All the Light We Cannot See

TEEN BOOK REVIEW        

 

Title: All The Light We Cannot See

Author: Anthony Doerr

Briefly, what was it about?
Werner is an orphan boy growing up in Germany during the Holocaust. One day he stumbles upon a radio. Marie Laure, a blind girl in Paris, is keeping a diamond safe. When the Nazis find out about Werner, they snatch him up and put him into a school for future Nazi soldiers. Marie and her father get threats from the Nazis so they move to the walled town of Saint Malo. Werner finds himself on a mission to Saint Malo and soon their paths may collide.


Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
This book was written beautifully, with an explosive end. It has good language, and a different side than most books taking place in the holocaust, because it is not set around a jew. Most books that are written during the holocaust are set around jews, so this one was different.


What age group would like this book? 11-15

Would BOYS like this book? Yes
Would GIRLS like this book? Yes

This book would appeal to teens who like...
Books about the holocaust, historical fiction, light romance

Your Name: Mary P.
Your age: 11
Grade: 6

I Am Malala

TEEN BOOK REVIEW        

Title: I Am Malala

Author: Malala Yousafzai

Briefly, what was it about? 
Malala speaking out against the Taliban, her father has girls still attend his school even though it is illegal so he and Malala are both targeted. This story is of one girl, being selfless, fighting a war of words.


Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
I didn't like the recklessness, people going in danger, knowing its dangerous, sometimes its kinda stupid. I liked the descriptions, background stories, and events leading up to the invasion.


What age group would like this book? 12+

Would BOYS like this book? Yes
Would GIRLS like this book? Yes

This book would appeal to teens who like...
Action, drama, acts of courage.

Your Name: Lyle V.
Your age: 15
Grade: 10th

The Great Empty

TEEN BOOK REVIEW    

    


Title: The Great Empty

Author: Anita Melillo

Briefly, what was it about? 
The Great Empty is about a boy named Donovan. His family goes on a trip to Australia. After the plane ride Donovan gets bored and gets separated from his sister, Valentine, and the adult with him, Preston. He learns how to to live in the wild and fends for himself in the Great Empty.


Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
I liked the book the Great Empty. The Great Empty has a some sense of adventure that I seek out in books. The adventure is when Donovan has his journey through Australia and has to hunt for his meals and escape. Other people like me who like books that keep you on the edge of your seat with adventure would like this book.


What age group would like this book? 11-14

Would BOYS like this book? Yes
Would GIRLS like this book? Yes

This book would appeal to teens who like...
Realistic Fiction

Your Name: McKayla
Your age: 12
Grade: 7th

Dragonwings

CLASS BOOK REVIEW        

Title: Dragonwings

Author: Laurence Yep

Briefly, what was it about? 
Set in the early 1900s, a boy named Moon Shadow never knew his father until he moves from China to join him in Chinatown, San Francisco. Moon Shadow and his father Windrider encounter many hurdles and challenges throughout the story as they try to set to the skies to fulfill Windrider's dream of flight. Thankfully they have many companions and allies to help them along their journey.


Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
We liked this book for many reasons:
1. You learn a lot about Chinese culture and history throughout this story. 
2. It is a captivating and adventurous story. 
3. It is very emotional and will get you attached to the characters. 
4. The characters have many admirable qualities. 
5. It was a little slow at times, but in the end it was worth it.


What age group would like this book? 10 - 100! Even adults will enjoy this fascinating novel!

Would BOYS like this book? Yes
Would GIRLS like this book? Yes

This book would appeal to teens who like...
Adventure, Chinese culture, drama, non-fiction, historical fiction, dangerous situations, humor, sympathetic characters, dragons, and airplanes.

Your Name: Ms. G's 6th grade Language Arts class
Your age: 10-12
Grade: 6

I Am Malala

TEEN BOOK REVIEW       

Title: I Am Malala

Author: Malala Yousafzai

Briefly, what was it about?
In Swat, Pakistan, a girl and her father, fought for girls rights when the Taliban took over, and everyone else was scared to try.  Everyone was scared to die, have their family and friends die, because if someone was in the Taliban’s way, they would kill to get past them.


Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
I liked that is was suspenseful as you waited for Malala’s next move. 
I disliked that there was too many suicide/killing/injuring parts.


What age group would like this book? middle school through high school

Would BOYS like this book? Yes
Would GIRLS like this book? Yes

This book would appeal to teens who like...
Autobiographies, intense atmosphere, and nonfiction

Your Name: Elle
Your age: 11
Grade: 6th

Distance Between Us

TEEN BOOK REVIEW      

Title: The Distance Between Us

Author: Kasie West

Briefly, what was it about? 
Caymen Meyers is 17 and helps out at her mom's porcelain doll shop. One day, one of her usual rich customer's grandson came in, named Xander. As Xander and Caymen start hanging out Xander tries to become friends with Caymen. But it's harder for Caymen to build a relationship with Xander because of her mom. Every time that Caymen asks why her mom holds a grudge on rich people she always tells the same story.  When Caymen starts a girlfriend, boyfriend relationship with Xander she takes advice from her pink haired friend, Skylar. Things get tougher for Caymen when her mom finds out about her relationship. As well as when Xander and Caymen go to a fancy restaurant and Caymen is taken by surprise.


Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
Since I love romance books, I would choose this one as well as some of her other books. What I liked is how Caymen and Xander starts from nothing and then reading how it evolves into a boyfriend, girlfriend relationship.


What age group would like this book? tween

Would BOYS like this book? No
Would GIRLS like this book? Yes

This book would appeal to teens who like...
Light romance

Review by: Hayden W.
Age: 13
Grade: 8th

Since You've Been Gone

Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson

Briefly, what was it about?
It's about this girl and her best friend runs away and leaves her this list. It's a to do list that makes this girl push herself to do all of these. She thinks when she completes all of these activities, she will find her best friend.

Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
I liked this book because I love the style of writing that the author does! It's so suspenseful and I never wanted to put the book down! It also has a bit of romance.

What age group would like this book? 10-17

Would BOYS like this book? No
Would GIRLS like this book? Yes


This book would appeal to teens who like...romance and solving things.

Your Name: Kiana
Your age: 13
Grade: 7

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Title: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Author: Chris Crutcher

Briefly, what was it about?
The book is centered around an overweight boy (Moby), who joins the swim team in high school. Throughout the story he brings up past stories of his childhood friend Sarah Byrnes. Sarah is in a psychiatric hospital and is unwilling to talk to anyone. Moby tries desperately to figure out what is wrong with Sarah, before something drastic happens.

Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
Chris Crutcher took on tough topics in this book, such as religion, child abuse, abortion, and suicide, but the book only serves to rehash old arguments commonly heard on these subjects. The characters are portrayed as black and white, good or bad, which is unrealistic of how people are. The "bad guys" are one-dimensional, shown as ignorant, and rude who eventually see the error in their ways. The "good guys" are empathetic and well meaning. Despite this the book has strong characters that face emotional and psychological struggles that many teens may face. Sarah Byrnes is the most resilient and well developed character throughout the book.

What age group would like this book? 13+

Would BOYS like this book? Yes
Would GIRLS like this book? Yes

This book would appeal to teens who like... Writers like John Green, and other coming stories with hard to discuss subjects.

Your Name: Erin S
Your age: 16
Grade: 11