Category Archives: Book Reviews

Book Review: Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez

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Recently, I read Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez, which was about a family and their experience in the Trujillo-era Dominican Republic, a period of time when the country was ruled by a terrible dictator. This was definitely one of the best books that I read, as the narrator, in this case, Anita de la Torres, a 12-year-old girl in the family, makes personal connections to the reader throughout the book.

From my perspective, this book has a great build-up, as the author allows readers to slowly uncover what is going on, and we don’t truly know everything at the beginning. At the beginning, everything seems perfectly normal, with not many traces of the dictatorship being present, although the author did include many subtle tips, however, Anita realizes that her “Tio Toni”, or Uncle Toni, was missing. as the story unfolds, Anita comes to find out more and more about the country they live in.

Everything changes for Anita when members of the SIM, or the secret police of the dictatorship, go into her home and search for the Garcias, the neighbors. from here on out, her family has this sense of silence, and Anita comes to the realization that something was wrong, and realization dawns upon her that there was something wrong with the government. Eventually, she realizes that her parents are in a plot to assassinate Trujillo and bring freedom to the country.

I won’t spoil the rest of the book, but I can tell you that this book has a bittersweet ending. This was a great book I’m my opinion, as the narrator makes the reader feel a personal connection to all the characters, as well as explains her surroundings and experiences in vivid detail. All in all, although this book starts off slow, it takes off very quickly, and will leave readers interested in reading the whole thing!

Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

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Nathan and Bree have been best friends since high school, but never had the courage to tell each other about their true feelings. However, after Bree suffered from a life-changing car accident and Nathan left for college and the NFL, the two lose touch, only to be reunited years later with their feelings just as strong and still just as much stuck in the friend-zone. Eventually, after six long years, things begin to change as a drunken conversation with a nosy reporter forces them to start fake dating.

All in all, I loved this book. Personally, I’ve always loved friends-to-lovers and fake dating tropes, which is just two of the many things that I enjoyed about this book. Positives also include:

  1. Nathan is a big sweetheart. He was always so loyal to Bree and would stand up for her whenever someone tried to belittle her. He was also super patient with her when she was drunk and wanted to respect her boundaries.
  2. Jamal, Derek, Price, and Lawrence are probably the bestest friends you could ever ask for. The way that they were silently rooting for Bree and Nathan the whole time and even made Nathan a romance sheat sheet, so that he could woo her, automatically makes them the best matchmakers ever!!!
  3. Dylan was probably my favorite character out of this whole book. I found his interactions with Bree and Lily to be especially fun, espescially when he kept having to constantly shop for her and then carry them up several flights of stairs to Bree’s dingy apartment.

That being said, this book did have a few flaws.

  1. Personally, I would have liked to see Nathan stand up to his mom about her never letting him relax or do anything except play football.
  2. Again, just a personal preference, but I would have liked Bree to have had some involvement in the wedding planning. I know it was a little rushed since they literally got married on the same day that Nathan proposed and everything was planned beforehand according to her preferences, but I still would have liked to see Bree going around trying wedding cakes, dresses, or do anything wedding-related at all.

Overall, I’d probably give it a 4/5, but it’s definitely worth the read if you like a sweet, down-to-earth romance.

The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant

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From behind-the-scenes insight to life-changing advice, Kobe Bryant’s autobiography is a great motivator for young athletes and a memoir of his style of play.

The book opens with a foreword from Pau Gasol, a longtime teammate of Kobe and a member of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class. Pau opens with a story about when he first got traded to the Lakers. When Pau arrived at his room at 1 AM, Kobe was there to introduce himself. On page 15, Pau says, “To me, that was a tremendous demonstration of a true leader, and our meeting had a huge impact on me, instantly.”

These short anecdotes throughout the book show both Kobe’s development and mindset. While these stories are great, there are some points in the book when the topic changes without warning. For example, Kobe talks about his 2013 Achilles injury, and how it could have been career-ending. Immediately after, he talks about his signature 2008 sneakers. These sudden transitions can be slightly off-putting at first, but it is the style of the book.

An overwhelming positive of the book is the photography by Andrew D. Bernstein, the official photographer for the Lakers and Clippers. Photos span from Kobe’s rookie headshot to his final game.

The formatting of the book is also extremely unique. Instead of just pages of text, many portions of the book are dedicated to full-page images. Quotes and other titles are shown in different fonts and colors to stand out even more. This helps separate pieces of information and makes it easier to digest information.

Overall, the imagery and formatting of the book are more than enough to make it an interesting read. If you are not a basketball player or an athlete, Kobe’s “Mamba Mentality” still applies. He preaches that the mindset is not “about seeking a result-it’s more about the process of getting to that result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life” (pg.93).

Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Percy Jackson Series Review

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By Bella H.

Immersing myself in the captivating world of mythology, I have devoured numerous books, consuming many books every day after school through my years in middle school. I love books written by the talented author Rick Riordan. He is a master at intertwining modern-day storytelling with ancient legends and myths.

Percy Jackson, my absolute favorite among his remarkable book series, captivates me with thought-provoking and intricately woven plots and realistic and believable characters that I’m eager to discuss. 

I’ll not spoil the plot too much here, but Percy is twelve when the series starts. Little did he know that his life was about to change; When he discovered that he was the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. From this discovery, he finds himself in one adventure after another. Compelled to undertake a perilous quest in search of the elusive entrance to the Underworld and stop an all-out war between the gods. 

Its protagonist’s remarkable growth and development throughout the book series truly sets Percy Jackson apart. As we follow the series, we see Percy’s gradual evolution from a wide-eyed and inexperienced adolescent to a seasoned and resilient hero at the end. With each passing chapter, we observe his physical maturation and profound emotional and mental transformation. 

Mr. Riordan skillfully weaves this transformation of his protagonist seamlessly into the narration and story plot that makes us, as the readers, so invested in Percy Jackson’s personal journey.

What is a hero without friends who fight by his side, bolstering his resolve and assisting his noble endeavors? Unlike other series where side characters fade into the background, side characters are an integral part of Riordan’s books. The bond of friendship that Percy and his companion have for each other resonates with me, as the bond between these characters deepens and fortifies as they face trials and tribulations together.

The captivating tapestry of Greek myth skillfully weaves into the story. It is genuinely delightful for any fan of ancient legends.

I also love the Greek mythology theme, and the different gods and goddesses are interesting. Each turn of a new page introduces us to various Gods and Goddesses, each with unique quirks, power, and personalities. Mr. Riordan has created a masterpiece in a modern-day story where Gods and mortals collide. He breathes life into these characters, making them realistic and believable, creating a world where fantasy and reality converge. 

Will Percy stop an epic battle that threatens to unleash chaos upon the world? I suggest you read the book if you want to uncover more details. 

Happy Reading!

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Lunar Chronicles: Winter (SPOILER REVIEW)

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There’s a definitely a certain amount of pressure, I think, on writing the final book in a series.

It has to wrap up all the characters’ goals, defeat the antagonist, and resolve the overall plot, with no threads hung loose.

Yeah, a lot of pressure.

Does Winter live up to the standard? (Beware of spoilers!)

Winter takes a deep dive into the Winter’s pysche like none of the other books before. I find her to be an extremely compelling character. The mental willpower to hold herself back from using her manipulation even when she knew she would start to hallucinate and lose her mind is impossibly strong. It’s the exact opposite from what the entire Lunar court thinks of her. She is the most powerful of any of them.

Winter went through so much.

I wish there was more of her. She’s such an amazing character but despite the book being named after her I felt like there wasn’t nearly enough attention on her. She almost seemed thrown in, which is the opposite of what she deserves as such a rich and compelling character.

I also don’t think Wolf got a finished ending. The book was all nonstop plot and twists, with hardly any room for the characters. And there’s a lot of characters.

The climax between Cinder and Levana was bloody and dramatic, though it was really a bit of an idiotic move on Cinder’s part to think that the mass murderer wouldn’t try to kill her as soon as she put down the gun.

I have to say, I do love the ending. Cinder dropping it off the same balcony she’d jumped off of? The tiniest reference to the glass slipper? Kai and Cinder’s relationship finally resolved, with hope for the future? It’s all beautiful, tinged with just the right amount of bittersweet, knowing that the battle was far from over.

I do think explicitly having all four main characters end up in a neatly established romance made it feel forced instead of natural. I also have some problems with Cress and Thorne’s relationship, but I might save that for a review on Cress instead.

There was so much good in this book, but also a lot I didn’t like.

Still, everyone has the right to their own opinions. What do you think?

Winter by Marissa Meyer is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.



TOPIC – Coraline

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Coraline is a children’s novel written by Neil Gaiman, published in 2002 by Bloomsbury and HarperCollins.

It follows a young girl named Coraline as she finds a mysterious door that leads to nowhere in her family’s new flat. However, she quickly discovers that it connects to a tunnel to an alternate world. A world like her own, but different. There are alternate versions of everyone who lives in the house she does, including her Other Mother and Other Father. Everyone has button eyes, and the land doesn’t seem to exist past the house.

Although most people have watched the movie, I think that you should still read the book. It’s different enough that you won’t feel like you’re reading the same story again. For example, Coraline never falls for the Other Mother’s tricks. By the end, Coraline ends up playing a game against the Other Mother. If Coraline wins, she will get to go home, free her parents, and the other children that the Other Mother has trapped before her. If the Other Mother wins, she keeps Coraline. But in the events leading up to that, Coraline was never under the Other Mother’s spell.

The character Wybie also never existed in the book, nor any character that could be compared to him. The character’s appearances are also quite different, as the Other Mother is described as her hair floating around her, as if she was underwater. Coraline does not have blue hair, and the Other Father devolves into a doughy monster, instead of a pumpkin man. There is also a whole scene of Coraline trapped in a basement room with the doughy Other Father, where she has to escape by ripping out one of his button eyes, sneaking up the stairs, and slamming the trap door shut behind her.

I quite enjoyed the book, and read it all in one night.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Serpent and the Wings of Night Blog – Contains Spoilers!

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*Be advised this book is for older readers*

Yesterday I finished a book called, Serpent and the Wings of Night ‘. I must say, I got this book recommendation from my sister. She had just finished it herself, and wanted me to give it a go. At first, I was reluctant, as I was planning to read another book called, House of Beating Wings. But she insisted that I finish reading this book first (the nerve!).

I have to say, this book is absolutely AMAZING. I loved the characters and the plot. In Carissa Broadbent’s The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Oraya, the adopted human daughter of a vampire king, navigates a world where survival hinges on mistrust and strength. To prove herself and escape her prey status, she enters the Kejari tournament, a deadly contest held by the goddess of death, Nyaxia. The winner gets a sacred wish from her, and therefore attracts many vampires and people alike to the Kejari.

Throughout the book, I absolutely LOVE Oraya as a character. She embodies selflessness, strength, and kindness in the most admirable manner. Although sometimes impulsive, she knows her limitations and her boundaries.

During the Kejari, Oraya must team up with someone, and eventually chooses Raihn, a ruthless and efficient killer who will stop at nothing to win that wish from Nyaxia. They soon started developing feelings for each other, which I loved. Raihn has this mysterious vibe that’s totally captivating and makes you want to know more about him. I’m totally loving Raihn as a character because he’s not just handsome; he’s got layers to his personality that make him really interesting. It’s not a surprise that Oraya soon falls in love with him! And when it comes to Oraya and Raihn together, they’re like a dream team. They have this amazing connection that feels so real and makes you root for them. They bring out the best in each other, and it’s really heartwarming to see how they support and challenge one another. Their relationship isn’t just about looks – it’s about understanding and respect. Honestly, Oraya and Raihn are like the perfect match. They fit together so well, like two puzzle pieces that just make sense.

I have to say, the ending of this book will completely shock you! Overall, this book is amazing! I would give this book a 6 out of 5 stars!

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Book Review: Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World

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Re: Zero -Starting Life in Another World- by Teppei Nagatsuki is the first novel in the still-running series by the same name. Following series protagonist Subaru Natsuki the first novel in the series Subaru in his attempt to find his footing in a new world and his attempts to grasp the workings of his only ability in the new world: Return by Death.

In order to understand the plot of this story and why I believe it to be one of the greatest isekai(other world) series of all time, you first must understand the specifics of two things: Subaru himself and his Return by Death ability. Starting off with Subaru, one of the things that makes Re: Zero great is that Subaru sucks as a person, at least to begin with. It’s not that Subaru is a monster, to begin with, far from it. What Subaru is, is a man-child who was never forced to grow up and mature, leading to him making both selfish and selfless decisions entirely based on what he is feeling at the time. One very interesting thing when you compare Re: Zero to other isekai or even other fantasy series is that unlike them most of Subaru’s problems and deaths could have been prevented if he was just a better person.

Speaking of Subaru’s multiple deaths I should probably get around to explaining how that is even possible. You see in most stories where protagonists are summoned to other worlds those protagonists are typically blessed with some sort of special something to aid them on their journey. Maybe they were given an instinctive understanding of that world’s magic or maybe they just got a super powerful shield that will always protect them. In the case of Subaru Natsuki however, he gains the ability to reset time back to a checkpoint he has no control over when he dies. This ability is very important because it helps tie into one of the main throughlines of the series: Self Improvement.

As mentioned above Subaru is something of a idiot who tends to cause his own problems. Grant not all of the issues he deals with are his own fault but most of his deaths are caused by things he could very well avoid. However thanks to Return by Death Subaru is able to see how things go wrong and try to change things. It’s not easy for him and in novel 1 it takes him three whole death loops to even realize he is in fact returning by death, but after that he’s able to figure out what he’s doing wrong and improve upon his previous attempts. This in turn lets him escape the loop he was trapped in.

There is definitely a lot I left out of this review but this review is running kind of long so I’ll say this, Re: Zero is one of the greatest works of fiction I have ever read. It is excellently written and makes for extremely effective psychological horror for the shut in nerds who it is aimed towards. However, even to those not a part of the target audience I would still very much recommend Re: Zero -Starting Life in Another World-.

You & Me at the End of the World by Brianna Bourne

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Imagine being the only person in the world, with time suspended for some unknown reason, until you finally stumble upon someone. A very affable, music-aficionado someone, in Hannah’s case.

Hannah Ashton and Leo Sterling are the only people in the world. They are completely isolated in an alternate reality without people, problems, or expectations. They take the opportunity to discover their true selves and each other.

I really enjoyed seeing perfect, rigorous, ballet-dedicated Hannah Ashton realize that she also loves feeling wind blowing through her hair and Leo Sterling’s guitar playing.

In real life, Hannah is a driven ballet dancer with high aspirations and Leo is a laid-back rock guitarist. They knew each other from school, but they would never talk to one another. In this dimension, they are given the chance to truly get to know each other.

The entire mystery of the reason for this apocalyptic event kept me in suspense throughout the novel. The instances where Leo and Hannah’s true connection shone, I was expecting a blackout, or a glitch in the matrix of some sort to eventually drive them apart, but it never really came.

The setting of the novel felt almost dream-like. I wondered if Hannah was only imagining Leo or if his personality was a figment of her imagination. Without the confinements of their regular lives, they are free to be whomever they choose.

Eventually, towards the end of the novel, their blissful world takes a turn of events. In the center of the chaos, they find each other.

The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L Sauer.

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The Light at Tern Rock is a Newbery Honor award-winning book by Julia L Sauer.  A man named Byron Flagg asks an eleven-year-old boy named Ronnie and his aunt, Martha Morse, to take charge of the Tern Rock lighthouse while he is away for two weeks.  The lighthouse is on a small island that is only accessible by boat.  The month is December, so Ronnie is concerned about getting back to the mainland in time for Christmas.  However, Mr. Flagg promises that he will return in time to take Ronnie and Martha home before Christmas day. 

Ronnie and Martha are excited when they first arrive at the lighthouse.  They understand that they have an important responsibility to keep the lighthouse lit to protect the ships at sea.  The living conditions are comfortable, and Ronnie enjoys spending the time with his aunt.  After two weeks, however, there is no sight of Mr. Flagg.  Ronnie becomes worried that Mr. Flagg may have broken his promise.  When Ronnie realizes that he might be stranded at the lighthouse, he becomes very anxious and upset that he may not be able to spend Christmas with his family.

This book is a quick read, being only about sixty pages long, but I still enjoyed it.  I was not expecting it to be so much of a Christmas story.  The Christ-centered focus turned out to be my favorite part of this book.  I appreciate the symbolism used by the author to describe some of the lessons learned by Ronnie.  He learns about the importance of responsibility and about the actual meaning of the Christmas holiday.  I wish that this book were a little bit longer, but I still find it enjoyable to read and deserving of the Newbery Honor.

The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.