Book Review: Looking for Alaska

Title of Book
Author
Green, John
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

Miles is fascinated by famous people's last words. He leaves for boarding school, seeking his "Great Perhaps". There, he meets Alaska Young. She's beautiful and messed up, but he can't help but fall in love with her. Maybe she can finally help him find that Great Perhaps that he's been looking for.

This book was interesting, to say the least. It was written a lot different than other books that I've read. Halfway through, the plot changed, but I liked it. It was a cool concept.

Reviewer Grade: 12

Reviewer's Name
Alex M.

Book Review: Paper Towns

Title of Book
Author
Green, John
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

Quentin, or Q, has had a crush on Margo for ages. So when she invites him out on a night full of revenge, he agrees to help her. After the night is over, Margo disappears. Q finds a trail of clues that she's left behind and vows to find her. After all, it is what she wanted. Right?

I liked this book. I found the subject of paper towns to be fascinating. I like how the author decided to incorporate them into his story.

Reviewer Grade: 12

Reviewer's Name
Alex M.

Book Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Author
Green, John
Rating
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review

This book follows two boys who are both named Will Grayson. One night, fate brings the two of them together. As their worlds collide, they find their lives going in new and unexpected directions.

This book was okay. I really disliked the ending; it was just there and didn't really feel like an ending. I wish that it was tied up a bit more.

Reviewer Grade: 12

Reviewer's Name
Alex M.

Book Review: An Abundance of Katherines

Author
Green, John
Rating
2 stars = Meh
Review

Collin, like a lot of guys, has a type; he likes girls named Katherine. So far, he's dated and been dumped by 19 Katherines. After graduating from high school, his friend convinces him to go on a road trip with him. He says that it'll help to take Collin's mind off of his most recent breakup. Collin agrees, hoping to prove his Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability. He expects that it'll predict the future of any relationship and help him finally find true love.

This book wasn't my cup of tea. While it wasn't bad, it wasn't very interesting to me. The ending especially didn't satisfy me. Between it and the plot, I didn't like the book a lot.

Reviewer Grade: 12

Reviewer's Name
Alex M.

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Title of Book
Author
Green, John
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

When Hazel attends a cancer patient support group, she expects to be bored out of her mind. She doesn't need this support group; the only reason she even bothers to go is to please her mother. But when she meets a boy named Augustus Waters, her entire life changes. She learns what it is to fall in love and what it means to be alive.

This book was alright. It didn't end the way it made people believe that it would, which was cool. Life is a precious thing and people don't cherish it enough. Also, people always view people with cancer as "sick" and sometimes forget that they are human and have lives and hopes and dreams just like the rest of us. Overall, I liked it.

Reviewer Grade: 12

Reviewer's Name
Alex M.

Book Review: The DUFF

Title of Book
Author
Keplinger, Kody
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

The Duff is a extremely good book. The book is about a girl who is having a good time with her friends at this place called the nest. Overwhelmed by stress she kisses the boy she hates, Wesly Rush. She then half realizes throughout the book she is falling in love with him. But she catches the eye of her crush, Toby Tucker. She is torn between the two, trying to make a decisive pick to stick with one and ditch the other. I don’t want to give the book away, so I'm not going to tell you much more. I chose this book as a last ditch attempt at a book. But this book was a lot better than you think, it’s not a sappy romance, but it’s not one of the romances that is so fast it’s only 100 pages. It is a perfect book for everyone, ages 8 on up. Even if you don’t like love stories, this book must be on your top books to read. I went into the book thinking that “I'm going to hate this.” But came out thinking “Is there a sequel?” That’s how good this book is. So all and all, I recommend this book, everything about it.

Reviewer Grade: 7

Reviewer's Name
Lucas L.
Awards

Book Review: You Were Here

Title of Book
Author
McCarthy, Cori
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

Actual Rating: 4.5

I love the variety in this novel. With the graphics and the writing combined, I felt like this book was more of an experience than simply words on paper. Every character was relatable, with the sarcastic and dark Jaycee, selective mute Ryan Mik, the smart and caring Natalie, her humorous boyfriend Zach, and Bishop who is simply stuck in the world of art. With all these characters, the reader feels a part of their group as they go on daring trespasses to connect with Jaycee’s dead brother, Jake. What they find is that Jake death was not as simple as they thought. As the characters develop in this novel, I developed with the splendid relationships embedded in McCarthy’s witty writing. Highly recommended read!

Reviewer Grade: 12

Reviewer's Name
Madison H.

Book Review: The Great Gilly Hopkins

Title of Book
Author
Paterson, Katherine
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

Very good, as all Katherine Paterson novels are. A quick read, and like her other novels, it shows rather than tells. My only problem with the book was the ending was too abrupt for my taste. I would have liked for it to be longer and show her life with her grandmother and the effects of Courtney's visit.

Reviewer's Name
vfranklyn

Book Review: Lock and Key

Title of Book
Author
Dessen, Sarah
Rating
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review

I'm not a teen, so I'm obviously not the target audience. The first half of this book was very good and even made me cry. The fact that Ruby's sister was so brave and protected her in her quiet way was very powerful. I loved how her experience protecting Ruby shaped her career and life's purpose. However, once the book got beyond that point it devolved into the naval gazing so common in teen fiction. Too much introspection and obvious symbolism explained by the narrator made for a tedious second half. If the author could have kept up the power of the first half, this would be a 5 star review.

Reviewer's Name
vfranklyn

Book Review: Millions

Title of Book
Author
Cottrell Boyce, Frank
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

This book is about a very Christian boy who stumbles upon a gift from God. But was this gift truly a from God? Soon everyone wants a piece of it and chaos breaks out. I liked that a boy and his brother want to live their lives to the fullest, as many people wish to achieve. I picked this book because Frank Cottrell-Boyce has very many great books for teens around my age. I enjoyed that the main characters had true human qualities that not many people possess. I did not enjoy that the characters were rarely serious. This book surprised me around every corner, I could not predict what would happen next. I can relate to some of the characters because they love God. This is by far one of the best books I have read all year!

Reviewer Grade: 8

Reviewer's Name
Alex L.
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