Category Archives: Book Reviews

Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma– A Youthful Slice-of-Life Manga Review

Posted on by
Reply

We all have our daily highs and lows at home, school, or anywhere, really. But for the enthusiastic and energetic five-year-old Yotsuba, every second of the day is a high!

Amazon.com: Yotsuba&!, Vol. 1 (Yotsuba&!, 1): 9780316073875: Azuma, Kiyohiko, Forsyth, Amy: Books
Yotsuba&! Volume One

After moving to a new city with her earnest yet goofy-at-times adoptive father, Yotsuba approaches the mundane and normal every day with her curious cheerfulness and comedic naivete. She embarks on adventures (walks to the grocery store) with her fellow confederates (her new neighbors: three sisters of different ages who each have their own unique differences), and learns of everything from doorbells to rock-collecting to souvenirs to flower shops to fireworks to policemen to fairies to…

This may contain: an image of a man and woman dancing in the living room with their arms outstretched
Yotsuba Koiwai and her father, Yousuke Koiwai

Even though most of us aren’t kids anymore, it’s always important to never let go of your inner child. For me, as I read through each of the current 15 volumes, each interaction and problem Yotsuba encounters give me a familiar yet nostalgic sense of child-like wonder. At times, I would catch myself laughing with her (or at her.. haha), nod to agree with her absurd ways of thinking, or sometimes hold back a tear or two at the end of chapters. I surely don’t consider myself a child anymore, but Yotsuba reminded me that we were all children once– children who don’t know a lot, children who are simple and don’t have a care in the world. We all grew up to be the teenagers we are today, but who knows when the line that goes from child to teen blended together, where it started or… ended?

Reading Yotsuba made me realize that we can’t control when we decide to grow up. Even though Yotsuba&! is a light-hearted comedy, a lingering feeling in the depths of my heart tugs every time I flip a page, because each page gone is one page closer to the budding Yotsuba eventually growing up as well.

Enjoy Everything: The Unbridled Joy of Yotsuba&! - The Gutter Review
Yotsuba Panel

… But, hey, who has time for those worries!? To a child, the world is their oyster, and to Yotsuba, they’ll stay a child forever! Meet friends everywhere in the city and watch as she changes your view on topics you’d consider to be a part of your daily life–and makes them fun and memorable at the same time. This manga taught me that even something as simple as drinking orange juice could be so much more interesting if you take the time to notice the world through the lense of a child. Every chapter in the volume is titled “Yotsuba & __”, reflecting the creative title of the manga. Yotsuba’s name also directly translates to “four leaves”, which is evident from her four-leaf-clover-shaped hairstyle (she brings you luck!).

This may contain: a drawing of a person jumping in the air on a skateboard down a city street

So… what now? Well, to that I’d say: “What are you waiting for?”. Yotsuba and her friends are waiting for you to join them on their voyage of discoveries!

So to everyone out there wondering what to read for their next comfort book that will most definitely cheer them up, Yotsuba&! and I will leave you with Yotsuba’s motto phrase: ‘いつでも今日が、いちばん楽しい日’, or in other words, ‘enjoy everything‘!

Ann G.

Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Posted on by
Reply

“Nos quisieron enterran pero no sabían que éramos semillas” – They tried to bury us but they didn’t know we were seeds

This famous proverb is the principle of the novel Efrén Divided. Efrén Divided is a story that focuses on the importance of family, friends, and a home. Echoing the experiences of thousands of Mexican-American children, Efrén is faced with the tragedy of his mother’s deportation. As the oldest sibling, he must take care of his siblings while his dad works to bring his mom back home. Efrén must learn how to be a leader, both in his middle school and in his family. Throughout his journey, he not only discovers his power to lead but the importance of teamwork.

This book has taught me multiple important lessons:

  • It’s ok to rely on people when you’re struggling
  • You have the power to change your life for the better
  • Family never gets left behind
  • Hard work will always pay off

In the novel, Ernesto Cisneros artfully describes the heartrending experience of having a family member taken from you. Balancing the struggles of school, his siblings, and his community, Efrén transforms from an average 12-year-old to a formidable “Soperboy”. Efrén Divided will make you laugh, cry, and crave home-cooked Sopes.

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Review of the Nightborn Duet by Carissa Broodbent

Posted on by
2

*Be advised this series is for older readers*

  • spoilers!!

The Serpent & the Wings of Night: Book 1 of the Nightborn Duet –

I give this book a 6.5/10 because I felt like it jumped around a lot. I feel like there were a lot of interesting storyline points, such as the Kejari, but for the main character was a bit too self-deprecating for my taste. I found it repetitive of how many times she would put herself down for being human, but I know specific readers enjoy that trope. At times the book was extremely immersive from how detailed Carissa was in the fight scenes and descriptions of others. I also really enjoyed how it was able to depict healthy, supportive relationships.

The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King: Crowns of Nyaxia- Book 2 of the Nightborn Duet

Out of the two books I give this one a 7.5/10 and prefer this one over the other. The journey of the main character finding herself and her strength through the kindness of her partner supporting her was heartwarming. How she explored her relationship with grief was definitely accurate, but I felt it was annoying that she kept forgiving Raihn for literally killing her father. I loved how they expanded on their relationship and how they explored different parts of him. Thinking on the positive side, it does possibly dip into the concept of not holding grudges and forgiveness. The book is a good slowburn and my ratings are a bit low just because I have oversaturated myself in this genre.  

I do recommend this duology for people who are into action, fantasy, and romance. 

The Nightborn Duet by Carissa Broadbent is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes

Posted on by
1

As a newly converted Latin nerd making my first odyssey into the perilous (root word: periculum) land of Roman jargon, I’m deeply appreciative of my 3rd grade obsession with Percy Jackson. Not only am I able to seem even nerdier among my peers, I’m also glad for how Percy Jackson has widely popularized Greek and Roman mythology.

Now, re-reading one of the most information-dense books (Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes), I’m surprised at how much information is cleverly packaged in Percy Jackson’s sarcasm and humor. It doesn’t feel like reading a textbook, but I’m still gaining an immense amount of information. And that’s the true power of Rick Riordan’s bestselling books: the ability to take something that’s always been more niche and turn it into something fun.

I like the stories themselves too: Rick Riordan tells the classic myths of Heracles, Medusa, and the Minotaur, but also the stories of Otrera, queen of the Amazons, or Atalanta, the great huntress. It’s a snarky, modern take on classical myth that retains their initial meaning.

Take the story of Arachne: an incredibly talented mortal seamstress with skills that rival those of Athena. Her pride got the better of her after she challenged Athena to a weaving competition, and the end is not pretty. But Riordan also points out the other, less-mentioned moral of the story: that the villagers who once worshipped Arachne were just as willing to betray her. Ultimately, the ugliest characters in the story are not the prideful gods in Arachne’s tapestry, or the spider she becomes, but the hypocrisy of Arachne’s own community.

All in all, I still love Percy Jackson, for all of its minor historical inaccuracies. It brought classical mythology into a modern spotlight, and it’s just a truly fun and enjoyable read. You might even pick up a few facts and morals in the process. Just don’t forget to sacrifice a goat after your read.

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Silence Between Us Book Review

Posted on by
1

The Silence Between Us was one of those books that brought up issues that I would never even think about, even though I took ASL for 2 years. We all know being a teenager is tough enough without extra unforeseen problems. I can relate to some of the issues she experiences in the book. 

Warning! Spoiler alert!

Maya, the protagonist, stands at the point in her life where change will happen whether she likes it or not. Transitioning from a world where silence was usual for her to one with voices. She’s transitioning from deaf school to traditional school. Her challenges of assimilation in these two different schools mirror the changes in her identity. 

Maya discovers many problems and challenges as she navigates the traditional school; along the way, she learns to embrace her true self amidst society and others’ expectations. The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais brings readers into an intimate exploration of self-discovery and resilience. It’s a powerful story of a teen finding herself in a world where people often overlook the silence.

As she confronts heartbreak and other hurdles that are adolescence and Deaf culture problems. The author was skillful in showing the emotional layers and experience through words, inviting readers into Maya’s world as she struggles with questions that transcend typical teenage worries.

I can relate to Maya on so many levels. The Silence Between Us, a touching coming-of-age book, differs from most other stories. The book’s raw honesty and unwavering portrayal of human connection make this a book worth reading. It deserves every accolade, including the esteemed Schneider Family Book Award for Best Teen Honor Book 2020. If you need a summer read, I recommend this one. Of course, this book is available in the Mission Viejo Library and audio on Libby. 


Happy Reading!
Bella H.

Book Review: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Posted on by
Reply

A friend in AP Psychology recently recommended I read this book, as another one of his classmates recommended it to him, and he really enjoyed it. Personally, I could say the same about my experience with this book, as it really gave me a new perspective on how the human mind works.

Grit starts off by introducing the theory of grit itself, by describing studies by psychologists on West Point candidates. The book starts off by describing the first grueling 6 weeks of what is known as “Beast”, an additional layer of selection that West Point uses to weed out candidates. The author starts by mentioning research done during the 1950s by an earlier psychiatrist who also turned out to be one of Duckworth’s professors during her time at university.

Later in the book, Duckworth goes on to explain the phenomenon of grit by taking a look at people from all walks of life; Whether it be students, business owners, CEOs, or teachers, Duckworth notes that of the people in these fields, the one with grit tend to be the most successful. In looking at a program called Teach for America, Duckworth discovered that the teachers who were grittier were generally more optimistic, which correlated with better student performance and academic gains.

I don’t want to spoil more about the other cases that Duckworth discusses in the book because she can definitely explain it better than I can. I really enjoyed this book because it was life-changing, serving as a more scientific and thorough approach to looking at grit and perseverance as part of the human psyche. I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the field of psychology, or anybody who wants to learn more about how their mind works in general.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Review (contains spoilers!)

Posted on by
2

In the fictional novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the protagonist Harry Potter (who is a wizard) goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, everything seemed normal at first, but some strange occurrences started to happen.

There were people being petrified to be as still as a statue. There was also writing on the walls made from blood. The one behind this is Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort. Harry’s best friend Ron’s sister gets kidnapped by Tom Riddle and used to help him in these mysterious occurrences.

Harry has to fight the Basilisk, the creature that was petrifying students. After defeating the dangerous Basilisk (with the help of Dumbledore’s phoenix, Fawkes) he uses one of the creature’s fangs to stab the diary that allowed Lord Voldemort to come back with his past self, as he was just a memory. We learn that Harry is a true Gryffindor since he was able to wield the sword of Godric Gryffindor.

The novel before this is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and the one after it is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 because it has great characters and an amazing plot. It is by far my favorite in the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby. 

“Find Your Porpoise” By M. C. Ross

Posted on by
Reply

Find Your Porpoise by M. C. Ross is a heartwarming tale of a dog named Lars, his owner Natalie, a porpoise called Bangor, and a new otter called Marina. After meeting Bangor in the first book A Dog’s Porpoise, Lars and Natalie have become great friends with the porpoise. But everything changes when tourists come gathering around Ogunquit, Maine to take a glimpse of the famous porpoise pod.

As if things weren’t bad enough, a new otter comes in and steals the spotlight. Lars has to learn to share not only his reputation but his best friend. Lars starts to hate Marina and despise her. Conflict between the two grows, but in the end they each learn a valuable lesson of friendship.

Meanwhile, Natalie struggles between her new job on her stepdad’s boat, school, Marina (the otter) and a sketchy new citizen called Adam. When she finally suspects Adam is up to no good, she jumps to conclusions and her actions get the best of her.

With both of their judgements clouded, Natalie and Lars overlook the danger of tourist boats for their friend Bangor. In getting in a fight with his mom, Bangor is determined to ignore the rules and escape his pod to go see his human, dog, and otter friends. But it takes Bangor getting hit by a boat and a lot of team work for all three to acknowledge their mistakes.

Overall, I liked the multiple plots in the book, and thought it was a fun story. Each character learns a different message from their experience and sort of shares the knowledge to the reader as they read throughout the book.

I really recommend this book, and I am looking forward to reading more books from this author. Write in the comments below if you think this is a book you would read.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Posted on by
4

To Kill a Mockingbird is a thrilling novel. It was written by the one and only Harper Lee, Who has made other great novels such as Go Set a Watchman.

At first glance, I thought this was going to be a very boring book because I had to read it for school. And most books required for school are a pain to read, and very boring. But once I started reading this book more and more I realized that I was hooked. Normally I’m not a huge fan of reading, but I really enjoyed reading To Kill a Mockingbird.

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a realistic fiction story. It follows the lives of 2 siblings: 6 year old Scout, who is the narrator, and 10 year old Jem Finch. The both of them are very immature at the beginning of the story. The time period is set in the 1930’s in a small rural town called Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch is the children’s father, who is a lawyer. He is also a wise and loving dad, and teaches Jem and Scout many valuable lessons throughout the story.

The story starts getting intense when Atticus takes on a case. He must defend Tom Robinson, who is a black man. Tom is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, who is a young white woman. The trial has a big impact on Jem and Scout’s understanding of the world, and that everything isn’t always innocent as it seems. Jem and Scout grew much in their maturity after the trial, as they had a new perspective of the world and their surroundings.

I would recommend To Kill a Mockingbird to any readers who enjoy historical fiction and thrilling stories. This novel tackles the injustice that can happen in the world and issues with the society.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe

Posted on by
1

The Celery Stalks at Midnight is a short novel by James Howe. This is the third book in the Bunnicula series, its predecessors being Bunnicula and Howliday Inn. The story is told from the perspective of a dog named Harold. Along with Chester the cat and Howie the puppy, these are pets living in the Monroe household. At the beginning of this story, Harold and his friends make a frightening discovery. Bunnicula the rabbit has escaped from his cage. The problem with this is that Bunnicula is not an ordinary rabbit. Bunnicula is a dangerous vampire rabbit known for sucking the juice out of vegetables. The other pets fear that Bunnicula will terrorize the neighborhood by turning the town’s vegetables into deadly vampire slaves. No garden will be safe from Bunnicula’s evil plans. Soon, bloodless vegetable zombies will infest the entire neighborhood. Harold and his friends must stop Bunnicula before it is too late.

I had not read the other books in the series before reading this one, so I had no idea was I was getting myself into. This book is totally weird and unpredictable. It seems like a parody of a scary story. In my opinion, this book is hilarious. I found it to be very entertaining and one of the funniest books that I have read in a while. Some of the things that happen in this book are extremely ridiculous, but the absurdity of this book actually makes it enjoyable to read. It has some elements of a mystery and a little bit of action, but this book really belongs in the comedy genre. I highly recommend it.

The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.