Hold Still

Reader: Annika M
Age: 14
Title: Hold Still
Author: Nina Lacour
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pub Date: ??/14/2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Did the cover tempt you: The cover tempted me to pick up the book because of its colors, and because of how artsy it was.
Recommend: Yes
How would you convince a friend to read this book: I would tell her that it’s about a girl recovering from her best friend's suicide.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling aspect of this book was when the main character found her friends diary and you saw the entries throughout the book. It was cool to see another perspective to the setting and characters of the story. I wish there had been a few more entries, though.
Were you disappointed with the book: I wasn't disappointed with the book.
Comments: The characters have a lot of depth in this book.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 12-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

The Freak Observer

Reader: Sophie D
Age: 14
Title: The Freak Observer
Author: Blythe Woolston
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Pub Date: Aug. 2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Annotation: Loa has a broken family, a dead baby sister, no friends, and she's just seen someone die. Not only that, but whenever she goes to sleep (and sometimes while she's awake), he's always there, The Bony Guy, or death. How is she ever going to get through her senior year of high school?
Was the cover tempting: This cover is extremely gross. I don't like it, personally, but I do think that it is an extremely intriguing and different cover, and I would definitely pick it up if I saw it in a bookstore.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: It's horribly creepy, extremely disturbing, and really depressing. But it is also a well written story about a girl whose life is completely screwed up, and how she kind of overcomes that screwed-upness.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: I've never read a book like this. I loved every part of it, but the best part was the writing. The author has a very concise, to the point way of putting things, which was very interesting to read. The main character was wonderful, and the way her family life and dreams were described was very vivid.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I would have liked to know how the main character's life turned out, but the book was amazing and there was nothing disappointing about it.
Age Range: 14-17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Cherub: Mission 1: The Recruit

Reader: Luke M
Age: 16
Title: Cherub: Mission 1: The Recruit
Author: Robert Muchamore
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pub Date: ?
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: No
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The fact they were kids was interesting but it seemed like an Alex Rider rip-off. I also enjoyed the 100-day basic training. Many of the characters were also good and well laid out.
Were you disappointed with the book: It seemed unrealistic as nothing those kids did would be allowed by a government and couldn't be done by existing intelligence agencies. Why would M15 have done 2 years observation, and then submit a plan to an ethics committee, wait for approval on a time-dependant mission, send in a kid that had no background or cover identity in the area and then let him botch it up? The discovery Amy and James found at the convention center could have been made by anyone with a good security system and couple guards on patrol. The kids also seemed way too young to be doing any intensive training like that. James shows up out of shape and supposedly passes a super hard basic training program and when done can easily do 2-hour runs? He shouldn't have survived it. Finally, sending agents with only 100 days training on dangerous missions is stupid. Most intelligent intelligence agencies would recruit military trained personal and send them through years of training. Tired and exhausted people doing assault courses have problems learning languages and gun maintenance.
Comments: The large amount of romance seemed overplayed. James seems to have a crush on Amy, Kerry and Jonnah at age 12. Not many 6th graders have girlfriends. Also, people seem to have an obsession with going to the bathroom. Why do we need so many descriptions? Finally, what is with the T-shirt system? Rank badges would be more discreet and simpler.
Did the cover tempt you and/or it reflect the contents: The cover's rusted look was interesting but not unique and nothing new. The creature on the cover is not a cherub and doesn’t relate at all. The European copies have better covers by far.
Age Range: 14-15
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

For Keeps

Reader: Sophie D
Age: 14
Title: For Keeps
Author: Natasha Friend
Publisher: Viking
Pub Date: 4/6/10
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents of the book: This cover is bland. It does not fit with the plot of the book, but it does fit with the tone. This looks like a fluff book, and it is a fluff book.
Recommend: No
Convince us to read the book: It's not a terrible book, it just isn't very good. The main character is horribly self centered and at times just plain mean, and the plot is pretty interesting, but it gets kind of confusing towards the end, and the author leaves a lot of loose ends and doesn't really resolve the problems.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The plot was interesting. It was a pretty good look at teen pregnancies and family relationships, but the characters were pretty flat and boring.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: It just wasn't that good. It needs more work. It has the potential for a great book, but it needs to be taken to a higher level.
Age Range: 14-15
Quality: 2Q Needs more work
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Incarceron

Reader: Ashley F
Age: 18
Title: Incarceron
Author: Cathrine Fisher
Publisher: Dial Books
Pub Date: 02/2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top10: No
Recommend: Yes
Convince to read book: It's different than any other book I've read.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The fact that it's a historical/sci-fi type book. The world is different than any other world in other books I've read.
Were you disappointed with the book at all: It was a little slow at the beginning, but a friend said that it was good and she did not lie. After the first part, I had a hard time putting the book down.
Comments: The characters were all very different and very relate-able. The ending was very good. It left it open for a sequel, but wasn't a cliff hanger that would get readers upset and keep wanting more. Again, this book was very different from other books I've read. The whole world, both worlds, are very unique. Inside Incarceron is very futuristic while Outside is a mix of old and future. The writing is amazing as well. Fisher really makes you feel like you're there, with the characters. Her descriptions are great. I will definitely recommend this to my friends.
Did it reflect the contents: Yes, the cover is very eye-catching and relevant to the story.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 14-18 up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Reader: Mollie

Age: 16
Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green and David Levithan
Publisher: Penguin
Pub Date: 04/06/2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teena’ Top 10: Yes
Annotation: Will Grayson and Will Grayson meet up in a porn shop and soon find their lives becoming intertwined after that chance encounter.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Though the transition between two very different writing aesthetics can be frustrating at times, it's also rather unique and refreshing. Even if you like one author's style more than the other, it's still a strong story and worth reading through the less engaging parts.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The best part of the book, is one of the main characters in both stories (the story is told from two different perspectives)who surprisingly narrates neither. He's a gay eccentric teen by the name of the Tiny. Through both vantage points Tiny is a very distinguished and likable person, that really comes alive throughout the entire book.
Were you disappointed with the book at all: At the beginning I felt the writing was quite lopsided, I enjoyed the more descriptive author who clearly is John Green. But as David Levithan's side progressed more, his character grew to be at least semi-likable.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: I loved the cover because it was very abstract and wasn't the typical book cover. I also have a strong preference towards abstract art rather than the literal though, so that may be just a personal inclination.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 12-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Thirteenth Child

Reader: Sophie D
Age: 14
Title: Thirteenth Child
Author: Patricia C. Wrede
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pub Date: April 2009
Galley: No
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: It's a perfect historical fantasy, with magic, wonderful, three-dimensional characters, and a gripping and compelling plot.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The story is seen from the eyes of a young girl in the beginning, and as she grows up throughout the rest of the book. This really lets the reader see her character develop, as well as the characters closest to her. It is also a very interesting kind of magic that is used in the book, and the descriptions of that magic kept me reading and wanting more.
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I was not disappointed with this book in any way. I can't wait for the sequel.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover is very interesting and reflects the contents very well. You can tell right away that the book will have to do with living on the frontier and magic, because of the pictures on the cover. The style is fun to look at and catches the reader's attention.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 12-15
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

The Tear Collector

Reader: Elise S
Age: 14
Title: The Tear Collector
Author: Patrick Jones
Publisher: Walker Books
Pub Date: Sept. 2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Did the cover tempt you: The cover was very cool, it intrigued me, the combination of the tear and the title. It made me very curious, which is what you want in a cover.
Recommend: No
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling thing was watching the tensions between Cassandra and her family, just because there was a high stake there, unlike most of the rest of the novel.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I had high hopes for this book. I really did. But it turned out to be sort of blah. Five minutes after I finished the book I couldn't remember the main character's name. There wasn't a big turning point, the protagonist didn't have a lot of character, and I just didn't care! It seemed petty. After she made her "final" decision she didn't stick to it, her indecision dragged on and on and on for forever. Also, there was some very messed up logic at the end. "I'll kill my dead best friend's 8-year-old sister to become human, because she has terminal cancer and will die anyways. Should I? Shouldn't I? I can't, I'll just kill this girl I don't really like from high school instead, yay!" No! Everybody's a jerk at some point in their life, maybe she'll grow out of it. I was not impressed.
Age Range: 12-15
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

Peace, Love & Baby Ducks

Reader: Annika M
Age: 14
Title: Peace, Love & Baby Ducks
Author: Lauren Myracle
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
Pub Date: May 2009
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover did tempt me to pick up the book because it was simple. Lots of covers have complicated pictures, which isn't always bad, but usually doesn't reflect the contents of the book. Peace, Love & Baby Ducks is simple and happy, and so the cover should be too. I think this is the perfect cover for the story.
Recommend: Yes
How would you convince a friend to read the book: I would tell her (I probably wouldn't recommend this to a boy) that it’s a teen story about a girl looking after her little sister in high school.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling aspect of the book was how the characters’ relationships changed as the plot went on. The main character, Carly, changes how she sees other people as the book goes on, because she grows as a person. She changes relationships with lots of people, and usually it’s unexpected.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book: I wasn't disappointed with the book.
Age Range: Under 12-15
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Draw the Dark

Reader: Elise S
Age: 14
Title: Draw the Dark
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Pub Date: 10/2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Annotation: Christian Cage is an orphaned, teenage artist, living with his uncle in small town Wisconsin. Uncanny, and often lethal powers have visited him since a young age, but now they're getting stronger. A mystery is emerging, one tracing back to WWII, and that endangers the entire town.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Draw the Dark is a wonderful combination of fantasy, murder mystery, sci-fi, and historical fiction. The mystery is tense and exciting, with real (or so you feel) repercussions for the protagonist. Little details come back that you'd never have expected. Subplots are woven in that are amazingly ingenious, and don't really end until the last page.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The mystery. I'm a sucker for murder mysteries, and when an author adds in WWII, it makes it all the better. There is no way to predict the ending, and I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. The author very craftily provides new information so that there's hardly any down time.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover is creepily compelling. The altogether darkish atmosphere makes the glowing door all the more intriguing. The location is key in the novel, and it really represents the book.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 12-18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it

For Keeps

Reader: Megan W
Age: 17
Title: For Keeps
Author: Natasha Friend
Publisher: Penguin
Pub Date: 04/06/10
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Annotation: Friend captures the true essence of what it means to be a family. For Keeps is a heart-warming tale for all ages that delves into different relationships that people form with each other, and how some relationships will never change.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: To me, this book has human emotions and feelings down to a T. I thought the characters were wonderfully developed, and the plot was very well done as well. It's about a girl, Josie, whose mom raised her all alone. Josie knows very little about her biological father, Paul, and for a while, that was ok, until Paul's parents show up in Josie's town. Josie's mom, Kate, freaks out, and everything that follows is how the two deal with the possibility of Paul being back in town.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: I think one of the reasons that I loved this book so much was because Josie and her mom are best friends. I can relate to that; my mom and I are super close and talk all the time about anything and everything. I thought For Keeps was sweet and endearing, and it wasn't fake at all. All the relationships were very real; nothing was too perfect. There were fights and arguments and make-ups; just like real life.
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I loved how this book was able to throw in some controversial topics without making them a big deal. Josie's best friend has gay parents, and other things that I won't say for fear of ruining anything. All in all, I thought For Keeps is definitely a keeper. :]
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: I believe that the cover for For Keeps is beautiful and very well done. I love the colors, and I really love how the people in the background are fuzzy, and the only thing that you can clearly see are their intertwined hands. The colors are soft, giving a peaceful feeling. There is also a piece of a postcard on the cover that doesn't make sense until the end of the book. I think the cover portrays the book very well.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 16-17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Reader: Frances W
Age: 13
Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green and David Levithan
Publisher: Penguin
Pub Date: 4/?/2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Though the first few chapters are hard to get through, stick with it! The second chapter Will Grayson seemed like less of a jerk after that. It's a really funny book with a lot of heart and an extremely epic ending! You'll love it!
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling aspect of the book was definitely Tiny. A humongous guy who is possibly the gayest person ever. He. Is. Awesome. Not only is he super gay, but very funny and compassionate. I would totally be his best friend—if he was real.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: I was rather disappointed by the cover. I mean, it wasn't ugly, but it didn't reflect the book's contents at all or tempt me to read it all that much. It sort of seemed like whoever chose it thought teens would just go "ooo shiny" and pick it up, which, to be honest sounds like it would work on some teens I know, but still isn't the right way to go with the cover.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 12-18 up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

The Freak Observer

Reader: Payton G
Age: 14
Title: The Freak ObserverAuthor: Blythe Woolston
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Pub Date: 08/??/2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Annotation: LOA LINDBERG - If you take a dead sister, a dead best friend, nightmares, and failing grades, throw them all into one
person, then your result is a freak observer.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This is a very unique book, because even though there really isn't a plot, the character is relatable and the book is more like a snapshot of this person's life.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The most compelling aspect to me was that this is a very different sort of book. I've read plotless books before, but this one was unique in that it still had a story in it.
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover definitely tempted me into picking up the book, because it's not every day that you're going to see a book with a heart on the front cover. Also, this cover really made sense with the book, without giving anything away. I absolutely would not change this cover.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 14-17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Hate List

Reader: Elise S
Age: 14
Title: Hate List
Author: Jennifer Brown
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Pub Date: Sept. 2009
Galley: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This book shows you all sides of a really hard issue, a Columbine-esque shooting. There are no clear-cut answers saying the shooter is terrible, or the victims are the only people to blame. Because the protagonist is the girlfriend of the shooter, you see both the good side and the bad side of her boyfriend. Valerie's struggles and feelings are relatable, and you can't put it down.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: Watching her relationships change with the people around her and those who had been killed/maimed and their families was amazing. I couldn't stop reading. The plot is carried through the entire story, and it comes to a great conclusion.
Comments: Just, wow.
Were you disappointed with the book at all: The only thing I was disappointed in was that there wasn't a bigger part for Bea, the crazy, purple-obsessed, art teacher. I felt like there was a wealth of things to put in about her, and her great character wasn't used to her full potential.
Did you finish: Yes
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: The cover was very clever, the different shades of black and gray making her face, but with very minimal detail. I loved how the title was in a teardrop, and the font that the letters were really looked like the title was moving. The blue was beautifully accented. Not to mention the fact that it completely conveys the heavy feel of the book.
Age Range: 14-17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

Gigged

Reader: Charlie S
Age: 16
Title: Gigged
Author: Heath Gibson
Publisher: Flux
Pub Date: 05/10/2010
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: No
Did the cover tempt you and/or reflect the contents: Yes it did tempt me to pick it up. I feel that the cover reflected the story to an extent. The cover has an army figure on the front fallen down. That's basically what the story is about, a fallen soldier.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: It gives you insight to what it's like being a high school student going through the ROTC program, getting picked on, and living without parents. It is an inspirational story thatcan motivate you to do anything.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: How hard that J.T. trained for the dream that he wanted. He had a dream, a goal and he would do anything to get to it.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I was not disappointed with the book. The only way that I would have been disappointed is that I did not see that ending coming at all. It was good though. Pickens kind of showed how J.T. used to be and how he was getting stronger and more tough.
Age Range: Under 12 to 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal