Bless the Beasts & Children by Glendon Swarthout
“Send us a boy-we’ll send you a cowboy!” This is the motto of Box Canyon Boys Camp; a camp in northern Arizona where boys are sent to turn into men. When six misfits are forced into the camp, they make history.
And not in a good way.
The camp has never seen a bigger batch of, well, losers, in one cabin, and it doesn’t help the boys’ case because they don’t even want to be there. The oddballs, nicknamed the Bedwetters for being a bunch of chickens and actual bedwetters, count the days they have left in that torture place before they have to go home. But when the boys see something they’ll never forget, they start to question what society labels as being a “man.” As a result of some choices made on a whim and purely accidental planning, the band of misfits go on an adventure, and along the way, they discover that being themselves ain’t too bad of a thing.
This eye-opening novel is based on a true story. The author, Glendon Swarthout, relates this book to experiences of his son (Miles) when Miles went to a similar boys camp. Of course, additional fluff has been added to the plot, but the main plotline is based on true events. This book was written during a time of social change, and has caused social change as well. This novel changed buffalo hunting laws in Arizona, as the inhumane hunting ways Swarthout described throughout the book sparked a cry of outrage in the 1960s that led to a change in hunting.
As much as I’d like to admit that I’m a self-respecting person and refute the fact that I definitely didn’t judge this book by its cover, I can’t because I’d just be lying to myself. We were tasked with reading this book for our English class (forced, another way of putting it), and I’ll admit that I frowned slightly when I took note of the book cover. I’ve never been one for classic literature; the different style of writing that was prevalent in the 19th and 20th century never really appealed to me. When we were required to read this book, I was less than thrilled, but as I started flipping through the chapters, I could feel myself focusing more on the upcoming chapters and not taking note of how many pages I had left until I finished my daily reading homework. This book was an eye-opener; it touched base on so many ideas ranging from unjust buffalo treatment and child neglect to what it really means to be a “man.” That last idea was brought up many times throughout the novel. Does a boy become a man when he smokes his first cig? Or does growing up mean getting rid of the chains that hold oneself back? The author did a wonderful job of developing the plot and his characters by the use of parallel plot structure and flashbacks; the past helped explain the characters’ present-day choices. This book isn’t a light read, but the many lessons prevalent in the novel makes it an unforgettable read.
Book review by Sristi U.
The Inheritance Games – Is it Worth the Hype?
Let’s be real. We’ve all heard about The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. However, is it worth all the buzz that it’s been accumulating?
Essentially, this book is about a poor girl, Avery Gramble, whose life changes in an instant when a stranger leaves her with a large inheritance. As part of the requirements to accept the money left in the will, she leaves in a mansion with a new family, the Hawthornes. As she lives with them, she solves mysteries to figure out why the inheritance was left for her.
Let’s start off with the things I didn’t like about the book. One downside of the book is that the mysteries are complicated for sure, and even though I reread the books a couple of times, I wasn’t able to keep up with the numerous puzzles. In retrospect, it may have been helpful for me to annotate my books, write down notes, or maybe even read the book slower. If you’re a fast reader who typically skims books instead of diving into them, this may not be the book for you.
Another thing that I didn’t enjoy about the book was the romance section. I’m an avid romance reader, and when I picked up this novel, I was expecting a little more romance. Don’t get me wrong, the book already includes a few elements of romance, but for me, it simply wasn’t enough. If you like books with only a few hints of romance, this would be a great selection for you.
Time for the aspects that I loved about this book! First of all, I loved the concept of the book. I felt that it was original, exciting, and entertaining – all at the same time. Furthermore, the writing of the book is simply stunning. You will find a plethora of metaphors, similes, and pieces of personification scattered throughout the novel. This makes the book perfect for advanced readers or those who need a good book to read for their English class. In addition, this book will captivate you for hours on end. As I was reading it, I found myself indulging in the pages, often forgetting that I was reading!
All in all, I believe that The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes definitely lives up to all the hype it gathered over the past few months. If you’re looking for an entertaining, mysterious read, this novel is the one for you.
By Thiyanah N
Woman in the Window, A.J Finn
Former psychologist Dr. Anna Fox is afraid to go outside. With only the movies and online forums to keep her company, Anna finds that her favorite entertainment is what she can see from her windows. A new neighbor presents her with a brand new show to watch and even a new friend. When she witnesses something horrific in one of her new neighbors homes, not only is her reality questioned but so is her new found friend. She is forced to go outside of her comfort zone to do the right thing. Can she trust others? Can she even trust herself?
Although Anna’s story starts fairly slow, the engaging writing and intricacies of the main character’s mind make it well worth the leisurely pace. With quick chapters that reflect the monotonous tasks of her life, Finn’s writing and format greatly enhance the way the story is received. The way Finn paints Anna’s thoughts is addicting. It leaves the reader wondering what is real coming from an often unreliable narrator who wonders that herself. The other characters serve primarily to highlight the isolation Anna experiences and provide much needed relief from the prison of Anna’s mind. Once the reveals start, they keep hitting until the very end, and every one of them is well worth the wait.
The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe
Nora O’Malley thought she had escaped the criminal life, but it seems to be following her everywhere. When she walked into the bank with her two best friends, she had no way of expecting to be caught in the middle of a robbery. What the two robbers don’t know though is that Nora is a former con-artist with a historic track record. They don’t know all of the different girls Nora has played before, and they have no way of knowing what they’re up against.
The book primarily chronicles the events of one hectic day but is broken up by chapters explaining Nora’s complicated background. The balance allows the reader to slowly come to conclusions that help explain the actions she takes in the present and serves to help form a connection with Nora quickly. Oftentimes, books that cover only a short period of time lose out on the reader to character connection because there is not much character development. However, the consistent depictions of Nora’s life helps avoid that trap while simultaneously keeping the action fresh. Although some of Nora’s background seemed a bit raw for the style of writing, they did back up the action and help to fill out the story. Overall, The Girls I’ve Been is a quick read with lots of action and a unique premise.
Book reviews by Brooke S.
Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers
This book is a historical fiction and it’s about the life of Maddie Sykes in 1946, North Carolina. She is a young seamstress who recently moved to Bright Leaf, North Carolina, the tobacco capital of the South, with her aunt. She quickly ends up being the lead dressmaker of the town where she tends to the wives of the powerful tobacco executives. As she’s thrown into that world, she discovers secrets about the powerful society that could get her in trouble. Although, she doesn’t back down and works to get the truth out.
I really liked this book because it was actually interesting and nerve racking. The author successfully portrayed the characters emotions and she also used a lot of foreshadowing. The theme was also women empowerment. This is typically not the type of book I’d read but I actually liked it. So I would also recommend it to others who like suspense and historical books.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
This book follows the story of two young teenagers, Hazel and Augustus. Hazel is a 16 year old who is diagnosed with lung cancer and so she reluctantly joins a support group. There she meets Augustus, who is diagnosed with osteosarcoma, which is a rare form of cone cancer. Together, they go on a trip to find their favorite author. In their journey they fall in love, experience life and also experience the sad parts of life. In the end, they discovered that Augustus’s cancer had gotten a lot more serious and there was little to no chance that he would survive.
I really loved this book . The first time I read it, I actually cried in the end. It was so sad when Augustus died. I really enjoyed Hazel and Augustus’ relationship and how happy they were together even with all obstacles in their way. They overcame it together in the most unexpected way and it was so wholesome. I rated this book a 10/10 and would highly recommend it to someone who enjoys a good cry session. I also watched the movie and it was almost as similar as the book.
Book reviews by Alena R.
It Ends With Us is an intense heartbreaking book about a girl who deals with a life altering situation and has to make a decision for herself.
Lily Bloom has grown up in an abusive household. Her dad abused her mother, and she witnessed it herself. She wants a fresh start to her life so decides to move to Boston to pursue her dreams of owning a flower shop. In the process she meets a handsome, funny, kind young man. His name is Ryle. For some strange reason, he has never been in a relationship and says he has never been ready for commitment. Regardless, he convinces Lily that he is ready for a relationship and soon they fall in love. But is Ryle who he says he is? Things start to change and Lilly has to figure out what the right decision is for herself. It is a disturbing heartbreaking book, but I believe everyone should read this. It is well written and has a good lesson for everyone.
Beach Read is a cute romance book about two authors that start as enemies.
January is an author of romance books whose life used to be the definition of perfect in her opinion. Perfect boyfriend, perfect family, perfect job. But soon, her father passes away and secrets about his life unravel. January has a new perspective on her life as she temporarily moves to her dad’s secret beach house to fully understand his story and to write another book. With the help of an author that started as an enemy, their relationship continues to grow and turns into something more. This is a fun read!
Book reviews by Abigail J.