To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The book itself has a lot of memorable events, big a really big one is the Tom Robbinson case. The book talks about racism in the events that take place, and knowing that many people wouldn’t listen to a man because of his color was not right. My reactions to this book was somewhat shocked. Only some events did that to me, and some were interesting. I was interesting in what was next for the Finch kids and the case itself. I think that racism was definitely wrong back then. There was no right to be treated that way and knowing that some people wouldn’t give you the respect you deserved. I had to read this book for my Lit/Writ class, but I did get hooked. I wanted to know how these people treated one another with their ways. It was interesting to find out how things were back then. I also had to keep reading it for my Lit/Writ class. I would give this book to people 10 years and over. It’s a suitable book for anyone to read, as long as they can understand it. It’s important for them to know what racism was and how was it.

book reviewed by Giovanni Mendoza

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is a fantasy about a creature known as a hobbit, with the name Bilbo Baggins. He is not of the adventurous sort, but when thirteen dwarves and a wizard knock on his door in need of a “burglar”, Bilbo, after much convincing, agrees to go on a quest with them, a quest to regain the dwarves’ lost home, The Kingdom Under the Mountain, which is guarded by the great Dragon Smaug. Surprises and twists lie ahead of Bilbo and his friends as they try to defeat the clever dragon under the mountain.

Every time I opened this book, I was met with a certain indescribable peace. It is as if I myself am in the Shire right now, writing a book review about The Hobbit. This story contains several twists and turns, and I never knew what to expect next. From the ways of Gandalf to the terrors of Smaug, Tolkien cleverly incorporates each and every aspect into a web with a our lovely hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, at the center. Being a prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit shows us certain aspects the series will hold, but it gives nothing away, which excites readers such as myself. In pursuit of the plot that Tolkien has compiled in this sequel series to The Hobbit, I have begun to read the Lord of The Rings, and it does not disappoint. This book is for those who fall in love with good writing and also for those who like change, as well as a sense of adventure, I must say so myself. Tolkien has done a splendid job at writing a tale worth telling by writing this book.

-Deep Sethi

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson edited by Thomas H. Johnson

One of the most talented poets in history makes her mark in this collection of all Emily Dickinson’s discovered prose. Her poems create beautiful stories and imagery  that delve into deeper topics like death, love, and finding one’s happiness. Emily Dickinson is an inspiration to me and a great many others. She can take the most simplistic aspect of day-to-day household events and transform them into a work of glorious art. Thats what drew me to her poems: how she can shine brilliant light upon her surroundings and present the complicated beauty of it.  A masterpiece such as this, I think, should be passed on to a bored friend sitting next to you, a family member wanting to pass the time, or maybe yourself reading this.  Her poems will captivate you with their multi dimensional virtuosity for hours to come if you wish to explore the world as she saw it.

-Jalen X. Greene

 

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Summary: The Screwtape Letters are a collection of letters written by chief Devil, Screwtape, who writes to his junior devil nephew, Wormwood, about the techniques and tricks to deceiving humans and condemning their souls to hell by keeping them away from God and the Truth.

Why I picked it up: It was recommended in a magazine I was reading.

Why I kept reading it: It was difficult to read but it really provoked new thoughts and a different approach to perceiving human desires and temptations and how humans choose to endure and respond to them.

Who I would give it to next: A friend 🙂

Reviewed by Eun Young K.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Summary:  In this allegorically magnificent book, the political and economic views of socialism and communism are reviewed in a fun and exciting way. In this book, there is a feud that continuously grows between farmers and their unhappy farm animals. The farm animals start a rebellion because they wish to be free from their captors. With the leadership skills of Snowball and Napoleon, the herd of animals achieve an impossible feat. They rebel and rebel until they eventually start to become like the beings they once despised.

Why I picked it up:  I picked up this book because my dad recommended it to me.

Why I kept reading it:  I kept reading this book because it was insightful, knowledgeable, and fun. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in politics and history.

Who should read it next:  I would mostly recommend this book to any ordinary high school or middle school students because of the valuable historical lessons it teaches.

Reviewed by Jacob A.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Lord of the Flies by William Golding takes place during World War II. It starts right after a plane carrying a group of British school boys crashes on an uninhabited island. The pilot dies in the crash, but the children survive. Ralph and Piggy, two of the boys, alone by themselves in the jungle, try to assess their situation and discover the location of the other survivors. While they are examining their surroundings, they discover a conch shell, which they use to signal the other boys. Once reunited, they decide that a leader is needed and setup a vote. They quickly nominate Ralph as leader, who feels it necessary to establish a government. His main priority is to get the boys off the island, but it becomes obvious early on that some of the other boys have different plans…

Lord of the Flies is enjoyable to read and demonstrates the effects of a lack of government on people with bloody results. The book is quite well written for the most part with the exception of the ending, which appears to be rushed and incomplete with almost no lead in; it appears to degrade the quality of the story. Regardless, the book is a unique and interesting read, and I recommend it to anyone who is undeterred by the warnings of a disappointing ending.

Reviewed by Bj W. Grade 10

Great Expectation By Charles Dickens

Great Expectation was a remarkable and unforgettable novel written by Charles Dickens in 1861. This book reflected the social reality of England by introducing a boy who tried to survive and achieved a great expectation in the society.

Pip, an orphan boy adopted by a blacksmith’s family, who has good luck and great expectations, and then loses both his luck and his expectations. Through the time period, however, Pip learns how to find happiness. He learns the meaning of friendship and the meaning of love and, of course, becomes a better person for it. By the end of the story, Pip decided to go to London to become a real gentleman.

I highly recommend Great Expectation to everyone who loves reading. It perfectly demonstrates the obsessions and expectations of a little boy in such a complicated world. It provides readers a clear window to look deeply into the dark side of the classic rules and limited society. Through this story, everyone will learn how to build and chased their ambitions and expectations. Thus, Great Expectation is definitely a book that you want to read.

Reviewed By Arily Hao

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The Notebook, a romantic novel by Nickolas Sparks, is a tragic story of two hearts meeting at a festival in New Bern. Noah and Allie’s love ended soon when she was forced to go back after summer. They both never forgot the summer they spent together. Noah worked on the house he had his eye on and Allie had met a guy. A week before her wedding, she felt like she had left something behind in New Bern. She showed up unexpectedly to Noah’s house and they shared an amazing night. Allie’s fiancé Lon was curious about why she went to New Bern and he was scared of losing her. She loved Lon, but Noah was the one that she could be herself around. She knew her parents would definitely not approve her life with Noah. There comes a time where people have to decide between the happier life and the better life.

This novel is a romantic story about two hearts reuniting and the decision she makes will change her life forever.

I recommend this book to girls that like romantic stories, because this story can relate to them. It is very realistic and detailed. As I read it, I could imagine every part like a movie. I like how it teaches us that no matter what the right way is, we should still decide what makes us happier. It is an amazing story and I think everyone should read it, even if you have seen the movie.

Reviewed by Rosa Y.