Get Well Soon, by Julie Halpern

In Get Well Soon, by Julie Halpern, Anna Bloom, the protagonist, is a depressed 16-year-old whose parents have put her in a mental institution alongside a slew of other troubled teenagers. She meets a secretive roommate named Sally, and a handsome, bashful boy who may or may not like her. While in the Loony Bin, as Anna calls it, she ends up making friends, reducing weight and does not have a single panic attack throughout her visit.

This book is a lighthearted story about mental health and how mentally healthy can someone be. Julie Halpern delivers viewers a warm, appealing offering, a never-didactic message about emotional growth and psychic healing. It also has a very wholesome blooming relationship between Anna and her mental hospital crush. The book has a certain youthful tenderness to it. Halpern weaves a story that portrays Anna's evolving personality over time, complete with self-reflection and some mild humor. I would definitely recommend this story to any person that feels alone or has a terrible body image. Anna's mental journey will show you that you are not alone and that there are always people who care about you.

Reviewed by Juniper Austen, Grade 9

Glendale Central Library  

The Birth of Venus, by Sarah Dunant

 Set in Florence during the Renaissance, The Birth of Venus tells the story of Alessandra Cecchi, a stubborn fourteen-year-old girl. Her life seems to be uninteresting until her father, a wealthy and influential man, brings a young painter to stay with them and paint their chapel. Alessandra, having a passion for painting, is instantly intrigued by the boy. But before their relationship can blossom, Alessandra is married to an older, wealthy man she does not love. Political hell is breaking loose while this happens, slowly reaching into and poisoning Alessandra's life. The book follows Alessandra as she adapts to her ever-changing life and fights for love and freedom in a world where she is given neither.

The Birth of Venus is a book that begins with the ending. However, it's hard to understand without actually reading the book. The beginning almost stopped me from reading it. It also gave me a taste of how I'd feel reading the book- confused, somewhat disturbed, but enthralled nevertheless. The book's plot isn't the greatest, but I found that it wasn't the main plot that kept me reading. The political and religious conflicts were actually intriguing, and it was fascinating to see how religion shapes the characters' lives. Although I'm not sure if the book accurately depicts Renaissance Italy, the religious lore and way of thinking were exciting to read. As for the romance in this book, it was... awkward. Even though it was the cause of almost every event that occurred. Dunant tried to prove Alessandra to be a courageous and strong-willed girl, but most of her actions just came off as foolish and impulsive. I wouldn't recommend reading this book, by Sarah Dunant,  if you're looking for historical romance, but it does offer an interesting, if fictional, take on life in Renaissance Florence.

Reviewed by K.H., Grade 8

Glendale Central Library