Book Review - We Are Displaced

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

We Are Displaced

by Malala Yousafzai

            *Refugee (n): a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution.

            Malala Yousafzai is an advocate for girl’s education and Nobel Peace Prize winner. She is also a refugee, forced to leave her home in Pakistan with her parents and brothers. In this book, she shares not only her story but brings together the stories of other girls who are refugees. The road to safety for these girls was not an easy one. Some were separated from their family by who was granted asylum and who wasn’t, while some had family who died along the way. Some may break your heart, while some may also inspire. What all these girls have in common is that for their safety, leaving their home was their only option, and Malala choice to help share their stories.

            The topic of refugees is a big one today, making this an important read. It is an odd feeling knowing the stories these girls share happened in recent history. As the narrative is broken down into individual stories, this makes it easy to stop and process each story before going on to the next one. Malala also prefaces each section with how she came to know these girls and decided to share their story.

*Definition taken directly from Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online

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Book Review - A Heart in the Body in the World

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

A Heart in the Body in the World

by Deb Caletti

            One moment Annabelle is getting a burger, the next she is running with no destination in mind. A little less than a year ago something tragic happened in her life, something involving The Taker. While getting her burger, something triggers her which caused her to run. Realizing the running helped her with dealing, Annabelle decides to run from Seattle to Washington D.C. With the help of her brother and two friends back home and her grandfather following along in his RV, Annabelle goes on a captivating journey both physically and mentally.

            Alternating between the present time and flashes to the past leading up to the traumatic event, this book will have you turning the page to find out what happened then and what happens next. For some readers, this may be a book they need if they are in a situation similar to Annabelle’s prior to the event that took place. While Annabelle’s journey of running across the country can come across as unrealistic (though it has been done by adults) it doesn’t take away from the wonderful premise of this story. 

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Book Review - 2 for 1 - One Of Us Is Lying and Two Can Keep A Secret

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

One of Us is Lying

by Karen M. McManus

            Five students go into detention, but only four come out alive. The school outcast and gossip blog runner Simon is dead and now his fellow detention mates are under suspicion. There’s Bronwyn, the brainy good girl, drug dealer Nate, Cooper, the baseball star, and homecoming queen Addy. They all have the secrets that Simon was about to expose on his blog, which gives them all not only an opportunity but a motive.

            It’s The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars. Alternating between each of the four teens, readers will get a well-rounded aspect of this who-done-it. As much as you may want to, don’t skip to the end to find out who the liar is.

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📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Two Can Keep a Secret

by Karen M. McManus

            Twins Ellery and Ezra are moving to Echo Ridge to live with their grandmother. Echo Ridge is a town known for disappearances and murder. When she was seventeen, the twin’s aunt went missing, five years ago the homecoming queen was murdered and upon their entry into town they discover the science teacher’s dead body. As the teens settle into their new town, including jobs at the Halloween themed amusement park, Ellery is nominated to the homecoming court, another nominee has gone missing and there are new threats to be had. Ellery decides to try and figure out the mysteries and gains an ally in Malcolm, whose older brother is suspected of the murder years earlier.

            Despite none of the characters being real stand-outs, readers will still like them. With multiple mysteries, this story is a real page-turner. There is the question of if any or all of these mysteries are connected, and if so, how?

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Book Review - Shout

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Shout

by Laurie Halse Anderson

            Laurie Halse Anderson is an award winning author who is now sharing her personal story. Maybe you are familiar with her books (Fever 1793, Ashes, Twisted, Wintergirls, Prom, and Speak), maybe you are not. Anderson’s story in Shout is similar to Melinda’s in Speak. She is a survivor who no longer wishes to remain silent and is now calling for others to also speak up and take action. Most importantly, allowing others to know that they are not alone. 

            This is a beautifully written novel in verse. Anderson shares her experience, the downward spiral her life took after it, and pulling herself together again. With the subject matter being on the tougher side, this read may be difficult for some at the present moment or overall. For those who can handle the topic addressed, this is highly recommended.

            Read the review for the graphic novel version of Speak here.

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Peer Book Review - Green Lantern: Lights Out

📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

Green Lantern: Lights Out

by Justin Jordan

Reviewed by 8th Grader Carlos U.

When a new being threatens to whip out all lantern corps, it takes the help of everyone to try and defeat Relic. Even enemies must join forces to save the day.

I enjoyed the action and suspense. The story and the back story was great. I even saw some of my favorite characters. 

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Book Review - Salt to the Sea

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Salt to the Sea

by Ruta Sepetys

Alfred is a German naval officer on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a World War II ship sent to Poland to evacuate German refugees. Joana, Florian, and Emilia are three refugees whose journey brings them on board. What starts out as a journey to safety becomes the largest loss of life on a single ship in history.

An intriguing look involving a real moment in history that isn’t often shared. Each of the four main characters are likable in their own ways, even Alfred despite his being mostly unlikable. Readers looking for World War II books that aren’t about battles or the Holocaust should be sure to give this a try.

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Peer Book Review - Wolf Children

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

Wolf Children

by Hosoda, Mamoru

Reviewed by 8th Grader Carlos U.

When a young Hana falls in love with someone she sees in her college, the last thing she would have known is he’s part wolf. Soon they become a family but not seen after the father of Hana’s children soon perishes. Soon, Hana will have to overcome the life as a single mom of wolf children.

This book put me on an extremely emotional roller coaster. I loved how Hana did her best for her kids and I just fell in love with the story. It was a great graphic novel.  

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