Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a classic novel that explores the dark aspects of human nature. The story begins with a group of British boys stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes during wartime. Initially, they attempt to establish order and rules, electing a leader, Ralph.
In Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, a Chinese American family lives in Ohio during the 1970s. Lydia, a teenager and the middle child, is pressured by her parents to live the life they didn’t have. Her mother pushes her to be a doctor while her father constantly encourages her to socialize with others as a chance to be popular at school. One day, Lydia is found dead at the neighborhood lake. This novel unravels the cause of her death by exploring each member of her family and sharing their stories.
R.J. Palacio’s Wonder is a story about 10-year-old August Pullman with a genetically different facial appearance. He goes to a public school for the first time and encounters many conflicts. As soon as Auggie walks in on his first day he is flooded with many stares. People try to stay away from him, which makes Auggie feel not accepted by his peers. Two students named Jack and Summer do become friends with Auggie. The book follows Auggie’s journey through school and the ups and downs of his life.
Taking place post-apocalyptic, this story follows a father and son’s journey to the sea, in an attempt to find something or someone who could help them. This was an interesting read, as McCarthy has a unique writing style with this book: no chapters, no parts, just ill-grammar words. Although those very aspects made it not my favorite read, it was vital in defining the story’s atmosphere.
The Hunger Games is a story about a dystopian society of Panem, where two youngsters from each of the twelve districts participate in the Hunger Games. The players must kill each other and survive in the wilderness until only one remains. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl who volunteers to participate in the games instead of her younger sister, Prim. The other tribute from District 12 is a boy named Peeta. Katniss lives in District 12 with her mother and sister.
Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl is a story about a teenage girl named Stargirl. She has been homeschooled all her life and is sort of the unusual type. Stargirl starts attending Mica High School, quickly settling in as a peculiar student. Leo, just an ordinary student, is interested in her due to her unusualness. The book follows Stargirl’s life in high school through Leo’s perspective. It features much character transformation.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland is a gripping alternative history novel set in post-Civil War America, where the dead rise and roam the land following the Battle of Gettysburg. The story follows Jane McKeene, a young African American girl trained as a skilled zombie hunter at Miss Preston's School of Combat. While navigating a society still plagued by racism and prejudice, Jane finds herself entangled in a conspiracy that threatens to upend the fragile balance of power.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The main character Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem and widowed father Atticus, who is a well-known lawyer in their community. In their neighborhood there is a spooky house called the Radley Place, no one knows what goes in there and there are many conspiracies regarding it. Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill were always curious, and they always played around the Radley house.
The Smartest Kid in the Universe, Evil Genius is a riveting book about middle schooler Jake, who gained lots of intelligence through secret jellybeans. He was deemed the smartest kid in the universe, but what if the jellybeans wear off? After a new batch of smarty beans goes missing, Jake worries about not being the smartest anymore. Through a series of puzzles, his friends help him search for treasure to prove his theory wrong.
The novel Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yoko Ogawa is a collection of short horror stories that all connect to each other. Yoko Ogawa serves as a spider who has created intricate webs that tie these stories together, which she does flawlessly. While reading the book, I found it impossible to put it down. There were no unnecessary descriptions or dialogue; all stories got straight to the point. That is what kept me on my toes.
