Refugee High: Coming of Age in America by Elly Fishman Nonfiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) A reporter spends a year (2017-2018) following the lives of students at the Roger C. Sullivan High School. The students are all refugees whose families have fled bad situations in their homelands. They all come from different nations and cultures, and they speak different languages, but they share a common experience of being in a foreign place where … Read more
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Classic Historical Fiction Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) George and his best bud Lennie are migrant workers in California. Lennie isn’t always the brightest, however. Will they be able to reach their dream of owning a farm? Or will Lennie’s childish ways get in the way of that? Review #2 * * * * Stars (Great!) Of Mice and Men is about two men going … Read more
Whole Heart, Whole Horse: Building Trust Between Horse and Rider by Mark Rashid Nonfiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Mark Rashid is world renowned horse trainer who is gifted in understanding the “horse’s point of view.” Whole Heart, Whole Horse collects some of his anecdotes about the horses and humans who have passed through his life, as well as some of his early experiences with “the old man,” whom he credits with teaching … Read more
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Science Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) When Ryland Grace awakes from an induced coma, he finds himself aboard a spaceship, hurtling towards who knows where, on a mission to do who knows what. His two crewmates are dead, and as he recuperates from his long sleep, he slowly regains his memories. Earth is in great peril from an organism that is draining the sun’s energy, and … Read more
Fantastic Vegan Recipes for the Teen Cook by Elaine Skiadas Cookbooks Nonfiction Vegan Cooking/Recipes * * * * Stars (Great!) Elaine Skiadas is the teen creator of Wandering Chickpea (blog), where she shares her recipes and her amazing food photography. I have bookmarked several recipes to try, but haven’t had a chance to make them yet. From the photos, however, everything looks DELICIOUS. I think a lot of these recipes would have appeal beyond the … Read more
Frankenstein (or a Modern Prometheus) by Mary Shelley Classic Horror Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Frankenstein. The name echoes throughout all of literature, and has taken over the cinematic world as well, ever since an 18 year-old girl named Mary Shelley decided to write a book. She and her friends proposed a writing contest, but only two of them (Mary included) finished the challenge. Mary’s book was by far … Read more
Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Historical Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Coined as one of the best stories about the Civil War of all time, Michael Shaara brings you the famous battle of Gettysburg – from both the Confederate and Union armies. It is split up into three days, and significant events take place on each day. John Buford of the Union army chooses the high ground. Lee’s army marches … Read more
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb Autobiography Biography Nonfiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This is the real-life story of Malala Yousafzai, a current activist who fights for female education. She is the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner at age 17. In Swat Valley in Pakistan, females couldn’t even go out due to being at risk … Read more
In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee Biography Graphic Novel Memoir Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Deborah is Korean American (she came to the US with her family when she was 3) and she’s struggling to find a path for herself. Her mother has Great Expectations for her future and becomes angry and physically violent with Deb when she fails to get perfect grades, speak Korean fluently, and become a musical virtuoso. Deb wants … Read more
Vern: Custodian of the Universe Tyrell Waiters Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * Stars When Vern’s prospects dry up he moves back home and his grandma immediately gets him a job as custodian at a tech company called Quasar. It’s not what he’d expected. He *does* have to clean up a lot of messes, but they seem to involve weird eyeballs creeping through spatial rifts. Vern eventually discovers that Quasar is messing with … Read more