Salt to the Sea
By Ruta Sepetys
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Personal Rating: 10/10

I cannot say enough good things about this book. It was incredible! Ruta Sepetys is the author of my favorite book, Between Shades of Gray. She is an expert of writing about hidden history, and this book was no exception.

In the winter of 1945, millions of refugees tried to flee Germany as the Russians where closing in. Operation Hannibal involved evacuation through all sorts of ships. And one those evacuation ships was the Wilhelm Gustloff. This ship was packed with German soldiers, infants, children, and teenagers. And it was sunk by a Russian submarine. With a death tole the dwarfs the tragedy of the Titanic and Lusitania, this is a forgotten story that is finally being brought to light. This story is told in the point of views of four different teenagers from four different homelands. But they are all trying to survive, and they are all aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff. 

This is a story that stays with the reader for a very long time after the book is closed. I just can't believe that something of this magnitude happened, and hardly anyone knows about it. I had the honor of meeting Ruta Sepetys before I read this book. She is an incredible woman who really has a passion for writing historical fiction. The amount of research that went into this novel is amazing, and it really shows. I HIGHLY recommend this book. Just like with Between Shades of Gray, I feel like this is a story that everyone needs to read.

Me Before You
By Jojo Moyes
Genre: Fiction
Personal Rating: 8/10

When Louisa Clark looses her job at a cafe, she accepts the position of caretaker will a quadriplegic man, Will Traynor. When Will was in a motorcycle accident that left him unable to do anything by himself, he lost all desire to live. But then his mother hires bright and eccentric Louisa, and both their lives are changed forever.

This is a very difficult book to review. I have never read anything like this story before, and it was really emotional. I would have loved to give this book a 10/10, but I had an issue with the ending. There are two prominent themes I got from this book: the first is to live boldly, or to live life to it's fullest. And second, anyone can do whatever they want to themselves, no matter who it hurts. It's this second theme that really bothered me. I felt like this idea contradicted the whole idea of living life to it's fullest, no matter your circumstances.  I don't want to say too much and ruin the ending or anyone, but this is a tricky book to talk about. There are people who would love this book and others who would hate it. I was in between. I will say, though, that this is a book that stays with you for a long time after you've finished reading it.

Everything, Everything
By Nicola Yoon
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Personal Rating: 8/10

This book is about a Madeline--a girl who hasn't been able to leave her house for the past seventeen-years. Madeline had SKID, also known as Bubble Baby Disease. She is allergic to the entire world. Madeline has never interacted with anyone besides her mother, her online tutors, and her nurse. Then one day a moving van pulls up next door. Her new neighbors have a son her age. His name is Olly, and Madeline knows from the moment she sees him that he was going to be very important to her . But seeing the untouchable world outside can be more harmful than Madeline ever imagined.

I read this book in one day, it is a very quick read. I really liked the writing and the voice of the main character. There have been a lot of books coming out lately about sick teens--Falt In Our Stars knockoffs--but this one felt very genuine and sweet. The romance was sort of cheesy and unrealistic, but I felt like the focus was really on Madeline and her sickness. My favorite part of this book was the visual aspects. There are lots of sketches and funny lists that really add to the story. Also, I liked the twist at the end, it was pretty unexpected. Overall, I think this is a wonderful thing to read when you're looking for a quick, entertaining, and heartwarming read.

Mirrored
By Alex Flinn
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Personal Rating: 8/10

To Violet--ugly and bullied--beauty seems to be the key to happiness. And with the help of a witch, Violet gets what she wants most in the world, to be beautiful. To Celine, her beauty us a curse. Especially with a stepmother who is jealous of her looks. But beauty is only skin deep, and Violet and Celine find their lives mirrored in many ways.

This book is a modern retelling of Snow White. An idea that isn't incredibly original, but I thought that Alex Flinn did a wonderful job telling the story and making it unique. She is also the author of Beastly which is a Beauty and the Beast retelling and one of my favorite fairy tale books.

One aspect of this book that was really interesting and unique, is that it is written in three parts and three perspectives, with the the villain's story told first. I really loved this because it really added an interesting dynamic to the rest of the story. It make it hard to hate the villain when her backstory was the first thing I read. Also, the love interest in this book was really unique. This is the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and in this case the dwarfs are a wonderful family of littler people. The love interest in this story is actually one of he dwarfs, and I loved it. He is such an interesting and fun character.

As far as fairy tale retellings go, this one was a winner. Slightly cheese and overdone at parts, but the story and characters where actually really enjoyable.

Wonder
By R.J. Palacio
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Personal Rating: 10/10

This is the story of August Pullman, a ten-year-old boy who only wants to be like everybody else. He feels like a normal boy, except that he doesn't look like a normal boy. August was born with a rare and terrible facial deformity, so he's used to being stared at everywhere he goes. His parents have protected and sheltered her his whole life, but now August is going to a real school for the first time. He's excited to meet kids his own age, but can his classmates actually see him for who he really is?

I am so mad that it took me so long to read this book! It is fantastic! This is a middle grade novel but I feel like it's something everyone needs to read, it's a book for all ages. It is such a beautiful story about acceptance and loving those who are different from us. It is written in several different point of views, and I loved seeing all the different views. It is a very impact story, but it is also very humorous and fun. I highly recommend it!