10th Grade English Class Book Reviews by Olivia Giralt

     Personally, I have never been a big reader. In the past, the only books I would read were the ones required for school. In 7th grade, I remember having independent reading assignments. It helped me find a love for reading. I had a concussion for most of my 7th grade, so I went to the library during gym and worked on my independent reading. I loved it. Unfortunately, I stopped my independent reading after 7th grade. Me being me, it is nearly impossible to voluntarily sit still for more than 10 minutes at home. I haven't sat down and watched television in years. So for me to sit down and focus on a book, it will either take a lot of effort or a great amount of genuine interest.

     For 10th grade English class, the students are given the opportunity to personally select the books they read for class. As long as the book fits the requirements of the unit, a student can read it. I was thrilled to find out I could choose my own books. But the main issue that I deal with is finding a book I can enjoy. I do not regularly read on my own, so at the beginning of this school year, I truly could not have told you what type of book I was interested in. But after reading some books for 10th grade English, I have a better idea of what kind of books I enjoy. 

1. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon 

 

     For my summer reading book, I had read When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon. This book was fast, enjoyable, and perfect for summer reading. Anyone looking for an original and romantic book to read would likely enjoy it. The two main characters are Dimple Shah and Rishi Patel, two incoming college freshman. Dimple and Rishi must deal with the pressure of arranged marriage and standards that come with their families' cultures. While Dimple is an extremely motivated and determined girl who wants nothing to do with marriage or tradition, Rishi is a hopeless romantic with hopes to impress his parents by following cultural tradition. When the two are brought together, things get interesting, and there are plenty of surprises in store for the two of them.  

MY OPINION:
    I give it 4 stars. I personally wanted more character development and a different ending. Besides that, I thought it was a great book with a romantic story I had read nothing like before.

2. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson 



       For our first unit this year, I read I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. It is a very deep and beautiful story. I'll Give You the Sun is a coming of age story about Jude and Noah, twin siblings who go through some immense and difficult changes. The two inseparable twins grow apart and struggle to grow back together. The story includes many of the emotional life lessons that come with growing up. I'll Give You the Sun also uses alternating narrators. One chapter is the story told in Noah's perspective at a younger age, and the next chapter is told from Jude's perspective at an older age.

MY OPINION:
     I give this book 3 stars. I thought this book was very slow and forgettable. I often found myself losing interest in it. But anyways, the book is very emotional and has a great story to tell. It has some great lessons and surprises. I believe many people would enjoy and appreciate this book, it was very well written. However, this was not the type of book for me.

3. Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu



      For our hero unit, I read the book Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu. This book tells the story of Bruce Wayne before he became the Batman we all know and love. Once Bruce turns 18 years old, he inherits all of his parents' wealth and business. With such great wealth, Bruce Wayne could easily be the next target of a gang called the Nightwalkers. The Nightwalkers are known for stealing from the rich, murdering them, and destroying what matters most to them. After Bruce interferes with police work, he gets into trouble and is forced to do community service at the Arkham Asylum. At the Asylum, Bruce finds that he is the only person able to communicate with a young prisoner named Madeleine. Madeleine works for the Nightwalkers and refuses to speak to any of the officers that question her. Using Madeleine, Bruce hopes to help prevent the Nightwalkers from harming any more innocent people.

MY OPINION:
     I give this book 5 stars. It was action-packed and full of surprises. I never wanted to put the book down. Bruce Wayne is a great character. He has a big heart and is determined to help others. I definitely found myself falling in love with Bruce. So far, this has been my favorite book that I have read this year.

4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 



     For our most recent unit, I read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This book focuses on a young girl named Starr. While driving away from a party that had gone wrong, Starr and her friend Khalil are pulled over by a police officer. Even though Starr and Khalil had committed no crimes, they are told to get out of the car. Once the two exit the vehicle, Khalil is shot by the police officer three times. Khalil does not survive. After this traumatizing experience, Starr must learn to stand up. Only she can speak for Khalil and what happened that night. Meanwhile, Starr finds that she is living two lives. She must act one way at her rich prep school, and another way at her poor and dangerous neighborhood. After the shooting, Starr must learn to deal with her two worlds colliding, as well as speaking up for what is right.

MY OPINION:
    I give this book 5 stars. This book includes issues such as police brutality and racism. It provides readers with a different perspective of life using a great and educational story. I loved reading this book. The Hate U Give teaches powerful lessons and is a book I would recommend to everyone who has not read it already.