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You me and him
Author:Kris Dinnison

Plot Summary:

In the beginning of the book, Maggie and Nash are best friends, they had a incredibly strong bond with one another since childhood. It was the first day of school and Nash and Maggie saw a new kid named Tom. Nash is gay so he had a big crush on Tom but it's complicated since he doesn't know if Tom is gay too. But the thing is Maggie secretly likes Tom too but feels very bad since her best friend also likes him. They all became good friends and hung out all together. Soon Tom kissed Maggie unexpectedly at a hangout without Nash. Maggie felt super sorry for Nash since that just happen and felt as if she needed to tell someone so she told one of her old friends named Kayla even though they had a rough past. Kayla spreaded the word and pretty soon Nash found out and became really pissed. Eventually Nash forgave Maggie after a load of emotional drama and Tom came back into their life and everybody became cool again.

What did you think about the book?:

I think the book was good. There were alot of dramatic and unexpected things that has happened in this book. This book was mainly about lasting friendships, love, and relationships. This book was interesting because more action came towards each chapter. I would definitely reccomend this book to a person who gets in these types of situations.
Want
Author:Cindy Pon

Plot Summary:

In this book, Jason Zhao is determined to expose the corruption within the divided society of Taipei and Jin Corp. Jin Corp makes and supplies suits that make people live longer. But the catch? Only the wealthy can afford it while those in poverty suffer from pollution and illnesses made by Jin Corp. With help from his friends, Jason attempts to expose the corruption.

What did you think about the book?:

I like how the book made me think about the future and how certain things like pollution and suits made to protect the people from the outside is a possiblity.
You have a Match
Author:Emma Lord

Plot Summary:

Abby, Connie, and Leo are childhood friends. Leo is Abby’s secret crush. Leo knows that he has been adopted from the Philippines and wants to find his blood relatives. He decides to take a DNA test while Abby and Connie make a bet on who is more Irish as they are learning about finding the family tree in Anthropology. They also take a DNA test but Abby gets the shock of her life when she receives a message from the website that her results found a match with a girl named Savannah (Savvy). Abby gets a message from Savannah saying that she wants to meet her as they are blood sisters according to the website. Abby meets Savannah, and she sees the picture of her parents. She immediately realized that they are friends of her parents. She is shocked. Savannah asks her to join her at Camp Reynolds. At camp Abby is having a lot of issues with Savvy but she explains that being a counselor means a lot to her and she’s trying to do a fair job. Abby tells her that her grandfather got her into photography and Savvy tells that her parents are always interested in wellness, that’s how she got on Instagram. They tried to figure out how their parents knew each other. They were unable to find a common link. They talked about birds and photography. Suddenly Abby takes out the keychain that has Magpie bird as the charm in it. She remembers that her mother gave it to her on the first day of kindergarten along with the house key. Savvy has the same keychain. They think they have found the first link. Both of their parents come to camp and immediately leave as they see each other. Their parents come back to camp and come face to face. Abby tells them about her knowing that Savvy is her sister. Her mom is crying and Savvy's mom yells at her about forgetting the rules. Both parents decide to talk to the girls but Savvy's mom is highly upset. Abby's parents tell her that when they got married her dad got sick and found out that he had a heart defect. When they had Savvy they put her up for adoption because they were unsure of their future. Savvys parents and they were friends but something happened. They get to know that Abby's mom gave Savvy to her friend for adoption but later on took her away from the hospital nursery. She wanted to have her baby back. Abby realizes the reason her parents had her really fast after Savvy as they wanted a replacement baby. She is heartbroken and fights with everyone. But at the end both sisters reconcile along with the families and are happy to have each other.

What did you think about the book?:

I felt this book would be more about a lost child finding her family through DNA testing but was completely taken by surprise. It looks like a mystery genre. It is all about a secret crush, a summer camp, and a secret sister. Abby, who has three brothers, suddenly finds out she has a sister. She is very impulsive and acts without thinking. She is failing her classes and is very manipulative as she deleted emails and voicemails from school by hacking her parents accounts. Initially she fights with Savvy so much but gradually starts to realize that she needs to mend her ways. Abby starts to take her grades seriously and improves. Sisters start to understand each other and work as a team. Though I didn't like Abby’s outburst when parents told the truth. She could have handled it better. Family finally makes her understand that she is not the replacement child and they like her love for photography. Eventually there is some maturity demonstrated by the character and Abby becomes a more understanding person. She sorts out her differences with Connie. I like how the story ends with a one year leap so we know what happened when Leo came back and how the lives of families changed.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End
Author:Jeff Kinney

Plot Summary:

A kid that goes by the name Greg Heffley, goes on an adventure with his family to get a once in a lifetime moment. However, things quickly turn south as the Heffleys find themselves facing multiple obstacles. Their plan for staying at an RV park paradise quickly changes into a fight for survival. Things only get worse and it makes them wonder whether or not they will make it out alive, or get stuck in the deep.

What did you think about the book?:

I think this book in general is a great fiction story, but one of my favorite parts was towards the end where it showed us how even during tough times, you could always make out the best of your situation. After a long and difficult trip, the family was still able to look back onto the good memories that were made during the vacation. Although the book was remarkable, there was some parts which I felt were exaggerated, but this is a fiction book, so there were going to be parts in the story that seemed unbelievable. Overall, I think this book is great and I would 100% recommend this to someone.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer"s Stone
Author:J.K Rowling

Plot Summary:

This book (the 1st book in the series) follows the life of Harry Potter, a young 11 year old boy who lives with the Dursleys: his aunt, uncle, and their very rude son Dudley. Harry has to live in unfair conditions for 11 years of his life until owls start to arrive at his house and deliver letters upon letters. The Dursleys moved away with Harry to make sure he wouldn't figure out what secret was being kept from him, but this wouldn't last because of a man named Hagrid. Hagrid burst into the new home where Harry and the Dursleys were, and told Harry he was a wizard, and that his parents were killed by a wizard called Voldemort. Harry agreed to go with Hagrid to Hogwarts, the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world, as Hagrid proclaims. Harry will make new friends, learn magic, learn the secrets of his family, and even encounter Voldemort. As Harry goes through his year at Hogwarts, he realizes that he knows very little about how his parents died, and if Voldemort is really "dead".

What did you think about the book?:

I loved this book because it is an amazing introduction into the world of Harry Potter and is packed with detail. The relationships of the characters with each other, and the descriptions of appearances make you feel truly immersed in the book and make you want to read even more. The suspense is also quite well done, and allows for the reader to try and imagine what will happen next in the book. My favorite part of the book is probably when Harry and Ron fought off a huge troll to save Hermione, and they all ended up being best friends after that. My least favorite part of the book is when professor Snape questions and judges Harry during his first class with him.
Of Mice and Men
Author:John Steinbeck

Plot Summary:

The story is about two displaced migrant workers George and Lennie (intellectually disabled) and are looking for work during the time of the Great Depression. George and Lennie have a goal to own a farm of their own where they can take charge of their own lives. Once they find a new ranch they begin working and face many new challenges. Will Lennie's mental disability get in the way of their dream, or will they rise on top and live the American dream?

What did you think about the book?:

I love this book and the emotions carried by George and Lennie. Lennie's inability to care for himself allows for situations between him and other characters complex and intense. Their dream of owning a farm is such a simple but almost unachievable dream when the events of the story unfold. What I love is the main idea of friendship and the human struggles we face as people. The way Lennie and George bounce off each other and rely on each other in unexpected ways that build the story. However, what I don't like is the other characters as sometimes it feels like they are simply to be an issue which can happen but isn't ideal when creating a story. Like the character Curley who is nothing but an inconvenience for most of the play and is used as a catalyst for the play. Overall, Of Mice and Men is a great story about love, hard work and tough decisions and it's an amazing short read that I recommend to my peers.
Six of Crows
Author:Leigh Bardugo

Plot Summary:

An impossible heist was given to criminal Kaz Brekker for a pretty prize. He and his crew go through many challenges just to get into the heist. While completing it, there are many relationships formed, revived, and tightened. The heist is to capture the creator of the drug "jurda parem". That drug helps to strengthen the power of grisha, and it is highly addictive. The heist is completed, but the prize is not achieved.

What did you think about the book?:

I loved this book. The characters were very easy to like, and there was no way to pick a favorite. I enjoyed that each chapter was from the point of view of a different character each time. It was interesting to get to know the background of the characters, and their thoughts on each other. The plot of the heist was a bit confusing at first, but it all ties together in the end. One of the main characters did not have his point of view in this book, but I read the sequel, and his view was in it. This duology is probably my favorite at the moment.
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
Author:David Goggins

Plot Summary:

The book is a biography on David Goggins' life. Goggins is a Navy Seal and an ultra marathon runner. The book goes through all of his hardships and how he accomplished his distinguished and colored career. He talks about his experiences in his youth, during his time as a navy seal, and how he was able to finish his ultra-marathons. His book has inspired many into changing their lives and could inspire the next generation.

What did you think about the book?:

The book changed my way of viewing hard situations and has benefited my way of life. This book could make the next generation stronger mentally in almost any situation.
Copper Sun
Author:Sharon M. Draper

Plot Summary:

In the beginning of this book, Amari had this perfect life, she had her mother, father, brother, future husband, and friends living in the village of Ziavi in Africa, but all of the sudden her village got attacked by the white people who were racist to the black. All her family members died and she was chosen to be alive, they were choosing teenagers to live. Amari was put into chains with her group traveling to the ship of death which had been a traumatizing journey for everyone, the sailer made them dance half naked, raped them at night, and whipped them during the journey, Amari met a friend named Afi that was a few years older but had experience on what was going to happpen which helped Amari a lot. The ship was heading to the Carolina's for slave trading, Amari got seporated from Afi which was horribly painful for her. Amari was bought as a present for Mr. Derby's son, Clay's 16th birthday. Amari met a worker named Polly that had slowly built a good friendship with her, at first Polly had the icks with Amari since she was black but slowly accepted her and realized that Amari was a cool person to hang out with. Amari met Teenie which was the cooker of the house with her son Tibit. Amari also met Mrs Derby which is really nice to all of them but suffered from her husband Mr. Derby which was really controlling and harsh. They all became good friends and helped each other in this cruel household of whipping full of dangerous orders they had to do. Even though Polly is white, she was an indentured servant who had no parents which made her life hard but a bit easier because of her white privileges. One day, they find out that Mrs Derby was pregant with Noah, the bodyguard which was a slave and black having an affair with Mr. Derby. They all find out while giving birth to Mrs. Derby, so she orders them to protect the baby and tell Mr. Derby that it's deformed and they already burried it, but Mr. Derby discovers it and kills the baby and Noah and as a punishment from the slaves lying to him, Amari, Polly, and Tibit were all going to get selled. Teenie was really sad that her son was getting selled. Someone named Cato came up to them and told them to go runaway to the South in Fort Mose which is freedom in there, they didn't believe it was a real place but they tried going anyways, Clay's father died not long after they ran away and Clay found the group but Polly shot him with a gun which made them unconscious so they ran away, this was a long journey of walking and starving but they got through it, Amari got pregenant and the group bought a house in there becoming free without slavery.

What did you think about the book?:

I think this book was an amazing interesting book. The slave owners were horrible people and did extremely evil things, sometimes in the book things goes slowly and all of the sudden intense action happens. Something that will touch you heart, something cruel and unimaginable torture that has happened in the book, all the whipping, killing. Almost as if the slave owners had no heart all narcissistic thinking they are all that just because of the color of their skin but they never noticed how the slaves felt, almost as if they had no feelings. What if the slave owners were the slaves and things all turn around for one day. They should know that torturing people just because of how they look is terriblly evil and they should've known better.
All My Sons
Author:Arthur Miller

Plot Summary:

All My Sons is a play written by Arthur Miller is about Joe Keller, a wealthy business owner who lives with his wife, Kate and son Chris. The family is crippled with the sadness of losing their other son, Larry in the war. But before this we learn that Joe Keller had a business partner Steve Deever for which they worked on airplane parts serving the war, until one day they sent out defective parts that resulted in the killing of twenty-one pilots. Steve was sent to jail while Joe lives on a free, rich man. He is later confronted by Steve's son (George) who, after seeing his father has a feeling he isn't as innocent as he seems. As the Keller family is faced with the truth, they wonder how will they move forward?

What did you think about the book?:

I thought this book was deep because it deals with the relationships between father and son and the deeper thought of how far you're willing to go for your family. This book talks about a couple of ethical issues that surround money, family and the bigger picture. My favorite part of the book is Chris's character and how he portrays his higher of level thinking by caring about others and not just himself despite what his father thinks. His sense of empathy and responsibility can teach the reader the importance of thinking about the bigger picture which I think is a very important lesson. On the other hand, the play had a very slow start and didn't pick up until the 2nd act of the play. This can make it a bit of challenge to pick up and start reading, but after getting through the 1st act the play becomes very interesting. I recommend this play to anyone who wants a short read with well thought out plot and complex characters.