Teen Book Reviews
Are you looking for a good book to read or do you want to find out what
other teens are reading? We asked teens during Teen Read Week
to submit reviews of their favorite books as well as those books that
they didn't like very much. We received quite a response!
Check out the titles reviewed by teens below and see if you agree with
their thoughts.
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Review submitted by Froggygurl
I absolutely LOVED this book. YOU GOTTA CHECK IT OUT!!!!!
The Bear and the Dragon by Tom Clancy
Review submitted by Matt
The Bear and the Dragon, Tom Clancy's newest novel is definitely his best.
Gold and oil, in amounts that can only be dreamt of, are discovered in
Siberia by an American exploration team. China kills a diplomat
and Baptist preacher trying to save a baby from an abortion. On
live CNN, a Chinese soldier murders them. China now threatened by
international sanctions decides that the wealth and power to the north
in a decaying country called Russia are its only hope for survival.
Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
Review submitted by Butterfly
It was okay, but the story was dull because all it did was describe detail
for detail. In a way, that is cool but it can be boring sometimes
especially in a book like that. Less detail, more drama is what
I think.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Review submitted by Courtney
The greatest book ever read! If the New York Times read it, it would
be two thumbs up!
Review submitted by Angel027
Bud, Not Buddy is a great book! It is about an orphan boy who believes
he has a family somewhere. It is great and you can learn a whole
lot from this superb book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chicken Soup series
Review submitted by Ritza
For all of you that don't know what the Chicken Soup series is, it is
a series of short stories collected under different titles put together
in a book. This is the book you want to read if you don't like long,
little-typed word books. Some of the books are:
- Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul
- Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
- Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II
If your parents want to read these books, there are some for adults.
Just look under Chicken Soup series and you will find books for you and
your family. Enjoy!
The Cutler Series by V.C. Andrews
Review submitted by Amber
I recommend this series to all older teens that can't really get into
a book. When I moved here, I couldn't concentrate but when I started
to read these books, I felt better in school and everywhere else.
Don't get me wrong. This isn't one of those sappy books. It
made me thankful for what I have and for what I wasn't subjected to as
a child. Please read it. It consists of about four or five
books. Start off with Dawn. It's the first one in the series.
You'll love them to death. I know I did.
Downriver by Will Hobbs
Review submitted by Jessica
Downriver by Will Hobbs was a wonderful book! I just couldn't put
it down! It's about these teenagers at a boot camp kind of place.
They were supposed to go with their counselor on a trip, but they decide
to venture off on their own. They decide to take a whitewater rafting
trip down the Colorado River! At first, the trip is great; no adults
telling you what to do, etc. But soon they realize that maybe they
made the wrong decision. I definitely recommend this book to anyone
who loves adventure because, believe me, it's full of it!
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
Review submitted by Sarah
This was a really, really good book!! Even though it was long, it
was filled with adventure, mystery, suspense, a little bit of humor, and
futuristic scenes. I would recommend this book to anybody!
Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Review submitted by Ms. Teen Georgia
LOVED this book! I also loved the second and the third book, Whatever
Happened to Janie and the final one The Voice on the Radio. I recommend
ALL three books for teens my age.
Fearless series by Francine Pascal
Review submitted by Teddy
Fearless is a wonderful series because it is very action-packed.
It was interesting because she did not have a fear gene. Even though
I fully recommend this book, it is not appropriate for non-mature and
young readers.
Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree
Review submitted by MeMe
This was the best book. It was about an African American girl faced
with the pressure of drugs, sex, and relationships.
Fortune's Hand by Belva Plain
Review submitted by Alicia
A book that I recommend for teens would be Fortune's Hand, a novel by
Belva Plain. It's a harder book to read with 365 pages, but if you
take your time once you start it, you cannot stop. It starts out
at a car accident site. The main character, Robb, was driving and the
passengers of the car were his parents who were killed. He goes
to law school and plans to marry a longtime girlfriend, but the tables
turn when he meets someone else. Years go by, he marries the daughter
of the senior partner of the law firm where he works. He makes lots
of money and loves to spend it on expensive things. He has a family
with two kids, but the youngest turns out to be seriously retarded.
The whole family comes apart including his marriage. He runs into
a bank scam and gets into trouble with money he owes, but he never tells
his family. His daughter figures out the truth when her father turns up
missing. Read the story for yourself to get further and more in
depth in this wonderful novel.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Review submitted by Josephine
The Fountainhead is undoubtedly one of the most influential books anyone
will ever read. It embodies all the elements of a strong novel.
It has a strong and individualistic protagonist. It has action.
It has love. It has passionate dialogue that will have you quoting
every other word. I recommend The Fountainhead to those who have
strong opinions about society and its manipulating altruism. GOOD
BOOK!
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Review submitted by Courtney S.
I liked this book a lot! It tells how a young boy named Jonas gets
to receive memories at 12 in his community. They are told by a very
old man, and Jonas has to go see him every day. Jonas lives with
his mom, dad, and sister in a place that's like a whole other planet.
One weird thing is they have to get rid of their trash every day on this
tray instead of a can, but someone comes and picks it up. To find
out more about this book, check it out at your local library.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Review submitted by Pecos Bob
A really good book! I especially liked the way Pullman told you
little by little what was going on. Another cool thing is how the
perspective of characters keeps changing. For example, in the beginning
you think the master is evil because he tries to poison Lord Asriel.
Later, you find out he was doing it to protect Lyra. The way Pullman
subtly shows you that this world is not our own world is interesting.
He must have done a lot of research for this book because the changes
are very logical. For example, Japan is Nippon. In Japanese,
Nippon means Japan. Also, electron means amber, not an elementary
particle. This is logical because electron comes from a Greek word
that means amber. The daemon concept is extremely original.
It is interesting how even though the daemon represents your soul, it
is often the opposite sex, and doesn't know what you're thinking.
It's almost like a completely different being.
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Submitted by Bones
Okay...this book was E x t r e m e l y long. Just to give you the
picture. This book is engaging and vivid. It was given the
rating for a high school level, and I can agree with that. It has
some hard vocabulary but all in all, a good book. I didn't read
the whole book, but I figured out from seeing the movie...you really didn't
need to read it to find out that it is really different from the movie.
In conclusion, it was good enough that I'd like to finish it someday when
I have a year.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Review submitted by Tweety Bird
I think Great Expectations is a great book for teens of all ages to read.
I had to read it for a report in school. This book has a lot of
romance, true friendships, sad and hard times, and even good times in
between.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Review submitted by Leslie
All of the Harry Potter books are very well written but my favorite one
is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It is exciting and doesn't
end like the other books. It is a very good book to read, and I recommend
it to anyone.
Review submitted by smarty500
It is a good book. It has good elaboration, description and length!
Review submitted by Tinkerbell
This book was great!! Each Harry Potter adventure gets better and
better. This one is scary too towards the end. And there were
even parts when I wanted to cry. Plus there's a little bit of ROMANCE!
If you haven't read this book, you should!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Review submitted by Greg
It is the greatest book of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Review submitted by Froggygurl
What's the big deal about Harry Potter books? They're not that good.
I read one last week and it was so boring!! Why not read something
that wasn't meant for 10-year-olds? There are much better books
out there. Please stop obsessing with Harry Potter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is My Sister Dying? by Alida E. Young
Review submitted by Purity
My favorite book is about a girl named Stephanie. She has an older
sister named Allyson. Allyson has kidney failure. Allyson
has to be hooked up to a machine in order to live. Allyson's only
hope is to find someone who has the same type of blood and tissue.
Stephanie really wants to help her sister get well. She thinks of
all the risks such as the long operation and the chance that Allyson's
body might reject Stephanie's kidney. Can she do it? Can she
give her sister the gift of life?
I liked this book because it shows how important having a good relationship
with your sister could be. You never know when she'll leave.
I think other people will like this book because it shows how important
it is to have a bond with your sister.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Review submitted by Chastity
All in all, a great book to read even though the beginning doesn't get
you as much as the rest of the book. From the cover of the book,
you wouldn't think that it would be something that someone would enjoy
to read, but after I read the first two or three chapters, I got hooked.
It was a great book with a lot of in depth detail about a Chinese background
and the people that lived there long ago. There was no point during
the book that made me want to put it down and pick up another one.
Each chapter was a different point of view unlike all of the other book
writers who stay with one point of view. With all of the points
of view, I got to see the whole story instead of just one person talking
throughout the whole book. So if anyone reads this who likes foreign
books, just go pick up a copy of The Joy Luck Club or another great book
by the author called The Kitchen God's Wife.
Keep Smiling Through by Ann Rinaldi
Review submitted by Mickey
The book was very good! Actually it's about this girl named Kate
who has two other brothers. Her best friend is named Jennifer and
she won't talk to her because she is against her. Check out this
book!
Left Behind-The Kids series by Jerry Jenkins
Review submitted by David
It was a Christian fiction book and was very easy reading. Also
it was very interesting. It was about kids that don't believe in
God and do drugs and lie and don't listen. The main characters were
Judd Thompson Jr., Vicky Bryne, Lionel Washington, and Ryan Daley.
The people that believed in God disappeared and could not be found.
Then the bad kids get worried. The bad kids get worried because
they have been left behind.
Libby on Wednesday by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Review submitted by Rachel
The main character Libby McCall wants to quit school and start being homeschooled
again. She starts school because her mother wants her to be socialized
and Libby hates it. This is her first year at Morrison Middle School
and her first time in a real school other than her home school.
She wins 1st prize in a story picked by an author and the author puts
the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 2 runners-up in a writing club. They all hate
it. There is GG (Gary Green), Tierney, Alex Lockwood, and this snobby
girl named Wendy and the teacher Ms.Ostrowski. Things start to happen.
Some of them start to like each other and some start to be really mean.
There are really big points in the story. They might be good and
they might be bad. You will just have to find the book and read
it yourself to find out. Hope you like it a lot! This book
is by Zilpha Keatley Snyder!!
Life in the Fat Lane by Cherie Bennett
Review submitted by Jenny
I think this book is a great pick because it deals with issues girls face
when they're worrying about their weight. This girl faces real life
issues when all of a sudden she turns from beauty pageant winner to the
"fat girl." Soon she is pushing nearly 200 pounds.
This is an excellent choice if you're looking for a book to read.
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball with Betty Hannah Hoffman
Review submitted by Katie.C
This book is an autobiography on America's favorite redhead...Lucille
Ball. I think that this book is the best book in the world because
you can hear Lucy's voice in it and that is just what Lucy fans want to
hear. This book tells about Lucy's sad childhood all the way to
her third hit show called "The Lucy Show." True Lucy fans
should not be without this book.
Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques
Review submitted by Cayce
Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques (from his Redwall series) is an excellent
book. To some, it may seem elementary because there are talking
animals. But, I like fantasy and this series by Brian Jacques is
very good. It gives a good reflection of a simpler time and has
great morals behind it.
Martin, a young mouse from the North Shores, has been captured by Badrang,
an evil stoat tyrant. The cruelty of slavery, exhibited in Badrang's
kingdom is shown through the starved and beaten animals who are forced
to help build Badrang's fortress. Martin and two other animals,
Felldon the Squirrel and Brome the Mouse, escape with the help of Brome's
sister Rose and her friend the mole, Grumm. They eventually are
split up and Martin, Rose and Grumm head for Noonvale, Rose's home, in
hopes of finding help to wage war on Badrang.
Brome and Felldon meet up with the Rambling Rosehip Players, and they
begin the destruction of the tyrant Badrang. Martin finally returns
with an army and is able to defeat the stoat. Rose is killed in
the final battle, and Martin is heartbroken. He leaves his friends
to wander the land alone.
This is a story enriched with love and life, courage and deceit and laughter
and heartbreak. There is never a dull moment throughout this fantastic
series. I would highly recommend anyone reading any of Brian Jacques'
books - especially his Redwall series.
More Taste Berries for Teens compiled by Bettie B. Youngs and Jennifer
Leigh Youngs with contributions from teens
Review submitted by Jennifer
It's great, funny yet scary yet cool! Everyone should read it!!!!:)
(:
On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voigt
Review submitted by Birle
The best romantic/adventure book I have ever read! Cynthia Voigt's way
with words is exquisite. The plot is well thought out all the way
to the end. The ending is left way open for the reader to decide
what's next. I suggest you read it. I've read it four times.
Other Bells for Us to Ring by Robert Cormier
Review submitted by A'Isha T.
This book tells you that you should believe miracles can happen.
A girl in this book didn't believe miracles could happen. The girl's
name is Darcy. The two main characters are Darcy and Kathleen Mary.
They were best friends. They lived in a town called Frenchtown.
It was a small town. One day Kathleen Mary and her mother moved
from Frenchtown. Then all of a sudden, it was Christmas time and
Darcy did not believe God could do miracles. Darcy believed it when
she saw Kathleen Mary in the form of a miracle. This would be a
good book for someone to read if they don't believe in miracles.
You can check this book out at your local library.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Review submitted by Teen Ms. USA
This is a great book. I really enjoyed reading the story.
I truly will recommend The Outsiders to be the survivor in this program.
Reach for Tomorrow by Lurlene McDaniel
Review submitted by Jessie
This book is about a girl and her friends who are counselors at a camp
for sick kids. The camp is called Jenny Camp, in memory of the founder's
girlfriend. I like this book because it stays true to the heart.
The writer is fantastic and really lets you know what the character is
thinking. She lets you go into the character's mind and deepest,
darkest secrets. Lurlene McDaniel, the author, really is committed
to writing a good story and always gives a good amount of detail.
If I had to recommend a book to a friend, I would have to recommend this
one. Some people might not like it because it is full of children
with illnesses and it may be depressing. At first that is what I
thought, but after reading it, I discovered that these type of kids want
to be treated like others and that they are only looking for a friend
who won't treat them like a porcelain china doll. This book is also
good for teen girls if they enjoy a good romance from time to time.
Road to Memphis by Mildred D. Taylor
Review submitted by Ra-Ra Rachel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a great book that was! But it won't be half as great if you
don't read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry & Let the Circle Be Unbroken
first. In this book, you get to peek in the children's lives for
the last time. The story is so touching and so real. Mildred
D. Taylor outdoes herself again. You go through hardships, surprises,
drama, comedy, and romance in this outstanding novel. The ending
had me crying and thinking about it for days. This book will stick
with you forever. If you enjoy reading about kids during Reconstruction
in Jackson, Mississippi, this book is for you!!!
Romiette and Julio by Sharon Draper
Review submitted by Ashleigh
This is a very good book, and I wouldn't compare it to Romeo and Juliet
even though they have some similarities. This book is too good so
I think you should read it.
The Saskiad by Brian Hall
Review submitted by Susan
The Saskiad follows the adventures of Saskia, a bright, precocious girl
who lives near Ithaca, New York. She reads The Odyssey and worships
her cow, Marilyn. She forms a friendship with the new girl in school,
Jane Sing. All seems well until Saskia's absentee father invites
the two girls on a hiking trip in Scandinavia. With a rich internal
life and a cynical view of the world, Saskia is a delightful heroine.
This book refuses to condescend to its readers, and the result is a lush
vibrant story that is hard to put down. I fervently recommend The
Saskiad as it is one of the few books I have read in recent months that
captured my imagination.
A Shocker on Shock Street by R.L. Stine
Review submitted by Coolreader
The book The Shocker on Shock Street is a very good book. If you
love to read Goosebumps, this is a story to really read. It's all
about these two kids who watch the Shocker on Shock Street movies.
Then Erin's father (the one who created the movies) tells Erin and his
friend to go to the Shock Street theme park. First they ride on
the tram which is really scary but all of a sudden the tram car stops.
Then they try to figure a way to get out. When they do, they are
still in the park. Next they go through an arcade building.
When they do, they meet scary monsters that look like they are real.
The ending will not be revealed because I want you to read this book.
If you like this book, you can go watch the tv show, Goosebumps.
Singularity by William Sleator
Review submitted by Michelle
The book Singularity is a very secretive and adventurous book. It
starts off kind of boring but it always holds your attention! The
main characters in this book are a set of twins. They are sent to
an old house in the country for a couple of weeks while their mom is on
a trip. Their mother's uncle died and left his house and belongings
to her so that is how they got this creepy house. Inside the house
are all kinds of weird skeletons and odd sculptures. Later in the
story, the boys discover a playhouse outside way back in the woods.
At first the boys didn't realize it, but in the playhouse, time went by
a lot faster than in the real world. Then one day their dog was
locked in the playhouse and when they found him he was all bones!
Not only do objects get older but people are getting weird. Then
all of a sudden the boys discover something strange coming through the
sink, but every day it gets bigger and bigger and louder, then.......I
will leave it for you to find out! I think teens would enjoy this
book because it keeps you on your toes. I especially liked this
book because I like the thrill of fright!
Star Wars series
Review submitted by lightsaber
Star Wars books are great books to read. I think they are exciting
and adventurous books to read. I recommend these books.
Review submitted by daisy
I think they have nice books. They are exciting and adventurous.
A Sudden Silence by Eve Bunting
Review submitted by Olivia
I think people should read A Sudden Silence because it is about two boys
and they are brothers. It takes place in a town in California at
the beach. One of the brothers is deaf. One night when they
are walking home from a party, something terrible happens. After
that, one of the brothers takes the other brother's girlfriend or the
girl he liked and feels bad about it and the girl doesn't know how he
feels. Then near the end, they finally find the person that does the bad
thing to one of the brothers and then everybody is mad at her. It
changes everyone's life forever. At the beginning, it is normal
and happy and then at the end, it is sad. It is such a good book
that you won't be able to put it down.
Under the Cat's Eye by Gillian Rubenstein
Review submitted by SME1
If you like fantasy books, this is the one for you. This book is
about cats and dogs who talk and a whole other world. Also this
book is a mystery in a way. In the book, there's a teething ring
and no one knows what it stands for except for three people - the cat,
the dog, and the evil principal. Read this book and it'll be one
you will never forget.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Review submitted by job
If you want an absolutely hilarious book that gently pokes fun, READ THIS!
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
Review submitted by Katie
The book I enjoyed was War of the Worlds. It was an action/mystery.
I did not enjoy it as much as I probably could have because it was a homework
assignment over the summer. However, it kept me busy over the summer.
It was a true radio show that took place back in the 1930's about aliens
from Mars attacking Earth. It was rather hard to follow, however
it was still enjoyable. I believe others should read and enjoy this
story the way I have.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Review submitted by Merideth
I loved the sadness in the book. I recommend this book to anyone
who loves dogs!!
A Wolf at the Door edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Review submitted by friends.forever.pump
COOL!!!!!!!!!
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