Tag Archives: book review

Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (Some Spoilers!)

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*Be advised this book is for older readers*

Last week, I finished the first book in the series Zodiac Academy: The Awakening! This was an extremely good read! The minute I started reading, I couldn’t set this book down! It was so ADDICTING!

The book starts off with 2 twins, Tory and Darcy Vega, who live together in a crappy studio apartment, and are struggling to get by. They are thieves and will steal from others if it means that is how they must survive. One day, a mysterious stranger approach one of the twins, which happens to be Tory, at a bar, claiming that they are actually Fae, and must claim their birthright in a magical land known as Solaria. Obviously, Tory laughed at the sheer idea of ruling a place she has never heard of. The stranger, however, wouldn’t stop until his task was finished, so he broke into the twin’s home, and tried his luck one more time.

After several attempts, the twins finally agreed only because he told them about how they can claim their inheritance as long as they graduate. Suddenly transported into the world of Fae, the twins suddenly realize how harsh and ruthless the Fae can truly be, and graduating from this place will be much harder than they expected. Well, you might be thinking, “At least you can enjoy your throne, right?”. Wrong.

After their parents died, the Celestial Family took over, and each had a son. Obviously, their kids didn’t want the newly-found-heirs to inherit the throne, so along comes a series of pranks gone WAY too far, and tensions rise dramatically.

Throughout the book, I find many references to other books and plots. For me, this book is a mix of Harry Potter-Horoscopes/Zodiac Signs-and a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender. To be honest, this is only the first book in the series, and I am already HOOKED! Out of 5 stars, I would give it a 5.1!!

The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright

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I started The Rent Collector over the summer and it was super sweet with a great message. I put off reading this book for a while because it was summer homework, but I ended up enjoying it. Going into it, I didn’t really have any expectations and honestly had no clue what the book was about. However, by the end, I was glad I read it.

The Rent Collector is set in Cambodia in a trash dump that Sang Ly and her family call home. Their family, like many others, barely scrape by, having to risk their lives to earn any ounce of money along with all of the awful living conditions that come from living in a dump. For the cherry on top, there is the rent collector, Sopeap, who comes by and gathers money from everyone in the dump. One day, when Sopeap comes to collect their rent, Sang Ly discovers that Sopeap knows how to read. Sang Ly, determined to get a better life, gathers the courage one day to get Sopeap to teach her how to read. Throughout the story, Sang Ly finds out secrets of the past and begins to understand others through the power of literature. Together, Sang Ly and Sopeap learn to heal and grow as people. 

This was such a sweet book that was honestly kind of impactful for me. The themes woven into the story were beautifully done with the inclusion of other pieces of literature and short stories the Wright placed in it. While the literature was part of the theme itself, the literature helped to create themes that the characters acted on. I found it was super fun to connect the stories to the characters in the book. Of course this was done on purpose, but to see it play out in a different interpretation in their life was cool to read. 

I think what helped make this book seem so real were the characters Wright had. Much of the story was inspired by real places and real people and to think that people who have such a hard life can be so fulfilled and so strong is very motivating. This book helps to provide insight to how some people really live, showing the lows and highs of reality, and how different people’s lives can be. This book ended with a happy ending, but to know that this was just one story out of so many that don’t get to end so nicely is so powerful. Some of the scenes in this book were so sad and dark, making them eye opening and actually had me put the book down for a bit because it happened so suddenly or because I didn’t expect something like that to happen. My heart ached for some of the characters because of what they had gone through, especially because these characters were inspired by real people. 

Overall, The Rent Collector was a great read that can hit a lot of emotions if you really read it. To be honest, I was just going to go through the motions when I began, but I got sucked in and found that I really enjoyed what this book was saying. I would definitely recommend this book to those looking for something to read.

-Nicole R.

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

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Recently, I read Outliers, a book explaining success and the reasons behind it, as well as delving deeper into the factors that cause success, such as background, family, and other factors. This book was definitely an interesting read, as it unpacked the causes of success, which is the central ambition of many people.

Gladwell introduces the book with the phenomenon of the Roseto effect, named after a study on the town done in the 1950s. During this study, the doctors performing it were shocked to realize that the people living in the town had the lowest rate of heart disease, and the lack of any heart conditions in general, leading to the discovery of the phenomenon that living together in a tightly-knit community indirectly contributes to less heart disease. The author then explains how Roseto was an outlier and the factors that contributed to it, looking beyond the general assumptions.

After the introduction, Gladwell proceeds to go on to explain several different phenomenons, such as the common belief and stereotype of Asians being good at math, by looking at cultural and linguistic factors, as well as the rise of Joe Flom, a takeover lawyer during a period of time when companies did not do many cases such as those. These are the two most interesting “outlier” cases he went over in my opinion, but he went over a handful of other ones that are just as interesting.

Overall, I think this was a great read, as it went over several interesting topics, analyzing them beyond the surface details, and teaching us to look at the other side of things. I would recommend this book for anybody who is interested in sociology, or success stories in general.

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

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

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The Secret Keepers is a novel by Trenton Lee Stewart.  Stewart is well-known for writing the Mysterious Benedict Society series, but this is a stand-alone book.  The story is about a boy named Reuben who lives alone with his mother.  His mother works multiple jobs just to make ends meet, while Reuben spends much of his time roaming the streets.  One day, Reuben finds a mysterious antique watch.  At first, Reuben plans to sell the watch so that he can provide some financial support for his mother.  However, he soon discovers that the watch has magical powers.  This discovery is exciting, but it also leads to a dangerous series of events.  A villain called “The Smoke” threatens to steal the watch from Reuben.  Reuben finds himself in a race against time to stop The Smoke from executing his sinister plan.

One of my favorites elements of this book is the characters themselves.  They are very interesting and well-developed.  I enjoyed learning about their backgrounds as the story progressed.  I also enjoyed the mystery of this story.  The plot includes many twists and turns, and several surprises.  The magical aspects of the story give it a surreal feeling that I enjoyed very much.  Overall, the book is very engaging throughout, and I often felt anxious to find out what would happen next.

I am a big fan of the Mysterious Benedict Society series, which led me to this book.  Even though this book is based in a different universe, I found it just as enjoyable as the Mysterious Benedict Society books.  The story is highly adventurous and suspenseful.  I would highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoys Stewart’s other books.

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Eighteen Years by Madisen Kuhn

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Growing up, I have always loved to read poems but it was not until around 2 years ago when I decided to read my first poem book. After hearing it as a recommendation from some friends and seeing it on social media, I decided to pick up the book Eighteen Years by Madisen Kuhn.

While I greatly enjoy reading the classics, I think it is equally as important to indulge in easier reads like this one. Eighteen Years is made up of over 200 poems, a few of them being accompanied by Laura Supnik’s creative illustrations. Each poem is uniquely different, and Kuhn wrote it to be a source of comfort for her readers.

Personally, I would recommend Eighteen Years for an older teen audience: those 15 and older. The poems are not inappropriate, but I believe that an older teen would get the most out of the book due to its relatable nature for those who have lived more of their teenage years. Some topics of discussion within the poems include relationships, personal growth, and friendships. 

Similar to my own opinion, most reviews on this book are overwhelmingly positive. With this, some people have proven to be critical of its writing, but these reviews are from a predominantly older audience that would most likely not relate to the experiences as much. For this reason, I think the book is extremely beneficial for a teenager to read to help them through these confusing years of their life.

Next time you are looking for a light-hearted read, consider Eighteen Years as it greatly inspired me to read more poetry books and poetry as a whole.

– Taylor O.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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This review may contain spoilers

When I finished Daisy Jones and the Six, I stared at my ceiling for a few minutes before turning back to page one and starting all over again.

Daisy Jones and the Six details the rise to fame of a young artist, Daisy Jones. Simultaneously, Billy Dunne’s band, The Six, is also gaining popularity and attention. As both Daisy and the Six gain popularity and status in the world of music, producers see that their collaboration would break the charts. This collaboration formed one of the most beloved bands of the 1970s, Daisy Jones and the Six. Through not only their music, but their interviews and personal relationships, they attracted a huge devoted fan base. By utilizing multiple point of views, Taylor Jenkins Reid builds a wonderful world full of love and rock-and-roll!

I personally enjoyed every aspect of this book. From the romance, to the found family, to the vivid characters, and the band’s amazing lyrics, I was hooked. Taylor Jenkins Reid had me bent over laughing out loud with her use of the different characters’ points of view. While some are in tune, others completely contradict each other in the funniest manner. This book is one of those books you cannot put down, and it is such an addicting read. Jenkins Reid is also very good at dropping a fantastic quote that will leave you pondering and inspired. I really enjoyed the relationship of the leads, Billy and Daisy, but the background characters were what made this novel it for me. Their relationships in the spotlight are so touching and heart-warming. While they struggle with their new-found fame and not receiving equal attention or credit, they stand up for themselves and don’t allow anyone to disrespect them.

To conclude Daisy Jones and the Six is a must read! With colorful characters and wonderful world building, the reader is truly immersed in the 1970s music scene. If you read the book and enjoyed it, you must also check out the Prime adaption of the book starring Sam Claflin and Elvis Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough. Along with the adaptation is a phenomenal soundtrack which brings to life the lyrics in the novel! AURORA, the band’s hit album, can be found on many streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

This book may contain themes not appropriate for all readers.

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

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**this review contains spoilers**

I was building up my anticipation for weeks on end after finishing Fourth Wing, for it’s sequel Iron Flame to release. Still following Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson as well as other students in attendance at Basgiath War College. This book was actually longer than the first book with a whopping 600+ pages, but I was accomplished to finish it as quickly as I could to avoid spoilers.

Here, it picks up from a MASSIVE cliffhanger being that Violet’s brother, Brennan is in fact alive. The book picks up the storyline from when it ended and doesn’t skip over time but lets the readers return back to this fantasy world. Violet and Xaden are continually maintaining their relationship with ups and downs throughout the book. Especially with Xaden graduating from Basgiath, he is sent to a war post and isn’t in close proximity to Violet as they were in the first book.

More problems arise with more people knowing about the Venin and Wyvern which causes a panic amongst all students in attendance not only those in the Riders Quadrant. Officials, captains, generals, constantly argue with one another about what plan is truly beneficial for Navarre and to keep it brief, there’s a lot of stubbornness from both ends. Half of Basgiath leaves to go to Xaden’s home where they will continue their leanings; due to the Venin likely to attack Navarre. Here, Gryphon fliers join them which causes conflicts between Riders and Fliers but in the end they are able to put their differences aside.

Throughout Iron Flame, there is also the introduction of a lot of new characters which just adds to the depth of the storyline. Seeing snarky teenage Andarna is always a treat and can we talk about her being the SEVENTH type of dragon…..jaw dropping.

There are so many theories that have formulated because of Iron Flame, and I’m here for it. Does Xaden have any more secrets? How will he stop being a Venin? Does Violet have a second signet because of Andarna because a special dragon? To add on, would her second signet be something related to the dead? Especially with that moment between her and Liam while she was essentially getting tortured. Who knows, besides Rebecca Yarros! Those that have read this review probably will continue to read the 5-book series, and I’m excited to share this journey with my fellow readers.

-Madison C.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a fantastic read that has blown up on TikTok as one of the prized #BookTok books. That is where I first discovered the book before heading out to buy it at my nearest Barnes and Noble.

The story starts with one of our main characters, Monique Grant who works as a journalist at a magazine called Vivant. She is the storyteller that Evelyn Hugo, one of the most renowned actresses personally invited to tell her life story. Not some baloney that would sell copies, but the hard, cold, and raw truth. Monique is a regular, even a rookie journalist, not some big shot everyone knows. Why would Evelyn Hugo, someone who is known for not exposing her personal life into the public choose her to make her debut? That is a startling question with a soul crushing answer.

The layout of the story is very, very interesting and different. You would jump from Evelyn’s story to suddenly, it became the interview between Monique and Evelyn ending. As well as different gossip and rumour newspapers cutting between chapters. I really liked it as it dives into the story before abruptly cutting off at the suspense and making you never want to put it down.

This was a book that I could not put down. The mysterious and glamourous Evelyn Hugo has captivated me with her emotional take on Hollywood and how much many actresses had to sacrifice behind the scenes. The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo is a book that mainly will enjoy. If you like romance or psychological fiction, this is a must read.

The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

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Over the summer, I was told I needed to read two books to be ready for my next school year. One of them being Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. I remember I asked about the book to others who had already read it. I was given various opinions from both sides of the spectrum. I had high hopes going into the book, seeing as it was a classic, but unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly my taste. 

Fahrenheit 451 is set in a futuristic, dystopian world where books were illegal and the lives of many people were dull and so similar that you would be outcasted if you had a different opinion. The main character, Guy Montag, is like any other guy in his city, but what sets him apart is that he works in the fire department. Unlike what we know today, the fire department in the book actually creates fires and burns places down, specifically places infested with knowledge and books. Throughout the book, Montag discovers how wrong society is and begins to stand up for himself and others. Of course, this isn’t taken well and the government tries to shut him down, putting Montag’s life in danger. Montag, finally gaining a sense of humanity and individuality, does his best to gain and spread knowledge, although it causes him harm.

The overall plot of Fahrenheit is great and really enjoyable if you think about it. But in the moment of reading, it can be super hard to immerse yourself into Bradbury’s words. While I am all for repetition to emphasize the importance of an idea, some of the phrases in the book felt like a chore to read through as it was a similar idea that was mentioned again and again. And maybe this was just me, but it was difficult to picture what exactly he was describing in scenes. For example, he would describe a room that could have thousands of different depictions and nothing was good enough for me to settle on. It frustrated me that I couldn’t picture the image Bradbury wanted to paint. 

I think the main thing that influenced my disharmony with the book was the slow buildup of characters. The two characters I found most interesting were Clarisse and Beatty. Clarisse was a teenage girl who was considered an oddity in the society and was socially outcasted. It was nice to read the interactions between Montag and Clarisse mainly because it finally showed another perspective and was the first step to help Montag find himself. Beatty was the captain of Montag’s fire department, but unlike Montag, was his own person and had his own beliefs which happened to match with the government and rules he enforces. Both Beatty and Clarisse, while they were stepping stones for Montag’s development, also gave the book variety and a set of very enjoyable characters in the long run. However,  it took super long for Montag’s development to happen and most of the other characters didn’t show up often and were mainly only used to help grow Montag. Most of the characters were less secondary protagonists and more like prominent side characters which made it hard to read, since Montag was already a difficult character to get attached to because of his lack of character.

Fahrenheit 451 has a good plot and storyline, but I felt like there could have been more done with other aspects, such as the characters and descriptions. The book is by no means bad, but it just doesn’t fit my tastes. While this book is really my type, I wouldn’t stop anyone from reading and experiencing it myself. If you ever find yourself getting to read this book, by all means, please do. Give the book a shot, maybe you’ll enjoy it!

-Nicole R.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: A Burning by Megha Majumdar

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Recently, I read A Burning by Megha Majumdar, which is mainly about the story of Jivan, a Muslim girl living in India, who comes from a less fortunate background. She is accused of a crime she didn’t commit, and there are two other characters, Lovely, an aspiring actress, and PT Sir, Lovely’s old gym teacher who is trying to move up in society. This book was definitely a good read, as it is told from multiple perspectives, as well as exposing social issues in India.

The novel starts with Jivan making a post on Facebook regarding a recent terrorist attack that happened at a train station in the Kolabagan slum, where she lives. In this part of the story, the author gives important background into who Jivan is. After a brief online argument with another woman regarding this issue on Facebook, she makes her own post criticizing the government for their lack of action, resulting in suspicion of assisting or participating in the terrorist attack being placed on her, and eventually leading to her arrest. The story then shifts to the perspective of Lovely, who is a hijra, which is considered the “third gender” in India, and an aspiring actress. this part of the story gives background on her as a person as well. then, the perspective shifts to PT Sir, the only male teacher at an all girls school, whose desire to move up in society eventually causes him to join the JKP, a right-wing political party in India.

As the story progresses, both Lovely and PT Sir realize that they must work against Jivan in the ensuing legal case in order to boost their own position in society. This causes both of them to work against Jivan in her already precarious position. Although I won’t spoil the ending, This story makes us question whether we will choose our own personal paths and careers over the well-being of others, and it brings up the question of character. However, it also exposes other issues in India, such as the persecution of minority groups, as well as corruption within politics. This was a great book in my opinion, as the shifting perspectives between the three main characters in this book really gives a good view into the world within this story. All in all, this was a great read, and I would recommend it for anybody who is interested in learning about social issues as well as those looking for an interesting read!

A Burning by Megha Majumdar is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.