Fri Apr 8: what we talked about

Chain of Gold cover

Club news:

  • At 8th Grade Orientation Tues Apr 6, Mrs. Stevens met 10-15 8th graders who seem interested in joining Book Club next year! 
  • Please remember to SIGN IN for each club meeting you attend
    • At our last Club meeting Fri May 20, the member who signed in the most will win a bookstore gift certificate!
    • Emily won her freshman year. Challenge accepted.
  • Mrs. Stevens asked for ideas for a possible summer reading list for incoming freshmen:

What we're reading:

  •  Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi
    • Genre: fantasy
    • Summary: The Pandavas only have until the next full moon to stop the Sleeper from gaining access to the nectar of immortality, which will grant him infinite power. But how can Aru, Mini, and Brynne hope to defeat him without their celestial weapons? The Sleeper and his army are already plundering the labyrinth, and the sisters can’t even enter. Their quest to get in will have them calling on old friends, meeting new allies, and facing fearsome trials, like…performing in a rock concert? When the moment of confrontation finally arrives, it’s up to Aru to decide who deserves immortality, the devas or the asuras. The most unexpected answer will come from a most unexpected place. More surprises and delights, gods and demons, and laughs and tears await in this immensely satisfying conclusion to the wild ride that began with the lighting of a lamp. 
    • Ananya is thrilled to finally have this book she's been waiting for! She's read it 3 times already.
  • Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
    • Genre: non-fiction
    • Summary: The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet - from the QWERTY keyboard and Staphylococcus aureus to the Taco Bell breakfast menu - on a five-star scale. John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this artfully curated collection that includes both beloved essays and all-new pieces exclusive to the book.
    • Ms. Tolva says this book reads like an easier Malcolm Gladwell book of essays.
    • (Yes, *that* John Green from Crash Course).
  • Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
    • Genre: Sci-fi
    • Summary: Time is running out. Together, they can save the world. But they each other's worst nightmare. In Renegades, Nova and Adrian (aka Insomnia and Sketch) fought the battle of their lives against the Anarchist known as the Detonator. It was a short-lived victory. The Anarchists still have a secret weapon, one that Nova believes will protect her. The Renegades also have a strategy for overpowering the Anarchists, but both Nova and Adrian understand that it could mean the end of Gatlon City - and the world - as they know it.
    • Ryleigh likes how the reader can question the mnorals of the main character, and how some of the superpowers are not the norm.
    • Sequel is Supernova
      • Emily and Sarah proceeded to have a conversation about the ending of the sequel in which they disagreed but tried really hard not to give anything away from the plot.
  • Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
    • Genre: fantasy
    • Summary: Cordelia Carstairs is a Shadowhunter, a warrior trained since childhood to battle demons. When her father is accused of a terrible crime, she and her brother travel to London in hopes of preventing the family's ruin. Cordelia's mother wants to marry her off, but Cordelia is determined to be a hero rather than a bride. Soon Cordelia encounters childhood friends James and Lucie Herondale and is drawn into their world of glittering ballrooms, secret assignations, and supernatural salons, where vampires and warlocks mingle with mermaids and magicians. All the while, she must hide her secret love for James, who is sworn to marry someone else. But Cordelia's new life is blown apart when a shocking series of demon attacks devastate London. These monsters are nothing like those that Shadowhunters have fought before -- these demons walk in daylight, strike down the unwary with incurable poison, and seem impossible to kill. London is immediately quarantined. Trapped in the city, Cordelia's friends discover that a dark legacy has gifted them with incredible powers -- and now forces a brutal choice that will reveal the true cruel price of being a hero.
    • Part of Shadowhunters series setting
    • "I love this with my entire soul," said Sarah.
  • The Queen's Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz
    • Genre: fantasy
    • Summary: The Queen's Assassin is forced to take on a mysterious apprentice on his most dangerous mission yet, pulling them both into a vicious web of secrets and lies.
    • "This book saved Emily's life. "I forgot my book at home. I thought I could make it one day without a book to read. I got 3 steps into school and said, 'Nope, can't do it," aand came to the LMC."
    • No worries, #VHReaders, the #LMC is  always here for you!
  • Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton and others
    • Genre: story collection
    • Summary: Six critically acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning authors bring the glowing warmth and electricity of Black teen love to this interlinked novel of charming, hilarious, and heartwarming stories that shine a bright light through the dark. A summer heatwave blankets New York City in darkness. But as the city is thrown into confusion, a different kind of electricity sparks… A first meeting. Long-time friends. Bitter exes. And maybe the beginning of something new. When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. Love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities take flight. Beloved authors—Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—celebrate the beauty of six couples and the unforgettable magic that can be found on a sweltering starry night in the city.
  • The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
    • Genre: fantasy
    • Summary: Vira is desperate to get out of her mother’s shadow and establish her legacy as a revered queen of Ashoka. But with the country’s only quarry running out of magic–a precious resource that has kept Ashoka safe from conflict–she can barely protect her citizens from the looming threat of war. And if her enemies discover this, they’ll stop at nothing to seize the last of the magic. Vira’s only hope is to find a mysterious object of legend: the Ivory Key, rumored to unlock a new source of magic. But in order to infiltrate enemy territory and retrieve it, she must reunite with her siblings, torn apart by the different paths their lives have taken. Each of them has something to gain from finding the Ivory Key–and even more to lose if they fail. Ronak plans to sell it to the highest bidder in exchange for escape from his impending political marriage. Kaleb, falsely accused of assassinating the former maharani needs it to clear his name. And Riya, a runaway who cut all family ties, wants the Key to prove her loyalty to the rebels who want to strip the nobility of its power. They must work together to survive the treacherous journey. But with each sibling harboring secrets and their own agendas, the very thing that brought them together could tear apart their family–and their world–for good.