I'm not sure how I decided to read this book as a kid. I don't think anyone suggested it to me, so it was probably one of those books sitting in my room that I just picked up out of curiosity. Either way, it's a super amazing novel about survival and culture and the relationship between humanity and nature. In Island of the Blue Dolphins, a girl named Karana lives with her people on a secluded island, but is left behind when her tribe departs for the mainland without her. Karana has to learn how to survive on her own while protecting her younger brother Ramo from the dangers of the island. As she waits for her people to return for her, she grows older and more resourceful, and deepens her bond with the world around her. I'm not sure what I like so much about this book, but I read it many times when I was younger (although I don't think that it's strictly a children's book). Perhaps it's the presence of nature, or Karana's courage, or the age-old struggle for survival, but something draws me back to Island of the Blue Dolphins time and time again.
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I started reading the Warriors series back in elementary school, and many years later it's still growing. The premise may seem weird at first glance; four clans of wild cats live in the forest, trying to survive despite the dangers posed by humans, nature, and each other. However, it's really an enthralling tale about courage, loyalty, morality, faith, friendship, forbidden love, and leadership. It's powerful, intriguing, and packed with adventure, humor, and mystery. With elements of just about every genre of literature, the Warriors series is brilliantly put together. As a child, Warriors broadened my reading horizons while fueling my love of all things feline. I couldn't get enough of this series, and could easily list all of the 50+ books. With lovable characters, an entertaining plot, and a surprisingly deep message, the Warriors series will always hold a special place in my heart and on my bookshelves. At the age of 16, rising track star Jessica Carlisle is in a terrible car accident. Along with part of her right leg, she loses her promising future as an athlete and every hope of ever being able to run again. Without an outlet for her passion for running, Jessica feels as if her life has lost its meaning. However, with the help of her friends, family, teammates, and maybe even the cute boy who goes to her school, Jessica finds hope and the belief that maybe, just maybe, her dream of running again can become a reality. With every step to achieving this dream, even the initially shaky ones, Jessica strives to help others as well, especially those whose pain she may never have noticed before her accident. This book is moving, powerful, and inspiring. It tells a remarkable story of friendship and hope and will have every reader, runner or not, itching to go outside and sprint as fast as they can. Stargirl and its sequel Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli are some of the most incredible and inspiring books I have ever read. Leo is the shy, quiet, ordinary protagonist in Stargirl. His world is flipped upside down when his school gets a new student, who is anything but ordinary. Stargirl is by far the weirdest person that Leo or any of his classmates have met before. She has a pet rat who rides around on her shoulder. She wears crazy costumes to school. She sings people Happy Birthday and plays the ukulele. She goes into the middle of the desert to meditate. And yes, her name really is Stargirl. Stargirl is a story about individuality, creativity, friendship, and love that shows the importance of being unique in a restrictive and conforming society. The characters are unforgettable ones that will stick with readers forever. The sequel, Love, Stargirl, is written as a series of letters from Stargirl's point of view. It has an entirely new and lovable cast of characters that come to life, and tells a story that is just as good as (if not even better than) the original book. I would recommend Stargirl and Love, Stargirl to readers of any age because the messages in these works of art are universal and applicable to all. Psychological thrillers are not usually my preferred genre of books, but I can't say enough about Elizabeth Woods' Choker. And I won't, because it's full of spoilers. Without giving anything away, Choker is about a shy, awkward teenage girl named Cara who has to help her childhood best friend Zoe when she suddenly shows up at Cara's house. Don't be fooled by the roses on the peach pink cover, this book left me unable to be alone in the dark for a week. Choker had me spellbound from cover to cover and had several moments that made me drop the book to the floor as my mouth fell open in shock. Someone familiar with this genre may find Choker a bit cliché and unrealistic (which, to an extent, it is), but it blew me away and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a book to read. However, it has very dark scenes and an overwhelming aura of suspense in the final chapters that make it suitable for more mature readers. If you want an engaging book that's outside of your typical literary sphere, give Choker a shot! See You at Harry's is a wildly underrated book. The events of the novel are seen from the point of view of Fern, a 12-year-old girl trying to deal with the heart-wrenching tragedy that befalls her family. Her journey takes her through darkness and grief and into the hope that follows. The characters of this book are so realistic, and each of them deal with their own personal crisis within the grander scope of the novel's main conflict. See You at Harry's is a heartbreaking, beautiful, and uplifting slice of life that seems to float off the page. The novel is fairly sparse with details regarding the setting, making the story timeless and relatable for all readers. Despite the book's young target audience, See You at Harry's is an incredibly powerful novel that is sure to stick with readers for years after. When people ask what my favorite book is, I hesitate between Harry Potter and Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting before finally settling on The Mysterious Benedict Society. I'll try not to spoil anything here, but the plot revolves around four special children who, with the help of their wise mentor, must save the world from a sinister villain. If that wasn't enough to entice you, The Mysterious Benedict Society also contains riddles, poems, secret codes, and elements of just about every genre you can think of. It has two sequels that are just as amazing as the original, and even a prequel that details the fascinating childhood of Mr. Benedict through a gripping mystery. It might not be the most sophisticated novel (its target audience is probably ages 8 to 13), but it contains amazing characters, plot twists, and logic puzzles that are sure to satisfy readers of any age. I highly recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society and its companion novels to anyone looking for an entertaining and thought-provoking story. |
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March 2016
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Turn The Next Page - a YA book blog | recommended bOOKS |