Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
This is a review of Mockingjay, the third and final book of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. The series is about a girl named Katniss, who is forced into the Hunger Games, a fight to the death including a boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts of their nation, Panem. The Hunger Games are forced by the evil Capitol of Panem, to remind the Districts of their failed rebellion, 74 years before the start of the series. In Mockingjay, the Districts are rebelling again against the Capitol. this book makes for a very good (if tragic) ending to the series. I highly recommend this book and the whole series to anyone who likes reading. Assuming, of course, that you’re fine with reading about extremely violent things. The books aren’t exactly happy, but they are EXTREMELY good.
by Brian
Well Witched by Frances Hardinge
Well Witched by Frances Hardinge was a surprisingly good book, unexpectedly twisting your perception as to the (unexpected) plot at thoughtful moments.
The characters were very likable, and the sympathies you naturally extend to each new arrival were well developed and maintained. Although the beginning was rather dreary, you won’t regret it if you continue onward toward the end.
This author has a talent and skill I would like to encounter again.
by Isaiah
The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong
A teen girl named Chloe, has just turned 15 and sees a ghost who is bleeding, whose body is ripped and shredded apart, eyes red as blood walking towards her in the hallway at her school, she screams.
Chloe then gets sent to Lyle House a place for kids with mentally disorders. They tell her she has Schizophrenia, a disorder that causes you to see illusions. She beleives not wanting to question the ghost. There at Lyle House she meets two people, Simon and Derek. She finds out that everyone at Lyle House has supernatural powers. She discovers that she is a necromancer a person who can raise the dead or even see them. Though she is not a normal necromancer she has powers beyond her imagination. Simon is a sorcerer and who or what is Derek?
She finds out that not hers but just about everyone at Lyle House has powers more than they can handle. Late one night Chloe wakes her eyes and sees her friend who was just taken away the other night. She soon discovers is a ghost and that the Edison group, an organization who experiments on them and gave them more power than they can ask for is after them. Chloe and the other teens plan an escape and escape the next night. Chloe soon finds out what Derek is.
What is Derek? Do they Escape?
Find out in The Summoning, Book one.
I would recommend this to anyone and everyone even babies if they could read.
by Julie, age 15
The Missing Girl by Nora Fox Mazer The Missing Girl by Nora Fox Mazer is exciting and suspenseful. It goes into the mind of a kidnapper and shows you how he thinks, and shows how everyone can be affected by something like an abduction. I really like the part where Stevie’s parents are strapped for money, so they send her away, and she feels singled out and unwanted. Read this book!
by Elizabeth, age 12
The Fun of It by Amelia Earhart
I thought it was very interesting because did a lot of comparing things from a long time ago to her present time. Whatever she said as her present things were still so far off from ours because she lived so long ago. She talked about people were reacting to riding airplanes then which I found very interesting.
by Rebecca
Shiloh Dog Series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
I read the Shiloh series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. They were the best books that I read. It is a good book for people who like dogs and the relation between owners and there pets.
by Alison
Starlighter by Bryan Davis
A great story written by a great author, Starlighter shines with intrigue and mystery.
Jason Masters, hired as a bodyguard to the Governor, is accused of murder when the Governor is assassinated. Fleeing, he meets up with an old friend and a mad old prisoner, accidentally escaping to the dragon world, Dracon. On their end, Koren, a slave fugitive, discovers she has a strange gift of storytelling. This may well be either their doom or their salvation as she assists them in evading the dragons and they escape to the North. With infinitely more detail than I can put into words, the story weaves in and around the characters as they battle for freedom, family, and life.
by Isaiah, age 14
Cardturner by Louis Sachar
This book was about a boy who turned cards for his blind uncle at bridge games. He learned quite a bit about bridge especially since his uncle is such an amazing player. I enjoyed reading this book reading this book even though i know nothing about bridge so i would definitly recommend this book to almost anyone who likes to read.
Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
I loved this book it is full of surprises and always keeps you on the edge of your seat. when four kids go to an island to do a secret mission they have to put up with the teachers, send reports, do homework, and save the world all at the same time. hope you enjoy it.
by Audrey, age 12
D. N. Angelby Yukiru Sugisaki
The main character is Daisuke. When he turns 14 his life takes a strange twist: At the thought of his first love he transforms into the mysterious phantom thief Dark. Things seem to look up when Daisuke is told that the fair maiden will set him free from his “condition”, and there just happens to be a “tears of the madden statue at the local art museum. Things get interesting when one of Daisuki’s classmates is after Dark…will this statute cure him of his problems… of course not. The series would be too short. Hahaha read to find out what happens…
by Matthew, age 16
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
As the only newborn Bella saw, Bree comes back in her very own book. If you think you know the Twilight Saga, think again! What about the newborn vampire army in Seattle? Bree actually doesn’t know why she was created, or why Riley keeps bringing more dreg vampires. The only way to stay alive is to hide behind Freaky Fred; whose talent is to drive people away from him. On a hunting trip with dumb Kevin, the spider – man kid, and Diego, she actually gets to know Riley’s favorite vampire. Of course, her ending is sad, but she is not the newborn she pretended to be in Eclipse.
If you liked the part of the fight in Eclipse, I recommend this book. Freaky Fred is my favorite character in this book; he is actually really cool once you get past his repellant powder. I think this book is one of the best books Meyer has written.
by Holly
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Modern Tales for Our Life and Times
by James Finn Garner Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Modern Tales for Our Life and Times is a collection of fairy tales altered by James Finn Garner so as to be as un-biased as possible. The tales, which include ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, and ‘Cinderella’, being carefully analyzed to remove any sexist, racist, or speciesist ideas, become utterly hilarious as a result. I recommend “Politically Correct Bedtime Stories” in the warmest of tones to anyone interested in a modern take on the popular, yet slightly biased, fairy tales of yesteryear accompanied by a good laugh.
by Maria, age 13
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
This book is about a girl who struggles with self-confidence. Her mom is the spokesperson for a weight loss program. This gives the kids at school much reason to tease her. When she goes away for the summer to stay with her aunt, she makes some friends that show her that she has nothing to hide and that the only way she will be respected is if she respects herself. I really enjoyed this book because it showed the transformation of a shy person into a confident person. I felt like anyone could relate to it and that seems to make books more enjoyable.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
This book is about a girl named Stargirl who is writting a secret letter to her boyfriend who she had to leave behind. She writes about how she is making wonderful friends and also about how she helps solve their problems. She struggles to feel happy because she is consantly thinking of what she longs for and not what she has. In the end she descovers she made a greater impact on everyone then she ever could have imagined. I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys to read about how people struggle between two parts of themselves.
by Rebecca
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
After I read this book, I had to keep reading. Never had I read a book that I like this much. My favorite character throughout the book was Alice, and throughout the whole series, to. This book is great to read on paper. I recommend this book to others.
by Holly
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Something is wrong with Edward. After Bella’s birthday, he breaks the news to her: his family is leaving. Bella does not get over it. A big hole is punched through her chest, and does not heal. After a night at the movie theater that involved danger, she discovers that when she does something dangerous, she can hear him. To get more of his voice, she acquires some motorcycles, which leads to more monsters and Jacob. Eventually, she will go through a race in Volterra and learn more about the Volturi than she wants to know.
Alice, my favorite character, shined in New Moon. New Moon is very sad, but overall, and excellent book. I used to like Twilight better than New Moon, but I favor New Moon currently. I would recommend this book to people who liked Twilight. Read Twilight first.
by Holly
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
The third book in the Twilight Saga does not disappoint. Missing people in Seattle; it is clear that someone is creating a newborn vampire army. Also, Bella is forced to choose between Edward or Jacob. Another trouble is that Edward, a vampire, is a mortal enemy to Jacob, a werewolf. They fight constantly. When they find out what the newborn army is really after, the pack and the coven must form an alliance to protect Bella.
My favorite book of the Twilight Saga is so partly because of the newborn vampire army, which adds a lot of action. Again, Alice takes a big part in all of this because her soul mate, Jasper, has experience with newborns. I defiantly recommend this book to others who have read the first two books!
by Holly
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Howl’s Moving Castle is set in a land much like that of medieval England, particularly in a town called Market Chipping and its surrounding areas. The main character is Sophie, a young teen convinced that, being the eldest of three daughers, she will amount to nothing in the world. Because of this, she rarely ventures out of the family hatshop. But when the wicked Witch of the Waste grows irritated with Sophie, she casts an evil spell, turning poor Sophie into an old woman. Sophie, discovering herself to be much bolder as an old woman, decides to seek the help of the mysterious Wizard Howl, a young wizard whose castle roams the hills around Market. Will Sophie convince Wizard Howl to help her? Will the wizard even be capable of removing the spell? Just what is so mysterious about Wizard Howl? The answer to these questions, and many more, lie within the pages of this fantastical treat of a novel. I highly recommend the literary jewel that is Howl’s Moving Castle.
by Maria, age 13
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
I thought that this book was a great read. I really enjoyed the character Pela which means girl. She was a very strong character with a big heart.
by Clarice, age 13
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
This book was about a girl who was completely devoted to school, not giving any time at all to social activities. Then one summer she decides to go visit her dad and step-mom for the summer. While there she learned how to truly care about family and friends. She helps out her step-mom with the new baby, she helps her new found friends work through difficulties, and she helps her dad learn how to not hide all the time. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my friends.
Fablehaven #5: Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull
This is the final book in the Fablehaven series filled with action and suspense! The book has an ending leaving readers wanting more. I cannot chose a favorite character because they’re all so deep it’s hard to fully decide who you deem best. I would have to say either Kendra or Seth, because you can see yourself in these people and they’re the heroes so it feels good to win. The characters light and dark; Kendra being Fairykind (deemed equal to fairies by the fairy queen) and Seth being a shadow charmer; proving dark isn’t always bad. It’s sad to readh the end of a series because as you read you become close to the person who wrote it. It’s ending made me try to save the connection to Brandon Mull so I’m now reading and earlier book of his: The Candy Shop War. I Strongly recommend either of these books to any reader who loves to escape life and enter a world of fantasy and help them through their perils!
by Matthew, age 16
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is filled with adventure and surprises. Harry Potter finds himself wanted by the Ministry of Magic. Even the friendliest of wizards are not to be trusted. With the help of Harry’s friends, Ron and Hermione, the three of them try to recover all the horcruxes. What the friends do not know is that tragedy and sorrow await them. The final Harry Potter book is worth reading.
by Kyla, age 12
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
I just read Heidi by Johanna Spyri and it was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m not the type to cry when I read books but Johanna really caught me for the past hour. I think I cried once because I thought it was really touching.
by Chase, age 12
The Boxcar Children: Mystery at the Crooked House by Gertrude Chandler Warner
I found it interesting that a famous mystery author would leave their unpublished work in a dying rentable home.
by Chase, age 12
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LARL Teen Summer Book Reviews
This is a review of Mockingjay, the third and final book of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. The series is about a girl named Katniss, who is forced into the Hunger Games, a fight to the death including a boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts of their nation, Panem. The Hunger Games are forced by the evil Capitol of Panem, to remind the Districts of their failed rebellion, 74 years before the start of the series. In Mockingjay, the Districts are rebelling again against the Capitol. this book makes for a very good (if tragic) ending to the series. I highly recommend this book and the whole series to anyone who likes reading. Assuming, of course, that you’re fine with reading about extremely violent things. The books aren’t exactly happy, but they are EXTREMELY good.
by Brian
Well Witched by Frances Hardinge
Well Witched by Frances Hardinge was a surprisingly good book, unexpectedly twisting your perception as to the (unexpected) plot at thoughtful moments.
The characters were very likable, and the sympathies you naturally extend to each new arrival were well developed and maintained. Although the beginning was rather dreary, you won’t regret it if you continue onward toward the end.
This author has a talent and skill I would like to encounter again.
by Isaiah
The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong
A teen girl named Chloe, has just turned 15 and sees a ghost who is bleeding, whose body is ripped and shredded apart, eyes red as blood walking towards her in the hallway at her school, she screams.
Chloe then gets sent to Lyle House a place for kids with mentally disorders. They tell her she has Schizophrenia, a disorder that causes you to see illusions. She beleives not wanting to question the ghost. There at Lyle House she meets two people, Simon and Derek. She finds out that everyone at Lyle House has supernatural powers. She discovers that she is a necromancer a person who can raise the dead or even see them. Though she is not a normal necromancer she has powers beyond her imagination. Simon is a sorcerer and who or what is Derek?
She finds out that not hers but just about everyone at Lyle House has powers more than they can handle. Late one night Chloe wakes her eyes and sees her friend who was just taken away the other night. She soon discovers is a ghost and that the Edison group, an organization who experiments on them and gave them more power than they can ask for is after them. Chloe and the other teens plan an escape and escape the next night. Chloe soon finds out what Derek is.
What is Derek? Do they Escape?
Find out in The Summoning, Book one.
I would recommend this to anyone and everyone even babies if they could read.
by Julie, age 15
The Missing Girl by Nora Fox Mazer
The Missing Girl by Nora Fox Mazer is exciting and suspenseful. It goes into the mind of a kidnapper and shows you how he thinks, and shows how everyone can be affected by something like an abduction. I really like the part where Stevie’s parents are strapped for money, so they send her away, and she feels singled out and unwanted. Read this book!
by Elizabeth, age 12
The Fun of It by Amelia Earhart
I thought it was very interesting because did a lot of comparing things from a long time ago to her present time. Whatever she said as her present things were still so far off from ours because she lived so long ago. She talked about people were reacting to riding airplanes then which I found very interesting.
by Rebecca
Shiloh Dog Series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
I read the Shiloh series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. They were the best books that I read. It is a good book for people who like dogs and the relation between owners and there pets.
by Alison
Starlighter by Bryan Davis
A great story written by a great author, Starlighter shines with intrigue and mystery.
Jason Masters, hired as a bodyguard to the Governor, is accused of murder when the Governor is assassinated. Fleeing, he meets up with an old friend and a mad old prisoner, accidentally escaping to the dragon world, Dracon. On their end, Koren, a slave fugitive, discovers she has a strange gift of storytelling. This may well be either their doom or their salvation as she assists them in evading the dragons and they escape to the North. With infinitely more detail than I can put into words, the story weaves in and around the characters as they battle for freedom, family, and life.
by Isaiah, age 14
Cardturner by Louis Sachar
This book was about a boy who turned cards for his blind uncle at bridge games. He learned quite a bit about bridge especially since his uncle is such an amazing player. I enjoyed reading this book reading this book even though i know nothing about bridge so i would definitly recommend this book to almost anyone who likes to read.
Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
I loved this book it is full of surprises and always keeps you on the edge of your seat. when four kids go to an island to do a secret mission they have to put up with the teachers, send reports, do homework, and save the world all at the same time. hope you enjoy it.
by Audrey, age 12
D. N. Angel by Yukiru Sugisaki
The main character is Daisuke. When he turns 14 his life takes a strange twist: At the thought of his first love he transforms into the mysterious phantom thief Dark. Things seem to look up when Daisuke is told that the fair maiden will set him free from his “condition”, and there just happens to be a “tears of the madden statue at the local art museum. Things get interesting when one of Daisuki’s classmates is after Dark…will this statute cure him of his problems… of course not. The series would be too short. Hahaha read to find out what happens…
by Matthew, age 16
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
As the only newborn Bella saw, Bree comes back in her very own book. If you think you know the Twilight Saga, think again! What about the newborn vampire army in Seattle? Bree actually doesn’t know why she was created, or why Riley keeps bringing more dreg vampires. The only way to stay alive is to hide behind Freaky Fred; whose talent is to drive people away from him. On a hunting trip with dumb Kevin, the spider – man kid, and Diego, she actually gets to know Riley’s favorite vampire. Of course, her ending is sad, but she is not the newborn she pretended to be in Eclipse.
If you liked the part of the fight in Eclipse, I recommend this book. Freaky Fred is my favorite character in this book; he is actually really cool once you get past his repellant powder. I think this book is one of the best books Meyer has written.
by Holly
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Modern Tales for Our Life and Times
by James Finn Garner
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: Modern Tales for Our Life and Times is a collection of fairy tales altered by James Finn Garner so as to be as un-biased as possible. The tales, which include ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, and ‘Cinderella’, being carefully analyzed to remove any sexist, racist, or speciesist ideas, become utterly hilarious as a result. I recommend “Politically Correct Bedtime Stories” in the warmest of tones to anyone interested in a modern take on the popular, yet slightly biased, fairy tales of yesteryear accompanied by a good laugh.
by Maria, age 13
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
This book is about a girl who struggles with self-confidence. Her mom is the spokesperson for a weight loss program. This gives the kids at school much reason to tease her. When she goes away for the summer to stay with her aunt, she makes some friends that show her that she has nothing to hide and that the only way she will be respected is if she respects herself. I really enjoyed this book because it showed the transformation of a shy person into a confident person. I felt like anyone could relate to it and that seems to make books more enjoyable.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
This book is about a girl named Stargirl who is writting a secret letter to her boyfriend who she had to leave behind. She writes about how she is making wonderful friends and also about how she helps solve their problems. She struggles to feel happy because she is consantly thinking of what she longs for and not what she has. In the end she descovers she made a greater impact on everyone then she ever could have imagined. I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys to read about how people struggle between two parts of themselves.
by Rebecca
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
After I read this book, I had to keep reading. Never had I read a book that I like this much. My favorite character throughout the book was Alice, and throughout the whole series, to. This book is great to read on paper. I recommend this book to others.
by Holly
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Something is wrong with Edward. After Bella’s birthday, he breaks the news to her: his family is leaving. Bella does not get over it. A big hole is punched through her chest, and does not heal. After a night at the movie theater that involved danger, she discovers that when she does something dangerous, she can hear him. To get more of his voice, she acquires some motorcycles, which leads to more monsters and Jacob. Eventually, she will go through a race in Volterra and learn more about the Volturi than she wants to know.
Alice, my favorite character, shined in New Moon. New Moon is very sad, but overall, and excellent book. I used to like Twilight better than New Moon, but I favor New Moon currently. I would recommend this book to people who liked Twilight. Read Twilight first.
by Holly
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
The third book in the Twilight Saga does not disappoint. Missing people in Seattle; it is clear that someone is creating a newborn vampire army. Also, Bella is forced to choose between Edward or Jacob. Another trouble is that Edward, a vampire, is a mortal enemy to Jacob, a werewolf. They fight constantly. When they find out what the newborn army is really after, the pack and the coven must form an alliance to protect Bella.
My favorite book of the Twilight Saga is so partly because of the newborn vampire army, which adds a lot of action. Again, Alice takes a big part in all of this because her soul mate, Jasper, has experience with newborns. I defiantly recommend this book to others who have read the first two books!
by Holly
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Howl’s Moving Castle is set in a land much like that of medieval England, particularly in a town called Market Chipping and its surrounding areas. The main character is Sophie, a young teen convinced that, being the eldest of three daughers, she will amount to nothing in the world. Because of this, she rarely ventures out of the family hatshop. But when the wicked Witch of the Waste grows irritated with Sophie, she casts an evil spell, turning poor Sophie into an old woman. Sophie, discovering herself to be much bolder as an old woman, decides to seek the help of the mysterious Wizard Howl, a young wizard whose castle roams the hills around Market. Will Sophie convince Wizard Howl to help her? Will the wizard even be capable of removing the spell? Just what is so mysterious about Wizard Howl? The answer to these questions, and many more, lie within the pages of this fantastical treat of a novel. I highly recommend the literary jewel that is Howl’s Moving Castle.
by Maria, age 13
I thought that this book was a great read. I really enjoyed the character Pela which means girl. She was a very strong character with a big heart.
by Clarice, age 13
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
This book was about a girl who was completely devoted to school, not giving any time at all to social activities. Then one summer she decides to go visit her dad and step-mom for the summer. While there she learned how to truly care about family and friends. She helps out her step-mom with the new baby, she helps her new found friends work through difficulties, and she helps her dad learn how to not hide all the time. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my friends.
Fablehaven #5: Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull
This is the final book in the Fablehaven series filled with action and suspense! The book has an ending leaving readers wanting more. I cannot chose a favorite character because they’re all so deep it’s hard to fully decide who you deem best. I would have to say either Kendra or Seth, because you can see yourself in these people and they’re the heroes so it feels good to win. The characters light and dark; Kendra being Fairykind (deemed equal to fairies by the fairy queen) and Seth being a shadow charmer; proving dark isn’t always bad. It’s sad to readh the end of a series because as you read you become close to the person who wrote it. It’s ending made me try to save the connection to Brandon Mull so I’m now reading and earlier book of his: The Candy Shop War. I Strongly recommend either of these books to any reader who loves to escape life and enter a world of fantasy and help them through their perils!
by Matthew, age 16
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is filled with adventure and surprises. Harry Potter finds himself wanted by the Ministry of Magic. Even the friendliest of wizards are not to be trusted. With the help of Harry’s friends, Ron and Hermione, the three of them try to recover all the horcruxes. What the friends do not know is that tragedy and sorrow await them. The final Harry Potter book is worth reading.
by Kyla, age 12
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
I just read Heidi by Johanna Spyri and it was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m not the type to cry when I read books but Johanna really caught me for the past hour. I think I cried once because I thought it was really touching.
by Chase, age 12
The Boxcar Children: Mystery at the Crooked House by Gertrude Chandler Warner
I found it interesting that a famous mystery author would leave their unpublished work in a dying rentable home.
by Chase, age 12