Heartstopper Volume 3, by Alice Oseman

The concerns surrounding Nick's coming out to a larger group of individuals and the two of them embarking on a school trip to Paris are further explored in "Heartstopper: Volume Three." Along with figuring out their way around a foreign location, Nick and Charlie are simultaneously revealing more about their relationship and discovering the struggles each other is dealing with on a personal level. In the meantime, Tara and Darcy continue to talk about how they first met, Tao and Elle will confront their affections for one another, and the teachers in supervision of the travel appear to get along well.

Every moment I read Heartstopper Volume 3, by Alice Oseman, my passion for the story grows stronger and my affection for Nick and Charlie deepens. The fourth book in the cycle, this volume picks up where the third book ended with a cliffhanger. For approximately a week, Nick, Charlie, and a few of their friends and classmates are going on a trip to Paris as part of a school tour. The illustrations inside this book are one of the most adorable things yet. Each character is instantly recognized and has their unique traits and appearance. Captivating facial emotions are used to communicate any atmosphere that is required for the scenario. The face structures in particular contribute greatly to the humor of the artwork.

Reviewed by Alex C., Grade 10

Montrose Library 

The Testament, by Margaret Atwood

 

The Testament may be considered a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, but is told from different points of views.The society of Gilead is standing strong and undefeatable yet grows weak with corruption every day. The three influential women in this story are meant to try and stop the evil forces that control their country. At what cost must they fight for their individual freedom and peace. It is important for the reader to know that once you are a part of Gilead it will always remain a part of you.

This book was an incredible continuation of The Handmaid’s Tale for many reasons. One it was able to capture my interest by adding more characters into the mix. Secondly, it was able to do so while brilliantly portraying the beliefs of someone who has grown up in a society like Gilead. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read The Handmaid’s Tale and or appreciates Margaret Atwood’s writing style. While this book and the one before it are both extremely well written I do not recommend them to all audiences especially those who are sensitive to violence and or graphic imagery

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9

Glendale Central Library 

Address Unknown, by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor

 

Two brothers, Martin and Maxel, send letters to each other. One lives in San Francisco, California, and the other, in Munich, Germany. The letters start off normal but soon they take a turn when the new leader of Germany takes power, Adolf Hitler. One brother against Hilter, and one for Hilter, but both Jewish. The book consists of letters sent from brother to brother, talking about personal beliefs, ambitions, and fears. Two brothers who were once so close, now threatening loved ones with death.

In my opinion, I thought Address Unknown, by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor, was very shocking. The sudden twist in the story completely shocked me. The overall usage of the German dialect and the emotions conveyed in the novel brought me to tears. The book is flooded with a sense of betrayal and numbness and the author uses descriptive words to show this. I believe that many adults would enjoy this book. It resonates with a part that some people don't indulge in. From my perspective, I see many adults struggling with empathy and imagining themselves in scenarios because it can be overwhelming. Me, I got in touch with that part of myself. I don't focus on it because it takes me to a dark place, but this book almost seemed comforting. It opens you up and doesn't leave you with that numb, empty feelings. Instead, it lets you open up and then swoops in to comfort you. I would recommend this book to the more mature people I know, but again, a great book!

Reviewed by A.M., Grade 8

Glendale Central Library 

Protest: A History of Social Movements in America, by Stuart A. Kallen

The five chapters in this book accentuate voting for women, civil rights, the war in Vietnam, gay rights, and environmental issues. The first chapter talks about women's suffrage and the establishment of the Women's Rights Convention. The second chapter introduces civil rights and equality of all American citizens against the racism of the Jim Crow laws. The third chapter explains the anti-war protests against the U.S. military sending young adults to fight in the war in Vietnam. The fourth chapter represents the support of anti-segregation against members of the LGBTQ+ community. And lastly, the fifth chapter emphasizes the importance of a healthy planet. Earth day is taken place annually to present the significant environmental crisis to the world. 

 Personally, I prefer fiction, mystery, and fantasy novels. However, I would recommend Protest: A History of Social Movements in America, by Stuart A. Kallen, to a friend or an acquaintance. For those who find a hard time understanding history or social movements in America, I think this book would be very helpful. The author connects long standing issues to how they have changed or have been work towards in recent times. After reading this book I came to realize the many political and social difficulties that happened in America's history. If I were a young student who never paid much attention to history, I believe this book would be the perfect fit. There is a good amount of information and it is very reliable too. Reviewed by Olivia, Grade 12 Casa Verduo