Monthly Archives: November 2021

Book Review: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

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Five years ago in the town of Fairview, Andie Bell, a popular senior, was killed by Sal Singh. Supposedly. Of course, Sal never admitted it, due to the fact that he had committed suicide a few days later. In A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Pip Fitz-Amobi is assigned a capstone final project, and she chooses to examine this supposedly closed case. At first, Pip’s goal is solely to find more information, but as she continues to learn more about what really happened five years ago, she begins to believe that Sal might actually be innocent- with facts to back it up, instead of just hopeful thinking. However, a certain someone in Fairview doesn’t want Pip to find out any more, and will stop at nothing for her to stay quiet.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has quickly shot up my list of my favorite books, and I highly recommend it to any enjoyers of murder mysteries. It’s nail-biting, exciting, and keeps you on your toes. And of course, if you have already read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, I also recommend its sequel, Good Girl, Bad Blood, which has the same characters, but a new gripping mystery.

-Kelsie W.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is available for checkout at the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

Book Review: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

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The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a heartwarming novel about the redemptive power of a chosen family.

The novel centers around 14-year old Lily Owens, who is raised by her abusive father, and Black housekeeper, Rosaleen. Lily’s mother left her when she was very young and died not long after, but in her mind, her mother still exists as a perfect parent- she blames her father for driving her mother away.

One day, Rosaleen goes to the city to register to vote, but is badly beaten by racists at the poll booth. Lily is present for the encounter, and her life is forever changed. In her mother’s old possessions, she finds the label for a honey jar and an address, and convinces Rosaleen to run away with her. The pair end up at a small honey farm run by three Black sisters- August, June, and May. The sisters graciously take them in, and it is here that Lily finds her true family, and the true meaning of love. However, as she grapples with growing up, fear of her father, and the truth about her mother, she also discovers herself- just herself, undefined by her cruel father or her desire for a motherly figure.

I really, really enjoyed this book. The exposition and imagery that Kidd uses is lush and beautifully contributes to the overall theme. The sisters’ home, the color of Pepto-Bismol, seems like a dream- a magical, otherworldly place where nothing could go wrong, and anything seldom does. However, what I loved most about this book is the fact that Lily’s story did not end simply when she found the mother figure she had been searching for her whole life. Instead, Kidd truly gave Lily development- she had to go beyond this desire and truly find herself for who she was.

-Vaidehi B.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is available for checkout at Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

Home Ec At Home: How To Braid

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This simple skill is important because you can use it on yourself or for others. It’s nice to know how to braid your own hair, or even your future child’s. Whether you are a boy or girl it is a good skill. It has more uses than just a hairstyle. You could use it in baking, for ropes, bracelets etc.

Step 1: Separate hair (or other item) into three equal sections
Step 2: Take one of the outer sections and cross it over the center(left or right)
Step 3: Take the outer section on the opposite side and cross it over the center as well
Step 4: Continue crossing the outer species alternating from each side

-Rachel R.

Book Review: Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

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Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo was a book that took me by surprise. From the LGBTQ+ representation to the long-awaited Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone crossover, my jaw was glued to the floor.

Rule of Wolves takes place several weeks after the end of the previous book in the King of Scars duology, King of Scars. Nikolai Lantsov, the soon-to-be king of Ravka, is still trying to rebuild his country. Chaos ensues, and war begins. Nikolai and his general, Zoya Nazyalensky, must create weapons tough enough to retaliate against their enemies.


Meanwhile, Nina Zenik, a Ravkan spy, is working with Hanne Brum, the child of a Fjerdan general, to help the Ravkan war effort from inside enemy lines. At the same time, Ehri Kir-Taban, Tamar Kir-Bataar, and Mayu Kir-Kaat all travel to Shu Han to save the country from corruption and save Grisha while they’re at it.

How do you survive a world that keeps taking?

Zoya Nazyalensky

Bardugo definitely made an effort to fix her errors in the Shadow and Bone trilogy with this book. The lack of representation in the trilogy was disappointing. Rule of Wolves is what Shadow and Bone should’ve been—a nose-dive into the cultures of the Grishaverse.

Here, you get a real look into Shu culture whilst learning darker secrets about Fjerda. You get to compare and contrast the two, something that you really couldn’t do in any of the other books since the character perspectives weren’t that different from one another. Since Rule of Wolves includes the perspectives of Nikolai, Zoya, Nina, Mayu, and the Darkling, you get a broader view of Bardugo’s world.

All in all, Rule of Wolves is a book that won’t disappoint if you’re a fan of the Grishaverse, and I’m looking forward to Leigh Bardugo’s next books in the series. You should definitely check it out if you have the chance.

-Shadi H.

Rules of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo can be downloaded for free on Overdrive.

Book Review: The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

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The story begins with an 18-year-old girl named Alessandra who wanted to be seen in the world. Being the younger sister, she is constantly overlooked by her father so she formulated a plan to gain power and thus receive the attention she wanted—by marrying and killing the Shadow King, taking his power all for herself. No one is allowed 5 feet within the king’s reach and the king has always been disinterested in the girls who have always tried to impress him but she didn’t let that stop her goal.

As the story continues, Alessandra finds that she isn’t the only one plotting to kill the king. Trying to save him from the threats on his life, it begins to get harder to convince herself she is protecting him purely because she wants to kill him herself when she becomes queen. And it becomes incredibly difficult to keep her objective clear when the king exposes his kindness to her.

When I started reading this book, I found it hard to put it down. The word dictation is astonishing, the friendships made are wonderful (strengthened very unexpectedly), and all of the personalities of the characters are powerful in their unique ways. The author weaves many villians in the story without overwhelming or confusing the plot. This standalone helped me out of a reading slump and I would like to recommend it to everyone.

-Saanvi V.

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller can be downloaded for free from Overdrive.