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This Light Between Us: A Novel of World War II
Fukuda, Andrew Xia
Reviewed: January 31, 2024
This Light Between Us is a story about two pen pals—Japanese-American Alex Maki and Charlie Levy, a girl who lives in France and is Jewish. They started writing to each other in 1935 about their lives. On December 7th, 1941, Alex Maki’s life changed as Japan attacked Hawaii, and now all Japanese people on Bainbridge Island are seen as an enemy. Soon after, there were rules placed on the Japanese, like no traveling more than 5 miles from home. Later on, Alex’s dad is taken by FBI agents, and after that, all the Japanese are evacuated to a camp where conditions are horrible. In the... Read Full Review
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Girl in the Blue Coat
Hesse, Monica
Reviewed: January 26, 2024
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse takes place in Amsterdam during World War II. Hanneke Bakker is a girl in her late teen years, and she works in the black market, delivering goods such as food and oil to people around the city. One of her clients comes to her in desperate need of help to find a young Jewish girl whom she had been hiding but disappeared. Throughout the novel, she forms many friendships and gets caught up in situations that could be detrimental to her and her family's safety. In a series of twists and turns, this book will have you invested in the storyline... Read Full Review
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Sadie
Summers, Courtney
Reviewed: January 17, 2024
I was, at first, reluctant to read Sadie on account of the countless cautionary reviews I saw online. Almost every reviewer warned of dark themes and an absolutely heart-breaking conclusion. However, they were also sure to include just how masterfully crafted the story was. With its unapologetic intensity, Sadie is able to do the rare thing of making its readers feel virtually every point in the story as viscerally as the characters themselves. Now, after rereading the book two times, Sadie, and Courtney Summers in general, is not for the faint of heart.
... Read Full Review
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Howl's Moving Castle
Jones, Diana Wynne
Reviewed: January 10, 2024
Howl’s Moving Castle is a romance fantasy novel full of heart, comedy, and magic. After Sophie Hatter is cursed to become an old woman by the notorious Witch of the Waste, she seeks the beguiling wizard Howl Pendragon on her quest to undo the spell. Along the way, she meets many colorful characters, like the fire demon Calficer, and additionally finds love. The unique settings, interesting magic system, and natural romantic progression throughout the story make Howl’s Moving Castle a truly enthralling read.
Howl’s Moving Castle was adapted into an... Read Full Review
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This is Where it Ends
Nijkamp, Marieke
Reviewed: January 3, 2024
The first day back to school is like anything you’d imagine at Opportunity High. The principal gives her “Welcome Back” speech, encouraging students to thrive and succeed in the new and fresh semester. Everything is on schedule. Until it’s not. Doors are locked, confusion spreads, and shots are fired. This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is a touchingly devastating story about a tragic event that students are faced with at Opportunity High: a school shooting. Although the shooting in the novel is fictional, it is an unfortunate reality that some students face. Nijkamp does an excellent... Read Full Review
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The Old Man and the Sea
Hemingway, Ernest
Reviewed: December 27, 2023
Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and The Sea presents a classic novel with the protagonist, Santiago, on an unlucky streak of not catching fish for eighty-four days. On his eighty-fifth day heading out into the sea, he does the exact same thing: going deep into the ocean, preparing his fishing lines, and waiting. Suddenly, a fish finally catches on, and the battle between him and the fish begins…
I wholeheartedly enjoyed every part of this story. We learn and feel the journey of overcoming hardship and understanding the big lessons in every moment. One of them, for example... Read Full Review
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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