Books you can read because you love to read!

(Editors note: Welcome to our first Knight Writer book review, courtesy of sophomore Susan Gary, who likes fantasy-romance-science fiction genres).

My Sister’s Voice

By: Mary Carter

My Sister’s Voice is a very touching story about a young women in her twenties, who is deaf. Although Lacey grew up in a home for disabled children, she doesn’t see being deaf as a disability, but as a gift. 

One day, Lacey receives a letter claiming that she has a long lost twin. She learns that her biological sister had a normal childhood and she begins the search for her sister and parents. However, she finds that her childhood was anything but simple and her past has more twists and turns the further she digs.

My Sister’s Voice is beautifully A constructed story about a young deaf woman learning her past. This novel shows the power of sisterhood and the strength of any form of love. Any reader looking for a touching story would be recommended to read this book. This book should also open the horizon of any reader taking a look into the life of a deaf person and their views on the world.

The Iron Fey Series

By: Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase was the girl in the back of the room whom no one ever talked to. That is, except for her best friend Puck. Her biological father left when she was a young child, and her only memory is of him disappearing into a pond. Now her step father forgets she exists.

When her real brother goes missing and an impostor takes his place, Puck tells Meghan that she belongs to the hidden world of the fey (fairies). Meghan begins her journey through the dangerous Wildwood and finds herself in the Winter and Summer Courts of the fey world, both of which desire to claim her as their own, for she has a secret to her blood that she has yet to learn.

The journey of Meghan’s adventure of finding her brother, finding her true father, learning the power in her blood, and choosing between Puck who has loved her for years and Ash, the Prince of the Winter Court, can be found in a series of four books. The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, and  The Iron Knight is a capturing series that will keep you guessing as Meghan is forced to continuously make hard decisions that all have life changing consequences. Anyone with an open mind will be captured by this mysterious tale of Meghan Chase’s journey of trying to find her brother, and more importantly, herself.

The House of Night Series

By: P.C. and Kristin Cast

Zoey is a typical teenager; she’s lost touch with her mother, she has an un-loving step father and is dating the quarterback. Then suddenly one day at school, Zoey gets marked. 

Zoey discovers she has 6 years to adjust to being a vampire, or die because her body can’t handle the change. Add to this stress the High Priestess of her new vampire school, House of Night, is evil, and Zoey has the rare power to control not only the rarest element, spirit, but all five, (Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, and Spirit). You can imagine the struggles Zoey must face. 

Zoey must handle her powers to control the elements, take on the responsibility of being a high priestess, look after the Red Ones, die, and return from the after life. You can experience Zoey’s struggles and faith in Nyx through the continuing series of the House of Night: Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, Hunted, Tempted, Burned, Awakened, Destined, and more to come. The House of Night series is about more than the cliche story of raging vampires. It’s about taking responsibilities, making choices for the betterment of others before yourself, and getting past the inequalities of life. Zoey learns all this while trying to save humanity from the evil in her kind, and still doesn’t know if she’ll survive the change. This series is for any fantasy or romance reader.

The Mortal Instrument Series

By: Cassandra Clare

Clary has lived a very simple life, and she was happy with it. She loves her mom, her stepfather Luke adores her, and Simon is her best friend. Then suddenly she is able to see weird creatures and two teens killing monsters. Jace and his sister are Shadowhunters (keeping the human world safe from deadly monsters) and can’t imagine how Clary has the sight. 

Turns out Clary has Shadowhunter blood and starts her life long training. Simon is in love with her and is turned into a vampire. She falls in love with Jace, but they keep getting torn apart, Luke is really a werewolf, her mom is a Shadowhunter, but who is her dad?

A reader looking for adventure, action, and a little romance will find that and more in the Mortal Instrument series: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, and City of Lost Souls.

Unearthly

By: Cynthia Hand

Clara Gardner is part angel. She’s stronger and faster than her peers, and now she’s been given her purpose. She is a Guardian Angel and is finally receiving her visions. A boy standing in the burning woods. Where is he, who is he, and what is she supposed to do? These are the questions Clara must find the answers to own her own, causing her family to move, she falls in love, and her life suddenly becomes much more dangerous.

Any high schooler will be able to connect with Clara. Her story is more than just her trying to complete her purpose. Clara is still going through her adolescent stages. She has tiffs with her family, she a crush who doesn’t seem to notice her, and she’s really just like one of us.

PRHS Last Century: A Past We Should Remember By Stephanie LaFreniere

Poland Regional High School was established in 1999 with the understanding that high schools in the surrounding area would no longer accept kids from Minot, Mechanic Falls, and Poland due to overcrowding. As a new school, PRHS was drenched in chaos during its first few years.

Parents constantly argued with the school about the quality and style of teaching or just the general way the school was run, accusing the faculty of (among other things) openly promoting homosexuality.
So, what was this like for the students? It must have been difficult to switch from a school you were in, for possibly up to three years prior, to a new school that was up to so much criticism.

One man with a unique perspective was the first senior class president at PRHS,  Derek Drumtra.

“It was a new experience for everyone trying to get an innovative school with breakthrough ideas on the map in an old-school minded community,” said Drumtra in a recent interview that we conducted through email. “Some people embraced the ideas, others fought it every step of the way.”

Drumtra leaves no doubt about his feelings for PRHS, calling his one year here  “a great experience … everyone involved learned a lot.”

I talked to Mr. Drumtra about his experience here at Poland Regional to find out how he felt the school was run and kept. I figured he’d have a lot more inside information to judge the makeup of PRHS. He sounds like he has maintained the ideology of a student, with the additional wisdom that comes with age. He spoke of nothing but good memories and how much he enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of a new school, despite all the chaos.

“In the end it was good for everyone,” Drumtra said of the daily drama. “I think we all learned something. I loved everything about that time; the newness, chaos, everything, I liked being in the middle of it all. Being the first class president was an exciting time and I relished in every moment of it. It was an experience like none other and I would do it all over again. It was worth it.”

The only negative thing Derek had to say about PRHS was the unrealistic way it addressed life and certain aspects of school. When asked if he thought PRHS prepared one for college he answered, “I would say yes and no. More on the no side, Poland gives you too many chances in life and in college you don't get that many opportunities.”

I asked him to elaborate on this and he replied, “It gives you too many chances in ‘school.’ I mean, it's not realistic in real life. If you fail a test you make up an excuse and take it again. It's not like that in college or the real world.” Drumtra knows a thing or two about the real world. He is a real estate broker, and he owns two businesses – a construction company and a boat rental company.

I share similar opinions with Derek, in the sense that there are too many chances, but I feel as though this is true in any high school, not just Poland; our teachers want us to succeed, I believe, and would do anything to help us. In college, there might not be so much leeway.

Despite the chaos of a new high school forming--fights between students, teachers, parents; all the constant conflict--Derek managed to keep a positive outlook on his high school career (and achieved the rank of class president) that appears to have carried with him throughout his life. He should be an example to all of us – not letting tough times get us stuck, and to always strive for the best we can be.

“Besides getting married, and the birth of my baby girl, being class president and being involved in everything at the beginning was one of the greatest, most fun and rewarding times of my life,” he said. “Weird to think that a senior in high school thought being in high school was fun, but it was. I loved every minute of it. It's the greatest time in your life, enjoy every minute of it and don't let it pass you by!”

Revisit Winter Carnival! Photos by Lauren Harris

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