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

The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Briefly, what was it about?
This book is about the willingness to love someone for what is inside the person not just their appearance. It details to journey of One Hazel Grace and Gus through love, hard times, misery, comradery, and loss.


Tell why you LIKED or DIDN’T LIKE the book.
I liked this book because it reached into my heart when telling the romantic story of one falling in love and it deals with cancer which is a common topic for some people.




What age group would like this book? Ages 12 and above

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

This book would appeal to teens who like...
Romance, Love, Shenanigans, Loss, Adventure, Revenge

Your Name: Megan
Age: 18
Grade: 12

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Title: Something Like Normal

Author: Trish Doller

Briefly, what was it about?

Travis Stephenson arrived home for a month while on leave from being deployed in Afghanistan with the United States Marine Corps. Travis is currently suffering from undiagnosed PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) after seeing his best friend, Charlie Sweeney, die in combat. If this wasn’t enough his girlfriend recently dumped him…for his brother, not to mention he finds out that his parent’s marriage is falling apart. Talk about a vacation. Then he runs into Harper, and although their first meeting doesn’t go entirely well, what with her punching him in the face and all, they seem to get thrown together a lot and become closer. The Marine was hopefully for a normal stay, but what he got was so much more.

Did you like the book? Yes

Why? I myself am sort of fascinated by the United States Military and have the greatest respect for them, which helped me appreciate this book a lot more than possibly your average reader (but still read it! It’s really good! And cute J). Anyway, I loved the protagonist and since our ages are actually very close he was very relatable in a way. Plus the book isn’t all military; there is romance along with friend and family dynamics that way out number the military aspects. I loved Travis and Harper; I became attached and sad about Charlie, understanding and upset about his kind of messed up family, and fell in love with his Marine buddies and their friendship together. All in all, this book has many different sides to it which can create a unique experience for every reader. I couldn’t put it down.

Who would like this book?

1.      Age group? 15 and older

2.      Gender? Both

3.      This book would appeal to teens who like… Military, romance, family issues, close/understanding friendships, bonds between people, recovering soldiers, ct

Your age: 17

Grade: 12