Teen and Staff Reviews

Teen Review
The Selection

The Selection

By Kiera Cass
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
TeenReviewer11
Jul 17, 2023

In The Selection by Kiera Cass, a sixteen year old girl named America Singer lives in a dystopian United States. After going through a tragic war, the US emerged as the new nation of Illea, in which the caste system was enforced to keep order. America and her family are low in the system and struggle to live fulfilling lives. The Selection, in which 35 girls are chosen from the nation to compete for the prince’s hand, is right around the corner.

Teen Review
These Infinite Threads

These Infinte Threads

By Tahereh Mafi

Rated by
Anonymous
Jul 17, 2023

These Infinite Threads by Taherah Mafi is a YA fantasy novel and is the second book in the series after This Woven KingdomI rated it four stars. The book follows Alizeh, who is the heir to the fallen Jinn kingdom. Jinn are mistreated in the kingdom where Alizeh lived in the first book, Ardunia, as a common servant who always wears a covering, or “nosta” over her special Jinn princess eyes.

Teen Review
The Gilded Ones

The Gilded Ones

By Namina Forna
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Rishi
Jul 17, 2023

Deka is a village girl in Irfut who just wants to live a normal life and be proven as pure and belonging in her village. She wants to be able to get married and live a happy life. However, on the day of the Ritual of Purity, it is discovered that she is impure and has the cursed blood of demons inside her. As she underwent the Death Mandate but yet didn’t die, she is taken from Irfut to the Warthu Beru to train in an army of girls like her, an alaki army.

Teen Review
Abeni's Song by P. Djèlai Clark

Abeni's Song

By P. Djèlai Clark
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Basil Park
Jul 10, 2023

This exciting, creative novel is centered around a girl named Abeni who lives in a pretty secluded village in the forest with her family & community. On the morning of her birthday, she wakes up excited for the Harvest festival that will take place, unknowing of the real events that will take place. Everything is normal at first till the witch enters the village, bringing terrible news of a great danger that they would soon face. Following this, Abeni witnesses her friends, family, and community getting taken away by horrible “storm women” and a man with goat-fur clothing.

Teen Review
Puppet by Eva Wiseman

Puppet

By Eva Wiseman
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Gretta K.
Jul 10, 2023

Based on the true events of a trial in Hungary in 1882, a girl named Julie learns that her friend has gone missing. She watches as the Jews in her town are falsely accused of murdering the servant girl Esther. Julie tries to help make things right by learning the truth despite the odds being against her. 

Teen Review
Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Invictus

By Ryan Graudin
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Gretta K.
Jul 10, 2023

Farway McCarthy knows he is destined to be a time traveler, after all, he was born outside of time. But when fails his final exam, Far doesn’t know what else he will do with his life. Gathering up his friends, he gets the chance to time travel, even if it may be illegal. His crew gets tangled with a time altering event and have to find a way to save time and themselves. 

Teen Review
The Long Run by James Acker

The Long Run

By James Acker
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Mahad Z.
Jul 10, 2023

The Long Run by James Acker is a compelling novel that follows the journey of Thomas, a young man from a small town who dreams of becoming a professional athlete. As he navigates the challenges and obstacles in pursuit of his goal, Thomas discovers that success requires much more than talent and determination. Along the way, he confronts personal setbacks, explores the complexities of relationships, and grapples with the harsh realities of the competitive sports industry.

Teen Review
Trapped by Sigmund Brouwer

Trapped

By Sigmund Brouwer
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Mahad Z.
Jul 10, 2023

Trapped by Sigmund Brouwer is a gripping thriller that follows the story of Owen and his friends as they embark on a seemingly innocent adventure to explore an abandoned mine. However, their exploration takes a sinister turn when they become trapped underground, facing the harsh realities of darkness, fear, and dwindling supplies. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, the group must confront their deepest fears and work together to find a way out before time runs out.

Teen Review
The Lost Warrior by Dan Jolly

The Lost Warrior

By Dan Jolly
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Neil J.
Jul 10, 2023

The Lost Warrior is a graphic novel as part of a 3-book miniseries called Graystripe’s Adventure by Erin Hunter, overall part of the Warriors books. Graystripe was part of Thunderclan, one of the four warrior cat clans. However, humans had started to destroy the forest that the clans lived i n, and they had captured some cats. Graystripe found the cats on a truck and freed them, however, the door closed and he himself got trapped while everyone else was freed. He was sold to humans and became their pet.

Teen Review
Shane by Jack Schaefer

Shane

By Jack Schaefer
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Neil J.
Jul 10, 2023

Shane is a short and fast-paced story set in the days of American colonization. It starts with a boy named Bob who sees a mysterious man near his house. His name was Shane, and he was friendly with Bob’s family and bonded with them. They let him stay with them, and although he was only going to stay with them for a few days, it ended up becoming months.

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