Paper Towns

Summary

Quentin has lived beside the incredible Margo Roth Speigleman for almost his entire life, and he’s spent just about the same amount of time falling in love with her, while barely speaking to her at all. That all changes when Margo climbs through his bedroom window in the middle of the night to lead him on a strange and remarkably planned string of revenge plots. Quentin is on top of the world the next day, until he learns that Margo has disappeared, seemingly into thin air. But Quentin soon discovers that Margo left subtle clues where only he could find them. Quentin and his friends must now embark on an exciting journey to find Margo. But along the way elusive Margo begins to seem like a different girl than the one Quentin thought he knew.

Review

Paper Towns is a exciting mystery with interesting characters and plot lines. I really love how the mystery of Margo’s clues plays out, it kept me glued to the page, and excited for what would happen next. I also love the touch of humor in this book, which keeps the story fun to read. Paper Towns will definitely be enjoyed by fans of John Green’s other books and modern mysteries. I hope you read and enjoy Paper Towns by John Green as much as I did!

Info

• Ages 13 and up
• Author: John Green
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• 305 pages
• Buy for $14.99 at Munrobooks.com

Alex & Eliza: A Love Story Book Review

Summary

Elizabeth Schuyler is focused on aiding the American troops in the American Revolution, and finding a husband is completely exempt from her thoughts. So when a ball is held for her and her sisters, Penny and Angelica, she is not expecting to be swept off her feet by anyone, or even take interest in any of her suitors.

If You Could Be Mine

Summary

Seventeen year old girls are supposed to be in love. In Iran, they are supposed to love a man who will make a suitable husband. Except Sahar isn’t in love with a man. She’s in love with her best friend Nasrin. This is exceptionally dangerous in a country where Sahar and Nasrin could face terrible consequences if anyone ever found out about their relationship. While Sahar carries hopes and dreams of moving away and living with Nasrin, Nasrin’s parents are arranging an engagement for their precious daughter. There seems to be no way to avoid the marriage, until Sahar discovers possibly the only way for her and Nasrin to legally be together. A gender reassignment. The government of Iran will pay for gender change surgeries to fix what is viewed as nature’s mistake. If she were a man, Sahar would be able to marry Nasrin. But is love really worth Sahar’s true self?

Review

If You Could Be Mine is an emotional love story that is both inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. This book offers an important message about the challenges people in other countries face. If you enjoy books about other countries or LGBTQ stories, then you will probably enjoy this book. I hope you enjoy If You Could Be Mine as much as I did!

Info

• Ages 14 and up
• Author: Sara Farizan
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• 247 pages
• Buy for $11.99 at Munrobooks.com

Everything, Everything

Summary

Maddy hasn’t been outside for seventeen years. She has a rare disease that causes her to be allergic to almost everything in the world. Maddy really only ever sees two people, her mother and her nurse Carla. No friends, no siblings, and definitely no boys. Then, a moving truck pulls up to the house next door. That’s when she sees him. Olly. ImmediatelyMaddy knows that she is going to fall in love with him. And that given her situation, it’s going to be a complete and utter catastrophe that will turn her life upside down.

Review

Everything, Everythingis a lovely teen romance novel with strong characters and an interesting premise. Everything, Everything has a thoughtful message about living and taking risks for love. Fans of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green will love this wonderful novel with similar themes. I hope you enjoy Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon as much as Idid!

Info

• Ages 13/14 and up
• Author: Nicola Yoon
• 305 pages
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Buy for $13.99 at Munrobooks.com

The Selection Book Review

Summary

It is time for Prince Maxon’s Selection. All of Illéa holds it’s breath as thirty-five girls are selected to be swept in to the palace, and become part of a competition for the prince’s hand in marriage. And America Singer has just been selected, soon to be carried off to the palace, a world of wonder and luxury.

Optimists Die First Book Review

Summary

Petula is a pessimist. A family tragedy has taught her that even the most benign objects pose a threat, and she will take every precaution to keep herself safe from the dangerous world around her. Then, in her horrible art therapy support group, she meets a boy with a bionic hand named Jacob.

Every Hidden Thing

Summary

Seventeen-year-old Samuel Bolt desperately wants to find the legendary Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil hidden somewhere in the badlands. But when him and his palaeontologist father start a small expedition, they discover that Rachel Cartland and her father are in search of the same thing. The only difference between them is that unlike Sam and his father, Rachel and her father have enough money to hire many workers to quarry out specimens, when the Bolts barely have enough to rent a wagon. As the two competitors fight bitterly, Rachel and Sam begin to fall in love. When tension rises between the two families and they start blaming each other for everything, Rachel and Sam are sure their romance will never be allowed. And with digging season waning away, the rush for discovery becomes more urgent. Will Sam and Rachel unearth the beast themselves? Will they find a way to be with each other despite disagreements? 

Review

Every Hidden Thing is a wonderful novel with adventure, excitement and romance. I liked it because of the vivid characters and the exciting late 1800’s badlands setting. I also really enjoyed how in Every Hidden Thing many of the events are based on things that actually happened, like the bone wars, a competition between two palaeontologists who both wanted to discover more new species of dinosaurs than the other. All in all, Every Hidden Thing is a great book filled with lots of romance, excitement and interesting historical references. 

Info

• Ages 13/14 and up
• Author: Kenneth Oppel
• 358 pages
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Buy for $24.29 at Russellbooks.com

Written in the Stars

Summary

17 year-old Naila is forbidden to date or even be friends with any boys her age. Her parents have always told her that she can choose how she wears her hair and what job she has, but they will choose her husband. They will plan a traditional arranged marriage for her when they think the time is right. So, naturally when Naila falls in love with Saif her parents are infuriated. To help Naila “remember her culture and who she truly is” her parents hastily plan a trip to Pakistan to meet her relatives and explore her family’s home. But not all is as it seems in Pakistan, and Naila’s parents have decided on a suitable husband, who they want Naila to marry right away. As Naila is forced into a life she doesn’t want, she begins to wonder if her old life is even possible anymore. Will Saif figure out what has happened and find Naila in time?

Review

Written in the Stars is an intense, suspenseful, yet beautiful novel about culture, love and family. A couple of reasons why I enjoyed Written in the Stars so much were the inspiring characters and the cultural references that made up most of the plot. I hope you love Written in the Stars as much as I did!

Info

• Ages 14 and up
• Author: Aisha Saeed
• 277 pages
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Buy for $14.99 here

Newt’s Emerald

Summary

On Lady Truthful’s eighteenth birthday, the day where she inherits her family’s treasure: the Newington Emerald. Aside from being a exquisite pendant, the Emerald also enhances the wearers magical powers. On the stormy night of Truthful’s birthday, the Emerald seemingly vanishes. Truthful travels to London in hopes of finding the Emerald. Her plan includes her masquerading as a man, because no young lady should be seen alone on the streets. In London, Truthful discovers that keeping her secret is very hard, especially when she meets handsome Major Harnett. Soon Truthful is thrown into a adventure that includes an evil sorceress, a thieving maid and magic. 

Review

Newt’s Emerald is a wonderful book with plenty of adventure and magic. I liked it because it was exciting and because it was set in the early 1800’s, a different time period than most of the books that I’ve read, which made the story very interesting. I would recommend Newt’s Emerald to readers who enjoy a little bit of romance and mystery. I hope you enjoy Newt’s Emerald as much as I did!

Info

• Ages 12 and up
• Author: Garth Nix
• 284 pages
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Buy for $23.99 at Munrobooks.com

  

Seraphina Book Review

Summary

Seraphina Dombegh, the court music mistress, is a gifted musician with a terrible secret. The kingdom of Goredd is at peace with dragons, and dragons and humans live and work together.