Teen and Staff Reviews

Teen Review
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me

By Tahereh Mafi
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Aditi R.
Jan 4, 2024

Summary: In a world where an oppressive regime rules, 17-year-old Juliette Ferrars is the main character, gifted with a lethal touch. She wants freedom, safety, and a chance to love, but her power and past stand in the way. In Unravel Me, Juliette joins a rebel group, attempting to take down the government and harness her abilities for good. While facing unexpected obstacles, she discovers the strength within herself, but her ultimate success remains uncertain.

Teen Review
Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God

By Zora Neale Hurston
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Earvin C.
Jan 3, 2024

Taking place in the 1930s, protagonist Janie Crawford’s upbringing, adolescence, and adulthood is narrated from a third person perspective. The story touches on especially sensitive topics at the time of its publication: sexism, racism, socioeconomic inequality. A beautifully flawed story, Jaine struggles to find true love - filing 3 marriages throughout the process. As Janie moves from town to town, her psyche and mentality develops, embracing her environments. This book was a great read and thoroughly highlighted many disparities that still exist today.

Teen Review
A Court of Mist and Fury

A Court of Mist and Fury

By Sarah J. Maas
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Lily
Jan 3, 2024

In this immersive and riveting story, Feyre’s journey is a rollercoaster of emotions. Faced with haunting nightmares and unimaginable trials, she battles inner turmoil amid politics and harrowing encounters. Her meeting with an unexpected companion leads Feyre to question choices and the path to redemption. It’s a choice of whether or not to let go of the path and how she wishes to shape her future. Maas weaves a fantastical world that effortlessly engulfs the readers. I found myself captivated, reading the entire book in one sitting.

Teen Review
Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go

By Kazuo Ishiguro
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Earvin C.
Jan 3, 2024

Taking place in a dystopian society, protagonist Kathy takes the role of a carer who helps donors. Purposely vague, author Kazuo Ishiguro unmasks the history, the memories, and the truth about Hailsham - the school Kathy and her friends are raised in. During her time there, we learn a lot about Kathy’s personality and mentality, getting detailed descriptions of her favorite events and amusing stories about her friends.

Teen Review
The Serpent's Secret: Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond

The Serpent's Secret: Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond

By Sayantani Dasgupta
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Aakanksha R.
Jan 3, 2024

Summary: In The Serpent's Secret: Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond by Sayantani Dasgupta, the main character is Kiranmala, a twelve-year-old girl of Indian heritage. One day, Kiranmala discovers that she is not an ordinary girl but a princess from another dimension. She is determined to rescue her parents and save both her world and the Kingdom Beyond from the evil demon king, Serpent. However, what stands in her way are various mythological creatures, magical beings, and sinister forces working against her.

Teen Review
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye

By J.D. Salinger
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Aakanksha R.
Jan 3, 2024

Summary: The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age novel that centers around Holden Caulfield, a young protagonist who seeks to protect innocence. Holden's desire to shield children from the hypocrisy and artificiality of the adult world drives him on a journey of self-discovery. However, he faces numerous obstacles, both external and internal, as he grapples with isolation, disillusionment, and encounters with insincerity.

Teen Review
The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls

The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls

By Jessica Spotswood
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Aakanksha R.
Jan 3, 2024

Summary: The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls by Jessica Spotswood is a heartfelt contemporary young adult novel that follows the lives of the four Garrett sisters: Des, Bea, Kat, and Vi. Each sister yearns for something different. Des dreams of a career in fashion, but finances and societal expectations stand in her way. Bea seeks love, yet she fears rejection. Kat craves independence but is weighed down by responsibilities. Vi, the youngest, yearns for adventure but feels held back by her age.

Teen Review
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

By Philip K. Dick
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Mahad Z.
Jan 3, 2024

Summary: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick is a dystopian science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic future where Earth is devastated by nuclear war, and most of the population has emigrated to other planets. The story follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter tasked with "retiring" rogue androids that have escaped to Earth. The novel explores themes of empathy, identity, and the blurred line between humans and artificial beings.

Teen Review
Hatchet

Hatchet

By Gary Paulsen
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Layla M.
Jan 2, 2024

Hatchet is a book about Brian who starts out flying to visit his dad. After an unexpected accident, the plane is thrown off course leaving Brian stranded in the middle of the Canadian forest. Brian has to learn to survive with only a hatchet and the resources around him until he’s rescued. This book has a lot of suspense and cliffhangers. The writing in this book is really great because the author uses a lot of figurative language and descriptive words.

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