Category Archives: Book Reviews

Book Recommendation: 1984

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1984 is a dystopian novel by George Orwell. Published in the year 1949, the book was intended to be a cautionary tale of the consequences of life during totalitarian or oppressive governments.  The world Orwell describes in the story (Oceania), is based on Stalinism in the Soviet Union. 

The main character, Winston, is a worker at the Ministry of Truth. His job is to ensure the newspapers, films, and education systems in Oceania fit the political agenda of Big Brother (the dictator) and end free thought. Winston secretly resents the way of life and is in constant worry of being caught by the Thought Police, whose job is to ensure the indoctrination of all the citizens. Winston starts an illegal relationship with his co-worker Julia, who also wishes for a rebellion. 

Throughout the novel, Winston narrates and makes the reader question does he loves Julia or does he just loves getting back at the system that took so much from him? Orwell made a phenomenal allegory and I would personally be worried for my future if I saw this in 1949. Even though we know now that nothing like this happened in 1984, the themes of trusting in a corrupt government and totalitarianism will forever be prevalent. I recommend this book for 7th grade to high schoolers for anyone who likes science fiction or thrillers. This is a personal favorite of mine because I have not experienced or read anything like this. Overall I would give the book a 9/10.

1984 by George Orwell is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner (A Review)

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Otis is a swimmer that has little to no hope with his swimming skills. He’s good but his mind always strays to another thing during practices: Meg. Meg is his childhood love, someone he has always thought about day in and day out. They had just begin a budding relationship from best friends to lovers when a tragedy struck. Otis’s younger brother Mason died in Meg’s house as a result of negligence. At least that’s what Otis’s family believes. So when Meg was forced to move away to deal with her own grief, Otis just received another burden he had to carry. For almost three years, there had been silence on Meg’s end as Otis constantly pours his heart out onto pages and pages of letters that seems to never have been opened. So instead, he works on himself and gradually throws himself into swimming to forget.

In his journey to become a good swimmer on his team, he meets Dara, an amputee that has made it her life mission to get him to the Olympics. Her confidence in him is astounding as she also trains him with harsh words and a limited diet. Dara’s past is troubled as she was once a great swimmer, but after a shark accident, she’s been missing her right arm and can’t swim as well. She also constantly struggles with phantom limb pains and the only thing that resolves that is a mirror box. She now spends her days driving Otis around and asserting that practice is something that needs to be a first priority. They had just gotten into the flow of things and as quickly as she left, Meg reappeared in his life. A startling text message and a cryptic poem was the start to a new journey of dealing with the aftermath of such a loss.

I was actually fairly disappointed with this book as I really loved Otis as a character and by the way he was talking about Meg as the only person who really understood him, I expected her to be someone who was kind and caring as well as much more lovable. But when we actually got the first glimpse of her, I realized that she left for all these years without a single word to Otis and struts back in with a new boyfriend and a life just to “reconnect” with him. He does still love her so much, however, I felt like the way she acted rubbed me the wrong way as she talked like she deserved to have him love her and take her back just because they have so much history together. I felt like the progression of the plot was a bit slow, but it was entertaining. This is a book about healing from grief and making us aware of what effects grief has on people and I did think that the author showed that amazingly. She was able to include Dara’s grief about her loss of her dreams and how Mason’s death tore apart two families that were inseparable.

All in all, I would give this book an 8/10 as there were some inconsistencies in the plot and I wasn’t a big fan of one of the main characters, but that’s just personal preference. I really did love how the author used the title and included it in the book. I would recommend this for anyone who wants to read a second love story with a lot of grief.

Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Gabriel and the Phantom by Jenny Nimmo

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Gabriel and the Phantom Sleepers is a companion novel to the Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo. This story focuses on the character of Gabriel Silk, whose family members have been the guardians of the cloak of the Red King for generations. When Gabriel’s father goes away for an alchemist convention, Gabriel becomes the caretaker of the cloak. It is said that this cloak is filled with magical power. If someone were to wear it, they would become completely invincible. Because of this, Gabriel feels an immense responsibility to protect the cloak from evildoers.

To ensure the cloak’s safety, Gabriel is sent to stay at his uncle’s house for protection. During his stay, the unthinkable happens—the Red King’s cloak is stolen. Gabriel now needs the help of his cousin, Sadie, and many of their friends to reclaim the cloak. Unfortunately for Gabriel, he is also being followed by a group of mysterious beings known as the Phantom Sleepers. Gabriel will soon find out whether these phantoms are friends or foes.

The Charlie Bone books are some of my favorites, so I was very excited when I learned that Jenny Nimmo recently wrote a couple of new books in the same universe. I had high hopes when I got my hands on this book, but it definitely surpassed my expectations. Just like Nimmo’s other books, this one is very well-written and exciting. The characters are compelling, and the story is filled with action, suspense, and magic. In my opinion, this book is even better than many of the books in the original series. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but I would suggest reading the original Children of the King series first.

Tom Clancy: Power and Empire by Marc Cameron

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In the novel, Jack Ryan Jr., the main protagonist, is faced with many obstacles from the Chinese government, Mexican cartels, and more as the G20 summit approaches. Jack’s father, Jack Ryan Sr. (the President of the United States), will attend, so the stakes are even higher. The novel is based in the present day, in various locations, such as Texas, Washington D.C., Beijing, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo. To help Jack with the many catastrophes occurring in the plot, he has his colleagues from The Campus, a secret crime-stopping organization – Clark, Ding, Adara, Dom, Midas, Gavin, and Yuki, who they meet along the way.

Not long ago, Zhao Chengzhi was made President of China after former president Wei Zhen Lin had died. However, his modest approach to national and international events upset other individuals in the Chinese government, so a secret coup was formed by the minister of foreign affairs, Li Zhengsheng, to overthrow his power and make himself the President. This decision sparked the chain of events in the novel. Later on, Li has General Xu Jinlong, the leader of the CSB (Central Security Bureau), sabotage the Chinese cargo ship “Orion” and sink it off the northern west coast of the United States. By doing this, Li was able to make the first step in provoking the United States.

As the story goes on, different characters, including our protagonist Jack Ryan, are introduced and numerous heart-racing episodes unfold. This book is one worth reading, and can be found online or checked out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Book Review: On the Edge of Survival by Spike Walker

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On the Edge of Survival, written by Spike Walker is a compelling story based on a real-life rescue mission on one of Alaska’s most treacherous seas. The book primarily focuses on a dangerous operation where two H-60 Jayhawk helicopters are tasked to rescue eighteen crew members of a stranded Malaysian cargo vessel during an intense storm. However, during their attempts to save the remaining members, one of the helicopters gets hit by a ferocious wave, forcing it to plummet into the freezing waters. With only a limited amount of time before the vessel completely submerges, will the rescuers be able to save them all?

Walker’s storytelling provided great portrayals of the dangers faced both by the rescuers and the people they are trying to save. Throughout this narrative, he provides various descriptions of the severe weather, the life-threatening challenges of the rescue operation, and the emotional impact of everyone involved in it. 

Overall, I found On the Edge of Survival to be quite a thrilling book to read during my spare time… although I found the majority parts of the narrative to be a bit confusing due to my unfamiliarity with the technical and mechanical details of aviation. But, despite this, I still believe that Walker effectively captured the bravery and perseverance of the rescue teams, and thoroughly carried out the message of how it ultimately led to their success. I would highly recommend this to anyone that holds deep interests in sea rescues and aviation. 

On the Edge of Survival by Spike Walker is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins BOOK REVIEW

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Can’t Hurt Me written by David Goggins chronicles his extraordinary journey from a troubled childhood marked by the abuse by his father to becoming a highly respected U.S. Navy Seal and renowned endurance athlete. This book dives into Goggins’ struggles with self doubt, obesity, and a challenging upbringing, overall illustrating how he overcame these obstacles through sheer determination and relentless work ethic.

In this book, I really liked the emphasis Goggins puts on the power of the mind of surpassing one’s limits. This is demonstrated in the 40% percent rule as mentioned in the book which is a rule that states when you think you are at 100%, you are only at 40% of your power. This serves as a motivational benchmark for me and many other around the world. By using this rule, the potential for personal growth and surpassing one’s limits is significantly increased. The idea that mental barriers often limit one’s potential is emphasized heavily in this book and Goggins promotes the notion that the mind can be the strongest ally in achieving greatness.

Another idea that I Iiked was the idea of “pain as a teacher.” In this book, physical and emotional pain are portrayed as essential elements for growth, highlighting how discomfort can lead to self discovery and resilience. In this book, Goggins emphasizes the idea of seeing pain as a good thing and embracing it instead of seeing it as something that you should avoid at all cost. Experiencing pain means that you are getting better and growing. Getting uncomfortable is how you achieve your goals and staying comfortable is not going to get you anywhere. That is the lesson Goggins wants the reader to learn through illustrating his journey.

Overall, this book is a must read, the practical lessons that David Goggins teaches us along with his personal stories truly makes this book one of one. This book serves as a powerful testament to human potential and resilience.

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins is available to download for free from Libby.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

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Before We Were Yours focuses on a part of history that is not always mentioned: adoption scandal. This topic was new to me, but I learned a lot from this novel.

Wingate’s writing jumps between the life of a young girl, Rill Foss, in the 1950s and her struggle to keep her family together, and a successful woman in the present, Avery Stafford, who takes an interest in the Foss family history.

It delves into a time when children are taken from their homes, loving or not, and sold to wealthy families, under the supervision of Georgia Tann.

The Foss family is one of the Tennessee Children’s Home’s Society’s victims. Rill fights to keep her family together, even when she knows it is impossible. I was shocked and sad to learn that children really did endure these events.

I like the way the author develops Rill’s fierce, unrelenting personality: standing up to bullies at the children’s home, clinging to the dream of being with her parents again, and refusing to stop singing nursery songs that her mother taught her.

Seeing how quickly Rill’s younger siblings’ memories of their biological family fade is definitely the most heartbreaking part of the novel. Rill scorns her sister for showing affection to their new parents, and she is the one who cleans up the sheets when her sister wets the bed. Her dedication to ensuring that her siblings know where they come from is admirable and compelling.

Another crucial part of the story is the setting. The depressing, dark home they are brought to is the origin of their pain, betrayal, and sadness. There are some events where the Foss children are put in harm’s way and suffer in cruel living conditions, but they are necessary to shape the Rill’s strength and character.

In Avery’s life as the mayor’s daughter in the present, she is uncovering the truth about the Foss children and becoming more connected with her own past. The novel narrates her life in the public eye and the pressure to give the best answer to every interview question; digging up the past gives her new ambition and understanding.

In the end, Before We Were Yours ties all the characters together and is a powerful message of unity, hope, and healing.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Code Name Verity By: Elizabeth Wein

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Code Name Verity (Anniversary Edition ...

The story begins in 1943 amid World War 2 when a British spy named Julie is captured by the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied France. Taken to an old Parisian hotel transformed into a prison for war criminals, Julie is tortured and emotionally manipulated by the leader of the Gestapo, Hauptsturmfuhrer von Linden. She is then forced to turn on the Allies by sharing information with the Germans and is given 2 weeks to write down all of the information she has or she will be executed.

Julie unfortunately doesn’t have much information to provide. During wartime, they only share the information necessary to complete their mission, so there isn’t any major breach if someone is captured. So she begins to tell the story of Maddie, a friend from before being captured. Maddie was a pilot trained by one of Britain’s only female pilots before the war began. She began working in a radar tower for an airstrip controlled by the Allies. This is where she meets Julie, and they begin a long-lasting friendship.

Maddie soon gets recruited to fly transports and ferrying planes across allied countries. This separates her and Julie for almost 2 years. They mostly communicate through letters but they occasionally get to see each other. They are united when Maddie transports Julie to Nazi-occupied France. But over the flight, they are shot at, and their engines get hit. Maddie instructs Julie to bail out on a parachute She does leaving Maddie behind on a burning plane, not knowing what happened to her.

I overall really liked this book. I thought there were very enticing twists to the storyline and I found that having female main characters was especially inspiring, due to most historical fiction novels having male main characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. As well as anyone who likes a book with a lot of twists and turns.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

We Are Not Free Review

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We Are Not Free is a World War II historical fiction about the Japanese internment camps written by Traci Chee. The book switches perspectives between the main characters. It starts off with 14 teens in San Francisco selling their things because they can not take a lot of their possessions with them. The characters did not have that much time to pack up their lives and leave for an interment camp. Some of them join the 442 Regimental Combat Team, but then disaster strikes….

Warning: this next paragraph contains spoilers. One reason why I like this book is that it has characters that I can get behind. It plays up the innocence aspect of the time, so I can pity them. One of the last scenes made me want to cry because it was just so powerful. I was not expecting Twitchy to die. I sped through the book in less than a week, and I am generally not such a fast reader. I also like how it switches the perspectives between the characters, so I can see what is going through my favorite characters’ heads. The fact that it switches perspectives is actually what made me like a lot more of the people. If it were not for that, then I probably would not have really liked Masaru (Mas), Francis (Frankie), or Minoru (Minnow) which are some of the characters.

Another reason behind why I like this book is because it has a concept that I am generally pretty interested in –World War Two. And I am Japanese American like the characters in the book, so I feel like I can relate to them. Also, it tells the perspective of two fictional characters in the 442 RCT (Regimental Combat Team), so I got to see how the soldiers were treated. I also took great joy in trying to figure out what the different war terms meant…😁. The book took a perspective of World War Two that I do not see that often.

I hope that you have enjoyed my post on We Are Not Free and if you have any comments or questions, please tell me in the comments!

Thank You For Reading!

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

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I have always struggled to find a book suitable for teens. Having little interest in whimsical, fantasy books and heavy-themed adult novels that I had trouble relating to, Ruta Sepetys’s Out of the Easy was the novel I had been waiting to discover. Her nuanced themes within her writing create intriguing and relatable characters and plotlines in her book. The most captivating aspect of her novel is the main character Josie Moraine. Through this character, Sepetys encapsulates the aspiring and anxious mind of a 17-year-old girl coming of age.

Set in the 1950s, Josie Moraine lives in the shadows of her mother’s notorious reputation as a prostitute. Josie longs for a life outside of New Orleans to cut the ties with her mother and fulfill her dream of attending an elite college, miles away from her haunting city. However, these dreams of escape begin to tremble at the news of a mysterious death in the Quarter. Torn between an investigation that might help her discover who she is and working to raise the money to leave New Orleans, Josie struggles to find the balance between what decisions will shape her future for the better. Undergoing the pressure of her reputation tainted by her mother, Josie’s important relationships, such as with her best friend Patrick and her lingering love interest Jesse, begin to falter. Josie’s strenuous search for her true identity causes everything she worked for to crumble, leading her to push away the people she needs and loves.

When Josie is in this state in the novel, Sepetys perfectly captures this pivotal moment as a teenager, when you feel like everything and everyone is against you and you begin to lose sight of why it is that you try. However, this feeling sheds light on the importance of knowing when to hold on and how to let go. Soon in the novel, Josie finds her strength and rediscovers her identity, not in her mother’s ignorance, but in the people who have always been there for her. Josie lets go of the murder investigation, which caused her to question the existence of her father and how the discovery of him could tell her who she is. But Josie no longer needs that reassurance and finds it, instead, in the future of who she will become.

Out of the Easy is one of those books whose structure makes you feel like you’re in a movie. The novel’s realistic dialogue and nuanced characterization enthralled me into Josie’s world and allowed me to have a haunting peek at what it meant to be a teenage girl in this period. I can’t wait to read this book again and unveil any details I may have missed.

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.