The G's

  "Rebound" by Kwame Alexander is a book about the emotional journey of Charlie Bell, a teenager struggling with the recent loss of his father. the book is set in the 1980s, the story unfolds as Charlie spends the summer with his grandparents in Washington, D.C.  Through his struggle, Charlie finds an unexpected outlet for his emotions and talents: basketball. Through the sport, he begins to find purpose. He continuously finds himself loving the rhythm and discipline of the game. As he joins a local basketball team and practices tirelessly, Charlie not only improves his skills on the court but also starts to rebuild his shattered confidence and sense of identity.  The people he meets in Washington DC help him find his purpose. From his supportive grandparents (although his grandpa can be seen as a rough person at times) to his teammates, each person leaves a mark on Charlie's life, allowing him to embrace his strengths.  Charlie's growth both on and off the court is ...

In this review, I focus on a different kind of literature compared to my previous blogs. After researching for my world history class, I came across this non-fiction book called Roman Circuses , written by John H. Humprey, that encompasses the archaeological and architectural aspects of, well, Roman circuses. Before I dive into the review, I want to explain what Roman circuses are and summarize the book into what I specifically extracted from the text into my project. Firstly, Roman circuses are arenas for chariot racing, which is a sport where a person in a two-wheeled vehicle is driven by either two or four horses. The arena is large and oval-shaped with multiple rows of seats ascending upward. It has “carceres,” or starting gates, and a “spina,” which is a central island where the chariots race around. This book analyzes the architecture of various well-preserved circuses throughout the Roman empire The greatest Roman circus is the Circus Maximus (see model below). It could hold aro...

  Stephanie Garber's "Legendary" continues the amazing narrative of its predecessor "Caraval," published in the spring of 2018. It invites readers into a realm of enchantment and mystery, delving deeper into the magical world of Caraval. "Legendary" picks up where "Caraval" left off, weaving a tapestry of intrigue and wonder through the eyes of Tella Dragna, Scarlett's sister. Garber's narrative prowess shines as she crafts a tale brimming with secrets, illusions, and unexpected twists. In the heart of "Legendary" lies the captivating allure of Caraval, a legendary game where reality blurs with fantasy and nothing is as it seems. Tella finds herself entangled in a high-stakes game orchestrated by the mysterious Master Legend, where the boundaries between truth and illusion dissolve into a mesmerizing dance of deception. As Tella embarks on her quest, she confronts challenges that test her courage and resolve. From navigating...

  The book, Frontera, written by Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo, is astounding. It follows Mateo, a boy who is trying to make it across the Sonoran Desert that will take him from Mexico to the United States. Soon after sneaking across the fence in the dead of the night, he's caught by Border Patrol. Escaping their grasp came with a price for Mateo, being lost in the desert without a guide or water.  He becomes frightened at the thought of the unforgiving heat that was to arrive at the sunrise. With the odds stacked against him, his only chance at survival may be putting his trust in someone that he wasn't sure existed. When he is confronted by Guillermo, he begins to have second thoughts when the ghost tells him he guided migrants in the desert to safety. Even with this relationship between the two survival was still uncertain. As Mateo's journey continues, he will have to decide exactly what and who he's willing to sacrifice on his way to find home. Beginning this, the ...