Teen Book Reviews

Liz Buxbaum, a hopeless romantic and lover of rom-coms, finds herself entangled in a movie of her own. It’s Liz’s senior year, and she has one goal: to finally score Michael, her childhood crush. To help her, she hires her next-door neighbor, Wes, to help her catch Michael’s attention. What Liz doesn’t know is that a simple quest to catch Michael’s eye will lead to her finding a different romance, one she didn’t expect.

Better Than the Movies is one of my favorite books. It is a fast-paced, fluffy romance story… but also with Taylor Swift and rom-com movie references! I would highly recommend this book since it’s just so easy to fall in love with. The characters are so well-written, and I found that they were relatable, especially Liz. Seeing the real life struggles that teenagers face presented in the book is really what made it remarkable. Also, who can’t love Wes?! Every interaction between Wes and Liz made me smile, and I couldn’t put the book down. The development between the two is really what makes the book so special and unique. I still think about this book and the imprint that it left in my mind, and I just love how it’s one of those books you can reread over and over without getting bored.

It all starts through a summer vacation to France with her family. Alice, a 16-year old girl, learns about her grandmother, who let her inherit her apartment. Between the point of view of Alice and her grandmother, Adalyn, we learn more about each one of them, especially how her grandmother had so many secrets like all the work she did to help France when the Nazis took over. Both characters go through love and mystery.

I recommend this book because it was more than I expected. It was so great that I never wanted to stop reading it. The double sided point of views given, and everything that Adalyn goes through. I thought that Adalyn was the best side of the story, how she would do so much just for the freedom of France. She did the most terrifying things to be able to help her country. The best part is that she was humble enough to do it in secret and not let her sister know, who has been trying to do the same as her but less discrete. Her relationship also was the best part that just brings joy through the harsh times. It’s such an amazing book that has so much history that you actually want to read. I would definitely recommend it for anyone and definitely would reread it.

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.