Teen Book Reviews

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is an enticing novel with witty, caring characters that the reader immediately loves. The book follows Poppa Fitz-Amobi as she attempts to discover what really happened in a seemingly simple murder case that rocked her idyllic town of Fairview five years before. Along the way, Pip will find new friends, encounter dangerous enemies, and discover hidden secrets that eat at the foundation of Fairview.

I would recommend this book to any reader searching for relatable, funny characters, for this book is stock-full of them. This book has the full package: drama, suspense, slight romance, tricks, and plot twists. This book is a wild ride that leaves the reader hungering to read the second book. Once I picked this book up, I could not put it back down. I could not recommend A Good Girl's Guide to Murder enough.

Stella Grant, a cystic fibrosis patient, has lived her whole life worrying about death. Her goal: avoid that fate, at all costs. Stella’s control-freak mind will be blown when she meets Will, a boy with B. Cepacia, the death warrant for cystic fibrosis patients. Unlike Stella, Will wants to live all the life he has left to the fullest. Two teens and five feet between them, what will Stella choose, Will or her life?

I’ve read this book a handful of times and it’s my first pick when I want to sit down and revisit some old friends. Although two very different people, Stella and Will make you contemplate aspects of your life that you don’t often have to face. The book addresses love, tragedy, and human mortality, but not in a way that makes you feel hopeless, but instead one that makes you grateful for all the wonderful things about life! This book would be appropriate for most preteens and young teenagers even with these more mature themes. The vivid characters and scenery descriptions allow you to immerse yourself in Stella’s world. It’s funny how what could be a silly little love story has so many hidden themes and valuable life lessons. Overall, I highly recommend this book!

Cinder follows an amnesiac teen cyborg in the fictional city of New Beijing who has been raised by an adopted family. But when one of her stepsisters falls ill to a dooming plague, Cinder decides that she must do whatever it takes to save her. Meanwhile, she meets Prince Kai, the son of the emperor who has also fallen ill, and who is also preparing to meet an upcoming envoy from the moon colony, Luna.

You should absolutely read this book. It’s Cinderella crossed with Star Wars, and the rest of the series follows the same themes, mixing classic fairytales with a super cool futuristic space-traveling setting. There are four main books in the series, and though I would say it really takes off in book three due to all the storylines properly coming together, the first two are still really fun. The characters are endearing and funny and you genuinely root for them. There is also good tension and action, as well as small mysteries peppered without. Having finished the whole series (and not being able to put it down), it feels like a saga. Everything is woven together and seeing it come together is chilling, in a good way. And all of it started with Cinder.

Ellie, a girl from Texas, recently had her best friend Viv move away. She faces bullies at school and even at home because of her weight. Wondering how she’ll be able to survive the coming school year, face the usual torment, and survive her mother’s obsession with “fixing” her, she meets a new neighbor, Catalina. Through Catalina’s unexpected kindness, Ellie is able to embark on a journey towards accepting who she is and loving herself.

Starfish is a great book and I would definitely recommend it. I originally read it for my English class, however it’s become one of my favorite books. It’s a great story about Ellie’s journey to accepting herself that anyone can insert themselves into. I am usually not a huge fan of novels in verse, however I really enjoyed the book. It’s a great read for anyone.

Mia has a perfect life, but after an unfortunate accident, her parents are killed, and her brother is sent to the hospital. Somehow, Mia isn’t dead, but she’s not in her body -- she’s watching. Mia soon realizes that it’s up to her, whether she comes back or not. She starts to ask herself an essential question: is it worth it to be alive in a world where almost everything she cares about is gone?

I highly recommend this book. If I Stay perfectly combines the past, present, music, love, longing, and hurt. This heart wrenching story is told in alternating sections, from the present and Mia’s memories, and the combination of these two things helps you really feel for and connect to Mia’s story and her internal struggles. Every new memory only makes you more sympathetic to the main character. The way that it’s told made me fall in love with each character and I was so sad when it was over. Mia’s thoughts and conflicts made me think about what really matters in life and how you go on when you lose those things. This is definitely a must read.