In Life of Pi, we meet Pi Patel, a 16-year-old boy from India whose family owns a zoo. When political unrest forces them to move to Canada, their ship tragically sinks, leaving Pi stranded on a lifeboat with a few animals, including a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. As Pi struggles for survival, he grapples with profound questions about faith and purpose. His journey is not just a fight against the elements; it's a quest for meaning amidst the chaos.
John Knowles’s A Separate Peace, taking place in the 1940s, goes through the life and struggles of Gene Forrester. Gene is a quiet boy that attends The Devon School, where he meets his future friend Finny. At first, they develop a strong friendship, but it begins to turn sour as envy gets in the way. The friendship takes a dark turn as the tree jumping ritual, developed by the friends, ends in Gene pushing Finny off the tree. The rest of the book is spent on Gene trying to find himself as Finny recovers.
Big Nate in Your Face! continues the humorous journey of Nate Wright as he takes on the challenges of middle school, friendship, and his eternal quest for popularity. This book is packed with Nate’s usual antics, but also dives deeper into his relationships with his friends and family, showcasing the ups and downs of middle school life in a way that’s both relatable and entertaining. I’d give this book a five out of five because it captures the essence of growing up with Nate’s signature humor and heart.
Big Nate Blasts Off is another delightful addition to the Big Nate series, filled with humor, relatable moments, and Nate’s unforgettable antics. In this book, Nate Wright faces new challenges as he deals with school bullies, friends, and his never-ending quest to be the center of attention. With a hilarious storyline centered on Nate's dreams of achieving greatness, the book keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.
Kanye West’s album Ye is an album with seven tracks and is his 8th studio album. THEPARTYNEXTDOOR is included as a feature on two different tracks. The album is a total of 23 minutes long. It was ranked at number one on the US Billboard 200.
Cold The Night, Fast the Wolvesis a book written by Meg Longabout survival. The book is about a 17-year-old named Sena who runs away with her wolf named Iska and how they encounter difficult challenges to get away from everyone else and get off the planet. I honestly thought this book was rather good. Even though I am not a huge fan of books where characters are supposed to somehow survive, I really thought this book changed my mind on that.
Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone is a heartfelt story of rekindled friendships, hidden desires, and self-discovery. When Hannah saves the life of Emory's boyfriend, Luke, it sets off a chain of events that forces the former best friends to confront the rift that once drove them apart. As they reconnect, Hannah and Emory, both seventeen, must navigate their complicated feelings, first loves, and true connections, ultimately finding the strength to face the truth and follow their hearts.
After her parents' tragic death, 16-year-old Jackie Howard moves from New York to Colorado to live with her mother's family, the Walter Boys - four brothers (Matt, Jake, Alex, and Greg) and their father. As Jackie navigates her new life, she faces cultural shock, sibling rivalry, and blossoming romances, particularly with Alex, the charming and sensitive brother. Amidst the chaos and emotional struggles, Jackie finds solace in her growing relationships with the Walter Boys and discovers a new sense of belonging, identity, and love.
Shoe Dog is a memoir written by the creator of Nike. It talks about how the multi-billion-dollar company started from scratch. This book shows how Nike got its first sales and employees. It talks about how going to Japan was very influential to Nike’s success and that starting a new company has many challenges. This book keeps you hooked through all of the twists and turns such as going bankrupt and getting sued.
In Julia Alvarez’s Afterlife, Antonia’s commitment to her family and willingness to support others highlights her selfless nature, even at the expense of her needs and desires. Antonia hesitates when one of Antonia’s neighbors, Mario, asks if his girlfriend Estela, an undocumented immigrant, can stay at Antonia’s house due to the precarious situation she may face. She explains that she cannot “handle something like this right now” because she is grieving the recent passing of her husband, Sam (Alvarez 29).
