By Betty Morales Bravo, Photo Editor
Do you like reading the book first before watching the film adaptation of it? Or the opposite way around? For me, it’s reading the book first. You get more details, facts and information that you do not get in the film adaptation. This edition of Betty’s Best Books includes some books that have been adapted into films or will soon be. Since one of the best times of the year to get reading done is during the holidays, here is a list of book recommendations that I hope you will enjoy reading.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games Prequel Novel)
As of right now, this is a highly popular book because of the film adaptation that came out Nov. 17, 2023. This book is a prequel to “The Hunger Games” series. It takes place during the 10th annual Hunger Games and follows the life of an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow before he would become the well-known villain later in the series, President Snow. His family was not well off at the time, and Coriolanus is determined to gain back the money and honor his family once had.
He and other winners become mentors to tributes and if their tribute wins the Hunger Games, they earn a very special prize. He is paired with a young girl from District 12 named Lucy Gray. Being complete opposites of one another makes it hard to work together, but Coriolanus is determined more than ever to win this prize. This book is about ambition, power and loss of innocence.
If you have not read “The Hunger Game” series, you might be confused in some parts of the book. The original series gives you a lot more details and backstory. I would definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy reading dystopian fiction and adventure fiction.
A Christmas Carol
Even though you have probably already seen the film adaptations of this book, have you read the actual book before? The book gives you more background information on the characters. It is definitely a good book to read during Christmastime.
Cold-hearted and rude Ebenezer Scrooge has always treated Christmas as any other day. But when the ghost of his long dead business partner and the spirits of the past, present and future visit him, he will have to make a decision to change before it is too late.
Shatter Me
Having a lethal touch that can harm anyone who gets near her, Juliette Ferrars is not allowed to touch anybody – and has not in over 264 days. After an incident that occurred, The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. While they have bigger problems like food being scarce, human population decreasing, and the weather, all The Reestablishment does is lock her up in a cell. They do not care to find out why she has a lethal touch – until they decide to use her as a weapon against enemies. The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, but she sees it as the complete opposite.
I definitely recommend this book to people who like plot twists and action. This book is dystopian fiction and fantasy romance.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Being an older sister of three is always hard, and that is the case for Sophie. She believes she will never be able to go out and accomplish her destiny. That is, until she is suddenly cursed by Witch of the Waste to turn into an old-looking woman. The only way to solve this issue is by going to find the Wizard Howl and his moving castle. To break this curse, she has to work together with Howl and his selfless heart while going on missions to bargain with a fire demon.
This book has it all. Fantasy-romance readers would like this book. With a mix of action and romance, this book will entertain you the whole way through.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
When she has to do a final project for her class, senior Pip Fitz-Amobi knows exactly what she wants to do. Pip decides to investigate more into the murder that happened in her small town five years ago. Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh, her boyfriend who later killed himself. During her investigation, Pip begins to find dark secrets and uncover information that might prove that Sal was not the murderer after all. Will she be able to find the real truth and find the actual killer?
This book is one you cannot put down after reading the first chapter. It has cliffhangers and a lot of mystery and danger. In this book, you are able to remember all the small details in order to be able to solve the mystery with the main character.
Furia
Camila Hassan is living two different lives. In one life she is the perfect daughter living up to her parents’ expectations. In the other, she is doing what she loves – playing soccer. When playing in the field, she performs very talented moves that eventually lead to her getting called “La Furia.” When her soccer team qualifies for the Southern American tournament, she has to find a way to tell her parents about her actual passion. But with parents who believe that girls should not be allowed to play soccer, she is troubled with what to do.
While all this is happening, her old friend from the past, Diego, comes back to visit. She becomes caught up in feelings she once had for him. Will she be able to accomplish her goals?
This book is so inspiring. It teaches you how to keep fighting for the goals you want to accomplish in life and it also brings awareness to how women are sometimes treated with disrespect and unfairness.
Junior Betty Morales Bravo can be reached at [email protected].
