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Aurora Rising

By: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

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Get ready for a spaceship ride of a lifetime! Together, in Aurora Rising, Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman set the scene for an epic space adventure.

In the year 2380, the cadets at Aurora Academy are trained, pushed hard and expected to achieve greatness. Nothing less is expected of Tyler Jones and the crew he decides to choose on draft day. However, on the day of the draft, Tyler makes a decision that will change the course of his life, and of his career. This decision: rescusing a girl named Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, and she’s hundreds of years old. Now, Tyler is stuck with the dregs of Aurora Academy, the cadets no other team wanted. Tyler’s biggest problem is wrangling his team and forcing them to get along, until they realize that something much bigger is brewing in space. There is a war approaching and the answer may lie with Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, and once she joins their crew, everything changes. Can the crew find a way to overcome their differences? Together they must discover the secrets of the universe and unearth secrets bigger than any black hole.

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by C.S Lewis

5 Stars

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During the Second World War, four children go to live with an old professor in the English countryside. They find many strange things in their new home, but the strangest of all is a wardrobe. This unsuspecting piece of furniture transports them to the land of Narnia: where talking animals roam, where mythical creatures dwell, and which suffers from a terrible curse. So begins the Pevensies’ quest to defeat the curse’s caster, the White Witch, and put an end to a never-ending winter. They might have Aslan on their side, but when one of their own betrays them, they will have to prepare for a great battle—and an even greater sacrifice.   

***  

Whether because this is a children’s book or the fact that I’ve been reading too much Shakespeare, I found C.S. Lewis’ writing very refreshing. He doesn’t try to be poetic or quote-worthy, and he doesn’t use words you have to remind yourself to look up later. He tells a story in its purest form, stripped of all unnecessary baggage.   

Of course, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is full of references to Christianity. I certainly didn’t pick up on them all, but I don’t think my reading experience was any less enjoyable. And I don’t think non-Christians should be discouraged. This book is packed with vibrant characters, humour, just the right amounts of action and drama, and some beautiful illustrations! I would definitely recommend it. 

P.S. If you decide to read the Chronicles of Narnia, read them in the order they were published. Chronological order puts The Magician’s Nephew first, but I think this one offers much better introductions to Narnia and Aslan. 

Catey F.

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The Rise of Kyoshi

By F.C Yee

Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender rejoice, a prequel is here! In this gripping story, F.C Yee takes readers on an extraordinary adventure through the Avatar universe.

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Kyoshi’s world is about to change, but is it for the better? Deserted in the Earth Kingdom by her parents at a young age, Kyoshi is taken in by a generous man and given a job at the manor of the Avatar. As Kyoshi ages and becomes close friends with the Avatar, she will learn that life is not always as it seems. Through horrible circumstances Kyoshi discovers that she is the Avatar. This discovery puts Kyoshi’s life in danger, forcing her to flee. Follow Kyoshi as she makes new friends, new enemies, and discovers what her destiny truly is.

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By Daniel Keyes

5 Stars

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Flowers for Algernon is an amazing novel written by Daniel Keyes. It’s about a man named Charlie who has been chosen by researchers to be used as a subject for an experimental surgery to increase the intelligence on a human with a lower IQ. Before researchers could do the experimental surgery on Charlie, they first had to test it on a mouse by the name of Algernon. Throughout the process, researchers had many tests done on both Charlie and Algernon to see if they would be good candidates for the surgery. Along the way, Charlie became very fond of Algernon, and they quickly became friends. Algernon had the surgery; first, it seemed to have gone very well, which gave everyone hope that Charlie’s surgery would be just as successful. After Charlie’s surgery, his intelligence and IQ increased at a large rate, so much so that Charlie’s IQ had surpassed his doctor’s IQ. With Charlie not remembering much about his family, he was overwhelmed when he started getting his memories back after the surgery and decided that he wanted to learn more about his childhood.  

Flowers for Algernon is a great novel that I believe everyone should read at least once. This novel shows you that you should never judge a book by its cover, and that anyone can surprise you. Charlie is a man that shows great interest in anything and everything. He’s very eager to learn new things and work hard to get to where he wants to be. With Algernon by Charlie’s side, he feels he can accomplish anything.   

Ashleigh O.

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Little White Lies

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

In this witty page turner, Jennifer Lynn Barnes opens up a world usually only viewed from the inside. Sawyer Taft thinks her life is the small town where she lives with her mother, but soon everything is turned upside down when her estranged, high society grandmother presents her with an offer she cannot refuse, half a million dollars. Although her main goal is to find out who her father is, Sawyer is quickly swept up in the dangerous scandals of the Debutantes. Will Sawyer successfully navigate the glittering world of the upper class, or will she get lost in the labyrinth of big dresses and even bigger secrets?

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By Yūsei Matsui

Assassination Classroom is a slice of life/action manga. The story follows the idea that on modern day earth, 70% of the moon is mysteriously blown up by an unknown force or entity. Hours later the government would come to see the arrival of a mysterious, octopus-like creature. He would tell the world government that the moon event was his doing and in exactly one year from now, the earth will suffer the same fate. However, the creature, mysteriously enough, decides to provide a compromise to the government. In exchange for getting rid of the creature, he would be allowed to become a teacher at a school. Specifically, a teacher at Class 3-E, a class comprised of supposed “failures” of Kunugigaoka Junior High School. The government complies with his request, as they see it as the only way to be rid of the creature, and the rest of the year, this strange octopus-like creature will teach a class full of “failures.” But the class is also tasked with another job, kill the creature by the end of the year and if successful they will be rewarded a sum of 100 million USD. So the race is on to kill this creature by the end of the year, while it teaches them, and before it destroys the world.  

Despite the odd and dark premise of assassination classroom, it manages to be a fun and enjoyable read with many gags added in. A lot of the characters in the manga do feel somewhat real. As well, Koro Sensei, the creature in the manga, has a great balance of mentor, antagonist, and gag character.  My one critique for this manga is that its side cast is less than developed. But considering it is only the first volume, that is forgivable.  

-Tashkin A. 

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The Vanishing Stair

Maureen Johnson

In Maureen Johnson’s second installment in her Truly Devious Series, readers delve into the present while keeping an eye on the past. Stevie Bell has solved one mystery, but the murders of the past still haunt her. However, when she is forced to leave Ellingham Academy against her will, she must try to move past her obsession with the case. Then, a deal is struck and Stevie is whisked back to Ellingham Academy where the past never leaves and the present stalks the school like a ghost. A captivating mystery with twists and turns, The Vanishing Stair will leave readers wondering and wishing for the final and third installment.

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By Kelley Armstrong

Three years after the school shooting at North Hampton High, Skye Gilchrist is moving back to Riverside to live with her aunt Mae. Though her brother Luka Gilchrist died in the shooting, he wasn’t exactly innocent. He was one of the shooters. Jesse Mandal, Skye’s best friend before she left Riverside, was also affected. His brother Jamil was one of the few who were killed in the shooting. With unresolved feelings from the shooting, Skye and Jesse’s friendship came to a halt until she returned three years later. Together, they uncover pieces of evidence that shatters everything people came to believe happened that day, including Luka Gilchrist being guilty.  

Aftermath had the perfect amount of mystery/suspense, with relatable relationships throughout every character in the book. This was a fast-paced novel and never had a dull moment. I was constantly on the edge of my seat! Aftermath has a beautifully crafted plot and a phenomenal ending that was both unexpected and yet came to a full conclusion. When reading, I felt very connected to the characters, almost like I knew every single detail about them because they were so intricately described. I wish the author made the message of the book more prevalent. I wasn’t sure what the underlying message or take away was from the novel. Other than that, I thought it was a good read and entertaining. It included many aspects of a good novel such as character development, suspense, humour and twists. I recommend this to anyone who appreciates a cleverly crafted, jaw-dropping mystery/ suspense including adorable wittiness and teen romance all in one.

-Viktoria S.  

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Truly Devious

Maureen Johnson

Stevie Bell is finally getting what she wants- a chance to attend the famous Ellingham Academy in Vermont. The school boasts a different kind of curriculum, where the greatest inventors, thinkers and creators come together to explore and learn. For Stevie however, this is chance of a lifetime. As a true crime enthusiast, Stevie has dedicated her young life to solving the murder of Albert Ellingham’s wife and daughter, the founder of the school. Maureen Johnson weaves two story lines into the book, taking readers back to the early days of the school and the murders as well as following Stevie on her hunt to find the murderer decades later. A truly captivating novel, lovers of true crime and mystery should not wait to pick up this book.

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Skyward

Brandon Sanderson

Imagine a planet where its inhabitants live in constant fear of attack. Imagine the attacks are issued by an alien race, whose motive is to destroy human kind. This is Spensa’s world, and in her people’s fight against the Krell, their only defense are fighter pilots.

All Spensa ever dreamed of was becoming a pilot, to follow in her Father’s footsteps and help defeat the Krell. Throughout the novel, Spensa must defend her Father’s legacy as a deserter from his pilot team and fight for her chance to fly. Filled with action, suspense and swift dialogue, Sanderson’s Skyward takes readers on an adventure through the skies and does not let them go until the very last page.

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