Friday, July 3, 2020

The Road by Cormac McCarthy


An unnamed disaster has ravaged the land, bringing the apocalypse. A man and his son travel a desolate road, desperate to get to the coast, where they hope to survive. As they face death and violence, the boy is faced with questions that the man cannot answer. A story of hopelessness and grief, the boy must learn to grow in a world of uncertainty- one where death is imminent and violence is around every corner.

I really enjoyed The Road, even though the writing style took a while to get used to. Written in a simple prose, it shows a strangely riveting description of a hopeless, dark world. I think people who enjoy post apocalypse novels and books about survival would like reading this. However, I also think people who want to try a new kind of book would also like this- it is a very unique, riveting book. I would definitely recommend this to other people.

Reviewed by NK, Grade 10
Montrose Library

Monday, June 29, 2020

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan


This is the second book in the arrangement Trials of Apollo. Apollo has reestablished the main prophet, however, there is a lot more to come. Apollo is currently at Camp Halfblood as a human named Lester. Apollo has confronted a few risky and embarrassing trials at Camp. His next target is to go right to the American Midwest into a cavern that conceivably holds answers for him. This isn't as simple as it appears. Apollo should now leave the security of Camp Halfblood and set out on a hair-raising excursion. An evil Roman emperor remains in his way. Apollo will require quality, fearlessness, and backing from certain partners in Camp Halfblood. Apollo has existed for around 4 thousand years and this will be his greatest test yet.

This novel is very similar to the previous one. Apollo sets out on an exciting journey and faces near-death situations. I would recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in fiction, adventure, and thrill. This book has a vocabulary that might be a little difficult to understand at first, but after you get the plot and purpose of it, it is pretty straightforward. I really liked how the author conveys the characters and helps the reader connect to them by using imagery and literary devices. Apollo is a dynamic character meaning he learns from his experiences and it is nice to see how he develops throughout the story. This book is made for teens and adults but children can also read it as long as they can understand the book. Apollo's journey really grasps the reader into the book which makes it so interesting.

Reviewed by Aryan S., Grade 8