The novel, set in the year 2045 in a dystopian world, focuses on Wade Watts who enjoys his time in the virtual world of OASIS more than his reality, and he is not alone in this opinion. After the sudden death of OASIS’ creator who leaves behind puzzles on popular culture of the past, people […]
Marshall’s Walkabout is a survival novel following two young siblings, Mary and Peter, from America, who, after a plane crash, are stranded in the Australian Outback. Plagued by starvation and exhaustion, their chances of survival in these unknown and strange lands seem to be low until they meet an Aboriginal boy who takes the role […]
In his true-crime novel, Eli Sanders addresses the actual crime case of the culprit Isaiah Kalebu and his two victims, Jennifer Hopper and Teresa Butz. On a summer night in 2009, Kalebu broke into the house of Hopper and Butz, an engaged lesbian couple, where he proceeded to rape and attack both women and, in […]
The moving coming-of-age novel tells the story of Kirali Lewis, a young woman from Australia of South East Australian Aboriginal heritage. However, Kirali has no personal connection to her heritage as she did not grow up in its community or with the Aborigines’ traditions- Kiralli was adopted by a white family. Her story begins in […]
This intriguing whodunit follows a group of five students in their investigation concerning the murder of Simon, Bayview High’s resident gossiper. He dies just 24 hours before posting the students’ deepest secrets on his gossip app ‘About That’. But who is the culprit and what were they trying to hide? From resident jock to star […]
This novel combines a beautiful and unique love story with the terrifying reality of war and seeking refuge. When Nadia and Saeed meet, their country is on the brink of a civil war. As violence and unrest increases, they decide they need to leave their home and jump into uncertainty. Jump being meant quite literally, […]
This novella addresses present-day themes and issues wrapped up in a far from realistic scenario. When Esther and her friends are approached by a billionaire, the challenge they were confronted with was not one they expected. In return for a thousand dollars each, they have to give up their smartphones for six weeks. But what […]
In this epistolary novel, the speaker “Little Dog” addresses his mother who cannot read. The letters narrate the complicated story of the speaker’s family history. They are not limited to Little Dog’s life, but instead include themes such as the lasting impact of war and struggles of immigration. Whereas the text’s level of difficulty is […]
When Donovan tells his mom about the adventure novel they’re reading at school, her reaction comes as a surprise. So what if the two boys in the story talk about loving each other? However, this kickstarts an attempt to ban the assigned book The Adventurers due to “mature” and “inappropriate” content. This storyline is intertwined […]
17-year-old Lily Hu wasn’t planning on falling in love. 1954’s San Francisco isn’t a safe place for two young women in love, and the Red Scare makes society’s prejudice against Chinese Americans more prevalent than ever. As the daughter of a Chinese-American immigrant, Lily worries for her father, the threat of deportation constantly looming over […]
This young-adult book focuses on child abuse, parental neglect, social stratification, and friendship and is structured as diary entries of the two girls Treasure and India.Young Treasure lives with her mother and her abusive stepfather Terry who one day hits her with his belt and scars her forehead. Upon this incident, Treasure’s grandmother takes her […]
When Ari and Dante meet at the local pool, they appear to have virtually nothing in common. Dante is a mystery to Ari with his love for poetry and eloquent expressions. As the pair spends the summer together, they grow closer and closer. But sometimes, defining an emotional bond is more difficult than it would […]
After his parents die, young James is sent to live with his two abusive aunts, Spiker and Sponge. One day, a giant peach magically starts growing on their property. Who would expect that James’ new friends and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure are waiting for him on the inside…
Based on the novel by John Grisham, this legal drama film deals with racism, rape, and the American legal jury system. A ten-year-old Afro-American girl is raped and beaten up by two white men who are arrested but will probably walk free. Upon hearing that, Carl Lee, the girl’s father in a mood of rage […]
A crime story dealing with powerlessness, alienation, and insanity. A young woman returns to her hometown to look for her father, who has disappeared. She, her lover, and her best friend go to her father’s island, where she follows some clues and concludes that her father has gone mad but must still be alive. Over […]
Stacey and Laney are twins, but couldn’t be any more different. While Stacey hates breaking rules, Laney regularly skips schools to hang out with her boyfriend. So noone is immediately concerned when Laney goes missing,except for her twin. Stacey is convinced something is seriously wrong and is plagued by terrifying dreams of Laney. Can she […]
This novella tells the tragic story of a 14-year-old’s death and the impact gang violence has not only on those directly affected, but their loved ones as well. When Jerome is found stabbed and left bleeding on the street, his mother needs answers. But can the hard truth give her the closure she’s looking for? […]
This coming-of-age adventure novel from the Victorian era follows young Jim Hawkins on his seafaring treasure-hunting endeavours. By chance, Jim Hawkins acquires a map of an island leading to a hidden treasure. It belonged to the infamous pirate Captain Flint, who stored his valuables on the island. Jim and a few others subsequently undertake the […]