Night

Written by Elie Wiesel

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

        

Night is a memoir written by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. He recalls the horrible time when his family was separated during World War II. He writes about the hardships and horrors of living in and out of concentration camps.

Night is one of my favorite books that I have recently read. It is a powerful and raw story revealing the true atrocities that were committed during the Holocaust. Elie lives on to tell his story and represents all of the lives lost in World War II.

Tuesdays with Morrie

Written by Mitch Albom

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

        

Tuesdays with Morrie is a true story about a man reconnecting with his old professor, who is currently dying. The old professor and the student were very close in college, but sadly began to drift apart until the student saw the professor on television talking about his disease. The student began to reunite with his professor every Tuesday to be taught life lessons.

I personally enjoyed Tuesdays with Morrie because it is very educational and easy to read. The lessons taught by the professor are very simple but meaningful. The book was also interesting because it showed the process of ALS and how it affects even healthy people.

The Other Wes Moore

Written by Wes Moore

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

    

 

The Other Wes Moore is a story about two boys who grew up in a similar neighborhood with similar situations and the same name, but had different outcomes in life. Both boys grew up in a single parent household, were consistently misbehaving, and got into trouble with the law. They were both in similar situations until one went to military school and wrote a book while the other robbed a jewelry store and went to prison.

While some parts of The Other Wes Moore were confusing due to both main characters having the same exact name, I enjoyed it. This book was fairly simple to read and was very interesting. The development for both characters was very interesting in that it showed what each character felt when they were doing both good and bad things, as well as how their actions affected them emotionally.

Night

Written by Elie Wiesel

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

        

In Night by Elie Wiesel, Elie is just a teenager when he is forced to leave his home and sent to multiple concentration camps against his will. Through all of the horror Elie endures, he stays strong and survives.

Night is able to tell such a tragedy. At the same time, it gives readers the ability to imagine what people really went through during this dark point in history. As sad as this book is, its story really makes you feel for its the characters and want to keep on reading.

Sisters

Written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

A graphic novel for readers in grades 3 and up reviewed by Bella

    

Sisters is a story that anybody with siblings can relate to, as Raina and her sister Amara have a very interesting relationship. When Raina was a toddler, she always wanted a sister to play and bond with. When that wish came true, her expectations didn’t match reality. Raina and Amara didn’t get along, and their relationship became progressively more complicated as they grew older. Eventually, Amara and Raina become big sisters to a baby brother and have to deal with family problems while having to try to get along.

Even though I can't relate to Sisters because I am an only child, it's still one of my favorite graphic novels. It is energetic and attention grabbing. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who could possibly relate to Raina and Amara!

Elena Vanishing

Written by Elena Dunkle and Clare B. Dunkle

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

    

Elena Vanishing is an amazing book! It really gave me a look into what those who struggle with eating go through. Elena has a constant battle in her head, which causes her to think badly about herself and not want to take a bite of her food.

Elena Vanishing is very raw. It shows strength, beauty, and struggles. I highly recommend this book not only to those with eating disorders, but also to those who don't live with them. It’s very eye-opening and shows how you can come out stronger through pain.

Night

Written by Elie Wiesel

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

    

When I read Night, it made me realize the heartache and pain that Elie Wiesel and other people who lived in Nazi concentration camps went through. The book informed me of different things that happened back then, which I did not know about before.

Overall, this book was great. I had a lot of interest and couldn’t stop reading. I would truly recommend it.

I'll Be Gone in the Dark

Written by Michelle McNamara

A book for adult readers reviewed by Gianely

    

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara is a mystery with a thriller touch! In the book, Michelle McNamara explains her obsessive search for the Golden State Killer, who was notorious for many killings, rapes, and burglaries in California during the 1970s.

McNamara is one for crime and solving mysteries, so this was not new territory for her. She goes on an investigation trying to find the suspect, which lasts six years. Throughout the book, she takes the reader along in finding clues, locating possible people of interest, and eventually assisting in putting the Golden State Killer behind bars.

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is set in California, and McNamara travels throughout the state as she goes through her investigation. Cities like Los Angeles, Irvine, Dana Point, Hollywood, Sacramento, Goleta, Danville, Visalia, and many more are all included in the book. It is set in the present, though the crimes mentioned take the reader as far back as 1970. 

The Golden State Killer was said to have committed at least 13 murders, 50 rapes, and 120 burglaries. More than 8,000 suspects were investigated, yet none pleaded guilty. The author dedicated herself to finding the truth about the killer because she wanted his victims to get justice.

I would highly recommend this book to a reader who loves crime and mysteries. McNamara really takes the reader on a journey with a lot of detail, twists and turns, and different perspectives. I enjoyed how she showed the victim’s view in a creative way. Not only is her book well written, but it is creepy in all the right ways!

Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea

Written by Steven Callahan

A book for adult readers reviewed by Andielynn

    

In Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea, Steven Callahan writes about how he attempted to practice for a sailboat race, but his ship had broken down due to a heavy storm that occurred at night. As his boat was sinking, Callahan tried to salvage as many items that he could possibly use as he could. This led him to trying to survive out in the ocean with minimal equipment, food, and water. Ultimately, he was forced to become creative in making tools for catching fish or purifying water.

Overall, Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea was a great book to read, although some parts were less enjoyable. I liked the book’s deeper meaning. Its message was that we shouldn’t take the small things in our lives for granted because they could easily be taken away from us. This is shown with the author, who started as a normal civilian but had his whole world turned upside down. Considering we are all living in a pandemic, everyone could use a reminder such as this one, since life is so short.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Written by Cheryl StrayedA book for adult readers reviewed by Andielynn

    

This book was very interesting because the author talks about her experiences hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,000 mile hike on the West Coast, all by herself during the summer after her mother’s passing a few years prior.

I personally liked the book, since it mentions various outdoorsy things and the scenery that Cheryl Strayed saw while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. However, this book is not strictly about Cheryl Strayed hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. She also talks about her family, her love life, and how she went into a downward spiral after her mother passed away. This book teaches the reader that everything may not go your way in life, but you still have to keep moving forward because our hardships and difficulties are the moments that we will remember and learn from.

Overall, I give this book an 8/10 and recommend it to people who are interested in reading motivational life stories or books with vivid nature imagery.

Guts

Written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

A graphic novel for readers in grades 3 and up reviewed by Rida

  

Guts is an autobiographical graphic novel. The main character of the book is a girl named Raina, who wakes up with a terrible stomachache. Her mom also has a stomachache, so they think it has to do with something they ate. When Raina goes back to school, she realizes that her tummy troubles are not going away.

Overall, Raina Telgemeier tells a hilarious story about growing up and conquering her fears.