Summary: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick is a dystopian science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic future where Earth is devastated by nuclear war, and most of the population has emigrated to other planets. The story follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tasked with "retiring" rogue androids that have escaped to Earth. The novel explores themes of empathy, identity, and the blurred line between humans and artificial beings.
Summary: Beloved tells the story of Sethe, an escaped slave, living with her daughter, Denver. The novel starts with the runaway of Sethe’s two sons, Howard and Buglar, and the death of her mother-in-law, Baby Suggs. These events open the theme of the story and introduce the malevolent baby ghost who haunts 124. As more characters show, the novel begins to entwine past and present, revealing flashbacks of Sethe’s past in slavery. With the appearance of Paul D, the main conflict begins to unfold.
Summary: My Side of the Mountain is a coming-of-age story featuring Sam Gribley, who leaves his family’s crowded New York City apartment for his great-grandfather Gribley’s land. The bulk of the story takes place within the Catskill Mountains of New York, where Sam learns to survive off the land and make new friends– both animal and human. He grapples with internal and external conflicts, fighting not only the force of nature but also the struggle between wanting isolation and the companionship of others.
The Crucible describes the town of Salem at a time when witchcraft was considered dangerous and was heavily feared by nearly all. Anyone suspected of witchcraft would face execution without much resistance. The story follows a multitude of characters, with a certain focus being on Abigail Williams. Abigail is a girl who was caught dancing in the night in a forest with other girls by a different member of Salem.
The Outsiders is about a boy named Ponyboy Curtis. There are the Socs which are the wealthy kids and the Greasers who are Ponyboy, his brothers, and their friends. One-night Ponyboys friend kills a Soc to save Ponyboy from being drowned. They run off to hide in a church, until that church catches on fire. They save some kids that were trapped in the fire. Johnny gets seriously injured and dies. Darry, one of Poyboy’s brothers, dies the same night. Ponyboy reflects on his life and his losses.
Summary: The Giver by Lois Lowry is a dystopian young adult novel that takes place in a seemingly perfect but tightly controlled society where all aspects of life are regulated and emotions are suppressed. The story centers on Jonas, a young boy chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, a position that exposes him to the hidden truths and emotions of the world before the society's strict regulations.
The Giver by Lois Lowry is a book about a boy in a community based on sameness. He is selected as a receiver of memory, and the old receiver (The Giver) helps to give Jonas ancient memories. He acts as a source of wisdom in and for the community. I would rate this book a 3.5/5, as it is a good book for community research, and recommend it to those who love such novels. This book is relatable as the guidance of elders is always crucial.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a book about a 14 year old boy named Ponyboy Curtis, and his 2 older brothers named Soda & Darry. They are all orphans and have to struggle to succeed in a lower class area (The East Side). They are part of a gang called the “Greasers” and they are the working class street boys. This book is a good novel regarding how some people’s lives are, however can be a little confusing. So I would rate the book 2 stars, but recommend it if you like older novels.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The main character Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem and widowed father Atticus, who is a well-known lawyer in their community. In their neighborhood there is a spooky house called the Radley Place, no one knows what goes in there and there are many conspiracies regarding it. Scout, Jem, and their friend Dill were always curious, and they always played around the Radley house.
In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, a group of British schoolboys gets stranded on an island after a plane crash. These boys must learn how to survive in the wilderness without any adult supervision. Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and Simon are the main characters in the novel. Ralph is the protagonist and the chief of the tribe they had managed to create. Piggy is the intelligent one but also gets bullied by the other boys. Jack, the antagonist, had made himself the group's hunter along with his choir boys.
