Reading!!! - by Liv Romano

Throughout this school year, I have read three independent reading books that I chose in class. I read What Made Maddy Run, The Red Bandana, and The Hate U Give. I loved all of these books and couldn't stop reading them. This is because I was able to choose a book I was interested in, while in previous years I was forced to read books I didn't like. Also, I 10/10 recommend all of these books and will give a little summary of each one, to hopefully encourage others to read them.

- What Made Maddy Run: Although this book was extremely sad, I was able to learn a lot. Especially as an athlete, Maddy's story touched me. It was about a teenage girl from New Jersey, who was an insane athlete. She was also beautiful, smart, and kind. She decided to attend the University of Penn to continue her track career. However, she hated school, hated running track, and eventually became severely depressed. I don't want to spoil too much, so I won't say anymore. Overall, the book explains Maddy's journey and the seriousness of mental health.

- The Red Bandana: This book was also tremendously sad, but, more importantly, very inspiring. It was about a young man named Welles Crowther. Throughout his childhood, he loved the idea of saving someone and wanted to become a firefighter. Also, wherever he went, he wore a red bandana on his head. On September 11, 2001, Welles was at the World Trade Center (the south tower). He did everything he could to help others that day. When his family hadn't heard from him after the attacks, they had to accept the fact that he was dead. However, two survivors shared their stories. They explained that a young man, wearing a red bandana led them out of the building. They said he went back up to try and save more lives. This man was Welles. To summarize, the book explains Welles' life journey and what a true hero is like.

- The Hate U Give: This book was like something I have never read before. It focused on racism and police brutality. At first, I didn't think I would like it, but I ended up loving it. It's about a black teenage girl named Starr. She lives in a town called Garden Heights, which she refers to as the ghetto. However, she attends an all-white private school. Because of this, Starr feels like she needs to have two different personalities; one how she acts when she's with her family and friends in Garden heights, and the other how she acts with her white friends at school. So, the main plot of the story is that Starr's best friend, Khalil, was killed by a police officer. Turns out, Starr was the only witness. Throughout the story, Starr learns to speak up for what she believes in and to fight for what she wants. Lastly, as a teenage girl, I find Starr very relatable and I love reading the book from her perspective.

I'm so glad I found these books to read because I learned a lot and was inspired. I hope this helps you pick out your next book to read!! They are all great books and you definitely won't regret reading them!