Bookshub Reserve

2021-10-26 14:01:58 Dune Saga
By Frank Herbert

Genre: Science Fiction, Movie

Goodreads: (4.2/5)

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for...

When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream. Open / Comment

2021-10-23 07:52:55 The Secret Garden
By Frances Hodgson Burnett

Genre: Children, Fiction

Goodreads: (4.12/5)

The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma by losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic. However, her memories of her parents are not pleasant, as they were a selfish, neglectful and pleasure-seeking couple. Mary is given to the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, whom she has never met. She travels to his home, Misselthwaite Manor located in the gloomy Yorkshire, a vast change from the sunny and warm climate she was used to. When she arrives, she is a rude, stubborn and given to stormy temper tantrums. However, her nature undergoes a gradual transformation when she learns of the tragedies that have befallen her strict and disciplinarian uncle whom she earlier feared and despised. Once when he's away from home, Mary discovers a charming walled garden which is always kept locked. The mystery deepens... Open / Comment

2021-10-20 16:58:22 This Was Our Pact
By Ryan Andrews

Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel

Goodreads: (4.05/5)

It's the night of the annual Autumn Equinox Festival, when the town gathers to float paper lanterns down the river. Legend has it that after drifting out of sight, they'll soar off to the Milky Way and turn into brilliant stars, but could that actually be true? This year, Ben and his classmates are determined to find out where those lanterns really go, and to ensure success in their mission, they've made a pact with two simple rules: No one turns for home. No one looks back.

The plan is to follow the river on their bikes for as long as it takes to learn the truth, but it isn't long before the pact is broken by all except for Ben and (much to Ben's disappointment) Nathaniel, the one kid who just doesn't seem to fit in.

Together, Nathaniel and Ben will travel farther than anyone has ever gone, down a winding road full of magic, wonder, and unexpected friendship.

And a talking bear. Open / Comment

2021-10-16 08:34:04 Kingdom of the Wicked series
By Kerri Maniscalco

Book 1 - Kingdom of the Wicked
Book 2 - Kingdom of the Cursed

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction

Goodreads: (4.42/5)

Two sisters

One brutal murder

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself

And an intoxicating romance

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems. Open / Comment

2021-10-15 08:32:47 Thirteen Reasons Why
By Jay Asher

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Goodreads: (3.89/5)

You can’t stop the future.
You can’t rewind the past.
The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.

Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever. Open / Comment

2021-10-07 06:00:11 Goosebumps Complete Collection (1-62)
By R.L. Stine

Genre: Horror, Children

Goodreads: (4.02/5)

Reader beware - you're in for a scare!

Discover the original bone-chilling adventures that made Goosebumps one of the bestselling children's book series of all time! Have you got Goosebumps yet? If not, you soon will! This creep collection will thrill you, frighten you, and keep you on the edge of your seat. Inside you'll find tales of slimy monsters, horrifying mummies, malicious lawn gnomes, and of course, Slappy - the scariest ventriloquist dummy you will ever meet! Open / Comment

2021-10-05 08:32:44 Under The Whispering Door
by TJ Klune

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction

Goodreads: (4.42/5)

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.

Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop's owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.

But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo's help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.

When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days. Open / Comment

2021-10-01 09:30:01 Charlie And The Great Glass Elevator
by Roald Dahl

Genre: Children, Fiction

Goodreads: (3.68/5)

Charlie Bucket has won Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and is on his way to take possession of it - in none other than a great glass elevator! But then... WHOOSH! Inside the Great Glass Elevator, Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket and his family are now cruising a thousand feet above the chocolate factory!

They can see the whole world below them, but they're not alone. The American Space Hotel has just launched. Lurking inside are the Vernicious Knids - the most brutal, vindictive murderous beasts in the universe.

So grab your gizzard! Hold your hats! Only Charlie and Willy Wonka can stop the Knids from destroying everything! Open / Comment

2021-09-29 11:24:51 Hunter × Hunter
(ハンターハンター)
written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi

Genre: Manga

MAL: (9.1/10)

Hunter x Hunter is set in a world where Hunters exist to perform all manner of dangerous tasks like capturing criminals and bravely searching for lost treasures in uncharted territories. Twelve-year-old Gon Freecss is determined to become the best Hunter possible in hopes of finding his father, who was a Hunter himself and had long ago abandoned his young son. However, Gon soon realizes the path to achieving his goals is far more challenging than he could have ever imagined.

Along the way to becoming an official Hunter, Gon befriends the lively doctor-in-training Leorio, vengeful Kurapika, and rebellious ex-assassin Killua. To attain their own goals and desires, together the four of them take the Hunter Exam, notorious for its low success rate and high probability of death. Throughout their journey, Gon and his friends embark on an adventure that puts them through many hardships. Open / Comment