So many iconic action, sci-fi, and horror movies from the ‘80s are returning with remakes and continuations with shows like Kenobi and films like Doctor Sleep. Though Ewan McGregor can’t be in all these franchise additions, he definitely found his way into those two! But wait, come closer? Goodness, your eyes look red! All that blue light is irritating your eyes, and surely watching movies all the time can’t be good for your health? Oh, don’t worry. I have an excellent solution: read books that are kindred spirits to your favorite ‘80s films!

• Tron: Ready Player One (Ernest Cline)

If Tron is your favorite ‘80s throwback, you have to be either Jeff Bridges or Adam Goldberg; nevertheless, the theme of fantasy and the real world mingling chaotically with the bridge of technology is subject to many sci-fi books that are almost entirely the same. I personally think that Ernest Cline did it best with his novel, Ready Player One, that follows main character Wade and his friends through a VR scavenger hunt of ‘80s trivia on his race to successfully earn ownership of his hero’s virtual reality console, the OASIS. This novel literally has a little bit of everything in the best way possible. There’s unconditional friendship, there’s romance, adventure, action, high stakes, plot twists, and anti-corporate sentiment all connected with virtual reality in order to make it fit in the sci-fi genre. It’s got endless ‘80s references and is sure to be nostalgia-inducing for anyone that reads it, no matter their age.

• Karate Kid: The Thursday Murder Club (Richard Osman)

Karate Kid shows trans-generational mentorships that in general reveal wisdom unheard of to the younger apprentice; however, for your new reading experience, I am excited to inform you that the roles are swapped. In The Thursday Murder Club, several elderly true crime buffs meet weekly to try and solve the murder of an important (and shady) man behind the scenes at their retirement community. They require the help and input of two relatively younger constables investigating the murder, but if they’re going to solve the crime, they’re going to have to get with the times. This mostly just means figuring out phones, but it’s still wonderful. The book has extremely memorable characters akin to that of Karate Kid and shows a completely different approach to a classic whodunnit. This would certainly be a wonderful rainy-day read, especially since my knee always acts up when it rains.

• Alien: Illuminae Files (Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff)

If Alien is your fave from the eights, you might need a little anti-pretentious medication in the form of romantic young-adult science fiction. That’s right, I’m talking stranded on a ship with a monster in deep space, technology turning against you, not knowing who to trust, strong female lead– the Illuminae Files are calling to you! This book is wonderfully original in both plot and execution, as the book reads as a file of multiple primary sources from the event: whether it’s notes on napkins, diary logs, interrogation transcripts, terminal loggings, or even a scrap of evidence, this story is more than just narration. This only brings the tension to a fever pitch until you can barely stand it and makes for the perfect book to scare your socks off. It may seem long, but I promise you, you will fly through it in order to avoid any additional suspense. Every person I’ve recommended this book to ended up finishing the entire series in a week, and if you like the sound of that, please check it out!

• Ghostbusters: The Princess Bride (William Goldman)

Ghostbusters is a campy celebration of what goes bump in the night with the storytelling fit for any viewer. There aren’t enough horror films that don’t take themselves too seriously in my personal opinion, considering the fact that I am a complete and utter wuss and watch three horror movies max every year. After hours of thinking about literary ghouls and goblins and ghosts, I decided to spend more time investigating a book that matches the accessible narration and whimsical plot progression of Ghostbusters. Another classic came to mind, as The Princess Bride movie explains all only a little bit of its antics and rightfully so, except I have recently found out that not many people have not read the book that it’s based on. It’s such a wonderful read for literally anyone of any age and the movie is nearly an exact copy. It features the goofiness of Ghostbusters with the presence of magical creatures rather than ghosts. With the book, you also get an extra peek into this fantastical world with contextual clarifications from the author and a better sense of character for the entire cast. It has all of the iconic moments and more, and the thought of someone not reading it is inconceivable!

• Star wars: Dune (Frank Herbert)

Galactic political turmoil, iconic outfits, galactic emperors, prophecy fulfillers, magical powers, and a drug called spice? I know you’re thinking Star Wars, but I’m talking about the classic sci-fi epic Dune! The first book in the series, Dune is filled with Game of Thrones-esque house politics with literally endless twists and turns. It’s a tale of enormous proportions and set in a universe filled to the brim with thoughtful and original world-building that (in my opinion) is similar to a Tolkein level. The Atreides family takes over the planet Arrakis where spice (the most valuable thing in the universe) is mined after the previous Harkonnen house was booted out by the emperor. Duke Leto Atreides is certain he smells something awry and so does his concubine, Lady Jessica of the Bene Gesserit (like a witch club that secretly controls all the politics with planned breeding in the royal families), who is taught in sorcery and has taught her son Paul the same ways. Paul is both politically powerful and is a powerful enough sorcery student that it’s said he could fulfill a prophecy set on Arrakis within the native Fremen that a savior would help them turn their desert planet into a lush paradise. Plus, there’s a bomb movie to watch later with Timmy T and Zendaya and the man of my dreams, Oscar Isaac. Though there is a series, don’t be overwhelmed! The first one is a good place to start, so just have fun!

• The Shining: Carrie (Stephen King)

I hate to continue the hype for Stephen King considering half of his books are for sickos, but it’s an undeniable fact that his movies almost always beat out his book versions since movie execs can’t keep in all the truly heinous stuff he likes to sneak in to all of his weird background info for like 30 chapters. That being said, The Shining book is actually really good so as a side note, if The Shining movie is actually your fave, please check out the book if you haven’t. But in terms of all the Stephen King books I’ve read in my day, Carrie has got to be my favorite out of all of them. It’s so suspenseful and the random backstory that King always shoves in actually adds something to the build-up of Carrie trying so hard to find that coming-of-age she’s been grasping for so desperately. I am such a sucker for the wronged woman antagonist that started as the protagonist, but I just feel so deeply for Carrie beyond her purpose as the title character and instead as a confused girl that’s fighting to make sense of femininity. It’s also a great movie! At least the one from the ‘70s since I haven’t seen our Diary of a Wimpy Kid seventh-grade-under-the-bleachers correspondent Chloë Grace Moretz’s version. 

As ‘80s media continues to make a massive resurgence in pop culture, know that these narratives share characteristics from times before and after! There are always wonderful stories waiting to be discovered, and even if you think that your favorite movie is the only one that has ever featured a protagonist with special powers that is prophesied to change the world, I can assure you there is wealth to be found in literature.

Pop culture in general has experienced a massive flux in ‘80s revelations with the release of Top Gun: Maverick, the return of Stranger Things, and my own personal first-ever viewing of Dirty Dancing which has altered the course of my life and has done the impossible: it has made me attracted to Patrick Swayze. As a proponent of reading, I can’t help but think of other kindred narratives when watching these classics beyond the generations they originate from. If you’re looking for a nice beach read or something to enthrall you while you’re in the comfort of your own home while also being a worshiper of ‘80s cinema, I believe I can help you expand your media consumption to beyond John Hughes and Tom Cruise.

• Top Gun: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman)

If your favorite movie is Top Gun, you value the power of vulnerability, trust, and friendship. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine revolves around a socially challenged and extremely headstrong woman who reluctantly gives in to the friendship of an office colleague despite considering herself a loner by choice. As she works through coming to terms with her past and allowing another person into her life, Eleanor is required to rescind what she believes is the only correct way of life (her own decisions) and instead consider opening herself up to the rest of the world. You also desperately need to experience some kind of media revolving around a woman considering the testosterone fest of a movie Top Gun is (just for some balance).

• The Outsiders: The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (Michael Chabon)

The Outsiders is a tale of fighting supposed predisposition, friendship, and unbearable subliminal love for men. Because of this, I have selected The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon. The language in this novel is intuitive and yet overtly decorative in a way that indicates a deeper sense of awareness. The newly graduated son of a Pittsburgh mobster finds a new group of friends while trying not to reach conclusions about himself; consequently, he dedicates his summer to forming observations about his newfound group of friends and lovers. With a drama-filled undercurrent of crime, the desperation of young criminals that felt born into it, and the bonds of both lifelong and newborn friendship, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is a more mature dive into friendship and family that mirrors several of the central themes within The Outsiders.

• Stand by Me: The Lord of the Rings (J. R. R. Tolkien)

The bonds you forge as a child may fade, but those formed in the throes of adventure and peril run deep as the journey comes to an end. Were you thinking of Stand By Me? Oops, there must’ve been a miscommunication, because I was talking about The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This series is the quintessential model for the powerful spirit that friendship can provide in times of great disaster and is worth a read despite the fact that there are like two women in the whole series. Galadriel is there! Arwen! That’s almost completely it. Just like Stand By Me! I love both of these works and the friendship depicted makes you suppress a smile when thinking of childhood friends. Plus, the movies for The Lord of the Rings are really fun to binge with friends, so you can celebrate friendship while watching it on screen! Or just stick to Stand By Me. Either way I win.

• The Breakfast Club: Looking for Alaska (John Green)

If The Breakfast Club is your favorite ‘80s movie, you enjoy a romanticized outlook on loneliness and humanity’s most basic connections among each other. This outlook is instrumental to the manic pixie dream girl narrative where a strange girl turns out to be the new perspective on life a man has been looking for in order to escape from the pressures of normal life. Who is the master of manic pixie dream girl genesis? Mr. John Green, that’s who. Now, you may be hesitant because it’s a young adult romance, it’s a John Green book, yadayadayada. Well, get over it because this book is a beautiful ode to loyalty, defying high school hierarchies, and looking past your predetermined outlooks on people’s characters. I also recommend the show on Hulu if you’re looking for stand-out supporting characters, though that could be said for all John Green media. It’s funny, goofy, and heart-breaking, all three adjectives that I would use to describe The Breakfast Club.

• Heathers: Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte) 

Mean girls and color coordination, Heathers offers a cult classic status with a murderous twist. While I personally haven’t read much like it, I know of a book that offers the drama, the not-so-silent pining, the betrayal, the supposed hatred, and the fish-out-of-water trope: Wuthering Heights. This might be one of my favorite classics of all time considering it features much more accessible language and a distinct cast of characters. Above all else, this book is DRAMA. Truly delectable. Heathcliff and Catherine, will they, won’t they? Oh, it’s all so dark and romantic and deadly. I could just see Winona Ryder rocking the role of Catherine, but that’s a different article for a different day.

• Dead Poets Society: The Hill Ghost (Callan McAuliffe)

O’ Captain, my captain, you love dewy imagery with misty rolling hills and the comfort of a dark, cable knit sweater during the fall. Romantic language and meaningful narratives are at no shortage, especially among the classics; however, if you want a new romantic and lyrical novel that you wouldn’t have to read in school, I recommend Callan McAuliffe’s debut novel The Hill Ghost. It recounts the adventure of a powerful dog dedicated to shepherding a flock of sheep on the Irish coast and his interactions with a tricky new group of wolves that are getting a little too close to his sheep. When reading this novel, you feel transported to dewy rolling hills, mossy forests, and a magical land where weirdly sentient dogs roam. It’s tragic, beautiful, and a return to classical romanticism in the form of modern literature that I highly recommend for fans of a film as provoking and poetic as Dead-Poets Society.

• Dirty Dancing: Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen)

If your favorite movie is the surprising and unlikely tale of Baby and Johnny’s summer love, you certainly love strange circumstances and withering gazes that turn to loving stares and a cast of mostly stupid sisters. Enemies to lovers is a classic trope, but Jane Austen started it all with the rollercoaster romance of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. There’s tense dancing, silly parents, arranged romances, and headstrong heroines in both works, and this novel has truly survived the tests of time. With accessible language and endlessly quotable lines, it’s definitely both a fun read and a good book to have in your repertoire.

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Because there are so many iconic ‘80s movies to cover, there will be a second part of this post next week, so keep an eye out for that! I hope these recommendations are to your liking and I totally agree with your taste in movies considering there was something in the movie-making water during the 1980s.

I have covered an odd amount of books for preteens and below on this blog. Some may think I’m emotionally stunted and forever stuck in my childhood after I tried to read classic and felt stupid when I did not understand Ivanhoe at all. Some may think I’m too dumb to read books that are appropriate for my age level. They’d be right about it all. I did my time in pretentious books when I was 8. I’ve earned the right to read kids’ books at age 17. 

But these assumptions are not actually the main reason I read so many children’s books. It’s mostly because I like to either see what I was reading when I was younger or (more interestingly) see what children of recent years are going to grow up with. I can only hope that children’s books continue to be filled with imagination for a new generation of readers. 

I know I would waste entire classes in first grade thinking about how much I wished I could fall into some random pit like Geronimo Stilton and end up on a magical quest. It’s why I jumped into so many pits as a child. I’d pray every night before I went to sleep that I’d get to go on an adventure like the characters in the Amulet series, the Gregor and the Overlander series, and the Droon series. I cannot emphasize the magic that reading brought me as a child, and it’s important to me that I find books that I know will inspire children to imagine. I have found another bringer of hope in Amy Kibuishi’s new graphic novel, The Rema Chronicles.

The beautifully-illustrated novel features the wanderings of teenage Tabby and her journey into the mysterious world of Rema. Thank God she’s not alone– she’s got manic pixie tortured dream boy Phillip to show her the way.

I sincerely enjoyed every second of this book. Kibuishi’s art style is inviting for readers and does a fabulous job of portraying the wonder emanating from the magical world she has created. As I turned each page, I wished more and more that I could have read this book when I was younger and hiding books in my desks so I could ignore my math lessons and get lost in a fantasy. 

The lore that Kibuishi has created is truly drop-dead gorgeous. I have read most likely thousands of books in my lifetime so far, and yet I can confidently say that I have not read mythology like this novel’s. The inclusion of elemental gods (with super cool names, if I do say so myself) and their expressions of emotion as the genesis of people on this planet are to die for, and the little ways that people divide themselves into elements would have undoubtedly caused arguments among my friends and I and who would be who. 

The way that Kibuishi incorporates a more ancient art-style into the rounded edges of her portrayal of people shows so much care and attention to detail within even the smallest corners of her panels, and it makes me so happy knowing that people are still putting so much soul into story-telling that is available to a younger audience. Her use of color makes me want to stare at each panel for hours the way I used to when I was younger with the cool tones of Rema making me feel like I’ve entered a new world and the warmth of Earth making me feel nostalgic for the planet I actually live on. Her character designs and their own featuring colors are distinctive and thoughtful, and if you stare long enough at any character, you’ll notice something new about them every time.

I love Tabby as a character and she feels like such a personal homage that I have to think that she’s mirrored from the author; even so, I see so much 15-year-oldness in her and it makes me smile so much when she blushes whenever she’s embarrassed or draws her crush in her super-secret, never-to-be-opened journal. I can’t wait to experience more adventures through her and her personality, and I love cool-guy Phillip who’s emo and enigmatic. It’s always the boys with blue hair.

This may seem like a weird thing to praise, but the quality of the book is also phenomenal. The page flattening and binding would have made this book a bible to me as a child, to the point where I wouldn’t even take it out of my backpack unless I was in the car or my room. I was (and am) a weird kid who cared about binding, but all the same, it’s a gorgeous edition.

This series shows so much promise and I cannot wait to see where Kibuishi takes this series in the future. I am truly and indescribably grateful to authors like Amy Kibuishi that work so hard to create worlds that people can daydream about at any age. I’ve even found myself thinking about getting lost in Rema during my stats class, and I’m practically senile! 

Amy Kibuishi, you have done a fantastic and beautiful job of creating a source of imagination for an emerging generation of readers, and I hope to see you continue your gifts to all little daydreamers out there. You can find her book here, and I seriously recommend nabbing a copy if you love a good journey into a fantastical world of magic like Rema.

It’s now my favorite time of the year: Thanksgivemas. Late November is awkwardly cold, the leaves are still orange and red, but now, there’s no Halloween to romanticize. Is it Christmas, is it Thanksgiving? Personally, I don’t care! All I know is that I am not sweating like a pig during the day, and that’s enough for me. 

It seems that there’s no media dedicated to this murky, forgotten time of the year that you inevitably lump in with the rest of Halloween or the approach to Christmas– that is, until I read a book that has changed lil’ ole me forever. I am a hopeless daydreamer when it comes to the “odd one out” trope, where the protagonist has a strange upbringing and the narrative presents it as the norm. It’s delightful and gets me every time, without fail. I found this book for 50 cents in my favorite used bookstore, and it now has a home on my bookshelf forever, though it’ll probably make some field trips as I force my friends to read it.

I have come to the conclusion that I have found the best end-of-November book to exist: dark and damp autumn leaves on the ground, dewy grass, foggy mornings, overcast skies, green things growing on cracking concrete and stone. The true vibe of the hazy November epilogue that I find delightful rests in the pages of Neil Gaiman’s hidden gem, The Graveyard Book. By the title, you’d expect it to fall into the less overcast orange and black blinks of October, but I firmly believe that it was made for the forgotten weeks of the year. 

A reimagining of The Jungle Book, the classic tale of a boy raised in the jungle, Gaiman’s reimagining takes place in a gloomy English graveyard that Nobody “Bod” Owens calls home after a tragic night leaves him with no family but the kind ghosts in the graveyard and his protector, Silas.

I have personally never had any attachment to The Jungle Book in the slightest, both the Disney movie and the book. The only time I had ever actually learned anything about the book was last year in AP European History, when we learned about Rudyard Kipling’s (the author of The Jungle Book) second most famous work, “The White Man’s Burden.” After that, I stayed away from Mowgli’s tale and continued to ignore the story as a product of its time; however, Gaiman’s tale completely exceeds the quality of the original work. 

Gaiman’s novel is imaginative and completely emanates November days in England where the sun sets at 4:00 pm, and a little boy wanders through an empty graveyard– only it’s not empty to him, as Nobody can see the ghosts that inhabit his unconventional home. 

I think about this novel every slow school day, every dreary drive to school in the fog. I think about it not because it’s some psychological horror, or some dramatic retelling of a kids show to be dark and edgy. I think about it because it is the epitome of the word “tale,” a word I would not apply to anything but Over the Garden Wall out of the media I have consumed within the past year. The imagination, the originality, and the masterful storytelling make this novel one of my favorite books that I have read this year, and I urge anyone looking for a book to finish November with to enter Nobody’s graveyard and watch him grow into his destiny. It’s the perfect book for people that look out the window and look at a tree outside, wondering what’s at the top of it.

If you were in middle school when “The Selection” series was gaining traction, you lived the dream. My entire friend group had massive and near violent debates about the pros and cons of Aspen and Maxon, and we always discussed who we thought would make it to the next book like fantasy football. I had the absolute pleasure of devouring these books for the second time this past year, and I have a lot to say; however, for sanity reasons, I will only discuss my opinions of the main cast of characters. 

Due to my frustration with all of the characters all of the time, they are ranked on a scale of annoyingness. If I find your favorite character annoying at all, don’t take it personally: I love these books with a passion, and I would never slander all the characters. At the end of the day, it’s undeniable that we’re all annoying. But if your favorite character happens to be irritating, it’s not their fault, it’s not your fault, and it’s not mine either. It just is what it is! (In all seriousness, if you disagree, that is completely fine! Just don’t be rude about it, please!)

~NOT ANNOYING~

• Maxon Schreave

My dear boy. He never deserved the unique nightmare that America is, and yet he handled it with such grace. God bless ‘im. Also how was it even that much internal conflict when she had to choose between Maxon (prince, kind, patient, attractive, likes her a lot, won’t commit treason by marrying) and Aspen (annoying). Cass’s perfect character, and by far the most complex out of the cast. I loved his moments of vulnerability, and it truly seemed like he fell for her naturally–  I think they bring out the best in each other, and that is (in my opinion) the sign of a well-written relationship.

• Kriss Ambers

Controversial, I know, but she had a goal! She was on a mission, who am I to question this? She was covert, she almost won, no one suspected: I commend her! Sixth grade me was absolutely aghast at her reveal, so you know what? S-tier for her!

• Marlee Woodwork

Girl went through it, okay. And all in the name of an emotionally reciprocated and respectful relationship? I think so. I never once felt bad for Maxon, and I don’t think he was ever upset at her; she was looking for the same thing he was! And if you haven’t wronged Maxon, you haven’t wronged me.

She fought tooth and nail, sacrificing so much of her life to end up with the man she loved, and yet she went on to live a worthwhile life with a kind marriage. America may have ended up being queen, but Marlie is the definition of the word in my eyes.

~NOT THAT ANNOYING~

• Elise Whisks

With Elise, I feel similar to how I feel about Kriss. She had a mission to become queen, and she made a valiant effort to get there. Elise had political advantage and social proficiency, and had the potential to be at least a decent queen, though I wanted Maxon to be genuinely happy and in love, so kudos to Elise but she just wasn’t the one for the king himself.

• Gavril Fadaye

Very Caesar Flickerman, and I’m a sucker for the semi-neutral public figure in any dystopia. It adds a level of complexity to the reader’s understanding of the role of entertainment within politics in the fictional society, and that world-building can be indispensable. I think he adds a unique dynamic between the contestants and the royalty, and is an interesting melding bridge to the newly established celebrities and the well-known monarchy.

~KIND OF ANNOYING SOMETIMES~

• Natalie Luca

Natalie was pretty meh for most of her stay, but she made it pretty far and I was actually shocked when they revealed her family’s deaths following the rebel attack. Though it was tragic for her, I appreciate the fact that it established the severity of the rebel’s threat, but I wasn’t super sad about her leaving.

• Mary, Anne, and Lucy

The whole maid staff irritated me because it often felt like their purpose was to talk about how everyone loves how outspoken and low-maintenance America is, but the gossiping and the dress-making redeemed them from “pretty annoying.” 

~PRETTY ANNOYING~

• Celeste Newsome

I appreciate a good redemption arc, and while Celeste’s was relatively effective (though short), I can’t forget the way she treated the staff for most of the series. Didn’t she slap someone?

I would like to throw Kiera Cass a bone here: Celeste’s death shocked me so much as a fifth grader that I would think about it often for years to come, despite forgetting most of the rest of the plot and characters until I reread it during quarantine. That was an insane way to introduce the explosion chaos that followed, and I personally think it was more than effective.

• Amberly Schreave

I understand that she was in a relationship founded upon a power imbalance and the waters there are a bit murky, but she had a lot of potential political pull that she actively neglected out of “compassion.” I have no compassion for the king, babe. I may not agree with America all the time, but any time she had a singular confrontation with him, I was shaking my grubby little fist in solidarity.

~CONSISTENTLY ANNOYING~

• America Singer

I know I slander America constantly, but I don’t actually hate her. The fact that she’s annoying is endearing to me, but until you finally reach the end of the series, she can make insanely frustrating decisions. 

The one thing that holds me back from condemning her character entirely is the fact that me not agreeing with her decisions indicates a personality. A downfall of young-adult dystopia is the self-insert narrators that are entirely neutral in every way apart from the plot; you agree with everything they do, they make baseline jokes, etc. America makes decisions I agree with, and ones I don’t, so at the end of the day, I can see her as a character with an individuality spark. She’s still really annoying though. Ditch Aspen, it’s not that hard! 

• Aspen Leger

I find no redeemable aspects in Aspen. I will never understand the love triangle, I will never understand the emotional turmoil America endures, I will never understand any of Aspen’s motives: I don’t understand the appeal of this character. His reasons for breaking it off with America make no sense to me, and then he has the nerve to go back and ask for her to commit treason after literally ordering her to take part in the same process???? Nuh uh. Get him out of my sight.

• Clarkson Schreave

If you’re looking for a Clarkson Schreave hate club, look no further. First of all, the only Clarkson I will ever approve of is Kelly: if your name is a last name, you’re either way too cool to walk among the mortals of earth or you’re unbearable to be around. Guess which one he is. He’s abusive, patronizing, and a shortsighted leader. Gross, creepy, and uninspiring: I’m done with him, let’s move on.

• Gregory Illea

This idiot is the reason we’re all here in the first place. How in the world would any human being’s first instinct to rebuild a war-torn country be to establish a caste system based around the workforce. Pause for three seconds of effect. HUH? No, ma’am. He’s also the reason America gave that sixth-grade level presentation, so immediate conviction for him.

***

These books are insanely entertaining, and are the perfect books to kickstart the end of reading slump, so even if you’ve already read them, consider revisiting them soon. I highly recommend listening to them on audiobook with a friend: it’s like watching “The Bachelor!” Check out the rest of Kiera Cass’s books, and feel free to respectfully comment your own opinions. (Also I think there’s a Netflix show happening relatively soon??? I am literally counting the days, trust me. I am going to be so annoying when that show comes out.)

I read a lot as a kid. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot. I once read more than 13,000,000 words in one school year during eighth grade to break a school record, which ended up totaling more than 150 books in about nine months. I got a broken Scholastic trophy, so I guess you could say it was worth it. But the books I’m discussing today were in my life before eighth grade; actually, I read these books in middle school (this should tell you what kind of person I was in sixth grade, and how this could have made me the way I am today). Jokes aside, this is one of the most personally formative group of books I have read so far, partly due to the time in which I read them and partly due to the fact that no one I know has read them.

I read the first of Richelle Mead’s “Vampire Academy” books around eight years after it came out, and by then, I knew exactly zero people that had read them. To this day, I have never met another person that has organically read these books (meaning without a recommendation from me), but that has not stopped me from forcefully recommending them to every single friend that admits they enjoy reading. So far, they are much more quick to look at my other recommendations: “I’ve already read ‘Twilight,’” they say. “These are two completely different series,” I say. It’s a fun game we play. I personally believe the magic meta in “Vampire Academy” is so much better, but that would be a different article.

The few times they do recognize my recommendation, they reference the 2014 movie, featuring Zoey Dutch and Lucy Fry. This movie is pretty good (and I’d be lying if I didn’t automatically watch it the moment I saw it was on Netflix) but I can strongly say it doesn’t do justice for the books. I recently re-read the entire series, and though I like the movie well enough, there are some casting changes I would make; however, I would like to preface my fan-cast list by saying that it is 100% a dream list and not at all current. I will be referencing certain eras/ages for actors to fit the 17-24 year-old age range, so none of them will be referenced in their current age. 

All of these actors have appeared in movies/TV shows that I have watched at some point, so little deep research was done一 these people are mainly who I pictured while I was re-reading them. Share your own fan-casts in the comments, I’d love to see your take on the beloved group of Moroi and Dhampirs! And with that invitation offered, let’s get started with my dream casting!

Rose Hathaway

Dimitri Belikov

Vasilisa Dragomir

Adrian Ivashkov

Christian Ozera

Mia Renaldi

Sydney Sage

Eddie Castile

There is my perfect cast in all its glory. Please feel free to comment your preferences, though I would like to reiterate my exhaustion with the half-baked casting for Sydney. GIVE HER WHAT SHE DESERVES. I honestly really love these books, and posting this article is my way of confirming to myself that these books exist, because for some reason, no one seems to realize how addictive they are. I may write a play-by-play analysis/summary of each book, because I have so much to say, and this article can’t cover it all.

There were so many twists that I literally didn’t remember AT ALL, and I read most of these books late at night, so you can imagine the shocked faces and out-loud, one-sided rants that took place in my room all those nights spent tearing through those novels so my older family members would stop asking me what I’m reading while we’re at dinner and looking weirded out as I sheepishly turned the original covers of cheesy vampire romance around. Richelle Mead, if you’re ever in Los Angeles, let’s get coffee. It’s on me.

I highly recommend these books if you read this for some reason without knowing anything about the series or are just one of my supportive friends, and keep an eye out for future “Vampire Academy” articles!

Nostalgia has me hooked, especially in the wake of all of 2020’s sickeningly (hah) endless free time. As a result, I’ve delved back into the world of my childhood favorites, from the likes of “Percy Jackson” and the “Moonbase Alpha” series (don’t worry, I’m sure there’ll be an article about this series soon— a complimentary one!). The “Amulet” series of graphic novels penned by Kazu Kibuishi has fallen victim to my nostalgic conquests, and boy, am I glad they did!

The current eight installments (soon to be nine!) revolve around Emily and Navin Hayes’ trip into the mystical world of Alledia, filled with magic governed by ancient amulets and their stonekeepers. Emily is chosen by the heirloom amulet found in their ancestral home following the tragic passing of her father in an unexpected car crash, and must come to learn to control her newfound powers. Due to the medium of the story, each scene is immersive and moody, tinted with Emily and Navin’s struggle to acclimate to a world filled with mystery.

There are so many aspects of this series I could dissect with compliments, but I’ll start with the diverse and distinctive cast of characters. Each character’s design and demeanor is so unique, and makes the story’s directions much more compelling to follow. Personally, I struggle with mixing up characters and plotlines, especially in forms of literature like graphic novels where I can’t consistently follow internal monologue. The fact that I can keep track of who’s who and who’s doing what is commendable to say the least. 

But not only do I know which character is which, but each character’s personality and motives are evidently tangible. Empathy and perspective seep out of these novels’ pages, and I have to say that my favorite characters are Emily, Cogsley, Miskit, and Ikol. Each character’s development serves an irrevocable purpose in support of the plot, and I love the visible growth seen in every novel’s progression. Real magic seems too difficult to find, but it animates every character’s arc and inspires readers to strive to act with kindness, bravery, and selflessness. 

The plot took me for a ride, though I won’t get into it too deeply for the sake of sparing spoilers; however, I can say that I was consistently surprised and pleased by how far down this story was willing to delve into the basis behind the evils of Alledia. I’d have to say my favorite installment was “Firelight,” the seventh installment. This sequel took its time to view inside the mind of the Voice within the amulet, and the coloration was absolutely GORGEOUS.

This takes me into another beloved part of this series: the art. A massive aspect of why I enjoyed this series so much when I was younger was the amount of time I spent poring over every single panel. This seems hyperbolic, but I can’t make this up— I would genuinely spend hours reading the latest novel, scanning every image for a minimum of five minutes (don’t worry, my appointment to get tested for ADHD is coming up in August). In anticipation, I would plan a day dedicated to rereading the books before the newest release, and you better believe I would elbow my way into the Scholastic Book Fair to get that book. Justin K. and Kamaran couldn’t get in my way, not on “Amulet” day. Any scene in those books teleports me back to midnight on a school night in first grade with my Target reading light and the covers over my head. 

Kibuishi’s style is soft and friendly, though it adapts to the high stakes of evil that appears continuously throughout the series. Rounded faces and willowy nature scenes emulate present comfort residing in future nostalgia, and the tones are unbelievably atmospheric. Kibuishi and several extremely talented contributors utilize color in a way that permeates the mood of the reader, soaking into an immersive reading experience. Whether it’s a sunset, a whimsical forest, a fiery battle, or a serene night walk, these novels invite you in with dynamic coloration and understated sketching— an art style fit for both the imagination of an easily distracted seven-year-old with an overactive imagination and a love for reading and a sixteen-year-old with an extremely overactive imagination and an insatiable love for reading. 

It certainly doesn’t hurt that these novels are a quick read (bless my short attention span, it means well), and they become more engrossing as they progress. I genuinely cannot stress my love for this series and Kibuishi’s storytelling enough, and I am ecstatic that I was able to reread and appreciate these books as a teenager. I recommend these books for any age, and I will revisit them and their magical art style over and over again.

Kazu Kibuishi is a master storyteller with an affinity for setting a scene, and as the ninth installment’s release approaches at the time of this article, I can’t wait to return to the wonder of being a child and stay up all night with a stack of “Amulet” books on my bedside table waiting to be opened. I will treasure the wonder and magic that “Amulet” exudes, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend Kibuishi. Keep it up, bud!

His books are available at popular book-selling sites like Amazon and Barnes & Nobles, and make sure to take a look at his website: https://www.boltcityproductions.com/. Show him some support at BoltCity on Instagram and Twitter, and keep an eye out for the ninth “Amulet” novel, as its release date is currently undisclosed!