The Kite Runner

Written by Khaled Hosseini

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

        

The Kite Runner, written and published by Khaled Hosseini in 2003, tells the story of Amir from his time as a young boy living in Kabul, Afghanistan to when he is forced to leave his country and immigrate to the United States when Afghanistan is no longer safe. The second half of the novel centers on Amir returning to Afghanistan and helping his childhood friend’s son escape from the country.

The Kite Runner does not pull any punches with its gritty, depressingly realistic portrayal of Kabul and the Taliban’s control over it. It showcases themes such as racism, the search for redemption, and the effects of childhood sexual assault with the seriousness and nuance that they deserve. This is a worthy read for anyone who believes they can handle it.

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.

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.

Wonder

Written by R.J. Palacio

A book for readers in grades 3 and up reviewed by Grayson

        

Wonder is about a boy with a lot of deformities, but he is really smart. He has pretty much been at home with his mom, but he is going to start going to school. He wants to be just like the other kids, even though he does not look like them. He faces many challenges, but grows through them all.

Wonder was very good. August is just like every other boy his age in his thoughts and dreams. All that sets him apart are his looks. He is very hurt by people at first, but he seems to understand. In the end, we see who his true friends are. I would recommend this book. After finishing it, you should watch the movie.

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.

Restart

Written by Gordon Korman

A book for readers in grades 5 and up reviewed by Grayson

    

Restart by Gordon Korman is about a boy in high school. He was a great football player and a terrible bully. He did things to the other kids in school that made them fear him. One boy even had to leave that school. The bully falls off a roof and gets amnesia. He does not understand why everyone, with the exception of his few friends, are terrified of him. We watch him struggle with what he was like and how he now wants to be. 

Restart was excellent. So many kids are bullied in school, and this book shows them that they are not alone. It also shows bullies how their actions and words terribly affect other kids. I would recommend this book to all middle school students.

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.

Unfriended

Written by Rachel Vail

A book for readers in grades 5 and up reviewed by Madison

        

Unfriended by Rachel Vail is about a girl in eighth grade named Hazel being left by her best friend, Truly. After Truly is invited to join the Popular Table, she leaves Hazel confused and heartbroken. Truly believes that she is now part of the popular group, but it turns out that she is being fooled.

I liked Unfriended because it was accurate in its portrayal of middle school drama. I found the book relatable and fun to read. It kept me wondering what was going to happen next and never grew boring.

Hedge Over Heels

Written by Elise McMullen-Ciotti

A book for readers in grades 3 and up reviewed by Mia

        

In Hedge Over Heels, a girl named Rayna really wants a dog. However, her mom works for the army, which would make it hard to look after a dog given that they need a lot of time and attention. 

When Rayna's mom decides that it's time to get her a pet, Rayna is excited. She thinks that it’s time for her to get the dog of her dreams. However, Rayna's pet is revealed to her, and it's a hedgehog. Initially, Rayna isn’t happy with her new pet, but when she goes to the pet store to buy supplies, she learns that hedgehogs can be cool.

One of Rayna’s goals in her new home is to not make any friends because it would hurt too much when it’s time to finally say goodbye. Her mom wants to have a barbeque, although Rayna is opposed to it. At the barbeque, she meets some new friends who also own pets. Like her, they will be competing in a pet talent show. Later at school, she is tutored by a boy named Nick, and they eventually become great friends.

I enjoyed Hedge Over Heels. First and foremost, it is about pets, and I enjoy books similar to this. Secondly, I have read a few other books where a girl gets a pet that she initially doesn't want and ends up loving it. I enjoy books similar to these, and I would definitely recommend this one to any pet lovers.

Counting by 7s

Written by Holly Goldberg Sloan

A book for readers in grades 5 and up reviewed by Madison

        

In Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, the main character is Willow Chance, a 12-year-old girl who is interested in the number seven. She is very gifted, which leads her to having a difficult time adjusting to her new middle school. Willow’s teacher accuses her of cheating on a test that she did incredibly well on. As a result, she meets with Dell Duke, the school's behavioral counselor. Willow is a unique student who Dell has never encountered, which leads him to be inspired by her.

I liked Counting by 7s because I believe that it is inspiring. Even though its story can be sad at times, I like the way Willow always finds a way to move on. I would recommend this book to readers in 6th grade and up.

Bad Best Friend

Written by Rachel Vail

A book for readers in grades 5 and up reviewed by Madison

        

Bad Best Friend is about Niki and her friend, Ava. While in gym class, the teacher asks the students to get into pairs, but Ava chooses Britney, a popular girl, instead of Niki. As a result, Niki is lost trying to figure out why Ava is acting this way, since they have always been best friends.

I love Bad Best Friend because I can relate to it, since I have had this happen to me. The book is very interesting and relatable for people who are in middle school. I find myself rereading it because it is so interesting. 

Well, That Was Awkward

Written by Rachel Vail

A book for readers in grades 5 and up reviewed by Madison

        

Well, That Was Awkward by Rachel Vail is about a girl named Gracie, who has a crush on her friend, A.J. She gets her friend Emmett to see if A.J happens to have a crush on anyone. Unfortunately, Gracie learns that A.J has a crush on her best friend, Sienna. Following this, Gracie becomes jealous of her friend, but decides to stay humble and not tell Sienna that she has a crush on A.J.

I enjoyed Well, That Was Awkward because I believe it is relatable and very funny. I think that it captures what middle school is like, especially while having a crush and going through drama. I also love this book for its unexpected ending.

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.

All the Wrong Chords

Written by Christine Hurley Deriso

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

        

In All the Wrong Chords by Christine Hurley Deriso, Scarlett Stiles must spend her entire summer with her grandfather after her older brother, Liam, passes away due to a drug overdose. While she is taking care of her grandfather, she finds out that a rock band is in need of a guitarist. To keep herself busy, Scarlett joins, and she finds herself attracted to the band's lead singer.

I enjoyed this book because both the plot and Scarlett’s character intrigued me. I would definitely recommend it to many of my friends.

Wonder

Written by R.J. Palacio

A book for readers in grades 3 and up reviewed by Aidan

        

Wonder is about a kid named Auggie, who has a facial difference that prevents him from attending school in person until he enters fifth grade. At first, Auggie is feeling nervous about being the new kid, but he later tries to convince all of his new classmates that he is the same as them.

There are plenty of reasons why I love Wonder, but I will just be stating three. First, I loved the connection and the detailed similarities to actually being a 5th grader. Second, I loved the main subject of the book, which was "Don't judge a book by its cover." I realize how cheesy that saying is, but I value its importance. Third, I found the book very motivating, funny, and uplifting.

The Hate U Give

Written by Angie Thomas

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

The Hate U Give is about a girl named Starr Carter, who watches her friend Khalil die when he is shot by a cop. The cop thought he had a gun, but he was just holding a hairbrush. After Khalil’s funeral, a protest takes place that starts to get violent. Starr and her family go back home with gunshots and fighting taking place in their neighborhood.

At school, Starr’s friend Hailey gives her a really hard time about what happened with Khalil and the cop who killed him. Starr becomes angry and realizes she wants to protest. She appears on the news and talks about her experience. This angers King, a gang leader, because Khalil was a part of his gang.

I really like The Hate U Give because it shows how some people are shaped by their environment. It also shows the conditions that people have to live with in The Projects. Gang violence and racism are all a product of living in a certain environment, especially in lower and middle income communities.

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer

Written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

A book for readers in grades 2 and up reviewed by Kalyna

        

 

In Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer, Judy and her brother Stink are left with their Aunt Opal while their parents are on a trip. Judy's friends also leave, so she is left all alone. Judy tries to have the best summer she can, so she concocts a thrill-a-delic plan. Judy and her “pest” friend Frank go on a nonstop action-filled adventure.

I would give Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer an 8/10 because I loved to read it both now and when I was younger. I also love that the book is filled with nonstop comedy.

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 Hate U Give

Written by Angie Thomas

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

        

The Hate U Give is a novel about Starr, who struggles keeping balance between her school life and her home life after her best friend is murdered by a police officer. Now, she must grapple with racism, police brutality, and activism while trying to figure out who she is.

I would recommend this novel because it teaches you to always stand up for what you believe in, as well as to always be true to yourself. Readers will grow attached to Starr as she goes on a self-journey to learn her wants and needs.

All The Bright Places

Written by Jennifer Niven

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

        

All the Bright Places is a novel about mental illness, as well as its effects on those suffering from it and the people around them. Finch and Violet meet at the top of their school's bell tower. They both intend to jump off, but they instead decide to save each other.

I would recommend this book because it teaches us to always treat others with kindness, especially since we may not know what someone is going through. We can see from Violet and Finch’s points of view how it feels when you have no one to turn to.