The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a dystopian novel by Suzanne Collins, serving as a prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy. The story is set in the Capitol of Panem during the early years of the Hunger Games, focusing on the character of Coriolanus Snow, who later becomes the ruthless President Snow. The novel explores his journey from a privileged but struggling teenager to a calculating and power-hungry young man, as he mentors a tribute from District 12 in the 10th Hunger Games.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself by Frederick Douglass is a book about personal experience based on being enslaved. He writes this book on how he and other slaves were traded, and how he overcomes his situations. He then works to help other slaves and speak out to abolish slavery.
We Deserve Monuments is a debut novel. But you wouldn’t be able to tell, it’s just that well written. A beautiful, heart-wrenching coming of age story, Jas Hammonds wove a tale of generational trauma, love, racism, homophobia, and what really matters. This was recommended to me by Goodreads because I read Pet (by Akwaeke Emezi), and I at first marked it as TBR because of the cover. Then, I read the premise.
Every 100 years the Lightlark island reappears, and every 100 years the six rulers of the realms gather to try and break their curses. Isla has never been to one before and she doesn’t have a choice but to walk away from this centennial with the curse broken. But with twists and turns along the way she faces a multitude of challenges that make the job harder. There’s the King and Ruler of Sunling, Oro who despises her. She’s not quite sure why but she understands that he’s suspicious of her.
Lennie’s’ sister is dead. Unsure of what to do in a world without her sister the The Sky is Everywhere explores Lennie’s grief and relationships that form through her grief. There’s Toby who was her sisters’ boyfriend and seems to understand how she’s feeling. Despite knowing it’s wrong she finds herself drawn to him and can’t stop finding her way back to him. The encompasses her with total guilt. Then there’s Joe. Joe is magical, he makes her feel like a new person and she feels brighter around him.
Harry Potter lived with the Dursley’s, and they made his life miserable. He lived in the cupboard under the stairs and was bullied by their son. But then a mysterious letter with an invitation to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrived and changed his life…
The fate of the entire world is in Percy's hands as he is destined by an ancient prophecy to either destroy or save the world. As Kronos, the Lord of the Titans, begins his attack on New York City to destroy Mount Olympus, it is up to Percy and his friends from Camp Half-blood to stop Kronos.
Kronos’s army is preparing to invade and destroy camp half-blood by passing through its impenetrable borders by an ancient labyrinth. To stop them, Percy and his friends must go on a quest through the labyrinth and find its creator…
Percy’s friend Annabeth is missing and a goddess has been chained. Only five half-bloods can join the quest to stop the titans and save the day but not all of them will return…
Percy returns to camp half-blood after a disastrous end to his school year to find out that the camp is in danger and the only way to save it is to find the golden fleece or else they will be overrun and invaded by monsters. The second book in the series, The Sea of Monsters, is a nice, condensed book full of action.
