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The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede, no pamphlets distributed, no sight of a train filled with equipment. It is simply there when yesterday it was not, but instead of one tent, there are many. Black and white striped tents of all shapes and sizes create a maze of draped unknown wonders. Not far away from a very peculiar clock stand the gates with a sign on the top reading Le Cirque des Rêves. The Circus of Dreams. Gates open after sunset and close after sunrise.

However, there is more going on behind the scenes. The circus has become a venue for a bet. Two unwilling magicians have been trained their entire life for a duel in which only one magician will walk out. The circus has become an inspiration for a dreamer who lives in a too small town with his too-large imagination. The circus has become a home for fortune telling tarot reader who ran away from an arranged marriage. The circus has become a responsibility for the twins born in the circus. The circus has become a distraction for a contortionist with a mysterious past. The circus has become an obsession, a myth, a masterpiece.

The Night Circus is a very interesting and sophisticated read. The sense of mystery that comes with the writing really compliments the theme of the novel, and though sometimes the book may seem confusing because of the time jumps it is all comes together in the end. This novel will leave readers entrapped in the magical 19th century anticipating and on edge. – Janki V.

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Top Ten

Katie Cotugno

This novel was written in the form of a single top ten list, the top ten moments of high school for Ryan and Gabby. They tell their side of the story for all ten moments and slowly piece together their friendship as a whole. Gabby is a socially awkward, shy, and a slight outcast. She has anxiety and hates parties no matter how many she goes to. Ryan is a hockey player and jock who likes to party with the many friends in his popular circle. Nothing can break these two best friends apart. No matter how much they resent each other and no matter how different they are, they are friends forever.

This book was written very nicely with sweet lovable characters. However, it was hard to follow with the timelines of the chapters because one moment of the ten takes place in their senior year and the next in freshman year 3 years earlier so you have to pay attention and remember what has happened already before that year and what comes later. Also, you are only told about ten moments of their friendship, but then you don’t get a full backstory nor a full view of how their day to day friendship was. I would definitely recommend Top Ten but beware of the timeline jumping back and forth. Also, because of them only discussing ten moments of four years of friendship, it’s hard to connect Gabby and Ryan’s stories together. You don’t even hear about how they first met in detail until quite far into the book but it ends up coming out like ten short stories of these characters of these two friends that are polar-opposites. A bit different than other books I’ve read, but good for fans of cute love stories. – Zoe P.

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A Walk to Remember

A Walk to Remember is a movie adaption from the 2004 book of the same name by author Nicholas Sparks. It is a romance film consisting of two high school teenagers, Jamie and Landon, who unintentionally fall in love with each other. The two teenagers get thrown together due to a mishap that happened with Landon and his friends, as a result of having to do community service hours. The two get close by having shared interests and then begin to fall in love. The love continues to grow until it’s unconditional and forever. Though there is a truth that will need to be told from Jamie, a Christian girl who always carries a Bible, for that truth may be connected to why she has never truly loved someone yet, before Landon came into her life.

I think this movie is great and so amazing due to many reasons. First of all, it’s because of the incredible love Landon and Jamie have shown in the movie and how that kind of love is almost every girl’s fantasy, including mine. Second, the movie relates to world issues that happen in high school and the world, which was well portrayed in the movie. Also, the movie includes how people can change, be a better version of themselves, and be capable of pure love. Moreover, if you’ve read and loved the book by Nicholas Sparks, you will love this movie adaptation.

In conclusion, I believe A Walk to Remember is a great movie for romantics and people who love a great love story. You will certainly love this movie and may have tears at the end. – Ally M.

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Girl Online: On Tour

Zoe Sugg

This is the second novel in the Girl Online series about Penny, the anxious teen who loves photography, and her continued adventures with her “rock god” boyfriend. Penny continues to survive in her long distance relationship with Noah, her boyfriend from Brooklyn, New York while she lives in Brighton, England. They are meeting up for the first time in months to go on his European tour — he’s a famous musician, which she hadn’t even known when they first met. They live through the struggle of finding time for each other while on tour. Also, they have an internet stalker who has stolen private information from Penny, however they don’t have any idea who is attempting to blackmail them. In Girl Online: On Tour you go through their journey of hotel rooms, monuments, stadiums, shopping and partying. Making friends and mending relationships along the tour, Penny confronts her anxiety head-on being stuck in crowds and losing a little of herself along the way. Can she find her way back to who she really is? Is tour life where she really wants to be or is she just fooling herself?

I would definitely recommend this book, a coming of age novel written by Zoe Sugg (otherwise known as Zoella, a YouTuber). A romance novel with drama, travel, and adventure, it is even better than the first book. You won’t get enough of this love story between Penny and Noah, nor with Elliot and his awesome and unusual facts told wherever they are. This series should be read in order otherwise you may be missing some information they talk about. A well-written book beautifully told that allows the story to flow making it an enjoyable read. – Zoe P.

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Things We Know By Heart

Jessi Kirby

Quinn and Colton both have their pasts that they try to hide, but do they already know each other’s histories? Quinn lost her boyfriend in a tragic accident. She loved him dearly and won’t ever forget him, but all she wants is to know who got the most important organ, his heart.  Colton got a second chance at life outside of a hospital, but everything comes with consequences even when it seems like everything is for the better. You will cry through this whimsical and lovely story of these two unlikely companions who are brought together by an unusual, fluke meeting that never was supposed to occur. Like most romance novels, once they met for the first time they continued to see each other, leading to a stronger pull toward one another.

This book is described in detail, including all the little things that happen, which gives the book a more realistic kind of feel. Things We Know by Heart helps make you understand what happens with a heart transplant and how the systems work. They also discuss how donors can contact recipients, along with the struggle it can cause for the recipient and the survivors of the donor. A very lovely book that is a great read for those interested in romance novels. – Zoe P.

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Joyride

Anna Banks

Joyride is a great story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with a huge plot twist that you would never expect. Carly’s parents have been deported, so she and her brother are trying to bring them back home. But when she suddenly meets a boy in an unexpected and unusual situation, Carly begins to fall for him. The story is told through the alternating perspectives of Arden, Carly’s crush, and Carly who is trying to balance the responsibilities of her demanding life while dealing with her new feelings about Arden. Lies between them build and when they are revealed their relationship begins to shatter.

An action-packed book, Joyride is exactly like the title states: a joyride among the most unlikely friends, with silly pranks that will make you laugh heartily with Carly and Arden learning how to enjoy life. Carly is torn between the life she is told to live and the chance the cute boy is giving her to live and have fun. She is trying to find a balance between the two worlds but sometimes there isn’t a middle ground to be found. There is also a strange mysterious man who is helping to bring back her parents and family from Mexico. There are unexpected twists as you figure out who is really the bad guy and who Carly’s real friends are.

I would recommend this book because of the unpredictable plot twist and enjoyable pranks throughout. Joyride shows teens trying to rebel through mostly harmless crimes and gags, but is also about a harder more rugged way of life that shows some people’s reality. – Zoe P.

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Zenn Diagram

Wendy Brant

Typically, being a math genius isn’t a great way to be popular in high school. To make it worse for seventeen year old Eva Walker, her classmates think that she is a neat freak. But they could not have it more wrong. Sadly this misconception is because Eva cannot touch anything or anyone. Eva can feel other people’s emotions like no one else. If she touches someone or their belongings -from cell phones to textbooks to jackets- all the emotions of that person’s past will swirl around in her head leaving her dizzy and tired. These emotions can be fun and happy but more often are sad and scary. So, Eva has adapted to her power and tries her hardest not to touch anything that isn’t hers.

Eva believes that because of her power, she will never have a romantic relationship, until she meets Zenn. Zenn is a cliché, a tall and handsome artist with multiple jobs to keep a roof over his and his mother’s heads. As her and Zenn grow closer romantically, Eva takes her chances and touches him. Shockingly, she is not overwhelmed by his emotions but rather by nothing at all. Eva believes that this is some sort of sign that they were meant to be. Together they connect in a way like no other, by sharing nerdy jokes and puns that most people would roll their eyes at.

But as the two grow closer, they begin to unravel the truth. The truth of how Zenn is somehow related to the fact that Eva’s parents died before she could even remember. Could this horrifying secret pull the two apart?

Zenn Diagram is written in a funny yet nerdy perspective of a girl who has had some large difficulties in her life. You cannot help but laugh at Eva’s sense of humor just as you cannot help but fall for Zenn. You will find yourself instantly connecting with Eva and wishing you had the relationship that she and Zenn have. This book will have you reading for hours in suspense, wondering what will happen next. – Melanie G.

Looking for another review of this book? Check out Angie’s review!

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Zenn Diagram

Wendy Brant

Eva Walker is a math genius, who sees everyone and everything in her surroundings as explosive bombs filled with emotions. Eva possesses the ability to read all the secrets, insecurities and fears that individuals hold by simply touching someone or something that belongs to them. As this power becomes beneficial towards her math tutoring sessions with struggling students by touching their calculators, she also sees it as a curse where she learns that it is just best to keep her hands to herself to stay away from all the trouble. That is until she meets Zenn Bennett, who makes that nearly impossible. With Zenn giving Eva violent and dark visions, Eva cannot suppress her curiosity but to take risks to uncover Zenn’s past.

This book is of nothing more than forbidden love, inexplicable natural powers and dark pasts. It started off with such a casual encounter between the two main characters, but ended with a modern happy ending after facing their biggest hardships. I thought it was such a great book because the conflicts that Eva were encountering were so relatable to me and I love the connection between Eva and Zenn. The tension starts to build when the truth unfolds, as always, and it was so unexpected creating major plot twists. I definitely enjoyed reading this book and would recommend to other youth or young adults out there. However, I would like to give out a warning that there are graphic and inappropriate scenes for those of certain age (14 or under). Aside from all that, the plot is well put and it has a solid ground for the settings, characters and their backstories, and the little bits and pieces that help make the story flow. Overall, Zenn Diagram is great choice to read. – Angie C.

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Everything, Everything

Nicole Yoon

Madeline is sick, so sick she can’t leave her house. Madeline has a rare disease which makes her allergic to anything and therefore everything. Madeline is content with the life she lives and is happy with her mother and nurse, Carla. They play games together, she reads and does classes from skype and sometimes even meets her teachers in person for the special occasion. Madeline sometimes she wonders about the outside life and wishes for freedom, but she puts on a smile on her face for her mother who takes care of her. Madeline’s outlook is that she should only hope for things that she can have, until her new neighbours move in. Madeline is suddenly drawn to the new boy next door, Olly. Soon they start emailing and IMing. Finally Madeline’s nurse allows her to meet the new boy secretly without Madeline’s mother knowing and Madeline starts feeling new feelings she hasn’t before. Her heart starts beating faster, her stomach starts to flip. Her and Olly soon grow from new made friends to romantic interests, but something about Olly is different and makes Madeline realize that she isn’t living and she wants more. She realizes she wants to explore, even if it’s only for a day.

This book is one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. Even the end made me hug the book for a good five minutes. Madeline is a girl who knows what she wants but she can die trying to get to her goals. The bravery that Madeline shows is important for everyone to acknowledge. She was such a strong character and she is a very good role model for all. The author of this book crafted it amazingly and I really really enjoyed it. – Fatima S.

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Idols

Margaret Stohl

This is the sequel to Icons.

Dol, Ro, Lucas, and Tima have destroyed the first Icon base with the help of Fortis, their merk and leader of the rebellion. Destroying the first base led to their mission of taking out all other icons, the next one being in the middle of a canyon. Where one path ends, another begins as Dol has a reoccurring dream that is driving her crazy with suspicion. Dol also must choose between Ro or Lucas as confirmed from the last book that she is in love with both. The more time the Icons spent with Fortis, the more they realize how much they don’t know much about their merk friend and how many secrets that he hides. Secrets that are about them, about the Lords and how he may not be their friend after all…

I found Idols a very interesting book. It is very like the previous book, having tons of adventure and action, and the pressure we see put upon Dol as she is their leader. We also see the romance she has with Ro from the first book and how it affects her with Lucas in this book. We also see how Dol is very confused with her emotions for the two as the series is based on the emotions of these four teens. I did prefer the first book to this one just because the plot in this book floated off into a sci-fi romance theme. I also was disappointed in a way from the ending of this book was very sudden, leaving a lot of loose ends. I personally enjoyed Idols but was slightly disappointed at the ending; still is a book that I would recommend to anyone else. – Celine J.

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