Like most teenagers, my time for reading has gone down with responsibilities. However, due to an unprecedented injury that opened up my time, I finally had an opportunity to rekindle my lost habit. The injury involved my hands.

At first, I could not turn pages. Then, turning pages became possible as I recovered. Beginning sometime in the late fall, I started to read again. (Let this proximity to Christmas explain the festive wreath backdrop for the first couple book pictures). With AP US History still a fresh and fond memory from the prior school year, I picked up a collection of short stories about American history. Unfortunately, in the winter, I then pulled my hamstring during track season, and opened up even more time to read. Although I would rather have my hands and leg back, I've had a good time reading.

So here is a review of all the books I read this school year, in the order I read them. I look forward to setting a reading goal for the summer as I did last summer. I am an open ear to anyone who has a book recommendation; please leave a comment if you have one.

Shocking Secrets of American History

Bill Coate

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Rating: 8/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

A well-researched collection of vignettes throughout history. This is a type of book you read sporadically, one story here and there, rather than cover to cover at one time. It was entertaining, and gave voice to less-influential-in-comparison figures and snapshots in time that are swallowed up as part of a larger topic in a textbook or video. I learned the origin of Taps, how the war of 1812 could have been avoided had the world had the quick communication of today, and inspiring Civil War stories.

Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be

Frank Bruni

Rating: 7/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

Had very sound logic and common sense, a voice of reason in the din of the college admission system. For that is what is: a system to snare high school students and parents alike into unreasonable anxiety and mania. The book met my already indignant perspective on this topic: the subject hits close to home because I know friends and acquaintances whose high school experiences are being marred by unreasonably anxious parents who seem to believe that life's purpose is get into a top school.

Thankfully, the mania does not reach my parents, and I evaded this swarm of anxiety. I have sympathy for those that have not.

The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead

Rating: 9/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

This book lingered on my subconscious “to-read” list for a couple years. I am glad I did not act on that thought until now. I felt the sense of gnawing anxiety, desperation, and qualified hope along with the main character, Cora.

However, the reason for many of these emotions are violent happenings. This is admirable writing and well-thought out context for the actions of Cora and Caesar. However, I would recommend it only for ages 15+. This book details the worst of slave plantation treatment, and the reality of many stabs at freedom via the Underground Railroad.

Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen

Rating: 9.5/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

Sense and Sensibility employs typical Jane Austen themes of marriage, tradition, gender, love, and societal expectations. It follows the lives of sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood as they undergo similar situations in their lives. However, the two handle these situations very differently due to their opposite personalities.

I enjoyed Sense and Sensibility because of the elevated diction and attention needed to follow the story. I spend a lot of time on my phone, and I feel it diminishes my attention span. Reading this book was the challenge I needed to start growing it again. However, If you are looking for a riveting read, I would not recommend Sense and Sensibility. The characters are entertaining; but do not expect a quick read. Instead, read it for appreciation of language and 1800s English society.

Stay True

Hua Hsu

Rating: 6.5/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

This is a memoir of a Taiwanese-American man attending college at Cal Berkeley. From the beginning, his identity is confusing: with immigrant parents, finding his place in America is no easy task. Ironically, Hsu does his best to stand out: wearing clothes no one else wears, stop listening to Nirvana once it gets cool.

He is skeptical of anyone who seems to to fit the mold, especially the epitome of this sentiment: Japanese-American classmate Ken. However, the two are drawn to each other. After a tragic event, Hsu is thrown into the world, once again alone, but filled with meditations over identity, perspective and friendship. I gave this memoir a slightly lower rating because the writing seems a little pseudo-profound; artificially deep.

Gone With the Wind

Margaret Mitchell

Rating: 10/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

My mom has recommended this book to me since I was little, and I'm glad I finally took that suggestion. I admire Gone With the Wind, (or rather, Margaret Mitchell) for such deliberate characters and plot line. Not one action was performed which didn't serve a purpose; not one piece of dialogue was uttered without obvious forethought of a character's personality.

This book takes place over twelve years. The South goes through destruction due to the Civil War and the Yankees. However, it is built up again due to the will of these Southerners. I enjoyed watching Scarlett O'Hara over the course of the book: from a naive, spoiled teenager to a battered, yet impregnable young woman. Scarlett, and her lover/nemesis Rhett Butler are exhibits of this strength and ability to adjust. Others, such as Ashley and Melanie Wilkes are “winnowed out:” unable to survive without their old society. Regardless of whether or not a character can make a way for themselves in the aftermath of the Civil War, their old lives and selves are gone with the wind.

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

Rating: 9/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

This book holds special significance for me: while my family and I were living on the East Coast, our neighbors had a cat named Darcy. The brown striped cat was named after Mr. Darcy, an important character in this work. I can see why my neighbors named their cat after this character: his character certainly holds the greatest element of surprise.

Although I read Sense and Sensibility earlier this year, I returned to Jane Austen to read her hallmark work: Pride and Prejudice. Similar to Sense and Sensibility, the book focused on themes of social status, social norms, family honor, and human nature. I once again marveled at Austen's grasp of the nuance of a person's personality.

The book did not hold the freshness of novelty that I experienced reading Austen for the first time. Yet still a good read for the purpose of learning new words and enjoyment of quality writing.

All-American Boys

Ryan Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Rating: 7.5/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

All American Boys is a story of an African-American boy who is wrongly accused of a crime based on his race. Stereotyping happens all the time, both in our subconscious thoughts, to unjust outbreaks of police brutality. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter Protests, All American Boys is a topical book to read.

It points out the dangers of racial stereotyping in the law enforcement world. However, I appreciated the nuance it acknowledged. Not all officers who engage in this brutality intend to inflict violence: instead, they may be thinking of the safety of themselves and their families. All in all, these matters are complex. Take caution before pointing fingers so fast.

I rate this book lower than most of the others because I did not appreciate the more simplistic writing style. Although a topical read, All American Boys does not possess the literary craft that is important to me as a reader.

The Love Hypothesis

Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 10/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

I tend to stray away from rom-com books. However, I wanted to branch out, and after seeing this book come up multiple times both on BookTok and Youtube videos, I was willing to give it a shot. Surprisingly, I was entertained and did not mind wasting my brain on “Cheeto books," as my mom would say.

In other words, books that are fun and easy to read but do not benefit your brain. But don't we all need something a little fun sometimes?

The main characters, Adam and Olive, Stanford professor and Ph.D. student, respectively, have entertaining personalities. Set in the Stanford biology department, Adam agrees to pose as Olive's fake boyfriend. Mysterious, yet confident Adam, finally gets the girl he's been wanting all these years.

Yet it's Olive that changes the most. Olive goes from just trying to get through her last year and graduate to letting herself care about someone without being paranoid that they will leave.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston

Rating: 5/10

Image Credit: Adeline Yang

I do not have much commentary regarding this book. Although I appreciate the story of Janie finally finding satisfaction and completion in life after living with Tea Cake, I did not find this book especially compelling or impactful for me. However, I know that this is considered a classic, so maybe I do not have the capacity to understand it in its fullness.

Conclusion

And that completes my review of all the books I read as a junior in high school. I do not expect to read as much as a senior in high school, as I expect to be healed from my injuries by then. However, this was fun, and I will read as much as possible this coming summer.

If you have a book recommendation, please comment the title and I will give it consideration for reading this summer.