Teen Book Reviews - Apr 2024

Tokyo ghoul. Volume 1

story and art by Sui Ishida ; translation, Joe Yamazaki
2015
ISBN: 9781421580364

World of Ghouls, which exists alongside our own."--Back of book.

Review by Jayden H. 9th Grade

This story follows a boy named Kaneki in a world with human-like monsters called ghouls. Ghouls live lives like normal people, with the difference of inhuman strength, regeneration, and retractable tentacle-like protrusions from their lower back. All food to Ghouls tastes horrible other than the taste of human blood and flesh. Kaneki is attacked by a ghoul one day, but luckily kills it before he is fatally injured. He is taken to the hospital, where the body parts of the opposing ghoul are transferred to his damaged body. Later, Kaneki starts getting the taste for human blood and finds that coffee tastes amazing. He finds a coffee shop that serves ghouls with human flesh and coffee without having to kill. The story goes on about him accepting his ghoul life and learning to kill. This book has one of the best pieces of character development I have ever read. Going from a nerd that lives a normal life to a killing machine that fights for his life as a ghoul.

One-punch man : Volume 01

story by One ; art by Yusuke Murata ; translation, John Werry ; touch-up art and lettering, James Gaubatz
2015
ISBN: 9781421585642

"Nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem-- he just can't seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Every time a promising villain appears, he beats the snot out 'em with one punch! Can Saitama finally find an opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him and give his life some meaning? Or is he doomed to a life of superpowered boredom?"--Back of book.

Review by Jayden H. 9th Grade

One Punch Man is about a man named Saitama who trained for unfathomable strength. Saitama became so powerful that he began to beat all of his foes in one punch. One day, a cyborg named Genos asks to be Saitama's pupil, which he accepts. The series is about the two training and trying to find foes strong enough for Saitama. Saitama loses all feeling due to his strength. He can't feel happiness, anger, or sadness. All he is is an overpowered shell of his former self. His training made him powerful enough to slay incredible foes with one punch, but at the cost of all that makes him human. This book isn't the greatest book I've ever read, but it's certainly interesting.

Into the pit

Scott Cawthon, Elley Cooper
2020
ISBN: 9781338576016

A collection of three novellas explores what happens when three friends make wishes at a pizzeria and get more than they asked for.

Review by Jayden H. 9th Grade

Into the pit follows a boy named Oswald. Oswald lives in a barren and empty town with nothing to do but sit in a pizzeria all day. It's the summer, and all of his friends moved away to places with better jobs, leaving him all alone. Oswald discovers a ball pit in the forbidden area of the pizzeria. When he jumps in, he is taken back in time to when the pizzeria was full of life and arcade games. Every day Oswald would return to the ballpit, and every day he would see the same man in a yellow bunny suit. One day, when Oswald returns to the ballpit, everyone is screaming and running away from something. The man in the bunny suit says nothing as he leads Oswald into the back room. What Oswald finds leaves him in complete shock—the bodies of seven dead children. Oswald runs back to the real world, but the bunny man follows. The man takes Oswald's father captive in the ball pit and poses as him for a few days. Only Oswald can see the man for who he truly is. One day, he sneaks out of the house and pulls his dad out of the ball pit. The bunny man follows him. As they fight the net above, the ball pit tangles around the man's neck, hanging himself, but not before he bites a chunk out of Oswald's arm. After this, Oswald asks the owner about the ball pit, but he says nothing. That's when the story ends. This book wasn't too crazy, but it was pretty fun to read. It's based on a popular video game and another large book series. This book was kind of mid so I'd give it a 6/10 on the Jayden scale.

The cat in the hat

by Dr. Seuss
2007
ISBN: 9780394800011

Two children sitting at home on a rainy day are visited by the Cat in the Hat who shows them some tricks and games.

Reviewed by Jayson A. High School
The book Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss is really good to read to young people and for new readers. It starts off with a young pair of siblings, one boy and one girl who were bored on a stormy day. The main character, the Cat in the Hat, is a human-like cat with a bow tie. He promised to teach the kids a game to get over their boredom with their mom’s permission. My favorite part is when they made the house so messy and fixed it right before mom gets back. This connected to a memory that probably all of us have waited until the last minute to clean up right before our mom comes home. I recommend this book if you want to laugh, look at pictures or read to younger siblings.

The road

Cormac McCarthy
2006
ISBN: 9780307387899

In a novel set in an indefinite, futuristic, post-apocalyptic world, a father and his young son make their way through the ruins of a devastated American landscape, struggling to survive and preserve the last remnants of their own humanity.

Reviewed by Charlotte W. High School

The Road, a book by Cormac McCarthy, was a book that won many awards and was critically acclaimed for many years. If I’m being honest, this book was boring and bland. The plot of the book is an unnamed father and son walk along the road (the whole time) in order to move south and reach warmer weather. The book was almost 300 pages long, but under 10 “exciting” things happened. All of these events lasted only a few pages, some weren’t even expanded on and left the reader wondering why that part was even in the book. Seemingly, Cormac McCarthy saw Chekhov's gun and threw it out the window. There were so many plot points that were not tied up and countless questions that weren’t answered. The “mysterious” aspect of the book is sometimes admirable but mostly just makes the writing seem lazy. The ending of the book also seemed unrealistic; the boy, who had run into nobody but horrible people, meets up with good people as soon as he is on his own. I would have liked to see him survive on his own for a little while, even if it is only for a few pages like every other event in the book.

Red, white & royal blue

Casey McQuiston
2019
ISBN: 9781250316776

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz, with his sister and the Veep's genius granddaughter, are the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. Then photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids. The plan for damage control: stage a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex soon discovers that beneath Henry's Prince Charming veneer, there's a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him. As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. -- adapted from back cover

Reviewed by Charlotte W. High School

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston was a book that I enjoyed reading. It is about the First Son of the United States falling in love with the Prince of England, while both of them are in the closet and having to balance their appearances and families. Each character in the book had a purpose and had realistic conflicts, some with substance abuse problems, others with sexuality. Alex’s arc of realizing he is bisexual can speak to every queer person in his panic and denial. Accepting his sexuality was almost as hard as it was to accept that he loved Henry. Their relationship, especially between two people in the political spotlight, was realistic in my opinion. The reaction from the world to their relationship was realistic but also gave me hope for the world. While some called them slurs and were very hateful about their queer identities, there were many more who accepted them and saw good role models and representation in politics. This book can be seen as idealistic to some, but for me, it emphasizes the good in the world and proves that humanity can be accepting and does not have to take steps backwards.

The lightning thief

Rick Riordan
2005
ISBN: 9780786282258

After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods.

Reviewed by Charlotte W. High School

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was a book that I wish I read when I was in elementary school or middle school like the people around me. It’s about a 12-year-old boy who realizes, by getting attacked, that he is a half-blood, which is half-human and half-god. Rick Riordan provided me with entertainment while I was sick and I was honestly surprised that it was enjoyable for someone my age. It’s funny to compare Percy Jackson to another character around his age, like Harry Potter. Harry Potter does not want to kill a being that has murdered countless people, while Percy Jackson basically has to be held back by his mother (who by the way, is really cool) in order to prevent his 12-year-old self from killing his stepdad. The relationships between the characters were well-established and the arc of certain relationships was fun to read but also set up their development for later books.

The kite runner

Khaled Hosseini
2013
ISBN: 9781573222457

An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the atrocities of the present day. The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy Afghan youth and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption. It is also about the power of fathers over sons: their love, their sacrifices, and their lies.

Reviewed by Charlotte W. High School

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was a good but sad book to read. It’s about Amir, a young Afghan boy who deals with childhood trauma and makes horrible mistakes that hurt other people, who eventually makes his way back to his childhood town to redeem himself. It was hard to balance holding Amir accountable for his actions, but also acknowledging that he was a child who just wanted his father’s love. Amir’s maturity into adulthood slightly redeemed him. When Hassan died, Amir seemed guilty and sad. When he was a child, Amir would not have cared that much if Hassan died, because that meant he would have his father all to himself. Amir is not a main character that you root for, but occasionally you can feel sorry for him. The ending of the book provides the beginning of a redemptive arc for Amir, but also shows that he and Sohrab have a long way to go.

Put me in the zoo

by Robert Lopshire
1988
ISBN: 9780394800172

A large, spotted animal discovers he really belongs in a circus, not a zoo.

Reviewed by Jayson A. High School

The book, Put Me in the 200, is a very entertaining book. The pictures are great as well. It is about a really big dog that reminds me of the Cat from the Cat in the Hat, but the dog has really colorful spots that change to anything and any color. The dog wants to get to the 200 so he can have some attention for his talent. My favorite part of the book is when the dog learns about the circus. He decides he wants to go there instead of the zoo. This is because he knows that while he is unique he is better than the zoo. Another favorite part of mine was when the dog removed his magical spots and put them in this home. His ability to manipulate his physical appearance is really impressive.
If you love any Dr. Suess books then this is the book for you. Anyone who likes books that rhyme should read this book

Zoe gets ready

by Bethanie Deeney Murguia
2012
ISBN: 9780545342155

Zoe wonders what kind of day she will have as she prepares to get dressed on Saturday--the only day of the week on which she can decide for herself what to wear.

Reviewed by Jayson A. High School
The children’s book, Zoe gets Ready, by Bethanie Deeney Murguia, is about a little girl named Zoe who is trying to find an outfit. The reason she’s getting “ready” is because it is Saturday which is the day of the week that she picks her own clothing. Monday through Friday someone else gets Zoe ready. The freedom to pick her own clothing is the plot of the book. Zoe’s challenge is to find clothing she likes. But since she has so many options she is struggling. The reason I connected with this book and enjoy it is because when I was a kid my mom used to pick my outfits everyday. I remember disliking this sometimes as the clothing was not what I was into. So Zoe’s struggle reminds me of my childhood. If you enjoy books that remind you of your own childhood you should read this or if you like any type of picture book, I recommend Zoe gets Ready.

The Titan's curse

Rick Riordan
2007
ISBN: 9781423101451

When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? They must find Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the titans. Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared -- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

Reviewed by Charlotte W. High School

Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan was a pretty good book. In this book, Percy and Artemis’ hunters have to save Artemis and Annabeth from the Titans after they were kidnapped. I thought it made Percy Jackson a somewhat realistic (besides the fact he is the son of a god) main character in that he isn’t chosen for every mission. Yes, it’s because the Hunters didn’t like men, but the fact he wasn’t chosen made him seem like he wasn’t overpowered or way too popular. In fact, he is hated on for most of the series. (Spoilers) Bianca’s death seemed a bit rushed and I was half expecting her to come back because it didn’t seem like a death that would stay permanent. Nico getting introduced was probably the best part of this book.

The sea of monsters [large print]

Rick Riordan
2006
ISBN: 9780786290741

Demi-god Percy Jackson and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp. But first Percy will discover a secret that makes him wonder whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or a cruel joke.

Reviewed by Charlotte W. High School

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan is the second book in the series, following Percy and his friends on their quest to find a fleece that would repair the failing borders of their camp. This was my least favorite book of the series, but it was still good. The empathy link between Percy and Grover was a cool part of the book and a part that mattered for the remainder of the series. Imagining Grover in a wedding dress and talking in a high-pitched voice was very funny and put him higher on my list of favorite characters, a list where he was already high. The new characters introduced added a lot to the story and the ending of the book was a twist that I only saw coming because I saw the terrible movies.

The battle of the Labyrinth [large print]

Rick Riordan
2008
ISBN: 9781410410184

When demonic cheerleaders invade his high school, Percy Jackson hurries to Camp Half Blood, from whence he and his demigod friends set out on a quest through the Labyrinth, while the war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near.

Reviewed by Charlotte W. High School

Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan was the fourth book in his series, and was probably my favorite. In this book, Percy and his friends have to go into the feared Labyrinth to prevent Ariadne’s string from getting into Luke’s hands, which would give his army easy access to Camp Halfblood. Yes, it was so confusing (which was the point since the Labyrinth confused the characters too) but there was a lot of action and moments that fit the characters very well. Like Annabeth yelling that the questions were dumb because they were easy instead of just answering them. Ethan betraying them after they saved him was sad but also showed that Luke wasn’t the only demigod who was sick of the gods acting like they were better than the demigods and underappreciating them.

The last Olympian [large print]

Rick Riordan
2009
ISBN: 9781410416780

The long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy Jackson's sixteenth birthday unfolds as he leads an army of young demigods to stop Kronos in his advance on New York City, while the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster, Typhon.

Reviewed by Charlotte W. High School

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan was the fifth and final installment in this series. In this book, Percy and his friends finally face Kronos once and for all. This was probably my second favorite in the series (mostly because Percy and Annabeth finally got together) because there was a lot of action and the battles were fun to picture. (Spoilers) Charlie’s death was so sad and so was Silena’s death/her betrayal, but I do not find her evil for betraying them. Luke manipulated her like he tried to do to Annabeth. Percy’s almost invincibility was really cool and his weak spot made it realistic. Kronos finding out where he weak spot was was well-written because it made me nervous, even though I knew Percy would live.       

Falling for autumn

by Kimberly & James Dean
2020
ISBN: 9780062868480

Realizing how much he appreciates everything the autumn season has to offer, an ever-groovy Pete the Cat participates in corn mazes, hay rides and apple picking.

Reviewed by Jayson A. High School 

The children’s book, Pete the Cat Falling for Autumn, by Kimberly and James Dean, is about a cat named Pete who loves summer. On the first day of autumn Pete realizes he’s not ready for it, so instead of lamenting he goes through everything he loves about fall. Some of his favorites are eating pie his grandmother made, picking corn from a maze, apple picking, and knitting. While a children’s book, I agree with Pete since I, too, love summer more than any other season. I love it due to the weather. I don’t like the cold but I love that in Alaska summer days last so long. I recommend this book to anyone that feels the same way about summer that Pete and I do. Since lots of people seem to enjoy it more than any other season, this book will resonate with them.

Wonder

R.J. Palacio
2017
ISBN: 9781524720193

Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates.

Reviewed by Kira E. High School
The book, Wonder, by R. J. Palacio is about a boy named August. August was born with a disease which affected his face. Due to the disease, August got a bunch of
surgeries that only deformed his face further. In the book, after being homeschooled for the first several years of school, August goes to in person school for the first time. At the new school August got bullied due to his deformities and left out a lot. His remedy is to put on an astronaut's helmet so his face is completely covered. My favorite part of the book is when August is able to make some friends and overcome his fears. If you like books with different points of view, or books that you would love, the book Wonder should be on your list.

Freckle juice

Judy Blume ; illustrations by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
2014
ISBN: 9781481411035

Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for fifty cents.

Reviewed by Kira E. High School

Freckle Juice, by Judy Blume, is about a kid named Andrew who wishes he had freckles so he wouldn't have to wash up all the time. Andrew would try to count or stare at his peer, Nicky, who did have freckles and also wondered how he got them, clearly not understanding genetics. My favorite part of the book is when Andrew washes off his fake freckles and is perfectly fine without them, realizing they aren’t what he needs to make himself feel good. If you like books that teach you to love yourself then I would recommend the book called Freckle Juice by Judy Blume. It was fun to read and the ending was great.

Hooky. Volume 1

Míriam Bonastre Tur ; [lettering by Natalie Fondriest]
2021
ISBN: 9780358667544

When Dani and Dorian missed the bus to magic school, they never thought they'd wind up declared traitors to their own kind! Now, thanks to a series of mishaps, they are being chased by powerful magic families seeking the prophesied King of Witches and royals searching for missing princes. But they aren't alone. With a local troublemaker, a princess, and a teacher who can see the future on their side, they might just be able to clear their names...but can they heal their torn kingdom?

Reviewed by Maureen D. 7th grade

When twelve-year-olds Dani and Dorian missed the bus to magic school, they didn’t expect to be declared traitors to their own kind. But thanks to a mishap with a dragon egg, a broken broom, and a high-profile prisoner, their faces are on wanted posters throughout the country! Chased by powerful families seeking the prophesied King of Witches and royals searching for missing princes, the twins don’t know whom to trust. Luckily, they aren’t alone. With a local troublemaker, a princess, and a teacher who can see the future on their side, the twins might just clear their names… but can they heal their torn kingdom?

The book Hooky follows two twelve-year-olds named Dani and Dorian who are twins. The book begins with the siblings being late to the school bus to a magic school and ends up missing the bus. They realize that their parents would be mad that they can’t go to school this year, so they ask Aunt Hilde to tutor them. They then end up having to bring a so-called “enemy of all witches” to the witches' prison. Later on, they start getting chased for taking a dragon egg. Their broom snaps, so they have to go without their brooms. The siblings then have to continue on the train to get back home where they soon meet Nico, and he guides them to the house of Master Pendragon. They start living and learning magic with Pendragon, where they end up finding new friends and challenges during their journey home. In the end of the book,one of Dani’s dear friends gets stabbed and dies. This angers Dani, causing her to become violent against the knights. Nico stops her, and in the end, he predicts that Dani will be the Queen of Witches. I thought this book was very interesting, and it led me to buy the 2nd and 3rd volumes which I thought was a very fun read. I think I will give this book a 9.5/10 instead of a 10/10 due to the part where one of Dani’s dear friends dies.

Hooky. Volume 2

Míriam Bonastre Tur ; lettering by Natalie Fondriest
2022
ISBN: 9780358693093

"With witches like their parents out for power and blood and non-magical people increasingly threatened by them, Dani and Dorian don't know whose side they're on--or if anyone's on their side. That includes their brother Damien, who disappeared after being crowned King of Witches. But since Monica's father, the king, and her fiancé, Prince William disappeared, too, Dani and Dorian know they must set out to find their lost allies. Luckily, they aren't alone"--Publisher marketing.

Reviewed by Maureen D. 7th grade

Twins Dani and Dorian Wytte have been through everything together since leaving home. But with their parents out for blood, their brother Damien crowned King of Witches, and normal people suspicious of magic, they aren’t sure whose side they’re on… or if anyone’s on their side. Searching for the lost Prince William with their group of friends, Dani and Dorian travel across deserts and into new kingdoms, where they grapple with their parents’ cruel legacy, the power within themselves, and the sadness of never feeling safe. When they meet their parents in battle and one Wytte is lost forever, they must accept that things are changing–and not everyone is who they seem.

The 2nd volume of Hooky continues from the ending of the 1st volume with the twins whose names are Dani and Dorian and their friends fleeing back to Master Pendragon's house from the burning castle that’s been taken over. Once they arrive at Master Pendragon’s house, they see the house being burnt down. The siblings and their friends rush to a cabin where they stay for 3 months before two of Dani and Dorian’s friends named Nico and Mark goes back to Master Pendragon’s house and retrieve whatever that’s worth salvaging. They soon find Master Pendragon’s crystal ball and find out that only Nico can see through it. Nico is able to see Prince William through the crystal ball and they start their journey to find him. They start meeting other people during their journey and some challenges too. In the end they found Prince William, but Dani has been taken by the witches and her mother. Dorian also gets captured by the king and orders that he gets burned at the stake. Luckily his brother named Damien makes a doll that would look just like him which will give the illusion of him getting burned. When the time came, the doll was the one that got burned, but his sister arrived at the scene and thought he died which made her believe that she has nothing left, which then breaks her. At the last scene her face is seen expressionless and Nico is shown apologizing for what happened. I thought that this book had a lot of stuff happening, and it was a very exciting and sad read. I would probably give this book a 9/10 due to the end with Dani.

The day the crayons quit [Braille]

by Drew Daywalt ; pictures by Oliver Jeffers
2015
ISBN: 9780399255373

When Duncan arrives at school one morning, he finds a stack of letters, one from each of his crayons, complaining about how he uses them.

Reviewed by Kira E. High School 
I have read the book called The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Datwalt. The book is about some crayons writing to their owner asking to be used less or more. There are some cute illustrations with what the crayons look like and the things that they want to happen. My favorite part of the book is where Duncan, the crayons’ owner, uses almost all of the crayons for his assignment in school. His teacher gave him an A + and his crayons are happy. If you like fiction books then I would recommend The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt.