After learning about Vietnam through my school's AP History course, I had expectations about the plot of the book already. I read it and got what I predicted with the foggy swamps and jungles filled with the unknown, and for a book meant to sound like nonfiction, these descriptions were plentiful. What I wasn't prepared for were the deep thoughts of the writer himself mingling with the accounts of his character's life as a soldier. All in all, it was one of those reads that left me wondering how I felt about it afterwards.

Though not a young adult novel, this sequel to the first Outlander book is dissolved of plot holes and overly dramatic decisions made by characters. I thought this sequel was better than the first book in a lot of ways, as there was more room for character development. The history laced with the fictional lives of the characters was well researched and thorough, which I always appreciate. There were many twists and turns and the ending is not what you'd expect!

One of the few nonfiction books I will read for pure enjoyment, 1776 is a blow-by-blow account of a crucial year in the American Revolution. Told through multiple points of view, this resource is a gold mine for history fanatics like myself. With pictures, maps of strategic importance and quotes from the journals of soldiers, the reader feels as if they were taking part in history when reading the text.

This short, traditional read was another Austen novel I enjoyed. It was well-written in the way Catherine Morland matured from her struggles in friendship, trust and curiosity. I had to root for a character that put her faith in novels, though she learned to separate real life from them. Austen has such a talent for creating characters that resemble those in real life: the conceited Isabella Thorpe, the odd General Tilney and the deceitful John Thorpe to name a few. I think the style of this book was different from Austen's other works because of the young age of the main character, which I can relate to.

Originally I wasn't going to read this book, but I'm glad now I did. The character of Victoria Darling is strong and perseveres in her own right, making her a character I believed in since the first chapter. Her unstoppable passion for art was something I could relate to, as I enjoy studying it's history. As a writer, I have experienced what Victoria has when she's around other creative people; it's a nice change of pace from socializing with boring people. The author's word choice and historical references to women suffragettes added strong layers to the plot line.

Another amazing book with a cliffhanger that I didn't see coming. The plot of The Raven Boys, with their search for the lost Welsh king, is an unusual idea to base a story around. The way the book was written however, made the plot feel so fresh and realistic. This author is especially talented at writing passages with tension that made me sit on the edge of my seat while reading.

The fictional world Kestral lives in is so vibrant and imaginative. Saying that, I felt that the two races living in the Empire were well-developed, but the main characters were not. The characters of Kestral and Arin hardly changed by the end of the book, while the minor characters were stationary throughout the plot. Hopefully the rest of the series will expand on the characters' motivations, personalities and skills.

The second book in the series was the most engaging and I felt the most researched. In this third installment, the imagery is still marvelous and the adventures of Claire Jamie are epic. However I thought this time there were too many extra, unneeded scenes. This made the clear plot of a rescue mission go on longer than it needed to be.