Reviews by Tag: coming of age

Teen Review
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is Also a Star

By Nicola Yoon
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Kenken
Jan 25, 2022

Natasha and Daniel live in New York City living two different lives. Natasha wants truth and a-to-b points in life, and Daniel wants to be the best for his father and make his father’s dreams come true, but not everything can happen their way. Their lives crossed and stars tried to align, but will the stars every make the right constellation? This book was definitely a read for the ages! I was never disappointed with any part of the book. The feelings that arose from this book were very strong and I would absolutely recommend this to everyone!

Teen Review
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You the Sun

By Jandy Nelson
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Mariam S.
Jan 25, 2022

I’ll Give You the Sun is Jandy Nelson’s second novel, and her most acclaimed - it won the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature in 2015. The story follows twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine as they struggle with love, death, art, and each other. It’s set on the California coast with a cast of artists, surfers, and occasional vengeful ghosts. The audience switches between Noah’s point of view in their younger years, and Jude’s after they’ve grown up a little.

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing

By Delia Owens
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Mandy G.
Jan 5, 2022

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is a realistic fiction novel. The book follows the character Kya as she navigates growing up alone and apart from the rest of society. The novel details her journey and her constant growth of knowledge through the highs and lows of friendships, romantic relationships, work, etc. She lives in an area called “the Marsh” and enjoys her lifestyle being one with the wilderness.

Teen Review
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak

By Laurie Halse Anderson
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Dec 13, 2021

Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is a Young Adult Fiction book.  Speak, told by Melinda Sordino, is about facing the traumas of high school. Before Freshman year, Melinda goes to a party, in which she calls the cops. Therefore, no one talks to her, not even her best friend. At that party, an older guy raped Melinda, so when she goes back to school, she is continually haunted by the guy. But, when she learns to speak for not only herself, but many other teenagers, things change.

Teen Review
Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal People

By Sally Rooney
Star Rating
★★

Rated by
Emily N.
Dec 7, 2021

The story of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and reunion between the two main characters, Connell and Marianne. Told over the course of a few years, readers follow their journey through high school and college as they navigate their ever-changing relationship. I really wanted to like this book. After everything I had heard about Sally Rooney, I had high expectations for this book, and unfortunately, I feel like it didn’t quite live up to the hype. Normally I am a big fan of romance, but this one just didn’t cut it for me.

Teen Review
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The House on Mango Street

By Sandra Cisneros
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Emily N.
Dec 7, 2021

The House on Mango Street is the coming of age story of a young Latina girl named Esperanza as she grows up with her family in a predominantly white Chicago. We get to see her struggles with friends, family, school, money, racism, and much more. What I love about this story is that it is told in vignettes. Each vignette is a unique portion of Esperanza’s childhood, each with its own lesson and message that can be applied to the lives of the reader.

Teen Review
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Navigating Early

By Clare Vanderpool
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Emily N.
Dec 7, 2021

Navigating Early is a story about two boys who meet at a boarding school and decide to go on an adventure through the Appalachian Trail in hopes to heal from past issues. This book was a beautiful read. If you like hearing people engage in deep conversations about any subject under the moon, you will enjoy this. I know I did for sure.

Teen Review

The Catcher in the Rye

By J.D. Salinger
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Dec 2, 2021

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, illustrates a hopeless boy who runs away to New York City.  After Holden, the main character, gets kicked out of school and his home, he figures out the best option would be to run away from his home and try to find hope somewhere else. He experiences a cycle of the same emotions over and over again, which makes the book seem boring. However, through all of Holden’s mental instability, there are rare moments of growth.

Teen Review
A Separate Peace by John Knowles

A Separate Peace

By John Knowles
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Taylor E.
Nov 29, 2021

John Knowles' A Separate Peace is a coming-of-age story that recounts the friendship of two boys during World War II. Gene is brilliant and introverted, while Phineas is charismatic and popular. As the two boys suffer under the pressures of war, their jealously will attempt to overcome their friendship. This book appears to be a simple story, but it's filled with symbolic meaning.

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