We Should Hang Out Sometime - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 15
Title: We Should Hang Out Sometime
Author: Josh Sundquist
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 12/23/14
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I heard a lot of good things about this book. So, of course, I had to check it out. It was a little disappointing, honestly. I heard it was funny and sweet and each story was different. I do agree that it was funny and pretty sweet. However, I thought the stories began to repeat themselves after the first few.He saw a cute girl and didn't have the courage to do anything about it. I understand exactly what he's talking about, but  they started to get a bit boring about halfway through the book. I did like the little graphs and pictures. They were funny.
     One thing I did like about the main character (also the author) was that he tried so hard to get these girls to like him. He just didn't really understand girls. In one of the first couple stories, he asked a girl out and she said yes. What did he do? He high-five'd her and walked away. For some reason, the girl didn't want to go out with him anymore. I still would have. Anyway, his love life kind of goes downhill from there. 
Memorable or Forgettable: It wasn't forgettable, but it wasn't exactly memorable. I know I've said it before, but it was a little boring. One part that was memorable for me is that he found most of the girls afterwards, when he had long since moved on, and asked them why they didn't like him. The responses were pretty funny. 
Cover: I've got a little love-hate relationship going on with this cover. I love the flow chart idea. It's awesome. However, it doesn't go with the book. At all. The title is awesome, but the cover... It just doesn't go with the stories. 
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal


tags:  memoir / humor / relationship analysis / coming of age / ya lit

Infected - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 14
Title: Infected
Author: Sophie Littlefield
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pub Date: 01/06/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I loved the main character in this book. First, she's a runner like me, which just makes her awesome right away. Second, even though her uncle and mom both died, she isn't dependent on anyone but herself. And finally, she ends up defeating the bad guys with her awesome ninja-ish track skills.
Memorable or Forgettable: The best part of this book was definitely the main character and how she's not afraid of anything.
Cover: I like the cover, but I think it could have been better.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it
Annotation: Carina, a high school track star and the niece of a scientist whose research deadly agents will do anything to obtain, is injected with a performance enhancing drug that will kill her unless she can find the antidote in 36 hours.


tags:  suspense / action / ya lit

The Rise and Fall of the Gallivanters - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 14
Title: The Rise and Fall of the Gallivanters
Author: M.J.  Beaufrand
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pub Date: 05/12/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I liked this book a lot. It was a little confusing, which is why I didn't nominate it for a Teens' Top Ten. It was very well thought out, but I think even one extra page explaining the Marr and Ziggy would've made all the difference in the world. Also, knowing who David Bowie is, since they compared one character to him repeatedly, would probably have helped a lot.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was memorable because of the characters. They were all very strong, especially the girls. That made me very happy. Most books just don't have strong females, so that's part of the reason why I liked this book a lot.
Cover: I think the person on the cover reflected the main character very well. I was happy be able to see what he looked like when things were happening to him, like his nose ring getting pulled out or his hair getting cut.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal


tags:  mystery / ya lit

Nil - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 14
Title: Nil
Author: Lynne Matson
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Pub Date: 03/04/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This book was amazing. There was no boring part. Even though the main characters fell in love, it was definitely not a love story. One thing I didn't understand until about half way through the book was that the chapters switched off between Thad and Charley's viewpoints. I started it over again, and it made so much more sense.
     Charley is another strong female character. One of the things that stood out to me the most was that she survived for 12 whole days, alone, on an alien environment. She had no supplies, but she did it. It makes me want to go out into the woods for 12 days to see if I survive (spoiler alert: I'll be dead in about a half hour).

Memorable or Forgettable: The way that it was a love story that wasn't told as a love story really stood out to me. And the ending - I did cry a little, but I'm still not sure if they were sad tears or happy tears.
Cover: The cover really reflected the contents well. If they had a pile of dead bodies in the back, it would be even more accurate. I'm kidding.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: After passing out in a Target parking lot, Charley wakes up on Nil. She has no food, no water, no clothes, and is completely alone. Until she meets Thad.


tags:  dystopian romance / science fiction / adventure / survival / ya lit

Mortal Gods - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 14
Title: Mortal Gods
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Tor Teens
Pub Date: 10/14/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This is a must read for every Percy Jackson fan. It's about Greek gods, but it's from their perspective, which makes it very interesting. Oh, and they can die. And are dying.  It's part of a series, but it's only the second book, so you don't have to read the first book to understand this one.
Memorable or Forgettable: I love reading about Greek mythology, so this definitely appealed to me.
Cover: I think it has Olympus on the cover, so I would say the cover is pretty good.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal


tags:  fantasy / The Goddess War series / Greek mythology / paranormal / romance / ya lit

While We Run - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 14
Title: While We Run
Author: Karen Healey
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Pub Date: 05/27/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I didn't like this book. At all. It's the sequel to When We Wake, and I definitely didn't like that book. If anything, this book was worse than it. It might just be the genre of the book, or a way of writing I'm not used to, but I really didn't like this.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was forgettable because I didn't like how it was written and I didn't like the characters.
Cover: The cover didn't really make much sense to me.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 1Q How did it get published?
Popularity: 1P Yech! Forced to read it


tags:  science fiction / dystopian / suspence / cryogenics / ya lit

Killer Instinct - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 14
Title: Killer Instinct
Author: S. E. Green
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pub Date: 06/07/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: There were so many plot twists in this book, it was crazy. Let me just say that if you were to hire anyone for a serial killer case, don't hire me. I suspected everyone but the killer to be the killer. That being said, I don't think anyone could guess who the killer is. I literally could not put this book down. It was plot twist after plot twist, and I think I screamed a little when she revealed who the serial killer was.
  This book is about a girl, Lane, who is obsessed with serial killers. Her mom works for the FBI, specializing in serial killers, of course. Lane occasionally sneaks into her mom's office and steals information. Then everything changes when a serial killer nicknamed The Decapitator comes to her home town. The Decapitator's claim to fame is how he or she delivers the bodies. First a head is found, then an arm, a leg, the other arm, and the other leg. It's kind of graphic. Her mom gets stabbed by the killer. I can't say anymore without giving away the killer, but it's awesome.
Memorable or Forgettable: Plot twists. Did I mention there were a ton of them?
Cover: It definitely caught my eye and reflected the contents very well.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 2P Only for special interest
Additional Comments: I wouldn't read this if you don't like blood and gory things.
Annotation: A serial killer book that will keep you on the edge of your seat with page after page of plot twists until the very end.


tags:  thriller / serial killers / ya lit

Premeditated - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J
Age: 13
Title: Premeditated
Author: Josin L. McQuein
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 10/08/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This book was AMAZING!!!  For some reason, I love sad and dark books, so this one was awesome!  It is pretty sad.  It is about a girl named Dinah.  Dinah's cousin tried to commit suicide by cutting her wrists when a summer romance didn't quite work out the way she planned it.  Dinah goes to her cousin's school and tries to blend in so she can hunt down the boy who caused her cousin (I think her name is Clare) to attempt suicide.  For a while, the author talks about Dinah "befriending" the kid who caused her cousin to attempt suicide.  After a while, Dinah discovers the truth about the "mystery" (I don't know what else to call it) and, well, I won't ruin for you.  This was a great book and if you like to read deep sad books that make you think, read this book!!!
Memorable or Forgettable:  I liked this book because I think that it is very realistic.  I think that the plot really could happen and has probably happened many times to girls.
Cover: I didn't love the cover.  I felt that it didn't really reflect the contents of the book.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!

tags:  thriller / real life issues / ya lit

Lies My Girlfriend Told Me - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 14
Title: Lies My Girlfriend Told Me
Author: Julie Anne Peters
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 06/10/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book was good, I think it just didn't quite have the stuff to be a Teens Top Ten book.  I thought it was well written, I liked the plot.  I just think that the author could have taken some stuff out of the plot, like Alix almost accidentally killing her baby brother (he survives, it's all right).
Memorable or Forgettable: It was memorable because of its great plot line that really sticks with you.
Cover: I didn't really know what to think about the cover.  It depends what the characters look like.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

tags:  contemporary / realistic fiction / GLBT / romance / ya lit

The Fury - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: The Fury (The Fury #1)
Author: Alexander Gordon Smith
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pub Date: 07/23/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book was long. Like, really really 688 pages long.  I think that if it had been more exciting, then it wouldn't have been so, I don't know, LONG. It was a good concept, but the middle 400 pages didn't need to be in the book.

In this book, Daisy, Cal, Brick, Adam, Schiller, and Rilke are teenagers that get attacked once they get within 20 meters (most of this book takes place in England, and they use the metric system, which is a bit confusing) of other people.  It turns out that they have angels (yes I said angels) inside of them.  After 400 pages of getting attacked by the "ferals," they take down the bad guy,. And yes, plenty of people die.  One of them is a main character and the other 5 million or so are nameless.Memorable or Forgettable:  I liked this book.  I might've liked it better if it wasn't 1 pound and if it didn't have 400 extra pages.
Cover: The cover was pretty good.  This is how I imagined the teens looking when the transformed into angels.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal
Additional Comments: WARNING: If you don't like long books, like ones that are about 688 pages, don't read this book.

tags:  horror / dystopia / The Fury / science fiction / ya lit

A Midsummer's Night Scream - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: A Midsummer Night's Scream
Author: R.L. Stine
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pub Date: 07/02/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: WOW!  This book was amazing.  It was also really scary.  Actually, it wasn't scary, it was gory. Like, super gory.  Six people died in this book.  They all died horrific deaths.  For example, two people get their hands cut off, 2 people break their necks, one person gets electrocuted, and one person dies in a microwave (just don't ask).
Sixteen year old Claire is an aspiring actress. She gets a job from her dad, who owns a film studio.  They are remaking a movie that had gone... badly in the 1960's.
This book is really confusing to try to explain, but the book itself makes sense.
Memorable or Forgettable: This was a great book because it was really scary and yet really interesting.
Cover:  I didn't think the cover worked with the book.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality:  4Q Better than most
Popularity:  4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: WARNING: REALLY SCARY!!!
Annotation:  Claire is an aspiring actress who finally gets a part in a movie her dad is directing.  However, someone is killing off the actors and actresses.

tags:  horror / thriller / ya review

Winger (Winger #1) - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: Winger (Winger #1)
Author: Andrew Smith
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub Date: 05/14/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Ok, this book was good.  I literally cannot believe that it is this good.  The end is pretty sad, but that is what makes it good.  I know that sounds weird but it's true.
Memorable or Forgettable:  It was memorable for me because even though the book was told from a boy's point of view, I felt like I could relate.
Cover: I think that the cover was pretty good.   it could have been better, but it still worked.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation:  Ryan Dean is a super smart 14 year old who is a junior.  He gets moved to O-Hall at his boarding school.  Then some crazy stuff happens.

tags: contemporary fiction  / realistic fiction / coming of age / sports / boarding school story / humor / ya lit

Independent Study (Testing #2) - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: Independent Study (Testing #2)
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 01/07/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: EH.  This book could be better but it could be worse too.  It is still as much as a rip off as the first book.  I think this book was written well, it just needs a different theme.
Memorable or Forgettable: This was just such a rip off.
Cover: The cover didn't really help it or hurt it.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 1Q How did it get published?
Popularity: 1P Yech! Forced to read it

tags: science fiction / dystopian romance / The Testing series / ya lit

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die
Author: April Henry
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, LLC
Pub Date: 01/26/2013
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book:  I love this book.  Probably my favorite part of it is that she gets help from an employee at McDonalds. I love it.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was memorable because of the way it was written.
Cover: I like this cover.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation:  She doesn't know who she is.  She doesn't know where she is, or why.  All she knows when she comes to in a ransacked cabin is that there are two men arguing over whether or not to kill her.  And that is why she must run.

tags:  suspense / thriller / biological warfare / identity theft / ya lit

The Testing (Testing #1) - YA Review by Katie J

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: The Testing
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 02/28/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book was almost a direct copy of the Hunger Games, just with some added details.  There'a the Graduation, where they find out that they are going to Test, which is almost the same thing as the Reaping in the Games.  Then there is the first 3 or so Tests, which is like the training part for the Games.  Finally, there is the Final Test, which, you guessed it, is exactly like the Games.  I had heard horrible things about this book, and of course I wanted to read it!  I was not disappointed.  If you want to read an exact copy of the Hunger Games, pick this book up.
Memorable or Forgettable:  It was forgettable for me because of the way that it was almost a carbon copy of the Hunger Games.
Cover: Of all the elements of this book, the cover was probably the best.  It went well with the story line and reflected the contents pretty well.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 1Q How did it get published?
Popularity: 1P Yech! Forced to read it
Additional Comments:  If you want to re-read the Hunger Games with different names for the characters and the events, go ahead and read this book.
Annotation:  16 year old Cia Vale is chosen to participate in The Testing to attend the University; however, Cia is fearful when she finds out her friends who do not pass the Testing are disappearing.

tags:  science fiction / dystopian romance / The Testing / ya lit

Storm - The SYLO Chronicles #2 - YA Review by Katie J.

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: Storm (The SYLO Chronicles #2)
Author: DJ MacHale
Publisher: Razorbill
Pub Date: 03/25/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: This was almost better than SYLO, the first book.  I say "almost" because it was like Catching Fire where part of it was boring and the rest was interesting.  If you want to read this one though, MAKE SURE YOU READ THE OTHER ONE FIRST OR THIS ONE WILL MAKE NO SENSE AT ALL!!!
Memorable or Forgettable:  This was a great book because it was a great book.
Cover: I liked the cover.
Age Range: Under 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: YOU HAVE TO READ SYLO FIRST OR THIS ONE WILL MAKE NO SENSE!!!
Annotation: Tucker, Tori, Olivia, and Kent return in this fast paced sequel to find out what is going on.  In the beginning, there are 4 kids, in the middle there are 5 kids and at the end there are 3 again.  That is all I am going to say.

tags:  ya lit / apocalyptic / dystopian / science fiction / SYLO Chronicles

Antigoddess - YA Review by Katie J.

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: Antigoddess (Goddess War #1)
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pub Date: 09/10/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: Ugh. This book was incredibly boring. It was so boring I didn't even finish it. I had heard that it was really gory and bloody and gross, which made me want to read it because I love that stuff. Well, I was sorely disappointed. The only "gory" thing that happened was that Athena pulls feathers out from underneath her skin which makes her bleed. Another reason I wanted to read this book was because it was about the Greek gods and goddesses, which I am intrigued and fascinated by. I have read almost all of Rick Riordan's books about Percy Jackson, and I love them. I wanted to read about the gods and goddesses from a different point of view, and I wished I hadn't. This book was boring and didn't meet any of my expectations.
Memorable or Forgettable: This book was forgettable because it was very, very boring and didn't meet my expectations. I was expecting a gory violent thriller but instead I got "a quest to bring the gods together to stop this awful curse!"
Cover: I will give them credit for one thing. The cover worked great with the book.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 1Q How did it get published?
Popularity: 1P Yech! Forced to read it

tags: fantasy / mythology / greek mythology / paranormal / romance / ya lit

Season of the Witch - YA Review by Katie J.

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: Season of the Witch
Author: Mariah Fredericks
Publisher: Schwartz and Wade
Pub Date: 10/08/13
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This was a bad book. It's like a blend of a not-so good Popular-Girl-fighting-against-Unpopular-Girl-for-who-gets-the-Cute-Boyfriend kind of book and a horrible I'm-Harry-Potter-and-I-can-do-magic-without-a-wand-take-that-Harry! Like I said, it's really weird. If you like weird books, by all means, go out and buy it; I won't stop you. But if you don't like weird books, don't get this book.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was forgettable because of the way it had two hemes that could have been good together but just weren't.
Cover: The cover didn't really sway my decision either way.  I guess it works with the book.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 2Q Needs some work
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal

tags: contemporary / realistic fiction / paranormal / witches / fantasy / ya lit

The Real Prom Queens of Westfield High - YA Review by Katie J.

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: The Real Prom Queens of Westfield High
Author: Laurie Boyle Crompton
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pub Date: 02/04/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: HA HA HA!!! This book was the funniest thing I have read in a long, long while. SO, These three girls, the ultimate outcasts (the overweight one, the goth one, and the awkward one) get chosen to go on a "reality TV show" ( you know the ones, where they say it's "reality," but when you say something they don't like, they yell "CUT" and make you redo it) about becoming Prom queens. As a little curve ball, they throw in the girl's nemesis's to fight for the crown (and of course, the ultimate date and dress). The book ends in an all-out hair-pulling, nail-chipping (oh, the horror) brawl. IT IS SO FUNNY!!!
Memorable or Forgettable: The way this book was written makes it hilarious.
Cover: The cover did a great job of describing the book. I mean, when you look at it, you can tell right of the bat that it is about (the real prom queens), where it mainly takes place (Westfield High), and who win's the crown (the main character).
Age Range: under 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments: HA HA HA!!!
Annotation: This book is the ultimate outcasts-turned-popular. It was hilarious reading about the bad decisions the girls made when they were popular.

tags: contemporary / humor / ya lit

The Tragedy Paper - YA Review by Katie J.

Reader: Katie J.
Age: 13
Title: The Tragedy Paper
Author: Elizabeth LaBan
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 01/08/13
Galley: No
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I had heard some great things about this book from a lot of people, so I thought I should try it. And I'm happy to say, this book didn't disappoint. The writing was amazing. I felt like I was Duncan. I felt like I was sitting in the dorm, listening to Tim. I felt like I could relate to both of them.
This book is about Duncan, who attends Irving school. Every year, the seniors have to write The Tragedy Paper, which they have to pass in order to graduate. Duncan gets to listen to Tim's version of the Tragedy through CDs. When he listens to them, he starts coming up with ideas for his Paper, while listening how the Games were planned, and how everything happened the year that Tim graduated.

If I had to choose one thing to change about this book, I would put in more about the Game. The book didn't explain it that well, which I found very frustrating. Other than that, this was a great book.

Memorable or Forgettable:  It was memorable because it was very relatable.
Cover: I really liked the cover, although I didn't think it related to the book very well.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it
Additional Comments: GO READ IT!!!
Annotation: While preparing for the most dreaded assignment at the prestigious Irving School, the Tragedy Paper, Duncan gets wrapped up in the tale of Tim Macbeth, a former student, who had a secret relationship with the wrong girl, and Duncan's own ill-fitted one with Daisy.

tags: contemporary / realistic fiction / romance / mystery / school stories / boarding schools / ya lit