Book Recommendations from the Sentinel Sun Staff

Aiden Kim

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Rating: 4.3/5

A book that I would recommend to readers on all levels is the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner is one of those novels that stay with you even after you finish reading it. It explores themes of friendship, guilt, and redemption and follows the story of two friends, Amir and Hassan. The story is set in Afghanistan during a period of time of political tension and conflict. The novel's emotional and focus on personal responsibilities makes it a powerful read for anyone.

Bill Li

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Rating: 4.75/5

My book recommendation is Life of Pi. On top of being an exciting and beautifully written account of Pi's situation, it is also a meaningful story on resilience and the finding purpose. I personally derived from the book a new understanding of religion: whereas before, my perspective on religion was strictly through the historic lens, Life of Pi introduced me to a more personal understanding of it. While readers may find the introduction of the book rather boring and arduous to read, the adventure ahead as well as the clever and shocking twist at the end makes it more than worth reading (though I personally enjoyed the start of the book as well as the end).

Blair Zhong

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Rating: 4.5/5

Watership Down by Richard Adams is a beautifully crafted tale of courage, survival, and community, following a group of rabbits as they flee the destruction of their warren in search of a safe new home. Beyond its adventure and suspense the novel explores themes of leadership, freedom, and the delicate balance of nature, all through the perspective of beautifully and richly imagined animal characters. A mix of danger, camaraderie, and mythic storytelling, Watership Down is both thrilling and surprisingly profound. I’d give it a 4.5/5; a timeless classic that’s as moving as it is exciting.

Cynthia Ma

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Rating: 4.3/5

"Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before."

Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a novel that is intimate and emotional, capturing the complicated depths of human connection. The book follows two childhood friends who build a creative partnership that spans decades, a relationship that isn't necessarily romantic, but passionate, toxic, and messy. Their fragile, shifting relationship continuously evolves, is tender yet sharp, and always brings them back together. Ultimately, this novel reminds us that some connections, however flawed, shape us more than we might think. 

Lilia Spasojevic

God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Rating: 4/5

The book I recommend is the God of the Woods by Liz Moore. The novel opens with the disappearance of 13-year old Barbara Van Laar in the August morning of 1975 at Camp Emerson. Barbara is a member of the Van Laar family, an elite household that owns Camp Emperson. Her disappearance causes major alarm because her brother, Peter "Bear" Van Laar IV vanished 14 years ago. As the search for Barbara continues throughout the book, readers encounter different perspectives, narratives, and timelines that gradually reveal what really happened to Barbara, the secrets of the Van Laar family, and the disappearance of her brother, Bear.

I suggest this book because while it is a confusing and overwhelming read in the beginning (as you are introduced to so many characters and you jump between their perspectives and timelines), the book eventually becomes something you simply cannot put down. When I read it last year, I found it so addictive that I read it for three days straight. It was such an incredible mystery with realistic twists that keep you hooked.

Rahaa Moaref

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Rating: 4/5 

Scythe by Neal Shusterman is the first book in the science fiction series Arc of a Scythe. The story takes place in 2042 where an all knowing AI bot called the Thunderhead has eliminated all diseases and found a remedy to all possible causes of death, allowing everyone to be immortal. However, in order to avoid overpopulation, the only form of permanent death is controlled by the Scythedome, an elite group of humans called 'Scythes' whose job is to 'glean' (kill) civilians at random. The story follows Citra and Rowan, two teenagers chosen to apprentice under Scythe Faraday, and their journey of learning how to glean while competing to become official scythes, knowing that the winner must glean the other.

I recommend this book because it's incredibly engaging, and I personally could not put it down. If you like science fiction mixed with a dystopian vibe and just a touch of mystery, this is definitely the book for you.  

Sarah Bachrich

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Rating: 5/5

Piranesi is a short novel that can be read in one day. It follows a narrator, Piranesi, who writes exhaustive journal entries detailing his amazement with “the World,” which, to Piranesi, is an endless house with no other living human but a man whom he nicknames “the Other.” Piranesi makes the most of his life in the "House," living to explore its wonders, but this all shifts when evidence of a new presence in the House comes to light.

This book has multiple possible thematic interpretations, from identity to wonderment to loss of innocence. I recommend it for its surrealist prose, unique story, and resonant meaning.

Valery Lou

Circe by Madeline Miller

Rating: 4.3/5 

Circe is a retelling of the Greek myth of Circe, a daughter of Helios who grows up scorned for her lack of beauty and power. After discovering her talent for witchcraft, Circe is exiled by her family to Aiaia, an island where she must live alone and learn to rely on her own strength. Over time, mortals and gods visit her island but all eventually leave, contributing to her growing struggle with isolation. The novel explores Circe’s growth and transformation as she ultimately chooses a life not defined by approval but rather by authenticity.

While this book is definitely a bit slow at times (especially the beginning), it is nevertheless a beautiful and compelling story about individuality. My favourite aspect of the book is that it presents Circe as a multi-faceted, nuanced character rather than the evil sorceress she is often portrayed as. Circe is certainly one of the better BookTok books I’ve read, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Greek mythology or looking to get into reading.

Vivian Song + Olivia Major

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Rating: 5/5

I like this book because it makes building good habits feel realistic, shows how small changes can slowly turn into big improvements, and a lot of what it says actually makes sense in real life. It helped me understand my own routines better and made me want to take initiative and fix things myself instead of waiting.