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The Maze Runner by James Dashner is one of the best books that have been written. It has all the elements of a good story in it: mystery, action, suspense, and adventure.

Thomas, the main character, wakes up in an unknown place not knowing anything except his name. There he meets a group of boys and finds out that the walls surrounding the place open into a vast maze. The walls keep them safe from the human-eating creatures called Grievers, which roam the Maze at night. Thomas then learns that when the Grievers sting someone, the boys give them a medicine called Grief Serum. The person would then go through a painful phase, which brings back memories. This happens to Thomas once who has flashbacks about the way out of the Maze. The boys finally figure out the secret codes which unlock a door leading out of the Maze and find the people who built it. A group of army men come and rescue the boys when they see that the boys escaped the Maze. They find out that the Maze was built to test the group of kids whether they are strong enough to survive another set of tough trials.

When you start reading the book, you feel it’s a mystery. As you read along, it gets adventurous and exhilarating. The Maze Runner gets 5 stars because of its thrilling and engaging story.

If you enjoyed reading The Maze Runner, I would recommend you read the other books in the series:

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Death Cure by James Dashner

The Kill Order by James Dashner

The Fever Code by James Dashner

If you have read The Maze Runner, then you should watch the 2014 movie of the same name, and all the others. (There are three total movies: The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure)

- Aatif Ahmed, 9th Grade

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If you loved reading Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, you should also read Magyk by Angie Sage. This book has all the elements of a fantasy story: magic, kings and queens, witches, and ghosts.

In the book, the queen of a big kingdom gets murdered by an assassin and her daughter, the princess goes missing. On the same day, Silas finds a small newborn girl on his way home. He decides to adopt her and take her home since his own son was pronounced dead by the nurse. Ten years later, Silas and his wife figure out that the girl they adopted was none other than the missing princess. The people who killed the queen, after finding out that the princess was still alive, go out to assassinate her. This leads to a wild goose chase, filled with magic and sorcery.

This is a five star book because  it has all the elements of a good fantasy novel. It has some humor, suspense and mystery.

If you enjoyed reading Magyk, I would recommend you read the other books in the series:

Flyte by Angie Sage

Physik by Angie Sage

Queste by Angie Sage

Syren by Angie Sage

Darke by Angie Sage

Fyre by Angie Sage

- Aatif Ahmed, 9th Grade

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If you're a fan of suspenseful, adventurous and thrilling books, you should read The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

In the book, the main character is a 14-year old boy named Sage. He lives in an orphanage until a rich man by the name of Bevin Conner buys him out. He takes Sage and two more boys to his castle without telling them his true intentions. Later he explains them how the prince of a kingdom, Carthya had gone missing and that he wanted one of them to take the missing prince's place. He wanted the public to think that the missing prince had returned. Conner holds a competition between the three boys to see who could be the best substitute for the missing prince. The boy who wins would become the fake prince, and the others would get killed.

I give this book five stars because of its intense action and suspense. It also teaches us to try our best and never give up.

If you enjoyed reading The False Prince, I would recommend you read the other books in the series:

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen

- Aatif Ahmed, 9th Grade

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Without giving too much away... this book is a whirlwind of, almost an apocalyptic world. With no privacy, and a little corner behind the couch, follow Winston on his journey through London in 1984. A fun fact is that, this book was the most bought book in 2016 after the election of Donald Trump. Its a really good book, check it out!

Shristi A.

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This book is full of surprises and intrigue as a seemingly innocent and dirty circus takes a nefarious turn when a mysterious stranger shows up to the door of this circus.

Things take a turn for the worse when, the main protagonist, Ruby starts experiencing nightmares and feels as if this mysterious stranger, Daniel, is somehow related to all this.

Meanwhile, death starts haunting the circus when two of the main performers start to kill themselves by either jumping off the ferris wheel or hanging themselves.

The story takes a darker turn when it delves into Ruby's past and how this all connects to Daniel's appearance and the mysterious deaths.

All in all, this is a very dark yet interesting book that makes you want to keep reading until you are finished. I would give this book a 10/10 especially due to the twist at the end. If you like mystery's, this is the book for you.

- Soham K.

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The book dream book involves a group of kids who learn new spells and magic to alter reality. This was going great for then until the magic became dangerous and turned to evil. The kids kept fighting until they became trapped in their dreams and had to make an ultimate sacrifice to stay trapped in their dreams forever to prevent the magic from comming on to the real world.
Andrew A

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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 

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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 

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Nick Carraway moves to New York to join the bond business and rents a house in West Egg. His entire community is filled with rich people with many social connections. Nick’s neighbor is Jay Gatsby who is unlike the rest of the West Egg residents since he throws extravagant parties at night and has social connections in East Egg. As the summer progresses, Nick eventually gets an invitation to one of Gatsby’s parties. He encounters Jordan Baker at the party, and they meet Gatsby himself. Gatsby asks to speak to Jordan alone, and, through Jordan, Nick later learns more about his mysterious neighbor. Gatsby tells Jordan that he knew Daisy in Louisville and is deeply in love with her. He spends many nights staring at the green light at the end of her dock, across the bay from his mansion. Gatsby’s extravagant lifestyle and wild parties are simply an attempt to impress Daisy. Gatsby now wants Nick to arrange a reunion between himself and Daisy, but he is afraid that Daisy will refuse to see him if she knows that he still loves her. Nick invites Daisy to have tea at his house, without telling her that Gatsby will also be there. After a reunion, Gatsby and Daisy reestablish their connection. Tom asserts that he and Daisy have a history that Gatsby could never understand, and he announces to his wife that Gatsby is a criminal—his fortune comes from bootlegging alcohol and other illegal activities. Daisy realizes that her allegiance is to Tom, and Tom contemptuously sends her back to East Egg with Gatsby, attempting to prove that Gatsby cannot hurt him. hen Nick, Jordan, and Tom drive through the valley of ashes, however, they discover that Gatsby’s car has struck and killed Myrtle, Tom’s lover. They rush back to Long Island, where Nick learns from Gatsby that Daisy was driving the car when it struck Myrtle, but that Gatsby intends to take the blame. The next day, Tom tells Myrtle’s husband, George, that Gatsby was the driver of the car. George, who has leapt to the conclusion that the driver of the car that killed Myrtle must have been her lover, finds Gatsby in the pool at his mansion and shoots him dead. He then fatally shoots himself.

- Gautham Sudhakar, 10th Grade

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The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan, is a part of the Percy Jackson franchise. It is a continuation of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians, series, and the first book in the Heroes of Olympus series.

Some context: this book/series revolves around greek gods/goddesses and their children, and how they operate in today's world.

I give this book a solid 10 out 10. There are many aspects of this book that make it a very good book.

One of the best points of this book is the main character development. The story revolves around 3 demi-gods, Jason, Piper, and Leo, who are on a quest to save Hera, the Queen of gods, and Piper's dad Tristan McLean. Initially, the 3 heroes are very unconfident and do not believe in themselves much. As the story progresses, all three heroes gain a tremendous amount of courage skill and ability. In the end, all three are easily some of the best demi gods in the world. For example, piper is able to challenge her cabin leader to a duel and wins, before her first month at camp is even over.

If you like romance in your books, this book/series is going to be one for you. Although this book/series is not focused on romance, romance is sprinkled all throughout this book/novel and I assure you that you will love it.

This book and series is very addicting. If you plan on reading this book/series, make sure you have a lot of time on your hands. The storyline is well-thought out and has many nice plot-twists and such. This book is set up in a way that the reader is always hanging on to his or her seat trying to anticipate what is next.

I highly suggest that you read the entire series as well as the prequel series.

If you enjoy this book, I would recommend reading the following book series:

The Gods of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

The Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan

39 Clues by many authors

Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling

Unfortunately, this book and series do not have any movies made after them.

-Ankush Pala, 12th grade

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High School Runner is a book about a young boy who decided to make any school sports team who would accept him which causes a shift in his life. He decides to change his whole life habits to get athletically fit. The author gives the reader one heck of a journey where his whole family goes crazy based on his behavior and to accept his new human being.
-Michael A

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Artemis is a sci-fi novel by andy weir, and is written in pretty much the same way as The Martian.
If you liked The Martian, read Artemis.
I give it three stars.
-Rohan Marde, grade 10

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The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall

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The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall

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The Seventh Most Important Thing is a captivating book by Shelley Pearsall and examines the transformative potential a person has when they simply change their perspective. This book is filled with moments that will make you laugh, scream, and even cry.

The novel follows a 13-year old boy named Arthur Owens, who first throws a brick at the neighborhood junk collector, James Hampton, in a fit of anger and frustration. Arthur is sentenced to help James Hampton collect junk as a form of community service.

Although he is extremely displeased with the actions that he is mandated to do, he soon learns the purpose of his actions. Arthur discovers that James is creating a piece of artwork using certain pieces of junk around the neighborhood labeled as the "Seven Most Important Things". He is amazed with James' work and soon begins to respect him, going as far as helping James with the piece of art.

Just as Arthur begins to learn more about James, the novel throws a heart-wrenching plot twist as James Hampton suddenly dies of cancer. Arthur feels that he is responsible for completing James' work and sets his mind on finishing it. This is both out of his own determination ans as a tribute to his newfound friend.  The book ends with James' work appearing in a nationally-acclaimed museum and a feeling of accomplishment in Arthur

I would rate this book 5/5 stars simply because it was extremely engaging. This book is one of the few that can play with the reader's emotions so seamlessly. The novel also conveys a sense that anything is possible with the right attitude and that seeking discomfort can lead to rewarding results.

If the reader likes this novel, I would highly suggest that he/she reads Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie Lamana because it contains the same engaging elements as the Seventh Most Important Thing.

-Daniel Zhu, 10th grade

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This is a wonderful collection of short stories that explores what it means to be black. This book talks about the racial identity of young African American today. There are 17 short stories that each recognize different aspects of black culture.

I enjoyed reading abot the different ways people identify with their race. I don't typically enjoy short stories, but I loved this collection. Each character's story was well developed and I felt connections to each of them. I would highly recommend this collection. It's the perfect mixture of humor, soul-searching, and great writing. These stories all work together to answer important questions about what a racial identity means and its importance.

My favorite Short story was the story the collection was named after:  Black Enough. I related to this character the most. He was a young black boy who felt theat he was distanced from racial struggles of African-Americans because he didn't grow up in a community with many black people. When he did spend time with other black teenagers he felt that he was never going to be black enough.

This book isn't a typical genre that I would read so I don't have any recommendations that are similair.

-Anna Glavee , grade 11/12

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The Hunger Games  is my all time favourite book and series. Katniss Everdeen, this book’s protagonist, has affected me deeply. I admire her for her bravery, strength and heart.As well as that she helped me realize that there is always another way to solve a problem or look at a situation. Which proved to be a very useful tool.

This book is mainly about a 17 year-old girl, Katniss-Everdeen, who lives in the 12th, and last district of the dystopian country of Panem. Where she is from, is a very poor place in comparison to the Capitol of Panem where people throw up just to stuff more food in. The Capitol is also where the wretched President Snow controls the country and also where the Hunger Games are held every year.

She volunteers in place of her sister to participate in the 74th Hunger Games, a fight to death with 23 other tributes. The Hunger Games is a way for the Capitol to threaten the districts from rebelling and to prove who is in power.

When Katniss and her other tribute from her district, Peeta Mellark, who is madly in love which Katniss and uses that as a strategy to gain sponsorship, defy these games and are both crowned victors which stirs up trouble in this very strict country.

If I were to rate this book I would give it all 5 stars because it's plot line is so intriguing and engaging making this book so hard to put down since it never failed to keep me on my toes. As well as that this book has a very balanced mix of adventure, action, romance, and a bit of subtle comedy.

If you enjoyed this book I would recommend reading the next two in this series:

- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay

There are also the following movies made after these books:

Hunger Games

Catching Fire

Mockingjay Part 1

Mockingjay Part 2

Someone who have liked these books may also like the following books:

- The Giver

- The Divergent Series

- The Percy Jackson Series

There are also movies for these books which are a great way to bring these  books to life. I truly recommend watching these movies as they are mostly well-made.

~ Vrinda Bansal, 10th Grade

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A Perfect Match is one of those books that makes you thinks about life around you. Jodi Picoult is famous for her writing and how she conveys emotions, and A Perfect Match is a prime example of this ability. The book has suspense, crime, murder, and deals with a lot of issues facing society today.

The book characterizes the life of Nina Frost, Assistant District Attorney and mother of Nathaniel, her five year old son. Nina specializes in cases regarding child sexual assault, and when her own son starts exhibiting similar symptoms to those of the children she works to protect she is shocked. She and her husband, Caleb, take Nathaniel to a specialist and learn that he has been sexually assaulted, the cause of his complete lack of vocal participation. Nathaniel turns into a shell, not speaking and blaming the changing world around him on himself.

I would give this book 5 stars because it captivates the reader from beginning to end - from identifying the assaulter to defending her son in the court case; and finally, when a twisted murder shakes up the whole family. The book reveals a lot of issues that are prevalent in society today, and characterizes the loopholes and gaps in the legal system that the reader themselves lives in.

If you like this book I would definitely recommend reading the Jodi Picoult novels, because they keep the reader interested and captivated during every page.

-Sanika Medishetty, 9th Grade

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Keeper Of The Lost Cities Legacy by Shannon Messenger

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Keeper Of The Lost Cities Legacy by Shannon Messenger

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Legacy is my favorite fantasy book of all time. It is filled to the brim with adventure and a touch of romance. Legacy is the 9th book in the series Keeper of the lost cities however it is definitely worth to read. Also Shannon Messenger hs another fantasy series which is also really amazing called Let The Sky fall, and is shorter, for anyone that just wants a quicker but still amazing read.

This book is about a character named Sophie, who doesn't quite fit into the world she lives in. Then comes the day when an elf named Fitz finds her and tells her that she isn't actually human. He takes her to the Lost Cities which is where elves and other magical creatures live. She has to leave her human family but she is adopted by wonderful elvin parents. She finds out that she was part of an experiment from a group called the Black Swan who hoped to bring peace the elves and humans back together, because long ago humans broke the treaty between the 2 worlds and elves hid away. However there comes another group of elves called the Neverseen who hope to thwart the Black Swan plans and truly real the elven Legacy. Hence he book name Legacy.

I would give the book 6 out of 5 stars because it was just that good. It has everything you could want in a fantasy book plus more, and the character development is really strong throughout the series. There are many plot twists you will not see coming and overall it is just a wonderful story to read.

-Kiruthika Marikumaran, 9th Grade

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The Selection is a book you can keep reading and not get bored. This book is a part of a 3 book series, with 2 books connected but separate from this story. Even if you have already read it before it is absolutely wonderful to delve back into the story taking place in Illéa. It is a romantic, dystopian, thriller, comedy fusion, so there is something there for everyone's likings.

While many may think it is a stupid romantic novel, there are greater themes such as sacrifice and society that are very relatable to our own lives. The points raised through the protagonist America about society will.leave you thinking about our society today and how we have many if the same issues Illéa does.

This while having intriguing ideas can be a light read if that is your wish. Overall I would suggest this book if you are in the mood to read something more magical and whimsical yet not far-fetched and fake. The author has written the story incredibly and has especially shown characters and their development well.

-Anusha Kshirsagar, Grade 10

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This book is written by my favorite author, Kasie West. You don't know rom-com until you've read one of her books. This book specifically is about girl named Autumn Collins who gets locked in a library for an entire weekend. To her dismay, a boy named Dax Miller is locked in with her. No one knew much about him except that he means trouble. A few hours into being locked in the library, Autumn realized that the boy she likes, Jeff, isn't coming to save her. Autumn spends the rest of the weekend eating vending machine snacks and fighting off boredom with the help of Dax who isn't so bad after all.

I would absolutely give this book five stars because it was funny and very entertaining. It has some cheesy romance and some comedy. Who could ask for anything else from a rom-com?

-Alina Bishay, Grade 11

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The vengekeep prophecies is a mix of comedy, mystery, action, and adventure all in one.

The book is about a family of thieves, called the Grimjinxes. The story focuses on the child, Jaxtar Grimjinx. He is the most clumsy out of his entire family, which does have some consequences. On his first solo heist, he accidentally sets someone's house on fire and ends up putting his family is jail. Later, the yearly prophecy is revealed, showing the Grimjinxes as the saviors of Vengekeep(their town). But as the terrible events depicted on the tapestry get worse and worse, Jaxtar must go on a journey to cure the tapestry before the worst of it becomes reality.
This is the first in a series, so I would also recommend the other 2 books.
-The Shadowhand Covenant
-The Grimjinx Rebellion

-Medhavi Jambhekar, 9th Grade

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Pride and Prejudice by Abigail Lau

A lot of the teenage romance books written these days are cliché, silly, or just make you downright cringe.  The character development isn’t almost nonexistent, most of the authors just expecting you to fall in love with their silly, shallow characters just because.  Although I love romance, I eventually got tired of going through all the junk trying to finding the good one or two.  That’s when I came across Jane Austen’s books.

My mom has been trying to get me to read her books for ages, but I always refused, thinking the classics way too boring and old-school.  Finally, I complied, consenting to try out Pride and Prejudice.

It may have started out a little slow, but by the first few chapters I literally couldn’t put the book down.  Yes, it was more old-school, but I felt like it made it all the better.  Although it took a while to get to the climax, it was so worth it; the characters were so well-developed that you were fully invested in them and the outcome of the book.  The sweet moments that usually made me cringe or disgusted me in other novels were so genuine and heartfelt.  All in all, Pride and Prejudice was amazing and it is definitely the best book I’ve read.  I would also recommend:

Meant to Be, by Lauren Morrill
On the Fence, by Kasie West
Persuasion, by Jane Austen

~Abigail Lau, 10th grade

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The Hunger Games is a dystopian trilogy written by Suzanne Collins from 2008-10. This review is about the first book, with the same name. I enjoyed reading it because it blends suspense, adventure, action, romance, and emotional elements. It surprised me at every turn, especially how the events unfolded to become what it was at the end and how if one of those events took a different turn, things would turn out very different. It was one of the first books I read that got so sad the words blurred on the page and I had to wipe my eyes dry.

This book is set in the totalitarian nation of Panem in post-apocalyptic North America. It is divided into 12 (originally 13) districts and the Capitol. The Capitol is very rich and has advanced technology, while the districts are all poor in various ways. The cruel Capitol punishes the districts for a past failed rebellion they call the "Dark Days" by forcing them to send one boy and one girl from each district between the ages of 12 and 18, who are chosen randomly in an event called the reaping, to compete in an obligatory fight to the death called the Hunger Games. As they get older, the chance of them being selected gets higher. The last one standing is crowned the victor and he/she and his/her district are rewarded. The protagonist, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, lives in District 12 with her mother and 12-year-old sister Primrose Everdeen, and frantically volunteers for her sister at the reaping for the 74th Annual Hunger Games when her name is chosen, although chances were extremely slim. While a great reward may follow winning the Games, Katniss must weigh life against love and survival against humanity.

If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, please read the following two books in the trilogy:

- Catching Fire (2009)
- Mockingjay (2010)

Also watch the movies! (released 2012-15 and Mockingjay was divided into two parts, released in 2014 and 2015).

If you've done all the above, get excited for the prequel to the first book, scheduled for May 19, 2020! It will be called The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and will take place 64 years before when the first book took place, beginning on the reaping of the 10th Annual Hunger Games.

-Advik Nigam, 9th Grade

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This book was written by  my favorite author, and he is often considered to be one of the best fantasy authors ever considering the amount of  brilliant books he produces in one year. When I saw he had written a Sci-Fi novel, I was a bit skeptical since the plot advertised did not seem spectacular nor complex like his other books, but I decided to give the book a shot just because of whom wrote it.

I'm glad I did. This book doesn't shine because of a grand plot, but because of its complex characters. The amount of characterization Sanderson does within 500 pages is astounding.
The plot may not be grand and complex, but it bears a sense of mystery and Sanderson unravels it slowly throughout the book. Skyward doesn't quite end on a cliffhanger, but leaves you wanting more.

Spensa, also called Spin, always dreamt of becoming a pilot and reaching the stars.  After her father infamously broke ranks and fled in the Battle of Alta, her chances of becoming a pilot in the DDF is reduced significantly. The entire system is rigged against her, and the DDF general, Judy Evans has ordered it to be. Spensa, however, is determined to reach the sky and claim the stars.

In my opinion, this book is a definite 5 stars for the book is not anything I've ever read and is captivating beyond what I thought was possible.
Skyward is among Sanderson's best(that's saying a lot), as Sanderson shows his ability to inspire us to aspire to be more, to be greater and to claim the stars.
- Sunith Vallabhaneni, 9th Grade

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Oh the Places You'll Go!             BY Dr. Seuss

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Oh the Places You'll Go!             BY Dr. Seuss

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This picture book conveys a simple yet inspiring message to its readers. Whether you are starting school or work, everyone navigates a maze. Through colorful illustrations and rhyming sentences, the author inspires you to direct your own path in life and succeed.

To steer your own path in life, you must walk carefully and go with the flow. Life can be difficult. You will face obstacles such as falling behind others in achievements, getting injured, or waiting for an outcome. But, life can also be enjoyable. You'll go places and see great sights. You can choose to have fun, such as by playing games. Life throws various situations at us and we must learn how to deal with them. As you journey through life's ups and downs, make wise decisions and step carefully. With conscientiousness in mind, you will succeed in life.

-Stephanie Yeung, grade 11

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In 1958, 19-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, living with her family in a mansion in Havana. Everything changes when she embarks on a secret affair with a revolutionary named Pablo. Shifting to present-day Miami, Elisa's granddaughter Marisol is tasked with scattering her grandmother's ashes in Cuba, a country her family was forced to flee during the revolution. While in Havana, Marisol uncovers dark family secrets, comes face to face with Cuba's dangerous political climate, and falls for a man with secrets of his own. This book had everything I love - shifts back and forth in time, a mystery, and non-cheesy romance.  5/5 stars
-Ms. Hussenet

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I loved Next Year in Havana! It has a  follow up book you should check out, too!
-Mrs. Knapp