Fellow Travelers
Plot Summary:
It is the 1950's and Timothy Laughlin and Hawkins Fuller meet and go through the turmoil of navigating a queer relationship in their time. Both work for the Washington D.C state department. Hawkins as a secretary a reporter/ staff member for Senator Potter. They develop a relationship that does not always go right, but all in all, they do have a great love for each other. They face many challenges including self-hate, religion, fear, and the realities of their current society, such as the lavender scare.What did you think about the book?:
I did not love this book, but it was not bad. I had expected it to deal with more of the romance than it did the politics, but it was sort of the other way around. There was the plot of their romantic relationship, but it felt like that was the subplot of the book, when its summary felt the opposite. I did enjoy the times in which they did explore their romance, and the end especially made that aspect hurt more.
Coraline
Plot Summary:
The book is about this girl that didn't really like her parents but then she found a place where her parents pay more attention to her and they gave her whatever she wanted but they looked different they had buttons in their eyes and she calls them her other parents but one night her mother with the buttons in her eyes asked her is she wanted to stay with them and she said yes but the bad thing about that is that she would have to put buttons in her eyes the she had to go back to her real parents .What did you think about the book?:
what i think about the book is that its a good book because it got like scary at one point and i like scary stuff.
1984
Plot Summary:
1984 is set in a dystopian world where people are oppressed by the government, called the Party. The Party controls everything in Oceania, where this story takes place. They have control over the language, called Newspeak, the people, and the news. A man named Winston wants to start a rebellion against the Party because he feels oppressed.What did you think about the book?:
I thought the book was very telling of how an oppressive government can lead to restrictions in multiple aspects of life. The world-building in this book is very well done. For instance, there are words that Orwell invents like thoughtcrime, newspeak, and doublethink that help demonstrate the control the Party has on people. My favorite part was when Orwell described Winston’s job of erasing the past at the Ministry of Truth because it showed how corrupt the Party was. My least favorite part was when he constantly met up with Julia because it felt dragged out.
Girl, Interrupted
Plot Summary:
This book follows Susanna when she had been instituted into a mental hospital after a suicide attempt for 18 months. it follows witty and unique moments in the mental hospital and the treatment that she had to go through. It also explains her mindset and how she thought of life when she was inside and even when she got out and how she navigated life.What did you think about the book?:
I thought that this book was very eye-opening to how it was like to live in a mental hospital in the late 1900's and how difficult it was to live with a mental illness. Her way of thinking was very unique and the way that she had explained many things in life had been extremely mind opening and opnes people up to new perspectives.
All He Knew
Plot Summary:
All He Knew is a story about a deaf kid named Henry, he was deaf because he got an ear infection that made him deaf. He came from a poor family that was not able to help Henry and make the hard decision to send him away to a place for disable kids. This place was called Riverview a place where children were treated badly and mislabel. Henry became friends with someone named Billy who died of a sickness and was label unteachable. Also he had another friend Ted who help Henry. In Riverview a very kind man came to work at this place, his name Victor, Victor play a big role in helping Henry he was nice and also showed him how to play cards and said that he was actually teachable because of that he went to a deaf school and was able to go home with his family.What did you think about the book?:
This story is really good, because of the details and shows us, how kids were misunderstood and treated badly because they did not understand their disability . It's also sad that many kids were sent away not to ever come back to their home and be labelled as unteachable because in those times they did not know enough about different health conditions.
Kane Chronicles : The Red Pyramid
Plot Summary:
Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane reunite after a year apart. Their mother passed away many years ago, so Carter lives with his father, Julius Kane, and travels the world. Sadie lives with her grandparents in England. They reunite after one year of being apart to go with their father to a museum, where Julius accidentally unleashes an evil Egyptian God, and Julius becomes trapped in the underworld. Carter and Sadie must go on a quest to find their father, and with the help of many other Egyptian Gods, they manage to reach their father, and battle Set, the Egyptian god of storms and destruction. The siblings realize after defeating Set, that a greater threat lay in the snake of chaos, Apophis, trying to break free from his cage and having one goal : consuming Ra the Sun God and ending the Egyptian gods.What did you think about the book?:
I like this book very much because there are lots of action-packed adventures and battles, many unique characters, and a modern take on Egyptian mythology, which I find quite interesting. My favorite part of the book was when Bast helped Carter and Sadie fight against an Egyptian goddess and escape. My least favorite part of the story was when everyone thought that beating Set in battle meant that everything would go back to normal, when this wasn't the case because Apophis was rising, and he was a huge threat.
Hidden Pictures
Plot Summary:
"Hidden Pictures" by Jason Rekulak is a suspenseful novel that follows Mallory, a young woman with a troubled past who is trying to turn her life around. She lands a job as a nanny for a seemingly perfect family in a charming suburban neighborhood. The family consists of Caroline, the mother, Ted, the father, and their young son, Teddy.At first, everything seems ideal. Mallory enjoys her time with Teddy, who is a sweet and imaginative little boy. However, things start to take a dark turn when Teddy begins drawing unsettling pictures. These drawings are not just typical childhood doodles; they are detailed and disturbing, depicting scenes of violence and fear. Mallory becomes increasingly concerned as the drawings grow more sinister. She starts to believe that Teddy’s pictures might be connected to a real crime. Her curiosity and concern lead her to investigate further, uncovering hidden secrets about the family's past and the house they live in.
As Mallory digs deeper, she faces resistance and skepticism from those around her, but she is determined to uncover the truth. The story builds up to a tense and thrilling climax, revealing shocking truths and forcing Mallory to confront her own demons as well as the dark forces at play. Overall, this book is a gripping tale of mystery and suspense, blending elements of psychological thriller and supernatural horror, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
What did you think about the book?:
I think that this is a captivating read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The blend of psychological thriller and supernatural elements creates a unique and gripping atmosphere. I really enjoyed how the author developed Mallory's character, making her both relatable and complex as she navigates her own struggles while uncovering the dark secrets surrounding Teddy's drawings. My favorite part of the book is when Mallory discovers the deeper meaning behind Teddy's eerie pictures. The way the suspense builds up to this revelation is done very nicely, and it adds a layer of intensity to the story. Overall, it's a thrilling and well-crafted novel that I would highly recommend.
The Translator
Plot Summary:
The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur by Daoud Hari is a personal journey of conviction in the atrocities committed in Darfur, Sudan, in the early 2000s. Hari is a native from the Zaghawa tribe who worked with journalists, aid workers, and international organizations as a translator in exposing the brutal genocide ravaging his home area. This memoir follows Hari through his journey to these conflict zones at the risk of his life, making sure that atrocities committed by the Janjaweed militia and the Sudanese government on the people of Darfur see the light.Hari recalls his childhood in Darfur as uneventful; the tribal life was uncomplicated, and the people were close. The tranquility was broken when government-backed militias mounted a systematic attack on villages to kill men, women, and children, displacing several millions. His village was destroyed, displacing him and his family to refugee camps.
Determined to help his people and share their plight with the world, Hari learned English and offered his services as a translator to foreign journalists who would cover the Darfur conflict. His facility with the language became a lifeline for those trying to document the genocide; his role as translator gave him direct access to a ringside seat in the war while giving voice to the voiceless.
Throughout the book, Hari repeatedly risks prison and torture at the hands of the Sudanese government. He doesn't let that stop him from his mission-to make the world take notice of Darfur's suffering. His resilience and courage point out the personal cost of war and the necessity to bear witness to injustice.
What did you think about the book?:
I believed that the book was amazing, this is because it brings you through a real genocide. Everyone has learned about the Armenian Genocide, and the Holocaust. There are many accounts of what has happened during those horrible times, but The Translator allows for us to see a genocide in modern time, and it is truly heart-aching.
"Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry"
Plot Summary:
"Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" follows the Logan family in 1930s Mississippi as they face racism and struggle to keep their land. Nine year old Cassie Logan learns about racial injustice and the importance of family and resilience. key events include facing discrimination, the burning of the Berry family, and the family's boycott of a racist store. The story highlights their fight for dignity and justice.What did you think about the book?:
I read this book In 7 grade and I enjoyed it a lot and i'm not a book reader. It's almost impossible for me to choose a book I'm interested in or like or I thought it was impossible but I liked this book a lot and I would definitely recommend this book to someone.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief