Sofia’s Kids’ Corner

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Author Recommendation! Ruta Sepetys

by
Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

 

Hi and welcome to another book review, except this time, I will be recommending an author, and reviewing some of her books! Let me introduce you to Ruta Sepetys, an amazing YA historical fiction author whose books are sure to captivate any reader! She has won the Carnegie Medal for Writing, which is a prestigious award only given to one author per year. While reading her books, I have noticed a common theme of her focusing on lesser known parts of history, for example Romanian communism in the late 80’s, or enigma codebreakers during WWII. I find it fascinating to learn about these important parts of history that I would have otherwise overlooked, and having the main characters be children my age makes her books more relatable and engaging. The way Sepetys sheds light on forgotten pieces of the past is captivating and it is why I am recommending her work to you. In this review, I will share my thoughts on a few of her books, including I Must Betray You, The Fountains of Silence, Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray. I have also already reviewed another amazing book by her, called The Bletchley Riddle (review linked in title), which is an enthralling tale about two kids uncovering the secrets of a code-breaking hub in England during WWII.

If you are looking for a similar type of author but for slightly younger kids, I would highly recommend Jennifer A. Nielsen, who is a historical fiction author that I loved as a kid (around 8-12 years old)! I would specifically recommend Words on Fire, which is about a Lithuanian girl who joins an undercover ring of book smugglers during the Russian-Lithuanian revolution to try and keep her country’s history preserved. I also loved A Night Divided, a story about a girl escaping East Germany during WWII, and the struggles that came along with that!

I Must Betray You

I Must Betray You is a powerful book that will keep you on the edge of your seat! The main character is a boy named Cristian who is living in communist Romania (1989). You follow Cristian as you learn all about the horrible quality of living and the ways that the “dictator,” Ceaușescu, controlled Romanians. As you read the book, you will realize how Romanians were never truly alone, even in their own homes as there were listening devices installed to keep them in check. Romanians couldn’t trust anybody, because it was very common for civilians to be informers for the Securitate, Ceaușescu’s spy organization, tasked with keeping tabs on citizens and punishing them if they are doing anything illegal. In the Author’s Note of I Must Betray You, Sepetys even says “it’s estimated that one in every ten citizens provided information” (Sepetys 307). It was heartbreaking to see how people were always suspicious of one another, and couldn’t really form true friendships or talk about their problems, which came from the fear of being in serious trouble, or even getting killed because they said the wrong thing.

In this tale of survival, you experience the world through Cristian’s eyes, how he must bribe people with Kent cigarettes to pay for medicine or even get anesthesia at the dentist, stand in line for hours in the cold to get measly rations, and live in a literal closet. When he gets caught with an American Dollar, which is highly illegal, he is blackmailed and forced to turn on the people he loves. He becomes an informer for the Securitate, and his mission is to spy on an American diplomatic family. He must keep his job a secret or else his family would kill him, as they hate the Romanian government and try to keep to themselves. The only problem is that if his family or friends find out he has betrayed them, it would destroy whatever relationships he had, while breaking him in the process… 

If you enjoy I Must Betray You, I would highly recommend reading The Lost Year (review linked in title) by Katherine Marsh, which talks about the Ukrainian Holodomor and how kids view the hardship in their country. While reading I Must Betray You, I often found myself thinking back to The Lost Year and how these two different events had similar effects on children.

The Fountains of Silence

The Fountains of Silence is a shocking story told in many perspectives, showing a new lens on Franco’s dictatorship in Spain. I loved the many angles this novel was told from since it allowed me to get a deeper understanding of life in late 50’s Madrid. The perspectives range from a wealthy oil-investor’s son, a poor anti-Franco hotel servant, to a devoted orphanage worker, but they were all told from the youth’s eyes. The differences in each of the views lets the reader get a fuller picture of what life in Spain was like. The only downside to the many perspectives is that it makes the story quite complicated to follow, especially since each new chapter did not explicitly say whose perspective it was written in. For the first quarter of the book I was just trying to understand who Sepetys was talking about and if you can’t handle more convoluted stories, I would recommend sitting this one out. Other than that though, I loved the constant cloud of secrets that followed the characters around, because I was always trying to uncover them. You can really tell how much research Sepetys has done, as each of the people have their own way of coping with Franco’s dictatorship, some deciding to stay silent while others showing their rebellion.

Daniel, the wealthy oil-investor’s son who is visiting Madrid, is curious and empathetic, wanting to understand and help the Spanish people, especially when he meets Ana, who works at the hotel he is staying at, the Castellana Hilton. Ana is a rule follower who doesn’t dare step out of line, in fear of losing her job at the prestigious hotel she works at. Her sister Julia has always told her, we are prettier with our mouths shut, but when Daniel takes an interest in her and visits her house in Vallecas, she slowly warms up to him and provides insight into her life in Spain. 

Their affection for each other grows but they must keep it a secret from the Guardia Civil, Franco’s violent military, or Ana risks getting fired or even killed. While this is happening, Ana’s cousin Puri, who is a “good Spaniard” and orphanage worker discovers things she shouldn’t have while peeking through the adoption files of her workplace. Ana’s brother Rafa talks about his work at the city slaughterhouse, where many young men like him work, even though there is a lot of blood. All of these perspectives are artfully woven together to create a tale of immense depth and importance.

Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea is a heartbreaking story that follows regular people trying to flee East Prussia during WWII. You see the dangers of trying to escape from the Red Army, also known as the Soviet Army, while also not being able to be seen by German soldiers because official evacuation orders had not been given yet. People of all ages had to make the decision; try to make a run for Germany, through the freezing winter, a journey which would take many lives, or stay in their house and face certain death from the Soviets. People often traveled in groups so they could help each other, and that is exactly how we are introduced to our characters. The story is told from four different perspectives, three of the characters are fleeing and cross paths along the way, while the other is a devout Nazi officer, who is stationed on a ship that will take refugees to safety. Each of the characters have their own unique quirks and secrets! There is Joana, who is a legal refugee in East Prussia (originally from Lithuania) and is in her twenties. She is educated as a nurse and occasionally has flashbacks to her past. She meets paths with Florian and Emilia, both also fleeing towards safety. Florian is a Prussian soldier, who is very secretive and untrustworthy. Emilia is a Polish illegal refugee, whose past is shrouded in mystery. 

Everybody who is running away from the Red Army has one destination, a ship that will take them into Germany, and therefore into safety. During their journeys, Albert is on the Wilhelm Gustloff, preparing the ship for its voyage that will take over 8,000 fleeing Germans to safety. We first experience his delusional personality through letters he sends his lover, Hannelore, but later we actually see his actions. At the end, these stories merge to tell the story of the Wilhelm Gustloff, the deadliest maritime tragedy in history. Yes, it was much deadlier than the Titanic or Lusitania, the only difference is that the Gustloff was full of refugees, causing it to get buried in the history books. Salt to the Sea really kept me on the edge of my seat, while also bringing me to tears at some parts. It is a beautiful book that rips the veil off of this important, but often forgotten piece of history. 

Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray tells the story of a Lithuanian family that was taken from their home and forced on a long journey of loss and fear by the Soviet Union. 16 year old Lina is squished in a train car with her mom, younger brother, and countless other innocent deportees. They aren’t told where they are going, or how long they will be with these people for. The NKVD, which is a type of Soviet police, kill anyone who dares to step out of their assigned train car, instilling fear in everybody. On the train, people get measly rations that barely keep them alive, causing many to be malnourished and get sick. Lina describes the car smelling of urine and sweat, very uncomfortable, especially since they were in it for a long time. It is told solely from 16 year old Lina’s perspective, as she copes with the uncertainty and fear of being abducted from home and taken from her father.

The train ride seemingly lasts forever, and the people are treated like trash, having to use the restroom in a hole in the floor, and being spat on and cursed at by the NKVD officers. To try to find an escape from her horrible life, Lina distracts herself with her art. Even at home, she was an excellent artist, but now she wants to document her journey for her father so that he can find her. She doesn’t know exactly where her father is, other than that he is also on a train away from Lithuania. When the train finally stops and people are ordered out, everybody is relieved, until they find that they are in a secluded town in Siberia where temperatures frequently drop below zero in the winter. People are crammed into already occupied huts, where the people who already live in them sure aren’t happy to share. They soon find out that they are in a kolkhoz, which is a community farm, meaning that whatever crops they grow go to the NKVD officers, or are shipped away for other people to enjoy. They still have to try to survive off of puny rations while working sunrise to sunset, digging up beets or other types of hard manual labor. Between Shades of Gray tells the heartbreaking story of how the NKVD stripped people of their dignity and basic human rights during WWII. Sepetys never fails to blow me away with the way she portrays history and hardship and this book was no different! I loved how Lina’s young perspective meant that she wasn’t afraid to ask questions and be curious, which helped me better understand this crazy point in history. 

Thank you for reading this review, I love all of these books and I hope you enjoy them as well!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho

by
Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

 

Dear readers,

Let me introduce you to The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho, a heartfelt graphic novel about the dangers of escaping North Korea. The story follows two kids on their journey to leave the country for a better life. You come along with them each step of the way, witnessing the horrible things North Koreans have to go through just to get to freedom. This story is told in beautiful illustrations that capture the emotions of the reader as well. I loved looking through the eyes of someone escaping communism, in a search for a better life, and feel that it is eye opening to read this. The Other Side of Tomorrow was a really grounding book that really makes you grateful for all you have, while also sharing others’ important stories and experiences.

Goodreads Summary

Perfect for fans of Illegal and When Stars Are Scattered, this poignant and moving graphic novel in verse captures the dangers and hope that comes with fleeing North Korea and reaching for a brighter future through the lives of Yunho and Myunghee.

From never knowing where they’ll find their next meal to avoiding soldiers lurking at every corner, many North Koreans have learned that sticking around can be just as deadly as attempting to flee … almost.

Both shy, resourceful Yunho and fierce, vibrant Myunghee know this. So when they each resolve to run away from the bleak futures they face, it’s with the knowledge that they could be facing a fate worse than death. While Yunho hopes to reunite with his omma, who snuck across the border years ago, Myunghee is reaching for dreams that are bigger than anything the regime would allow her to have.

The two are strangers to each other until a chance encounter unwittingly intertwines their fates and Myunghee saves Yunho’s life. Kept together by their dreams for a brighter future, they face a road plagued by poisonous jungle snakes, corrupt soldiers, and the daily fear of discovery and imprisonment. But with every step toward freedom, there is also hope. Will it be enough for both of them to make it to safety without losing each other along the way?

My Thoughts

The Other Side of Tomorrow will certainly pull at your heartstrings, as it did for me. As you come along the journey of Myunghee and Yunho, you get to experience the hardships people fleeing from North Korea face. Before reading this book, I thought that once you escape North Korea, which is hard enough, you are free and can build a new life. What I discovered through this book is that my previous statement could not be further from the truth. Even if you make it to China, they have an extradition treaty with North Korea, meaning that if anybody realizes you are from there, you will immediately get punished and sent back. Additionally, Chinese soldiers receive monetary compensation for every North Korean they report, (incentivizing)meaning they will always be on the lookout for them. Even though this book is sad, I think it is important to know what people on the other side of the world are going through, so we can spread awareness and help them. The beautiful illustrations enhance the reading experience, wonderfully telling this story of pain and hardship. I hope you enjoy this wonderful book!

I would recommend this book for ages 11+ because of the complex topics it discusses which may be hard to understand for younger readers. The simple way in which The Other Side of Tomorrow is written makes it easier to understand for all readers. The only thing I would say is that this is an incredibly sad book, about the many hardships escapees from North Korea have to face.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Sequels and Prequels Worth Reading

by
Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Hello, it’s Sofia again and welcome to another book review! Today I am talking about sequels (or prequels) that I have read that have been as good or better than the original book! I have made this list because I know that when I finish a book, most of the time the sequel hasn’t come out yet and I just forget about the original book. This means that I only learn about the sequel through a book review, or I stumble upon it by chance in the library! I am hoping this book review will make you aware of a sequel to a book you have enjoyed, or just inspire you to start a new duology! Also, all of the original books will have my book review for them linked, just click on the underlined title!

Heist Royale, sequel to Thieves Gambit

Let me introduce you to the book that started this idea… Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis! I have already read and reviewed the first book in the series, Thieves Gambit and I loved it! If you want to learn more about the first book in the series, just click on the underlined Thieves Gambit! Fun fact, this was actually the only sequel I read within a month of it coming out! That is how excited I was for it! Anyway, onto the actual review! I already had high expectations for this book but it surpassed them all. In the book, Ross is pulled back into playing a competition similar to the Thieves Gambit after she and her family are threatened by their enemy, Devroe’s mom. The organization is willing to accept a new leader so Count and Baron step forward. They ask Ross and her friends to pick sides for a new competition between them, splitting them in two. As Ross and her friends are pulled apart from each other, Ross is devastated by her friends leaving her. As she gets sucked into another high-stakes game, she has to figure out the importance of her friends, and her family. You will absolutely love this book if you have read Thieves Gambit, or watched movies like Now You See Me, or the Ocean’s movies, since Heist Royale has the same atmosphere. 

The First to Die at the End, prequel to They Both Die At the End and 

The Survivor Wants to Die at the End, sequel to They Both Die at the End

Welcome to…The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera! If you have read the original book, you know how sad and emotional this author’s writing is! This book I actually think is better than the original, which is saying a lot because They Both Die at the End was phenomenal! The First to Die at the End is told from many perspectives, but mainly Orion and Valentino, who are the main characters. This prequel is all about the day that the service DeathCast was created, and the havoc that ensued. It shows perspectives from two young adults, the creator of the service, and other people that we meet along the way. This was a very moving book and really emphasizes that any day could be your last and to live life to the fullest. This is a beautiful book and I would highly encourage you to read it! You can also read this without reading the original but it makes more sense if you read They Both Die at the End first! 

Since the time of writing this review, I have also read The Survivor Wants to Die at the End, which is an amazing sequel to the first book in the series! It shows you the perspective of a highly suicidal boy named Paz, and the complex perspective of Alano (the Death-Cast heir). As the story continues, you get to see Paz and Alano’s friendship develop, with many sharp bumps along the way. For The Survivor Wants to Die at the End, I would highly recommend reading They Both Die at the End first, since reading this would spoil the first book and also be confusing. In terms of content advisories, The Survivor Wants to Die at the End was the most emotionally intense to me, but all of the books in the series are pretty heavy. Some topics include suicide, self-harm, dealing with mental health, and grief.

Past, Present, Future, sequel to Today, Tonight, Tomorrow

Drumroll please, Past, Present, Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon! Wow, this book really was a rollercoaster of emotions. It is about Rowan and Neil, the two characters who fell in love in the first book, Today, Tonight, Tomorrow, during high school, now managing their relationship while in college. They are both studying in different places on the East Coast, which is far from their homes in Seattle and handling making friends and keeping up with classes. They mostly communicate via technology but they visit each other every couple of months which is hard for them since they are used to being able to spend all of their time with each other. When Rowan starts struggling in her Creative Writing class and questions whether she should be a writer, Neil is also questioning his major, Linguistics. They realize that maintaining a romantic relationship while in college may not be as easy as it seems. When family issues strike Neil, he chooses to distance himself from Rowan and their relationship. Past, Present, Future is a heartfelt, emotional story about two college students exploring and managing their relationship while far away from each other. I highly recommend this book and am honestly mad I didn’t read it sooner. Like the original, this is a book with two perspectives, one from Rowan and one from Neil and it is always so interesting to see their lives from their own and partner’s perspectives. 

Kill Joy, prequel/novella to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Please welcome, Kill Joy by Holly Jackson! It is a novella of the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series that takes place before the first book. It is a short read which I quickly finished on my road trip this Spring Break. It is set at one of Pip’s friends’ houses as they are having a murder mystery birthday party, where each friend pretends to be a character in the story while simultaneously trying to solve the murder. In the story, the friends are all on an island to celebrate Reginald Remy’s birthday when he is suddenly found dead! The friends are acting as different people who are attending this birthday party like his sons and the cook. Together, Pip and her friends must find out who the killer is through a series of clues that lead them closer to the answer! Overall, this book is a fun addition to the series, with lower stakes while still being fun and entertaining! I also really enjoyed how the ending of Kill Joy ties right into the beginning of the first book in the series. If you are wondering in what order to read the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, I would read the first book, then this novella and then the rest of the books in their respective order. This way, you already know the characters going into the novella but don’t get too confused by having already read all of the other books.

I hope you enjoy reading these books and the other ones in their series!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

by
Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Let me introduce you to Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson, a murder mystery about Jet, a woman solving her own murder. You might be thinking, that doesn’t make sense since she can’t find her murderer if she is dead, but when Jet was attacked, she survived with fatal injuries that would kill her in 7 days, hence the title Not Quite Dead Yet. This means that Jet has a week to find out who killed her, before she dies of a ruptured brain aneurysm. Though when she starts digging deeper into her case, she uncovers mysterious secrets that threaten to unravel the way she previously saw the world.

Goodreads Summary

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder-now a hit Netflix series-returns with her first novel for adults: a twisty thriller about a young woman trying to solve her own murder. In seven days Jet Mason will be dead. Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. I’ll do it later, she always says. She has time. Until Halloween night, when Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder. She suffers a catastrophic head injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, the injury will trigger a deadly aneurysm. Jet has never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her former best friend turned sister-in-law, her ex-boyfriend. She has at most seven days, and as her condition deteriorates she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something: Jet is going to solve her own murder.

My Thoughts

Not Quite Dead Yet is a thrilling book that takes you with Jet as she tries to find who killed her. Jet has always lived in the shadow of her dead sister, trying to be as good as her even though you can’t compete with a ghost. This is very important to Jet since her entire life, she has always had the mindset that there is always “later”, and she ended up dropping out of college, not really doing anything with her life. When she realizes she has 7 days left to live, she wants to finally be able to accomplish something, proving to her parents that she is not a failure like they think she is. While this is a story about Jet solving her own murder, it also shows her journey of forgiveness and growth, which I really enjoyed. Seeing the main character evolve added some depth to the novel and allowed you to connect with Jet.

Something I would recommend is reading this book with other people because there will be a lot to discuss, from shocking discoveries to opinions on Jet and her actions! I read this book with one of my friends in a book club and it was so fun to discuss all of our suspicions about murder suspects and the secrets characters might be hiding. When Jet made important or even controversial decisions, we often asked each other what we would have done, why, and whether Jet made a good choice. I also felt that seeing another person’s perspective helped me better understand the plot and notice things I otherwise would have missed.

While Not Quite Dead Yet is an adult book, I believe it is most likely fine to read if you have read her YA books like Five Survive or A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. Jet regularly uses strong language unlike the characters in Jackson’s other books, with Jet cussing in her day to day life, which could make it more adult. Also, the concept of a brain aneurysm as a cause of death is a more complex way to die than your average murder book. Just be mindful when reading this book that there is murder, blood, trauma and grief. I hope you read and enjoy this exciting book!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh

by
Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Let me introduce you to The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh, an incredibly moving historical tale about the story of three girls during the Ukrainian Holodomor. I picked this book off of the Nutmeg shelf at my local library, which is an award they give to children’s all the way to high school books in Connecticut. There are a few books selected each year in every age category and they tend to be great reads, but this time, I was not ready for the whirlwind of emotions that followed picking this book off the shelf. It is told in three perspectives, Mila, Helen, and Matthew. One day during COVID, Matthew is ordered by his mom to stop playing video games and to help his great grandmother declutter some of the boxes she has in her room. Matthew just wants to play on his Nintendo Switch but after realizing that isn’t an option, he reluctantly agrees to help. His grandmother has never really talked much about her life and all he knows is that she almost starved in some Ukrainian famine but as soon as he opens the first box, he learns much more. The past is told by Mila, who is the daughter of a Ukrainian Oligarch and Helen, who lives in New York as the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants. Both girls are living in the 1930’s while Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union, which is where Mila lives. It was so exciting and heartbreaking to watch their stories unravel, I hope you read this important historical tale.

Goodreads Summary

A middle-grade survival story that traces a family secret back to the Holodomor, a terrible famine that devastated Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s. Thirteen-year-old Matthew is miserable. His journalist dad is stuck overseas indefinitely, and his mom has moved in his one-hundred-year-old great-grandmother to ride out the pandemic, adding to his stress and isolation. But when Matthew finds a tattered black-and-white photo in his great-grandmother’s belongings, he discovers a clue to a hidden chapter of her past, one that will lead to a life-shattering family secret. Set in alternating timelines that connect the present-day to the 1930s and the US to the USSR, Katherine Marsh’s latest novel sheds fresh light on the Holodomor – the horrific famine that killed millions of Ukrainians, and which the Soviet government covered up for decades. Inspired by Marsh’s own family history.

My Thoughts

Wow, wow, wow, that is all I can say after reading this masterpiece. This is a book about a horrible time but the story is told beautifully. I usually don’t cry when I read a book, even if they are really sad but I shed a few tears at the end of this novel. So many unexpected things happen and you find yourself on the edge of your seat the entire time, hoping that the characters will be okay. Marsh NAILED Mila’s perspective, making us understand how blinded by Soviet propaganda Mila was. Before this book, I had never even heard of the Holodomor, and it is so powerful that The Lost Year brings to light this disgusting period of human history, which everybody should know about.

Also, heads up, you should read the Author’s Note because it just makes the story so much more special and important. All in all, I think The Lost Year is a book everybody should read because of the beautiful writing and gripping story. I hope you enjoy this book!

I would recommend this book for ages 13+ because of the difficult topics including death, genocide, the Soviet Union and grief.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

by
Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Let me introduce you to… Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray! A fantastic historical fiction novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat! This book is told from three locations in time, one in a small town in Germany during WWII, another in West Berlin in the 1980s, and the last one in Brooklyn, during COVID. All of these settings are told in third-person omniscient narration, meaning you get to see these worlds through the eyes of, essentially, an all-knowing cloud, which knows all the characters’ feelings and tells the story that way. I read this book with my mom, in our book club, and it was amazing to discuss all of the important events happening in this book! I would highly recommend finding someone to read Under the Same Stars with, since it helps you dig deeper into the themes and meaning of the story. We loved this book and I hope you do too!

Goodreads Summary

It was said that if you write to the Bridegroom’s Oak, the love of your life will answer back. Now, the tree is giving up its secrets at last.

In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom’s Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.

In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.

In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are slogging through the last few months of senior year when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.

My Thoughts

Under the Same Stars is an amazing novel, which led me to think more deeply about how history connects to our current lives, and what we can learn from it. I love that this novel is told from three different perspectives, since it makes the story a lot more interesting and complex, although at the beginning, my mom found the perspectives a bit difficult to follow; though as we kept on reading, this problem went away, as the storylines became more connected and we began to remember the characters better. I love that this book always kept me and my mom on our toes, we were always making theories about what could happen next, and mostly being surprised when something else happened! Out of all of the characters, I think Jenny was the most fun to talk about with my mom. Her actions were always so irrational that we couldn’t help discussing what we would have done, and what potentially caused her to act that way. Along with its detailed characters, Under the Same Stars is also written beautifully. The way that Libba Bray puts moments into words is spectacular, adding complexity and emotion into the story. My favorite quote is “Don’t die in the waiting room of the future”(Bray 68), which I find very inspirational and motivating.

Under the Same Stars was so good that my mom and I took it on vacation and still finished it on time, which is very unusual for us. This book just kept on getting more exciting so we had to keep on reading! Additionally, if you appreciate when a book has a nice cover, when you take the sleeve off of Under the Same Stars, which we did so it wouldn’t get ripped on the flight, there is a beautiful golden tree on the front! The tree is so detailed, and fits with the gorgeous red tree rings on the unbound edges of the book! This book has received a handful of compliments, which has never happened to another book I have read! I will embed a photo below so you can see! Under the Same Stars is an amazing book that both my mom and I loved, so I hope you will enjoy it too!

I would recommend Under the Same Stars for ages 14+, because of the difficult topics, advanced reading level, and the complex storyline. Some of the more difficult topics in this book include WWII, the COVID pandemic, George Floyd, homophobia, violence, and death.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

by
Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

I am so excited to present to you… Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid! This breathtaking story brings you along the life of one of the first women astronauts to be hired by NASA, and the challenges that come with that. Atmosphere is a historical fiction novel which takes place in the early 1980’s. I found it really interesting and inspiring to learn about how the women astronauts faced sexual discrimination but still fought for a place on spaceships. While the subtitle on the cover, “A Love Story,” suggests that this book is all about love, I found it to have a different meaning than I expected. While this book does have a romantic relationship, I would say it is more about Joan’s love for space, her niece Frances, and the universe in general. There are also a lot of amazing, and thought-provoking quotes in this book, and one of my favorites was, “To look up at the nighttime sky is to become a part of a long line of people throughout human history who looked above at the same set of stars. It is to witness time unfolding”(Jenkins Reid 44).


Goodreads Summary

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space. Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant. Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.

My Thoughts

Wow, this book was so impressive! When I first picked up Atmosphere from my local Free Little Library (on the day it was released, no less!), I was excited, but I did not expect the way that Atmosphere would play with my emotions, making me overjoyed in one moment, and frustrated at the characters in the next. Since I have wanted to read Carrie Soto is Back by her, as soon as I spotted her name, I instantly grabbed the book! I was on a walk with my mom and wanted to check out the newest Free Little Library, which just opened in our neighborhood! This was my first book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I assure you, it will not be my last! The space setting of this book made it so interesting, with the historical feature being even more intriguing! Coming along with Joan as she discovers her identity really makes you able to feel what she is going through and enjoy the book more. I love everything about Atmosphere, and I hope you enjoy it as well!

While Atmosphere is technically an Adult book, I believe it just as easily could have been classified under Young Adult, since there wasn’t anything that you wouldn’t find in a Young Adult book. I think the only reason it is an adult book is most likely the fact that it is about an adult, and her struggles. For these reasons, I would recommend this book for ages 14+!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**