Teen and Staff Reviews

Teen Review

Thirteen Reasons Why

By Jay Asher

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Jun 6, 2018

When Hannah Baker, Clay’s classmate and crush, commits suicide, he never expected to hear from her again. But one day a mysterious package shows up on his doorstep full of tapes she recorded before her death explaining the 13 reasons why she did what she did. Clay is one of the reasons, and if he listens, he might find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing town with Hannah as his guide. Now he can finally understand her pain, and as he follows her recorded words across his town, what he discovers might change his life forever.

Teen Review

This is Where It Ends

By mariele Nijkamp

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Jun 4, 2018

At 10:00 a.m., the principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech welcoming students back from winter break.

At 10:02 a.m., students get up to leave the auditorium for class.

At 10:03 a.m., the auditorium doors won't open.

At 10:05 a.m., someone starts shooting.

This story is told from 4 different perspectives over the span of 54 terrifying minutes. Fear reigns as a former student's revenge turns into a game of survival.

Teen Review

Misunderstood: Why the Humble Rat May Be Your Best Pet Ever

By Rachel Toor

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Jun 1, 2018

This book serves as both a moving memoir about the author’s relationship with her pet rat and a brilliant nonfiction book about domesticated rats in general. This book blends history and science with stories of  interesting people while at the same time sets the record straight on this amazing animal. Readers will come away with a deep appreciation and a better understanding of rats. You might even be convinced to adopt a rat after reading this wonderful book. Highly recommended for people afraid of rats!

Teen Review

Bull

By David Elliot

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
May 25, 2018

This book updates the ancient story of Theseus and the Minotaur for a new generation. This retelling of Greek mythology is hilariously told in verse. It is rough, rowdy, and tells a different story than the one you are used to hearing. It explores new ideas on what actually happened in many different perspectives, from the god Poseidon to the Minotaur himself. This book will have you reevaluate this infamous monster, maybe he is not as horrifying as you think.

I loved that each of the heroes has a unique voice and form of verse. Fun and quick read.

Teen Review

Unbroken: An Olympian's Journey From Airman to Castaway to Captive

By Laura Hillenbrand

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
May 21, 2018

Louis Zamperini was an army air forces bomber during World War II. And before that, he was an Olympic sprinter. But now he is a captive of the Japanese forces. His plane crashed and he survived thousands of miles in the open ocean with little to no water or food. His raft eventually washed up near a Japanese base and he was sent to a POW camp. This book tells the incredible story of his survival against all odds and about the amazing life he led.

Teen Review

Piper

By Jay Asher

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
May 17, 2018

Everyone knows the story of the pied piper right? How a mysterious man came into town and lured away all the rats by playing his pipe. But the townspeople refused to pay him, so he stole away all the children that night and they were never seen again. Right? But this book tells a different story. One you never expected.

Staff Review

Spellbook of the Lost and Found

By Moira Fowley-Doyle
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Chris K.
May 15, 2018

If you don't close your mouth, a fly will fly in, and then you'll have to swallow a spider to catch the fly, and then a cat to catch the spider, and then a dog to catch the cat, and then a goat to catch the dog, and then a cow to catch the goat, and then a horse to catch the cow, and then a lost soul to catch the horse.

Enchanting. Atmospheric. Mysterious. (a lost soul to catch the horse) Lush. Gritty. Suspenseful. There are so many good words I can think of to describe the beguiling collection of words that is this book. Dark. Mature. Sensual.

Staff Review

Saint Death

By Marcus Sedgwick
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by Chris K.
Apr 12, 2018

A powerful book about the tough and gritty existence on the edge of the border, where everyone dreams of better lives that are only available to a very few through even fewer routes.

Teen Review

The Beast of Cretacea

By Todd Strasser

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Apr 10, 2018

When Ishmael wakes up from stasis aboard the Pequod, he is amazed at how different this faraway planet is from the dying Earth he left behind. He is here to work, risking his life to hunt down enormous ocean-dwelling creatures to harvest and send back to the resource depleted Earth so he can save enough money to get his foster parents off Earth before it is too late. But time and again the chase boats are ordered to leave easy prey behind so they can pursue a dangerous and elusive monster, few people who have seen it have lived to tell the tale.

Teen Review
Can't Get There From Here by Todd Strasser

Can't Get There From Here

By Todd Strasser

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Apr 6, 2018

Maybe lives on the streets with a tribe of homeless teens. These kids are runaways and throwaways, they have no place to go except cold city streets and have no family other than each other. They are abused, abandoned, and forgotten by society, every day they struggle to survive against the cold, hunger, and constant danger. But now there is a new girl, Tears, a 12 year old whose mother didn’t believe she had been abused by her stepfather.

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