Reader: Lillian B.
Age: 14
Title: Me Being Me Is Exactly as Insane as You Being You
Author: Todd Hasak-Lowy
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pub Date: 03/24/15
Galley: No
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: The characters are well-developed and though extremely unique, very relatable. The general format (each "chapter" is a list of things that has to do with what's going on in the main character's life) is very interesting and adds to the painfully awkward charm of the book.
Memorable or Forgettable: I felt a strong connection to many of the characters. Also, I don't read a lot of realistic fiction/coming of age novels, but I really enjoyed this book.
Cover: Well, the book itself is very thick. Like, Harry Potter thick. I guess that caught my attention.
Age Range: 14 through 15
Quality: 5Q - Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
Annotation:
Darren needs to escape. With his brother in college, his parents divorced, and his Dad out of the closet, his life seems way out of control. So he decides to take a little road trip.
tags: coming of age / lists / ya lit
Reader: Lillian B.
Age: 14
Title: Summoned (Redemption's Heir #1)
Author: Anne M. Pillsworth
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pub Date: 06/24/14
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: If you don't like plot holes, this is the book
for you. There aren't really any unanswered questions and you as the reader
always know what's going on. Whether that is good or bad is for you to decide.
Also, the writer is great with dosing out the action. There is never too much
or too little.
Memorable or Forgettable: The thing that will make me remember this book
is the theme. The use of paganism as well as the Cthulhu mythology made it hard
to pin-point the genre. It's definitely mystic fantasy, but at points it’s
boarder-line science fiction in a way that's hard to describe.
Cover: Oh definitely! I loved the Bartimeaus trilogy
(and if you liked those I totally recommend this book) and the cover reminded
me of them. Even without that factor, it's very, very eye-catching in my
opinion.
Age Range: 12 through 17
Quality: 4Q Better than most
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Annotation:
Sean is a teenager who's always been interested
with the unusual. But when he becomes involved with a potentially dangerous man
claiming to be a "magician," he finds himself in over his head.
tags: fantasy / Redemption's Heir series / ya lit
Reader: Lillian B.
Age: 13
Title: The Devil's Intern
Author: Donna Hosie
Publisher: Holiday House
Pub Date: 08/01/14
Galley: No
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I truthfully am very confused with my emotions
around this book. The characters were strong but the plot felt uneven. The
time-line seemed to jump around too much. The relationship between Mitchell and
his love interest was also very inconsistent. I had a hard time trying to figure
out how he felt about her. They would act romantic and he would be totally fine
with it and then he would say something like "she's my best friend." I understand what the author was trying to do with the classic
best-friends-fall-in-love-romance but though her emotions were clear his,
the main character's mind you, were not. Other than those two things plus
slightly odd information placements it was a decent read. It was funny and I
really loved the whole supernatural/life-after-death element going on. It's just
that the plot felt off.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was somewhat memorable, but not exactly in
the way Donna Hosie might have intended. "I will never forget that one
very quirky book with the odd development and climax.The resolution was
delightful, but other than that every thing was a little scattered," I may
say one day.
Cover: The title really caught me. I love the whole angels and demons fad, take away the over-done dramatic romance, so I got a bit
excited. The cover also reflects one of the main ideas of the book: Hell
isn't the fiery abyss they preach about in the church, it's worse, it's an
office job for eternity.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 3Q Readable
Popularity: 4P Broad general teen appeal
Additional Comments:
Okay so for rating, it really depends on the 12
year old. I would say PG-13 if it was a movie,or maybe slightly more than
that, PG-14.
Annotation: Mitchell Johnson is a teenager who died four years
ago and went to hell. Through his job (the Devil's intern) he has come across a
time traveling device. Now he and his friends have found a way to change their
own deaths and escape from hell.
tags: comedy / time travel / ya lit
