The Trial by Franz Kafka follows the surreal and nightmarish journey of Josef K., a seemingly ordinary man who is arrested by mysterious agents for an unspecified crime. Throughout the novel, Josef navigates a bewildering and absurd legal system, facing a series of bizarre and surreal trials without ever being informed of the charges against him. The narrative unfolds in a disorienting and dreamlike manner, exploring themes of bureaucracy, power, and the absurdity of the legal system.
Looking for Alaska is a thought-provoking novel that tackles universal questions about love, friendship, truth, and the gray areas in between. Miles Halter, a high school student, enrolls in Culver Creek Preparatory School in search of his "Great Perhaps". There he befriends Chip "The Colonel," Takumi, and the mysterious Alaska Young.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is an intricate literary fiction novel by Gabrielle Zevin that centers on old friends Sadie Green and Sam Masur and Marx Wantanabe, Sam’s college roommate. Sadie, Sam, and Marx create a gaming company together and face the complexities of love, relationships, and evolving life in this poignant, long story. I personally enjoyed the level of depth Sadie Green and Sam Masur contained.
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin is a heartfelt novel that revolves around a young girl named Rose Howard who has Asperger's syndrome. Rose finds solace and order in her life through rules and prime numbers. When her beloved dog Rain goes missing during a storm, Rose's world is turned upside down. The novel beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and the unique perspective of someone with Asperger's.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is a heartwarming and humorous novel that tells the story of Ove, a grumpy and solitary old man who has lost his will to live following the death of his beloved wife. However, Ove's life takes an unexpected turn when new neighbors, a young family, move in next door and disrupt his meticulously organized world.
The Maze of Bones is the first book in a series called The 39 Clues. The story follows brother and sister Amy and Dan Cahill who are at their grandma's funeral and have a chance to discover something that will change the world forever. All they have to do is find the 39 clues, but that is no easy task. Will the Cahills or their evil relatives find the clues first? This book is full of adventure, mystery, and lots of suspense.
We Regret To Inform You by Ariel Kaplin is about a girl named Mischa Abramavicius who goes to a private school called Blanchard. She has outstanding grades as well as a 3.98 GPA and a 1580 SAT score. She works very hard in school and has a best friend named Nate. Despite all of her hard work she gets rejected by every college she applies to including her safety school that she hated.
Insurgent is a dystopian novel that follows Tris Prior through her adventures in a war torn city. Tris is Divergent, which means she can resist simulations and can’t be controlled by the leaders. She has to make a huge choice during this book, she can turn herself in for testing, or the leaders will continue to kill her friends. The choice she makes tears her from her love, Tobias, who follows her even though she broke a promise.
Verity by Colleen Hoover is a gripping romantic thriller that follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is asked to complete a popular author's series after the author, Verity Crawford, is injured. Lowen discovers Verity's hidden autobiographical manuscript and stumbles upon disturbing, dark secrets within it, leading to a thrilling and increasingly suspenseful narrative.
Normal People by Sally Rooney is a contemporary coming-of-age novel that follows the complex relationship between Marianne and Connell, two Irish teenagers from different social backgrounds. Despite their differences, the two form a deep and intense connection, navigating the challenges of high school, college, and adulthood while grappling with issues of power, vulnerability, and self-identity.
