Tag Archives: book review

They Both Die at the End – Spoiler Free Review

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This title caught my eye immediately, as it probably did yours. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find out if it’s true just yet – this will be a spoiler-free review!

This story follows two teens from New York City – Mateo, aged 18, and Rufus, aged 17. Their world is set in 2017 and is mostly similar to ours….except for the organization of Death-Cast, which can predict deaths. They call people to inform them that they’ll die in the next twenty-four hours. These doomed people are called Deckers. Death-Cast is meant to help people live their last days to the fullest, and another person even invented her own app called Last Friend to match the service – it pairs Deckers with each other so they can spend their last day in someone else’s company. Mateo and Rufus meet on this app for their last day.

This book brings up a lot of different perspectives and thoughts on mortality. Is it better to know when you’ll die? Some think it is, and some think it isn’t. Additionally, Adam Silvera switches between different character perspectives to give fresh takes on the story.

I do love how interconnected the book feels. It cuts away to another character occasionally, shares a sliver of their story, and always gets it back to the main course. It’s just the right amount not to be distracting to the main course, and it really helps to both broaden the story and give me a little breathing time from the main pair.

Out of the pair, I enjoy Mateo more. Rufus felt a little too much sometimes, and I couldn’t always take him seriously. Overall, I was still invested in their romance and relationship. The dynamic between a softer and a tougher character is always very endearing.

Mateo and Lydia, his best friend, were actually amazing. My favorite relationship in the book (sorry Rufus). Imagine your best friend dying within 24 hours, the person you’ve relied on your whole life…and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. 

There are some other things I would love to expand on but alas, no spoilers. Overall, this book was a solid read! Do check it out.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

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I have really wanted to get back into non-fiction texts and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, did that for me. I actually had to read some chapters of this book for my AP English class but I ended up just reading the entire book to get a full understanding of Gladwell’s interpretation of success is.

There is no clear “main-character” or “plot” but rather simply stories of those that garnered success with their different life stories. Gladwell touches on people like the Beatles or Bill Gates and expands on how they were able to reach the level of success that they got. I would say that the chapters build off of one another so reading the entire book is great but also reading certain chapters is fine because Gladwell typically has a vocal person he talks about in each individual chapter.

Gladwell’s overarching idea of success is illustrated through other people’s experiences and he tells it in a way that shows not a certain factor contributes to becoming successful. Factors such as socioeconomic status, race, IQ, all play parts in success but can’t be done alone but rather a unity of parts will create a successful person.

I’ve read non-fiction texts more related to us as individuals and more about self-growth but reading about experiences from other people was truly awakening because it allowed a new perspective for me to indulge in. Seeing the stories that got other people successful was in a way motivating and I felt a growth of determination to reach these same levels.

I would recommend this book to anyone trying to get into non-fiction texts or just interested in the idea of success. Also, since it’s a relatively short book it good for readers getting into non-fiction and I would say that the topics Gladwell presents are pretty interesting and insightful.

-Madison C.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey was written by Trenton Lee Stewart. This is the second book in his Mysterious Benedict Society series. The main characters of the story are children named Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance. The four friends learn that Mr. Benedict and his adopted daughter, called Number Two, have been taken captive by Mr. Benedict’s evil twin, Mr. Curtain. Mr. Curtain leaves a note explaining that he wants the four children to find a rare plant. After solving a series of riddles, the children find themselves on the fastest ship in the world, headed toward Europe. Kate’s father, Milligan, follows after the children. Milligan protects the children and helps them during their search for Mr. Benedict and Number Two. They encounter many dangerous situations along the way, and they must solve many tricky puzzles to rescue their missing friends.

One of my favorite things about this book is the high adventure experienced by the children. I also really enjoyed the suspense and excitement throughout the story. I liked learning more about the main characters and their development, as well as the many new characters who were introduced in this book. I really enjoyed reading about the four main children who have very different opinions and personalities but are still able to support each other and work together despite these differences. 

This is one of my favorite books. This book was satisfying to read on its own, but it definitely made me want to read the rest of the series. I would recommend reading the first book in the series before reading this book. I would highly recommend the entire series to everyone.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

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A Year Down Yonder is a novel by Richard Peck. This book won the Newbery Medal in 2001. It is the sequel to Peck’s A Long Way from Chicago, which received a Newbery Honor in 1999. This story takes place in 1938, during the Great Depression. Joey and Mary Alice are from Chicago. Joey has just left home to join the army. Mary Alice, his 15-year-old sister, is sent to stay with her grandmother in the country. This is disappointing to Mary Alice, because she does not like the idea of living in a farming community. However, her parents feel that they have no choice but to send Mary Alice away due to their financial hardship.

At first, Mary Alice struggles to get used to her new surroundings. Some of her fellow high school students are mean to her. However, Mary Alice’s grandmother comes to the rescue and turns the tables on the bullies. Her grandmother is very protective, and she finds many ways to help Mary Alice feel at home.  Mary Alice gradually becomes accustomed to country life, and after an extended stay with her grandmother, she becomes reluctant to return to Chicago. 

This book is similar in many ways to A Long Way from Chicago. Both books are very enjoyable to read. However, I found A Year Down Yonder to be even better than the first book. The grandmother is highly entertaining in this book, as always. In my opinion, this book is even more humorous and memorable than the first book. It also provides a good historical glimpse into that time period. Richard Peck won a Newbery Honor for the first book, which was quite good. He won the Newbery Medal for this sequel, which was even more impressive. Both books are well-deserving, and I would definitely recommend both of them.

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Recommendations

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Picking out your next read can be a difficult and time consuming task. Many of us barely have the time to read at all, and when we do, we want a book that absolutely consumes us. Below I have compiled a list of book that I have read and enjoyed. I have categorized these books by genre and included short summaries, as well as my thoughts, for maximum efficiency. Happy reading!

Dystopian

The Hunger Games Series- Annual games are held in Panem, a dystopian and futuristic America, and when 16 year old Katniss Everdeen is selected to participate in these games, she stirs a spirit of rebellion that changes Panem forever. The Hunger Games series had me hooked with great twists and turns. The movie adaptations are also some of the best I have seen!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Selection Series- 35 eligible young girls are selected to compete for the prince’s hand, for most girls this is all they have ever wanted. For America Singer however, a five on the rigid caste system, this is her worst nightmare. The Selection series was one of those series I simply could not put down. I was extremely immersed in the world of America and Maxon and I have actually read the whole series two times through!

The Selection by Kiera Cass is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Romantic Comedies

Better Than the Movies- With the inspiration of 2000s romantic comedies, Liz Buxbaum searches for love. While trying to get the guy of her dreams, Liz ends up in a fake dating scheme, and realizes she has been after the wrong guy all along. I really enjoyed all the quotes and references to romantic comedies. This book was such a fun read and if you are a Swiftie you will definitely enjoy all the references as well!

Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Today Tonight Tomorrow- During their last 24 hours of senior year, academic rivals realize that they have a lot more in common than they previously believed. Today they were enemies, tonight they were friends, and tomorrow they might be falling for each other. I really enjoyed the time frame of this novel and the scavenger hunt aspect made it fun and fast-paced!

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon is available to download for free from Libby.

“Yes No Maybe So” by Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed (Book Review)

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*Contains some spoilers*

Yes No Maybe So: 9780062937032: Albertalli, Becky, Saeed, Aisha: Books - Amazon.com

Yes No Maybe So is a story of 2 different people, from different worlds, that are forced to come together and decide to stay together.

To elaborate Jamie Goldberg, a shy, unpopular guy in high school gets the worst luck when he has to do one of the things he hates most, public speaking. His cousin, Gabe, who is Rossum’s (a man running for state senate) campaign manager, and his family are automatically required to help spread the word and convince others to vote for Rossum. Jamie likes to help but he has to go canvassing and since he refuses to say a speech at his little sister’s bar mitzvah in front of friends and family, he can’t comprehend the fact of doing that in front of strangers.

Maya Rehman, on the other hand, is confident and friendly but is having the worst Ramadan. Her parents are separating, which came as a complete surprise to her. Her best friend, who is a year older than her, is going off to college and leaving Maya behind in a way. Then to find out that she might be leaving early for college and won’t really get to hang out with Maya all summer, crushes Maya. She is unaware of her summer plans now, not really wanting to be home but not having a car for transportation and on top of it not allowed to date or have a boyfriend. Her parents suggest her to go canvassing to help family friends and if she does it, it will live up her chances of getting a car. It just so happens that Jamie and Maya end up going canvassing together, which starts their story.

I personally loved this book, the detail, and the chemistry between the characters. How they took the differences of them, their personality, households, and background to create drama, sensitivity, hardship, and love within the book. The main conflict was Jamie’s confrontation and Maya’s parents and idea of boys. Throughout the book Jamie and Maya’s relationship grows but it moves very quickly towards the end which made it feel too rushed for me. Overall, I would recommend this book, knowing it is a mixture of politics and romance, but the writing of each page makes the book one of my favorite reads yet!

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed is available to download for free from Libby.

Never Finished by David Goggins

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Never Finished is yet another memoir by David Goggins. While this autobiography can be enjoyed as a standalone book, it assumes that the reader is already familiar with David Goggin’s story and his first book Can’t Hurt Me.

In his first book, Goggins describes how he overcame a traumatic childhood, mental disability, and health issues to defy odds and more. He is now a retired Navy SEAL, accomplished endurance athlete, Advanced Emergency Technician, public speaker, and wildland firefighter.

It enhances the previous book by elaborating and providing insight into earlier overlooked events. There is a great balance between introducing new topics and improving old ones.

In his previous book, Goggins introduced tips after every chapter to improve yourself such as journaling, compartmentalizing your day, visualizing, and using an “accountability mirror”. Unlike these more straightforward “Challenges” that Goggins used, this book provides “Evolutions”. These are not simple quick-fix habits. Instead, they present ideas for you to question yourself, and change for the better. Some of these ideas are summarized below:

  • “The Winners Mentality” – Find strength and energy in everything, even in defeat
  • “One-Second Decision” – In the moment of suffering, we often forget our goals and feel the need to quit. No matter how long you have been working, moments of weakness and strength are counted in seconds. So, take a knee and evaluate the situation.
  • “Trained Humility” – Be humble enough to accept that you will never know everything, and let that fuel you to grow more.
  • “Foxhole Mentality” – Small minds and weak people kill dreams, so surround yourself with those who support and push you to be your best.

While small habits are the key to getting started, deeply improving yourself through your mindset and values is the next step.

One of the final ideas that I enjoyed was the idea that there are no “part-time savages”. Many might work hard hoping that when they achieve their goal they can finally rest. Goggins says, “When you are always on the grind, you think there will come a time when the rough road…will smooth out, but that is never the case.” When you finally reach the top of the mountain, there might be another taller one waiting for you.

Goggins makes it clear that while he has achieved great success, his journey is still not over. Shortly after the success of his first book, he had a heart scare which forced him to take another break from endurance events. Even though he had done so much, and his heart condition gave him a reason to stop, Goggins knew that he could do more.

Overall, Never Finished by David Goggins is another amazing read, fit for anyone who would like to improve themselves in any aspect of life.

Never Finished by David Goggins is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

Book Review: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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Recently, for my school’s English class, I read Purple Hibiscus, which is a book about a girl named Kambili growing up in a wealthy but abusive household in Nigeria. This was probably one of the best books of this genre that I’ve read, as it contains plenty of interesting themes, as well as having a deep overall meaning.

At the start of the story in chapter 1, Kambili witnesses her father hurl a leather missal across the room after her brother, Jaja, defies him by refusing to attend church. Here, the first signs of the fact that her father is abusive is revealed. however, at this part, Kambili tells the reader that this event was later in the book, after everything else happened.

The start of the actual story begins on chapter 2, with the story taking place at Kambili’s house. this second chapter gives important background information on the family, their economic condition, as well as other details that will be important for later. It is also revealed that Kambili lives in a very religious household, with her father pushing the faith on her and her other family members. As the story progresses, the author makes it more and more apparent that the father clearly uses his religion to control his family, as well as further showing the extent of the influence of abuse on Kambili, her brother, and her mother.

What made this book very interesting was how the author took inspiration from her youth but obviously included elements of fiction added to it. In fact, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gave a TED talk about the book as well as the “danger of the single story“, which I highly recommend watching before reading this book, as it provides the reader with some background on the book.

Overall, This was a great book, and I would recommend it for anybody who is interested in an emotional, moving story.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Great Gatsby

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About a month ago, I finished reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was an intriguing read as it illustrated 1920s society in America. The desire for wealth and prosperity outweighed people’s morals. The “Roaring Twenties” revolved around entertainment and consumerism because of the end of World War I.

In the novel, the main character, Jay Gatsby, was impoverished growing up but was able to gain wealth by illegally selling alcohol after the 18th Amendment was passed. Although he was proud of his money, it could never fully equate to happiness. The love of his life, Daisy Buchanan, whom Gatsby considered his soulmate, got married to another man when he went to fight in the war. However, he never gave up hope and always believed she would come back to him. Eventually, Gatsby met Daisy and attempted to rekindle their relationship. At one point, it seemed as though their spark was back and they could begin a new life together, but Gatsby pretended to offer Daisy more security than he actually could. His dishonesty was a major factor in their eventual separation. 

Toward the end of the novel, Gatsby is assassinated. As he is dying, he feels that his life is unfulfilling. Although he amassed large amounts of wealth, it could never fully equate to happiness. This story revolves around the American Dream and how it is an illusion. Gatsby worked to earn more money than he could ever need, but always felt like something (Daisy) was holding him back. He never actually achieved success because in his mind, Daisy was all he ever wanted, and she was the one thing he could never obtain.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Thing About Jellyfish- Book Review

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The Thing About Jellyfish is a realistic fiction book about a young girl who is trying to process the loss of her best friend. The book is easy to read, yet it has more mature themes like death.

Suzy Swanson, the protagonist, is suspicious of how her best friend, Franny died. She was told that Franny drowned on a vacation in Maine, however, after a school field trip, Suzy is convinced that Franny was stung by an Irukandji jellyfish.

Before her death, Franny began to become friends with the popular girl group and forgot about Suzy. Suzy tried to win Franny back, but before she could, Franny died.

Devastated at Franny’s death, Suzy stopped speaking because she did not see anything positive to say. Her parents were so worried about her that they sent her to a therapist, Dr. Legs.  Not speaking also prevented Suzy from making new friends.

The story is told from Suzy’s point of view. It depicts how she processed the last few months of their friendship and the months following Franny’s death. I would give this book an 8/10 overall and would recommend this for teens who are going through a death or losing a friendship.

-Janna G.

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.