Teen and Staff Reviews

Summary: This movie is about the upbringing of Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The movie starts with Wonka ending off his world travels of chocolate hunting going to try and open up a new candy shop inside of the big city. Sadly, he hits a roadblock when he is tricked by a local innkeeper into signing a deal to have to work in their basement for 25+ years. Willy is determined to make a name for himself and he won’t let this get in the way of his dreams.

Summary: Awake by Natasha Preston is a gripping young adult thriller that follows Scarlett, a teenager who finds herself trapped in a coma after a car accident that claimed the lives of her family. While her body lies unconscious in the hospital, Scarlett's mind is awake, unable to move or communicate, but fully aware of her surroundings. As Scarlett struggles to piece together the events leading up to the accident, she uncovers shocking secrets about her family and must race against time to prevent further harm.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is another amazing entry in the franchise. The story is much stronger taking place directly after Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild when exploring beneath Hyrule Castle Zelda and Link awaken Gannon and then they proceed to fall down a great chasm. Link awakens helped by a spirit Rauru to a new arm and a broken master sword.

In this prequel to the popular series The Land of Stories, we take the view of Brystal Evergreen, a girl in an oppressive society where all magic is considered witchcraft and forbidden. When Brystal finds out she might be a fairy and is caught, things take a turn for the worse. She’s taken to a correctional facility to get ‘fixed’, but she is taken apprentice by a magical woman to live in a school for magical children.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is another one of Hayao Miyazaki's masterpieces, it tells the story of a young witch, Kiki who leaves her home at thirteen years old with her cat Jiji as a coming-of-age tradition to start her training. She is to hone a skill and provide for the town in which she chooses. She settles down at a bakery in a big city and starts her delivery service, in her journey she meets new friends, battles the loss of her powers, and saves the town.

TW: This book contains mentions of suicide attempts and a murder by stabbing (off page). 

This was a sweet, heartwarming story about the highs and lows of familial connections, tradition, friendship, and you know what? It’s just about connections in general. Not only that, this book manages to keep it real with us this entire time and still be light-hearted and heartwarming. 

The Road by Cormac McCarthy is an apocalyptic dystopian novel, McCarty is able to present a bleak and death-ridden world like no other that uses vivid imagery and extensive world-building to create a real sense of hopelessness. A father and son travel across the desolate world following the road seeking a warmer climate facing the “bad people’ along the way with close calls and showing the true horrors of the wasteland, cannibals, marauders, and a constant struggle for supplies and safety.

Sid Meier's Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games by Sid Meier is an autobiography spanning Sid Meier’s career in the video game industry, starting from the birth of computer games and development on early computers. Then gaining partners and growing the business while producing newer and more modern games, selling more than 51 million copies in his career with his famous Sid Meier’s Civilization. In addition to the history of video games, Sid Meier also shares his perspective and opinions on the industry.

Heartstopper Volume 5 follows Nick and Charlie in their relationship. This is a story about gay love and two characters struggling with mental health together. They go through struggles such as what happens when college separates us two and how to grow into their relationship together. This is the fifth of the series so read the first four before this one! 

The Selection is the perfect dystopian book if you love high society and competition. If you're looking for an easy read this is it. This book follows the main character American Singer and her journey competing for the crown. Although the names in this book might not be creative the plot pulls you in making you want to read more. By the end of the first book in this trilogy I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book.