The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander tells the story of Josh, his brother JB, and his dad. The Crossover goes over Josh's and JB's basketball journey with the help of their father who is a former basketball champion. Josh and JB eventually start falling apart from each other; distancing themselves. They go on to win games and move on with their basketball journeys. But no matter how distant they are, they still care deeply about their family and health. Their father also plays an important role in this book because he is the one who mentors Josh and JB. In conclusion, The Crossover is solely about the basketball journeys of Josh and JB.

I enjoyed reading The Crossover for two main reasons: sports and dedication. The characters in the book show a strong work ethic for their favorite sport; basketball. They also have a love for the sport they are playing which is very important in my perspective. The craftsmanship that went into making this book is spectacular. I love how the characters in the book have strong teamwork skills. Josh was my favorite character because he was hardworking and dedicated to what he does. I recommend this book to anyone who likes sports particularly basketball. In conclusion, I enjoyed reading The Crossover and recommend it to anyone who loves sports.

Reviewed by Alfred, Grade 9

Montrose Library

 

Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette is unable to touch other people. Skin-to-skin contact with her causes agonizing pain, and if you touch her for long enough, you could die. As a baby, her mother was unable to hold her. She has never been hugged, touched, or held. She was locked away by the government after killing a child by accident. While she was kept in solitary confinement, the world around her continued to get worse. The Reestablishment, which is the new government that has taken over, claims that they are doing all they can to help the people. However, all their promises seem to be broken and the atmosphere is getting worse. A war is on the brink between the Reestablishment and those who it does not help. Juliette is caught in the middle with nothing she can do to help. Not only does she hates the power she holds and what comes with it, but she is also worried that so many people see her as an asset. She does not enjoy hurting people, but on the brink of war, both sides see her as a valuable weapon. The book follows her as she meets new people on both sides and has to choose what she believes.

Dystopian Romance is my absolute favorite genre to read, and Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi fits my taste perfectly. The government is in collapse, the people are left to fend for themselves, and Juliette has been in solitary confinement for almost a year at the age of 17. Not only can she never touch anyone, no one seems to care as long as she doesn’t hurt them. This book captivated me and I read it in about three days. If you enjoy dystopian fiction, I highly recommend reading this. Those who enjoy a little romance, such as myself, will also enjoy this. Juliette is a gorgeously written character with both a strong side and a sensual side, and the rest of the characters create an intriguing plot for her to fight her way through.

Reviewed by Catalina, Grade 11

Chevy Chase Library 

Tokyo Ghoul Vol. 6, by Sui Ishida

Touka Kirishima slams Ken Kaneki's skull on the side of a building, concluding that he is a ghoul (to some extent) for his body remains unharmed. Touka speaks ill of Kaneki seeing as he doesn't fit in with humans or ghouls. She claims that if Kaneki wants to be a part of the human side, he should starve himself to oblivion. Touka also informs him that deprivation is incredibly painful for a ghoul, and that if he becomes hungry, he would murder and devour anything regardless of what he actually desires. Kaneki decides to return to school, where he finds the ghoul that attacked him in a back alley a day prior.

I very much enjoy the Tokyo Ghoul series. Each and every twist and turn is unexpected, and they leave you pleasantly (or gruesomely) surprised. Touka Kirishima's "get your act together" attitude is refreshing in contrast to Kaneki wallowing in self-pity up until this point. Hide's return grounds Kaneki, though he is still battling with himself on the inside. Overall, Tokyo Ghoul Vol. 6, by Sui Ishida is very nicely set up, and it seems as though things are only going to get better from here (or worse, depending on your judgment).

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9

Glendale Central Library  

Tokyo Ghoul Vol. 5, by Sui Ishida

The man Kaneki met at a convenience store ends up being a ghoul. After Kaneki follows a scent trail behind an alley, he's slam-choked into a wall and told that he stumbled into the man's "feeding" territory. Kaneki fearfully insists that he had no idea when Touka, a girl he's slightly acquainted with, makes herself known. She says that the grounds were not the man's, they were Rize's, Rize being the ghoul that tried killing Kaneki and had her corpse's organs transplanted into him. The turf was to be divided among the weaker ghouls. He, now known as Nishiki, lashes out and attacks Touka.

I enjoyed volume 5 and definitely recommend the series. When people say you should read at least three volumes or watch at least three episodes of a series to judge it, it applies here as well. At volume five, it feels a bit repetitive, though understandable. Kaneki is vehemently insisting he is human and not a monster. Even though this is a natural response, it is almost as if you want to tell him to shut up and face the facts, such as Touka might. Regardless, I still enjoyed Tokyo Ghoul Vol. 5, by Sui Ishida so far and believe I will continue to do so.

Reviewed by Anon, Grade 9

Glendale Central Library