Category Archives: Book Reviews

Book Review: Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket

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When I first picked up Poison for Breakfast and saw it was written by Lemony Snicket, I felt inclined to read it just out of how much I enjoyed his books when I was younger, especially the Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions series of books.

However now that I am older, I was unsure if what I had come to expect from Snicket would be as enjoyable or memorable now that I have more experience reading and different tastes. To my pleasant surprise, this is the most mature and unique Lemony Snicket book I’ve read, even if it’s title and premise seems just as bizarre and out of place as something you would see in any other one of his works.

The entire book revolves a man and his reaction when he is eating his regular breakfast and finds a note saying, “you had poison for breakfast”. This sends the man into a sort of introspective spiral, as he spends the day trying to figure out who did it, while also reflecting on his philosophy towards life and the creative process. The book is a whole is very short at around 150 pages, and all of those pages are dedicated to the man and his reaction to what he believes will be his final day alive. While the book has a style very characteristic of Snicket, I think that most of the things he writes about in this are more observational instead of focused on a singular plot line or a classic story structure. Snicket even says on the description on the back of the book that some may call this a “book of philosophy”, which I think is a pretty appropriate term for the work.

Overall, I enjoyed the read, and thought it was definitely worth my time. One thing I would say to anyone wanting to read this is that it can be a bit hard to follow Snicket’s train of thought throughout the book, as his writing is full of phrases or references that have deeper meanings when looked into. Because of this I think this could a book that could be better if I decide to read it again, because I feel like I would pick up on a lot more of the messages Snicket conveys throughout the text. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in books with more philosophical elements, as well as anyone who is familiar with Snicket from his older work as well.

Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

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This book made me hungry. It also made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. When I first saw the cover I thought it was about cats because the illustrations around the title look like cat paws to me, but I picked it up anyways. It was actually about food, and good food at that.

This book centers around two girls, Sara and Elizabeth. Sara´s mother runs an after school South Asian cuisine class (club) and there she ends up partnered with Elizabeth. 

Sara is a beautiful young girl at Poplar Springs Middle school. She just transferred there from her Islamic school called Iqra Academy where her best friend, Rabia, goes. She doesn’t really love cooking, but since that’s her mom’s job… 

Elizabeth loves cooking! She also goes to Poplar Springs Middle and she attends Sara´s mother´s after school club. Her best friend, Mandy, also goes to the after school class but she isn’t always the best friend. Mandy starts hanging out more with another girl and Elizabeth ends up partnered with Sara.

This book is a really, really, good book about 2 chefs/bakers. I also really liked the side plot about their immigrant mothers getting their citizenship. I thought it was really interesting because I still remember my dad getting his citizenship at the same time as my friend’s dad so we hung out the whole time. So it was really fun to see what they, as older kids, and not 2nd graders, think about this.

Overall, this is a great book that you can only read with food on hand because the amount of mouth wandering food in this book is extreme. It was interesting to read because the narrator rotated every chapter so you got to see each point of view. It was really a very good book.

A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

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The Cat Who Went to Heaven is a Newbery Award-winning book by Elizabeth Coatsworth. The story is about a poor young Japanese artist. The artist sends out his housekeeper with some money to buy him food. When she returns with a cat instead of food, the artist is astonished and furious. However, he realizes that the cat is three-colored, which is considered good luck in Japan. The artist decides to keep the cat, and he names it “Good Fortune.” He soon becomes very fond of his new cat.

One day, the head priest of a nearby Buddhist temple pays an unexpected visit to the artist. The priests of the temple would like the artist to create a painting depicting Buddha’s death. They promise a large sum of money to the artist if his painting is successful. The artist is overjoyed by the offer, and he gets to work on the painting.

As the painting develops, the artist depicts various animals surrounding Buddha. The artist’s cat, Good Fortune, occasionally enters the room to watch the artist work. As the painting nears completion, it becomes apparent to the artist that Good Fortune would like a cat to be depicted in the painting. The artist hesitates to include a cat in the painting because it might anger the priests. He must decide whether to please Good Fortune at the risk of losing his commission for the painting.

I found this story to be charming and engaging, and it was fascinating to learn about the Buddhist religion and ancient Japanese folklore. The story is quite short, and I was surprised that such a small book would be considered for the Newberry Award. However, after reading this book I believe the award is well-deserved. I would recommend this book to beginning and advanced readers alike.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Murder in Retrospect by Agatha Christie

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Murder in Retrospect, published as Five Little Pigs in the United Kingdom, is a mystery novel by Agatha Christie.  This book features Hercule Poirot, the celebrated detective.  Poirot is visited by a young woman named Carla Lemarchant.  Carla asks Poirot to investigate the murder of her father, which was committed sixteen years earlier.  Carla’s father, Amyas Crale, had been killed by poison.  His wife, Caroline Crale, was tried and convicted of the murder.  However, Carla is convinced that her mother is innocent.  Poirot is intrigued by this curious case, and he agrees to investigate.

On the day of the murder, five other people had been in contact with Amyas Crale.  Poirot compares these five suspects to the “five little pigs” of the nursery rhyme, because each has a unique background and personality.  He interviews each suspect, but finds no obvious culprit.  Solving a murder that occurred sixteen years ago is no easy task, but Poirot is up to the challenge.

As I read this novel, I was very puzzled about who could have committed the murder.  The ending was quite surprising.  As usual, Poirot discovers an ingenious way to solve the case.  This book is unusual for a murder mystery, because the murder took place many years before, and the main suspect was already convicted.  This made for an interesting story.  The characters are compelling and the story flows well.  I found this book extremely entertaining, and I consider it one of Agatha Christie’s best novels.  I would highly recommend it.

Murder in Retrospect  by Agatha Christie is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (Some Spoilers Ahead!)

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“A Court of Thorns and Roses”, is a captivating book about a nineteen year old girl, named Feyre. Feyre and her family are going through tough times, and food is hard to come by. They are on the verge of hunger and are rejected by upper class society. Feyre has taken it upon herself and is now responsible for doing the hunting to provide food for her family. One day she spots a doe to hunt, but to her astonishment, the doe is attacked by a huge wolf first. She wonders if he’s a Fae in wolf form, but she shoots him with an ash arrow nevertheless because she despises Fae. Soon, a large wolf faerie comes and demands retribution for the murdered wolf. Feyre agrees to pay with her life and live forever in Prythian, a land full of dangerous creatures.

I really loved this book! This book reminds me of “Beauty and the Beast”, but with a nice twist to it! Moreover, I love how this book is a pretty straightforward love-story. Most books I read, it’s almost always about a girl, and there are many guys she could possibly fall in love with. But not in this book! That’s why I enjoy reading it so much. The mystery in this book is also amazing! Since the beginning of the book, everyone starts talking about a mysterious “she”. At a certain point in the story, Feyre was swimming with Tamlin when she asked him who took Lucien’s eye? Tamlin hesitantly responds and says “she” took it out. There was another time when a fairy whose wings were ripped off screams in pain while saying, “she” took them off. Like, who is this mysterious “she” everyone is talking about? You’re just gonna have to keep reading to find out! Lastly, I love how there aren’t many plot twists in this story. At the beginning of the story, there are many questions you are going to keep asking yourself, and as you read on, you can start making guesses on who, or what is going to happen next.

Out of 5 stars, I would give this book a 4.8. I would highly recommend this book for ages 13 +, since there are some adult content in there that might not be appropriate for younger children.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

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Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a work of historical fiction. Achebe uses his Nigerian heritage and culture to give a view a dramatically different different view of Africa compared to the single sided narrative composed of stereotypes at the time.

This book was a very easy read, with about 200 pages. The book is broken up into three section and each chapter is very short and digestible. The best part about this book is Achebe’s ability to carry the reader into this completely different culture, showing them the laws, traditions, and religion of the Nigerian people post colonialism. This book is a true tragedy which follows not only the main characters story but those of an entire culture whose lives are flipped upside down with the arrival of the British.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a easy book that they could pick up in their spare time. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in African society and culture as it really does a great job of immersing the reader into African tribal culture. If you are into happy ending story this book might not be for you but it still is a well written and moving book you should give a try.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Crave Series: Book Review

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This series is the first fantasy series that I read after I was able to finish my classical reading that was required for high school. I simply just wanted a quick and easy-to-read fantasy book to get back into reading the genre, and I was so glad I picked this series.

Simply put, the series revolves around a paranormal romance between two main characters, Grace and Jaxon which eventually leads them on a mission to save the world pretty much. Yes, it is one of those books that are pretty vanilla, but is still entertaining if you’re look for something to get your hands on really quick.

The first book starts with Grace starting a boarding school at Katmere Academy after her parents died in a car accident about six months ago. Her Uncle Finn is the principal of the school and Macy, her cousin, also attends there as well. Not even after a day at Katmere, strange accidents keep occurring and they are all targeted at her! However, as Jaxon, a boy with a mysterious and aloof aura around him keeps saving her, a romance suddenly sparks.

Later on in the series, she finds out what she truly is and why she is being targeted by all the paranormal creatures. There are also pretty major plot twists that you wouldn’t think are coming and honestly I was even surprised by some of them considering the amount of fantasy books I read!

Honestly, what I liked most about the book is the modernness of it all. It really relates to me because they include many of the famous TV shows, singers, actors that made it quite interesting. Grace is also a funny but brave character and makes many jokes along the way that are pretty amusing. I finished the first book in about two days and the second one in about three. I haven’t finished the third one yet, but there is looking to be a big plot twist up ahead so we’ll see!

This series probably should be for ages 14 and above since there are uses of cuss language and some minimal violence here and there.

– Aleena C.

Crave by Tracy Wolff is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath revolves around the story of Esther Greenwood, a young college student who dreams of a bright future as a poet. During a summer internship in New York, Esther is held back in pursuing her dreams as she struggles with identity and societal expectations. The reader is give a deep look at her mental processes as she slowly falls into a suicidal state. In other words, Esther is stuck in a “bell jar” of her own thoughts, where she feels as if she is unable to connect with the world around her.

The most impactful aspect of this novel would be the overall message it shares to its audience on the struggles faced by those with clinical depression. Esther’s narration is given through elaborate imagery and effective analogies, causing the audience to both pity and understand the situation she is going through to a much greater extent. Additionally, Plath’s subtle comments on the societal pressure put on women in the 60s further adds to the complexity of the novel.

Overall, I would recommend this book to most people as it is both beautifully written and very eye-opening. However, I would remain cautious of some potentially triggering material such as mentions of suicide.

-Aysha H.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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This book was also one of my favorite reads this year due to the sheer fact it’s sort of a different genre than what I normally go for. Typically, I’m a romance reader but this book had such high reviews I checked it out and fell in love.

It revolves around Avery Grambs who randomly inherits billions from billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne. She gets found by Tobias’ grandsons who investigate as to why their late grandfather left this mysterious girl his fortune. We get to see the story through Avery’s perspective and how she views all the Hawthorne brothers.

The plot is nothing like I’ve every seen before and had be intrigued on every aspect of the story. I would recommend to quite literally anyone. Good news, the is a trilogy so the story continues on and only gets better from here.

-Madison C.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

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The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka tells the story of travelling salesman Gregor Samsa, when he wakes up from a nightmare one day and discovers he has been transformed into a giant, monstrous insect. The novella examines his life after this realization, his slow alienation and isolation from his parents and his sister (whom he had worked tirelessly to support), and his eventual decline.

I actually really enjoyed this novella, but not in any real ‘enjoyment’ sense- it just sparked a lot of deep thought. Although, throughout the novella, we are supposed to view Gregor as repulsive and be disgusted by him, just as his family is, I couldn’t help but feel pity and empathy for him. Everyone in the novella forgets that somewhere inside his now insectified exterior, he is still a human, with human needs and wants. They treat him as a chore, as an inconvenience, and then finally, as a villain- which I found cold and cruel. Although the overall story is fairly depressing, I feel that it’s an important read and deals with some very real issues and questions of our world today. The ending is really sad, but I won’t spoil it here for you all. You’ll just have to read the novella yourself to find out what happens!

-Vaidehi B.

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.