The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a book that really spoke to me. It takes us back to the 1960s, a time of division and clashes between different social groups. As I delved into the story, I found myself connecting with Ponyboy Curtis, the teenage narrator and member of the Greasers, a close-knit gang of working-class boys. Ponyboy's journey is one of self-discovery and resilience in the face of adversity.
Romeo and Juliet, the unforgettable play by the brilliant William Shakespeare, is a deeply human story that tugs at the strings of our hearts. It takes place in the enchanting city of Verona, Italy, where two young souls find themselves entangled in a long-standing feud between their families.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is a young adult fantasy fiction novel set in the world of the Fae. The story follows Jude Duarte, a human girl thrown into the world of Faerie after a tragic event as a child. She is accompanied by her twin sister Taryn and their older sister Vivi, who is part Fae. Jude and Taryn are ridiculed throughout the novel for their humanity, and Jude has a strong desire to prove her power and worth to the Faerie.
Do Hard Things is exactly what it sounds like the whole book is how to do hard things. Alex Harris talks about his experience with hard things and shares the stories of others to help motivate people. The book is split up chapter by chapter and focuses on different aspects of doing hard things and how teens need to break the ideology of laziness. Teens in the current day are looked at as soft, unsuccessful, and dependent on others.
Two eleven-year-olds who are the primary protagonists of this story are searching for the reason behind the magician's demise. Ms. Mauvis and Dr. L, two enigmatic and terrible individuals, are attempting to learn this secret. Another eleven-year-old is abducted as they search for the truth. They now needed to learn what had happened to him and how to get away from the dangerous repercussions that awaited them.
This book is one I picked up before going to bed, and I was absolutely intrigued throughout the novel. A young boy with facial deformities navigates his way through fifth grade, and it’s not easy. Throughout this novel, the reader gets an insight of many characters, their perspectives, and coping mechanisms. A lot of the novels I read are about fantasy, mystery, and “out-of-the-world” challenges, but this one was a calm and interesting read. This is a book that can definitely be read by some elementary schoolers, but as a high schooler I still enjoyed reading this novel.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a popular mystery book written by Holly Jackson. The book starts off by introducing the main character Pippa Fitz-Amobi. As a senior in high school, she chooses to do her final project on the murder of Andie Bell. A few years ago, this murder case was quickly closed as officials pinned Sal Singh, Andie’s boyfriend, to be her alleged murderer. However, Sal died a few days after Andie’s death.
Vira, Ronak, Riya, and Kaleb, royal siblings, have different agendas, wishes, and secrets. Ashoka’s dying source of magic leads them to the Ivory Key, which can make each of their wishes come true. However, there is a perilous journey ahead of them and their strained relationship hinders them in their path. They band together to find the Ivory Key for their own agendas. They get closer together and decide how to use their newfound power.
We have all grown up in a country where democracy has continuously been advocated, fought for, and has even pandered peace, but sometimes we fail to see why that happens. Animal Farm takes you on a journey on how a totalitarian regime rises, progresses, and ultimately oppresses. This novel allowed me to view not only communism but democracy from a different lens that I never inherently comprehended prior to reading this book.
Throughout history, people have grown a perception of incapability or some sense of inferiority when it comes to previously colonized countries and their effort to resist. However, what most people, including the media, fail to see is the brutality, traps, and negligence within the imperial system. Chinua Achebe dives into how the conservative and diverse traditions of an Igbo society changed after colonization by the British. Here’s my favorite part of this book: the reader is able to have an insight not from the colonizers, but rather the colonized.
