The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (review by Sachi B. '21)

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Written by Nicola Yoon, The Sun is Also a Star is a novel revolving around two young adults Natasha and Daniel, who fall in love despite the numerous obstacles that come their way. First, Daniel is Korean and Natasha is African-American, which is a racial difference they believe their families would not approve of. Moreover, Natasha is an undocumented immigrant and is to be deported the exact day they meet, forcing the two lovers to separate. Despite the challenges they face, both Natasha and Daniel attempt to make the best of their bad situations. They focus on the present and on each other, cherishing the time they have left together, instead of constantly worrying when they will have to leave each other.

This book is unique and showcases the perspective and thoughts of each character by labeling their names at the top of every page rather than being narrated from only one perspective. This allowed the reader to really feel what the lovers are feeling, and anticipate and fear what will happen to the protagonists. I would definitely recommend this book due to its beautiful concept of how living in the moment is such an important concept that everyone needs to implement in their own lives. - Sachi B. '21

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Origin by Jessica Khoury (review by Anya W. '20)

Origin by Jessica Khoury
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pia is perfect. The result of five generations of careful breeding and genetic manipulation she is a girl with unbreakable skin, destined to be untouched by the hands of time. For now, however, she’s just a teenager, studying and working towards her lifelong dream of being part of the team of scientists and creating more immortals… starting with her very own Mr. Perfect. For now. However Pia is a teenager. And teenagers rebel. It is what they do. A few catalysts, a fated meeting in the woods, a visit or two from certain invested parties—and she is set on a whole new path, one that will expose the what is hidden in the light.

Origin by Jessica Khoury is a well written YA novel that pulls you into the story until the very end, even if most plot points can be predicted light-years away by an experienced reader. The romance is sweet, the protagonists’ motivations more complex than is typically found in YA novels, and everything wraps up in a finale as bittersweet as nestle chips. It is a good way to spend a lazy summer morning, especially for YA fans sick of love triangles and unintelligent, flighty female protagonists motivated only by the whims of whatever set of sensations and emotions they ascribe to love. Pia’s actions are driven by logic, reasoning that could realistically come from her life experiences, plain old curiosity and teenaged rebellion. For that, I truly wish I had the ability to give a 3.5 star review. However, once you put the book down or have to slog through a particularly wearisome passage, the spell is broken, and while the book is good, it is missing a little something.
- Anya W. '20

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Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub (review by Prameela K. '19)

Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After reading Romeo and Juliet, I couldn't help but wonder: "What happens now?"

Melinda Taub's novel aims to answer that question, and many of the other ones that readers may ask after finishing Romeo and Juliet. Unsurprisingly, the Montagues and Capulets–who entered a dubious truce in the aftermath of their children's deaths–are still feuding, unable to suppress the animosity rooted in their bloodline. Intending to quell the dissension that is plaguing his city, Prince Escalus of Verona devises a plan in which he arranges for a member of the house of Montague–Benvolio, Romeo's cousin– to marry a member of the house of Capulet–Rosaline, Juliet's cousin and Romeo's first love (before he meets Juliet). Neither Benvolio nor Rosaline are thrilled about the prospect of an arranged marriage with one another, and they form an initially unenthusiastic alliance in order to put an end to their engagement.

Rosaline is independent and strong-willed, and she develops as a character. While Benvolio also undergoes a significant amount of moral growth, his personality is rather muted, but his chemistry with Rosaline makes up for his blandness. While their relationship is the main highlight of the novel,
another surprisingly appealing element is mystery. There are clues, red herrings, buildup, and an ultimate reveal that is well-executed though somewhat predictable. It's no Agatha Christie mystery, but it's interesting enough.

One of the most interesting aspects of the novel is the dialogue. All characters speak Shakespearean English, complete with "thees" and "thous". The setting is undoubtedly Shakespearean, and the re-imagining of supporting characters from Romeo and Juliet makes Taub's continuation of the tragedy vivid and creative. Yet one of the weakest points of the novel (and one of the main reasons why I rate this book three stars and not four) is the inclusion of a love triangle–one with a predictable outcome–that distracts from the mystery at the core of the plot and slows the story progression.

Overall, Still Star-Crossed is a good book with an enjoyable plot and a compelling protagonist, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Shondaland's new show will provide its own take on the novel! - Prameela K. '19

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Heartless by Marissa Meyer (review by Prameela K. '19)

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of Marissa Meyer and her science fiction fantasy Lunar Chronicles series, I was eager to read her standalone debut. Once I learned that Heartless was a fairy tale origin story with a Victorian setting, my anticipation only heightened. A fantasy period novel based on Alice in Wonderland? Count me in.

Heartless draws upon many aspects of Lewis Carroll's whimsical world in Meyer's re-imagination of the Kingdom of Hearts, where Wonderlandesque oddities and the social constructs of Victorian-era England intermingle to create a setting equally strange and captivating.

At the center is Catherine, a teenage girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart. Unlike many young adult protagonists, she is not overbearing or infuriating, and her kindness is admirable. She is a lover of all things sweet, and her aspiration in life is to open up a bakery–but her parents have different plans for her and aim to consolidate her marriage to the foolish, and incredibly annoying, King of Hearts.

Oh, but of course, there is a love interest: Jest, the roguish and devilishly handsome court jester. He has a mysteriously magical past and the obscurity of his identity may be frustrating at times, but he makes up for it with his humor and charm. He and Cath have instant chemistry and their interactions are chock-full of witty repartee. Oh, and do not forget Jest's equally mysterious raven, who is reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem and only speaks in, well, poetry. Jest is also a friend of the famed Hatter, who was really quite a hunk back in the day -- before he went mad and all.

Because Cath starts out as a well-rounded character with a strong sense of right and wrong, there is little room for moral development. Instead, Meyer focuses on her progression from being an aspiring young baker to being the Queen of Hearts. The plot is filled with twists and turns as Catherine embarks on a journey to fulfill her goals and discover who she truly is. While the novel has its fair share of romance, the action is what truly captivated me–Cath's bravery shines through when it matters the most.

At points, the plot progresses slowly, but as the page count dwindled I found myself more and more enthralled in the characters’ fates. Whopping revelations, nail-biting action sequences, and heart-wrenching plot twists combine to form a stress-inducing final 100 pages that culminate in an ending that is, at first, shocking. But after a few days of deep thinking, I realized that the plot had really been going in that direction all along, and one of the main reasons why Heartless made such a strong impression. - Prameela K. '19


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Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok (review by Anya W. '20)

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When eleven-year-old Kimberly Chang moves to New York straight from China with her newly widowed mother, severely lacking English skills and with little help from her uncaring aunt and uncle, hope seems dim. Indeed for her first few years in America the young genius struggles in a rat and cockroach-infested apartment, working every day after school in a Chinatown sweatshop. But gradually, as her English improves and she pushes herself onward--even getting accepted into her dream schools--she begins to create a beautiful future for herself. Until, that is, the day she realizes she must choose between love and the future she wants for herself and her family. In this touching coming-of-age novel about hard work, social inequality, friendship, first love, and infatuation, Kwok paints a beautifully realistic portrait of a teenager struggling and succeeding to take control of her own destiny.

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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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The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama (review by Shannon H. '16)

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Overall, this book was a fun read -- I enjoyed learning about marriage practices in India (although I am not entirely sure how accurately the practices are portrayed). The depiction of modern India resonates with me; I understood the ever-present inequality and the social turmoil, and I felt the heated debates between traditional cultural values and modern interpretations of humanity. However, I found that the novel dissolved from a potential critique of the system into a contrived love story between a rich Brahmin male (upper class) and a poor, but still Brahmin, working woman. I was mildly disappointed, but I still found The Marriage Bureau for Rich People a quick and fun read.

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An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (review by Andrew R. '17)

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The Hunger Games. Eragon. Star Wars. Odds are you’re already perfectly familiar with these stories, in which case there is no reason for you to pick up Sabaa Tahir’s new novel. For me, An Ember in the Ashes reads like a half-hearted cut-and-paste of all the fantasy/sci-fi books that came before it, an unapologetic catalog of tired genre clichés—romantic tension! teenagers fighting to the death! orphaned protagonists! unimaginative fantasy names! faceless demonic warlords!—without a single page of original material. Faced with such an apparent lack of inspiration, the author repeats her ideas and plot points thirty times throughout the book. That’s standard practice with many YA authors, unfortunately, when it comes to romance (“Does he love me or doesn’t he?”), but it gets downright tiresome when we have to hear this sentence repeated ad nauseam: “As my grandmother always told me, ‘Where there’s life there’s hope.’” According to the American Library Association, there are approximately 5,000 YA books published per year, and I can safely list (without much exaggeration) about 4,999 new books that are more worth your time than this one. I was not a fan.

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The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough (review by Andrew R. '17)

The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

In The Game of Love and Death, the deities Love and Death come together to play a high-stakes cosmic game of strategy. The board: Jazz-Age Seattle, still deeply rooted in racial prejudice. The pawns: Henry, an affluent white high-school student, and Flora, a black jazz singer (and, improbably, airplane pilot). The objective: for Love to manipulate Henry into winning Flora’s heart, and for Death to twist Flora into rejecting his advances. The stakes: the pawns’ lives. It’s the perfect premise for a historical-fiction-romance-supernatural genre mashup, but from the first chapter it’s clear that Brockenbrough can’t quite pull off the ingenious plot she’s cooked up. The characters are sadly underdeveloped: Henry’s sole obsession is Flora, Flora’s sole obsession is flight, Love is maddeningly altruistic, Death is irrationally destructive. Worse, we’re granted near-omniscience when it comes to the plot, making the entire novel read like a tiresome textbook example of dramatic irony. (Case in point: Henry is convinced that his infatuation is true love, whereas we know from page one that it’s a ridiculous idea planted in his head by a manipulative deity.) Thanks to the wild originality of this novel’s premise, the jacket blurb makes excellent reading; the book itself, though, is a disappointment.

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Bone Gap by Laura Ruby (review by Andrew R. '17)

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Laura Ruby’s Bone Gap, while almost effortlessly unique in its setting and characters, too often gets bogged down in the tropes of other genres—especially star-crossed romance and magical realism—to feel entirely convincing or satisfying by the last page. The rural Illinois town that protagonists Finn and Roza inhabit is summed up in consistent, symbolic motifs, which Ruby invokes whenever possible: bees, cornfields, gossip, and (most effectively) the “gaps” of the title. As successful as these images are, other aspects of the novel fall flat, ultimately distracting readers from the complexity of the setting. Classic scenes of teenage social cruelty, for instance, feel painfully out-of-sync with a rural setting that is otherwise frozen in the past, and incessant references to Craig Thompson’s graphic novel Blankets quickly grow stale—especially since Ruby seems oddly reluctant to refer to that novel by name. Perhaps most disappointing are the author’s halfhearted attempts at magical realism in certain scenes, which more frequently reek of coincidence than true enchantment. Roza and Finn’s shared story has plenty to commend it, especially to fans of less traditional YA fiction, but its restless shifting between disjunct genres rendered it difficult both to follow and to enjoy. - Andrew R. '17

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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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When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle (review by Stephanie S. '17)

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When You Were Mine, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, opens with Rosaline Caplet and her two best friends hoping for the perfect senior year. Rose has had eyes for her neighbor and best friend, Rob Monteg, for years and hopes he’ll finally return her feelings. At the beginning of the summer, before Rob left for camp, Rosaline thought their relationship was evolving into something more. She is thrilled when school starts and their flirting continues. When Rob kisses her on their first date, Rose believes that everything is falling into place. Soon afterwards, however, Rosaline’s cousin Juliet moves to town. In less than two days Juliet has claimed Rob as hers, and he seems to have forgotten all about Rose. Rosaline’s friends tell her to ignore them, but she cannot. Soon rumors start circulating about Juliet’s mental instability, endangering Rob and his future. Will Rob make the right decision and leave Juliet, or will she take him down with her? This book may not be for everyone but I enjoyed this story and found it to be unique take on Shakespeare's original, with a couple unexpected twists.

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Matched by Ally Condie (review by Anahita F. '17)

Matched by Ally Condie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Matched, by Ally Condie, is the first of a dystopian fiction trilogy that will have you hooked to the end. Can you imagine every little part of your life planned out for you? Your lifestyle, future relationship, and the day of your death predetermined? That is the world Cassia lives in – until the day of her matching ceremony, when she is assigned her soulmate and best friend Xander. However, a glitch in the system momentarily reveals another boy’s face to her, Ky. Suddenly, Cassia questions her fate. Is it possible to love someone else? Her grandfather’s message dares Cassia to examine her options and shake up years of tradition. In the meantime, the consequences of her forbidden love stir up trouble. In many ways, the strict rules and futuristic feel in Matched reminded me of The Hunger Games and Divergent. I was disappointed to see Condie author create a love triangle, making Cassia choose between the mysterious and dangerous Ky, or the familiar and sweet Xander. However, Matched appealed to me because of how well written and thought out it is. It is not hard to follow, and the romance is enticing! - Anahita F. '17

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Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Hush, Hush may have the dubious honor of being one of the worst books I've ever read. While chock-full of mixed metaphors, corny fight scenes, unintelligent dialogue, purple prose, and pointless descriptions, the novel also embodies YA rape culture. The relationship between Nora, the main character, and her love interest, Patch, is built off of her being terrified of him, while he dreams about killing her. Nora is noticeably uncomfortable as he continues to pursue her, harassing her in the middle of biology class as those around her pay no heed to her complaints. A heroine in any genre should not have to be terrified that her love interest is going to rape her. The rest of the personalities are two-dimensional stock-characters at best and disastrous at worst. Marcie Millar is made out to be the classic "mean girl," even though she is demonized for flirting rather than actually being mean. The plot is flat and uninteresting. I would not recommend anyone approach Hush, Hush with a ten-foot pole. – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (review by Lavinia D. '17)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Brooklyn teenager Clary Fray goes with her best friend Simon Lewis to a nightclub, the last thing she expects is to witness a murder - and to be the only one who sees it. Seeking answers, she meets Jace Wayland at the club, but suddenly, she is thrown into an unknown world fraught with danger, followed up with the news that her mother, Jocelyn, has been kidnapped by a man named Valentine in his search to find an object known as the Mortal Cup. Along with Jace and his adoptive siblings, Alec and Isabelle Lightwood, Clary starts to search for her mother and uncovers the truth about herself: she, along with Jace, Alec, and Isabelle, are part of a race called Shadowhunters - half-angel and half-human. In order to save her mother from Valentine's evil clutches and retrieve the Mortal Cup, Clary must master her powers before it is too late. City of Bones was extremely riveting and had comedy thrown in at the perfect time. However, an overwhelming number of characters introduced in a short amount of time, made following along a bit difficult in the beginning. – Lavinia D. ‘17

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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This heartwarming novel's chapters seamlessly alternate setting from the 1940s to 1986, describing the life of Chinese immigrant Henry Lee during World War II and his struggles in a time of hostility against all things and people labeled Eastern. Lee juggles a precarious relationship with a young Japanese girl named Keiko despite his parents’ protests. The novel also focuses on Henry's past and present relationships -- namely his Chinese parents who frantically urge him to become as American as possible and a local jazz musician, his wife and his son who has recently come of age. The novel's evocative and sweet writing brings Henry and Keiko's relationship into heart-wrenching detail and sheds a great deal of light on the American -Chinese point of view on the war. is highly recommended to both aficionados and casual readers of historical fiction as an accessible piece of writing that lives up to its name in evoking emotions both bitter and sweet. – Elisabeth S. ’16

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Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (review by Anushka D. '15)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every year, Sam switches form twice. During the few months of summer, he relishes being a human, but for the rest of the year, he lives as a wolf. Although Sam is desperately in love with seventeen-year-old human Grace, he is forced to keep his distance and watch her from afar. But when on one lucky day, they meet each other as humans, their lives are turned upside down and the only thing they can hold onto is each other. A classic story of forbidden love, Shiver explores paranormal story explores territory of a werewolf-human love affair. Although the story sounds cliché, Stiefvater manages to escape banality by infusing fine writing and well-rounded characters. Grace and Sam are both soft, yet strong and prove to be a lovely match. Combined with a consistently strong plot, Shiver is overall a good read. – Anushka D. ‘15

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The Selection by Kiera Cass (review by Nitya M. '15)

The Selection by Kiera Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Selection is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, giving a handful of lucky girls the chance to escape their caste to rise up and become a One, the wife of Prince Maxon. For budding musician America Singer, however, the Selection is nothing more than a burden, forcing her to leave behind her secret boyfriend, Aspen, and loving, if poor, family for luxury, cut-throat competition, and danger she neither wished for nor accepts. But at the castle, America meets her potential husband, a man less like a prince, someone who she could love, and she is torn between her love back home and the willing prince who would give her anything if she said yes. Fast-paced and riveting, The Selection provides a detailed portrayal of characters in this dystopian world and provides a fresh take on the love triangle cliché. Yet, the book offers only a hazy view of the world these characters inhabit, and we are left at the end of the novel, only knowing the caste system that shapes society. Readers of romantic novels, as well as dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games will enjoy this first of a trilogy. - Nitya M. '15

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Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (review by Nikita R. '16)

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

R, a zombie living in apocalyptic world, finds himself unsure about the simplicity of his newly resurrected life. Unable to vocalize his doubts and beliefs, R continues to groan along with his fellow zombies for decades, until the day he preys upon a young teenage boy named Perry. Infused with Perry’s love for his girlfriend Julie, R rescues her. In an unlikely romance, R and Julie begin to teach each other the true meaning of living. Although a zombie book doesn’t seem sweet or profound, Marion manages to incorporate a touching romance inside of a book that questions every aspect of society. The illustrative language and complex characters will not disappoint readers. Warm Bodies will be appreciated by both teenagers and adults alike. – Nikita R. ‘16

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Captured by Erica Stevens (review by Anushka D. '15)

Captured by Erica Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Aria, daughter of the head of the human resistance, is captured by members of the vampire race, she hopes for a quick death. Just as she is about to be sold to a malicious vampire, however, a member of the ruling class claims her for himself. Although she is curious as to his reason -- he has no need for a blood slave -- Aria is determined to hate him for the destruction his race has caused and for his princely title. But as he opens up to her and reveals a side that she never believed could exist in a vampire, she cannot help but fall for him even as she struggles to maintain her identity as a member of the resistance. Captured takes on a typical plotline: Human girl and vampire boy fall in love. While building a strong romance, Stevens maintains a focused, fresh and surprisingly interesting story line and fully develops her characters. Readers looking for a twist on the clichéd human-vampire love tragedy will enjoy Captured and will likely be hooked to follow up quickly with the second in Stevens’ series, Renegade. - Anushka D. '15

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