By Jessica Gregorio If you enjoyed: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith You Might Enjoy: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (Illustrated by Maira Kalman) ![]() Min Green dated Ed Slaterton for two months. Min, the girl who loves old movies and great coffee fell for Ed, the basketball player. After they broke up Min decided to write Ed a letter and send him a box. The box is filled with everything that had value in their relationship: a cookbook, bottle caps, movie tickets, a flag, and other things. Illustrator Maira Kalman includes drawings of all the things that Min puts in the box. On the car ride to Ed’s house Min finishes the letter that explains why they’re breaking up and what happened, putting an end to everything that they had. Min Green loved Ed and Ed loved her. After two months of dating, they broke up. This is Min’s final letter to Ed, talking about their relationship, how much they liked each other, and what went wrong. From movie dates to following a celebrity, Min and Ed’s relationship was a complex, new thing for both of them. Those two months were the best and worst two months for Min. From her point of view we find out what truly happened when they broke up, how Ed actually treated Min, and what her friends thought was going to happen. Although their predictions were true, Min still thought that this was a great learning experience. This book talks about having your first love, the struggles of high school, the expectations of others, and how to maintain healthy relationships with friends, family, and partners. If you would like to purchase a copy from:
Barnes and Noble Amazon Or borrow from: San Jose Public Library
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By Jessica Gregorio If you enjoyed: If I Stay by Gayle Forman Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky You Might Enjoy: Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira ![]() Laurel is starting high school and already she knows that its not as magical as her older sister, May, made it seem. When Laurel gets to her English class her first assignment is to write a letter to a dead person, so she chooses Kurt Cobain, May’s favorite singer. Even though she completes the letter, she doesn’t turn it in after she realizes that her English teacher was once May’s English teacher. So throughout the year Laurel fills out a notebook with letters to: Kurt Cobain, Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, River Phoenix, and other famous people who are now dead. Through these letters Laurel talks about her feelings after May’s death, her new friends, her crush, and her family. Throughout the letters May is described as the happiest, kindest, funniest person that Laurel ever knew. As she struggles to talk about May’s death, she talks about the strange circumstances of May’s death. Laurel also talks about how her family is struggling while mourning May. To top off the stress in her life, her parents get divorced and her mother leaves to California. After the divorce, Laurel starts spending time at her aunt Amy’s house, while her father struggles to keep himself together. How is Laurel supposed to keep the family together when May was the one who united them all? The story deals with depression, suicide, same-sex relationships, rape, divorce, and the grief of mourning for the loss of a loved one. If you would like to purchase a copy from:
Barnes and Noble Amazon Or borrow from: San Jose Public Library By Alejandro Villasenor ![]() The Maze Runner, by James Dashner is a “young-adult post-apocalyptic science fiction trilogy”, followed by the Scorch Trials (2010) and The Death Cure (2011). This post-apocalyptic world takes place in a vast area called the Glade, which is surrounded by an ominous and dangerous maze. In the beginning, a teenage boy named Thomas arrives to the Glade and is not able to remember anything about his life. However, Thomas is not the only one trapped in the Glade. There is a community of other boys who are in the same position as Thomas, ones who have been in the Glade for months, even years. As times goes on, Thomas begins to gain curiosity and decides to go against the rules that are set in the Glade. Gally, the second leader in command, has a strong hatred toward Thomas and does not like the idea of him gaining curiosity about the maze and how it works. As time progresses, Thomas explores the maze, learns the secrets of the Glade and tries to find a way to set everyone free. Do I Recommend It?Overall I give this book a 4.5/5 because it gives insight on what people can do to fight for survival and a post-apocalyptic future could look like. In the book, we learn that if one does not question or explore, they can remain locked up in their mind and in this case, the Glade. Sometimes, if you let others control you without question, you will never understand why and how things are. Student Opinion: The Book or the Movie?![]() Sheyla Q: Do you prefer the book or the movie, and why? A: I like the movie because it was interesting and it kept you at the edge of your seat and the acting was also really good. Q: Do you know what happens at the end, and why do you think that is how the book ended? (movie/book) A: At the end they break into the lab, and then the youngest one dies protecting Thomas from one of the Gladers, It reminds me of “A Brave New World”, because they shared some of the same ideas, such as being really controlling. Q: Is exploring and questioning things a good thing or a bad thing? A: In the context of the book it was good, because they were able to escape and bad because some of the Gladers got hurt. Angie Lopez Q: Do you prefer the book or the movie, and why? A: I like the movie because I like the main actor (Dylan O'Brien). Q: Do you know what happens at the end, and why do you think that is how the book ended? (movie/book) A: The ending was really suspenseful and it keep you waiting for the next movie (The Scorch Trials). Q: Is exploring and questioning things a good thing or a bad thing? A: Exploring and questioning things is a good thing because you can stand for what you believe in. |