Books 

Book Review: "Wonder"

By Brady Hamm, on Tuesday Apr. 22

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”, is a saying most of us have heard many times, but what happens when that saying applies to a human rather than a book? R.J. Palacio’s “Wonder” is a book about prejudice, acceptance, and empathy. Released in 2012, “Wonder” became an instant classic, winning The Amazon and The Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Year awards, as well as becoming a #1 New York Times bestseller. Due to the book’s insane popularity, a movie based on the book was created by Stephen Chbosky and released 5 years later with a current rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. But enough about the movie— let’s talk about the book.

The book follows 10 year old August (Auggie) Pullman as he goes through his first year of public school, which is also his first year of middle school. If that’s not bad enough, Auggie was born with Treacher Collins syndrome so his face is misshapen even after the 27 surgeries he underwent when he was younger. Much of the book focuses on the tribulations that Auggie goes through while dealing with Treacher Collins. One thing that makes this book very unique is that it doesn’t just go through only with Auggie’s perspective, also showcasing his sister’s perspective of always being second to Auggie, forgotten, and going through her first year of high school, and Auggies friend’s perspective of the trouble bullies bring them for being his friend. 

Personally, I couldn’t get enough of this book. It was fantastic with all the different perspectives and emotions filling up this book and filling up my heart. It’s hard to read through “Wonder” and not feel incredibly bad for Auggie for having to deal with everything he deals with despite being the sweetest kid ever. Reading it really teaches you how much your actions may affect somebody even if they are unintentionally mean. It also teaches you that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and rather judge it by what’s within the cover, in the pages. 

  I really can’t recommend this book enough. It has quickly became one of my favorite books I have read. It is a tearjerker at times, and a feel-good story at others that is nearly impossible to put down and is so, so, so worth the read! 

Book Review: "Everyone on This Train is a Suspect"

By Kenzi Perkins, on Tuesday Feb 11 

There’s been a murder! Well, two, actually, but I’m getting ahead of myself. The title says it all… okay, maybe not it all, but it is true: everyone on the train is a suspect. If you’re one for a meta mystery, this is the perfect book for you.

“Everyone on This Train is a Suspect” by Benjamin Stevenson is a humorous spin on the classic whodunnit of the genre, adding a twist to the predictable ending. Like every other mystery novel, it takes place on a passenger train, barrelling through the deserted countryside, but this story has a few tricks up its sleeve. 

The book is narrated by author and self-proclaimed amateur detective Ernest Cunningham, who has been invited aboard for a writers’ convention featuring all of the current best mystery writers. Everything starts out smoothly, but there are secrets, plots of revenge, and of course, murder. Not everything is as it appears, and it’s your job to help the novice sleuth unravel the mystery. 

Personally, I loved the shift of the typical mystery novel perspective, the tone sarcastic and conversational; just my style. I felt as though I was working right alongside Ernest, trying to piece together the nudges and finger pointing before the big reveal. Although the second in the Ernest Cunningham series, the book is a stand-alone, and a good one at that. I hadn’t read the first, “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone,” but after reading its successor, I ran to the bookstore to get my next fix of Stevenson. 

Can you detangle the knotty mystery? There's already been one murder, and you never know when the killer might strike again! Everyone on this train is a suspect… I’d watch your back if I were you!

Book Review over the Bayview Crew: “One of Us is Back”

By Kenzi Perkins, on Thursday Dec. 6

Karen M. McManus is the author behind the #1 New York Times bestseller, “One of Us is Lying,” a staple for young adults across the globe, and one of my personal favorites. Since the novel’s release, McManus has followed the adventures of the main characters through two sequels, (“One of Us is Next,” and the most recent, “One of Us is Back”), continuing the mind games and plot twists that she started with the first story on the Bayview Crew.

For those of you who have yet to read the “One of Us…” series, I do warn that there are some mild spoilers in the text below, and to proceed with caution if you want to read the books for yourself before reading this review. For the rest who have (or have yet to) read McManus’s series, here’s a quick overview of what’s happened previous to the contents of “One of Us is Back.”

“One of Us is Lying” was a smashing success, with a subtle genius behind a rollercoaster of a plot. The Bayview Crew, which originated as the Bayview Four, was a group of teenagers who got caught up in the death of a classmate, each with their own secret. The police and the rest of the town are against the framed teens, thinking that it is they who are responsible for their classmate’s death. Over the course of the book, their secrets get revealed, and the four form an unlikely friendship, working together to solve the mystery behind the death, Scooby-Doo style. 

The second book, “One of Us is Next,” continues the story, now presenting the Bayview Four with new friends, creating the Bayview Crew. Not all the people they meet are good, though, and along the way, they are faced with new enemies and another crime to uncover. Through a collection of nail-biting feats, the teenagers succeed in putting an end to the mysteries around Bayview, hoping it’s the last time they’re put up against an enemy that the ever-useless Bayview Police refuse to help put behind bars.

In this series finale, a new mystery takes the forefront, but the Bayview Crew can tell that there’s something else going on, something bigger than what it seems. New characters are introduced, and old ones resurface, eagerly playing their role in one of the most unexpected and complex plots that McManus has created. Old vendettas are renewed, and new vengeances simmer. Luckily, the Bayview Crew is around, and able to untangle the twisted game afoot, saving the day once again. The book ties the series together in a perfect bow, filling plot holes and affirming unanswered questions from the previous novels, leaving the reader pleasantly satisfied. The members of the Bayview Crew end on their way off to their own adventures, hopefully far, far away from the ill-fated town of Bayview.

“One of Us is Back” is one of the best sequels to an original novel that I have ever read, matching the drama and intrigue of “One of Us is Lying.”  The original in the series was one of the most surprising and delicious mysteries I’d ever read, and its second sequel completes its bigger picture, making me appreciate the series even more now that I can look back and see all of the pieces that fit together. Each thread of the plot reveals secrets separately, belonging to a single character, and when they’re finally woven together, the true meaning behind everything is unveiled. The characters are relatable, and unlike most mystery novels’ main characters, they actually use their common sense and don’t make the stereotypical “horror movie victim” errors, which is something that I find particularly harrowing. Needless to say, my rambling about “One of Us is Back” cannot yield enough positivity, and although I’m satisfied with the ending, I wish it wasn’t over.

The Island Book Review

By: Ali Sims, On Monday August 19

“The Island” is about a group of influencers who get an exclusive tour to a new amusement park by boat, written by Natasha Preston. She is a murder mystery, thriller writer and Swiftie who wrote many books, such as The Island which currently lives in Los Angeles, Calif. The book characters include Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and the main character point of view of Paisley. 

The setting is an amusement park that has a horror and gothic era late 12th-century theme with only the very wealthy being able to afford hotels, food, etc. The host, Malcolm Wyatt, brought these influencers to help advertise the amusement park and bring viewers to the influencers or could he have planned more?