12-year-old Kyle Keeley loves it when he finds out that his absolute favorite genius game developer Luigi Lemoncello is opening a high-tech, over-the-top library in their town. Kyle is one of twelve kids invited to go to the grand opening. During the opening party, Mr. Lemoncello announces a contest in which the twelve kids are trapped inside the library. They will have to come up with a way to escape the library and receive the grand prize that will be awaiting them.
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a compelling coming-of-age novel that follows the journey of Cole Matthews, a troubled and defiant teenager with a history of violence. After a brutal attack on a classmate, Cole is given the choice between juvenile detention and Circle Justice, a Native American alternative that focuses on healing and rehabilitation. As part of his sentence, Cole is sent to a remote Alaskan island where he must confront his inner demons and the harsh realities of the wilderness.
The Fault in our Stars by John Green follows a 16-year-old named Hazel Lancaster who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid Cancer and has accepted her terminal diagnosis. However, she meets a boy named Augustus (Gus) in her cancer support group who opens her eyes to the meaning of life, love, and death. It is through these reflections that a work of art known as this book is born.
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.
