Eldest

Eldest by Christopher Paolini is the second book in the Inheritance Trilogy. The first book, Eragon tells of a boy who finds a mysterious rock. Later the rock hatches into a dragon and Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, must journey to new lands in order to save their empire from the terrible and corrupt king, Galbatorix. The second book follows his adventures across the lands. In this book he heads to the land of the elves in order to train to become the ultimate Rider. The book ends in a fierce battle that will definitely be picked up in the third book (when it is actually published). What I enjoyed about this book was that the first book was written when the author was fifteen. The second book definitely shows his maturity as a writer. Also, the book switches back and forth between Eragon's story and the story of his cousin, Roran. This makes for good reading when you have a short amount of time to read a day. Read this book if you love fantasy, if you read Eragon and want to find out what happens next, or if you saw the (completely horrible) film based on the first book and want to see a much, much better version. I give it an 8.5 out of 10.

The Attack

The Attack by Yasmina Khadra is the story of a Muslim doctor who lives in Israel. As a prominent member of society, Dr. Jaafari has cast aside his Muslim background in order to be accepted by the Jewish community. His wife, as well, has assimilated to the culture and enjoys the rich life that the doctor has established. When his wife dies in a suicide bombing, however, Dr. Jaafari begins to search for answers. There is a possibility that his wife was not merely a victim, but was indeed the suicide bomber herself. At first, I thought this book would be predictable, but the ending really surprised me. Read this book if you're interested in world affairs, if you question the pointless struggle between religions, or if you enjoy a good mystery. I give it an 8 out of 10.

The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a mostly autobiographical novel. Esther, the main character, is a young woman who finds herself sinking into a deep depression after returning home from an internship in New York. After a suicide attempt, Esther enters an asylum where she must figure out what she wants from life. Knowing Sylvia Plath's history, it is easy to understand why this book is autobiographical. Names have been changed, but events and feelings have not. Esther's despair feels real and raw. Read this book if you love Plath's poetry, if you like The Catcher in the Rye but want to read about a female character with the same tone, or if you are interested in stories about mental illness. I give it an 8.5 out of 10.

Slaughterhouse-Five

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is a self-proclaimed "anti-war" novel about a man named Billy Pilgrim who was a Prisoner of War in Dresden during WWII. The book mixes real history with science fiction. Vonnegut himself was a POW in WWII during the bombing of Dresden. What makes this book a science fiction novel is the fact that Billy Pilgrim is "unstuck in time" which means that he often finds himself traveling through time to other parts of his life. Also, Billy Pilgrim is abducted by aliens and kept in a zoo on their planet. During his time on the alien planet, he learns about their views on time and war. The novel, written during the Vietnam War, really captures the absurdity of war while also making statements about how humans choose to live their lives. Read this book if you like science fiction, if you like anti-war novels, or if you are interested in some WWII history, particularly the bombing of Dresden. I give it a 7.5 out of 10.

The Children's Story

The Children's Story by James Clavell is a very short story about an incident in a classroom. It is revealed that the students are being re-educated by some unknown foreign power that has invaded America. The book raises questions about our current school situation and what can happen when young minds are introduced to new ideas. Read this book if you like stories of dystopia, if you have a spare ten minutes, or if you question how students are learning. I give it a 7 out of 10.

Middlesex

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is the story of Callie, a young girl who comes from a Greek family. At the age of fourteen, Callie becomes Cal after a doctor reveals that she was actually born a male. Cal narrates the entire book as he traces his life which begins, not at his birth, but at the beginning of his grandparents' romance. This family history is captivating because of the secrets and lies that one family can possess. Cal's struggle with his identity is rooted in these secrets and lies. Read this book if you love sweeping family histories, if you're interested in some Turkish/Greek history, or if you can't get enough drama from the soap operas. I give it an 8 out of 10.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling is the seventh, and final, book in the fantastical Harry Potter series. Rowling attempts to tie up all the strings that she has left hanging in previous books. The book is long and at times I felt like it was dragging on simply to make the book longer than the previous one. However, fans of Harry Potter will not be disappointed with Rowling's conclusion to the much-loved series. I don't want to ruin it for anyone, so I'll leave it at that. Read this book if you're a fan of Harry Potter, if you love fantasy, or if you simply want to see what all the hype is about. I give it a 9.5 out of 10.