Margin Notes

SUMMER SORA SERIES RECOMMENDS EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY ELLA BY AMBER HENDRICKS

Aug
31

Extraordinary Ordinary Ella was written in 2020 by Amber Hendricks. This book is a must read as it talks about Ella, a young girl struggling to find a talent. At such a young age, and all through adolescence, kids are pressured to find their purpose. This book teaches them that it’s ok to take your time and enjoy life rather than worrying about the little things. 

This picture book provides a lesson for all ages and will leave readers thinking about this topic in a new way. This title is inspiration for young people as they grow up, giving them a female role model with a young perspective. It helps give readers the encouragement and confidence they need to grow in life. This book is a great representation of how extraordinary, ordinary is and can be.  

SUMMER SORA SERIES RECOMMENDS I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST BY MASON DEAVER 

Aug
24

Deaver writes a book that the world needs to read with insight into a non-binary mind and life. The story follows Benjamin De Backer as they come out as non-binary and are not accepted by their parents. This story gives space to relationships that include a non-binary person while quietly including the addition of a mixed-race relationship. 

While the reader feels the devastation of the rejection by Benjamin’s parents, the book does provide examples of supportive allyship. There are characters like the sister and her husband, the boyfriend and the art teacher that really highlight how to be there for someone in a situation where the queer person was kicked out of the house.  

Readers may see themselves or peer into a new world as they follow the loss of hope with battles faced and then the glimmer of new dreams with a fresh chapter in life. The themes around love, friendship, hardships, adversity and hope surround the characters in this read. 

 

SUMMER SORA SERIES RECOMMENDS THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS BY MARIEKA MIJKAMP 

Aug
12

This Is Where It Ends is a beautifully written novel following the events of a school shooting. Readers follow the lives of the people closest to the shooter and how they are affected throughout his terror. The reader is placed into the lives of five separate students and learn the relationship they had with the shooter and how it feels to have no power in a terrifying situation. 

This novel highlights the life of public-school students and the constant fear that they face with the rise of school shooting. It shows that no one is safe in this kind of position, not even family. Each chapter leaves you wanting more, and makes you wish you had another book to follow each of the characters.  

Tyler Browne is the shooter. This is a familiar name as you flip the pages and immerse yourself into this story. This Is Where It Ends puts the fear that the students feel within you. Your heart will break for anyone who has been affected by, or lost a child to, school shootings. Rather than chapters, the plot follows a timeline, the 54 minutes that feel like a lifetime to the students and teachers at this school. There are many trigger warnings of course, with school shootings and the loss of children or student.  On the same note, there are gory details about people being shot – which is hard for an audience to read when they are so deep into the story.  

A reader who enjoys reading fiction that reflects current events should definitely read this title. 

My name is Chloe Despres, and I am a grade 11 student at Leo Hayes high school. I enjoy reading and writing during my free time and being with my family. Reading has become a new passion of mine and consumes my time, as does Book Tok. I work a lot so hanging out with my family and my dog is my escape and calm! 

 

SUMMER SORA SERIES RECOMMENDS THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END BY ADAM SILVERA

Aug
03

They Both Die at the End, by Adam Silvera is a great choice for fans of young adult, dystopian, science fiction narratives. This bittersweet story connects two unlikely people, who push each other to live their last day to the fullest. I enjoyed the author’s modern take on fatalism, as it is easy to relate to as the two teen protagonists must come to terms with mortality. It evokes the realization of human mortality in the mind of the reader and makes them question the base of fatality. It beautifully demonstrates how a single day lived to its best is better than a lifetime of just existing – making everyone who reads want to live each day as though it’s their last.  

This book has great representation through its main characters Matteo and his antithesis Rufus, who although very different, create a deep bond. Matteo is an 18-year-old Puerto Rican teen, who suffers from anxiety and keeps to himself as much as possible. He meets Rufus a 17-year-old Cuban teen, who is vivacious and confident on “The Last Friend” app. Both character’s growth in just the short time they spend with each other shows that you don’t have to spend an eternity with someone to have a lasting effect on their life.  

I could not put this book down, I finished it in just one sitting and as you grow to love and empathize with the characters, you begin to dread the inevitable ending. However, it was satisfying as they both lead meaningful lives. Readers will be left thinking about this book long after they’ve put it down.