Teen Book Reviews

Killers of the Flower Moon is a historical thriller by David Grann that follows the beginnings of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the murders of the Osage Indians in 1920s Oklahoma. Grann investigates the lives and events surrounding the Osage tribe as they struggle through the massacre of their people and lifestyle, and untangles the plot behind this series of murders in the hills of the flower moon.

I would 100% recommend this book, especially to readers who enjoy fictional thrillers and murder mysteries and are looking to branch out to nonfiction. Grann does an excellent job in ensuring his reader is not lost or overwhelmed with the book, where instead of his writing being overly factual or monotonous, he writes with enticement and suspense, hooking his reader by peaking their interest and curiosity. The vivid language and twists in this novel immerse the reader within the story itself, creating an alternate reality that sucks you in. I think Grann also does an excellent job with truly communicating and respecting the culture surrounding the Osage Indians. It was beautiful to read the chapters that described the practices of their culture, and how passionately they lived and grieved in this tumultuous time in their history, which is why Killers of the Flower Moon should definitely be your next read!

Andy and Terry, the main characters, are book writers/ illustrators, and they live in a 13-story treehouse. They are on a deadline to write a book for their publisher but keep getting distracted. For instance, Terry turns their neighbor’s cat into a canary. Then, they have a drawing competition, watch TV, get attacked by various animals, and write a short story. They finally write their book and deliver the book to their publisher just before their deadline.

I would recommend this book for 9–11 year-olds because it is entertaining, and it is not super long. It is fun because it breaks the fourth wall, meaning it talks to the reader or mentions the reader. It has a lot of interesting events, and I enjoyed it because it has many silly events that cause the delay of their book being written. This book is also delightful because the pictures portray hilarious images of impractical events happening, such as when Terry’s head grows in surprise when Andy whops him upside the head with a banana. In conclusion, I would recommend this book for most kids, especially 9–11 year-olds.

Tom Sawyer and his best friend, Huck Finn, go on all sorts of wild, but ultimately innocent, adventures. That all changes one day when Tom and Huck play in a graveyard and witness a murder by Injun Joe. Tom testifies against Injun Joe, however, Injun Joe runs away and Tom and Huck find him in a haunted house talking about a buried treasure. Tom and Huck go seek out and eventually find the treasure.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a book I would recommend reading. At the heart of this book is the theme of maturing and growing up. Tom grows and starts to realize what is right and wrong. Specifically, this growth is seen with the decision to testify against Injun Joe. At first, Tom and Huck agreed not to tell anyone about the murder. As an innocent man is framed for the murders though, the guilt Tom feels for knowing the truth overtakes his original promise to keep quiet. This book also explores themes of what makes relationships meaningful. Because they are children the relationships between characters have an innocence to them that adult relationships do not have. The shared experiences between the characters show why the characters have a tight bond and reinforces the importance of childhood adventure.

17-year-old Kiva has been locked in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, for ten years. Coded notes from her family are the only connection to the outside world she has, and hope of a rescue is what fuels Kiva to continue working as the prison healer. But when a mysterious prisoner arrives and rumors start to speculate that she may be the Rebel Queen, Kiva receives a note from her family that changes everything. Kiva has no choice but to take the woman’s place in the Trial By Ordeal, a death sentence focusing on the four elements that nobody has ever survived.

This is by far my favorite book! The plot is so interesting and the twists had my jaw on the floor. Usually I am quite good at guessing what will happen, but the end had me absolutely shocked! The very realistic love interest and backstories completely stole my heart. Lynette Noni’s writing style is beautiful and never boring. This nail-biting first book in the amazing trilogy really had me on my toes!

A Door in the Dark is a book about a girl named Ren who struggles to succeed in a classicist world full of magic. When Theo Brood, a member of one of the most important magical families, commits a crime that he is not held accountable for, it sets into motion a whirlwind of events leading to a disastrous malfunction of the Waxways, the transportation system left behind by dragons and used in daily transit.

I recommend this book; the worldbuilding and magic system is very well written and interesting. The characters could be more fully fleshed out, but overall the plot is very good and the dynamics between the characters are interesting as well. The main character especially is very complex, and portrays a more morally grey personality than main characters usually have which makes for a nice change. The author shows a dynamic for Ren that she will do anything for her greater cause, and how it plays out and the costs that her drive has are very well written. The plot twists are very good as well. The one at the end is very unexpected and definitely makes you want to know what happens next.