1 . Every year, Barnes & Noble picks the 10 best books of the year, covering all genres and age groups. If you’re looking for an amazing book to grab before the end of 2021, here are some of the best books of the year.
Cloud Cuckoo Land
This novel is both a historical and futuristic science fiction story that connects five characters across hundreds of years through their relationship to a book: “Cloud Cuckoo Land.” The book they find is about a shepherd named Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird, so he can live a carefree life forever. As each character finds this book, from a l5th century kid to a young teen on a futuristic interstellar ship, their stories meet in this complex yet fascinating read.
Crying in H Mart
When Michelle Zauner was 25, her mother s cancer changed her life forever and forced her to accept her Korean American identity in a desperate attempt to stay connected to her mother. As a talented musician, Michelle had previously been divorced from her cultural roots, but quickly turned to food to keep her mother's memory alive in this powerful and heartbreaking memoir.
Pony
It is a historical, middle-grade adventure novel intended for adolescents. It talks about a 12-year-old boy named Silas who is woken in the middle of the night to see his father being taken away by three horsemen. With only his horse named Pony by his side, Silas sets off on a life-changing mission to find his father.
You Will Get Through This Night
It is a nonfiction read about mental health that offers both a personal and professional outlook on how to survive the hardest mental health days. Dividing the book into three chapters — This Night, Tomorrow, and The Days After — Daniel Howell wants readers to not just survive the hard nights but properly care for our mental health.
1. What do Cloud Cuckoo Land and Pony have in common?| A．Plot. | B．Literary form. | C．Characters. | D．Writing background. |
| A．Cloud Cuckoo Land. | B．Crying in H Mart. |
| C．Pony. | D．You Will Get Through This Night. |
| A．It is about psychological health. | B．It helps cure physical disabilities. |
| C．It is a collection of personal stories. | D．It mainly solves sleeping problems. |
2 . Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Harry Potter )
by Newt Scamander (Author), J. K. Rowling (Author), Olivia Lomenech Gill (Illustrator)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander's classic compendium (汇编) of magical creatures, has delighted generations of wizarding readers. With this beautiful, large-scale new edition illustrated in full color, muggles (麻瓜) too will have the chance to discover where the Runespoor lives, what the Puffskein eats, and why shiny objects should always be kept away from the Niffler. Profits from the sale of this book will go to Comic Relief and J.K. Rowlings international charity, Lumos, which will do magic beyond the powers of any wizard.
Product details
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; Reprint edition
Language: English
Hardcover: 160 pages
ISBN-10: 1338216791
ISBN-13: 978-13382 16790
Reading age: 8 years and up
Grade level: 3-6
Item Weight: 2.82 pounds
Dimensions: 9.8 x0.9x 11.5 inches
Benjamin Coleman
★★★★☆
This has to be my favorite of the illustrated editions
The “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” illustrated edition has to be opinion the most beautiful of all of the ones released so far. Each of the pages is illustrated beautifully for every fantastic creature you can possibly imagine in the Potter universe. My personal favorite was the dragon section which has beautiful illustrations of several different species of dragons. This book is a must buy for both new and older fans of the series and a great collection item for any Potter fan. So if you’re looking for a great present who loves Harry Potter, get these illustrated editions!
Michelle E Krupski
★☆☆☆☆
Disappointing book
1. The size of the book is inconsistent with the other HP illustrated series, which is disappointing.
2. The book does not have a dust jacket which is inconsistent with all of my other HP books and disappointing.
3. The illustrations lack depth. The majority of the book is just rough sketches with color. I can imagine that myself. What I was anticipating was amazing detail and a beautiful book. What I received looks like a rough draft. Not worth the price I paid.
1. What do we know about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?| A．It is intended for children aged 3-6. |
| B．Olivia Lomenech Gill is one of the authors. |
| C．Earnings from the Sale of this book will go to charity. |
| D．It is about the fight between muggles and the Runespoor. |
| A．The dragon section. |
| B．The Niffler section. |
| C．The Runespoor section. |
| D．The section related to Harry Potter. |
| A．The story in the book lacks depth. |
| B．The book is too big to be put on the shelf. |
| C．The illustrations don’t live up to her expectations. |
| D．The book arrived damaged with scratches on the covers. |
1. Who is probably the man?
| A．A teacher. | B．A writer. | C．A student. |
| A．Its words. | B．Its illustrations. | C．Its topic. |
| A．From a secondhand store | B．From an online bookshop. | C．From the school library. |
| A．A little girl's school life. | B．A special teacher's life | C．Two close friends |
5 . It's the most wonderful time of the year! The winter holidays are the perfect chance to get comfortable with a good book, and luckily we have some best sellers right now. We're sure you'll find what you're looking for.
Sunday Funday by Katherine Hallgan
Hardback, $20 (10 percent off with membership)
A great book full of seasonal activities that families and friends can enjoy together. From gardening projects to creative hand-made things and warming winter recipes (食谱), there's something for everyone, whatever the weather.
The History of the World in 100 Animals by Simon Barnes
Hardback, $16.99
This beautifully pictured book explores the good relationship between humans and animals, from bees to chimpanzees (黑猩猩) who share more than 90% of our DNA. If you are crazy about animals, this is the book for you.
Accidentally Famous by David Baddiel
Paperback, $12.99
Nothing amazing ever happens to Billy Smith but when TV workers visit his school he becomes popular, but as everyone knows, being famous comes with a price. David Baddiel's laugh-out-loud book asks what life would be like if everyone suddenly knew your name.
Eddie Albert and the Animal Gang by Paul O'Grady
Paperback, $15
This action-filled adventure from TV favourite Paul O'Grady follows a young boy with a very special gift—he can talk to animals! On a trip to Amsterdam, Eddie meets a monkey in danger and rescues the young creature with the help of his animal friends.
1. What is the member price for Sunday Funday?| A．$20. | B．$19. | C．$18. | D．$10. |
| A．Sunday Funday. | B．Eddie Albert and the Animal Cang. |
| C．Accidentally Famous. | D．The History of the World in 100 Animals. |
| A．They are published in hardback. | B．They stress harmony with animals. |
| C．They are full of beautiful pictures. | D．They speak of famous TV persons. |
6 . Are you a book lover? Here are some of the hottest books of the season.
The One Thing You’d Save
The One Thing You’d Save is about a homework assignment. Ms. Chang has students choose what they’d save if their home was on fire. Some choose baseball cards or animal toys. One picks a sweater that was passed down for generations. Another chooses a box of memories about a sister who died. This book helps readers learn to figure out what matters most in life.
War and Millie McGonigle
It’s 1941. Millie McGonigle, a 12-year-old girl, was supposed to be living a carefree life. However, she lives in the shadow of World War Ⅱ. War and Millie McGonigle is an inspiring story that tackles the topic of life and death. The story line is driven by vivid characters and their relationships. The interaction between Millie and her little sister, Lily, mirrors the real-life sibling (兄妹) relationships in many families.
Simon B. Rhymin’
Simon is starting fifth grade and hopes to become a famous singer. But he’s shy about using his voice to express his ideas and thoughts. When a teacher asks the class to give an oral presentation, Simon must find the strength to change and overcome his fears. Simon B. Rhymin’ is a book that gives confidence to readers who are going through similar struggles.
Rez Dogs
Rez Dog is a book about an eighth grader named Malian. She’s visiting her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation when COVID-19 hits. To stay safe, Malian has to stay away from school” and her friends. Many kids will understand this tough situation. During the lockdown, Malian learns to think about what other people have gone through and how they are feeling during the pandemic (疫情).
1. How can The One Thing You’d Save influence us?| A．It gets us to preserve sweet family memories. |
| B．We may find it essential to ensure home safety. |
| C．We will try our best to improve our academic performance. |
| D．It reminds us to discover what we should treasure most in life. |
| A．They are both inspirational stories. |
| B．They are both set in cruel war times. |
| C．They both reflect character weaknesses. |
| D．They both involve principles of survival. |
| A．The One Thing You’d Save. | B．War and Millie McGonigle. |
| C．Simon B. Rhymin’. | D．Rez Dogs. |
7 . Fiction can be a powerful tool for helping individuals make sense of the real world. Science fiction is no different. In light of that, we have rounded up some of the best sci-fi novels of all time.
Dune
- Author: Frank Herbert
- Date published: 1965
One of the most beloved sci-fi novels of all time, Dune received a theatrical release in 2020. It was not the first time the coming-of-age story about a young man who must fight for his own life as well as the existence of his planet hit the big screen.
The War of the Worlds
- Author: H.G. Wells
- Date published: 1898
The father of science fiction, H.G Wells, wrote this novel, in which a group of aliens (外星人) attacks Earth, destroying everything in their path. When the novel was first turned into radio broadcast in 1938, it caused public panic as many listeners didn’t realize it was fiction.
The Giver
- Author: Lois Lowry
- Date published: 1993
Arguably the most widely read science fiction novel, The Giver follows a young man named Jonas, who is set to become the Receiver of Memory within his society. As his training gets underway, he begins to realize that the society he is in may not be all that perfect.
The Three-Body Problem
- Author: Liu Cixin
- Date published: 2006
Liu Cixin is one of China’s most beloved science fiction authors, and The Three-Body Problem marks English-speaking readers’ first opportunity to engage with his work. In the book, a group of aliens plan to occupy Earth. On Earth, some humans plan to side with the aliens and others plan to fight back.
1. Who is the father of science fiction?| A．Frank Herbert. | B．H.G. Wells. |
| C．Lois Lowry. | D．Liu Cixin. |
| A．Dune. | B．The Giver. |
| C．The War of the Worlds. | D．The Three-Body Problem. |
| A．They help readers to understand the world. |
| B．They taught young people to fight for life. |
| C．They were all published in the 90s. |
| D．They are all about aliens. |
8 . If you are looking for recommendations on biographies(传记) that will educate you, comedies that will make your belly ache or stories that present the unique challenges women face every day, read on.
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
A classic that never gets old. Set in rural England in the early 19th century, this tale centers around the Bennet family, a family of five daughters and their two parents who are desperate to find at least one of the daughters a wealthy match. Austen’s story focuses on the tension between marrying for love instead of just for power and fame, and also the unique pressure on women to find financial security by way of marriage at the time.
“Women in Science:50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World” by Rachel Ignotofsky
It is a sweetly illustrated and educational book that highlights the contributions of 50 women in the fields of technology, science, engineering and mathematics, from present day all the way back to 360 AD.
“Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls” by Elena Favilli
It tells the stories of female heroes from years ago and present day. With color portraits and biographies that are short and sweet, this book is a page-turner for anyone wanting to learn about influential women in the past and present.
“Becoming”by Michelle Obama
We wouldn’t be able to write this list without including Michelle Obama’s memoir. “Becoming” has the former FLOTUS discussing her childhood, family, motherhood, her own FLOTUS impact, the pressures of being part of the first Black family in the White House and balancing her public life now. And of course she writes all about meeting her husband and the many unique challenges they faced too.
1. What did the Bennets intend to do?| A．To marry their daughters to rich men. |
| B．To lessen pressure on their daughters. |
| C．To help their daughters marry for true love. |
| D．To make their daughters financially independent. |
| A．Jane Austen’s. | B．Rachel Ignotofsky’s. |
| C．Elena Favilli’s. | D．Michelle Obama’s. |
| A．They are all classics. | B．They are all biographies. |
| C．They are all related to the female. | D．They are all about heroes. |
