Guy Montag never questioned his superiors and followed all directions given to him. He was a fireman, but not in the same view as our society for the career.  Montag’s job was to burn homes that contained books. Books were seen as dangerous as they made humans think for themselves, which was unlawful according to the government. All people lived by the same rules and were enforced to not think about life, but rather just live day by day. Montag starts to recognize a young girl whom is not like others her age. She is often reminiscing and questioning about how and why things work the way they do. As she opens Montag’s eyes to the real world hidden behind the governments sheet, he starts to question how his life is run and makes a true change to it. 

I would give this book a 4/5 as it is very intriguing to what society is like in their view. It also opens up to how distracted humans have become due  to electronics and other forms of entertainment. 

-Jacob Dennis, 11th Grade

At first I wasn’t very interested into the book but that quickly changed after the first ten pages. It had many sudden plot twists that makes you reflect on what has already happened in the story and changes your whole perception. The narrator is telling the story of his affair he had with a lady while being acquaintances with the husband. This love triangle is what initially draws you into the novel. Deeper in you learn that not only is there a love triangle between the three of them, but that it is also between the two people in the affair and God. It takes many different view points that makes you open your mind on religion and how this changes people lives. Once getting to part two of the book I couldn’t put it down and wanted to finish the rest to figure out how it works out for them. Although at first it was hard to follow because of all of the flashbacks from when they first met and diary entries, I would for sure recommend it. I would give this book 5/5 stars. 

-Anonymous

This novel follows 5 terminally ill patients who who promise to not only themselves, but each other to live their lives to the fullest and do their best to cheat death. The band of friends frequently find themselves sneaking outside the bleak hospital walls, where there is a new adventure or exploration at every corner. From stealing cigarettes to exchanging stories for free tattoos, their lives were far from perfect, but it was theirs to keep. Until one fateful day, where death intruded upon their doors and the world seemed to crumble at their fingertips. The friends find themselves challenged with staying true to the promises they made and the inevitable fall upon them: “Death isn’t playful. Death is sudden. It has no taste for irony or reason. It is a taker, plain, direct, no tricks up its sleeve.” Lancali focuses on the rise and falls of friendship and love, haunting tragedies, romance, and more. “I Fell in Love with Hope” is one of my all time favorite books. The story itself is beautiful and raw, and destroyed me more than I can explain in words. But that wouldn’t stop me from reading it over and over again. I rate this book 5/5 stars and can’t wait to read her newest novel releasing in 2024. 

-Anonymous

Little Women is a very well-written book, which leans into the life of four daughters during the civil war. Living in England, the girls grow up without their father, who is gone for the war. They endure together, laugh together, and grieve together. When they grow up and take their seperate ways, they explore adult life with each other. The book is heavily influenced by Christianity, and good character is a major theme throughout even if it is uncomfortable to the character. This book is my absolute favorite because it makes you think and reflect on your own life.

-Anonymous

Brandon Sanderson is known to have great world building, and this book shows just how much he shines at this. In a world where oceans are filled with living spores dropping from the moons, the main character has to survive hardships when her life takes an unexpected turn. Although the spores within the ocean might seem harmless, one drop of water causes the spores to react quickly—and violently. Within Tress’ home sea, the Emerald Sea, the emerald spores sprout vines that can cause harm and much damage. Within the other seas, even more dangers await. I found this book very entertaining, and I love how Brandon Sanderson develops the plot and world throughout the story. I rate this book 5/5, as his books haven’t let me down yet.

-Anonymous

The Handmaid's Tale is a remarkably fitting book for October, as it is perhaps one of the most haunting books I have ever read. Told from the perspective of one of the titular Handmaids, author Margaret Atwood details the story of a violent Republic of Gilead, a theocratic version of the United States in which women are socially stratified. As a premise, this scans on one level, but when reading, Atwood ensures that the reader feels out the true extent of the dread a society like Gilead should inflict on a person. Miserable societal trappings like constant surveillance, interpersonal alienation, and tacit aggression within every facet of the system creates an overlying feeling of outright depression. The ills of society stick out like sores, bleeding through the ink and getting Atwood's message across all the clearer; equality is a better proposition for everyone involved. If not heeded, Atwood outright threatens, society will be utterly wretched as a result. I give The Handmaid's Tale five stars. It absolutely succeeds at everything sets out to do, and in that, I believe it deserves five stars for being such a successful (and dreadfully moving) book. 

-Owen Perry, 12th Grade