Reviews by Tag: survival

Teen Review
The Martian book cover

The Martian

By Andy Weir
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Mar 26, 2025

Mark Watney became the first person to walk on Mars. But now, it looks like he’ll be the first person to stay there. After Mark gets stranded without his crew and supplies, he is determined to stay alive, even with the unforgiving Mars atmosphere. As he draws upon his past experiences and engineering skills, he successfully is able to communicate with NASA and alert his friends and family that he is still alive. But disaster strikes, and communication is cut once again.

Teen Review
All Us Villains book cover

All Us Villains

By Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Victoria O.
Mar 11, 2025

All of Us Villains is book one in the fantasy series written by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman. Seven of the most influential families in Ilvernath, a small town with a secret to hide, send one champion, a teenager, into a death tournament every twenty years. The families are competing for high magic, the most powerful and uncommon resource left in the world. For hundreds of generations, these families have kept much of the truth of the tournament a secret.

Teen Review
Lord of the Flies book cover

Lord of the Flies

By William Golding
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Victoria O.
Mar 10, 2025

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a classic dystopian book. The story occurs sometime in the future, during the next world war. A plane of young British boys crashes on a small island. With minimal resources from the outside world, the boys try to find ways to survive. Some are focused on getting rescued, while others just want to have some fun. Ralph, originally the boy placed in charge, struggles to maintain order among the boys, especially against Jack, who is leading the boys down a dangerous path.

Teen Review
All of Us Villains book cover

All of Us Villains

By Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Aneesah J.
Mar 10, 2025

All of Us Villains by authors Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman is about seven teenagers picked as champions in a tournament occurring each generation, where only one can reclaim ancient magic for their families. Now exposed to the world, the Blood Moon Curse tournament is being watched and followed by everyone in the city of Ilvernath. The story follows the perspectives of four champions and their internal battle to choose between supplying their family with glory or rewriting the rules of their predicament.

Teen Review
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow book cover

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

By Zoulfa Katouh
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Saanvi M.
Mar 10, 2025

Salama was once a pre-medical student living a normal life with a bright future ahead of her. Suddenly, when war breaks out in Syria, her life is uprooted, and she watches her brother and father taken away to fight at war. Later, her mom is lost in another fight near her neighborhood. Now, the only person Salama has left is Layla, her sister-in-law, who is carrying her brother’s child. Salama feels heartbroken that her brother won’t be there during the birth of his baby, or to support Layla, but she promises that she will keep Layla safe at any cost.

Teen Review
Dune book cover

Dune

By Frank Herbert
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Hannah K.
Mar 3, 2025

Dune by Frank Herbert is an interstellar tale set on the inhospitable desert planet of Arrakis (Dune), a place that holds a substance called the “spice” melange. This substance is highly coveted due to its magical properties, and as a result, many wars have been waged over it. The story follows the young heir of Arrakis, Paul Atreides, after his house is betrayed and his father killed.

Teen Review
Two Degrees book cover

Two Degrees

By Alan Gratz
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Taylor J.
Feb 26, 2025

Two Degrees by Alan Gratz follows three natural disaster stories of four teenage kids and how they handle the situations they’re in. Akira, who lives in California, encounters a wildfire, Owen and George, who live in Canada, encounter polar bear attacks, and Natalie, who lives in Florida, encounters a hurricane. 

Teen Review
The Scorch Trials book cover

The Scorch Trials

By James Dashner
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Layla M.
Feb 17, 2025

The Scorch Trials, the second book in the Maze Runner series, is about Thomas and the other Gladers trying to survive the second trial the people from WICKED set up. They have to face difficulties like sandstorms, starvation, and worst of all the crazy cranks. If the Gladers don’t make it to the end of the mountain in two weeks, they won’t get the cure they need. 

Teen Review
Life of Pi book cover

Life of Pi

By Yann Martel
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Feb 14, 2025

The Life of Pi follows Pi Patel a young Indian boy who experiences a shipwreck while crossing the Pacific Ocean trying to start a new life in Canada with his family. The story starts off as a flashback into Pi’s life prior to the shipwreck and he recounts his time in Pondi Cherry, India- where he grew up. He spent a lot of time at his family-owned zoo and developed a strong love for animals!

Teen Review
Lord of the Flies book cover

Lord of the Flies

By William Golding
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Z. Ahmed
Jan 29, 2025

Lord of the Flies is an exploration of human nature and the mask of civilization that keeps our instincts in check. The novel is set on a deserted island after a plane crash and highlights the boys' decline from order into chaos as they try to govern themselves. However, it slowly turns into savagery. Golding uses characters like Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and Simon to represent different parts of society, morality, and human behavior. The conch shell becomes a powerful symbol of order and democracy.

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