Book Reviews
Good Book To Read This Holiday Season
By Lily Belle P.
Would you like an intriguing book to read this winter break? If so, check out books by RIck Riordan.
If you love mythology and fantasy, I would recommend reading books by Rick Riordan. He has many series of different mythologies. Do you like Greek mythology? Egyptian? Rick Riordan writes his mythologies in a more modern way, making this a great series to try out, especially for middle school students. Embark on a quest with Percy Jackson, or perhaps a journey with the Kanes.
Meet new and familiarize with the old characters of Percy Jackson in the Heroes of Olympus series. If the Norse mythology calls to you instead, try out the Magnus Chase series. In the Percy Jackson series, you will be transported to his quest to save New York City, as well as the world. In the Heroes of Olympus series, we discover the Roman Camp, full of half-bloods of the Roman gods, and Gaia is trying to break free to destroy the world. (READ THE PERCY JACKSON SERIES BEFORE THE HEROES OF OLYMPUS.)
In the Kane chronicles, Carter and Sadie Kane are the descendants of pharaohs, and they are hosts of the gods. They go to a school to train to be magicians, (not the top hat kind) and the leaders of the school realize they are 'godlings' and are out to get them. In the Norse mythology, Magnus Chase is faced by a god in the beginning of the story. Unfortunately, this god isn’t friendly, and Magnus is forced to fight. So, if you want to pick up a book this winter, consider one of these.
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
*8/10*
By Amy Lin 614
“Smile” by Raina Telgemeier is unquestionably one of the best graphic novels I have ever read and a sense of truth. It has won several awards. For middle-schoolers, it’s a relatable story about growing up and becoming a teenager. It dives into tricky subjects, such as friendships and worrying about how you look. In addition, it has simple, clear drawings and visuals, and the text itself is easy to read. This book is about a girl who gravely injures her front teeth in an accident. From that point forward, she endures a frustrating journey throughout her teenage years which includes facing many unexpected challenges. I would give this book an 8/10, which is a pretty high rating, considering that no book can be a perfect 10/10 in my opinion. There's a sample of the front and back cover on the left. I hope you’ll enjoy this book as much as I have!
The False Prince
by author Jennifer A. Nielsen
By Amy Lin 614
This is the first book of “The Ascendance” series. It has an abundance of thrilling adventures, captivating characters, and plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat! The unexpected twists and turns are only one part of this amazing book in addition to so much more. In this fantasy book, the kingdom of Carthya is growing restless as the royal family is assassinated. Conner, a nobleman, wants to find a young man to pretend to be the king’s lost son, Jaron, and instill him as a puppet prince. However, things don’t go exactly as planned, as truth eventually reveals itself. I would give this amazing book a 9/10 star rating. Be prepared for a roller coaster of suspense and surprise once you open this book!
Guts by Raina Telgemeier
By Siany Cintron 656
Guts by Raina Telgemeier is based on Raina’s experience with anxiety as a tween. According to graphicnovelreviews.com, “After a stomach flu that went around her family, she developed a fear of vomiting. Her anxiety manifests physically as a stomachache, which further exacerbates her fear of vomiting and intensifies her anxiety.”
I loved this book, specifically that Raina is sharing her experience with anxiety beginning at such a young age. This can help students develop anxiety young, too. It can also help older people with anxiety or anyone who does/did have anxiety at one point. Raina discusses what it was like living with this fear and anxiety and how she dealt with it. She has many other books besides this one, for example Sisters, Smile, Ghost and Drama. She is very open with the world and her audience about her life experiences. Though it's a good book, I would recommend it to those under the age of 10 because I read one of the books in just one day. Overall, I’d give it an 8/10.