Available in e-book and audio formats through Libby/Overdrive.
 

Kendra Kodira's Review of:
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

HarperCollins. 2017. Science Fiction/Romance
(Listened to in audiobook format.)

What would you do if you found out that you were going to die today? Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio get an alert from DeathCast, a service that lets people know that sometime that day they will inevitably die. When Mateo, an anxious hermit, meets Rufus, a headstrong risk-taker, a love grows between the two and each of them is left forever changed by their day's adventures. Through the absorbing journey of their last day alive, they learn lessons on mortality, grief, and acceptance.

Despite They Both Die at the End’s title giving away the novel’s ending, the story of the two boys is captivating and a fairly quick read because of the unique, relatable characters showcased. Unfortunately, the switching between the perspectives of Mateo, Rufus, and few other side characters can be confusing at times, but the utter depth and personal growth the characters display outshines any structural issues within the book. The vivid description of characters, the world around them, and the struggles they face offer heartfelt authenticity that makes the story all the more heartbreaking. 

Fans of What if it’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera will love They Both Die at the End as they both possess similar plots revolving around fate, intriguing protagonists, and further LGBT+ representation while being co-written by the same author. They Both Die at the End will appeal greatly to those who’ve enjoyed Nicola Yoon’s romance novel The Sun is Also a Star which follows a parallel story of two drastically different characters who fall in love despite the little time they have left together.

Available in e-book and audio formats through Libby/Overdrive.


THRILLERS & HORROR:

Alex Troubh's Review of:
The River at Night by Erica Ferencik

Gallery/Scout Press. 2017. Adventure/Horror/Psychological Thriller.

Win has a hard and lonely life. She is not married, her brother committed suicide, and her friends think she is scared of everything. However, when her wildest friend Pia decides to book a whitewater rafting trip in Northern Maine, Win decides to suck it up and go. Throughout the journey Win feels doubtful about going on this trip. Soon it is too late, as nature takes over and proves to be just as psycho (unpredictable) as the people that live in the area.

After reading this book, I would most likely categorize it as a horror novel. However, it also incorporates adventure and decision making. The author, Erica Ferencik makes your head spin with all the action in this book.

For anyone interested in a horror and adventure novel, The River at Night will not disappoint. Fans of Hatchet and the movie The Cabin in the Woods will find this book hard to put down. I am sure you will love this book!  

 

Alex Troubh's Review of:
Pet Semetary by Stephen King

Doubleday. 1983. Horror.

Louis Creed, a father of two and a rising doctor, wants more space for his family. Louis is given a job opportunity in Maine that promises money, but also the space that he and his family need. However, when a tragic accident happens, Louis starts to question the little pet sematary close to his house. His dreams take over, and he soon finds out the true meaning of the sematary: reincarnation. He wants to stay as far away as possible from the sematary, but when his son dies he cannot help but to imagine bringing him back.

There is no doubt that Pet Sematary is a horror novel. However, it also incorporates a tough issue and decision making. Louis has the option to bring his son back to life through the Pet Sematary, but with the consequence of him being evil. 

For anyone interested in a horror novel, Pet Sematary will not let you down. Fans of The Shining and the movie IT will find a similar mix of horror and terror. I am sure you will love this book!




CLASSICS:
 

Kendra Kodira's Review of:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

HarperCollins. 1988. Philosophical Fiction/Fable.

Santiago, a young shepherd, is deeply moved by a recurring dream that tells him to seek treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. Following omens, he voyages in search of his treasure, encountering obstacles that test his will to fulfill his dreams such as fear, love, and self-doubt. On Santiago’s journey, he meets many acquaintances, including The Alchemist, a cryptic, wise mentor to Santiago who teaches him unforgettable lessons about his soul and connecting with the world around him. 

Paulo Coelho’s incorporation of complex metaphors and thematic experiences elevate the fairly simple plot of his novel. Although a bit of a slow reading experience, The Alchemist explores the human spirit in an elegant, remarkable manner. Through the unique, at times perplexing, perspective of Santiago, readers will be inspired and newly understand the paramount significance of following one’s dreams and heart. 

Readers will love The Alchemist if they’ve read Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi as it also shares great philosophical depth and a resilient, cunning main character. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Eupéry displays an emphasis on spirituality, relationships, and the complexity of life that any fan will enjoy seeing just as much in The Alchemist. 

Available in e-book and audio formats through Libby/Overdrive.


Alex Yang's Review of:
Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Faber & Faber. 1954. Allegorical Fiction.
Read in E-book format.

The novel follows a group of British schoolboys who have crash landed on an uninhabited island in a relocation effort from the ongoing war in Europe. Adultless yet not helpless, the adventurous overtones of their primitive societal constructions are gradually overturned via the waves and prods of human vice. Among the slew of displaced youth are Ralph, ‘Piggy,’ Jack and Simon, who - while initially well-intentioned in leading the effort to establish a semblance of order - are befallen repeatedly for their innocence by the illusion of savagery to all-in-all centralize a bleak reduction of human nature and raise the bouts of reason versus impulse, moral versus immoral. 

The book does a superb job at lassoing the reader into its protagonists’ positions, maybe per the injection of anecdotes to create sympathetic backstories or perhaps the sensuous treatment of unity and conflict—the themes which govern our own lives. To contrast this, the reader is given the benefit as an omniscient observer to view the island holistically, see the follies of a character’s choices, and to perhaps judge or lend favor to one party versus the other. Moreover, the emergence of two ideological sides builds the notion of a savage plague off a flat premise; the characters contributing dimension to a metaphysical, archetypal tale which feels overall fluid and motivated.

Symbolism sewn and maintained in the core of the characters juxtaposed alongside their surface rivalries are subliminal yet unavoidable. The physical storyline is otherwise linear and enjoyable on its own, and the children being children have easy-to-follow gripes and desires that are conveyed outright or tacitly; this, coupled with the boding allegory adds a sense of completeness to the novel. Like a frame tale, or kaleidoscope of individual personalities, the story recounts the progression of makeshift society from character to character. While the descriptions are beautiful and scrupulously thorough, a small fraction of the European and dated rhetoric might impede understanding on a minute scale and interrupt flow, especially in scenes where the author rather narrates on metaphor and runaround descriptions rather than a candid truth. 

For a less spirited, more bleak narrative, fans of The Maze Runner should consider this book for their almost eerie resemblance in plot and character interactions. 




FANTASY:
 

 

SERIES UPDATE BELOW (MAY CONTAIN MILD SPOILERS):

Angel Liang's Review of:
The Wicked King by Holly Black
Little, Brown, & Co. 2019. Fantasy.

The Wicked King by Holly Black, is the 2nd book of her "Folk of Air" trilogy. In this continuation of The Cruel Prince, Jude has now found herself at an even deeper crossroads. Except each and every road has its thorns, and there is now a thorn digging deeper into her side as she chooses. When Cardan became king, Jude knew that it would be difficult to keep him on the throne. However, with each passing day, it seems like there are more and more schemes against the High King. Queen Orlagh of the Sea is now declaring war with Jude as her prisoner, and that’s not even the worst of it. Beneath her schemes there is a spy who is close to Jude, intent on tearing her down, brick by brick. 

I’m a huge fan of Holly Black so I’m definitely biased, but I think I have discovered a new favorite writer. The way Black crafts this fantasy world is incredible; it feels like you are discovering something new every page turn, but you are not a step behind. Granted, sometimes it does feel a little chaotic with the emergence of random servant characters, but the plot is always at the core of the book. I especially love this book because of the build-up and I am so excited for the last book. The plot twists are strong in this one, and I just know that the 3rd book will be a good ending. Like the last review, if you are a fantasy reader, I strongly recommend you read this. If you’re a romance reader like I am, I also recommend this! It isn’t too romantic, but the themes are there, and I’m sure you will enjoy the thrill of the plot. Kings, queens, all of that medieval goodness along with the sugar of fantasy wrapped up in a neat package is the analogy for "Folk of Air." 

This series is available in e-book and audio formats through Libby/Overdrive.

 

Angel Liang's Review of:
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Little, Brown, & Co. 2015. Fantasy.

Set in the same faerie universe as the "Folk Of Air" trilogy, this time the knight of the story is not Jude, but another mortal girl, although she is almost as accustomed to faerie as our other main character. In The Darkest Part of the Forest, Hazel has always been surrounded by magic and faeries. Growing up in Fairfold, it was a local thing to keep grave dirt in your pockets and turn your socks inside out. When there were disappearances and strange deaths, the local townspeople of Fairfold knew it was the fey preying on naive tourists. There’s another strange thing about Fairfold. In the middle of the forest lies a casket, not made of glass or metal, but unbreakable. In the casket lies a boy with horns, the "horned boy" as the locals called him. No one knew who he was, only that he was not mortal. 

Hazel has always grown up surrounded by magic, but what happens when she finds herself not knee deep, but drowning in it? With the horned boy free and a strange monster attacking the locals, will Hazel once again be able to save Fairfold? As Hazel stumbles through riddles and muddled memories, she starts to uncover more truths about herself, most of which were better off forgotten.

I read this book as a continuation of "Folk Of Air," and loved it! It’s more of a short story compared to the trilogy but I still believe that the plot was well developed and had good rising action. I also love how the author included LGBTQ+ representation as a romantic pairing! It’s amazing to see how inclusive Holly Black is with her romance. I’m also very impressed at the amount of lore Black has included in The Darkest Part of the Forest, along with the riddles! Once again I have been supremely fed top-tier content by Black, I can’t wait to read more of her books. 

Available in e-book and audio formats through Libby/Overdrive.



 

Michael Wang's Review of:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

Scholastic. 2005. Fantasy. Hardcover.

It’s Harry Potter’s sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In this chilling and shocking addition to the series, Harry’s life becomes a lot more complicated. He is taking on the responsibility of the Quidditch Captain of the Gryffindor team, while spying on the ever-so mysterious Draco Malfoy, and with the help of Professor Dumbledore, he dives into the depths of Voldemort’s past. Meanwhile, Voldemort and his Death Eaters wreak havoc across the country, seeking destruction everywhere. And who is the mysterious Half-Blood Prince whose writings in the old Potions textbook guide Harry into success - and yet lead him into deep trouble? Finally, the story comes to a shocking closure that leaves readers dumbfounded (at least it did for me).

The Half-Blood Prince is my favorite book in the Harry Potter series because it balances mystery, action, and a rich plot without ever making it boring. There is also the typical drama you see in teenagers that makes the story entertaining. Even though romance is not what J.K. Rowling really intended the focus to be, it adds to the plot in an interesting way. Snape becomes increasingly fascinating, and Professor Dumbledore is the star of the show. I highly recommend this book to all readers because it’s not just about magic, but has depth and a great story line. 4.5/5 Stars

Available in e-book and audio formats through Libby/Overdrive.


   

Jacob Bleecker's Review of:
Proud by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Hachette. 2018. Autobiography.

As part of Sharon's high school summer reading, students must pick a memoir to read for their English class. I would recommend the book I chose, Proud, which is an autobiography written by Ibtihaj Muhammad about her journey to become an Olympic fencer and an inspiration for Muslim women across the world. Throughout the story, Ibtihaj discusses her childhood because, as a Muslim, she always stuck out amongst her peers. Furthermore, she connects her upbringing with our modern world, making it evident that readers must understand how difficult it is to seem different, and how important it is to love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin.

Many times, Ibtihaj questions her commitment to fencing, finding herself completely lost in her college years and early 20s. However, her fencing coupled with her faith lead her down the right path, but is it enough to become the first Muslim woman to wear a hijab to compete in the Olympics? Read Proud to find out.

Available in e-book and audio formats through Libby/Overdrive.


 

 

Kendra Kodira's Review of:
Educated by Tara Westover

Penguin Random House. 2018. Autobiography.

Tara Westover wanders into her first classroom at age seventeen with no formal education and tremendous self-guilt weighing her down. Raised by strict Mormon survivalists, Tara was brought up to believe education was a government ploy and a women’s purpose was to be a conservative mother. After exploring the world, Tara’s perception is forever changed, but on her journey of self-invention, she struggles when forced to decide between her family and her growing education. 

Educated is a gripping tale with its compelling, shocking plot full of determination, grief, and new beginnings. Although the conflicts in Tara’s life are not relatable to all readers, through her effort to find herself younger readers will feel deeply connected to her. The detailed account of her past experiences and trauma shines a tragic, somber light on the childhood of the Westover children that will make any reader outraged. A sense of gratification and eye-opening consideration for others will be evoked from the overarching theme that many things, including education, are a genuine privilege to some. 

Readers will appreciate Educated if they’ve read Delia Owens’ novel Where the Crawdads Sing, a similar story of a resilient girl as she grows and manages to survive her intense, violent childhood. The movie Room, directed by Leonard Abrahamson, depicts a horrifying living situation and a difficult, hopeful journey full of heartbreaking struggles; these situations are also all mirrored in Educated for fans of the film.


Available in e-book and audio formats through Libby/Overdrive.
 

   

Angel Liang's Review of:
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Metropolitan Books. 2014. Nonfiction.
 

This book compiles the many aspects of the human’s lifespan, including mortality and death, into an overarching question: what do we want to be when we are frail and on the edge of death? Gawande explores the many “solutions” for the nation’s elderly with curiosity about whether the inhabitants of these institutions are truly happy with their lifestyles. Topics included in this book are hospice, assisted living, and retirement homes, all told in a captivating biography form. By including life stories and real-people instances, Gawande makes the book seem more like storytelling, more interesting, and more insightful. The reader is able to connect with these people being interviewed, and gain more insight on the context of the book. 

 

This book makes me think about the struggles of the frail, both mentally and physically. It makes me wonder about how my lifestyle will change when I can no longer take care of myself. Will I be content with my life? Overall, a very insightful and interesting book, indeed. It taught me about something I had never paid attention to in a relatable and insightful fashion. Anyone looking for an eye-opener will be thoroughly intrigued. This is a new type of nonfiction - it isn’t boring. It’s storytelling. 

Jacob Bleecker's Review of:
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team
by Steve Sheinkin
Roaring Brook Press. 2017. Nonfiction.

Football may be your favorite sport, but it’s unlikely that you know the deep history rooted in the game. Starting his nonfiction book Undefeated in the late 1800s, author Steve Sheinkin highlights the first great player-coach duo in football history: Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner. Together, the two led the Carlisle Indian Industrial School through the school’s football hurdles. When they began the game, football was even more physical than today (helmets were just caps, padding was non-existent, every play was a run, and players died on the field at times). Football was dying off, but with a new rule book and the exciting Carlisle team taking the center stage of college football, the game was revived.

Thorpe, Warner and the team broke records in football, Thorpe won medals at the Olympics, and the Indians strived to earn respect. However, to fully understand Thorpe’s and Warner’s greatness, you will have to read Undefeated.

 

MOVIE REVIEWS:

Danielle Gao's Review of:
My Spy (PG-13) 
Comedy/Action
Amazon Original. 2020.
Run time: 99 minutes
JJ (Dave Bautista) is an ex-soldier working for the CIA who is tasked with surveilling a 9-year old Sophie and her mother. After Sophie easily discovers JJ and his partner, she blackmails him into accompanying her to an open house, or a “Parents and Special Friends Day.” Without JJ knowing it, this sets off a series of events that brings him closer to his target’s family and into a precarious position.

The movie mainly focuses on JJ gradually forming a bond with his target and being forced to open up like a normal civilian again, but it also has an overarching story with the usual villain-after-the-nuclear-codes trope. In fact, I did like how My Spy melded the two genres seamlessly. One scene would make me laugh at how JJ once again gets himself into an awkward situation, and the next would have me on the edge of my seat while the protagonists scrambled for the USB stick loaded with secret files. It’s only a little out-dated, as there were a few questionable scenes involving several adults doing viral dance moves all of a sudden like a flash-mob. But I loved how each loose end was wrapped up in the finale where it calls back to specific moments planted earlier in the movie. 

Overall, it’s a hilarious comedy/action movie that’s worth a watch if you liked other goofy spy movies like Johnny English or Charlie’s Angels.

Angel Liang's Review of:
Howl's Moving Castle (PG)
Anime/Fantasy
Studio Ghibli. 2005.
Run time: 2 hours

Just a normal, human girl living an every-day life. That was the story of Sophie. Running her parents’ shop by herself, a quaint hat shop, everyday to fulfill their dreams, but never able to live her own life. That is, until she meets the wizard, Howl. Sophie first meets Howl in a harmless encounter, but after being cursed by the Witch of the Waste, Sophie realizes that she needs his help to break the curse. As an old grandma, cursed to be the age that her mind is, Sophie works as a cleaning lady in Howl’s moving castle, but their relationship soon becomes much more than that. As war starts to brew between countries, and wizards and witches are being called to fight, what can Sophie do to help the love of her life?

 

Okay, a disclaimer out there: yes, this is a romance, but it is a Studio Ghibli romance, which means that even if you aren’t a fan of romance, you will absolutely adore this story. I love the fantasy elements, and, of course, the art is beautiful. This movie is based on a book, so without researching some things online, it was hard to understand, but the romance and art made up for that. The character development and profiles are incredible in this movie. It makes you fall in love with them over and over again. My two favorite characters are Markl and Calcifer; I would definitely recommend it and watch it again. 

 

A Ghibli fan? You’ve probably already heard of this one. But anyone, who’s into fantasy, romances, animation...come and join us in Howl’s Moving Castle.

Angel Liang's Review of:
Kiki's Delivery Service (G)
Anime/Fantasy
Studio Ghibli. 1989.
Run time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

A heartwarming coming-of-age story about a young witch, Kiki. As a Studio Ghibli film, the art, as always, is beautiful and the story is beautiful. It’s one of Ghibli’s shorter films, but that doesn’t mean that the ending is cut off or rushed! If you are a Ghibli fan, you’ve most likely already heard this name floating around, and it is a must-see Ghibli classic. 

As a teen watching this, it reminds me a lot about the idea of “burn-out,” especially academic burnout. I loved the art and cute characters, but it’s not one of the most interesting storylines. It’s like “Whisper of the Heart” in the slice-of-life style, but I still really enjoyed the fantasy setting every Ghibli film has.

Jacob Bleecker's Review of:
Playing With Fire (PG) 
Family/Comedy
Paramount Pictures. 2019.
Run time: 1 hour, 36 minutes
In this comedy and action filled movie, John Cena and Keegan Michael-Key star as smokejumpers, also known as firefighters from the sky. One day, Cena, who plays Jake Carson, saves a trio of little kids stuck in a burning fire. Focused on his job and reaching a promotion, Jake Carson rarely lets his guard down and rarely loses focus on being a great smokejumper. However, when the kids must stay overnight at the fire station, Carson must accept them into his fire fighting family. Soon, he learns that they are orphans without a real family of their own. Carson is tasked with the decision to follow his career passions or adopt the children and begin a real family. This family friendly movie is a great watch that everybody can enjoy and it is definitely recommendable.



Danielle Gao's Review of:
The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (PG) 
Drama
Anchor Bay. 2015.
Run time: 105 minutes
Set in a secluded ranch in Montana, a 10-year old genius who goes by T.S. Spivet tries to cultivate his intelligence in a dry and apathetic environment. He spends his time recording the various events in his life, complete with detailed diagrams and data he carefully observes with his set of scientific instruments. When one of T.S.'s inventions piques the interest of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., the boy embarks on a life-changing journey halfway across America to receive his award.

I thought this film was really refreshing to watch. I liked each eccentric family member and their odd interactions with each other. The gradual reveal of a tragic accident in the past and its effects on everyone was also intriguing. I thought the storytelling was creative especially when the audience sees pockets of another characters perspective.

Recommended for anyone looking for a sad but sweet and heartwarming adventure with an emphasis on family.



Jacob Bleecker's Review of:
Charlie's Angels (PG-13) 
Action/Comedy
Sony Pictures. 2019.
Run time: 1 hour, 58 minutes
In this movie geared towards teens and young adults, Charlie’s Angels are a group of superheroes and spy women. When Elena, a member of a unit of high-tech scientists located in Britain, realizes that their new device, Calisto, is unsafe and can harm and kill thousands of people. She meets with one of the male agents from Charlie’s Angels, and they uncover that the company Elena works for plans to sell Calisto to villainous people hoping to use Calisto for evil. Quickly, Elena becomes a traitor to her company and is thrust into a mission with three of Charlie’s Angels known as Jane, Sabina and Bosley to return Calisto to its rightful place and protect the world from the harm it can cause. It's up to the Angels and the newly recruited Elena to retrieve Calisto before it can be transformed into a weapon of mass destruction, but will they be successful? Watch this movie to find out.

Alex Yang's Review of:
Life of Pi (PG)
Adventure/Drama. 
20th Century Fox. 2012.
Run time: 2 hours, 7 minutes

Life of Pi is the story of the real Piscine “Pi” Molitor Patel recounted within the frame of life-size cinema. Adrift at sea following a shipwreck and accompanied only by Richard Parker, an unconditioned and unruly bengal tiger, Pi’s story as narrated, in retrospect, seeks to tackle the tall order of imparting the belief of God to its viewer.

First to note is the method of storytelling, the choice which speaks to the heart of the film’s genre; plot narration itself in a storytelling medium might appear redundant as opposed to a first person, present-time setting, if not for the doors opened to unorthodox editing guises to capture the in-betweening of real time versus flashback. The added intermediary of the narrator reinforces the genre or rather answers the question of why the genre is not instead nonfiction, because by all appearances through the midpoint of  the film could very easily pass as a visual rendition of Pi’s autobiography. And with that decision the film is grounded to the ramifications of any anecdotal retelling as a sort of tacit disclaimer from the get-go that the following feature may be subject to the whims of its author—with exaggerations here, injections there, and shameless omissions every so often. This establishment is dual-purpose in that it deflects any gripes that may come up against the storytelling, on the contrary enabling praise for the producer’s keen eye to source detail and creative effects stemming appropriately; and secondly, it sanctions free-form and elements of fiction to the plot, doing naught to detract from Pi’s incredible story. 

Life of Pi showcases some of the best visuals in any movie I have ever seen, demonstrating control as much as spectacularity, topped off with a memorably moving soundtrack to accompany its more than literal, psychological story. Its production, pacing, and minimal plot alterations for the most part do justice to the original to elevate its contents off the paper and into a worthy, standalone film. Though personally a few storylines seemed to die off before the resolution, and the ending felt jumbled in its catering of thematic exposition, the bulk of the outset into the main story earned from me a confident recommendation for its brilliance.

 

Check back now and then for more awesome reviews and other content for teens, by teens!
 

 

 

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