Violence – Unleashing Readers

Student Voices: Reflections on the Current State of the World from Livie S. and Edie M.

May 29, 2026 by Kellee

Reflections on the Current State of the World

What prohibits schools from having an active school library? by Livie, 7th grade

Most schools around the United States have a library, but it’s even better if they have an active one. Libraries are essential for student growth in their education. There are many reasons that affect a school library’s ability to do this though. Currently in the United States, there have been many budget cuts and natural events that have had an impact on the library society. In this blog post, I will be discussing many aspects that have an effect on school libraries, and what an active school library consists of

Why Libraries are Important

We are all told that libraries are important at some point or another by various people but the question still remains: WHY? They boost student learning and help to build a closer school community. Libraries are fundamental in the growth of a student and their school career. Studies have proven this, from 2007-2008 having more school libraries that host events like literacy week and are an active part in the well-being of the school, test scores increased drastically, the typical student that would usually be seen getting a 70-80 on standardized literary tests was now seen getting a 90-100.

Defining the Term

What does it mean by active school library? Active school libraries are libraries that are taking part in school functions such as literacy night. It could also be things as little as taking into consideration what books students would want to read. By taking into consideration I mean having books in libraries that are not only new but also interesting. These are just many ways to define what an active school library really is.

Budget Cuts

A lot of libraries across America are suffering from budget cuts. This is not just limited to school libraries but does have an effect on them. On Monday, February 10th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order at the White House that would mandate the reduction of seven governmental agencies, one of which included the IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Systems) and the Department of Education. The IMLS is a government agency that regulates and funds the country’s libraries and museums while the Department of Education ensures that schools across the country are giving their students what they need. Reducing these agencies means making them smaller, which in turn would mean cutting libraries all across the U.S. This is very important to schools because some of their libraries fall under the category of being cut in the reduction. Seminole County Schools in Florida are primarily without librarians because of this. Yes, while the students still have access to libraries, many do not have an actual librarian or dedicated full-time staff in the library. This affects having an active school library because how can there be events if there is no dedicated librarian to set up events. On another note, because of the ILMS and DOE funding being cut, several school libraries are without a clerk, deeply affecting the library setting because now all jobs are placed on the librarian’s shoulders.

Expectations of Student Learning

While all of this is happening students are still expected to get high test scores. If students do not have the adequate resources at their usage how is it fair to expect this. It is scientifically proven that students with access to resources in a school library perform higher on tests. Many books in the library would have words a student may not have seen before and that is to their benefit; it leads them to ask questions or even look it up. This helps students grow their vocabulary and comprehension skills. Nonfiction books exist to inform people about the real world. While fiction is a great escape from reality… reality is still there and students, and especially adults, need to be informed. History books are especially crucial to make sure that history does not repeat itself (although that may be happening).

Expectations on Librarians Themselves

Sometimes, or rather most times, librarians are expected to be more than just a librarian. They are expected to host many events throughout the year, such as setting up picture day, distributing laptops, state testing, and even writing the school newsletter. These jobs by themselves wouldn’t be too much to ask of a staff member because most of them happen at different times throughout the year but to also expect librarians to maintain the inviting atmosphere of the library and be an educator within the school while doing these tasks every week/month is unreasonable. While picture day and distributing laptops is not a weekly thing, yearbooks and weekly newsletters are. The librarians may also be asked to sub for other classes if that class is without a sub thus leaving the library unable to be attended or open on that day. Essentially, librarians are being treated not as teacher with a daily job but as disposable. You shouldn’t ask a teacher to stop teaching that day’s lesson just because they needed some copies made or someone to handle behavior, but sadly that is what is happening to most librarians across the U.S. Most libraries are called a media center because the title makes it so that the librarians can be called media specialists, expanding the jobs they can be asked to do.

Statistics: Decrease in Librarians

Covid has had a big effect on the school librarian population. A study was done in 2020-2021 to reflect this and here are some of the facts from this study.

29.5% of schools across America reported not having librarians or not having a designated staff member for the library.
Seven out of ten charter schools are without a full time librarian
37.8% of western schools were without librarians, while southern schools had 22.2% of schools without librarians.
Smaller schools (less than 200 students) were more likely to have their library cut
Bigger schools (2,000+ students) had an increase in the number of schools without librarians 10.8% to 16.3%
34.9% of city schools reported no librarian
29.5% of town schools had no librarian
57% of combined schools (k-8, k-12) had no librarian or library program at all
33.8% of hispanic schools had no librarians
32.5% of poverty serving schools (schools that their main population are students living in poverty) are without a librarian
The states with the highest percentage of schools without librarians are: Alaska(55.2%), Minnesota(50.6%), Hawaii(50.2%), West Viginia(50%), Michigan(49.9%).

These facts are quite sad because literacy is an important part of student learning. Librarians are the fundamental base for a good library and without them libraries are unable to thrive as much as a library with a librarian.

Comparatives

Examples of an active school library and what it looks like:

Hunter’s Creek Middle School (the school I go to) has one of the most active school libraries I can think of and one of the most active school librarians. Yes, I am a little biased but there is evidence to support this. Every year we have an author visit the school, this year we had three, but we still have at least one every year. This is to “advertise” reading to the students. As students visit the author in their ELA classes they get an in person talk with the author. I, for one, have certainly been encouraged to read these authors’ books after I have seen them. Another example is that we host literacy night every year for the coming author to encourage their books. We have rooms set up around the campus that are related to the author’s books. This year, we invited the 5th graders from their elementary school so that they could walk around the school and get familiar with our campus. We also have a Google form where students can fill out what books they would like to see in our library. Although, it does take some time to get these books in the library, the books almost always end up in our library. On another note, there is a reading challenge called Eagle Super Reader that is a paper that you fill out with twenty-five books you’ve read throughout the year and get prizes plus an end of year party. This really encourages kids to read because who wouldn’t want to skip school for a day and hang out in the library? This is just a little bit of the whole lot Ms. Moye does for our library and our school. All of these things and events she sets up all help make reading a little more fun for the students. They help to encourage students to read more, expanding their vocabulary and making them more educated. This is one example of an active school library and its effect on the students of which it serves.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, active school libraries are an excellent resource to have but there are certain obstacles that lessen one’s ability to do so. Such as budget cuts and the absence of a full-time librarian. There are schools that have been able to pull this off though, and that has greatly impacted student learning and reading capabilities. All in all, having an active school library is an amazing thing that I hope more students will get the opportunity to have in their educational careers.

Is The Hunger Games our future? by Edie, 8th grade

After reading Layla N.s’ post from last year (https://www.unleashingreaders.com/29146) I was inspired to expand, in light of more recent events (mid 2025-now) like issues regarding much more pressing matters. Such as a major increase in wrongful/ unjust (no fair trial) or violent deportations and racism by ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement), there has also been an increase homelessness and inadequate housing all over the world that was not discussed in the previous post. There has also been another development since the first post; the announced Patriot Games happening summer 2026, which provide many parallels to The Hunger Games universe. The Hunger Games is a dystopian book series converted into movies. Here is a short summary of the plot: There are 12 districts in the country of Panem (originally 13 districts, just like the original 13 colonies!). The Capitol controls all of the districts, in an elected dictatorship type of way, and Panem (the country with all the districts/where The Hunger Games take place) is run with an extremely tyrannical government. Each district provides something for the Capitol, however they cannot trade with other districts, and are forbidden to leave the one they were born in.. Except if they are reaped. The reaping was installed after the districts rebelled against the Capitol and failed, as a punishment for them. The reaping is a part of The Hunger Games, in which the reaping is how they get there. To remind them that the Capitol is always stronger, but also to remind them how “generous” they are. I will explain more of The Hunger Games in their comparison section to the upcoming Patriot Games, but for now that is where I will end the summary. The 3 topics during this post are: Law Enforcement, The Hunger Games vs. The Patriot Games, and Quality of Life.

Law Enforcement

In this section of the post I will be showing and comparing the law enforcement in The Hunger Games vs. The law enforcement in the U.S.. Starting off, the image on the upper right shows people protesting against ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement). President Trump thought this was un-American and deployed the National Guard (to go against their own country!), just because of people simply exercising their 1st amendment rights. The image below shows a similar circumstance, but in The Hunger Games. Peacekeepers (who are the law enforcement in the books), are holding back people protesting against The Hunger Games (also fighting against their own country).

Continuing to the images on the left, both show law enforcement officers holding down protesters, who were later shot dead by those same officers. The one on top shows Alex Pretti, who was filming a detaining by ICE, and mere minutes later, was killed by them. He approached a vehicle with his phone, recording a conflict (he was not prior involved in) with ICE agents. After the person ICE was having a conflict with ran into Alex for safety during the protest, the ICE agent took him as a threat. The agent immediately pepper sprayed him to the ground, and more ICE agents held him and started hitting him. Once the agents removed his (Alex Prettis’) legal carrying firearm, they decided he was still a threat; beaten and bloodied. They then brought out one of their own guns and shot him 10 times.The image below that shows an unnamed man in The Hunger Games series being lifted up on stage, and later shot, because he used a sign of rebellion: lifting the 3 middle fingers and whistling a tune from their district (the same district where a 12 year old girl got murdered in The Hunger Games: District 11). The constitution most likely does not matter/ no longer exist in The Hunger Games universe and it was probably legal for Peacekeepers to do this. It is not legal today. Though the 2 situations are awfully similar: murdered because of protesting. Why are our Constitutional rights slowly disappearing?

The Hunger Games v.s The Patriot Games

“The Patriot Games” “The Hunger Games”. One. Word. Off. The Patriot Games is an event President Trump announced for 2026, to celebrate America’s 250th year of freedom from Great Britain. They require 1 male and 1 female tribute from each state. These tributes for being the top high school student athlete in the state (you read that right; high school; children). Then, they will go to the capital (D.C.) and fight for their (the Capitals) entertainment, and it is unstated whether this will continue annually. The Hunger Games was created by the capitol after the districts lost a rebellion/war to them. It was to show them that they were superior, and was like an annual punishment. The rules were that 1 male and 1 female (ages 12-18) will be reaped (chosen) from each territory. Reaping day was on July 4th/Americas’ Independence Day. The parallels are obvious. 1 male and 1 female child selected from each territory to go fight in the Capitol, for the Capitols enjoyment. Now what happens to the tributes in the Patriot games who do not win is unstated, whether they get anything, or just go home. Luckily it is not a fight to death scenario , but the winners are bathed in riches just as the victor in The Hunger Games. These rules play into what the Capitol stated in The Hunger Games, ruling that the games are used to show that they will always be more powerful, and then the winner being shown mercy and money is a reminder of their “generosity”.

Quality of Life

Next, quality of life in the world now versus quality of life in the districts. Starting off, world hunger is a very prominent issue and affects almost 1/10th of the population. Homelessness affects roughly 3% of the world population. These problems lead to awful living in many countries (as shown in the image on the upper right). In the districts from The Hunger Games, specifically district 12, we see lots of horrible living conditions along with many people starving. We even see this in the main character herself (Katniss Everdeen), nearly starving to death, simply because her district didn’t get enough rations for the winter. We also see people living on the streets, or in extremely small and damaged homes (upper left photo), much like present day poverty which affects 9% of the population. Through these we see many similarities with the way people live in these 2 worlds; on the worse side of it.

Now with people on the better side; I am going to compare citizens in the Capitol of Panem, and the billionaires of our world. The amount of rich people in Panem compared to the amount of people in the districts (living in lesser quality of life) is miniscule, yet they rule the country. They usually have ridiculously pricey houses, and outfits (lower left photo). The billionaires in our world are also extremely few (3000 out of more than 8 billion people!). Our billionaires normally have expensive extravagant clothing and homes (lower right), much like the capitol people. Though in small quantities, they have huge influences on our world, through them affecting political standpoints with money. The people who donate are in the 100s; yet every single one of them could obviously spare some of their money that could make a huge difference, but somehow, they are taxed less.

Conclusion

When reading or watching The Hunger Games( or if you haven’t read or watched the series, I hope this post convinced you to do so) you sided with the resistance to The Games/ Capitol right? Why are people still supporting the current state of our country and world when they can clearly see where we could be headed? The similarities between the two universes ( our Earth and The Hunger Games world) are apparent. As of right now, the amount of states in the U.S. who support this is decreasing, but there are still some who will do nothing but praise our way of life. Like in Mockingjay (3rd book in The Hunger Games) in District 2, where loyalty to the Capitol runs deep, they were the last one to surrender and join the rebellion, before the resistance stormed the Capitol. It will take time, but I believe eventually everyone will join the resistance just like in Mockingjay and overthrow our upcoming tyrannical government. Suzanne Collins ( author of The Hunger Games) has said, she only writes when she has something to say. Now this raises a lot of “when will” questions, when will everyone join the resistance? When will we start listening to Suzannes’ writings? When will The Hunger Games become our reality?

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at the state of our world!

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus

January 22, 2026 by Ricki

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, Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus, a thrilling YA mystery told from two perspectives! You follow Brynn as she investigates the murder of her former teacher while being an intern at an up and coming true-crime podcast called Motive. You also get to see the story from Tripp’s eyes, one of the people who found the teacher’s body four years prior. As Brynn and Tripp work together, overcoming their past, they uncover secrets that will change them forever. This book was such an amazing read, and I feel that anyone who enjoyed A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder would absolutely love it!

Goodreads Summary

Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened. The kids who found Mr. Larkin are her way in, and her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot, was one of them. Without his account of events, the other two kids might have gone down for Mr. Larkin’s murder – but instead, thanks to Tripp, they’re now at the top of the Saint Ambrose social pyramid. Tripp’s friends have never forgotten what Tripp did for them that day, and neither has he.

Just like he hasn’t forgotten that everything he told the police was a lie. Digging into the past is bound to shake up the present, and when Brynn begins to investigate what happened in the woods that day, she uncovers secrets that might change everything – about Saint Ambrose, about Mr. Larkin, and about her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot. Four years ago someone got away with murder. More terrifying is that they might be closer than anyone thinks.

My Thoughts

Nothing More to Tell is a riveting story that kept me on the edge of my seat! It is so exciting to see Mr. Larkin’s murder unravel, clue by clue, while Brynn and Tripp investigate. I loved the occasional flashback that Tripp had about the day Mr. Larkin was murdered, which allowed me to combine the information I already knew about the case with small details from when it actually happened. During the story, Brynn is also struggling with her friends, who she has barely talked to in the four years she was in another school. I liked the depth that Brynn’s friend struggles added to this book, making it more relatable than just a murder. Brynn and Tripp’s relationship is also fun to watch, as they decide how they feel about one another. The character dynamic plus the murder makes Nothing More to Tell a fixating read!

I would recommend this book for ages 12+ because of murder and many instances of underage drinking. All in all, Nothing More to Tell is an exciting book that is a must-read for lovers of murder and mystery! Enjoy!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

January 26, 2023 by Ricki

Promise Boys
Author: Nick Brooks
Published: January 31, 2023 by Macmillan

Goodreads Summary: The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying in Nick Brooks’s Promise Boys, a trailblazing, blockbuster mystery about three teen boys of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names—for fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Karen McManus.

“A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery with bruised hearts at its core.” —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

“Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp. Promise Boys will stay with you long after the last page.” —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

The Urban Promise Prep School vows to turn boys into men. As students, J.B., Ramón, and Trey are forced to follow the prestigious “program’s” strict rules. Extreme discipline, they’ve been told, is what it takes to be college bound, to avoid the fates of many men in their neighborhoods. This, the Principal Moore Method, supposedly saves lives.

But when Moore ends up murdered and the cops come sniffing around, the trio emerges as the case’s prime suspects. With all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. But is the true culprit hiding among them?

Ricki’s Review: After reading this book, I adopted it for my young adult literature class this semester. This required me to a) change my book order–which makes several people annoyed, b) adjust my syllabus and move sections around, and c) message the campus book store that, yes, I know that the book isn’t out yet, but I still want them to pre-order it.

I say all of this to demonstrate how much I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. It reminded me of Monster by Walter Dean Mayes a bit in the topic. Three teenage boys are all suspected of murdering their principal. The book is written from the different perspectives and allows the reader to explore any biases they might hold about teenage boys of color. It is set in a very strict school that thinks that hyper discipline will fix kids. This is an important book. I am so glad it exists, and I can’t wait to discuss it with my students.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might use this book for students to analyze the rules that come with their schools and within other systems. They might then write narratives related to the rules that they perceive.

Discussion Questions:

When you were reading the book, who did you think did it?
Why does the school use discipline? What are their assumptions?
What did you learn from this book?

Flagged Spreads: “Rumor has it a student brought a gun to school the day of the murder. You didn’t hear that from me.”

Recommended For:

Teaching Guide and Review!: Water in May by Ismée Amiel Williams

August 24, 2018 by Kellee

Water in May
Author: Ismée Amiel Williams
Published September 12th, 2017 by Abrams Books

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Mari Pujols believes that the baby she’s carrying will finally mean she’ll have a family member who will love her deeply and won’t ever leave her—not like her mama, who took off when she was eight; or her papi, who’s in jail; or her abuela, who wants as little to do with her as possible. But when doctors discover a potentially fatal heart defect in the fetus, Mari faces choices she never could have imagined.

Surrounded by her loyal girl crew, her off-and-on boyfriend, and a dedicated doctor, Mari navigates a decision that could emotionally cripple the bravest of women. But both Mari and the broken-hearted baby inside her are fighters; and it doesn’t take long to discover that this sick baby has the strength to heal an entire family.

Inspired by true events, this gorgeous debut has been called “heartfelt, heartbreaking and—yes!—even a little heart-healing, too” by bestselling YA novelist Carolyn Mackler.

About the Author: Ismée Williams is a pediatric cardiologist who practiced at the Columbia University Medical Center in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City for fifteen years. She currently sees patients at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. As the daughter of a Cuban immigrant, partially raised by her abuelos, her background helped her understand the many Maris she met along the way. Water in May is her first novel.

Praise:

“Full of spot-on cultural texture and packing an emotional punch, this is an unusual take on the teen-pregnancy problem novel… Williams presents her experience in a way that demands not pity but respect while also reminding readers of Mari’s heartbreaking youth and innocence at unexpected times…Fierce and tender—and absolutely worth reading.” — Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

“Mari is a deeply credible character, a girl who’s always spoiling for a fight, usually a physical one, but who’s turning that impulse into fighting for her baby. Williams, formerly a pediatric cardiologist at Columbia, brings vivid authenticity to the medical side of things, including the details of life with a baby in the NICU and the varying personalities of health care personnel.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“This novel is realistic and compelling, heartfelt and heartbreaking all at the same time. The author’s experience as a pediatric cardiologist brings authenticity to her writing as much as does her experience of navigating cultural barriers. Young adult readers will connect with Mari’s feisty personality, strength, and vulnerability.” — VOYA Magazine

Review: Mari’s story is one that isn’t often told. Mari is someone most people would see on the streets and would try to ignore because getting to know her would be getting to know how hard life in America can be. But Mari is also someone who is stronger than many of us will ever be. Her story is one that will make readers think about assumptions OR will help readers see a mirror into struggles they may be having in life. Although I hope teens don’t see Mari’s story as an invitation for a teenage pregnancy, I believe the truth of her hardships show the tremendous change a baby brings to life and will show that Mari’s decisions are made out of desperation when there are other paths she could have taken. Some who read the book have said they don’t like Mari as a character, but I found that when Mari was frustrating, it was because she was acting like what she is: a fifteen-year-old girl trying to find her place in this crazy world.

Teachers Guide with Activities and Discussion Questions written by me:

Guide can also be accessed through Abrams Books’s Resource Page.

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Ismée Williams for finding me and allowing me to complete this guide!**

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi

May 17, 2018 by Ricki

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes
Author: Atia Abawi
Published: January 23, 2018 by Philomel

Guest Review by Rachel Krieger

Summary: In a country ripped apart by war, Tareq lives with his big and loving family . . . until the bombs strike. His city is in ruins. His life is destroyed. And those who have survived are left to figure out their uncertain future.

In the wake of destruction, he’s threatened by Daesh fighters and witnesses a public beheading. Tareq’s family knows that to continue to stay alive, they must leave. As they travel as refugees from Syria to Turkey to Greece, facing danger at every turn, Tareq must find the resilience and courage to complete his harrowing journey.

But while this is one family’s story, it is also the timeless tale of all wars, of all tragedy, and of all strife. When you are a refugee, success is outliving your loss.

Review: This book is astonishing. In a world where people like to avoid talking about awkward things or situations that make us sad, this novel is completely, unapologetically honest. With every horror that Tareq experiences, you will find yourself crying with him, hoping with him, and loving with him. You will wish you could be with Alexia helping these people to find new lives. It is impossible to read Abawi’s story without reflecting on your own life, wondering what destiny would write about you.

If you know nothing about the refugee crises happening all over the world, this story will give you a glimpse into the lives of people struggling every day. Although it only looks into the lives of a few refugees, it gave me an idea of how different the life of a refugee is to my own. Atia Abawi’s story will make you reflect on your own humanity and actions, changing the way you think about the world and your own privilege.

Teacher’s Tool For Navigation: This is the perfect book to start a discussion about the situation in Syria. Since it is so essential to address current events regardless of the sensitive nature of those events, teachers should start conversations about this war-torn region. There are many young adult novels that address immigration, however, this one specifically follows the process of that immigration. It would be very beneficial to have students read a book like this and a book like American Street to look at very different stories of immigration with a few similar characteristics. This book in conjunction with others about immigration could be the perfect opportunity to discuss the idea of the danger of a single story.

This novel also offers a very interesting twist on narration. Since destiny is the narrator of this novel rather than one of the characters, there are small parts of the story that reflect broadly on war and humanity. It could be interesting to have students think about how this odd source of narration changes the story. They could even experiment with their own unique narrators, discussing how these odd points of view add or detract from stories.

Discussion Questions: What does the perspective switch add to the novel? Do you think a book like this is likely to encourage people to support this cause? How does Destiny as the narrator change this story? How would this story change if Tareq was a woman?

We Flagged: “Making it to Germany ended Tareq’s crossing and escape from war, but his new life as a refugee is just beginning. There are millions of Tareq’s, Susans and Fayeds, all in search of safety and kindness. I hope you will provide that warmth, be that helper, do what you can to make that world a better place. Because when I meet you—and I will—there will be reckoning. There always is.”

Read This If You Loved: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Supetys, American Street by Ibi Zoboi, Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert

Recommended For:

Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge

April 19, 2018 by Ricki

Mary’s Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein
Author: Lita Judge
Published: January 30th, 2018 by Roaring Book Press

Summary: A young adult biography of Frankenstein’s profound young author, Mary Shelley, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of its publication, told through free verse and 300+ full-bleed illustrations.

Mary Shelley first began penning Frankenstein as part of a dare to write a ghost story, but the seeds of that story were planted long before that night. Mary, just nineteen years old at the time, had been living on her own for three years and had already lost a baby days after birth. She was deeply in love with famed poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, a mad man who both enthralled and terrified her, and her relationship with him was rife with scandal and ridicule. But rather than let it crush her, Mary fueled her grief, pain, and passion into a book that the world has still not forgotten 200 years later.

Dark, intense, and beautiful, this free-verse novel with over 300 pages of gorgeous black-and-white watercolor illustrations is a unique and unforgettable depiction of one of the greatest authors of all time.

Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Whew. I felt so many emotions as I read this book. I kept thinking, “My goodness, my students are going to love this book.” I was fortunate to receive two copies of this book in the mail, and those two copies have passed from student’s hand to student’s hand. The book doesn’t even make its way back up to my desk before another student snags it. This book defies genre sorting. It’s nonfiction, it’s horror, it’s romance, it’s an illustrated book in verse. I’ve already added it to my book list to teach next semester in my Adolescents’ Literature course.

Students will read this book and want immediately to read Frankenstein. The book reads fairly quickly because it contains verse and illustrations, but readers will struggle not to pause for several minutes to enjoy the beautiful illustrations on the pages.

I’m most excited about the classroom potential for this book. It offers so much to talk about regarding characterization, mood, and poetry. But it also offers a beautiful bridge to read with Frankenstein. I thought I knew a lot about Mary Shelley’s life, but this book told me so much more about it. Reading her story on these pages made me feel as if I was experiencing her life alongside her. If you haven’t read this book yet, I recommend it highly.

Discussion Questions: What factors may have influenced Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein? In what ways does the author use metaphor and symbolism to help us understand her experiences?; What might be the author’s purpose? Is she successful, in your opinion?; What textual features helped you understand Mary’s story? How might this book read differently if the author had used another form?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; Horror; Gothic Literature

Recommended For:

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

February 1, 2018 by Ricki

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
Author: Julie C. Dao
Published: October 10, 2017 by Philomel

Guest Review by Kaari von Bernuth

Goodreads Summary: An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl’s quest to become Empress–and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng’s majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?

Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins–sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.

Kaari’s Review: The entire time, I wasn’t entirely sure if the protagonist was the hero or the villain. And, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing! I appreciated this book because it made me think. I’d be cheering for Xifeng and wanting her to win, and then she’d do an awful thing to help her win, and I’d be repulsed by her. This book highlights the struggle of ambition, and how difficult it is for a woman to achieve the dreams she has. And, while I am off put by Xifeng’s methods and don’t necessarily think they were the right decisions, her actions and the way she achieves power could spark great discussions.

The setting and the plot of this book was thrilling, and I Ioved the way that fantasy was woven into a world so seamlessly. The creatures and ideas introduced were thought provoking and had amazing descriptions that made me feel like I was living in the enchanted world with the characters. I do wish that there had been some more resolution regarding some of the magical beings and the warnings they gave, but I think that Dao intends for this to be the first in a series, and I’m sure that more resolution will come in later novels.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I would definitely include this book in a classroom library for kids to check out if they want to read it. However, while this book is interesting, and explores an interesting take on female empowerment, I don’t think I would teach this book in a classroom setting, or use it in literature circles. I am a huge advocate for female empowerment, and discussing the paths for women to claim their power. However, I think that because Xifeng’s methods were so morally questionable, and readers aren’t sure if Xifeng is a hero or a villain, that Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is not the best novel to discuss for this topic. There are many other books that discuss female empowerment in a much more productive light. So, I’d include it in a classroom library, but not necessarily teach it in any way.

Discussion Questions: Do you think Xifeng’s methods were justifiable?; What does the social hierarchy look like in this novel?; Is Xifeng a hero or a villain in this story?; What is the effect of portraying a strong female protagonist in this way?; How is the fantasy world characterized?

We Flagged: “‘I’m a good man, Xifeng. I let you have your own way and speak your mind…’

‘You think I don’t know that? That I’m so blind and stupid?’

‘Yes, I do!’ he shouted, his face bright red. ‘I offer you the world…’

‘Yes, the world as you see it!’

‘I saved you from that evil woman!’

‘Only to trap me yourself.’ She watched him turn away and run a trembling hand over his head. ‘I was Guma’s, and now you want me to be yours. I have my own soul and my own destiny, and I’m tired of belonging to someone else’” (Advanced Reader Copy p. 125).

Read This If You Loved: Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu; Gunpowder Alchemy by Jeannie Lin; Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

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**Thank you to Kaari for reviewing this book!**