Teen Book Reviews

Contagion by Erin Bowman follows a crew sent to investigate a distress call from a mining operation. The crew touches down near the abandoned ship, finding dozens of bodies. The team examines a drill site, where the technician gets infected with Psychrobacter achli. The other victims reawaken and attack.

I definitely recommend this book. Contagion is the perfect mix of sci-fi, horror, and mystery to keep the reader enthralled. If the reader enjoys science or biology, they will definitely appreciate the detailing on how the infection spreads and kills. The characters themselves are three-dimensional and wholly fallible, making the conflicts between them and within themselves fascinating to consider. The writing style is straightforward and fast-paced, and the organization of chapters–alternating POVs and interspersing the main story with scenes following other characters and “things”–keeps the reader on their toes. Additionally, the social and personal commentary is definitely worth admiring, since it makes the whole world that much more realistic. Bowman also foreshadows the truth behind the infection and the intent of the company, but leaves enough out to keep the reader guessing. Contagion definitely had me charmed with its blend of sci-fi, biological horror, and mystery.

This is a story about six high schoolers locked in a room with a bomb, a deadly syringe, and a camera. Either one is poisoned, or the bomb goes off and all die. Of course, it’s a question of ethics, but moreover, it is also one of truth: everyone has secrets, and consequently, as the clock ticks down, these secrets are revealed. Will they take responsibility for their actions or acquit themselves indefinitely by committing murder?

I would not recommend this book because although the plot turned out to be intricate and absolutely stunning, the book itself doesn’t live up to the standard of being marketed towards fans of Agatha Christie’s classics. Yes, it’s compelling to wonder, “Who wants us dead? Who set this up? Why?” however, the questions were easily answered toward the middle of the book, and I needed to force myself to finish it. The narration grew bland, the plot didn’t twist as much as I would have preferred, and all the characters are typical high-school stereotypes: the Queen Bee, the Stoner, the Nerd, the Music Geek, the Loner, and the Star Athlete. In my opinion, their paths crossed too much for people belonging to a variety of different cliques, that it just became monotonous. In conclusion, the impression it gave me was that of too much butter on toast.

I highly recommend that you read Die for Me by Amy Plum. It is about a teen girl named Kate, who recently moved in with her grandparents in Paris with her sister Georgia after her parents’ death. There she meets of a group of revenants, people who have died but somehow came back and are almost immortal, and falls in love with one named Vincent. However, evil forces are trying to destroy the group of revenants. Does Kate have what it takes to stop them?

If you like young adult fiction with a bit of romance, this book is for you! It has a lot of plot in the story, with a lot of romance put in, but also has a paranormal aspect to it. The storyline is amazing, and I felt like a majority of the characters changed throughout this book. I personally love the characters and the way they interact with each other, from Kate’s timid personality to Vincent’s romantic one. Also, if you really like this book, this book is a part of a series, with all of books being amazing! I read this series and I enjoyed it so much! I highly suggest you read it as well!

"The False Prince" is a book about a boy named Sage who is taken from his orphanage, along with three other boys, by a man named Conner. It turns out that Conner is a loyal friend of the king's court. Conner explains that he will choose one of them to be a "false prince" in Carthya, but they will have to obey his orders or face a harsh punishment.

I highly recommend this book because it is packed with plot twists. Every time you think you have it figured out, something completely unexpected happens keeping you hooked and eager to find out what happens next. Its mysterious nature will undoubtedly keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is a definite page-turner. It blends fantasy and royalty to make an amazing book. As soon as you finish this book, you will be eager to read the next book in the series. The characters are well-developed and the scene is rich and immersive. The author's writing style is engaging, and the way the story unfolds keeps you guessing until the very end. Overall, this book is a captivating and thrilling read that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next book. If you enjoy immersive fantasy worlds, well-crafted plot twists, and compelling characters, this book is worth adding to your reading list.

You’ve probably heard of Hercules, son of Zeus. This story is not about him, but about 12-year-old Hercules Beal. His parents recently passed away, so he lives with his older brother. He then meets his seventh-grade history teacher, an ex-Marine, who assigns each student individualized year-long projects, and Hercules’ project is to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in his own life. In this book, he undertakes these labors and learns a lot while doing it.

I would highly recommend this book to all middle-grade readers. The Labors of Hercules Beal is a wonderful story that will have you bawling your eyes out one minute and smiling with all of your teeth the next! Bestselling author of this book, Gary D. Schmidt, has garnered a Newbery Honor and was a National Book Award finalist, and for good reason. You should definitely check out this book if you get the chance!