Recent fiction and nonfiction for young adults selected by librarians and teachers based on quality and appeal. Voted on by teens.
Award winners, reading guides, and book lists for teens. Check out the book club ideas and Author Talk. A user friendly, visually appealing site for teens.
Teen Book Reviews by our own Teen Patrons:
Seanna - Grade 9 - Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (Rating: 5/5 bugs)
This book was well written with a very good storyline. Ella is very willful, even though she is cursed and must be obedient. I love this book because she gets herself into many exciting situations. Ella is a very intelligent young woman who is so brave that she refuses to marry the prince to save his life, even though she loves him a lot. The ending is very happy and I will probably read this book again.
Jen – Grade 8 – Double Identity by Margaret Patterson Haddix (Rating: 5/5 bugs)
I really enjoy books with a mystery science fiction theme. This book provided a sense of adventure, science fiction, logic, and mystery. The main character Bethany, discovers secrets of her life. Overall, this book was definitely one of my favorites.
Matt – Grade 8 – The Art of Keeping Cool by Janet Taylor Lisle (Rating: 4/5 bugs)
I feel that this book deserves four bugs because I thought that it was a good book. I really liked how the time period was in World War II in Rhode Island. It said some places that I have been before. I also like how the book did not reveal an answer for a long time. I did not like how the book was sad at some points. That is why I think that this book gets four bugs.
Kaitlyn – Grade 7 – Tending to Grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco (Rating: 4/5 bugs)
The book Tending to Grace is written in a creative format with a complex and lovable main character, Cornelia. The story has twists and turns, friends and enemies, suspense and worry. Cornelia is a very intriguing character in herself, never liking to talk but loving to read, in school in the “stupid” English classes with the “watered-down” copies of the books. Kimberly Newton Fusco is a very creative and inventive author who has here written a story where life can be rough, work can be fun, and friends can come from unexpected places.
Samantha – Grade 10 – Dramarama by E. Lockhart (Rating: 5/5 bugs)
Dramarama is a book all about theatre, and since my #1 passion is theatre, I loved this book! I liked the way the author worked in little bits of information about various Broadway shows. This book really makes your imagination work – thinking about how characters look, how the costumes feel, and how the tension and nerves kick in. Bravo for Dramarama!
Jason – Grade 7 – The Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thomson (Rating: 4/5 bugs)
The book had a different way to look at dragons. There were farm dragons that were used for eggs. They are small and have small wings. Then there are legendary dragons which are like in the story books. In the book they were supposed to be extinct.
Devin – Grade 6 – How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor (Rating: 5/5 bugs)
I feel that way because the last 16 pages was the best part of the book. Also the last 16 pages tied the whole book together for me. I like the fact that the child stole a dog to get money for an apartment but at the end the child returned the dog and explained what he did to the owner and he ended up finding a apartment.
Kerri – Grade 11 – Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Rating: 5/5 bugs)
I totally loved this book. I love fantasy and I really love vampires. The mix of action and romance had me wishing I was like the Cullens and didn’t need to sleep. I could not put this book down. I love the details. It was like watching a movie. Speaking of movies, I can’t wait for this one to come out on December 12.
James – Grade 6 – When Will This Cruel War be Over? The Civil War Diary of Emma Simpson by Barry Denenberg (Rating: 4/5 bugs)
It was a cliff hanger and emotional. It made me want to keep reading. It had too many characters, so it was hard to follow what was happening. But it really explained what happened in the Civil War. They didn’t say how she felt about the end. When Emma’s mom died I was about to cry. It was really scary what happened to them. It taught me a lot about the war like that the Yankees invaded their houses and stole their things.
Aminah – Grade 6 – Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park (Rating: 4/5)
Because the book teaches you that a bike helmet does a lot. The book is about a boy riding his bike without his helmet. He crashed into a truck. He would have survived if he was wearing a helmet and it was really hard for his family.
Katelyn – Grade 6 – The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (Rating: 5/5)
Because it’s about people who live underground but they didn’t know that. Also, because it was exciting/adventurous. My favorite characters were Lina, Doon, and Poppy. I cannot wait to read the sequel.