Review: The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid

The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid
by Kate Hattemer

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 18th, 2020

The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid by Kate Hattemer is a funny, witty, and an all-around great read. The book centers around Jemima Kincaid, a high school senior completely centered around feminism. Following Jemima’s friends, sexist school traditions, and romances, this is a funny, eye-opening, and socially aware book. Hattemer excellently incorporates and challenges the biases that we have in our own minds and the misogyny that is perpetrated in our everyday lives. While this is a young adult novel, there is use of profanity and several sexual scenes and in light of that, I recommend this book to people 15 and older. A short and quick read, I really enjoyed The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid and recommend it.

Review: Aurora Rising

Aurora Rising
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 7th, 2019

In the year 2380, Tyler Jones, star cadet of Aurora Academy, is ready to graduate and take command of his own squad. Right before the ceremony, he rescues a teen girl from an abandoned ship in space and misses the entire thing. As a result, he gets stuck with the cadets no one else wanted: a snarky diplomat, an tough-but-kind ace pilot, a quiet scientist with no qualms about shooting her squadmates with a stun gun, a alien fighter with anger issues, and a smart aleck mechanic. Then there’s Aurora, who's been stuck in suspended animation for two centuries and is the key to uncovering a deadly conspiracy.

Aurora Rising, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, is a whirlwind of a book. It alternates between the perspectives of each squad member, and really gives each one their moment to shine. There’s plenty of action, balanced with sweet scenes that build the relationships between characters, and of course, lots of sarcasm and banter. A lot of backstory is left unknown by the end, and the cliffhanger absolutely killed me. Still, I loved reading this book and recommend it for fans of sci-fi, motley crews, and epic quests.

Review: Killing November

Killing November
by Adriana Mather

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019

KILLING NOVEMBER is a thrilling murder mystery that revolves around our heroine, November, a happy-go-lucky small town girl who gets thrown into a world of murderers, assassins, and all-around tricksters when she wakes up at the elite Academy Absconditi boarding school. Completely out of her element in a school where violence and deception are key, November’s life gets thrown even more off balance when she discovers a murdered student on campus. With the help of her uptight roommate and said roommate’s smooth-mouthed brother, November sets off to figure out who the killer really is, while simultaneously uncovering her suspiciously secretive heritage. Unfortunately, November’s suspect list is unbearably high, every student seemingly having a bone to pick with our energetic heroine. With no contact to the outside world, including her beloved father, November hopes that she can solve this murder before she winds up next on the killer’s list.

Regarding the overall plot, KILLING NOVEMBER definitely has a lot going on. I mean, it’s not impossible to follow or anything, but it moves very fast, and my opinions of characters were constantly changing throughout the book. However, that’s what is so fun about it: the twists and turns keep the story fresh and alive up until the very end! I’m trying not to spoil anything here, so let’s just say that if you like murder mysteries, drama, assassins, or even just interesting characters, you should take a peek at KILLING NOVEMBER, stay for a couple pages, and then decide if it’s something you want to invest in! I really do recommend giving this one a read, I definitely enjoyed it.

Review: XL

XL
by Scott Brown

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019

In his moving new novel, Scott Brown tells the story of 4’11” Will Daughtry. With best friend and stepbrother Drew and longtime crush Monica at his side, Will is set to conquer the world in spite of his short stature. But on the day of his sixteenth birthday, nothing goes right for Will and he is left wondering if he is destined to be invisible for the rest of his life. Then, against all odds, Will starts to grow. And grow. And grow. Suddenly, he’s no longer invisible. But that comes with its own set of problems, problems that Will must overcome with the help of his best friends. XL is a heartwarming novel about what a pain it is to grow up and how to embrace change.

It felt somewhat ironic that I, a 6’3” sixteen year old, was reading this book. I’ve never had to deal with the problem of being short, and so my eyes were really opened by Will’s strife. Throughout XL, I was rapt, each chapter leaving me more engaged with the story and yearning to find out more. The book’s only downfall was an ending that left me wanting just a bit more. Despite this, XL was a fantastic book, filled with humor, intelligence, and irrefutable truths. Let’s just say that the next book I read will have some big shoes to fill.

Review: Immoral Code

Immoral Code
by Lillian Clark

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 19, 2019

IMMORAL CODE by Lillian Clark is an honestly written Robin Hood-like story about coming of age, fighting for what’s right, and the rollercoasters of friendship. IMMORAL CODE focuses on a plan to rob the privileged and callous billionaire known as Robert Foster, whose eccentric wealth is also the reason his daughter, Bellamy, does not qualify for MIT financial aid. Since Foster’s only presence in Bellamy’s life is childcare payments, Bellamy’s dreams of MIT and space travel are practically over; at least, until her tech-wiz friend Nari comes up with the heist to end all heists. Bellamy and her group of friends pack up for a Spring Break trip consisting of donuts, horror movies, and taking seven thousand dollars right out from under Foster’s nose; you know, normal teenage stuff.

I have to admit, the writing in this book primarily focuses on each character’s inner monologues, right down to every specific thought and detail; in the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I liked the writing style, but it soon grew on me, as it made the characters feel much more fleshed out and was really funny. Clark did a great job at creating each of these characters' unique personalities and relationships to each other, especially staying true to the complicated yet endearing terms of friendship. IMMORAL CODE was a delightful read, and I recommend it to those who enjoy hilarious shenanigans and adventure!

Review: We Regret to Inform You

We Regret to Inform You
by Ariel Kaplan

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 21, 2018

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU by Ariel Kaplan is the scariest, most terrifying horror story I've ever read, and it's a contemporary rom-com. Mischa is a perfect student with all the grades, scores, and extracurriculars that should guarantee her a spot at any college she wants. Yet, she experiences every high schooler's worst nightmare when every single college she applied to rejects her, leaving Mischa without a plan. Digging deeper, she finds her applications have been sabotaged. With a growing list of suspects and still no college plan, Mischa fights the clock to discover who did this to her and uncovers a much darker secret. 

As a rising senior, college is one of the most pressing things on my mind, and it was fun to read the worst possible outcome in a humorous way. The writing and characters were consistent and relatable, and although the beginning may have been a bit better than the rest of the book, it was still an enjoyable page turner. Kaplan seemed to have a better grasp on the actual high school experience than most YA authors, which was refreshing and made the story more immersive and realistic. The ending was a bit rushed and I would have loved a more elaborate conclusion. Overall, this was a fun and exciting read that other high schoolers should check out! 

Review: Anna and the Swallow Man

Anna and the Swallow Man
by Gavriel Savit

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 26, 2016

ANNA AND THE SWALLOW MAN by Gavriel Savit is a captivating and enveloping story about a young Polish girl, who is left defenseless and alone at seven years old after her father is taken to a concentration camp by Germans in 1939. By chance she meets a fascinating man who can speak to birds and comforts her when she is lost. She follows him, having no one else to turn to, and although he initially resists, they begin to travel together through the forests and swamps of Poland, running from the impending dangers of WWII.

Everything about this story is wonderful. The situational irony of Anna’s experiences reveal horrors that Anna can’t understand, giving an interesting perspective to her experiences in the war. The story is gripping and at times heartbreaking. Although incorporating a bit of magical realism, the story is a real and moving depiction of the suffering in WWII. Each character is given extreme care by the author who carefully crafts their stories and interactions and each character grows throughout the book, often out of love for sweet, innocent Anna. The writing is beautiful and expressive, giving fascinating detail as the story slowly unfolds. This was an amazing book and I recommend it to any teens who enjoy historical fiction and a subtle yet thrilling story.

Review: Lifel1k3

Lifel1k3
by Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 29, 2018

In a near future, post-disaster version of Earth, Humans have created Robots with Artificial Intelligence (Logika) that are governed by the Three Rules of Robotics:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Eve, a Domefighter, struggles to make enough money to buy medicine for her sick Grandfather, and to keep her and her friend Lemon safe. Shortly after Eve manifests mutant abilities, they encounter a Lifelike, an Android not governed by the Three Rules. Together, Eve, the Lifelike, and Lemon go on a mission to rescue her kidnapped Grandfather and discover Eve’s mysterious past.

I really enjoyed LIFEL1K3. The book presents issues that may soon be relevant to us, such as becoming too dependent on technology, at what point is AI considered alive, and how humans would react to such changes. However, I was a bit confused as to who the target audience is. The story is rich and thought provoking, yet is written in a way that seems targeted to younger readers. While this is about a common Sci-Fi scenario, I love the depth it goes into about issues with Artificially Intelligent Androids and robots, who can both feel and think for themselves. This book reminds me of the movie Ex Machina. While LIFEL1K3 is nowhere near as intense as Ex Machina, they cover the same issues in similar ways.

Review: Satellite

Satellite
by Nick Lake

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 3, 2017

SATELLITE by Nick Lake follows the narrative of 15-year-old Leo and his friends Orion and Libra as they make the transition from living in space to going ‘home’ to Earth for the first time. Having been born on a satellite that orbits Earth, the trio is forced to navigate the challenges of living on an unfamiliar planet that turns out to be much less welcoming than they’d hoped. 

While this book was emotionally compelling and had plenty of depth, it was written in ‘text-speak’ which replaces words like “you”, “see”, or “someone” with “u”, “c”, and “some1”. This is certainly unique, but it makes the book frustrating to read and made me feel like I was reading the text messages of a kid who hadn’t learned how to spell out full words yet. The author also uses lots of complicated space terms without ever explaining what they are, leaving the reader feeling out of the loop. However, SATELLITE’s concept was very interesting and it felt so much deeper than lots of other Sci-Fi books I’ve read. In all, this book has the potential to be something truly amazing for people that aren’t bothered by lack of complete words. I recommended this book for ages 14 and above due to inappropriate language.

Review: Words in Deep Blue

Words in Deep Blue
by Cath Crowley

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 6, 2017

WORDS IN DEEP BLUE by Cath Crowley is a delightfully John Green-esque narrative exploring the relationship between two recently reunited teenagers, Rachel and Henry, and the world surrounding them and the Howling Books bookstore. Once close childhood friends, a misunderstanding led them to lose touch when Rachel moved away. However, a personal tragedy causes her to return to the city, and to Henry as well. As both Henry and Rachel struggle with the chaos happening in their lives, their friendship slowly begins to piece back together, reigniting some long lost feelings and conflicts.

This book was a great read to kick off the summer, finding a perfect balance between lighthearted fluff and deep raw emotions, packed with genuine surprises and developed characters. Some of the best moments were not between Henry and Rachel, and actually came from side characters like Henry's sister and father. The story was realistic enough to not seem like a cheesy fairytale, but with just enough idealism to avoid becoming bleak. Crowley's tale is a refreshing jaunt from the stale YA romance hallmarks that are becoming cliche and boring, and was such a delight to read. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new take on classic YA storylines, or anyone who just wants a good book to enjoy.

 

Review: Blood Rose Rebellion

Blood Rose Rebellion
by Rosalyn Eves

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 28, 2017

Anna Arden should have it all. Born into Britain's high society, she has looks, brains, and wealth.  But the only thing that matters in Rosalyn Eves' BLOOD ROSE REBELLION is the one thing Anna doesn't have: magic. Born into the Luminate, a social class of magic wielders, Anna's "barrenness" makes her a pariah, and her family sends her to Hungary in exile. There, she learns that magic is not all that it seems, and must choose between the magic she desires among the Luminate...or revolution.

This book was a thrilling mix of LES MISERABLES, REIGN, and DIVERGENT, and is definitely one of this year's strongest fantasy books. The characters and the plot are both very well-written, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. While certain characters are unrealistic in their lack of geopolitical knowledge, it doesn't detract from the novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Review: Lucy and Linh

Lucy and Linh
by Alice Pung

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Alice Pung’s novel, LUCY AND LINH, tells the story of Lucy Lam, who gets plucked out of her Catholic school and thrown into Laurinda Girls’ College: a fancy elite prep school for girls. At Laurinda, though Lucy feels out of place, she attracts the attention of the ruling clique, The Cabinet. The more time she spends with The Cabinet, however, the less true to herself Lucy feels. The story is told through Lucy’s letters to her best friend, Linh, and Pung does an excellent job of capturing Lucy’s honest voice and developing her character as Lucy discovers what is truly important. Lucy is a grounded and strong character, and I think she will appeal to most audiences. Overall, LUCY AND LINH is both surprisingly funny and meaningful at once, and I would recommend it for ages 12 and up.

Review: The Secrets of Tree Taylor

The Secrets of Tree Taylor by Dandi Daley Mackall
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date: May 13, 2014

One early morning, Teresa “Tree” Taylor hears a gun shot fired from across the street. With the dreams of becoming a famous writer, Tree knows this is the big story she’s been waiting for. But the more she goes digging, the more secrets she uncovers. And soon she begins to wonder: When is the truth yours to tell? And when is it right to keep it a secret? Set during the 60s in a small town in Missouri, THE SECRETS OF TREE TAYLOR is the story of family, unexpected friendships, and the power and weight of keeping someone else’s secrets.

Dandi Daley Mackall’s novel is heartwarming, fun, and one I would recommend if you were looking for something easy to read with a good message. I advise that you stick with the book once you start, because the beginning is a little slow compared to the second half. Also, please note that although the description on the back of the book describes the novel as a love story, love is not nearly as big a theme as Tree’s friendships and her investigative writing. I would recommend this book for anyone ages 11 and older.