Any Sign of Life
Plot Summary:
Paige Miller, who is part of the girls' basketball team, dreams of becoming part of the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association). A few days before one of her upcoming basketball games, she suddenly wakes up after feeling ill, later realizing she was in a coma for 6 days. Once she wakes up, she realizes the world around her is very silent. She looks around for her family, but learns that almost all of humanity has been wiped out by some sort of mysterious virus. Paige then begins her search for supplies and any survivors, which allows her to find her neighbor's dog, Emmaline. As Emmaline and Paige look around, they begin to find other survivors: Trey, Tanq, Wyatt and Manny. Together, they realize that this virus was not an accident, and instead was caused by some sort of being that is not from Earth, which they begin to call farmers and walkers. The aliens who spread the virus are now exterminating any survivors they can find. As the 4 survivors struggle with their new life, they have to make an important decision. They can either stay in their hiding place, look for other survivors, or fight back against the aliens. Ultimately, they decide they should fight back and then look for any survivors they can find.What did you think about the book?:
I enjoyed this book and found it pretty interesting to read. My favorite part was the introduction of the new characters, especially Tanq. At first she was very reserved and didn't want to be around the others, but as the story progressed, I was able to learn more about each character, how their lives were before the virus occurred, and what their different personalities are like. I didn't expect the book to be about aliens/extraterrestrial beings, but I did find it more interesting to read, and it led to more suspense throughout the book. Overall, I liked reading this book and found it interesting to read, as there were lots of time full of suspense.
Hatchet
Plot Summary:
Brian Robertson was on his way to Canada in a two person plane. He was going to visit his dad as his parents had divorced. The pilot didn't talk much initially but later on taught Brian, few functions of the plane. Brian was thinking about the divorce and constant fights of his parents. He hated the fact that he knew a secret. Few minutes later, the pilot didn’t feel so good and when Brian checked he realized that the pilot was actually having cardiac arrest. He thought of the radio to call for help to rescue him and they answered but before he could get help the signal was lost. The plane was almost out of gas. He had 2 options to wait or land the plane he waited for and he aimed for the water. He survived the crash landing. When he woke up he needed food and water to survive. He saw that nothing was there so he went to drink water from the lake but the water made him throw up. He thought the rescuers would rescue him in a day or two. He thought he would have to find something to eat. He looked around and found berries. He ate too much which made him throw up again. He needed a shelter but he had no tools. He made mistakes and learnt to do things correctly. He was attacked by a porcupine. He needed to start a fire to keep wild animals away. He suddenly realized that he could use the hatchet given to him by his mother. He dragged sticks up from the lake and pulled long dead branches. He was able to start a fire and felt a bit safe. Next day he thought he could eat the fish in the lake but how to catch it. After failing a few times he made the perfect tool needed to catch the fish and cooked it on fire. Few days turned into weeks and Brian changed. He wasn’t the same person anymore. He knew how to survive in the wilderness. He was able to defend himself from moose. Finally he decided to go back to the plane and search for things which could help him survive. He found a survival kit which had all the things he needed. After fifty-four days he was rescued by a merchant who was looking for resources using his drone. Brian was a changed person.What did you think about the book?:
I would highly recommend the book because it shows you how to survive if something bad happens. It shows how a person can become mentally and physically strong after facing challenges in life. Some incidents in our life can change the way we live and think. For example - living alone in the wilderness taught Brian how to keep on trying and learn from mistakes. He didn’t realize the fish he saw in the lake could be his food. Book is full of examples where he makes mistakes and then corrects those mistakes to survive in the wild.
You'd Be Home Now
Plot Summary:
The book follows Emory as she recovers from a car accident. Emory has always been labeled as the "good girl" or the "smart one." Throughout the story you see Emory's struggle with feeling invisible at home and at school. Things take a turn for the worse when Emory's big brother Joey starts battling drug addiction. Emory starts putting more of her time and energy into helping and hiding her brother's issues. One day she decides to go to a party and she doesn't realize her whole life will change from there. For better and for the worse.What did you think about the book?:
I think this book was really well written. The first few pages had me invested in the story. This book helped me get out of a reading slump. This book was filled with never-ending sadness. Every character in the book had a sad and depressing story. I think that element made the story more interesting to read. I will say the book had a few plot holes. Certain topics were brought up but were not explained or never brought up again. I also feel the ending of the story was too abrupt. The ending of the book should've been longer. Over all this book is a quick, easy, and interesting read.
Family of Liars
Plot Summary:
Family of Liars is the prequel to #1 New York Times Bestseller, We Were Liars, which tells the stories of the original characters' parents. Caroline, or Carrie, Sinclair reveals a secret to her son, Johnny's ghost. She confesses something that she and her sisters have kept hidden for many years. In the summer of 1985, she returns to Beechwood Island, when she is visited by the ghost of her dead sister, Rosemary. The rest of her family appears to have moved on, leaving Carrie to deal with her grief, alone. Carrie's cousin, Yardley, unexpectedly arrives with three boys: George, Major, and Pfeff. Pfeff begins to flirt with Carrie, who is not used to this kind of attention from boys. Pfeff kisses Carrie in the moonlight, invoking new emotions in her. Soon Carrie discovers a picture hidden in her mother's room, containing a man whom she's never seen before. Upon further investigation, Carrie learns something, causing her whole world to shatter. She begins viewing her family in a different matter, prompting her to act strangely. One thing leads to another and soon Carrie has to figure out how to avoid suspicion to keep her, and her sisters, safe.What did you think about the book?:
We Were Liars was a wonderful and thrilling story, and a prequel was not necessary. If you are expecting a huge twist like in We Were Liars, you will be disappointed, however, Family of Liars was wonderful, in its own way. E. Lockhart provides backstory for all of the Sinclairs, allowing us to gain a better understanding of their family dynamic. The narrator, Carrie, is tender and loving. However, like most of the characters, she is very complex. She is selfish. I thoroughly enjoyed the expansion of these complex characters. The book explains the characters' relationships and feelings in a way that submerses you into their world. It is shocking and thrilling, with unexpected secrets revealed at every turn.
This Delicious Death
Plot Summary:
When four best friends with a hunger for human flesh attend a music festival in the desert they discover a murderous plot to expose and vilify the girls and everyone like them.What did you think about the book?:
The book was great! I liked the descriptive writing. Yet this book didn't really connect to me so much. The plot was very one-sided, with an obvious villain and hero.
The Midnight Star
Plot Summary:
In the final book of the trilogy, after Adelina takes control of the Kenettra Nation, life is good with her partner; Magiano. Adelina is an evil, cold-blooded queen who rules with an iron fist. She gets a message from The Kingdom of Beldain stating that her younger sister is dying. For her unparalleled love for her sister, she and Magiano take the quickest boat to Beldain. There, she sees her sister; Violetta, and her caretaker Raffaele, who happens to be Adelina’s friend. She requests the King of Beldain for consent to go on an expedition to heal her sister. He obliges. Her, Violetta, Raffaele, and Magaino start their expedition by following the Midnight Star.Deep in the mountains, they take refuge at a cave which happens to be the portal between the gods and the humans. Upon discovering this, she takes her sister and meets the goddess of death, Mouritas. Petrified by this, Adelina begs Mouritas to exchange her soul with Violetta to give her sister a chance of living. The goddess agrees, but on one condition; she has to lose her powers. Adelina agrees and exchanges her soul with a now powerless Violetta. However in the nick of time, Raffaele chants a mantra that restores life to how it was. Adelina gets her life and powers back, but she transforms from a villain to a heroine. She still rules Kenettra, but in a more peaceful way.
What did you think about the book?:
This a great book because I liked how Marie Lu brilliantly set up the characters for a thrilling climax. The book also has a good moral which is that an evil person can transform into a good person. At first, Adelina punishes her innocent subjects for fun. At the end of the story, she helps the needy and helps her subjects achieve their goals.
Classroom of the Elite (Light Novel) Vol. 1
Plot Summary:
The story is introduced with a mind-boggling question about equality. Are all humans truly equal? With that, the book begins as we follow the protagonist, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. He and many other students are on their way to the top high school in Japan. This school boasts a 100% employment rate and college entry rate. Once Ayanokoji and his new classmates arrive to their classroom, they meet their teacher. The teacher, known as Sae Chabashira introduces herself and a peculiar system the school has in place. Every student is given a card full of an abundance of points which they may use to buy anything on the school campus. This ranges from video games, food, entertainment and pretty much anything an average student could want. Of course, everyone is surprised by this but Ayanokoji doesn't think it makes sense. He does the calculations and he realizes that there's no way the school has enough money for this. He realizes there must be a catch. Later, the class figures out that they are dubbed the name "Class D". They are the worst of the classes. The teacher then reveals that only Class A is granted the 100% employment and college entry rate. In other words, everyone else simply fails. Everything in this school is about competition. If you were not doing good or had been found guilty of breaking one of the rules you were instantly expelled. The classes can rise up the ranks or go down in the ranks. Ayanokoji seems like an average student who does quite literally, average in everything. However, throughout the book, Ayanokoji is revealed to be a manipulative genius with a dark past. He takes advantage of his peers to achieve his goal which is not yet revealed. He manipulates people like Suzune Horikita, whom he met on the bus on the way to this school. He dwells upon the previously revealed question about equality throughout the book. Will Ayanokoji achieve the goal he has in mind? Why is he doing this? Does this school have a dark past? These questions are all waiting to be answered.What did you think about the book?:
This book was very well written by the author. He gives us a lot of insight and depth to characters without telling us explicitly. This allows the reader to make connections and truly understand these characters as a whole. This book leaves many questions and often has many hints of foreshadowing to reveal future events of the book. Overall, this book was well written and very enjoyable to read due to the plethora of elements of writing added by Syougo Kinugasa.
Hatchet
Plot Summary:
"Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen is a gripping young adult novel that tells the story of Brian Robeson, a thirteen-year-old boy stranded in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. Armed with only a hatchet salvaged from the wreckage, Brian must navigate the challenges of nature, hunger, and isolation. Paulsen's vivid writing immerses readers in Brian's struggle for survival, making it a captivating and educational read. The book explores themes of self-reliance, resilience, and the relationship between humanity and the natural world.What did you think about the book?:
I thought it was very good and it inspired me to go camping and be more of an outdoors person. I also think that it is a good book to recommend to young adult readers that are looking for books that go into real-life experiences.
Fear No Evil
Plot Summary:
"Fear No Evil" by James Patterson is a thrilling psychological suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story follows Dr. Alex Cross, a dedicated detective investigating a series of gruesome murders. Patterson's writing is crisp, and the relentless pace and plot twists make this book a favorite among many. The character Dr. Alex Cross is very well-crafted and relatable, adding depth to the story. The novel not only delivers suspense but also explores themes of evil and justice.What did you think about the book?:
I personally liked the book and how the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat reading it at home. One if my favorite things about this book is how smart Dr. Alex Cross was throughout the book and how he could solve cases that seemed impossible.
The Maze Runner
Plot Summary:
The Maze Runner" is a dystopian science fiction novel by James Dashner. It follows Thomas, who awakens in a mysterious meadow with no memory, surrounded by a group of boys trapped in a deadly maze called the Glade. The boys' only escape is through the Maze, inhabited by deadly mechanical creatures called Grievers. As Thomas learns about the rules and dynamics of the Glade, he becomes determined to find a way out and uncover the truth behind their captivity. The story unfolds as Thomas and the other Gladers attempt to solve the Maze's mysteries, leading to a thrilling and suspenseful journey.What did you think about the book?:
"The Maze Runner" thoroughly captivated me for a multitude of compelling reasons. It all began with the book's intriguing premise, which revolved around a group of young individuals trapped within a mysterious and ever-shifting maze. This unique and enigmatic setting immediately drew me in, sparking a deep sense of curiosity and anticipation as I joined the characters in their quest to uncover the secrets hidden within the labyrinthine walls. Furthermore, the book's engaging mysteries and puzzles were expertly woven into the narrative, serving as tantalizing breadcrumbs of intrigue that urged me to keep turning the pages in search of answers. The characters' depth, personal growth, and their struggles within the Glade and the Maze made it effortless for me to connect with and root for them, enriching the story with relatable emotions and reinforcing its exploration of themes like friendship and trust. The relentlessly fast-paced plot, filled with action and suspense, ensured that I was consistently engrossed, while the constant threat of the enigmatic Grievers kept me on edge. Lastly, the element of unpredictability, with its unexpected twists and revelations, added an exhilarating layer of excitement, leaving me eagerly anticipating each new development. Altogether, "The Maze Runner" provided a reading experience that was not only enthralling but also thought-provoking, making it a book I wholeheartedly enjoyed. So, my absolute favorite part of "The Maze Runner" was when the characters discovered the Maze for the first time. It was such a thrilling moment because it marked the beginning of this mysterious and adventurous journey. I mean, the whole idea of this massive, ever-changing maze just had me hooked right from the start. The anticipation and excitement of exploring it alongside the characters was a real high point for me. It's the kind of scenario that you can't help but wonder about – what's around the next corner, what secrets does the Maze hold? It's that sense of exploration and the unknown that got me invested in the story. It was a fantastic setup for the mystery and suspense that followed throughout the book.The book was great I don't really have a least favorite part but the one thing that kinda got me was the ending of "The Maze Runner." Don't get me wrong, I loved the book, but I couldn't help but feel a bit unsatisfied with the way it wrapped up. It's like they left so many questions hanging in the air. I get that it's setting up for the sequels, but it felt like there were more loose ends than I expected. I like a bit of closure, you know? I wanted to know more about the big picture, where this Maze and the Glade fit into everything. So, while it didn't ruin the book for me, that open-ended conclusion did leave me a bit curious and wanting more answers.