Archive for October, 2023

The Only Girl In Town by Ally Condie

Published October 25, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Realistic Fiction

When July waked up to find she is the only remaining person left in her town she immediately begins to look for people anywhere she can think of including her school, her friend’s houses, and even local businesses. When she fails to find another living person she tries to get in her car and flee the town only to be stopped by an invisible barrier. As she starts to get used to being the only girl in town she notices objects left around the town that each represent a person she deeply misses including her best friend and her parents. She gets the idea that maybe she is supposed to solve a puzzle with the objects in order to bring everyone back, but the harder she tries to connect the objects the more she is reminded of several painful memories that have happened over the last year. Can July face her difficult past in order to move forward? What is going on in this town and where did everyone disappear to?

This story uses past memories to help the reader feel why July is struggling so much in addition to the fact she is now totally alone in her town. The objects she finds help her to start facing all the things she misses about those around her so that she can better focus on a plan to bring all of those people back into her life. The relationships around her start to become very clear with each memory she revisits and it’s easy to want to know what happened that made her feel like she had to change all of her priorities in life. Recommended for those who enjoy realistic fiction with surprise endings.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

Published October 18, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Action Mystery

Winter Young is the biggest pop star in the world, but he is still reeling from the untimely death of his older brother. Despite his enormous popularity he can’t help but wonder if his life is fairly pointless, unlike his brother who was in the peace corp. So, when he is approached by a secret agency to help take down a powerful trafficker he thinks this might be his chance to do something important. He does not have much time to train, however, so he is paired with Sydney Cosette, a long time secret agent despite her young age. The two get prepared as best they can, but then they must go undercover knowing that things could get very dangerous if their true motivations are revealed. As Winter gets to know the daughter of the criminal they are trying to take down, he quickly realizes that every situation has many people involved and is difficult to navigate at times so that the wrong people don’t get hurt. Can he and Sydney fulfill the goals they set out to do with this mission? Will they become more than friends along the way?

This story is fun and exciting with many suspenseful action scenes. Technically, there is a little bit of romance, but I would not let that deter any boys who enjoy action from picking this one up. It very much reads like a spy novel and the characters are engaging from the start with several revelations coming out about both of their backgrounds. There are many surprises in regards to what they think they know about this mission and the ending is very exciting and dramatic. Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys a good action spy adventure.

Red Palace by June Hur

Published October 11, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction

Hyeon is an 18 year old palace nurse in the year 1758 in the Korean country Joseon. Her mother is the mistress of a powerful man in the community and as such she has been treated horribly her entire life until she became a nurse. The woman who took her in and trained her has been a role model and mentor to her and she knows she would be in a much worse place if it weren’t for her. When four palace nurses are massacred and her mentor is suspected of being the killer she knows she must step in to prove her innocence. She ends up working with the new police inspector to try and solve the mystery despite the fact that several people, including her estranged father, warn her to keep out of it and know her place. Can she find out who is causing mischief in the kingdom before it is too late for her mentor and maybe even herself? Will she find an unexpected romance with the new police inspector despite their difference in social status?

This engaging story discusses many topics such as class, race, mental abuse, physical abuse, suicide, and parental neglect. However, the story does so in a way that is historically accurate and respectful. The mystery itself is very exciting and interesting, but the setting really throws it over the top because the main character is restrained by her gender and status at every turn. She has to fight hard for the little respect she has in the community. Recommended for mystery fans who want something different.

All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Published October 4, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Emrys is one of the faery bodyguards for the British royal family. The royal family is considered sacred and protected and therefore each member has a protective faery bodyguard, but of course they do not know that and cannot see them unless the faery chooses to show him or herself to that person. Emrys has been doing this for a long time and is therefore surprised when she begins to form a connection to Prince Richard. She also starts noticing that there seem to be more attacks on the royal family than normal and several of them seem extra strong. Faerys lose strength in cities and must take breaks in the countryside to build their strength back up, but as Emrys becomes more concerned about Richard the more she fears what will happen if she leaves his side, even if other faerys step in to help. Then, when tragedy strikes, she knows that someone is organizing forces against the royal family and most likely there is someone that has betrayed them. Who can she trust and what must she do to protect the royal family? Can Richard ever know who she really is?

Fans looking for fun fantasy stories will enjoy this title because there is a lot to the plot and the characters are really engaging. The setting is very unique as several different types of fantasy creatures make an appearance in modern day London. Fans of fantasy romances such as Twilight will enjoy this title.

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