Written by Kendall Meenan, Editor-in-Chief

The Paper Magician, by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Paper Magician tells the tale of a young magician Ceony Twill, who is training to become a paper magician. Ceony feels a deep connection to her mentor, Emory Thane, and when his heart is ripped out of his chest by his evil ex-wife, she tries to save him. To do this, she enters the four chambers of his heart, learning his innermost secrets and deepest insecurities. The story presents an interesting scenario, for most of the novel Ceony is inside of a heart. Both Ceony and Emory are well developed characters that are easy to fall in love with – Ceony’s determination and Emory’s quirkiness are very relatable. This is an easy read that people who enjoy magic, adventure, and romance will love.

A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving

A Prayer for Owen Meany is a novel that I read as part of my summer reading assignment for AP Literature, and is over 600 pages, and heavily focused on religion. But, it is one of my absolute favorite books. The way that Irving blends the past and the present to tell the story of Johnny and Owen is masterful. This also creates layers of intrigue and mystery, as Irving dangles carrots in front of the reader. These mysteries permeate the novel, and are not resolved until the final chapter. Also, there is something about Owen Meany that makes every reader love him – he is charismatic, dynamic, funny, and intelligent. A Prayer for Owen Meany is a book that is definitely worth reading.

The Wrath and the Dawn, by Renée Ahdieh

The Wrath and the Dawn chronicles the intertwined journey of Shazi and Kahlid. Kahlid is a boy king who takes a wife every night and murders her at dawn. He murders Shazi’s best friend, so she volunteers to marry him in order to exact revenge. The reader is constantly questioning Khalid, never truly knowing if he is good or bad – keeping them on the edge of their seats. Plus, there is plenty of action, including near-death experiences. Shazi’s passion and fire is admirable, and empowering to readers. The story of Shazi and Khalid is a fast-paced tale that will keep a reader guessing – making it a great book to read.