"The Fifth Wave" by Rick Yancey - 457 Pages

   

This is a flawless dystopian novel that reintroduces the age old theme: are we alone in the universe? The answer is a harsh, unforgiving no. Sixteen-year-old Cassie's biggest problem before the Visitor's arrival was trying to get Ben Parrish to notice her. Now that the apocalypse has come about, it's staying alive. Half convinced she is the last human on Earth, she hides by day and travels by night. That all changes when she stumbles across Evan Walker, a mysterious young man who, like her, is trying to survive. Cassie is overjoyed, but she's left with the chilling question of who Evan Walker really is. In a world where nothing is as it seems and death is at every turn, can Cassie stay alive? This book was a heart stopper and a page turner. The story immediately sucked me in, and to be honest, it still hasn't let go.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

"Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell - 434 Pages

   

In this modern day bildungsroman (coming of age story) that perfectly captures what it feels like to be an outsider; Rainbow Rowell delivers both a funny and enlightening tale. Cath is an incoming college freshman who until now has done everything with her twin sister, Wren. Cath and Wren have been there for each other through their mother leaving them their father having mental breakdowns, and are the only two who understands the other's love for Simon Snow, an extremely popular young adult series. For the two of them, their entire life revolves around Simon Snow, from watching all the movies to staying up all night to write Simon Snow fanfiction. Cath thought that all of this would continue into college, but Wren has a different plan. As Wren detaches herself from both Cath and Simon Snow, Cath struggles to find acceptance from those around her and finds it in the most unlikely places. This book was funny and sweet, and was one of those stories that make you smile and feel gushy at the end. I highly recommend it!

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

"Jellicoe Road" by Melina Marchetta - 419 Pages

When I first opened this book, I didn’t think I would enjoy it. The first chapter was a bit confusing, and the plot didn’t really interest me. Once I began to reading it though, I couldn’t put it down, and this is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother when she was eleven at the 7-11 on Jellicoe Road. She was taken in by a local woman and enrolled at the Jellicoe School, where she grows into a young woman. Taylor knows virtually nothing about her past, and when Hannah, her guardian, disappears, the secrets begin to pour out. With the help of her friends and Jonah Griggs, an infuriatingly charming boy she once considered her biggest enemy, Taylor embarks on a quest to unwrap a 17 year old secret about Jellicoe Road that will reveal who she truly is. This book made me laugh, cry, and nearly every emotion in between. Taylor’s story will stick with me for awhile and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

"And The Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini (402 pages)

From New York Times’ #1 bestselling author, Khaled Hosseini, comes his third and most recent novel, And the Mountains Echoed. This book weaves together the viewpoints and lives of eight different Afghani people (and one Greek) through the generations and brings them together to form a beautiful, heart-breaking and heartwarming story.  Hosseini’s book shares stories of love, how we choose to show our love, and how we care for others.

From the first page I was hooked, I was so engrossed in it that I sometimes had to stop to remind myself that is was just a book. It was not a fast read, and I found that the book got a little slow in the middle, but it picked right back up and ended in a way that left me both at peace and heartsick.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical or cultural fiction, and to anyone who enjoys family-oriented stories. I’ve never had so much empathy for book characters as I did when reading this book, happy when they were happy and hurting when they were hurt. If this book was a person- I’d really like to give them a hug. This book holds such powerful messages of love, loss, and family and is written in a way that makes it difficult to put down. It was definitely worth my time and tears. 

Reviewed by Alexis Merrill  

"The Good Braider" by Terry Farish (213 pages)

This novel follows a Sudanese family’s journey to Portland, Maine. The story is told in stream of consciousness verses through the eyes of a teenage immigrant girl When their home village of Juba in war-torn South Sudan is taken over by Muslim soldiers, Viola, her mother and younger brother flee, leaving friends and family members behind, including her beloved grandmother.
The story follows not only their new life in Maine, but also the struggle of getting there, as the family of three stays in a tightly woven refugee camp for over two years. Upon arriving in Maine, the family, now one member less, is warmly welcomed by the community of other Sudanese refugees but Viola still feels as though something is missing.  Adjusting to the life and customs of America proves hard to the family, but Viola is determined to bloom in this country, knowing she is now free in the land of opportunities. At 213 pages, this book is a quick read. It shows well the struggles of an immigrant family and makes you open your eyes to how different our cultures really are.

Reviewed by Alexis Merrill

"The Raven Boys" by Maggie Stiefvater- 408 Pages

Maggie Stiefvater delivers a great read in the "Raven Boys." Blue Sargeant is the daughter of a psychic known throughout town, and every year her mother brings her to the local graveyard to scry, or predict, all who will die within a year. They are all invisible to Blue, all of them, that is, except a strange boy who approaches her and introduces himself as Gansey, a student at Aglionby, the prestigious boys school in town. Upon meeting Gansey, Blue is introduced to his vast, complicated world and his eccentric friends, all of whom are on an age-old quest that requires Blue's help. Blue is faced with many challenges and dangers, and hopefully she can keep herself and her friends safe. This book was a breath of fresh air; I've never read a book quite like this. I fell in love with the characters and could not put the book down until I knew their fates.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

"Game" by Barry Lyga- 517 Pages

The sequel to his fast paced debut, "I Hunt Killers", "Game" is another suspenseful masterpiece written by Barry Lyga. After the escape of his father, the world's most notorious serial killer, Jazz Dent becomes haunted with the chance to bring his father to justice. This may be possible when he's brought to New York to help solve a string of murders resembling his father's. New York is a far bigger place than Jazz ever imagined, and this time both the risks and the body count are higher. I could not put this book down, and upon reaching the ending turned back to page one to reread it, due to sheer shock.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney