Teen Book Reviews

In Hanged!, Sarah Miller explores the circumstances of the aftermath of the Lincoln assassination, particularly the evidence in Mary Surratt’s arrest. Mary Surratt owned the boarding house that was a meeting place for John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators, including her own son. The book argues that Mary was wrongly prosecuted, and most of the evidence was fabricated by a single witness who was terrified of being hanged for the crime himself.

This is a good book for anyone who enjoys history books with a twist or little-known theories to previously accepted stories. The author gives ample evidence to convince the reader that Mary Surratt was innocent of the crime of which she was accused and not part of the Lincoln assassination plot. Testimonies of servants and other trusted sources claim Surratt was willing to take in boarders, both Confederate and Union supporters, and did not appear to ever segregate anyone by their political opinions. Furthermore, one of the few people who brought witness testimony of her guilt continually changed his story, which grew more and more elaborate every time it was told. These factors have certainly led me to consider Mary Surratt’s innocence, and I am sure this book can persuade others as well.

When the Sea Turned to Silver is a story about Pinmei and Lishan. After the Tiger Emperor takes their grandmother, Amah, they set out to get her back. Along the way they tell and are told stories about the history of their homeland. They soon find out about the Tiger Emperor’s schemes involving their grandmother and other villagers and must tread carefully in their quest.

When the Sea Turned to Silver is a charming story. The characters and setting have a storyline that is well accompanied by local tales. Pinmei and Lishan must carefully decide if giving in to the Emperor’s demands is the best choice, even if it means having to find another way to get Amah back. It is rich with Oriental culture and has an easy yet elegant plot.

Izumi’s finally starting to thrive after learning she’s actually Japanese royalty. Her parents are engaged, she has a great boyfriend, is exploring colleges, and public opinion of her is becoming far more positive. However, due to her commoner mom, the engagement is being challenged. To win the council's approval, Izumi tries to become an even better princess. But in doing that, will she lose sight of herself?

I was so excited about the sequel to Tokyo Ever After, and it definitely lived up to my excitement. Izumi is still as lovable and funny as the prior book and the characters feel even more real. The book is a unique twist on the royal YA book, featuring a Japanese royal family which helps it stand out from the other books of the same theme. The plot focuses on Izumi trying to make sure her parents get approved to marry despite her mom being a commoner. The plot is solid, well written, and easy to follow. The themes are mainly about self-discovery and balancing being yourself and being who others want you to be. I totally recommend it and now I'm craving a third book!

The Grace Year is a story based on a forbidden year held within Garner County. Girls from there are banished at sixteen to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. The main character Tierney James dreams of a better life, but as her own grace year approaches, she quickly realizes that there’s more to fear about the grace year than the brutal elements and the poachers.

As someone who enjoys reading stories embarking on women empowerment, I was a little disappointed at how the story portrayed it. The main character is directly characterized as a strong, independent woman. Within the story though, there are many instances where this characterization was heavily contradicted based on her unpredictable actions. Another would be the main conflict amongst the girls within the story. The buildup to it was intriguing but the reveal and execution was lackluster and really deterred me from really enjoying the novel. There were times I felt lost within the plot and many things didn’t line up very well to the ending. It would’ve been a lot better if the story wasn’t so rushed at the end especially regarding the mediocre ending.

As Harry Potter prepares for his third year at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the daunting threat of Sirius Black’s escape from Azkaban, the most secure prison in the wizarding world, looms over him and his friends, Hermione and Ron. Set for a year of more mysteries, secrets, magical creatures, and once again another Defense against the Dark Arts professor, Harry’s year is one full of adventure, friendship, and lots of magic.

I first read the Harry Potter series as a young kid, and was immediately swept away into a whole different world. The series is incredibly captivating, imaginative, and an amazing story. Rowling’s coming of age series as a whole balances an imaginary world with a strong presence of many aspects of an ordinary kid’s life. While I would definitely recommend starting the series from the first book, The Prisoner of Azkaban is my personal favorite due to its conflicting sense of nostalgia from any kid's childhood as the ever growing mystery of Voldemort builds and complicates with every page. It is a lighthearted yet exciting adventure that tells of finding one’s found family and standing up for what you believe in. The third book is a page turner due to its enigmas and relatable characters, and I would highly recommend reading it!