Tag Archives: book review

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer By Rick Riordan

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Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer is a young adult fantasy novel by famous author Rick Riordan. Magnus Chase, a homeless teenager who discovers that he is the son of a Norse god, embarks on a dangerous quest to stop Ragnarok, the end of the world.

At the beginning of the book Magnus runs away from his uncle’s home and lives on the streets of Boston. After monsters attacked him and Magnus narrowly escaped these beasts, he discovered his true heritage: Magnus is the son of Frey, the Norse God of Fertility and Agriculture.

He meets other Norse gods and heroes in Valhalla, the hall for fallen heroes.
The plot revolves around Magnus and his friends’ quest to retrieve the Sword of Summer, a powerful weapon that can stop Ragnarok. As the story progress, they face several challenges and obstacles, including battling monsters and navigating through different realms of the Norse mythological world.


This book is well-developed and has relatable characters. Magnus is a likable and sarcastic protagonist, and his interactions with his friends, including Samirah, a Muslim Valkyrie, and Hearthstone, a deaf elf, provide insightful perspectives about Norse mythology. The character’s diversity in the book is refreshing and adds depth to the story.


Riordan’s writing style is humorous, witty, engaging, and enjoyable to read. The story’s pacing is also well-done, balancing action scenes and quieter moments of character development.


If you read other Riordan’s books, the plot may be familiar with his previous works, such as the Percy Jackson series. Some of the plot twists may also be predictable for readers who are familiar with Norse mythology. Additionally, the book’s ending may feel rushed and unsatisfying to some readers.


Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer is well-written and entertaining and appeals to fans of Rick Riordan’s previous works and anyone interested in Norse mythology. The relatable characters, engaging writing style, and unique perspective on Norse mythology make it a worthwhile read. This book is available on Libby and at the Mission Viejo Library.

Happy Reading!
Bella H.

Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

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Ending my first year of high school, we read the famous Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet. I will say I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Last summer, I watched the play live thanks to Shakespeare by the Sea, and I thoroughly liked it. But now that I’ve read it, I know that I definitely didn’t understand everything I was hearing. I understood parts of it but some details went in one ear and out the other. Reading the book was enlightening, informative and very interesting; especially in how we can see glimpses of issues that are still happening today.

As many already know, Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy in which Romeo and Juliet are two star crossed lovers who end up taking their own lives. While their deaths are a big part of the tragedy, there are so many other deaths and unfortunate events that come up before the end. Many times, I tend to forget that this story is much more than just some young kids who fall in love and die. The true desperation and helplessness of these two children make things much sadder. The fact that they saw death as their only option can really connect to today’s society. While it may be stupid to die just because you can’t be with your beloved, it’s the fact that they see death as the only option left for them, like many young people today. Young people today may not have the same issue as Romeo and Juliet, but they may feel the same helplessness and the same feeling of being trapped.  It may seem simple to find another way out of this dark situation, but like Romeo and Juliet, people sometimes end up going to the extremes first. Shakespeare was very good at connecting his plays and other writings to reality, and this is just one of the many examples. 

After reading this, I also found that there were so many other people who were affected other than Romeo and Juliet, those mainly being Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, and Benvolio. I thought Mercutio and Paris had to suffer the most. Mercutio got caught in a feud he wasn’t even a part of and Paris had no desire to fight and only wanted to be with his love. And yet (SPOILER) Romeo and Juliet cost them their lives. And then there was Benvolio, who lost everyone around him. He lost his two best friends to a feud that didn’t have any reason to continue. Sometimes innocent people suffer some of the worst consequences. While Romeo and Juliet are already sad by themselves, the deaths of innocent lives truly make this play a tragedy.

Previously, I had liked the play. I thought it was pretty fun, hearing dialogue between each character, watching scenes play out, especially those with Mercutio. Mercutio was my favorite character in the play, probably like most people who have watched or read the tragedy. His Queen Mab monologue was fantastic and I found it a really interesting choice for his character. After reading the play, I enjoyed it more. It isn’t just fun now, it’s truly a tragedy. This play was fun at times, but after reading, I understand how sad it is, for these young people to feel trapped, for them to die so young, for them to suffer. If you ever want to read the famous Romeo and Juliet, I would definitely recommend it as long as you can understand or have a small translation of Old English. I used the Folger’s library edition that includes small translations of words and phrases on the side. Shakespeare was a huge influence and he made some amazing works. I can’t wait to read more of his works in the future! 

-Nicole R.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

1984 by George Orwell

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In the classic 1984, writer George Orwell invents a frightening world in which a totalitarian government, otherwise known as “the Party,” rules its citizens through extreme oppression. Within this highly imaginative society, the Party controls every aspect of an individual’s life, down to their very own thoughts. Any sign of rebellion would result in extreme torture till the point of death. Now, I could go on and on listing every aspect of living in such a society, but the Party’s main goal, one in which they try to engrave into the minds of all citizens, can be summarized perfectly into one sentence: “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.”

Now describing what this dystopian world is actually about, I would say that my favorite aspect of this extremely compelling read would have to be the perspective in which it’s told. 1984 is written through the life of a low-ranking Party member named Winston Smith, who disagrees with the views of the Party and secretly takes part in acts of rebellion. Given his rank, I feel as though Winston perfectly illustrates the experiences of a “common man” in such a society, causing people to sympathize for him as he battles against those “above him.” His philosophical views on life and politics also causes readers to better relate to and connect with his character.

Additionally, despite being a perfect example of Orwell’s brilliant creativity, 1984 also reflects the political climate in which it was written. The novel was originally released in 1949, a time when communism, the Cold War, and nuclear weapons were seen as a global threat to citizens across the world. Learning about this history caused me to appreciate and contemplate the novel even more, as it can also be seen as Orwell’s warning to future readers on a society that can very-possibly come to life if our political landscape isn’t dealt with carefully.

Overall, I found 1984 to be an enticing and eye-opening novel that exposed me to a world I could have never imagined. I truly believe it deserves to be known as one of the best classics ever made, and I can find myself recommending it to all readers.

-Aysha H.

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

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu

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To Remy, Elise was everything—car rides in a bright pink Chevy, blissful nights away from arguing parents, and little bursts of support that made everything okay.

Until Jack.

Jack was the calm, steadying presence in Remy’s life. Rational and kind, sensible and compassionate, everything Remy ever wanted.

Remy and Elise lived on the wild side of life. Elise made days seem effortlessly thrilling. In fact, her favorite movie, Kill Bill, featured a fearless main character that she aspired to be: reckless in the face of danger, courageous when aiding others, and morally right when distributing punishments to those who wronged her.

If anyone came across her or Remy, Elise would make sure they got what they deserved. She exploded fireworks, released mice, and corroded cars, all in the name of justice.

What’s more, Elise was the person who guided Remy outside of her comfort zones, who helped her experience life without fear. Elise was, seemingly, an angel in the form of a rebellious teenage girl, sent just for Remy. When Jack cautions their behavior and disapproves of their ways, Remy has to choose between her two soulmates.

As Elise and Jack’s conflict turns deadly, Remy desperately wishes that she and Elise never met in the first place.

The Best Lies was an excellently crafted novel. Elise’s disobedient nature and Remy’s meek personality are the perfect blend of two entirely different characteristics to develop the plot.

The book was suspenseful and intriguing; I only wanted to discover Elise’s motive, just like Remy. The complicated relationship between Remy, Elise, and Jack was a definite page turner.

I really enjoyed reading Lyu’s writing style and experiencing the story alongside Remy. As her character learns to cope with struggles and eventually overcome them, I felt my own mood reflect Remy’s feelings.

Remy experiences the unimaginable throughout the novel. Love, friendship, betrayal, obsession. All of it. By the end of the novel, Remy learns that only the truth is the best lie.

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon

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The Tower Treasure, by Franklin W. Dixon, is the first book in his popular Hardy Boys series. The main characters are Frank and Joe Hardy, the teenage sons of a detective named Fenton Hardy.  Frank and Joe are amateur detectives, following in the footsteps of their father. Throughout the series, the Hardy boys solve mysteries and help bring criminals to justice.

In this book, Frank and Joe are riding their motorcycles when a speeding car suddenly approaches them from behind and narrowly misses them. The car is traveling too fast for them to read the license plate number. However, they are able to notice that the driver had a “shock of red hair.” A little while later, the Hardy boys find out that their friend’s car has been stolen, and they suspect that the thief is the same person who nearly hit them on their motorcycles. Soon afterward, they learn that forty thousand dollars has been stolen from a place called the Tower Mansion. The Tower’s owner strongly believes that its caretaker, Henry Robinson, committed the crime. Henry Robinson’s son is a friend of the Hardy boys, and they believe that Henry Robinson is innocent. The Hardy boys believe that the man who stole their friend’s car must have also stolen the forty thousand dollars. They need to prove their theory to clear Henry Robinson’s good name.

I have not read all of the books in the Hardy Boys series, but so far this is one of my favorites. Like the other books in the series, The Tower Treasure is relatively short, especially for a mystery novel. Despite this, it is full of suspense and action. It has cliffhangers at the end of almost every chapter, which makes the whole book very exciting. I have read more than ten of the books in this series so far, and I have enjoyed them for the most part. My only complaint is that the books tend to follow a certain formula that seems repetitive after a while. As a result, I found the books to be less suspenseful as I went along. These books are not as complex and well-written as some other mystery novels, such as Agatha Christie’s books. However, I would recommend the Hardy Boys to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, and especially to young readers.

The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

1984 Book Review

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1984, by George Orwell is a suspenseful and disturbing dystopian novel that makes you anxious but excited to turn the next page. 1984 has very distinct and memorable characters which resemble real traits and qualities of a normal person.

The book is called 1984 because George Orwell wrote the book in 1948 and 1984 is how he imagined the future would be. Orwell’s prediction of the future was that nearly everyone was brainwashed by Big Brother and the Party which was an organization trying to control all of Oceania, where the book takes place. Despite the Party’s efforts not everyone is controlled by them.

Some things I like about the book were its explicit detail which allows you to imagine that the world of 1984 is real. Another thing I like about the book was the suspense that makes you want to keep reading. There are many other things I liked about the book including character development of Winston and the pieces learned of his past.

However, there were some things I did not like about the book. One of these things was that in the beginning there is alot of exposition and it is confusing and boring in this part of the book. Another thing is that the symbolism of objects can be confusing such as the glass paperweight which is related to Winston trying to connect with his past.

Despite the controversial opinion on 1984 I think it is a good book and Orwell tells and interesting but disturbing story to be mindful of how important it is to have your own thoughts and beliefs. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian books, or just looking for something to read.

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

Book Review: What If? by Randall Munroe

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Have you ever wondered from what height you would need to drop a steak for it to be cooked when you hit the ground? There’s a book that can answer questions just like that.

I recently got to reading the book What If? by Randall Munroe, the creator of the webcomic xkcd, a satirical take on science and life questions. I enjoyed how the book took real life outlandish scenarios and used scientific concepts to explain them in detail while still being funny and engaging at the same time. The hypothetical scenarios are submitted by readers. Overall, this book is sure to give you a good laugh while opening your eyes to the great, wide world of science.

One of my favorite hypothetical questions from the book was what would happen if a baseball was pitched at 90 percent of the speed of light. I enjoyed how it gave a step-by-step, detailed explanation of what would happen. I also enjoyed the sarcastic humor, as with the rest of the book. The descriptions also paint a good mental picture of what would happen in the questions, helping to keep the book interesting.

Comics are interspersed between the questions as well, keeping the book engaging by helping to convey the outlandish nature of the questions. They will also keep you laughing as you read, as they will occasionally accompany the text with a sarcastic or witty joke.

The book greatly appealed to my sense of humor, with its sarcasm and dry wit. The book even has the bonus of connected online resources and interactive games. These activities connect to the questions in the book, such as a calculator to see how far you could throw various objects, but come with a humorous twist.

Overall, What If? was a great and entertaining read, and I would recommend that more teens look into reading this book, as well as the other books in the series. These include What If? 2 and How To. Both deal with more hypothetical scenarios, approached with the same sense of humor. Not only is this book a great resource, it also helps you to gain a greater enjoyment of science, but above all, What If? is a hilarious book that you can read anytime.

What If? by Randall Munroe is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

BOOK REVIEW – Loveless by Alice Oseman

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(NO {major} SPOILERS! Spoilers will be indicated!) 

Alice Oseman. She’s coming back to steal my heart after Heartstopper. 

This book was aromantic and asexual representation done perfectly. 

If you were to ask me what book I’d recommend to become a new, coming of age, teen-audience type of movie, I’d choose Loveless by Alice Oseman. Without a doubt. 

You may know Alice Oseman as the creator of Heartstopper, a cute LGBT comic that later adapted into the Netflix series of the same name. In addition, she created this  pull-on-your-heartstrings masterpiece. 

Loveless is a coming of age, coming out story of theater girly, Georgia and her small group of friends who desperately try to save their club, the Shakespearean Society, by putting on a strange play. Accompanied by love triangles and corners and plans to find love (ooh, that’s rough), and incredibly strong opinions on Scooby-Doo, this is definitely one of my Top 10 books!

Best of all, it contains my favorite trope: the main character realizes that platonic friendships can be better than romance! 

This book made me cry in my pillow because I felt so understood. 

This book made me see the world through the eyes of a few of my friends. 

This book made me realize that LOVE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ROMANTIC. 

WHY ISN’T THERE MORE REPRESENTATION IN BOOKS?!?!?

Although there were moments where I wanted to throw the book across the room out of disgust and/or “why why why,” overall, I feel like my entire perspective on life changed. Skimming the book again, maybe it’s because Oseman didn’t shy away from topics that are normally not explored in your typical young adult novel. 

Maybe it’s because there were so many lines that resonated with me (spoilers in the next paragraph). Maybe it’s because I realized that friendship is something I could romanticize. 

(SPOILER) I think what hit me the hardest was the fact that near the end, Rooney, our main character’s best friend, says something like: although we’re not romantic partners, I love you. We’re friends, and this is something that I will commit to until the end of time because I LOVE YOU. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH I NEVER CRIED HARDER AT TWO IN THE MORNING. Rooney also says something like: I’m scared to lose any of my friendships because THEY ARE MY ROMANTIC PARTNERSHIPS EVEN THOUGH WE NEVER HAVE ROMANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS I’LL EVER HAVE. 

Loveless was quite possibly the only book to make me sob, make me laugh, make me question my life, and change my perspective… on everything. Everything possible. I love my friends. 

Loveless by Alice Oseman is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: The Q

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THE Q

The Q, by Amy Tintera, is an action-packed dystopian novel that immediately piqued my excitement through its captivating yet scarily realistic worldbuilding. Equally captivating are the introductory characters, whose personalities make you forget you’re reading a book as opposed to watching a live-action movie.

The Q, both the title of the book and the area in which majority of the story takes place, is a post-pandemic quarantine zone in what used to be Austin, Texas, separated from the rest of the country in efforts to contain a deadly virus.

The Q’s residents have since adapted to the conditions of the virus in unique ways, which brings me to my first major points of liking:

  • Tintera’s masterful worldbuilding, covered especially throughout the first half of the novel, truly sets up the essence of a dystopian society corroded by a virus and abandoned by the rest of the world.
  • Ongoing turf wars between the Q’s two ruling clans, the Spencers of the north and the Lopezes of the south, convey that, despite adaptations towards the virus, the residents continue to face societal conflicts.
  • The stakes for the upcoming plot, which involves a life-threatening expedition to leave the Q, are also set up thanks to the efforts put into the world’s details.


Of course, no less effort was given to the story’s main characters, teenagers Maisie Rojas and Lennon Pierce, whose points of views alternate throughout the story. Maisie, who grew up in the Q, accompanies Lennon, the son of a US presidential candidate, in his attempts to escape the quarantine zone after a kidnapping which landed him there. In discussing Maisie and Lennon, I have both positive points and critiques:

  • The readers receive snippets of internal dialogue from both Maisie and Lennon due to the alternating perspectives, making the two feel all the more alive. The two face internal challenges which the book’s target audience can resonate with, easily making it a far more meaningful read.
  • Maisie is the embodiment of a teenager faced with the tragedy of both a dystopian world and personal loss, yet one who has adapted and overcome the challenges thrown at her. She is resilient and realistic, and her occasional bluntness and humorous remarks bring the story to life. 


A personal critique of mine is the romance between the two main characters, or rather, the focus placed on it at around the midway point in which Maisie and Lennon embark on their escape plan. Though many may find this addition to the plot enjoyable, I found it to be both all-too-predictable and a distraction from the already engaging stakes set up. Predictability isn’t always a marker of bad storytelling, however, and the subtly romantic interactions are undoubtedly charming, yet I still found the romance to be an oddity among the fast-paced adventurous plot. The only purpose the addition seemed to serve was acting as a filler as the characters moved from one point of danger to another, yet this could have been done through other, more urgent instances of internal dialogue related to the stakes of escaping the Q. 

The only other, and far more minor, point of dislike of mine was the minimal attention given to likable side characters such as Hadley once the story moves into the point of escaping the Q, though this choice is understandable as highlighting Maisie and Lennon’s journey appears to be the novel’s priority.

All in all, The Q is an exhilarating read that’s impossible to put down thanks to Amy Tintera’s masterful storytelling. Despite criticisms that can easily vary from reader to reader, The Q is definitely a new recommendation of mine for anyone looking to read either a polished dystopian fiction or simply a thrilling new book.

The Q by Amy Tintera is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. 

Murder Your Employer – Book Review

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Murder Your Employer is a great read that I would definitely recommend. Rupert Holmes uses brilliant twists and clever wordplay to keep you turning pages as you follow the suspenseful tales of three aspiring deletists (the McMasters preferred term for murderers).

Cliff, Gemma, and Doria (also known as Dulcie) receive a very unique education at the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, which is kept a secret from the rest of the world. At McMasters, the three soon-to-be deletists study the art of murder and how to properly execute (pun intended) their plans to delete a special person in their lives.

For Cliff Iverson, that person is his despicable employer, Merrill Fielder. Fielder, the senior executive of Woltan Industries, an aircraft manufacturer, changed Cliff’s plans for the W-10, a change that could result in the plane crashing and ending hundreds of lives, should it ever fly. For this reason and many others, Cliff needs to end him. After botching his first attempt to end Fielder, Cliff is taken to McMasters with the support of an unknown sponsor to learn how to properly take lives.

Gemma Lindley enlists at McMasters to end her blackmailer, Adele Underton, who is also her superior at work. However, Gemma doesn’t seem to have it in her to kill, although perhaps McMasters will be able to change that.

Hollywood star Doria Maye, under the false name of Dulcie Mown, enlists at McMasters to delete her employer, Leonid Kosta. Kosta is trying to force Doria to voice a cartoon pig on television, which would turn her from a serious actress into a joke. But Doria is a professional; she knows it’s not curtains for her yet, and she’ll make sure of it.

Murder Your Employer is an excellent book with a fantastic ending that left me completely shocked. However, before you pick up this book, I would recommend checking the lock on your door.

Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.