"The Lightning Dreamer" by Margarita Engle (182 pages)

Written in verse, this story portrays the life of Tula through the author, Margarita Engle’s own words. Set in Cuba, this story is about a girl who loves words, but it cannot be known because girls are not allowed an education, and a girl who loves to read is known as an "ugly girl." Tula is forced into a life of oppression, in which her mother picks out her husband when she turns fourteen and she is not allowed to attend school. The verses tell the story of one woman who was not afraid to go against society’s views no matter how dangerous it became. She lived for words and was not afraid of the repercussions. After refusing her marriage proposal she is sent to live on her grandfather’s plantation where she sympathizes with the slaves and becomes even more rebellious. Through reading theses verses you enter the haunting and dangerous life of Tula and those around her.

Though I am not a fan of poetry, I found myself deeply immersed in the story of Tula. It was easy to sympathize with the character through this fast paced story.


Reviewed by H.G.

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"The False Prince" by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Book one in the "Ascendance" trilogy, The False Prince does not disappoint. In a country where monarchy still reigns, a civil war is close to occurring and nobleman Connor will do anything he can to prevent that. After finding out that the King’s family has died, he takes on the responsibility of coming up with an idea to prevent the war and find a suitable person to take the throne. Connor’s idea is dangerous and filled with treason. He needs four boys to pretend to be the “long lost” Prince Jaron. He searches orphanages until he finds four teenage boys suitable for the challenge. The rules of his challenge are simple: one boy will become the next crowned prince; the other three will be killed. This book is filled with excitement and danger as Connor trains these boys and molds them into the Prince they need to be. Through rigorous horseback riding, sword fighting, dining, and history lessons Connor creates boys who should be ready to take the throne.

This book was incredibly fast paced and full of action to keep you on your seat. It was filled with plot twists that kept the pages turning. I am a big fan of fantasy and would recommend this book to anyone interested in that genre. 

Reviewed H.G.

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"Being Generous" By Theodore Roosevelt Malloch (149 pages)

Malloch has one goal for his readers, "Discover what being generous means, and begin living it." The entire book stresses the aspect of giving and generosity. According to Malloch, giving should be your virtue. This nonfiction book talks about the views of giving in different religions; Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. He focuses most of the book on the views of Christianity. This book isn't meant to tell you how to live, but to tell you the benefits of living in a generous way, "...being generous and giving freely allows one to be measurably happier." If you're need  that extra push to become a better person or you are looking for the meaning behind your generosity, check out this book and you'll definitely find what you're looking for. Not only did this book make me want to be a better person, it also made me realize how I benefit others as well as myself.

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"Linked" by Imogen Howson (368 pages)

Fast forward to the distant future where cars fly, space travel to other planets is common, and you can only have two children. You’ll find yourself living at the time sixteen-year-old Elissa lives. Elissa has a mysterious disease which gives her crippling headaches, blinding pain, hallucinations, and bruises that come out of nowhere, all of which make her go from one of the most popular girls at school to one of the most outcast. Even her brother and his friend Cadan (the one Elissa looked up to most of her life) believe she is faking. Through the hallucinations, it becomes apparent to Elissa that she is not suffering from a normal disease. She discovers that she has a telepathic link to a girl named Lis, who was taken by the government, and who looks exactly as she does. She finds this out just as she finds the girl on the verge of death, after escaping the government facility. This meeting comes at the wrong time because just hours before, Elissa was promised a cure to her illness; they would burn the link right out of her. Risking her life to save a girl she just met, Elissa turns down the opportunity to be normal again. She and Lis become fugitives and flee their home planet by tricking Cadan into helping them. The government makes several attempts to track them down, including threatening their deaths and hijacking their spaceship. While on the run they learn that they are more alike than Elissa would have ever imagined. With Cadan's help they are finally able to arrive at the “safe” planet where they are unable to be touched by government officials.

This book was slow getting into and a little hard to follow at times. There was a lot of information being given, but overall a decent story. It is a dystopian, sci-fi story which even contains some romance. I would recommend to anyone who likes the “outer-worldly” type of reading.

Reviewed by H.G.

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“Jump the Cracks” by Stacy DeKeyser (207 pages)

When fifteen-year-old Victoria arrives at the New York train station expecting her father to pick her up, she is more than upset when he isn’t there. This isn’t the first time he’s been late to meet her somewhere and it is really taking its toll on Victoria. But the ride to the station was what changed her life forever. Victoria accidentally kidnaps a child who has touchable soft hair, deep blue eyes and bruises all over his arms. After trying to save him by taking him away from his abusive, drug-using parents, the teenage girl gets way more than she bargained for and digs herself into a deeper hole when she and “Wills,” the toddler’s new name, start heading further south on the train. With limited money, the police after her, and a new responsibility, Victoria and Wills' adventure is beyond exciting and leaves you wanting to read on after every chapter. 

This enjoyable book is definitely a quick read and easy to follow. If you like reading fast-paced books with lots of suspense, this book is the perfect one for you.

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"The War Within These Walls" by Aline Sax

"The War Withing These Walls" half novel, half graphic novel, is about a Jewish boy named Misha who lived in Warsaw, Poland during the Nazi regime. Jews were forced by the Nazis to live in the "Ghetto", a small closed off area of the city. The Nazis are taking everything. They are taking their families, their food, even their hope for survival. Jews from Warsaw have do what they can to find food for survival. They have to wait and wait, for days on end. Until one day, Misha gets an idea, a brilliant but awfully dangerous idea… to steal food. Misha wants to fight back.Seeing the diseased and starving makes him rage. He needs to find a way to save his mother and sister, but how can he do that when the Nazis are willing to kill anyone who steps out of line? Is he brave enough to make a stand? What does he have to lose if he tries? What would it cost him if he didn't try? Can the Nazis be stopped?

This is a short but powerful novel about a brave boy who needs to fight for his family. The Holocaust is something that has always interested me and this story tugged at my heart.

I would recommend this book to those who are interested in reading about the Holocaust and want to learn more about what the Nazis did and how the Jews suffered.

Reviewed by K.B.

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"(Me, Him, Them, And It)" By Caela Carter (310 pages)

Evelyn, a good Christian girl, is sick of the tension in her house. Her dad hooked up with the dentist, moved out many times, and ended up living in the same house as Evelyn and her mother at the worse possible time. Sick of the bickering and silence, Evelyn makes a plan to make her parents notice her more- become the Bad Evelyn. She stops going to church, cuts her skirt shorter, stops painting, quits the cross country team, and becomes the school slut. After hooking up with Todd, one test completely changes her life; she's pregnant. Mary, Evelyn's counselor, tries to guide Evelyn through the decision making process of what to do with the baby. Abortion? Adoption? Keep it? Evelyn has no idea at first, but she eventually rules out abortion. Telling her mom and Todd was probably the hardest thing Evelyn has ever had to do, until she lies to her best friend and gets sent to live with her Aunt Linda.

Once you read the beginning of this book, there's no way you can put it down. Each new page shows how Evelyn is changing, physically and emotionally. Watch as old relationships crumble and new relationships sprout. Does Evelyn end up keeping the baby? Find out all of the luring details as you're sucked into this book even more!

This book is perfect for those who don't have a grasp on how good life is with what they have. Behind the fictional story, lessons on pregnancy choices and family importance shine through. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read a book about this, but once I started, I couldn't stop. The ending kept me thinking for a while by letting me decide what might have happened. 

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