Pinion Staff as Book Genres
Personally for me, I love the sci-fi fantasy genre. Something about mixing technology with magic is a fascinating idea. Ever since I was young I’ve always leaned into stories with fantasy elements while also loving robots tv shows/movies or games. After finding the genre that mixes the two together, I went down a rabbit hole. It’s easy for me to imagine the things they describe in the books and easy for me to write up my own ideas.
“The Search for WondLa” series is one of my favorite books in this genre, as I was first introduced to this book by my 6th grade English teacher. It’s set in a dystopian world where fantasy elements are mixed with science and technology. The main character, Eva Nine, leaves the safety of her hidden shelter to find other humans in the unknown world. The thing I love the most about the book series is the character development and the art.
When reading the ending of the first book, I cried myself to sleep that night because of how beautifully written it was.
“The real question one should ask when presented with a puzzle is, ‘Should I solve it? Do I really need to know the answer?’ ” -Rovender Kitt”
― The Search for WondLa
Rose Ganotisi (℅ ’28), staff reporter for The Pinion, favorite book genres include realistic fiction, historical fiction and mystery. Ganotisi’s mother, a teacher, read to her ever since she was young which slowly developed her interest in reading. Ganotisi finds mystery to be entertaining as it always keeps you interested, while historical fiction and realistic fiction are easy for her to relate to.
From a survey conducted amongst The Pinion staff, Ganotisi said one of her favorite books is “The Baby-sitter’s Club” by Ann M. Martin. The story is about 17 girls and their babysitting adventures. Ganotisi said it’s a series of books that shows a different perspective from each babysitter and their adventures. Ganotisi said she’s been reading since 4th grade.
“[Historical fiction and realistic fiction] is easier to relate to verus fantasy and other genres like it,” Ganotisi said.
“There are people you’ve known a long time and you know you’re never really going to like. And there are people that you meet and grow to like. Then there are people you meet and you like instantly.” – The Baby-sitter’s Club: Claudia and the Sad Good-bye
Kena Anien (℅ ’27), staff reporter for The Pinion, found that thriller of the murder mystery genre makes him think, while also liking the aspect of trying to figure out who did it. For fantasy, Anien grew up reading fantasy books in elementary and watching cartoons; believing in things such as dragons and unicorns.
“I don’t think they’re real anymore, but I still like to think [so],” Anien said.
“Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters” by Rick Riodren is one of Anien’s favorite fantasy books. The book follows a boy named Percy who is a child of Poseidon, Greek god of sea, setting off on adventure to retrieve a golden fleece. The fleece in question is needed to heal Thalia’s tree and restore the magical barrier that surrounds Camp Half-Blood. Anien said that seeing a character with the power to weld water he thought it was really cool.
“People who like fantasy or want to get into fantasy, or even people who are into Greek mythology I would recommend the [“Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters] book and movie ,” Anien said.
“Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we’re related for better or for worse…and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum.”
― The Sea of Monsters
Malia Manuel (℅ ’25), assistant editor for The Pinion, favorite genres include history, horror and romance. Manuel said she specifically likes political history, finding it important to try to educate oneself on the past; feeling that the things in the book are recurring today. Horror because Manuel likes to be scared and romance because she is a teenage girl. Manuel said her favorite book genre is horror.
“Even though I would like to say political history, it would have to be horror,” Manuel said.
Manuel said her favorite book would be “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky. The book is a coming of age story about a teenage boy in high school who suffers from mental health issues. It centered around this boy and was written in the form of letters to someone, but the reader never finds out who the letters are written to. Maunel first found it from watching the movie, then later finding out it was a book.
“I was in the mood to be sad for some reason,” Manuel said. “It ends well, but the movie itself is sad.”
“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
― The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Loraine Tambalo (℅ ’25), staff reporter for The Pinion, first found the genre of fantasy as a kid from watching cartoons such as Adventure Time and Regular Show. Tambalo said that fantasy is so extraordinary since you won’t see it in real life.
“Living in a fantasy sounds really nice to me,” said Tambalo. “Where everything is anything but boring and realistic.”
From a survey conducted amongst The Pinion staff, Tambalo said some books in the fantasy genre she enjoyed is “Powerless” by Lauren Roberts, “The Zodiac Academy” by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti and her most favorite, “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Tambalo said the story is about a little prince that lives in outer space and in each planet he encounters different traits of adults. Tambalo said that it’s more of a childish choice since she loves it for the nostalgia, but recommends the book if they are looking for a wholesome story.
“[Fantasy] shows the author’s creativity in how they interpret literature,” Tambalo said.
“All grown-ups were once children… but only few of them remember it.”
― The Little Prince
Jackylyn “Jacky” Jean Oasay (℅ ’26), assistant editor and reporter for The Pinion, contemporary fiction and literary fiction are the two book genres she reads. Oasay said that book genres like fantasy are hard for her to imagine, preferring something close to the real world we are living in now.
“I’m the opposite of [why] some people read books,” Oasay said. “[Other readers] want to escape reality, but I like diving into other realities.”
Oasay said that “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” by Ottessa Moshfegh is one of her favorite books. The book is set in New York in the early 2000’s and follows a lady who wants to sleep for an entire year, so she lies to her therapist to get medication that’ll help her sleep. Oasay said she has read other books written by Moshfegh because of her eerie writing style which she likes.
“If you like something weird, not scary but weird, [you should read her books,]” Oasay said.
“Oh, sleep. Nothing else could ever bring me such pleasure, such freedom, the power to feel and move and think and imagine, safe from the miseries of my waking consciousness.”
― My Year of Rest and Relaxation
Nhi Nguyen (℅ ’27), assistant editor for The Pinion, likes the fast pacing of the action and dystopian genre. Her favorite part of the book is the journey to the end. Nguyen said that dystopian books are a perfect mix of fantasy, imagination and reality. Despite reading more action books, Nguyen likes dystopian books more.
“It’s good for making statements about things going on in our world today,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen started to get into dystopian books after reading “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins. The book is the last in the series, following the protagonist Katniss Everdeen who becomes a symbol of rebellion while also trying to save the male lead, Peeta, back from the Capital which is a corrupt government. Nguyen’s favorite thing about the book is the action that goes on and how the relationship between the characters changes.
“It’s really interesting seeing them grow back together, and seeing her be able to take care of him,” Nguyen said.
“It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.”
― Mockingjay
Leif Allgood (℅ ’26), a reporter for The Pinion, first found out about horror and philosophy through his dad. Allgood said his dad is a reader and has a huge collection of books, and he would let him pick up whatever books which got him into reading. Allgood finds horror as a peek into people’s mind and with philosophy he can see how people differentiate/rationalize their thinking.
“You see people as they are. They’re not trying to be some great, grandiose warrior,” Allgood said. “You just see people trying to live and trying to survive.”
Allgood said “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy is one of his favorite books as it’s a mix of both Western cosmic horror and philosophy. The book dives into what humanity is and what man strives for. There is one character called Judge who represents everything bad in the world, talking about what man’s role is in this world.
“It’s a very hard read. If you’re just getting into [horror/philosophy] I recommend something more tame like a Stephen King Novel,” Allgood said. “Blood Meridian is described as the unfilmable book because it’s so graphic, tear jerking and insanely confusing.”
“War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner.”
― Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West
Donald Ayon Youm (℅ ’25), a reporter for The Pinion, enjoys reading thriller and comedy books, finding the build up and conflict interesting between the characters. Youm said he just likes laughing and thrillers get him going. Choosing between the two, Youm enjoys thrillers more. Instead of reading by himself, Youm enjoys reading with his dad every night.
“I really feel it in the moment when I read it [books] with my dad,” Youm said.
Youm said he enjoys reading “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly as it’s the longest book he has finished with his dad. The book is about a mad scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a monster out of different body parts. After bringing the monster to life, a series of unfortunate events follows as the consequence of bringing the monster to life.
“This is a book to get into reading in general,” Youm said. “This is one the first books I started reading with my dad when I started getting into reading.”
“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.” – Frankenstein: The 1818 Text
Dominic Niyo (℅ ’26), editor for The Pinion, hasn’t read a true crime book in a while, but first got into it after reading “Anatomy of A Murder” by John D.Voelker under the pen name Robert Tavern. Niyo said he first found it through his great uncle. Niyo used to hang out at his home all the time which had lots of books.
“I’ve always been interested in mysteries,” Niyo said.
“A Stolen Life: A Memoir” by Jaycee Lee Dugard is one of Niyo’s favorite books. The book is about Jaycee Dugard when she was abducted at nine years old, being captured for over 22 years and gave birth to two daughters from her abductor. Niyo said he thinks she is very brave for acknowledging her experience and advocating for other women who went through the same thing.
“It’s a very painful book to read,” Niyo said.
“I learned in therapy the word “No” is a complete sentence.”
― A Stolen Life
Your donation will support the student journalists of McKinley High School - HI. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs. We also have advertising options.
