Young Adult Book Reviews

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

mcmamich — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:06:03 +0000

In the sequel to the hugely popular The Hunger Games (2008), Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, having won the annual Games, are now rich and famous. They are seen as a threat to the Capitol, their unusual manner of winning an act of rebellion that could inspire uprisings throughout Panem. Knowing her life is in danger, Katniss considers escaping with her family and friends but instead reluctantly assumes the role of a rebel. Collins weaves in enough background for this novel to stand alone, but it will be a far richer experience for those who have read the first installment and come to love Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and the rest of the desperate residents of this dystopia. A cliffhanger will leave readers clamoring for volume three!
I would definitely recommend the series! Lots of action, suspense and a splash of romance. This will appeal to many a reader! There is some violence, but overall, not bad.

My Most Excellent Year

corrlisa — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:37:02 +0000

Follow three high school freshman
through a year of baseball, theatre,
activism and love. Multiple formats ie.
instant messaging, school assignments,
etc. make this a lively read. You will
wish you knew these kids!

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

schagene — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:33:03 +0000

Imagine being raised a princess- and knowing all the princess things but nothing about how to actually LIVE. That’s how Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee (Ani) Crown Princess of Kildenree feels. Ani’s been restrained and held back her whole life, and now that her mother has betrayed her she has to go to a foreign country to marry some unknown prince. But things don’t go as planned as Ani is betrayed again and left for dead. Ani becomes a master of disguise and becomes a palace goose girl in a foreign country. Will anybody believe her true identity now that she looks like a goose girl? Will her new love Geric believe her? Will she ever see her home again? And how has she developed the ability to speak to animals? Read Shannon Hale’s The Goose Girl to find out.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

schagene — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:31:30 +0000

Gemma was raised in India but is sent back to England after she witnesses her mothers murder. Not only does she see her mother get killed, but the way in which she is killed is so strange and mystical that she is haunted by the images. She enrolls in an academy called Spence where the richest and most powerful families of England send their daughters to be raised. As if starting a new school isn’t hard enough, Gemma starts having visions that become increasingly graphic and powerful. Why is she having these visions? Who will become her friend? Will she ever solve her mothers murder? Read A Great and Terrible Beauty to find out. Grade 8+

House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

schagene — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:28:12 +0000

Matt has been raised in a house by himself. The only other human being that he has seen is his nanny. He watches tv and knows that there are other people out there- but in his home all of the windows and doors are nailed shut. One day Matt sees children playing outside of his house. He breaks through a window, climbs a chair, and jumps out onto the broken glass of the window. The children carry him back to their house where a doctor looks at Matt’s wounds. The doctor sees that Matt has markings on the bottom of his foot- marking him as a clone. But clones are less than dogs, so how does Matt have intelligence? Who’s clone is he? And how will he survive in a world where clones are less than nothing? Read House of the Scorpion to find out.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

schagene — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:27:12 +0000

This book is based on a true story. Karana is twelve years old and her people are being moved from their island home to a new one. Everyone boards the ships but she cannot find her little brother anywhere. As the ship leaves she sees her brother standing on the beach. She jumps overboard and goes to him. This begins their life of living alone on the island. It is a story of survival and loneliness, perseverance and determination. Karana builds weapons, clothing, even a house for her survival.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

schagene — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:26:11 +0000

Nobody “Bod” Owens is the sole survivor of the attack that killed both of his parents- but the knife was meant for him! As a baby he crawled out of his crib and escaped the murderer by crawling to the graveyard. Mr. and Mrs. Owens, who happen to be ghosts, take pity on him and raise him. But how is a living child raised in a graveyard? And will the relentless killer ever find his true target? Read The Graveyard Book to find out.

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci

bulljohn — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:15:07 +0000

Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

corrlisa — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:39:48 +0000

Robin’s letters to his uncle Richie Perry, hero of Fallen Angels, reflect the fearand horror alternating with boredom of his war experiences as a young soldier in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Questions as to who and why they are fighting are interspersed with gripping action scenes. Trust if formed within Robin’s unit, notably gunner Marla and guitarist Jonsey. Readers will feel like they know these characters and care about their victories and defeats.

Brooklyn Bridge by Karen Hesse

mcmamich — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:35:32 +0000

14-year-old Joe has an eventful summer in Brooklyn in 1903. His parents have created the first teddy bear and are successful in their new business. The rest of his family is dealing with drama of their own. This book is told from various viewpoints with viewpoints from several homeless kids living under the Brooklyn Bridge and from Joe himself. The homeless children are haunted by a ghostly presence that everyone avoids. Why does everyone try to avoid this ghost? Why is this ghost haunting these children? Does he know something that they don’t know? How is Joe connected to these children and this ghost? Up to the very last chapter, this book will make readers return to the beginning and see everything in a new way.