Teens Have Their Say: Book Reviews, Page 5

here's what teens THINK about books they've read,
movies they've seen or CDs they've listened to

I want to do this too!

Do these books sound good? Check the Library Catalog, place a hold, and see for yourself!

Reviews are published in your own words but some spelling may be corrected. Reviews may be edited for length.

See more: Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8
Reviews of the Harry Potter books

Mixed Messages
By: Jahnna N. Malcolm
YA Fic

Jade has had a crush on the same boy since the summer before freshman year. At the start of senior year at Wheaton High, her friends goad her into writing a letter to Zephyr Strauss, the object of her affection. Zephyr doesn't get the letter, though - quirky but handsome Adam Lockhart does. Jade's friends urge her to tell Adam the truth but she can't bring herself to do so - could it be she's falling for him?

It was not only a genre that I enjoy but it was an exciting and cute romance about a girl who is caught between two boys she really likes. It all starts with a dare and then a letter delivered to the wrong person. Is Jade doomed or has something really great just happened? Find out for yourself!
Stacie K., age: 14

A Door Near Here
By: Heather Quarles
YA Fic

Four siblings struggle to maintain a seminormal home life when their single mother's alcoholism becomes debilitating.

It was a really good story. The author made you feel like you knew the characters the book is about trusting and believing, even what you think is impossible. I really liked this book!
Lindsey R., age 13

The True Meaning of Cleavage
By: Mariah Fredericks
YA Fic

When Jess and Sari, best friends since seventh grade, begin their freshman year of high school and Sari becomes obsessed with a senior boy, Jess wonders if their friendship will survive.

It is a really good book for best friends who are opposites. It is really good because you can get the perspective of someone who is excited about anything and someone who is scared to do anything and there is always surprises.
Ariel T., age 16

Troll Mill
By: Katherine Langrish
Juv Fic SF

When fifteen-year-old Peer Ulfsson witnesses the disappearance of his neighbor's wife, rumored to be a seal-woman, he must help protect the baby she leaves behind from trolls, a witch, and other creatures.

It was a book about a boy who has no family. He lives with a friend, Hilde, and has a secret crush on her. To impress her, he fights off an army of trolls to reclaim his evil uncle's mill.
Daniel O., age: 12

Deerskin
By: Robin McKinley
Fic SF

As Princess Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her breathtaking beauty she is the mirror image of her mother, the queen--but this seeming blessing forces her to flee from her father's wrath. With her loyal dog, Lissar discovers a world of magic where she finds the key to her own survival.

It's a story of a young woman healing from tragedy Because of some intense scenes, I think only older/mature readers should delve into this rawly vulnerable story.
Sarah W., age 15

Enthusiasm
By: Polly Shulman
YA Fic SF

Julie and Ashleigh, high school sophomores and Jane Austen fans, seem to fall for the same Mr. Darcy-like boy and struggle to hide their true feelings from one another while rehearsing for a school musical.

It was a really fun book that kept you laughing 'til the last page. It was full of interesting situations that made the book really funny. The ending was really sweet. I really enjoyed this book.
Lindsey R., age 13

The Singer of All Songs (Chanters of Tremaris, #1)
By: Kate Constable
YA Fic SF

Calwyn, a young priestess of ice magic, or "chantment," joins with other chanters who have different magical skills to fight a sorcerer who wants to claim all powers for his own.

The book keeps you interested and gets better and better as it goes! The protagonist of the book, Calwyn, does so many neat things! And most of them are against the rules. I guarantee you'll want to read each book in the trilogy!
Mackenzie A., age 11

The Discovery (Dive, #1)
By: Gordon Korman
Juv Fic

Four kids are on a marine expedition for the summer, diving to explore an underwater habitat that's just been altered by a seismic event. What they find, though, is much more than fish - it's sunken treasure. Can they salvage it without anyone else getting to it first? Will the prospect of wealth set them against one another? And what about those sharks . . . .

It is a book that is unique. There aren't as many books about the ocean. It keeps you on your toes and you always want to find out what happens.
Ryan P., age 14

The Escape (Island, #3)
By: Gordon Korman
Juv Fic

It's bad enough that Luke, Lyssa, Will, J.J., Ian, and Charla are stuck alone on the island. Now they have company--bad company. Also, Will is seriously injured and needs help immediately. Before, escape was something the kids could only hope for. Now it's a matter of life and death.

Getting deserted on an island is always an exciting story plot. There is lots of exciting twists and turns. The story always kept me guessing.
Ryan P., age 14

The Fairy's Mistake
By: Gail Carson Levine
Juv Fic SF

In this humorous retelling of a Perrault tale, the fairy Ethelinda rewards one twin sister for good behavior and punishes the other for bad, only to discover that her punishment is more pleasing than her reward.

It's a great book for people who like fairy tales. I must recommend this book. Gail Carson Levine is a great author.
Emma R., age 11

The Christopher Killer (A Forensic Mystery, #1)
By: Alane Ferguson
YA Fic M

On the payroll as an assistant to her coroner father, seventeen-year-old Cameryn Mahoney uses her knowledge of forensic medicine to catch the killer of a friend while putting herself in terrible danger.

It really kept you guessing. One minute you were sure you figured out the end and the next minute you had a totally different guess. It kept you interested until the very end. I couldn't put it down. I thought it was a really interesting book.
Lindsey R., age 13

Would I Lie to You (Gossip Girl, #10)
By: Cecily von Ziegesar
YA Fic

After high school is finished, S, B, N, and D spend the summer in their houses in the Hamptons.

I like books that talk about girls' lives. Also this book talks about getting into colleges and jobs. This book could give me advice when I'm getting older. The GOSSIP GIRL novels are about 17-year-old girls and guys living life. There is also freshman and younger people. I think about 13-year-olds and up should read this type of novel. It would teach them good lessons. Well, please read this novel.
Samantha A., age 14

Wild Magic (The Immortals, #1)
By: Tamora Pierce
Juv Fic SF

The adventures of Daine, a young girl who is on the edge of discovering her own magic, and her strange connection to the animal world. This brilliant fantasy will sweep listeners into the richly imagined world of Tortall.

This book is about a girl who is really good with animals. When bandits kill everyone but her and her pony Cloud, she sets off for work. She gets a job handling horses and while doing it, she meets her teacher, Numair. He teaches her that she has Wild Magic and trains her. Eventually she can talk to animals and even make them obey her. Read this book to see what happens next.
Jordan W., age 12

Firegirl
By: Tony Abbott
YA Fic

A middle school boy's life is changed when Jessica, a girl disfigured by burns, starts attending his Catholic school while receiving treatment at a local hospital.

The other kids find out that Jessica being burned isn't everything about her. It shows that the smallest things help. It is a very powerful book.
Ariel T., age 16

Flowers for Algernon
By: Daniel Keyes
YA Fic

A thirty-two-year-old mentally handicapped man takes part in an innovative scientific experiment to raise his intelligence.

This book is about a retarded man who is given a surgery to become smarter. But things go horribly wrong. What will happen to Charlie? You have to read to find out.
Lydia S., age 14

See more: Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8
Reviews of the Harry Potter books

Reviews are published in your own words but some spelling may be corrected. Reviews may be edited for length.

	Mixed Messages By: Jahnna N. Malcolm YA Fic Jade has had a crush on the same boy since the summer before freshman year. At the start of senior year at Wheaton High, her friends goad her into writing a letter to Zephyr Strauss, the object of her affection. Zephyr doesn't get the letter, though - quirky but handsome Adam Lockhart does. Jade's friends urge her to tell Adam the truth but she can't bring herself to do so - could it be she's falling for him? It was not only a genre that I enjoy but it was an exciting and cute romance about a girl who is caught between two boys she really likes. It all starts with a dare and then a letter delivered to the wrong person. Is Jade doomed or has something really great just happened? Find out for yourself! Stacie K., age: 14
	A Door Near Here By: Heather Quarles YA Fic Four siblings struggle to maintain a seminormal home life when their single mother's alcoholism becomes debilitating. It was a really good story. The author made you feel like you knew the characters the book is about trusting and believing, even what you think is impossible. I really liked this book! Lindsey R., age 13
	The True Meaning of Cleavage By: Mariah Fredericks YA Fic When Jess and Sari, best friends since seventh grade, begin their freshman year of high school and Sari becomes obsessed with a senior boy, Jess wonders if their friendship will survive. It is a really good book for best friends who are opposites. It is really good because you can get the perspective of someone who is excited about anything and someone who is scared to do anything and there is always surprises. Ariel T., age 16
	Troll Mill By: Katherine Langrish Juv Fic SF When fifteen-year-old Peer Ulfsson witnesses the disappearance of his neighbor's wife, rumored to be a seal-woman, he must help protect the baby she leaves behind from trolls, a witch, and other creatures. It was a book about a boy who has no family. He lives with a friend, Hilde, and has a secret crush on her. To impress her, he fights off an army of trolls to reclaim his evil uncle's mill. Daniel O., age: 12
	Deerskin By: Robin McKinley Fic SF As Princess Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her breathtaking beauty she is the mirror image of her mother, the queen--but this seeming blessing forces her to flee from her father's wrath. With her loyal dog, Lissar discovers a world of magic where she finds the key to her own survival. It's a story of a young woman healing from tragedy Because of some intense scenes, I think only older/mature readers should delve into this rawly vulnerable story. Sarah W., age 15
	Enthusiasm By: Polly Shulman YA Fic SF Julie and Ashleigh, high school sophomores and Jane Austen fans, seem to fall for the same Mr. Darcy-like boy and struggle to hide their true feelings from one another while rehearsing for a school musical. It was a really fun book that kept you laughing 'til the last page. It was full of interesting situations that made the book really funny. The ending was really sweet. I really enjoyed this book. Lindsey R., age 13
	The Singer of All Songs (Chanters of Tremaris, #1) By: Kate Constable YA Fic SF Calwyn, a young priestess of ice magic, or "chantment," joins with other chanters who have different magical skills to fight a sorcerer who wants to claim all powers for his own. The book keeps you interested and gets better and better as it goes! The protagonist of the book, Calwyn, does so many neat things! And most of them are against the rules. I guarantee you'll want to read each book in the trilogy! Mackenzie A., age 11
	The Discovery (Dive, #1) By: Gordon Korman Juv Fic Four kids are on a marine expedition for the summer, diving to explore an underwater habitat that's just been altered by a seismic event. What they find, though, is much more than fish - it's sunken treasure. Can they salvage it without anyone else getting to it first? Will the prospect of wealth set them against one another? And what about those sharks . . . . It is a book that is unique. There aren't as many books about the ocean. It keeps you on your toes and you always want to find out what happens. Ryan P., age 14
	The Escape (Island, #3) By: Gordon Korman Juv Fic It's bad enough that Luke, Lyssa, Will, J.J., Ian, and Charla are stuck alone on the island. Now they have company--bad company. Also, Will is seriously injured and needs help immediately. Before, escape was something the kids could only hope for. Now it's a matter of life and death. Getting deserted on an island is always an exciting story plot. There is lots of exciting twists and turns. The story always kept me guessing. Ryan P., age 14
	The Fairy's Mistake By: Gail Carson Levine Juv Fic SF In this humorous retelling of a Perrault tale, the fairy Ethelinda rewards one twin sister for good behavior and punishes the other for bad, only to discover that her punishment is more pleasing than her reward. It's a great book for people who like fairy tales. I must recommend this book. Gail Carson Levine is a great author. Emma R., age 11
	The Christopher Killer (A Forensic Mystery, #1) By: Alane Ferguson YA Fic M On the payroll as an assistant to her coroner father, seventeen-year-old Cameryn Mahoney uses her knowledge of forensic medicine to catch the killer of a friend while putting herself in terrible danger. It really kept you guessing. One minute you were sure you figured out the end and the next minute you had a totally different guess. It kept you interested until the very end. I couldn't put it down. I thought it was a really interesting book. Lindsey R., age 13
	Would I Lie to You (Gossip Girl, #10) By: Cecily von Ziegesar YA Fic After high school is finished, S, B, N, and D spend the summer in their houses in the Hamptons. I like books that talk about girls' lives. Also this book talks about getting into colleges and jobs. This book could give me advice when I'm getting older. The GOSSIP GIRL novels are about 17-year-old girls and guys living life. There is also freshman and younger people. I think about 13-year-olds and up should read this type of novel. It would teach them good lessons. Well, please read this novel. Samantha A., age 14
	Wild Magic (The Immortals, #1) By: Tamora Pierce Juv Fic SF The adventures of Daine, a young girl who is on the edge of discovering her own magic, and her strange connection to the animal world. This brilliant fantasy will sweep listeners into the richly imagined world of Tortall. This book is about a girl who is really good with animals. When bandits kill everyone but her and her pony Cloud, she sets off for work. She gets a job handling horses and while doing it, she meets her teacher, Numair. He teaches her that she has Wild Magic and trains her. Eventually she can talk to animals and even make them obey her. Read this book to see what happens next. Jordan W., age 12
	Firegirl By: Tony Abbott YA Fic A middle school boy's life is changed when Jessica, a girl disfigured by burns, starts attending his Catholic school while receiving treatment at a local hospital. The other kids find out that Jessica being burned isn't everything about her. It shows that the smallest things help. It is a very powerful book. Ariel T., age 16
	Flowers for Algernon By: Daniel Keyes YA Fic A thirty-two-year-old mentally handicapped man takes part in an innovative scientific experiment to raise his intelligence. This book is about a retarded man who is given a surgery to become smarter. But things go horribly wrong. What will happen to Charlie? You have to read to find out. Lydia S., age 14

8/13/07 Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802

8/13/07
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802