Review of A Very Large Expanse of Sea, by Tahereh Mafi

A Very Large Expanse of Sea, written by Tahereh Mafi, is a novel that displays the strong effects of racism and stereotyping on one's life. Shirin is a Muslim girl who has moved and switched schools countless times. Every day in high school, she must endure the racist comments and cold glances from other students. Shirin concludes that it is all a result of her clothing, race, and religion. The time period is also the year after 9/11, which makes the people in her life believe that she is extremely dangerous and causes them to judge her even more. The only thing that keeps Shirin going in her life is music, and the new breakdancing club her brother created. However, when Shirin meets a guy named Ocean James at her new school, her whole life turns upside down. Ocean seems to be the only person who wants to understand and is willing to get to know her better. Shirin has been keeping a barrier between her and everyone else for such a long time, so she feels confused on how she will face him and everybody else. This book is one of the best books I've ever read in a long time. I was wandering through the shelves and my eyes flew right onto it. I finished it the day I borrowed it and read it multiple times after that. This book was so intriguing and fascinating, and it opened my eyes to the ongoing problems in the world and around me. I recommend this book to anyone out there that is looking for a page-turner and something that can cause them to reflect on themselves, the world, and life itself. Five out of five stars, no doubt.

~ Posted by Jessica L., Homestead freshman

Review of Modern HerStory

Modern HerStory by Blair Imani, (195 pages) is an anthology of trailblazing women that is worth reading if you are a feminist, an ally, a supporter, a woman, a man, queer, or just a history lover. I read this book cover to cover in three days and it was so worth it. First off if you do not read this then promise me you flip through for the art. (I give anyone permission to stop reading my review and flip though the art or if this is on the library blog look at the amazon page). If the cover does not draw you in then I understand but trust me the art is so amazing! The artist Monique is committed to diverse representation in her art with all colors and is again so amazing! As an artist myself I love the art and appreciate Monique’s dedication to representation and using many colors. The author Blair Imani is so inspiring as a person and just like the amazing women featured in Modern HerStory. The book was so diverse and such a learning experience for me and I found some more role models and fantastic women to look up to and research. Imani’s dedication shines though in telling the stories of all of these women and they were so easy to read and understand. This book includes a table of contents which summarizes all of the chapters and makes the individual pages very easy to find, it also includes a glossary and index in the back of the book. Reading this book was such a blast and I would recommend this book to all my friends. Modern HerStory gets only high reviews from me!

~ Reviewed by Alexi V., Homestead junior

Graphic Novel Recommendations

Nameless City
I really liked this book, and it really expands to other tribes I guess, and really fights for everyone to be together no matter if you're from another tribe.

Amulet
I consider this to be a great book to read. The plot and the rising action is the best part of the book.

Tokyo Ghoul
A college student meets the world of ghouls (monsters that look like humans).


~ Seleected by three Homestead freshmen

Review of To Kill A Mockingbird, graphic novel adaptation

To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorite books. Having the story of racism and prejudice in America told through the eyes of a relatively unbiased and innocent child shows the true evil behind much of 1900s America. Reading the book in graphic novel form allowed the story to seem even more human than before, since I could actually see the emotions on the characters' faces. The book was translated into pictures almost word for word, and I truly appreciated the detail.

~ Posted by a Homestead senior

Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare

It was a pretty interesting book, found out that I would have the same reactions as one of the characters was particularly interesting. (Not spoiling it, been told he was a pretty favored character) Thought the main character could be less thirsty since whom would admire someone's curve of neck? (Not a spoiler since it was a line and all my friends who read this like 14 times didn't remember it.) It was pretty good but you should read the Mortal Instruments series first since it was the 'first series' *not by timeline* if you want to get a brief overview on the society and it does help illustrate the setting and the families. I personally didn't really like the Mortal Instruments and if you didn't then just read the first book. That gives you enough background information for you to write a pretty bad fanfiction. Overall would rate it a good 6 out of 10 for not really cliché but cliché overall, it wasn't terrible...

~Posted by a Homestead freshman

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

I absolutely loved this book. It poignantly showed the struggles of a life where you are surrounded by potential danger. Starr, the protagonist navigated difficult situation with true courage.

~ Posted by a Homestead senior

An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green

This book by John Green is about this prodigy boy (not genius, since geniuses are very different), Colin, who has an odd obsession with dating girls with the name Katherine. Currently in the book Colin has just been dumped by Katherine 19, and decides to cure his crippling depression over it by going on a road trip with his friend, Hassan. During their road trip Colin starts to create an equation for the dumpers and dumpees, and wants the formula to predict any kind of relationship and give justice to the dumpees, while to also win back the heart of Katherine 19. Colin meets some people along the way, and learns much about life, importance, and relationships. This book has been very entertaining and fun to read. Seeing the unique thought process of the protagonist is very intriguing, along with how he acts around people. The main message of the book from my view is how everyone—including prodigies and geniuses—have an empty hole in their life and want to be important, and they find it in different ways. This is a very relatable message and communicates it fairly well. This book is unique, smart, witty, and wonderful.

~ Reviewed by a Homestead sophomore