Teen Book Reviews

How to Stay Invisible is a story about the bravery of a young boy and his dog as they face challenges. Scared to ask for help, Raymond makes himself invisible by blending into the background of his crowded school when his parents leave. He learns to be grateful for the most mundane things, and in the end he’s finally able to find happiness with a new foster family, no longer needing to stay hidden.

I recommend this book because it appeals to many different struggles, teaches gratitude, and has a happy ending. Through Raymond's shoes, you get to experience finding a sense of belonging after feeling like an outcast and explore the freedom all kids dream about, and the independence required to sustain that freedom. Raymond is a character relating to kids who don't have traditional family dynamics but still find happy homes. This feel-good story will grab the reader’s attention, make a connection, and has an uplifting ending. How to Stay Invisible is an interesting, fun read for children interested in chapter books.

Lina’s family is taken by NKVD officers from their Lithuanian home. During the long, hard journey across Russia, Lina meets Andrius and can’t help falling for him. The NKVD wants her to serve 25 years hard labor for her crimes against the state. Through determination and bravery she makes sure no one will ever forget what happens by drawing what she goes through, even though if anyone finds out, her story won’t end well.

Between Shades of Gray is an eye-opening novel about the struggles real people went through during the Baltic Genocide. Ruta Sepetys describes in incredible detail what it would be like to go through what Lina and her family did. I would recommend this book to teens between the ages of 12 and 14. If you like romance and historical fiction, you’ll love this book! If you don’t like books that are heavy or sad, I wouldn’t recommend this book. Although there are some sad parts, it’s inspiring how Lina perseveres through all her hardships. All in all, this is a book that shows how brave people survive during hard times.

Seth is a teenager who dies and ends up in an abandoned world. He recognizes the place where he ends up, and he believes that it is a personal hell designed to punish him. He eventually finds two other kids that have ended up there that have theories about what this place is. They discover that all of society has entered an online world to escape the apocalypse.

I highly recommend More Than This because it is a thought provoking novel. It guides you along Seth’s line of thinking, then reveals a truth that is totally different. The book deals with themes of sacrifice and perseverance. I was entertained the entire time I was reading the book, and was hooked from the beginning. I recommend it for people who enjoy sci-fi, mystery, or dystopian novels.

In August, 1939 Atlas and his dad prepare to climb Mount Everest. Soon, they meet Mr. Pierson and his daughter Maddie. On August 21, Atlas, Maddie, and Chodak stay behind while the rest of the team starts the hike to the summit. Atlas receives a call that an intense storm is coming. After an incident occurs, Atlas must set out to rescue the team. After intense setbacks, Atlas is reunited with his dad once again.

As a reader of many books, I would recommend One Wrong Step, by Jennifer Nielsen for teens and pre-teens. This book is suspenseful and adventurous from beginning to end. It is also great for historical fiction lovers. Finally, this book provides the reader with capturing moments and paints each scene in the reader’s mind. In my opinion, this book is a must read!

Pip starts a podcast and wants to take a break, but can’t because after the memorial for Andie and Sal, Jamie goes missing and the police refuse to help. Pip investigates and discovers Jamie was messaging a catfish online and secretly looking into the Child Brunswick case. She reads his notes and discovers that both mysteries are linked to a man named Charlie Green. How the two mysteries connected is fascinating and leaves Pip traumatized.

Good Girl, Bad Blood is an extremely captivating and exciting novel. I could feel myself in Pip’s shoes when she decides to help find Jamie despite her wanting to take a break from investigating and solving what happened to Andie and Sal in the previous book, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, when she reads the messages that Jamie manipulated Charlie with, and her realization of the fact that Charlie was responsible for the “Child Brunswick” case and then killing Jamie. I also feel bad when Pip begins to struggle emotionally and feels so traumatized and unsafe that she even feels the need to carry around a weapon for safety.