Teen Book Reviews

Beyond the Grave is the fourth book in the action-packed young adult series, The 39 Clues. This Jude Watson book follows the Cahill siblings, Amy and Dan, as they travel to Egypt in search of the next clue in their quest to uncover the secret of their family's power. The plot is full of twists and turns, with the siblings battling against rival teams and facing dangerous challenges.

Beyond the Grave is an action-packed adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. As part of The 39 Clues series, it continues to deliver on its promise of excitement, intrigue, and mystery. The plot is well-crafted, and the characters are incredibly engaging, making it hard to put down. The historical aspects of the story are well-researched and add depth to the overall experience. Overall, Beyond the Grave is something that you must read if you love thrilling adventures and mystery.

High school student, Ruby Morris goes from having fun with friends to fighting to survive. When one day rain begins to make whoever it touches, die, Ruby is forced to use tactical strategies in order to protect her skin from the acid rain. As the population and resources rapidly decline, readers see the situation through Ruby’s eyes and how she handles nightmarish situations.

I absolutely adore H2O. This two-book series should be read by any teenager who enjoyed reading The Hunger Games series, The Maze Runner, or if you just want a fantastic story to read. The author does an impeccable job of creating a relatable main character with a sense of humor even in an awful situation. I recommend this novel to everybody who enjoys a series about survival or an end-of-the-world story. I have yet to find another book that tops H2O and I challenge any reader to take on this novel.

Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe follows the life of Aristotle, a fifteen-year-old boy, during the summer of 1987 when he meets Dante, a fellow fifteen-year-old Mexican-American boy. Their friendship grows and changes as they hurdle a traumatic event, family life, and personal identities. We see the boys' feelings about sexuality, cultural identity, and emotional troubles. Throughout the book, we find Aristotle's complex feelings about himself, his family, and Dante.

I would recommend this book to certain people since this book isn’t for everyone. Personally, I enjoyed the book a lot the first time I read it. It is a beautiful look into feelings about identity, family troubles, and trauma. However, the second time I read the book I noticed some faults in it. Aristotle isn’t a character that is easily loveable, I like how that added depth to the book, but I feel that Ari’s sometimes unlikable personality might push away some readers. There is also a transphobic hate crime mentioned so that can push away more readers. In short, if you want a book about struggling with family, love, and identity then this book could be a wonderful choice. If you want a light-hearted book I wouldn’t recommend this book. Even though the end is stunning, the book tells of loneliness, bottling up emotions, and emptiness.

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.