Teen and Staff Reviews

Teen Review
The Outsiders book cover

The Outsiders

By S.E. Hinton
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Dec 8, 2023

The Outsiders by S.E Hinton features 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis and his two older brothers, Soda and Darry. Ponyboy struggles with right or wrong in society which makes him think that he is an outsider and the lack of parents in his life also gives his family many difficulties. The Curtis brothers, along with their friends are all a part of a group named the Greasers. Their rivals are the Socs, who are a group of boys from the wealthy side of town. A lot of trouble and violence arises between these two groups.

Teen Review
Esperanza Rising book cover

Esperanza Rising

By Pam Muñoz Ryan
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Dec 8, 2023

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan is about a young girl named Esperanza who lives a wealthy life in Mexico in the 1930s. All goes downhill after her father’s murder. Esperanza and her family flee to California with no money or supplies in hand. They manage to find agricultural work that pays very little. Esperanza is forced to adapt to all these changes and difficulties occurring in her life.

Teen Review
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library book cover

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library

By Chris Grabenstein
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Dec 8, 2023

12-year-old Kyle Keeley loves it when he finds out that his absolute favorite genius game developer Luigi Lemoncello is opening a high-tech, over-the-top library in their town. Kyle is one of twelve kids invited to go to the grand opening. During the opening party, Mr. Lemoncello announces a contest in which the twelve kids are trapped inside the library. They will have to come up with a way to escape the library and receive the grand prize that will be awaiting them. 

Teen Review
Touching Spirit Bear book cover

Touching Spirit Bear

By Ben Mikaelsen
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Mahad Z.
Dec 8, 2023

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a compelling coming-of-age novel that follows the journey of Cole Matthews, a troubled and defiant teenager with a history of violence. After a brutal attack on a classmate, Cole is given the choice between juvenile detention and Circle Justice, a Native American alternative that focuses on healing and rehabilitation. As part of his sentence, Cole is sent to a remote Alaskan island where he must confront his inner demons and the harsh realities of the wilderness.

Teen Review
The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars

By John Green
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Hannah K.
Dec 8, 2023

The Fault in our Stars by John Green follows a 16-year-old named Hazel Lancaster who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid Cancer and has accepted her terminal diagnosis. However, she meets a boy named Augustus (Gus) in her cancer support group who opens her eyes to the meaning of life, love, and death. It is through these reflections that a work of art known as this book is born. 

Teen Review
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes book cover

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

By Suzanne Collins
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Saanvi M.
Dec 8, 2023

As the prequel to the well-known Hunger Games trilogy, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes allows the reader to explore the motives behind the villain of the original series. We get to dive deeper into Coriolanus Snows’ teenage years and see his thoughts to get a richer understanding of him. The book is set 64 years before the original series, during the 10th annual Hunger Games. Coriolanus Snow is an academy student in the Capitol. The students are all assigned tributes to mentor.

Teen Review
Ash Princess

Ash Princess

By Laura Sebastian
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Hannah K.
Dec 8, 2023

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian follows a girl held captive by a brutal monarch (the Kaiser) in the land his people (the Kalovaxians) conquered, the land that was originally her home (Astrea). While the Kalovaxians call her Thora, her name is Theodosia Eirene Houzzara (Theo for short). Theo watched her mother get killed when she was 6, and ever since then she has been living in fear of the abusive Theyn and Kaiser, waiting for someone to rescue her and trying to bury the girl she used to be.

Teen Review
Julius Caesar book cover

Julius Caesar

By William Shakespeare
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Dec 8, 2023

This work by Shakespeare is a historical drama. As such, it depicts the events prior to, leading up to, and after the murder of the historical figure Julius Caesar. The play explains the role of authoritative power, selfish interest, and conflicting thoughts on the war of mankind. Caesar himself wanted to be the almighty leader of the Roman Empire but was killed by individuals who predicted tyranny if such was to come to fruition.

Teen Review
Lord of the Flies book cover

Lord of the Flies

By William Golding
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Dec 8, 2023

Lord of the Flies revolves around a group of young boys that become trapped on an island. They are left to survive by themselves as they attempt to discover civilization, chaos, and the impact of an individual on a community. The book allows for the discussion of many critical aspects of civilization, the fragility of communities, and the power of self-interest.

Teen Review
Animal Farm book cover

Animal Farm

By George Orwell
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Mahad Z.
Dec 8, 2023

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical allegory that uses a group of farm animals to illustrate the rise of totalitarianism and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. The animals, led by the pigs who overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones, establish a society based on the principles of equality and freedom. However, as the pigs gain power, they become corrupted, mirroring the oppressive regime they initially rebelled against.

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