Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban marks a distinct shift in tone and complexity from the first two books in the series. Harry returns for his third year at Hogwarts, only to learn that a notorious criminal, Sirius Black, has escaped from the wizarding prison, Azkaban. Rumors swirl that Sirius is out to kill Harry, adding an air of danger to the school year.
Parachutes by Kelly Yang is a thought-provoking and inspiring book about determination and how using your voice even with setbacks, means more to others than staying silent. This book is about Dani and Claire. Claire is a Chinese teenager who her parents sent to the states to go to a better school and Dani is her housemate, a young girl who has the ambition to make it to a college competition for her debate team.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduces readers to the magical world of Hogwarts, as Harry discovers he’s a wizard and begins his journey. Meeting iconic characters like Hermione, Ron, and Dumbledore, the book sets the stage for the epic conflict between Harry and Voldemort.
I’d give this book a 5 out of 5 for its enchanting introduction to a magical world, perfect pacing, and lovable characters. It’s a great start to the series, full of mystery and wonder, making it
A mysterious girl was found growing in a bamboo stalk by a poor bamboo cutter. She brought lots of riches to the bamboo cutter and his wife, so they saw her as a gift from the gods and wanted to raise her like royalty. They move to the capital and live a luxurious lifestyle, but the Princess named Kaguya can’t live happily as the materialistic world distracts her from a simple life. Her heart yearns to return to where she comes from, but soon she would learn to regret it. This movie is a great emotional and artistic take on a Japanese folktale.
The Hunger Games is an addictive tale that steals you away into a dangerous country. Katniss Everdeen lives in a dark world woven with injustice. She fights to survive every day. Her family staves off starvation while the president and others in the Capitol lounge around with an abundance of food. Yearly these very men and women raised in laziness enjoy the Hunger Games, an invention of the Capital to keep the poor dying families in check.
The story Restart follows Chase Ambrose as he navigates his way through 7th grade. The only thing is that Chase can’t remember anything from his past after he fell off his roof. Chase has to figure out his past and who he used to be. Will he choose his past or make a new version of himself? This book is great because you get to hear all of the main characters' points of views in different chapters. My favorite characters are Joel and Shoshanna. I would recommend this book for late elementary and middle schoolers.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is the beginning to an epic series filled with action, humor, and everything in between. It all starts with Percy Jackson himself, a troubled young teen with his mom as his only other living family member and a seemingly ordinary life. However, that all changes one day when he is suddenly whisked into the wild and confusing world of the Greek gods--and finds out that his very own father is one of them.
In Fable by Adrienne Young, Fable is a 17-year-old girl who was left by father on Jeval, an island full of thieves. Fable spent four years surviving and saved money for passage off of Jeval to work for her father as he promised her a job. She manages to escape on a ship called the Marigold, which is run by captain West and his shipmates. They all venture across The Narrows and face many challenges along the way.
The House on Mango Street depicts the life of a girl, Esperanza. It shows her early life, all the way up to adulthood. Esperanza struggles with living a poor life often faced by immigrants, unable to live in a house of her own. She learns that life isn’t fair, and how difficult it is to grow up. Despite all this, she still dreams of owning her own house one day, on a hill, with a big yard. Esperanza’s story is one of my favorites.
During World War II, Gene Forrester is sent to a boarding school known for its academics and war preparation. There, Gene meets Finny and quickly becomes friends. Finny is the popular, athletic, and charming kid everyone dreams about being, and he helps to bring Gene out of his shell. It’s during a test of bravery that Finny gets hurt and might never recover. What’s worse, is that Gene might be behind this accident.
