The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Title: The Old Man and the Sea

Reader: Katherine, Grade 7

Rating: 4 Stars

Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is a truly inspiring tale about perseverance in the most ruthless situations. An old man and a young boy are both baseball-loving fishermen and long-time friends. Having been down on his luck the old man no longer fishes with the boy due to the boy's mother's disapproval. One day as the old man goes out he may find the great fish he’s been looking for. Through the rough conditions and memories the old man brings to the mind will he be able to capture such a great fish?  I would rate this book out of 5 stars a 4. I enjoyed the depth of it and the picture painting vocabulary. Hemingway does a fantastic job of encouraging the imagination to set the scenery for oneself. This book teaches a story of perseverance we all could benefit from though it’s not for the faint of heart. This book is definitely a more difficult read, great for those seeking a challenge. At times it may make you feel as though the book is dragging on.  This book is one you may not entirely enjoy if you are looking for an easier read.

Title: The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron

Reader: Jaya, Grade 10

Rating: 5 Stars

In The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron, Stefania Podgorska is a cheerful, Catholic, 16-year-old, Polish girl living with a Jewish family, selling chocolates in their grocery store, and enjoying a secret first romance, right up until the Nazis invade Poland during World War II. Starting by just trying to help her beloved employers when they are taken to the Jewish ghetto, Stefania eventually makes the courageous decision to save Jews from extermination or camps by hiding them in her home while also trying to care for her younger sister and deal with Nazi surprises. The Light in Hidden Places is a heart-wrenching story that is very realistic in showing the horrors and stress that Stefania witnessed and suffered. Because it is based on a true story, I constantly found myself wondering what I would have done in those situations and whether I could have been as brave and selfless as Stefania. The book reminded me of a reverse The Diary of a Young Girl/The Diary of Anne Frank, where a teenage girl is experiencing a lot of firsts in life during Nazi occupation, but in this case, Stefania is the savior hiding others, rather than the one hiding. I give the book 5/5 stars and enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Title: Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Reader: Jaya, Grade 10

Rating: 5 Stars

Sixteen-year-old Simon Spier, the main character in Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, is secretly gay, and although he loves his family and friends, it sometimes feels like they just don’t get him. So, it is a big deal when Simon starts chatting anonymously online with “Blue”, someone from his high school who seems to understand him perfectly. As they get closer through emails, Simon must deal with falling for someone online while puzzling out Blue’s true identity, and deal with the challenges of high school, being gay, and coming out to his family. One of my favorite things about this book is how relatable the characters are, as Simon’s struggles and insecurities are both heartwarming and understandably nerve-racking. Some young adult books only portray the stereotypes of high school, but Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda isn’t one of them. The author does an excellent job of conveying how high schoolers really act, think, and feel, especially when faced with troubles. She also does not belittle typical teenage issues and realistically shows the ups and downs of high school. I love this book, give it 5/5 stars, and recommend it to readers who enjoy teen romance, LGBTQ+ stories, or realistic fiction. 

Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao

Title: Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao

Reader: Jaya, Grade 10

Rating: 4 Stars

In Amelie Wen Zhao’s Blood Heir, Crown Princess Anastacya Mikhailov, a secret Affinate with a feared and reviled ability to control others through their blood, fled the royal palace months ago after being framed for her father’s murder and named a traitor to the Cyrilian Empire. Desperate to find her father’s true killer, Ana enlists the help of crime lord Ramson Quicktongue, but soon discovers through Ramson’s underground world that life for Affinates in Cyrilia is not what she had believed. Corruption is engulfing the empire and Ana becomes involved in a mission greater than simply clearing her name. Blood Heir is a fast-paced story filled with interesting characters, impressive fight scenes, cons and double crosses that kept me engaged and surprised. I liked how the author used this fictional adventure to explore serious, real-world problems like oppression and exploitation, and to ask the reader to think about choices and injustice. Since this is the first book in the series though, do not expect satisfying closure because Blood Heir ends without wrapping up any of the storylines. I give the book 4/5 stars and recommend it to middle to high-school fans of fantasy adventure who can tolerate loose-ends and appreciate some social commentary. 

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!