Teen Book Reviews

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!

Twelve-year-old Charlie Thorne knows she will change the world. Her mind is a superpower. She's capable of solving mathematical equations at a speed that can rival Einstein's. She is a genius, and in Charlie's opinion, unstoppable. That is, until Charlie is recruited by the CIA and put through a test that no 12-year-old should ever have to undertake: how to save the world. To succeed, Charlie must decipher a secret equation that Einstein himself has concealed. This equation contains information that in the wrong hands could end the world. Charlie must learn how to rely on others, determine who she can trust, and survive a mission that for the first time, leaves Charlie in-over-her head.

This book’s many plot twists and action packed scenes will leave you hanging from chapter to chapter. Charlie’s adventure takes you across the world, and Stuart Gibbs skillfully blends many cultures and historical facts throughout the narrative. I recommend this book for anyone aged 10 and up. Gibbs does an outstanding job of balancing an exciting story, while presenting difficult topics to his target audience in a way that is very memorable to read, and presents a complex narrative about trust, strong morals, and self-reliance.