Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy

Written by Tui T. Sutherland

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

    

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy takes place in a fantasy kingdom called Pyrrhia. The land has seven dragon tribes: MudWings, SandWings, IceWings, RainWings, SeaWings, SkyWings, and NightWings. Each dragon tribe is ruled by a queen.

 

When a human murders the SandWing queen, her three daughters go to war fighting to become queen. This war involves five dragon tribes. But, according to a prophecy, five dragonets from different tribes are destined to stop the war.

 

Clay is one of the five dragonets destined to stop the war. However, he doesn’t feel like a hero and has doubts, especially considering he and the other dragonets mentioned in the prophecy have lived underground their entire lives. 

 

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy is special to me because it led me to develop a reading hobby. I liked the book’s characters and their different personalities. It was refreshing to have a story where all of the characters are dragons. I found the book’s message about choosing your own destiny to be unique and special.

Truly Devious

Written by Maureen Johnson

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

    

Truly Devious follows Stevie Bell, who is about to attend the infamous Ellingham Academy to pursue her passion for true crime. For her final project, she decides to solve the crime that was committed at Ellingham Academy years ago. However, as Stevie gets closer to solving the crime, she begins to feel that the killer may have returned!

I finished Truly Devious in one sitting because every chapter made me want to read more. Maureen Johnson’s page-turning writing absolutely captivated me. There have even been sequels to this book, since it was so popular.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid

A book for adult readers reviewed by Caitlin

    

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo tells the story of Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. Until now, no one has ever seen inside Evelyn’s glamorous and intriguing life. But, when she chooses reporter Monique Grant to write her biography, we see how their lives have become entangled. 

I have such a strong love for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It has its funny moments, yet can also make you cry. The way it depicts Evelyn’s life and shows how it was behind the curtains can make you view Hollywood differently. This book is extremely well written and made me feel for the characters.

The Honest Truth

Written by Dan Gemeinhart

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

    

The Honest Truth is about twelve-year-old Mark, who is fed up with being kept in a hospital due to cancer. After he finds out his cancer has returned, Mark sets out for an adventure to climb to the top of Mount Rainier with his dog, Beau. Without leaving any trace, Mark sets off on his journey and begins to explore new experiences while learning valuable life lessons. 

The Honest Truth has a beautiful story that taught me the importance of love in friendships and family. It is a moving piece that will leave you with many valuable life lessons that anyone can relate to. This book also gave me insight into the lives of people who have gone through the same challenges as Mark.

The Kite Runner

Written by Khaled Hosseini

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

    

The Kite Runner begins in post-war Afghanistan with a wealthy boy named Amir, his father, and their servants. Although the servants are looked down upon in society, they are family to Amir and his father. Eventually, personal tragedy and a war separate the two families, leading to regret and guilt. In adulthood, Amir must face his demons in order to preserve the honor of his childhood friend and former servant, Hassan.

The Kite Runner is an exploration of friendship and the bonds of brotherhood. The concept of family being connected by more than just blood can be understood in the modern era, where people fear loneliness. Understanding how to forgive after trauma, such as the betrayal Hassan faced through Amir, can help everyone become more united and compassionate. This is a great story and a must read.

Speak

Written by Laurie Halse Anderson

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

    

Speak is a story of high school trauma. While at a party, Melinda had to call the police in order to protect herself, but is left speechless when asked why. She is then ostracized for her actions because no one knows the truth. Melinda must work up the courage to speak out against what happened and save herself from solitude.

Speak is an incredible book that tackles tough topics, such as sexual abuse, depression, and anxiety. Although touchy subjects, they are necessary to discuss, and this book has helped many teenagers who suffer from trauma or mental illness. Speak goes into the psyche of a teenager and helps the reader better understand the struggles of high school.

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 Hunger Games

Written by Suzanne Collins

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

    

The Hunger Games is set in Panem, which has a Capitol surrounded by twelve districts. Every year, an event called the Hunger Games takes place. During the Hunger Games, children from the twelve districts are forced to kill each other.

The book's main character is Katniss Everdeen. Her little sister, Prim, is chosen to fight in the Hunger Games. Scared for her sister, Katniss takes her place. To win the Hunger Games' death challenge, Katniss knows she has to be smart, fast, strong, and fearless.

I liked this book because the scenes and plot were very interesting. The characters were well written, and the pacing of the story was well done. Overall, it was very interesting to see how the characters felt and acted during the Hunger Games.

Salt to the Sea

Written by Ruta Sepetys

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

    

Salt to the Sea is a story following four young narrators, who share their experiences fleeing from their home countries due to the terrors of World War II. The narrators include Joana, a Lithuanian nurse, Florian, an East Prussian restoration artist, Emilia, a fifteen-year-old girl from Poland, and Alfred, a German sailor assigned to the port of Gotenhafen.

On their journey to West Germany, Joana, Florian, and Emilia make their way to the port of Gotenhafen, where Alfred prepares a ship for evacuation. They reveal secrets and find love along the way, all the while experiencing various trials and tribulations.

I truly enjoyed Salt to the Sea and would recommend it to all. It opened my eyes to the horrors that hundreds of thousands of people had to face to escape violence during World War II. Through unique narrators who share their personal journeys, this book informs readers about the history of World War II.

One of Us is Lying

Written by Karen M. McManus

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

    

One of Us is Lying follows a group of four high school students, who are being investigated after the recent, seemingly orchestrated death of their classmate. The four students, who are named Addy, Bronwyn, Nate, and Cooper, were all in detention at the same time as Simon, who suddenly died after drinking a cup of water with traces of peanut oil. To discover who premeditated Simon’s death, they are questioned by authorities and each other. They are also worried that their secrets will be uncovered after a post on Simon’s social media app insinuates that they each have something to hide. 

One of Us Is Lying is one of my favorite books that I have read in the past year. From the unique characters to the suspenseful plotline and dramatic plot twists, I enjoyed every aspect of it. This novel had me on the edge of my seat, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery.