Teen and Staff Reviews

Dune by Frank Herbert is perhaps one of the most popular science fiction novels of all time, and with the release of major box office smashing movie adaptations, now is as great time to start reading this classic science fiction story.

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is the latest addition to The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black. This novella provides more insight into how and why Cardan wears his cruel facade. This novella is a series of interconnected stories that tell the tale of Cardan’s life, past, present, and future. My favorite parts of this book were the retellings of events that happened in The Folk of the Air trilogy told from Cardan’s perspective. Additionally, I loved the illustrations.

Khaled Hosseini's, The Kite Runner, is a historical fiction novel set between the 1960s and early 2000s in Afghanistan. Amir is wealthy and virtually untouchable in society, but the person closest to him, Hassan, is his servant's son. The two boys maintain a relationship resembling brotherhood, but they are divided by race, religion, social class, and courage. Hassan would do anything for Amir, but when Amir is given a choice to save Hassan, he runs.

The Lost Sisters is a novella in Holly Black’s The Folk of the Air trilogy. Set after The Cruel Prince, this novella is a kind of letter from Taryn to Jude quasi-apologizing for and explaining how Taryn fell for Locke. While I assume Black wrote this novella to garner some understanding for Taryn’s actions, Taryn’s attempts at justification only made me like her less.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a futuristic dystopian novel. The World State is inhabited by genetically modified humans and runs on an intelligence-based social hierarchy. Bernard Marx doesn’t fit in with the rest of the World State’s population, so when he visits “the Savage Reservation” and sees the opportunity, he returns home with two imperfect individuals to gain attention. I felt sorry for Linda; there was no way she would have ever been accepted by the world in which she grew up.

The final novel in Holly Black’s, The Folk of the Air trilogy, The Queen of Nothing, is fast-paced and unexpected. Jude, the Queen of Faerie, has been exiled, but she must risk everything and return to the Faerie Court to save her sister. Elfhame is different, stuck deep within a brewing war, and crossing over from the mortal world will trap Jude in a world of sensitive politics. The ending of this book felt rushed and somewhat incomplete, but the rest of the novel was fantastic.

The Wicked King by Holly Black is the second novel in her The Folk of the Air trilogy. This novel was way better than its predecessor. After Jude tricks him, Cardan is the new High King of Elfhame, and he must listen to all of Jude’s commands. This book is filled with twists and turns; even the last page is a heart wrenching cliffhanger. I loved the display of power dynamics in this book. Jude should have had all the power, but Cardan and other nobles could still get things over her.

Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat is the first novel in a young adult fantasy series of the same name. The world of ancient magic has been forgotten, but not by everyone. Set in London, Will Kempen is on the run from the man who killed his mother, but he is quickly rushed back into the world of magic to follow his destiny and fight among the Stewards. This novel was refreshingly unique. The characters were distinctive, the plot was full of twists, and the world-building was flawless.

Tara Westover’s autobiography, Educated, details her life growing up with survivalists in rural Idaho. Westover received no formal education until she went to college and was barred from modern society, yet she managed to earn her Ph.D. in History from Cambridge. I found this novel intriguing for the most part, but some moments felt repetitive. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Westover’s display of courage, strength, and individuality; she represents how hard work and a little bit of luck can overcome all odds.

John Green’s collection of reviews and short essays, The Anthropocene Reviewed, is fantastic despite being so different from his other novels. Green reviews everything about our human-centered planet in this book on a five-star scale, including Canadian Geese. I loved how this book made me feel closer to its author; Green’s reviews provided great insight into his thoughts and feelings. My favorite part of this book was how chaotic yet perfect it was. One minute Green discusses Dr.