Teen and Staff Reviews

Teen Review

Jackaby

By William Ritter

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Apr 5, 2017

Abigail Rook has just arrived in New Fiddleham in 1892 and she needs a job. She soon meets R.F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained. She has a gift for noticing important details which makes her perfect for the position as his assistant. They quickly find themselves in the midst of a thrilling new case, a serial killer is on the loose. The police are sure it is an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is convinced it is a nonhuman creature that the police deny even exists.

Teen Review

Knife Edge

By Andy Lane

Rated by
Misha from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Apr 4, 2017

Sherlock Holmes is known for his keen intellect and astute powers of observation -- in this YA spinoff, Andrew Lane explores the adventures of Sherlock's youth and how he came to be the detective we all know and love.

Teen Review

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

By Ransom Riggs

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Mar 30, 2017

When Jacob’s grandfather is brutally killed, it sends him to a remote island in Wales to cope with his loss and learn about his grandfather’s childhood there. He soon finds the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar children. He discovers while exploring the ancient hallways and rooms, that these children might have been dangerous and quarantined in the middle of nowhere for a reason. He also finds that even though they all died when a bomb hit the home during the war, they could impossibly be still alive.



Teen Review

Falling Over Sideways

By Jordan Sonnenblick

Rated by
Annie from Blue Valley Library YAAC
Mar 27, 2017

Claire Goldsmith just wants a break. She has gone through struggle after struggle after struggle. So when her dad "falls over sideways" during a stroke, Claire just about loses it. Out of nowhere she is pushed down a road filled with tears, flying spaghetti and snappy brothers. Not to mention bullies and scary teachers at school. As Claire maneuvers her way down this twisted road she learns more about herself than thought possible.

Teen Review

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

By Laini Taylor

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Mar 24, 2017

Karou is a mysterious girl who fills her sketchbooks with monsters and frequently disappears on vague “errands.” She speaks many languages, including several that are not human, and her hair naturally grows out of her head as bright blue. When she meets Akiva, a star-crossed love is born that unveils secrets of a dark and violent past. Will Karou live to regret discovering the shocking truth about herself?

Teen Review

One Realm Beyond

By Donita K. Paul

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Mar 22, 2017

Cantor has waited his whole life to leave his mentor and become a protector of all the realms. But he quickly realizes after he steps through his first portal that his job will be incredibly dangerous and difficult. The realms are plagued by crime and cruelty and even the members of the noble Realm Walkers Guild can not be trusted. To make matters worse, his first assignment to find with a dragon to help him has led him to one that will not leave him alone and is clearly not up to the task.

Teen Review

Ruby Redfort: Feel the Fear

By Lauren Child

Rated by
Misha from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Mar 20, 2017

At all of 13 years of age, fearless Ruby Redfort has seen more than the most adventurous of adults. She's a secret service agent, a position that gives her plenty of chances to exercise her mental and physical capabilities, but also comes with a high risk for injury. In the past she's dealt with a number of villains, but now that her town is plagued by a strange serial burglar and Ruby can't even keep her job, catastrophe might just strike.

Teen Review

Valiant

By Sarah McGuire

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Mar 17, 2017

When Saville’s father is struck ill, she will do anything to survive, even pretending to be a boy to sew a fine coat for the king. But rumors are spreading about an immortal duke and his army of giants marching to seize the king’s throne. Soon, two giant scouts come and terrorize the city, but she tricks them into leaving. Stories of the brave and quick-witted tailor quickly turn into tales of giant-slaying. So it is left to the courageous and clever tailor girl to stop the duke’s army and save the kingdom.

Teen Review

The Storyspinner

By Becky Wallace

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Mar 13, 2017

Johanna lives in a world where nobles plot their way to the throne, willing to do anything to become ruler. They are fighting over the throne of the princess who is supposed to be dead. Nevertheless, there is a quest to find her by a race of people with magical abilities, and they are not the only ones looking for her. Bodies of dead girls are turning up at every corner, and they all look exactly like Johanna.

Teen Review

The Ring and the Crown

By Melissa de la Cruz

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Mar 6, 2017

Princess Marie is sickly, quiet, and shy. She has never lived up to the standards of Queen Eleanor the Second, Supreme Ruler of the Franco-British Empire. She lives in the most powerful empire the world has ever seen, due to the help of the Head Merlin and his control over the only supply of magic in the world. Marie must marry and produce an heir to keep the empire strong against their greatest enemy: Prussia. The two kingdoms need to unite to stop the never ending war, and the only way is for Marie to marry the heir to the Prussian throne.

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