Teen Book Reviews

Maizy’s never been to Last Chance, Minnesota and already hates it. After a rough welcome, Maizy ends up spending more time in Last Chance, and at The Golden Palace (her family’s restaurant) than she had ever imagined. But the longer Maizy stays, the more questions she has. After she discovers that a family treasure has gone missing and that someone has left a prejudiced note, Maizy decides that it’s time to find answers.

I would highly recommend this book to all middle grade readers. Maizy Chen's Last Chance is a delightful story of friendship and family that also touches on a more difficult topic: racism. Through the stories of her ill grandfather, Maizy learns a lot about her family history and her Asian/American background. Whether she's serving up kung pao chicken at the Golden Palace, playing cards with her grandfather, researching paper sons, or putting handwritten notes in fortune cookies, Maizy is a character that you'll never forget!

A prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy, told from President Snow’s perspective back from when he was just Coriolanus, a mentor in the 10th hunger games. Readers see the events before, during, and after he is tasked to help the District 12 girl tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, win the games. Only one tribute will win, and only one person can be the victor of the games played outside the arena.

Yes, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the series, or has seen the movie that recently came out. This book gives a lot of interesting information/details that were not in the movie. Most of the characters in the book are likable and relatable (to an extent) and you find yourself rooting for multiple sides. However, if you are a reader who doesn’t enjoy long books, this may not be the best choice, as this novel is over 500 pages long. Although, unlike many lengthy books, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is fast-paced and has few spots where the story will drag. Despite that, this is a fascinating novel and a fantastic read that works for many audiences. Whether you are just getting into The Hunger Games or have loved them for years, I can guarantee this will be a read you don’t regret!

Cinderella left with her prince. Her stepsisters were left with injured, bloody feet. Isabelle and Octavia know that the world is cruel to those who are not beautiful and complacent. Once, Isabelle dreamed of an adventurous life, now her only dream is to be pretty enough for her mother and town. In a battle of fate, chance, and heart, Isabelle needs to decide her own path before it is too late.

Stepsister is a great book for those who love fairytales and girl power. The book begins where the tale of Cinderella ends, however it follows the ugly stepsisters. The main character, Isabelle, is not immediately likable, with her quick temper and stubborn will. During the story, she progresses and turns her insecurities into strengths and prove that beauty is grossly overrated. As someone tired of love stories being the central plot in fantasy stories, I was glad to find that it was more of a subplot and that the main plot focused more on being true to yourself. The books chapters are short and I wish that they were longer because the changes in narrative were a bit abrupt.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is a children's classic that combines humor, wordplay, and illustrations to craft an adventurous story. The story follows Milo, a bored and uninspired boy who finds himself transported to a fantastical world where learning and exploration come to life. Milo travels through the lands of Wisdom, Ignorance, and Sound, learning valuable lessons along the way. Milo learns the importance of curiosity and imagination as he meets fantastical characters and faces various challenges along the way. Overall, The Phantom Tollbooth is a delightful tale that encourages readers to explore the world around them with curiosity and imagination.

The Phantom Tollbooth is an amazing book that takes readers on a thrilling adventure and is perfect for readers of all ages. The main character, Milo, embarks on a journey that teaches him the importance of curiosity and learning. The author's use of wordplay and puns creates a fun and engaging read for all ages. The characters are lovable and quirky, the world-building is rich and imaginative, and the themes are both inspiring and thought-provoking. The writing style is witty and clever, yet still accessible to all readers. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for an entertaining and thought-provoking story. Overall, it’s a delightful and thought-provoking read that I highly recommend.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows the story about a pretty and popular high school senior named Andie Bell who was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh. It was all Fairview could talk about. Around five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town and decides to see what really happened to Andie Bell.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries. From the start to the end, you are pulled into this story and become captivated by the twists and turns the book takes. The pacing of the story was exceptional as it did very well with including red herrings to throw off the reader, just like a real murder mystery would. Also, from the very beginning you are instantly connected to the characters. You will feel for each and every character as the descriptions and personalities within this novel are highly detailed. This makes the ending gut-wrenching as it may affect a character that a reader might’ve connected with. The book also made risks within the plot like adding the red herrings and adding those personal topics which made the story even more powerful. The story was smooth and I was never left wondering as everything made sense.