Summary: The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age novel that centers around Holden Caulfield, a young protagonist who seeks to protect innocence. Holden's desire to shield children from the hypocrisy and artificiality of the adult world drives him on a journey of self-discovery. However, he faces numerous obstacles, both external and internal, as he grapples with isolation, disillusionment, and encounters with insincerity.
Summary: The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls by Jessica Spotswood is a heartfelt contemporary young adult novel that follows the lives of the four Garrett sisters: Des, Bea, Kat, and Vi. Each sister yearns for something different. Des dreams of a career in fashion, but finances and societal expectations stand in her way. Bea seeks love, yet she fears rejection. Kat craves independence but is weighed down by responsibilities. Vi, the youngest, yearns for adventure but feels held back by her age.
Hatchet is a book about Brian who starts out flying to visit his dad. After an unexpected accident, the plane is thrown off course leaving Brian stranded in the middle of the Canadian forest. Brian has to learn to survive with only a hatchet and the resources around him until he’s rescued. This book has a lot of suspense and cliffhangers. The writing in this book is really great because the author uses a lot of figurative language and descriptive words.
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs is a book about a boy named Ben Ripley who has wanted to be a spy his whole life. He has the best math skills anyone has ever encountered and can recite any sequence of numbers by heart. One day his dreams become a reality. He is sent to the mysterious Spy School of espionage. Once there he understands that spying is not like the movies, there is pain, destruction, and betrayal. Along with that, there are also friends, family, trust, and bonds.
Summary: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan is a heartwarming novel that follows the story of Willow Chance, a 12-year-old genius with an unconventional worldview. After the sudden death of her adoptive parents, Willow finds herself navigating a world that seems chaotic and unfamiliar. The narrative combines together themes of grief, resilience, and the power of unexpected connections as Willow forms a unique and diverse makeshift family.
Summary: Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil is a young adult novel that revolves around the life of Sam Kinnison, a high school student with a passion for filmmaking and a love for science fiction. Set in a typical Australian high school, the story explores themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery. Sam and his group of friends navigate the challenges of adolescence, dealing with the complexities of relationships and the pursuit of personal goals.
After almost a full year of staying at the Hawthorne Estate, it turns out, almost nothing is what it seems. Toby, who hasn’t made an appearance in months, suddenly shows up. Eve does too, coming back into the picture and perhaps doing so intentionally as to pursue her goal. Main character Avery Grambs persists in solving Tobias Hawthorne’s puzzles, but her journey doesn’t end there. She finds that it all will come down to a chess game (and her wits).
In The Hawthorne Legacy, main character Avery Grambs continues to search for the answers within billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s puzzles and mysteries embedded within the walls of the Hawthrone Estate. Her mother’s game of “secrets” continues to replay in her mind as she struggles to differentiate her manipulative illusions with reality, all while debating her love situation with the Hawthrone brothers.
Shade Me written by Jennifer Brown is a YA fiction about crime, mystery, and murder. The main character Nikki Kill has lived her whole life with a condition called synesthesia. This causes her senses to overlap and gives her the ability to see colors when presented with emotions, information, and various other experiences. One day she receives a mysterious call from the hospital asking for her help to identify a young woman in critical condition and Nikki’s number is the only one listed in this Jane Doe’s phone.
