McKinley's Picks

The following books are recommended by McKinley. 

The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) By Viet Thanh Nguyen Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780802124944
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Grove Press - April 12th, 2016

This historical fiction captures the horrors of reality in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. It ranges from political satire to psychological thriller to heart-throbbing friendships and gives perspective from a half-French, half Vietnamese communist spy. Personally, I loved how thought provoking the novel was and how Viet Thanh Nguyen really showed the cultural impacts of being an asian refugee in the 1980s. It keeps the reader on their toes and shows the split emotions between Western and Eastern ideologies. 


The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, Book One): Book One (The Maze Runner Series #1) By James Dashner Cover Image
$10.99
ISBN: 9780385737951
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Delacorte Press - August 24th, 2010

Escaping Eleven (Eleven Trilogy #1) By Jerri Chisholm Cover Image
$9.99
Email or call for price.
ISBN: 9781649370976
Published: Entangled: Teen - November 16th, 2021

Great book for dystopian lovers! Similar to popular series like Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and Divergent, this is the first in the Eleven Trilogy. Whilst this is targetted toward young adult readers, it is fair game to all ages that enjoy science fiction. The novel is set in a futuristic world where society is ridden by radiation and is forced below ground. The narrator, Eve Hamilton, is a 16 year-old who is determined to escape the brutal Compound Eleven and finally go above the surface. Along the way, she meets an unsuspecting ally and romantic interest who challenges her unlike any other. With a heart wrenching enemies-to-lovers trope, this is a great blend between the violence of a dystopian world and the bitter sweetness of teen romance. 


A Court of Thorns and Roses By Sarah J. Maas Cover Image
$19.00
ISBN: 9781635575569
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Bloomsbury Publishing - June 2nd, 2020

First in the famous ACOTAR series, this high fantasy book throws the reader into a world of fae, magic, and royalty. The narrator Feyre, is a human huntress who is imprisoned by an enemy fae kingdom after killing one of their own. In the Spring Court she finds new enemies, friends, and a powerful love interest. This is one of my favorites and I highly encourage those willing to endure a 5 novel series. The author Sara J. Maas is famous for her lengthy and magical series, in which I also highly recomend her others like, Throne of Glass and Crescent City. Warning: this series is sometimes considered young adult, but I find it to be more mature fantasy, considering some of the adult themes. 


Defy the Night By Brigid Kemmerer Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781547604661
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Bloomsbury YA - September 14th, 2021

A great YA fantasy with an inspirational heroine and an exciting political rebellion. 


These Hollow Vows By Lexi Ryan Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780358386575
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Clarion Books - July 20th, 2021