The Captive Maiden - YA Review by Kit K.

Reader: Kit K.
Age: 16
Title: The Captive Maiden
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Zondervan
Pub Date: 11/19/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: At the risk of me seeming like an awful person, I will admit I was definitely deterred from wanting to read the book upon seeing the publisher was Zondervan--the publisher of many a Bible at my school. After reading the book, I can say that I am ashamed of my original judgement. There were some moments talking about God in a sort of repetitive way that I decided to skip over. If you are going to try to send a holy message, I would say to delete the parts where it just repeats the same thing over and over and over again with slightly different wording.

     As for the fairytale aspect of the story, it was fairly good. My secret passion in books is fairytales, and that might have made me judge this one a bit more harshly. The beginning was great: the establishment of the villains, the meeting of the protagonist, the initial connection between the guy and the girl. It began to drop off, though, after the banquet of the first day in the tournament. The storyline began to drag on and on. The story was short in itself, but it could have ended A LOT SOONER. There comes a point when the tale closes, and it closed about half way through.

     As for the title, I would have nixed that right away. The "Captive" part references mostly the second half of the book when she's in Ruexner's clutches--the part of the book that I, personally, began pushing myself through. Overall, I just think the title wasn't as fitting as it should have been, and, because of this, I wouldn't tell my friends the title when they asked what book I was reading.

     Finally, the characters were not relatable to me as a reader. That weren't extremely enticing, they weren't boring, they just...were. I would have really liked to see the characters develop more, especially Gisela. She was the main character and she didn't have a clue what was happening around her. I mean, really? Take a hint! And stop being so gullible. Also, there were moments in the book where it felt like the author was saying a woman shouldn't save herself or be the hero, which really made me want to go slap them. Not cool...

     Overall, though, I did enjoy this book. It was cute, it was quick and it was just a nice romantic read for a rainy day.

Memorable or Forgettable: Compared to other fairytale retellings, it was not my favorite, but it was also not the worst. I would have really liked to see more character development, a better second half, and more strong female characters.
Cover: I'm going to snatch that dress right off that blondie's body. Seriously. I'm coming. I want that gown. It was a beautiful cover, and matched the description of how she looked.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal
Annotation: A charming retelling of a fairytale like Cinderella can never be complete without the wicked villain, the handsome knight in shining honor and the all too lovable riches-to-rags-back-to-riches girl. Thankfully, Dickerson got the memo and pens a cute romance for a weekend read.

tags: historical fiction / fantasy / fairy tales / retellings / romance / Christian fiction / ya lit

Smoke - YA Review by Lian S.

Reader: Lian S.
Age: 17
Title: Smoke
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pub Date: 09/10/13
Galley: No
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: To me, most Ellen Hopkins books are comparable to a tragic Greek hero: they are brilliant with a single fatal flaw. Smoke was no different. The writing was compelling and I had a hard time putting the book down. The two protagonists felt like real people to me. However, I got stuck on a single repeating theme: both troubled girls needed a male hero to sweep in and heal them. The two males, Angel and Gavin, felt like the same person to me. Their characters were different, certainly, but both were deeply in love with the girl they desired, and both were uncannily kind. I dislike this theme because it gives the impression that a girl can't pull herself back together through her own strength, or by leaning on a friend -- no, she needs to fall in love with a man. That said, the poetic writing truly swept me away.
Memorable or Forgettable: Some of Ellen Hopkins' books blur together in my mind, but Smoke stuck out. That was partially due to the fatal flaw mentioned above, but partly because of how deeply I connected with the two protagonists, particularly Pattyn. Her voice was very strong. I felt like I knew her.
Cover: Burned had the kind of cover, I would stare at when I wasn't allowed to read. It was, simply put, beautiful-- almost as gorgeous as Hopkins' words.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation:  In a simultaneously heartwarming and chilling story of recovery, Hopkins uses words to create a work of art.

tags: poetry / realistic fiction / contemporary / sociology / abuse / ya lit

No Easy Way Out - YA Review by Pauly S.

Reader: Pauly S.
Age: 14
Title: No Easy Way Out
Author: Dayna Lorentz
Publisher: Dial Publishing
Pub Date: 07/16/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: The pacing of this book is kind of off compared to most. The author would leave you with a cliff-hanger and to switch to another character, which I'm used to, or end a section of the book with a cliff-hanger and pick right back up from where she left off. She also cut off when it seemed it wasn't even a good end because there was no closure to the section of the book. But overall these are the only really noticeable faults of the book.
Memorable or Forgettable: This book had a really strong way of making it feel that the mall's small type of government was slowly falling into anarchy. First the people would go crazy and riot, then they would be all organized and working together, all the while Ryan and Marco were hiding away like fugitives and got to see "normal" life in the mall through Lexi and Shay's eyes. Then as you progress through the book, things start getting crazier, like piles of bodies, security killing teens and food raids by the teen gangs.
Cover: The cover attracted me to the book; it made it really look like a disease/quarantine-type of book, because of the huge sign and bright colors, as if to say "Danger."
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: Three teens are plagued with decisions they would never be faced with in the outside world, in this quarantined mall. Marco, Lexi, Shay, and Ryan fight to survive in a world where they could be infected with a deadly flu or killed by a corrupted security team and a large number of teen gangs.

tags: science fiction / dystopia / realistic fiction / thriller / adventure / survival / romance / ya lit

Bi-Normal - YA Review by Lou O.

Reader: Lou O.
Age: 18
Title: Bi-Normal
Author: M.G. Higgins
Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing, Inc.
Pub Date: 07/01/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I thought this book was alright. It was cliched, but it was cute. The main character is a stereotypical jock who ends up getting confused about his sexuality, and ends up having misadventures, although not hilarious ones. All his friends are the typical small-town, uninformed jerks who pick on the gay kids. If it hadn't been for the main character's crush on another kid, I'm not sure I would have finished it. That was really the only redeeming factor.
Memorable or Forgettable: This was a pretty forgettable book. I finished it two days ago, and I can't remember any of the character's names. I think it was just that it was so cliched, that it made it forgettable. If there had been a twist at some point, I maybe would've remembered. But I knew exactly what was going to happen about twenty pages in advance.
Cover: The cover was confusing. I couldn't tell what it was for a very long time. When I figured out that it was people holding hands, it was still very ambiguous. Is it two guys holding hands? A guy and a girl? Two girls? Who knows? I don't.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

tags: LGBTQ / contemporary / realistic fiction / ya lit

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender - YA Review by Bjorn H.

Reader: Bjorn H.
Age: 14
Title: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
Author: Leslye Walton
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pub Date: 03/25/14 
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: The character development in this book was good and bad, if you will. Allow me to elaborate, the development of the main character's background was very strong as the author spent upward of two chapters explaining what had happened to her family. The character's emotions and feelings did not, on the other hand, develop very well, and while I felt like I knew a lot about Ava, I did not feel like I knew her. The plot, voice, and dialogue were very sound and not at all questionable.
Memorable or Forgettable: The book was sort of in the middle for me, because while the story and plot layout were unique and memorable, the writing style did not leave me asking for more.
Cover: The cover tempted me to pick up the book.
Age Range: 16 through 17
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: Great book, mediocre writing
Annotation: Ava Lavender is born with wings. She is not born with, however, the will to fly. Her family has a rich history of love and betrayal.

tags: fantasy / magical realism  / ya lit

The Loop - YA Review by Claire W.

Reader: Claire W.
Age: 12
Title: The Loop
Author: Shandy Lawson
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pub Date: 04/30/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: One thing I liked most about this book is that you get hooked very fast. There is no beating around the bush -- you get straight to the beginning of the plot. I also thought the plot was very strong and different. Also, I am not a fan of sci-fi, but I loved this book.
Memorable or Forgettable:  I liked how you were on the same page as Ben, because he didn't know/remember anything about the loop.
Cover: I liked the clock and the cover; it drew me in.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it
Annotation: The Loop is about a boy named Ben and a girl named Maggie. They are stuck on a loop -- a loop is like a rock in time -- and a certain event keeps repeating itself. Maggie remembers all the previous loops, but Ben doesn't. Slowly, as Ben starts to remember, he decides that the best option would be to try to change up the loop in any way possible. So he and Maggie are on a mission to change fate itself.

tags: science fiction / time travel / contemporary / adventure / mystery / fantasy / thriller / romance / ya lit

Sex & Violence - YA Review by Sophie D.

Reader: Sophie D.
Age: 17
Title: Sex & Violence
Author: Carrie Mesrobian
Publisher: Carolrhoda LAB
Pub Date: 10/01/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This story was told in a really interesting way. You weren't really expected to like the main character, I think, but you still ended up sympathizing with him. Even though he is a jerk, and treats most people like crap, you can still see where he is coming from. I also really liked the setting, it was my favorite part of the book, because it was so believable, and so Minnesotan.
Memorable or Forgettable: This book was memorable because it had interesting characters, a complex setting, and it didn't really have a plot. But this worked for the book -- it was just a snapshot of a difficult time in this character's life, and that was very interesting, although sometimes difficult, to read.
Cover: I personally don't like the cover. I think the title doesn't really fit the book, I think it's just there for the shock factor. I understand the significance of the water, but I don't think it was very visually appealing.
Age Range: 16 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

tags: contemporary / realistic fiction / dark / sexuality / drama / romance / coming-of-age / ya lit

Absent - YA Review by Madeline L.

Reader: Madeline L.
Age: 12
Title: Absent
Author: Katie Williams
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Pub Date: 05/21/13
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I think this book was a really well-written book. This book had great plot twists and kept you on the edge of your seat all day. It was a short book, but the type of book you sit down and the next time you stand up, you have finished the book. Everything about this book was interesting; the characters seemed basic, but the way they changed throughout the story was amazing and unpredictable. The way the book is written is unique; I have not seen many books like this before. The way the main character was very certain of everything in the beginning of the book, but then realizes how wrong she really was, is just part of what makes this a must-read. I really appreciated there was very little romance in this book, but the bit of love there was  is exactly how you wouldn't expect it. The book gives enough details at all times to help sum up the ending perfectly.
Memorable or Forgettable: I think this book is especially great because of how it gives you enough detail throughout the book, yet still leaves enough suspense . . . the ending is practically perfect, with a plot twist that I would have never guessed. It makes it a must-read.
Cover: I liked the eeriness of the moth cover. It didn't reflect the book much realistically, but my imagination felt as though they were still a good fit.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: Great. Not the usual teen book.

tags:  fantasy / paranormal / ghosts / contemporary / romance / death / mystery / horror / ya lit

So Much It Hurts - YA Review by Madeline L.

Reader: Madeline L.
Age: 12
Title: So Much It Hurts
Author: Monique Polak
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: 09/01/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book was interesting. I felt like it gave me an interesting perspective on abusive relationships; it has a really interesting quality. I think it would still be a good read and I recommend reading it, but don't get your hopes up.
Memorable or Forgettable: I feel like the author tried to put too much into this book, like teenage trouble, growing up, and being abused . . . but it was an okay story. I feel like it is was a good plot with lots of potential but was rushed. There were many good parts, that if they were worked out, it could be a really great book.
Cover: I liked the cover; I feel like it connected to the girl and I appreciated that.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 2P Only for special interest

tags: realistic fiction / sociology / abuse  / ya lit

Dare Me - YA Review by Madeline L.

Reader: Madeline L.
Age: 12
Title: Dare Me
Author: Eric Devine
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Pub Date: 10/08/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: No. Not well written, not at all. What it is supposed to be about -- the explanation is very bad, and I just feel sad and bad when I think about this book. It had so much potential.
Memorable or Forgettable: Nothing really surprising happened. I felt like I read the ending before the beginning, because I new exactly what was going to happen.
Cover: It relates to a bit of the book a bit, but I don't like it. The title is good, but it doesn't actually relate that much to the book.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 1Q How did it get published?
Popularity: 1P Yech! Forced to read it
Annotation: Not a good book. It takes the first half of the book to even get into the dares they plan on doing, and the dares are stupid, not even about what it is supposed to be. It just seems to be about high school troubles.

tags: realistic fiction / contemporary / ya lit

Who I'm Not - YA Review from Michelle M.

Reader: Michelle M.
Age: 15
Title: Who I'm Not
Author: Ted Staunton
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: 10/01/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This book was amazing. The plot was very descriptive but it kept you hanging, and the character development was very strong. The main character goes from a boy struggling to make money through simple cons, to pretending to be a missing child named "Danny," to an assistant in a police investigation. The story flowed very well and was a very engrossing read, hooking you in from the first pages.
Memorable or Forgettable: The style of the writing is what kept me reading. "Danny" is very mysterious, the only thing revealed to the reader is that he is a foster child who was moved around a lot. But despite the lack of knowledge of the character, you grow attached to him quickly. He is very enigmatic and complex, and the danger of getting caught always hangs over him, which makes the book a thrill.
Cover: I thought the cover was interesting and very eye-catching. It reflected the contents very well; the boy covering his face and putting on a mask.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: It's easy to believe your own lies; after adopting the identity of a missing child, "Danny" finds himself accepted by the family as the child they lost; but really, who is conning who? This situation ends up far more elaborate and mysterious than anyone might have believed, especially when the threat of murder is thrown into the mix.

tags: realistic fiction / contemporary / ya lit

All Our Yesterdays - YA Review by Alyissa S.

Reader: Alyissa S.
Age: 13
Title: All Our Yesterdays
Author: Cristin Terrell
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pub Date: 09/03/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I thought the characters were kind of cliche. They were corny and more caught up in their love situations than the bigger events going on, and the choices they made were contradictory. In the dialogue, Marina only talked about James and herself, instead of the fact that they were supposed to be time-traveling to save the world. The same thing went for Em, talking only about Finn. So boring. The setting was confusing, and it wasn't just because of the time-traveling thing, I couldn't tell where it was either, sometimes in New York, sometimes in Russia, but I had to keep guessing, which wore me out. 
Memorable or Forgettable: The book was forgettable since it really did too much time traveling for one book. The most memorable thing was that I was confused the whole time.
Cover: The cover didn't reflect the contents at all because there were heads in 3D back and forward that they didn't talk about in the book.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 2Q Needs more work 
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: Did you ever want to time travel? Have you ever wanted to change your past?

tags: science fiction / time travel / dystopian / fantasy / paranormal / romance / thriller / mystery / ya lit

The Lord of Opium - YA Review from Nick B.

Reader: Nick B.
Age: 14
Title: The Lord of Opium
Author: Nancy Farmer
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 09/03/13
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: Nancy Farmer is a great author with lots of ideas. In this amazing sequel to The House of the Scorpion she somehow outdoes the first one. I personally enjoy the plot of this series. It follows the main character's life from when he was born to when he is 15 years old. You should read this book because the characters are well developed and thought through. Another reason to read this book is its great use of futuristic modern day problems, such as gangs, poverty and pollution. I would highly recommend this book.
Memorable or Forgettable: Something that made this book memorable was its characters. The author makes it seem as if they are real people, who you care for. It makes you want to yell and shout at them not to do stuff or to do stuff.
Cover: The cover was great, except for the fact that it has a picture of a drug on it. But it strongly represents what the book is about.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal

tags: science fiction/ dystopian / ya lit

Mistwalker - YA Review by Grace O.

Reader: Grace O.
Age: 18
Title: Mistwalker
Author: Saundra Mitchell
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Pub Date: 02/04/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: The author did a great job writing about the struggle of losing a sibling when it was your fault. The author brings in how relationships start to strain the darker your feelings go. Willa (the main character) loses her brother and struggles to find a way to move on and live her life. There is a man called the Grey man, who is said to grant whatever you ask for; everyone thinks he is a fictional being, but Willa soon learns different. Throughout this book, the quiet plot is the delicate dance that the Grey man and Willa do. The Grey man, wanting out of his job, must find someone to take his place; Willa wants her family back, to have everything go back to the way it was before her brother died.  The ending was thrilling and unexpected.
Memorable or Forgettable:  I have a brother, and to read about a girl who experienced the tragedy of losing him, one that could happen to me, I thought was fascinating.
Cover: I picked the book up because of the cover. The cover reflects the contents.
Age Range: 16 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: Ever since Willa's brother was murdered her family has slowly started to crumble. Will she have the strength to save them? Even if the answer is make believe folk tale come to life?

tags: fantasy / urban fantasy / paranormal / gothic / supernatural / ghosts / magic / ya lit

Eleanor and Park - YA Review by Elise S.

Reader: Elise S.
Age: 17
Title: Eleanor and Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub Date: 02/26/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: So this book, Eleanor and Park, you should read it. You should read it because it discusses body image and poverty. You should read it because the writing crackles with emotion and energy. But the real reason you should read it, is because it will make you laugh and cry and melt your heart.

Two crazy kids, star crossed lovers, you’ve read it before. What differentiated this book was the incredible, down-to-earth reality of both the main characters.

While the characters had flaws, their flaws also grew from the environment and situation they were in. We’ve all read the so-called ‘issue books,' where it’s obvious that the author sat down to write a book about a character who is gay/black/asian/lesbian/is an immigrant/has a disability. They are well intentioned. They are occasionally informative. They are so very boring. Eleanor and Park avoided this pitfall simply by telling the story first. The author’s priority was always getting the character’s voice into the world, not sending a message about _insert issue here_. The amazing part is, that this story got told with grace, humor, and heart, while confronting painfully real issues of domestic violence, immigration, bullying, abuse, and poverty.

Memorable or Forgettable: Characters were the most compelling aspect of the novel. The plot was fairly basic; the people were anything but. I felt connected to both Eleanor and Park through their insecurities. Too often, authors make their character’s “weakness” insignificant, or a disguised strength. Harry Potter cares too much about his friends. Percy Jackson is too selfless. But I don’t know any real person with these flaws.

Eleanor was constantly insecure about her body; her low self-esteem was a real impediment to her being able to trust. Park’s insecurities about fitting in and maintaining the status quo hurt him in very real ways over and over. Their flaws as characters stuck throughout the book, and watching them wrestle with their issues made me root for them to succeed, and hold my breath worrying that they wouldn’t.

Cover: Way too much cuteness for one cover! The simplicity and sweetness was absolutely perfect for the book. It being hand-drawn tied right in, and it was fairly unobtrusive, like the characters. Even though it isn't the loudest cover on the shelf, it definitely calls attention to itself.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it
Annotation: Eleanor just moved to a new school, and back in with her mom and abusive stepdad. Park just tried to fly beneath the radar. They were not supposed to happen, but a tender love grew out of comic books, bus rides, and insecurity.

tags: contemporary / realistic fiction / historical fiction / romance / love / coming-of-age / challenged book / ya lit

So Much It Hurts - YA Review by Emily L.

Reader: Emily L.
Age: 16
Title: So Much It Hurts
Author: Monigue Polak
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pub Date: 09/01/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I really was't a big fan of this book. It was just extremely slow moving & didn't really have a point. I think that if it had been better planned then it could have been a great book but in all honesty, it was just horrible. I feel bad raosting on a book about an abusive relationship but the only good thing about this book was the ending, & even that wasn't that great. Yeah, I really hated this book.
Memorable or Forgettable: This is a book that I will probably forget about within a couple of months. The story line was extremely bland & the whole book just didn't really have a point. The plot had great potential & I feel that if she were to rewrite it & maybe take a bit more time on it, it'd be a wonderful book.
Cover: The cover actually did make me want to read the book. I picked up the book & saw the cover & got really excited to read the book. Too bad it let me down.
Age Range: 16 through 18 and up
Quality: 2Q Needs more work
Popularity: 2P Only for special interest

tags: realistic fiction / sociology / abuse  / ya lit

All Our Yesterdays - YA Review by Emily L.

Reader: Emily L.
Age: 16
Title: All Our Yesterdays
Author: Cristin Terrill
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pub Date: 09/03/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: It sucked me in and I definitely could not put it down. I feel like anyone could get into this book. Cristin Terrill did an AMAZING job with carrying out the story in a way that kept you on your toes throughout the entire book.
Memorable or Forgettable: I was always wondering what was going to happen next and it was probably one of the least predictable books I have read in a really long time.
Cover: The cover wasn't what convinced me to read the book. If someone hadn't recommended it to me, I probably would have never read it.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: It all starts out in the mind of Em, a prisoner, who has nothing but her conversations with Finn, the guy in the cell next to her. Then it switches to the mind of Marina, an innocent girl, who has always had a privileged life and has always, for as long as she can remember, been in love with her best friend/neighbor.

tags: science fiction / time travel / dystopian / fantasy / paranormal / romance / thriller / mystery / ya lit

All Our Yesterdays - YA Review by Tara L.

Reader: Tara L.
Age: 13
Title: All Our Yesterdays
Author: Cristin Terrill
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pub Date: 09/03/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: The book All Our Yesterdays was very well written. The plot was wonderful. It only sometimes got confusing on whose point of view it was in.
Memorable or Forgettable:  The good quality of the book that makes it memorable is that the characters are easy to connect with.
Cover: The cover could be better, but it isn't that bad. The cover did reflect the contents.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it
Annotation: Em, the future Marina, has to kill the doctor; it's the only way. The other Em's have tried everything else. She also has the help of Finn, the doctor's best friend.

tags: science fiction / time travel / dystopian / fantasy / paranormal / romance / thriller / mystery / ya lit