Teen Book Reviews
A note to begin. The objective of this page is for teens to recommend books they enjoyed and for teens to find titles they may enjoy reading.
Teens are invited to submit reviews for this page. The guidelines are:
- The South Fayette Library must own the book that you review.
- Your review should be two short paragraphs (three or four sentences each). The first paragraph will describe the book. The second will explain why you liked the book.
- Post your review on South Fayette Library's Teen Book Review Blog. Click on Teen Book Reviews above to access the Blog
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
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Melinda Sordino wasn’t always an outcast. But, starting 9th grade at Merryweather High is an entirely different story. Melinda’s old friends no longer want to associate with her and the new kids she meets are no different. They think they have their reasons; after all, Melinda did call the cops and breakup an end of summer party. But, what they don’t know is why Melinda called the cops.
With no friends to confide in and a strained relationship with her parents, Melinda has no one to talk to and is forced to deal with her problems inside her own head, quietly trying to forget what happened. But, the silence doesn’t help. Finally, something happens that makes Melinda SPEAK!
A Heart Divided by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld
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The book, A Heart Divided, is about a young playwright, Kate, living in New York whose family decides to move to a town near Nashville. the town, Redford, still waves the confederate flag proudly and their school football team is called teh Rebels. soon Kate meets Jackson Redford III, the descendant of the town's father. When there is a petition to replace the school's confederate flag, Kate and Jack must decide what side of the petition they are going to be on; being called a racist and going against the flag or staying loyal to the town and the flag.
I liked this book because it was an interesting situation that Kate and Jack go themselves into. I also liked how the book had to deal with history.
Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville
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A wonderful fantasy full of adventure, friendship, and courage. Cara jumps into the world of Luster when her grandmother gives her an amulet and tells her to deliver a message, "Find the old one. Tell her..., 'The Wanderer is weary.'" This would be easier if there wasn't a myserious man tracking Cara not to mention the delvers. How will Cara find the old one and deliver her grandmother's message before the tracker or delvers catch her?
How Not to Spend Your Senior Year by Cameron Dokey
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This book is about a girl named Jo who has moved around a lot throughout her lifetime. Now she is in her senior year and her dad makes them move to one more school. Finally, Jo is making new friends and possibly a new boyfriend, until her dad tells her that they must move again. Her dad explains that the reason they have moved so many times is because a muderer is constantly looking for them. Jo and her dad must then fake their own deaths to make the murderer think that they are dead.
I liked this book because I wanted to know how pretending to be dead changed Jo's life. It was interesting to see how everything worked out for Jo and her dad. I also liked that the book was one big mystery, which made me want to read more and more.
The Client by John Grisham
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This book is about a young boy, Mark Sway, and his brother who see a man, Jerome Clifford, commit suicide. Jerome told Mark a secret about one of his clients commiting a murder and where he had hid the body of a Louisiana Senator. Mark than becomes obligated to testify in court about what he knows. Although Mark is afraid Jerome's client's mafia friends will kill him if he does so.
I like this book because its very suspenceful and kept me wanting to keep reading on. Also how the author vividly describes how things appear and how people feel even if they don't truthfully express it. Furthermore, I liked how the author chose to use a child and not an adult as the main character. As a reader, you get a betteer understanding of a child's position when going through the legal system.
The Scarecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman
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The giver is a book about a young boy who lives in a very strict environment; there are no such things as trees, hills, rain, snow, sunshine, flowers, or even colors. These people do no even know that they exist. At each age (until the age of twelve,) one is given a ceremoney. at the age of 8 you must give up your comfort object, at the age of nine you get a bike... But at the age of twelve you get something that each boy and girl dreams of, a job. when Jonas(the boy) turns twelve he expects to get something boring like engineer or nurturer but he gets something much more interesting.
The Client by John Grisham
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Interesting, silly and serious. Mr. Pullman writes about the adventures of a scarecrow and his servent on their way to Spring Valley. They battle brigands, join the army, fall in love, and shipwreck onto an island. Although the scarecrow is brave and valiant, will he be able to face the Buffalonis family? A family that wishes he had never sprung to life.
Pirates! by Celia Rees
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Rees writes a wonderful adventure about two women escaping to freedom. Nancy, an hieress, joins the pirates to escape an arranged marriage while Minerva joins to escape slavery. Together they work, fight and carve out a life for themselves on the high seas.
I really enjoyed the novel. Pirates! depicted a believable picture of what life might be like for two women pirates. Nancy and Minerva learn about freedom, survival, friendship, love, courage and so much more. A satisfying story!
Alias by Mary Elizabeth Ryan
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Alias is about a sixteen year old boy and his mother. They lived in L.A. but always move around a lot. Annie, the mother, changes her name and look with each move. Why?
The reasons I like this book are because it keeps you guessing. Where will they move next? What alias and look will Annie chose next? What new clues will Toby, the son, find that will help him solve the mystery? I also enjoyed how the author took a minor character and a main character and related them through their parent's history.
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
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This exciting historical fictio novel takes place around 20 A.D. The main character, an 18-year-old blacksmith boy named Daniel, believes that Israel's main dilemma, Roman tyranny, can be solved by organizing an army to drive out all roman authority. However, nothing known to this Zealot can solve his biggest problems with his own family. It develops greater understanding for any bible reader, featuring seveal appearnces from Jesus Christ. suggested levels 7th grade and up.