Looking for a good book? Check out these recommendations by fellow Farmington Community Library teens! Comments are welcome - or join our Teen Advisory Board to add reviews of your own!
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind (anime)
Personally, I feel that contrary to popular belief, this part was much worse than parts 3 and 4. They had lots of good ideas, but those were dwarfed by the strange mistakes in writing. Araki conveniently forgot about the concept of a new ability being added to a Stand used during the fight against Black Sabbath. It pains me how villains became conveniently dumb, heroes became conveniently weak, and abilities conveniently forgotten for the sake of plot. Requiem abilities existed for 2 episodes and were forgotten instantly. In the end, it really felt like Araki wrote himself into a corner and pulled out GER and all of its abilities. King Crimson seemed to have no explanation for many of its abilities, and everything after the fight with Metallica was confusing, rushed, and unexplained. I loved the humor and nonstop fun-to-read story, but the flaws ruined it for me.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Amazing. It's by the same author who wrote Scat! It's about burrowing owls and a boy in Florida and a girl (and her brother). They saved them by sabotaging an opening of a pancake house where the owls lived.
Labels:
5,
Animals,
Made into Film,
Mystery,
Realistic Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews
"Jollywood" (song from the Moshi Monsters Movie)
This song is stuck in the depths of my mind, and it's only the chorus line. Like, it's great, but after a while it becomes better to sing - or attempt to sing in my case. I just love the silly antics and fun spirit in the song. I think it's one of the best songs of the movie besides Dr. Strangelove's song!
Labels:
4,
Movies,
Music,
Teen Book Reviews,
Video Game
Alex Rider: Eagle Strike by Anthony Horowitz
This book is amazing. It is extremely entertaining. The secrets, the story, the ending!!! Worth the 5 stars.
Labels:
5,
Action,
Adventure,
Mystery,
Teen Book Reviews
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Very, very interesting. Many plot twists. You can't stop reading it once you start. So many characters with different powers. Great book!!!
Labels:
5,
Elves,
Fantasy,
Magic,
Teen Book Reviews
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
This series looks to be very interesting so far. It talks about a hobbit named Bilbo Boggins who does not like going on and the idea of adventures.
Labels:
4,
Adventure,
Dragons,
Fantasy,
Made into Film,
Teen Book Reviews
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Scythe was a good read. The concept of this world was interesting, and the characters were written well. The plot was pretty good, and the 2nd book was worth it after the cliffhanger.
Labels:
4,
Fantasy,
Science Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews
White Bird by R.J. Palacio
This book touched me so much that it brought tears to my eyes. It's not a continuation of the book Wonder (also made by R.J. Palacio), but it is the story of Julian's grandmother; her story of her childhood. This graphic novel pulls you into a whole new life, with a whole new meaning. The novel teaches how the world was once cruel, and how we're so lucky to be living in a life that is much more peaceful. SPEND YOUR LIFE WISELY.
Labels:
5,
Graphic Novels,
Historical Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews,
War,
WWII
My Deepest Secret (webtoon)
I love the interesting love triangle, and the drama in each chapter always keeps me wanting to read more.
Labels:
5,
Graphic Novels,
Mystery,
Realistic Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
When she was born, Ella received the gift of obedience from Lucinda the fairy. Ella finds that her gift is truly a curse as anyone can make her do anything, even harmful things. Determined to be her own person, Ella sets out to rid herself of her forced subservience.
Labels:
4,
Adventure,
Fantasy,
Humor,
Princesses,
Teen Book Reviews
Finally by Wendy Mass
It's a good book. It's about how this girl couldn't get what she wanted until she knew what she truly wanted before her 12th birthday.
Labels:
4,
Coming of Age,
Realistic Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews
Criminal Minds (TV Series)
I found it interesting to watch and it's very suspenseful and entertaining. I would recommend it to anyone who likes crime TV shows.
Labels:
5,
Mystery,
Teen Book Reviews,
Thriller,
TV Series
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I really enjoyed it, and it is one of the only books in which I would have to stop and slow down to fully understand all of the information. The unique way of writing in which the book was more focusing on the characters rather than the plot.
Labels:
5,
Classics,
Family,
Historical Fiction,
Love,
Made into Film,
Teen Book Reviews
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Out of My Mind is a great book with many twists and turns. There are many ways for people to connect to the story too.
Labels:
4,
Disability,
Family,
Realistic Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews
Stolen Girl by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Nadia is having flashbacks. She is getting flashes of her past in nightmares and memories. But they don't add up. Sometimes she is on the run, and sometimes she is in a fancy farm house with a family she does not remember. A really good book based in World War II. There are two other books by this author related to this one.
Labels:
4,
Family,
Historical Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews,
Tough Topics,
War,
WWII
The Secret World of Arrietty (movie)
This movie explores the world of a tiny teenager (and I mean teeny tiny) named Arrietty. I like this movie because it gives us a small but unique view on the world. Though, the ending kinda...spoilers.
Simon Bloom: The Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman
A teen finds a book allowing him to manipulate the laws of physics. Meanwhile, a crisis of all the Book Keepers as individual Keepers of Physics struggle for control over the group.
Labels:
5,
Adventure,
Fantasy,
Science Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews
Something Like Summer by Jay Bell
A good quick read.
Labels:
4,
LGBTQ+,
Realistic Fiction,
Romance,
Teen Book Reviews
New Kid by Jerry Craft
The story is about a kid named Jordan Banks who lived in a rough neighborhood. So his mom wants to put him in a private school. The reason I like this book is because it has a lot of drawings and because it's a graphic novel.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
This is one of my all time favorite books. It is a good love story, but the guy ends up dying towards the end. She goes on in the next books by trying to reinvent herself, and gain her happiness back.
Labels:
5,
Disability,
Grief,
Made into Film,
Romance,
Teen Book Reviews
Zero Day by Jan Gangsei
Zero Day is about how Virginia's mayor, now president, had his daughter kidnapped from him 8 years ago. Then she mysteriously appeared and no one knows how or why. Then her best friend, from before she was kidnapped, figured it out...
Labels:
3,
Family,
Mystery,
Teen Book Reviews,
Thriller
Defining Gravity by Genevieve McKay
First things first: there were MANY punctuational errors. This was unacceptable. Also, the main character Astrid didn't have very much impulse control and was too spoiled (even though she didn't want to admit it). Basically, Astrid had a stupid accident that could have been prevented. Then, she goes to work at a pricey dressage barn EVEN THOUGH SHE'S INJURED. One star is too much for this. Don't waste your time. Read Misty of Chincoteague instead.
Labels:
1,
Animals,
Realistic Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews
Minecraft: The Lost Journals by Mur Lafferty
Max and Alison are polar opposites. Max is an impulsive rule-breaker, while Alison prefers to follow the rules. Their lives are both scarred by tragic pasts, and Max's mom has forbade them from doing anything dangerous. But when they find an abandoned cabin so conveniently located by a broken-down Nether portal, they toss rules out the window and are dragged into an epic, life-changing quest.
As an avid Minecraft player, I devoured this book. It had a complicated, intricately crafted (ha - see what I did there?) plot, but not so much that it was tricky to follow. The emotions of the characters were portrayed in a very real and raw way. If you liked The Island by Max Brooks, you would love this book! Disclaimer: Prior knowledge and/or use of Minecraft is recommended before you read this book.
As an avid Minecraft player, I devoured this book. It had a complicated, intricately crafted (ha - see what I did there?) plot, but not so much that it was tricky to follow. The emotions of the characters were portrayed in a very real and raw way. If you liked The Island by Max Brooks, you would love this book! Disclaimer: Prior knowledge and/or use of Minecraft is recommended before you read this book.
Labels:
4,
Adventure,
Teen Book Reviews,
Video Game
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
This book is a great, smart thriller, which is also a great read. The Scythe universe is unique and amazing and follows a futuristic, unique world.
Labels:
5,
Fantasy,
Science Fiction,
Teen Book Reviews
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