by ·0 Comments

The Circus

Olivia Levez

To others, it might seem like Willow has all she could ever need, from a pony to a big house and even her own maid. Although, what others don’t realize is that since she was little the only thing Willow’s ever wanted, and never had, was a loving family that she could spend time with, ask advice from, a family that genuinely cares about her. On the verge of getting married to a woman half his age, Willow’s father never spent much time with her, opting to spend his hours working and having the maid play with/occupy Willow instead. Her mother left, joining the circus when Willow was young, leaving her and her father.

In this book, Olivia Levez tells the not-so-classic story of a girl (Willow) who runs away from home to join the circus. The book is filled with twists and turns as it follows Willow as she tries to survive on her own with nothing more than a bit of money and a few of her belongings. On the streets, Willow meets people who help her stay alive and follow her dream of joining the circus and others who will try to slow her down.

From the moment I started reading this book, I didn’t want to put it down. It will bring you through a rollercoaster of emotions, and you’ll just want to keep reading to figure out if Willow makes it. “The Circus” is a realistic fiction book, but it’s filled with adventure, humour and friendship. – Yara M.

View in Library Catalogue: Print l eBook

by ·0 Comments

Dead Girls Society

Michelle Krys

‘Dead Girls Society’ is a book that will appeal to any reader at any age, due to it being a variety of genres rolled into one and its very interesting storyline. This riveting ‘Hunger Games’ meets ‘Everything, Everything’ debut novel by Michelle Krys will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Hope Callahan will do anything to be a normal teenager, but she knows very well that this cannot happen because of her cystic fibrosis. Because of her illness, she misses months of schools, and cannot always go outside and do regular things a teenager can. However, one day, she mysteriously gets sent an email invitation, inviting her to come to a sketchy, abandoned area and complete dares along with a few other girls, and the winner gets $100,000.

But, there are rules.

If you “[f]ail the dare, you will be eliminated. Tell anyone about the game, you will be punished. Cheat in the game, you will be punished” (Krys, 2016).

Hope couldn’t care less about the money – this is finally her time to be normal! When she goes to the place, she sees a few other girls from her school – all very different from each other. There is the smart one, the rich one, the sporty one, the goth one, and the sick one, Hope. As they play the game, the girls instantly realize that this is more than just a game. Some of the girls disappear, and they are all frightened, but they know too well that they cannot give up. The creator of the game knows a secret about each one of these girls that they threaten to expose. Also, as soon as Hope joined the game, the popular guy in school started hanging out with her, she starts getting packages in the mail for her, and she gets more popular in school. But, is it worth it? Who is behind the game? Who is threatening the girls? Because now this is more than just a game, and not doing well in it is the difference between life and death.

I really enjoyed this book, and I believe that others will too. The only thing I don’t like is that the adventure part of the book happens instantly, without really describing the characters and who they are. Other than that, this book is great and a must-read. -Khadeeja F.

View in Library Catalogue: Print l eBook

by ·0 Comments

Bring Me Their Hearts

Sara Wolf

Zera is a Heartless–the immortal, unaging soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum: if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy Zera’s heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him–every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him–until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally.

View in Library Catalogue: Print 

by ·0 Comments

Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)

Leigh Bardugo

“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for ‘good luck.’”

Kaz Brekker, known as “Dirtyhands” to many, is given an offer he can’t refuse. If he manages to complete the task of infiltrating the Ice Court, the most highly secured prison, he’ll be paid a large sum. Within the Ice Court, Kaz is supposed to kidnap a scientist who is being kept there. He will have to gather six of the deadliest outcasts known throughout Ketterdam if he wants to be able to pull this off. If he can get them to join him, they could manage to finish without a hitch. But they’ll have to learn to trust each other and work as a team, first.

Not only one of my favourite books, but one of my favourite series of all time. This book takes a group of characters from a number of different backgrounds, as well as the reader, on a journey of crime and desperation. Filled with magical realism as well as action and adventure, the characters we meet make us question what really is good versus bad in the world. Can something that we would normally see as a crime be justified for the right reasons?

Six of Crows is filled with so many incredible characters that are strong, intelligent and quick-witted. You’ll end up loving most, if not all of them.

This book is such a fun and enjoyable read, as well as very well written. I became a fan of Leigh Bardugo because of Six of Crows. – Stacie C.

View in Library Catalogue | Also available on Cloud Library