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Items being reviewed must meet the following criteria:

• Must be available through Port Colborne Public Library or a participating LINC library.
• Must be an appropriate reading level.
• Books can be fiction or non-fiction, and in book, e-book or audiobook format.

Additionally, reviews must meet the following criteria:

• Must be at least 250 words in length (or longer).
• Must contain an introduction to the book, a brief summary (without spoilers), a thoughtful review, as well as whether or not you would recommend the book.
• Be an original review; plagiarism will not be accepted.
• Contains no graphic or explicit language.

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The Bodyguard, written by Katherine Center, is funny, sweet, and has a happy ending.

Hannah Brooks does not look intimidating and does not look like she could protect you. Truthfully, she is a bodyguard, an excellent one to add. After her mom dies and her boyfriend breaks up with her, she wants to work and distract herself. She finally gets a good job protecting somebody, but she unfortunately has to stay in Texas for it, the place she’s been trying to get out of.

She’s been hired to protect celebrity Jack Stapleton. Everybody wants this job, but she finds it too boring for her. Jack Stapleton is a famous actor, and everybody loves him. The issue with being famous? Having a stalker.

When his mom gets sick, he comes to Texas to stay with his family until she gets better. He does not want his family to worry about him, so he hides the information about his stalker and the fact that he has a bodyguard. Since he needs Hannah with him at all times, they have to fake being in a relationship. She thinks it will be an easy mission and nothing can go wrong, but what happens when she starts wishing the relationship were real?

I give this book a 5-star rating because it was such a fun read. The storyline was adorable, and I began to love the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fun romantic comedy, and I would reread it.

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Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (Reviewed by SS)

The childhood biography Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is dramatic, surprising, and exciting. This story about a child who illegally exists to become a professional stand-up comedian is impressive and enlightening. This book shares Trevor Noah’s childhood story from birth to adulthood. Trevor Noah had a tough childhood dealing with problems involving his parents, and his road to success. This book will show you the incredible rise of Trevor Noah.

I recommend this book to anyone because it gave me a lot of courage. Trevor had to see his mom get thrown out of a moving car which is insane. He also had to deal with the racist apartheid system in South Africa. Trevor is a brave man who has a lot of courage. A lot of people wouldn't be able to persevere through all the problems that he faced. I have lost courage, especially in school presenting in front of my fellow students. I’ve always felt uncomfortable. Trevor had the same type of situation because when he was a mixed child in South Africa, he found it very hard to make friends with all the Black kids. He learned to become an extrovert which took a lot of courage to do. When I saw this, I started becoming more of an extrovert because I saw Trevor as a role model.

I would give this book a four-star rating because it shows no matter where you come from, you can still be a successful person in this world. The reason why it’s not a five-star rating is because the book had a lot more sad feelings in comparison to happy feelings. I enjoy books that have a lot of happy moments. Other than that, it was an awesome book to read.

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Reviewd by SS)

This book shows how much racism can affect someone. The main character is Justyce McAllister, a 17-year-old student who deals with many people saying and doing very racist things. He lives in Atlanta, where there are many Black gangs. He also wrote stories about his problems to Martin Luther King Jr. because he wanted to try to incorporate Martin’s teachings into his own life.

I would recommend this book to teenagers because it demonstrates a teenage lifestyle involving a lot of peer pressure and anxiety. Justyce faces a lot of anxiety such as rubbing his wrists throughout the story whenever something bad happens. The book also has romance involving Justyce having to figure out who he likes more between SJ and Melo. There were also a lot of teenage parties that didn’t go very well. Some situations even involved the police being called and some punches occurred also. There is also a very tragic death towards the end of the book that will shock you.

I would give this book a 4-star rating. I didn’t get a five because there was too much gossip in the book, and I’m not a big fan of gossip. I tend to stay away from that type of stuff. I did enjoy the book because it made me think about how much you can hurt someone by saying the wrong words. I never want to hurt someone in my life. The story is all about treating everyone the same. The theme would be equality. I love what it’s all about and I’m all for it.

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Eragon is a young adult fantasy novel written by Christopher Paolini that takes place in a high fantasy setting. It tells the story of a farm boy named Eragon and how everything in his life changes when he finds a mysterious blue stone in the woods that is revealed to be a dragon egg. The egg hatches and falls away to reveal a tiny dragon, a creature that is known to many in only legends and stories, Eragon included. After living with the dragon for some time, Eragon is then forced to make choices and bear responsibilities that are far greater than any he has ever known before as he sets out on an adventure to discover what path to take.

I enjoyed this book a lot overall. The story was exciting and interesting and I was never bored with it. The characters never stay in one place for too long as they’re always on the move or doing something that contributes to the story - whether it’s big or small. There is a variety of landscapes and each one has their own unique features or engaging experience that adds to the overall plot such as Angela’s Shop or Helgrind. Fantasy is one of my favourite genres and this book does a good job with it, although I would critique that it is very cliché with its characters and plot. It feels like a checklist at times when it comes to character tropes and story beats. The book of course has typical fantasy elements like dragons, magic, a chosen one, sword fighting, and such. However, it also takes the time to explore the world as well as develop an expansive fictional language with translations for every word used throughout the story in the back of the book. It’s well thought-out and nicely implemented. The world building overall is one of the strongest elements in this book in my opinion. It sets it apart from being just another typical fantasy book. However, not all of the characters get a lot of development throughout the story. I would have liked to see Saphira get more spotlight in particular. She just feels like an extension to Eragon instead of her own separate character which is a shame because she’s a compelling and incredibly unique character. Her perspective as well as philosophy surprised me at times simply because it was sometimes very different from what the other characters thought. Saphira is just as, if not more important than Eragon and I wish the book had spent more time exploring her character altogether.

I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy fantasy novels, especially if you enjoy the stereotypical “chosen one goes on a quest” kind of novel. It is very cliché at times but has a genuinely good story at its core. I wouldn’t recommend this book if you’re looking for a very detailed or complicated fantasy title though as Eragon is rather simple in terms of its plot and world. Eragon is part of The Inheritance Cycle so I would also recommend reading the rest of the series afterwards if you want to know what happens next.

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Reviewed by SS)

This book is a part of one of the greatest book series of all time. It shows the amazing world of wizardry. The main character is Harry Potter. It shows how he goes from living a pretty sad normal life into a wizard. It starts with him living with his aunt and uncle. He never knew his parents. While he was living there, a bunch of mysterious situations occurred. The uncle got so scared, he drove to this cabin to be as far away from the situation. This led to Harry meeting someone who helped him to learn about his true potential.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy good dialogue and good imagery. The book has a very cool dialogue between the characters. Some say funny comments, serious comments, and wise comments. There is also a lot of specific and detailed imagery of the surroundings. In the world of wizardry, there are a lot of cool objects that sound even cooler when described in powerful words. I also loved the plot of the story. The author tried to give little hints to show who the villains were.

I would give this book a 5-star rating because it is honestly the best book I’ve ever read in my life. The book got me hooked in the first couple of pages. I loved the characters. All the different characters made it more and more interesting. After reading it, I’ve decided to go read the next book of the series. My goal is to finish the entire series because of how awesome the first book was.

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The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant (Reviewed by SS)

This biography of Kobe Bryant demonstrates how much it took for Kobe Bryant to achieve greatness. This story is very inspirational and breathtaking. It shows how Kobe grew up and became one of history's greatest NBA players. He talks about his knowledge of the game, his opponents, and how he studied the game. It shows what he had to do to start trusting his teammates would eventually help him to win multiple NBA championships.

I recommend this book to young basketball players who don’t think that they have a future in playing basketball. Basketball is one of the most competitive sports in the world. Many people dream about going pro, but many believe that dream is impossible. Kobe’s story will show you that anything is possible. This book could also help young kids who want to quit. Kobe helped show that quitting is never an option. An example would be when Kobe was traded on draft night. He thought that no one wanted him, but the team that traded for him decided to take a chance on him and the rest is history.

I would give the book a 5-star rating because I’m a young basketball player and this book made me feel more passionate about the game of basketball. Kobe had a great passion for basketball and spent hours dribbling and shooting a basketball. I also have that same love for the game. The book also thought a bunch of cool tactics in the game. It shared cool stories about Kobe and his rivals. I believe that this book is incredible.

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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a young adult dark fantasy novel written by
Ransom Riggs. It follows the story of a teenage boy named Jacob as he sets out to discover the
meaning behind his grandfather's final words, leading him to discover strange and curious things
he never would have believed even existed.

Overall, the book was very exciting and engaging, with twists and turns at every corner. It had
me on the edge of my seat and I never knew what to expect next. The characters were all very
distinct and memorable, each with their own strengths and weaknesses that had a great impact on
the story. Millard and Miss Peregrine herself were among some of my favourite characters. I
really liked their peculiarities and personalities. The author’s use of vintage pictures scattered
throughout the book also created a creepy and eerie effect that went really well with the mood of
the story and characters, particularly with the antagonists. While I enjoyed the book for the most
part, I disliked the romantic relationship between Jacob and Emma. It didn’t add much to the
story and created unnecessary conflict between the two of them. I think the book would have
been better off without the romance. It felt forced in just for the purpose of adding a love interest
because it’s a young adult novel.

I would recommend this book if you enjoy mystery novels or enjoy books with an overarching
plot. I wouldn’t recommend it for someone who is especially interested in horror and frightening
imagery because frankly it isn’t very scary although some of the vintage photographs are a little
creepy. Due to the fact that Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is part of a series, I
would also recommend that you read the rest of the books to conclude the story and answer any
questions that you may have.

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Playing the Long Game: A Memoir by Christine Sinclair with Stephen Brunt (Reviewed by SS)

The book shows how Christine Sinclair was an incredibly impactful human being and soccer player, inspiring and motivating many other females to pursue the sport of soccer and to learn never to say never. The book shows how she impacted women’s soccer in Canada: The three reasons are the way she impacted women’s soccer, the way she impacted Canada, and her legacy in Canada and women's soccer. This shows how much Christine Sinclair has done for women’s soccer in Canada. Canadians will always remember her because we might not get another superstar from Canada like her. The book helps us see how important family is. Sinclair was close to her family and talked about how much their support meant to her.

I would recommend this book to young soccer girls because it shows dedication and fight. Many people should not take women’s soccer for granted because they will miss seeing inspirational talent. Her playstyle was unlike any other women’s soccer player, and that playstyle is quiet leadership. Christine Sinclair will always have Canada and women’s soccer, and all the fans will have her in their hearts. She always wanted people to care about women’s soccer in Canada, and now many people care about women’s soccer in Canada. I hope this book will make people aware of how important she was to women’s soccer in Canada.

I would give this book a 5-star rating because this book encouraged me to prove people wrong, and that no one can stop me. Many people doubted Sinclair because no one thought that Sinclair would be able to significantly impact women’s sports. Sinclair continued to fight and now you can see how everything changed.

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The title, The Rom-Commers, gives a pretty good description of what the book is about. Emma Wheeler has wanted to be a screenwriter her whole life. Since she can remember, she’s been obsessed with romantic comedies. While she dreams of writing romantic comedies, she is also a full-time caretaker for her father. Her dad suffered a brain injury and requires 24/7 care, so Emma took on the role. She loves her dad and loves taking care of him, but she sometimes feels as if she’s missing out on life.

Her friend works in LA and helps to set her up with screenwriting opportunities, and he finally landed her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The only issue is that she has to move to LA for 6 weeks. Her younger sister steps in for her as the caretaker, and she moves to LA for 6 weeks.

She’s working with the Legendary Charlie Yates. Charlie is a fantastic writer, but he cannot do rom-coms. He doesn’t even believe in love, so he needs her help. He doesn’t care about the script, but she won’t let him get off easy. What will she do when she starts to fall for him? You’ll have to read to find out.

I give this book a 5-star rating because it was very well written and had an intriguing plot. I recommend this novel to anyone wanting to read a good romantic comedy, and I wouldn’t say there is any specific age group for this. If you like romantic comedies, you will like this novel.

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Secretly Yours is a fun romantic comedy novel written by Tessa Bailey.

Hallie Welch had the biggest crush on Julian Vos since she was 14. They went to high school together, and she almost got to kiss him until he realized she was a freshman. She’s remained in the same town since then, but he went off to school and even became a professor at an Ivy League school. When on sabbatical, he returns to his hometown to stay with his family at their winery. While on his sabbatical, he decides to write a novel, assuming it’s a good place for him with no distractions. That’s until Hallie starts gardening right outside of his office window.

Hallie’s grandmother owned a gardening business, but when she passed away, Hallie took over. She works all around town and does almost everybody’s gardening, even the Vos winery. Julian can’t help but get distracted from his novel with her working directly outside. She tends to be late, doesn’t have specific plans, and goes with the flow. Julian, on the other hand, is a tidy, uptight person who needs everything planned out. They are opposites, but somehow, he feels this pull to her.

Will he remember her from high school, or does he think she’s just another girl?

This novel was a fun read, and the plot kept me interested. I would give it a 5-star rating because of the build-up to the relationship between the characters, and it didn’t feel rushed. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone under 16 because of the spicy aspects. I would also recommend reading the novel Unfortunately Yours before this novel because of the introduction of each character, but it isn’t necessary.

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Unfortunately Yours is a romantic comedy book written by Tessa Bailey. I found this novel a fun read and struggled to put it down. This novel is funny, romantic, and even emotional at times.

Unfortunately Yours starts with the character Natalie, who comes to Napa Valley from New York after breaking off her engagement. Her family owns a winery in Napa, making it a perfect place for her to settle for a little bit, and it gives her some time to figure out a new business plan for New York.

August is an ex-Navy Seal who came to open up his winery. The issue with August’s winery? He doesn’t know how to make wine. He doesn’t know how to make it or what to start with. He can’t even fix the horrible taste it has.

Natalie is an expert at winemaking and knows everything there is to know about wine. August and Natalie have come into contact at times, and most of the time, she has to taste his terrible wine and judge it. Natalie and August are far from friends. They don’t like each other, and they don’t plan on becoming best friends anytime soon.

What happens when Natalie needs to get married to receive her trust? Her father will not allow her to obtain her trust unless she is married. August needs help with his wine, and Natalie needs to receive her money. What will they do in this situation?

I recommend this book to people ages 16 and above because there are some spicier scenes throughout the novel, but overall, I did find it enjoyable. I will give this book a rating of 4.5/5 because I liked how it was written, and I enjoyed the ending it had. This novel has others after it, and I highly recommend it to people who had a good time reading this one.

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Yellowface written by R.F Kuang is a suspenseful satire following Juniper Hayward, an obscure author who deeply envies successful author and her best friend, Athena Liu. Juniper witnesses Athena’s death in an accident while celebrating an event at her apartment, leaving her just-finished manuscript in her apartment for June to steal. Rewriting it slightly and taking it as her own, she publishes the book under a new name, Juniper Song to follow the subject of the book, the unseen contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I to hint at her audience that she is Chinese. The success of her new book sky-rockets, but problems arise for Juniper as evidence begins to emerge and seems to be haunted by Athena. Juniper learns just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to keep her secret hidden.

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