Category: School

Set in the Holocaust in Poland, 1942, Mapping the Bones is a stirring novel in which twins, Chaim and Gittel, are forced to leave their cozy home and live in the Lodz Ghetto. The story centers around Chaim and Gittel, who have immeasurable love for each other. Eventually, The twins and their parents have to share their small home and food with the Norenbergs, another Jewish family. Everything starts falling apart, except for the connection between Chaim and Gittel. Filled with sentimental decisions and tough struggles during the Holocaust, the book was definitely worth reading.

Mapping the bones is an accurate representation of the holocaust, but it is still intriguing and fun to read. The characters in the book, particularly the twins were easily my favorite component. The story emphasized how their bond would stay strong no matter what. I appreciate how Jane Yolen kept a light and calm writing style, even while the story was bold and emotional. With frequent plot twists and new situations, the book was both educational and thrilling.

One thing I will never forget about this book is the secret sign language that the twins use among themselves. Even though Chaim has trouble speaking, Gittel always knows what he is thinking. Even their parents do not know what they are conveying to each other.

Saarthak Sangwan, 8th grade – Moody Middle School, Twin Hickory Library

This novel follows Scythe in a new (and brilliant) series by Neal Shusterman. It takes place in a future world- the post-mortal age- in which all the petty problems of death, disease, and more have been eradicated by the Thunderhead, the predecessor of what we know as the Cloud. It is the know-all, end-all entity that has ‘fixed’ humanity into immortality. However, the task of regulating population is an internal affair- selected individuals called Scythes kill for a living. However, because the Scythedom is apart from the Thunderhead, there are loopholes and evil intentions. Scythe Anastasia, Lucifer, and her mysterious friends try to thwart these evils.

This book was incredible. Better than the first, I would even say. Shusterman has the rare type of writing style that makes the scenes so clear in your head- and it also keeps the pages turning. When I am looking for a good read, I am looking for something that will make me think and pull me out of reality. Thunderhead certainly did the job.

In our age, lots of books seem unoriginal or unappealing just because of their redundancy in plot. This book, however, is something entirely new. It is a very interesting universe that I can’t wait to get more of.

Lexi Pasternak, 8th grade – Moody Middle School, Tuckahoe Library

Love, Hate and Other Filters is a sweet romantic-comedy with twists of drama at every corner there is. Maya Aziz, a seventeen year old ready for college is torn between two antipodes. One world is her parents’ dream. A polite, Muslim girl attending a college close to home, becoming a lawyer or possibly a doctor, and ending up marrying a nice, suitable boy who she does not receive the option to choose. On the other hand, she could possibly go to her dream film school, NYU, and just maybe pursuing the boy she’s had a crush on for years. But when tensions arise when a new terrorist attack approaches, reality seems to painfully dominate Maya’s profound fantasy. Now she has to choose between her family and her dreams.

In my opinion, Love, Hate and Other Filters was a book that greatly portrayed independence, love, and world issues. I loved the dramatic effect on this action-packed story line had, because Maya stands up for what she wants, rather than merely accepting the future that her parents chose for her. Also, Maya greatly displays a sense of secrecy. First, she hides her desire to go to NYU and then she keeps all her feeelings about her crush as far away as possible from her parents. I think the way the Maya rebels against her already chosen destiny adds to the amazing story.

One memorable thing from the book is how Maya survives the bullying and mean remarks at school about her being Muslim. I feel that religion is a very sensitive subject and her standing tall in those moments is greatly inspiring. I will definitely remember this for weeks to come.

Nikki Chandra, 6th grade – Moody Middle School, Twin Hickory Library