JagWire staff members review a variety of books perfect for different situations.

…If you don’t have a lot of time

Being busy with classes and after-school activities can take a toll on one’s reading time. The best solution to this is, in my opinion, short stories. An anthology is a collection of short stories and often pictures all about the same topic. Quite an interesting one is “Machine of Death,” edited by Ryan North, Matthew Bennardo and David Malki.

All of the stories are about a world in which everyone knows how they are going to die. They can go to a doctor or a mall kiosk to get diagnosed by a machine. The machine has its own sense of humor; for example, it might say “old age” to mean that an elderly man will shoot you. This interesting premise and a few familiar authors made me pick up the book, and I was not disappointed.

Most of the stories are around 10 pages long, and all are accompanied by a picture. The stories and pictures were chosen as the best from lots of entries in a contest, and it shows; the book is extremely well done. Each author takes a different side of the story to focus on.

“Suicide,” one of the short stories, was one of my favorites.

It is about a teenage girl who wants to die in a crash so that she can fit into a clique. After finishing it, I had to put the book down and think about the story for some time. Thought-provoking and intelligent stories are wonderful to read, and I enjoyed these a ton. “Piano” was just clever. Sometimes a quick, funny read is all that you want, and for that I recommend “Torn Apart and Devoured by Lions.” While not mind-boggling, it was still good, and pretty humorous. In addition to the actual stories, the artwork is beautiful. The illustration for “Cassandra” is just killer.

Overall, the book was really fun to read. All of the different authors’ writing styles and interesting ideas contribute to an exciting collection. Though they all follow the same basic premise, they all differ a little. Some are heartwarming, some are confusing, some are funny and some are so suspenseful it’s hard to put the book down.

“Machine of Death” is a combination of stories and art with a great premise and awesome execution.

You should definitely check this book out if you don’t have a lot of time to read, and especially if you do.

…If you’re looking for a thrill

If you’re looking for a book that will get your blood pumping, then “Delirium” by Lauren Oliver is the book for you. This book uses the tried-and-true dystopian-future setting, where people live in enclosed cities, have their lives planned out for them and love is considered a dangerous disease. The story follows a girl named Lena, who is an orphan after her mother committed suicide, as she approaches her 18th birthday. Then, she will receive an operation that removes her ability to feel strong emotions, such as love and hate. In the months leading up to the procedure, Lena begins to realize that all is not as perfect in her secluded world as she thought it was, especially after she meets a group of rebels- and falls in love.

The novel starts off a little slow, but as it goes on, the suspense thickens at a rapid rate. The later half of the novel has several very intense scenes, and it leaves off on an exciting cliffhanger in order to lead into the next book, “Pandemonium,” which is already out. This book is an excellent read if you’re looking for a story that will get your heart racing.

…If you want to be inspired

In “I Am the Messenger,” Markus Zusak tells a story about finding meaning in life through the tale of underage cab driver Ed Kennedy. Ed is 19 and going nowhere in life, until he starts receiving playing cards in the mail. On each card he receives, directions are written and these directions lead him to people in need of a “message.” What the message is up to Ed to decide.

What develops from this odd premise is one of the most subtly inspirational books I have ever read. “I Am the Messenger” is quietly excellent in a way that not a lot of other books can pull off. Zusak’s writing style somehow manages to turn a deadbeat cab driver into a really likeable and relatable character. The word choice is simple but powerful, making the book a quick read that you feel like you should be spending more time on just to make sure you’re soaking everything in. I remember stopping once or twice just to stare vaguely at the ceiling and think about what I’d just read. The story is full of optimism, but in a way that you don’t notice until you’ve finished the book and discover that you can’t stop smiling vaguely at everyone and everything.