Egyptian Gods and Strangers
By: Afia Paracha Sadie and Carter Kane lived completly different lives. Though they are siblings, they haven't lived together since their mother's death. Sadie has been living with their grandparents in England. She grew up an English schoolgirl. Carter, on the other hand, has spent his entire life traveling. He's lived with his dad, though not in one place for very long. Their father's job as a researcher keeps him moving around, visiting museums and giving lectures all around the world. All three of them are only together twice a year. On one visit, on Christmas Eve, Carter and his father are visiting Sadie in England. When they arrive to pick Sadie up, their father meets someone who seems familiar, yet strange. Afterwards, they travel to the museum to see the Rosetta Stone. Sadie is annoyed at first, that on their one day together, their father decides to visit a museum. But little does she know that her father isn't just visiting for information. Soon, their father is missing and the police is interrogating Sadie and Carter about the destruction of the Rosetta Stone. They're both being deported to the United States, and nothing is what it seems. They're being followed by strangers, and are learning more about their father's true work by the second. Read "The Red Pyramid" by Rick Riordan to learn more. Picture Source: “‘The Red Pyramid’ by Rick Riordan.” Amazon, www.amazon.com/Red-Pyramid-Kane- Chronicles-Book/dp/1423113454.
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Dragon Eggs and Monsters By: Afia Paracha What would you do if you found a special rock? Would you keep it, or just leave it in the wild where you found it? Eragon is a boy living with his uncle in Carvahall, a small town on the continent of Algaesia. His mother passed away when he was born, and he's lived with his uncle ever since. Carvahall is bordered by the Spine, a place thought to be cursed after Galbatorix, the king, was said to have lost almost half his army there. Algaesia is a land of magic, where dwarves and elves are said to live, and dragons once roamed. But now just one dragon, and dragon rider, is left. Galbatorix is the king, and has ruled most of Algaesia with an iron fist. While hunting within the spine, Eragon finds a shining blue rock. He takes it back with him, and attempts to sell it to the butcher in exchange for meat. He refuses, claiming that the rock is cursed. Eragon decides to keep the rock until the traders arrive, planning to sell it then. But when the traders do arrive, he's told that the rock is hollow, which is uncommon. Once again, he keeps the rock, not sure what to do now. But soon, the rock begins to hatch. Not a rock, but an egg. And not just any egg, but a dragon egg. When the riders fell, few knew that there were still three eggs that hadn't hatched for anyone. The dragons withing hadn't found a proper rider, until Eragon found one. He decides to keep the dragon, naming it Saphira after a slain dragon of the past. He finds advice from the stories that Brom, the town storyteller shares with the citizens. But little does he know that he's not the only one interested in the dragon. The Razac, monster like creatures, are searching for the egg. They don't know that it's hatched, believing that someone in the town is hiding it. Eragon escapes with Saphira, fleeing with Brom the storyteller, who knows much more than he lets on. Read "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini to find out what happens next. Picture Source: “‘Eragon’ by Christopher Paolini.” Amazon UK, www.amazon.co.uk/Eragon-Book-One- Inheritance-Cycle/dp/0552552097. Murder and Magic
By: Afia Paracha Tarreton is a city run by magic. There's the common magic that the less fortunate can use, though they can't always afford it. Sagery is the magic of the wealthy, that only they can learn. Isaveth Breck lives with her father and three sisters in a poorer part of Tarreton. She has a knack for creating simple spell tablets, baked squares that can release magic, but has a hard time selling them. Things get worse when her father, Urias Breck, is accused of killing the city governor for the benefit of a political club. Since he isn't nobility, and just a stonemason, things seem pretty bleak. But while trying to sell her spell tablets, she meets Quiz. Quiz lives on the streets, and has an eyepatch. They become great friends, and he begins to help her find out who really murdered the governor. They investigate, visiting the College, where the governor's office was, and work to solve the mystery. Together, they set on the path of proving Isaveth's father innocent. To solve the mystery yourself, read "A Pocket Full of Murder" by R.J. Anderson. Picture Source: “‘A Pocket Full of Murder’ by R.J. Anderson.” Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/book/show/24885734-a-pocket-full-of-murder. Battle for Justice
By: Afia Paracha What would you do if you saw injustice? When one of your best friends is shot by a policeman, for doing absolutely nothing? Starr Carter is an African-American teen. She lives in a poor neighborhood, but goes to a very preppy school. When she's at a party one day, she runs into Khalil. He's her childhood friend, and he offers to drive her home after a disruption at the party. While driving, he gets pulled over. And just like that, the police shoots him. He says it's because he thought that Khalil was reaching for a gun. While all this happens, Starr is sitting in the passenger seat. The next thing she knows, Starr is being asked to come to court. She's being asked to talk about what happened. For awhile, she is told to stay silent. But what if she doesn't want to? Starr decides to fight back, fight for justice. Soon, her entire community is involved, either for Khalil, or against. She's trying to prove that Khalil's death was an injustice. If you want a book about current times, and inequality, then read "The Hate You Give" by Angie Thomas. Picture Source: “‘The Hate You Give’ by Angie Thomas.” Goodreads, www.amazon.com/Hate-U-Give-Angie- Thomas/dp/0062498533. Witchcraft and Wizardry
By: Afia Paracha For ten years, you've lived with your aunt, uncle, and cousin. All three are absolutely awful, and make you sleep under the stairs. But this all changes on the morning of your cousin's birthday. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, has lived a terrible life. But it all changes when he makes the glass disappear from a snake habitat at the zoo. Now, his cousin is afraid of him, his uncle shutting him in his room, his aunt hiding something from him, and to top it all, he begins to receive letters, delivered by owls. For an unknown reason, his aunt and uncle refuse to let him open any of the letters, quickly destroying them and even relocating to an island, all to keep him from receiving any more. Next, a giant appears at the door, somehow reaching the island in the middle of a storm, all to see Harry. He brings with him a letter and a cake. The cake, for his birthday, and the letter, inviting him to attend school at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Suddenly Harry is shopping in a magical alley for school supplies, learning that his parents were killed by an evil dark wizard, not a car crash, and traveling into a mysterious castle to attend school. While there, he meets Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster, and many other teachers. Some, like Professor Quirrell, a stuttering Dark Arts teacher, seem perfectly harmless. Others, like Professor Snape, a greasy-haired Potions teacher, seem to hate him. Take a trip to a magical world, full of adventure, and meet Harry Potter. A series, written by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter is made for lovers of fantasy. If you love magic, thwarting evil wizards, and much more, read "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. Picture Source: “‘Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone’ by J.K. Rowling.” Amazon, www.amazon.com/Harry- Potter-Sorcerers-Stone-Book/dp/0545582881. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Book Review By Lisa Sharp This young adult, historical fiction novel takes place during the American Revolution. Isabel, a 13 year old, orphaned, slave girl and her younger sister, Ruth, have been promised freedom by their elderly owner in Rhode Island. However, upon the owner’s death they are sold to cruel, Patriot, slave owners in New York. The reader is transported back to the British invasion of New York City. In her desperate plot to escape to freedom and return to Rhode Island, Isabel finds herself involved in a secret mission to overthrow the British. Although she is forced spy on the enemy, she realized that they may be her only hope for freedom. The plot is full of action and adventure. Laurie Halse Anderson encourages the reader to feel the weight of Isabel’s chains of slavery and the constant desire for freedom. Curzon, one of the other young slaves in the book is a loyal soldier of the Patriots and will fight to the death to defend his country. Isabel cannot understand his loyalty to those who are enslaving him. This misunderstanding leads to tension between the two main characters and thought provoking conversations about the institution of slavery. Even if the plot seems slow at the beginning, the character development and suspenseful ending are worth hanging on until the end. The author writes as the characters would audibly sound, so some of the language and vocabulary may be challenging, but it’s mostly an easy read and can be finished quickly by an average reader. Good vs. Bad
By: Afia Paracha A city ruled by the Anarchists, a group trying to make the world better for the prodigies, humans with special powers. Ace Anarchy, their leader, is a powerful prodigy with great ideas. They want to end the discrimination of prodigies, and start by removing the law enforcement and government. To some, they are good.To others, they are ruining the city. The Renegades, another group of prodigies, formed to end the rule of Ace Anarchy, dedicated to overthrowing the Anarchists. Nova, the niece of Ace Anarchy, is also a prodigy. When her uncle is overthrown by the Renegades, Nova and a few remaining Anarchists go into hiding. Almost ten years later, they attempt to assassinate one of the original Renegades, a member of the Renegade Council. During the attempt, she meets another prodigy. Adrien, the son of a founding member of the Renegades, was adopted by two others after the death of his mother. He's also a Renegade, watching the city, protecting the citizens. While his dads are in a parade, celebrating the Renegades, he meets a girl. using his power of creating objects out of drawings, he fixes her broken bracelet. Little does he know, that she's an Anarchist, Nova, also known as Nightmare. When Nova joins the Renegades, undercover, she makes new friends, and sees the other side of the story. Adrien becomes friends with Nova, the newest member of his team. Neither know that they both have secret identities. Read Renegades by Marissa Meyer to see what happens when a supervillian works with a superhero. Picture Source: “‘Renegades’ by Marissa Meyer.” Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/book/show/28421168- renegades. |
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