Top Picks
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Published November 8, 2016
What happens when the king is fond of a girl, but the girl just wants to open a bakery? Catherine, a lady in court, loves to bake, but her traditional mother disapproves, wanting her to marry the childish King. Cath is stuck in a hard position. At one of the king’s balls, where he means to propose to her, she meets the handsome Jest, a jester, and feels something for the first time. She’s determined to forge her own destiny, although sometimes destinies are already laid out in Wonderland.
This book was a pleasure to read. It was full of obligations, passion, and young romance. This was set in Alice’s Wonderland, and Marissa Meyer did a great job of putting it in the authentic setting.
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
Published November 15, 2016
From an unusually small and awkward child to a movie star who’s starred in many films, Anna Kendrick has certainly made a name for herself.
In this funny yet endearing autobiography, Kendrick recounts past experiences on her road to stardom – and just a few awkward moments in between all the “glamour.”
Although quite young to be writing an autobiography, Anna Kendrick has certainly made it work in her own quirky way. This book is recommended to eighth graders and up, as it does include some strong language and mature themes.
Honorable Mentions
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Published November 1, 2016
Natasha is being deported from the US later today. She only has a couple of hours to meet with a lawyer and try to argue her case – which is to let her stay in New York City.
Daniel has always been the good kid in his parents’ eyes, but he doesn’t really want to apply to Yale. He starts to wander the city, and bumps into Natasha. Then, they begin exploring the city together, even though Daniel is a poet and a dreamer, and Natasha is rational and uses logic; sometimes opposites attract.
Everyone has their own story, and their own problems. There are so many possibilities. Which path will become a reality?
Kids of Appetite by David Arnold
Published September 20, 2016
Vic’s father died two years ago, and he hasn’t been the same since. Vic has Moebius syndrome, a neurological disorder that primarily causes facial paralysis, so he cannot blink or show many facial expressions. His dad taught him to see the art in asymmetry, which helped him cope with Vic’s experiences. With his father dead, Vic doesn’t know where he fits into his mom’s new life.
Then he meets Mad. Mad introduces him to her friends, who help people out. They then start to help Vic in solving the riddle that his father left before he died…