Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner (2003)

    The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant (Goodreads).

     There are so many conflicting feelings that go along with this novel. On the one hand, Hosseini writes with a brilliant voice, as he dictates a wonderful story with dynamic characters and showcases his mastery over emotion. Literary devices are used excellently, and the heart-wrenching moments truly set the novel into a league of its own. That is, until you consider the other hand. Our protagonist is so awfully frustrating, and that makes him a hard guy to root for. His self-pity and the painful way he interacts with others makes him hard to sympathize with. Or maybe we see ourselves in Amir more than we would like... Hmm... Anyway, although the author writes with brilliant stunning tenacity, he seems to point out his own hidden meanings. Which sort of defeats the purpose of hidden meanings. Pacing is also an issue, as the middle section is really boring, and an unnecessary bit of suspense is thrown in at the very end, when Amir is so close to completing an absolutely fantastically developed redemption arc. The novel is incredible in parts, and that just makes the frustrating bits all the more frustrating. Brilliant parallels between characters and a story rife with symbolism battle against several glaring negatives to produce a tale that, perhaps, is all the more compelling because of its flaws. 8.2/10

Patrick Ness: Monsters of Men (2010)

    As a world-ending war surges to life around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions (Goodreads).

     This third installment in the Chaos Walking trilogy takes a step back from its predecessors, as much of the novel is of a slower pace. That's not to say it is dull, however, because there are many examples of Ness' trademark intensity and action peppered throughout the novel. Most of the conflicts are retained from book two, but they are written just as well, meaning that it is still enjoyable despite the similarities. Ness writes with such a stunning and simplistic brutality (in a good way), and readers are kept on the edge of their seats as hope is built up in a painstakingly brilliant fashion, only to have that hope snatched away in a heartbreaking moment as the climax begins. Both the main and secondary characters see their paths fulfilled as Ness builds up to a heart-pounding (and heart-wrenching) final battle. There is a vital moment concerning the main antagonist which seems somewhat forced, and his development is almost completely wasted with one action, but luckily, his overall brilliant character is fulfilled in the end. By now, the concept of the Noise is worn a bit thin, and the rules regarding its use are not extremely fleshed out, and 1017's monologue, while it does add depth to the story, doesn't live up to the other voices in terms of emotion and interest. Overall, though, Ness concludes his saga with an epic, emotional, and brilliantly-written novel. 8.5/10

Mal Peet: The Penalty (2006)

    As the city of San Juan pulses to summer's sluggish beat, its teenage football prodigy, El Brujito, vanishes without trace. Paul Faustino, South America's top sports journalist, is reluctantly drawn into the mystery (Goodreads).

     Peet writes relatively well; the setting and characters are all described thoroughly, and the overall plot is pretty compelling in and of itself. However, to put it frankly, the book is dull. Not to a huge extent, but the writing is presented in a very bland way, and it's hard to be invested in the positives mentioned earlier when the plot moves slowly. Both plot lines have their moments, but the novel goes back and forth between them so much so that, as soon as one is invested, it switches back, and the reader is forced to start over. Those looking for a book about the sport of soccer (or football for the rest of the world) should look elsewhere, as the sport is not really a factor. Not necessarily a negative, just something of note. Faustino is a likeable enough character, but the rest of the cast echoes just about everything else about the novel: mediocrity. 6.6/10

Patrick Ness: The Ask and the Answer (2009)

    Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town (Goodreads)?

     A brilliant foray into some of the most difficult themes in literature, this second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy delivers on all levels. It starts right where the first book left off, although from there it actually goes fairly slow. A new narrator adds some variety to the novel's voice, and again Ness writes with simple diction that seems to strike a chord. The concept of the Noise wears a bit thin this time around, though, and as we learn more about it, the rules surrounding its use is somewhat vague. The pace picks up as the plot develops, and the latter half of the book is rife with emotional, heart-wrenching scenes, as we see our protagonists struggle with difficult issues, and readers, too, are forced to pick sides as Ness unveils the true brutality of civil war. As far as complexity goes, this sequel outweighs its predecessor by far, and although some character development is slightly unrealistic, it delivers on that front as well. The antagonist(s) are given a lot more substance this time around, and Ness is able to narrate with such urgency that keeps readers on their toes for the majority of the novel, except for the slightly slower beginning. 8.7/10

Kate DiCamillo: The Tale of Despereaux (2004)

    Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea (Goodreads).

     It might be charming, but beyond that, The Tale of Despereaux is extremely underwhelming. It's hard to root for the protagonists, not because one of them is named after a vegetable, though that doesn't help, but, to be honest, they don't really do much. Light is good and dark is bad, and sometimes, the imagery going along with that in the book is pretty well-executed, but the entire plot is mostly forgettable. It's also kind of annoying being constantly reminded of what just happened a few seconds ago by random interjections from the author. Luckily, the author writes well enough, with a calm, clear diction, that these interruptions are bearable. Imagery is done well, and the author describes things with an endearing, intelligent voice, and the vocabulary is pretty well done, but a bland plot, characters, and dialogue make for a fairly 'meh' read. 6.5/10

J.R.R. Tolkien: The Return of the King (1955)

    The armies of the Dark Lord are massing as his evil shadow spreads even wider. Men, Dwarves, Elves and Ents unite forces to do battle against the Dark. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam struggle further into Mordor in their heroic quest to destroy the One Ring (Goodreads).

    Although it is the third installment in his fantasy epic, Tolkien's world building expertise shines again as he introduces new places, people, and history that makes one feel as if they have been immersed for much longer than they actually have. As the suspense builds towards the climax, readers are torn between wanting to stay surrounded by Tolkien's beautiful, borderline verbose, diction and discovering the penultimate ending. The author switches between different points of view seamlessly, and the many layers of plots and subplots add to an incredible experience. Having Frodo and Sam's journey as a completely separate section of the book has its pros and cons, a pro being able to stay involved with each character more thoroughly, a con being repeated reminders of what is taking place at which time. Nevertheless, Tolkien's fantastic, and by now legendary storytelling abilities more than make up for it, stupendously finishing the saga. 8.8/10

Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)

    Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society (Goodreads).

    A brilliant portrayal of humanity at its most raw, Oscar Wilde uses his trademark wit and thought-provoking philosophy to weave a grand tale that begins as a bold venture into human morality and sin, and finishes as a chilling yarn of horrific proportions. Countless quotable lines are peppered throughout, as Wilde showcases his talent at both dialogue and overall narration. Characterization is also done splendidly, as Basil, Lord Henry, and Dorian Gray himself all shine in their own specific way. The title character in particular stands out, as his transformation from innocent young man into cold-blooded killer paints (heh) an eerie picture of humanity at its worst. Wilde wraps it up with a grim (although, to be fair, somewhat predictable) ending, yet the novel itself leaves readers thinking about its contents for a long time afterwards. 8.7/10