The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel by S.E. Hilton and is a story about how a boy and his two older brothers survive in the world after the death of their parents. The main character, Ponyboy (his real name is Michael Curtis), is a 14-year-old who is in a gang with his brothers and friends. They view themselves as outsiders to the real world and take care of one another like family. The book covers the journey they go through as they struggle to get by.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is a realistic fiction book set in 1986 and follows Eleanor and Park. Eleanor is a new girl in town and she couldn’t stick out more. Park is the boy in the back of the bus who thinks he’s invisible. But not to Eleanor. The two bond over mixtapes and comics. Even with their mountain of problems, they fall in love, knowing it might not last. Yet they’re brave enough to try. I read this book for school and to be honest, I hated it.
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen is a realistic fiction book. It follows two points of view of the same story. When Julie Baker first saw her new neighbor Bryce Loski, it was love at first sight. When Bryce first saw Julie, it was the complete opposite. As they got older, Julie fell deeper for Bryce, and Bryce got even more terrified. After a tragedy hits Julie, things change. Her love for Bryce changes. And so does Bryce’s view of Julie. Throughout this cute romance, we see heartbreak and friendship.
My rating for this book is a 4 because the book is focused and I believe the poem format does bring it down in some spots at times.
Summary:
This book is about two characters who have had a lot of problems in their lives. Their names are Hannah and Cal. They both live together after Cal moved in because of family problems. They both are cousins and Cal pulls pranks on Hannah that she doesn't like. Her parents slowly start drifting apart after Cal moving in. She decides to bring the family back together and to include Cal in that family too.
My rating for this book is a 3.5 because the book is pretty average and it did not catch my interest. The book is written well but it does not have a very interesting plot. Iti s realistic but a bit like those perfect story books type of "realistic".
Summary:
This book is about a girl who wants to be an astronaut. It takes place right before a huge rocket launch in the 1980s. This book gives her and her brothers' points of view and leads her to learn a lot of things.
The Edge of Anything is a story of girls that the outside viewer would see as polar opposites. Sage is the star volleyball player of her high school’s varsity team, and is hoping to be chosen by a college scout to get a full ride to play in college. Len is a quiet photographer, often made fun of by the athletic kids for her quirks and odd behaviors that no one understands. What no one knows is that they both have struggles going on in their lives that are hidden from public view, and even from their families.
Monique is offered the opportunity to interview the Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo however when Hugo throws her for a loop she can't refuse the great offer. Evelyn Hugo is a famous Hollywood actress who originally came from nothing but she worked very hard to achieve her dreams through perseverance. Hugo wants to start plain and simple however many things come in her way or rather people come into her life that alters it. Such as not being able to find the “right” husband and rising competition as the leading actress award.
Fighting Words is an inspiring and eye-opening realistic fiction novel by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. This book is about a 10-year-old girl named Della, and her sister Suki. Della and Suki’s mom had been sent to prison for blowing up a motel bathroom while cooking meth. Della and Suki go into foster care, where they meet Francine. Suki hurts herself, Della fights for what’s right, and both siblings decide to testify against their childhood abuser.
This book follows the story of teenager Craig Gilner. He wants to succeed but nearly kills himself over it. The book follows his journey with his mental health and all the ups and downs along the way. To me, the book was in a way very relatable, which I personally always love in a book. The way that Craig reacted to situations and simply the things he struggled with as a teen, is very compelling and I sort of saw myself in him a little bit, as I am also a teenager.
Kim Jiyoung is a novella detailing the discrimination South Korean women face at school, the workplace, and in their personal lives. The book is written as if you are Kim Jiyoung’s psychologist, listening to her recount her life after her psychic deterioration. Interspersed with personal stories are statistics detailing how common her experiences are – just like the name Kim Jiyoung was the most common name for Korean baby girls in 1982.
