A Silent Voice - Volume 1, by Yoshitoki Oima

 The book A Silent Voice Volume 1, by Yoshitoki Oima, is about a boy that used to be a bully but after meetings a deaf girl many things changed in his life. He started focusing on bullying her and it got way out of control. Then his friends who also were bullies started bullying him and he felt left out with everyone in school. The story is about how he learns through the years how to be a better person and a better friend.

Personally I liked this book because it shows what real friendship looks like. People who like short stories, manga, that can be read in a week and have a great experience reading it would most probably like this. This book made me rethink many things of my life even though it looks like just a story for children and teenagers, it can really be touching. I recommend this book to people who want to find a book that is simple, but also deep, that they can reread many times and still not get bored. Hope everyone that reads it enjoys it!

Reviewed by S.G., Grade 10

Glendale Central Library 

The Dragon's Promise, by Elizabeth Lim

On the mission to fulfill her stepmother's death wish, to find the rightful owner of the pearl, the Wraith, Princess Shiori endures the land of the dragons, where she has to forcefully marry Seryu, the heir to the throne of the Dragon King and her friend. Using her wits, she manages to shut down the ceremony which invoked the wrath of the Dragon King upon herself. Seryu helps her escape. Through a bet with the Dragon King's daughter, Shiori got a shard of the Mirror of Truth, which granted her the ability to see what happened or is happening in the present. Also, she gained safe passage to the land above the water(Kiata), her home, and the Dragon King promised that no dragon would hurt her on land or sea. Time was slow in the land of dragons, so she had spent 6 months away from home and her lover, Takkan. From Seryu's cousin Elang, she found out where the Wraith was located. After coming back to Kiata, Shiori reunited with her brothers and her lover Takkan. But at the same time, a demon was terrorizing Kiata. Will she fulfill her promise and stop the demon? Only time will tell.

I loved The Dragon's Promise, by Elizabeth Lim a lot. It was magical, fantastic, and other-worldly. It had dragons and demons, beasts with crazy power. It was interesting how demons represented evil and were locked in a mountain while dragons who were corrupted represented good and were free to roam. It had life UNDERWATER! Like Atlantis, lost to the humans above. I loved the whole dragon hierarchy of power, it was really interesting. I loved Nazayun and how he ruled with an iron fist. Shiori was cunning and liked to think outside the box, which is a really useful skill to have and helped her escape the dragon's land. I would recommend teens to read this book. This book made me awe-struck by the amount of power possessed by dragons, demons, and magicians alike and how all of them were bound to oaths they made.

Reviewed by E.Z., Grade 8

Glendale Central Library

Maus: A Survival's Tale, by Art Spiegelman

 

A young struggling cartoonist, Artie, is trying to find a source of context for his next big comic. He then receives amazing inspiration from non-other than his own father, Vladek. Art then decides he's going to illustrate his father's experience during the holocaust. Week by week, Art collects information from his father about his experience before the holocaust and during. Although Vladek mainly talks about his personal life and how he escaped the Nazis, it also shares a thrilling tale of the way Vladek and his first wife, Anja grew closer and closer over that period of time.

 I personally loved Maus: A Survival's Tale, by Art Spiegelman. As someone who enjoys learning about wars and the thought process behind the people fighting in this war is something so magical. Hearing the story of someone that had a life before the holocaust and experienced it, is truly inspirational. I enjoy how Artie depicts visions through panels such as viewing Vladek's past through a glass orb. I didn't enjoy the sudden end of the story. The sudden cut in the story made me extremely upset because I craved more from this book. I craved more stories about Vladek's love story and life. I craved to hear Artie's comments on his father and their relationship.

Reviewed by A.M., Grade 8

Glendale Central Library

9 days & 9 nights, by Kate Cotugno

 

In this sequel from “99 days”, Molly Barlow was a business major in college, before all that happened a year ago, she is now improved for the better. In light of all the individuals she damaged and the household she shattered. While Molly and her new boyfriend run into Gabe and his new girlfriend, they are both traveling across Europe. Their journeys eventually overlap, which brings up memories and emotions from the past. Without Ian's knowledge, Molly must now spend nine days and nine nights with the ex-boyfriend whose heart she broke.

Although the attractions were not exactly the main focus, this was a passably entertaining journey across Europe. A few amusing and romantic bits scattered throughout here and there, however, until the final pages, which significantly advanced the story from the previous novel, the featured chapters were irrelevant. For a large portion of the novel, Gabe's presence appeared completely meaningless. The abundance of funny activities maintained the pages going even though hardly anything was exceptionally memorable. I recommend 9 days & 9 nights, by Kate Cotugno, to anyone who needs an extremely brief, adorable story to break out of a reading slowdown.

Reviewed by Alex C., Grade 10

Montrose Library 

Side of Paradise, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The novel, Side of Paradise, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, follows Amory Blaine, a young Princeton student whose upbringing has led him to reject custom and instead rely on his unconventionality to navigate through life. In college, pursuing success — gaining status in the semi-political social scene of the university, and belonging with his fellow students — draw him away from his steadfastly unique personality. But, parts of his old self still beat strong, and, as the novel covers his life immediately after college, he becomes part of an enduring tug-of-war between individuality and conformity.

In comparison to FItzgerald's other novels, this one focuses largely only on the main character — namely, Amory —, and this decision benefits the novel by distinguishing it from anything else he has written and allowing for the roller coaster-like journey of self-discovery to seem more genuine. At seventeen, I stand far away from full self-discovery, and, thus, Amory's quest feels only somewhat familiar, but mostly foreign; yet, it feels real — unique, raw, and vibrant, as if Fitzgerald himself passed through the exact same experience and simply recounted it, only changing some names in the process. And this lends a special appreciation to the novel that I've felt solely from his short story "Winter Dreams." The plot is simple, lacking the convolution or depth of his later novels, but this is in no way a hindrance. It, again, allows the novel to focus on Amory; it shines the spotlight on a man's transformation from contemptuous anti-conformist, into obeyer of social norms, and back into anti-conformist — but this time lacking the snobbish air he carried in the first stages of his character, replacing it instead for an appreciation and mindful maintainance of his individuality. The consummation of Amory is unique in the same way that Holden Caulfied's — from "The Catcher in the Rye" — is; there is never one definitive moment that drives the character past a wall keeping them from self-knowledge, but, rather, their respective experiences shape them into the people they become. The subtle transformation into self-discovered people happens subtly — as I would expect to happen in reality —, and this makes the novel such an enjoyable read for most.

Reviewed by Markus, Grade 12

Chevy Chase Library  

Rise of the Vicious Princess , by C.J. Redwine

 

Princess Charis Willowthorn is Calera's devoted sword. Her only objective, even at the risk of her own heart, is to keep her war-torn kingdom united long enough to discover a way to make peace with their long-time enemy, Montevallo. She was raised to be brutal and clever.

When fighting breaks out inside the castle and an unknown adversary starts sinking Calera's ships, Charis understands her people are under threat from something much worse than Montevallo. She then creates a plan. She is Calera's stout princess by day, bent on forming a partnership with Montevallo. She hunts for their new foes by night, disguising herself as a thief and cruising the sea with such a trustworthy gang of loyalists. 

A great tale of love, devotion, and the responsibilities of a princess in a war-torn country. No one can see past Charis' mask, which makes her appear cold and vicious. Knowing the anguish she undergoes while being silent is a fascinating element. A dramatic plot is made possible by the compelling characters and the important political intrigue. Despite the prohibited element that drove the characters forward, I adore the romantic element and the way it progressively evolved. Don't even begin to discuss the story twist! Rise of the Vicious Princess , by C.J. Redwine, is masterfully constructed, and the author creates a breathtaking picture with her words.

Reviewed by Natali <3, Grade 11

Glendale Central Library