The One by Kiera Cass has it all. Love, hate, drama, happy endings, tragic ends, and much more may be found in this collection. Maxon Schreave, Crown Prince of Illéa and America Singer, is a 5 from Carolina. In Illéa, the Caste system was utilised to classify people based on their wealth. Maxon Schreave, who came from the wealthiest family, belonged to Caste 1. On the other hand, America Singer from a middle-class family was classified as Caste 5, while a 6, slightly below 5, was classified as lower middle-class. America entered the Selection, in which the next crown prince chooses a wife from a selection of 35 girls from various Castes. She wasn’t even interested, but she needed to help her family with financial issues. Maxon and America first met in the palace garden; it was dark and they have been in love ever since. However, America is unsure about her love for Maxon because of her ex-partner, Aspen Leger, who comes as a Palace guard. She wasn’t over Aspen yet. This later changes, in The One, America and Maxon admit their feelings and how much they love each other. Maxon’s father, King Clarkson, despises America because she is too rebellious and fiery, much like her red hair. Tensions are developed between them both. Will they be able to overcome this challenge, or will they give up? This book is about a beautiful relationship between America Singer and Maxon Schreave, two absolutely mesmerising individuals. They have been through so much together, but they continue to stand tall and strong to protect one other. The One by Kiera Cass is an outstanding novel that has become one of my favourites. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy romance novels as well as historical fiction. Kiera Cass has created an entire series of books based on The Selection. The first book in the series to read is The Selection, followed by The Elite, and then The One. The final two books in the series are The Heir and The Crown. I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars due to the remarkable chemistry between America Singer and Maxon Schreave.
It was great to connect with you virtually for our 30th Book Club meeting on Friday, 30th July. Who would have thought that our 30th meeting would land on this particular calendar date. What a coincidence!
We had a little chat about The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Thanks to the students who ‘accelerated’ their reading to have the book read in time for this meeting (Thuy deserves special mention here) and, to those of you who have finished, thank you for your patience while the rest of us catch up.
For those of you who did share your thoughts, you did very well in not spoiling it for unfinished readers. If anything, I think that your comments have made us all the more intrigued about this book. Here’s some the of thoughts you shared about your reading experience:
Mrs Ryan:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
“Yeah, I loved it. I thought it was excellent. It’s very topical, it’s current, I really enjoyed reading it. I think you’ll connect with the character quite well. I don’t want to say too much, because I don’t want to give it away for anyone who didn’t finish it. But I’m very much into what’s going on at the moment with the Black Lives Matter movement and police brutality. I like that the character had two different environments that she lived in. So you got to see how she felt like she did or didn’t belong, let’s say in her school setting. And then what happened and how that affected her back home and how she was judged. So I liked that it had, I guess, the current issues going on through it, but you also had the thread of like, what it’s like to belong and so on. I don’t want to give too much away. There’s the personal story, but then there’s also the bigger political story going on.”
Thuy, Year 12: “I read about [The Hate U Give] being banned. And I looked at the book, and I’m like, I’ve learned so much just reading it. So I think banning it kind of hurts other people’s awareness of these topics. And I think reading it was really insightful.”
Tisa (Year 7) liked that The Hate U Give presents the reader with the ‘problem’ at the very beginning of the story.
We will continue our discussion about The Hate U Give in future book clubs this term.
You also shared some great book recommendations, including:
Heartstopper #3 by Alice Oseman “It’s something you don’t want to put down because you just want to keep reading.” (Bethany, Year 12)
We had a detailed discussion about the Heartstopper series in general. Thanks to Mrs Hanratty for sharing her knowledge about his graphic novel series and Alice Oseman’s plans for the final book (#5).
Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson Lillian (Year 10) read this series in the school holidays which is a noteworthy achievement given that the books are about seven hundred pages each!!
Sometimes it can be quite enjoyable to read books you have enjoyed in the past, especially if your favourite author is releasing a new book. Some old time favourite recommendations from Lillian:
Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan
Brother Band series by John Flanagan
John Flanagan is releasing a new book on 28th September. I am sure this is a highly anticipated date for fans of John Flanagan’s books.
The magnolia sword: a ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas (recommended by Lillian, Year 10).
The outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud “[The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne] would have been a book that I would have never picked up on my own. It was something very, very different. It really pushed me outside of my comfort zone. But it was worth every second of it, because I would definitely read it again.” (recommended by Siena Mia, Year 10; and reviewed by Siena Mia for SpineOut)
The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands “It easily sits as one of the best books I’ve ever read … I just love the code-cracking component to it, I just find that so intriguing … highly recommend it if you like murder mysteries.” (recommended by Siena Mia, Year 10)
The last paper crane by Kerry Drewery “ … what I really learned from [reading The last paper crane] was that, if you think something’s not right, you have to say something about it. No one can read minds. So if you hold onto that point, then nothing is going to be solved.” (recommended by Tisa, Year 7)
Tisa also read and recommended Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and illustrated by Emily Carroll which was discussed at a previous Book Club meeting.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Zoe (Year 10) commented that it is taking her a while to read this book. I would like to say that’s 100% okay. Some books can really challenge our reading stamina but working through that struggle with some books can be worth the commitment. I think that The Book Thief is not a book that can be rushed either. As Zoe mentioned, she sometimes needs to reread parts of a chapter to understand what is going on. This is a good strategy to use for those books that take us out of our regular reading comfort zones.
The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse “The Burning Chambers is a novel set in 1562 in France in the middle of all the religious wars. It talks about relationships and friendships between the Catholics and the Protestants and how they’re under so much tension, and how friendship and love win out in the end here.” (Recommended by Mrs Victoria)
The simple gift by Steven Herrick Read by Mrs Ryan for Book Club who says it was “ … a nice contrast to reading The Hate U Give.”
Mrs Hanratty shared an adult fiction book that she did not enjoy reading which raises the question … how long do you give a book a ‘go’ before you stop reading it?
Mrs Hanratty estimated that she reads about a third of a book before she decides to move on. How long do you read a book before you move on? What other criteria do you apply to what you choose to read? There is a certain power and freedom in being able to choose what you read. Perhaps a topic of discussion for our next meeting?
Looking forward to our next book-related conversation! Mrs Sylaprany
Scarlett McCain is a headstrong, courageous, and slightly stubborn outlaw living in the wild woods of a dystopian England. She’s constantly on the run, constantly in danger, and constantly alone. That is until she meets the survivor of a fatal bus crash, Albert Browne, a boy quite the opposite of Scarlett. Albert is weak, needy, always positive, and forever dependent on Scarlett’s strength and wit. But he is also hiding a secret; an uncontrollable power that has him, like Scarlett, running for his life. The two decide to stick together to ensure they both reach the safety of the Free Isles where no one will question who they are or their convoluted past. But no one said it would be easy. With the help of the boatman Joe, the pair sail down the River Thames to escape the clutches of the Tainted and one very lethal Dr. Calloway. With a few pillaged towns and a bank robbery or two, can the two survive their lives on the run or, worse yet, each other?
Jonathan Stroud’s “The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne” is a thrilling and compelling novel that has you hooked on every word! While the plot took a while to get used to, I found that every page I turned, something new and exciting was awaiting me. I love the contrast between the personalities of Scarlett and Albert; one fierce and one weak, but their friendship is very well thought out and they just seem to balance each other out. I also really enjoyed the setting of a lawless and free England. It had a personality of its own and just added to the adventure and excitement of the novel. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel as it took me out of my comfort zone. It was an incredible find and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves daring adventures and even some witty humour.
Rating: I rate this book 5/5 as it really challenged me to read outside my comfort zone and I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and the adventure the protagonists went through.
Age Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone aged at least 14+ as it does contain some gory scenes that younger readers may find uncomfortable to sit through.
Becoming: Adapted for Younger Readers, written by Michelle Obama, is an autobiography that truly encapsulates the life of one inspirational woman who recounts her whole life providing insight into the backstories of tales portrayed in the media. This autobiography is adapted so that younger audiences can understand Michelle’s life behind the scenes and understand her viewpoint of what life meant for her growing up as a daughter, sister, wife and mother.
I believe that being able to have the opportunity of standing in her shoes, I was able to gain from her perspectives, and I learnt about how life can throw you into challenges and force you to choose for yourself. I really enjoyed learning about politics as it is something that I get confused with, as well having the common “differentiating from the media to reality” perception. So reading this autobiography made me realise that the media sometimes has different perspectives on politics, but we all know that we should not be fooled by the media, even though the generation of today is heavily influenced and moved by it. It also helped me to understand the meaning of life; as she states “It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about where you get yourself in the end. There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, and using your authentic voice. And there’s grace and being willing to know and hear others. This for me is how we become.” This, I believe, sums up Michelle’s perspective on life, and I really value this quote because it helps me realise, as she has stated, that it really is “not about being perfect”, but about knowing yourself and the meaning of life for you.
5/5 stars – This is a good autobiography for book clubs. Coming from an all girl’s school, I feel like this is an ideal book to gain inspiration from a highly respected woman.
The Dark Lady by Akala (an American rapper and poet) is about a boy named Henry who lives in the slums of London with his adoptive family. He would be considered a normal peasant, except for the fact that he has the gift of words. Henry is able to read languages from all over the world and translate immediately. In this era, being literate is considered a sign of wealth, so it is baffling that Henry, a young boy with no money to his name, has this natural ability. This adventure follows the trouble Henry gets into because of this miraculous gift. I loved how the author used fantasy and mythological aspects in a medieval setting. Shakespeare, one of the most famous playwrights, is also weaved into a unique component of the story. I would recommend this novel for ages 14 + as there is one reference of seduction from the foreign girl to the protagonist. I believe this book would appeal to, not only lovers of fantasy and historical fiction, but to a wider reading audience, due to many elements which are weaved into the plot line.
The mysterious disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan
The novel ‘The mysterious disappearance of Aidan S (as told to his brother)’ is by New York Times bestselling author, David Levithan. It is the story of, as the title says, the six-day disappearance of 12-year-old Aidan as told by his 10-year-old brother Lucas. Aidan’s story is simply impossible and to believe in it, is to believe in the impossible. Lucas is stuck between believing Aidan’s crazy story and listening to everyone else that doesn’t believe.
This story was meant for junior high school students and as evident as it is, I think it is a good read for people of any age! This book is very well written and isn’t very long compared to other novels. I was expecting to see a flashback from Aidan’s point of view into where he went but this book mainly focused on the aftermath of the adventure which was fine as well. Aidan and Lucas’s sibling relationship was also nice to read and they were very supportive of each other and bonded as the story went on.
Overall I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars and I definitely recommend this book for junior readers and senior readers alike!
A Prison Healer by Lynette Noni is a breathtaking novel, with a strong feminine protagonist undertaking significant deadly quests. This novel is filled with beauty and wonder although set in an inescapable, ruthless prison. The characters will draw your heart in, and the story’s unexpected twists and turns, take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Kiva Meridian is a 17-year old healer, who has been trapped between the walls of a prison for over ten years of her life. Kiva longs to reunite with her family after being ripped apart from them, and left alone. She would do anything to leave the wretched prison and see them again, even willing to risk her life.
This novel left me gripping it’s edges in suspense, wondering what hints I missed. The unexpected cliffhanger left me gasping, leaving me with unanswered questions. I loved this novel, the ups and downs, and the cute little moments that bring light in such a dark setting. I enjoyed the way Lynette Noni explores the emotions of a young girl, who is forced to mature alone, to work in a job unimaginable and protect friends and patients from darkness.
I recommend this book to those in the YA community, those who love fantasy and romance set in a new dystopian world of darkness and magic. I would definitely recommend this novel for both juniors and seniors, and to be used in book clubs. I love, love, love this book and I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out, it’s enticing and enthralling, just wow.
