Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (review by Cynthia H. ’16)

July 29, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian Leave a comment

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Set in an alternate universe World War I where Clankers and Darwinists battle it out using giant walking machines and fabricated creatures, respectively, Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s orphaned son Alek must flee Austria-Hungary, with both Germans and Darwinists on his trail. On the other side of the continent, Deryn Sharp, a Scottish girl who longs to fly on the airship Leviathan, disguises herself as a boy and enlists in the British Royal Air Service. When the Leviathan crash-lands near Alek’s hideout in the mountains of Switzerland, Alek and Deryn are forced to work together to save themselves and their crews. Leviathan is an amazing start to the eponymous trilogy, with ample character development for both protagonists, a plot that interweaves fantastical elements and historical events, and intricate illustrations by Keith Thompson. Fans of historical fiction and steampunk will be delighted by the incredible, epic world of Leviathan. – Cynthia H. ’16

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The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (review by Anushka D. ’15)

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Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Griet is hired as a full-time maid at painter Vermeer’s house, she sets out with her hair tightly wrapped and her virtue intact. Although she cannot help the instant attraction she feels for her master, Griet hides behind her cumbersome work and cleans his room when he is not around. When Griet displays artistic talent, Vermeer begins to introduce her to his world, and soon, Griet is sucked in to the lust, deception, and scandal she is unable to escape. Chevalier has masterfully created and written a wonderful story from a mysterious painting; her poetic rendering of Griet as a shy, virtuous maid is ingenious and delightful. The Girl With the Pearl Earring is extremely hard to put down; the plot starts strong and never lags and the ending is poignant. Recommended for lovers of history, art, and subtle romance. – Anushka D. ’15

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The Selection by Kiera Cass (review by Nitya M. ’15)

July 29, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian 1 Comment

The Selection by Kiera Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Selection is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, giving a handful of lucky girls the chance to escape their caste to rise up and become a One, the wife of Prince Maxon. For budding musician America Singer, however, the Selection is nothing more than a burden, forcing her to leave behind her secret boyfriend, Aspen, and loving, if poor, family for luxury, cut-throat competition, and danger she neither wished for nor accepts. But at the castle, America meets her potential husband, a man less like a prince, someone who she could love, and she is torn between her love back home and the willing prince who would give her anything if she said yes. Fast-paced and riveting, The Selection provides a detailed portrayal of characters in this dystopian world and provides a fresh take on the love triangle cliché. Yet, the book offers only a hazy view of the world these characters inhabit, and we are left at the end of the novel, only knowing the caste system that shapes society. Readers of romantic novels, as well as dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games will enjoy this first of a trilogy. – Nitya M. ’15

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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (review by Zina J. ’14)

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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns is so enchanting, I devoured it in three days. The novel illustrates the lives of Laila and Mariam, two Afghani women from different backgrounds, and emphasizes the stance of women’s rights in Afghanistan. The vivid imagery, violent motifs, perfect use of themes, and incorporation of cultural terms empowered the novel. This book made Khaled Hosseini one of my all-time favorite authors. This page-turner left a lasting impact on me, changed my perception of women’s rights internationally, and made me appreciate the feminist movement in America. This book is a must-read for everyone, especially those interested in the Middle East or the feminist movement. A Thousand Splendid Suns was even better than Hosseini ‘s earlier book, The Kite Runner, which is hard to surpass. – Zina J. ’14

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Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele (review by Zina J. ’14)

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Whistling Vivaldi: And Other Clues to How Stereotypes Affect Us by Claude M. Steele
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Claude Steele’s Whistling Vivaldi discusses stereotypic threats, their effects, and solutions to alleviate the problem. Steele’s tremendous knowledge in psychology is evident from the excellent studies and the anecdotes that make the research more personable. He grasps the sense of conscience with a twist; for example, he flips the stereotypical underdog in his anecdote about a white male’s conscience while attending a college class about African American history. On the other hand, the author’s verbose writing style, overuse of the pronoun I in describing research, and repetitious ideas prevent the reader from benefiting much from the book. Furthermore, he overemphasizes the stereotyped groups, such as African Americans and women, while neglecting to incorporate other minorities. Nevertheless, the author, a Columbia professor, is clearly an expert in his field. If you are interested in studying stereotypes, this is the book for you. – Zina J. ’14

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After the Funeral by Agatha Christie (review by Daphne Y. ’16)

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After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The queen of mystery sets the scene after the death of Richard Abernethie. His sister, Cora, suggests that he was murdered, and she is found dead as well in her room the next day. Thus, Hercule Poirot is called upon to tie the strings together. Although the characterization is very detailed and the ending satisfactory, this book was boring in the sense that Christie’s descriptions of the various suspects and settings seemed long without actually getting anywhere. Evidence does not appear until the end of the book. It is a nice story overall, but recommended only to fans who really enjoy mystery, because to the average reader, the endless paragraphs of vague plot may not seem so appealing. – Daphne Y. ’16

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How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown (review by Allison W. ’16)

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How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming Mike Brown discusses his search for new planets which ultimately led to the decision that Pluto should not be considered a planet. Although the book does discuss some astronomy, it focuses on the process of scientific discovery and what Brown did on his path to discover the dwarf planet Eris. Starting with his bet that someone would find a new planet within five years, he discusses not only his work but also his home life with an infant daughter. How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is a humorous book which should appeal to anyone who wants to know why Pluto is not a planet. -Allison W. ’16

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Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (review by Karen T. ’16)

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Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a futuristic world on the brink of an alien invasion, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is accepted into the prestigious Battle School, an orbiting military school dedicated to training soldiers and leaders for the impending third alien invasion. As Ender accelerates through his studies, he encounters both friends and enemies, all of whom leave indelible marks on Ender’s life. Although the plot tends toward repetitive monotony towards the middle of the book, the vivid characterization of the protagonist and the logic behind his brilliant tactics save the story from becoming insipid. While those who eschew the details of politics and technology may find this novel dull, Ender’s Game will captivate fans of science fiction or military novels due to its complex characters and tactics, as well as its detailed writing style. – Karen T. ’16

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Lady Macbeth’s Daughter by Lisa Klein (review by Allison W. ’16)

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Lady Macbeth’s Daughter by Lisa M. Klein
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Lisa Klein’s Lady Macbeth’s Daughter revolves around Albia, the supposedly dead daughter of Macbeth and Grelach (Lady Macbeth). Growing up, she leaves Wychelm Wood, where she was raised, to live with another family. Eventually, she learns who her true parents are and works against them. A twist on Shakespeare’s play, Lady Macbeth’s Daughter has an interesting start, but by the end of the book, the plot is not very exciting. In addition, the ending is unsatisfying and leaves many important questions unresolved. Lady Macbeth’s Daughter has the potential to be an excellent book, but it will most likely appeal only to fans of Macbeth. – Allison W. ’16

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Hunger by Michael Grant (review by Catherine H. ’17)

July 29, 2013 mspelmanlibrarian 1 Comment

Hunger by Michael Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Darkness is growing more restless, invading the minds of all who have come into contact with it, bending them to its will. It quickly grows in power after feeding and tries to escape the cave, hoping to fend off the residents of the FAYZ. Later, the inhabitants of the FAYZ rise and try to trap and destroy it before it becomes more dangerous. Michael Grant’s second book in the Gone series does not disappoint. One of my favorite dystopian/supernatural series, I recommend Hunger to anyone looking for a thrilling read.- Catherine H. ’17

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