Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson & Ellen Hagan

Reviewed by Annabelle L.
Grade 12

Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan is a book that follows four teenage activists in high school and the struggles they face based on their gender, race, and appearance. The chapters are divided by month and perspective. The story switches between two of the main characters: Jasmine and Chelsea.

Jasmine is a fat, black young woman who enjoys theater. Chelsea is an insecure, white young woman who loves to write. They are both very outspoken and attend a school well-known for its progressiveness with their other two friends: Nadine and Isaac. Despite how progressive the school advertises itself to be, it is not without the everyday prejudices against those who do not fit societal expectations. These four, in trying to promote activism and speaking out through their school club, end up in hot water with the administration. Of course, they fight back.

The book is beautifully written, showcasing fantastic poetry from the characters that develop them and the story more. It touches on subjects that most coming of age and activist YA novels skim over. Examples of this include the effect of the beauty industry on women and men, the controversial topic of Henrietta Lacks, and the pigeonhole of POC-related roles and stereotypes in media. 

They do fall into the common pitfall of feminism: male equality. A few examples of this include one of the main characters using the word "womanist" instead of feminist (which toes the line of misandry) and Isaac being called weak for not doing something he is uncomfortable with (most likely as a joke, however that is not an excuse). 

The characters are very diverse in race, ethnicity, and body type (but not so much in gender or sexuality). They have flaws, are well developed, and multi-faceted. For example, Chelsea despises the industries that would take advantage of her but still feels the pressure of the societal standards women are held to. There is a theme of lack of consequences and resolution throughout the book, which might be intentional on the authors' part considering most of the people who get away with their shenanigans are white. A teacher pushes a racist stereotype on a black student, is called out on it, and, though it is mentioned a few times throughout the story, there is no resolution. Students dress as racist caricatures on school property and get away with it. One male student sexually harasses multiple female students and gets away with it.

There's also no follow up with one of the main character's love interests after he ceases to be relevant to the story. It's almost as if he completely disappears. It even shows up in the finale. Watch Us Rise finished with an open-ending. The reader won't get to see the pay-off, but they do get the experience of trying to enact change. It's not as satisfying as I would like but it is a very good ending all around.

I would recommend reading this book. It's a good portrayal of the frustrations of high school as someone who doesn't fit societal standards. There are a lot of little things about this book that I have critiques about but as a whole, it's a very engaging story. It has an accurate portrayal of sexual harassment and how it is typically dealt with (i.e. not at all), it highlights women of color in all fields, and it has a good message about body positivity. 

Not many writers get an accurate sense of what high school is like or how teenagers talk to each other, but the dialogue doesn't feel forced. I would believe these were real conversations that people were having with each other. The only real criticism I have is, though the book is about activism, it's very cishet-centered activism. LGBT themes are vaguely mentioned but never focused on. The story talks about minority representation but mainstream media is very hetero-normative. Otherwise, the writing is captivating and the poetry is phenomenal. 8.5/10, would recommend.

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne

Reviewed by Annabelle
Grade 12

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne is a futuristic YA novel that takes place in space. An ice age on Earth has forced humanity to the stars for centuries, with no end in sight. Ships are beginning to fail, some due to mechanical failure and others to a mysterious virus infecting the inhabitants.

The story follows Stella Ainsley, a young woman who gets an upgrade in her working position to be a private governess. She begins the story working in a poor, cramped, and struggling spaceship as an engineer and part-time teacher looking for other job opportunities. Her co-workers, though they understand why she is doing it, do not believe she will be able to escape her current situation. Luckily for her, one of her job requests is accepted! She is offered a teaching position on the illustrious, private, and rich ship: The Rochester. Her new boss is the handsome Captain Hugo who places her in charge of educating his younger sister, Jessa. As Stella works on the ship, odd things happen that nobody wants to talk about: arson, attacks, sabotage. She needs to figure out the truth and fast. She suspects lives could be at stake.

Donne's story does an excellent job of portraying government collusion to protect the wealthy and eliminate the poor. She does human persistence and adaptability justice, which is something not many science-fiction authors are capable of. Her main character is a perceptive, multi-skilled young woman with ambitious goals to improve her life. Stella is friendly and sociable, befriending most characters she meets throughout the book. Though lawful good, following the rules she is given, Stella is often described by other characters as bold, usually in reference to her rare protocol breaches when she speaks her mind to those above her status. In these instances, the reader would not see it as "boldness" but as the appropriate thing to do. It is later when she has to take on a government conspiracy almost alone that we see her true boldness. Captain Hugo's character, though, leaves much to be desired. He comes off like a White Boy Of The Month, all privilege and prestige but no actual desirable aspects past his appearance. His actions never have real consequences. He is a liar and keeps major secrets. Though the story ends before we can see if Hugo changes these negative character traits, how he is written does not give me much confidence.

The story, I admit, attracted me because it took place in space but I wouldn't recommend reading this book. Stella is an intriguing character but, in the end, is mildly disappointing. The story doesn't end satisfyingly with the solution feeling rushed. One, if not several, of the characters commit a war crime and it is not given the severity that is deserved. They don't even receive meaningful consequences for their actions, though that does not stop the other characters from acting as if they do. Overall, I gained nothing from the experience except a feeling of indignation and disappointment.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Reviewed by Kaitlyn K.
Grade 11

Do you like fantasy and folklore? Have you ever read a story based on African folklore? If not, you should try reading A Song ofWraiths and Ruin! Brown takes you back in time to a medieval setting and immerses you in a world like no other.

A refugee named Malik enters the desert city of Ziran during the Solstasia festival. This festival occurs once every fifty years and brings great hope to him and his two sisters. However, a spirit captures his younger sister and the only thing that the spirit truly wants is vengeance against the princess, Katrina. While Malik is trying to get closer to the princess to kill her, Katrina is facing her own problems, starting with an assassination and ending with a traitor. This book leaves you guessing at what the next page will bring.

The characters are brought to life in this fun, action-filled novel. Along the way Brown introduces several creatures included in African mythology that either leave you on the edge of the page or gasping in disbelief. The characters are brought to life as well, Katrina is shown as a musician in a bar as a way of escape from palace life while Malik's loyalty and compassion drives his every move.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy or retellings of old fairy tales. The style is very realistic, and the issues that arise are accurately depicted in a way that also entertains. There are also several action scenes throughout the books, and those were my personal favorites!

A Peculiar Peril by Jeff VanderMeer

Reviewed by Lisa W. 
Grade 9

Imagine if there was another version of Earth hidden behind a door in your basement. A Peculiar Peril by Jeff VanderMeer builds off of that concept and spins it into a story with twists, turns, and talking vegetables.

This book is about a teenage orphan, Jonathan Lambshead, who inherits his grandfather’s mansion following his untimely death. After arriving at the mansion with his two best friends to catalog the many contents of the house, Jonathan realizes that there is more to the house than piles of bird cages and old muskets. While exploring, he stumbles upon three doors in the basement, one of which leads to an alternate Earth known as Aurora. Aurora is led by the supernatural dictator Aleister Crowley whose life goal is to overrule alt-Europe and eventually all of Aurora. Using doll spies, dark magic, and the war-filled mind of Napoleon’s head - yes, the head is very much detached and alive - Crowley threatens to destroy the world. To defeat Crowley and his army of logically impossible things, Jonathan must accept his place as a member of a secret society, follow the clues tucked among the knickknacks in the mansion, and embark on a dangerous quest.

To quote Jeff VanderMeer himself, "The word escaped him, not only escaped him but sat at the edge of his mind making rude gestures at him." I’ve read my share of horrible books, nonetheless I think that this one, somehow, tops the list. The book starts off interesting, making me want to read more, however after the 4th chapter, everything goes downhill. There is absolutely no character development or backstory, just a few sentences here and there about Jonathan’s mother’s disappearance and that he’s an orphan in boarding school, but nothing else. None of the characters have any impact on the development of the plot: they’re just… there. This book is a total of 656 pages, which is perfectly fine, but considering the plot, this book should have only been 300-400 pages long. Prominent contributors to the extra 200 pages are long, confusing paragraphs that derail the reader from the actual scene and “humorous” but useless banter. These are common in VanderMeer’s eccentric style of prose, and therefore are mainly appreciated by fans of his work. Something to consider is that Jeff VanderMeer is a successful author of adult books, one of which became a movie with notable actors such as Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac, and this book is his first attempt at a YA novel; maybe he just doesn’t know what teens enjoy reading?

I would give this book 2 out of 5 stars for a unique plot. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who isn’t familiar with Jeff VanderMeer’s writing style, because it might be confusing and harder to appreciate. This could be an interesting read if you’re looking for  more eccentric prose, but for others, this book is most likely not one you’d enjoy.

The Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Reviewed by Natalie O.

Grade 12

Can you imagine solving a murder for a school project? That is the premise of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. This book is a solid young adult mystery with compelling characters and an interesting story line, even if the author doesn't quite stick the landing.

This book follows high school senior Pippa Fitz-Amobi, who decides to investigate the murder of a teenage girl in her small Connecticut town for a school project. Everyone in the town is convinced that the boyfriend of the murdered girl, who committed suicide shortly after her disappearance, is the culprit. But Pippa is not so sure. She teams up with the boy's brother to try and solve the case, and uncovers all kinds of secrets along the way.

Overall, I thought that book was a solid, if generic, mystery. The author does a good job of slowly building tension throughout the story in order to keep the reader engaged, and I genuinely cared about the characters. However, the premise of the story isn't very unique, and I don't feel that it was particularly memorable. I also felt like the mystery was resolved very quickly and we didn't get enough exploration of the case or build up to the solution. There were a lot of suspects, and I feel like there were just too many things going on for the author to go into any one possibility in depth, which led to a feeling that there were a lot of untied loose ends and the sense that everything that happened after the 50% mark was rushed. The last thing I want to say is that the author is from the UK, but the story is set in America, and the characters consistently use British slang and phrases. I feel like an editor should have flagged it, but it was also stuff that I think the author should have been able to differentiate herself. It kept taking me out of the world of the story.

I would give this book a solid 3 out of 5 stars. Even with some of the narrative problems, I enjoyed reading it. I think this would be a good book to pick up if you're not somebody who reads a lot of mysteries and you're just looking for a fun whodunit. If you're somebody who has read a decent amount of mysteries or thrillers, I think this book may be a bit predictable or generic for you. Overall, I felt very lukewarm about this book, but I would still recommend it if you're looking for a quick and fun read. I have also read the Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson, and I would say that it has a similar style to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, but I found the plot and the mystery aspect to be much stronger if you are looking for something else.

 

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Reviewed by Arthi J.
Grade 12

*spoiler warning for A Court of Thorns and Roses!*

A Court of Mist and Fury is the sequel to A Court of Thorns and Roses, a story where the main character, Feyre is pulled into the faerie world of Prythian. Set three months after the catastrophic events that concluded the first novel, Feyre is back home in Spring Court, preparing for her marriage to Tamlin and the rest of her new, immortal life. Yet even though she was brought back from death, a part of her died Under the Mountain and she continues to grapple with the horrors she faced. And she certainly has not forgotten about the bargain she made with the High Lord of Night Court. 

After three months of dead silence, Rhysand finally calls in his bargain with Feyre: one week per month at Night Court. In this sequel, as Feyre struggles to harness her newfound powers, a new threat arises, one that makes Amarantha seem like child's play, and Feyre may be the only one who can save them all. But before she can even hope to save this world that she has come to both love and hate, she must find a way to heal herself, or else everyone will be doomed. 

In my opinion, this is one of the rare times in which a sequel is better than the original novel. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed reading the first novel and I didn’t think it could possibly get better . . . until I read A Court of Mist and Fury. There are honestly so many things I liked about this novel. I really enjoyed how it explored the other courts of Prythian and the complexity of Rhysand’s character, who is anything but the reader's first impression of him as a morally questionable character. I also think that Maas beautifully wrote Feyre’s emotions in this novel as she struggles with her PTSD from Under the Mountain. It felt so heartbreakingly realistic and it really made the reader sympathize with Feyre.    

I would recommend this book, more accurately this entire series, to anyone who enjoys reading novels with a magical world like no other, crazy plot twists and turns, and some romance. Enjoy!  

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Reviewed by Susan Z.
Grade 11

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli is a young-adult novel revolving around an insecure girl learning to find her confidence, self-worth, and love. It takes place in the same universe as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and is the author’s second book.

Meet Molly Peskin-Suso, a hopeless romantic who’s had a total of 26 crushes-but still no boyfriend. She has a twin sister named Cassie, who she considers the complete opposite of herself. Cassie’s pretty, skinny, outgoing, and has a much more successful love life. One fateful party brings a cute new girl into their lives, someone who’s basically Cassie’s dream girl. There goes confident, in-control Cassie; now she’s the lovesick one. Luckily for Molly, the new girl (Mina) also comes with a cute hipster boy named Will who just happens to be perfect crush material for Molly. And more good news just got dropped on the girls: their moms are getting married and plan on having them as their maids of honor! Everything seems to be going perfectly for Molly; she got her first job, her moms are having a wedding, her twin seems to be really in love, and soon she’ll have her first boyfriend. Except, despite everything seeming to go perfectly, it’s falling apart for Molly behind the scenes. Ever since Cassie started being in a relationship with Mina, the twin sisters have drifted apart. Even though Will is perfect in so many ways, Molly’s coworker, Reid makes her doubt herself. And preparing for a wedding is a lot more stressful than she had anticipated. With so many changes coming into her life all at the same time, Molly has a hard time figuring out what she truly wants. As the book progresses, Molly has to come to terms with the fact change is bound to occur and sometimes, all you can do is accept it.

This was such a good book, for so many reasons. I thought when I first saw this book it was going to be one of those generic romance novels. Girl has many crushes, and in the end, the girl ends up with a boyfriend. Happily ever after! But no, this book has so much more; it’s focused on the main character, who happens to be an insecure girl who’s had many crushes but has never been in a relationship, finding her self-worth, her confidence, learning to love who she is, and to stop being afraid of change.  I think this book is really relatable in that sense--lots of teenagers struggle to find who they really are, but it’s okay to not know and to need time to figure it out. The author also does a really good job of incorporating LGBTQ+ characters without making it their whole identity, and she also has characters that aren’t supportive just like in reality.

I would recommend this to everyone, especially if you liked Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Though this definitely wouldn’t be considered a sequel to that book, it’s in the same universe, and I think if you enjoyed that book, you’ll also really enjoy this one. If you’re a teenager, I would definitely give this book a go; it is a little romanticized but the underlying issues still reflect what many teens also struggle with. 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Reviewed by Arthi J.
Grade 12

“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.”

Shatter Me by Tarhereh Mafi is a young adult dystopian novel set in the far future, where food is scarce, the sky's the wrong color, and birds don’t fly anymore. The world is crumbling and the Reestablishment has taken control, claiming their way to fix the world is the only way. Juliette Ferrars has not touched anyone in 264 days. The last time she did, someone died. With one touch, she has the deadly ability to leave a full grown man in immense agony and gasping for air. No one knows why she has this fatal power, but with bigger problems at hand, the Reestablishment locked her up in a cell for murder and left it at that.

Now with only the numbers in her head and words in a small notebook, it takes everything Juliette has to not go insane. Then one day, an old face from her past shows up as her cellmate and she doesn’t know what to think. With traitorous whispers of revolt and war now arising, The Reestablishment gives Juliette a choice: use her power as a weapon or, well, I suppose the alternative is not so pleasant. She finds a strength she never knew she had, but will she fight for what's right?        

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I think it does a great job of introducing the characters and the world they live in, which are later built upon in the following books of the series. Mafi creates her characters so they are incredibly complex and each have their own backstories. Also, I’m a huge fan of the dystopian genre, so it’s no surprise that I liked this novel.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading books that are extremely realistic and take place in the future. Though if I had to pick, I’d say that the third book in the series (Ignite Me) would be my favorite because of its dive into Warner’s character, which we don’t get in the earlier books. I hope you enjoy reading this novel, and hopefully the rest of the series! 

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Reviewed by Arthi J.
Grade 11

So. Tell me, little wolf. Do you want to punish those who have wronged you?

The Young Elites is a dark, young adult dystopian fantasy novel by Marie Lu that follows the points of view of three characters: Adelina, Enzo, and Teren. Many years ago a deadly illness spread like wildfire throughout this dark, Renaissance-like world, leaving many dead in its wake. The children who were lucky enough to survive this “blood fever” weren’t, in fact, lucky at all. The color of their hair and eyes changed and strange markings suddenly ran down their arms and legs. They were marked, or malfetto, and separated from society out of fear and misunderstanding because some of the marked survivors, known as the Young Elites, were rumored to possess deadly, magical capabilities along with the scars.

The story begins with Adelina Amouteru, a malfetto and survivor of the blood fever. While her mother died, Adelina survived, but her black hair was turned silver and now she only has a scar where her left eye used to be. Her merciless father wants to believe she has these rumored powers because if not, then she is but a worthless stain on his family’s name and reputation. And while Adelina loves her younger sister Violetta, she can’t help but feel resentment towards the other daughter who is still beautiful, unmarked, and wanted by her father. 

Elsewhere, Enzo Valenciano is the leader of the Dagger Society, a group of Young Elites who seek out other malfettos like themselves before they are hunted and killed. Teren Santoro works for the kingdom and, despite his dark secret, believes that it is his sole duty to destroy the Young Elites before they destroy the already unstable world they live in. 

These three individuals have no reason to run into each other...until they do. As Adelina’s newfound powers emerge, she doesn’t know what to believe, only that she wants to trust Enzo, the boy who saved her from death, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the world is not always so black and white. Each character fights their own battles, both internal and external. Yet in all this uncertainty, it is clear that Adelina’s powers should not belong in this world and that there is a deep-rooted darkness festering in her heart, threatening to consume both her and those who dare cross her.

 I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside. It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

Unique. I truly wouldn’t use any other word to describe this series because it was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Lu does a fantastic job in creating an interesting world, along with extremely complex characters. I especially commend her choice of the main character, Adelina. While the novel is told from three different characters points of view, Adelina’s chapters are the only ones that are written in the first person, which gives the reader a clear look into her thoughts while also creating a sense of unpredictability in the events that will come to pass. I really like how Adelina is not the standard, predictable, and morally good character you see in a lot of books today. 

I would absolutely recommend this trilogy (The RoseSociety and The Midnight Star follow this novel) to anyone who’s looking for a dark and mysterious read. The sequel picks up after the shocking cliffhanger that leaves readers with their mouths hanging open and the series’ explosive finale truly leaves you shattered. This trilogy is definitely one of my favorites and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.           

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Reviewed by Arthi J.

Grade 11

We all bear scars...mine just happen to be more visible than most.

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most notorious assassin. In a land recently stripped of all magic, the cruel king, who rules with an iron fist, holds a competition to determine who will become the King’s Champion: the person who will become the King’s personal blade, assassinating whomever he desires dead. Celaena, still reeling, both physically and emotionally, from the events that concluded this series prequel (The Assassin's Blade), is summoned to the glass castle from the slave mines of Endovier. The king offers her a bargain: win and competition and become his Champion, and, in return, she will be freed from the slave mines. Now, all that stands in her way are twenty-three extremely skilled killers, thieves, and fighters which should be no problem for the deadly assassin.

However, that is not the only thing that stands in the way of Celeana’s freedom. Something ancient and evil dwells in the glass walls of the castle--a place she believed to be free of magic--and it has one simple goal: to kill. When her competition begins to drop dead one by one, Celaena must fight not only for her freedom but also for her own survival and overcome her own demons that have left scars on her that run deeper than those on her back. Along with her new companions, the Crown Prince and Captain of the Royal Guard, she must work quickly to root out this mysterious evil before it destroys them all and the world surrounding them.       

The entire Throne of Glass series has definitely got to be one of my favorites. Looking back, it's truly astonishing to see how much the plot of the story and characters themselves have developed over the course of the books. Sarah J. Maas does a wonderful job in building the world of Erilea and the complexity of Celaena's character. I also really enjoyed the way in which this novel’s plot subtly builds up to the explosive conclusion that comes crashing down on the reader.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy novels and escaping to another world like no other. If you enjoy this series, I would also recommend Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series and her newest adult fantasy novel, House of Earth and Blood.