The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a book about two teenagers, Hazel and Gus, who meet at a cancer support group. Hazel has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, while Gus has lost a leg to osteosarcoma. They fall in love and embark on a journey to Amsterdam to meet their favorite author.
I decided to start reading this series after seeing the trailer for the movie that came out that was based on the first book in this series. I’m glad that I did, as I really enjoyed this book! It’s set in a dystopian setting where a mutation has broken out in the US, causing both younger and older children to either die or gain special powers. The government deems those with powers as dangerous and makes parents send the children to “rehabilitation camps” that are supposed to “train” the kids and make sure the kids aren’t dangerous.
This was one of the most inspiring memoirs that I have ever read. We read about Tara Westover’s personal experiences living in a very strict, radical Mormon family. It’s a very empowering book about her journey out of her prison-like life under her radical, abusive father. She talks about all of the challenges she faced as her brainwashed religious side fought against the other side of her that wanted an education and wanted to leave her home. You get to read about her journey to getting an education after not being taught much as a young girl.
May, an Asian-American highschooler, has a normal life with a popular brother, parents who want her to do her best, and really good writing skills. When her brother Danny commits suicide, she and her family break down. But a racist man accuses her family of causing Danny’s death and uncovers the closeted racism in her community. May raises her voice to protect her family from the racist and hateful words directed for them by writing to the newspaper. When it gets published, her story incites a discussion on the racism of her community.
In this book, we learn that Callum Hunt has the potential to go to the Magisterium which is a school for mages who can harness the elements. However, his dad wants him to fail the tests and not go as he claims that it is an evil place. Despite trying to fail the entrance exams, Call gets selected by the most prestigious Master, but as the school year progresses, Call discovers hints of his dark past that may be why his father did not want him to learn magic.
Written by famed science fiction writer, Parable of the Sower is a poignant and striking coming of age story. Depicting a semi apocalyptic California, the novel tells the story of teenager Laurern Olamina. Lauren has a condition that causes her to feel other people’s pain. Growing up in a walled-in community where neighbors must rely on each other to stay safe, she develops a different mindset to her peers. She believes in Earthseed, a religion she has created with the
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is one of the most unorthodox books you’ll ever read. Written as an autobiography, it details her life growing up with a dysfunctional family. Her parents were creative thinkers who preferred to live their lives differently from society. They constantly moved their kids to new places, and relied on their children’s self-sustenance to keep the family afloat. Jeannette and her three siblings, Lori, Brian, and Maureen, depended on each
Throne of Glass is a young adult fantasy novel by Sarah J. Maas. It follows Celaena Sardothien, formerly the most infamous assassin in her kingdom, now sentenced to imprisonment. However, she is granted the opportunity to win her freedom. To do so, she must win a competition between 23 other thieves and killers in order to become the assassin to the king.
