Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest

Reviewed by Grace H.
Grade 11

Do you know exactly where you'll be in a few years? 

Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest, is a heartwarming coming-of-age novel that follows a high school senior on the brink of adulthood. This new young adult novel provides disability representation through its smart and hardworking protagonist.

Euphemia (Effie) Galanos has been researching colleges with her mom since the beginning of high school, but as a senior, Effie is starting to think that the perfect college for her isn't on her mom's master spreadsheet. She has secretly researched the perfect match for her: Prospect University in the heart of New York City. However, when Effie visits the campus with her parents, she realizes that the school might not be the best fit after all.

The campus is not very wheelchair accessible, and neither is the city. How can Effie prove to her parents that she can live on her own when she can't even board the subway herself? Throughout her senior year, Effie experiences the traditions of senior year with her best friends and her classmate Wilder, who might even be more than a friend. Effie will face tough decisions at the end of her senior year, with many opportunities to choose from.

Effie is a strong and determined main character. She is smart, kind, and not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. It was eye-opening to learn more about the struggles of people with disabilities, and it made me realize how much of the world is not accommodating to wheelchair users. I enjoyed following Effie on her journey throughout her senior year. The story tells of highs and lows, and Effie perseveres through it all. Effie showed growth throughout the story as she became more willing to stand up for herself and the equal opportunities that she deserved. I thought that her character was written very well, as was the romance subplot. Wilder was a well-written love interest for Effie, and I thought their interactions felt genuine. I did find the plot line to be predictable, but that is common with coming-of-age stories. I also felt that there were some strange jumps in the timeline, where a chapter would end abruptly and pick up in a different part of the year without much transition.

Overall, however, the strong female lead and uplifting story made this an enjoyable read. It was also educational, and I learned many new things about disabilities. I recommend this book, especially to high schoolers looking towards the future. It teaches lessons of dedication and confidence, and I (as a junior in high school) enjoyed the morals taught about college admissions. There won't be a perfect school, but the best choice is one where you can see yourself thriving.

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

Reviewed by Yusmibel L.
Grade 10

Serena Kaylor delivers on all her promises in Long Story Short, keeping an ending sweet enough to have your toes curling and the outline of all Shakespeare inspired stories, “boy meets girl, they fall in love, and 9 people die in the process” [minus the dying part].

Beatrice, a sheltered homeschooled student, reveals at a dinner with a family friend. As Beatrice plots all possible chances of escape she accidentally blurts out her secret application and acceptance to Oxford, successfully destroying the dinner atmosphere. Her parents confront her, mentioning her general unpreparedness to move to England after her reserved childhood. In comes the deal, a 9 item list on classic "teenage" behavior, created by her parents in exchange for considering sending her off to Oxford. If she can check off every item then she can go. The catch? She must complete it while enrolled as an actor at a theatre summer camp. Despite her fear of the spotlight, she agrees, all in hopes to retreat to her dream college with like minded book lovers and statistic. After brushing up on Shakespeare and hoping to lie through her experience she finds it may be more of a challenge than she thought. She stumbles through her first day, barely checking off the first box (make a friend) when she’s taken under the wing of her roommate Mia and Mia’s camp friend Nolan. They quickly find out about the list and make it their mission to help her with every box, and a few additions. Just when she finds a position she may enjoy (as a prompter and perpetual understudy), she finds herself at odds with the handsome but equally insufferable Nikhil. Nik is the son of the camp founders and has the talent and cockiness to match. And against all of Bea’s expectations and desires he just won’t leave her be.

The story is somewhat cliché. The love interest is “hot” and “talented,” and for much of the story that is his only positive quality. It seems like the story aims for an enemies to lovers trope except the progression just seems odd. 

During the middle the characters start a bet. They go back and forth reciting Shakespeare and whoever doesn’t know what play it’s from loses. Nik sets the stakes as loser gets to ask anything of the winner. His request is that Bea kiss him if she loses. The only reason Bea agrees is because she was dared to and doing a dare was on her list. They don’t have many good moments together prior to that bet, so it makes the whole thing feel weird. Later when Nik accuses Bea of sending mixed messages romantically it seems foolish. Nik is overprotective and insulting at random points so when you factor that and the time they’ve spent together (mostly arguing) he just seems sore and hypocritical. Other than that the story is widely predictable. I could tell exactly what would happen just from the premise.

Long Story Short was cute, but the more you contemplate the actions of the characters, the more it fell apart. Kaylor delivers a really simple short story in the form of a much longer novel. If you’re looking for some guilty pleasure in a classic romance format, it’s great. If you want anything deeper or more compelling than that this might not be the book for you.    

How to Pack For the End of the World by Michelle Falkoff

Reviewed by Yusmibel L.
Grade 10

How To Pack For The End Of The World by Michelle Falkoff is a charming, overdramatic book to consider packing for your apocalypse kit. On its first few pages it hits you right in the face with the pressing question, “If you knew the world was ending tomorrow, would you rather die along with your friends and family and everyone you’ve ever known, or live among strangers to rebuild civilization?” It keeps its theme at every turn of the book, challenging its characters and readers to come to a conclusion on what they would find important when the curtain falls.

The book is set within the cushy walls of the formerly prestigious Gardner Academy, now fallen from grace for a sexual abuse scandal. The school, faced with a tarnished reputation, begins opening its gates to accept second chance rich kids and teachers and scholarship students. Amina, a scholarship student, loathes the idea of attending an academy so far from home and plans to leave as soon as possible.  However, surviving through the semester proves to be a challenge. Virtually friendless and swamped with work, she can’t help but join when a mysterious letter inviting her to a semi-secret apocalypse study club is slipped under her door. There she meets with kindred souls: Chloe, Hunter, Jo/Josephine, and Wyatt. They spend the rest of their freshman year playing ‘games’ hosted by each member to prepare themselves for doomsday. Together they learn what they’re willing to sacrifice to thrive in the final days of the world. As they learn more about each other and themselves, it grows apparent that they aren’t the only ones at Gardner who know about their club meetings. Secrets get revealed and they find themselves playing one final messy game before the year's end, one where they all end up the loser.

I must admit, at first this was a hard book to put down. However, for a book so focused on the end, its ending left something to be desired. Some of its plot points and hints fall a little flat in the reveal. For example the election between Hunter and Amina provided several opportunities for characters to interact with each other, but it doesn't do much outside of that. The fact that they’re being elected feels a little pointless .There isn’t a lot of lasting impact in any individual thing done, making the entire book seem like a somewhat drawn out lesson with only one conclusion. There is something to be salvaged from the wreckage though.

Falkoff kept a brilliant balance of light fun with the macabre undertone of doomsday, and every character had a moment in the sun. One of the main plot points in the books were the ‘Games.’ Every character had a game, every game was used to teach a lesson. A genuine highpoint of the book was discovering the lessons or agendas hidden behind every game from the perspective of our narrator, the characterization allowed by this helped unravel one of the main mysteries of the book while allowing the reader to grow closer to the cast. However, it is with mild frustration that we do it through the eyes of our main character, Amina who acknowledges her position as always somewhat one step behind the rest of the group.

All things considered, How To Pack For The End Of The World was an all right read. For an anxious teen navigating a world where every (somewhat pointless) event kind of feels like the end of the world, it’s easy to start unconsciously keeping a countdown in the back of your mind. Which is why for every criticism I have of this book, there’s a little bit of fondness. It may fail to provide a packing list for the end of the world, but it remains a successful guide for finding what it means to make connections in an ending world, which is why I would recommend this book.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Reviewed by Leiden T.
Grade 9

If you’d like to find a book filled with horrible stereotypes, lack of purpose, a selfish main character (not complex, just aggravating) with a writer who obviously doesn’t know what he’s doing, then you should take a look at Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

Greg is the narrator of this completely uninteresting tale. This book starts out with the author warning the readers that he is in fact, not a good writer. After this, it talks about how Greg is being forced by his mother to help a girl with cancer by being a good friend to her. He is extremely reluctant but decides to go on with it, alongside his best friend Earl.

This story is told in the first-person perspective of Greg that has some fourth wall-breaking where he talks to the reader. The way the book is set is an obvious way to get attention and seem original, but it just is very… weird. Repeatedly throughout the book it will tell you to stop reading and I wish I listened to it. The humor is just not funny in the slightest and there’s lots of vulgar language to make itself appeal to teens. I didn’t understand the point of the book, no moral or real plot, which made it feel like a chore I had to finish. Besides the way that is written, there are still many faults. It was almost as if the writer had a goal to fill the book with as much racism and sexism as possible. He uses a derogatory term used against black people on multiple occasions, even though he is a white man.

I’ve said multiple of my critiques and despite the fact I think it’s a bad book, there are redeeming qualities. I will say that I enjoyed how Greg is depicted as a deeply flawed character which makes him relatable. I could heavily relate to his need to make people smile and that’s one of the main reasons I kept on reading.

I don’t recommend this book to anyone, though that doesn’t mean I don’t think it should be in the library. Despite the fact that this is considered a frequently "Banned" or "Challenged" book, I do not believe that any book should be banned. 

Celebrating our freedom to read during Banned Books Week

Written by Bella S., Sienna V., Bel L., Delany B., Leiden T.

As Americans, one of the main issues of our country is freedom. We can say what we want, protest what we want, publicize what we want, and we have many other rights that allow us to be free from control so that we can make our own choices. But lately, one particular problem continues to occur. Should we be allowed to have the freedom to choose what we want to read as teens? 

Some believe that just as we can write what we want, we should be able to read what we want. But others think that we should be limited on what content we are exposed to. Topics like race, gender, and culture are all on the chopping block. As you continue to read, books that have been nominated to be banned will be reviewed. But I’ll let you make your own decisions on what you think about banning books. (BS)

Below are some of the books that have been included an the American Library Association's Top 10 Most Challenged Books lists for 2021 - 2020:

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out (2014) by Susan Kuklin

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. 

Beyond Magenta is a collection of interview style tales told by several trans and queer teens. Between the gorgeous photography in this book, comes honest reflections of their experiences coming of age while grappling with their gender identity. Their place as a banned/challenged book is just one of many attempts to conceal their stories. (BL)

#10 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2012) by Jesse Andrews

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women

This book follows the tale of Greg, Earl, and his former friend Rachel, who now has cancer. Earl has been forced by his mother to help Rachel find happiness in her horrible situation. In the book, it has multiple slurs used along with racial stereotypes and misogyny. Despite this, I do not believe any book should be banned to the public, so I do not think the correct decision is the ban it. Though, I do not support the book in any capacity. (LT)

#7 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007) by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, a Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-native, is a semi-autobiographical novel about the life of a young Native American named Junior. This book should not be banned or challenged because it offers a new perspective about America which often gets overlooked, and it gives Native American children a new narrative with universal challenges such as poverty and sexuality. Alexie forces American students, who often only hear about Native Americans in regard to tragedy, to see them as real people. (DB)

#6 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

All Boys Aren’t Blue (2020) by George M. Johnson

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit

All Boys Aren't Blue is a memoir that follows the life of George Johnson. It highlights their struggles growing up and dealing with racism, homophobia, and gender identity. This book most definitely should not be banned because it can be a great help to others that are experiencing George's same struggles. Not only do I think this book should not be banned, I think that everyone should read it to get educated on the importance of equality. (SV)

#3 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

Speak (1999) by Laurie Halse Anderson

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity

Speak is a novel about a girl named Melinda who is dealing with sexual assault. While this is a heavy topic, it is a sad reality that so many people face. This book is so important to help people understand that they are not alone. Aside from it being informative, it is also very well written and illustrates the struggles Melinda faces. (SV)

#4 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020

Click here for more information on the history of Banned Books Week.

Jagged Little Pill by Eric Smith, Alanis Morissette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard

Reviewed by Sky E.
Grade 11 

Jagged Little Pill was written by four writers: Eric Smith,  Alanis Morisette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard. Jagged Little Pill was originally an album by Alanis Morissette, then a Broadway musical, and now a book. My expectations for this book were not extremely high, but this book really went above and beyond my expectations.

The story consists of five main characters: Frankie, Jo, Nick, Phoenix, and Bella. Throughout the book the author’s allow you to dive into each of the characters inner thoughts. Each character wants something: Frankie wants justice, Jo wants to be seen, Nick wants to be a good person, Phoenix wants a connection with someone, and Bella wants to be believed. 

The story takes a wild turn when all the main characters, except Jo, end up going to a house party hosted by Andrew Montefiore. While not every character was there, the party turned all their lives in a different direction. Andrew Montefiore happens to take advantage of Bella while she was not completely sober. An image of her lying in Andrew’s bed is spread around the school and she is labeled a slut by some of her closest friends. Each ensuing conflict allows the characters to deeply discover themselves by the end of the book, making the read worth it.

The author’s style in the book really allows you to connect with the characters. Each chapter has a different character speaking throughout the entire book. I really loved how the author was able to describe certain instances happening by the characters. The diction really gives the reader the ability to feel empathy for the characters.

I would recommend this book to other people because I enjoyed the author’s style of writing and it really helped me feel involved in the book and want to continue reading. The lessons that each of the characters went through felt really empowering that they were able to overcome some of the conflicts they were faced with.

 

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Reviewed by Sky E.
Grade 11

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas is the sequel to one of the best books I have read so far: The Hate U Give. I immediately chose to read Concrete Rose once I discovered both were written by the same author. I had extremely high expectations for this book and felt somewhat let down as the novel began. As I continued reading, my high expectations had begun to feel satisfied as the book grew more and more intense. This story walks the reader through the struggles of heartbreak, loss, and fatherhood from the point of view of seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter.

The book begins on the neighborhood basketball court in Garden Heights with Maverick, the main character, playing ball with the King Lords. The King Lords are a gang who run the part of the neighborhood where Maverick lives. Maverick joined the gang as a form of protection from the enemies of his father. Being able to help his mother pay the bills by selling drugs was another benefit to being in the gang. As the boys are playing, they seem to have an audience of Maverick’s girlfriend, Lisa, and Dre’s family. Maverick's mind seems to be elsewhere, worrying about an incident that is taking place that day. Soon after a short basketball game, Maverick, and King, his friend who is also a part of the King Lords, head to a clinic where the story takes a drastic turn as Maverick finds out he may be the father of his best friend’s “son”.

How could Maverick be the father of his King’s “son” when he has a girlfriend? It turns out that Maverick made an unfortunate mistake with King’s “girl,” Iesha, while he and Lisa were on a break. This one-time fling turned into a life-changing event. Once Iesha’s mother learned Maverick was the father of the baby, the two ran off and left him to deal with a child he just met. His mother begins to teach him the ins and outs of parenting, which leaves him with a problem. What is he going to tell his girlfriend, and how is he going to deal with the costs of this baby?

I really enjoyed the author’s style of writing in this book. At first, I wasn’t particularly interested in the way the author decided to initially start the book, but as I continued reading, the style helped bring the book to life. I also seemed to enjoy all the conflict that appeared in the story. Just when I began to think the book was getting boring, a new conflict would show up to appease my boredom.

I would completely recommend this book to the people who enjoy reading fiction with new conflicts in each chapter. The author’s style really allows the reader to feel as if they know Maverick. The style allows the reader to dive into Maverick's mind and feel his pain with him. In my opinion, the ending is extremely satisfactory. Once I finished the book, I kept wishing to know more about Maverick and how his life is going even though the book already ended.

Concrete Rose is a 2022 Printz Award Honor book.

Lulu and Milagro's Search For Clarity by Angela Velez

Reviewed by Anna M.
Grade 10

For me, this book got off to a rough start immediately. The second I saw the title: Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity, I was not expecting it to turn out good. Personally, I don’t think a title should be the quick answer to a summary. I mean, if we wanted to just end this review, you might ask, “What’s this book about?” and I could just say, “Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity.” That’d be the end; however, even with the irritating title, the novel wasn’t horrible.

The story begins with two girls who live in Baltimore with their single mother. Each sister has a goal they want to accomplish over spring break. Lulu, the youngest (and more mature), wants to go on her school’s cross-country college trip AND complete her interview for a summer internship program at Stanford, her dream school. Milagro, the middle sister, wants to do “it” for the first time with her jerk boyfriend, Pablo. Both girls face HUGE obstacles before they even get a chance to start. Their mom begins asking Lulu not to go away to Stanford for the summer. The oldest daughter, Clara, went off to college, and when she returned, she was an entirely different person. Mami and Clara now aren’t speaking. Mami doesn’t what happened with Clara to happen with her other two daughters. However, it’s Lulu’s dream to go to Stanford and work in conservation biology and staying in Baltimore could be sacrificing that dream forever. In order to get her mom to let her go and show her being away doesn’t change anything, Lulu must find a way to fix Clara and Mami’s relationship. While this is all going on, Milagro is being called in the principal’s office and as a result, finds out one of the honors students dropped out. Shockingly, Milagro, who’s not the D-minus student you’d expect her to be, is next in line.

Milagro, however, DOES NOT want to go. She simply has no interest in college and doesn’t see the point. Not to mention, it would wreck all her plans with Pablo. Her mother ends up forcing her. With no other choice but to go, Milagro invites Pablo over early. Nevertheless, before they do anything, she sees evidence of Pablo cheating on his phone. She breaks up with him and sends the punk on his way. Milagro must find a way to get over the breakup with her “perfect” boyfriend or find a way to get him back. The extremely opposite girls must accomplish completely opposite tasks with extremely opposite trials. However, on the journey, they might just find out they’re not that different after all and how important sisterhood will be throughout their lives.

Once you get past the title and the unbelievably aggravating boyfriend, the book isn’t terrible. It has a very important message of celebrating family differences AND the importance of sisterhood. However, even with the excellent messages, I couldn’t help but feel the coming-of-age/going-to-college storyline is a bit overdone. I also felt the story and actual author’s style was dumbed down.

In conclusion, this novel had many excellent morals, and I think it conveyed the coming-of-age storyline well. Still, if you’re looking for a book with quality and something you’ll remember for being an amazing book, you should pass. If you’re looking for just another stereotypical teenage novel, this is a good book for you. Angela Velez wasn’t a terrible writer, and I hope to see a little more creativity, growth, and substance in her next novel.

Indestructible Object by Mary McCoy

Reviewed by Sienna V.
Grade 11

Mary McCoy’s Indestructible Object is an enthralling love story that illustrates how artwork and love are one and the same. This book did not fail to grab the reader's interest with its lovable plot. With many twists and turns this book will leave you wanting more.

Lee and Vincent are both “artists in love” who ran a podcast under that name. When Vincent gets accepted into Howard University and has to move to Washington D.C, he has to make the hard decision to break up with his true love. This leaves Lee in shambles but she can't help but be happy for him. As time goes on her best friends Max and Risa are by her side. Lee is told that her dad may not actually be her biological father, so her best friend Max suggests a podcast to document their time trying to find out the truth. Will Lee and Vincent ever get back together? Is Lee going to solve the mystery of her parents?

I thought the plot of this book was amazing. I really enjoyed the layout that McCoy made to differentiate the podcast recording from the normal perspective. There were a few cheesy lines, but what's a good love story without them? This story has many diverse characters and a great representation of the LGBTQ+ community. I think that is very important to have and made this book much more realistic and interesting.

I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it to someone who is also into romance novels. I really liked the author's writing style and how she developed the characters. The characters in this book reminded me a lot of my own friends and family which was nice. I would definitely recommend this book!

Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach

Reviewed by Jules P.
Grade 10
expected publication: September 2021

High school and Feminism. Two words that seldom mix come together in this laugh-inducing, witty novel to create a fun and enlightening read that will have you wanting more.

In her anger over losing the election for editor-in-chief at her high school’s paper, “The Bugle,” Eliza Quan writes a manifesto against the winner Len DiMartile and the patriarchy he supposedly stands for. When the manifesto gets leaked by someone unknown, her life upends itself as the whole school goes to war over whether Len should have been elected, and over the much larger issue of sexism in the school environment. Unfortunately, Len just so happens to be annoyingly cute and inner turmoil persists as Eliza fights against the patriarchy, the face of whom she just might be crushing on.

Eliza Quan is a big fan of predictability, practicality, and large gray sweaters. Likably unlikeable, she is full of quick quips and brutal honesty that have the reader both feeling bad for her unlucky victim and cheering her on all at once. From aggressively editing her colleagues' less than amazing articles with harsh red ink to appearing on the morning announcements with a starling rally cry, Quan has you covered in all the best departments.

This is a fantastic book for young people who are fans of real-world problems sprinkled with relatable drama and dry humor. Anyone looking to learn further about the feminist movement in a fun and fast-paced way, look no further because this is the book for you. 

Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

In Tashie Bhuiyan’s upcoming novel Counting Down with You (to be released in May 2021), a teenage girl battles anxiety and severe familial expectations. Although the story itself was interesting and the plot had potential, I found it to be incohesive and simply too long.

Karina Ahmed is a sixteen year old Bangladeshi-Muslim American who is gravely afraid of disappointing her parents. Although she is proud to be a Muslim and embraces it, she believes her family is too conservative. When her parents fly to Bangladesh for a month, she is afforded a bit of freedom. But when she is roped into tutoring Ace Clyde (a boy with a questionable reputation), she begins to wonder if she is crossing too many lines--especially when they start pretending to date. But as she counts down the days until her parents’ return, a new thought grows more powerful in her heart: What does she want? Dare she even fight for it?

The story was interesting--it provided a chance to peek into a world and culture not portrayed in mainstream media. Likewise the plot held just enough to interest, but unfortunately, that flicker was all there was to it. Bhuiyan is a great writer, but she had Karina’s thoughts flying in all directions.

Chunks of text could have been cut out, and it would still be cohesive--more so, even. However, the biggest issue was neither the story nor the plot but the characters, specifically Karina. I appreciated the diversity, but I found myself disliking her--she seemed very rigid and even mean at times, especially to people who only showed her kindness, like Ace. While I understand that her family was extremely burdensome and her anxiety amplified her problems, that does not excuse much of her behavior. She often complained, told people they did not understand, and then had to be forced to communicate her grievances in a way that inspired change. Another thing I did not appreciate was the way her anxiety was written; it was not painted in a very educational or hopeful light and was not true to reality in many ways.

While promising, Counting Down with You disappointed me. It simply lacked the character development and action it needed. I would rate this as a two out of five stars.

Where the Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass

Reviewed by Anna M.
Grade 9

While Sarah Dass’s debut novel Where the Rhythm Takes You was not the best YA book I’ve read, it definitely was not the worst. It is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and if you’re looking for the similarities you can find many.

Taking place in Tobago, the novel began with Reyna, a seventeen-year-old girl trying to run her late mother’s hotel almost completely by herself. Then, like every other romance, her ex-boyfriend, Aiden, shows up with his bandmates and two women, one of which may or may not be his new girlfriend. Awkwardly, Reyna and Aiden decide to avoid each other, but since he’s staying at HER HOTEL…..well let’s just say that doesn’t happen. Aiden’s friends actually ask Reyna’s father for her to be their guide around Tobago. Her dad, who is completely ignorant of the romance once between Aiden and Reyna, agrees, wanting to give Reyna a fun vacation. By fate (or maybe just good luck), Aiden and Reyna are always thrown together, and Reyna finds herself falling in love again or maybe she just never stopped. Unselfishly, she is willing to sacrifice her dreams and happiness to live out her mom’s plans for her life. Worried about the hotel and her feelings with Aiden, Reyna feels the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Showing the experience of loss, love, and hope, this novel was definitely an interesting read. However, I found it hard to buy into the “never stopped loving you” fluff, especially since Aiden was hooking up with another girl during the time spent apart. Personally, I think if someone really loves somebody, they’re going to be loyal to that person, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion I guess. Overall, I thought the novel was a pretty generic YA romance, though it was unique that the setting was in the Caribbean. The writing was well done; therefore the cheesiness of the romance was forgivable. Ultimately, I think Sarah Dass is a good author and I look forward to reading more novels by her.

While it has romance novel stereotypes, it also has an originality that’s hard to pinpoint. This book was not a bad time-killer. I would not recommend this book to someone who does not like romance, but if you do, give it a try.

Accidental by Alex Richards

Reviewed by Natalie M.
Grade 9

Have you ever made a mistake that you find difficult to forgive yourself for? Are you up to date on the gun violence issues in America? Have you experienced a period of time where your mental health just isn’t where it should be? These are all things Johanna Carlson must deal with in this heart-wrenching, and strong-willed novel Accidental by Alex Richards (coming soon to WPPL!). This book will take you on a roller coaster of emotions and make you really feel for the characters.

Johanna Carlson is a 16-year-old girl in Nevada who has lived with her grandparents ever since her mom died in a car accident when she was two. She enjoys hanging with her two best friends, Leah and Gabby, sewing clothing and listening to old music. Her life is very normal. It was, that is, until her father who she hasn’t seen in over 13 years and she doesn’t even really remember, suddenly makes contact with her. During only their second meeting, he drops a bombshell on her that she could have never prepared for. He reveals that her mother had in fact not been in a car accident, but she had been shot by two-year-old Johanna. Upon learning this information, Johanna’s life is turned upside down as she has to learn to live with herself after what she has done.

The plot of the book rotated between heavy, awkward, and intriguing for a majority of the time with some light humor and jokes sprinkled in. The heaviness is present in a lot of the book as Johanna deals with the fact that she killed her mother and that no one really knows how she feels. You have to read through her panic attacks, which the author describes amazingly, and Johanna having difficulty forgiving herself. It can be awkward when she is yelling at someone or at one point when she gets a little tipsy and starts talking to strangers about how she shot her mom. It gets intriguing when she starts talking to a new boy she has met at school and when she confronts her grandparents with questions about her mother, who they refuse to speak about. There are also light little jokes sprinkled throughout the novel, and nice moments where Johanna and her friends are just being regular high schoolers. Overall, I enjoyed the plot besides a few awkward encounters. I thought it was well written and that the side characters were very relatable.

Overall I give this book a four out five stars, and would definitely recommend it to a friend. I really enjoyed how relatable Johanna’s friends are, because they have difficulty being able to cheer her up and don’t always know what to say. It loses a point due to the fact that I found Johanna very annoying at some points. I understand that she was going through a lot, but she unfairly took her anger out on a lot of people who did not deserve it. However I still think this book is a great read, and also it brings awareness to the gun violence issues in America.

Everything Sad is Untrue (a True Story) by Daniel Nayeri

Reviewed by Hope M.
Grade 11

Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story) is a novel describing the childhood of author and narrator Daniel (Khosrou) Nayeri. Usually, I don’t read many autobiographical books for fun, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. The narrative is powerful and raw, filled with wisdom and lessons for everyone.

Daniel is a refugee from Iran, attempting to share his story with his fellow students in Mrs. Miller’s class. Despite the fact that many call him a liar, he digs deep into his memories to communicate thoughts and feelings of his past not only with his classmates but also with the reader. Daniel describes tales about his ancestors, family, friends, and stepfather, and all the ways these people have influenced his life. Additionally, he imparts knowledge about Persian culture and the persecutions his family faced in traveling to a new country, as well as struggles that occurred before and after emigration. Ultimately, the author creates a tale of both fiction and nonfiction, recalling his memories as best he can.

I absolutely loved this story. Nayeri’s style of writing was so different from what I typically read as the book wasn’t really written in chronological order. Instead, the narrator jumped around from one memory of his life to another, making it more genuine and relatable to me because I believe that’s how we as human beings tend to think: more jumbled than organized. The author also introduced many thought-provoking circumstances and questions that caused me to muse in ways I haven’t before. For example, he asks, “And what if, like a rug, [memories] are flawed? Memories are just stories we tell ourselves, after all. What if we are telling ourselves lies?” (Nayeri 349). The whole book was full of perspectives like this. 

Furthermore, I loved the strength that his mother had. Daniel portrays her as tough, not because she is unbreakable but because she is unstoppable. Even though she was persecuted, she did not take on a victim mentality; rather, she persevered in faith because that was the right thing to do, regardless of any consequences that could occur. In my opinion, the author used humor, sadness, insight, and hope to construct a masterpiece.

Being a true story, I know it will offer people awareness about immigration, survival, and religious persecution. There are other deep topics introduced in the book, like physical abuse, that are hard to read, but they certainly add to the authenticity of the novel. I think this story has a lot of heart and wisdom that many will enjoy, so I highly recommend giving Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story) a shot. You won't regret it!

Black History Month Recommended Reads

In honor of Black History Month, the Winter Park Library's Teen Book Guild read multiple novels written by black authors. The books presented on the list below offer valuable insight into African American lives, demonstrate remarkable character development, and teach important lessons throughout each story. From classics set in the 1800s to novels established in present day, these books will not only be enjoyable reads, but they will also help individuals develop a better understanding of a very significant culture.

Anna recommends Inventing Victoria

Tonya Bolden’s Inventing Victoria took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. It showed the hardship of growing up in difficult circumstances and the beauty of rising above and overcoming it. If you want a great African American History Month read, then I totally recommend this book.

Hope recommends Their Eyes Were Watching God

In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston clearly depicts the fictional story of Janie Crawford, a black woman determined to live her own life in a world where she is largely controlled by others. Published in 1937, this narrative follows Janie through three marriages and much tribulation. Through it all, Janie discovers there are “two things everybody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves” (p 192). Despite being a fictional novel, Hurston brings much of the early twentieth-century African American culture to life in this entertaining read.

Lauren recommends Flygirl

Flygirl is an inspiring piece of fiction and a memorial to the bravery of African American women during World War II. Throughout the book, Sherri L. Smith fleshed out her characters with skill and empathy and enabled the reader to connect with the characters and various situations that arose. Smith’s wartime novel will keep readers guessing all the way through, as bravery and loyalties are tested and forged.

Maansi recommends Dear Justyce

In Dear Justyce, author Nic Stone explores the thoughts and situations of an innocent, black young man dealing with being in prison. It gives readers insight into something that they might not really understand or want to learn more about. Nic Stone does an amazing job showing the discrimination and injustice that is faced every day. 

Monsters Among Us by Monica Rodden

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

In our everyday lives, we tend to not think of victims of any kind. Monica Rodden set out to change that with her book, Monsters Among Us. While the description promised a thriller, I found it to be only slightly harrowing, with a lot of time for thought and reflection, and very little action.

The story centers on Catherine Ellers, who has recently returned from her freshman semester in college after being assaulted. It begins with her at home in the wake of the attack, where she expects to cope and recuperate in peace. But peace is not in store for her. When a friend of hers is murdered, it shatters her, and she embarks on a quest to find the murderer. But because nothing in life is simple, there is a young man by the name of Andrew Worthington, whose connection to her goes far deeper than she expected. She now must venture into the part of her mind that blocked the memory of who he is-and she must find the killer.

The message of this book is hard to pin down because there are so many themes and subplots. There is an overall theme of Wuthering Heights, with a modern, sinister twist to it, and it deals heavily with violence against women. The characters are interesting, and there is great promise with the mystery of Andrew Worthington. Catherine is understandably incapable of trusting anyone, and works hard to put the past behind her. She relates to people well, and is a great friend. The secondary characters are also interesting, such as her childhood friend Henry, whom she enlists to help her. While they are interesting, though, they could stand to be fleshed out a bit more. The POV also switches according to what happened in the previous chapter, which can be a bit confusing because sometimes Rodden does not explain everything.

This book comes with such heavy themes that I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone. If you like activism for women’s rights and can handle strong language, then this book may be for you. A similar book I would recommend is Damsel by Elana K. Arnold. While I agree with the overall message of the book, there are so many underlying ones that it led to confusion. Because of these two reasons, I would give this book a 3/5 star rating.

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Reviewed by Maansi C.
Grade 11

In the book Dear Justyce by Nic Stone, the author explores the thoughts and situations of an innocent, black young man dealing with being in prison.

Dear Justyce explains the thoughts and situations of a character named Vernell LaQuan Banks aka Quan serving time for something he didn’t do. He writes letters to his friend Justyce McAllister, who is the main character in Dear Martin, about his life in prison. Aside from the letters, each chapter also has snapshots that show instances that affect Quan's life. Some are in the present and others are situations that led to Quan being in prison. Through all the information that is learned through the snapshots and letters in the chapters, Justyce is able to try and figure out a way to help Quan out with the situation that he is in.

Author Nic Stone uses different media when writing the book. The letters give you insight as to how Quan is feeling when he is in prison and trying to talk to the outside. It makes you sympathize with him because of the emotion you feel when you read them, but that is not always shown in what he writes in the letter. The snapshots bring another element to the book. It shows the different situations that the author believes are important to the premise of the book. You can see the different situations that lead to Quan being wrongly accused and also what is happening to help him in the present. Nic Stone always comes up with interesting ways to portray her stories across and this is a great example.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested. It gives you insight into something that you might not really understand or want to learn more about. Nic Stone does an amazing job showing the discrimination and injustice that is faced every day. 

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

What lengths would you go to in order to achieve your dream? This is the central question of Sherri L. Smith’s novel, Flygirl, which takes place in the early 1940s. In a land plagued by Jim Crow laws, one courageous girl takes to the skies against all odds.

A bright, eighteen-year-old named Ida Mae Jones is working as a housemaid and saving money for flight lessons in Chicago. Because of her light-skin, she has been afforded with alternatives to being colored, known as “passing”, even though it goes against her morals. When she hears about the WASP program, she seizes the opportunity to become a pilot for the Army and begins passing to make her dream happen. However, she encounters more problems than she planned for, including discrimination against women. Now she is forced to make a choice: will she turn against her own people and self in order to not get caught? Or will she be true to herself, no matter what?

I found the struggle in this book to be compelling. I was able to identify with the character and the struggles she went through as she battled with herself, asking where the line is drawn between right and wrong. However, I found the author’s style to be a bit light-hearted, and she skipped around the weightier matters that would have given the characters in the book more depth. Ida Mae is kind and honest, and she bonds quickly with people, but because the narration mostly told instead of showed, I was not able to properly understand and get to know the side characters other than on a superficial level. For example, the reader never really sees Walter Jenkins, but he is an important fixture in the book. In addition, the plot has promise but likewise was not as developed as I thought it would be. Although she comes into conflict because of her skin tone, Ida is generally focused on the war, as others around her are. There is a little conflict about women’s rights, but that too went mostly unexplored, which is a shame because it would have added a bit more nuance to the book. 

Overall I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. Despite limited character development and conflict, the plot has promise and the conflict is powerful. Ida Mae really grows and comes into her own, and I loved how she stayed true to her values. Because of this I would recommend this book to others and I sincerely hope they enjoy it. 

Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

Reviewed by Hope M.
Grade 11

As I was considering what new book I should read, Be Not Far From Me grabbed my attention. I skimmed through the plot summary on the inside cover of the book and thought it might be an interesting story. However, upon reading the first few pages, I realized this was not going to be a page-turner. In comparison to the summary, the actual story was dull, illogical, and to be honest, uneventful.

The tale centers on Ashley Hawkins, a poor teenager who has a love for running and aspires to develop a future with that passion. She also appears to be deeply knowledgeable of nature. The story begins with a hike that Ashley, her friends, and her boyfriend take in the Smoky Mountains, just out for a night of drinking and partying. However, when Ashley finds her boyfriend cheating on her, she races off randomly into the darkness. Only when she plummets into a ravine does she stop her mad dash. The rest of the book is her attempt to escape the forest with a gruesome injury on her leg. Ashley must put her survival skills to the test, and when her own mentor didn’t make it out alive, what chance does she possibly have?

Although the plot sounds exciting at first glance, I found the novel to be quite boring. Because Ashley was by herself for roughly 95% of the story, there wasn’t as much dialogue as I prefer in books. Additionally, it never felt like there was a climax. Even though different circumstances arose, the tone felt the same the entire time I was reading, giving the story a very uneventful vibe. The fact that Ashley, who is apparently gifted in the ways of nature and KNEW the dangers of leaving the trail, couldn’t remember how foolish it would be to do just that is pretty far-fetched. I understand that being cheated on is a traumatic experience, but it still didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone unless you enjoy reading something that's almost all description with little social interaction. As I mentioned previously, the novel was really a “straight line” in terms of excitement. While I think a good lesson was provided at the end, I would tell anyone who is considering this book to leave it on the shelf. Once you’ve read the plot summary, you’ve read the whole book.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Katherine Webber

Reviewed by Lacey R.
Grade 11

Most people have a place they go when they need a break from life, where they go for solitude, peace, or just to feel nothing. There could be a certain room in one’s house, a diner, a park, or even the beach, but for 17-year-old Reiko Smith-Mori, it is the California desert. Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Katherine Webber is a book filled with romance and intrigue--the story of a girl who had it all: the looks, the grades, the confidence, but all that changed when she lost her sister. She finds peace and solitude in the desert, and unexpectedly, a boy. This book relays the ups and downs of the pair’s relationship, if it could even call it that.

Reiko, is what one would call “an average teenage girl,” but she is far from average. She struggles with maintaining her veil of perfection, which can be depicted through her thoughts and sometimes extreme action. What those around her don't see is that she is not well, she is grieving her sister's loss, and moreover, repressing it. Someone stands in her way and isn't letting her move on--her sister, Mika, who she still sees and talks to as if she has not passed. Reiko, to escape the heartache of her sister, often escapes to the desert to relax. One night when she wanders out to the desert, she runs into a boy. They bond over a dreamlike moment of time, with the bright moon casting a soft glow across the abyss and the serenity of the desert night. The next day she sees him at school, and over time their relationship grows, until it doesn't. They unexpectedly and slowly grow apart, both dealing with dramatic changes. Reiko has to navigate her world of popularity contests, suppressed emotions and grief, and now a rocky relationship that may have been doomed from the start.

The book has a well-thought-out plot, yet character development would have made the read much more enjoyable. The plot follows the main character and her struggle of losing a loved one, with small scenes and short chapters, but the timeline becomes confusing. The rapid pace only deterred the characterization. The characterization, or lack thereof, seemingly changed the message of the book. While the author is trying to show the negative effects of miscommunications, there wasn't much communication between the writer and the audience. Emotions were told directly through the internal dialogue of the main character instead of actions or reactions. 

The book was a quick read, and seemed as if it were a quick write as well. There were chapters that did nothing for the plot, only reiterated something that was already known, useless conversations between characters, spontaneous trips that were only set up for later chapters to reveal something unimportant. There were many clichés in the book, with lines written in a way that it seems I have read them before, such as  “You’re selfish and spoiled, and usually you can get away with it, because you’re beautiful and charming,” which shows an overplayed arc and cheap characterization that is directly revealed to the audience.

Overall, if you are looking for a quick read for a school project, this is it, but if you are looking for a good book with a cute romance story, I would not recommend Only Love Can Break Your Heart. It seems as if the book was written in a short amount of time, with little attention to character development, conflict, and plot. The moral was produced in a way that was slightly insulting to the readers, such as a Disney movie about never judging a book by its cover; this book’s moral is that you never know what is going on with someone else and a lack of communication can be detrimental. The deeper moral, that was scattered throughout the chapters with a repetitive trope and a rocky relationship, was that to move past something, you must accept it first, which is of course a good lesson to learn, but in this book it seemed cheap. A book with a similar lesson would be The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds, which goes about accepting loss and love, in a more defined and readable way.