Teen Book Reviews

This book follows Samantha, a Chinese girl living in Missouri in 1849. After disaster strikes, she loses everything; she breaks the law defending herself. She meets Annamae, a slave looking to run away, and they hit the Oregon Trail together. They disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys searching for gold in California. They become friends with a group of cowboys and try to avoid the law. More importantly, they learn who they are.

I would recommend this book to tweens or teens who like romance books or a book with lots of turns. I would do this because it’s long, but worth every page. There’s action at every moment, but never too much. Also, I feel like the ending wrapped everything up perfectly. Stacey Lee created loveable characters who you feel connected to in a way. When they’re sad, you’re sad for them, and that kind of thing. Overall, this book is amazing, and makes you feel like you’re on the Oregon Trail with Sammy and Andy the whole time.

Sadie is an 18-year-old girl who has been responsible for her younger sister Mattie all her life. After Mattie’s murder, Sadie takes off to exact her revenge. Unbeknownst to her, her neighbor has gotten in touch with the radio personality, West McCray, in hopes of finding Sadie before she meets the same fate as Mattie. As the book progresses, it becomes clear who the killer is, something that Sadie has known all along.

Sadie was an amazing, effortlessly flowing book that describes small towns in America as well as the love between sisters. While the two different perspectives, which also take place at different times, may be confusing at times, I found it to be a refreshing and unique way to tell a story. The characters are extremely relatable and the plot is not what is expected. The clues are there, but what happens next in the story will definitely keep you suspenseful. This page-turner is perfect for a cozy rainy day at home or a long trip. I would highly recommend this book to any teen who enjoys reading about crime or who just wants a quick, interesting read!

Shannon Lynch is searching for a new start at Tommen College, a prestigious private school that can offer her an escape from the vicious bullying she’s endured for her whole life. Johnny Kavanagh is the complete opposite of Shannon—he’s popular, successful, and absolutely obsessed with rugby. When the two meet by accident on Shannon’s first day, both of their lives are changed forever as they begin to fall for each other.

I definitely recommend this book. The characters are extremely well-written and will feel like your best friends. There is a great mix of funny, romantic, and sad parts. The representation of anxiety and overthinking is perfect. Even though this book may seem intimidating because of its length, the pages fly by, and there is never a dull moment. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the Boys of Tommen series.

The Agathas is a mystery about a girl named Brooke Donovan who suddenly goes missing to the shock of the town. Is she dead? Was she kidnapped? Many people have their own speculations, specifically Brooke Donovan’s boyfriend, Steve, who had a fight with her the night she died. In the small town of Castle Cove, Alice Ogilvie and her tutor, Iris Adams, are determined to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the night Brooke Donovan went missing. As they dive deeper into the truth, the girl's suspicions of the police rise, along with a gut feeling that Brooke’s absence has nothing to do with Steve.

I think this book is an enjoyable read for anyone who likes mysteries. The dialogue is engaging, and there are many eye-catching pages of text messages, news articles, blurbs, and time stamps. I really liked how there is a constant change in character perspective from chapter to chapter. It makes the story interesting and fun to connect the two characters’ thoughts and emotions. The writer's imagery skills throughout the book create a somewhat morbid and chilling atmosphere when reading a mystery book. Overall, I thought The Agathas was a delightful read and I recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting and intriguing mystery book!

The book Pack Your Bags, Maggie Diaz follows a young girl in middle school as she paves her way through newly presented challenges. Maggie faces drama between family and friends while trying to maintain good grades and go on her long-awaited seventh-grade trip to St. Augustine. The friend group starts to break off, leaving everyone but Maggie in pairs, and the trip gets swept under the rug as they prepare for a dance.

This book is a great coming-of-age story, accurately depicting the social struggles and changes many kids face in middle school. Maggie provides a great role model for anyone needing guidance from someone who’s been in her shoes. She is a relatable character who brings hope to the story. Watching her go through these unknown waters teaches the reader that even though life changes, it’s not scary and unknown forever, and it often has a good ending. While presenting challenges, the story also shows all the exciting aspects that come with being in middle school, such as school trips and dances. This is an interesting and fun read; very beneficial to kids in this age range.