Book Review

Book Review

In January, I set a goal to read 100 books this year. To read this amount of books, I need to read a book every 3.5 days or 8-9 books a month. Reading is essential in my life, and it can be hard to choose new books. For all of the book lovers out there or people interested in picking up a new book, here is a short review and personal rating of the books I have read so far.

In January, I read 9 books in total. I started with a book I had already partially read in 2022 called City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. The City of Bones is a very complex supernatural world that the main character gets pulled into because her Mom is a shadowhunter, and her Mom gets kidnapped. I rated this book a 3 out of 5 because It was very witty, sarcastic, which made it a faster-paced book. The author made some odd choices regarding the characters' relationships, which is why I rated it down. It is a long and extensive series, if you are looking for a new series. I, personally, have decided not to read the rest of the series.

The Charmed List by Julia Abe is a sweet book of two childhood friends turned enemies finding their way back to each other. There wasn’t too much to this book, but the characters and the magic elements made me rate it a 3 out of 5. It was a quick read and can get you back into reading. 

I read two poetry books and one verse book during January. The Truth of You by Iain S. Thomas was a beautifully written poetry book that captivates different, hard feelings people have experienced. I rated this book a 4 out of 5. A Poetry Book for Sad, Messed-Up Teenagers by Gracie Adams had some deep poems, but wasn’t my overall favorite book with the combination of poems. Some of them didn’t meet my poetic expectations. I rated this book a 3 out of 5. The one verse book I read was Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers. The book goes back and forth between a Mom and her daughter and the notes they leave on the fridge door. It was a quick read, but really shows how little time you have and will urge you to reach out to your loved ones more. I rated this book a 3.5 out of 5. 

The two highest rated books I read in January were The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and The Giver by Lois Lowry. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the second book I have rated a 5 out of 5. It shows an in-depth view of how a teenager feels and acts in the world. The book shows how quickly mental health can affect a person through many of the different characters. The author also structured the book through letters  the main character writes to the reader calling us “Dear friend.” The Giver was a phenomenal book that makes you really think about the world and communication through this utopian world. The life that they live is in black and white through their eyes, and “love” isn’t a word you’re allowed to use. Jonas becomes a “receiver” and realizes the world they live in is actually dystopian. I rated The Giver a 4.5 out of 5. 

At the end of January, I started the well known series, Shatter Me. I read the first two at the end of January, Shatter me and Unravel me. I rated both of them a 4 out of 5. I read the 3rd, 4th, and 5th book at the beginning of February, Ignite me, Restore me, and Defy me. I rated Ignite me a 4 out of 5, Restore me a 3.5 out of 5, and Defy me a 4.5 out of 5. So far, this series has been absolutely amazing. The dystopian world they live in is complex, but easy to understand. The characters are well thought through and the development is the part that keeps me reading. The author uses flashbacks, strikethroughs to indicate growth, and different points of views. Series of books are sometimes hard for me to get into, but I was immediately entranced.

For the beginning of February in total, I’ve read 4 books. The last book I had read was Heart to Heart by Patrick McDonnell through the words of the Dalai Lama. The book entailed how as humans we are disconnecting from Mother Nature and destroying our planet. It resolves in showing kindness to others and the world could help everything. The book had beautiful graphics in the storytelling and made the book even better. I rated this book a 4 out of 5.

If any of these books interest you, go to our school library and check them out! I hope you find them as entertaining as I did.