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Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman is a dystopian novel about a sudden and severe water shortage in California. When the taps run dry, society begins to collapse, and it becomes the survival of the fittest. Teenager Alyssa teams up with her brother and a few other to survive the growing chaos. The story explores how easily civilization can crumble down in the face of environmental crisis.

I loved dry because it was fast paced and intense. It made me change my perspective on how fragile society is. Each characters perspective felt real to me. I liked how the story showed different sides of human nature and when people are pushed to their limits. It made me appreciate things I took for granted (like water) in a whole new way.

I think this book is a excellent read for upper middle school grades and a challenging but great fit for lower middle school grades. You should read this if you like an emotional and heart twisting story. Overall, you should definitely read this book.

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"Goodbye Stranger" is a coming-of-age novel that surrounds 7th grader, Bridge as she navigates middle school, the aftermath of a traumatic incident, and a her changing friendships with her two best friends. The book has three main narrators- Bridge, Sherm, Bridge's sort-of boyfriend, and an unnamed high school girl as she deals with a betrayal on Valentines Day.

While the book follows a somewhat "cliché" plot, Rebecca Stead does a wonderful job of weaving the different storylines in a poetic way and portrays realistic situations and obstacles.

This book is ideal for younger 4th-6th graders who are looking for something that portrays dealing with hard situations as a middle schooler in a heartfelt, poetic way.

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The Many Assassinations of Samir, Seller of Dreams 

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The Many Assassinations of Samir, Seller of Dreams 

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This book is in the perspective of a young boy saved from angered monks by a merchant who sells things with fables. However once his customers find out what he tells them is false, they order many different assassins with the order to kill Samir; the seller of dreams.

I liked this book because it was full of action from start to finish making me want to keep flipping the page. Along with the action, I was constantly trying to figure out who was a friend and who was a foe. The author does a great job of bringing the reader into the setting and making them feel like they are part of the action in the book.

I would recommend this book for all readers who like action and fantasy. The book can be appealing to all audiences since it is simple and short but has some more complex meanings for older audiences.

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Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand tells the true story of Louie Zamperini, who lived in Torrance California. He was a mischievous boy and he got in trouble a lot, and later during his high school years, his brother persuaded him to do track. He became a track star at UCLA and later he competed in the 1936 summer olympics in Berlin. Afterwards, he was drafted to the air force for WWII and he was the person who dropped the bombs out of his plane. He had many thrilling and terrifying adventures with his plane and flight crew, barely surviving the deadly Japanese Zeros on multiple occasions, until his plane crashes in the Pacific and he and two others are stranded for 47 days. he was captured by the Japanese and became a POW and he endured many terrible hardships, with countless beatings and starvation. He barely survives, but with the help of his friends he makes it past the tortures of "the bird", a psychopathic POW camp leader and makes it home. He must learn to survive in the world he grew up in all over again, fighting addiction and alcohol to escape the horrors of his ordeal.

I love this book because it is a true story filled with resilience and determination, and how Louie survived such an ordeal. I recommend this book for 7th and 8th graders mostly because it can be dark at times, but Unbroken is definitely a middle school must-read!

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Les Misérables, a renowned novel chronicles the life, experiences, and transformations of Jean Valjean, a former convict who was imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. As he endeavors to start anew, he is ruthlessly chased down by the austere Inspector Javert. Throughout his journey of redemption, he uncovers love, loss, justice, mercy, but most importantly, he bears witness to the harsh realities of the human condition. During this time, France is a bleak and oppressive place for the powerless. However, within the shadows, a revolution is fermenting, as the poor become fueled by the fire of justice. The tale ultimately culminates with the short lived June Rebellion of 1832, an uprising against the French Government.

Les Misérables is a deeply insightful and complex story about the human condition. Throughout the book readers become deeply immersed in each character's struggles, witnessing their determination and resilience in the face of adversity. In the finale of the book, the uprising is unsuccessful in overthrowing the French government, and many lives are lost. Yet, despite this “failure” it acted as a catalyst for the 1848 Revolution, which ultimately led to the initial goal; the end of the French monarchy. This represents how progress is not something that happens in a year, but something that requires years, even decades, of effort and sacrifice. Les Misérables is a book of revolution. It is a reminder of how there will never be a perfect society. A group will always be oppressed. Pain, injustice, and suffering are inevitable, rooted in the inherent nature of life. Despite this, humans are also capable of profound unity and resistance, both individually but as a community. Societal progress is a slow and harrowing journey. It requires sacrifice, but it is that very struggle that radically changes our society.

Les Misérables is a formidable story. However, if you are willing to dig deep, and truly appreciate how it is not a work of literature, but a piece of art, then this story will change how you view the world and your place within it.

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Concrete Rose a prequel to the Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. Concrete Rose tells the story of Maverick Carter a black 17-year-old boy who is a member of the King Lords Gang. He surprisingly becomes a teen father and it comes down to a tough decision that will have a big impact on his life both ways. he has to decide whether to stay in the gang to protect himself or be able to take the risk of leaving and show up as the best version of himself for his young son. The main theme of this book is that even when you make bad choices, it's never too late to turn your life around even when it feels impossible.

This book is very powerfully written and gave me a lense into what it's like to raise a kid as a young person and the struggles of poverty. I also love it because it heavily incorporates the theme of the importance of family and supporting them when you and them need you most.

I would recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders because there is some very advanced material. Some parts of the book may be hard to process so I would definitely recommend this book to older readers. I also strongly reccomed the other books by this author specifically The Hate You Give, and On The Come Up.

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Six of Crows is a fantasy novel set in the criminal world of Ketterdam. Six outcasts are offered a chance to pull off a heist together and become rich, but they must work with each other to succeed- and the odds are already not in their favor.

I love the different characters and their special background that make them all vastly different from each other. I also love the mystery and action combination in this book, which makes the plot very suspenseful and the book engaging.

I would recommend this book to seventh and eighth graders, and if you like mystery or fantasy genres, this book fits both categories.

- Audrey

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I personally love the Six of Crows duology and they are my favorite books of all time, but even I have to admit the opening chapters of both books areI personally love the Six of Crows duology and they are my favorite books of all time, but even I have to admit the opening chapters of both books are not easy. I like to compare the first chapter to the opening 3 minutes of a TV crime show in that you're introduced to characters who die by the end of the chapter and who you never hear from again. I always advise my friends to skim through the first chapter. ...more
My issue with the second chapter in SoC is that it throws way too many names at you. Really the only three you need to remember are Inej, Kaz, and Jesper and the rest are minor characters. This chapter is fun to reread after you've already know who's who, but it can be pretty tricky the first go around.

I personally feel you shouldn't give up until you've at least read the third chapter because that is when the main plot kicks into gear. I know this post is a year old but just in case other people stumble across it I thought I would add my two cents(less)

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Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies

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I personally love the Six of Crows duology and they are my favorite books of all time, but even I have to admit the opening chapters of both books areI personally love the Six of Crows duology and they are my favorite books of all time, but even I have to admit the opening chapters of both books are not easy.

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The astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars after a freak accident. He has to use his wits and skills to survive on the harsh planet, while trying to notify earth of his survival.

I loved the book because it is the perfect mix of engaging and funny. While staying interesting throughout the entire book, it also deals with themes of loneliness and survival.

I would recommend this book to anyone in middle school. It is a very entertaining read, and I have liked it from 5th grade to 8th grade.

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1. American Royals is an alternate history novel that imagines the USA as a monarchy. Princess Beatrice is the next in line, and soon to be the first Queen. This book has drama, romance, and a very engaging plot.

2. I really enjoyed this book and the others in the series. It was very exciting, had good character development, and a lot of plot twists.

3. I would recommend this book to younger middle schoolers from 5th to 7th grade.

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Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Scythe is a book set in a dystopia where death does not exist. Every human is completely immune to death unless it's at the hands of a society of scythes or legal killers. The book follows 2 scythe apprentices and their journey to find their place in a scary world.

Scythe is a great book because Neal Shusterman expertly wrote it, keeping the reader invested with tense action and graphic violence.

I would recommend Scythe to mature readers who enjoy gore and action, because it can be terrifying to those who don't enjoy it.

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is about two teenagers, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters. Hazel has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, while Gus is in remission (osteosarcoma). It is a novel about their friendship, relationship, and cancer (as a subplot thing).

I loved this book so much! It is so heartfelt and well written. The characters are really well developed, the plot is well developed, and all around, is an amazing book. Also, heads up, there is a good chance you cry at least once. (The movie is also amazing).

I would recommend this book for rising 7th graders and up, as there is mention of death of a loved one, struggles with cancer, and a vague mature scene.

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The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is about a girl who goes to the beach every summer to spend time with her mom's friend and her family. The beach feels like her home and she always says how the only time of the year that feels like it counts is summer, but this summer is different. She realizes she likes the boys she's staying with but doesn't know which one she likes more.

I really like this book because it is engaging and fun to read. I love how it talks about the beach, summer, and long-lasting memories.

I recommend this book to all middle schoolers because it is a really good read. I also recommend this to people who like realistic fiction.

-Sally

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This book is about a teenage boy (Martin) navigating racism in his predominantly white school and town. He faces altercations with police officers, other students and older white people throughout the book.

I loved this book due to it's emotional pull and level of making you really sit back and think. I cried while reading this book and if a book can do that it's usually worth it. It is quite compelling through the entire book leaving you wanting more as each page gets turned.

Readers from 6th - 8th grade that like gripping realistic fiction will enjoy this book, the only thing that might hold you back from reading this is the violence in certain parts, not too vivid but definitely there. Great book and I one hundred percent recommend.

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Goodnight Mister Tom is a book about a young, christian boy whose mom sends him to a small, remote town to stay safe during world war II. He stays with an old man who everyone calls Mister Tom. While staying in this small town, he learns a lot of lessons and starts to appreciate the smaller things in life. For instance, a lot of the friends he makes are jewish, and he learns that different people who may not have the same beliefs as him, can be just like him.

I loved this book because it was really captivating and sad and no matter what this book will make you want to keep reading. This book is realistic fiction and there are so many amazing details and the way the book is written is absolutely incredible.

I recommend this book to grades 6-8 because although this book is an amazing realistic fiction, there are some sad, gruesome parts of this book that may not be appealing to everyone. If you love realistic books about world history, this book is for you.

- Kaitlin

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Summary: It's about a girl who's sister got killed a year ago by a killer who hasn't been discovered yet. She then gets hit in the head and time travels back a year on the night when her sister died. If she can figure out who killed her sister, she can change how the night ended and save her sister.

Why I liked it: I love time travel plots and I thought this author did a good job on writing one. I also like whodunit mysteries and finding out who the killer is. This book also has one of the best plot twists I have ever seen in my life that totally changes the story.

Who I recommend this to: I would recommend this book to readers who are fans of suspenseful and mystery books. I would recommend this book to grades 7-10.

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Picking Daisies on Sundays By Liana Cincotti

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Picking Daisies on Sundays By Liana Cincotti

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This book is about 2 People who were best friends in high school who meet again years later. They end up fake dating and this rekindles their hidden feelings for eachother in high school but neither of them know how each other feels about them.

I loved this book because this is the type of book where you expect the ending but their are certain plot twist that make it so much more interesting and hooked.

This book is for people in 6th grade and up because its your typical cringy clean romance that is great for middle schoolers.

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The book Where The Mountain Meets The Moon by Grace Lin, is about a young girl named Minli who lives in a small village called Fruitless Village. This village does not have that many resources and so her parents never have enough rice. Minlis dad, Ba, always tells Minli stories about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli wanted to help her family and set out on a journey to get her family's fortune.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a well written, eventure story that always keeps you interested. It is not a tough read, but it will still keep you wanting more!

I would recommend this book for younger middle schoolers ranging from 5th-6th grade.

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The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs, a regular teenage girl living a regular teenage life. But her whole world is turned upside down when she gets a letter saying that she is mentioned in billionaire Tobias Hawthorne's will. Avery needs to solve Tobias Hawthorne's final puzzle if she wants to survive, but how can she do that while also navigating her new life with the four devastatingly handsome Hawthorne grandsons?

I loved this book because it's a mix of two of my favorite genres: mystery and romance. This book was such a page-turner for me because you honestly never knew what was going to happen next. There are some CRAZY plot twists in it.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It's such an interesting book and could be a good fit for everyone. It's a little slow in the beginning, but if you stick with it, it's AMAZING!!!

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Ace of Spades is a compelling mystery about two high schoolers, Chiamaka and Devon, who go to Niveus Private Academy. Their darkest secrets are being leaked by an anonymous source named Aces. As they try to figure out who Aces is, they start to uncover disturbing secrets about Niveus. This book dives into institutionalized racism, especially in private high schools.

I really enjoyed this book because of not only its insane plot twist at the end, but also it's unique take on racism in private schools.

I'd recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders, as it has some slightly more mature moments. However, if a kid is mature enough I'd highly recommend this book to anyone.

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The Count of Monte Cristo is about a young man named Edmond Dantès who is betrayed by his close associates during his wedding ceremony. He gets shipped by the police to an impenetrable prison. While there, he has all the time in the world to plot his revenge.

I really liked this book because it is a really great revenge novel. It is beautifully written with the classic wording of the 1800s and has a really satisfying ending. There is a reason that this book has stayed with us through the years.

I would recommend this book to people who are rising seventh graders and older, because I doubt people younger would have the attention span to finish such a long novel.

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I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore follows the last 9 aliens of a species (and their guards so technically 18) getting sent to earth to live in secret, but another alien race is trying to kill them all. They are split up and can only be killed in order. The book follows number 4 as the first three are dead. Can he survive, while navigating high school?

I loved this book because I liked the way Pittacus wrote it, and I also liked how even though there were 7 books it kept me engaged for all of them.

I recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders because all the storylines can be complicated and there is romance that can be a lot sometimes.

- Aiden

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Max Spitzer

For my favorite book I decided to do the firekeepers

daughter, by Angeline Boulley. The Fire Keeper's Daughter follows hockey playing and science enthusiast Duanis Fontaine. When a new kid shows up she befriends him, but after a bit she realizes that he is a cop and is roped into an undercover FBI job trying to take down the drug ring ravaging her town.

I loved this book because it was both funny, action packed and an amazingly written mystery. It kept me on the edge of my seat and coming back for more. I would highly recommend this book.

However, I do not think that this book is the best choice for everybody, I think that it will be good for 7th and 8th graders but below that would not be amazing because of the content in this book.

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Nyxia by Scott Reintgen is about a boy named Emmett Atwater who gets sent to the planet of Eden to mine the substance known as Nyxia which is worth billions. Along the way he is tested by the company who hired him to make sure that they are sending only the best to Eden.

I loved this book because of the suspenseful and competitive aspects of Nyxia. I also loved the way all the characters went together perfectly to form this book.

I would recommend this book to grades 6-8 because 5th graders might not be ready for the violence in this book.

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This book was about an old so sorcerer who lived 200 years ago whose house was raided because he was caught making talking dolls the village people came to his house to burn it down, but before they did he created a doll... whose name was slappy, slappy had to do one evil deed everyday in order to live, fast forward to the future he terrorized kids everyday, with some success and some failure.

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Written by Kathi Appelt

The Underneath tells the story of the unlikely family of an abandoned calico cat and an old hound dog. The hound, Ranger, has been chained to an old house by the Louisiana bayou where the cruel owner, Gar Face, abuses him relentlessly. The cat, after finding Ranger and shelter under the house, or "the underneath", gives birth to two kittens, all while facing the dangers of Gar Face and the wilderness. They try to fight for their found family as external factors determine their fate.

This story has not only carried me through middle school, but since the day I picked it up in 1st grade. Its captivating writing, illustrations, and poetic storytelling brings out emotions that are deemed to be indescribable. It inspired my art and motivation to create.

I recommend this book to anyone, 5th through 8th grade, even adults! Readers who like an intentionally crafted and fantastical memoir-like story will find The Underneath incredibly enjoyable and impossible to put down.

Alina

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Simon is a junior in high school attending Creekwood. He is gay and hasn't come out to anyone yet. He starts emailing another secret gay person at the school but someone sees his emails.

This book is really good. The plot of it is really thought out and it hooks the reader as soon as you start the book. Simon is a likable character and you can relate to him a lot. It is a more mature book it has some cuss words so I would recommend it to 7th and 8th graders.

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Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is a book about a young girl named who lives in a world of reds (lower class) and silvers (upper class) Mare lives in a poor red family and pickpockets/steals to be able to support her family. Both mares brothers have been sent to war by the silvers and mare is afraid her best friend Kilorn will be sent to war when he turns 18.One Day Mare finds out she has powers like the silvers but has red blood. This story is filled with romance, love, betrayal, and war.

I am not usually a fantasy person but this book drew me right in with its beautiful writing, and plot twists always keeping me engaged. One of my fvorte parts is how the incorporated romance into a book about fantasy.

If you love fantasy and romantic books this is for you. It does have some gorey scenes and death/war so if you do not like that I wouldn't recommend.

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The Greenglass House is set at a smuggler's inn and a boy named Milo plans to relax while taking care of the inn. Then guests start to come in arriving with strange stories about the house which sends him on an adventure.

I love this book because I have read it in the holiday season because I love mystery books and this one is so cozy and a fun read. I love this book because when you think you understand what is going on it flips directions. Also as someone who isn't a big fan of reading this is a great book and so interesting.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants a cozy winter read and likes mystery books.

Reese Smith

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Binding 13 is the story of a girl named Shannon who is heavily bullied in school until her mom finally decides to switch her to a school called Tommen, located in Cork, Ireland. When she gets to Tommen, she meets up with her past friends and encounters the school's star rugby player, Johnny. She and Johnny instantly fall for each other but outside factors such as Shannon's home life and Johnny's commitment to rugby make it challenging for them to be together. This series covers the story of all the main characters, totaling to 6 books as of right now.

I loved this book because it covers hard topics such as physical and drug abuse, bullying, and in general complicated family stories. The writing in this book is absolutely phenomenal, and because it's set in Ireland, there is lots of language I was previously unfamiliar with.

I would highly recommend this book to mature readers as there are explicit scenes, curse words, descriptions of physical abuse, and mentions of drug abuse. This book is best suited for 8th graders.

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Starr Carter, a sixteen - year - old girl, has to constantly balance her life. From growing up in a poor neighborhood, to attending a fancy prep school, holding rich, white teens. She also constantly faces racism, and microaggressions. Her whole life shifts for the worse when she witnesses her childhood best friend get brutally shot and killed by a police officer. Starr watches how society and outsiders speak about the situation. Starr works to find her voice, and stand up for what's right.

I loved how this book showed the commonality of police brutality, and racism. As well as common racism and stereotypes that young, black, individuals go through on a daily.

This book is definitely for more mature readers, as it holds some emotional scenes. I would certainly recommend this book for 6th - 8th graders.

-Ava

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The Bright & the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski

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The Bright & the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski

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The Bright & the Pale is a book about a 17 year old girl named Valeria. During an event known as the freeze, Valeria’s village was trapped in a sheet of unbreakable ice, with her being the only survivor. After the freeze, she seeks refuge in the Thieves Guild, where she becomes an assassin of sorts. In this world, there are two gods, brothers who were always fighting. The god of bright and the god of pale, eventually, the gods are put to sleep, but that doesn’t stop their war. Every hundred or so years, they choose a person to take on their powers and carry on their fight. Valeria is tasked to infiltrate a temple and find the man chosen by the god of the bright.

I loved this book because it is well written and I found it to be very engaging. I love how this book has a strong female main character. And in general, I have always loved fantasy and assassin type books.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes stories about guilds of thieves and assassins as well as books about strong characters. This book has mentions of childhood trauma and death of family members.

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Trevor Noah Born a crime is a book about the South African comedian born in an era called Apartheid. Due to Apartheid laws no White person could have a child with a Black person however that didn't stop Trevor Noah's parents making him being born a crime under Apartheid rule. This book describes stories from his childhood while explaining the complicated history of Apartheid and talking about how he experienced racism and injustice due to the fact that he is mixed. These stories talk about him trying to fit into certain crowds and range anywhere from comedic, sad and anything in between.

I loved this book due to the fact that it shines light on the history of Apartheid and how Trevor Noah explains his childhood in often comedic ways. The stories can be read in any order so this can be a good front cover to back cover read or if you just want to read something light you can always go to any chapter you want.

I would recommend this book to more mature readers specifically 7-8th graders.

- Luca Van Praag

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Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed

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Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed

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This book is a true story about a racist social media account. When the account is discovered it wreaks havoc on the school and the community as people struggle with racism, privilege, accountability and self reckoning. It goes into how the account affected the community and how the community responded and recovered. This book did an amazing job exploring the dangers and effects of racism. It also explores the dangers of normalizing as well as privilege. This book will really open your eyes to the issues of the world. It's a great book for 7th and 8th graders. Some of the topics and ideas in the book may be to mature or complicated for younger kids, but it is an amazing, beautifully written and eye opening book.

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what if? by Randall Munroe is a book dedicated to answering creative and absurd questions. This can involve questions like, "What would happen if the solar system was filled with soup out to Jupiter?" While this particular question was in the sequel, what if? 2, you could probably guess it doesn't end well.

I loved this book because it inspires creativity and the mindset that anything can happen if people try hard enough. It's been a great read for me, and I think anyone in middle school could really enjoy it as well.

- Owen K.

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This book is narrated by Death. He will tell you the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who finds herself in the custody of Hans and Rosa Hubermann in a small town in Nazi Germany. As she stays with the Hubermanns, she begins to develop a passion for books, developing her into the Book Thief. Her world is going decently well until her father, an opponent of the Nazi government, decides to hide a Jewish man in their basement. Leisel has to grapple with ideas of right and wrong and what she should do as the situation changes and develops.

I would recommend this book above all because of its writing. Zusak's beautiful use of metaphor and the personality of the narration makes the book gripping and causes it to consume all your thoughts as you read it. Also, for the seventh graders reading this, you'll also get extra street cred with Nat (this is her favorite book).

This book deals with mature topics and themes, so I would recommend it for grades 7 and up. This is historical fiction, but don't count it out even if you tend to dislike the genre. You will enjoy this book all the same.

Warning: there will be tears.

-Arthur

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The Book Thief cover, showing a hand knocking down dominoes. Beautiful symbolism.

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One Piece is a series about Monkey D. Luffy, a young man who dreams of being the king of the pirates. But, Luffy consumes a fruit that turns his body into rubber at the cost of his ability to swim. This is a problem for a pirate who wants to spend all their time sailing around, so with a dream in mind and a crew to be found, Luffy sets off on his grand journey to be the next king of the pirates.

I love One Piece because it has a comedy theme, but still manages to tackle deep emotional issues within the story, and has excellent world building with a great cast of characters who undergo great emotional struggles.

I would recommend this book to mature readers in the seventh and eighth grades, as it does have blood, and mature scenes and topics within it.

Will H.

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo follows the story of six criminal outcasts in the dark, villainous streets in the city of Ketterdam who are tasked with a seemingly impossible heist. This strange, unique group is led by Kaz Brekker, a criminal mastermind. They are hired to break into a prison known as the Ice Court in the land of Fjerda to rescue a scientist who holds the knowledge of a secret drug that enhances people known as Grishas. This book is all about suspense, deceit, and contains some fantasy elements.

I loved this book because of the six complex characters; it was really easy to get wrapped up in their story and struggle to anticipate what would come next. The buildup of the setting over the course of the book was interesting to see as well, along with the many secrets being revealed about the characters and everything around them. Although this book isn't necessary relatable, it is an amazing read if you are just looking for a really good book.

I would recommend Six of Crows to all grades, though maybe more directed towards 7th and 8th graders due to many mature violent scenes.

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Picking Daisies On Sundays by Liana Cincotti is about a girl named Daniella who is about to graduate high school and wants to go to the same college as her mom, which is a very good fashion school. This book revolves around Dani and her childhood friend, Levi, who she secretly had a crush on when they were younger, although she "seemed" to have lost that now as she has gotten older. Levi showed up one day at the same restaurant as Dani, and they start to reconnect with each other. They soon begin to become friends again, and the plot thickens when something new gets announced into their lives. After this, Dani and Levi now must navigate through their lives, even with all of the stress that Dani is facing with her college applications. This book really uncovers the message of "romance", but also has many different factors tied into it, making this book so interesting.

I love this book because every chapter ends making you want to read the next one. It also demonstrates the struggle of balancing work, school, social life, and a new factor that gets introduced as the book goes on. This book really made me think differently about how each person's life is different and how much impact one individual person can have on your life.

I would recommend this book to anyone 5th-8th grade, however I think that 7th and 8th graders would enjoy this book as much as I did because they will have a deeper understanding of it.

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Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is the first book in a long series about a girl who grows up with a supernatural ability in a dystopian, government controlled world. She is locked in an asylum for 265 days until she gets a cellmate that seems oddly familiar, but was placed there to keep an eye on her for the Chief Commander and Regent of Sector 45. Later she finds herself transferred to a military base and directly in the hands of somebody who only wants to use her for her powers, or so she thought

I loved this book because the way it is written is like somthing I have never read before. The amount of character development throughout the series is something that is very prominent and shown. the way the scenes and world is described as well as the story line between books is one of the best things about this series.

I would recommend this book and the rest of the series to those who like romance and dystopian. I would say this is appropriate for those in the 7th though the 8th grade due to some graphic scenes throughout the series.

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This book by Neil Shusterman is about a dystopian future in which teenangers are "unwound" (a process that divides their body yet keeps them alive) for body parts. Connor, Risa, and Lev are all set to be unwound. Lev is different from Connor and Risa in that he wishes to be unwound, believing it to be a religious duty. They escape, (while Lev is in essence kidnapped) and are on the run from the authorities and bounty hunters, while a rebellion of soon to be unwound teens ferments.

I love this book because of it delving into deep philosophical terrority, and it's dark feeling and morally juxtaposed characters. It has a feeling of incompleteness that leaves you wanting more. Fortunately there are five books in the series.

This is a scary book, and I would recommend it for mature 6th graders, or 7th and 8th graders.

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In a world with more and more disasters every day and less and less resources to save lives, unruly teenagers undergo a process called 'unwinding'. Their body parts are given to those in need, whether they like it or not.

This book is the first in a series, one of the first series that actually got me into more mature books with more complex stories. I think that it would be suitable for sixth graders up.

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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

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1) The insignificant Events in The life of a Cactus is about 13 year old Aven Green who was born without arms. The book follows her life as she moves to Arizona and starts middle school. At middle school Aven meets Connor who has Tourette Syndrome. Together they face tough experiences in middle school and face prejudice against people with disabilities. Aven and connor also discover a secret room at a theme park where avens dad works at, leading to a mystery for Connor and Aven to solve.

2) I loved this book because it uncovers what it's like to face adversity, navigate friendship, and overcome obstacles. It teaches kids to embrace their differences and not let challenges hold you back from enjoying life. And lastly this book taught me the importance of being grateful, as being able to do every day tasks, can be a daunting challenge to others.

3) I recommend this book to all middle schoolers, because it teaches many different important messages, but especially to 5th graders because it's an easy read.

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Seventeen-year-old Hazel Grace attends a cancer patients' support group. At one of the meetings she notices a teenage boy, and through the course of the meeting she learns that the boy's name was Augustus Waters. After the meeting ends, Augustus approached Hazel and invited her over to his house. They end up talking to each other about their cancer experience. Hazel reveals that she has thyroid cancer that is spreading to her lungs and that Augustus used to have osteosarcoma, but is now cancer free. The two of them end up falling in love and are inseparable. She says how much she loves Augustus, and that she wouldn't trade their short time together for anything in the world. In the end their beautiful love story ends up with Hazel reading a lovely letter, accepting her own life, acknowledging the pain, but also the love she shared.

I loved this book because it's a poignant and heart-affecting love story about two teenagers suffering from cancer. From the very first scene you get sucked into this beautiful world of Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters.

I recommend this book for mature 7th and 8th graders, but it also depends on individual maturity and sensitivity. This book deals with mature themes like terminal illness, death, and the complexities of love and loss, which may not be suitable for younger readers.

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Twisted Love is about two people with contrasting personalities: Ava, who's a happy and fun college student who likes to hang out with her closest friends, and who has a strong bond with her brother, Josh, after he played the role of a father figure in her teen years, and Alex, her brother's best friend, who is a genius billionaire with a traumatic childhood, and all he wants is revenge on the person who took his family away, or so he thought. This book explores their tense and passionate relationship, as well as uncovers jaw-dropping secrets they didn't know about each other. Twisted Love may be a slowburn, but you won't want to put it down.

I've found that most romance books don't have a building plot, or the only plot there is the relationship, and, well, that's usually not very fun to read. That's why I love Twisted Love. It not only explores Ava and Alex's relationship, going in depth on the emotion and passion they share for each other, but it also has a plot that's worth reading for, something that builds alongside their relationship that eventually ties together. This book is filled with jaw-dropping drama that makes it feel more like a movie than a book.

Do not read this book if you are in 5th or 6th grade. This book was made for mature audiences and includes vivid mature content. I would recommend this book to current 8th graders, and if you are not there yet, I would definitely recommend reading it when you get to high school.

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Tracy Deonn

Legendborn is about a girl named Brianna or Bree who goes to early college with her best friend to escape the grief of losing her mother. In her first few weeks at UNC EC, she starts seeing weird things and eventually uncovers a secret society called The Order. Throughout the book, Bree grapples, with grief, finds connections to her past, discovers things about her mother she never knew before and starts to realize why she never felt she belonged anywhere.

I love this book because it's super interesting from the very beginning. It hooks you in and as you read the book, you uncover layer after layer that just adds more and more to the plot of the book. It's really fun to read because the book is based in North Carolina at UNC, so it adds another layer of familiarity to the story. While I was reading the book, I found myself almost feeling what the characters were feeling in the book because Tracy Deonn does an amazing job emotionally connecting the reader with the story and with Bree.

I'd recommend this book to older readers, 7th and 8th graders, because there are a lot of layers in the book and it could be confusing for someone who doesn't like books with a heavy plot. There's a lot of talk about grief and death in the book and that can be a sensitive topic for people. Readers who like Realistic Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, and books where the character finds their identity, this is a good read for you. It is a pretty thick book so it will take more than an afternoon to read.

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This book is about the struggles of middle school and starting middle school in general. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a funny graphic novel that you can always come back to. I enjoyed this book because it is funny and sometimes relatable. I recommend this book to any grade.