BOOK REVIEW: Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

A book review by Mina Nguyen

A man who has the capabilities to burn kingdoms to the ground is raising an army
containing unimaginable beings. With a stolen sword and a newly wedded queen, he is set on
destruction and power. Corayne an-Amarat can feel it; there is a strange darkness. An immortal
and an assassin knock on Corayne’s door, urging her to save the world as the last of an ancient
lineage. Corayne finds herself on a journey completing unusual tasks to prevent all-out war as
she also navigates a world she’s never been accustomed to.
This book has a lot of world-building. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, but the
world-building is complex and there are a lot of factors at play for a young adult fantasy. I was
pretty confused until the first 100 pages because a lot of it is left to mystery, which sets it up to
be further explained in future chapters. I would even say that within the first book, the
world-building hasn’t been fully set, which I think was slightly aggravating since it is 500+ pages
of setting up the plot and developing the villains and heroes. The descriptions could be more
vivid for how intricate the world-building is. As a fan of the Red Queen series, I was interested in
what Realm Breaker had to offer. While I don’t think that Realm Breaker is better than Red
Queen, there are technically two other books to read. I did really enjoy the characters, especially
Sorn, the assassin. The entire book is told through six characters, but not everyone whose
perspective gets read is the hero, which was interesting to read. I liked the connection between
all the characters and their povs. Seeing a character in a different character’s pov helps build and
develop their personality. I also really liked how realistic Corayne’s skills are. Initially, she’s
really sheltered, so she lacks a lot of survival skills needed. I liked that Aveyard made it
incredibly known that Corayne’s skills were not fully developed, and she was still a beginner. She
didn’t pick up anything fast, but she took the time to learn. It’s so much more realistic than
becoming a master at the sword within two weeks, and I enjoyed watching the process unfold.
Additionally, the politics are what really comes to light in this book. In Red Queen, it was the
love triangle and the premise was developed around those three main characters; however,
Realm Breaker has very little romance and sets up the political drama with a few hints of
romance. While I don’t think that this book is for everyone, I would definitely recommend it for
readers who enjoyed all the books within The Red Queen Series or those who want more politics
than romance with heavy world-building!
Books similar to Realm Breaker:
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

 

Put “Realm Breaker” on hold today

Share It !
 

BOOK REVIEW: 1984 by George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell

A book review by Mina Nguyen

Big Brother is always watching. In a totalitarian future society, everyone must be careful
of the way they act. They must fully dedicate themselves to the revolution under Big Brother.
Winston Smith’s job is to rewrite history, but he doesn’t necessarily dedicate himself to the
cause. He strays further away after meeting Julia, who changes his perception. In an attempt to
rebel, Winston further puts his identity up for risk, making him and Julia a bigger liability to Big
Brother and others also dedicated to the cause.
I am not a person who opts for a classic. I typically find the language to be dated, and it
takes me a while to get into. I have attempted at least twice to get into 1984, but I always end up
falling asleep within the first twenty pages, but I decided to give it one last attempt, and I
definitely enjoyed it way more. I did enjoy Animal Farm when it was a required read in high
school, but I’ve never reached for a George Orwell novel besides 1984. I will say that reading
1984 now more than when I was younger made me enjoy it more because I’ve had more
experiences in forming my own thoughts and opinions outside of my peers and family. I found
the writing to be very addictive. Orwell writes from a narrative that is extremely detached. You
want to feel empathy for the characters, but Orwell is so meticulous in the way he writes that you
feel no sympathy for any of what the characters are going through. It reads like a statement or
fact. Additionally, I like that 1984 is extremely predictable. When reading this, the inevitable will
happen. It sheds light on how certain events are predictable in reading but are not as clear-cut in
real life. It is extremely fascinating to see how society is so aware of certain events and how it’s
portrayed through reading but will sometimes be oblivious to current events, which is why it’s
extremely important to be reading books like this. Books like this force readers to challenge what
they’ve thought growing up and allow them to reflect on their character and their belief system.
While I wouldn’t necessarily pick this book up for a second read, I would definitely recommend
it as a book everyone should read once in their life. Some books are only meant to be read once,
and 1984 is one of them!
Books similar to 1984:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
● 12 Angry Men by Reginald rose
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
● We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

 

Put 1984 on hold today

Share It !
 

BOOK REVIEW: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

A book review by Mina

Taking place in Afghanistan, 1952, Abdullah and his sister, Pari, live with their father and stepmom in Shadbagh. Their father is constantly searching for work, living in poverty and extreme winters. The connection between brother and sister is extremely strong; Abdullah would do anything for Pari. One day, the siblings journey across the desert to Kabul where their father would separate the pair, tearing their lives apart. Told through interconnecting stories of separate characters, the story of Pari and Abdullah unfold, hoping that one day Abdullah will find his way back to Pari.

I have loved every Khaled Hosseini book. His writing is extremely moving, emotional, and reflective. It’s completely raw and eye-opening. There is never enough praise for Hosseini. I particularly enjoyed the way this was narrated. It was told and divided through the narrative of different characters and how all those characters were connected. So while a character’s story is over, readers can still see the development of each of the characters through the lens of another character being written about. This book feels like a collection of short stories rather than a novel. Everything kind of comes full circle, and it was a great way for it to be written. Initially, I was confused about the switching characters, but Hosseini clears it up really fast through his vivid descriptions that create unique characters. I didn’t mix up any of the characters, nor their storylines. He writes incredibly distinct characters and associations. I teared up multiple times reading the interconnectedness of it all. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book out of other Hosseini books, it’s very well-written and explores such intense emotions and the nuances of humankind’s actions. Hosseini doesn’t write characters that we’re supposed to love, but he writes characters that are human who do human things. Readers see everything played out, and it’s hard to decide whether we like them or are indifferent because it’s so raw to what we do as people in society; it makes us reflect. I will never have enough praise for this book. If you’re looking for something that is beautiful, moving, and raw with tears, I would recommend this book a hundred times over. It is an unforgettable book, and it is a book that needs to be read at least once. It presents a concept that, regardless of what country or heritage you are, family and love is the greatest match to humanity.

Books similar to And the Mountains Echoed:
● The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
● As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
● One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel garcia Marquez
● The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Put And the Mountains Echoed on hold today

 

Share It !
 

William Allen White 6th-8th Grade Master List 2025-2026

Amazon cover imageThe cursed moon / Angela Cervantes

One two, the Caretaker’s coming for you. Three-four, you’ll breathe no more. Five-six, you’ll float like sticks. Seven, eight, you’ll meet your fate. Rafael Fuentes isn’t easily scared. He loves writing ghost stories, reading scary books, and entertaining his friends with terrifying tales he creates on the spot. Rafa has come up against enough real-life scary situations that fictional hauntings seem like no big deal. Rafa’s incarcerated mom is being released from jail soon, and will be coming to live with him, his sister, and their grandparents. For the first time in a while, Rafa feels a pit of fear growing in his stomach. To take his mind off his mom’s return, Rafa spends an evening crafting the scariest ghost story he’s ever told. As an eerie blood moon hangs in the sky, Rafa tells a group of friends about The Caretaker. The Caretaker is an evil ghost who lures unsuspecting kids into the neighborhood pond. . . and they don’t ever come out. Rafa is really proud of his latest creation, until strange things start to happen around him. With a sinking feeling, Rafa realizes the Caretaker is real. Rafa has brought the ghost to life–and only he can stop him

Book/spanish/ ebook/eaudio

Amazon cover imageThe probability of everything / Sarah Everett

When an asteroid has an 84.7% chance of colliding with the Earth in four days, eleven-year-old Kemi, who loves scientific facts and probability, assembles a time capsule to capture her family’s truth as she tries to come to terms with saying goodbye.

Bookebook/eaudio

 

Amazon cover imageThe superteacher project / Gordon Korman

Oliver and Nathan, determined to get to the bottom of their new homeroom teacher’s fishy behavior, discover Mr. Aidact is actually an AI robot from a secret experimental program.

Book/ eaudio

 

Amazon cover imageGood different / Meg Eden Kuyatt

Seventh-grader Selah Godfrey knows that to be “normal” she has to keep her feelings tightly controlled when people are around, but after hitting a fellow student, she needs to figure out just what makes her different–and why that is ok. Told in verse.

Book/ ebook/eaudio

Amazon cover imageFarther than the moon / Lindsay Lackey

All thirteen-year-old Houston Stewart has ever wanted is to become an astronaut. His dreams feel like they’re finally coming true when he’s accepted to the highly-competitive Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program – if only he could bring his little brother, Robbie, with him. Ever since their dad left, Houston and Robbie have been inseparable. It’s hard to tell where Houston’s love of space ends and where Robbie’s begins. But Robbie’s cerebral palsy and epilepsy mean he needs medical attention at home, so Houston is forced to take this giant leap for the two of them all on his own. At camp, Houston is quickly drawn into the orbit of new friends, cosmic adventures, and a long-lost grandfather. But as Houston struggles to meet the program’s rigorous demands, he’s forced to reckon with the truth that Robbie may never visit space like the brothers have always hoped. But Houston is determined to honor Robbie’s dream, even if it seems like an impossible mission. So, like a good astronaut, he dares to make a new plan — one that shoots for the stars.

Book/ eaudio

Amazon cover imageA work in progress / Jarrett Lerner

Will is the only round kid in a school full of thin ones. So he hides…in baggy jeans and oversized hoodies, in the back row during class, and anywhere but the cafeteria during lunch. But shame isn’t the only feeling that dominates Will’s life. He’s also got a crush on a girl named Jules who he knows he doesn’t have a chance with, because of his size–but he can’t help wondering what if? Will’s best shot at attracting Jules’s attention is by slaying the Will Monster inside him by changing his eating habits and getting more exercise. But the results are either frustratingly slow or infuriatingly unsuccessful, and Will’s shame begins to morph into self-loathing. As he resorts to increasingly drastic measures to transform his appearance, Will meets skateboarder Markus, who helps him see his body and all it contains as an ever-evolving work in progress.

Book/ ebook/eaudio

Amazon cover imageMexikid / Pedro Martin

Pedro Martin’s grown up in the U.S. hearing stories about his legendary abuelito, but during a family road trip to Mexico, he connects with his grandfather and learns more about his own Mexican identity in this moving and hilarious graphic memoir

Book/ ebook/eaudio

Amazon cover imageSuperpod : saving the endangered orcas of the Pacific Northwest / Nora Nickum

The endangered Southern Resident orcas whistle and click their way around the waters of the Pacific Northwest in three small family groups while facing boat noise, pollution, and scarce food. Superpod introduces young readers to the experts who are training scat-sniffing dogs, inventing ways to treat sick orcas, quieting the waters, studying whales from the air, and speaking out. Author Nora Nickum also discusses her own work on laws to protect the orcas, tackles the dark history of orca capture for marine parks, and shares moments of wonder.

Book/ ebook

LaAmazon cover imagesagna means I love you / Kate O’Shaughnessy

When eleven-year-old foster kid Mo finds a handmade cookbook filled with someone else’s family recipes, she collects the stories behind them and builds a website to share them, secretly hoping a long-lost relative will find her and give her a family recipe all her own.

Book/ ebook/eaudio

 

Amazon cover imageThe fire, the water, and Maudie McGinn / Sally J. Pla

Maudie McGinn has a secret. It’s a big, scary one. And right before Maudie, who’s autistic, travels to spend the summer with her dad, her mom makes her promise not to reveal it. As Mom puts it: “A promise is a promise, and must be kept.” When a wildfire forces Maudie and her dad to flee to the small beach town where her dad grew up, Maudie’s summer is turned upside down. Yet she becomes captivated by the surfers she sees each morning. And as Maudie starts to navigate these new waters, she finds herself making friends and feeling accepted like never before. Still, a clock is ticking: soon she will have to go back to face the fire of her always-angry stepfather. Can she find some way to stay with her dad? Should she break her promise to Mom, and reveal the truth about life back home, before the summer is over?

Book/ ebook/eaudio

Amazon cover imageEnemies in the orchard / Dana VanderLugt

Based on a true story and told in alternating voices, follows the growing friendship between thirteen-year-old American Claire and Karl, a young German POW hired to work on her family’s Michigan apple farm in October 1944.

Book/ ebook/eaudio

 

Amazon cover imageWhat happened to Rachel Riley? / Claire Swinarski

Thirteen-year-old new girl Anna Hunt decides to make an investigative podcast about how fellow classmate Rachel Riley went from being the most popular girl in school to the most hated

Book/ ebook/eaudio

 

Amazon cover imageJawbreaker / Christina Wyman

Twelve-year-old Max, who has an extreme overbite, must navigate sibling rivalry and middle school bullies.

Book/ ebook

 

Share It !