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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

My name is Lucy, I am in the ninth grade. I like to play hockey, ski, and rock climb.

The Kite Runner is a thrilling book about a boy named Amir who learns betrayal and loyalty while he grows up in Kabul, the heart of Afghanistan. It takes place in times when the country is going through many changes. It is very important to Amir that he proves himself to his father. Through his younger years Amir is accompanied by Hassan, his servant. He enjoys spending time with Hassan, but won’t call his friend. However, they race kites together, fend off the bully Assef and his minions, and overall enjoy childhood. As Amir grows up he does many regretful things, which leads to Amir and his father moving to America, leaving Hassan back in Afghanistan. Leaving Hassan back in Afghanistan is very hard for Amir’s father, because his relationship is very strong with Hassan. Will Amir ever go back to repair things, or will he live in guilt?
I think that this book was very well written. It is descriptive and really shows the emotion of what the characters are experiencing through figurative language. I read this book for my English class, and as someone who usually doesn’t enjoy assigned books I really liked The Kite Runner. It felt realistic and relatable to the reader. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read, that is hard to put down. It is also a good way to learn about the recent events in Afghanistan and how that feels through the eyes of children, as well as adults. It also gives insight into how different the religious and ethnic groups are in Afghanistan. Many lessons can be learned through the themes of Kite Runner, including guilt, betrayal, and loyalty.

Find it in print, CD and DVD here.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Hi! My name is Lila and I am 14 years old. I like baking, painting, and playing volleyball, but I especially love reading. I always enjoy getting good book recommendations so I thought I would write one.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower is a realistic young adult novel that starts with Charlie Kelmickis writing to an anonymous friend. Charlie is a socially awkward teen with scarce friends, but he hopes to meet some during his first year of high school. One big problem is that he’s a wallflower. He sits and observes but never takes action to strike up a conversation. This changes when he meets Sam and Patrick. They break him out of his shell and inspire him to have the confidence he has never felt before. Charlie’s new friends help him fall in love with the world, music, and being more adventurous.  

But, as Patrick and Sam (who are seniors) start preparing for college, the reality of being alone again crashes down on 9th grade Charlie. He relives past experiences with his family and new realizations come to the light that affects his mental health. He works through his trauma and forms a new kind of bond with his family. 

I enjoyed this book because of how realistic Charlie, his friends, and the school environment felt. Even if you can’t connect to what is happening to Charlie, you will still be able to grasp the plot in a touching way because Stephen Chobsky (the author) writes so descriptively that it feels like the reader is living in the book. If you end up liking the novel as much as I did, I would also recommend watching the movie. It portrays the book in an amazing way and doesn’t stray from how the story is written.

Find it here in print and DVD.

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Hello! My name is Tess and I am 12 years old. I live in Ketchum and love to ski, bike, fish, and get lost in my books.

In this amazing sequel to The War That Saved My Life Ada is finally free from clubfoot. In the War That Saved My Life, Ada’s life seemed to take a turn for the worst as her mom didn’t let her get the surgery to save her foot. In this book, I love how the author decided to start it off with Ada getting her foot fixed now that Susan was her legal guardian. Ada learns how to walk normally and nobody judges her like they used to. Ada and Jamie find their papers and finally learn their birthdays. They went to their mom’s apartment for the last time to find any information about themselves. Little did they know that they were going to find out some truths that would be a burden and a relief forever.  After some searching, Ada and Jamie found their papers, and their fake birthdays were replaced by real ones. They learn the truth about their father and his accident. The kids continue to explore the outside world and learn what is really happening at the airstrip. Jamie’s strong bonds with old friends cause sadness within the family and soon learn that they learn a big mistake of the Thorton’s that will leave them feeling empty for far too long.

Find it here in print, ebook and eaudiobook.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Hi, I am Advik. I am eleven years old and am an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Something I also love doing is playing video games, especially Minecraft. I also love to play basketball and go swimming.

“Eragon” is the first of the four books in “The Inheritance Cycle” by Christopher Paolini. The story is centered around, a farm boy, Eragon, his newly hatched dragon, Saphira, and his mentor, Brom. The story is a narrative of how Eragon’s simple life thrusts into a new world of magic, and power, which he gracefully uses to overcome challenges. The story chronicles Eragon’s quest to dethrone bloodthirsty king Galbatorix, who ruthlessly eliminates everything that stands in his way. 

In my opinion, “Eragon” is a very captivating book. The way the author makes the story flow from one part to the next, is done exceptionally well. He does this so well, I feel as if I am watching the story instead of reading.  The way Paolini incorporated the concept of dragons is admirable. Paolini meticulously creates a wonderful world and portrays unique and charismatic characters. I really enjoyed Brom’s character when he narrates the history of Alagaësia.

The only weak point I could think of was the narration of Saphira’s egg transportation to Eragon. I think it was far-too elaborative. I was also amazed by how well Eragon applied his training to put mind barriers, intelligence, reflexes and swordsmanship in conjunction to win over much more powerful Shade, Durza. Overall, this has turned out to be one of my favorite books. I encourage all the fantasy-lovers out there to read this book.

Find it in print, ebook, eaudiobook, DVD and CD here.

Ashes of Roses by MJ Auch

My name is Lucy, I am in the ninth grade. I like to play hockey, ski, and rock climb.

When Margaret Rose Nolan and her family traveled to America from Ireland their troubles started right at Ellis Island. They struggled to find places to live in the new country, as the people who they were planning on staying with weren’t as they expected.

The sisters struggled to make money and get hired for jobs. When they found a new apartment, the daughter of the owner recommended that they apply for a job at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Both of the daughters were accepted. They sewed all day in harsh conditions, but during this time they also made friends with people who came from similar backgrounds.

Soon a tragedy strikes and the girls’ entire world is turned upside down.

This book changes how you think about America, and educates you on some of the harsher realities. We can find parts of us all in Margaret Rose; She is resilient and still has fun even through tougher conditions. She is still a 16 year old girl, even though she has responsibilities of someone much older. I thought this book was shocking, and it definitely made me think about my life more. This book was written very well, especially regarding the fire. It felt like you were really there, stuck in the factory as it went down in flames. Later, I could feel the grief and apprehension as they searched for their friends. If there was any book that I would choose to read for the first time again, it would be this one.

Find it in through InterLibrary loan here.

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

Hi, I am Sarah. I am fourteen years old and an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Inspired by authors’ creations of magnificent places and surprising havens built by simple letters, I aspire to be an author and, meanwhile, nurture the love to write.

At first glance, this is a story about falling in love on winding roads. A YA, romance/road-trip novel-in-verse—but don’t be afraid to look deeper, because Me (Moth) is not your run-of-the-mill story. It is so much more. 

The story unfolds to reveal Moth, a seventeen-year-old girl who is isolated, afraid to spread her dusty wings, afraid to live too big. Moth has been severed from her roots, severed from her family in a car crash, and subsequently severed from the things that make her feel alive.

Moth crosses paths with Sani, a boy who is similarly depressed, probing for his own roots. He has left his dad behind in the Navajo nation, but he is not happy here in Virginia. So when both of their adults fail them, Sani and Moth decide to leave, hoping to heal through connection with the ghosts of their Black and Native American ancestry. 

Spun through the limited words is enough meaning to fill a thousand moonlit nights and more, moths of creative wisdom scattered through its beam. McBride has crafted a novel that is tough, thoughtful, and intricate. In it, she encompasses the whole of her characters and their journeys, sprinkled through with ancestry, prayer, pain, and hope. 

Me (Moth) ranks among my favorite books not because I tend to love every book I touch, but because, unlike every book I touch, it filled me too full, until I could barely breathe through its inexplicable appeal that you could only know if you read it too. 

Find it in print here.