fi, and Drama for readers age 12 and up.

Review written by Asha, Grade 9

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

In New Moon, we revisit Bella Swan and her relationship with the Cullen family. After saving her from countless hazardous situations, Edward Cullen decides that the only way to keep Bella safe is for his family to leave the town of Forks. Deeply crestfallen by the vampires’ departure, Bella begins spending time with Jacob Black, a werewolf! Although they become great friends, Jacob’s life is unpredictable and he distances himself from Bella. In an attempt to distract herself from the added sorrow, Bella decides to try her hand at cliff-diving. Taking her actions out of context, the Cullens believe she has passed away. Heartbroken, Edward runs to Italy to confront the Volturi, the most powerful group of vampires in existence. He hopes that he can prompt them to end him. Still alive, Bella has to make it to Italy in time to clear up the situation and save Edward. New Moon is an incredibly detailed book. Reading Twilight is a must if you are to understand it.

I really enjoyed the deep dive New Moon took into the vampire universe. The history of the Cullens and other vampires around the world was fascinating. An entire novel could be written on that topic alone. The introduction of Jacob Black was remarkable, and he quickly became one of my favorite characters. His development provided newfound uncertainty and anticipation. I felt as though I couldn’t get through the story fast enough. New Moon was a very fun read. 

 This book is slightly more complex than the first Twilight novel. There are more mature themes regarding mental health and death. 

 Review written by Asha, Grade 9

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

 The Grace Year by Kim Liggett is about a girl named Tierney who’s about to embark upon her grace year. In her society, it is believed that girls receive magic in their sixteenth year, and therefore all sixteen-year-old girls must spend a year together in the woods to burn through all of their magic. Tierney has spent much of her life trying to discover as much as she can about the grace year but to talk about it is forbidden. All she knows is that many of the girls don’t make it back alive and even the girls that do are never the same. Tierney has been told that the Poachers in the woods and the magic growing inside them all is what will kill them during this year, but soon realizes that maybe the girls she’s supposed to be working together with are the greatest threat of them all. Will Tierney make it back or will the other grace year girls decide she isn’t worth it.

This novel had a great premise and although the storytelling got a little patchy at times, the feeling of living in the story never swayed. The general idea of this novel is a Handmaid’s Tale-like society with a Hunger Games ideal where instead they send you off to Lord of the Flies. There’s also a subplot very reminiscent of Delirium. Liggett did a great job seamlessly blending all of these ideas together so instead of creating chaos, the story gives the reader a more reminiscent feeling of all of its influences that have long finished their story arcs. One thing I really loved about this book was how well the character of Tierney was written. She has a determination to make things fairer and can see what’s wrong with her society, even though it’s all she’s ever known. Plenty of great female characters and positive bonds between them makes this a decent feminist read while still staying in the dystopian genre. Overall, I’m very glad I picked up The Grace Year, and while it might not be one of the top books of the decade, it’s still most definitely a worthy read.

Review written by Ada, Grade 10

Out of Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Out of Easy, a book by Ruta Sepetys is about a teenage girl, Josie Moraine, in the 1950s French Quarter of New Orleans trying to escape the struggles that she has with her family and seeking a dream in attending a college outside of New Orleans. She works at a bookstore and lives there occasionally to get money for applying to college. Though she plans for an escape, a mysterious death involving a man, which seems to be her “real” father, keeps her from going out.

This book is mainly filled with secrets and mystery, but friendship also takes part in it as well. Every person seemed to support Josie in a way that encouraged her to keep on challenging. I liked how each character had their own relationship with Josie, which made the story more deep and interesting. I also liked imagining how New Orleans in the 1950s looked like. The story features different parts of the town, from the downtown to the gorgeous residential area, of course, including Josie’s bookstore. 

I would totally recommend this book if you like stories taking place in a classical setting, involving friendship, but also a twist of secrets and mysteries.

Review written by Yuuto, Grade 9

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams

In an America where light skin is the beauty standard, Genesis finds it hard to feel pretty as an African American. When her family moves once again to a new home, Genesis is forced to adapt and find her way around a new school. She finds comfort in listening to artists such as Billy Holiday and uses music as a way to cope.

This book is about finding self-love, mending family bonds, the power of music, and finding beauty within yourself.

Review by Quincy, Grade 9

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Sixteen year-old Isabella Swan moves back to Forks, Washington to finish out high school living with her father. Bella arrives expecting the wet, gloomy town to be incredibly dull and monotonous, but her life soon takes a thrilling turn. On her first day at Forks High School, Bella comes face to face with the mysterious Edward Cullen. He is distant and cold, and seems to have an unwarranted hatred for her. Edward’s eyes change colors, he is extremely strong and fast, and he avoids the sun at all costs. Intrigued by his suspicious behavior, Bella begins to look into Edward and his family’s history. She is astounded by what she finds.

I greatly enjoyed reading Twilight. The story is full of suspense and mystery that leaves you constantly on the edge of your seat. Bella’s quick wit and dry humor make her a wonderful protagonist, and Edward’s cool composure and mystifying personality compliment her perfectly. Their transition from aversion to affection is charming. The unpredictability of the story made it impossible to put down, and it left me very eager to read the rest of the series.

The language is very straightforward and accessible. However, the story is very detailed, and the book is nearly 500 pages.

I would recommend Twilight to fans of mystery, romance, and science-fiction who are 12 years and older. 

Review written by Asha, Grade 9

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a young adult fantasy novel about a girl named Celaena Sardothien. Celaena is imprisoned for her crimes as an assassin and gets withdrawn from the labor camp she’s doing time in by the crown prince to compete to be the king’s Champion. The position of Champion is a heavily sought-after position for criminals of all sorts to do the king’s dirty work in exchange for relative freedom. Celaena is determined to win but dark forces are working against her. As other competitors are brutally killed off in mysterious circumstances, she fears for her life. Can she stop the killings and become the Champion or will she be thrown back to the unforgiving work of the salt mines or maybe even worse, meet an untimely end herself?

This book opened up a whole new world for me. Although I don’t normally love fantasy, the world-building and complex character backstories pulled me in. This is one of those books that is so extraordinarily well thought out that you feel like you’re actually living with the characters and you forget that you’re reading. Maas does a wonderful job of writing the story in such a way that you find yourself trying to solve the little mysteries along with the characters while also being constantly surprised with the twists and turns and the ever-increasing magic in the world. Another thing I loved about this book was how well gender equality is written. Although the world isn’t a place of gender equity, this book surpasses the Bechdel test and has really great role models. While female characters in most books are either strong and heroic or fashionable and cute, Celaena is a morally rough character who kills - a lot - but also does it wearing the newest fashion. Her confidence in herself and her ability to stand up to people who underestimate her is admirable and makes for some hilarious scenes where we get to see the extent of her sass. Overall, if you’re looking for a new fantasy world, especially if you’re tired of the common sexist tropes in the genre, this is a great novel for mid to late teens. 

Review written by Ada, Grade 10