Epic Reading Challenge: July

Welcome back to the Epic Reads Challenge 2024, where each month some of the TBG members choose a book that fits a specific prompt. Provided by Epic Reads, these prompts inspire new and unique book choices among readers. We encourage the community to join in this challenge with us and participate each month!

The prompt for July was… a book known for making people cry.

Most readers pick up a novel because reading brings them happiness, or maybe the reader wishes to escape reality by diving into the world of a character. But sometimes, books can bring upon an entirely different emotion: sadness. Whether you pick up a book knowing it will make you cry, or whether it catches you by surprise, there are hundreds of tear-jerker novels out there. Here are a few YA examples that members of the guild have read this month:

Grace: They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera

In an alternate universe, where people who are about to die are sent a message that same day, Mateo and Rufus receive messages just after midnight. Told in multi-POV, this queer, coming-of age novel follows both of these teens on their last day to live and the adventures that they have together.

I really enjoyed this book, despite it having mixed reviews. I especially appreciated the multiple POV format of the novel, because it kept the novel from dragging on, since the events only took place over one day. And even though the events of the ending are known from the first page, the specific circumstances remain unknown, contributing to the tearshed at the conclusion of the story. This is a novel that will certainly make you cry.

Holly: The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

The Cost of Knowing follows the point of view of Alex Rufus, the future-seeing, older brother of Isaiah Rufus. Upon seeing the vision of Isaiah’s grave, Alex tries to give Isaiah the best days of his life before his passing. This book definitely qualifies as a tearjerker. The suspense leading up the end involves many twists and turns. I would recommend reading this book with a box of tissues. Overall, I really liked this book. The concept is very interesting and unlike anything I have read before.

Brooke: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Salt to the Sea is about the life of refugees in 1945 escaping from war. The story is exciting with many plot twists but also brought tears to my eyes at certain parts.

Phoebe: Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughty and Tobias Iaconis

Another notable tear-jerker novel is Five Feet Apart co-written by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis, entailing a romance between two teenagers suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). Forced to be distanced 6 feet apart for their safety, they were cursed never to touch. A light-hearted romance story that brings up health struggles in teens as they navigate through their lives. There is also an element of the opposites attract troupe, mixed with enemies to lovers. Despite being fairly fast-paced, this book was still able to invoke strong emotions. Be warned, it may seem light-hearted at first but it will make you ball your eyes out!

Helena: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green features a lung and thyroid cancer patient, Hazel, and Augustus, who had osteosarcoma, and as a result, his leg was amputated. They first meet at a cancer support group meeting, where Augustus was with their mutual friend, Isaac. Augustus asks Hazel to hang out, and she agrees. Their relationship blossoms throughout the book, even through the ups and downs of their difficult lives. 

I believe that this book is an essential read. It explores relationships, reliability, and coping with doom. Because of the message, it is one of my favorite books I've ever read. It’s also beautiful and completely heart-wrenching. It’s grim, meaningful, and relatively realistic throughout the novel, which is not always in the YA world. The end is very, very sad, but a fitting finale for the story.

Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O'Clover

written by Anna M.
Grade 12

I was massively excited to read Ellen O’Clover’s Seven Percent of Ro Devereux. It sat perfectly on the gray shelf, playing the part of my next good read excellently. A YA novel with an interesting, STEM-focused protagonist who designs her own app for a senior project? Yes, please. AND a romance side plot, best friends to enemies to lovers? Even more yeses and pleases. Ultimately, I badly wanted to like this book and was greatly disappointed.

This story has a fascinating start; the premise alone had me on the edge of my seat. After all, who doesn’t want to download an app that predicts your future? That would definitely come in handy in the tumultuous society in which we currently live. Ro Devereux is an overall fun, relatable main character. She’s nervous to turn in her assignment but also eager to be finished with it . . . and be finished with high school. Ro is a woman in tech whose dream is to work in Silicon Valley. Unexpectedly for Ro, when her app MASH (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House) that predicts a person’s future with ninety-three percent accuracy goes viral, her entire senior year is forever changed. She gains a tech company’s backing and is suddenly thrust into the influencer life. Also, MASH proclaims her ex-best friend Miller as her soulmate, bringing a hurricane of emotions as they begin to fake-date for the company contract. However, as she begins to truly fall for Miller and her app begins destroying kids' dreams, she must choose between her own dreams vs. what she created: a MONSTER—ASH.

First things first, I genuinely loved the premise of this YA novel. It was original and believable, two important aspects of a solid book. Still, I was immensely let down by the execution. Seven Percent of Ro Devereux has a great start but gradually worsened for me the more I read. There were some issues O’Clover touched on and then simply never brought closure to for me as a reader. I liked how she brought up the issue of a bright student not wanting to attend college but being pressured by one’s parents. That was definitely a plot line she could have gone deeper into, possibly discussing that generational gap or the need for college as a whole. Additionally, this novel touched on abandonment, both by a parent and by a close friend. This is such a relatable and also sensitive topic, and I think the author did a good job all things considered, but I would have loved to see more on the mother-daughter relationship trauma. Lastly, my greatest critique considering this novel and the thing that ultimately tipped it over the edge for me was how this app “destroyed” so many people’s lives. I completely understand how technology can affect people's lives; however, why did the parents of these kids tell them the app was a scam? The evil big corporation marketed MASH as 100% accurate, but still, are people really that dumb? If an app tells you that you are going to be a teacher, you can still be a piano player. An algorithm should never define someone. While that may have been the message the author was trying to get across, I think it was done backwards. Ro should not have had to dismantle her app because no one should have taken it so seriously in the first place.

In conclusion, I essentially wanted to tell everyone in this book get off their phone, go outside, and read a book. With a heavy heart, I would have to give this novel a three out of five stars. If you have nothing else to read, you might as well read Ro’s story. I know there are people out there who thoroughly enjoyed this YA read; I simply was not one of them. I still love and support the concept of the “seven percent,” the unknown, unpredictable part of future. It is such a fascinating and inspiring idea. What will you do with your seven percent? Mostly likely not read this book, but who knows? Maybe you will. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Debut Novels

written by Grace H.
Grade 12

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday at the Winter Park Library! 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly challenge where book bloggers everywhere compile a list of ten books (or sometimes other reading-related things) in response to a prompt. 

The challenge was started by That Artsy Reader Girl, and it encourages book-lovers from all over to interact and share some of their reading opinions. 

This week’s theme is… Debut Novels I Enjoyed!

Here Lies a Vengeful B**** by Codie Crowley

by Phoebe N.
Grade 12

Here Lies a Vengeful B**** is a mystery YA novel by Codie Crowley. To be published on August 24, 2024, the book follows Annie Lane who died and came back to life. The only problem? She doesn’t remember who killed her. Between her deadbeat ex and his friends or her always-stoned mom, her reckless and over-confident behavior made her an extremely easy victim of murder. Annie Lane tracks down all the possible suspects and tries to recollect the missing memories of what happened the night she was killed.

This book was filled with many plot twists involving countless other murder cases intertwined with Annie Lane’s that readers might never see coming. The story-telling captivates the reader and forces them to be wary of every side character, giving a sense of distrust and suspicion. However, the beginning of the novel was very slow-paced. Originally, I didn’t enjoy the supernatural aspect of the plot as it kind of conflicted with the realistic components of the story. But the writing was phenomenal and extremely enticing. Each scene is elaborate and detailed, allowing the readers to immerse themselves into the storyline and imagery. Additionally, everything accelerates towards the end, so despite the slow build-up in the beginning chapters, I found myself zooming through the ending chapters non-stop. 

Codie Crowley does a fairly good job at misleading the readers and convincing them to rule out a suspect amongst the characters which I found had further developed the suspense of the story. The romantic element in this novel is somewhat prominent and pleasant. To some extent, the relationship between the main character and the main love interest is realistic and relatable in the sense that teens experience flings and romantic attractions every now and then. Told in Annie Lane’s perspective, the readers get to experience her character development and self-realization as she reflects upon her troubled upbringing and bold personality. 

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a mix of realism and supernatural/fantasy. Although it may seem uneventful at first, the story picks up in the second half and everything comes together. I would also recommend this book to those who enjoy murder mysteries. As a reader, the intricate story-telling of this book made me feel like a detective. I am definitely excited for when this book gets released and wishing the best of luck to Codie Crowley for her debut novel! I think many teens would like this novel when it hits the shelves of the Winter Park Library. 

Librarian note: Thank you to Hyperion for sending the Teen Book Guild an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Goodnight Homeroom: All the Advice I Wish I Got Before Going to High School by Sam Kaplan

by Kate D.
Grade 11

Watch out, eighth graders, because high school is closer than you think. Goodnight Homeroom: All the Advice I Wish I Got Before Going to High School is an easy read, filled with colorful imagery and rhyme. Unlike your homework, you won’t have to worry about the due date to return this book because of its length and simple language.

This book was inspired by the famous children’s book, Goodnight Moon. Goodnight Homeroom tells the reader about a general high school experience, highlighting important events and helping the reader navigate the next four years. Inside, there is a summary of not only high school, but differences and struggles between all four grades.

The illustrations within Goodnight Homeroon are colorful and unique. The book is in second person in order to highlight your journey. While there is valuable information within Goodnight Homeroom, be wary for not all of the information applies to everyone and some of the lines can be interpreted wrong. Such is shown in multiple lines, such as: “And take mental health breaks/not sometimes, but often.” While mental health is important, so are your grades and attendance. Be cautious with how many “breaks” you take throughout the school year.

While mainly targeted to incoming high school freshmen, Goodnight Homeroom is an excellent gist of what the year will bring for any rising ninth, tenth, eleventh, or even twelfth graders. It truly was written to follow: “The advice I wish I knew before high school.” 

BOOK VS. FILM! Five Feet Apart

by Phoebe N.

The Award-winning YA novel Five Feet Apart, co-written by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis, centers around Stella Grant and Will Newman, both victims of cystic fibrosis (CF). Spending her whole life in a hospital, Stella has always been organized and well-mannered when it comes to her CF treatments; she is determined to finally be selected for a lung transplant. Will Newman, on the other hand, has been all over the world… confined in different hospitals and constantly on different treatment trial. As CFers, they were bound to be far apart– six feet to be exact– as even the slightest contact would contaminate and lower their chances of survival. The two inevitably catch feelings, but how can you love someone without being able to even touch them? Stella and Will must choose whether their spark and connection are worth more than their own lives.

The Movie

Released on March 15th, 2019, and directed by Justin Baldoni, the movie features Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse. It carries a rating of 7.2/10 on IMDb and 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. Overall, the film is an accurate representation of the book, and I found that the emotions portrayed by the actors/actresses were fully in-depth. Every scene was detailed and evoked the empathic emotions of the viewers. 
I think the movie is fairly well-produced and made, definitely a tear-jerker. I wouldn’t change anything about this film as it very well captivates the viewers’ feelings and to some extent resonates with the audience as well.

The Book

The novel was definitely an easy read and just like the movie, it evokes strong emotions. The connections between the characters were extremely well developed and brought out a sense of relatability to the readers’ relationships in real life. The story is quite quick-paced which made it hard for me to put it down, and I found myself flipping pages after pages. The romance between the two main characters is heart-fluttering and adorable, an accurate depiction of teen romance.

The Verdict

I highly recommend reading the book AND watching the movie. Despite the clear similarities between both works, they always left me in a stream of tears due to its heartfelt plot. However, to someone who first comes across this story, I do recommend reading the book first as it enhances the story much more deeply compared with the movie adaptation. Either way, certainly prepare your tissues, maybe even a couple of boxes.

Top Ten Tuesday: Throwback Freebie

written by Grace H.

Welcome back to TBG’s Top Ten Tuesday! Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday encourages book bloggers to create and share a “Top Ten” list in response to a different topic each week.

This week’s theme is…throwback!!

This means that I get to choose the topic, selecting from past prompts that have already been used. I did some digging to find some old topics, and I chose one from 2020… books I read because someone recommended them to me.

All of these recommendations were ones that I really enjoyed; so take this post as my recommendation to YOU if you haven’t read any of these!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books with My Favorite Color on the Cover

By Marley 

My favorite hue is blue and it is colorfully displayed in the novels listed below:

 

1. A book cover that includes my favorite color goes to We Were Liars. The cover dons a beautiful light blue sky and matching seascape. This book is the perfect summer thriller that will make you hold your breath after every page. It's a perfect read for a beach day!

2. All the Bright Places is one of my go to reads! The cover leaves a lot to the imagination and is sure to take you on an emotional ride. Have tissues near because this one is a real tear jerker. 

3. You’d Be Home Now will pull on your heartstrings. It addresses addiction and mental struggles among young adults. This book is as tumultuous as the Florida weather. 

4. Live Your Best Lie takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. It addresses the physiological damage that social media can cause.

5. Where Things Come Back does a great job of making you feel like you're part of this small town setting. You can’t help but to get caught up in the character's growth and development.   

6. Unwind is the epitome of a dystopian novel! I'm typically not a fan of book series, but I truly couldn’t get enough of the world Neal Shusterman created.

7. Whether your team Jeremiah or team Conrad The Summer I Turned Pretty is the book of the summer! It's your classic love triangle that makes you feel like you're in a rom-com.

8. They Both Die At The End is an eye-opening read. It really makes you think about how you would spend your last moments and how we live through experiences. 

9. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter handles the struggle of grief and finding yourself within your culture. With a colorful array of personalities and the right amount of drama, this novel is hard to put down.

10. Last but definitely not least is Five Feet Apart. This book has my favorite cover of ALL TIME and the romance to match! A couple devastated by illness finds love in a dark place.