EXPLORE 4 DISTINCT STORIES ABOUT ROMANCE, FANTASY, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND A MYSTERY THRILLER! THE HIDDEN WORLDS OF LITERATURE By: Argelia Moreno, Sandra Nieto, Laurie Torres, & Tania Morales
ONE OF US LYING BY KAREN M. MCMANUS THIS WOVEN KINGDOM BY: TAHEREH MAFI DEVILS WITHIN BY: S.F. HENSON BY THE BOOK BY: AMANDA SELLET TABLE OF CONTENTS: HIDDEN WORLDS 2 3 5 9 7
ONE OF US IS LYING At Bayview High School, Simon Kelleher has a special gift for learning the secrets of his classmates. He disseminates these secrets, along with rumors and derogatory remarks about his classmates, through a gossip app he made named About That. Simon is arrested along with four other seniors one September afternoon. On Simon's app, Addy Prentiss, Bronwyn Rojas, and Cooper Clay are rarely mentioned, but Nate Macauley—who constantly gets into trouble and has a lot of girlfriends—appear frequently. All five of the pupils were given detention by teacher Mr. Avery for bringing their cell phones to class, which they all said were planted. Mr. Avery goes outside to see if anyone was harmed in an automobile accident. Shortly after, Simon drinks some water and nearly passes out. Following a desperate attempt to get an EpiPen, paramedics take Simon away, and he is subsequently declared dead. Cooper and his girlfriend Keely are friends with Addy and her boyfriend, Jake. Nate has known Bronwyn since kindergarten. Ever since Maeve, her younger sister, beat leukemia, Bronwyn has been an overachiever. As the police seem to be treating Simon's death as if it were not an accident, speculation about his cause of death swiftly takes over Bayview High School. When someone posts anything online claiming to be Simon's murderer, the police approach the four students who were detained with him. In addition, the cops find unpublished About That material that Simon queued up, suggesting that Addy, Bronwyn, Cooper, and Nate are all hiding something. Since Simon's passing stopped these rumors from being posted, the authorities think that everyone gained from his passing. 3 Summary: Cental Conflict : A battle or issue that arises in a story is called conflict. It is frequently brought on by allegations or competing viewpoints. The murder of Simon Kelleher is the central conflict in the book One of Us is Lying. An allergic reaction to the peanut oil in his cup of water caused his death. Evidence: “‘The cup contained traces of peanut oil, so it seems clear Simon died from that drink. What we’re trying to figure out now is how peanut oil could have gotten into his cup.’” (Pg 35) By:Karen M. McManus
Character Analysis: Simon Kelleher Simon Kelleher, the self-described "omniscient narrator" of Bayview High's rumors, is the proprietor of the widely used but hated gossip app About That, which compiles the hottest rumors on campus. Even though Simon writes reports every day, they are nearly always correct. In order to avoid being directly accused of libel or harassment, he uses the initials of his fellow students; yet, because the school community is so close-knit, it is always evident who the talk is about. After allegedly experiencing an allergic reaction while being kept in detention for carrying a cell phone in his bag during Mr. Avery's lesson, imon passes away by the end of the first chapter. Immediately, Bronwyn, Cooper, Addy, and Nate—the four students in custody with him—are singled out as suspects. The "Bayview Four" weave together the numerous unconnected threads of Simon's story as the book goes on, fighting both individually and ultimately as a group to prove their innocence and reveal the truth: a depressed Simon, who detested his life and everything in it, committed suicide and then planned to frame four more popular, smarter, and successful students for his murder. Character Analysis: Bronwyn Rojas Bronwyn, the "brain" of the Bayview Four, is a perfectionist who aspires to Yale. But when an About This page claims that she faked her way through chemistry last year —and the accusation turns out to be true— it taints her otherwise impeccable reputation. Even though Bronwyn only stole test answers from a teacher's Google Drive account in order to meet the intense pressure her family placed on her to succeed, she worries that her past mistakes will harm her future as she becomes more and more entangled in the murder investigation of Simon.As the investigation goes on, Bronwyn's sister Maeve assists her in locating material that can clear not only her but the entire Bayview Four as well— including Nate, with whom Bronwyn develops an odd but passionate relationship. Insecure, outspoken, and determined to protect the people she loves, Bronwyn is willing to put her name and image at risk. Simon falls into step beside me as I move against the flow of students heading for the exit. "It’s a public service," he says with a dismissive wave. […] “Anyway, they bring it on themselves. If people didn’t lie and cheat, I’d be out of business.” (Ch.1) 4
The conflict reaches its peak when Cyrus, a foreign king from Tulanian arrives and reveals a sinister pact that King Zaal, Kamran’s grandfather, made with Iblees, a devil, which was to feed on children’s brains in order to live a longer life. Cyrus kills Zaal and this drives Kamran to start a duel between him and Cyrus. Alizeh puts a stop to the duel and reveals her Jinn powers in the process. Alizeh is taking away by a dragon and when she asked where it was taking her Cyrus answers by telling her they are going to his kingdom and he intends to marry her. Summary: This story centers on a Alizeh, a Jinn that is prophesied to bring about a kingdom’s downfall. She is a servant and seamstress of an estate run by a Duchess. Her Jinn heritage makes her a target and many distrust her, particularly the housekeeper. When she is out in the town she crosses paths with Prince Kamran of Ardunia who witnesses her disarm a thief which causes him to immediately become suspicious of her and assumes that she is a spy. Kamran wrestles with his family’s extreme points of view specifically his grandfather, King Zaal, as he believes Alizeh’s followers will cause a rebellion and therefore wants her executed. 5 THIS WOVEN KINGDOM By: Tahereh Mafi
Alizeh is a bit of a mystery as it is clear that her kingdom was destroyed, but the events of how that happened is still a mystery. Even though she is shown to be intelligent, she tends to be very impulsive and speak “out of turn” for a servant. However, it is balanced by her empathy and compassion. For example, helping out one of the ladies of the household she serves finding confidence. She is overall in a state of mental distress because of the incoming dread to come due to the prophecy. As well as this sinister voice in her head giving her riddles that make no sense and fill her mind full of nonsense. Kamran is a character very much driven by his own emotions. He is ruled by his anger as well as he makes assumptions very quickly and think that he is right all the time which can be seen as arrogant. He does have good intentions, for example trying to help the common folk by going undercover wandering the town helping out and trying to figure out the real issues of the kingdom. The most compelling part about his character is the conversations he has with his grandfather and the inner turmoil that Kamran is left with as he is torn between duty and his own free will. Character Study: Alizeh 6 Character Study: Prince Kamran Romantic Relationship: There is romantic tension that comes immediately after these two meet, but it is very hard to decipher what are their true feelings toward each other. Kamran’s feelings can be seen as obsessive or lust because of his moodiness. Alizeh has a sense of naivete because of the way she has been treated by others and she tends to gravitate toward others who show her kindness. It is unknown if these two will enter a relationship as there is another male lead who is introduced toward the end of the book and will most likely develop in the sequel.
However, he is unable to stop terrible ideas from occurring to him or to stop the shivering feeling that makes him want to harm people. He simply doesn't know where to begin in the effort to change. Summary: When Nate first stabbed someone, he was eight years old. At eleven, he was awarded red laces, a reward for spilling blood for "the cause." And at the age of fourteen, he killed his father —who was also the head of The Fort, a well-known white supremacist compound—in selfdefense. He then checked himself into a treatment facility while the authorities looked for his next of kin. Now that he's in the care of an uncle he never knew existed and who doesn't want anything to do with him, all Nate wants is to disappear. 7 DEVILS WITHIN By: S.F. Henson And for a while, it does work. But before long, Nate's worlds collide and require him to choose between protecting his own life and doing the difficult but correct thing. even though he will never be forgiven of his crimes by society. Later on, he meets Brandon, who The Fort taught Nate to hate instantly. However, Brandon is also the first to treat him like a person rather than a monster. Nate doesn't talk about his troubled history since he knows Brandon will never get it. He enrolls at a new school using a fake name so that no one from The Fort can locate him. He attempts to start again and learns how to live in a society where people of different races live together.
Character Analysis: Nate Hall In the end, "Devils Within" is an intriguing story that forces readers to consider the complex issues of prejudice, forgiveness, and the enduring promise of redemption. Henson provides an insightful look of the lifechanging power of compassion and empathy, as well as the ability for change, through Nate's journey. When Nate's previous family reappear and threaten to bring him back into their violent world, the tension increases. Battling loyalty to his family and his own moral principles, Nate is forced to face harsh realities about both himself and the individuals he once considered to be friends. Henson skilfully analyzes the inner conflicts of a young guy split between conflicting loyalty and hopes for redemption as the narrative progresses. As he faces his previous demons and works to create a new path for himself, Nate's journey is both terrifying and inspiring. Nate Hall is an interesting character study in S. F. Henson's "Devils Within,” representing the complex issues of identity, pain, and redemption. Readers are first introduced to Nate as a young man attempting to deal with the fallout from his family's involvement in a white supremacist organization. Nate has a longing to escape the cycle of hatred and find forgiveness despite growing up in a violent and hateful environment. Nate is trying to escape the cycle of hate and violence that has defined his life. He's haunted by his history and the horrors he saw and took part in. Even so, the past still has a big effect on him as he works through the difficulties of starting over and developing real relationships with people. By: S.F. Henson DEVILS WITHIN 8
As Mary gets more involved in her friends' lives, she starts to realize that real-life romance is much more complicated than anything she's read in books. Through her experiences, Mary learns about friendship, love, and the importance of living life outside the pages of a book. Mary PorterMalcolm's internal struggle with her own beliefs about love and romance. Mary is a firm believer in the rules and tropes of classic literature when it comes to romance, often viewing real-life situations through the lens of the books she loves. However, as she becomes more involved in her friends' lives and experiences their relationships firsthand, she begins to question whether her literary ideals are realistic or even healthy. This conflict is heightened when Mary finds herself developing feelings for someone who doesn't fit into her preconceived notions of a romantic hero. As Mary navigates these conflicting beliefs, she must ultimately decide whether to continue living by the book or to embrace a more authentic and nuanced view of love and relationships. Follows the story of Mary Porter-Malcolm, a high school junior and avid reader who prefers the company of books to people. When Mary and her family move to a new town, she decides to use her literary knowledge to help her new friends navigate the tricky waters of high school romance. Mary creates the "Scoundrel Survival Guide," a compilation of classic literature-inspired rules and advice to help her friends avoid heartbreak and disappointment. 9 By the Book By: Amanda Sellet Summary:
At the beginning of the novel, Mary is portrayed as a shy and introverted teenager who finds solace in books. She is highly intelligent, with a deep knowledge of classic literature, which she often uses as a guide for understanding the world around her. Mary's defining characteristic is her belief in the rules and conventions of classic literature, particularly when it comes to romance. She sees herself as a kind of literary matchmaker, using her knowledge to help her friends navigate their own love lives. However, this belief also serves as a shield, preventing Mary from fully engaging with her own emotions and experiences. . As the story progresses, Mary undergoes significant growth and development. Through her interactions with her friends and her own romantic experiences, she begins to question the rigid rules she has imposed on herself and others. She learns that real-life relationships are messy and complicated, and that they don't always follow the neat narrative arcs of the books she loves. By the end of the novel, Mary has undergone a transformation. She has learned to embrace the unpredictability of life and love, and to appreciate the beauty in imperfection. She has also learned to value her own voice and desires, rather than simply following the expectations of others. 10 Character Study:
EDITORIAL “One of us is Lying” Publisher: Delacorte Press Karen M. McManus ‘This Woven Kingdom” Publisher: HarperCollins Tahereh Mafi “Devil Within” Publisher: Skyhorse S.F. Henson “By the Book” Publisher: HarperCollins Amanda Sellet ENGL-2341 5th pd. 11
Authors Acknowledgement ONE OF US IS LYING BY: KAREN M. MCMANUS THIS WOVEN KINGDOM BY: TAHEREH MAFI ARTWORK BY: ALICE MARIE POWER DEVILS WITHIN BY: S.F. HENSON BY THE BOOK BY: AMANDA SELLET 12
THE HIDDEN WORLDS OF LITERATURE DISCOVER THE WORLD OF LITERATURE