Here is my list of books I read this summer! I am proud of the amount of books I read. Hopefully this article inspires you to read a little more this school year, or maybe you will even find a book from this list you would like to try. Please comment if you have a book recommendation; I am always looking to add some to my ongoing list.
The Killer Angels
Michael Sharra
Rating: 7/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
In the past, I read Civil War novels from the perspective of the soldiers (The Red Badge of Courage), or from the perspective of families caught in the crossfire (Across Five Aprils). From my experience, many historical fiction war novels take one of these two perspectives. However, The Killer Angels takes the perspective of the generals from both the Northern and Southern sides.
It switches telling the stories of many generals from both sides while closely following the facts of the Gettysburg battle. Oftentimes in history textbooks, these generals are seen as just chess pieces in a larger game of war. This book brings them to life as real people with hopes, anxieties and backstories.
I give this book a 7/10 because of the unique perspective it takes and the deep analysis of character the author takes on.
The Nightingale
Kristin Hannah
Rating: 10/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
The Nightingale is one of the top books I have ever read, along with All the Light We Cannot See and Salt to the Sea. It was on a recommendation stand in my school library, so I decided to read it this summer.
The Nightingale follows the lives of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, over the course of World War 2. Contention is heavy between the two: not only do they share a broken family history, but have differing personalities. They each have different goals for the war: Isabelle is not scared to do anything to save France from the Nazis, while Vianne simply tries to hold her husband and daughter together.
No matter how different the sisters are, the very structure of the book only proves that their stories are entertwined. They will be with each other forever.
It is told as a flashback of one of the sisters in their elder years, looking back upon the war. The flashback is not simply for the reader's benefit. Looking back on the war teaches her that not all lost is gone forever.
I give this book a 10/10. Emotionally moving and well thought-out with a small plot twist at the end.
American Born Chinese
Gene Luen Yang
Rating: 7/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
A very quick read, American Born Chinese is a graphic novel. Jin Wang enters a new school, one of the only Asian kids, aside from a Japanese girl. Soon, another new Asian boy, Wei-Chen, joins the class and the two become close friends.
Although Jin fits in with Wei-Chen, it's hard fitting in with the others, especially when he likes a white girl. It takes a fable of a mythical monkey along with Jin's story but the message gets across: be yourself.
I give this book a 7/10 for the creative link between an old Chinese fable and a modern-day story of a boy trying to fit in. Overall though, graphic novels are not my favorite.
Solo
Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess
Rating: 6/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
This book is written in all poetry, so it is shorter than the number of pages suggest. An interesting plot, but did not have a lasting impact on me. Blade Morrison, son of ex-celebrity Rutherford Morrison, tries to live a normal teenage summer with his family being ridiculed all over the news. He goes on a journey of self-discovery when he feels he does not belong to the Morrisons.
I give this book a 6/10 because I was not impressed with the writing quality or content. It just got a little boring.
Silent Spring
Rachel Carson
Rating: 8/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson aimed to stop the overuse of pesticides- and she did just that. Today, conservation efforts are commonplace. But in the 1960s, they weren't.
Not only was Carson shooting out a new message, but she was a woman. And she knew based on prior experience that such a strong message was not going to be taken seriously by her male-dominated field of science. So she chose another route: this book, written for the American public to urge them to take political action to stop the overuse of pesticides.
As highlighted by the many chapters in the book, such as Rivers of Death or And No Birds Sing, pesticides affect not only the organism intended to be harmed, but the entire chain of life that it is part of. You spray the trees, the bugs that live on them are harmed. If they are not killed themselves, the birds that eat the bugs now contain the toxins.
The eggs that the birds lay are now enviable: even if the hatch, they are likely to not live long or even be sterile. And don't forget: humans are a part of this circle of life as well. We are affected by our own toxins that we introduce to the environment by eating the plants and animals that were sprayed. However, we are the ones who can solve these problems too- to avoid a silent spring.
I give this book an 8/10. It was diligently researched and is a masterpiece of writing in favor of the environment. Obviously though, it is a little challenging to read cover to cover as it is a work of nonfiction and is not always so engaging.
A Mango-Shaped Space
Wendy Mass
Rating: 3/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
I did not rate this book highly because it lacks the vitality that marks a good book. I felt that the plot was basic for a middle-grade read: the main character has a basic secret. Once the secret is out, it throws her life into chaos for a little while until her life settles into a new normal that goes just fine.
I hope that does not sound too harsh. However, I did read a book by Wendy Mass that I liked so much I recommended it to my younger brother: The Candymakers. I would just not recommend this book.
I rate this book a 3/10 for its simplistic plot.
My Life With Sea Turtles
Christine Figgener
Rating: 9/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
I may never have known that a turtle can travel over 24,000 miles back to the beach it was born at. Or that baby turtles eat the yolk of their eggs upon hatching as fuel to crawl to the water. I may never have known about the life of a marine biologist: that along with ethereal experiences with animals, it comes with heartbreaking failures, grueling days and nights of data collection, and harsh living conditions.
Part sea turtle lesson and part narrative, Christine Figgener inspires readers to conserve sea turtles. There are other messages she delivers: fix the economic conditions of Costa Rica so that fathers would not be forced to poach animals for a living. Equalize gender roles in the scientific community.
Find alternatives to plastic and even stop off-handed blond jokes. I learned so much about sea turtles but most of all, gained an appreciation for the turtles and the people that dedicate their lives to them.
I give this book a 9/10 because it was an eye-opening account into the life of a marine biologist with interesting lessons about sea turtles throughout.
Better Than the Movies
Lynn Painter
Rating: 7/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
I saw this book in multiple Youtube videos and I was excited to read it for myself. It follows the story of Liz, who is obsessed with cheesy rom-coms. So it's not surprising when Liz sets up a rom-com-like plan to get with her childhood crush, along with the help of her neighbor.
However, although this plan ultimately fails, her love life takes on a real romantic movie vibe when she finds her true love in the place she never thought. The characters sprung to life in this book, and although it was a stereotypical plot, I enjoyed the funny parts.
I give this book a 7/10 because it was a fun light read. I devoured it in only two days.
Check & Mate
Ali Hazelwood
Rating: 4/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
I thought the concept of this book was interesting: unlike many romance books, it revolves around a game not typically associated with romance: chess. Current world champion Nolan Sawyer butts heads against Mallory Greenleaf, who is just playing chess to win money to support her family. The pair ends up falling in love, ironically, without any competitive feelings between the two. (Personally, I do not think I could feel close to someone who is my only competitor.
At an international level.) Despite the unique plot idea, the book felt a little rushed. The romantic buildup felt choppy, and I felt like I was not able to connect with the characters. However, if you are looking for a good Ali Hazelwood read, I would recommend The Love Hypothesis.
I give this book a 4/10 because it felt a little rushed and less thought out. I was not able to connect with any of the characters really well before the book ended.
The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck
Rating: 8/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
This is an American classic and I am happy to have read it. Steinbeck switches back and forth between chapters from telling the story of the Joad family to telling the story of the American farmer's plight as a whole. This choice both made the issues of farmers during this period more real, and cemented the message that one must not think of just themselves in hard times.
I can tell that the author put a lot of thought into this book. I especially enjoyed the surprising character development of Rosasharn: from a self-absorbed, complaining young lady to an altruistic one.
I give this book an 8/10 because it is a thorough explanation of the thoughts and anxieties of American farmers during the age of industrialization.
I hope this article inspired you to read a little more. It is a fun and fulfilling hobby. As always, if you have any book recommendations, please comment them down below.
