Books of the Month; January
This Article was written by Kulsoom Usman, Year 12
Got your hot cocoa and blanket with you? Great, all that is left is a good book and some songs! I’ve got a few books perfect for winter for you to enjoy over the term.
Whether you are a bookworm- or prefer to watch motion pictures; you can never go wrong with a good book!
Six of Crows
by Leigh Bardugo
Genre; Young Adult Fantasy Fiction
Age recommendation; 13+
"No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for ‘good luck."
I am starting off quite strong here with a book rating of 4.49 on Goodreads. The rating truly does the book justice, but if it were up to me, I would give it (and the sequel - Crooked Kingdom) 6 stars! Let’s see what it is about the books that get so much love.
The duology follows Kaz Brekker, thief, con-man, gang leader, the man known throughout Ketterdam as Dirtyhands because there is no job too dirty for him. Kaz is kidnapped and approached by one of the most influential merchants in the bustling city of Ketterdam and is tasked with a heist so challenging that the consequences are beyond the darkest of nightmares. Yet, his own greed and ambition, along with the rewards beyond your wildest dreams (money!) win him over. He then assembles his crew of thieves and criminals who will help him complete the job - the only people who might stand between the world and destruction - that is - if they don’t kill each other first.
Bardugo does a fantastic job with the protagonists, who are resplendent in their individuality and seem like real people with real pain, hopes, dreams, and fears. As someone who keeps the duology in her top 5 fantasy books of all time, I can assure you the solid plot, action packed chapters, and phenomenal world-building will keep you turning the pages more and more.
(You can find the first book, “Six of Crows”, in the Senior School Library - Section B!)
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
Genre; Historical (War) Fiction
Age recommendation; 13+
“Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever.”
“All The Light We Cannot See” follows two adolescents living in France and Germany during World War II. Marie-Laurie is a young girl in Paris who visits the Museum of Natural History often, where her father works as a locksmith. They soon have to retreat out of the city to live with her uncle in the walled citadel of Saint-Malo when the Nazis occupy Paris. With them, they take the Museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel, called the Sea of Flames. It’s a stone that’s known as much for its value as a priceless diamond as for the myths that surround it.
On the other hand, Werner Pfennig is an engineering prodigy who grew up in an orphanage in Germany along with his younger sister, Jutta. His expertise in radios and radio transmissions lands him in an elite Nazi military boarding school, where he will be groomed to serve the Wehrmacht, the Nazi army, as a radio operator.
When Major Reinhold, a Nazi sergeant, is sent on a mission to find the Sea of Flames, Marie-Lauree and Werner's lives briefly intersect, with World War II raging across Europe as a backdrop.
Charlotte's Web
by E.B White
Genre; Children’s (Literature) Fiction
Age recommendation; 7+
""Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.”
“You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in itself is a tremendous thing.""
Leaving you with a warm, fuzzy feeling is a novel of love and friendship. It tells the story of a piglet named Wilbur who is sent away to the Zuckermans when it becomes too much for the Arable family to raise him.
During his time at the Arables', he formed a precious bond with their daughter, Fern. Fern had promised that she’d visit him as often as she could; however, they were not together like they used to be. Wilbur was left feeling quite lonely, that is until he met Charlotte, a beautiful big grey spider who lives above Wilbur in the doorway of the barn. The two soon become great friends, but trouble arrives when the old sheep tells them of the plot the Zuckermans have to fatten Wilbur up for their Christmas dinner. Charlotte isn’t letting her friend down, and she ends up hatching a plan to save Wilbur’s life that amazes and astounds the whole town!
Like many other children’s stories, Charlotte’s Web contains a strong message: the intelligence of children, their closeness to nature, and the innocence that is lost when they become adults. Nevertheless, the main message learnt is about the nature of friendship. Charlotte became friends with Wilbur when he needed someone the most. Nobody had asked her to do that, and neither did she expect anything in return. Her selfless efforts and sacrifices built a strong bond between the two, eliminating any friendship barrier that came between them.
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Happy reading!!
There it is! Join the KCDSpeaks book club by reading these books, sending your take on them and then sharing some new reads we can add to the list next month!
Just email us your views & recommendations at: newspaper@kentcollege.ae - you can also email me directly at: kulus23@kentcollege.ae
P.S. Make sure to check out the KCD Library- borrow books and donate.
Until next time!
Love,
Kulsoom
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