Skyscraping by Cordelia Jensen (review by Anya W. '20)

Skyscraping by Cordelia Jensen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mira doesn't know what she would call a major turning point in her life. Was it the walk when she decided that this year's yearbook theme would be New York City? Was it the day she found her father in bed with his TA? Was it the day when she found out about her parent's open marriage? Was it the day she found out that her family had no time left?

At some point though, Mira shut down, and she can't-isn't-won't ever be the same again.

Jensen's novel written in free prose is a heart wrenching expose on the beautiful, terrible mess we call family. She writes unflinchingly of parents' mistakes and the intolerance of youth, and manages to still infuse it all with a sense of understanding, and of the importance of acceptance and compromise. I love how dynamic her main character is, and how Jensen still allows the side character be multifaceted, with their own emotions and goals. While some plot points may seem trite, they are at least comparatively minor. This is a good, solid read that won't leave you feeling like you wasted your time. - Anya W. '20

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (review by Sara Y. '21)

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas showcases the current struggles and protests of African Americans through the perspective of a relatable teenage girl, Starr. While driving back from a party, Starr witnesses the death of her childhood friend Khalil after a Caucasian police officer pulls them over and shoots him. Khalil was unarmed. Starr struggles to use her voice to speak up for Khalil and his family amid the chaos that has become her life, facing problems with her friends and family. The writing pulls the reader into the story with its dynamic plot and complex characters. The Hate U Give, which has gotten a movie and will be in theaters this October, is an eye-opening must-read story about race and social class for teenagers and adults alike. - Sara Y. '21

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The Other F-Word by Natasha Friend (review by Anya W. '20)

The Other F-Word by Natasha Friend
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well it's about to get weird cuz I have something to tell u.

Ok.

R u ready?
I've decided to find r sperm donor

When Hollis Darby-Barns gets an email via her dead mother's account from Milo Robinson-Clark, the half- brother she has met exactly once, she's most certainly not interested in tracking down their donor. Even using the Donor Progeny Project to see if they can contact any of their other half-siblings is a bit of a stretch . . . so why is she agreeing to all of this?
A unique, heartfelt story about two teens trying to find their place in the world by learning more about their past, and by extension themselves, The Other F-word by Natasha Friend has it all. From family dysfunction to forgiveness, from romance to friendship, Friend handles it all spectacularly. Honestly, my only complaint is that I want more. I want to see the characters interacting and growing and achieving their goals. The open ending left a lot to the imagination and hope. I want more. –Anya W. ‘20


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Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (review by Ms. Stone, STEM teacher)

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When high school junior Lydia turns up dead in the lake, every member of her bi-racial Chinese-American family examines the events in their communal life leading up to that moment. Vis-a-vis this fictional family, author Celeste Ng explores racist stereotypes about Chinese Americans. She also sheds light on the devastating effects of parental pressures on student academic performance. - Ms. Stone, teacher

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Girls Like Me by Lola StVil (review by Anya W. '20

Girls Like Me by Lola St.Vil
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Girls Like Me is an artistic collection of prose starring Shay, an overweight, quirky, junior still coping with her father’s death with the support of her two best friends, and her budding romance with "Blake," someone she talks to exclusively online. As their connection deepens, she finds out Blake is actually one of the most popular guys in her school. Because she deems him to be way out of her league, she attempts to conceal her identity. Mishap and mayhem ensue, just as her friends' lives start getting tougher and tougher, sending Shay--and the reader--on an emotional roller coaster. Along with giving readers a (very) relatable protagonist, all the main characters have some level of depth and uniqueness. Although at least one plot point that could have been quite interesting was dropped (but not badly enough to make,**horror of horrors**, a plot hole!), all in all Lola StVil crafts a realistic story about first love and friendship that is pretty much guaranteed to give every reader major feels.

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Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (review by Andrew R. '17)

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In “The Glass Essay,” her long and brilliant verse meditation on aging and self-knowledge, the poet Anne Carson invokes the middle Brontë sister again and again as a parallel to her own experience: “I feel I am turning into Emily Brontë, / my lonely life around me like a moor, / my ungainly body stumping over the mud flats with a look of transformation / that dies when I come in the kitchen door.” On its surface, Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë’s only novel, is a gothic romance: it follows the cruel and sinister Heathcliff and his consuming, almost maddening obsession with a childhood lover. But, for Carson and for me, it’s not the romantic tension that sets Wuthering Heights apart from all other eighteenth-century British novels—it’s the fog of gloom that pervades the book’s pages, from the somber, mist-shrouded moors where the story takes place to the towering tragedies that loom large in the protagonists’ destinies (and in Brontë’s own life). Unremitting gloom might not sound like a compelling backdrop to a romantic novel, but in the end it’s precisely that quality that makes Wuthering Heights linger in my mind in a way few other classics do.

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Hold Tight, Don't Let Go by Laura Rose Wagner (review by Andrew R. '17)

Hold Tight, Don't Let Go: A Novel of Haiti by Laura Rose Wagner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go begins with a strangely subdued account of the catastrophic earthquake that killed more than 100,000 Haitians on January 12, 2010. Over the course of a few pages, the teenage narrator, Magdalie, witnesses the almost instantaneous leveling of the city of her childhood. But the reader can’t comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy until, months later, Magdalie forces herself to sit down and pour her memories onto the page, even as she admits that, “It doesn’t change anything if I write it down or not … It doesn’t change a thing.” Only here does the reader stop and say, Oh—she is upset, she is scarred, this is a tragedy. It hurts to read the passage: we feel Magdalie’s pain. The rest of the novel follows a similar trajectory. Intense emotion is the most important element of a story that deals with a disaster on this scale, and while that emotion is very often deferred by stumbling plot-lines and flat characters, it’s never forgotten. Sooner or later, the author’s point hits home, and we can’t help but feel empathy for Magdalie and the hundreds of thousands of real-life Haitians in her situation. In that respect, at least, Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go is a success.

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World and Town by Gish Jen (review by Andrew R. '17)

World and Town by Gish Jen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gish Jen is a wittier Amy Tan: her novels and stories, usually told through the perspective of first- or second-generation Chinese immigrants to America, fearlessly tackle religious issues, the mystery of death, and the folly of American culture, all without forsaken the signature lightness and incisiveness of her prose. World and Town is split into five narrative sections. One follows Sophy Chung, the daughter of Cambodian immigrants, who takes refuge in fundamentalist Christianity to escape her past sins; another follows Everett, the scorned and scornful backwoods lover of a born-again evangelist. The majority of the book, though, is from the perspective of Hattie (Hăi dì) Kong, an aging immigrant whose existence in the Southern town of Riverlake is somehow more American than any of its native inhabitants. As Hattie struggles with her religion and heritage (and messes with those of her neighbors—she can’t help herself), Riverlake becomes so vivid and complex that it feels as real as life to the reader, and sometimes realer. While Sophy’s and Everett’s narrative voices were not always convincing, World and Town was as a whole engaging, even addictive. Strongly recommended for readers who enjoy having their beliefs challenged and their prejudices called out. - Andrew R. '17

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House and Fire by Maria Hummel (review by Andrew R. '17)

House and Fire by Maria Hummel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The poems collected in Maria Hummel’s House and Fire present emotions and dreams in their purest and least inhibited forms. Drawing from a huge variety of poetic forms, from archaic structures like the ghazal (a form of ancient Arabic verse) and the villanelle to sprawling free-verse constructions that span several pages, these pieces revolve around a single theme: the confused and frightened emotions of a mother whose infant son is slowly dying on a hospital bed. The narrative is all the more powerful because Hummel, a mother herself, has suffered through the same trying times as her narrator. With brutal self-reflection and honesty slathered unabashedly across its pages, House and Fire draws on the full potential of the poetic genre to transfer ideas straight from the writer to the reader. Even the most enigmatic and complex of Hummel’s poems will fill poets and non-poets alike with the raw emotion of the speaker and of the author herself.

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Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (review by Elizabeth S. '16)

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Though intimidating because of its subject matter, Wintergirls yields a reward high enough at the end to make reading it well worthwhile. Anderson's writing is always visceral and heartbreaking, but the harsh reality of eating disorders makes it even more gritty. When I was not transfixed by the story, I was admiring Anderson's writing style and the perfect way that she captures the first person speaker, Lia. Lia's best friend Cassie was recently found dead in a motel room of an overdose. The book details their past together, including Cassie's bulimia (which eventually led to her downfalll), Lia's anorexia, and the pact they made together when they were younger. Lia's anorexia resurfaces, for the guilt that Lia feels about Cassie serves as a trigger. The author's voice is strong in this book, with truly believable characters and a singular writing style. I recommend this book to any reader looking to really feel for a character and who isn't at risk of being triggered by the subject matter. - Elizabeth S. '16

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Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (review by Cynthia H. '16)

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It all starts with comic books and mixtapes. This is the star-crossed love story of Eleanor Douglas and Park Sheridan, two 1986 teens who don't fit anywhere but together. They find themselves sharing a seat on the school bus and have refused to look back since. The amazing pacing of the book makes it extremely hard to put down; however, it is the realistic voices of Rainbow Rowell’s characters and the genuine ordeals they must endure that will have readers falling in love with Eleanor and Park as hard and fast as they fall for each other. Be prepared to root for this couple until the beautifully heartrending yet hopeful final chapters, and remember: Nothing ever ends. – Cynthia H. ‘16

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Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (review by Stephanie S. '17)

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sarah Ockler’s Bittersweet opens with a flashback of Hudson Avery when she was still a figure-skating superstar, before everything got screwed up. Since then, she has been working at the family diner, baking and creating extraordinary cupcakes. Then, she gets a letter in the mail inviting her to a competition that could restart her ice skating career. Her mother would break down if she found out, since ice skating is such a big reminder of Hudson’s father, so Hudson must practice in secret. One day, a boy from the hockey team runs into her and things start getting even more complicated. Now she must balance the diner, her friends, and her family, without letting anyone get hurt. This novel may not please everyone, as some may see it as a stereotypical story but it does have a few unexpected turns. Overall, I would recommend the story to anyone who enjoys a book with a bit of romance along with a tad of drama. – Stephanie S. ‘17

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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (review by Allison K. '15)

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sebold's novel is a refreshing take on the emotional aspects of life after death; when fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon is raped and murdered by neighbor George Harvey, she watches as her family is forced to carry on without her, slowly crumbling apart. Her father and little sister Lindsey, the only ones to suspect Harvey of her murder, try to investigate and gain closure, while omniscient Susie is helpless to direct them towards her killer. The work possesses a tragically poignant affect that impresses the importance of second chances and absolution. Sebold delicately weaves together her austere version of the afterlife, the innate ties of a grieving family and her projection of Susie’s feelings and reactions onto the the living world. The Lovely Bones is bound to draw in any reader with its capability to both invoke mystery and compel empathy for Susie on her journey for inner peace, vindication, and completion. – Allison K. ‘15

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Looking for Alaska by John Green (review by Joyce Z. '17)

Looking for Alaska by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Miles (aka Pudge) starts out at his dad’s old high school, he’s not completely sure what’s going on, but he knows that it’s definitely not what he expected. Chip or Colonel, his roommate, introduces him to a girl named Alaska Young whom he immediately falls for. After Alaska crashes into a police car and dies, Pudge has to face what happened that night and try to forgive himself for Alaska’s death. Did Alaska drive into a police car to kill herself, or was it just a simple accident? Was she just a wild, moody prankster or was she a depressed teenager who never got over her mom’s death? John Green draws out suspense throughout the whole novel. The reader has to decipher what really happened from the few, vague clues and the mysterious atmosphere Green deliberately employs. Looking for Alaska will please those who enjoy reading suspenseful stories full of plot twists and guesswork that will keep them on the edge of their seat. – Joyce Z. ‘17

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (review by Joyce Z. '17)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Fault in Our Stars starts off with a girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster, whom the reader may forget is not normal while she is narrating the story. Instead, she is diagnosed with lung cancer and uses a miracle product that will keep her alive for a few more years. Augustus Waters has been cancer-free for a year at the cost of giving up one of his legs. The unexpected crossing of their lives creates a fascinating love story of a boy and a girl battling cancer with humor, tragedy, and romance all mixed in. John Green has spun a not so classic fairy tale that will have the reader completely absorbed until the last page. Although Hazel keeps the tone playful for the majority of the book, her insightful view of life will keep the reader pondering the fragility of life even long after it ends. – Joyce Z. ‘17

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Boy21 by Matthew Quick (review by Mrs. Vaughan, Harker librarian)

Boy21 by Matthew Quick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stoically determined Finley McManus started shooting hoops to hide from the horrific circumstances of his mother's death when he was too small for a regulation size rock. Now he's a senior and starting point guard on the his inner city high school team dating Erin, an even better player looking to head to a D1 college on scholarship. Basketball is their ticket out of their frightening existence dominated by racial violence, gangs and drugs. As the school year begins Coach asks Finley to mentor newly arrived Russ, a young man struggling to recover from the recent murders of his parents and a world class baller who is on a fast track to the NBA. Since his parents' deaths, however, Russ has given up the game and lives in the self-created delusion that he's Boy21, an alien from outer space. Finley, the consummate team player, takes on his coach's request even though getting Boy21 to turn back into Russ will almost certainly threaten Finley's starting position. Quick has written a powerful and gripping novel driven by the genuine depictions of fully realized characters. It is about much more than basketball. Quick does not shy away from tackling issues of race, class, or the ever tenuous fine line of gang politics. And when a sudden and frightening event turns Finley's world upside down -- just as Boy21 is emerging from a shell few people understand -- Quick turns everything up a notch. Up for consideration: What are you willing to give up to help someone in need? When should loyalty trump self-preservation? Fans of John Green, David Leviathan, David Brooks, John Barnes and other experts in realistic fiction, will read, love and remember Boy21. Not to be missed. - Mrs. Vaughan, Harker librarian

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Moonglass by Jessi Kirby (review by Allison W. '16)

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jessi Kirby’s Moonglass follows Anna as she becomes acquainted with her new home in Crystal Cove, the place where her father and her late mother first met. After nine years of avoiding the truth about her mother’s death, Anna is shocked to meet people who knew her mother. Anna and her father struggle to face the past they have been ignoring as she slowly learns more about her mother’s life and suicide. Despite the book’s slow start, it slowly gained momentum until I could not stop reading it. This book should appeal to people who want to know the answers to their questions. Overall, Moonglass is a great book, and it was definitely worth it to read through the slow beginning. - Allison W. '16

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Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (review by Anushka D. '15)

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Melinda Sordino begins her freshman year dreading to see the people she once called her best friends. She ruined any chances of being popular or even having friends when she called the cops during a summer party. But what no one knows is that Melinda is hiding something about what happened at the party, something that devastated her. Anderson uses heartbreakingly beautiful prose to deliver a story about a reality many teens have to face. By concealing the horrible truth even from the readers, she leaves them no choice but to read as Melinda falls apart. While Melinda is distant from everyone, she manages to create a strong impression on the readers, capturing their hearts with her loneliness and despair. Anderson keeps the plot focused, never straying to include petty romance or overcomplicated plotlines. Speak is wonderfully delivered and hard to put down. – Anushka D. ‘15

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