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Tag: book review

Book Review: Underworld

Posted on by Maya Escobar

Underworld by Catherine MacPhail

When I was younger, I loved reading mystery and horror books, and Underworld by Cathy MacPhail is an example of one of them. I decided to revisit this book since it was a childhood favorite to see if my opinion on it might change.

The story revolves around a group of five teenagers – Fiona, Angie, Axel, Liam, and Zesh – who are each randomly picked for a two week school trip to visit ancient caves in Scotland. Though they are going on an exciting trip, none of the characters are happy with the other students they have to go with. Angie is a new girl at school and befriends Fiona, despite Fiona being a troublemaker and not wanting anything to do with her. Axel is a self-centered bully and is best friends with Liam, who is reserved and often doesn’t agree with Axel’s actions. Zesh is a school prefect which naturally causes him to take on the role of group leader, something that Axel deeply resents him for.

Their trip goes disastrously wrong when they enter the caves as part of a school activity – a sudden rockfall blocks the entrance and knocks their teacher unconscious. They find themselves trapped and must work together to find a way out. Not only do they face physical dangers such as flooding and cave-ins, but also psychological challenges caused by a legend about the caves: something or someone evil may be lurking there with them. Their hopes of getting out alive start to diminish when Angie suddenly plummets down a chasm. Tensions rise between the remaining four due to their conflicting personalities, and they are each forced to confront their deepest fears.

As they struggle to escape, the group learns valuable lessons about trust, courage, and teamwork when they realize that friction between them could be fatal. They eventually gain a newfound appreciation of each other as their situation forces each of them to reveal their true nature. The story builds to a suspenseful climax as they finally find their way out, but not without emotional scars.

Overall, Underworld is a combination of adventure and suspense, which keeps readers engaged until the very end. The story intertwines themes of survival and friendship, highlighting how people learn to build trust in the face of extreme circumstances. However, now that I’m older, I don’t really like the style of the novel as much as I used to. I think the messages in this book are important, but the way it is conveyed is a little childish; the characters are very stereotypical and each have one set role throughout the story. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read and enjoys action and horror. If you want to read something more realistic and fleshed out, this may not be for you.

Review by Teen Volunteer, 8/28/24.

 

Book Review: In the Time of the Butterflies

Posted on by Maya Escobar

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

 
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a historical fictional novel based in the Dominican Republic during the 1950s. Primarily following the lives of the Mirabal sisters, also known as “Las Mariposas”: Patria, Dedé, Minerva, and María Teresa. These girls were active opponents of Trujillo, a man who had seized dictatorship of the Dominican Republic during that time. Each chapter walks the reader through the perspective of each sister, all of which offer a different look at self growth and experiences. The book takes historical facts and blends them with fiction, which also explore different themes of resistance, courage, and the impact of political oppression. 
 
The first themes, resistance and courage, are seen heavily throughout the entire novel. The Mirabal sisters show courage in the face of severe repression in the novel. Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa all risk their lives in an effort to take down the dictatorship in their country and help their families and friends finally be free after years under an oppressive regime. Patria Mirabal, the eldest sister in the group, transforms from a devoutly religious woman into a fierce activist after witnessing the brutality of Trujillo’s regime, especially as it has taken a toll on her own family and children. She gives up her freedom, hoping to live to see a future where her children will live free and proud in their country. Minerva Mirabal, the most politically active of the sisters, constantly expresses a strong sense of justice and a desire to challenge the dictatorship throughout the novel. Her involvement with the underground resistance leads the rest of the sisters to join the revolution, thus showing courage. María Teresa Mirabal, the youngest sister of the group, soon changes from a naive and sheltered girl into a committed revolutionary, this in part due to her sisters’ influence. 
 
Another theme that occurs in the novel is the impact of political oppressions. The author constantly shows the harsh realities of living under a brutal dictatorship and toll it can have on you and your family. Although the rest of her sisters took part in the revolution, Dedé Mirabal, the second oldest of the Mirabal sisters, refused to get involved. Not wanting to endanger her family or her children, she stays back, while also dealing with the emotional pain and trauma of seeing her sisters putting themselves at risk and dangers. Eventually, Dedé becomes the only sister to survive the terrors of the regime, after the rest of her sisters are brutally murdered during their efforts to participate in the revolution. This leaves Dedé to grapple with the aftermath of trauma while finally being able to live in a world without a dictatorship, largely due to her sisters’ sacrifice. 
 
In conclusion, the historical fictional novel, In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a compelling story about the courage of others and how its impact can last generations and affect a lifetime. This novel goes deeper into each character’s story, while also paying homage to the original sisters whose sacrifices affected the Dominican Republic’s political history. I truly enjoyed this novel a lot, and I think the author did a great job with blending the historical facts and fictional stories of the characters. 
 
–Reviewed by Teen Volunteer, 8/21/24
 

Book Review: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

Posted on by Maya Escobar

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez

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In the novel, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, by Julia Alvarez, the author walks readers through the identities and experiences of the four young women in the Garcia family: Carla, Sandra, Yolanda, and Sofía. The book follows the lives of the women as they emigrate from the Dominican Republic to the United States at a young age. The readers see a bit of each of the girls’ story, as the novel includes various vignettes, each from the girls’ perspective. Providing a glimpse of the struggles they each faced, such as adjusting to American culture while also reconciling with their Dominican roots after leaving them behind at a young age. Throughout the novel, readers see themes of cultural identity, family and tradition, and immigrant experience. 

The theme of cultural identity is painted deeply in each aspect of this novel. This also coincides with the idea of family tradition. This novel offers a glimpse into what it feels like to connect to a culture you grew up with while also trying to connect with a new culture. This is seen primarily through each other girls’ experiences.

Carla, Sandra, Yolanda, and Sofía all grew up in the Dominican Republic as young children, enjoying high political status of their family and parents. This lifestyle however, comes crashing down when a political upheaval occurs and the family is forced to flee to the United States. Although each of the girls’ experience with this change is different, it is clearly evident that all of them face struggles with still connecting to their Dominican roots, adjusting to American cultures, and keeping up with family traditions.

Most of the girls’ family was in the Dominican Republic, and when they moved to the US for the first time, they didn’t have a lot of family ties to help them maintain traditional family customs from their old home. Thus, this change creating a significant impact on the family bonds in the Garcia girls’ life. Their father still misses the Dominican Republic and struggles with fitting into their new American life, whereas their mother is determined to have the girls embrace American life and fit in while remembering their roots. This shift changes the girls, each in a different and unique way.

Another theme evident in the novel is the immigrant experience each of the characters face throughout the novel. Carla, Sandra, Yolanda, and Sofía move to a Catholic school when the arrive in the US and all of them are faced with bullying and the lack of acceptance from their fellow peers. Their Dominican roots and background set them apart from most people and although they embrace their culture, many of their classmates have little to no remorse when teasing them and purposely making them feel different. Each of them quickly learn that they must be resilient in order to survive in their new country.

Fitting in and adjusting to their new lives remains a challenge, even as they grow older and become a bit more accustomed to American life. Each of the girls feels a responsibility to be successful in the US, especially since they have to be able to take care of the rest of their family, along with their parents as they grow older.

In conclusion, the novel How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents offers a brilliant perspective on the identity, family, and the experience of immigrating to the US at a young age. Told in a way like no other, Alvarez encourages readers to explore the different stories of each character, hear their struggles, and overall, leave with a lasting impression on their unique and powerful writing. I personally enjoyed this book a lot because I loved how the author delved into the identities of each character and it was cool to see each character’s story be displayed as a vignette. I would highly recommend this book to others looking to read something unique and moving!

–Review by Teen Volunteer, 8/13/2024.

Book Review: Little Fires Everywhere

Posted on by Maya Escobar

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

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In the novel Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, the story circles around the lives of the Richardsons, a rich family living in the peaceful and orderly town of Shaker Heights. The family has 4 children, Lexie, the oldest, Trip, Moody, and Izzy, the youngest. Their lives drastically change when Mia Warren and her daughter, Pearl, move in the rental house near the Richardsons residence. Everyone is captivated by the abnormal lives of Mia and Pearl, as Mia is a freelance photographer, and they have been known to move around from place to place, never setting roots in one particular area for too long. When a custody battle emerges between a Chinese women, Bebe Chow, who left her young infant daughter, May Ling, whilst struggling through difficult times, and Linda and Mark McCullough, May Ling’s adoptive parents, who want to keep her and claim they can give her a better life. When Mrs. Richardson finds out that it was Mia who encouraged Bebe to pursue this lawsuit in order to get May Ling back, Mrs. Richardson begins to obsess over Mia’s past life, desperate to find anything that could be used against Mia and eager to help her childhood friend, Linda. This decision eventually leads to a more complicated relationship between Mrs. Richardson and Mia, and inevitably leads the two family’s relationship into a fire of chaos. This breathtaking novel makes readers wonder about friendship, motherhood, and human nature, all while coming together to create a compelling story. I really loved reading this book! The writing and plot was amazing and I could not put it down! I think anyone reading this book will enjoy it very much!

–Review by Teen Volunteer, 8/8/24.

 

Book Review: The Kite Runner

Posted on by Maya Escobar

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

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The novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, follows the life of Amir, a young boy from Kabul, Afghanistan. The novel goes through Amir’s childhood in the 1970’s, to his move to the US, and his return to Afghanistan again as a young man. As a child, Amir struggled with fulfilling the expectations of his father, Baba. Amir’s relationship with his childhood best friend, Hassan, led them to share a close bond, almost like brothers. Despite this, Amir’s jealousy drove him to betray Hassan, breaking their bond, and eventually driving Hassan away. These actions began to haunt Amir well into his adulthood. Almost a decade later, Amir finds out that Hassan is now dead and his only son, Sohrab, has been left alone in a now Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Eager to make amends to his past actions, Amir returns for Afghanistan in hopes of finding Sohrab and confronting the past that he left behind. This breathtaking novel takes the reader on a journey of full of redemption, brotherhood, and making peace with the past. Reading this book was truly amazing. I loved how the author described the story with such detail and the writing, setting, and plot was very enjoyable. I would recommend this book to other people my age as well. 

–Review by Teen Volunteer, 8/8/24

Book Review: Age Matters

Posted on by Maya Escobar

Age Matters by Enjelicious

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This webtoon follows the life of 29-year-old Rose Choi, as she struggles to get her life back together again. After her ex-boyfriend cheated and dumped her, Rose is in need of a job. She eventually takes over her best friend’s odd job, which includes cooking and delivering meals to an unknown boss. This boss, however, turns out to be 23-year-old Daniel Yoon, the CEO of a successful business, Lime. Though their relationship starts off a little rocky, with Daniel’s secretive and cold demeanor contradicting Rose’s upfront, honest personality, the two eventually fall in love with each other. This light-hearted, humor-filled romance story was a fun summer read and I would definitely read it again!

–Review by Teen Volunteer, 8/8/24.

Book Review: I Think Our Son Is Gay

Posted on by Maya Escobar

I Think Our Son Is Gay by Okura

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This manga follows the lives of mother Tomoko Aoyama and her eldest son, Hiroki. Hiroki is gay, but is too afraid to tell the rest of his family, including his mother, father, and younger brother, Yuri. Despite this, Tomoko knows her son is gay, but wants him to come out on his own. Yuri is also aware of Hikoki’s sexuality. Tomoko’s husband, constantly travels for work, but unintentionally hurts Hiroki’s feelings because of his outdated views on gay people and homosexuality. This slice-of-life manga makes the perfect read for anyone, as it covers the challenges of growing up, as well as relationships with family and friends. I love reading the manga series and I enjoyed the light-hearted story and humor throughout all of the books!

–Review by Teen Volunteer, 8/8/24.

Book Review: Chain of Thorns

Posted on by Maya Escobar

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

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As a huge fan of Cassandra Clare’s work and the Shadowhunter Chronicles, I’ve been eagerly waiting for the third book of the trilogy The Last Hours for many years. You can only imagine my excitement when I finally got my hands on Chain of Thorns.

For some context, the book is based in the Shadowhunter universe in the early 1900s. Shadowhunters are a race of human-angel hybrids, and were created centuries ago by the Angel Raziel to protect the world from demons. Their angel blood gives them enhanced strength and agility to aid them in their fight against evil.

The story starts from where the second book left off: following the main character, Cordelia Carstairs, as she attempts to escape the danger and heartbreak of Edwardian London. But while she tries to forget her sorrows, Cordelia is forced to return to the city after receiving shocking news that threatens the wellbeing of her and her loved ones. She finds herself unable to confide in her closest friends who are each dealing with their own internal struggles.

All of the Shadowhunters – except Cordelia and her friends – decide to abandon London to seek safety in Idris, the Shadowhunter homeland. Left alone in a city void of its usual liveliness and facing imminent death, the small group must face a deadly army with nothing but courage and trust on their side.

The writing of this was amazing, with unexpected twists to gut punching scenes to witty lines that make you laugh. One thing I love about Clare’s books is that no named character can be labeled as ‘unimportant’, and this book is no different. Cordelia may be the star, but one could easily resonate with one of her friends, or even one of the ‘villains’. There are some segments where it is clear that she wants to wrap it up quickly to keep the plot going, but at least that means a reader hardly has time to be bored!

The main characters have a bittersweet full-circle moment in the epilogue, with a scene where the characters reflect on how far they’ve come since the beginning of the series, setting the stage for future possibilities. I do have to say that some of the characters sadly didn’t have a very satisfying ending compared to the others, or a part of them was mentioned previously in the story but not expanded upon. I think it would have made it even better if everyone had their fair share of justice.

Despite those flaws, Chain of Thorns is a compelling finale to The Last Hours series overall. It seamlessly weaves together intricate character development, intense battles, and heartfelt moments. I would recommend this to fans of romance, fantasy, and action, though it is important to note that the story contains sexual content, as well as violence and substance use. If you’re someone who loves some thrilling fantasy and you haven’t tried the series yet, this is definitely for you.

-Review by Teen Volunteer, 7/18/24.

Book Review: Supernova

Posted on by Maya Escobar

Supernova by Marissa Meyer

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Supernova is the last book of the Renegades trilogy. The Renegades are a faction created to restore order to Gatlon city by capturing villain anarchists whose goal is to wreak havoc. It is good to note that most Renegades and Anarchists hold different superpowers. The story revolves around Nova Artino who holds two identities. She is a member of the Renegades but secretly works undercover for the Anarchists in spite of revenge for killing her family (well, according to her perspective). 

Although Nova clearly seems to side with the Anarchists at this point, her feelings about the situation get even more complicated when she develops an affection for Adrian Everhart, a dedicated Renegade, who also happens to be a sentinel, or one that operates outside of the Renegade’s jurisdiction. 

As the story progresses, the Renegades and Anarchists begin fighting over the Ace helmet, a super helmet that amplifies superpowers. It becomes the main point of the story as Nova is tasked to retrieve it for the Anarchists. She does so, but not easily. In the end she successfully returns the helmet to the Anarchists.

These events push the Anarchists and Renegades into a massive battle in which just as the Anarchist leader is about to be executed, the Anarchists come in clutch and pull off a convincing victory against the Renegade forces. Many Renegades also end up losing their powers and dying. Surely a massive blow. How can they get back up?

Adrian is also taken captive in the aftermath of this battle. In order to retrieve him, the Renegades march to the Anarchist base. The anarchists demand that the Renegade captain drink a potion (that ends up not harming him) in exchange for Adrian. The Renegade captain accepts but the Anarchists still don’t return Adrian. Nova, who was working along with the Anarchists at this time, is tasked with killing Adrian. This is also where her double identity is revealed to the Renegades. The Renegades explain to Nova that the Anarchists killed her family and not the Renegades. Learning this truth, Nova sides with the Renegades in a final battle that permanently defeats the Anarchist forces.

This book was entertaining to read due to the sheer amount of action and battle scenes. However, some sections of the book dragged too much on trivial details that did not contribute much to the plot. While the superhero genre is quite typical, the book approaches it in a unique way to create a different experience. It is also nice that the main character holds a double identity since it contributes so much to the complexity and messages of this book. The themes of betrayal and loyalty are presented very nicely at the resolution and the book ends convincingly.

However, this book did have several downsides to it. Superpowers were obtained through traumatic experiences and lost in dumb ways. While the story is not supposed to be realistic, I think this is taking things too far out of the realm of sensible things. My biggest concern reading this book was that Nova could never figure out who truly killed her family and then just believed the Renegades at the end. That was the one big unconvincing scene in the story.

I would recommend this book to young readers who enjoy action-packed stories with intricate character dynamics. While not the pinnacle of the genre, it offers a fun and engaging experience that many will find enjoyable. 

-Review by Teen Volunteer, 7/15/24.

Book Review: Out of Darkness

Posted on by Maya Escobar

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez

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Historical fiction books to me are considered to be one of the best genres out there. It allows authors to take pieces of history and turn them into personal stories that tell the story of those who came before. Out of the Darkness is a novel by Ashley Hope Pérez that beautifully lives up to what a historical fiction book should be.

This story is based around the historical event of the 1937 New London School explosion. The story begins with a young Mexican-American teenager, Naomi Vargas, and her two younger twin siblings, Carrie and Beto. In September of 1937, they are forced to move from their loving but poor home with their grandparents in San Antonio to New London, Texas to live with the twins’ father and Naomi’s stepfather, Henry Smith.

Henry had previously been with Naomi and the twins’s mother, Estella, but then left her while she was dying due to false pregnancies, a side effect from Henry’s abuse towards Estella. Naomi was also abused by Henry and is uncertain about living with him. The twins go to school at the New London School while Naomi stays at home doing household chores and longing to leave Texas and Henry.

However, this sadness takes a turn when Naomi and the twins meet Wash Fuller, an African-American teen around Naomi’s age living in the segregated area in New London, Egypt town. The four bond over feelings of being an outsider in a primarily white town. Soon enough, Wash and Naomi also fall in love, and enjoy their time together with the twins.

While life is getting better for the Vargas, the universe seems to have other plans. Henry slowly becomes more abusive and controlling towards Naomi and the twins. He desperately wants all of them to feel like a family so in order to do this, he proposes that him and Naomi get married. Naomi is shocked by Henry’s proposition and is also scared that once they get married, she could never see Wash again and never leave Texas.

To prevent this from happening, she makes a plan with Wash to leave for Mexico with the twins, and hide away from Henry. In an unfortunate turn of events, Carrie killed during the New London School explosion, creating a non-sealable hole in the Vargas family, and prompting Henry to push even more for the marriage. Just as Wash, Naomi, and Beto prepare to finally leave for Mexico along with Wash’s family, Henry finds out their plan.

Angered by the betrayal from his own family, Henry kills Wash and forces Beto to kill Naomi. After being forced to kill his own sister, Beto then shoots Henry, ending the source of pain and suffering and destroying the only connection to his broken family. At the end of the book, Beto leaves for Mexico with Wash’s family and lives out the rest of his childhood with his grandparents.

I am and will forever be awed by this book. It is truly remarkable, and the author did an amazing job crafting such a beautiful, meaningful story that teaches a lot about family and gives us an insight into what segregation was like in the late 1930s in Texas. I especially like how the author went deep into each and every one of the characters and gave them special story of their own that makes the readers feel even more connected to them.

Although this story included a lot of difficult topics, like sexual abuse and segregation in the south during that time, the author wrote this book in a way that kind of showed the reader how important it was to talk about these topics because it made the story what it is and provided a deep depth into the book overall. Out of scale of 10, this book deserves a 100 because it is truly amazing and it is a true work of art. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and I would definitely read another book by this author.

-Review by Teen Volunteer, 2/23/24
To submit a review of your own, email the YA Services Librarian at askbelmont[email protected].

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