Book Reviews

Joan Goodwin has always dreamed of the stars. In 1980s Houston, NASA is finally willing to begin integrating women astronauts into the program. With her group of fellow astronaut candidates, Joan navigates a world of love, family, and friends in a word slowly beginning to accept diversity.

I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Having enjoyed other Reid books, I knew I would have some level of enthusiasm, but I liked it much more than I thought I would. For starters, I have always been intrigued by space and space travel, so I especially enjoyed the whimsical personality Joan obtained throughout the story. I also absolutely adored the relationship between Joan and her niece, Frances. Frances was probably my favorite character by far, as she was so lively and felt so real even as a fictional child. I didn’t care for the love story much, which would be my only complaint, but I was fascinated at how well Reid weaved the intricacies of romance and occupations in the time period of the 1980s.

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the third book in The Inheritance Games series and cannot be read as a standalone.
The final installment follows the final weeks leading up to Avery Grambs’s eighteenth birthday when she will officially inherit Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. This book introduces a visitor from outside the Hawthorne family, adding a new mystery and extra layers of conflict.
In my opinion, while I enjoy the concept of the universe and the puzzles, this book felt somewhat unnecessary. I understand that a satisfying conclusion was required, but by this point, the mystery felt forced and the love triangle drama felt like filler. Additionally, Avery’s character still felt overly adaptable and lacked distinctive growth, and the series’ signature riddles and puzzles, while clever, no longer felt as engaging or surprising. The resolution wrapped up loose ends but did so in a way that sometimes felt rushed or convenient.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first two books in the series and enjoy puzzle-driven mysteries, family intrigue, and romantic tension.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the second book in The Inheritance Games series and it can’t be read as a standalone.
The book is about solving the mystery of how Avery Grambs is connected to Tobias Hawthorne and why she inherited his fortune. The story introduces more riddles, puzzles, and twists, while simultaneously intensifying the love triangle conflicts between Grayson Hawthorne and Jameson Hawthorne.
In my opinion, the book was engaging and kept me turning pages quickly, with clever puzzles and moments of suspense that made it fun to read. But, while the sequel expands the mystery, it lacks the tight-pacing or the satisfying puzzle-solving of the first book, often leading to repetition of structure. The novel leans heavily into the love triangle and ongoing riddles, but the central reveal doesn’t feel as impactful as the buildup suggests. Like many middle books in a trilogy, it spends more time setting up future twists than delivering a fully satisfying story on its own.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first book in the series and enjoy mysteries, clever puzzles, and romantic tension.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs, a teenage girl living in her car, when she—out of the blue—becomes the youngest billionaire when she inherits billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s money.
The catch? She has to live in the Hawthorne Mansion alongside the family Tobias Hawthorne just disinherited while solving riddles and puzzles.
In my opinion, this book was enjoyable. The short chapters led to a fast-paced book with a love-triangle subplot. Personally, I found most of the characters likable except for Jameson Hawthorne—one of Tobias’s four grandsons—and Avery, herself. Jameson had a tendency to speak in riddles and nonsense that made no sense, and his “rebellious” behavior was, at points, irritating. While Avery Kylie Grambs is positioned as a relatable and grounded protagonist, her personality often feels too adaptable and indistinct, making it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with her.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy fast-paced mysteries, riddles and brain teasers, and love triangles.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani follows the two opposite best friends Sophie and Agatha, who are unexpectedly taken from their village home to the fabled School for Good and Evil where children are trained to become fairy-tale heroes and villains.
Sophie, who dreams of being a princess with her pink dresses and countless good deeds, is placed in the School for Evil, while Agatha, who sees herself as an outcast, is sent to the School for Good.
As they struggle to fit into their unexpected roles, the girls begin to question what truly makes someone “good” or “evil,” and their friendship is tested as they try to find a way back home.
In my opinion, this book was great. The writing style was entertaining and descriptive, and I thought it was a unique twist on common fairytale tropes. Sophie and Agatha were both likable characters for entirely different reasons—Sophie is more than what she seems while Agatha cannot see past her appearance.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy twisted fairy tales, magical school settings, and character-driven stories.

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi is about Kareem, a Syrian-American boy excited for seventh grade until everything starts going wrong for him.
His best friend moves away, he doesn’t make the football team, and because he’s Syrian, he’s asked to show a new student—a Syrian refugee—around school, but he’s embarrassed by the boy’s thick accent.
Later, the football team’s quarterback—and the coach’s son—offers to help Kareem get a spot on the spring team, but only if Kareem does something he knows is wrong. On top of all that, Kareem’s mom returns to Syria to help her family, just as the 2017 Muslim Ban is put into place.
In my opinion, this was a nice coming-of-age middle-grade novel about a Muslim boy learning to do the right thing and navigate the challenges of identity, friendship, and belonging. The plot was mostly predictable and the characters seemed pretty one-dimensional. Personally, I’m not a big fan of books written in verse, but others may like that.
I would recommend this to those who enjoy stories about cultural identity, middle school struggles, and sports-themed coming-of-age tales.

"Everything We Never Had" follows four generations of a Filipino-American family: Francisco, a revolutionary alive during the zoot suit riots in the 1930s. Emil, his son, who refuses to follow in his father's footsteps. Chris, who seeks to learn more about Filipino-American history despite the fact that his father hasn't told him anything about their ancestry. And Enzo, who attempts to bridge the differences between his grandfather, Emil, and his father, Chris, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a story about intergenerational trauma, finding your identity, and reconnecting with the past.

I really loved the exploration of Filipino-American history in "Everything We Never Had." This is something often underrepresented in YA books, so having this touching story in a form accessible to teens was really impactful. It was also really interesting to see each generation's story slowly come together to create a meaningful message. The only reasons I didn't give this book a higher rating is because personally I'm not a fan of stories set during the Covid-19 pandemic, and also because the time skips for each generation were somewhat confusing, leaving me lost on the individual plots and characters at times. Other than that, this is a worthwhile read if you are looking to learn more about Filipino-American history in the form of a relatable and meaningful YA book.

The Great Gatsby is an amazing novel that follows the story of Nick Carraway when he moves to New York City. The man who lives next to him, Jay Gatsby, is very mysterious to Nick. He throws lavish parties that shine bright into the night with a multitude of guests. Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan, who lives on the other side of a wide river from Nick and Gatsby, catches the attention of Jay Gatsby but is already married to a Tom Buchanan. The Great Gatsby explores the themes of love, social hierarchy, fake relationships between the rich, and the American Dream through an intriguing story and symbols.

The first few pages of The Great Gatsby did not immediately catch my attention. The more I read into the book and understood the deeper meanings and deepening intricacies of the characters, the more that I loved the book. The Great Gatsby is a wonderfully written book with an amazing story filled with deep and meaningful symbols. It highlights problems with relationships and social hierarchy that I will keep in my mind for the future. I would recommend you read this book!

When Jackson Hurd's family decides to take 14-year-old Joseph Brook under their wing, they are warned about Joseph's past: he almost killed a teacher and was incarcerated, and he has a 3-month-old daughter, whom he's never seen. Things begin a little awkward between the Hurds and Joseph, but as Joseph warms up to them and starts seeing a future for himself, he reveals the ghosts that have been haunting his past - as well as his desperation to see his daughter, Jupiter. Together, the Hurds and Joseph search for Jupiter, but the mission brings more dangers to their family, and Joseph, than expected.

To put it simply, this book was devastating. It was beautiful and gut-wrenching at the same time. The story is told entirely through the eyes of 12-year-old Jackson as he's processing things he's supposedly too young to deal with, and the way Schimdt uses simple, straightforward language portrays his thoughts perfectly while still retaining the uncertainty and seriousness of the situation. I loved how Joseph was characterized, and I enjoyed the little moments of childlike bonding between him and Jack, as well as his journey in finding himself and discovering his interests. The twists towards the end were unexpected and tragic, but it culminates in a hopeful ending. Overall, this book did a great job shedding light on and humanizing the children in similar positions to Joseph, as well as showing that there is triumph even in the darkest times.

Conrad of Urwin lives in a brutal Meritocracy, where people are divided into Highs, Middles, and Lows based not only on their family's legacy, but also their strength in combat. As Conrad and his mother struggle as Lows, he soon has no choice but to turn to the person he loathes most in this world - his uncle. And while his uncle promises to reunite Conrad with his sister, the only way to save her is to enter the Selection for the Twelve Trades and prove that he is powerful enough to earn his place in the Urwin family. However, as he embarks on this dangerous journey, Conrad must decide how far he will go in order to rise...

As much as I wanted to like "Sky's End," I honestly couldn't find any redeeming qualities within the story. From the very beginning, the writing style and pacing were off, making the book extremely difficult to read, as the time skips completely interrupted the flow and action. Not only did this severely affect the story itself, but it also made significant events (like character deaths) seem to carry no weight. Additionally, there was no clear organization or climax to the story, making the entire book seem stagnant, confusing, and rushed. None of the characters (including Conrad) were likable or dynamic, and the sexist undertones throughout the book and blatant objectification of female characters did not sit right with me as a reader.

Carrie Soto had it all. Since training with her father since the age of two, she has become the only women’s tennis player to win 20 grand slams. Her career was shaped by grueling and tireless matches, and now one woman threatens to take it all. The year is 1994 and Nicki Chan has officially matched Carrie’s record of 20 slams. Not willing to let her greatest player title be taken, Carrie makes the shocking decision to come out of retirement at age 37 in order to defend her record.

Wow! This book was really exciting! I originally picked it up because I’m a tennis player and was very interested to read a book about tennis, and Taylor Jenkins Reid did not disappoint. Carrie Soto is not by any means a character I felt compelled to root for, but as she continued to develop and her story evolved, I found myself inexplicably drawn to her passion of the sport. I specifically enjoyed how Reid developed her character through the coaching of her father, Javier. Despite the bumps and complications of their relationship, Reid describes a genuine and emotional connection between the father and daughter, and it was beautiful to read.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a cozy, heart-warming story about a caseworker who investigates a top secret orphanage filled with magical children. This is not an intense read by any means, and it has a good bit of humor as well as some lovely commentary about the nature of love and chosen family. I thought it had a relatively slow start, but I'm very glad I stuck with it. I think this book is meant to open the hearts and minds of the reader alongside the protagonist. A refreshing, wholesome story that kept me hooked until the very end.

The Case for a Creator is a fascinating non-fiction read. In this book, Strobel recounts his travels across the country interviewing scientific professionals across disciplines, including cosmology, astronomy, physics, biochemistry, genetics, and consciousness. His goal was to investigate each of these fields to determine whether scientific evidence points towards or away from the possibility of an intelligent creator, or God. This book is, at times, a more difficult read, but it has been truly mind-opening. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of religious stance.

I really enjoyed Little Women more than I thought I would. The March sisters each have such distinct personalities, and watching them grow up and navigate life felt really relatable, even though the story is from the 1800s. I especially loved Jo, her independence and passion for writing really resonated with me. Some parts felt a little slow, especially the family’s daily routines, but the overall story is heartwarming and full of lessons about family, love, and perseverance. Definitely a classic worth reading.

I found Jane Eyre surprisingly emotional and engaging. Jane is such a determined and independent character, especially considering the time period the book was written in. I really appreciated how the story shows her personal growth and moral strength. The gothic elements added some suspense, especially in the Thornfield parts. Some sections were a bit long, but the story and characters made it worth it. It ended up being one of my favorite classics.

This book was interesting, but also a bit frustrating for me. The writing and atmosphere are really powerful, and the setting feels dark and intense. However, a lot of the characters are difficult to like, especially Heathcliff and Catherine, which made it harder for me to connect with the story. I still appreciated the emotional intensity and the way the novel explores obsession and revenge. Even though it wasn’t my favorite, I’m glad I read it because it’s definitely unique among classic novels.

This book felt really atmospheric to me. Fitzgerald’s writing style is beautiful, and the way he describes the setting and the characters made everything feel vivid. Gatsby himself is such a mysterious and tragic character, which made the story more compelling. I also liked how the book explores themes like the American Dream and how people chase illusions. Sometimes the symbolism felt a bit heavy. But overall, it was a really interesting and thoughtful read.

This book is really entertaining, especially in the second half. In this book, the Augurs go to the Boundary to try to fix it but end of going through and getting stuck, Wirr handles politics and preparing the capital for evacuation, Caeden discovers what he must do to save the world and struggles with his immortal friends, and Asha discover what she must do to help the Boundary effort with her new wealth of power. I really enjoyed the unique struggles Caeden went through with the friends he is enemies with but has loved for centuries, it is a very intriguing dynamic. Davian’s captivity was always exciting to read as it explored his new relationships and struggles to exist in a world they can’t survive in and Asha’s new responsibilities show important themes about the cost of power. The first half of the book can be a bit slow as the setup continues and the entire series in general can be a bit confusing with the timeline, but I think the confusion isn’t too much of an issue and the ending more than makes up for any slog in the first half. It is a somewhat sad but satisfying end that tied up any loose ends very nicely and made me want to read it again as soon as I was done.

This was a good book but some parts were a bit slow to get through. In this book, Davian and Ishelle train at Tol Shen and have to begin dealing with the issue of the failing Boundary, Caeden grapples with who he is and what his duties and past are because of that, and Wirr and Asha handle the major political fallout with the Augur Amnesty, the new Tenets, and having a Gifted as the Northwarden. This story has a lot of setup and world-building for the next book so it can sometimes feel a bit slow. However, Caeden’s journey was really satisfying, especially for people like me who enjoy the type of character that is basically immortal so have to deal more with issues of protecting their friends and the world and having complex relationships. It isn’t the best of the series but it is still good and important.

I loved this book more than I expected to. At first, the language felt a little too formal, but after a few chapters I got used to it and started enjoying Austen’s humor. Elizabeth Bennet is such a strong and witty character, and watching her relationship with Darcy develop was really satisfying. The social commentary about class and marriage still feels surprisingly relevant today. Some parts move slowly, but the dialogue and character interactions kept me interested. Overall, it’s one of those classics that actually lives up to the hype.

Pip has become a local legend and internet crime solving star. Her fame grows exponentially after she publishes her podcast on Andie Bell's murder case, but she promises her family she won't seek out more cases because of the danger it put her and those she loved in. However, when her best friend Conner begs her to help find his missing brother, Pip decides to open one last case and find Jamie Reynolds.

I enjoyed this sequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. In my opinion, the first was better, but the second was still very good. I finished it in less than two days. The second half of the book is especially interesting. Good Girl, Bad Blood doesn't just focus on the mystery, but also the relationships she has with her family, Ravi, Cara, Conner, and her other close friends. Holly Jackson does a wonderful job of exploring how the detective work Pip engages in affects her mental health and relationships. Personally, I found the emotional exploration more interesting than the mystery at times. Jackson makes sure to provide realistic emotions that Pip feels after being targeted while trying to solve her previous case. This book is well worth your time, especially if you enjoyed the first book in the series. It is an epic continuation of a story that started long before Pippa picked up the Andie Bell case.

I picked up this book because I wanted a quick, easy read that would keep me hooked throughout the entire adventure. I was not disappointed. Holly Jackson's novel is creatively put together to keep the reader on their toes, and it is emotionally packed, helping the characters feel real.

For her senior capstone project, Pippa-Fitz Amobi decides to reopen a missing persons case that was closed 5 years ago. And this case is especially close to home, as the victim and her murderer both went to the same high school Pippa is attending. However, suspicious points of evidence convince Pippa the story hasn't truly been told, and she sets out to gather as much information as she can. Each piece of evidence leads Pippa further down a rabbit hole to discover the truth, and as she gets closer to her goal and unknown person begins to threaten her. Pippa struggles to decide if she'd rather have guaranteed safety, or solve the case thats been nagging the back of her brain for years.

This book is 100% worth reading. Before beginning, I had promised myself I would avoid every red herring Holly Jackson planted to lead me away from the real criminal. However, it was unavoidable. Holly Jackson plants, takes away, then replants seeds of doubt about every suspect Pippa interviews. Despite this, when the mystery is solved it makes perfect sense and doesn't feel rushed, and there are little to no major plot holes. If you want a quick a read, then this is the book to pick up. I finished it in 25 hours and enjoyed every single page.

This is a very thought-provoking book that sends important messages about confidence and beauty standards. In this book, Tally Youngblood meets a new trouble-making (like her) friend named Shay after her best friend leaves to go to New Pretty Town after his plastic surgery. When she leaves the city to join the Smoke, a group of Uglies living out in the wilderness, she is told to find them, or she will never get her surgery. However, the people and lifestyle she encounters there make her start rethinking everything. I think how shallow and selfish she is portrayed is very interesting because most protagonists aren’t like that and it really shows the effect her society has had on her. She has been trained to be how she is, and I think the story of her overcoming that was way more interesting than it would have been had it been from the perspective of someone who had already overcome that like Shay. I think that it has good themes, induces complex discussions, and is overall just a very interesting book.

This book was very thought-provoking and interesting. It tells the story of Davian and Wirr, who run away from the boarding school for Gifted people they live at, and Davian’s journey in learning what his powers are and how to use them. It also explores Caeden, a boy on the run with strange abilities but no memory of who he is, trying to remember himself and help his friends; and Asha, maneuvering through politics in her new state as a Shadow with new friends helping her. I love the character development and writing style this book is full of, plus the plot twists I never saw coming but understood in hindsight were really nice. The characters’ journeys were very exciting, and I found myself reading this constantly, even on reread. I’m glad this whole series came out before I read it, so I didn’t have to wait for the next one.

This was a very entertaining read. In this book, Cole, Mira and the rest of the group travel to Elloweer to find Honor (Mira’s sister), find Dalton, and defeat Morgassa with the help of the resistance and other powerful characters. I would get annoyed anytime I was interrupted while reading because the sequences, especially near the end, were so interesting that I didn’t want to stop reading them. There was a lot of important character development explored in this book through the situations they had to undergo such as with Trillian the torivor and the fight against Morgassa. The exploration of Cole’s powers is interesting and really makes theories start running through my head. It makes me want to keep reading the series.

Jet Mason will be dead in 7 days. When an intruder attempts to murder her on Halloween night, miraculously, Jet survives the initial attack. However, due to other underlying medical issues, doctors are convinced a deadly aneurysm will kill her in a week. In a race against time and health Jet decides she's going to officially accomplish one last thing before the end: she's going to solve her own murder.

This was the most heartbreaking Holly Jackson book I think I've ever read. Despite the dark and depressing topics in this novel, Jackson expertly weaves the most beautiful and heartwarming lessons about life. Jet's character might go down as one of my top favorite characters of all time, as the emotions and actions she displayed were so utterly human and raw in the most terrible of circumstances. As this book is a mystery, I was absolutely on the edge of my seat the whole time! I was desperate to know who Jet's attacker was, and many other plot twists started coming to life. The concept of a woman solving her own murder is so original and far-fetched, but Holly Jackson executed the story perfectly.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury follows the story of a fireman named Guy Montag. While in our time a fireman might put out fires, in Fahrenheit 451 the fireman's job is to start them. In this time, all books are banned and any book found is burned. In this world knowledge is an enemy to the power of the government and they try to do everything to stop the spread of knowledge through books. Screens and advertisements are everywhere, there is no way to hide. Montag who originally is against books and enjoys his job meets a girl named Clarissa McClellan who talks to him about happiness and his job. Through the conversation Montag starts to question if what he is doing is right and starts to realize that books might not be as bad as he thought.

Fahrenheit 451 is a novel that everyone should read. Fahrenheit 451's theme about the importance of books and the preservation of knowledge cannot be understated. The characters and events in the book are very fleshed out and the development of Montag as a person makes you think. The setting, plot, and characters are all excellent and make for a novel that you do not want to put down.

This book was an absolute page-turner. It hardly mattered that it’s written for kids and preteens. It was still very interesting at an older age. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover on a quest to get a lightning bolt back from Hades and get it back to Zeus. All the while, monsters hunt them down and they try to rescue Percy’s mom from the underworld. The characters are very likeable and relatable and this was a nice, quick read that was very enjoyable.

This story was just as amazing as the first book of the series. There were so many interweaving stories as different sides fight to put a new king on the throne after the last one died with arguments over who the heir is and whether a section should secede. It’s very complex but has nuance that was interesting and didn’t confuse me despite its complexity. It’s a long book but it feels like it goes but in a flash with how captivating and entertaining it is. This is a book I wish I could read for the first time again.

Murtagh is part of the Inheritance Cycle series, and like all the other books, is written extremely well. This book follows Murtagh and Thorn after Eragon's main story has concluded. Thorn and Murtagh have focused their lives on surviving and mostly avoiding towns. That is, until they discover something Murtagh thinks is too interesting to ignore. Their travels lead them through multiple fatal encounters with a witch, a giant fish, and requests from werecats. Not only do the dragon and Rider have to try and defeat a witch that might be even more dangerous than Galbatorix, they also need to make peace with themselves. This book, while set in a fantasy world with all its problems, still manages to focus on the main characters' feelings and emotions. Anyone returning to the Inheritance Cycle would enjoy this book.