English 30-1

Ohler provides a unique perspective of 3rd Reich operations, on the front lines and behind-the-scenes. There are very interesting photographs of people, buildings, equipment, and official Nazi documents I've never seen. I would have been more interested in the 2nd World War if I'd read this when I was in high school! Also included is a brief history of (one part of) the pharmaceutical industry, and prior evils they committed. Very fascinating read.

This is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Centred around a powerful government official, James, being accused of rape, this book takes you through the different sides, opinions, and beliefs when it comes to the trial. His wife, Sophie, truly believes he is innocent, whilst Kate, the prosecutor, believes deep down that he is guilty. This story is an emotional journey full of disagreements, flashbacks, and intense courtroom exchanges. Written in a clear and authentic tone, this drama/thriller is truly a must-read.

This was a very exciting and thrilling book. There are some dark topics which I believe are meant for grades 11-12. This is about mysterious deaths that happen in a fictional town called Beckford. A very suspenseful yet fun read. It is told through different character perspectives which can be hard to keep up with. If you are focused and like a suspenseful book, this is perfect for you!

This book was a very enjoyable read for me. I loved reading about a fully developed altered society that I could insert myself into. I really enjoyed the storyline of the book and found myself reading the novel very quickly because I wanted to know what was going to happen. I also used the book for one of my novel projects. However, I think it is important to mention the book does include some mature topics and is definitely not for everyone. Despite that, if you are interested in reading a story that's very different, captivating and beyond ordinary you may enjoy this book.

Explores interesting and difficult ideas about gender and politics. The story takes place in the future where the United States has been taken over by a corrupt theocratic government whose ruling is influenced by twisted views of gender from the Old Testament. The novel is difficult to read at points due to its topics, however, it engages readers and makes them think. This book is effective to write about due to the multiple themes and motifs brought up. However, it is sometimes difficult to focus on only analyzing the characters instead of the government. Lots of tendencies to write a Social Studies essay instead of an English essay.

This book is based on World War II and looks at two main characters, a blind French girl named Marie-Laure and a German boy named Werner. Though they have completely different paths - Marie-Laure and her father attempt to escape the war, and leave their hometown, and Werner joins the army - they end up finding each other through the use of a radio broadcast. Embedded in the book are motifs such as the influence of family, the effects of war, and self-interest. It also ties in other character who all play an important role in the book. This book worked really well for me during my grade 12 year because I could tie it in to almost all of my essays.

A beautifully written heart-wrenching novel. It follows the lives of a few women living in Afghanistan and how the culture around women changes throughout the different ruling parties in Kabul and surrounding areas. However this novel deals with many heavy topics and should not be read if you are not in a good place. Having said that if you are looking into reading A Thousand Splendid Suns please be ready to read the entirety of the book, as stopping when the topics discussed become hard on the heart leaves it unhopeful and distressing, whereas this is not the case if you finish it. This book is not a fast read but it is very eye-opening and hopeful as it accurately depicts the reality for many women during this time period.

I found it to be a very relatable novel as the protagonist Holden Caulfield is around the same age as I am. Being able to relate to Holden and his struggle made the experience of reading this book quite in depth. Throughout the novel several motifs and symbols are frequently brought up/ used, some of which are meaningful life lessons that can apply to a lot of people.

I enjoyed this book because it is an accurate depiction on a teenager. The main character is always judging people and looking down on them. He judges them because they tick him off in a certain way, however this is ironic because he'll turn around and do the exact same thing. This book is a fun book to read about a teenager being a hypocrite and learning more about life, and it can also be used on the English 30 Diploma.

Beyond engaging. I picked up this book and I could not for the life of me put it down. If you are a politically-minded person, V for Vendetta is perfect for you, especially in preparation for diplomas. If you're fascinated by psychology, this should also be first on your to-read list. If you're the sort of person who loves action, it's absolutely for you, too. If none of these traits apply, you should still read it, because it's iconic and incredible. I was so excited to find out that it was a 30-level text.

As much as I love this book, it can be hard to read. If you're particularly sensitive to violence, abuse, paedophilia, incest, or abandonment, I would recommend treading with caution.

A good less than serious book that I thoroughly enjoyed... its relaxed tone is good for people like me, who dislike formal literature. It provides an interesting commentary on the world nowadays by comparing life now to the life of the author growing up in lower class eastern Canada in the 70's. The style can be a little shocking as he doesn't leave much detail out of his stories but this is ok because it fits the tone... this does however mean sticking to the grade twelve audience.

This book was truly a magical insight into a piece of Japan before the age of anime. I've always been interested in Japan and felt so a part of it while reading thanks to the author's supernatural talent for description and creating imagery. I found it difficult to write about for my novel project, however I used it for my visual representation so I received full marks on the art portion.

This novel works very well with topics relating to struggles of the past, control, authority and oppression. If you are interested in psychological fiction novels, this a great book for you! It is interesting, and it's relevant to ELA 30-1, or relevant for grade 11's to expand vocabulary and reading comp ability.

The description and the experiences shown in the book truly give a great insight into what slavery was to experience and the adventure which takes place in the latter half of the book is a relieving but nonetheless exciting change of pace.

Eye opening play about the struggles of the common man and mental health. Strongly recommend waiting until Grade 12.

It's a quick read that you can use for the diploma in grade 12. It also had a very sad but true story.

Lion is Saroo's Brierley's personal account of finding himself tragically lost from his family at the young age of 5 years old. His journey back to his birth mother 25 years later is a truly amazing story. It explores many motifs such as family, survival, poverty, obsession, adoption as well as destiny. This book kept me engaged and captivated. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

This book is definitely an amazing read. Adam Silvera does a great job of hooking you to the plot instantly. I read this book in just a couple of days and it was well worth it. The story will 100% get you in the feels but it's a wonderful book to read in your off time. Would recommend to anyone looking for an easy to read, but well put together book.

From the moment I read the first couple chapters, I knew this story would be a meaningful one. It took a heartbreaking moment and turned it into pure poetry. This book is proof that there can be beauty in the unplanned and that it's sometimes the unexpected which makes life worth living.

A very thought-provoking read. At first glance, one would think it slams these anti-vaxx and gun owners, but it does the opposite. It brings up both sides of the issue, viewing problems from a bystander standpoint rather than a strict bias, and brings up suggestions for resolving these problems in a sophisticated and educated matter. I really enjoyed this book, and it has made me change the way I view specific social issues for the better. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in anti-vaxx issues or gun law or how self-medicating yourself and others is unsafe for your own health and safety. 9/10, would read again.

I wrote about Gatsby for every CART in Grade 12. It applied to every topic I got well every time.

Was a good book to read if you're interested in the American Dream and adventure.

I enjoyed reading this book. This book also worked well for all of the essays we had to write in English class. I recommend this book to anyone especially if you have to write timed essays/diplomas. This book is also a classic and is known by most.

A novel about a very rich businessman, yachtsman, soldier, entrepreneur, bootlegger named Jay Gatsby who is in love with a young blonde named Daisy Buchanan. The beauty of The Great Gatsby is that it is so widely specific.

This book was inspirational as it introduces Eleanor, a very lonely survivor who just needs a friend. It is funny and sad and has an unexpected twist which will keep you glued to the pages!

Great narrative telling of history of Abraham Lincoln's time during the war acting as the leader of the military and the various interpersonal and military conflicts he was involved in. Everything is told very plainly and nothing is embellished. A history buff will love this book.

This book would be great for any student wanting to learn more about the economy and the complexities of economic and government failures. This book gives an in-depth review of what lead to the 2009 housing market crash and recession thereafter. Lots of resources online interviewing Thomas Sowell about the book that help make it easier to digest.

Really good view into an incredibly complex and flawed individual. McPherson does a great job of giving a reader great insight into the mindset and leadership style of Confederate president Jefferson Davis.

Brave New World is a dystopian fiction, set in the future. Set mainly in the World State, the governing body of the world at that time, it is a world building masterpiece. People are genetically modified and abide by a strict class system based off of intelligence and genetics. A great book for someone who loves social studies. It portrays a fascinating totalitarian government, mixed in with impressive improvements in technology and techniques in physiological manipulation. I enjoyed the story line and found the world building fascinating. It is a book that takes longer to get into because the intro and world build takes so long but once you have read past that part, the story is very interesting.

Great Expectations is a coming of age novel set in England during the early 19th century. It follows the life of an orphan boy named Pip and illustrates his hopes and dreams. Not only does the reader get to see what becomes of Pip’s great expectations, but Pip is also portrayed as human and the reader gets to see his flaws. It is a great story and has many important lessons to teach the reader about life. It is a long book and will take a while to read. I found that it is best read in small portions so you can sit and digest what you read. It is a great book to read if you like books that make you stop and think. I really like the portrayal of life during the 19 century, you get a glimpse of what it would be like being poor, being of middle class, being rich, and even an idea of what the convicted criminals had to go through.

This book is amazingly suspenseful! It will keep you reading until the pages run out.

This novel is the perfect combination of compassion, love, friendship, abandonment and belonging. It is a tender, tough and idealistic novel that is guaranteed to keep you always wanting more, from beginning to end!

This book is similar to the movie in the sense that as the reader and audience, you get to follow Forrest and see into his mind and how he sees the world and the people in it. This is a relaxing book with ups and downs, filled with life lessons and different views on the world. Forrest is a simple man, and finds himself in many odd situations over the course of the novel. I recommend this book to anyone from grade 10 and up. Some themes are slightly adult, but the reading level is not difficult. It's very easy to follow along with Forrest as he narrates.