Awesome Axolotls

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson - Review By Andrew Langer             I first read On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness with my Mom. It was one of the first books we read together, making this a special memory for me. The title might sound wacky at first, and that never changes. The entire book is full of silly names, lovable characters, and heartwarming scenes. Once you step into Andrew Peterson’s delightful world, it is difficult to step away, and the story is both amusing and adventurous. After finishing the first book, we read the next three, and the last books even had me tearing up.             On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness follows the three Igiby children on a magical journey through the world of Aerwiar. They live in the small town of Glipwood with their mother Nia and their grandfather Podo.  Glipwood overlooks the won...

Review of an American classic: Of Mice and Men             Sometimes when you look at a book that claims it’s a ‘classic’ you might dismiss it at first glance. “Oh, it’s too old ,” or “Well, this doesn’t matter anymore or have meaning today .” John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is one classic that is worth your time. Back in my subbie year my reading teacher assigned our class the banned book project, in which you read and review a banned or challenged book. So, after looking through my options, I decided on this book because I knew Steinbeck was a recognized author of American classics. Of Mice and Men follows two migrant ranch workers who lived during the Great Depression and traveled to central California where they found grunt work on different ranches. The main characters, George and Lennie, dream of earning enough money so they can buy their own ranch one day and ‘live off the fatta the land.’ These men are an unlikel...

     This story of a world in which nearly the entire community is unaware of what lies beyond their home was a compelling read. Although I regrettably watched the movie before reading the book, this novel was one I'm glad that I read and would recommend.     In the beginning of the book, the setting seems to be a utopia of sorts. All the characters know exactly what the rest of their lives look like. How they should feel, what they should say, and how they should act due to the strict rules set in their society. The government decides everything in order to keep this community organized. Your name, your parents, your job, who you will start a family with, your entire future. They determine every aspect of your life, and free will is basically non-existent. Yet the characters don't realize this because they never even knew what it was in the first place. It's not until the story progresses that you start to get a sense of corruption and realize th...