The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern reviewed by Cianna Yanger

 “The circus arrives without warning…”

These haunting words are the first signal of an opening door into a beautiful world of magic and illusions, romance, and a tragic game turning into a beautiful collaboration. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is like reading a fairy tale: Tragic, Romantic, and Fantastic.

Two magicians, now too old to challenge one another, play a game of skill via proxy. The game is simple: Which is the proper approach to magic? To be naturally talented or to be taught it as a strict set of rules? The protagonists of the story, Celia and Marco, are bound to this game by their teachers, and compete within the ethereal Cirque de Reveres. The two, however, fall in love, and the Circus quickly goes from a battleground to a beautiful collaboration. Little do they know of the deadly wager their mentors’ have, and soon Celia and Marco are faced with difficult choices that leave the very being of the circus and all connected to it hanging in the balance.

With its beautiful imagery, likable characters, minute details that burst into significance, and a plot that keeps the reader guessing and wanting more and more of the Cirque de Reveres, The Night Circus is sure to catch your attention and keep you hooked. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll become a reveur as well.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins reviewed by Tamalin Salisbury

What would you do if the world you knew ended? What would happen if you found out that your entire life up until this moment had been just a sick game where you were a pawn and the kings and queens manipulated you to your limits? What would you do? Where’s Peeta? All of these questions were running through Katniss’ mind when she woke up in a hospital bed in the secret District 13. With her home destroyed and her promises broken, all she can do is wander around the halls of the district and hide from the numerous guards in charge of keeping her together. But when the rebels decide to use her to strike at the Capitol, she decides to use every waking moment to find out the truth of what’s going on, and to finally stop the Capitol and all its tyranny.

            With friends revealed, plots uncovered, and secrets kept, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is sure to wow the audience with the insanely complex twists and turns that the main character is put through. Follow Katniss as she struggles both internally and externally with herself in order to find out the truth about her life and the lives of those around her. I’d recommend this book to anyone who has stuck with the story so far. As with the rest of the series,  Mockingjay is sure to catch your attention and keep you in suspense. 

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins reviewed by Tamalin Salisbury

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is the second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have just won the 75th Hunger Games, and for the first time in the history of the games, there are two winning tributes who also happen to be from the same district. Both Katniss and Peeta are allowed to go back home to District 12, where they will begin their new lives as Victors. Being a Victor has its perks, such as a new, very nice house, a place of honor in the history of the Capitol, and getting enough food to keep their families fed for the rest of their lives. However, there are also some downsides to being a Victor, one of them being the obligation of going around to the different Districts in what is known as the Victory Tour.

The Victory Tour isn't as happy and cheerful as the name suggests. While on their tour, Katniss and Peeta discover that the Victory Tour entails so much more than just waving and looking pretty for the crowd. These people are the families and friends of the other Tributes who died--no, were killed, in the Games, by Peeta and Katniss. How will these crowds react to the deaths of their loved ones by the Victors' hands? How will Peeta and Katniss react to the families of the friends, and enemies that were made during the Games? If you enjoy suspense, love triangles, and politicians being made absolute fools, read onward and find out what happens as these two Victors from District 12 embark on what is sure to be an interesting tour of the Capitol.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins reviewed by Alejo Lujan

Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, is a spectacular book that will take interests of many people. It is the first of an interesting and adventurous trilogy. This book has a quality of an action pack thriller with an excited teen romance novel. The main character of this novel is Katniss Everdeen. Coming from district twelve and expected to return home after a promise to her mother and younger sister, she fights to stay alive in the games with cleverness and hunting skills. She is face with certain death with the capitol closely watching her exact movement. The Capitol is a dictating and cruel government enslaving the 12 districts. Their punishment for the rebellion is having children slaughter each other.

The games are traditional to district residents. Every year two tributes of the opposite sex are chosen to participate. They will compete for their lives against a total 24 opponents. Only one will succeed and return with a prize of wealth and fame to their districts. Katniss Everdeen replaces her younger sister Prim from facing her death. She is accompanied with allies she has made and finds unusual emotions for fellow tributes and love ones.

Katniss is a beautiful, smart, and skilled girl with respectful morals. Her attitude is focused on the safety of herself, friends and the survival of her family. She has magnificent hunting skills and precise with her bow and arrow. She hunts with her best friend Gale in the woods entertaining each other with secrets and new skills to learn. The vibe between them is as if they are one. The natural connection to be with each other is powerful. Unfortunately she must attend to the games and leave love ones behind with Peeta, her fellow tribute, to try to survive. With the two relying on one another for protection to deceive the capitol slowly evolves into a romance. Katniss is faced with a difficult task with mixed emotions for two loves. I recommend this book for its variety of genres and attracting to mystery, romance, and thrill lovers. This book truly lives up to its reputation of rich quality and inspiration to readers.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins reviewed by Alejo Lujan

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the second book of The Hunger Games trilogy, has awed me. This book really puts you on edge and keeps you on your toes for twists. It brings a whole new excitement and mystery.  It has more detailed emotions between her two loves, her family, and the capitol. She has won the games along with Peeta cleverly and carefully. She is back home but with Peeta ignoring her. Emotions became a stir when Katniss revealed the truth. With the capitol outraged about her rebellious performance, she has sparked the thought of a rebellion in the districts. She tries to extinguish the fired districts. She yet again faces a new worry.

            After returning home, things around district were not the same except for the poverty and misery. She has time to relax and erase the thought of the games and its horror. Reunited with her family and friends, she chooses to keep valued things and once more goes out to hunt. Gale has less time to spend with her. He works in the mines, Peeta returns to baking. Her vacation will be over soon when she leaves to tour the districts. The tributes must give a speech and a banquet is held for each district.  Heat begins to rise during the tour, When they return home, there is a new surprise waiting. Katniss’ senses tell her it will not be good.

            Peeta and Katniss continue to deceive when they must return to the hunger games for the Quarter Quarll. This Quarll is the 75^th anniversary of the games. It happens every 25 years.

Their mentor, Haymitch, was the winner of The 50 anniversary Quarll. This Quarll will have 24 tributes that were winners of the past games compete once more. It is one of the capitols sick and cruel ideas. They are devastated that they have to leave their lives and families once more.

Peeta and Katniss occupy an alliance with tributes from other districts. They stink together in the games and help figure ways to escape death traps. Survival is key in their mindset. The tribute’s intention is to kill of enemies. Katniss’ is trying hard to keep Peeta alive. She is returning the favor from the last games. All goes well until she takes her eyes off him.

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult reviewed by Jesselyn Sangon

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult is one of many heartwarming books that she has written. The book is about a music therapist named Zoe Baxter who goes through many difficulties in her life in finding a person who understands her. The book's chapters are titled by the tracks the author wrote to give you a feeling of the story and the characters in the story itself. The author includes two other main characters. That way, the reader gets to read or visualize not only Zoe's mind and inner thoughts but also the experiences of the other two characters. In the book, you'll read about the struggle Zoe goes through to get what she wants; however, she is not alone in this struggle.

I think that if you were to read this book, I'd recommend you read the book with an open mind. The book has two different sides and when reading it would be in the best interest to not be biased. Picoult has really shined a light on one of the major issues that people deal in their lives.  I thought that this book is amazing and worth reading. I would recommend it to people who like reading about case studies, political issues, struggles, relationships,  falling in love, and religion. Sing you home by Jodi Picoult would not only give the reader an insight on different lifestyles but it would also broaden one’s view of people.

Mariquita reviewed by Rico Diaz

              This is an interesting and tragic story for anyone, especially any local from Guam. The book, Mariquita, is basically about a young lady growing up in pre-WWII Guam, who finds a nice, young, American navy man and marries him only to be torn apart from him a couple years later when Japanese troops storm the beaches of Guam and hold the island captive, thus commencing WWII in the Pacific, along with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on the same day.

            The story is interesting but just lacks certain qualities that are quite noticeable throughout the book. The way the author puts the story, he bounces around throughout the story to different topics and kind of loses you. Some grammatical errors are made, which means they have failed to properly edit and revise the story. The whole book just fails to pull you in and experience the hardship that Mariquita was going through. It’s disappointing in a way that you want a book on Guam to be perfect and a good read. With this book, it’s just impossible. I found myself at times struggling to read on because of my lack of being entertained.

            So for those looking for a good read, this is one that I do not recommend. Instead, if you’re one who does not care and just wants to read a book on a true Guam story for a sense of pride, then this is an appropriate read. Overall the book lacks many things but there’s still a little to be interested and worth the time to read.