Teen and Staff Reviews

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys is a historical fiction book that takes place during World War II.

This book is told from four perspectives. Each is hunted by guilt, fate, shame, and fear. Each is

from a different homeland. Each is in search of a different destiny. But, they all share the same

goal: survive for those you love. Joana is a nurse in search of her mother. Florian is a Prussian

Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore was a complete letdown. It felt rushed and

messy as many of the characters weren’t even in the movie despite being in previous Fantastic

Beasts movies. Such as Nagini, who was supposed to be in love with Credence, was

completely missing, and where was Tina? The action was also very debatable since the only

good duel we had was between Dumbledore and Credence. But the most baffling and

Divergent is about a girl named Betrice Prior who lives in a society made up of 5

groups that will determine which group she will be apart of for the rest of her life.

Beatrice learns she is classified as Divergent, but she cannot tell anyone. She joins a

group but only the top 10 can stay. Tris (later on changing her name as well) realizes

there are many challenges to face, and that she must obey to keep herself alive.

The Selection is about a teenager named America Singer who is entered into a

contest to see which girl can become the prince’s bride. But America wants nothing to

do with it, she wants to be with her love, Aspen, who cannot provide for her. He is a

caste lower than her and is worried she needs someone else who can take care of her.

America is sad but as she meets Prince Maxwell, she starts falling in love with him. He

Monday’s Not Coming is about Claudia, a girl who is the only one who cares about

where her best friend, Monday, disappeared. Claudia, coming back from summer break,

was looking forward to seeing Monday, but Monday never shows up. School, church,

her own home, nowhere to be seen. Whenever Claudia asks for answers, no one

seems concerned and tells her to mind her own business. But Claudia is concerned that

Unleashed, by Sophie Jordan, is a novel about a girl named Davy Hamilton, who is

diagnosed with HTS, Homicidal Tendency Syndrome. Everyone ghosts her; her family,

boyfriend, and even her best friend. Davy is unsure of who she is anymore even when

she is shipped off to a place with teens just like her. She and her friends, Sean, Sabine,

and Gil, attempt to escape to find a better life. But then she gets separated from them

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth book in the Harry Potter series and

is written by J.K. Rowling. In this entry, humanity (both the muggle and the wizard sides of it) is

in despair. The Ministry of Magic (led by a new minister) fully accepts that Voldemort is back for

good and are even informing some of the powerful muggle leaders about the danger that the

world faces. Tragedies and killings are daily occurrences now, and wizards and muggles alike

Like all the other Screams, the 2022 version definitely lives up to the hype with tons of humor

and scary moments to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. Not to mention, Actors: Neve

Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette returning to their iconic roles in Scream to deliver

another great sequel. That being said, nothing beats the 1996 Scream nor its originality, as I

wouldn’t say Scream 5 was necessarily needed but cool nonetheless.

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco is fantasy fiction and the second book in the series.

After selling her soul and becoming the Queen of the Wicked, Emilia travels down to the Sven

Circles, accompanied by Prince Wrath. On the journey, Emilia is faced with the many wicked.

She continues her vow to do whatever she can to avenge Vittoria, including taking the hand of

the king of the demons, Prince Pride. Facing back-stabbing princes, mysterious invitations,

Salt to the Sea is a story about the greatest maritime tragedy in history. Though not well known

the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German ship that was sunk in 1945 that was carrying refugees from the

war was sunk, with about 10,500 passengers inside. Ruta Sepetys guides you through this story

between the perspective of 4 characters all from very different backgrounds, but finding

themselves on the same ship.