The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an exciting adventure novel set in a futuristic world and country called Panem. Katniss Everdeen is from district 12 of Panem. She lives a poor life with her mother and sister hunting daily in order to make a living. Every year the capital of Panem holds an annual “Hunger Games”. In these games a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 to 18 are randomly chosen to fight to the death until only one person survives. The Hunger Games describes Katniss’s experiences through the Hunger Games and the harsh, unrealistic conditions in the country of Panem.

I really like this book because the theme of power is evident throughout the novel and is constantly reinforced. The capital reminds the other districts that they are the most powerful by creating the Hunger Games. The following passage from the novel explains how Collins described how the capital uses its power while also explaining that there had been a previous rebellion, “Taking the kids from our districts, forcing them to kill one another while we watch – this is the Capitol’s way of reminding us how totally we are at their mercy. How little chance we would stand of surviving another rebellion. Whatever words they use, the real message is clear. “Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there’s nothing you can do. If you lift a finger, we will destroy every last one of you. Just as we did in District Thirteen.”

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han is the final book in The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy. Belly has been with Jeremiah with two years after Conrad had let Belly go. The two have been inseparable and do everything together, they even attend the same college. However, Belly starts to question if being with Jeremiah had been the right choice and she starts thinking about her decision and actions. After Jeremiah had made the biggest mistake he could possibly make Belly starts regretting her decisions. We’ll Always Have Summer tells the story of Belly and Jerimiah’s relationship through its ups and downs and the final decision the couple makes.

In the final book of the series there is much more drama involved throughout the book from the scandals to heartbreaks to unexpected announcements. Despite the circumstances Belly tries to get through it all and discovers what she really wants and who she is meant to be with. Han does an excellent job of keeping the readers on the edge as Belly makes her decisions and when she is faced with a new challenge. If you liked We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han, then you’ll love Shug by Jenny Han.   

Rudayna Tabbara

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

It’s Not Summer Without You is the sequel to The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. This summer unlike Belly’s other summers is not spent at the beach house. Belly had stayed home since Susannah had gotten sick again and Conrad hasn’t been the best person to Belly. Despite the circumstances Jeremiah had went to Belly asking for help. Conrad had went missing the closest person to him at the time had been Belly. It’s Not Summer Without You is the story of Belly and Jeremiah’s adventure finding Conrad and bringing him back home. Love triangles and conflicted feelings by the majority of the characters is what makes the adventure and story even more exciting than the previous one.

In my opinion, I liked It’s Not Summer Without You the most out of all three books. The overall plot is more developed than the previous novel. The on and off relationship between Conrad and Belly makes the reader want to continue reading and discover what happens in the end. What i found interesting was Belly’s character development throughout the novel as she matures even more. In the beginning of the novel Belly was seen as depressed and moody. Blaming everyone for her problems like in the following phrase, “I was getting pretty sick of Taylor pushing me in this direction and that direction, dressing me up like one of her shabbier, less fortunate dolls. It had always been like this with us". Towards the end of the book however she becomes a different person.

Rudayna Tabbara

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is a perfect book for the summer time or in need of reminiscing on summer memories. Isabell (Belly) lives her life in summers always longing for that time of year. During her summers belly and her mother and brother spend the summer on the beach with her mother's best friend (Susannah) and children. Every summer is the same for Belly except this summer since she has “blossomed”. Conrad and Jeremiah Susannah’s children start to see Belly differently than the previous summers. The Summer I Turned Pretty is the story of Belly’s summer of heartbreaks and surprises good and bad.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who like a good book on summer and summer flings. The author perfectly describes the perfect summer and takes the reader to the beach house with every description. Han makes the reader want to take a trip to the beach immediately. This phrase from the book will explain the feeling Han gives, ”For me there was-is-nothing better than walking on the beach late at night. It feels like you could walk forever, like the whole night is yours and so is the ocean. When you walk on the beach at night, you can say things you can't say in real life. In the dark you can feel really close to a person. You can say whatever you want.” The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first of a trilogy of books on Belly’s summer adventures.

Rudyana Tabbara

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Witch and Wizard is a fiction, fantasy, children's literature, mystery novel by James Patterson, and is the first book in the series. The book is about brother and sister, Whit and Wisty Allgood who are kidnapped in the middle of the night and are accused of being witch and wizard, and are due for execution, both syblings must work together to escape and get safely home. Overall this was an okay book to read but I didn’t find it that interesting. I woundn’t read this boom again but if you are very big fan of magic, I would recommend this you read this book to see if you enjoy it.

Sameer Khan

Stormbreaker : the graphic novel by Anthony Horowitz

Just like the actual novel Alex Rider Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel is an amazing adventure, action, fiction novel just with more pictures. The artists of the book do a terrific job at creating the world which Anthony Horowitz wrote for the audience to get a different perspective, and re-enact the action scenes in the book. If you were a fan of the Alex rider series, then I would definitely suggest this short but great graphic novel to you.

Sameer Khan

Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel

Silverwing is a speculative fantasy novel by Kenneth Oppel and is the first book is the silverwing series. The story is about a young silverwing bat named shade whose father disappeared when he was young and is bullied by the other bats for being the runt of the litter. When shade defies the ancient rule where the bats are not allowed to look at the sun, the Owls who are the rivals of the bats demand shade to be handed over, when the colony refuses, the owls burn down their roosting tree, as a result the colony of bats must migrate to their winter roosting home known as the hibernaculum. The bats must endure a long and perilous journey through sprawling cities and wild forests, especially Shade. I really enjoyed reading this series because of its animal characters which gave me a different character perspective than most normal novels, it was great read. I would recommend this book to both middle and high school students.

Sameer Khan

Airman by Eoin Colfer

Airman is a science fiction, adventure novel written by Eoin Colfer. The story takes place during the 1890s and is about a boy named Conor who lives with his family on the Saltee islands off the coast of Ireland. There he studies the about flight with his tutor and spends time with the Princess Isabella, the kings daughter. One day Conor finds out about a plot against the King, and when he tries to warn about it, he is accused for treachery and is sent to the prison island of little Saltee. There he has to battle for his life as he is forced to mine in terrible conditions. The only thing that can save Conor is his knowledge of flight. For months he draws plans for a contraption that will get him out of the Island. I loved this book because of its adventure and science fiction genre, and how the main character uses his knowledge and ingenuity to plan an escape from prison. I would recommend this book to both high and middle school students who are interested in Sci-Fi and adventure novels.

Sameer Khan

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Chains is about an African slave girl during the revolutionary war that was supposed to be freed, but instead got sold to a really mean family. The girl’s name is Isabel, and she and her sister are alone. Along the way Isabel learns more about the family she is working for, and decides to help people that promise to get her freed. This is a historical fiction book that is exciting and really hard to stop reading once you start. I recommend this to the 8th grade mainly because I read it in Humanities in 8th grade. The book is really worth reading. I promise.

Luqman Sattar

Brotherband: The Outcasts by John Flanagan

Brotherband: The Outcasts is a fantasy, adventure novel written by John Flanagan, and is the first book in the Brotherband series. The book takes place in Skandia, a brutal land filled with warriors. In this land there is only one way to become a warrior, Boys are chosen and put into different teams known as brotherbands where they have to endure three months of intense and tough training in weapons, battle strategies, and sailing. These groups must go against one another for there can only but one bortherband winner in the end. The main character of the story is Hal Mikkaelson who is the reluctant leader of outcasts. He must pull their brotherband together is they are meant to survive these challenges. Overall this was an amazing book to read with its action packed plot and great characters. I would recommend this book to both middle and high school students interested in medieval fantasy novels.

Sameer Khan

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Inkheart is a fantasy book written by Cornelia Funke and is the first book in the Inkheart Trilogy. The book has multiple important characters but the main ones are Maggie and Mortimer who has the power to make things written in a book come to life when reading out loud. The book is very interesting because it follows the characters development for when they were young to when they become adults, its unique plot also makes it a very interesting book to read. I would recommend both middle and high school students to read this amazing trilogy.

Sameer Khan

Seekers: The Quest Begins by Erin Hunter

Seekers: The quest begins is a young-adult fantasy, and speculative fiction book written by the authors Cherith Baldry, Erin Hunter, Kate Cary, and Tui T. Sutherland. It is the first book in the Seekers series. The story is about four young bears, Kallik, Ujurak, Lusa, and Toklo who are alone by themselves in the declining environment of the wilderness and need to learn how to survive. I really enjoyed reading this book because unlike most books I read, the characters of the story are animals which I really enjoy reading about because of their difference in behaviour, this story is also very good and sends a strong message about environmental changes in our world. I would recommend both middle and high school students to read this book.

Sameer Khan

Batman: Death and the City by Paul Dini

Batman: Death and the City is a crime and action DC comic by Paul Dini. The comic takes place in Gotham city which harbours the mysterious vigilante, Batman. During this time there is a growing violence coming from the underworld which plagues the city, Robin is kidnapped by a mad bomber named Vox. Batman meets new enemies and makes new allies. I found this comic good to read even though it was very short. I would recommend middle school students to read this if they are interested in superheroes.

Sameer Khan

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is a children’s fantasy novel written by C.S. Lewis. The book follows the story of four siblings, Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund who are evacuated from London to the countryside along with thousands of other children during the Blitz campaign during World War 2. Inside their residence, they find a wardrobe which leads to land known as Narnia which is inhabited by fairy-tale and magical creatures. This book was one of my favorites in middle school because I loved to read about magic and fantasy books. I would definitely recommend both middle school and high school students to read this book because it is worth it.

Sameer Khan

Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

Warriors: Into the Wild is a adventure fantasy, and children’s literature book written by Erin Hunter, it is the first book in the long Warrior series. The story is about four clans of wild cats who for generations shared the forest under the laws placed by their ancestors. A young cat named Rusty leaves his human owners to join on of these clans known as the ThunderClan. But the code of law between these Clans hangs in a balance and the ThunderClan is in danger. The ShadowClan, a mysterious and sinister clan grows stronger every day, Cat warriors are dying. It seems that the fate of the forest and the balance between the clans falls onto Rusty. I found this book very interesting to read because of its unique story and interesting world of cats. I would recommend this book to middle school students who like adventure fantasy books.

Sameer Khan

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is a science fiction, dystopian novel written by Suzanne Collins and is the first book in the famous trilogy. The story takes place in the distance future in Panem, a country found out of the ruins of North America. Panem had 13 districts, each district produces and provides different resources, All these districts are controlled by the Capitol, the central power of Panem. But the disctricts were dissatisfied of the Capitols treatment and so e rebellion took place and disctrict 13 was destroyed, as a result of this uprising, the Capitol forced each district to give one boy and girl to be sent to an arena to fight to the death until only one remains, this was known as the Hunger Games. 74 years on, Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself for the Hunger Games to save her sister, and by doing so she must face against the other contesters and the brutality which the capitol sends to her. I loved this book because of its action packed plot and interesting characters. I would recommend both middle and high school students to read this book.

Sameer Khan

Goosebumps: Say Cheese and Die by R.L. Stine

Say Cheese and Die! is a horror, speculative fiction, children’s literature novel and the fourth book in the Goosebumps series written by R.L. Stine. The story is about four friends Greg, Michael, Doug, and Shari who together decide to investigate the Coffman House, an old crumpling building where many alleged ghost stories originated from. During their search, they find a strange camera where you take a picture but it shows a spooky dark outcome. Goosebumps was definitely one of my favorite childhood horror series which its many different spooky plots. I would recommend this book to middle school students who haven’t experienced reading the series to do so because it is seriously and awesomely spooky!

Sameer Khan

Star Wars: Rebellion by Rob Williams

Back when Luke Skywalker was a kid he was friends with Janek Sunber. The two were inseparable until they grew up a bit and went their own ways. Flash forward a few years, and Luke Skywalker is a legendary Jedi Knight, and Janek has become a soldier for the galactic empire (yes, he becomes a bad guy.) The two meet and spark a rivalry for the first time in many years making both of them question the side they are on, and causing very big repercussions. Star Wars is one of my favorite science fiction series, and I will read anything about it, this is the main reason why I liked it. I really recommend this action packed graphic novel to any middle schooler because that is the level that it is for.

Luqman Sattar

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

This book takes a very widely known concept which is virtual reality. In the future, you don’t control a character when playing a game, you are the character. In video games you can die and come back to life repeatedly, but some kind of hacker dude keeps hostages in the virtual world and kills causes them to have permanent brain damage in the real world. Three teenagers are recruited by the government to stop them, and causing them to move into an area of the virtual reality that they have never seen before. James Dashner takes a very interesting concept and makes an action and science fiction novel for young adults! In my opinion I find it very interesting, and reminds me of Tron. A definite recommend to high school and middle school.

Luqman Sattar

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

The Forsaken is a dystopian fiction novel written by Lisa M. Stasse and is the first of a trilogy. The book takes place in the U.N.A, a country that formed from the remnants of Canada, United States, and Mexico. The main character Alenna shawcross is an orphan living in the U.N.A after having both her parents dragged out of her home by government soldiers. During this time she tries to live an obedient and quiet life. But at sixteen years-old, she fails a government personality test designed to diagnose insubordinate tendencies. As a punishment, she is sent to a mysterious island known as “The Wheel”. A harsh and dangerous place where a civil war rages between two different tribes of teenagers. Alenna meets a boy named Liam, charming warrior who is planning to escape the island. This story is focus towards a young adult audience. I personally liked this story because it reminded me of another favourite book of mine which was the hunger game series. If you are a fan of the hunger games, battle royal, and any other rebellious dystopian novels, I guarantee you will like this book.

Sameer Khan