Hatchet is a novel by Gary Paulsen that is a descriptive look at a near-death survival situation and explores feelings of loneliness, though being more descriptive about the main character’s (Brian) mode of survival. The book takes place in the Canadian frontier wilderness where Brian crashes after the pilot of the small Cessna that is driving him to see his divorced father crashes. Armed with only a hatchet, he must carve up a living alone in the wilderness.
Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erksine, is a deep and moving poetic book that shows Caitlin, a girl with Asperger’s whose brother is killed in a school shooting. Ever since the incident, the world has become shades of gray. It is her story of coping with her loss and dealing with the struggles of the world. A heartfelt piece, it is an approachable yet touching story about loss. The main character is a fifth grader, making the language approachable.
The initial installment in J.K. Rowling's renowned Harry Potter series, this book follows 11-year-old Harry as he receives an invitation to Hogwarts, a school of witchcraft and wizardry. Discovering a plot by a powerful wizard to obtain the sorcerer's stone for immortality, Harry, accompanied by loyal friends Hermione and Ron, ventures to thwart the evil plan. It is filled with imaginative elements, such as a gripping scene where Harry catches a flying golden ball on his broomstick.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a historical fiction book by Harper Lee. The book takes place in Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. The book is from the perspective of Scout as she and her older brother Jem learn about racism and prejudice through their father's defense of a black man accused of rape. They witness the injustice of the legal system and the racism of their community.
This Boy is a roughly written attempt to relate to a teenage audience about sex, teenage life, and addiction. In this book, Paul goes through high school with his faithful friend Roby Smalls and falls in love with a girl, Natalia, while coming through age and suffering through the teenage experience.
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott.Fitzgerald is a novel set in the roaring twenties in Long Island, New York. The narrator, Nick Carraway meets Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire who throws extravagant parties.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets by Jon Turteltaub is a historical adventure movie that is a sequel to National Treasure. The movie is about Benjamin Gates and his friends Riley and Abigail as he sets out to clear his family's name by uncovering the truth behind the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Along with his team, Gates travels around the world to decipher clues and solve puzzles that lead them to a hidden city of gold.
National Treasure by Jon Turteltaub is a historical adventure movie. Benjamin Gates is a historian and code-breaker that sets out with his friend Riley to steal the Declaration of Independence. They are trying to protect the Declaration from being taken by other treasure hunters who want to take the Gates’ family treasure for themselves. Ben and Riley, with other historians that join them along the way, they work together to decipher historical clues that will eventually lead to the treasure.
Summary: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen follows the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth Bennet, as they navigate the social norms and expectations of 19th-century England. The novel explores themes of marriage, class, and gender roles. The arrival of the wealthy Mr. Darcy in the neighborhood sparks both attraction and disdain, leading to a series of misunderstandings and romantic entanglements.
Summary: A dystopian novel set in a future society where everyone undergoes a surgery at the age of 16 to become “pretty” and move on to live in a perfect world. Tally Youngblood, the protagonist, can’t wait to turn 16 and become pretty until she meets a girl, Shay, who wants to remain “ugly” and live outside the city. Shay runs away before her surgery, forcing Tally to find her and bring her back to the city. During her journey, Tally discovers the truth about the surgery and the dark secrets that the government has hidden.
