As the prequel to the well-known Hunger Games trilogy, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes allows the reader to explore the motives behind the villain of the original series. We get to dive deeper into Coriolanus Snows’ teenage years and see his thoughts to get a richer understanding of him. The book is set 64 years before the original series, during the 10th annual Hunger Games. Coriolanus Snow is an academy student in the Capitol. The students are all assigned tributes to mentor.
Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian follows a girl held captive by a brutal monarch (the Kaiser) in the land his people (the Kalovaxians) conquered, the land that was originally her home (Astrea). While the Kalovaxians call her Thora, her name is Theodosia Eirene Houzzara (Theo for short). Theo watched her mother get killed when she was 6, and ever since then she has been living in fear of the abusive Theyn and Kaiser, waiting for someone to rescue her and trying to bury the girl she used to be.
This work by Shakespeare is a historical drama. As such, it depicts the events prior to, leading up to, and after the murder of the historical figure Julius Caesar. The play explains the role of authoritative power, selfish interest, and conflicting thoughts on the war of mankind. Caesar himself wanted to be the almighty leader of the Roman Empire but was killed by individuals who predicted tyranny if such was to come to fruition.
Lord of the Flies revolves around a group of young boys that become trapped on an island. They are left to survive by themselves as they attempt to discover civilization, chaos, and the impact of an individual on a community. The book allows for the discussion of many critical aspects of civilization, the fragility of communities, and the power of self-interest.
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical allegory that uses a group of farm animals to illustrate the rise of totalitarianism and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. The animals, led by the pigs who overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones, establish a society based on the principles of equality and freedom. However, as the pigs gain power, they become corrupted, mirroring the oppressive regime they initially rebelled against.
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich focuses on the story of Evan Hansen. Evan is a socially awkward, introverted person. He looks for ways to be in the background, as he uses online media as a way of shielding himself from other people around him. After a classmate of his dies by suicide, the family of the student accidentally believed that Evan was his close friend. He feels responsible for doing something to uplift the family even though he had nothing to do with the classmate.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a classic that brilliantly mixes big ideas like the ethics of science, the consequences of playing God, and deep human emotions. Shelley tells a story that's not just about what happens when science goes too far, but also about the intense sadness and loneliness felt by the monster, a result of science without limits.
The Lord of the Flies is a compelling novel set during World War 2, about a group of British boys whose plane crashed, leaving them stranded on an uninhabited island. All boys are around 12 and younger. Since there are no adults, they have to form their own society, and elect a boy named Ralph as leader. He appoints Jack, a power-hungry kid who was leader of his choir, as second-in-command, who is in charge of all the hunters now.
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer is the fourth and final book in the Twilight series. The story continues to follow the romantic relationship between Bella Swan, a human, and Edward Cullen, a vampire. The narrative unfolds in three parts: the preparation and celebration of Bella and Edward's wedding, Bella's challenging pregnancy with their half-vampire, half-human daughter, Renesmee, and the consequences of the birth on Bella's life.
When reading It Ends With Us, the book had many emotional twists. From having happy moments like when she got her flower shop to more disturbing moments with Ryle. This book is a very easy read for those who want to start reading more.
