Teen Book Reviews

"The Queen's Spade" by Sarah Raughley tells the story of Ina Omoba, better known as Sarah "Sally" Forbes Bonetta, who was Queen Victoria's African goddaughter. After being taken from her homeland in Nigeria and witnessing her friend's murder at the crown's hands, Sally is determined to get her revenge on Queen Victoria and her inner circle. Enlisting the help of her friend, Rui, Sally works behind the scenes to expose secrets and create chaos, ruining the lives of all those who had hurt her. This is a true story based on Sarah Forbes Bonetta's real life in the 1800s, reimagining her life to create a YA romantacy.

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was really excited for its potential. The idea of reimagining such an interesting historical figure's story was really intriguing, and the revenge plot seemed exciting. However, after reading this book, I was sorely disappointed. The plot fell flat, as the storytelling was often confusing and seemed unorganized and even rushed. None of the characters were developed, and it was hard to like any of them. Additionally, the ending was dissatisfying, left a lot of unnecessary loose ends, and was not historically accurate at all, which was heartbreaking and took a lot away from Sarah Forbes Bonetta's story. I was really looking forward to reading this book, but the execution was so poorly done that I could not enjoy it. I would not recommend reading it.

The Cruel Prince is just straight up amazing. I LOVED Jude and her development as a character and how it was done. Cardan is a 10/10 no notes. This book is the original enemies to lovers and I am here for it! The only thing about this book is it can tend to have a lot of politics which might confuse readers but otherwise this is a masterfully written book that transports readers to the land of Faerie. Would recommend this to most if not all fantasy readers as it is a staple of the genre.

"Louder Than Hunger" by John Schu is a story told entirely through verses as it follows Jake Stacey and his journey living with and treating his anorexia. Throughout the book, Jake struggles through his everyday life, trying to ignore The Voice in his head that tells him not to eat, insisting that he's not worthy of love or affection. When Jake is finally admitted into a hospital to help him overcome his eating disorder, he resists, refusing to talk or interact with the other patients. The voice is louder than ever... but Jake doesn't know whether or not to listen to it anymore. Based on a true story, this book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride as you are completely pulled into Jake's story.

"Louder Than Hunger" is an extremely powerful and impactful story. While reading it, I was struck with how real all the characters felt, and I was moved to tears multiple times during this read. Schu does a great job with making you connect to the characters and situations, while still creating a page-turning tale that puts you in Jake's shoes. This story is unlike any I have ever read, as I had never read a story like this written in verses before, which made the story all the more impactful.

First off, I love Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and this novel did not disappoint. A bunch of kids with talents like analyzing people and detecting lies solving cold cases in the FBI? Yes please! Cassie's backstory was well thought out, and I loved her character development. The mystery was also very well thought out and the plot twists omg! The only part I didn't love was the hinted at love triangle mainly because it didn't feel essential to the story. I loved the You chapters (serial killer perspective), which were equally creepy and interesting. This book is perfect for mystery lovers, the only thing I wouldn't recommend doing is reading this in the dead of night haha.

The Revenant Games had everything you could ask for--action fantasy and romance. Follow Bly, a 17-year-old looking for a way to bring back her dead sister after an accident she’ll never forgive herself for. She decides to compete in the revenant games. Anyone can play, but the games are deadly. Follow Bly on her breathtaking adventure as she fights for everyone she loves. It’s vampires versus witches and Bly wants to win for both sides. When she meets the boy who changes her view on life she can’t decide whether she saves her sister or the boy she loves.

After reading A Court of Thorns and Roses, I was hesitant to pick up Throne of Glass, but I was pleasantly surprised. Throne of Glass is masterpiece. Celeana is a take no prisoners kick butt character and I fell in love with her narrating immediately. This is now my new favorite series, and I am happy to say it only gets better from here. Maas's world building skills are on full display here and mixed with the captivating plot, it was a quick and exciting read. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy with girl power main character!

A Court of Thorns and Roses was really disappointing mostly because of the main character Feyre. She was whiny, obnoxious and all around a dislikable person. I struggled to finish to read this book and didn't finish the second one. This plot has the potential to be great with a few tweaks and character changes but instead it fell flat. This book is all hype and no substance and the only redeeming part of the book was Rhys. I would not recommend this book to anyone with little patience for terrible books.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi is full of twists and turns. The book is packed with action from cover to cover, that makes this book almost impossible to put down. Not only does Tahereh Mafi write an enjoyable book plot wise, but she also works to develop her characters. I liked how the author makes her main character, Juliette, aware of her obsession over her romance, and has Juliette work towards not making her romance her entire personality. It made the book, and Juliette, less annoying. It also shows Juliette's growth to become more independent and not helplessly rely on others. Tahereh Mafi also makes Juliette's development realistic, with relapses into her old unconfident self-appearing throughout the novel. I enjoyed this book because of the character development and plot. I thought it was a great addition to the series, without being repetitive or boring.

Unite me was a enjoyable, quick read. I read the first half of Unite Me (Destroy Me) before the second book and the second half of Unite Me (Fracture Me) after the second book, which is the recommended reading order.

Destroy Me follows Warner directly after the first book, and Unite Me follows Adam, directly after the second book. Both books serve as bridges between the first, second, and third book. Despite being short glimpeses into Warner and Adam's lives, neither provided too much information as to become overwhelming, or too little information to be unsatisfying. The novellas also reshaped my perspectives on many of the characters. Tahereh Mafi does a wonderful job of showing how the "good guys" aren't always good and the bad guys aren't always "bad." Overall, I would recommend this book if you are reading the Shatter Me series. Not only is it enjoyable, but also necessary to fully understand some of the characters.

After being chosen for nothing but bait, Ben is in the middle of a plot to blow up spy school. But let's start from the beginning--good at math, less than good for most other things, that is an accurate summary of Ben. But soon he is approached by a debonair, picture-perfect spy, recruiting him for the CIA's very own spy school. Question: what happens when you give an inept person a gun? Answer: doesn't end well. That is a lesson Ben learns very quickly as he is suddenly thrust into a foreign world where everyone knows everything except for him. He makes a few new friends--Zoe, quick and capable, and Murray, the human equivalent of a sloth. But soon, he realizes, after getting assaulted in the middle of the night, he was just picked because they needed believable bait. However, he convinces the school to let him stay and soon he is training in earnest. Soon after, a surprising and yet unsurprising betrayal forces Ben into a very uncomfortable situation. But you should probably figure that out for yourself. I loved this book, with its balance of humor and action and I hope you do to!

I read this book because I had read a couple other books by the same author. I will say this--Gary D. Schmidt does not disappoint! I have loved all of his books both because of his relaxed writing style, intense characters, and bittersweet plot. This book is a spinoff of one of his other books, The Wednesday Wars, but you don't have to read that book before this one, it just has one of the characters from it. It follows Meryl Lee Kowalski, who is haunted by "The Blank," as she calls it. It is her feelings of numbness after her boyfriend Holling Hoodhood died and she never even got the chance to say goodbye. She is sent to a boarding school, where she neither tries nor cares to fit into the primpy, stuck-up rules and procedures. Eventually, she meets a runaway named Matt, who is borderline paranoid, and for good reason. As she struggles to find her "Accomplishment," as stated by the headmistress, she learns that people can change, and that people are not always what they seem, especially herself. This book is definitely top five for me--hope you enjoy it too!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi follows Juliette, a teen girl labeled as insane and dangerous by the government. She has always felt alone due to her power, or curse, of destruction. She cannot touch another person without feeling immense pain. However, when one of the government officials takes interest in her powers, she is released from the asylum as he holds her hostage as a hopeful weapon. With the help of an old friend, Juliette learns that she might not be as horrible as she thought, and might be deserving of the love she has never had.

I really enjoyed this book! All of the characters, especially Juliette, have strong personalities and character traits. I especially thought seeing how Juliette's obsession with numbers worked as a way for her to cope from past trauma was interesting. However, I thought the book's pace felt slow at times and rushed at times. For instance, Juliette's romance with another character felt like it was moving really fast, and sometimes I couldn't tell how much time had passed from the last significant event. Overall it was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend!

“What If It’s Us?” is a LGBTQIA+ romance book involving two teens in New York. The two main characters, Ben and Arthur, meet in a post office. Ben, 17 years old and a New York resident, is there to mail his ex-boyfriend’s stuff back to him. Arthur, 16 years old and staying for the summer because of an internship, held the door open for Ben and became interested in him. The two hit it off, but they end up getting separated by a flash mob proposal. The two keep thinking of each other and how they want to meet again, but they have a hard time finding each other. Arthur finally figures out a way to get Ben’s email, and the two reconnect. Their whole summer together is filled with ups and downs, laughter, and drama.

“What If It’s Us?” is a sweet, well-written book. The characters are very likable and diverse. Arthur and Ben have a realistic relationship, with the two having their ups and downs since they come from different backgrounds. Arthur, coming from a well-off white family, and Ben, coming from a lower-class Puerto Rican family. The two also have some very sweet romantic moments that touched my heart. The plot has a nice climax, and the ending makes sense for the characters and the story. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are fans of LGBTQIA+ romance.

This book has all the makings of a great book--a sweet plot, magic, and of course, candy. The storyline follows Nate, who moves to a new town and joins a club with three other kids: daredevil Summer, steadfast Trevor, and brainy Pigeon. When the new sweet shop shows up in town, they have no idea how good-or dangerous-the candy could be. Mrs. White, the owner, is the sweet old lady who owns the shop, but is that all she is? Can normal people make candy that lets you leap twelve times as high as you could? Soon, she has recruited the four kids. They do special missions in return for magic candy, but something doesn't feel right. Soon, the kids begin to suspect Mrs. White. However, they might be too late, and how can they expect to fight against magic? This book is full of unexpected twists and is an enjoyable read. The combination of candy and magic is too good to resist. Definitely check it out!

The Doughnut King is the second in a series, but you don't need the first one to enjoy the second! It follows Tristan, son of a foodie family who, in the first book, moved from New York City to Petersville, about as small a town as you can get. Through Winnie, the general store owner, and her magic life-changing doughnut recipe, Tristan begins to enjoy the town. But as his business grows, he has a supply problem with his doughnuts. The best solution is a doughnut robot, and an expensive one. The only way to earn the money is to go on a cooking show: Can You Cut It? However, there seems to be something personal about the host's hatred for Tristan. Even if you don't love reading about food, this book is a must read! The plot is just plausible enough to be believable but outlandish enough to keep reading!

When my mom recommended this book to me, I was skeptical, because I don't read a lot of ghost/horror stories. However, though there are some eerie specters and situations, the overall feel of the book is dry comments and tea parties. This book takes place in an alternate London, where an epidemic has broke out. It's called The Problem, and it is ghosts returning from beyond the grave. There are many agencies that people hire to fight against ghosts using salt and iron. Only children and teenagers can see and hear ghosts, but everyone can die from ghost touch. Some children are born with psychic talents that allow for easier recognition of ghosts, and so can defeat them easier. The series follows Lucy Joan Carlyle, an agent who joins a small company, the smallest in the city, and the ghosts they find, but in the third one, an especially large outbreak plagues London. Every agency is out every night (ghosts don't come out during the day) fighting ghosts and searching for the source of the outbreak. Lucy and her team, charming and fearless Lockwood, the leader of the group, George, a crusty intellectual, and Holly, perfection personified and a new addition to the team, need to find the source. They need to find it quickly, before there are more casualties. Overall, I loved the writing style, as the characters seem real though the circumstances are outlandish and the whole series is definitely worth reading. I personally have read all the books at least twice, and some parts still surprise me!

This book is in my top five of all time. I really enjoyed the writing style as it makes the characters easier to relate to. Every time I reread it, I noticed something new, a detail here and there. The plot seems sad in the beginning, and sad things happen, but the end puts the sweet in bittersweet. It follows the main character, Doug Sweiteck and his transition to Marysville as he struggles with two big secrets that Schmidt reveals through the actions of the characters--so read carefully, you don't want to miss anything. When Doug sees James John Audubon's paintings of a variety of birds, they change his life. The character growth between all the characters is astonishing and it shocked me. Definitely check it out!

"The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight " is a sweet romance book that follows two strangers on their plane ride to Great Britain. The female main character, Hadley, is forced to attend her father's new marriage as a bridesmaid. Due to a few unlucky occurrences, she misses her original flight, forcing her to catch the new one and just barely make it on time for the wedding. While waiting for the new flight, she meets a boy named Oliver. The two bond and quickly find out that they sit next to each other on the plane. They spend the whole flight talking and becoming close. Sadly, the two get split up in airport security when they land. Hadley later figures out why Oliver is visiting England, and she rushes to see him once more.

This book captured my heart the second we met both of the main characters. The author does a great job shifting the plot between the romance and the personal lives, giving the main characters great backgrounds. The romance between the two characters is so sweet and did gave me butterflies a few times. The plot is written well, with everything happening during 24 hours without weird timing issues. Everything is described so well, and the plot twists are definitely unexpected. Overall, this book is amazing, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy love at first sight!

"Somewhere Only We Know" is a heartfelt romance book following a K-pop star and a photographer who doesn't realize his talent. Lucky, a rising K-pop star, is currently on tour in Asia. In the middle of the night, she runs into Jack, a photographer for a shady tabloid. A mixture of being sleep deprived, hungry, and taking medication ends up with Lucky staying the night at this stranger's house. When she discovers this, she realizes it couldn't hurt to take a break from the grueling life of a K-pop star. Jack finds this the perfect opportunity to get great pictures of Lucky, earning him a promotion. However, as the two hang out more, they start to grow fond of each other, and Jack starts to question his morals.

This book is one that I reread consistently. It's well written, and the romance between the characters blooms so sweetly. The characters are very human and some are morally grey. The journey of self-discovery for Lucky is well built, and her realization is gratifying and brings me pure joy. My favorite side character is Jack's roommate, he's hilarious in the few scenes he's in. Every time I read this book, I forget about the ending and it surprises me every time. This book is really good, and I would definitely recommend it.

"I Love You So Mochi" is a book about a Japanese American girl named Kimi who visits Japan on a journey of self-discovery. Her mother is a famous painter who wants her to follow in her footsteps. However, Kimi doesn't feel like painting suits her as a career. After an argument with her mom about her career, she gets a letter from her estranged grandpa, inviting her to visit Japan for spring break. Kimi takes up her grandpa's offer, later meeting a cute boy who offers to be her tour guide for Japan. For just a week, Kimi has the chance to discover herself, connect with family, and fall in love.

This book was really touching. The author does a great job characterizing the characters and making them feel human. The moments when Kimi emails her mom and describes her original designs are also awesome. I really enjoyed reading about the main character and learning about her style of clothing. The romance between the two main characters is so adorable, and I was definitely feeling sad when I came to the last day of Kimi's trip. All in all, this is a wonderful, sweet read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a delightful book.

"The Sun and the Star" is a book in the Percy Jackson universe that is set after "Trials of Apollo" and before "Magnus Chase". Nico keeps having weird dreams where a disembodied voice calls out to him, asking for help. When the Oracle of Delphi sends Nico on a quest to the Underworld, Will, his boyfriend, goes with him. The two go on a journey in the Underworld, and they have to face many hardships. It may seem like the world is against them, but with their love, they can get through anything.

This book is amazing. As always, Rick Riordan manages to move me to tears. Throughout the book, there are little excerpts from later on that make you want to read more. It's very captivating and I could not stop reading it. I would 100% recommend you read this book if you've finished the Trials of Apollo series!

This is the second book in The Unwanteds series. This was one of the more dramatic action-packed books. It explores one of the other islands that surround Artime called the Island of Silence. It does go into more detail about the island in the next book. Find out what Alex’s twin brother Aaron will do next after being defeated, and how Artime will react.

"The Reappearance of Rachel Price" follows Bel Price as she and her family agree to participate in a documentary that follows her mother's disappearance, 16 years ago. As the film crew begins to dig up painful family memories, Bel becomes more lost as past trauma is brought to the surface. Then, one day, Rachel reappears. Soon noticing discrepancies in Rachel's story, Bel becomes convinced that her mother is lying. Beginning to dig up the lies in her family's past with the help of the kind and awkward camera assistant, Ash Maddox, Bel becomes more and more obsessed with exposing Rachel, even if it means that the truth will change her life forever.

I really love all of Holly Jackson's books, and this one is absolutely one of my favorites. "The Reappearance of Rachel Price" blends a breathtaking plot with fun, flawed, and relatable characters that you can't help but love, making a thrilling read from beginning to end. This book is perfect if you like Jackson's style of YA mystery, yet it is unlike any of her other books and anything but boring! I absolutely love how Jackson organized the plot and all the twists and turns she integrated into the story, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!

"Unwind" is a sci-fi dystopian masterpiece that everyone should read. "Unwind" follows Connor, Lev, and Risa, each with a very different life and story. Despite their differences there is one thing they all have in common; they have been scheduled to be unwound. Being unwound is every teenager's worst nightmare, unless that is you're a tithe. After a war that happened long before Connor, Lev, and Risa's time, a decision was made that any child between the ages of 13 and 18 can be unwound, aka have their body harvested to be used for others who need transplants, if their parents so decided. Despite societies persistence that being unwound is a way for the kids to live on forever, Connor, Lev, and Risa have other plans for their future...

Another one of Lois Lowry's inspirational books, "Gathering Blue" tells a powerful story. The book follows Kira, a girl with a disability living in a society where disabilities and weakness is frowned upon and cast out. After her mother's death, Kira fears what will become of her future, only to learn she has been chosen to repair a sacred item that is of the utmost important in her societies traditions. Being chosen to do this task offers Kira a place to live, eat, and cease worrying about her future. With a new and much more luxurious life, all seems well to Kira at first. However as she meets more people with unique talents like her, she begins to question her work and everything she's been taught, especially when she discovers a shocking secret she never could have thought to have been true...

"Shut Up, This Is Serious" follows Belen as she struggles to come to terms with her father's abandonment and her current mental health struggles. Attempting to help her best friend, Leti, as she as she manages her teen pregnancy, Belen struggles to find herself at the same time. "Shut Up, This Is Serious" is a realistic fiction story detailing the challenges young Latina girls face through a fictional plot with dynamic and diverse characters.

Before reading "Shut Up, This Is Serious", I was looking forward to an interesting YA novel that was full of high school drama and heartwarming moments as Belen grows and changes throughout the plot. However, I ended up not enjoying this book, and having to finish it felt like a chore. Even though I liked the idea and some aspects of the plot, the execution and Ixta's writing style made this book less engaging and was oftentimes confusing. The characters were not relatable and seemed distant, while the plot was chaotic and seemed to skip around a lot. Overall, I would not recommend this book, because the execution of the story line was uninteresting and pretty disappointing.

Initially, this book was handed out as an assignment for ELA, but after being quizzed and thoroughly reading through the book, I can positively say that the topic explored throughout this story is probably one of the most intriguing ones I've read this year, as it takes inspiration from events that have happened and continue to happen to this day. The central conflict of this story stems from the protagonist, Phillip, who gets into trouble for repeatedly humming the national anthem during homeroom. What makes me love this story, however, is the use of media to further the plot. Many small events that occur daily are often blown out of proportion due to social media platforms like TikTok or YouTube. This is a significant theme in the plot, and one I'm a big fan of. Phillip is an interesting character as the protagonist; he is inherently selfish and avoids responsibility while somewhat twisting the truth about events. However, I think these traits are very relatable to teenagers, who would most likely react similarly if put in that position. My only issue with the book is the pacing, as it sometimes feels like the plot isn't progressing.

Have you ever made a mistake and wished you could go back in time to fix it? Well, if you said yes, then Jen Calonita's The Retake is for you! Zoe is just trying to survive the highs and lows of middle school, but she knows she can take on anything with her best friend Laura by her side. But, when they have a falling out, Zoe is devastated and unsure what to do.

Then something strange happens: A mysterious app appears on her phone! In the beginning, Zoe thinks it is nothing. But when she decides to test it out, she realizes the app lets her literally travel back in time to when the social media post was taken. Each "retake" is an attempt of Zoe trying to fix everything - ending in hilarious results or horrible heartbreak. Zoe hopes that if she finds the one thing that caused their friendship to fall apart, she can patch it back up again.

I really like Zoe's character; She is relatable because she is awkward, funny, and makes mistakes like everyone does. Besides this book being a time-travel story, it covers themes of friendship and how not everything lasts forever. Sometimes friendships stay and sometimes they fall apart, but it is all a part of the process of growing up and forging our own paths through life.

The Retake brings up how it is important to talk things out, instead of overlooking the problems and trying to pretend they don't exist. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction books of friendships, growing up, and just a hint of time-travel magic.

Being the new kid and going to public school for the first time is rough, but Nimra Sharef is confident that middle school will rock, especially with her best friend, Jenna to walk her through it. But, when Jenna starts to ignore Nimra because she wears hijab, Nimra is crushed and unsure what to do. While praying at school, she meets Barakah Beats, a Muslim boy band of popular 8th graders. Nimra realizes she's found her straight-shot ticket to winning Jenna back. The only problem is Nimra believes music is bad in Islam, and her parents would disapprove. So she decides to stay in the band only until she gets Jenna back, then drop out before her parents find out and the band gets too attached. But when she starts to care for confident Bilal, empathetic Mathew, passionate music-lover Waleed, and thoughtful Khadijah, she starts to question whether she should choose the best friend who left her or the friends who help her come out of her shell.

Barakah Beats explores themes of true friendship and staying true to your beliefs, even when things are hard. I love Nimra; She is a strong heroine, who faces relatable issues and hardships, which show how human she is.

If you like realistic fiction novels about friendships, sticking to your beliefs, with bits of comedic relief, then Barakah Beats is the book for you!

Chase Ambrose was the most popular football jock and the “big man on campus.” But when he falls off a roof and suffers a serious concussion, he has to relearn everything - from his friends to his personality to even his own name.

When he returns to school, he is greeted with a wide variety of reactions. His best friends, Aaron and Bear, and the rest of the football team treat him like a hero, while others openly dislike him - or even fear him! One girl even dumps frozen yogurt on him at the fro-yo place after school.

Chase struggles to remember who the old Chase Ambrose was, but after multiple experiences, he realizes the old Chase may not even be worth remembering. Restricted from playing football, Chase joins the video club and makes meaningful friendships with kids he used to bully. Now Chase has to decide whether to stick to his old self or to build a new and completely different version of himself. He has to remember: not everyone gets a chance to “Restart” their life, but the question is, will he take his?

Restart covers themes of identity, redemption, and the importance of second chances. Chase is a relatable character going through a journey to find his true self while also facing the consequences of the actions of the old Chase Ambrose. Restart shows change isn’t easy, but it’s still possible if you try hard enough.

Whether you like sports, school drama, or a heartfelt story about second chances, Restart has something to offer for you.