Teen Book Reviews

Almost American Girl is an illustrated memoir by Robin Ha about her journey to America and her experiences there. I always find it interesting to read about other people’s experiences, but I especially enjoyed this one because of its format. It is graphic novel style, making this a fun, quick read. The illustrations were very pretty and so was the writing! I loved this book, and it gave me a window to someone else’s life that I really enjoyed reading about!

Out Of My Mind is a fantastic book about Melody, a girl with cerebral palsy. Contrary to popular belief, Melody is a very smart girl and has a lot of ideas and things she wants to say, but her disability has, until now, held her back. At her new school, she joins a team for smart people who compete with other groups of smart people to prove they’re smarter. I loved this book so much and even cried at some point. Beautiful story and writing, this was my third favorite read of 2025!

The Court of the Dead is the sequel to Sun and the Star, which follows Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades. Nico’s half-sister Hazel asks him and his boyfriend, Will Solace to help at Camp Jupiter and they get caught in many additional adventures! I loved this book so much! It was such a great book, I love how Rick Riordan writes in general, and this was another great addition to his works! Nico is personally my favorite character in the entire Riordan universe, and I just love reading his character so much!

Rooftoppers follows the story of a girl named Sophie. She was found after a shipwreck floating on a cello case by Charles. When Sophie is threatened to get taken away from Charles, the two flee to Paris. When living in America, Charles and Sophie would often climb on top of the roof to relax, so Sophie did just that, and met Mateo. Sophie was certain that she would find her mother here, and with Charles, Mateo, and her friends by her side, her mother seems closer than ever. This book was very heartwarming (and nerve racking at times) to read, and Rundell develops her characters so well! I loved this book, could not recommend more!

Rebecca. Samantha. Haley. Katie. Ashley. Growing up, Nora became many different girls as she helped her mom con criminal men, learning a lesson from each persona she took on. Now, having escaped that life and her mother, she is living with her older sister, Lee, finally trying to start over and be a normal teenager. But an awkward bank trip with her ex-boyfriend and new girlfriend turns deadly as two bank robbers enter in the middle of their visit and hold everyone in the building hostage. Now, Nora must pull off the biggest con of all: getting out of the bank alive.

I didn't have many expectations going into this book, as I just picked it up for a summer reading program. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked "The Girls I've Been"! The story alternates between the disastrous bank robbery and Nora's past, going through the different cons she was involved in and the different girls she became. This structure was perfect for creating suspense and made it almost impossible to put this book down! Additionally, the writing style was very easy to read and intriguing (despite a few minor typos), and the romance plot between Nora and Iris was sweet and didn't take away from the tension and suspense at all! I loved that "The Girls I've Been" was not only a thrilling story, but also fearless social commentary about the hardships that Nora was exposed to growing up. I would definitely recommend giving this book a try for an easy, thrilling, and meaningful read!

Incendiary is an amazing book meant to capture your attention and keep you reading until the very end. Although this book has some slower parts, it always picks back up within two pages. The story resembles the time of the Spanish Inquisition with a magical twist. The main character, Renata, is a Robari, or memory thief, who is part of the Whispers. Eight years ago, she was taken out of merciless King Fernando's castle by the rebel group of people with other magics like Ren's called the Moria. After her unit leader and love, Dez, is taken by Prince Castian, Renata goes on a journey to get her revenge and uncover the secrets of the war. In the castle, she finds overwhelming memories of her previous time there, having been used as a weapon, along with the thousands of haunting stolen memories she carries with her. Having neglected her own past so long, she has no idea what devastating secrets await her, and how they could completely change her view on the Whispers, and Prince Castian himself. One of the best things about this book was it's originality. The magic and writing are set in ways I have never seen before. The unexpected ending has me anxious to read the second one. This was definitely one of the best books I've read this year.

Everything changed for Connie a year ago, when her mom decided to start a vlog: LouPlusTwo. Now, desperate to keep up the "perfect" image of their family (and get even more money from their followers), her mother has documented every moment of their lives - despite the haters that openly vocalize their displeasure with her mom...opinions that Connie shares. So when someone begins stalking her while her mom and sister are gone on a college tour trip, Connie is concerned that one of the haters might take their frustration at the vlog out on her. Becoming increasingly more paranoid, Connie isn't sure who she can trust - especially as girls who look like her begin to die in tragic accidents...

"The Obsession," much like the other two Natasha Preston books I have read, drew me in with an interesting and unique synopsis and left me disappointed and angry at the execution. I did not enjoy the writing style of this book at all - Preston repeated herself almost constantly, the characterization was poorly done and confusing, and the dialogue was awkward. In addition, this book ends on a cliffhanger (despite it being a standalone novel). I understand that this is Natasha Preston's style, but this made the last few chapters seem was rushed and anticlimactic, leaving the reader with a random and disappointing plot twist and countless plot holes, not explaining the more interesting parts of the book's premise. Overall, after being disappointed yet again by a Natasha Preston novel, I have decided that her books are not for me. If you are interested in this genre, I would recommend reading books by authors such as Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus instead.

A year after her girlfriend's tragic passing, Felicity Morrow has returned to Dalloway School for her second attempt at graduation, heading back to her old room at the campus' historic Godwin House. Felicity has always been drawn to the occult, and Dalloway only feeds her obsession: Godwin House is even supposedly haunted by the ghosts of the Dalloway Five, five young women who died under mysterious circumstances on Godwin Grounds. But the occult is no longer a place of solace for Felicity, not when she's convinced her dead girlfriend, Alex, is haunting her, and Felicity is now only interested in her grades and graduating.

Unfortunately, the new Dalloway student has other plans for her. After her debut novel won a Pulitzer Prize, Ellis Haley enrolled in Dalloway School to research the Dalloway Five for her second book. Ellis is a method writer, putting herself in her character's own insane adventures, and Felicity can't help but be drawn to her intelligence and whimsy. And eventually, Felicity reluctantly agrees when Ellis asks her to help her research the Dalloway Five. But when strange events begin to follow Felicity wherever she goes, Felicity is forced to confront the ghosts that plague her mind - including Alex.

Perhaps the summary of this book sounds straightforward. I will tell you it's not. Perhaps, it's because Felicity is an incredibly unreliable narrator, which may throw some people off, but the book left me unsatisfied and with more questions than answers. Initially, I thought the Dalloway Five would have more importance to the plot, but truthfully, not much is revealed about them or their deaths either. In fact, the whole magical/paranormal circumstances surrounding Dalloway are fairly muddled and confusing, and by the end, I was confused what role magic even had in the whole book. Perhaps it was intentional, as the author was likely trying to make the reader question reality, but I feel like it could've been executed better.

It is important to mention that Felicity suffers from psychotic depression, which heavily impacts her narrative. As I have never dealt with this condition, I will not speak for people who have suffered from this disorder. There are also side characters who struggle with mental health issues. The reviews I've seen online regarding the representation of mental health in the book are mixed: some people say the characters with issues are portrayed in a very bad light, which is ironic considering that Felicity mentions at some point how people with mental disorders are often seen as crazy/insane. Others feel seen by the author and satisfied with the portrayal; the author herself has battled psychotic depression and wanted to touch on her own experiences.

These points aside, I personally did not connect to any of the characters in the book. A lot of the side characters felt flat and incredibly pretentious, and I personally disliked Felicity and Ellis. There has also been some discontent online regarding the representation of the two POC characters; one character's biggest purpose in the book was to tell Felicity about racism. The beginning of the book set off a nice tone, and I liked reading about the history of Dalloway and the whole historical lore behind it. However, the rest of the book dragged on for so long I had trouble even remembering what happened. Then, the book started picking up at around 70%, and the rest of the book was packed with random twists and turns to the point it felt like a completely different story. The ending was rushed, and the big twist felt like it was thrown in at the last minute, though I must say I didn't see some of it coming. There were also other random plot points added in that I felt like weren't necessary. This book felt all over the place for me, and it didn't give the greatest reading experience, but it does have its audience, and perhaps I may recommend it to a friend or two.

Bella Swan is moving to Forks - away from the sunshine and bustle of Arizona to the perpetually dark, green, and rainy small town in Washington. There, she meets Edward Cullen: the quiet, mysterious, and incredibly handsome boy in her Biology class. But Edward has a secret. He and his family are vampires who drink the blood of animals instead of humans. Now, as Bella and Edward grow closer, they must explore their feelings for each other while also facing the irreversible fact that, ever since meeting her, Edward has thirsted for Bella's blood.

For better or for worse, "Twilight" is iconic, and despite the hate it gets, I would definitely recommend this book to people who are a fan of romantasy. Stephenie Meyer did a great job with the worldbuilding around the vampires' backstories, powers, etc., complete with lovable characters and a genuinely thrilling plot twist. With that being said, re-reading "Twilight" several years later, the writing style felt a little cumbersome and outdated to me, and the dialogue especially seemed awkward. Along with that, when I first read this book, I loved Edward's character...but upon re-reading the story, I was confused by his random mood swings and scattered characterization, which made it extremely hard to like him and his relationship with Bella. Despite this, if you are interested in "Twilight" or like the genre, I would definitely recommend giving this book a try!

Besides its incredible medical program, DeWitt Med is known for one thing: its influx of drug overdoses in first year students. Following the perspectives of five students and their professor, “Dead Med” navigates the lives of students crumbling under the pressure of med school and consider turning to the impossible, and when tensions are high the night before the final, a shot rings out, and the mystery regarding who did it is just beginning.

This mystery thriller was so incredibly underwhelming. The POVs of the lives of the students and the events leading up to the shooting were, in my opinion, very pointless to advancing the story and providing answers to the mystery. I only gave the novel two stars because some of the characters’ stories were mildly interesting, but even then, none of them were likeable! Also, the story as a whole was very confusing to follow, which made the plot twists and discoveries downright boring. And to finish, the book ends with a mediocre epilogue that attempts to explain the lives of the characters after the events that occurred, and I just felt as though this epilogue was so unnecessary as it still didn’t provide any sort of explanation.

Overall, I would not recommend this book. This was also my first Freida McFadden book, and unfortunately, I don’t know how many more novels I will be reading of this author.

All Talasyn has known is the Hurricane Wars. Her whole life has been composed of fighting and defending her land of Sardovia from the tyrannous Night Empire. Following a devastating blow and a shocking discovery, Talasyn meets Alaric, the newly crowned Emperor of the Night Empire. Despite being sworn enemies, the two must work together to face a new and rising evil.

This book was really fun to read! I saw a lot of people saying it gave the same vibes as Rae and Ben Solo from Star Wars, and while I don’t really like that comparison, I love Star Wars and I could see a little similarity with the world Guanzon wrote. I do wish the novel was a little less romance focused, as I feel as though some elements of the romance plot overtook the main fantasy story. Overall, this was a very fun book, and I’m excited to continue with the series!

It's the spring break before Hannah and her best friend, Emmy, graduate - and they plan to enjoy every second of their time at the resort in Puerto Vallarta. So when Emmy's fourth vacation boyfriend, Ben, invites them on a private sailboat tour of the marina, they can't refuse - even if it means that Emmy's older brother and Hannah's lifelong crush, Jackson, comes along as a chaperone. However, everything begins to go wrong as a storm approaches, putting the sailboat at the mercy of the elements. It soon becomes clear that no one is coming to rescue them - and that they can't even trust each other.

I really enjoyed reading "That's Not My Name" by Megan Lally, so I was excited to hear that she was coming out with yet another book. However, I was sorely disappointed upon reading "What We Did To Survive." The premise of surviving the storm (with a dark twist!) was initially intriguing, but I just couldn't get into the story. The characters were flat and annoying cliches that I couldn't bring myself to care about, and the plot began to get repetitive especially as the characters argued about teenage drama while they were in a life-or-death situation. Additionally, despite the fact that Megan Lally is known for her shocking plot twists, every single one was predictable and underwhelming - along with the big twist at the end, which (whether intentionally or not) was the exact same plot twist as "The Raft" by S.A. Bodeen, which was published fourteen years before "What We Did To Survive." Overall, the best way I can describe this book is that it seemed rushed. Megan Lally's amazing writing style was ruined by small mistakes and passages that would have benefitted from editing and being further fleshed out, and all aspects of the plot fell flat for me.

In a world of werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural creatures, Loren Calla’s only goal is to survive as long as she can as a human surrounded by immortals. When her friend gets kidnapped in place of Loren, she has no choice but to accept the help of Darien Cassel, the head of most dangerous bounty hunting group in the city. Together, the two race to discover why a human like Loren is so valuable, and unearth the secrets of their city, Angelthene, while facing other indescribable creatures.

I loved this book so much! It reminds me of Monster High (which I was a huge fan of when I was younger) but for adults. I loved all of the character development and the conflicts had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. While some people may say the book was too long, I personally disagree. I feel as though the length allowed more scenes and development for the characters, which isn’t usually seen in novels as plot focused as this one. I will definitely be continuing the series, and I’m so excited to see where the author takes this story next!

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata is such an interesting and unique book, following a woman throughout her life facing trauma and coping with it in many unhealthy ways. She's unable to become a "cog in the machine" as she grows up, straying further and further from society. This book changed my perspective on many things, and I found some parts unsettlingly familiar. I went into the book without any knowledge of it, however as it is a sort of psychological horror and there were quite a few scenes with disturbing topics such as sexual assault, violence, and child abuse/neglect. Without spoiling too many things it's safe to say it's a very heavy read, but I found it to be extremely worth it, as it was thrilling, captivating, and I loved how the characters were written. (I'm in grade 12)

Jurassic Park is a sci-fi thriller about a park that has figured out how to clone once-extinct dinosaurs and has invited two paleontologists to tour it. I chose to read this book because I love dinosaurs and have seen all the Jurassic movies. I enjoyed this book because it is an exciting thriller with lots of dinosaur action. I also appreciated how the author didn't hold back with the consequences of bringing back dinosaurs. Overall, this is a creative and masterful novel that I highly recommend.

The highest honor a girl in Huaxia can achieve is to become a concubine pilot, to be paired with a boy to power the giant robots, called Chrysalises, that defend their nation from aliens lurking outside the Great Wall. But this profession results in a high mortality rate for girls, who always seem to be less capable of withstanding the mental and physical strain of piloting than their male counterparts, and their contributions are largely ignored. When Zetian's older sister is killed during a battle by her male co-pilot, Zetian offers herself up to the system with one goal in mind: avenge her sister by killing her killer. She succeeds and gains notoriety as the Iron Widow, a woman who sacrifices male pilots in battles instead of the opposite. In an effort to control her newfound power, Zetian is paired with the most powerful - and the most hated - male pilot in Huaxia, Li Shimin, known mainly for murdering his brothers and his father. But even with the world hellbent on keeping her on a leash, Zetian refuses to be silenced. She will do everything in her power to tear apart the pilot system responsible for the death of her sister and thousands of other girls.

This book is the exact definition of unhinged - it gave a raw and unfiltered depiction of female rage that was at times a little relatable. The author was able to encapsulate Zetian's feelings about her status in such a visceral and devastating way that I could not help but root for her. The story was fast paced and intriguing, with many twists in both the characters backstories and the plot that left me continuously turning at the pages to read more. I also loved the China-based setting coupled with the futuristic technology and mechas - it was truly unique. However, as much as I loved this book, I still do have some issues with it. The nation's patriarchal system isn't really given any historical context, even with the secrets Zetian uncovers in the end. I also found some of the characters, including Zetian at times, stereotypical or lacking in depth. The ending was full of giant plot twists, some of which I found a little rushed or random. But despite these critiques, I did enjoy this book for its boldness, and I might consider reading its sequel as well. And as a side note: the author is hilarious, I love them, and I also love Yizhi.

Five years ago, the small town of Fairview was struck by a tragedy: popular high school senior Andie Bell had gone missing. Her body never turned up during the investigation, but all the evidence found pointed to only one prime suspect: her boyfriend, Sal Singh. Thus, the story goes: Sal Singh murdered Andie and then committed suicide. The case was closed. The proof was clear as day. Everyone believed it.

But Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure.

Now in her senior year of high school, Pippa chooses to do her capstone project on this very case, first only just to cast doubt on the results of the original investigation and on Sal's guilt. But her research sends her down an entirely different path: the more Pippa examines the circumstances surrounding Andie's disappearance, the more clues she finds pointing to the possibility that Sal maybe wasn't guilty of anything after all. And it is these leads that eventually put Pippa's life in danger, as threats from a mysterious someone begin to pop up left and right; someone here definitely does not want her unearthing Fairview's - and Andie's - secrets.

I think the first thing that stood out to me in this book was the formatting: it switches between Pippa's project log entries and a more conventional third-person viewpoint of the story, which I think was an interesting literary choice. It was nice seeing glimpses into Pippa's head and the results of her research as well as how the people surrounding her interacted with her. The story was paced decently, I liked seeing the humorous banter between some of the main characters, and although I must admit that certain parts of the plot sounded a little unrealistic, it is ultimately just a novel, so I wasn't too bothered by it. I think the main problem I had with this book was that the writing felt a little juvenile and awkward at times, but overall, this book was decent. I doubt I'm going to continue with the trilogy, but the first installment wasn't that bad in my opinion.

In the fourth book of the “Woven Kingdom” series, every slow building conflict finally comes to a head. Cyrus only has one more task in his bargain with the devil, and Alizeh has finally been recognized as the ruler of the Jinn civilization. And yet, the worst is still yet to come for the two young rulers.

The character development in this book! Mafi was making me feel every emotion, and I still can’t get enough of it. I love this series so dearly, but this is one hundred percent the book where the plot ramps up. It feels like a pin finally dropped and Tahereh Mafi’s best writing fully came out. I’m so upset I have to wait until next year for the final book to be published! But I also can’t wait, this will be a series I’ll be recommending to everyone for such a long time!

The world building in this book was amazing and made the story feel so immersive. I loved the dual perspectives because they helped show both sides of the conflict and made the characters more complex. The pacing was fast, and there were so many emotional and suspenseful moments throughout the novel. Some scenes were heartbreaking, but that made the story even more memorable. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy and dystopian romance.

This book was intense, disturbing, and impossible to put down. The suspense kept building with every chapter, and the anonymous messages created so much tension. I really appreciated how the story addressed racism, privilege, and toxic school environments in a way that felt powerful and realistic. Chiamaka and Devon were both compelling characters. The twists had me genuinely shocked and would highly recommend to those who enjoy YA mystery and thriller!

This sequel somehow managed to be even more intense than the first book. The action scenes were amazing, and the dragons were still my favorite part of the series. This is a massive roman-tasy novel and really delivers high stakes, intense political building, and a dramatic climax. Violet’s growth throughout the story made her feel even stronger as a protagonist, and the emotional tension kept me invested the entire time. The ending completely shocked me and left me desperate for the next book.

I honestly did not expect to enjoy chess this much in a book, but this story made it so entertaining. Mallory was funny, smart, and relatable, and the chemistry between her and Nolan was adorable without feeling overly dramatic. I liked how the book balanced romance with themes of pressure, ambition, and family responsibility. Some parts felt a little predictable, but overall it was a super fun and addictive read. Highly recommended for those who enjoy contemporary romance!

This book was incredible from start to finish. The mystery kept me hooked, but what really stood out was how deeply the story explored family, identity, and culture. Daunis was such a strong and realistic main character, and I loved learning about Ojibwe traditions throughout the novel. The plot twists genuinely surprised me, and the emotional moments hit hard. Definitely one of the most meaningful YA thrillers I’ve read!!

In the 3rd installment of the “Woven Kingdom” series, Tahereh Mafi reunites all the characters to make for a devastating plot and torturous suspense. Time is running out for Alizeh, she has decisions to make, and the rest of the world is not slowing down waiting for her to make them. With Cyrus and Kamran, she must decide once and for all what path to embark upon in order to restore justice for her people.

I genuinely cannot read this series fast enough. I haven’t even started the fourth book yet and I’m already devastated that I will have to wait for book five. Needless to say, the plot really ramps up in this novel. All of the world building and character development that was fleshed out in the first two books finally supported furthering the development of the story. If you didn’t enjoy the first two books, I would beg you to take a chance with this one! I love how their storylines are finally coming together to support an overarching conflict.

This book is not for the weak hearted. It is the prequel to The Hunger Games, and this tale follows Haymitch, a former victor and Katniss's mentor, as he tries to survive a deadly Quarter Quell in a beautifully cruel arena. With double the tributes, chances for Haymitch are small, but he decides to either break the arena or die trying, leaving his lover back in District 12. Possibly the saddest of the Hunger Games series, but a definite must read. After all, someone has to stop that sunrise from rising on the reaping. You'll catch my reference if you read the book.

I believe this book is a must read, if you can stomach it. It’s a classic dystopian novel about a dictatorship government and an annual event: The Hunger Games. Kids are reaped from the outlying districts and forced to compete to the death in exchange for extra food that year. This whole series follows a young victor and her attempt to overthrow the Capitol, and change the way the games are played forever. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Reviewer Grade 8

In the second book of the “This Woven Kingdom” series, Alizeh must decide whether or not she will accept the ruler of Tulan’s deal to marry him for a kingdom, or risk falling into a trap set by the Devil. Prince Kamran must also choose whether to follow in his grandfather’s steps, or forge his own path as crown prince of Ardunia.

I’m so excited to continue this series! I read somewhere that this book was “no plot but all vibes,” and while I agree with this statement, I feel as though it still served its purpose in continuing the story and building the characters. While there was no action packed excitement in this book, Mafi subtly raises the stakes of this series, and I feel like I’m on the edge of my seat in suspense wondering where this story will go!

This book is exciting but I can't say it was my favorite. It is fun, as it follows the storyline of a god's child, Percy Jackson and his satyr friend Grover. After getting trouble at school, he finds himself fighting a minotaur trying to get to Camp Half Blood, a group of half gods like him. He quickly makes enemies, and two friends--Lucas and Annabelle. He begins to traverse on a journey to help Zeus get his lightning bolt back, hence the title of the book. Anyway, I think it's worth reading, especially for younger kids who like adventure.

To the kingdom of Ardunia, Alizeh is a lowly peasant just a tier above the lowest of the poor. To the Jinn, she’s the lost queen destined to avenge her people. In the first book of the “This Woven Kingdom” series, Tahereh Mafi navigates the beginning of Alizeh and the crown prince Kamran’s story.

I don’t think I need to say it twice, anything Mafi writes is pure poetry. Her writing style never fails to suck me in and immerse me in her stories, even if I don’t understand what exactly is going on. While this book definitely suffers from first book syndrome (world building and character introduction), I’m so excited to see where this series will go! I may be setting myself up for failure as this is another series by Mafi that is unfinished, but whatever she writes I will one hundred percent read!

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa as a chilling yet heartwarming dystopia that dives into the intricacies of memory and identity. It follows the journey of the protagonist, an unnamed female novelist, as she navigates her changing world. The story is set on a remote island where objects and memories systematically disappear, leaving holes in the hearts and minds of the people. It leads the reader to question, alongside the protagonist, what role our pasts and our memories play in shaping our identities, and it masterfully taps into the fear of losing oneself. I have only rated this book three stars because although it was an enjoyable read, it got dull at times and I found some of the subplots to be more distracting than impactful.