This month, we're doing things a little differently. Instead of sharing what our staff are reading - we're sharing reviews by our Teen Reviewers!
This a group of teens who meet online each month to learn how to discuss and write about books and media for different audiences.
These teens earn volunteer hours for participating in our monthly discussions and contributing reviews for a variety of media platforms - like this one!
So let's give a big Ptbo Library welcome to our awesome teens and see what they're reading!
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Series: The Darkest Minds #1
A deadly disease is wiping out kids across the nation - the ones who survived are known to have special abilities. Once the government finds out about her little secret, Ruby Daly, the protagonist of the story, flees her camp with help from Liam and his team.
Overall, I loved this book: The Darkest Minds has good messages about self-acceptance: Ruby was such a good role model, teaching us not to be afraid to show our true potential and not to let anyone take our strength away. The characters had unique backgrounds but worked together perfectly. I felt like I was immersed in the scenes, and the emotions are so well written that I felt them, too. The diversity in the book was special. It was nice to see other races being a part of something so great. It has a little bit of everything for every reader: romance, action, science fiction, adventure and thriller.
~Teen Reviewer: APM, age 14
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The Place Between Breaths is about a girl whose name was Grace whose mother had schizophrenia. Grace starts seeing and hearing things, but then she meets Will, someone at work who helps her. As she battles the first symptoms of schizophrenia, she finds comfort in her work and her friends.
This book would appeal: to someone who wants to understand the difficulties and hardships of people with schizophrenia, so long as they have the patience for confusing narrative and an unsettling ending with little resolution or explanation. I found it extremely confusing, and had to reread multiple parts of the book just to understand what was happening. It was really hard to tell which characters are actually real and which are only figments of Grace’s imagination. If An Na was trying to make the reader understand the confusion and hardships of people with schizophrenia, she succeeded!
~Teen Reviewer: Mariana, age 14
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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is about a senior doing a final project that she must complete in order to graduate. Her project topic is a murder that took place in her community: she believes that the person who was found guilty of the murder didn’t commit it. The book follows her attempts to figure out who really committed the murder.
I definitely recommend this book: it was very intriguing and really grabbed my attention, and it’s one of those books that you want to read continuously because it keeps you hooked. However, I would not recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t enjoy books about murder or to any young readers - the book is pretty graphic in a couple of different parts.
~Teen Reviewer: KS, age 14
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A Simple Favor is story about a “mommy blogger” (a stay-at-home mom who writes a blog for other moms) who is trying to find out the truth about her best friend's mysterious disappearance. It is an interesting story - very intriguing and shocking.
I recommend this book: to people who are looking for a story that has mystery and sassy characters. In 2018, a film adaptation was released starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.
~Teen Reviewer: Monca, age 15
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Series: Shattered Realms #3
Evan Strangward is a Stormcaster with a magemark on his neck. The magemark is the cause of all his problems; he cannot find a job anywhere - the moment anyone sees the mark, he is thrown out. He is finally hired by a pirate. However, there is no rest for the weary: an empress from a distant land wants Evan for her own mysterious purposes ....
I highly recommend this series: along with the earlier Seven Realms series, it is a must-read for readers in high school or older if they like fantasy, adventure, and a bit of a thrill, sparkled with some romance. Full of interesting plot twists, the author leaves some points to the imagination in the first three books in the series, which she then ties up quite nicely in Deathcaster. This series is certainly not for tweens or younger teens, as there are some explicit scenes and violence.
~Teen Reviewer: Nileppe, age 15
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Series: The Six of Crows Duology #1
When vengeful Kaz Brekker is offered a huge money reward for carrying out a heist and breaking into the Ice Court, he can't turn it down. There's just one problem: it's never been done before. In order to achieve this, he organizes a ragtag team of six: Inej, who hopes to use the money to get home at last; Nina, a rowdy Heartrender; Jesper, a walking disaster with great aim; Wylan, a quiet chemist; and Matthias, a convict who just wants to get back to his own country.
I was awestruck by this book: In addition to great POC (people of colour) representation, beautiful writing, and hilarious dialogue, the characters alone are enough to keep you turning the pages. Six of Crows would be great for anyone who likes adventure, but especially fans of heist stories and fantasy. The title contains sensitive material like violence, addiction, sexual abuse and slavery; however, all these subjects are approached in a very insightful and thoughtful way.
~Teen Reviewer: Kell M, age 14
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Norse Mythology is author Neil Gaiman’s retelling of a handful of old Norse myths featuring familiar figures such as Thor, Odin, and Loki, as well as other deities, giants, and dwarves featured in Norse mythology.
I would recommend this book to those interested in mythology, although I believe it would be enjoyable for anyone who enjoys a good story. Gaiman’s writing is witty, and his renditions of the characters are vivid - and as likeable as millennium-old mythical beings can be. Although teens and adults alike will enjoy it, Norse Mythology would not be suitable for young children: some of the stories are a little grisly or violent, and contain mild sexual references (as is often the case with mythology of any kind).
~Teen Reviewer: ALM, age 17
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First Son of America, Alexander Claremont-Diaz is the younger child of Ellen Claremont, the first female president of the United States who was elected in an alternate reality in 2016. Alex is an ambitious, determined guy with big dreams, and he hates rude Prince Henry of Wales who is lacking in personality. After a royal wedding, a drunken confrontation, and a $75,000 cake mishap, Alex and Henry are forced to become closer than they had ever thought possible. With Alex's mom running for re-election in 2020, they must do everything they can to keep the public happy. But will their new friendship end in disaster? Or perhaps something more...
This is one of the best books I've ever read: with such engaging plot lines and real characters, I laughed and I cried – and though the whole book was a rollercoaster of emotions, I couldn't put it down. Red, White & Royal Blue is diverse with LGBTQ+ characters and people of colour, but the diversity never feels forced.
~Teen Reviewer: Maddie H, age 13
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If I’m Being Honest is about a girl named Cameron who is known for telling the truth. She offends a girl when she's trying to impress a guy she likes, and then he wants nothing to do with her. After that, she goes on an apology tour so that Andrew (the guy) will forgive her.
Overall, this is a really good book: I feel like it had just about the right parts of dramatic, funny, and a tiny bit of romance. I really enjoyed this book because when I was reading it, it felt like I was there with Cameron. I felt like I really got to know her and some of the other characters.
~Teen Reviewer: Moe, age 14
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Ever since Scarlett was little, she dreamed of escaping the Isle where her sister and she live with their abusive father, and attending the Caraval, a magical game where fantasy and reality collide. But when Scarlett and Tella are invited one year, they realize that it may not be as easy as they first thought. This is a story of love, betrayal, an incredible journey, and most importantly, the bond between two sisters.
I would absolutely recommend this book: From the very start it hooks you and makes you want to keep reading. You become immersed in the magical world the author creates, and the ending will leave you wanting more and excited to read the sequels.
~Teen Reviewer: Elleon, age 14
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Peace and Good Order dives into the many underlying issues surrounding injustice towards the Indigenous people in Canada. The book mainly focuses on Northern Saskatchewan communities and how Canada and its justice system fail to solve any of the issues like the repercussions of alcohol, the high level of incarceration, unemployment, stolen land, residential schools.
This book is a must-read: I found it educational and eye-opening because it put Indigenous issues into perspective. I also liked how the author suggested solutions after detailed issues were talked about.
~Teen Reviewer: Allie, age 17
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