Dune by Frank Herbert is an interstellar tale set on the inhospitable desert planet of Arrakis (Dune), a place that holds a substance called the “spice” melange. This substance is highly coveted due to its magical properties, and as a result, many wars have been waged over it. The story follows the young heir of Arrakis, Paul Atreides, after his house is betrayed and his father killed.
1984 is a dystopian novel of a state in which the government, led by Big Brother, controls everything, including people's thoughts and actions. Winston Smith is the protagonist who begins to resist the Party's rule and searches for truth in a world full of lies. In seeking knowledge of the world he is living, he faces the dangers of surveillance, strict laws, and suppression of independent thought. The novel deals with the themes of power, control, and fighting for freedom.
Twice as Hard by Jasmine Brown is a nonfiction book detailing the black female physicians of past and present. The book details how female doctors were not allowed to practice medicine until nearly the 1900’s, and black women trying to enter medical school were very uncommon. The book is written by detailing specific women's lives, showing the diversity they faced not only because they were black, but because they were women.
Written in the Bone by Sue Black is a nonfiction book about forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropology is the study and practice of examining bones to determine how both people of the past and present lived/died. Sue Black writes the book by giving anatomical facts mixed with personal experiences of working as a forensic anthropologist.
Legendary is the second book in the famous Caraval series, which I picked up for my school’s book club. After Tella mking a desperate bargain with a mysterious stranger to save her sister Scarlett, the sisters must travel back to the Caraval to deliver him a secret never before uncovered; the true name of the master of the Caraval.
I give Cujo by Stephen King a 5 out of 5 rating. Stephen King is known for being a great horror/thriller author and is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. He has also written It, The Shining, Pet Sematary, and The Green Mile. This book looked appealing to me since I recognized the author's name. The book is about Cujo, a dog that gets bitten by a bat and gets infected with rabies. The rest of the story demonstrates the impact that he has on the humans around him.
Salt to the Sea is a haunting and beautifully written historical fiction novel that talks about one of the greatest marine disasters in history—the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945.
Anthem by Ayn Rand explores individualism, freedom, and the role of the collective in society. The main character Equality 7-2521 is faced with the harsh decision between giving in to the great "We", thereby giving his life to the idea that everyone has a place in society, but you do not get a personal identity or abandoning everything he had ever been taught in the sake of learning about what it means to be a unique person.
In Kristy Boyce’s novel Dating and Dragons, Quinn Norton moved across Ohio to be closer to her eccentric grandma and to start a fresh chapter in her friendships, but now she has to face entering a brand-new school in the middle of her junior year. Things start looking up for Quinn when she meets and flirts with a cute guy named Logan Weber. Additionally, she is invited to join a D&D party at her new school, perfect since her last one utterly imploded.
“And I was so afraid, only I didn’t know what I was afraid of.”
Gemma lives with her mother Virginia in house next to a forest with an enchanted gateway. Despite constant warning from her mother never to go near the fairyland, her curiosity gets the better of her and she wanders into a new world. But not everything is as it seems, and her mother has been hiding the truth from her. Whether it was for her own protection or not, remains to be seen.
