The Memory Keeper’s Daughter features a life-altering secret that spans two decades and changes the lives of all the characters. Norah and David Henry are happily married with a baby on the way. However, on the stormy night that Norah gives birth to unexpected twins, David realizes that their daughter has Down Syndrome.
This dystopian novel centers around a girl named Kathy who is a caretaker that ends up finding some special people from her past. We learn more about Kathy’s history and about the unique but dark world that she lives in. We meet the characters Ruth & Tommy, two of Kathy’s close friends. From them, we see more of the impact that their situations have on them and the power of both friendship and love. A mystery unfolds of how Kathy will be able to find true happiness and freedom in her life as she sorts through these memories to try and find her future.
The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller novel that portrays the character Alicia Berenson’s story. Alicia Berenson, a famous painter, killed her loving husband one fateful night, and no one knows why. Alicia and her husband had a loving relationship, and no one saw it coming. On top of that, Alicia then decided to go completely mute, refusing to talk to anyone, nor defend her case at court. She then was institutionalized at a mental hospital, to undergo further study as to why she killed her husband.
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware Leonora “Nora” Shaw is a crime writer who left her school ten years ago after a breakup and devotes her life to writing whilst living in a small living space in Hackney. After leaving town, Nora loses touch with her old friends and expects her days to be the same. However, she later receives an email that invites her to a party that is held by her old best friend, Clare. The party is later hosted by Clare’s best friend, Flo, who seems to be a look-alike of Clare.
Summary: Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser is a novel that follows the intertwined lives of Luc and Sophie, two individuals grappling with past traumas and present struggles. Luc, a troubled artist, finds solace in painting, but his unresolved grief and guilt hinder his ability to truly connect with others. Sophie, a compassionate nurse, is burdened by her own secrets and insecurities.
Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash is a dark novel which follows the story of Alys, whose world shifts dramatically when her brother decides to shoot up her school, killing fifteen, including her boyfriend’s younger sister. The story paints a dramatic landscape of the aftermath, as her family and community struggle to move on from the incident. As Alys only wants things to be normal again, everyone in her life turns on her.
Lord of the Flies is a psychological novel by William Golding and stars a group of British boys who crash-landed on an uninhabited island. These boys, ranging from ages 7 to 12, are just normal children who start to panic when they realize that they are the only survivors, and no adults are there to protect them. However, everyone soon realizes their newfound independence and are excited to use it.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel about a group of boys stranded on an island all by themselves. The novel explores the human mind and how everyone has the capacity to commit atrocities, and all that they need is a push in the right direction.
