A fascinating murder mystery with an interesting and sort of terrifying main character. The artworks depicting murders are beautiful and haunting without crossing any lines. The story is great for the intermediate english learner looking to grow their vocabulary. Some words might be hard to understand, but the images help support your understanding. Just remember, this is a story about a series of murders with images of murder. Only read if this is a topic you enjoy.

While this story had some flaws in its writing—specifically issues with representation of disabilities and the awkward character speech patterns—I actually really enjoyed the book overall. Plus, for my English learners specifically, this book sits in that perfect middle ground of easy grammar with occasionally difficult vocabulary. That's perfect for both intermediate and advanced learners to get some English practice in!

Reading is one of the most effective ways to build vocabulary, experience grammar in use, and get comfortable with how English is actually used. To make that kind of input easier to find, I’m introducing a new Book Reviews column here on EWT. To kick things off, you'll find mini-reviews for seven of my favorite books that I read last year, in no particular order.