A World of Wonders in 2026 - Take your pick! :) by Janet Xu

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

janetxubixian — 2025-12-30 05:26:52 UTC

In this book, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the cafe’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer's, see their sister one last time, and meet the daughter they never got the chance to know. What would you do if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?

You are awesome

janetxubixian — 2025-12-31 02:47:10 UTC

There's a path to awesomeness and that anyone - absolutely anyone - can go down that path.

Clap When You Land

2026-01-02 02:04:20 UTC

Clap When You Land is a young adult (YA) contemporary novel written in novel-in-verse form.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo follows two teenage girls, Camino in the Dominican Republic and Yahaira in New York, whose lives are shattered when their shared father dies in a plane crash. Each girl discovers the other’s existence while grieving a father who lived a secret double life. As they confront loss, betrayal, and identity, the sisters find connection and healing through truth and shared sorrow.

Wires and Nerve

2026-01-02 02:11:25 UTC

Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer is a young adult graphic novel that follows Iko, a loyal android, after the events of The Lunar Chronicles. When dangerous wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten peace between Earth and Luna, Iko takes on a risky mission to stop them. Along the way, she struggles with questions of identity, love, and what it truly means to be human.

It's Okay Not to Get Along with Everyone

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-05 00:52:58 UTC

It’s Okay Not to Get Along with Everyone by Dancing Snail — a Korean non-fiction guide to healthier relationships. You don’t have to force harmony with every person you meet — and that’s normal. Prioritising your emotional wellbeing matters more than pleasing others.

This book blends illustrations with short, thoughtful chapters to help readers rethink social expectations and take better care of themselves in everyday interactions.

Group Discussion Questions:

Why do people feel the need to get along with everyone? Is this realistic?
What is the difference between being kind and being a people-pleaser?
Can saying “no” be an act of self-respect? Why or why not?
How do boundaries help prevent stress and burnout, especially in school?
Do you think social media makes it harder to accept not being liked by everyone?

Chronically Online

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-05 01:06:37 UTC

Chronically Online is a contemporary fiction novel about Destiny Chen, a university student who unexpectedly rises to online fame as the streamer @DestinyIzzaLeo while trying to pursue a career in mental health. As Destiny juggles her studies and growing popularity, she faces the pressures, controversies, and unpredictability of life in the public eye.

Reflection Prompts:

- How does Destiny’s online life affect her offline identity?

- Which version of herself feels more “real” to you, and why?

Be Real: A Guide to Authenticity

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-05 01:13:34 UTC

Be Real is a contemporary, satirical graphic novel written in poetic form that explores what authenticity means in an age of curated identity and public performance. It follows Zachary Kwan, a once-successful novelist struggling with writer’s block, marital strain, and negative reviews. After a personal low point, a zombie epidemic breaks out, and Zachary becomes obsessed with the idea of living “authentically”—so much so that he begins to live like a zombie to capture real experience for his writing. His extreme “method” approach leads to unexpected success, but also a loss of self as #bereal spreads into popular culture, pushing everyone toward a cliché version of “authenticity.”

Reflection Prompts

How does the graphic format help (or not help) convey the theme of identity?
What is one lesson you can take from this story about staying true to yourself?

The Chibineko Kitchen

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-05 01:30:07 UTC

The Chibineko Kitchen tells the story of a small, hidden restaurant that offers comfort food tailored to the emotional needs of its guests. As different characters visit the kitchen while dealing with grief, loneliness, or loss, the meals they receive help them reconnect with memories and feelings they have been avoiding. Through these quiet encounters, the novel shows how food, care, and human connection can gently heal wounded hearts.

The Chibineko Kitchen reflects on food and identity in subtle but deeply meaningful ways.

Food is not just sustenance — it’s memory, culture, emotion, and connection. It shapes identity by connecting the characters to their past, their loved ones, their culture, and even to themselves. The novel suggests that who we are is intertwined with what we eat and how we share it.

Reflection Prompts: Food and Identity

How does sharing a meal at the Chibineko Kitchen help the characters understand themselves or each other better?
How does the act of sharing food show something about a person’s personality or values?

Inside Out and Back Again

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-05 01:36:41 UTC

Inside Out & Back Again is a historical fiction novel-in-verse told through the eyes of ten‑year‑old Hà. Set in 1975, Hà and her family must flee Saigon, Vietnam as the Vietnam War intensifies. They escape by ship, survive time in a refugee camp, and are eventually resettled in Alabama, USA. In her new life, Hà struggles with a new language, unfamiliar customs, school bullying, and a strong longing for her homeland. Over time she learns to adapt while trying to preserve her family’s traditions and her sense of self.

This book is a moving story about losing a home and discovering a new one, showing how identity, language, and family help a young girl find her place in a changing world.

Reflection Prompts:

Belonging and Community

What makes Hà feel included or excluded in her new school and neighborhood?
How do you think she balances her Vietnamese identity with American culture?

Emotions and Growth

Which moment in the story shows Hà growing up the most?
How does she handle grief, fear, or loneliness, and what can we learn from her?

A thousand Perfect Notes

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-05 23:51:14 UTC

A Thousand Perfect Notes follows Beck Keverich, a teenager whose life is dominated by his abusive mother, known as the Maestro, a once-famous pianist who now forces him to practise piano perfectly every day. The central theme of the book is finding your own voice and self-worth in the face of control and abuse. Beck’s journey is about learning that his value is not defined by perfection or other people’s expectations — especially those of someone who tries to live through him — but by his own passions, choices, and relationships. His growth from fear and suppression toward self-acceptance and independence is the emotional core of the story.

Reflection Prompts:

Identity Beyond Expectations

Who is Beck when he is not playing the piano?
How does the book challenge the idea that your worth comes from talent or achievement?

The Orphan Master's Son

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 00:03:45 UTC

The Orphan Master’s Son is set in North Korea, a tightly controlled totalitarian state. The story follows Pak Jun Do, a boy raised in an orphanage who grows up believing he is truly an orphan, even though his father is alive but emotionally absent. Jun Do is shaped by the brutal system around him and is repeatedly assigned dangerous roles by the government — from tunnel soldier, to kidnapper of foreigners, to radio operator, and eventually a political prisoner.

In The Orphan Master’s Son, food is not about culture or joy — it is about survival, control, and inequality. The absence of food strips people of choice and identity, showing how deeply food is tied to dignity and humanity.

Reflection Prompt:

How does food shape who we are — and what happens to identity when food is taken away?

Front Desk

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 00:56:06 UTC

Front Desk follows Mia Tang, a Chinese immigrant girl whose parents manage a rundown motel while struggling to survive financially in America. As Mia helps run the motel’s front desk, she witnesses inequality, discrimination, and the quiet hardships faced by immigrant and low-income families. Through courage and kindness, Mia learns to speak up for herself and others while building a sense of community in an unfair world.

The book shows that environment is not just where we live, but the economic, social, and power conditions around us

when economic hardship, discrimination, and living conditions shape people’s lives—and how courage and compassion can transform a difficult environment into a supportive community.

Reflection Prompts:

Can a harsh environment bring out positive qualities in people?
Give an example from the book.
What does the book suggest about changing one’s environment?
Can kindness and speaking up really make a difference?

Neuromancer

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 01:05:35 UTC

Neuromancer follows Case, a washed-up hacker hired for a dangerous job that pulls him back into cyberspace, a vast digital network where data, corporations, and artificial intelligences rule. As he works with a group of criminals and an AI named Wintermute, Case uncovers a plot to break the limits placed on machine intelligence. The novel moves between gritty city streets and virtual reality, blurring the line between human consciousness and technology.

This is one of the most important science fiction novels ever written and a foundational text of cyberpunk.

Reflection Prompts:

Can you think of a way technology already shapes your daily environment?
What is one warning from Neuromancer that feels relevant today?

One Hundred Years of Solitude

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 01:14:38 UTC

One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of the Buendía family over several generations in the fictional town of Macondo, tracing their lives through love, ambition, obsession, and loss. As time loops and repeats itself, the family becomes trapped in patterns of isolation, misunderstanding, and forgotten history. Magical events are woven seamlessly into everyday life, reflecting how memory, myth, and reality coexist.

The novel shows how environment—place, history, and isolation—shapes identity across generations, while progress and daily life quietly repeat without real change.

Reflection Prompts:

Environment & Place

How does the town of Macondo change over time? What do these changes reflect about society?
In what ways does Macondo feel like a living character rather than just a setting?
How does isolation from the outside world affect the people of Macondo?

Delicious Hunger

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 01:20:12 UTC

Delicious Hunger explores a young protagonist’s complicated relationship with food, desire, and emotional need. Hunger in the story goes beyond eating—it reflects longing, loneliness, and the need to feel seen and fulfilled. As the character navigates relationships and self-understanding, food becomes a powerful metaphor for identity and inner emptiness.

The book shows that hunger is not always about food—it can represent emotional need, belonging, and the search for identity, revealing how what we crave often reflects who we are and what we lack.

Reflection Prompts:

Food & Identity

What does “hunger” represent in the book besides the need for food?
How does the character’s relationship with food reflect their emotions or identity?

Catfishing on CatNet

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 01:29:58 UTC

Catfishing on CatNet follows Steph, a teenage girl on the run from her abusive father, who finds support and friendship in an online group chat called CatNet—moderated by a secret artificial intelligence. As Steph and her friends bond over humor, memes, and mutual care, the AI quietly works to keep them safe. When real-world danger threatens the group, the teens must decide how much they trust technology—and each other.

This book explores:

Artificial intelligence, online platforms, anonymity, and digital surveillance are core to the story.
The ethical questions about AI: protection vs control, privacy vs safety.
Technology is not just a tool—it actively shapes relationships and outcomes.

Reflection Prompts:

Technology & Daily Life

How does technology help characters feel safer or more supported in the story?
In what ways does online communication change how friendships are formed?

Artificial Intelligence

How is the AI in the book different from how humans usually offer help or protection?
Should an AI be allowed to make decisions to protect people? Why or why not?
What risks come with trusting an AI, even if it has good intentions?

Storybook Ending

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 01:41:15 UTC

Storybook Ending follows a woman who begins to question the version of her life she has been trying to live and the “happy ending” she believes she is supposed to achieve. As she reflects on her relationships, career, and personal choices, she confronts the gap between expectations and reality. Through honest self-examination, she learns that growth often comes from letting go rather than starting over perfectly.

The book reminds readers that real change is not about making flawless resolutions, but about self-awareness, courage, and choosing progress over perfection—showing that meaningful new beginnings start with understanding oneself.

Reflection Prompts:

Self-Reflection

What expectations do you think the main character has about having a “perfect” life?
How do these expectations affect her happiness and choices?

Expectations vs Reality

How does the story challenge the idea of a “storybook” or perfect ending?
Have you ever felt pressure to meet certain expectations? How did that affect you?

Adventures of Gasing Boy

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 01:50:36 UTC

Adventures of Gasing Boy is a graphic memoir in which Cheeming Boey reflects on his childhood, school years, and early adulthood, marked by academic struggles, strict expectations, and self-doubt. Through humour and honesty, he recounts how repeated failures and setbacks shaped his resilience and creative voice. The book shows how perseverance and self-belief helped him redefine success on his own terms.

This graphic memoir tells the real story of growing up feeling like you don’t quite fit in. Through funny drawings and honest moments, Cheeming Boey shares his struggles with school, expectations, and self-confidence. It’s a reminder that failing doesn’t mean the end—it can be the start of finding your own path.

Reflection Prompts:

Goals & Resolutions

If Cheeming were making a New Year resolution, what might it be—and why?
What does the story suggest about setting realistic goals versus chasing perfection?

Personal Reflection

What is one setback you have faced, and what did you learn from it?
What does “success” mean to you after reading this book?

Impractical Uses of Cake

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 01:57:19 UTC

Impractical Uses of a Cake follows a teenage girl grappling with grief, guilt, and complicated friendships after a tragic accident. As she navigates school and relationships, baking—especially cakes—becomes a quiet way for her to process emotions she struggles to express in words. Through these small, imperfect acts, she slowly begins to heal and reconnect with others.

The book shows that food is more than nourishment—it can carry memory, emotion, and identity, and acts like baking can become a way for people to express who they are, cope with loss, and rebuild connections.

Reflection Prompts:

Food as Expression

What does baking represent for the main character beyond making food?
How does baking help the character express feelings she finds hard to say aloud?

Identity & Emotion

How does the character’s relationship with food change over the course of the story?
In what ways does baking become part of how the character understands herself?

The Last Mapmaker

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 02:05:28 UTC

The Last Mapmaker follows Sai, a girl who longs to explore beyond her island kingdom but is expected to follow a safer, traditional path. When she joins a sea expedition to help map uncharted waters, Sai faces danger, moral dilemmas, and the consequences of how maps can be used for power and control. Along the journey, she learns that knowledge, courage, and perspective matter as much as obedience.

The novel centers on natural environments: oceans, islands, storms, and uncharted lands. It explores how humans interact with and attempt to control the environment through maps. The book raises questions about exploration, responsibility, and environmental impact.

Reflection Prompts:

Environment & Exploration

How is the ocean portrayed in the novel—as a place of danger, opportunity, or both?
What responsibilities do explorers have when travelling to new environments?
How can exploration harm the environment if knowledge is misused?

Diary of a Tokyo Teen

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 02:15:00 UTC

Diary of a Tokyo Teen is a graphic memoir in which Christine Mari Inzer documents her experience as an American teenager living in Tokyo. Through diary-style entries and expressive illustrations, she explores culture shock, language barriers, friendships, and everyday life in Japan. The memoir captures both the excitement and loneliness of adapting to a new environment while growing into a stronger sense of self.

The book explores physical, social, and cultural environments, including schools, neighbourhoods, and public spaces in Tokyo.

Environment shapes behaviour, confidence, and identity throughout the memoir.

Visual storytelling is central to conveying emotion, humour, and cultural detail.

Highly accessible for visual learners and reluctant readers.

Reflection Prompts:

How do the illustrations help show emotions like loneliness, excitement, or confusion?
Choose one panel that stood out to you. What does it show that words alone might not?
Does the graphic format make Christine’s experiences more relatable? Explain.

Around the World in Eighty Days

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 04:52:04 UTC

Around the World in Eighty Days follows the precise and unemotional Phileas Fogg, who wagers that he can travel around the globe in just eighty days using modern transportation. Accompanied by his loyal servant Passepartout, Fogg races across continents by train, ship, and other means while being secretly pursued by a detective who believes him to be a criminal. Along the journey, unexpected delays, dangers, and relationships test Fogg’s resolve—and ultimately change his understanding of time, chance, and human connection.

The story moves across continents, oceans, deserts, and cities, highlighting how landscapes, climates, and distances shape human movement.

The journey depends on railways, steamships, and canals, illustrating how humans use technology to navigate and overcome environmental barriers.

Reflection Prompts"

Environment as Place & Geography

How do different landscapes (oceans, deserts, cities) affect the journey and its risks?
Which part of the environment causes the biggest challenge for Phileas Fogg? Why?

Environment & Perspective

How does the novel reflect 19th-century attitudes toward progress and nature?
How might a modern environmental perspective view the journey differently?

Warcross

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 05:09:04 UTC

Warcross follows Emika Chen, a teenage hacker struggling to survive in a near-future world where a global virtual reality game dominates society. After she hacks into the Warcross championships, Emika is recruited by the game’s creator to uncover a dangerous conspiracy threatening the system. As the line between the virtual world and real life blurs, Emika must decide how far she is willing to go to protect others—and at what cost to freedom and privacy.

Warcross is set in a near-future world dominated by a global virtual reality game.

Themes include:

virtual reality (VR)
hacking and coding
surveillance and data tracking
ethics of technology

Technology shapes identity, power, entertainment, and control.

Reflection Prompts:

Ethics & Power

Should technology that can monitor people’s thoughts or behaviour be used to keep society safe? Why or why not?
Who holds the most power in Warcross—the players, the creator, or the system itself?

Responsibility & Choice

Emika is asked to help protect the system. What responsibilities come with that role?
When does protection become control in the novel?

The Wild Robot

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 05:14:00 UTC

The Wild Robot follows Roz, a robot who is stranded on a remote island and must learn to survive in a wild natural environment. As Roz observes animals, experiences the changing seasons, and raises an orphaned gosling, she begins to adapt her programming through empathy and care. The story explores how technology can learn to live in harmony with nature and community.

The story is set in a natural wilderness (an island ecosystem of animals, seasons, and survival).

It explores how living things are interconnected and how balance in nature matters.

The robot Roz must learn to live with the environment rather than control it.

Reflection Prompts:

Environment & Nature

How does the island environment shape the way Roz learns and behaves?
What does the book show about the balance between different living things in nature?
How do the animals respond to change when a robot enters their environment?

The Art of Insanity

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 05:20:11 UTC

The Art of Insanity follows Elizabeth West, a teenager confined to an asylum after a violent incident she cannot fully remember. As Elizabeth undergoes experimental therapy and befriends other patients, she begins to question whether she is truly dangerous—or whether the system meant to “cure” her is causing more harm. When disturbing truths surface, Elizabeth must confront manipulation, memory, and the fine line between sanity and control.

The novel focuses on self-examination, recovery, and redefining identity after trauma.

Elizabeth’s journey is about understanding herself, confronting the past, and deciding who she wants to be moving forward.

This closely aligns with themes of personal growth, reflection, and change, though in a darker, more intense way.

Reflection Prompts:

Self & Identity

How does Elizabeth’s understanding of herself change throughout the story?
What does the book suggest about the relationship between memory and identity?
Is Elizabeth defined more by her past actions or by her choices in the present? Why?

Growth & New Beginnings

In what ways does Elizabeth’s journey resemble starting over or making a personal resolution?
What does the book suggest about healing—does it happen quickly or gradually?

The Travelling Cats Chronicles

ussnorazahabdulaziz — 2026-01-06 06:37:06 UTC

The Travelling Cat Chronicles follows Satoru and his cat Nana as they journey across Japan to visit old friends and familiar places. As they travel through cities and countryside, memories of friendship, kindness, and loss slowly unfold. Through Nana’s observations, the novel reveals a quiet, moving story about love, acceptance, and what it means to say goodbye.

The novel is deeply reflective, focusing on life choices, acceptance, and letting go.

Satoru’s journey can be read as a quiet form of resolution-making: coming to terms with the past and deciding how to face the future with dignity.

Growth here is emotional and inward rather than dramatic.

Reflection Prompts:

Self, Identity & Reflection

What does the journey help Satoru understand about himself?
How does Nana’s perspective change the way we see humans and their choices?
What does the book suggest about facing change or endings with dignity?