Teen Book Review by Nikki S.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

I read My Side of the Mountain. I thought it was a pretty good book, and I don't typically like the whole "wilderness survival" theme, but I thought this book was somehow interesting. It is about a boy named Sam who runs away from home and lives in the wilderness for a whole year! I would recommend this book.

Teen Book Review by Nikki S.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book is about an orphan named Nobody ("Bod") who lives in a graveyard and is raised by ghosts. I thought this was an okay book. I didn't really like or dislike it. It could get kind of boring when he is just learning different things, but it could get kind of exciting when the cause of him being an orphan is involved. I don't think I would recommend this book.

Teen Book Review from Nikki S.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

I read the book, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. This book is about a boy named Nat who dreams of going to Harvard, but is indentured. He becomes a sailor, and that is all the book is about! It was extremely boring! It was just he sails, he comes back, someone dies. He sails. He comes back. Someone dies... I do not recommend this book. I thought it was a waste of time to read.

Teen Book Review by Nikki S.

The Report Card by Andrew Clements

This book is about a girl named Nora Rowley who is a genius, but keeps it a secret! She has fooled everyone into thinking she is an "average student" by purposely missing questions on tests. She does this because she doesn't want special treatment, or for other kids to feel like they're below her. She is getting very frustrated at how everyone acts like grades are so important, and how much pressure this is putting on her best friend, Stephen. I really enjoyed reading this book. I have read it several times, and I still enjoy reading it. I highly recommend this book.

Teen Book Review by Nikki S.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

This book is about a girl named Lina Mayfleet who wants to be a messenger, but is forced to be a Pipeworks laborer. It is also about a boy named Doon Harrow, who draws messenger, but wants to trade with Lina! Doon wants to work underground because the generator is breaking, and he wants to try and fix it. These children live in an underground city called Ember, that is in severe danger, and they discover it is up to them to save it! I thought it was a pretty good book. The ending is disappointing, though. I do recommend this book to others.

Teen Book Review by Nikki S.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

I'm sure everyone has already seen the movie, but the book is way more descriptive and interesting. Just in case you haven't seen the movie, this book is about a very poor boy named Charlie Bucket who finds a golden ticket inside a chocolate bar, and wins a day inside Willy Wonka's wonderful chocolate factory! I loved this book. I thought it was very unique and funny. I highly recommend this book.

Teen Book Review by Nikki S.

The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

This book is about a girl named Emily Windsnap who discovers that she is a mermaid. She also discovers the secrets of her single mother's past, which leads her on an adventure to save her dad from an underwater prison. I absolutely loved this book! It will always be one of my favorites! It's like a fantasy, mystery, and romance book all in one!

Teen Book Review by Christian S.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

Although this book is written about a false time, it is very captivating. It kept me reading hours and hours into the night, trying to figure out what's going to happen next. It starts off with Florence Wechek, a citizen of Fort Repose. She is living her everyday lief, no different. Then it goes on the descibe Randy Bragg, her next door neighbor, doing the same. Then, on the same day, Randy gets a telegram that says the words "Alas, Babylon." This book is truly a work of art. I hope you have a chance to check it out!

Teen Book Review by Christian S.

Chat Room Chatter by Justin Lookadoo

I'm sure there is a lot that went into this book. It is very informative in the ways of both boys and girls. It tells you things you already know, things you wanted to know, and also things you never even thought about. I would recommend it to any teen who is seeking godly ways about going through life. The author is really strong about what he believes, and you can see this in what he writes. God has really worked tremendously in this man's life to allow him to accomplish these things that he has done. This book is really inspirational and I hope you have a chance to go read it!

Teen Book Review by Kayla C.

Nancy Drew: The Secret at Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene

Nancy's at it again. In this mystery Nancy meets a girl on a train who becomes ill and decides to help her. Nancy soon discovers that Jo is looking for work to help her grandmother keep the farm. A lot of strange things happen in this mystery from meeting a strange guy on the train that thought Nancy was someone else, a woman that refuses to sell a certain perfume to Bess, Nancy's friend, but buys it for $20 because the woman raised the price. Nancy's always somewhere there is a mystery and she is making this mystery a number one priority to solve. She and her friends, Bess and George, decide to stay at the farm and try to get an even closer look at what's going on. This mystery will keep you guessing til the end. There is a lot of excitement and mysterious things that happen. Can you figure out what's going on? Who behind all that's going on?

Teen Book Review by Kayla C.

Nancy Drew: The Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene

In this mystery, Nancy and her two friends, Bess and George, drive by a house that explodes. Nancy pulls over and goes to the house to see if there is anyone inside, but the smoke is too heavy in the front of the house so she runs to the back and finds a man leaving the scene. This is where the mystery begins. Nancy and her friends meet a mother and daughter and somehow they are connected with the mystery. Nancy has to find out why the mother and daughter haven't heard from the dad and takes matters into her own hands. Along the way she has to find a missing man who is rich, but not liked, and why he has taken advantage of inventors and not paid them like he promised. This mystery will keep you interested and you won't want to quit reading.

Teen Book Review by Molly L.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch is full of great characters, true friendship and history. This Newberry book is about Nat Bowditch, a boy who is smart enough to teach at Harvard but can't attend school because he must work. As Nat becomes older he becomes a sailor. Even though life at sea is tough he is still able to accomplish great things. I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, descriptive, and easy to read. I would recommend Carry On, Mr. Bowditch to any boy or girl who likes adventure and history.

Teen Book Review by Molly L.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Chains is a wonderful historical fiction book. It is about Isabel, a young slave girl growing up during the Revolutionary War. When she is sold to a loyalist in New York she is asked to spy on her master. When Isabel becomes involved in a rebel plot, she must get away from New York. I thought Laurie Halse Anderson has written an amazing story. Chains was a hard book to put down. I would recommend this book to any teen who loves historical fiction.

Teen Book Review by Kayla C.

Nancy Drew: The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene

In this mystery Nancy and her friend Helen go to visit their friend Emily at The Lilac Inn. Emily and her fiance bought the inn and are trying to fix it up so that they can get it up and running. Upon Nancy and Helen's arrival the mysteries begin. While at the Inn the two friends come upon some danger, strange happenings, and even an impersonator. It is a task that Nancy chose to accept and try to solve. There are some mysteries that Nancy stumbles upon that she can't seem to add up as she sleuths to try and catch the thief or thieves that are haunting the Inn, stealing the gardening tools and stole Emily's diamonds that her mother left after she died. This mystery will keep you guessing!! I love the Nancy Drew series!! Reading takes you on a new adventure.

The Demon's Lexicon - Not Your Typical YA Urban Fantasy

So, I just finished reading The Demon's Lexicon, by Sarah Rees Brennan, and I have to say that I was super impressed. The plot has definite substance and the main character, Nick, is not the typical hero that has been evident in the current trend with young adult urban fantasy fiction. There are a couple of themes with this book, good vs. evil and light romance, but the dominant theme is the evolution of the brother's relationship as events unfold around them. According to the author's website, this is the first in a trilogy that will publish annually. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction, especially if you are a fan of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments Trilogy or the television show Supernatural.

From the book jacket:

Nick Ryves knows that demons are real. Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole - a charm that keeps her alive - and they want it badly enough to kill again. Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long. Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magician's Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

The Romance Genre - An Interesting Look

I admit it, I love romance novels! For pure escapism, they're hard to beat. This article gives great props to the scholarly authors that have provided great books through the years. (I would personally recommend basically everything by Julia Quinn, I tend to laugh out loud when reading anything of hers!).

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-07-06-romance-novels_N.htm