The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell (review by Monica K. '14)

The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell continues soon after the first novel left off, as Damien tries to become a full hero. Obstacles include his snarky personality, a girlfriend at Vilmore, and an emerging villainous superpower. Having the same themes as the first book, the sequel emphasizes family relationships and the letterism of Golden City society. The narration also retains Damien's witty voice and many elements from the first. Towards the end some plot points were a bit too familiar, but overall the story was clever, fun, and heartwarming. Fans of The Rise of Renegade X would definitely enjoy the sequel. – Monica K. ‘14

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The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer (review by Monica K. 14)

The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The surprise sequel of The House of the Scorpion, The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer follows Matt's dismantling of his predecessor's drug empire. In particular, it explores the plight of the microchipped eejits, ethics of cloning and microchipping, and the polluted, future world. While the novel had potential (and is still well-written and recommended to fans of the first book), it could have been truly great with a serious round of editing. My main problems with it were that the pacing was off and main characters shifted personalities from the first novel or acted out of character to move the plot along. I also missed the world building and suspense of the first book. In the end the Lord of Opium is pretty good but not a must-read - however, I really, really recommend The House of the Scorpion. – Monica K. ‘14

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I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (review by Elisabeth S. 17)

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I Am the Messenger is an idiosyncratic, heartwarming novel that is, in most stores, marketed wrongly in the young adult section--this is a novel that should be read and cherished by adolescents and adults alike for its brilliance and quiet, universal lessons. Ed Kennedy is a young cabdriver with no real aspirations and a muted existence in his apartment with his loyal, omnivorous dog The Doorman and his few friends he plays cards with every now and then. After managing to stall a bank robbery by chance, he is sent the first card in the mail, an ace of diamonds, from an unknown benefactor. The card contains three addresses, three messages that he has to send. And thus, he becomes "the messenger," and the reader is taken for a thrill ride through the Australian suburbs. Full of love, laughter, and ironic life lessons, I I Am the Messenger refuses to be put down after being picked up. Ed Kennedy's wry voice serves as an excellently readable narrator for the story, and the reader also gets to see Ed develop as he experiences each message that he delivers in his own way. This book is highly recommended for readers of all genres and all ages teen and up. – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes (review by Maya V. '17)

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The three kingdoms of Auranos, Paelsia, and Limeros are divided by power struggles, wealth, and conflicting ideas. In this time of peril, four young people from these kingdoms are fighting to protect their homelands: Cleo, the princess of Auranos; Jonas, a rebel fighting for the rights of the Paelsian people; Magnus, the Limerian prince and successor to the King of Blood; and Lucia, the sister of Magnus, princess, and sorceress of Limeros. As they fight each other’s lands to protect their own, they soon find their lives intertwined with one another. An adventure and fantasy novel with a sufficient amount of drama, this book will appeal to many young readers. The characters’ thoughts are written in great depth and honesty, which allows the reader to truly connect with the young adults of the story. The recurring theme of independence and how one can still reach his or her goals without the support from adults provides motivation to those in similar situations. The setting and plot development are gripping, and you will not be able to put the book down. With several perspectives, detail, adventure, and violence, Falling Kingdoms is an extremely enjoyable read! – Maya V. ‘17

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Damned by Chuck Palahniuk (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Palahniuk is known for hyperbolizing his characters to accentuate their faults (and thus, by proxy, humanity or society's faults) and his gruesome, gritty imagery, as shown through his bestsellers Fight Club and Invisible Monsters. After the first few books, though, the same techniques get drier and drier until you end up with a book like Damned. Damned is tale of young adult Madison who ends up in hell after a marijuana overdose at her boarding school and of her further adventures with her unlikely "inmates." This story is made unique because of Madison's singular voice. Palahniuk's characters are the antithesis of perfect, so flawed that readers are forced to pay attention with the same sort of attention they give a car accident or train wreck. This can prove effective at times, but in this case, there was very little cogency or cohesiveness to be found in the plot, so the novel fell short. Madison became such a caricature of a normal human being that it was impossible for me to engage and empathize with her feelings about her unlucky situation, and thus the entire novel was made simply not memorable enough to matter, despite its potential in idiosyncratic subject matter. – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann (review by Andrew R. '17)

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

1491 is not for everyone. An ambitious outline of Native American history and accomplishments before Columbus’s landing, it intentionally lacks any hint of characters or plot. Instead, sandwiched between 200 pages of introductions, conclusions, and appendices is a dense pile of evidence and analysis, all supporting a single thesis: that Native American societies were bigger, older, and more complex than historians once thought. And Mann proves his point beyond a shadow of a doubt, citing legions of professors, archaeologists, anthropologists, and even a few botanists whose opinions match his own. So 1491’s problem is not one of credibility—the challenge with this book is that very few readers will feel interested enough to slog all the way through it. Occasional anecdotes about historical figures like Tisquantum, the so-called “Friendly Indian” from the Pilgrim legends, add some engaging material, but these are so few and far between that there can’t be more than six or seven of them in the entire tome. I would only recommend 1491 to readers with lots of free time and long attention spans. Although I can’t deny the educational value of this book, I don’t intend to take on Mann’s companion work, 1493. – Andrew R. ‘17

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Glass by Ellen Hopkins (review by Nikita R. '16)

Glass by Ellen Hopkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Suddenly dealt with the responsibilities of motherhood, Kristina Snow must somehow raise a child while battling her addiction to “the monster,” known as crystal meth. Despite her love for her child, Kristina finds herself becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the monotony of her daily life in comparison to the excitement of her past. In Glass, the second sequel in the Crank series, Ellen Hopkins once again brings to life the story of a confused, desperate teenager who has become swept up in a world she is not ready for. Although the average reader has not necessarily shared Kristina’s experiences, any teenager or adult will understand her emotions and decisions. This book is a must-read, for teenagers especially. – Nikita R. ‘16

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Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook (review by Joyce Z. '17)

Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nobody But Us is a cliched (but with a twist) novel about a boy and a girl who run away together. Zoe has dealt with her drunken father’s abuse ever since he was responsible for her mother's death when she was young. Will was abandoned by his mother and is constantly being bounced from one foster home to another. Zoe never stands up for herself; Will often causes trouble because he can’t control his temper. Although Zoe and Will are constantly facing new challenges, I feel like this book dragged on for too long. Most of the book is about their constant fighting and their emotional up and downs while running away. Towards the end, however, this book becomes more intense and ends with a heartbreaking twist. Some may feel the storyline is too predictable, and that there are not enough turns and twists. One positive aspect of this book is that the point of view is constantly switching from Zoe’s to Will’s so that we are able to know the internal thoughts of both protagonists. Overall, I think that Nobody But Us is a good book but not a must- read. – Joyce Z. ‘17

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The Reason I Jump (review by Zina J. '14)

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Reason I Jump, a non-fiction New York Times bestseller, was written by Naoki Higashida, a Japanese young adult with autism. The book contains fifty-eight questions and answers about autism based on Higashida's personal experience as well as his paintings and short stories. As bestselling author David Mitchell explains in the introduction, although guide books, academic books, parental memoirs, and autobiographies -- specifically success stories -- about autism are common, no book from the perspective of a child struggling with autistism has been available; as a result, this book is revolutionary. The translation excellently expresses the author's voice and struggles and has changed my perspective on autism. This book is a must-read for anyone associated with the autism community, including parents, doctors, and therapists. - Zina J.'14

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