The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Book: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Reviewer: Yasmin, Grade 11

Rating: 5 stars

 

This is the first book of an ongoing series; a mystical take on the Salem witch trial following the story of a girl named Deka as she battles both the people around her and the monsters of her world. In a society reminiscent of old Salem, with similar expectations of women’s characteristics and purity, Deka faces difficulties in the face of her society’s close minded expectations that have been drilled into her since childhood. In Deka’s small town, every girl’s dream is to go through the ritual of purity, where they officially step into adulthood. This is Deka’s only hope for acceptance in her town, where many discriminate against her due to her mixed heritage. However, on the day of the ritual, her village is attacked by demon-like creatures that have been ravaging the entire country. In an effort to survive, Deka reveals some miraculous- and condemning- abilities. Before she knows it, she is found guilty of witchcraft, imprisoned, tortured, then whisked away by an agent from the capital city, and her life is turned upside down. This story is a never-before seen take on one of the most infamous events in American history, and takes multiple unexpected twists and turns, keeping you guessing the whole time. The world building is well done and complex, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something unique in the fantasy genre as well as dystopian, as it explores various social issues in a high tension, fantasy world. 

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

 

Book: Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Reviewer: Yasmin, Grade 11

Rating: 3 stars

 

Soraya has been hidden away her whole life, locked behind palace doors because of her dangerous curse: anyone who touches her will instantly die. Cursed before she was even born by one of the magical “divs”, Soraya has lived her whole life in hiding, longing for a way to end her curse and her loneliness. When one of the notorious magical creatures is brought in as a prisoner after a sudden attack, she can’t help but seek her out to find answers, despite being forbidden to do so. But divs are manipulative creatures, and Soraya quickly finds herself betrayed, forming unlikely alliances, and embroiled in an outright war.

This story follows a unique, well-crafted character and features impressive world building through a clever inclusion of various mythological tales specific to the book’s universe. Though the plot was at times predictable and the characters at times less engaging, the story was interesting as it took a different approach to the stereotypical tale of the princess locked away: not to protect her from the world, but to protect the world from her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick fantasy read without having to commit to a full series while still experiencing a fun twist on a traditional fairytale. 

The Cruel Prince

Book: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 

Reviewer: Yasmin

Rating: 5 Stars

Jude is a human girl living in Fairy who desperately wants to fit in, despite being looked down upon by all those around her. Her daily life consists of avoiding her peers’ cruel trickery and mockery, and Jude’s temper doesn’t help her to lay low. Her mortal enemy, the youngest fairy prince, Cardan, never fails to remind her of that fact. However, as Jude’s desire to prove herself gets her more and more embroiled in the royal games of Fairy, she quickly finds herself in mortal danger, and her only chance of survival is her unlikely allyship with Cardan. 

This book is a fast-paced fantasy adventure like no other, with twists and turns along the way that you’ll never see coming. The trickery, deception, and betrayal had me at the edge of my seat and frantically trying to predict what would happen next. You’ll quickly get attached to the well-crafted characters and find yourself laughing along to their antics while they simultaneously fight for their lives, and plot twist after plot twist will keep you breathless in that fast-paced, unpredictable, exciting adventure. This book has the perfect blend of humor, romance, and suspense, topping it all off with a riveting cliffhanger that will have you reaching for the next book in no time. 

I highly recommend this book to fans of the fantasy genre in general, especially those who enjoy authors like Cassandra Clare, Victoria Aveyard, and more

Becoming by Michelle Obama

 Becoming by Michelle Obama

Reviewer: Minh, Grade 10

Star Rating: 5 stars

If there is a book in the world that could motivate you to get out of bed every day and chase your dreams, it would be Becoming. It is an inspirational book by Michelle Obama. A memoir of her life, starting from her childhood in the South Side of Chicago, going to college, to the journey of finding her voice, her time in the White House, and her motherhood. She did a great job in bringing readers into her story and reliving those moments. 

Michelle Obama is a powerful and inspiring woman, and this book proves it even more deeply. Michelle guides you through every page of the book with curiosity and builds up the fire in you to get up and create great things, just like she did. She empowers women around the world to use their voice, and believe in themselves.

The only flaw is it’s not a great choice for a quick read, because it’s a long story of her life, and reading it slowly would help you better understand the feeling of those moments. 

This is a perfect book for teenage readers because it’s so inspiring and it would lit the fire within you to better this world.

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated by Tara Westover

Reviewer: Minh, Grade 10

Star rating: 5 stars

A traumatized childhood, an incredible journey of finding her voice, and a wake-up call to everyone in the world. The book Educated is a memoir of Tara Westover's horrible past. She grew up as the seventh child of Mormon survivalist parents in a remote Idaho mountain. Lack of education made her deeply ignorant about the history of the world, and her father's radical belief is the only source of information that influences her perspectives. Along with that, she was abused and harassed throughout her teenage years. She was trapped in this world of hatred, confusion, and darkness up until she decided to build a happy life herself. With persistence and curiosity, she went from no formal education to attend two of the most prestigious schools in the world, namely Cambridge and Harvard University. 

This is one of my forever favorite books because it proves that there is a world of full possibilities for everyone regardless of their background and circumstances, and it especially opens my eye to the ongoing struggle that many people like Tara have been through. 

However, it is a tough topic to read about, it is filled with evidence of her family’s abuse, racist comments, sexism, and disturbing violence. It builds up the rage in me, and the worst part is it’s based on a true story. This book is perfect for readers who are interested in learning about the world’s issues.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez

 

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sánchez

Reviewer: Minh, Grade 10

Star Rating: 5 stars

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was the 2017 National Book Award nominee, and that makes sense. This extraordinary book is the story of Julia Reyes. Julia was far from her family’s definition of perfect. She was rebellious and curious, wanting to explore the world, and dreaming of moving to New York City for college. The opposite to her stay-at-home sister, Olga, who still lives at home, dresses modestly, has a respectable job, and never dates. However, Julia discovers that Olga was not as saintly as everyone believed after Olga dies tragically from being hit by a truck. And as Julia starts to investigate her dead sister’s life, her life also takes a turn. She discovers her family’s unsettling past, meeting her first boyfriend, and facing the struggle of depression. 

I love the exciting storyline of this book and the fact that it is the perfect stereotype-shattering story. On the other hand, this book has profanity and violence. Nevertheless, the world is never bubbly as it seems, and this book does a great job in showing the dim view of our society. 

This book is suitable for readers above fourteen. Overall, it’s a great book to help readers understand how badly social stereotypes can impact people’s lives, and encourage people to overcome how society perceives them to truly be themselves. 

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

 Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Reviewer: Minh, Grade 10

Star Rating: 5 Stars

This novel builds around gossip, separation of social class, and people with boundless amounts of time and money. It is a romp through the lives of a group of crazy rich Asians, and a love story between Rachel Chu and Nick Young. Rachel Chu, who is a professor at NYU, falls in love with Nick Young and goes with him to his hometown, Singapore. Never having been exposed to Asian culture, not knowing anything but Nick’s down-to-earth description, Rachel was overwhelmed by their standard of living, not to mention the breathtaking richness of Nick Young’s family. Little does she know, Rachel has to choose whether her love for Nick is strong enough for her to get through the classism and jealousy of his relatives. 

I love the mystery and excitement this book brings, unveiling the glamorous wealth that covers the problem of materialism. Perfectly incorporating a modern kind of love with the midst of the scheming, and balancing out with the fascination of Singaporean-Chinese culture.

However, I can’t get over one big flaw of this novel--its continuous changing of perspective. It constantly skips from one character’s viewpoint to the other, which leaves you confused and wanting to skip to the part you want to read about.

Lastly, this book is perfect for readers who love mystery and enjoy exploring other cultures.