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My favorite book that I read this year was the Forgotten 500 by Gregory A. Freeman. This book is a historical fiction, based on operation halyard during world war 2. This book has a very unique writing style as well. a very descriptive style which is very fun to read if you like real historic evidence from world war 2. My favorite section of the book was when Yugoslavia was under control by nazi and the rescue team was almost shot out the air trying to find these Allie power soldiers. If I were to recommend this book to someone, I would find someone who likes history. there a lot of people who are obsessed with war facts too. So this not so very known story would most likely interest them like it interested me.

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My favorite book this year was Neuromancer by William Gibson, a Cyberpunk novel set in a corrupt future society. It follows Case, a drug-addicted thief who steals from a covert group of mercenaries working for a rebellious artificial intelligence. The writing style of Neuromancer is characterized by its extreme presentness, immersing readers in a fast-paced world. Gibson's prose is vivid and concise, conveying urgency that matches the high-stakes cyberpunk narrative. Through his skillful storytelling, he paints a detailed picture of a dystopian future where advanced technology coexists with societal darkness, exploring themes of identity, artificial intelligence, and the blurring of human-machine boundaries. Neuromancer is a captivating and thought-provoking read, offering a compelling commentary on the consequences of technology while keeping readers hooked with its gripping plot and vivid descriptions. It is a groundbreaking masterpiece that defined the cyberpunk genre with its visionary storytelling and literary craftsmanship.

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"Regretting You" is a contemporary romance novel written by Colleen Hoover. Hoover writes a compelling novel that speaks on love, loss, family, and self-discovery. The book speaks on the hardships people face in relationships and the emotional turmoil in heat of the moment decisions.

Ms. Hoover’s writing style in this book is from a dual narrator perspective, alternating between the perspectives of the two main characters, Morgan and Clara. This technique allows readers to dive into the minds of both mother and daughter as they navigate life’s challenges. Hoover’s writing is filled with raw emotions, so  readers can empathize more with characters.

As for the genre, "Regretting You" falls within the contemporary romance genre. The book dives into the nuances of familial relationships and personal growth.  Romance is used to explore forgiveness and self-discovery in the mother-daughter bonds.

The plot revolves around Morgan and Clara, a mother and daughter who find themselves at odds after a tragic accident changes the course of their lives. As secrets unravel and hearts break, Morgan and Clara must confront their past mistakes and learn to rebuild their relationship amidst the wreckage. Along the way, they both navigate new romantic connections that challenge their understanding of love and loyalty.

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My favorite book that I have read is called The Guncle by Steven Rowley. This coming of age/comedy story is about Uncle Patrick taking on his niece Maisie and his nephew Grant after the tragic death of their mother (Patricks best friend). Their father (Patricks brother) put himself in rehab for drug addiction so Patrick is on his own. Being a retired movie actor tucked away in Palm Springs, Patricks lifestyle definitely isn't suitable for kids but under pressure he takes on the challenge. Some of my favorite characteristics of this book is the pop culture references regarding some of the best female actresses of all time and famous TV shows. GUP or (Gay Uncle Patrick, which is the nickname the kids came up for him) teaches Maisie and Grant all about his lavish lifestyle. They eat brunch instead of breakfast, they learn that clothes don't have a gender, and they learn to always follow the "Guncle Rules". Stepping into the parenting role wasn't something Patrick expected to enjoy. He learns that he can still be the great star he used to be on and off camera. The kids bring out something in Patrick teaches him more life lessons than he teaches the kids. I really liked this book because i have never really read a book with an LGBTQ+ point of view. It was also cool to personally know the setting since it is in Palm Springs. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a beach read and wants something that is culturally relevant. This book is also for people who want a funny but personal book.

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My favorite book was Kathryn Purdie's fantasy novel Bone Crier's Moon. This novel is told in 3 different points of view, which is why it is so entertaining. Each character has a different story to tell. The first point is a boy named Bastien. His story tells one of revenge and how his hate has shaped him and his future. The second point of view is a girl named Ailesse is always seeking approval from her mother so her story is one of character vs character. The third point of view is of a girl named Sabine seems to always be out of place so her story is also a character vs self one. This book was very interesting to read as the characters are very complex and ever changing. Not one part of this book was boring. I never wanted to put it down. The best part is how all three stories blend perfectly and the three characters have to work together to reach the goals they want. Many people would like this book if they were interested in fantasy, a little mystery, a little romance, and plot twists. The romance is pretty well developed as well. The characters you wanted to end up together did and that was a win for me. Overall this book was really well written and definitely my favorite I've read this past school year.

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My favorite book that I've read this year was Stephanie Oakes's fiction novel, The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly. This book was my favorite as it instantly grabs you and keeps you interested with the detailed and action-packed plot. It follows the handless protagonist, Minnow Bly, and her chance of freedom by telling the truth while in juvenile detention after escaping a cult. The conflict of the book includes Character vs. Character and Character vs. Self. Minnow conflicts with the leader of the cult, the Prophet, along with fellow members of the cult such as her family. She must go against their ways in order to escape. This leads into another conflict, one with herself. She struggles to tell the truth of what happened to not only her but others experiences in this isolated community. Due to her time in this cult, she lacks the ability to think for herself as she is faced with the guilt of going against what cult leaders, family, and friends have taught her to do for her entire life. She must make the decision to think for herself and tell the truth in order to gain freedom of her own life.  I would highly recommend this book especially to the type of person who would enjoy books of action-filled plots and thrillers.

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Eleanor and Park is an alternating narrative, coming of age novel surrounding these two misfits high schoolers during the 80's. The main protagonists are extrovert, Eleanor, the new kid who moved schools because of domestic abuse at home and Park, the introvert who does whatever possible to deflect confrontation and conflict, which later gets in his way of discovering his identity. Throughout reading Eleanor and Park, I found myself relating to the characters, their introversion or where they stood in high school. One of the reason why this book had me hooked was because of it's theme, sometimes there's a person who could've helped you through the toughest time in your life, but that doesn't mean it is guaranteed they are going to be around forever. Eleanor and Park helped one another throughout their struggles at home, with identity, and their perception of life. Rainbow Rowell validated letting go of people and friendships that served you at a dark time in recognition that once the time has passed, it is okay to no longer have them present in order to heal and move on. I would suggest this book to someone who needs reassurance and is looking for a comforting book to remind them that there is light on the other side of the tunnel, you just need someone to help you find it. The people I see reading this book are people interested in coming of age and feel good novels.

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was written by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn written by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a realistic fiction novel that revolves around bombshell actor Evelyn Hugo and her crazy scandalous life. This was my favorite independent reading book this year because it kept me on my toes the whole time. Evelyn is a dynamic character that changes both mentally and physically throughout the book. She is someone who makes many mistakes throughout her life and learns from them. Although she messes up frequently you can't help but root for her because of how the author chooses to present her. In The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, there are constant shifts in narratives, the novel is filled with seemingly endless plot twists and turns. This is a strategic strategy that the author uses to keep the reader engaged throughout the whole read. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the novel is the reliable character narrative around Evelyn. As stated by Evelyn at the beginning of the storyline, she no longer had anything to hide, nobody who she could hurt because they were already dead. This was interesting because it put trust into what Evelyn was saying and made her seem like a safe space in the book. Overall, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was my favorite independent reading book this year! 5/5

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My favorite book I've read this year would have to be "Ugly Love" which is a contemporary romance novel by Colleen Hoover. This book is very entertaining and leaves you wondering what is going to happen next. I like how the readers get to know Miles at the same time Tate is figuring out who he is. Not until the end do we see why Miles acts the way he does because he is heartbroken and scared to love again. After repeatedly denying his love for Tate there is nothing he can do but accept it and tell her everything about his past. These complex characters are what make the novel character-driven because things happen based on their actions and how they are feeling. Not knowing the characters past until the end allows us to understand their reasoning for their prior actions. The ending is very satisfying knowing that both Tate and Miles open themselves up to love and end up together. I would highly recommend this book to someone who enjoys romance novels and people who like to dig deep and really understand the characters in a book.

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Batman: The Long Halloween, is arguably one of the best batman comics written in the  characters 80 year history. The plot is incredibly thorough and intricate, the characters are nuanced and demonstrates the classic characters like never before. Going in depth on a lot of Batman's internal conflicts in terms of his past and feelings towards the death of his parents. The story also balances an intriguing thriller narrative, following Commissioner Jim Gordon, Batman and Harvey Dent's attempts to find the "Holiday Killer" A murderer who has been terrorizing the Falcone crime family on every national holiday, killing off a family member holiday by holiday. Naturally a ton of infamous Gotham criminals find themselves into this larger story. Some in cahoots with the opposing crime family, The Maroni's and others simply trying to steal the thunder of the largely feared holiday killer.
Most importantly, the investigation is used as a turning point to delve into the dark descent of Harvey Dent, an all star district attorney trying to reform the crime epidemic in Gotham City. As forementioned he joins commissioner Gordon and Batman to take a stop to the holiday killer. Simultaneously putting his family under threat due to his work and allowing his sanity to slowly dwindle as the case carries on.

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Krystyna Chiger: The Girl in The Green Sweater

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In the autobiography, The Girl in The Green Sweater, Krystyna Chiger recalls memories of her childhood experiences of the Holocaust. Living in Lvov, Poland in the early 1940’s there was news spread that the Nazis’ were making their way to various countries in Europe to spread their power and antiemetic ideals. Chiger’s experience in the Holocaust is truly heartbreaking as she must do everything she can as a child to survive with her loved ones. From just being only eight years old, Krystyna had developed into a brave and perseverant young woman throughout these terrible years of her life. The Girl in The Green Sweater has many different types throughout the memoir. Green for example has been shown throughout many different events throughout the book such as the green knitted sweater that was made for Chiger by her grandmother before getting beat and taken away by a Nazi. Green also symbolizes disease and sickness that had taken place too throughout the Chiger family’s hiding. Through these unfortunate events and deaths that had been taken too soon by the Nazis, Chiger does an outstanding, yet heartbreaking job as she recalls these horrific events by memory that had taken place. I recommend this book for everyone who loves autobiographies like me or for those who really are interested in learning more about the Holocaust in different perspectives.

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My favorite book that I read this year was That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime. Which is a light fantasy and Isekai. I liked this book because the book combines aspects of traditional fantasy mangas and isekai which is reincarnation into another world. His writing style fuses together action and comedy which captivated me from the begging of the novel. The book follows the journey of Satoru Mikami, a 37 year old office worker after he got stabbed and killed he found himself in an other world as a slime where one of the first characters he meets is a dragon who was sealed away who is called Veldora. He gives Satoru a new name Rimruru and Rimuru gave him a family name Tempest so their new names became Rimuru Tempest and Veldora Tempest. One of the strengths lies in its plots, he goes on a journey as a slime and encounters many characters many of them who aren't even human. The book structure balances action packed sequences. What sets this book apart for me is its exploration of the themes of identity and purpose, as rimuru adapts to his new form and navigates his new world he questions his self worth, friendships, and his responsibilities not only as a king but of his new powers. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime is a novel that appeals to the fans of Isekai and Fantasy genre and also anyone who likes world building and very developed characters.

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From this whole year, my favorite book i've read is Jenna Evans Welch's Love & Luck. This is a heartfelt fiction, with interesting characters and an amazing plot. Readers start off by viewing the struggling relationship between Addie and Ian. They are trapped in a car as they travel to their aunt's wedding in Ireland. These sibling are constantly fighting with each other until their mom finally has enough. She makes an agreement with the two, so they can stop the fighting. Now once they arrive, they explore the lands of Ireland together. They discover new things, make new friends, and built new relationships. Throughout the book readers are able to view the growth of relationships. I enjoyed this book because it was different from what I've read, and it surprised me of how much I liked it. I liked to see the way the characters changed over the time of the book.

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My favorite independent reading book this year was "Milkman" a historical , psychological fiction novel written by Anna Burns. The plot of the book tells the story of a girl who is overcoming the monster, the "milkman" a grown, married man who constantly harasses her. As an 18 year old girl she finds herself trying to escape his antagonizations and harassment. The society she is living in is very traditional and stereotypical so she starts to receive some backlash for catching the attention of the milkman. I liked this book because it was actually about the author's own experience growing up in ireland which she described as a "totalitarian, closed society" so I would say for me this book had a reliable narrator because after finishing the book I felt like I understood Anna Burn's experience in ireland ,as a young girl growing up in an unfair environment. i'd recommend this book if your into politics, physcology, romance and conflict.

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My favorite book I read this year was Still Life, a very entertaining murder mystery novel. From the very beginning Louise Penny's style of writing that makes each character seem important in their own way. The novel is similar to one by Agatha Christie. It isolates the characters, maybe on an island, in this case a small village in the woods and leads to a kind of whodunit guessing game. The main character is Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and this novel is the first of his series. I am a big fan of mystery novels with twists and turns that leave you with no idea who is the culprit.  If you are as well then I highly recommend this novel.

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My favorite book of this year, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, is a character-driven romance novel that follows the career of aspiring movie star, Evelyn Hugo. This book was extremely interesting and fun to read as the protagonist made her way to stardom using some unethical methods, and manages to defy all stereotypes of a new woman in Hollywood. Themes of love, loss, loyalty, growth, and success are intertwined in this novel, and all center around the development of the character. This novel is not only narrated by Evelyn herself, but also by a journalist publishing a book on Evelyn. This perspective provides additional insight on how society perceives Evelyn, and how they will continue to do so after they find out the whole truth about her career. Taylor Jenkins Reid follows a temptress archetype; Evelyn uses her looks and charm in order to get what she wants. This was a wonderful read and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a romance novel with many plot-twists.

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My favorite book of the year is Turtles All The Way Down, a realistic fiction novel about a teenage girl, Aza Holmes, struggling with OCD, anxiety, and other mental health issues. John Green does great job of mixing serious issues with an intriguing plot. The themes of mental health importance are prevalent but Aza also has other things happening in her life. This creates a very realistic storyline, as many people are battling mental illness while attending school or a job. In Aza's case, she is handling school, a boyfriend, a best friend, and financial issues. My favorite aspect of the novel was Aza's internal monologue describing her OCD. It can be hard to put things like that into words but John achieves this in a way that is relatable to many readers. The book is told in a first person narrative from Aza's point of view and follows her life chronologically until the end which is an epilogue. Turtles All The Way Down has made so many readers feel seen and heard in a way they never felt possible. I think anyone struggling with mental illness will appreciate the rawness of this novel. Anyone who has loved ones struggling with mental illness would also benefit from learning more about these topics. It is important that society as a whole attempts to educate themselves of mental health problems in order to better understand them and Turtles All The Way Down is a great place to start.

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Not If I See You First was my favorite book to read this school year. I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective Eric Lindstrom gave by having the reader be in the shoes of someone with a disability, in this story the main character, Parker, is suffering from blindness. As well as having a unique perspective he also makes the book told through first person. This gives a sense of unreliability, however this doesn't stop the reader from continuing on and seeing how throughout all the adversity the main character faces it never phases her. This is what I enjoy from this book as it isn't like an ordinary "overcoming adversity" story, it has depth to it which is why this book has been my favorite this school year.

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My favorite book that I read this year was Born A Crime written by Trevor Noah. The novel is an autobiography which highlights the struggles that mixed-race people, like Trevor, had to endure during an apartheid in 1980s Africa. Through Trevor’s experiences, I was able to gain a better understanding of South Africa’s history and get a unique perspective on the events occurring at the time. One main reason why I liked this novel so much is because of Trevor Noah’s engaging writing style. Trevor balances the use of humor and lightheartedness in his storytelling with the complex themes and serious experiences the book discusses. The novel is  character-driven as it focuses on the thoughts and feelings of Trevor through various dangerous and exciting situations. I would highly recommend this book to those who are interested in memoirs, history, and anyone who is looking for an inspiring and compelling story.

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Gianna Goodman-Bhyat - The Vanishing Half

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Gianna Goodman-Bhyat - The Vanishing Half

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Brit Bennet's The Vanishing Half is a historical fiction that explores the nuances of identity, culture, heritage, intersectionality, self-perception, and privilege by examining the history of colorism in American society. The book revolves around the stories of the Vignes women, and Bennet employs third person omniscient narration in order to follow the intersecting plotlines of these women over several generations from the early 1960s to the late 1980s. It transports the reader from the desolate towns of rural Louisiana to the vibrant city of Los Angeles, all the while addressing some of the most prominent social and political movements of the time. The story is heavily driven by both character and setting, as it centers around the tale of two long lost twins from the town of Mallard, the inhabitants of which pride themselves on having an extremely light complexion. The twins ultimately flee Mallard in search of a more fulfilling life, but while one of the twins, Stella, decides to blend into white society to escape oppression, the other, Desiree, chooses to reject the colorist ideals of her childhood and marry a dark-skinned man from New Orleans. The twins, Stella and Desiree, expect to never see one another again, until their daughter’s, Jude and Kennedy, unexpectedly cross paths. Jude is a dark-skinned girl who grew up in a town of light-skinned people, but ultimately she is able to move away from that little town in Louisiana to Los Angeles on a track scholarship to UCLA. In LA, she finds community. She finds love. Jude feels accepted for the first time in her life, and yet she cannot simply let go of the deep-rooted self-loathing she learned to adopt in childhood. Jude ultimately falls in love with a trans man named Reese, and in their relationship, both Jude and Reese are forced to grapple with their own sense of self-worth and belonging. This theme of characters trying to grapple with their identity is pervasive throughout the entirety of the novel, and ultimately we see how identity is shaped by community and one’s cultural context rather than their heritage. I truly enjoyed every single aspect of this book. Reading it was somehow nostalgic, even for a person who was not alive during this time period. Especially reading Jude’s story, I truly felt like I was living in LA in the 1970s. I felt the simultaneous hope and fear for what the future could hold, and I am always really impressed by an author who is able to capture that in their writing. The language is beautiful and vivid but not pretentious. Anyone who enjoys the kind of historical fiction that truly exemplifies what it means to be human will enjoy this book.

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Although this was not one of my "official" independent reading books for this year, Holy Blood, Holy Grail has been one of my favorite reads! This non-fiction history book digs into an age-old French mystery concerning the crucification, the Holy Grail, and the mysterious faction of the Knight's Templar; which all culminate in the odd life, death, and fortune of a one Francois Sauniere. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves anthropology or secular study of religion, as this book uses engaging and humorous language to explore a long-forgotten aspect of Christian history.

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My favorite book this year was The Body, by Stephen King. This horror novel has a great plot and incredible story development. The story follows Gordie Lachance, a kid in a small town during a summer in the 60s. Him and his friends find out about a dead body on some train tracks near their town, so they go on a journey to search for the body. It is very exciting, with moments such as when a guard dog chopper almost hurts one of the kids in the story, or when the kids are crossing a large bridge and almost are struck by a train. The journey represents not only them searching for the body, but a rite of passage of Gordie and his friends transitioning from innocent kids curious about a dead body to more matured young men. The language is very descriptive and offers a way for the reader to paint a picture of what’s happening in the book in his mind. I think that a person who enjoys a quick read and an interesting and mysterious plot would enjoy this book.

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My favorite book from this year was They Both Die At the End. This book is a young adult adventure fiction novel. This book follows Rufus and Mateo who have both received a call that they will die within the next 24 hours. They meet and become friends and spend the rest of their time together. As their friendship develops they see the most vulnerable parts of each other and eventually, they grow to realize they have a much more personal relationship. One thing I especially liked about this book was the switching of narrators between Rufus and Mateo. I liked this because the reader gets to see a more personal perspective of each character's problems and fears, along with an outside perspective on the other person's. I also like how all the characters and events in the story are significant and each plays an important role in the main story. I would recommend this book to someone who loves a satisfying ending and a hopeless romance.

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My favorite book I read this year was The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a realistic fiction, epistolary novel by Stephen Chbosky. I especially loved the structure and characters of this book. The structure was in the format of a series of letters, written to the reader from the protagonist. This made the writing style very easy to read and casual, as it came from the perspective of a teenager. The main character, Charlie, is a relatable and thoughtful person who just wants to fit in like the rest of us. There are so many loveable characters you get to know as Charlie meets them, like Sam and Patrick. This novel gave me a whole new perspective on life, encouraging me to savor every moment. I would recommend this book to any teenager or young adult. It is so comforting and honest.

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Throughout the year I read a couple of different books, none as dear to me as Something Wicked This Way Comes. The book explores the complex and dynamic characters of Jim and Will and the ever-evolving, and quite frankly very interesting relationship between Will and his father. Will's father does change throughout the book but the biggest change comes in Will's view of his father. Will grows much more appreciative of his father through the major events of the book. The interesting focus and development of a father-son relationship propelled by fantasy events give a good blend of a realistic dynamic between the characters despite being manipulated through elements of pure fantasy. The book is most definitely a thriller, both in genre and the way it is an exhilarating read from front to back. For these reasons, and many more I do not have time to share, Something Wicked This Way Comes is both my favorite book I've read this year and in general an absolutely fantastic read.

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Of the four books I read this year for my independent reading, my favorite was How to be an Antiracist, a memoir mixed with instruction manual describing how to be antiracist.
I liked the book because of the structure and writing style. Each chapter focuses on a different concept or category of society and identity, including but not limited to class, ethnicity, power, culture, gender, sexuality. With the use of personal anecdotes, Kendi identifies how race and racism play a role through each of these lenses. Something I appreciate about Kendi's writing is that he is not accusatory. He does not attack the reader, but rather shares about his own racist actions and offers how both the reader and himself can reflect upon them and improve their behavior.

Someone who is curious about our world and how people treat one another would enjoy this book. Also, someone who is open-minded would enjoy this book.

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Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century by Tim Higgins is a captivating non-fiction book that delves into the remarkable story of Elon Musk and his quest to transform the automotive industry with Tesla. As a vehicle enthusiast, I enjoyed this book due to the research and analysis of Elon Musk's gamble over the creation of Tesla. Tim Higgins brings together the trials and triumphs of Tesla, bringing light on the challenges faced by Musk and his team as they attempted to create electric cars that can compete with the traditional gas-powered giants. The book not only explores the fascinating rise of Tesla but also provides valuable insights into Musk's determination, leadership, and unstoppable pursuit to create his vision. Tim Higgins makes complex concepts and business strategies easy to understand for readers. Also, the book is well-structured, offering an account of Tesla's journey and effectively highlighting the key turning points that lead to its success. Power Play is a must-read for car enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and anyone that enjoys the story of innovation, business, and success.

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My favorite book I read this year was The Measure, a magical realism novel written by Nikki Erlick. The story takes place on a normal day when a wooden box containing a string arrives on every person in the world's doorstep. The length of each string varies per person, and they soon learn that the length corresponds to how soon they will die. The story follows 8 main characters, and how they chose to spend the rest of the time they have left, whether it's a little or a lot. It was a fabulously written book that boggled the mind. It made me happy and also sad, laugh and also cry, it was simply beautiful. Her choice to switch perspectives in each chapter allowed the reader to really observe every length of string, and how different people react to this new world. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who loves a good book. It's not too heavy, though there are definitely some sad moments, it's also super uplifting. I highly highly recommend it.

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My favorite thriller novel that I read this year is The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson. The novel takes place in suburban Connecticut, and is a multiple narrative. Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective. The book is plot driven, essentially two strangers meet at the Heathrow London airport after their flight got delayed. One stranger, Lily, convinces the other stranger, Ted to kill his wife Miranda as he heavily suspected she is having an affair with their contractor Brad for their vacation home. My favorite part of this novel, is that Peter Swanson shapes his characters extremely well, each one has a solid backstory that makes them who they are. Swanson also uses metaphors to describe the appearances of every person and personification to describe the settings. Overall I think this thriller is meant for someone who enjoys suspense, murder, revenge plots.

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This realistic fiction novel depicts a rich, young woman in New York City who wishes to sleep for an entire year. She has endured traumatic events after she graduated from an Ivy League university which influenced her to start using drugs and ignore her passions to sleep her life away. It is told from her perspective in first person in which she reflects on how she was brought to her current state. It explores themes such as existentialism, self-acceptance, and repression. I enjoyed the author's depiction of her struggles as they were very "real" and I was able to sympathize and understand her. This novel would be an enjoyable read for anyone who takes an interest in psychological depth and social commentary.

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My favorite book from this year was Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo. It is a fantasy fiction novel that changes between multiple narrators and is very well written. My favorite part of this book is the emotion that is intertwined within each character and scene that she writes. It is a perfect continuation of the Grisha Universe and the settings are well made and the world building is beautiful. The plot of this novel without spoiling is that the queen of Shu-Han plans to assassinate her sister that would gain the popular vote to reclaim the throne of Shu-Han. This matters to the main characters because the sister of the queen would ally herself with the Ravkan's which could create a safe space for the Grisha, a race of magic users. This plot is then boosted by Bardugo's beautiful writing style of creating perfectly pictured scenes. Plus there is a show that you can watch after the series that is a pretty good remake in the universe. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes low fantasy and especially people that love Percy Jackson and Lord of the Rings.

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My favorite book this year to read was Alice Oseman's young adult fiction novel loveless. The story follows the main character, Georgia, a young girl who's just entered university with her two friends Pip and Jason. Together the three of them navigate university, all trying to discover who they are. Most of all, Georgia is trying to find someone to love. This story quickly became my favorite that I've read this year because of the very relateable writing and the journey Georgia goes through to find her sexuality. Reading this book, I felt like I was going on this journey with the characters experiencing university with them, and by the end of the book I felt as if I was best friends with the characters. This book is a very easy and chill read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance novels as well as wants a fun read.

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I really enjoyed this book because the plot really depends on the characters and how they change throughout their time in the Overlook Hotel. The main characters, the Torrance family, and their difficult history before Jack Torrance took the job at the hotel really influence how the characters interact and influence each other during the novel. As the plot drives forward, flashbacks are presented to the reader about Jack's past struggles and how he has caused immense tension in the family. The style in which this novel was written draws the reader in as the tension builds and they begin to wonder what's next. Stephen King did an excellent job at setting an uneasy and stressful tone throughout this novel as the plot intensifies and reaches the end. I recommend this book highly to anybody who likes long rising action sequences.

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My favorite book this year was the adventure novel "The Alchemist". The story follows a boy named Santiago on an adventure around the Mediterranean geographic area, as he searches for great riches while learning lessons along the way. the beauty of the book is found within its simplicity. The story is told within 200 pages and holds on to a limited set of lessons it wants to instill within the reader. By talking a somewhat simple adventure novel and filling it with complex ideas, Paulo Coehlo was able to made an almost perfect story.

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My favorite book of the 2022-2023 year has been They Both Die at the End, an adventure fiction novel that follows the story of two boys, Mateo and Rufus, who are faced with the daunting truth that they will both meet their ends by the end of the day. Mateo is closed off, with his only friends being a girl named Lydia, and his father. Whereas Rufus is outgoing and a part of a group of foster kids called the Plutos. The two of them, however, have more in common than they think, and they each have what they other needs to make the most of their last day on earth. The story is mostly told through a multiple perspective first person narrative, with moments that switch to a third person narrative of random characters. This style allows the reader to get an in-depth understanding of each character, fostering deep emotional connections to their struggles. Along with the writing style, the story was character and plot-driven, promoting a fast paced and engaging story. The reader is immediately introduced to a world where you are notified the day that you are going to die. Although the book takes place over just one day, you get to experience the ups and downs of them processing their mortality, an overarching theme throughout the book, in addition to Rufus and Mateo’s blossoming relationship. I would recommend this novel to any young adults who want to cry or enjoy a slightly futuristic society.

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Daisy Jones and the Six, a historical fiction novel, was my favorite book of this year. The book follows the life of an up and coming band on tour in the late sixties, early seventies. The book is written through an interviewer's perspective with a few flashbacks to the stories that are being thought back on. I loved every page of this book. It being written from the perspective of an interviewer kept my attention and also kept me intrigued and involved in the story line. All the characters go through great character development. From finding their true selves, to figuring out their new albums sound, each and every thought, feeling, and detail is expressed. One of my favorite things about this novel is how dynamic the characters are and how they interact with each other. As someone who loves music and the music making world, seeing the accurate descriptions of the behind the scenes of the making of an album and how new artists work together was extremely interesting to me. There was not a single part of this book that I didn't like. For anyone who is looking for an amazing romance, music involved, interesting book, this is absolutely the book for you.

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Satan a la Mode is a fiction novel by Adrian Barnes about the town of Nosedale where Satan lives alongside other fantastical characters such as the Goldfish Madonna and 2D people. This book was very imaginative and unique, it could almost be described as abstract. I've never read a book like this one before, the only one to come close was the author's other book, Nod (which is another favorite of mine). The book handles heavy topics like religion and war in a thoughtful way while staying light and engaging the reader in the story. Barnes has very interesting perspectives and ideas about these subjects. He writes beautifully and absorbs the reader in the book with his vocabulary paired along with beautiful illustrations done by Yuliya Kashapova. The book is filled with irony and paradoxes involving Satan's characteristics and the world he lives in. Barnes involves humor that makes the book charming and fun to read. I think that if you like to expand your book variety and have a fun time with a book, that Satan a la Mode (and Nod, as mentioned earlier) would be a great book for you. Satan a la Mode is definitely my favorite read of the year, and possibly my favorite book.

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The non-fictional narrative Ordinary Men, by Christopher Browning, is a great read as it explores the actions of ordinary German men as they turn into ruthless killers in the Holocaust. Browning uses historical texts and well kept documents and challenges the idea that only a few "evil" individuals were responsible for the atrocities of World War II. He makes you wonder how far you would go if you believed in something, and how easily you truly are in being swayed by the power of the mass. It has an interesting archetype as it follows Reserve Police Battalion 101 and their journey during World War II as well as developing characters that can be perceived as both heroes and villains, even when knowing the history of what's to come. The writing style is nitrating as it is both written as a story but also as a sort of journal, just like how Nazi soldiers would write stuff, this doesn't make it hard to read as Browning does a great job both splitting it up but also making it seem cohesive. My favorite thing about reading the novel was being able to understand the decisions I've made based, and being able to relate that back to Brownings point about the power of the mass. This book isn't for everyone, but its an incredible read if you like history and World War II, or if you want to learn about mental thought to better avoid that way of thinking.

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My favorite outside reading book that I read this year is the mythological fiction adventure novel The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. First and foremost, I am a big fan of mythology, whether it be Greek, Roman, or, in this case, Egyptian. I think that this book, like Rick Riordan's other books, does a good job of teaching some mythology in the context of an adventure novel. We follow the story of Sadie and Carter Kane as they travel the world to rescue their father from an evil Egyptian god, all while trying to figure out their powers and trying to get along with each other. I liked how the book was narrated. Each chapter, or sometimes every two chapters, the narration switched between Sadie and Carter, giving the story a different perspective and, at some points, a different mood. They faced character v. character, character v. self, character v. fate, and character v. nature conflicts throughout the story. I found this variety of challenges presented to the characters to be entertaining. Sadie and Carter were very dynamic, and matured through all of the challenges that they were given. Despite their maturing, they are still young teens (around 13 or 14) so there is some bickering between them, leading to some comedic moments, which I appreciated. Looking back now, there is also a very evident example of color symbolism. The fact that the pyramid is red is significant because red is generally representative of blood and violence, which are things that the pyramid definitely brings to the story. Overall, I liked this book the most because of its focus on mythology, unique style of narrating, and interesting, conflict-filled story. This book is great for anyone that appreciates mythology, or fantasy in general.

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My favorite book this year I read was the antiwar book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. The book takes place during WW1 which was known at the time as the great war. The main character Paul enlisted into the military thinking that it would be good thing to do for honor and patriotism as he and his friends are convinced by their schoolmaster to enlist. The book goes over him and his friends trying to survive this war. The authors own experience in fighting in the war helps make it accurate and descriptive of this book was on the life of an average German soldier on the front line. It depicts most if not all parts of the conditions they would have faced such as the death, destruction, and how war changes a person. I think people who are interested in books relating to WW1 would enjoy this.

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Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy was my favorite book I read this year. What made this book good was its characters, setting, and imagery. The book is historical fiction and is set in the old western frontier in the late 1800's and follows a main character called The Kid and the gang of mercenaries he joins allowing for the authors artistic descriptions of the often bleak desert setting and violent action. The characters are like none I've ever read before because they are for the most part static but seem dynamic as we find out more about them. I also enjoyed the philosophical dilemmas posed by the book which kept me reading as well as the interesting allusions and references that the book made to many other works like the Bible and Paradise Lost. Something I didn't like about the book is the excessive use of outdated language which sometimes made it hard to follow. I also didn't like the end of the book which was left pretty open ended and left me unsatisfied. Overall I would recommend the book to anyone who likes historical fiction.

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My favorite book of the year was Crime and Punishment, a psychological crime fiction novel that follows the main character, Raskolnikov, as he slowly succumbs to the guilt from the crimes he perpetrated. The book's language and writing has a very dark tone and is quite vivid, which left a strong and shaking impression on me. Disturbing images of heinous acts like murder, theft, and animal abuse left me in a state of shock. The structure of the book makes the reader question the mental state of the protagonist, as the book jumps time and places very often with mortifying thoughts expressed by the main character. Examples of this would be the infamous portion of the book when Raskolnikov conducts his plan to kill the hag who he and many others are indebted to. This transitions into the character versus self type conflict, where he battles the guilt of murder. The reason why it is highly recommended is because it gives insight for what destruction an immoral act can induce and what isolation can do to a person. It was also highly interesting to see the split persona or duality Raskolnikov has, as one side shows him to be a cold blooded murder but the other a charitable, family loving man. In conclusion, people who like crime, psychological, or philosophical novels would thoroughly enjoy the book but I would recommend the book to anybody as it is important to see the darkness of man.

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Of all the books I read this year, by far the one I enjoyed the most was the dramatic, science-fiction novel by Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange. As a fan of dystopian fiction novels, the hopeless world that Alex lives in captivated me and drew me in as a read on. The complex and often made-up lingo that is used by both Alex and his droogs made the world come to life and further engaged the reader. That idea was something I had never seen used before, because sometimes you were left with no explanation for what a word like "horrorshow" means. You are forced into using extreme context clues to come up with some random idea as to what that word could be, and I just happened to be someone who enjoyed that game. Another reason that I enjoyed this novel was the interconnectivity between the Alex and his droogs. As I created my character web for the novel, I noticed just how interconnected each member was. with each other. They had overlapping motivations, similar fears and hopes, but in the end, live very different lives after Alex goes to jail. Each gang member also follows a classic character archetype (besides Alex). For example Dim is the classic all brawns no brains, while his right hand man, Pete, is of course the inverse. It creates a sense of familiarity in a world that is all so new and overwhelming. All of that and more made it a fun read for me. If you enjoyed the 10th grade reading books like 1984, The Memory Police, or Fahrenheit 451, I think you would enjoy this book too.

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My favorite book that I read this year was Hirohiko Araki's mystery fiction manga Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure: Part 4. It was my favorite because of the style of storytelling and character driven plot. As the story unfolds the main characters encounter many different side antagonists that steer the plot in directions you would never be able to predict. The story follows an overcoming the monster archetype with the monster being the town's notorious murderer Kira Yoshikage. The antagonist is Kira and is incredibly dynamic and changes drastically throughout the story. He goes from a creep who is obsessed with peoples hands to a full-fledged murderer that almost destroys the whole town. His drastic change leaves an impact on the reader, and he influences the narrative with a level of suspense and tension. The art style is incredible and gives the reader amazing visuals to help portray the story. In summary Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 4 stands out as my favorite book of the year due to its amazing storytelling style which is driven by a diverse cast of characters with the art style being the cherry on top.

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Berserk by Kentaro Miura, the dark fantasy manga series, has been the best book I've read this year. One of the main reasons for my enjoyment is the complexity of the main character, Gutts. With each chapter, Gutts undergoes development, along with the world he inhabits evolving to build the story's plot. This story is character driven but it doesn't only focus on Gutts it also dives into the progression of other characters turning them from simple to complex characters. The linear plot connects what seem to be insignificant events from the early chapters to the climactic moments at the end of the book. By giving value to every part, the story leaves no questions unanswered and avoids leaving the reader confused. The standout of the book is the inciting incident being one of the most shocking I've seen in any book, leaving a lasting impact. I would recommend Berserk to fans of the dark fantasy genre and art fans, because it is a manga series.

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Every Last Secret is a mystery and thriller novel that caught my attention in many ways, leading it to be my favorite book of the year. This book is driven by a character vs. character conflict with a narration style that I love. Neena Ryder moves in next door to Cat Winthorpe and they immediately build a friendship. However, they both have ulterior motives in pursuing their friendship and the book follows the conflicts between the two as they live with being neighbors with each other. The book is told through the first-person perspectives of both Cat and Neena. I am a very big fan of books that have the story change perspectives every chapter so that I can understand how all of the characters are feeling about a certain situation. This narration style also adds to the mystery of the book by how the same event is being recounted by different people which makes the story change as each perspective does. This leads to the reader having to try to figure out who to believe with the truth being revealed at the end of the book. This was a very fun read for me and figuring out the mysteries between Cat and Neena made for a great quarter of independent reading. Fans of romance and mystery would also love reading this book.

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is my favorite book that I read this year. The genre is fiction adult thriller, and the theme is good vs. evil where the inciting incident is where the protagonist from Panem, Katniss Everdeen, is fighting the evil villains in the Capitol. There are several reasons why this is my favorite book. First, the book is interesting immediately from the beginning. It is plot-driven and character-driven, based on Katnis’s quest to win the Hunger Games. This book was a page-turner and riveting from the start all the way through the end. Second, the characters in The Hunger Games are well-developed making them relatable, likable, and easy to connect with. You understand their personalities and root for the good guys and hope the bad guys don’t win. The characters are interesting, diverse, and have different stories that all contribute to the excitement of the plot. For instance, Peeta is a nice guy who works in his parents’ bread shop, and he is too nice for the environment he is thrown into, but because he is nice develops a relationship with the other characters and perseveres. Third, the plot is very good and reminds me of the Marvel movies about superheroes that I enjoy watching. The book is focused on the concept of an oppressive government forcing young people into a deadly battle for survival. It is a very creative idea, having the characters fight in an arena that resembles a jungle, and all the rich people are just watching them. The challenges presented to the contestants are both shocking and suspenseful. My favorite challenge was the one when the contestants had to escape from the tracker jackers, these robotic bee-like creatures that were released to sting and poison the contestants. Fourth, Suzanne Collins has a simple writing style that is not overly complicated, and she uses vocabulary that is easy to understand. I like that I don’t have to struggle to understand what she is trying to explain, and the book is interesting without being overly complicated.  Overall, The Hunger Games was my favorite book to read this year due to the exciting story, the relatable characters, the plot development and intense action scenes, and the author’s writing style. I highly recommend this book for both teenagers and adults. I think kids as young as eight grade would enjoy the book, as well as adults that are my parents’ ages. It is definitely a book for everyone.

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My favorite book that I read this year was Ugly Love, a contemporary romance novel by Colleen Hoover. I enjoyed this book because it had a character vs self-conflict. One of the main characters Miles was challenged with his idea of not being able to love again after going through a tragic situation. When Miles meets Tate there is an undeniable romantic connection between the two of them. I also thoroughly enjoyed it because I loved seeing how the characters' emotions changed throughout the book. They both promise to have friends with benefits and not grow any feelings towards each other even though they eventually do. Miles and Tate are anxious about this new relationship idea as they don’t have time to love someone. Miles especially has many mixed emotions thrown at him as he knows that he feels something towards Tate but he can’t actually accept it because of his past. Miles shows self-growth and he is eventually able to admit that he loves Tate. This self-growth shows that Miles is a complex character. This book has a compassionate tone and lighthearted mood, making it very enjoyable to read. This book was very hard to put down because Hoover leaves a lot of suspense at the end of the chapters, making you want to read more. I would recommend this book to someone that enjoys books about the main characters growing up and not letting their past control them would thoroughly enjoy this book. As well as one that likes romance novels and other Colleen Hoover books.

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My favorite book I've read was probably the horror manga "Uzumaki," by Junji Ito. Without revealing too much about the three volume series, the main plot follows Kirie's life in her small town as it is altered and threatened by an odd, insidious curse. It's my favorite independent reading book due to how the story progresses from reoccurring, distressing events to a futile struggle within the town, and how some of the characters who were initially static throughout the book quickly became dynamic near the end of the story.  The author's art heightens the experience of reading throughout this book, not only through disturbing the reader but having it be heavily related to the plot of the story. Not only that, but I discovered that horror and thriller novels were the books I was drawn towards, and I'm more interested in them than other books. Overall, I'd personally rate this a 8.75/10, and would recommend this to anybody wanting to get into horror manga or literature

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is my favorite book that I read this year. The genre is fiction adult thriller, and the theme is good vs. evil where the inciting incident is where the protagonist from Panem, Katniss Everdeen, is fighting the evil villains in the Capitol. There are several reasons why this is my favorite book. First, the book is interesting immediately from the beginning. It is plot-driven and character-driven, based on Katnis’s quest to win the Hunger Games. This book was a page-turner and riveting from the start all the way through the end. Second, the characters in The Hunger Games are well-developed making them relatable, likable, and easy to connect with. You understand their personalities and root for the good guys and hope the bad guys don’t win. The characters are interesting, diverse, and have different stories that all contribute to the excitement of the plot. For instance, Peeta is a nice guy who works in his parents’ bread shop, and he is too nice for the environment he is thrown into, but because he is nice develops a relationship with the other characters and perseveres. Third, the plot is very good and reminds me of the Marvel movies about superheroes that I enjoy watching. The book is focused on the concept of an oppressive government forcing young people into a deadly battle for survival. It is a very creative idea, having the characters fight in an arena that resembles a jungle, and all the rich people are just watching them. The challenges presented to the contestants are both shocking and suspenseful. My favorite challenge was the one when the contestants had to escape from the tracker jackers, these robotic bee-like creatures that were released to sting and poison the contestants. Fourth, Suzanne Collins has a simple writing style that is not overly complicated, and she uses vocabulary that is easy to understand. I like that I don’t have to struggle to understand what she is trying to explain, and the book is interesting without being overly complicated.  Overall, The Hunger Games was my favorite book to read this year due to the exciting story, the relatable characters, the plot development and intense action scenes, and the author’s writing style. I highly recommend this book for both teenagers and adults. I think kids as young as eight grade would enjoy the book, as well as adults that are my parents’ ages. It is definitely a book for everyone.

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My favorite book that I read this year was Jodi Picoult's realistic fiction novel Small Great Things. I enjoyed the language of this book because it had a sort of modern sophistication to it, meaning the author used new vocabulary that was relevant to the time (the year in the novel is 2015) while also giving the characters an intelligent and educated vernacular. I also really liked how Picoult organized the book and switched between narrators, making it easy to sympathize with each of them, no matter how different their views were from my own personal beliefs. I think I really enjoyed this book because it really displayed the differences in perspective of people experiencing the same thing. Also, her application of each characters' past and how that impacted their actions in the events in the novel was also extremely well-done, making this a great read for anyone interested in contemporary stories about racial and economic inequality.

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"Lovely Bones" by Alice Seabold was my favorite independent reading book this year. "Lovely Bones" is a supernatural thriller drama based on a true story. This was the first book of this genre I have read. I usually like romantic or feel good books but this book changed that prospective for me. I really liked how fast paced this book was. I tend to zone out when I read and this book held my focus. From the very beginning of the book there was drama and mystery. I liked how you really felt for some characters and then some other characters you hated. Something interesting that I haven't seen in a book before was that you already knew what happened in the end and it was through the future main character's perspective and she tells her story that had already happened. I wouldn't think I like this style of writing but I really did like the flashback style of writing. Overall I think this book is geared towards people who can handle a sad heavy book. This isn't the type of book that necessarily has a happy ending which I never thought I would like but the book was really well done and I loved it.

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Lucy Foley's The Hunting Party is a thrilling  mystery novel riddled with unpredictable twists and turns that elevate the overall quality of the book. The novel captivated my attention as the suspense was built to foreshadow a darker truth. The defiance of the typical archetypes by revealing a deeper reality of each character alluded to the extent to which the characters were dynamic. Lucy Foley created a mysterious and suspenseful tone by switching between the present and past perspectives, converging at the climax of the novel. Not only was the plot a mystery but so were the characters. The many layers that made up the 9 main characters of the novel further elevated the novel as a whole. Other elements of The Hunting Party added to the success of the novel, such as the inescapable landscape, the underlying schemes, and the forced dynamic of the characters. The Hunting Party, by Lucy Foley, can be enjoyed by all types of audiences, but especially those who enjoy murder mystery novels.

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A Little Life is a tragic narrative following four friends from different backgrounds that face love, loss, betrayal, and friendship. This has been my favorite independent reading book from this school year because of its raw and uncensored writing style, including perspective changes and flashbacks. The more I read, the more I felt connected to each character. I loved how the author didn't tell the reader whose perspective each chapter was in, but you could tell on your own because of the precise details and unique characteristics of each friend. Although the mood of this book was incredibly depressing, the Yanagihara showed beauty within everything. I really appreciated how she showed that family doesn't have to be blood. This book truly felt real to me because of how well-written it is. The four boys go through so much character development that I genuinely would re-read the book just to fully capture how much they all went through. A Little Life's main protagonist shows the reality of living life with untreated PTSD and trauma, disability, and other struggles. The audience I would recommend this book to is someone wanting to fully sink into another life, putting their feet in another person's shoes. This book is over 800 pages and contains a lot of disturbing content so it's definitely not for everyone. Overall I've learned so much from these four characters.

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My favorite book that I read this year is the romantic thriller Verity. I really enjoyed it because it is different from Colleen Hoover's other books and kept me on my toes the whole time. The novel is centered around a very complex love triangle between a family with immense trauma and a young author. The writing style switches from the perspective of Lowen to the autobiography of Verity and her twisted story. As the plot thickens and it gets more suspenseful, new secrets are revealed, which made me question all of the previous events that happened. I think the number one thing that made me like this book so much is the way it twisted my mind and had me second-guessing everything that had been revealed. Two of the main characters, Jeremy and Verity are very unreliable and have major contributions to the secrets that make up the plot. The main character and narrator, Lowen is a very complex character and faces a lot of confusion, and her emotional strength gets tested numerous times. I think anyone who enjoys Colleen Hoover or romance novels, in general, would really enjoy this book.

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My favorite book I read this year was the fictional romance, Ugly Love, by Colleen Hoover. The author does a great job of building tension and keeping the reader hooked throughout the book. The story follows the perspectives of two characters, Tate and Miles. Tate is a nurse who moves in with her brother after a bad breakup. She meets Miles, who is a pilot and her brother's neighbor. Tate is immediately attracted to Miles. However, Miles is closed off. They start a sexual relationship. But, they struggle because of their pasts. There are many reasons why I enjoyed this book. I loved that the book was raw and emotional. I also really enjoyed that Tate's perspective was in the present and Miles perspective was in the past. It helped me understand the character's emotions on a much higher level. Each perspective felt extremely relatable and personal. You could tell that the characters were reliable and shared very insightful thoughts. To add, many of the themes in this book made me wonder. Some themes included; Love, loss, grief, and the importance of communication in a relationship. Overall, I have read many Colleen Hoover books. However, this book is by far my favorite. I think anyone who enjoys the romance genre would enjoy this book!

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My favorite book this year was Yuki Tabata's Black Clover which is a adventure fiction manga. One of the main reasons I like this book so much is the rags to riches plot line. The author uses the main character Asta to portray this rags to riches. Asta starts out as an orphan and grows up in a world full of magic, but to Asta's surprise he is the only person in the Clover Kingdom to not have magic. Asta overcomes his fate of not having magic and intensely trains his body to become stronger. eventually he becomes so physically strong that he can keep up with the rest of the mages who have magic to protect the people of the Clover Kingdom. This is seen in the latest arc when Asta helps his captain Yami defeat Dante the leader of the Dark Triad who possesses devil power in a all out battle to the death, which leads to Asta unlocking more power but ultimately leading to Yami being captured by the Dark Triad. I like this book so much because it can motivate others who are struggling and don't have the materialistic things other people have to better themselves. I think the type of people who would like this book are fans of superhero movies, or manga fans. this is because its as creative as superhero movies and has relatable protagonist, and cool villains.

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This year my favorite novel was Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds which is a fictional ghost story. This was my favorite book this year because it was a character vs. self book and the only one I read that was structured that way. It was so interesting to me because I would put myself in the character's shoes and think about what decisions I would make in the character's position. Another reason why I like this book so much is because it was written in a style I have never seen before. Each page was written in a poem like format with little words filling up the page and it was written in these one line stanzas. Although there was no rhyming scheme it oddly felt like a long poem.

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This novel was the first independant reading book I read this year and it is a historical romance novel set in the Regency Era in London. The book combines elements of wit, charm, and longing for love, making it a good read for those seeking an engaging love story. One of the main reasons I love to read Julia Quinns novels so much is because of her wiritng style. Her writing style is sophisticated, with elegant word choice and carefully developed dialogue. The narrative is given a vivid layer of realism by the author's careful attention to detail in describing the settings and clothing of the time, creating a really immersive reading experience. The central relationship in the story is that of Colin Bridgerton, the handsome bachelor of the ton, and Penelope Featherington, a bright but underappreciated girl. This story is special because of the gradual way in which their friendship develops. Through the progression of their relationships from lighthearted banter to intense emotional connection, the characters in Quinn's story show how friendship may turn into love. Penelope Featherington, the book's intriguing protagonist who challenges societal norms, was my favorite character. After reading the previous novels and seeing how difficult it had been for her during the seasons, it was nice to see her character finally receive her happy ending. Her knowledge, resiliency, and wit make her a refreshing and endearing character. This book is excellent for those searching for a romance that does an excellent job of taking them back to the regency era.

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The Big Crescendo by Johnathan Brown was probably my favorite book to read this school year. It’s a crime thriller set in present day Los Angeles and follows the abruptly abnormal life of Lou Crasher. The author of this book was very inspired by comic books and action film/tv and wanted to capture his personalization of an unknown hero type in this novel. I like it a lot because it’s a bit more nuanced than a comic book simply because it’s a novel so it has more depth to the narrative. This novel follows several different plot points and changes that all surround the theme of chasing your dreams. Lou is faced with death numerous times but due to his leap of faith he finds himself in places he would’ve never set foot in, along with a reputation that supersedes his presence.

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My favorite book I read this year was The Talented Mr. Ripley, a crime thriller written by Patricia Highsmith. I enjoyed reading this novel because the plot was character driven and focused mainly on the mind of the protagonist, Tom Ripley.  Ripley, a complex character, lets the audience into his twisted mind full of obsession over his new friend, Dickie Greenleaf. Ripley wanted nothing more than to be more like Greenleaf. This meant he was starting to dress like him, act like him, and eventually murder him in efforts to become him. The three main themes I observed throughout my reading were obsession, manipulation, and the search for identity. All that Ripley wanted was to have an identity, as he felt he lived a boring existence and Greenleaf lived the life he always wanted. The writing style leads readers to like Ripley, even though he is the villain in the story. We as readers are made to feel bad for him in many ways. Ripley is deeply insecure and feels he lives in Greenleaf's shadow, which is something to sympathize with. Highsmith writes in such a manner that almost seems to justify the many crimes committed by Ripley. The story is captivatingly devious, attracting a very specific type of audience. I think people who enjoy true crime and suspenseful plots would really enjoy this novel.

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The reason that i enjoyed this book so much was because of the lessons and the context of the novel it taught me and how much I learned about money and business throughout this autobiography. Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was how they they used the symbolism of colors in the font pages of the book and how it really caught my eye before even diving into this book. The author of this book really made the writing come to life and felt like you were right next to someone learning the lesson.

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My favorite book I read this year was the romance novel, Archer's Voice, by Mia Sheridan. This novel follows the connection between Bree Prescott and Archer Hale both struggling with previous hardships. This book deals with the conflict of character vs self. Being revolved around love and one of the love interests being mute shows the complexity of how they communicate and get to know each other. Love is something where communication is key so this novel opens up a new perspective. Their journey of healing and growth is the main focus of this book. The author uses vivid imagery to capture the range of emotions the characters show. It is easy to follow the alternating perspectives due to the smooth transitions. The alternate perspectives give depth to their personalities and relationship. The quietness of the little town of Pelion, Maine shows the contrast to the emotional turmoil Archer deals with internally. I recommend this book to people who enjoy contemporary romance accompanied by emotional depth. If character-driven novels centered around personal growth interest you, I highly recommend this book.

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I really enjoyed this book and it is definitely one of my favorite reads this year. The Book is lord Of The Rings by J.R.R Tolkien and it's a super fantasy with monsters and other creatures. This book is about the forces of good and evil, fighting for control of the ring in a middle earth age. Frodo is one of the main characters and he is a normal human. While the dark lords are not human and very powerful and dangerous. I would recommend this book to any teens who love a thriller with tons of action. The author has made three total books this one being the third. The one ring is the most important piece and symbol of the story and whether it should be destroyed or not.  The characters in this book get along really well and the relationships that they have are so intriguing. The writing style of this book is simple and modern and can suit different people. I really recommend this book to anyone in high school.

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My favorite book this year was Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. It's a science fiction novel that takes place in 2045, where the world is plagued with numerous wars and global crises. The only escape from this terrible reality was through the OASIS, a multiplayer, virtual reality world filled with every pop culture reference possible. The story follows Wade Watts, aka Parsival, in a first-person perspective as he goes on a quest to find the golden egg. To reach the egg, he requires three keys that are protected by arcade games, movie recreations, and riddles. The book also features a good vs evil structure as a major corporation named, IOI, is involved with the easter egg hunt. Their only plan is to ruin the OASIS with paywalls and advertisements, and it's up to Wade and his newfound friends to stop them. I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys 80s pop culture or gaming as there's never a moment where there isn't a reference to the 80s or a video game. I think it's also a good book for anyone who wants to read something fun. Overall, the story is entertaining and hard to put down.

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Kevin Kwan's satirical rom-com novel, China Rich Girlfriend, was my favorite independent reading book of the year. This book delves into the world of Asia's ultra-wealthy, and the plot weaves together family dynamics, social structures, romance, scandal, and more. It explores the main protagonist Rachel Chu's journey to blending in with her high-profile boyfriend, turned husband Nicholas Young's family, and their surrounding social structure as an "outsider", not coming from that wealthy background. It also follows the plot lines of many other characters and their paths to finding themselves and fitting into the elite hierarchy, while simultaneously maintaining their own identities. The author uses satire and humor within his writing, making the book entertaining and funny while reading. Additionally, the detailed imagery used makes this book easy to visualize. I, in particular, enjoyed this book due to the multiple storylines of characters, making it very entertaining and spontaneous to keep up with, as well as the satire about wealthy people used. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading humorous books, books with romantic elements, and plots about character development. Also, this would be a very enjoyable read for anyone who likes reading about the world of rich people.

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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a young adult psychological thriller novel. It was a very entertaining book with interesting characters, plot, and dialogue. My favorite thing about the book was that there were numerous unexpected plot twists. I was constantly left guessing and devising my own theories. It brought out a lot of emotion, ranging from happiness to devastation. The story follows Cadence Sinclair, who comes from a very wealthy, prestigious family. The family places a lot of emphasis on maintaining their public image and appearing successful and poised. The story is set during Summer, when the family take a vacation on their private island. Throughout the story, there is an aspect of romance, as Cadence shows interest in Gat, a family friend, who is also visiting the island. This creates conflict because Gat is not white and the family worries that this will diminish their picture perfect appearance. Cadence continues to ignore her family's wishes and rebel. This presents themes of racism, lies, and greed. The inciting incident occurs when Cadence hits her head on rocks at the beach and loses significant memory. She struggles to remember incidents from the vacation. She begins on a hunt to uncover the truth. She is filled with aggravation and rage, as her family fails to answer her questions. I was shocked by the ending. It was very clever and unexpected. The plot continues to deepen and the web of lies continues to tangle. I felt fully immersed in the novel, and I could feel Cadence's frustration with not having answers. I enjoyed how the author accurately depicted the teens. They use common slang, and readers can relate to the protagonist, Cadence. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery novels, with romance aspects. Overall, this book is very hooking and entertaining, with many plot twists.

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Out of the four books I read this year, the memoir The Glass Castle was by far my favorite book. The Glass Castle, written by Jeannette Walls, is a remarkable memoir that dives deep into the experiences of Jeanette's life in a family that was once deeply dysfunctional and vibrant. The protagonist, Jeannette Walls, details her challenging childhood and the difficulties she had to face as she became an adult. Jeanette's father, Rex Walls, struggles with alcohol and can be abusive, while the mother, Rose Mary, does not want to hold the responsibility of raising a family. The Walls Children have to learn how to take care of themselves. I really enjoyed reading this book because it taught me several key lessons of life including the importance of family, hardwork, and struggle. Jeanette's story is very inspiring because she learns how to overcome challenges as an individual. The story is driven by a mixture of setting and character situations. The setting frequently changes in the story since the Walls are in debt, and have to find new places to live. Jeanette has to overcome the hardships that her parents present her. I would definitely recommend this book to incoming English 10 ADV. students, but specifically those who are struggling with either family situations in life, or other problems. Jeannettes story illustrates the true importance of confidence, and self improvement.

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I really enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns, a historical fiction about tumultuous life in war torn Afghanistan told through the perspective of two girls, Mariam and Laila. I think that it was really eye-opening to learn about how the Mujahideen and eventually the Taliban coming into power through a narrative format. It's easy for many people to gloss over these events as just another Middle Eastern war, especially with barely any news coverage or education on the topic. Of course this novel can't be completely historically accurate, but with the first person narrative, I could empathize with their situations and feel for them. As Mariam was forced into a marriage at fourteen in order to survive, and Laila slowly had to stop going to school as the laws forbid it, the reader could see how much injustice they were being subjected to. It was heart wrenching to see the casualties that war brings and how drastically everything changes, even once the fighting dies down. Especially as a girl, it was really eye opening to see how women were being treated as a lower class, first by individuals, and then by the entire structure of society until restriction was inescapable, and when Rasheed, their husband, almost murdered them it was completely condoned by law. Over the course of the book, you could see how their freedoms are slowly taken away but the magnitude of this really hits at the very end. This was also written beautifully and the word choice felt very immersive into Afghani culture and language.

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Written in 2 parts, before and after tragedy, John Greens Looking for Alaska is a coming-of-age novel that follows the main character Miles on his search for a "Great Perhaps" as referenced in the last words of Francois Rabelais. Inspired by Rabelais, Miles decides to attend Culver Creek Prep School in Alabama, where he meets Alaska and the Colonel, who become his best friends. They teach Miles how to really live and in their friendship, Miles finds the “great perhaps” he was looking for. He falls for the ever-so-clever and beautiful Alaska Young, but her self-destructive tendencies make it impossible for her to reciprocate Miles's love. In the wake of tragedy, Miles carries a heavy burden and his friendships start to unravel. Eventually, he is able to recognize that he isn't alone and begins to learn how to live again. This book has themes of death, friendship, loyalty, existence, and self-discovery. It uses literary devices such as imagery, personification, and metaphors to create a quest and rebirth story. Miles is an unreliable teenager because he's a teenager with a warped sense of how the world should work. This book has some heavy content, but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about young people and their search for self-discovery.

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I really liked reading the self-help book "How Champions Think," written by Bob Rotella. This novel was very unique because it is something I am able to apply to every aspect of my life. It wasn't just a book I would forget about as I go on with my life. The sport and life lessons contained in this book were very valuable and meaningful. It contains sports, psychological, and biographical contexts. The sports context is all about team chemistry, individual progress, and competition. It aids the readers to find a relation between the strategies provided and their own sport. The psychological context is all about the mindset one has. Rotella writes about the mental attributes a successful person has. For instance, motivation, confidence, and visualization.  The biographical context includes stories of successful athletes. He writes about how their upbringing, life story, and personality forms the way they approach their sport. Rotella wants the readers to strive for a life they would be proud of and not regret.

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My favorite book I've read this year was the contemporary romance novel Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. The story begins with one of the protagonists, Tate, moving into her older brother’s apartment in San Francisco. As she reaches the apartment door, she is greeted by an unfamiliar man that reeked of alcohol. Frightened, Tate called her brother, Corbin, questioning who this mystery man may be. Corbin realized that the strange man was indeed his best friend, Miles. This was the first interaction between Tate and Miles, and definitely not their last. Although they started off rocky, their connection was undeniable. However, Miles swore off love due to his tragic past and he couldn’t offer Tate anything other than a physical relationship. As the story continues Tate tries to convince Miles he is deserving of love. There are so many things I loved about this book. The alternating point of view between the two protagonists kept the plot interesting. As a reader, being able to hear both sides of the story allowed a deeper understanding of the situation. Throughout Miles’s narrations there were many flashbacks, which I think is a great tool implemented by Colleen Hoover to slowly uncover his past, keeping the reader intrigued. The flashbacks created an almost perfect pace, without a dull moment throughout the story. I have read several Colleen Hoover books and I would definitely say Ugly Love was my favorite. I think that anyone interested in the romance genre would enjoy this book.

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My favorite book this year was The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson which is a novel with two corresponding storylines that both take place in Chicago during the 1890s. The first storyline is centered around the development of the World’s Columbian Exposition or the World’s fair where Daniel Burnham, an architect takes charge. This fair was designed to commemorate the successes and development of the Americas. The other storyline follows H.H. Holmes is the world’s first known serial killer and he uses the World’s Fair as a backdrop and bait of his murders. I really enjoyed the historical and social context that the author intertwined into the storyline. During this time, Chicago was in a serious social depression with high rates of crime and the World’s fair was a facade to enlighten the city. After researching, I found that the historical context is very interesting due to the controversy that was the World’s Fair. In the end it ultimately failed because of the exploitation of marginalized groups and cultures in the Americas. Obviously, I think people who would be interested in this book are people interested in American history but also those who enjoy darker and sinister storylines. I also believe someone interested in the history of Chicago or someone who lives there would find a strong liking for this book.

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Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a historical fiction book. This was my favorite book because even thought they had problems, I liked the family dynamic between the friends. They practically lived together and they showed up for each other more than their actual families. This book was about a band in the 70s, and they went through many things together. The lead singer is Billy, and he was upset when Daisy Jones joined the band. I loved this book because it addressed topics that weren't very popular back then, such as feminism. Daisy was a very strong character and she was never scared to argue with powerful people. The format of the book was very interesting. The entire book is a very big interview that took place in the early 2000s, but the characters recall life in the 70s. The interviewer doesn't speak, so the time period is never changed back to the 2000s, it stays in the 70s because only the characters speak. There are dynamic characters. For example, Billy was a great family man, then he lost himself, he became a bad person, he later tried to do better, but then he went back to his old ways. At the end, he was able to make amends with the people he wronged. There are also some villains, such as record executives, who try to take away Daisy's freedom. Even though this book definitely had more serious problems, anyone who loves the show FRIENDS would probably like this book. They both have strong friendships and all the characters affect each other. They are always there for each other and spend most of their time together.

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My favorite independent reading book this year was the coming-of-age novel, Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. The book is a very thought-provoking novel and allows for young adult readers to experience a journey with the characters, Aza, Daisy, and Davis Pickett Jr, as they go on an adventure with one another to solve the mystery of the whereabouts of the town’s billionaire. I liked the book because it deals with real-life problems that teenagers can struggle with, while going on a quest to find Davis’ billionaire father, and also learning about themselves and each other. The main character, Aza Holmes, is outgoing and bubbly who struggles with severe anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The author himself has a hard time dealing with his own crippling anxiety, giving personal insight to writing the character, Aza. Each character grows in their own way and realizes their self-worth and recognition, even Davis’ tuatara (looks like a lizard), Tua. I think anybody who enjoys a good adventure and unexpected plot twists and character development would like this book.

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My favorite book this year was Andy Weir's science fiction novel Project Hail Mary. The protagonist, Ryland Grace, wakes up from a coma and finds himself stranded in space with no memory of how he got there. At first, the narrator is unreliable because he has no recollection of his life before the coma. As the story continues, Ryland's memories come back, the narrative constantly switching between the present and the past, and he remembers he is on a mission to save Earth from an invasive alien species. It's a character vs. nature story because he has to survive in space without any contact with Earth. There is a lot of suspense in the novel because Ryland is constantly facing new challenges. I liked this book because the writing style made the story very entertaining. The novel is told through Ryland's point of view, in humorous daily recaps similar to diary entries. Strategically placed flashbacks add extra insight to Ryland's situation and help the reader connect to him. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure.

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My favorite book of this year was James Kerr's self-help book Legacy. I liked this book for its insightfulness and and getting to know the secrets to success in sports, or just life in general. This book is split up into sections of a main idea, including "Character" or "Sweep the Sheds", and it portrays the New Zealand rugby team's success and failure in these ideas. It is filled with insights, quotes, and wisdom from the best in the game, highlighting the All Blacks' exceptional culture and the successful legacy they left behind. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who wants to know how to be the best of the best and take leadership.

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Legacy has 1,066 ratings and 68 reviews. Rachel C. said: Work book club selection. My overall impression: a sloppy mishmash of Maori folk wisdom and soun...

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Overall, my favorite independent reading book from this year was Divergent, a young adult dystopian fiction novel written by Veronica Roth. The setting of this book takes place in future Chicago, around 300 years from now. This novel follows main character Beatrice, who makes many discoveries about her own identity, as well as the conspiracies plotted in the different factions. I enjoyed this novel because of its plot archetype, overcoming the monster. In general, I like books where the protagonist works to overcome a greater force, and this novel met my expectations. Additionally, I liked how this book incorporated romance into its developing plot, making the book even more engrossing. Veronica Roth's writing style was very comprehensive and the way she embodied different plot twists and conflict was interesting to read. I would definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy dystopian novels and especially those who have read and liked The Maze Runner or The Hunger Games.

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My favorite book from this year was The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As somebody who actually enjoyed Frankenstein, I decided to read a similar horror-science-fiction-themed book, and found this book to be very enjoyable. The main reason I enjoyed this book was due to the fact that it was quite a bit shorter than Frankenstein, and each part was equally as interesting. The plot closely follows the main characters and creates a very unique storyline that gives a reader a deep understanding of the book. The language of the story is easy to understand and follow, which makes the book a generally more enjoyable read. Not giving away too much, the book ends with a surprising twist that is not typical for a classic novel. I think that those who enjoy horror and/or science fiction, or even Frankenstein, would enjoy this book.

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The mystery and thriller novel TH1RT3EN, written by Steve Cavanagh holds the spot of my favorite book that I read this year because of its compelling story and intriguing characters. Half the book follows Eddie Flynn, a defense attorney as he takes on the trial of the century defending a movie star who supposedly murdered his girlfriend and head of security. The other half of the book is told from the true murderer's perspective and really enhances the first person narrative experience.  The language used by both narratives is cold and emotionless adding to the depressive tone and feel of the story. The plot is an overcoming the monster story that many readers are familiar with, allowing for a steady pace and obstacles the characters have to solve. With a well-thought out twist and each page revealing more information on the murders, readers who are looking for a thrilling page turner would love this novel.

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William Styron's biographical fiction novel, The Confessions of Nat Turner, covers the life of the historical figure Nat Turner as he recounts the events of his life as he awaits his execution in a Virginian jail cell. Styron does a beautiful job of building the oppressive and aggravating world around Turner, with the slavery-dominated American South of the 19th century providing motivation for the rebellion Turner would eventually lead against his tyrannical owners. Using many thematic elements, Styron depicts Turner not only as a leader of a revolution but as a figure of divine intervention, as Turner is led by continual religious visions of liberation, grandeur, and revenge. This book is written in an extremely interesting manner, as the novel opens with Turner awaiting his own death, and examining the actions that have led him to his condemnation. While this does tell readers the outcome of Turner's actions, it also makes much of the novel feel more introspective and allows readers to examine the morality of Turner's actions as we look back at his past. While this book would definitely appeal to those interested in American history, I think that this book can be appealing to a wide audience, as it raises questions that force the reader to question and reconsider their own beliefs on religion, morality, liberty, and racism.

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My favorite book that I read this year was the memoir The Phantom Prince by Elizabeth Kendall. The book is told from the perspective of Ted Bundy's girlfriend, who turned him into the police, but also stayed with him for a while after that. I usually do not like reading nonfiction, however I found this book really interesting, because you get to see her internal conflict and it had a perspective unlike any other book. The narrator is sometimes unreliable, because she was in love with him, and looked past many things. However, she was also able to see a different side of Ted Bundy, so you got to understand why she liked him, despite being suspicious of him. The book is not the most well written, because Elizabeth Kendall is not an author, however the details of the book are very interesting. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes true crime or is interested in psychology, because even though you hear about crimes it is rare you get to know more about what the criminals are like.

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My favorite thing I read this year was Gideon the Ninth, a science fantasy novel by Tamsyn Muir. This entire series is amazing and this is the first book. It is technically an adult book due to the body horror and necromancy related violence in this book, but it has a lot of YA elements and the protagonist is 18. I loved this book because of its complex worldbuilding and characters. There is no way to summarize this book better than the quote on the front cover: “Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!” Gideon, who is not a necromancer, accompanies the head necromancer her planet to Canaan House. In Canaan House, a necromancer from each of the nine planets will compete to become an immortal lyctor. The book starts out as exploration and then turns into a murder mystery. It is written in 3rd person limited from Gideon’s perspective, and her personality is amazingly depicted in this. The writing is super sarcastic and full of jokes to match how Gideon talks and thinks, while also being very beautiful and descriptive. This book is least complexly written out of the series, the second is written in second person, and the third riffs off of editions of the Bible. There’s a lot of conflicts in this book, with both tensions between Gideon and her necromancer, the murder mystery, and the race to complete the lyctor trials. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something completely new, since I’ve never read anything like it. It’s also great for people who are really into writing itself, fantasy, sci-fi, interesting magic systems, and complex characters/character relationships. Warning: The book is a bit confusing, but everything makes sense at the end.

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This year my favorite book was The Sanatorium, a mystery novel by Sarah Pearse, because I enjoyed how the author included lots of descriptive wording to make readers really envision a scene. There were many scenes in the book where the main character is in a suspenseful moment. The author makes sure to support what is happening in the book with lots of descriptive, spine-chilling, phrases. This attention to detail helps the reader feel as if they are in the book themself. The plot itself follows a typical mystery novel, however; this book differs from others because of how many unique twists and turns it has. In addition, the book is very well organized and easy to understand. At no point was it ever confusing or had details that were too distracting. The author succeeds in making readers become immersed in the story. The ending is not predictable and finishes the story nicely while leaving room for one final twist. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves reading a good thriller, mystery book and enjoys solving puzzles.

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Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a fictional drama that follows the story of a band and their rise to fame. This story is told through a series of interviews of each of the band members. I enjoyed this book so much because of the unique style in which it was written and because of how much depth and meaning there were to the characters. This book contained so many life lessons and the author did an incredible job at making the reader feel emotions as they read through her writing style. Since the book was constantly changing perspectives, the reader got to see different events from multiple points of view which enhanced the book so much. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys 70s based setting, music, and drama. If you dont feel like reading this book, there is also a series based on the book on amazon prime that is a very good watch! I 10/10 recommend this book.

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Paper Towns by John Green is a fiction, coming of age and mystery novel. Paper Towns follows Quentin and his friends Ben and Radar's journey to find his neighbor and childhood sweetheart Margo after she has disappeared. This book was my favorite of the semester because it had romantic elements along with mystery. Quentin is in love with Margo and his love for her drives him to keep searching for her when everyone around him is telling him to give up. Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was the pacing. John Green keeps readers interested by placing plot twists throughout the book. While reading I was very engaged and never felt that the book became slow or uninteresting. The end of the book is very unexpected and not the predictable ending that the reader was expecting. Finally John Green created very dynamic characters while writing this book. The main character Quentin goes through lots of change and his development over the course of Paper Towns. This was an aspect of the book I enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery novels.

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My favorite book this year was the fantasy novel Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. Crooked Kingdom is the second book in the duology following the story Six of Crows. The group of main characters just pulled off an extremely large heist, and now they are on the run with what they stole. Despite accomplishing their first mission, one of their group members didn't make it out with the rest of them. They have to go back and rescue her, another dangerous and risky mission they must embark on. Many other conflicts make themselves apparent as the story continues, which is one of the reasons I really liked Crooked Kingdom. The plot was so complex and there were many details that seemed irrelevant at first, but were then connected together as the book proceeded. I also really liked the writing style of the book. It was very descriptive and used a lot of figurative language. It helped me create a more vivid picture in my head as I was reading. I think anyone who likes fantasy and mystery would enjoy this book. It is quite dark and heavy, so I would not suggest going into this book lightly. Overall, Crooked Kingdom was an excellent read, and I would suggest any fans of fantasy to read this duology.

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Of all the books I read this year, I most enjoyed Jessica Burgos’ Finding Closure. This book told through poetry and focuses on a toxic relationship between ‘Him’ and ‘Her’. It shows how they overcome their breakup throughout the book. I enjoyed the fact that you had to decide who was reliable and in the right and who was not reliable and in the wrong. Throughout the novel, readers find out more details about both the relationship and the breakup. This was a great read and I thought that it was super cool that it was told through poetry because it helps to portrays deeper emotions and feelings. This book can also be relatable to people in these and of relationships and can inspire people to leave them. All in all, this book was a very good read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys drama and poetry.

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My favorite book that I read this year was Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins. The autobiography dives deep into the struggles that made Goggins the toughest man on the planet. Goggins was born in 1975 to Trunis and Jackie Goggins, they lived in Williamsville, New York where they worked at their father's skating ring. At the age of just 6 years old, Goggins was forced to work long hours at his father's ring where criminals and drug users frequented. His father was abusive to him and his mother, forcing them to run from their family. Through these experiences, Goggins calloused his mind and used his struggles to become his best version. After his childhood years, Goggins worked as an exterminator for a company called Ecolab. During this period Goggins was a pathetic man who weighed almost 300 pounds. He decided that he would no longer live a life of mediocrity and quit his job to join the military. During this time he completed 2 hell weeks and served in the Iraq war. After his service, Goggins became a motivational speaker and runner. He holds the world record for pull-ups at 4,030 in 17 hours. He has even completed the Badwater 135, a 135-mile run in death valley during the summer. To this day Goggins makes it his responsibility to be the baddest man to live. Overall this book inspires anyone who strives to push their limits to reach their full potential. The main reason I enjoyed this book so much was because of Goggins's message. He approaches every situation with the intent to complete it with everything he has, it doesn't matter if the odds are stacked against him, he is going all out. The structure that Goggins used was also very intriguing, he used his life experiences to show that even someone as messed up as him can become great.

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You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston is a murder mystery. I chose this book because I enjoy reading plot driven books. It's character vs Villain as there is a murder on the loose killing Lylah's friends. Lylah, the main character attends her first year at White University. It started out bitter sweet, with a letter saying, "You will be mine" was left on the doorstep of the 6 roommates but as time progressed the letter's became more serious and literal. This takes place in early February, which is meant to symbolize love and relationships. As time progresses Lyla and her roommates begin to fear for their safeties as they gained a stalker. I loved the intenseness this book had, so much happened throughout each chapter so I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy murder mysteries.

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The Great Successor, a non-fiction book by Anna Fifield, is very interesting because it talks about North Korea. I like this book because it gives a deep dive into the life in North Korea and how the regime stayed in power for generations. The plot is mostly informational, and it reaches the climax when the author describes her experience inside North Korea. The way the book was written was talking about the family history and tree then talking about war and generational power. The type of person who would enjoy this book is someone interested in power, control, regimes, and dictatorship.

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I really enjoyed the historical fiction novel Salt to the Sea because great historical context that the book brings. Through the novel you follow four different people struggling to escape the Soviet invasion of Eastern Prussia. The characters develop and grow closer together as their journey to escape eastern Prussia continues. They fight the elements, starvation, thirst and both Russian and German troops. As we follow our cast of characters the author puts into perspective how truly futile and not important their actions are because in the end the characters are show to be Salt to the Sea.

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The best book I've read this year for school was Attack on Titan, which is apart of the fantasy genre. I liked this book because the monster/antagonist is so unique compared to most fantasy books, and the plot is so intricate with its eye-opening revelations that it reveals through various compelling backstories. Each time it feels like there is a climax, you learn a very key piece of information that gives you further insight and once you understand the entire plot-line and history of this world, you can't help but admire it. The genius of Hajime Isayama is highlighted through his foreshadowing and how the latter plotpoints grant further emphasis of the previous ones.

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This book is a collection of non-fiction, essays, written, and collected by Malcolm Gladwell. This book examines perspectives, and how people react to different things in different situations. His book is filled with examples of cases, where communication and perspective allow people to succeed uniquely in specific situations, shedding light on overlooked nuances of human life. This book elegantly examines modern innovation for both its benefits and drawbacks. Malcolm Gladwell’s mastery of storytelling allows for true stories to be told in a way that is compelling and exposes the truth. This book would be great for anyone who wants to look at the world a different way.

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My favorite book that I've read this year was Franz Kafka's dystopian fiction Novel The Trial. Throughout the year I have come to enjoy reading dystopian Novels such as 1984, The Memory Police, and Frankenstein. I enjoyed the concept of the novel in which the protagonist's life suddenly begins to feel like a nightmare as he struggles to face a mysterious trial for a crime he was wrongfully accused of. An example of the dream like state in the novel was when the protagonist entered a room where the cops in charge of his trial were being beaten by their boss. Frightened, the protagonist rushed to report what he saw to the receptionist. However, the receptionist wouldn't budge from her seat to check the room as she knew that everyone else had left the office already. The protagonist returned the next day to the same room and to his surprise, the cops were still being beaten. When the protagonist left the room, it was as if time had ceased. Frightened and confused, the protagonist immediately runs out of the building. The sequence of events follow the steps of an ordinary trial, and the author portrays how the justice system is corrupt through the odd behavior of the police force. I recommend this book to anyone who is into psychology along with crime and mystery novels.

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My favorite book I read this year was November 9 by Colleen Hoover. This book had a unique plot, conveying the complicated love story between Fallon and Ben. They are both not ready for a relationship because of their complicated lives, so they decide to meet at a restaurant on November 9th once a year until they can be together when they are older. Hoover has a very specific writing style as her books generally consist of a romance with some type of plot twist. The plot twist in this book was very unexpected and shocking, which is why I loved it so much. The conflict in November 9 was mainly character vs. self because Fallon had to overcome her insecurities. She had previously been in a fire and obtained burns on her face and body, permanently taking her out of her acting career. She later learned to love herself and feel comfortable in her own skin, illustrating significant character development. A person who likes romance books, or Colleen Hoover's enjoyable writing style, would love this book.

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A Flair for Drama, a thrilling mystery written by Deborah Garner was my favorite book from this year. It was a very entertaining book with lots of hope, change, and passion. I really enjoyed this book because it had one of my favorite genres, as well as acting/theatre as a topic within the book. It follows the story of a girl and her dog traveling to visit a friend in a musical. After they get there, the lead of the musical is killed. Throughout the book, her and her dog have multiple peaks and valleys. In my opinion, this is a total feelgood, coming of age story with a really fun main character. She is quirky, silly, confident, and out-going. This book is a very fun read and recommend. This book teaches you to push past standards of other, and to take on challenges that will better your life moving forward.

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Sloane Gasperov: Archers Voice by Mia Sheridan

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Sloane Gasperov: Archers Voice by Mia Sheridan

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My favorite book I've read this year was Archer's Voice, a fiction romance novel written by Mia Sheridan. Bree Prescott moves to a quant lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, hoping to find the peace she desperately needs after experiencing a tragedy months before. She meets a man named Archer Hale, who became mute after a horrific accident that occurred when he was a child. Bree and Archer start to form a deep connection but face many problems throughout the book, including character vs. self and character vs. character. They both need each other as Archer helps Bree let go of her father's death, and Bree helps Archer find his voice. Sheridan includes flashbacks, which I enjoyed because it gives you a better understanding of what the characters have been through and how it shaped them into the person they are today. I recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic and tear-jerking novels.

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My favorite book that I read this year was the fictional romance, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This story was an enchanting tale of rags to riches with a strong female protagonist. This thrilling story contained themes of love, fame, and loss. There were plot twists in every chapter and the novel was truly a page turner. The protagonist, Evelyn Hugo, retells the exciting story of her life to the younger Monique Grant. Both Grant and Hugo are dynamic, round characters who change throughout the book and learn from each other's lessons. While there is no clear antagonist of this story, the plots of character vs. character and character vs. self are both very clear. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in a riveting novel about love and loss with so much fame along the way.

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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a young adult psychological thriller that inspired me the most this year. This novel had sudden plot twists that shocked and genuinely made my jaw drop in shock, happiness, and in tears. The storyline follows the perspective of the eldest daughter of the Sinclair family. They are described as picture-perfect, blonde, rich, and successful family. The children are athletic, tall, and smart ready to attend a prestigious college. The timeline is during summer and the age of the protagonist Cadence Sinclair. During the summer, the entire family meets up on their private island and many things occur during that time. Cadence falls in love with the family friend named Gat, who is not white, which goes against the perfect visual of the Sinclair family, specifically, the grandfather's opinion and view. He has control over the family, with threats toward his daughters due to his filthy money and where he will put that towards. That presents themes such as race, family, lies, wealth, and greed. Cadence detests that and wants to rebel against her family's ways. However, during summer 15 she gets into an accident which disrupts her ability to remember things that occurred during that summer. There are occurrences that infer to the reader that she is not a reliable character due to her lack of memory and her opinions filled with rage and emotion. Summer 17 is where most of the book is placed and she is on a quest to find out what happened that summer and why no one in her family will tell her. Without spoiling the book, I can tell you that I was left speechless. More themes unfolded such as lies and invention, romantic love vs family, death, loss, and memory and the plot deepened to a point where it almost seemed impossible. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy a mystery, a tad bit of romance, plot twists, a summer read, a similar protagonist to yourself, and the use of everyday language. This book has a lot to offer and I genuinely believe you will enjoy it.