Books of the Month; November
This Article was written by Kulsoom Usman, Year 12
It's fall, meaning fireplace, hot cocoa, and the soft-knitted blanket gifted by grandma. In other words, it's the READING season! Below I’ve got a few ultimate books for the fall season that you MUST read (don’t forget to light a scented candle and grab your go-to tea!) Whether you are a bookworm- or prefer to watch motion pictures, you can never go wrong with a good book!
We Hunt The Flame
by Hafsah Faizal
Genre; Young Adult Fantasy Fiction
Age recommendation; 13+
“Love is for children, said the girl.
Death is for fools, said the shadow.
Darkness is my destiny, said the boy.
Allegiance is my undoing, said the eagle.
Suffering is our fate, said the beauty.
And they were all horribly wrong.”
Look at me, starting this off with one of my favourites! (it is not easy to please me when it comes to books!) This young adult fantasy novel is the first book in the Sands of Arawiya's duology and is perfect for this season.
Everyone in Arawiya fears the Arz, a shadowy forest that encircles the land with skeleton trees and demons. Everyone but Zafira, a legendary hunter who disguises herself as a man in order to travel into the forest to feed her people. Then we have Nasir – as the sultan’s son and prized assassin, his job is murdering any dissidents who dare speak out against his father’s rule. His work has made him a legend throughout Arawiya as the Prince of Death, but his father has ordered him to kill another legend – the Hunter.
Highly inspired by early Arabia (yes you get to learn numerous Arabic words!), it tells a tale of a harrowing adventure with mysterious elements from ancient myths, set within a fascinating, magical world. If you haven’t read fantasies before, this is a fantastic starting point! (make sure to check the glossary at the end of the book)
The Final Gambit
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre; Young Adult, Mystery Fiction
Age recommendation; 13+
"Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake—and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning."
Did you enjoy the suspenseful, juice mystery the Knives Out movie offered? If yes, this is for you! ( it is far more enthralling)
The Final Gambit is the third and last book in the Inheritance Games series. The novel follows the story of Avery Kylie Grambs, who previously had a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes changed instantly when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne died and left Avery his entire fortune.
Now all Avery has to do is survive a few more days in the Hawthorne House. But suddenly trouble arrives in the form of a visitor and it soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, so Avery is drawn into another dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.
If you love high-stakes drama, quests for healing deep familial wounds, and a side of justice being served, The Final Gambit just might take your breath away!
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
by Holly Jackson
Genre; Young Adult, Mystery/Thriller Fiction
Age recommendation; 13+
"The people you love weren’t algebra: to be calculated, subtracted, or held at arm’s length across a decimal point."
This book came to me at the right time. I was finalising my book recommendations when I heard Sofia from Y13(b) gush over the book during lunchtime. I am sure, the majority of you might have even read this one already but for the ones who haven’t, this is a sign!
Let’s hear about the novel from Sofia herself: “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is a thrilling murder mystery that Pip, the protagonist, is investigating for her EPQ. I have to say it is the most exciting, thrilling, and keep-you-on-your-toes mystery I have ever read. Each clue found makes you want to keep reading more and more until the end. The sequels live up to the first and the character development, story progression, and plot is beautiful. It’s a perfect read for the month of Halloween!”
Listening to the audiobook will be an exhilarating experience because the novel is filled with enough twists, turns, and red herrings to keep you on the edge of your seat right up to the finish line. And with all the added sound effects, it is a crime podcast!
These are just a few pieces of work I believe that go well with the season but you can always reread your favourites; Harry Potter, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, or if you’re a fan of classics, perhaps Pride & Prejudice?
There it is! Join the KCDSpeaks book club by reading these books, sending your take on them and then sharing some new reads we can add to the list next month!
Just email us your views & recommendations at: newspaper@kentcollege.ae - you can also email me directly at: kulus23@kentcollege.ae
P.S. Make sure to check out the KCD Library- borrow books and donate.
Until next time!
Love,
Kulsoom
