To Kill a Mockingbird

Written by Harper Lee

A book for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by Nicholas

        

To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of a young girl’s coming-of-age story during the 1930s. The novel dives into the darker sides of America, including the consequences of racism. The plot shows how good and evil can coexist within one person, as well as society itself.

I liked reading To Kill a Mockingbird very much. It is one of the most famous and influential novels of its time. It can help give readers a real perspective of prejudice.

The Great Gatsby

Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A book for readers in grades 11 and up reviewed by Nicholas

        

 

The Great Gatsby takes place during the Roaring 20s.The story follows a man named Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, and his pursuit of his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby flashes around his wealth and throws extravagant parties at his mansion in hopes that Daisy will find her way back to him.

I personally loved reading The Great Gatsby. The book’s many uses of symbolism gave it an overall deeper meaning. It greatly defines and represents the Roaring 20s.

The Crucible

Written by Arthur Miller

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Patrick

    

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a story that takes place during the Salem Witch Trials. It is about a girl who falsely accuses a woman of being a witch for her own benefit. She uses the religious biases of the courts and others' fear of witches to her advantage in ruining a couple's lives.

I personally enjoyed this book because of how it can relate to people now. It shows that everyone can lie and manipulate others in order to get what they want. I also liked how it showed the community’s panic and fear, as well as how their fear caused them to make radical decisions.

The Outsiders

Written by S.E. Hinton

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Donavan

        

The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel written by S.E. Hinton and published in 1967. The story is told from the perspective of Ponyboy Curtis, a teenage boy from a lower-class background who is part of a gang of “Greasers” fighting against the wealthier “Socs.” As Ponyboy tries to make sense of the world around him, he learns important lessons about friendship and loyalty. The story ultimately culminates in a tragic event that forces Ponyboy to reexamine his place in the world and the value of human life.

One of the strengths of The Outsiders is its realistic portrayal of teenage life, particularly in the way it depicts the struggles and conflicts faced by its characters. The novel also effectively conveys a sense of empathy and understanding for both the Greasers and the Socs, highlighting the complexities of their relationships and the societal forces that shape them. However, some readers have criticized the novel for being too simplistic in its portrayal of social class and for perpetuating stereotypes about Greasers and Socs. Additionally, some have pointed out that the characters are somewhat one-dimensional and that the plot can be predictable at times.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Written by John Boyne

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Jackson

        

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a story about two young boys. One is the son of a high-ranking Nazi soldier and the other is a boy of the same age in a concentration camp. We learn about the Holocaust in this book, but in a very different way. The paths of these two boys cross, and what happens opens your eyes to how awful the Holocaust was. The book also shows how many people really didn’t know what was going on.

I read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in school, and it really affected me. It was very good and very sad. What’s weird is that I was glad the Nazi soldier got to see what it was like to lose a child, but I was very sad to see what happened. I know the story is fictional, but it brought you right to where this was all happening. If you want to not only learn about the Holocaust but really feel it, this is a book for you.

Animal Farm

Written by George Orwell

A book for readers in grades 8 and up reviewed by Amin

    

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a seemingly simplistic tale of a group of farm animals who revolt against their owner, Farmer Jones. After the animals take control of the farm through inspiration by the teachings of an elder pig named Old Major (who dies before their revolt), they establish order amongst themselves under the self-proclaimed rule of two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball. When conflict between the two leaders breaks out (as their leadership priorities are different from one another), Napoleon's right-hand man, Squealer, banishes Snowball and leaves the animals to suffer under Napoleon’s pure dictatorial rule.

Animal Farm is such an amazing piece of literary history with powers of allegory on full display. It illustrates a representation of Communism in Russia. Old Major represents Karl Marx, Napolean represents Joseph Stalin, and Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. The rest of the pigs represent the bourgeois while the horses and other hardworking animal represent the laboring class.

The book is a full-circle story of irony in the sense that Napoleon begins dressing as Jones and essentially makes the farm what it initially was at the beginning of the story. This can be similarly said about Russia's stagnation, since they transformed into a Communist society with one, all-powerful dictator to “rule them all.” This was at the expense of all the human effort it took to “change” the system for the betterment of the people.

Anyone who has an interest in politics, history, Russia, political systems, or even the “classics” should read Animal Farm. It is a relatively short read for such an impactful and masterfully written story.

The Outsiders

Written by S.E. Hinton

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Tyler

        

In The Outsiders, there are two main opposing groups, the Greasers and the Socs. The Greasers are a group that are considered dangerous and menacing. The Socs are wealthy boys who have good backgrounds because of their parents. Unlike most of the Greasers, the Socs actually intend to hurt people. The book’s main characters, Ponyboy and Johnny, run away from town after Johnny kills a Soc named Bob to stop him from drowning Ponyboy.  

I personally liked The Outsiders a lot because it tells the story of a group of friends who hang out on a daily basis. I myself like to hang out very often with my friends. The Greasers are also a very cool group of guys.

The Catcher in the Rye

Written by J.D. Salinger

A book for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by Amin

    

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a classic to die for. Out of the majority of J.D. Salinger’s body of work, it’s the one novel that has garnered great recognition (which shouldn't be the case, since some of his other stories are classics).

The book is a coming-of-age drama about 16-year-old Holden Caulfield, who is expelled from his prep school. We follow him as he goes to New York City to avoid his parents (who would be furious with him). Holden rents a room at the Edmont Hotel and goes through one of the most seemingly insignificant yet highly notable ventures in literary history.

Content-wise, the events of The Catcher in the Rye aren't necessarily feats in wordplay or innovative themes. However, the way it was written and Holden’s counter-culture interactions with others really allowed the book to shoot ahead of others in terms of detailing teenage angst. The experiences of modern youth in American classics are usually not emphasized as much.

Intended for adults, The Catcher in the Rye spoke to so many teens that it became a classic, even being offered in some high school English courses on American literature. The book truly spoke to me in a way that other novels (albeit classics) could not do as well. Yes, it is overrated, and I don’t believe it is the greatest book of the 20^th century, but it is a staple of literary history that many modern Young Adult books have been modeled from. Its influence alone has made this book worthy of the title “classic,” but it is only helped by its symbolism.

Although simple, The Catcher in the Rye accomplishes what it’s meant to do very strongly. The book’s “Catcher in the Rye” is Holden, who wishes to protect younger kids (like his little sister) from falling into the depths of the corrupt and “phony” adult world. Alas, it is a vain hope that can’t be singlehandedly accomplished by Holden. In reality, such an issue was brought to light as a result of this book, which further marks its importance.

As the years go on, The Catcher in the Rye doesn’t cease being relevant. The angst of teenagers only grows as Holden’s image becomes more typical, which is a feat that many books cannot claim.

Inferno

Written by Dante Alighieri

An epic poem for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by Amin

        

Dante Alighieri's Inferno is a tale about himself (created in the vein of proto-fanfiction) about his travels into the inner circles of Hell. Along the way, he is guided by his favorite poet, Virgil, who gives him knowledge while leading him into Hell’s depths to find Purgatory. From there, Dante has to make his way to Heaven, since his divine journey was called by the higher powers, who assist him in passing through most of the bumps in the road on his way through Hell.

Inferno’s text has often been named the pinnacle of Dante's artistry in wordplay and poetry, and it does not fail to live up to such standards. The way he creates such a mood through his similes, metaphors, allegories, and references to Italian political discourse of the time allows for a semi-realistic view of the fact that the poem’s demons were previously people. This darkens the image of Hell because it shows that anyone is eligible to enter. No matter how good one may seem on the outside, their deep inner turmoil can land them a spot that almost no one would expect.

Although many of the views in Inferno are heavily outdated and would not be acceptable in today's modern environment (which makes sense considering the book was created during the Renaissance and is highly political), it is an interesting relic. Even with such great artistry comes lows. Inferno is juvenile in places where it should be taken a little more seriously. The whole basis of Dante's journey is his being guided by his favorite poet, who constantly compliments Dante as being one of the greats (along with other such poets he meets along the way). He is taught to be unfeeling towards the punishments of the sinners (including those who have ended their own lives), which is not something one should particularly be glad is happening. The long discourses on Italian politics and putting political figureheads whom he may disagree with in the lowest levels of hell (as well as tax collectors) is slightly childish. Even so, Inferno was written in 1320, which explains many of its faults and does not stop it from being one of the structural bases of poetry as we know it today. If you are an aspiring writer or experienced reader, you should read the poem at least once in your life.

Anne of Green Gables

Adapted by Crystal S. Chan with art by Kuma Chan

A manga for readers in grades 4 and up reviewed by Kalyna

        

This manga adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables follows an orphaned girl named Anne, who has fiery red locks and a beautiful imagination. Anne is sent to the Cuthbert’s family home, but there has been a terrible mistake: the Cuthberts wanted a boy, not a girl. But, the Cuthberts find a way to love Anne's charmingly annoying personality and keep her. Anne experiences the troubles of going to school, making friends, and so much more. 

I believe this manga was the perfect adaptation of the real book. I loved the art and how the characters were drawn in such perfectly fitting ways.

The Inheritors

Written by William Golding

A book for adult readers reviewed by Patrick

      

The Inheritors is a novel about a tribe of Neanderthals who travel through the forest for a summer. These Neanderthals lived and ate simply and peacefully. They didn’t kill animals, but gathered ones that were already dead. They lived happily until a group of humans began killing them.

I personally enjoyed this book because it was fairly simple to read. It also had deeper meaning and a lot of symbolism, which I greatly enjoyed. I also liked reading about how humans came into nature and ruined what was there because this showed the bad, selfish, and brutal traits that humans have.

The Life of Pi

Written by Yann Martel

A book for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by Patrick

        

The Life of Pi is a very interesting novel about a boy named Piscine “Pi” Patel, who becomes lost at sea while traveling to Canada. When his boat sinks, Pi’s only chance of survival is to get pushed onto a lifeboat full of wild animals. The story details his survival on the boat with Richard Parker, a tiger who becomes the boat’s only remaining animal.

I enjoyed The Life of Pi because it was very interesting to read. The story was simple, but it had many things to interpret, such as the animals representing human nature. I also enjoyed the connection between man and tiger. Pi and Richard both did what they needed to do to survive, but with each other. At the end of the story, it is suggested that Richard was part of Pi's imagination and represented him in his own imagination, which gave Pi the hope and determination to survive.

The Great Gatsby

Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A book for readers in grades 11 and up reviewed by Joseph

        

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a story about a mysterious man who is in love with someone else’s wife. Gatsby is a rich man on Long Island who holds parties. He hopes that his true love will come to one of them. No one who attends these parties even knows who he is.

The Great Gatsby is filled with plot twists and lies from Gatsby. While the narration by Nick is interesting, I did not enjoy it. This book is filled with words that I didn’t know and had to look up just to understand the story. The symbolism is too simple to interpret, and I didn’t find it to be interesting. I also think the book could have potentially been better if some of its plot was changed and it was slightly simpler to read.

The Outsiders

Written by S.E. Hinton

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Madison

      

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is a novel about a 14-year-old Greaser named Ponyboy. The book revolves around both Ponyboy's life and the quarrels between the Greasers and the Socs.

One day, Ponyboy and his 16-year-old friend, Johnny, run away from their homes, resulting in them having an encounter with the Socs. One of the Socs, Bob, tries to drown Ponyboy. This results in Johnny killing Bob to rescue Ponyboy. As a result, both Ponyboy and Johnny now have to hide so they don't get caught by the police.

I enjoyed The Outsiders because you have no idea what will happen next. This encouraged me to read so I could find out what would happen to Ponyboy and Johnny. Something else I liked about this book was that it never got boring and each chapter had a new plot twist.

Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death

Written by Kurt Vonnegut

A book for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by Amin

        

Slaughterhouse 5, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death by Kurt Vonnegut begins as the author reflects on his time in the war and the period after that. His inspiration to write the book unfolds in the following chapter. The book jumps around the life of Billy Pilgrim, its main character. It goes from his youth to his time in the army and war, then to his post-war life.

During his post-war life, Billy experiences the harsh debts that the war has laid upon his well-being. He imagines himself getting abducted by aliens and living a life with another woman to then come back to reality. Due to Billy’s biased personal accounts, no one knows if what is happening is real or not (although it probably isn't). Whether or not he is telling the truth or lying is ambiguous, but it sure does make for a great story.

Slaughterhouse 5, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death’s jumpiness can be jarring for many. But, when I was caught up with all that was happening, it personally kept me wanting more and was entertaining. Kurt Vonnegut’s language and tone are very casual, so it makes up for the confusion in the timeline of events. The book is comparable to accounts from veterans, war films (not those cheesy ones like Rambo, but ones like 1917 and Dunkirk that are more realistic), and other biographical war novels. This book introduced me to the world of Vonnegut's literature, and I will always remember it for that reason. On a scale from 1 to 10, I would give it a solid 9.

The Grapes of Wrath

Written by John Steinbeck

A book for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by Patrick

        

The Grapes of Wrath is a story about how a family of tenant farmers, the Joads, have to leave their home in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Because Oklahoma was covered in dust and experiencing a drought, most of its farmers were struggling to make money. The Joad family decides to move to California to get their lives back on track, but face hardships and struggles along the way.

 

I did not enjoy The Grapes of Wrath because the old Southern slang that was used was difficult to read. The book was also very boring at times, making it difficult to pay attention to detail. Additionally, it was filled with unnecessary details that had nothing to do with the storyline.

Lord of the Flies

Written by William Golding

A book for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by Patrick

    

Lord of the Flies is a novel about a group of boys who become stranded on a remote island after their plane crashes. These boys have to figure out how to survive and develop an organized way of living with rules and jobs. Many of the boys eventually lose their innocence, and they become violent and hateful towards each other. 

I enjoyed Lord of the Flies because it keeps you on your toes. Overall, it was easy and interesting to read because of how it showed the boys slowly losing their civilized human nature and becoming more like savages. Consistently, there was also deeper meaning in the boys’ objects and actions.

The Outsiders

Written by S.E. Hinton

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Bella

        

In a town in Oklahoma, the Socs and the Greasers are divided by class and style. The Socs are wealthier than the Greasers and don’t always respect them. Though the Greasers are not the most respected nor the richest in society, they always stick together.

After a drive-in movie, the Socs go after two Greasers, Ponyboy and Johnny. This leads to a trail of horrible bloody events. Ponyboy and Johnny seek the help of Dally, one of their friends, after a terrible fight between them and the Socs. They then have to go on an adventure, which soon leads to a death of their own.

This book is a classic that most will probably read once in their lifetime. It has an interesting, heartfelt, and attention-grabbing story. If you like crime with a mix of drama, The Outsiders is the book for you.

The Time Machine

Written by H.G. Wells

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Caitlin

        

In The Time Machine, a man makes an extraordinary break in science. He creates a time machine with the ability to move through the past and future. The Time Traveler travels to the year 802,701, where life is very different then where he once was. The society humans had built was destroyed and totally different from what he could have ever imagined.

The Time Traveler makes both friends and enemies. He also learns much about the people of the future while also having questions about how the human race got to this point in time.

The Time Machine has to be one of the best books that I have ever read. I enjoy futuristic movies and books, so I automatically loved this book. I also loved how different it was from typical movies and books about the future. The Time Machine leaves you with many questions, and I highly recommend it to those who like to think about what the future holds for humankind.

Lord of the Flies

Written by William Golding

A book for readers in grades 9 and up reviewed by John

        

William Golding's Lord of the Flies won him the Nobel Prize in Literature. The book follows a gang of youngsters who find themselves shipwrecked on a deserted island and tragically attempt to self-govern. The tensions between groupthink and individualism, rational and emotional reactions, and morality and immorality are among the themes explored.

Lord of the Flies is a great work of literature. It shows the true nature of humankind and how people may turn into savage animals when placed in life-or-death situations. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction.