Ban This Book

Written by Alan Gratz

A book for readers in grades 4 and up reviewed by Mia

        

In Ban This Book, Amy Anne Ollinger loves checking out her favorite book at the school library. This book is From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. But, when she goes to the library, she realizes that it's not there! Amy Anne goes to the librarian (who she knows really well) to see if someone else took the book out, which never happens. Next, Amy Anne finds out that it was banned because someone thought it encouraged kids to run away from home. Afterwards, Amy Anne starts a secret library in her locker containing banned books.

Ban This Book is my absolute favorite book. First and foremost, I love how Amy Anne was determined to allow everyone to read whatever they wanted. I also love how Amy Anne loves reading. I like reading books where the main character loves to read just like me.

Dear Martin

Written by Nic Stone

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

        

Dear Martin is a story about a really good kid from a tough neighborhood. He always tries to do what is right and be kind. With the many people in his neighborhood trying to get him to be bad, this is not easy. The police also do not care that he is a good kid doing the right thing.

My aunt recommended this book to me, and I loved it.  I was very upset by much of what happened to the main character just because of the color of his skin. This is something that we lately see all the time on the news.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo: A Novel

Written by Christy Lefteri

A book for adult readers reviewed by Joseph

    

The Beekeeper of Aleppo follows the journey of Nuri and his wife Afra as they attempt to find refuge during the Syrian war. As Nuri struggles to keep both himself and Afra alive, he also struggles with his own mental decay, Afra’s loss of sight, and much more. Not only do Nuri and Afra have to travel to safety, but they also must navigate a path back to each other, as their losses have created a chasm between them despite their geographical proximity. 

This was not my favorite book. Its message of hope resonates strongly, but I do not think it has the most captivating story. Although there are many plot details, they are thinly spread throughout and leave the reader wanting more.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Written by Christy Lefteri

A book for adult readers reviewed by Emily

    

In The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Christy Lefteri encapsulates a message of hope and new beginnings through bees and beekeeping. This novel follows beekeeper Nuri and his blind wife Afra as they are forced to leave their home in Aleppo, Syria when it is ravished by war. They must navigate a strenuous journey through several countries to reach Britain, where Nuri’s cousin Mustafa is waiting. The couple endure seemingly insurmountable events, such as the loss of their young son, but they remain hopeful that they will be able to experience the beauty of bees again. 

Personally, I truly enjoyed this novel for its sympathetic characters and fascinating plot. Although its story is very tragic, it teaches many useful lessons, such as the importance of holding out hope despite horrifying circumstances. I would recommend The Beekeeper of Aleppo to anyone who enjoys novels with compelling yet heartbreaking storylines.