In Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, Celaena Sardothien is a trained 18-year-old assassin who was forced to work in a prison camp named Endovier. She is then given the chance to fight for her freedom when Prince Dorian invites her to compete to become the king’s champion. Celaena must beat 23 other chosen thieves to gain her freedom. As the competition progresses, Celaena’s competitors begin dying and she must discover which creature is hiding in the castle.
Hotel Rwanda is a movie about the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who protected refugees during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The movie is about the events leading up to the genocide, as well as the violence and chaos that ensued. Rusesabagina uses his connections and resources to protect over a thousand refugees, risking his own life in the process. I watched this movie at school. I would not have normally watched it, but I liked it.
A Child Called “it” is a memoir by Dave Pelzer. Dave’s mother was an alcoholic and brutally abused her son. Dave often had to fight for food and was tortured by his mother’s abuse. At first, it didn’t seem too bad, but as his mother’s games got worse, Dave realized that he would have to find a way to take care of himself and find help. I really liked reading this book, and I would definitely recommend it.
The Power of One is a movie based on life in South Africa during the 1930s. The movie is about Peekay, a young boy who grows up in South Africa during the 1930s and 1940s. Peekay faces many challenges throughout his life, including bullying, racism, and everyone he cares about leaving him or dying. He finds out he has a passion for boxing and develops strong relationships with his mentor, Doc, and a black prisoner named Geel Piet.
The live-action The Little Mermaid (2023 version) is a Disney movie based on the original The Little Mermaid. The movie is about Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of living on land with humans. When she falls in love with a human prince, she makes a deal with the sea witch, Ursula, to trade her voice for legs.
Cruella is a Disney movie about a classic villain. The movie is about the origin story of Estella, a talented fashion designer who dreams of making her way into the fashion industry. She discovers her true identity as the calculated Cruella de Vil and begins to embrace her darker side. As she navigates the harsh world of fashion, she also confronts her past and seeks revenge on those who wronged her family.
Night is a memoir by Elie Wiesel. The book is about his experiences as a Jewish teenager during the Holocaust. It follows his journey from a small town in Transylvania to various concentration camps, including Auschwitz and Buchenwald. In the camps, he witnesses and suffers from a lot of cruelty. His father is all he has left, but his father eventually dies, too. Elie was very faithful at the beginning of the book, but over time he begins to question what his faith has really gotten him.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a historical fiction book by Harper Lee. The book takes place in Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. The book is from the perspective of Scout as she and her older brother Jem learn about racism and prejudice through their father's defense of a black man accused of rape. They witness the injustice of the legal system and the racism of their community.
Divergent is a fantasy book by Veronica Roth. In the book, the city is divided into five factions, each based on a different talent: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. Beatrice Prior must choose which faction she will belong to for the rest of her life. However, during the aptitude test, she is revealed to be "Divergent," meaning she has an aptitude for multiple factions.
The Book Thief is a historical fiction book by Markus Zusak. The book takes place in Germany during WWII and is narrated by Death. After the death of Liesel's brother and being separated from her mother, Liesel is taken in by a foster family just outside of Munich. Using a book she found in the snow, Liesel learns to read and becomes very close with her foster father, Hans. As the war progresses, Liesel's family hides a Jew in their basement, and Liesel will go to extreme lengths to defend him.
