Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

Reviewer: Langley N.

Star rating: 4

Once and for All, by Sarah Dessen, is the author’s latest coming of age drama. The story focuses on Louna Barrett, the daughter of an esteemed wedding planner. Having grown up with her mother’s business taking center stage, Louna has dealt with every kind of love story. She’s comforted brides with cold feet, found runaway ring-bearers, and even dealt with full-on disasters. Because of this lifestyle, her own mother’s failed love story, and the tragic tale of her first love, Louna has developed a rather cynical attitude towards love. But when Louna’s mother takes on a new client, and the brother of the bride (a Casanova named Ambrose) weasels his way into Louna’s life, things change for them both.

In a general sense, Once and for All has the same storyline as almost every other Sarah Dessen book. A teenage girl falls for a boy, and the effects of that relationship change the girl in some way. However stereotypical this story is, it still hooks the reader to the very end in typical Dessen fashion. The characters are relatable, complex, and the details of the story are full of originality. I would recommend this book to fans of John Green and romantic comedies. Overall, I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The ending left room for possibilities, but tied up the story nicely. Though it may be nothing outside of the author’s comfort zone, Once and for All had me crying, smiling, and overall satisfied.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

Reviewer: Marisa, 11^th grade

Star rating: 5

A raw and honest collection of poetry, Milk and Honey beautifully looks at issues of love, femininity, and the struggles faced by humankind. Rupi Kaur is a powerful poet, getting her start on Instagram, attracting a large following with her compelling words and poignant passages. This is her first published work, consisting of her words interlaced with her own pen drawings. Painted with such real emotion and feeling, these poems touch your heart and every other part of you that is so incredibly human. They take you a journey, finding what makes you happy, what makes you sad, what drains you, and what gives you hope. The way she uses words is powerful and graceful, aligned just right as to make you truly feel, and to open your mind to understanding the vast society and world we live in. This book might not be appropriate for a younger audience because there are some drawings of naked female figures, but nothing too entirely graphic. I would recommend this book to any teen or adult, male and female, who wants to feel key pieces of being a human. Overall beautiful words that give you a warm hug, this book is a quintessential glimpse of the magnificence of humans.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Book: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Reviewer: Marisa, 11th grade

Star rating: 5

The Sun is Also a Star is a captivating novel about two paths crossing, despite it’s unlikeliness, and the beauty and the love and the heartache that comes out of two worlds colliding. Natasha is a girl, not believing in fate, trying to face the harsh reality that her family’s deportation is imminent. Daniel is a boy living under the enormous weight of his parent’s expectations, who becomes a dreamer when he meets Natasha. Exploring these two characters, as well as other’s stories that cross their paths, this novel explores fate, the probability of the universe, the interconnectedness of humankind, and that even though parallel universes exist, and there is an infinite possibility of outcomes, we have arrived to this current moment. This novel carries a lot of emotion, makes you feel strongly for both the characters, fall in love with their beautiful romance, and cry at its uncertainty. It effectively explores the universe, and immerse you into some concepts not thought of all the time, mainly probability and interconnectedness in the broadest sense of the words. I have no negative words for this novel. It makes you feel the broad range of emotions you are capable of feeling, and makes you feel them very deeply, while opening up your mind to an infinite number of possibilities. I recommend this book to readers who are interested in a love story that goes beyond the cliche, and that explores all corners of the confusing universe we exist in.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Reviewer: Grace, 11th grade

Star Rating: 5

The circus arrives without warning. From this enigmatic first line emerges The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, a masterfully-woven web of magic, romance, and intrigue. The story follows the mysterious traveling Cirque des Rêves (Circus of Dreams), open only at night, which delights patrons and readers alike with an assortment of astonishing exhibitions. Its iconic black and white striped tents, more than just the manifestation of unbridled imagination, are the backdrop of a duel between Marco and Celia, young magicians who have been training their entire lives for one cryptic, critical game. The inevitable contest is complicated by the star-crossed love affair which blossoms between them, and its outcome will ultimately determine the fate of the circus and everyone involved.

The narrative unfolds by way of seemingly separate storylines; characters and settings shift with each new chapter and the action jumps back and forth in time. Each chapter adds a piece to the puzzle of the circus, creating an intricate account of the enchanting spectacle and the opposing powers that control it, and the storylines are propelled by gorgeous imagery and poetic language toward their ultimate, elegant convergence.

To me, The Night Circus reads like a symphony. Engaging to the very end, the book evokes emotions ranging from awe to sadness to profound joy. It is a masterpiece not to be missed by fans of fantasy, romance, and magic.

Turtles all the Way Down by John Green

Book: Turtles all the Way Down by John Green
Reviewer: Grace, 11th grade
Star Rating: 5

John Green’s newest novel, Turtles All the Way Down, is emotional, dark, and unique despite featuring the witty, quirky teenagers that he is known for. The book centers on 16 year old Aza Holmes and her best friend Daisy as they attempt to solve the mystery of the disappearance of billionaire Russell Pickett. With eyes on a one-hundred thousand dollar reward, the pair reconnect with Pickett’s son and attempt to learn more about his father’s disappearance.

However, the plot takes a relative backseat to Aza’s internal monologue and resulting battles. Aza suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, a diagnosis that Green shares, and much of the novel focuses on her fears of contracting a bacterial infection and the way her sense of identity and agency are impacted by thought spirals and actions that she can’t control. Turtles has elements of the wit and romance that are hallmarks of Green’s work but is less plot-driven than The Fault in Our Stars or Paper Towns.

I found the novel to be very believable in the way the characters dealt with pain and hardship and in its portrayal of mental illness, and I would recommend this book to teenage readers who enjoy reflective characters and a focus on relationships rather than action. The circumstances of the novel are not universal and Aza can seem hard to relate to or connect with, but I think that any teen who has experienced anxiety can see a bit of themselves in her and her story.