By Ellie White
Disclaimer: The following review may contain some spoilers revolving around the plot and background.
In these reviews I will rate the books in a starring system.
5/5 Stars: This book will land in my all-time favorite book list and you should stop what you are doing and read it, no matter what.
4/5 Stars: You should try to read it at some point in your free time.
3/5 Stars: If you are bored or going on a long trip, it might be fun to read.
2/5 Stars: I would not really bother unless you enjoy the author.
1/5 Stars: The book would make a better coaster for your Coke, than a book.
0/5 Stars: Congrats! You now have kindling! (just kidding, please do not burn books; just do not waste your money or your time with this one)!
Mosquitoland, by David Arnold, is about a 16-year-old girl named Mary Iris Malone, or Mim as she calls herself, and her journey from the wastelands of Mosquitoland, Mississippi, back to her mother in northern Ohio. This book has a great sense of humor, both sarcastic and witty, but there is a reason this book has humor. This book deals with some very dark subjects, to the point where at times I had to put it down and walk away for a while. Mosquitoland covers everything from mental illness to child abuse to LGBT issues. As an Ohioan and traveler, I did get many of the references to real places. This book is an Odyssey-style book with the main character facing many trials with villains and heroes alike. The book is told in a unique style, with some parts being letters written to the mysterious Isabel that the reader gets to share in, and other parts being first person from Mim point of view. The main issue I have with the book is that it does get a little hard to follow the story at times when the reader is jumping around so much reading letters, then plot, and then flashbacks. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys slice of life adventures and witty humor, however, as I said, the book gets heavy at times. If you cannot deal with dark and heavy subjects, I would recommend something else. An interesting book about morals and life, rated 3.5/5 stars.
Heartless, by Marissa Meyer, is Meyer’s newest fairytale spin off, not following princesses this time, but a queen. If you are familiar with any of Meyer’s work, then this should definitely interest you. Heartless follows young Catherine, who aspires to be a baker, although she is trapped in the confines of nobility in the wonderful and quite mad Wonderland. The book follows the blossoming romance of Catherine and the mysterious Jest, the court joker of Hearts. Meyer does an excellent job staying true to the original work, and making sure the reader pays attention to all of the references in the book. My only complaint is that Meyer’s tries too hard to apply logic to Wonderland. An excellent prequel and romance, but if you want a happy ending you will not find one here. Read Heartless and discover the real answer to the why a raven is like a writing desk, rated 4.5/5
Both Mosquitoland and Heartless are available in the McNicholas Library. Do you have a book that you would like me to review? Please suggest it in the comments or send me an email via Ellinore.white@mcnhs.org.
The McNicholas Milestone 