REVIEW- The Face on the Milk Carton ☮

Three years old with a sweet face and dotty dress - kidnapped from a New Jersey mall 12 years ago and still nowhere to be found. The media hasn't talked much about her case recently, but answers are still needed by those that lost her. She's even got her face on milk cartons in hope of new information.
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Janie Johnson is eating lunch at school. In her hand is a 250 ml milk carton with an printing for missing children with the Jersey girl on it. She thought something was not-quite-right, 'off'. Could the black and white image be of her? Key to unraveling the colorful ball of yarn that is her shady childhood?

This book even I'M surprised I picked up has become one of my favorites. 10/10, would read again.
The Face on the Milk Carton is actually a part of a quadrilogy (Google says that's a word, babes). If losing yourself entirely in a book is your thing, I implore you to check this mystery/thriller masterpiece sprinkled with the best plot twists.

Until next post, I hope your existences go groovily :)
Yours eternally,
Madison, meerkat queen

Review - Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

It’s not every day where you come across a book that is so exhilarating to read that it beckons you to read it non-stop, but Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith is one of those jems which has those characteristics. The premise of the book is that Alex Sawyer, is framed for a murder that he never committed. The law system of this book is as such that they don’t have much tolerance for any sort of youth related crime, therefore Alex is sentenced to life imprisonment in Furnace Penitentiary, a massive underground prison complex filled with brutal guards, an inhumane warden, and monsters that steal people away in the dead of night. It’s up to him and his new found friends, Donovan and Zee to escape this madhouse before it consumes them.

     This book is a great read to spend your entire weekend on, you get into those moments where you feel that you know what’s about to happen, that you've seen it all before, etc. The tone of the book is rather grim, though it combats that with a group of characters whom you really feel connected to as you continue reading. The book is masterfully written and I highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a great thriller-style book.

- Ellis

Review - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The book is set in the time period right after the Spanish Civil War and Daniel Sempere, the main character in the story is recently introduced to the cemetery of forgotten books. It is not exactly a bookstore but a place where “forgotten” books in Barcelona are kept from getting lost forever. In this place Daniel finds The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. Is it not amazing the book’s name is actually a book in the story. Daniel finds a great deal of mysteries associated with the book and the author, and the people connected to him. All this time, while solving mysteries, Daniel also finds love, and a comic sidekick. I guess if you are not hooked by now, then just start reading and you won’t be able to put it down.

On Wikipedia, The Shadow of the Wind is said to be a mystery, however after reading I realize that it is basically every genre packed into a bundle of awesome. Anything from comedy, romance, and even action you name it and I am sure that you will be able to find some hint of it in this novel. Indeed this is the reason why I recommend you read this book. Also the major suspense and a possible twist at the end makes it ever the more impossible to put down. Another reason is that the atmosphere created by the characters and the setting seems so real, that you feel like you are right there in Spain in the center of all the action. Definitely a good read.

- Dhruti Vajaria

ERAGON

By: Christopher Paolini

Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy--until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save--or destroy--the Empire. A New York Times Bestseller A USA Today Bestseller A Wall Street Journal Bestseller A Book Sense Bestseller TitlePeek

THE DRESS MAKER OF KHAIR KHANA

By: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

The life Kamila Sidiqi had known changed overnight when the Taliban seized control of the city of Kabul. After receiving a teaching degree during the civil war--a rare achievement for any Afghan woman--Kamila was subsequently banned from school and confined to her home. When her father and brother were forced to flee the city, Kamila became the sole breadwinner for her five siblings. Armed only with grit and determination, she picked up a needle and thread and created a thriving business of her own. The Dressmaker of Khair Khanatells the incredible true story of this unlikely entrepreneur who mobilized her community under the Taliban. Former ABC Newsreporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon spent years on the ground reporting Kamila's story, and the result is an unusually intimate and unsanitized look at the daily lives of women in Afghanistan. These women are not victims; they are the glue that holds families together; they are the backbone and the heart of their nation. Afghanistan's future remains uncertain as debates over withdrawal timelines dominate the news.The Dressmaker of Khair Khanamoves beyond the headlines to transport you to an Afghanistan you have never seen before. This is a story of war, but it is also a story of sisterhood and resilience in the face of despair. Kamila Sidiqi's journey will inspire you, but it will also change the way you think about one of the most important political and humanitarianissues of our time. TitlePeek