Monday, December 28, 2015

Nana Volume 7, by Ai Yazawa

Nana Osaki’s Blast continues to climb up higher on the steps of fame as volume seven unfolds. With the band taking off and making it big, Hachi realizes that her game of being the head cheerleader of Blast starts to complicate as there are more and more diehard fans dedicating all of themselves to Queen Nana and the rest of Blast. Consequently, Hachi feels unaccompanied in room 707 as her friends chase after their dreams on the stage and she remains in the kitchen cooking all alone. Hachi is left questioned whether she would be happy with the charming cold Takumi or answer to the new happiness that knocks on her door.

Nana Volume 7, by Ai Yazawa, is the story goes on, we began to see the absurd Hachi becoming more eloped with all sorts of trouble. This makes me want to just give Hachi a warm hug and tell her that everything will be just fine. At this point of the story, I have realized that the amazing style of Ai Yazawa’s writing made me get very emotionally attached to all of the Nanas. In addition, I keep on being amazed at the new characters and situations while maintaining a good cadence with the old ones. I really do enjoy this book and the bonding I encounter with it in every step of the way.

Review by Anonymous, Grade 11
Glendale Central Library

Monday, December 21, 2015

YOLO, by Lauren Myracle

Wow! This book YOLO was an amazing book to read! What was interesting about this book was that the 3 girls that were in this book, were always be texting each other. The girl's regular names are in the ()s. madmaddie ( Maddie), SnowAngel (Angela) and lastly Zoe Girl (Zoe). In this book, you will be experiencing these 3 best friends going through college! But the sad thing is, they all go to different colleges! So, they all communicate through texting each other. So obviously, in college, there are always ups and downs. For these girls it's if they can make a lot of friends, keep their boyfriends, and also, help each other through tough times. So Zoe is really curious if she will survive. I guess that you could say that Maddie and Angela agree with that. Maddie, id more a go-with-the-flow kind of girl. I don't want to keep on saying because I might be taking you to the end. Oh! 1 more thing; these girls always have 1 phrase on their minds, YOLO. Enjoy!

I loved YOLO, by Lauren Myracle! I think that if you like to be a good friend, this is the book for you! This book made me feel very good inside because of how the girls are always going to give advice to each other. Everyone out their, if you are a freshman, then go get this book! I really enjoyed reading this book because I am only in 6th grade; so now I have a general idea on what might happen to me if I was a freshman. I hope that you not only enjoyed my review, but this book, too! Bye, everyone! Have a lovely rest of your day! :)

Reviewed by Nicole G., Grade 6
Montrose Library

Monday, December 14, 2015

Fatal Purity: Robespierre And The French Revolution, by Ruth Scurr

Villains in the real world can be the most fascinating to watch with the question in mind “What is their aspiration?” Robespierre, was the fanatic French revolutionist who sought to limit the governments’ power by slaughtering their heads off. Because of which we also get to witness the thrashing downfall of him and the French Revolution. Fatal Purity: Robespierre And The French Revolution is brilliantly written by Ruth Scurr which depicts her effort of researching and analyzing to present the readers with Robespierre’s captivating story. Also, it’s acknowledgeable to have an author who delivers both facts and her opinions but not absolve nor condemn Robespierre’s character.

After reading Fatal Purity: Robespierre And The French Revolution, by Ruth Scurr, it is understandable that the author’s research and biography of Maximilien Robespierre was delivered with clarity, enthrallment, persistence and boldness. What engaged me even more is how Scurr went beyond focusing only on life events of Robespierre, she reached out further to bring us the society he grew up in and how the atmosphere outside his country was like. Adding all those factors to Robespierre’s situation it becomes clear why he provoked the path to end up one day beheading hundreds of men and women in the guillotine. This perhaps is one of the most finest and sharpest studies on the French Revolution as a whole and of Robespierre in particular.

Reviewed by Ayesha M., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library

Monday, December 7, 2015

Antigone, by Sophocles

Antigone, by Sophocles, translated by Robert Fagles, is one of the Three Theban Plays. The play takes place in Thebes and follows Antigone and her persistence to follow divine law. After the death of her two brothers in the war, Polynices and Eteocles, only Eteocle is granted a proper burial by the king of Thebes, Creon, while Polynices, by law, is denied a burial. Antigone, who cannot stand to allow her brother to not have a proper burial, defies the mortal laws in order to maintain tradition and follow divine law despite the consequences.

I usually don't like plays but I thought that this was a really good one. I like how although Creon is the villain of the play, he comes from an innocent place. He doesn't want to bend the rules because as the new king, he has to set an image and reputation for himself. What kind of a strong and authoritative ruler bends to every will and whim of an average citizen? I also really like how Antigone's bravery is portrayed and although her actions seem noble and courageous, you can't help but wonder if she is doing the right thing for the wrong reason, such as fame. I would recommend this play to those who like Shakespeare's plays because older Greek plays such as Antigone inspired those like Shakespeare's.

Reviewed, by Nayri T., Grade 12
Casa Verdugo Library