The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Reader: Jaya, Grade 10

Rating: 3 Stars 

After Mara Dyer wakes up unharmed in the hospital with no memory of the accident that killed her best friend and boyfriend, her family moves from Rhode Island to Florida, and Mara meets charming, popular Noah, a boy who helps her navigate a new school and a new state. Already plagued by hallucinations and nightmares, violent and gory occurrences start to follow Mara wherever she goes, leaving her to decipher what is reality and what is imagined, if the corpses appearing have something to do with her, and if Noah knows more than he lets on. This book is suspenseful with unexpected plot twists that keep the reader guessing. The author writes the darker parts of the story well, really conveying Mara’s panic, emotions, and general experiences as she faces hallucinations and deals with trauma. I never imagined a book could be creepy, funny, and romantic all at the same time, but The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer combines all three. However, there are many over-the-top stereotypical characters in this book, like the attractive/accented/wealthy/bad boy romantic lead, the Jewish/bisexual/black best friend, the mean/popular girl with a sidekick. Also, the novel does not conclude with a satisfying ending, as it is the first in a trilogy and events continue in the next book. I give The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer 3/5 stars and would recommend it to teens who enjoy mystery, dark fantasy/the paranormal, horror, and romance.

A Place at the Table by Laura Shovan and Saadia Faruqi

 

Title: A Place at the Table by Laura Shovan and Saadia Faruqi

Reader: Shibani, grade 7

Rating: 5 Stars

In A Place at the Table, two completely different girls meet through a cooking class at their middle school. They both are the daughters of immigrants and face problems in their family, like money and mental health, but they figure out that they can help each other solve them. Together, they realize they do not have to face everything alone. This fun read features Sara, a Pakistani American, and Elizabeth, a Jew, as they find that their new friendship can help them get through the challenges they meet. 

 

I particularly liked how realistic this book was. The dialogue added to the characters' personalities and allowed many middle-schoolers to relate with the characters. The story was engaging and funny, but also sad at times. It explores the themes of family and friendship, and also addresses mental health and racism. My favorite aspect of Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan's writing is the attention to detail. People, feelings, and important objects are described beautifully and in-depth, helping to better portray the message.

 

In conclusion, A Place at the Table is a beautiful novel that I would definitely recommend. I would suggest this tale of friendship to fans of Realistic Fiction and middle-schoolers. 

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée

Title: A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee

Reader: Shibani, grade 7

Rating: 4 Stars

A Good Kind of Trouble is the inspiring story of a girl entering junior high who finds herself finally standing up for what's right. Shayla has always avoided trouble and tried to follow the rules. When she experiences a powerful Black Lives Matter protest, she follows in her sister's footsteps and raises awareness at her school. As she makes an effort to support Black Lives Matter, she breaks a couple of rules along the way and faces her fear of doing the wrong thing. 

 

As the protagonist develops and grows throughout the book, A Good Kind of Trouble explores the themes of friendship, injustice, and self-discovery. The author, Lisa Ramee, does a great job of creating realistic dialogue, enhancing the book's themes. Shayla navigates through different problems that arise, like new activities and changing companions. I particularly liked that she felt natural to me in this book, and it was easy to connect with the characters. I loved how this book defies stereotypes and addresses the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

 

Overall, this book is an incredible and touching read, great for fans of realistic fiction novels and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I give this book a star rating of 4 stars and would recommend it!

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

 

Title: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Reader: Yasmin, Grade 11

Rating: 4 Stars

Six Crimson Cranes is a story set in a mythical world that follows the adventures of Princess Shiori as she tries to save her six brothers from a horrible fate, as well as her country as a whole. After tampering with magic banned within her kingdom and discovering hidden corruption in the palace, Shiori is launched into a world of problems, cursed to be unrecognizable to those around her and unable to access her magic. This book is unique in that it skillfully plays off of traditional Asian myths and legends to build its world and give a feel of reading a traditional fairytale while also keeping the reader turning pages with its unexpected plot twists and moments of high suspense. The main character, Shiori, is likeable and undergoes huge development, displaying great growth over the course of the book that draws the reader into her story. Six Crimson Cranes is the first book of a series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys classic fairytales with a twist, as well as fantasy based on real world myths with a look into a different culture. It also concludes with a big cliff hanger, so readers undoubtedly have an exciting second book to look forward to.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Title: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Reviewer: Aditi N., Grade 9

Rating: 4 Stars

A mysterious plague has engulfed 1920s Shanghai, leading victims to sever their own throats. The city's two main gangs are forced to put aside their long-standing rivalry and work together to repress the source before it's too late. Among the animosity are ex-lovers Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, who are both heirs to their respective gangs. Past betrayals and rivalry between their clans are keeping them apart. An alliance is formed, clues are unraveled and discoveries are made. It is a mystery, a monster-hunt and a Romeo and Juliet retelling, all rolled into one.

The author’s eloquent writing was by far my favorite aspect of this book. It seemed to flow naturally and complemented the ornate setting of Shanghai. Each page brimmed with emotion and elegance. Artfully built suspense provided a dark aesthetic as the novel progressed. The action-packed plot was pleasantly paced and featured outstanding characters. Although I couldn’t connect with any of them, I enjoyed the diverse representation that the book had to offer. The prose was thoughtfully laced with themes of communism and colonisation that left me thinking long after I finished reading it. I would recommend this novel to fans of dark mystery and forbidden romances.

Alone by Megan Freeman

Title: Alone by Megan Freeman

Reviewer: Louisa, grade 8

Rating: 4 stars

What would you do if everyone suddenly disappeared? How would you survive if everything you took for granted, like the heater, stopped working? Could you handle the psychological effects of being alone? In the book Alone by Megan E. Freeman, you can live this reality through Maddie, the relatable main character. Through poetry, you read Maddie’s incredible journey, both mentally and physically. When all the people in her small Coloradan town disappear, she has to fight to survive and learns about gratitude and resourcefulness along the way.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot because it never got boring. I always wanted to turn another page or read another poem, and I was worried for Maddie, the main character. Her character was convincing and so was how she survives and what challenges she faces. It was clear that the author did her research about natural disasters and what would happen if everything stopped working, and that made it more compelling. Putting the story into verse added a lot to it too, because it made it significantly different from other survival stories like Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins. The poem format also helped the writing focus on some of the emotional and psychological effects that come from being alone for years on end.

I would recommend this book to fans of survival or adventure stories and books written in verse. It’s very engaging and is exciting all the way to the end, while also letting you connect with the character, and it’s good if you’re looking for a quick, satisfying read.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Reviewer: Louisa, grade 8

Rating: 5 stars

Imagine a world similar to our own, with the same imperfections and beauty, but at the same time so different in its countries, people, and abilities. In the book Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, this world comes to life with amazing authenticity, with complicated nations, races, and religions. In the center of this world lies an island called Kerch, the smallest nation. A bustling, competitive city, Ketterdam, sits at the northern tip. Ketterdam is home to some of Kerch’s most notorious criminals and convicts who roam the dangerous streets of the Barrel. Among them are Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Wylan, and Jesper. They risk their lives every day as they fight to survive in their harsh world, but when Kaz receives an opportunity that offers a way out of the hardship in the Barrel, he takes a chance that may make them rich beyond their dreams, or put them all in their graves.

Reading this book kept me on my toes the whole time because the action, as well as the dialogue, pulled me into this intriguing story. I really enjoyed it because the characters, their relationships with each other, and the world they live in just felt so real to me. Leigh Bardugo did an amazing job creating the plot and the characters seem like actual people. Each character has a unique background and secrets you could never guess, and because the book’s chapters switch from being narrated by each of the characters, you come to understand their motives and trauma as the story unfolds. I really connected with a lot of them, and that made the book even more compelling because I got concerned and anxious for them.  

There is a sequel to this book as well; Crooked Kingdom, which is also by Leigh Bardugo, and it is equally excellent and clears up the questions at the end of Six of Crows. I recommend reading both because the second offers more great dialogue and will make you attach to the characters even more. Ultimately, this story will be very appealing for fantasy fans and anyone else who likes adventure and suspense.