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Teen Book Reviews Click on title for availability |
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All My Bests by Britnee MeiserAll my Best is about Immie and Jack, two best friends who are entering high school together. Throughout school, they vow to stay together, but things like sports, drama, and crushes keep pushing them further and further apart. While Immie is stuck wandering about the identity of her father, Jack is trying to live up to his family‘s expectations. This book takes place in a small present day town during Jack and Immie’s freshman year of high school. Throughout the book, Jack and Amy both have the struggle to bounce their friendship and other conflicts that start when entering high school. Jack is popular loyal and has a sense of inadequacy, while Immie is ambitious, higher achieving and loyal. These traits placed them in different groups in their grade. What aspects captured my interest was the growing apart of two lifelong friends and how it can be difficult to bounce friendship with other important things. The book showed how friendship, love identity, and change in shape relationship. I really enjoyed the book and how it offered different perspectives. It showed how friends can grow part overtime. I came to the knowledge of how friends can grow apart, but they never forget each other. The content in this book was great. It truly showed how hard life can be during certain times, and how it can affect things like friendship. I would recommend this book to 6 to 12th grade. It very well shows real life friendships. People who enjoy books that talk about real situations would very much enjoy this book. This book was very unique and didn’t remind me of other books. It was a very nice read. I would write this book an eight out of 10. It was really fun to read and was very interesting. |
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Frizzy by Claribel A. OrtegaFrizzy is in present day Bronx, New York where a girl named Marlene who lives three things: her Tia, Ruby, art, and her best friend Camilla. While trying to pursue her passions, Marlene’s mother, Paola, says the most important things in her life right now our school and growing up. This means every weekend, rain or shine, Marlene has to get her hair straightened so she can have “good hair”. Marlene hates the salon and wonders why curly hair can’t be described as “good hair”. With the help of her best friend Camilla and especially the Ruby, Marlene discovered why her hair isn’t “pretty” to those around her and how she should embrace it. Throughout the book, you can see Marlene struggle to embrace her natural curls will also fitting into society. Some things that caused her to want to embrace her hair or her weekly visits to the salon and bullying at school. Marlene Andrea is resilient but struggle self acceptance, but she still persevere. Getting backlash from society and her family. Marlene has to figure out whether she wants to keep straightening her hair to fit in or embrace her natural hair. What aspects captured my interest was the growth of Marlene and has she learned to embrace her curly hair, along with how she learns about her heritage/culture. The theme of frizzy is self acceptance in the face of racism and societal pressures. I really like how the book portrayed the pressure of society and pierce along with without racism and Bullying can affect people greatly and And show shows how it does. By reading this book, I gained the knowledge of how much people have to go through to fit into society/be accepted. The content of the book was amazing and very well portrayed house Society may feel to some people. I would recommend this book to younger readers, Such as fifth through eighth grade, Who enjoy books that portray real life situations. This book reminded me of Miss Quinces By Kat Fajardo. Miss quinces Also talks about racial identity and the want to fit in. I would write this book an 8/10. It very well portrayed racial obstacles and finding yourself. |
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a nonfiction scientific novel set in both the 1950s and modern times, and tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge and became the famous “HeLa” cells used in countless medical breakthroughs. The central conflict is the ethical debate over medical consent and the way Henrietta’s family struggled with the fact that her cells were used worldwide while they remained in poverty and couldn’t even receive proper healthcare. The main character, Henrietta, is portrayed through stories and memories, while the antagonist is the medical system that exploited her and her family without any transparency. What stood out most was how the book blended science, history, and family ties. The theme of ethics in medicine is important because it raises questions about consent, race, and who benefits from medical discoveries. I was especially interested in how the author gave Henrietta’s family a voice, showing their confusion and anger. The writing made complicated science easy to understand, and it also made me think about how people behind medical research often go unrecognized. I would recommend this book to readers who like nonfiction that feels both educational and personal. It’s a powerful story that makes you question fairness in science and appreciate the human side of medical progress. I’d rate it 8 out 10 for being eye-opening and emotional while also teaching important history, but it could get boring at times if you aren’t too interested in science.
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Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer "Into the Wild", by Jon Krakauer was probably one of the best books I've read in a while. The writing style, themes, and lessons drew me in. The book follows the true story of young Chris McCandless and his unique journey to the depths of the Alaskan wilderness. This book manages to appeal to many as readers find it easy to empathize with McCandless and understand his longing for adventure and escape. It sheds light to a new perspective on life and the freedom that comes with it. McCandless perfectly symbolizes this life that is free of restrictions as he lives it the way he wants and does what he thinks will lead to a fulfilling life. Another appealing factor about the book is the writing style. The author captivates the minds of readers with vivid imagery and descriptive language. The way he describes nature had me enthralled. One negative however about the book, is how unstructured it is. I know it was on purpose, to symbolize McCandless' chaotic journey, but at times it is hard to remember what came first. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good book to read. One quote by Chris McCandless was "Happiness is only real when shared" and I thought this was fitting for this recommendation. This book gave me joy and I hope that others reading it will also be as enraptured as I was.
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The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett “The Long Tomorrow” by Leigh Brackett is a post-apocalyptic novel set in America in the future after being devastated by nuclear war. After the bombs, civilization doesn’t aim to rebuild, but rather to reject all the technology it knew before as it is blamed for the destruction. Instead the country has reverted to a limited tech, almost 19th-century lifestyle. The story follows Len Colter, a teenage boy raised in a strict farming community. But unlike the rest of his community, Len becomes curious about the world. When he hears about a secret city where technology still exists, he sets off on a journey to find it. The characters in this story help really build the world around them. Len’s growth from the beginning to the end really shines through in the story. Especially as he moves from town to town, his understanding of the world around him shifts and progresses. His cousin Esau also serves as a foil to Len, and helps drive the story. The characters Len met throughout the story also serve to drive the story, such as the wanderers and scientists he met along the way. Overall, the world Brackett builds is very interesting and immersive, and you can feel the different feeling and weight of each town. What elevates this book is the historical context surrounding it. Taking place in 1955, it has parallels to McCarthyism and Cold War anxiety, which many feared would lead to the destruction of the world. Overall, “The Long Tomorrow” by Leigh Brackett is a wonderful book and deserves a read by anyone interested in a sci-fi novel.
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The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris Young Carter Locke runs away from his dangerous Uncle Sly after his parents disappeared. Uncle Sly is a pick-picketers who wants Carter to follow in his footsteps. Carter is a magician, who learned these tricks from his dad. Carter hops on a train and lands in a New England town. He meets Dante Vernon, who was his father's friend as a young boy. Carter meets other young skilled magicians, Olly, Izzy, Ridley, Theo, and Leila. B.B. Bosso and his crooked crew set up a carnival that is fake and steals people's money. Carter and his gang must try and take down this villain before he can steal anymore, using magic against him. What was interesting about this book was how each member of the magic misfits developed a unique relationship with one another. An important theme in this book was learning to belong. By chance, Carter discovers a group of misfits like him, that make him feel seen and help him find a new family. What captured my attention was how a group of kids were able to defeat a group of stealing adults at their own game. Doing this wasn't easy; the misfits had to learn to trust and work with one another. The Magic Misfits story doesn't end in this book. Carter is still looking for his missing parents, and the friend group has to fight off more dangerous magicians. Each book uses different perspectives of each of the Magic Misfit members making each book more interesting than the last.
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The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It by Neal Bascomb The Perfect Mile follows the story of three of history’s greatest runners, Roger Bannister, John Landy, and Wes Santee, on their quest to become to first man ever to run a mile in under 4 minutes. The book begins by describing post World War II Britain. Britain is in ruins, the people are tired, and soon after the war ends, King George VI dies. The British people are in dire need of a hero. An opportunity to become this hero falls upon Roger Bannister, a young British miler who will compete in the 1952 Summer Olympics. It’s safe to say that when the opportunity presents itself to Bannister, he succumbs to the pressure and does not claim Olympic glory for himself and his country. However, not to be deterred, he continues on with higher aspirations, to be the first man in all of history to run a mile in under 4 minutes. However, the talented Brit is not the only one with this goal in mind. John landy, a quirky yet tough Aussie has recently discovered his talent in running, after not being all that good at it for quite a while. Besides Landy, an ambitious young teenager from Kansas, Wes Santee, believes that he is destined to be the “miracle man”, as he shows off his potential on the U.S. Collegiate scene. All three of these men have this goal at the same time. However, only one person can be the “first” man to run under 4 minutes, everyone else will be forgotten and claim no glory. This book does an incredible job of making the reader feel close to the athletes, and feel connected to their stories and their dreams. I declare this book as mandatory reading for any runner, as when I read it I felt the same nerves and excitement that I do before a race. I would also recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical dramas and fascinating story telling. Bascomb does a magnificent job building up action to a climax, making the reader desire more, and then fulfilling their desire, adding onto what is already an incredible tale. This book focuses not just on the quest to run under 4 minutes first, but also the showdown between the Bannister and Landy at the Empire Games in 1954. This book is one of my all time favorites and I would score it a 94/100. The only thing going against this book is that sometimes Bascomb strays too faraway from the action in order to give more background on a character, however this ultimately works in Bascomb’s favor, as his deep knowledge helps make the reader feel more connected to the story and the characters.
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Salt to the Sea by Ruta SepetysSalt to the Sea is a historical fiction novel set during the final months of World War II. It follows four teenagers who are trying to escape East Prussia as the Soviet army advances. Their goal is to board the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises them safety. And the story that follows is based on a real-life maritime disaster. Each of the four main characters offers a different view of the war. Joana is a nurse with guilt from her past. Florian is a quiet young man hiding stolen Nazi art. Emilia is a pregnant Polish girl trying to survive. Alfred is a proud German sailor who lives in denial. Their personalities are clear and believable. Supporting characters like the Shoe Poet and blind Ingrid also leave a strong impact. The rotating perspectives add depth and build tension. Sepetys uses simple but strong language. The short chapters keep the pace quick. Themes like guilt, survival, and silence are shown through symbols like shoes and the sea. The story is emotional but not overly dramatic. Alfred’s chapters feel odd at times, but they show how blind loyalty can be dangerous. Overall, this book tells an important historical story that is often forgotten in many textbooks. It’s fast-paced, well-written, and moving. And I would recommend this book to anyone looking to unsheathe a hidden piece of history. |
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That Was Then, This is Now by S. E. Hinton "The Outsiders" is a book about the struggles between two social groups, the Greasers and the Socs, in the 1960s in Oklahoma. The central conflict is the ongoing tension and clashes between these two groups. The inciting incident is when Johnny, a Greaser, kills a Soc in self-defense, which escalates the conflict. The main character is Ponyboy Curtis, a thoughtful and intelligent Greaser who loves reading and movies. The antagonist isn't just one person; it's the social rivalry and the prejudice that the Greasers face from the Socs and society. The story grabbed my attention with its raw portrayal of teenage struggles and loyalty. The theme revolves around the search for identity and the unfairness of social divisions, which is both important and intriguing because it's about understanding people beyond their labels. I think "The Outsiders" is a powerful book. It's the honesty and the emotional depth that influenced my opinion. I expected to understand more about teenage conflicts and social issues, and yes, the book met those expectations. The content made me feel empathetic towards the characters. I'd recommend it to someone who likes stories about real-life issues and coming-of-age challenges. If you're into books that make you think and feel, you'd enjoy this one. It might remind some readers of "That Was Then, This Is Now" because it's also about young people and tough choices. I'd give "The Outsiders" a high rating for its impact and the way it makes you care about the characters.
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Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston “Their Eyes Were Watching God" is a coming of age story created by Zora Neale Hurston. The book delves into the life journey of a young woman named “Janie”. Janie lived her majority of her life in Eatonville, Florida in the year of 1937.” Janie is strongminded, and headstrong, and she uses these strong aspects of herself to guide her on a journey of true independence, true love, and self discovery. Throughout the book Janie goes through some obstacles, many of them being male love interests throughout the story. However despite this, Janie pushes through with her main goal of finding true happiness in mind. Zeale Hurston helps convey the central theme of the book of “Self love.” Janie, while embarking on her journey, learns that she must love herself before allowing herself to love others and allowing others to love her. I loved how Janie is first presented to the reader as a young naive girl, and from there the reader watches her grow up. Seeing this allowed me to see myself in Janie, and helped me see how I can learn from Janie. The content within “Their Eyes Were Watching God” were pretty mature at some times, however were dealt with in a very real/serious way. This was another thing that I loved while reading it. I think that mature content shouldn’t be censored, or romanticized. As this can lead to certain issues to be repeated in the future. This is actually a huge reason why I would recommend "Their Eyes Were Watching God,” it delves into serious topics such as “Race,” “Gender,” and "Societal expectations.” A reader who is curious about these topics may find this book helpful in learning more about them. Someone who also feels conflicted about growing up and finding themselves may relate to Janie and how she grows in the boo.
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