True Crime

True Crime by Nicholas Yapp had written about different crimes from kidnapping to homicides. I have not read any of his other books but this one is like an informative book. This book was really interesting because I am really interested in crimes that have gone big, like Ted Bundy. The genre would be non fiction. The book has different stories so I wouldn't really know what would be the theme.

The book is different. You don't find many books that tell different stories on serial killers and kidnappers and many more. It is about different lives being taken away by people that were sick in the head. The book has stories about mobsters and gang leaders such as Al Capone. A story that stuck with me was the Black Dahlia because nobody has found the killer yet and the case went cold. Another was Bonnie and Clyde, they were so in love that Bonnie did whatever Clyde and that cost them their lives. There are 2 more stories that have me thinking. Its Emmett Till and Robert Yummy Sandifer. These are stuck with me because they are both young African American boys that have had their lives taken away from them. The difference is that Emmett was killed for false accusations and Robert was killed by his own friends. A textual evidence that intrigued me was in the beginning of the story of Charles Manson, a prison report said that when he was 17 he was “A slick institutionalized youth, dangerous, should not be trusted across the street.” 

I liked the book, but I wished that it was longer on the stories. It was very informative even though the stories are short. This book is for readers that are interested in learning about serial killers or mobsters. I believe that if you're interested in stuff like that then you would like the book, you just would hate the fact that you are really into a story and its not long at all. I would read this book as soon as I hear about it because it is very good and informative. It might not be long but its something to read about and acknowledge it.

Book Review by Nadiyah A.

Whatever Happened to Megan Marie

Whatever happened to Megan Marie By Anne Schraff. Anne Schraff has written some of the popular Bluford books. Many of Anne Schraff's books are relatable to teenager’s everyday life. Like peer pressure growing pains and relationships. Whatever happened to Megan Marie is about a teenage girl who lives with her mom and abusive dad, her dad offers her gifts to keep her quiet about the abuse toward her mother. The genre is a mystery due to Megan's disappearance.

The book Whatever Happened to Megan Marie is about a young girl who runs away from an abusive household. Leaving many people close to her confused, like her teacher Cathy who actually sets out to find Megan or any clues trying to figure out why she (Megan) has disappeared.  Throughout the book Cathy and Megan have a good relationship, she is someone she can trust and Cathy shows real concern for Magen and Don a guy she has interest in but she ruined it for herself with her attitude acting stuck up. When Megan disappeared, Cathy went searching for her (Megan) like going to the Kane’s home asking if they knew anything about her disappearance. 

I personally enjoyed the book because I like reading things that keep me on my toes. This book targets people who have had similar experiences. It could help someone reach out and possibly seek help. I recommend someone to read this book because it's one book that I actually read and makes you feel different emotions and it's interesting. 

Book Review by Kelly L.

Black Lotus

K’WAN is an amazing urban fiction author. I’ve only read one other book by him but he has yet to disappoint. The book Black Lotus is about a detective who’s strict on the word justice. He views the world as us vs. them trying to rid his city of the “scum” criminals who only populate the streets with drugs and violence; he says he is only balancing out the scales though. 

Detective wolf struggles a lot with his past he could never keep a partner and his only friend is his captain. Detective wolf thinks his way is the better way, Instead of playing by the rules he makes his own which leads him into trouble with his sergeant.  When his only friend is in dire need of help, he jumps at the chance to help him, that’s when the character vs. self and society come into play. He has to choose between the line of justice as a way to balance the scales or simply letting things “takes it course” either way Detective Wolf still has a hard decision to make. Detective wolf will have to dig through the past in order to help his only friend. 

I like the book because it’s intriguing like a movie. It keeps you on your toes, it also engages the reader into the book while leaving you wanting to read more after one page. The ideal audience for this book is young black teens or people who’ve grown up in an urban setting although it could move on to other audiences the ideal audience for me would be black teens who grew up in an urban setting. I would highly recommend this book it is a very good book it cuts right to the chase while also building the suspense.

Book Review by Armani M.

Be More Chill

Be More Chill is recommended at the end of Ned Vizzini’s other book called It’s Kind of a Funny Story. As at the end of Be More Chill; It’s Kind of a Funny Story is recommended. Those books were published by Ned Vizzini himself, but they were republished after his death in 2013. There is also another book that is in the same theme of Be More Chill and It’s Kind of a Funny Story. It is called Teen Angst? Naaah... and they all have the same overall theme of being an awkward teen. Be More Chill is a science fiction, young adult book about Jeremy Heere and his way up the social hierarchy with the help of a mini computer in his brain: a squip. He does this in the interests of Christine, but it came with downfalls. Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini illustrates the social structure that happens in an environment and how it isn’t necessarily a good thing.  

Jeremy Heere is an average high-school teen that takes embarrassment to heart. Christine is his crush, he likes her a lot. This whole story kicks off because he doesn’t want to be seen as dorky. So his friend Micheal tells him about a mini computer that you swallow and it somehow makes you better at everything. So Jeremy on his quest to be “cooler” sets out to find this said computer and he does. It is called a squip. Jeremy becomes more distant towards his friend Micheal, mainly because the squip sees him as a loser. “I look back for Michael, but he’s gone. That was quick. Guess I’ll sort things out with him later” (Vizzini 117).  This leads to Jeremy finding out how to talk to girls and it isn’t the best thing. He starts to analyze how they look and he starts getting into trouble with a girl who has a boyfriend while he is tripping on ecstasy. But the central idea in this book is how being more noticable and being “cooler”, as the character would say, is not always the best thing because you can get into a lot of bad things. 

I genuinely like this book which is saying a lot because I normally don’t like sci-fi books, I find them a little cheesy at times. It was nice that it wasn’t mainly focused on sci-fi it was just a kid who happened upon something that could make him “better”. It also ties in the awkwardness of being a dorky teen which I really like. I would say this book is mainly targeted at kids at highschool age or people who just entered adulthood. I would say it’s also for people who like the main theme of young adult books, which is an awkward teen becoming more than just an awkward teen. Everyone should go out and read Be More Chill. It is honestly an amazing book that takes a look into a teens mind and how he doesn’t want to be seen as the dorky kid.

Book Review by Korryn C.

Tyrell

The book I read was called Tyrell and the author of the book was Coe Booth. The first book of Tyrell was about how his father left and his mom lost herself almost started to forget she had two kids. The second book continues the Tyrell story as his father gets out of jail. The genes of the series are fiction.

This book is about a 16 year old boy who was living well until his dad went to jail. Then his mom started to not care about anything when Tyrell dad went to jail. They got put out their house and has to live in a shelter Tyrol little brother is a smart 8 year old that’s in special Ed because he get money for it N his mom want the money,Novisha is Tyrell childhood who turned into his girlfriend but Jasmine the church girl that likes Tyrell but he do nothing but try to get out of the shelter just to find out his so called girlfriend Novisha has been cheating on him. For example “ I can't believe you played me.”(Booth 280).

I liked the book Tyrell simply because I like to read young adults' books. The book was written for young teens that maybe go through a rough time and think they can’t get through it or wanna give up. If you are into drama and relationship problems I recommend you read Tyrell and if you enjoy it read the Bronxwood.

Book Review by Shanice P.

Tyrell

Tyrell by Coe Booth is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. I’ve actually read a book from the author Coe Booth before, which was Bronxwood but it was when I was younger (like 6th or 7th grade) so I didn’t really have the knowledge I have now to allow me to have an opinion of the book but It was a similar story like Tyrell, also Tyrell´s Genre is a drama and the theme I chose is ¨Things do get better if you work hard for it¨. In my opinion this book allows readers to have an experience of real world problems that African American men like myself have experienced and others I’m sure have experienced as well. 

This book makes you picture what it's like for a younger individual to have all the weight on his shoulders. In the book Tryell’s dad was arrested for being a drug dealer. After his dad was arrested his family had to move to a very bad shelter. So Tyrell tries his hardest to make money for his family. But with his mom in his ear vouching for him to sell drugs like his dad he's struggling and doesn't really know what to do. Basically the book is about Tyrell’s father DJ who ends up incarcerated for drug dealing Tyrell who is 15, his little brother Troy who is 7 years old and his mother Lisa, ending up homeless and having to move to a poorer city shelter in the Bronx of New York. One quote that really intrigued me in the book is (“We still got roaches on the bed, walls, and floors, but Troy ain’t even crying ‘bout them no more. He is probably too used to them by now”). That quote initially struck me because I remember when I myself personally had to go through those times when me, my mom and brother lacked financial stability, and also I remember being around insects of all sorts, rats, etc so much to the point where it was like it didn’t bother me anymore, and I adapted to the situation I was in, and honestly it’s humbled me to become the man I am now, but continuing with my summary of the story. His mom’s bipolar attempts at trying to keep the family together financially and emotionally. After a while, everything just becomes overwhelming and Tyrell is forced to take the family’s situation into his own hands. And so after being Inspired by his father, Tyrell decides to throw a dance party in a bus garage with high charge guaranteed to try and to raise his family’s income, so they can get out of the current situation they are in. 

Honestly I really enjoyed this book and It’s one of the best I have ever read. I related to the story so much, the pain, the problem with family, having to grow up too fast, etc. I feel this book was targeted towards younger African American boys who had to experience life early as the man of their family, and I don’t think everyone could get into the book, because not everyone can relate to the struggles of the character. To me this book is perfect and I would recommend everyone to read it immediately, the author really did a great job with the use of street slang and language to build a believable setting for the characters, which isn’t often used and also creating a real life feel to the story. 

Book Review by Jaikeese K.