Book Recommendations
Looking for Alaska
By: John Green
Written Review By: Enrique G.
This book is about a high-schooler named Miles. He did not have many friends in school so he moved into a different area. Immediately, at his new school, he takes advantage of this change to make new friends. His latest inmates are in love with the feeling of adrenaline and pranks so they spend most their time doing that. One night when they were breaking the rule of drinking inside campus, something goes horribly wrong and ends up killing one of Mile's closest friends and first love. After this, Miles and his friends try to find out if it was suicide or a horrible accident.
Alaska is definitely the most important character in this book because when she was alive, she taught Miles and his friends how to "make it out of the labyrinth" and that had a huge impact on everyone. After her death, she kept teaching her friends multiple different lessons, for example, one of Miles's friends thought that the rich kids had nothing in common with the poor kids, and in general, he hated the rich people. After her death, she taught them that they all had to come together to remember Alaska the way she would want to be honored.
One night, when the group of friends decided to pull a prank on the principal of the school, they all spent the night in a farm so that the school had no suspicion that it was them who pulled off the trick. At midnight, they all started talking about their worst and best day ever. This made them learn a lot more than what they knew about each other. I felt that this event really marked the beginning of their friendship, and without it the death of Alaska would not of had such a big impact on them and they wouldn't have learned the biggest secret of Alaska.
Everyone knows the style in which John Green writes; this book is nothing less. It is full of humor even in the saddest moments in the book, contains cliffhangers at the end of every page, and at the ending of the book, Green doesn't even let the reader know what happened to Alaska. That is one of the reasons why I enjoyed this book so much because you can make your own assumption as to what happened to Alaska. I would definitely recommend this book if you have never read a piece by John Green because it shows you the amazing style in which he writes.
Since this story is about teenagers in high school, John Green writes from their perspective. This made the book really humorous and easy to catch on. When reading the book, I felt really confused as to what happened to Alaska and I wanted to read it again to see if I missed any details. I also felt slight melancholy because Miles was deeply in love with Alaska and he never found out if she actually committed suicide or she was just too drunk to be driving. Either way, he was not ready to let her go.
A theme that would fit this story is "Although death is unavoidable, you are able to prepare for it." This lesson not only fits the story, but more so our own lives because we don't know when death will strike us. However, we can leave our mark in the world so we can make a change in society. In the book, Alaska left a change in her high school because the rich started to get along with the poor and vice versa.
Planting Gardens In Graves II
By R.H. Sin
Written Review By: Munya N.
I chose Planting Gardens In Graves because it is an emotional book. R.H. Sin's book are mostly about heart break, and this book was a medicine to my soul. The title of the book had an ironic twist. Why would someone think of planting a garden at a grave site? The title made me want to read more! While Planting Gardens in Graves is written from an adults' point of view, it is still very helpful for people our age. Understanding things in this life at a young age helps the person prevent mistakes in the future.
Planting Gardens In Graves is a powerful collection of poetry. This series talks about heartbreak, creates powerful emotional connections, and gives power back to the reader encouraging them to seek out true love.
R.H. Sin had a powerful relationship with his beloved mother. He wrote this book from a man's perspective about how others treat women as well as how they seem to treat themselves. He provides connection for heartbroken souls to seek out for what’s right and never trust fake smiles.
One of my favorite poems from Planting Gardens In Graves II is the poem "Always You Fighting." In this poem Sin writes, "You are fighting to be chosen by a man who doesn't deserve to have you as an option." I liked this poem because it shows how we fight for people who really don't need us.
In his second book of the series Planting Gardens In Graves, R.H. Sin starts with his poem “September”, in which he wrote “I stayed but love left.” Reading those words, I inferred that R.H. Sin was talking about a broken relationship he faced or perhaps his character faced. Halfway through his book, Sin wrote his emotions in these words, “Love became work this is why my heart is unemployed.” The poem’s name was “Unemployed”. He ended his second book in a kind way. As the book name, Planting Gardens In Graves, the last poem Sin wrote gave an explanation of the book’s title:
“Out of loneliness we hold on to people who make us feel lonely knowing nothing but pain. We choose toxic relationships because familiarity we’re used to being lied to and so the truth isn’t expected. Hatred disguises itself as love so much, that we’ve tricked ourselves into believing that being in love must destroy us. And anything of less drama is somehow too boring or at the surface, just too good for us. We mistake fighting and yelling for passion. We accept chaos while begging for peace. We expect to be handed roses by the same hands of our abusers. We sit and wait for kind words from the lips of those who choose to destroy our hearts verbally. We wait too long for the love we desire. We wait too long for a love that continues to escape us because we’re afraid to step outside of our comfort zone. We plant our seeds of hope in ditches that measure 6 feet beneath ground waiting for flowers to bloom in dead soil. Waiting for gardens to grow in the mud of desire…”
Ending with his poem, “Where Gardens Never Grow,” R.H. Sin leaves his readers to his third book of Planting Gardens In Graves.
I would from heart recommend this book for young adults to read. This book gives the outlook of the realistic world we live in, so give it chance. I loved this book when I read Sin’s short poem on the back cover - “The trouble is you think loving him harder will make him fall for you but it won’t.” As a seventh grader, I would absolutely recommend these texts to you!
Staying Strong: 365 Days A Year
By: Demi Lovato
Written Review By: Munya N.
“Wherever you are in life, please read these and know that I’m always there for you. Stay strong, be brave, love hard and true, and you will have nothing to lose.” - Demi Lovato
November 19, 2013, Demi Lovato hits her fans with a book she herself wrote while dealing with depression, Staying Strong: 365 Days A Year. Each day will provide you with a quote, a personal reflection, and a goal, therefore to help you with what you are going through.
These are Demi's words. Words she lives by and shares with the people she loves and total strangers alike. They are a powerful testament to a young woman standing up and fighting back.
When I first read Staying Strong: 365 Days A Year, I was amazed! There were lots of helpful quotes and helpful goals. One of the many favorite quotes I adore is, "Use the voice that you were given. Shout what you believe in from the top of your lungs. Never let anyone quiet you.” That is very true; I always say my opinions and no one can hush me. Demi Lovato gave out love in this book, so I would really consider this sincere reflection for young readers alike.