Embedded Files
The Cruel Prince by: Holly Black
Review: by Ellawyn Ordman
The Cruel Prince, written by Holly Black, is an extremely well written fantasy-romance book with a compelling protagonist and extremely well done love story. The Cruel Prince follows the story of Jude, a normal girl growing up in a fairyland with her two sisters, her twin Tarea who is also human and her older sister Viviene who is half faire. The three are moved to Faire by a man named Madoc after he murders their parents. Jude and Tarea adapt to the place, but always feel different and lesser than, because they are human. This is extremely apparent at school when they get bullied by the extremely popular and handsome Prince Caden. Yet despite Jude's mortality, and being human, she desperately wants power and a place in society.
Author Holly Black is a fantastic writer who knows how to build a world very well. Even though we have no knowledge of Elfay prior to the story, we still feel like we’ve been there our whole lives. You are immediately sucked into this world that Holly Black creates. It’s truly amazing how she writes it like you feel like you are there along with the characters.
This book also has an incredible protagonist in Jude. Jude isn’t your stereotypical protagonist because she isn’t necessarily a good person or doing anything for the greater good. Most of the time she is acting in her own best interest, and is constantly struggling with being good and separating herself from Madocs manipulating evil ways. Jude however remains likable because she is not perfect, she is messy like a real human and you can understand how hard her upbringing was and why she acts like she does now. Jude also understands real compassion know matter how hard she tries not to. Well she loves fighting and it’s in her nature she tries at the very least to do what she thinks is best even if that means hurting the people close to her.
The other thing Holly Black does very well is the enemies to lovers slow burn trope that is displayed throughout the book. The pairing of Caden and Jude does not seem obvious at first despite her obvious attraction to him because of how rude Caden is and how much they seem to hate each other. However, once Jude gets a glimpse into Caden's and life they form an alliance, they are able to really see how similar they are. It is an extremely compelling romance that while it does sit on the back burner for most of the book, during the parts where it is taking on full force it is extremely interesting and something you can’t take your eyes away from.
“The Cruel Prince” is an incredibly written story with great pacing and attention to detail. There is never a boring moment and the twist ending just makes you want to keep reading.
The Hate U Give by: Angie Thomas
Review by: Kai Geraghty-Sari
The Hate You Give is an eye-opening book written by Angie Thomas in 2017 based on the Black Lives Matter movement. I cannot stress this enough, if you haven't read this book I seriously urge you to. Angie Thomas who is not only a phenomenal role model yet also an amazing writer. The way she put this story into words created the environment our eyes need to see, and what we need to improve upon.
The Hate U Give is inspired by THUG LIFE. Starr Carter, with her own life and personal problems, is shoved into the spotlight when she decides to accept a ride home from a party she had gone to from her childhood friend Khalil, eventually leading to her having to watch police officers stop the car they were in and shoot him before her eyes. Her beloved uncle is a police officer, caught in the middle when she bravely testifies against Officer One-Fifteen, who treated her and her friend abusively before gunning down her friend with a mistaken conception of a “weapon” in Khalil's hand. Starr, whose mother is a nurse and whose father owns a grocery store in their mostly poor, mostly African-American community, attends a private school in a suburb about 45 minutes away and navigates the two very different worlds. Hardly an activist before the shooting, Starr learns both the importance of and the costs of speaking out.
This book means a lot to me and many others because of the amount of importance it serves to treat everyone equally and with respect despite how they look, act, sound or are. The story of Starr Carter represents the point of view of mistreated and disrespected minorities.
Page updated
Report abuse