The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
 
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The sun and her flowers is like a warm cup of tea to comfort your soul and a sweet symphony that you'll find your heart twirling and dancing to. This unique and beautiful poetry book is divided up into five different chapters that explore the cycle of wilting, falling, rooting, rising and blooming. Through this book you are taken on a rollercoaster ride of the ups and the downs, the beauty and the pain, the hope and the fear, the strength and the weakness, and the love and the hate.

What really sparked my fondness for this book and enriched the reading experience for me, were the raw and delicate illustrations that accompanied the poems. The illustrations are done by Rupi herself, and add a new fresh layer of depth and meaning. I also love how the collection of poems in each chapter delve into a distinct and diverse sea of emotions, thoughts and topics that people can connect with and relate to in different ways. You will come out with a new sense of strength and power after reading this book, as the words will guide you on a journey from wilting and being at your lowest point to blooming and reaching your highest point.

The sun and her flowers is the perfect book to lift you up and inspire you on a dark and gloomy day. The sun and her flowers is the perfect book to pick up all your broken pieces and make them new and whole again. The sun and her flowers is the perfect book for anyone looking to escape and get lost in the pure beauty and fluency of poetry.

Reviewed by Vindhya Kathuria 

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Hannah Gough
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb
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I Am Malala is a powerful and inspirational book, that tells the story of one courageous girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. Malala was just 17 years old when she received the Nobel Peace Prize, making her the youngest ever recipient. Her passion, determination, and bravery resonates deeply within each and every page, touching the hearts and encouraging the minds of many.

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, they banned all girls from going to school. They took their books and pens, and gave them pots and pans. They took their knowledge and joy, and replaced it with fear and sorrow. A storm cloud of gloom cast the valley into darkness, but there was one blazing beam of light that refused to be extinguished. Malala fiercely spoke out against the Taliban, through speeches and interviews, demanding that the gift of education be handed back to girls. When the Taliban threatened her, she spoke up even louder, With a thirst for education that could not and would not be quenched.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when Malala was just 15, she was shot in the head at point blank range by the Taliban, while riding the bus home from school. They thought their bullets would silence her, but instead they amplified her voice. intensifying her strength, to fight with her burning devotion for girls rights and education for all. Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on a remarkable journey, from a remote valley in Pakistan to the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. Malala is an icon for peaceful protest and a role model for girls all around the world.

I Am Malala is an absolute must read, that highlights just how much we take for granted every day; freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the freedom to dream. For although Malala wasn't allowed to dream beyond the Taliban's strict rule, she took her dream of equality for girls and education, watered it day by day with love and care, and watched it blossom into something beautiful that sheds it petals all around the world today.    

Reviewed by Vindhya Kathuria 

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Isabella Smith
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
 
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The Woman in Cabin 10 is a gripping story that plays on deception and the struggle of disentangling reality from delusion. Its claustrophobic atmosphere will entice your curiosity and keep you longing to explore and dive deeper into this unsettling, yet eerily beautiful thriller.

Lo Blacklock is a travel journalist who has been presented with the assignment of a lifetime, a chance to travel onboard the Aurora, a brand new boutique cruise ship travelling through the Norwegian fjords, offering nothing but luxury and leisure. At first she is overwhelmed by the floating palace that is to be her home for the next week, astounded by the dazzling chandeliers, extravagant dinner parties and grand cabins.

A perfectly smooth sailing trip, or so it seems until the night that Lo bears witness to something so chilling and horrific, from the next door cabin, that it threatens to drown her in a single crashing wave of fear. A scream biting the air, a splash interrupting the calm of the waves, a smear of blood staining the glass, a body sinking into the depths of oblivion; these were the sights and sounds that would be forever etched into Lo’s mind.

Desperate to find answers,  Lo learns that no one ever checked into cabin 10 and that no passengers are missing from the boat. Dazed and confused, Lo is certain that she saw a body being thrown overboard, but could it possibly all just be a bad nightmare?

This tense thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat, captivated by the dark unknown and guessing right till the very end.

Reviewed by Vindhya Kathuria

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Hannah Gough
Turtles All The Way Down by John Green
 
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Turtles All The Way Down is the new riveting book by John Green, that encapsulates a young girl name Aza’s plight both mentally and with the mystery she must solve.

When her witty and curious friends discover that she was childhood friends with a boy whose father has disappeared and that there is a pretty hefty sum awaiting those who find him, it  causes Aza to dig up her past. The result of their endeavors is far more than they ever could have expected.  

This book is incredibly captivating and very different from any other book I have read. I enjoyed it immensely! What I found especially fascinating was that while there is a general plot and set of interactions between the characters, the real story lies in Aza’s struggles with herself and her mind. In this book, Green pulls out all the stops and really let’s his imagination choose where the story should lead. This results in Aza’s every thought being documented, making her character very relatable and I think most people will feel the same way. Of course, very few people actually understand what she is going through as she has a medical condition, but thanks to Green’s exceptional writing, you can put yourself in her shoes and absolutely feel what she feels.

This book is a perfect cross between a thrilling mystery and a poignant tale of a girl struggling with a mental disorder. It mixes the harsh realities of life, with the uplifting slightly comical fiction of a mystery, all topped off with a heartwarming tale of young love. I most definitely recommend this book to everyone of all ages as it is enlightening and an absolute page turner.

Reviewed by Anna Maryam Smith

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Hannah Gough