I’ve read a lot of good books so far this year. From comics to novels, I think I have liked all of the books I’ve read. But five really stood out to me. So here are my top five books I read this year.
5. Wonder
Wonder is really good. It’s about a kid called Auggie who was born with facial deformities. He had surgeries, but they didn’t help that much. He’s been home-schooled most of his life – until fifth grade (which is middle school there). He goes to middle school and has to deal with bullies, hate, loneliness, and friend drama. This is a wonder-ful book (haha, get it?) and teaches you about people’s true selves, how kindness is always important, and how split-second decisions matter.
4. Impossible Creatures
Impossible Creatures takes you into another realm – one full of creatures and objects unimaginable. It starts from the perspective of a boy named Chris, who accidentally stumbles upon the Archipelago, a group of unmapped islands that contain mythical creatures. Enter Mal, a girl with the ability to fly, who is the target of an assassin. Mal and Chris team up, and defeat the hit man, but unravel more secrets along the way. This book is awesome, as it has mystery, fantasy, and danger all mixed up together.
3. Amari & the Night Brothers
I read Amari & the Night Brothers because of Battle of the Books, but grew to love it. It’s about Amari, a girl whose brother went missing a few years back, figuring out what her brother actually did. Turns out he worked in the supernatural world, which has been hidden from us. When Amari enters the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she only wants to find her brother, but ends up being a magician – who in this book are super powerful villains hungry for power. This book is amazing and has a theme of fighting against prejudice all throughout it.
2. Alone
If you are looking for a survival story, this is a great one to last for the ages. It’s about Maddie, a teenager who is left behind during a mysterious evacuation. The best part is: no one realizes she’s missing. Her mom thinks she’s with her dad, and her dad thinks she’s with her mom. She has to survive through natural disasters, lack of water, and shortages of food. This is told in free verse, and let me tell you – I didn’t think I’d like free verse, but this is one to get you hooked.
1. The Last Dragon on Mars
To be completely honest, I picked up this book from the bookstore because of the cover. I started reading it, though, and within the first chapter, I realized I had made the right decision. It’s about Lunar, a kid born on Mars, who discovers Dread, a dragon. With Dread choosing Lunar as his rider, it upsets the military’s plan and throws the whole schedule out of whack. When other dragons are right around the corner, though, Lunar needs to train – and train fast. Will he be able to save his dying planet? This book is an interesting mix of sci-fi and fantasy and puts an interesting spin on dragon culture.
RELATED STORIES:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53240817-amari-and-the-night-brothers?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_5
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49202861-alone
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/wonder
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-last-dragon-on-mars-the-dragonships-book-1
https://www.readingzone.com/books/impossible-creatures/
TAKE ACTION:
I would suggest buying these books at your local independent bookstore, but if you can’t, you can buy it on Amazon at the following links.
