Teen Book Review: THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass

Teen Book Review for The Selection by Kiera Cass
by Stella S.

The Selection is a young adult book of post apocalyptic fiction about a competition for the prince’s heart in a broken future when people are separated into castes based on their wealth. And the whole country is ruled by a king. When the prince to the heir of the throne comes of age to be married, a competition is hosted at the palace to win his heart and find the next queen. A picture of every girl suggested to participate is sent to the prince. The prince makes his final decisions based on their profiles, regardless of their caste. A certain girl makes the Selection list-America. She is a five, which is a lower caste, and there very few of her in the competition. She has no idea how she made it to the palace, especially since she didn’t really want to be there in the first place. The competition unfolds and America finds her heart being pulled in two directions, one towards the kindhearted prince, Maxon, and her first fiery love, Aspen. As the competition continues, external rebel forces penetrate the palace-and, as the girls are realizing, an internal rebel force is helping them. America and the other girls are learning that this competition may not only be a competition for the crown and the prince, but for their lives, too. Along the way, America builds bonds and barriers with the other girls, developing friends and enemies, though, it’s hard to know who you can trust when you all want the same thing and some of you will do anything to get it. But one thing is for sure. If America doesn’t think something is right, she will do everything in her power to change it. And being in the Selection gives her the opportunity to change everything.

I enjoyed this book very much. I love reading young adult romantic adventures. This book is just that-not to mention the incredibly strong female characters. I admired how the author did something unique with the characters. Usually, the characters in the story always seem to do the right thing and do what is good. America may be fighting for what she thinks is right, but she also has a powerful personality and seems to act without thought or rationality. She tends to do the right thing for the wrong reason, and vice versa. Readers might even come to disrespect her at one point in the book. But this can just make a character even more dynamic and I thought it made the book more interesting. The author does a wonderful job of explaining the story happening, especially when she is describing the gigantic castle through America’s eyes. A setting so huge and intricate, and even futuristic, is challenging. But I can imagine everything perfectly. The author could probably be a bit more descriptive, but she doesn’t really need to be, because this book is a good opportunity to leave room for some of your own interpretations. The only thing I did not like about this book was that it was a bit slow moving. I do understand that it is a part of a series, the Selection series, so the author does not want anything to happen too fast or too soon. However, there were times when I did wish that things would become more fast paced and I found myself becoming a bit bored. But this is just a small problem for me. Overall, I think this book was brilliant, and trust me-you’ll want to read more.

If Stella's review makes you want to read The Selection, don't forget to look for the rest of the series!

Teen Book Review: EVERY DAY by David Levithan

Teen Book Review of Every Day by David Levithan

by Stella S.

Every Day is a romantic young adult book about a soul that changes bodies every day, never the same body twice, but always people living around the same area or place. This soul does not have a gender or a family or past. It just came to be one day and its life began by living through other people. This soul would live a person’s life for them for one day until midnight comes and it wakes up in another body. As long as this soul has lived, it has not done anything that reveals itself and it has just always tried not to damage its body’s life. But everything changes when it falls in love with a teenage girl named Rhiannon. They want to make something work but it’s almost impossible when this soul becomes someone else all the time. On top of that, someone that the soul once took the body of is becoming suspicious of why he can’t remember a day of his life at all. How can two people be together and love each other if their own lives are constantly trying to tear them apart?

This book definitely lived up to its reputation without being too sappy. It had its moments, but overall it was the perfect amount of romance. It was actually a very mature kind of romance and I think every teenager would love it if they’re interested in romantic books. It is a very heartwarming story of first loves and forbidden romances. I would hate to spoil anything, so all I will tell you is that the ending is satisfying. I love the writing. Since there are so many different bodies and characters in the story, there is a lot of room for imagination and I personally love to fill in the gaps-but that might not be for everyone. But if you like a looser kind of writing, you would love this book. It’s something I will most definitely read again.

If Stella's review makes you want to read Every Day, don't forget to look for it's sequel, Another Day. AND! A third book titled Someday is coming out October 2018! 

Teen Book Review: ALEX AND ELIZA by Melissa de la Cruz

Teen Book Review of Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz
by Stella S.

This is a story that was inspired by the romance between Eliza Schuyler and Alexander Hamilton, a real couple in history. Thanks to the Broadway musical Hamilton, most everybody knows who Alexander Hamilton and what he did during the American Revolution. In real life, Alexander Hamilton was married to Eliza Schuyler and Hamilton probably made you aware of the scandalous affair that Alexander Hamilton had with another woman. However, this story is how their marriage may have come to be and how the romance between them developed.

If this certain loves story interests you, I would suggest reading this book. However, I personally did not like it. It was too slow for me and a little boring. The romance slowly builds up and I prefer a faster kind of love story. Also, this book takes place in the 1800s, in which the language and traditions are also slower than they are today. Although the story is crawling, it is also beautiful. The writing is extremely descriptive and legato, allowing the story to sparkle and make me smile as I let Alexander’s and Eliza’s world take me back in time.

Keep those reviews coming, Stella!  

Don't forget to check out the sequel, Love & War! 

If you're interested in submitting book reviews for books you've read (whether you loved them or hated them), contact Katie at katiec@eastonpl.org! 

Teen Book Review: THE HATE U GIVE

Teen Book Review of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
by Stella S.

This book is about a teenage girl named Starr who lives in a dangerous neighborhood surrounded by gun violence and gangs. And yet it’s home. It might be scary to other people, but to her it’s normal, having grown up there her whole life. Starr is black, like the rest of her family, and most of the neighborhood she lives in. The color of her skin has never stopped her before or made her any different than anyone else. She even attends a prestigious high school that everybody stereotypes as a “white” school. Starr lived the same way every day and she never thought twice about it. That is, until her defenseless childhood friend is shot and killed by a white police officer. Starr begins to question her whole life and how she has been living it. She has always been in between two worlds, never really knowing where she belonged. But there shouldn’t be two worlds at all. Starr realizes just how racially divided her home really is and how unfairly people that look like her are being treated. But now she’s ready to do something about it. Starr will embark on a journey that reveals to her who her true friends are and just what people really think of her. She will also show her courage and passion for an equal society and justice for those who deserve it.

This book is phenomenal. It incorporates the language and culture of two races that have always been at odds. It also represents the racist society that still exists. This book is fiction, but is based on what could actually happen every day. I thought this book was beautiful and influential. I wish that everyone would read this book, especially if they have a very divided opinion about race. We are all the same. We all deal with some really bad stuff and I admire Angie Thomas’s forward thinking-the thinking we should all be sharing. This book made me want to cry with sadness and anger. It sparked a fire in my heart. I’m more aware now of how racist everyone can be despite of their skin tone and how dangerous their stereotypes and opinions can be. I recommend this book for anyone of any age. It possesses knowledge that should be apportioned throughout the country. Similar to powerful books like To Kill A Mockingbird, this book is a guaranteed classic in the future.

You rock, Stella!  

Teen Book Review: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES

Teen Book Review of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
by Stella S. 

This book is a classic story of love and passion by Jane Austen, with a slight twist by Seth Grahame. This story has become a huge adventure filled with danger and the undead. Mr. Darcy is one of the most renowned zombie killers in all of England. And Elizabeth Bennet is a strong and determined fighter intent on protecting her country and cutting down as many zombies as she can. When Darcy and Elizabeth fight together for the first time, sparks fly. From that moment on, they battle through zombie hordes and heartbreaks to be together.

I thought this book was very imaginative. It offered an element that exhibited more of the fiery personality of Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters. It identified them as great fighters that fought for more than just their love. Seth Grahame worked the zombies into this tale very cleverly. It is actually very impressive how everything came together. I have never read the classic story myself but I was very interested in this at the mention of zombies. I think this book interests a larger group of people with its added element. Also, this book is just a fun read. The zombies add quite the comedic touch. However, for any Pride and Prejudice lovers, you will enjoy this, too. It includes everything that the original book has, plus just a little more. The comedy, romance, and battle all link together to fabricate a wonderful book.

Keep the great reviews coming, Stella! 

Teen Book Review: THE PRINCESS BRIDE

Teen Book Review of The Princess Bride by William Goldman  

by Stella S. 

Buttercup is a beautiful villager in her land chosen by the prince as his bride. The problem is that she is already in love with someone else. Buttercup met her true love when he was a farm boy on her land. He left for a new land to find a job and money so they could start a life together, but tragedy struck. Buttercup was left devastated and vulnerable. Prince Humperdinck now has his eyes on Buttercup and is determined to make his the next queen. Before Buttercup can be made queen, however, she is kidnapped by a band of fugitives who are hoping to hold her for ransom and start a war between their land and another, employed by someone anonymous. From that party, Buttercup is rescued by a mysterious man in black. Who is he? Why does he want Buttercup? The Princess Bride is a tale of adventure and true love filled with daring sword fights, tragic romances, and hilarious encounters.

This is a fantastic, intriguing story. I actually read this book for my summer book report and I loved it. It was fun to read, and that can be a hard thing to find sometimes when you’re reading a book for a book report. But I have definitely found a story that I will be delighted to read again in the future. I hope you consider reading this story. It is a very clever classic story that everyone thinks of when they think of adventure and romance. It is a bit of a stereotype when it comes to what girls and boys can do, but it is extremely enjoyable all the same. I look forward to reading this again soon and refreshing my memory about how interesting it really is.

Thanks for your review Stella!  

Palmer's YA Book Group Recommends...

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl
Paige McKenzie

Something freaky's going on with Sunshine's new house . . . there's the chill that wraps itself around her bones, the giggling she can hear in the dead of night, and then the strange shadows that lurk in her photographs. But the more weird stuff that happens, the less her mom believes her. Sunshine's always had a quirky affiliation with the past, but this time, history is getting much too close for comfort . . .

If there is something, or someone, haunting her house, what do they want? And what will they do if Sunshine can't help them?

The Fixer
Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Sixteen-year-old Tess Kendrick has spent her entire life on her grandfather's ranch. But when her estranged sister Ivy uproots her to D.C., Tess is thrown into a world that revolves around politics and power. She also starts at Hardwicke Academy, the D.C. school for the children of the rich and powerful, where she unwittingly becomes a fixer for the high school set, fixing teens’ problems the way her sister fixes their parents’ problems.

And when a conspiracy surfaces that involves the family member of one of Tess's classmates, love triangles and unbelievable family secrets come to light and life gets even more interesting—and complicated—for Tess.

The Catastrophic History of You & Me
Jess Rothenberg

Brie's life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

Since You've Been Gone
Morgan Matson

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

 

Bonus...

Required Reading Doesn't Always Suck

Emma C. liked Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, which she read for school.

Palmer Branch's Young Adult Book Group meets one Saturday a month from 1p - 2p.  If you're interested, contact Miss Ashley for details.  You can join the Facebook Group, too!

Teen Book Review: Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

TEEN BOOK REVIEW: Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

"The book Gossip Girl (book number one) by Cecily Von Ziegesar is about New York girls and boys with very rich parents that are socialites with much drama, relationships, ups and downs, health issues, and much more!

I absolutely love this book and the TV show but it is definitely for mature young adults. I cannot put it down, it's totally page turning.  I love all the characters!"

By Daisy H., Teen Guest Reviewer

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Want to be a Teen Guest Reviewer and submit a book review to post on Operation: YA? 

Send your book review to Katie (katiec@eastonpl.org) or Ashley (ashleys@eastonpl.org). 

Reviews can be as long or short as you'd like. Each review must tell readers what the book is about and what you did or didn't like about it. All reviews are proofread before posting.

Reviews will be posted on the Operation: YA blog and put on display in the Young Adult section.

Submit your book review today!