Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sophie's World is a delightful Intro to Philosophy course wrapped in several layers to make it easier to stomach. It begins innocuously enough, with young 14-going-on-15-year-old Sophie Amundsen receiving a letter in the mail and finding herself suddenly involved in a correspondence-based philosophy course with a mysterious teacher. Sophie runs through a comprehensive history of philosophy through her letters, while also trying to figure out the secret behind the many "Happy Birthday, Hilde!" messages hidden throughout her own narrative. Soon, she begins to question whether she herself is even real. This book is highly recommended for those interested in philosophy whether already well-versed in it or not. It provides a great starting platform for those who are just getting started and an excellent diversion for those that are already experienced in the field. - Elisabeth S. '16

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Plague by Michael Grant (review by Andrew R. '17)

Plague by Michael Grant
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

By the beginning of the fourth book of Michael Grant’s FAYZ series, the situation is grim: deadly epidemics sweep the population, young children resort to cannibalism to survive, an invincible sadistic demon prowls the streets, mutant insects lay eggs inside humans so their larvae can gnaw their way free upon birth…If this description of events makes this book sound over-the-top gruesome, that’s because it is. Grant forgoes any semblance of a plot in favor of graphic death after graphic death, introducing scores of characters whose sole purpose is to be eaten or burnt or flayed or stabbed, and he often undercuts the horror of his plot by going too far with his ideas. Sure, wasps with bulletproof carapaces that can gnaw through stone are scary enough, but making them the size of minivans and perching undead whip-wielding demons on their shoulders is such absurd overkill as to make them seem ridiculous, not frightening. I could go on about the story’s repetitiveness, its clichéd characters, its depressing love interest, or its awful attempts at humor, but I’ll have to be content with warning potential readers that the FAYZ takes a serious turn for the worse at this point in the series. - Andrew R. '17

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Uninvited by Sophie Jordan (review by Sophia S. '15)

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A teenager manages to obtain a gun and uses that weapon in a public place, causing panic and terror, all of which is publicized in the media. Sound familiar? Jordan explores a world where violent behavior is spawned by the Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS). And the country representative of the free world is the leader of the international movement to oppress the doomed individuals who carry the HTS gene. But do genes define who you are? Davy Hamilton used to think so, at least before she tested positive for the HTS gene. Can a harmless, popular, Julliard-bound high school girl be the chillingly mindless killer society thinks she is? The only thing "chilling" about this novel is the possibility of this society arising from a government desperate to appease the terrified victims of violence. Jordan taps into the deep well that is speculation of societal behavior but shies away from that meaningful subject to lash together a rote chick flick. Select parts of the story are stimulating, but the majority of Uninvited is mind numbingly cliché. Recommended for readers in a mood for light reading. - Sophia S. '15

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Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones (review by Andrew R. '17)

Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Jim Henson” never quite became a household name, but his creations are known across the world: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, the Great Gonzo…This biography, however, isn’t the story of the Muppets or Sesame Street, and it’s not a list of the wildly successful movies Henson produced in his day. Accomplished biographer Brian Jay Jones paints a picture of the man who launched some of the 20th century’s most successful ventures in entertainment, tracking his rise from madcap coffee advertisements to the creation of the “Muppet Show,” and even beyond, with films like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Jones has done his research well, and the book’s pages are scattered liberally with wistful insights from Henson’s children, friends, and coworkers. Most remarkably, the book’s atmosphere is light and readable, a tribute to Henson’s love of simplicity and entertainment. Any reader with time to spare should pick up Jim Henson: The Biography—not because it’s an insightful or meaningful experience, just because it’s a fun look into the life and legacy of a this astoundingly creative man. - Andrew R. '17

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Pyramids by Terry Pratchett (review by Mr. Silk)

Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fans of science fiction with a twist of Egyptology will really enjoy this entry into the Discworld series. "Pyramids" is basically an alternate history, asking what if the ancient pyramids really held magical powers, and what if those powers got out of hand? There is plenty of action, adventure, and comedy throughout the book as we follow the dead king - frustrated that he is being mummified, the new king and his camel (a brilliant mathematician; the camel, not the new king), and the pyramid builders as their world starts to unravel around them. Not for everyone, but if you like stories that are a bit "wacky" this one is for you. - Mr. Tony Silk (Harker teacher)

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Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Girlfriend in a Coma is an excessively thought-provoking look at the world in the present and the future. The book details the lives of a group of high school friends whose lives fall apart after one of them, Karen, goes into a coma for 17 years without any explanation. Karen's boyfriend Richard is left with a letter she wrote the day before about disturbing visions of the future she had been having. Well written to an extreme (and quotable to an extreme), this novel is filled with wry wisdom through the various POV characters' thoughts, especially Karen's perspective, because she can note exactly how the world changed between when she went to sleep and when she woke up, and the changes are not always positive. Another highlight is Jared, the other protagonist who also happens to be dead. Towards the end, the novel has an apocalyptic twist that eventually serves to comment on the general condition of adults at the turn of the century. Overall, though the novel was excellent, I would caution against it for readers who get bored easily with the mundanities of life. - Elisabeth S. '16

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Aunts Aren't Gentleman b P.G. Wodehouse (review by Andrew R. '17)

Aunts Aren't Gentlemen by P.G. Wodehouse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen, Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves, the heroes of fourteen preceding Jeeves and Wooster novels, find themselves embroiled (as usual) in several ridiculous conflicts, all thanks to the meddling of Bertie’s overbearing Aunt Dahlia (also as usual). Not only does Aunt Dahlia want Bertie to sabotage a horse-race so she can beat her rivals in a bet, she also wants him to kidnap a cad from under the nose of one of his many ex-fiancées, Vanessa Cook—who, incidentally, is currently engaged to a brawny Communist with a violent temper who is all too eager to turn Bertie inside out if he catches him in the same room as his lover. Anyone who’s enjoyed more than one or two Wodehouse novels will have noticed that they all follow the same formula; the author discovered early on that mixing one aunt, one fumbling narrator, two to three marriage proposals, and at least five aggressive, beefy rivals will always result in comedy. But even though Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen is nothing new, it showcases Wodehouse’s signature wit and cheekiness—and, in the end, isn’t that all that really matters in a Jeeves and Wooster novel? – Andrew R. ‘17

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On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

On Stranger Tides details the adventures of former puppeteer John Chandagnac, whose ship is captured by pirates and who is forced to change sides and become a pirate at gunpoint. He becomes "Jack Shandy," to the pirates, and he inadvertently saves the pirate captain's life, thus becoming a full-fledged pirate. The book was neither overwhelming nor underwhelming, neither incredibly avant-garde nor too comfortably formulaic. Jack Shandy made for an enjoyable protagonist, though the novel gets kind of muddled two-thirds of the way through. The pacing felt too slow for the kind of blow-by-blow action-adventure book it's trying to be. It was also unfortunate that the female character was useless--too much of a damsel in distress. The romantic subplot felt too one-sided and like too much of an afterthought to engage the reader. However, the novel does improve with a highly intriguing magic system and strong characters like Davies, Blackbeard, and even Hurwood. Overall, On Stranger Tides was an entertaining read but not much more than that. – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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