The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Reviewed by Hope M.
Grade 9

When Suzanne Collins announced that she was going to release a prequel to her Hunger Games series, fans went berserk. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a novel revealing Coriolanus Snow’s background, and although anyone who has read or watched The Hunger Games knows how Snow turns out, the story is still a page-turner.

This dystopian tale is set in Panem: what is left of America after a devastating war between the Capitol and the districts. The Capitol has now created the Hunger Games, a monstrous sport where children are selected from the 12 remaining districts to battle each other to the death. At only eighteen years old, Coriolanus Snow is selected to be a mentor for the 10th annual Game. He receives the female tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird, who has an alluring quality about her. Though Coriolanus is attracted to Lucy Gray and wants her to be victor so she will live, he also selfishly recognizes the benefits that will arise for himself if she succeeds. Throughout this story, Coriolanus is constantly torn between what he knows to be right and his greedy thirst for rising above. His family’s motto is “Snow lands on top,” and that concept frequently influences his decisions.

The novel was certainly well-written. Collins uses a similar style of writing as she does in The Hunger Games, so those who enjoyed that series will likely enjoy this book as well. Additionally, the author is extraordinarily strong at demonstrating the character transition that occurs in Coriolanus. The plot is solid and fascinating. Many readers may not find it as interesting as the original series due to the fact that the ending is already obvious; however, the narrative provides insight into the life of Snow and allows the reader to empathize with him. It also keeps the reader wondering, “What will happen next?”

I would definitely recommend this story to anyone. It offers the backstory of President Coriolanus Snow and shows how he develops into the individual he is in The Hunger Games. The moral implications the author wants to portray come across quite clearly; Collins shows how easy it is for selfishness to twist an individual’s moral mindset. Furthermore, the novelist ties in some connections to The Hunger Games, such as Tigris’ identity, Snow’s opinion on the mockingjays, and who wrote “The Hanging Tree.” The novel is also just an enjoyable read and will certainly keep you engaged until the very end.

Ebook also available to check out.

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Reviewed by Cole M.
Grade 11

The book Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood is a coming of age tale of a young man in South Africa during and after the Apartheid.

The narrative is split into two separate parts: one being Trevor Noah's childhood and the other his teenage and adolescent years. In his childhood years, he was treated as white by his family and black by the caucasians in South Africa. This leads to him feeling like an outsider no matter where he goes; whether it be the schools or the neighborhoods he lives in. However, during his teenage years he decides to embrace his African identity. One thing allows him to be able to interact with others within the book and that is language. Because of this feeling of loneliness, Trevor figures out people are more welcoming if you speak their language. However, unlike some authors, Trevor doesn't only focus on the bad as he often looks back on the good as well. There are also small blurbs throughout the book discussing the history of Apartheid.

Trevor focuses heavily on race and how it impacted him throughout his life. For instance, he goes into how his relationship with his father was affected by racism during Apartheid. The emphasis on it shows the effect racist ideals used for propaganda in the Apartheid had on people during and after it.

I would highly recommend this book as it was an eye opener for me, but not to the point where it wasn't entertaining. Overall, a very good read.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Reviewed by Maansi C.
Grade 10

In the book, Long Way Down

by Jason Reynolds, the author explores the thoughts of a young man before seeking revenge.

Long Way Down explains the thoughts of a character named Will seeking revenge for his brother who has been shot. All the thoughts that are explored in this book are all the thoughts he is experiencing in the elevator on the way to get his revenge for this brother. His brother was part of a gang, and that is why he was killed. It is written in a series of poems and poems correspond to the different floors that he is reaching in the elevator on the way to get revenge. He is also visited by the ghosts of other people that he knows that have died telling him he probably shouldn’t do it.

Jason Reynolds, the author, writes this book in a series of poems so that the audience can understand what is going through Will’s mind at the time. It is interesting to see what goes through this teenage boy’s mind on the way to get revenge. This gives you a better understanding of what happens when people in a gang die and other people want revenge for it.

I would totally recommend this book to anyone. I read it in one sitting because it was so interesting to read the thoughts of his teenage boy. Jason Reynolds does a really good job relaying his thoughts through the poems in the book.

Ebook available through Overdrive.

There There by Tommy Orange

Reviewed by Maansi C.
Grade 10

There There is told from many characters' points of view and connects at the end in the big powwow in Oakland. The characters in the book tell their Native American stories throughout. Each character has two or three chapters written in different points of view. They grapple with their Native American identity and stories that make them who they are. They also deal with addiction because many of the Native Americans that live on the reservation drink and are addicts. They also deal with mental health such as OCD. There are symbols throughout the book that relate to each character. Some are part of the gangs and others research Native American life. They all meet at the end of the book at the big powwow in Oakland.

Tommy Orange, the author of There There, wrote this book to show how Native Americans deal with life in Oakland. The way that he decided to write the book in many points of view allows you to better understand their lives. Each character is a different age and has a different story that is related to them. This gives a better understanding of the life they live.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It was interesting to learn about Native American life from people of different ages and backgrounds. It gave you a better understanding of the life they live. Tommy Orange does an amazing job elaborating on their lives throughout this book.

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Reviewed by Britney S.
Grade 9

Cinderella Is Dead, but her cursed legacy continues to live on, damning nearly all other girls to a similar if not worse fate. But with the legacy the spark to fight and rebel has also lived on through the people, especially Sophia. Not wanting to follow the rules since young, she achieves her own freedom a while giving theirs to so many other girls.

Sophia is a sixteen-year-old girl, that like so many that share her fate, will be forced to follow Cinderella's footsteps as dictated by society. Now that she is of 'age' she, like Cinderella, must attend the ball to find her prince. But this doesn't mean a happy ending; it is the opposite for many, and she is well aware of it. She had hoped to escape her tragic fate when society once again uses its complicated rules to back her into a corner, but with a lucky chance she escapes into the forest. Looking for refuge in Cinderella's crypt, she finds another girl that has been running far longer than her. With the help of a wiser person and a little magic, she and her partner end this dark time in which women nearly have no rights, and together, they are ready to face the few last hurdles to fix this broken society.

The world and its setting were nicely flushed out and very immersive. I felt as if I was in there with its description and how the people acted in it. On the plaza of the town, from getting the wrong-sized shoe a little girl gets a portrait of the 'evil' stepsisters and tells her mother "Mama, I don't want to be like them.". Clearly showing the big influence that this fairy tale has become to girls, influencing them to be a certain way since young. One of Sophia's friend's family can't afford all the expenses that would make their daughter 'fit' for the ball and hope for a fairy godmother, because looking bad in the ball could end their daughter's life, showing how strict the King can be. The cruelty in a household due to the difference in power between husband and wife is displayed as Sophia witnesses a man beat his wife because she's 'stealing' all the money she makes as a seamstress which belongs to him "He raises his fist, and the woman winces as if he's already struck her." This is seconds before the protagonist steps in and as a client asks for the seamstress, because this can't be reported as the husband would be seen as right by the authorities. On the other hand, I think that the protagonist's transition in emotions could have been developed better as her love goes from her first love to her new love. She loved her first love so much made clearly many times through the text as she mentions their worry and care through many of the first chapters, but later in the book she no longer mentions them except for when she meets the second love interest and stops part of the advances. Other than that it was a very interesting story with rather relatable characters.

I think it is a good book for teen reader beginners. It is based on the original story Cinderella, even setting it as part of the conflict, but with a malicious flip on its world. It has dark themes such as domestic abuse and another best left unmentioned as it is a spoiler. It gives the basic idea of what happens with a corrupt and biased government and how hard it can be on the people and their personal feelings; especially who they fall for. It also has fantasy that will draw in many readers, plus being inclusive. But for more experienced readers the plot may seem familiar and as such taking away part of the novelty, the thrill of not knowing what's going to happen.

Review of Advance Reading Copy.
Expected publication: July 2020

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

Reviewed by Anna M.
Grade 8

When I checked out the book The Healer’s Apprentice at the library, I was immensely interested by the beautiful cover. Though as I read the first few chapters, I started to fade. Getting into this long story took quite a while. I cannot say that reading this book was a total waste of time, but it was not a page turner. Don’t expect to be up all night reading it.

The protagonist of this book is a seventeen-year-old girl living in the Middle Ages. Rose, the woodcutter’s daughter, finds herself an apprentice of the town’s healer, Frau Geruscha. Rose is repetitively ordered by her mother to marry rich, old bachelors, and constantly denies her mother’s requests. Rose wants to marry a man she loves. Meanwhile the Duke of Hagenheim’s sons, Lord Hamlin and Lord Rupert, return from two years at Heidelberg’s university, and Rose finds herself falling in love with Lord Hamlin, who is betrothed to a mysterious Lady Salomea. Unfortunately, Lord Hamlin injures his leg, and Rose must sew the wound. Rose frequently finds herself getting into situations where Lord Hamlin must save her.

Reading this book, I could tell the author put much work into the plot. Rose was a very brave character, who is willing to do what is right even when it gets tough and even if it means losing the people she loves and cherishes. All the characters’ lives in this book worked out perfect except the main two, and that was unrealistic in my opinion. Like all fairy tales, it had the happily ever after ending; however, I felt that after all the hardship that had occurred the ending just happened out of nowhere, with no warning.

If you are bored, then The Healer’s Apprentice is not a terrible way to fill your time. The book did have many positive messages and was clean. I could also relate to the main characters. However, if you are looking for a page-turner, I would not bother to read this book. I personally did not like the author's style, and the rhythm of the book was dreadfully slow.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Unbreakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins

Reviewed by Nicole V.
Grade 10

Engaging debut Hearts, Strings and Other Breakable Things introduces the reader to the heroine, Edie Price. It had been seven years since she stepped into Mansfield, Massachusetts. Back then, her mother had a massive disagreement with her sister which left the family disunited. Edie pledged never to return again, until she broke that pledge and everything dramatically changed her life.

The novel opens with Edith “Edie” Price, a 17-years-old foster teen, struggling with the loss of her single mother three years ago. Edie is set to spend the last few months of her senior year with her wealthy aunt and uncle offering her a room, sending her to a private school with her cousins, and throwing a charity case party to introduce her to Mansfield society. Edie tries to fit in like her cousins, Maria and Julia, who obsessively care about fashion, parties and kissing boys while Edie cares about her education, writing music, reading classic literature and avoiding being in love. However, Edie is diverted by two love potential interests--the boy next door and the playboy. Sebastian, the boy next door and Edie’s childhood friend, quickly turns into a crush and both share literary references and same feelings for each other. Except...he has a girlfriend. Claire is gorgeous, popular and not fond of Edie. Edie senses that they aren’t a good match for each other when Claire's brother, Henry, a debonair and notorious player, gets really interested in Edie and starts flirting with her after Edie instantly rejects his action on her. When Edie’s with Sebastian, she feels like herself and knows that someone understands her situation, but as she continues to spend more time with Henry. She feels more honest and has a perfect and open connection with him, even joking around each other.


Jacqueline Firkins did an amazing job re-telling the story of Mansfield Park by transforming it from a countryside/Victorian time to a modernistic time. Although the book starts off complicated, it turns out to be heartwarming. Each individual character throughout the novel is entertaining, dramatically funny and self-controlled. For example: Edie’s conflicting relationship with her cousins can be difficult and annoying when they pressure her to do this and to do that with them, but in general they treat her like a “real” cousin rather than a mean friend. The writing overall is deftly written and contains lots of diction. Even though the plot deals with ups and downs, it was thrilling and interesting overall.

I would recommend this book because Edie's personality is unique, mature, and different from others with her superior intelligence, and she is not afraid to let her dream drop. Edie’s moral message to a young teenage girl is whatever you're striving or dreaming for, don’t let anything topple you down or let any boys distract your potential future. However, I would not recommend it to anyone younger than 13 because of its over-sexualization and deals with a lot of issues throughout the novel. I also suggest reading the original version, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen and see how both authors utilizes their characters in different time periods.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reviewed by Kaylee O.
Grade 9

Many books try to capture the impact that racism and discrimination have on our society, but none of them compare to how well The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas does. Thomas is able to capture the essence of a young teenage girl who has just witnessed the murder of her childhood best friend. The story is incredibly moving and will make you see things from a different point of view. Thomas’s debut novel captures your attention from the very beginning and doesn’t let it go. This novel will have you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next.

Sixteen-year-old Star lives in two worlds, the poor neighborhood in which she lives and the fancy prep school she attends. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is an emotion-filled book following the aftermath of the shooting of Khalil. There was only one witness to Khalil’s murder, Star. But no one knows she was there when it happened. In the novel, Thomas is able to capture Star’s empowering journey of dealing with Khalil’s death while trying to keep her identity as the witness hidden, and the shock that follows the news of the murder in her neighborhood.

Angie Thomas wrote this book to show the negative impact that racism and incorrect assumptions have on our society. Thomas’s writing style makes you feel like you’re in the exact situation and setting that Star is. It’s almost as if you’re in the character’s shoes throughout the entire novel. In my opinion, only the best-written books make you feel as if you’ve transformed into a completely different world. There are many different things that everyone can relate to in this book, for example, Star struggles to find a balance between school, home life, sports, and friends as many other teenagers do.

Even though this book addresses a difficult topic, I would still recommend it. This is one of my favorite books. I think it’s very important for others to understand the social injustice and racism that minorities go through on a daily basis. Angie Thomas did an amazing job writing this incredibly emotional book.

There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool

Reviewed by Britney S.
Grade 9

Grabbing your interest and not letting go, it goes up and down like a roller coaster. There Will Come A Darkness is Katy Rose Pool's first book and hooks your interest from the very beginning. It keeps you guessing what's going to happen next at the end of every chapter. It was all the way worth reading and leaves the reader wanting more.

With five heroes come five narratives, all chasing a goal while doubting their true feelings about it. They're all going through a journey that for each may lead to the beginning but not the end. Some may encounter shadows from the past; others take a new route and find themselves, all while finding the truth about the final prophecy left by the most mysterious characters from the story--the prophets. The ones that everything revolves around.

I loved this book. Each character had their own defining characteristic, a charm and a story as to why they became who they are. The setting is rather clear, involving a corrupted city, a secret land, a falling country and the end of the road that is only reached in the final chapters by the characters that drive each other. The plot keeps you hooked throughout the story, leaving you wanting more for the next chapter. The writing of the author truly inspires emotion with each unexpected turn.

I fully recommend There Will Come a Darkness because of the author's wonderful style, shifting views and fully immersing you into the character, the undying feelings of mystery and anticipation. How the conflict is developed through the characters is also wonderful, the characters own emotions for both sides and their impact on the rest of the story, the character development that occurs thanks to this and its plot driving qualities.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Reviewed by Maansi C.
Grade 10

In the book, Dear Martin by Nic Stone, Justyce McAllister, an African American teenager learns to grapple with society and deals with racism. Justyce McAllister is an African American teenager that goes to a school called Braselton Prep. He is at the top of his class, captain of the debate team, and is set to attend an Ivy League school next year. One night, he decides to go to a party with his friends and sees his ex-girlfriend, a white girl, who is drunk. He decides to drive her home and on the way was stopped by a police officer who thinks Justyce is taking advantage of her. Next thing he knows there are flashing lights and handcuffs around his wrists. After he is released, he studies the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and writes a journal of letters to Dr. King about the racism and social injustice that he has faced throughout his life. Justyce is driving with his best friend Manny, blasting music with the windows rolled down. A white police officer, who is off duty, pulls up next to them at a stoplight. Words fly and shots are fired, Justyce and Manny are caught in a crossfire.

Nic Stone, the author of Dear Martin, wrote this book to show the ways Justyce McAllister grapples with society. Her writing style allows you to understand the racism that Justyce grapples with. Some pages are written in dialogue that illustrate the offensive things that have been said to Justyce. Some chapters are also written as the letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr which show his struggle with how to deal with racism.

Even though this book is a hard topic, I would still recommend this amazing book. It is important to understand the social injustice and racism that happens in society today. It also allows people to understand what minorities go through every day. Nic Stone does an amazing job writing this beautiful, emotional book.