Review by Katie

September 1, 2020

Beloved by Toni Morrison

"Beloved" by Toni Morrison is a historical fiction novel that follows the life of Sethe, a woman born into slavery who escaped to Cincinnati, Ohio. Its use of paranormal elements creates a debate on its place in the horror genre, but the novel’s haunting qualities are undeniable. The book begins in 1873, opening with the description of the haunted house that Sethe and her daughter Denver reside in. The ghost attached to the house is Sethe’s baby daughter’s spirit, who died nameless. The feelings that the residents of this house have toward the ghost are polarizing; Sethe believes it drove her two sons to run away and Paul D, an escaped slave from the same plantation as Sethe, is similarly horrified by it. However, Denver and Sethe are somewhat comforted by it. The novel explores intergenerational trauma and the indelible devastation of slavery that lives with Sethe, even in her freedom. Soon, a mysterious young woman named Beloved enters Sethe’s life in unknown circumstances. As her character becomes understood, the already incredible prose begins to feel revolutionary as it reveals a terrifying insight in an utterly unique way.

Review by Paige

July 9, 2020

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

“Where the Crawdads Sing,” written by Delia Owens is a multi-award winning novel and New York Times Bestseller. The coming-of-age story follows Kya or the “Marsh Girl,” an intelligent and self-sufficient protagonist who is forced to survive almost entirely by herself in the marshlands of North Carolina. Abandoned by her mother, her siblings, and later her father, Kya takes interest in nature and learns to love and appreciate her surroundings. The novel takes a turn after the death of the widely beloved, Chase Andrews, resulting in growing suspicions in the fictional town of Barkley Cove. Following a dual narrative, the reader is taken on a journey through Kya’s character growth as a young girl, along with the effects of Chase Andrews’ death several years later. Overall, this coming-of-age novel entwined with a murder mystery tells a compelling story of resilience, survival, and hope.

Review by Jude

June 11, 2020

Armada by Ernest Cline

The book “Armada” by Ernest Cline is a sci-fi book set in 2018. He is about to graduate from high school, when he sees a UFO flying above his hometown. But this is no ordinary UFO; it is a ship from his favorite video game, Armada. He believes he is just a crazy teenager, until it turns out it’s a lot more real than he thinks. But something still seems off. The bad guys are acting exactly like they do in the videogame, and everything seems a little too easy.