Crown of Midnight, by Sarah J Maas

 Crown of Midnight is the second novel in the Throne of Glass series, by Sarah J Maas which follows Celaena Sardothien’s adventures after the King’s Champion competition is over. As she continues to live in the glass castle, she begins discovered many dark truths about how the King of Adarlan, the tyrant who has conquered almost the entire continent of Erilea and wiped out all traces of magic, managed to fulfill his evil agenda and what his plans for the future might be.

Crown of Midnight expands on the knowledge readers have gained in the first Throne of Glass novel, understanding more of the world and the powers that govern it. We learn more about the mysterious disappearance of magic 10 years prior, and about what terrible power the King of Adarlan may actually be harvesting in order to carry through his conquests. Though this book is still not one of the most exciting in the series, it does carry through to an ending which paves a path for new characters, setting, and experiences. The novel ends on a cliffhanger and with one of the main characters, Chaol Westfall, realizing an unexpected but exciting truth. I would recommend this book to readers who love adventure, independent women, battles, and magic.

Reviewed by Kristina K., Grade 11

Glendale Central Library 

Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner

In a heartfelt memoir, Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner, is about grief, family, love, and food, Michelle Zauner– also known as Korean-American artist Japanese Breakfast– recounts moments of her life as an Asian-American growing up in Oregon, and also having to live up to her mother's high expectations.

Following her life as she grows up, a jarring diagnosis brings Zauner back to her mother, where she deals with her lost Korean identity, reclaiming it through her moments with food, language, and her mother's love. 

As a Korean-American, this book was amazing and spoke to the experiences we go through in an excellent showcase of storytelling. I caught myself crying at many moments, relating to Zauner's vulnerability and connection to her Korean identity through the food she ate.

In particular, I understood the experience of having to grow up in an Asian household that always expected more of me, asking me to toughen up because our mother's love wasn't one of coddling or words of comfort. But Zauner's way of describing dishes that I also grew up with, and how closely we tie our identities to the wisdom of our mothers was the most relatable thing to me: it was heartbreaking, realizing that without our mothers, who were we?

Watching Zauner's journey through her grief, perseverance, and eventual contentment was one that brings the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions, with the reader able to heavily empathize with her experiences as well. Overall, as a huge fan of Japanese Breakfast and now a reader of Michelle Zauner, I recommend this book to any person of color– particularly those of Asian descent– to give Crying in H Mart a read.

We are all connected by nature to our cultures, and Zauner's ability to weave an unspoken connection between food, familial love, and grief is an experience all must indulge in.

Reviewed by M.L., Grade 12

Montrose Library