The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is one of the most powerful stories that I have read. Taking place during the Holocaust, this book’s depth is immediately apparent (as is any story in the face of such a great tragedy.) The story centers around a girl named Liesel, who loses her family at the novel’s opening, and thus finds herself in the care of the Huberman family. The Huberman family provides Liesel with a new warmth that had been lacking previously in her life–they represent, for her, a true family.
This book is about George Lucas, the man who created Star Wars and Indiana Jones. It tells the story of his early life, from his love of cars and movies as a kid to his journey in Hollywood. The book shows how he struggled to make Star Wars, but through hard work and creativity changed movies forever. It also talks about how he improved special effects and storytelling in films.
The Great Gatsby is a phenomenal novel that is well worth its notoriety. It takes place in the Roaring twenties in east coast America, specifically New York’s Long Island. It follows Nick Carraway, a prospective stockbroker who isn’t rich, but has acquaintances in the ultra wealthy social circle. These “old-money” people look down upon the “new-money” individuals who are trying to join their social class. Nick meets his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and he seems to want to take Nick under his wing.
Uglies by Scott Westerfield is a dystopian that follows a girl named Tally Youngblood in a world that revolves around beauty and peer pressure. In Uglyville, everyone undergoes a procedure upon their sixteenth birthday to become “pretty”, which is essentially a cosmetic surgery that imbues traits of conventional attractiveness into the teenagers.
The Devil’s Arithmetic is a novel written by Jane Yolen. It begins with Hannah Stern, a 12 year old Jewish girl from current day New Rochelle, celebrating Passover with her relatives. Suddenly, Hannah is transported to 1941, where she is mistaken for a girl named Chaya. Hannah and the other Jewish people in her village are then tricked into going to a Nazi concentration camp. Hannah and her new friends go through all kinds of torture and eventually can’t take it anymore.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a fantastic book that really connects with readers through its honest look at average teenage struggles. It follows Holden Caulfield, a teenager who feels lost and frustrated by the world around him. Salinger writes in a way that makes Holden’s thoughts and feelings relatable, capturing the challenges of growing up and advancing through life. The themes of innocence and the search for genuine connections are powerful throughout the story.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic read that explores the American Dream through the story of Jay Gatsby and his deep love for Daisy Buchanan. Set in the Roaring Twenties, Fitzgerald captures the era’s exquisite lavishness and moral decay. The theme of longing prompts the reader to reflect on their own desires. Overall, it is a masterful exploration of wealth and its association with identity, making it a must-read in American literature.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is an enriching fantasy that follows Feyre Archeron, a mortal human drawn into the fae world after she kills a wolf. The book emphasizes character development, highlighting Ferye’s transformation into a strong and superior figure. With the combination of its rich world-building and confusing romance between Feyre and Tamlin, the story is both thrilling and emotional, making it a must-read for fantasy and romance lovers.
Little Women follows the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Set during the American Civil War, the four sisters struggle to fit in with society as girls were expected to all while living in poverty. Each sister has to overcome some sort of challenge as they grow up; Meg and Jo must work to help support their family, Beth stays at home to help with housework and Amy goes to school. Each girl also struggles with their own character.
Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, has finally finished fighting in the ten-year war in Troy, and now must begin his journey home. His family awaits his return, refusing to believe he is dead. His wife Penelope refuses to marry again, and his son Telemachus, who was only a baby when Odysseus left, is now an adult. At their palace, hundreds of suitors try to persuade Penelope to remarry so that they can gain the crown. Odysseus has been prevented from returning home by hosts of gods, monsters and other beasts.
