Month: February 2024

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir is a realistic fiction novel about Pakistani teenagers, Salahudin and Noor, and their families. Salahudin’s mother had been sick for a long time but she refused to get proper treatment for it. She thought it was too expensive and wouldn’t go to her appointments. Sadly she passed away, leaving Salahudin to deal with all their hefty debts and his alcoholic father. He used to be able to rely on his best friend Noor but after he cruelly rejected her moths ago, she no longer wants to speak to him. Noor lives with her uncle who saved her life when she was a child. Noor used to live in Pakistan but when she was sick, her home collapsed and she was the only one left. Her uncle pulled her from the rubble and she’s lived with him ever since. Noor’s uncle wants nothing to do with their Pakistani roots. He doesn’t even want Noor to go to leave their town and go to college, but that’s what she wants more than anything else. So she has to sneak around and apply without him finding anything.

Salahudin begins to struggle to make ends meet in order to keep their family motel. As he falls into even greater debt, he turns to something he swore he wouldn’t do. He finally takes his friend Art up on his offer and starts selling drugs. Soon enough, Salahudin pays off some of the family’s lesser debts. When Noor learns of what happened to Salahudin’s mother, she slowly starts to integrate her self back into his life. As Noor and Salahudin get closer, it gets harder for Salahudin to hide the drug dealing. It also becomes more and more apparent that Noor is hiding something. Can Salahudin escape the life he’s chosen and can Noor make it out of this rundown town?

I loved this story. I think that Sabaa Tahir did an amazing job capturing all of the characters’ emotions and created a heart wrenching story. Each of the characters’ had their own unique story that really felt like it added a lot to the main plot line. The pacing of the story was really smooth and it was partly what hooked me. If a story moves too fast or too slow, I will usually end up hating the book or not even finishing it. But with All My Rage, nothing felt rushed or dragging. While I may not have experienced most of what Salahudin or Noor did, I still felt like they were very relatable characters. They each had their flaws, as teenagers usually do, and it made for a story that I felt like I could understand really well.

I would recommend this for anyone who is looking for a meaningful, well written, and diverse story. All My Rage is an incredible realistic fiction that could be enjoyed by all. There are quite a few heavy topics in this story so I would advise readers to be careful. These range from drug use and over dose to death and child abuse. Because of this, I would recommend this book to a more mature audience. This book is also a good example of multiple points of view done well. It switches between Salahudin and Noor and occasionally Salahudin’s mother. The switches were not jarring at all and added hidden details to the story. Overall I thought this was an amazing book and it’s one that I recommend to all who can stomach its contents.

Realistic Fiction lovers will adore what All My Rage has to offer. For those looking for an impactful, deep story, this is the perfect book. This is such an important book for everyone to read. There’s representation for so many different kinds of people and Sabaa Tahir has managed to capture them all quite well.

“We are Okay” is an incredibly written, Printz award-winning book by Nina LaCour. After a tragic loss, Marin has not spoken to anyone from her past life and is instead living at university in New York,  many miles away from home. However, since she has no family to return to, she is forced to spend her Christmas break alone on campus, or at least mostly alone. Her best friend from home visits her for a few days, but Marin doesn’t seem particularly thrilled about it, not because she doesn’t like her friend anymore, but because she is afraid to confront her past and the shocking discoveries she made before leaving. What Marin actually planned to be a quick, three day visit, becomes a conflicted, but also emotional journey for both of the two friends.

In these three days, Marin is forced to confront her fears and open up to the people she was once so close to. “We are Okay” tells a heart-wrenching yet realistic story of grief, heartbreak, and loneliness but conveys, as the title says, hope that everything will be “okay” even in the seemingly darkest moments. It shows that grief is just a point in the story and does not have to control one’s entire life.

“We Are Okay” is a brilliantly written book that excels at describing feelings and thoughts in a particularly authentic and raw way, allowing readers to truly empathize with the main character, making the book even more compelling. The story is written in the first person’s view from the perspective of the protagonist, Marin, and is narrated in two alternating timelines – one in the present and the other in the past before Marin’s tragic loss. This allows readers to understand Marin’s internal turmoil and helps them understand her actions. The main story unfolds within the few days when Mabel visits Marin, making the book special not necessarily for its “exciting plot” but for its sensitivity and the emotional journey of the characters.

Without spoiling the story, it’s worth mentioning that the book has a beautifully rounded ending, which is often a weak point in many books, as it can feel rushed and forced. However, Nina LaCour has excellently given the story a satisfying, but at the same time logical ending, which is indeed not an easy task.

For me, the story is like a little piece of art because the author has managed to write a profound and captivating book without relying too much on the action part of the plot. I highly recommend this book to any YA fan, although I would advise having a packet of tissues nearby while reading.

It is 1944.

A teenager named Rudolph (Rudi) Vrba has made up his mind.

After barely surviving nearly two years in the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, he knows he must escape. Even if death is more likely.

Rudi has learned the terrible secret hidden behind the heavily guarded fences of concentration camps across Nazi-occupied Europe: the methodical mass killing of Jewish prisoners. As trains full of people arrive daily, Rudi knows that the murders won’t stop until he reveals the truth to the world and that each day that passes means more lives are lost.

Rudi Vrba and his friend Alfred Wetzler devised a dangerous and ingenious escape. They would bring the famous Auschwitz Protocol with them exposing the hideous crimes of the Final Solution.

Lives like Rudi’s schoolmate Gerta Sidonová. Gerta’s family fled from Slovakia to Hungary, where they live under assumed names to hide their Jewish identity. But Hungary is beginning to cave under pressure from German Nazis. Her chances of survival become slimmer by the day.

Rudi Vrba is a normal teenager in Slovakia in the late 1930s. His close friend, Gerta Sidonova, comes from a prosperous family near Rudi’s home. Both are Jewish, but neither is particularly religious. Hitler begins taking over countries bordering Germany in 1938, and this includes Slovakia. Soon Jews begin to face ostracization, the loss of civil rights, and finally, their economic status.

As the Nazi hand of death begins to fall on Jews in Slovakia, both teens try to escape to Hungary. Rudi is quickly arrested and eventually sent to Auschwitz. Gerta will be arrested by the Germans, but makes a daring escape and survives the war. Rudi has a different reality.

Surviving the initial selections, Rudi works in a number of areas in Auschwitz. He makes friends with Filip Muller, who has survived death by becoming a Sonderkommando (he takes people to the incinerators) .This group takes the corpses from the gas chambers to the incinerators. Filip tells Vrba the exact accounts of what happens to those doomed to be gassed.

Rudi adds this to his list of steps taken by the Nazis as they prepare to kill their victims.

He feels helpless in the face of this demonic evil, but is determined to tell the world about the process used at Auschwitz to murder people. But the camp is so closely guarded that escape is nearly impossible. Vrba soon meets Alfred Wexler, and together they plan a daring escape. On the night of April 7, 1944, they elude the Nazis and escape from Auschwitz.

To deceive the guards, the two hid inside the camp for three days. They knew that the fugitives were being searched outside the camp for that period of time. They hid under a pile of wood .

To deceive the dogs , they sprinkled themselves  with tobaco.

 Once the three days had expired, on the night of April 10, the escape took place. After an escape on foot lasting almost three weeks, during which they risked being captured several times, they arrived safely in their homeland.

This is the true story of one of the most famous whistleblowers in the world, and how his death-defying escape helped save over 100,000 lives.

MAIN  CHARACTER

RUDI

On 7 April 1944, Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler, both young Slovak Jews, managed to escape from Auschwitz. Walter Rosenberg, who later took the nom de guerre of Rudolf Vrba, was arrested in Budapest in 1942 and sent to Auschwitz. Who was assigned the role of collecting personal data on other prisoners.

The Vrba-Wetzler Report: While in the camp, Vrba decided to secretly write a detailed report. This document reported detailed statistics of the dead and their nationalities.

Although he escapes with his friend Fred Wetzler, the book’s focus remains on Rudi.

In just two years, RUDI is transformed from a rebellious and angsty teenager who leaves home in a rush of adrenaline with no real plan to a prison-hardened young man who has to calculate his every move to ensure he is not killed.

GERTA

Gerta Sidonová: Rudi’s schoolmate, her family took refuge in Hungary under false names to hide their Jewish identity. However, Hungary is succumbing to pressure from the Nazi Germans, and its chances of survival are slimming every day.

WRITING

 Sheinkin’s writing, while exhilarating, is also very chilling as he describes the Nazis’ final solution in depth.

The writer reminds young readers why contemplating the Holocaust is so important today.

HISTORICAL CONTEX

The Holocaust, or Shoah, was a time of unmitigated hatred and violence in the period of the Third Reich. Beginning soon after Hitler seized power in 1933, the Shoah – the catastrophic destruction of Jews – lasted until early 1945.

All Jewish people under German control were marked for annihilation. Non-Jews such as Roma (Gypsies,) Jehovah Witnesses, homosexuals, trade unionists and others were also placed on the death list. To carry out this lethal and horrifying plan, the Nazis eventually developed the “Final Solution.” This led to the building of death camps like Sobibor, Treblinka and the construction of the infamous concentration and death camp named Auschwitz.

The Holocaust, or Shoah, was a time of unmitigated hatred and violence in the period of the Third Reich. Beginning soon after Hitler seized power in 1933, the Shoah – the catastrophic destruction of Jews – lasted until early 1945.

All Jewish people under German control were marked for annihilation. Non-Jews such as Roma (Gypsies,) Jehovah Witnesses, homosexuals, trade unionists and others were also placed on the death list. To carry out this lethal and horrifying plan, the Nazis eventually developed the “Final Solution.” This led to the building of death camps like Sobibor, Treblinka and the construction of the infamous concentration and death camp named Auschwitz.

Knowing how evil their plan was, the Nazis tried to hide their monstrous crimes. Virtually no one could escape from Auschwitz because of the camp security measures.

 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Testimony to the World: Once back in Slovakia, Vrba and Wetzler illustrated the statistics collected and showed some drawings, including a detailed map of the concentration camp. The executives were shocked by their story. They asked the two young people to write down their memories. From the two relationships the Vrba-Wetzler Report . This is an account of the crimes of Auschwitz.

It is sometimes called the Auschwitz Protocol. The Protocol is very hard  but needs to be remembered in the face of Holocaust deniers and the rise of anti-Semitism.

PERSONAL COMMENT:

I really liked this book because I am a fan of the second world war.

I like the books set in a historical context.

It is a true story, a story of hope and courage.

I think about this boy Rudi who was a few years older than me  who challenged  the THIRD REICH to save himself and to testify the atrocities committed by Hitler.

I think the most important value is THE COURAGE.

The courage to not be silent.

The courage to rebel even the risk of death.

I also think it is important don’t forget this  sad chapter in our history.

We have to not forget what it was the Olocaust.

It is important to remind young people in order that these horrendous crimes are no longer repeated

The rhythm of the writing is pressing, engaging, full of adrenaline.

It is a Thriller to read avidly.

Cold by Mariko Tamaki stars a girl named Georgia and a boy named Todd. Todd was dead, and he hovers over the policemen that try to crack the mystery of his murder. He reminisces about his old life and trails back to the moment his life ended. Georgia hears the news of Todd’s dead body, and it hooks her in. She couldn’t figure out what was luring her in, but she tries to find the murderer anyway. She listens to the news, her friend, her brother and suspects the culprit was nearer than she thought. Georgia discovers secrets, lies, but also a bit of love. balancing her regular life with a murder mystery like this she never expects to know the secret that has been looming around since Todd’s death.

Cold is not much of a love story book, but has some spots where it shows that. I enjoyed reading it, especially for the plot. The mystery behind Todd’s death was quite luring, and got me wondering who the culprit was. Gathering the knowledge that Georgia and Todd had in this story. And it really does show how hard it is to be an outcast, in a school. The struggles of trying to fit in when you don’t. And maybe friendships that help you. Another thing is that Georgia was kind of helping Todd’s case. She never knew him, and yet she tries to help with his murder mystery. And that spark of kindness was heartwarming to me.

I especially like Todd’s character because he had so many struggles in school. He was an outcast, a nerd, and queer. And yet he still manages to trudge through life. And it’s the same with Georgia, she has a friend, but she still suffered. I liked how the two had so much in common, even though they really never knew each other.

One thing I might dislike about this book is probably the relationships. particularly Todd and the person he loved. I wish it went into more detail about their relationship, and maybe what that person’s feelings are for Todd are. it’s something I find interesting. A conformation of the relationship in this novel or any novel is what I’m interested to look for, or if there even is a relationship.

Cold is a marvelous book and I recommend this book for people who might enjoy a thrill of a little mystery. Especially if that person loves to read about LGBTQ+ books.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman is science fiction novel set after the second American civil war which was fought over reproductive rights. In the post war society teens who are predicted to go no where in life are unwound. Unwinding is the process of taking apart their body, organs and limbs, while keeping all of it alive, and then using the pieces to help other people who need replacements.

Unwind won many awards including the Margaret A. Edwards Award. This award is awarded to an author for a specific body of work that will have a lasting affect on the YA genre, and deals with characters becoming aware of themselves, their world, society or relationships.

Unwind fits this award quite well, a large amount of this book is about weather these kids have a place in the world, which directly relates to what the award is for. It is also a well crafted book that makes it worth selecting over other books that could have also gotten the Margaret A. Edwards Award.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who likes to be presented with difficult moral questions in a way that allows you to think about it on your own. Shusterman is very good at laying out a problem, and then not telling you what to think, but that you should think.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is a romance book with a mix of fantasy. The book follows a young girl in high school and the dangers of love. The story follows Bella Swan the main character of the book and she has just moved to Forks Washington to live with her dad while her mom traveled with her boyfriend. Bella is 17 and a junior in high school, and she hasn’t lived with her dad since she was a baby and her mom and dad divorced.Bella easily makes many friends on her first couple days of school but her main friends were Jessica, Mike, Angela, and Eric. She also became friends with one of her dads friends sons Jacob who lived on the other side of town. On the first day a boy named Edward Cullen caught Bellas eye and ignoring her new friend’s warnings she starts a complicated relationship. I really like this book and I think it’s perfect for kids around the ages of 12-15 as like an introduction to YA. This was one of my favorite and one of the first YA books that I read when I was younger. Some of my favorite things about the book are the way that Stephenie made the book have an aspect of fantasy but also somehow make it realistic. I also like how she added the details of Bellas dad trying as hard as he could to fix there relationship with little things like getting her a new comforter etc… What I didn’t like about the book is how fast paced it was. I feel like the relationship escalated a little fast when she could have added a little more in between them getting together. On the same note I think this makes it a little more realistic to a teenage relationship. I also didn’t like the ending to this book in particular, I feel like she could have done something better than the prom especially after Bella was adamant on not going.

“Gather” by Kenneth M. Cadow is a touching YA book, which was also a finalist for the Printz Award in 2023. “Gather” explores complex themes of identity, family, and loss.

Ian, actually Doria Gray, is a teenage boy who lives with his mother in Vermont. His father abandoned him and his mother a long time ago, and has already started a new family. Unfortunately, that’s not the only problem in Ian’s life. His mother is struggling with a drug addiction and is currently unemployed. Ian’s best friend Drew seems to be on a downward spiral, which is causing him to worry. To make matters worse, Ian and his mother are struggling to pay their numerous bills, which forces Ian to give up his passion for basketball to support his mother financially. One day, Ian meets a stray dog that he names Gather. He takes the dog under his wing and begins to look after him, feeding and caring for him. While taking care of Gather, Ian also meets a girl with whom he develops feelings for. The two of them soon become close and start spending more time together. However, just when Ian’s life seems to be getting better, he suffers a tragic loss that pulls the rug out from under his feet. He seems to have lost everything, but Gather becomes like an anchor for him that he doesn’t want to give up under any circumstances. 

“Gather” is beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time. Despite facing numerous challenges at such a young age, including poverty, addiction, and a dysfunctional family, Ian remains steadfast in his commitment to his mother, his home, and his dog. His unwavering sense of responsibility and dedication is truly remarkable and inspiring.

The book is a reminder of the harsh realities that many young people face every day. It highlights the struggles of those who are often overlooked and marginalized in society. The story is both touching and heartbreaking, and it should be recommended to have some tissues by your side. 

However, “Gather”  is not all sadness and despair. Amidst the struggles and hardships, there are moments of warmth and tenderness that shine through. Ian’s mother, despite her addiction, clearly loves her son deeply and will do anything to protect him. The first romances in the book are portrayed in a very beautiful way.. Ian’s story is one of resilience and perseverance, and he serves as a role model for anyone facing difficult circumstances in their life. The book takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions, with many highs and lows. It is a captivating read that will keep you hooked until the very end, and will leave a lasting impact on anyone who reads it.

I recently finished reading a book that really impressed me. The story is written  from the first-person perspective of the main character, which really helped me connect with the story on a deeper level. I was able to see the events unfold through the eyes of the character and feel their emotions as if they were my own.. The first-person perspective really added personality to the story and gave it a unique depth that I haven’t found in many other books.

 Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA and coming of age stories. While it is emotionally heavy, it is also incredibly beautiful and heartwarming. The mix of emotions is what makes the book so fascinating and I found myself thinking about it long after I finished reading it.

Lightlark is a fantasy mystery Following the young ruler Isla as she competes in the Centennial, a battle of rulers from the nations of Lightlark to save the island and break free from their curses. The rulers from each realm are all gifted with special abilities but due to their curses, they are left powerless. Isla is a ruler plagued by her own curse not from the island. Isla is powerless and must compete in the Centennial against the powerful rulers not only in an effort to save the island, and break her people free from her curse but also to break herself free of her own curse.

Lightlark is full of mystery, lost twists, betrayals, and underlying subplots, making the book very fun to read. The writing is very easy to follow which makes it quick and simple which is refreshing when you just want to curl up and read and relax. The plot is very deep and complex which is very entertaining but can sometimes be hard to follow especially toward the end of the book. The worldbuilding of this book goes into a lot of detail and in some parts makes it very easy to imagine the world exactly how Aster does.

The only problem I found with the book was that at times it was a bit too complex for the way it was written. Lightlark was Aster’s first book and I think that at points it shows. The plot had a lot of complex elements and darker topics however the writing used to portray these situations didn’t change along with the plot and it seemed more like a middle school interpretation rather than showcasing the complexity used in other ways throughout the book.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think this book is more geared towards younger YA lit readers however as an older YA reader I still found this book fun and entertaining however it lacked complexity of characters and any social commentary which is something I typically look for in my books.

Four for the Road is a book that stars a boy names Asher that lost his mother by a drunk driver. And ever Since he was never the same. He ends up going to a bereavement group, but not just one. There he met people who also suffered the way he did. Asher plans to go to Tennessee, and he did, along with 3 friends he met. a girl who lost his father, a boy who lost his brother, and an old man that lost his wife. Together they embark in a journey that was full of surprises, tears, and love. And as they got closer, they learned more and more about each other, creating a bond that Asher wasn’t expecting. His point was for revenge, sweet revenge that would satisfy him. But in the end his plans took a turn for the good. He felt relief that people actually understood his pain and suffering, And in the end he fell in love with a car full of strangers, and half of them were dead.

I’ve never read a book so sad, then this. I’ve read about betrayal, murder, plot twists, and unnatural super powers, or dystopian world. I’ve never read a book that sets in the actual world, and with a sort of a normal plot. The characters and plot almost made me cry. I enjoyed this book because it was like I was on an emotional rollercoaster, that had several turns. But it’s not only that It’s also the facts that it relates to real life deaths. It highlights how painful it can be to lose someone that you really love. That it’s not easy to let go of them.

Four on the Road touched my heart, and made me understand the feeling of loss, guilt, and friendship. That you never know where you’ll meet someone or people that makes you feel at home, and that they might be the people who’s the right fit for you.

I don’t have many complaints of this book. In fact, I have no bad comments about the book. It had everything for my taste, and made it feel like I was in the story there myself. it’s become in my top ten books I’ve read, and really is a captivating book.

It’s a match for me, and I would recommend this book to people who love books that can make you cry. I would also recommend Four for the Road to people who just lost someone dear to him. Maybe it could make them more open to others, and help them cope with their struggles, especially if that person feels guilty for the death. It gives a lesson that stays with you, and help you.

Russell Boudreaux is guy from a very small town of Lousiana, hius only goal is to establish himself in the world of football in order to get out from his situation. Football represents the only way to salvation for these guys from poor region and cities of United States. Russell’s goal is very simple: get a scholarship trhough football to continue his studies in university.

Main character and narrator Rus is impulsive, loyal, and a good son in addition to being a good football player. His parents have scrounged and saved in hopes that Rus will have better opportunities than they had.

However an event changes his life; indeed his close friend gets arrested unfairly and this puts Rus in front of a crucial choice: stay in silence and accept thre system or take some risks and fight for a right cause.

That’s why he decides to kneel during the national anthem to show his protest against a “rigged system”, however this action results him a lot of hate towards him from the local population.

But during the story he founds more and more people on his side, who ask for a better society and who don’t let him fight alone.

This book is very special because it describes really perfectly the American society and his problems tied with racism and racial injustices, it describes also the life of the young boys who come from lower class and how they try to get out of their situations. Indeed it is written by the point of view of a black teeneger boy to make the reader understand better the life of the subjects decribed in the book.

I would advice this book for everyone who would like to read an adventure book based on realistic events and to everyone who would like to understand by a better point of view some issues of American society.