Locust Valley Library - Teen Book Reviews

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins

One of the best books I’ve read this year! The Hunger Games is well written and creates a fantastic reality that is both intriguing yet sickening and most of all, terrifying. Though the beginning of the book seems to differ from the rest of the book entirely, the first few pages manage to capture the reader’s interest and keep you interested until the very end.

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Reviewer: Roxy

Title: The Silver Kiss
Author: Annette Curtis Klaus

Zoe's life isn't exactly perfect. Her best friend is moving, her dad isn't the way he used to be, and her mom has cancer. One night when Zoe decides to go to the park she first lays eyes on Simon. She evntually meets him and they become friends. She soon finds out Simon is a vampire when one night she catches him with blood all over his mouth. He explains to her how lonely he has been since he met her and he tells her about his life and about his family's death.
Around Zoe's town there has been some murders and Simon knows the cause, the vampire who changed him...his brother.
This book wasn't one of the best I've read recently. It's sort of dated. I would recommend it to the mystical creature type reader because of the subject of vampires.

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Reviewer: Rhonda

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins

This novel was truly great, the plot was fantastic, and though a little repetitive, managed to keep me interested and tense throughout the entire book. The characters are also incredibly enjoyable, and you find yourself becoming attached to them, which is especially hard considering what they have to experience. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has a love of reading and needs a good book!

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Reviewer: Roxy

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

This book was about a girl named Nora who's in her sophmore year and who becomes partners with somone she'll never forget, Patch. He turns out to be a pain sometimes, but he's very attractive to Nora. This book is a mystery/romance type of novel and I absolutely loved it. I fell in love with Patch myself and couldn't wait to get back to him in the story when he wasn't a part of the chapter I was reading.
The ending is great and I'm happy there's going to be a sequel, but it's not coming out until next fall!
Overall I give this book a B. My friend lent it to me and I suggest lending it to your friend if she's boy crazy or likes angels and the supernatural, or seductive seniors.

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Reviewer: Rhonda

Title: The Nylon Road
Author: Parsua Bashi

This book was a really interesting read, with great illustrations and the author’s perspective and first hand account was fascinating. However, I found the novel trying to be a bit too much like the book Persepolis, and found some the author’s style a little annoying and difficult to follow.

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Reviewer: Roxy

Title: Diary of an Iraqi Girl
Author: An Iraqi Girl

This story is one of the best I've read in a long time, it made me feel free! The story made me feel differently and experience something that is not a part of my life. The book really goes deep, involving a girl who lives in Iraq, Hadiya. The book describes her school and the classes she takes.The conditions she writes about are not good. She needs to change schools and the windows of her house keep breaking because of the explosions. She also has very limited use of electricity and needs to study with a flashlight at times. This book is a blog and has pictures and some background information.
I suggest this book to everyone. It was so provocative. I couldn't put it down or stop reading.

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Reviewer: Rhonda

Title: Second Skin
Author: Jessica Wollman
Rating:

This book is about a girl, Samantha, becoming BFF with the most popular girl at school, so that she too could be cool. Samantha thought the girl was very cool until she found out her secret, she has an actual second skin that makes her popular. Samantha steals the skin so that she can be the popular one. Read the book to find out what happens to Samantha!

Reviewer: Alyssa

This series is highly addicting and you should start with the first one, Evermore. You won't want to put this book down. Any free moment I had was reading this book.

Aerin Renning, a seventeen year old has a past she wishes sho could forget and a future she's afraid of. She's suprised when she gets accepted to the best known school in the universe. She's one of the smartest people there, until Dane Madousin, whose father is a highly honored general, comes along. She gets beaten by him in Debate Class but he gets beaten by her in Physical Education. Dane then gets into trouble and sucks Aerin down with him. They are both punished and as a result become friends and eventually this friendship turns to romance. They both have secrets they are not telling each other. Eventually it all links and they discover these secrets on their own.
I highly recommend this book. This book in some way inspired me to do better in school. Aerin is from a slave planet and gets this one opportunity to do well in this academy or she will not have a future. Neither she or Dane have much opportunity in life because of where they were born but they learn to earn their opportunities.

This story takes place in 1899 Manhatten. It is about the two Holland sisters Elizabeth and Diana. There is a lot of romance, back stabbing, and cheating in this book. Elizabeth has to marry Henry but she loves Will, the Holland's coachman, and Henry loves Diana. Penelope, Elizabeth's best friend, loves Henry.
I really liked this book . It is a definite pleaser and it keeps you wanting to read more!

Ttitle: Marcelo In The Real World
Author: Francisco X. Stork
Rating:

This book is written in the prospective of a teenager who has autism. He's the one telling the story so you see things through his eyes and it's very interesting. The book tells the story of seventeen year old Marcelo who goes to a private school for those who need special assistance. His dad convinces him to work at his law firm and he starts his summer there. The only problem is that Marcelo doesn't know if he'll be able to really adjust to the way "normal" people live.
.He meets new people and learns new things by being out in the "real world."
I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to find a great read. Marcelo is at times hilarious because he doesn't get certain phrases.

This is a brilliant book that begins with a tone that makes you think that it’s going to be just like those young adult books about the stereotypical teenager who rambles on and on about sex, drugs, and rock and roll novels with absolutely no real purpose. But as it goes on it mixes the whole “stereotypical teenager” with humor (literally there were parts that I was reading in bed and started laughing hysterically like a crazy person), but more importantly the book goes into a nicely written lesson about how not to judge people according to their appearance and that some people have an unexpected third dimension, and it’s got a fairly entertaining plot! So read read read read read! Read!

This is the fifth book of the House of Night series. It is about Zoey's journey to becoming a high priestess vampire. She has her friend's back and the Red Fledglings aren't a secret anymore. Nobody at the school except Zoey and her friends know the threat. Neferet and Kalona have fooled the people at her school. The school seems to be under his spell. The group hides out in a tunnel underground and they're safe there. Something unexpected happens to Zoey, so they need to get back to the House of Night with Kalona, Neferet, and the entire school under their spell. It's a great book and the ending just makes you want a sixth book.

This book was a satisfying read and was pretty interesting, but this book was ridiculously similar to the movie Psycho. With the exception that the author remade the theme of Psycho into a much more fictional theme, but it was a quick read that was very enjoyable.

Title : Top 8
Author: Katie Finn
Rating:

In this book Maddie has the perfect life. She has amazing friends and an amazing boyfriend. She is obsessed with her blog called Friendverse which is almost like a Facebook or Myspace. When she goes on a cruise for vacation and comes back, she finds out that someone hacked her Friendverse page. The person who hacked her page wrote mean comments about her friends and broke her up with her boyfriend. Everyone in the school hated her. She finally finds out who hacked her.
I recommend this book because it is a book that teenagers can relate to. I also like that it is interactive because you are able to read Maddie's blogs in the novel.

Reviewer: Marianne
Grade: nine

I honestly loved this book beyond anything imaginable; it was incredibly helpful and inspiring to me as an artist and it's beautiful for anyone who enjoys illustrations that are mixed media and such. Reading what Lynda Barry writes is very interesting, because it’s very helpful for anyone who’s found themself stuck when writing a story or drawing a picture. And it’s pretty! Why not get it?

A book written brilliantly, with an informative plot about child abuse, but don’t let that one aspect turn you off. Though it’s about abuse it lets you venture into the mind of a kid who learns to liberate himself and you experience all of his pains alongside him and all of his victories. Not only is the writing brilliant, but after reading this it will definitely leave you thinking.

This Manga series seems really enthralling so far. The story makes you really want to find out how Kagome and Inuyuasha end up. The Manga follows the Anime in the exact same way so if you miss a novel you can just watch the Anime online.

Title: The Prophet of Yonwood
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Rating:

This book is an interesting prequel to "The City of Ember", and is an easy read. (My main reason behind wanting to read this book is to find out how Ember ends.) The book begins with a narrator who is quite innocent and in some places annoyingly naive, but I'm assuming that was DuPrau's point, because you experience loads of key events that ultimately change the protagonist during the novel. And though it's got an interesting plot line about an overly paranoid town and how the constant fear changes and harms people, it's not very relevant when it comes to Ember. The only way I knew that this was even related to the Ember books was until I reached the end.

Would you recommend this book?
I do recommend this book to someone looking for a book that is slightly adventurous and easy. But, if you (like me) plan on reading this only because you are wondering about Ember, you might be disappointed since Ember is barely mentioned.

This book is the fourth one in its series. Although it is the fourth book it's certainly ranked number one in the series. The book is about Zoey Redbird who goes to the House of Night, a place where vampires are taught and grow.
In this book, Zoey went from having three boyfriends to having none. She may fall in love again, although she doesn't want to. Her mentor, who she realizes isn't as nice as she appears, is planning something. Zoey later later finds out what that plan is and with her friends, she fights it, and, who knows...she may rekindle an old flame.

This propelling story takes place in London, England. It's about a group of fellows who discover vampires and their secrets as well. The first incident dealing with vampires at the British Museum was just considered a prank. The people who work at the museum, and their friends, soon begin to realize what they are up against.
The vampires soon realize that with their powers they can awaken the dead and take over the Parliment. The attempt to destroy their plan takes courage, skill, and pure luck.

Title: Inkheart
Author: Corneila Funke
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Imagine reading a book aloud and having the people from the story jumping right into your living room. This is the gift that 12 year old Meggie and her father, Mo, have. When Meggie was only 3 years old her father read aloud the book Inkheart, at the time he was still
unaware of his gift. Suddenly, Capricorn, a powerful but evil ruler is standing in his living room, along with him is his henchman Basta and a fire eater Dustfinger.
Now they are after Meggie's father believing that he has the power to read them back into the book. They soon kidnap Mo. In an attempt to save her father Meggie goes right into the lions den, Capricorn's village.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an adventure and a lot of fantasy. This book keeps you on your toes wondering what is going to happen next. Once you begin reading this book you won't be able to put it down.

Title: Confessions From the Heart of a Teenage Girl
Author: Alexa Rivadeneria
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Do you think you have the perfect life? Well, Paige Taylor thought she did too. She had the perfect boyfriend, Chris, her parents never fought, she was BFFs with her sister, and she had the best friends ever. But her life soon turned upside-down. Her boyfriend broke up with her and her parents divorced. Then one day when she was with her father, an unexpected person shows up......who could it be? Read the book and find out!!!!

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read realistic-fiction. When Alexa writes, she refers to lots of places in Nassau County. She refers to Ralphs Pizzeria, Lattingtown Beach, and much more!! This book will have you laughing and crying at some parts, and you won't want to put the book down.

This book was so great! I had so much fun reading it. This book is about a princess whose father comes home blinded. She finds out that a prince has stolen his eyes. She and her friends fight through a dangerous castle to rescue her father's eyes. I am not a big fantasy reader but this is the best book I have ever read in my life. I feel like I need to read it again!

This novel is about a girl named Sara joining a new school. The family are witches and all famous vampire hunters. When she goes to the new school she meets vampires and they makes friends with her. Her mother's not pleased about this and asks her to stand trial. If she is found guity she will lose all of her powers and die. She has to either face her mom or do something else. Read the book to find out what she chooses to do.

I learned so much about Tiki Barber just from reading the first few pages. I love biographies so this book was a great book for me. I sometimes feel like I need to learn more about professional athletes like Tiki Barber and this book was perfect.

Marked is the first book in the "House of Night" sereis. It is about how a teenage girl gets "marked". When someone gets marked they begin to turn into a vampire. They then have to join the "House of Night" which is basically a boarding school for growing vampires. Zoey's mark looks like an empty crest on her forhead. At first, like all growing vampires, when she is visited by the ancient goddess of her school her crest becomes filled in. Her weird mark keeps her from fitting in like she had hoped to, but she eventually finds friends and begins to fit in. She joins a secret club. Zoey eventually finds out she has special powers and her secret club wants to misuse her gift. She will need to find help from her friends and the ancient goddess to do what is right.

Betrayed is thesecond book in the "House of Night" series. It's Zoeys turn to control the Dark Daughters. People that Zoey knew in her human life begin to turn up dead. Zoey seems to lose it when her human boyfriend goes missing as well. Around the same time tragedy strikes Zoey's life. Zoey doesn't know if she'll be able to save her human boyfriend in time, but with the help of her friends she may be able to find him.

Chosen is the third book in the "House of Night" series. Zoey finds herself befriending enemies and becoming enemies with the ones she has loved. She also tries to save her friend from death and keep her humanity. Unfortunately, another problem taking place at her school is that vampyre teachers are turning up dead. You'll just have to see for yourself if Zoey makes the right choice this time.

This book was great! It is similar to The Clique. It is about four different girls who have to join a club so they make up their own. At first they hate each other but soon become friends.

This life lesson book was such a great story. It starts out with a young boy who has lost his father from cancer. He tells his mom all he wants is a bike for Christmas. This is hard for his mom to do because things got more difficult after the father died. This mom ends up making a sweater from her heart instead of buying the bike she couldn't afford. The young boy gets exrememly mad at his mom for not getting him the bike. Read the book to see how the story ends up. I thought this was such a great story to read around the holidays.

Reviewer: Rhonda
Grade: 9