Their Eyes Were Watching God is a story about a young African American woman named Janie Crawford as she navigates through adulthood in post Civil War America.

The novel was an excellent character study that illustrates the trials one must go through in order to attain true happiness. In some parts of the novel, however, the book dragged on in its prose, which ultimately kept it from being a 5 star book. 

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this novel for leisure. The language used within the novel is quite hard to decipher at times because it uses deep south dialect. However, if you're looking for a substantial read, I would recommend this book. 

Hannah, 17

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To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic American literature book about two white children who have to overcome obstacles and deal with a prejudice society in the South during the 1930s. In this book, both children must learn to understand society when they are exposed to a case where their father, a lawyer, is defending a black man against a white man. During the case, the children learn not to prejudge others when they discover more about their neighbor (and outcast), Boo Radely.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorites, because you not only get an interesting and mysterious story from a child's perspective, but also a book full of commentary on racism and prejudice

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, and an interesting story about racism in the South. If you like American literature, you will love To Kill a Mockingbird, as Harper Lee does a great job of depicting the South and the issues that are taking place.

Sara, 14

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That one famous line "It's a sin to kill a mockingbird" has captivated millions of readers. In this book, it's the innocent versus the guilty and the notion that the guilty prevails over the innocent in some cases. A black man is accused of raping a white woman while really, he is innocent. But with the times being what they are, he has no chance of being tried at a fair trial. Narrated by a young girl who experiences all of life's twists and turns, this book will keep you turning pages until the last word is read.

It was a really good book that made me really think about how life worked. It captivated me with its world of innocent vs. guilty and wrong vs. right.

I would recommend this book to everybody. It is one of those books that make you really think about the unfairness of life while touching your heart at the same time.

Hieu, 14

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The Help is mainly about a white woman named Skeeter helping African-American maids get their voice heard. This book is set in the early 1960's, where the risk of Africans speaking out is extremely dangerous.

I liked this book, because it gave insight on what it was like to be both a white, and an African person during this time, instead of just one group's perspective. I would recommend this book to everyone, but especially to those who like reading about historical and inspirational books.

Alexis, 15

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