The Teen Review from the Marathon County Public Library

"Stolen" by Lucy Christopher

Anna J. — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 08:57:14 GMT

Rating: Just Okay (3)

Gemma, a teenage girl living in London, is abducted in an airport in Thailand. Her kidnapper takes her to the middle of a desert in Australia, where she begins to have feelings for him.
An interesting idea for a book, but it didn't keep my interest.

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"Stolen" by Lucy Christopher

"Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel" by Original Story By Eoin Colfer

Ann S. — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 08:55:59 GMT

Rating: Just Okay (3)

While the story is intriguing and well-written, for some the art can be rather painful to look at. Even though the original book is superior, however, the graphic novel version deserves a look.
Artemis Fowl is a child prodigy and a criminal mastermind. He also happens to have a dysfunctional family, a need for funds, and a firm belief in fairies. As it turns out, fairies are real and very technologically advanced. To acquire gold, Artemis kidnaps Captain Holly Short of the fairy police and holds her ransom. Yet, the fairies won't go down without a fight. Artemis knows this and is sure to stay one step ahead of his adversaries.
What will happen? And how different is the GN from the book anyway? And what happened to Mr. Butler's neck? The thought process of whomever designed these characters eludes me.
I recommend fans of the series take a peek at the adaptation, and non-fans to read the original first.

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"Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel" - Original Story By Eoin Colfer

"Scorpia Rising" by Anthony Horowitz

Ann S. — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 08:49:29 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

The final book in the Alex Rider series is an exciting conclusion to the story of a teen spy.
Alex Rider was recruited for his first mission years ago, and now the higher-ups of M16, the British Intelligence Service, are (almost) unwilling to use him again. But Scorpia, a nearly defeated terrorist organization wants revenge for the shame forced upon them by our protagonist. Now, in an elaborate plan to return something back to its original country and put an end to British power, Scorpia creates a scenario where the only agent M16 can use in a certain mission is Alex Rider.
And so, Alex is again thrust into a world of spies, treachery, and danger.

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"Scorpia Rising" by Anthony Horowitz

"Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

Danielle D. — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 13:00:08 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

Paul Fisher seems like just your average teenage boy, and he is except for his mysterious eye injury. After damaging his eyes as a child, Paul is partially blind. His parents say that he stared into the sun as a child, but after moving to a strange town in Florida, Paul begins to doubt this story and is forced to confront his past and memories that he would rather forget. Despite his injuries Paul manages to excel at soccer though he is constantly overshadowed by his football playing brother. Will Paul find his way and discover the truth in his new hometown?

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"Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

"Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

Emily S. — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 13:22:46 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

Everything Tris has ever known is a lie. Still reeling from the shocking video released weeks ago, Tris and her friends join up with the Allegiant, a band of rebels preparing to leave the world they've know forever to get the truth. Once outside the fence, it's a whole new game, with rules and players entirely different than anything they've experienced before. Secrets are revealed, motives are revealed, and sacrifices are made, but will it be enough to finally create the perfect world everyone has always desired?

I am currently writing this review thirty minutes after finishing the book and four hours after the initial release and it is honestly one of the best books I have read in a long, long time. It had an ending far different from the typical young adult book and the world-building in this book was absolutely phenomenal. This book is an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, reader or not.

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"Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

"I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore

Ann S. — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 15:24:28 GMT

Rating: Good (4)

When their species is exterminated on their home planet, nine Lorien children and their guardians are sent to Earth to carry on their species. But staying alive is difficult, and their lives are dangerous. The aliens that destroyed their home are looking for them. Number One,Two, and Three are dead. Number Four knows he is next. When Four and his guardian, Henry, move to Paradise, Ohio, he doesn't expect much. But then a girl catches his eye. For the first time in his life on the run, he's in love and making friends. At the same time, his powers are developing. But when will it all come crashing down? This sci-fi book is an interesting read, though it contains more romantic elements then horror/action elements. I recommend it all the same.

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"I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore

"Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

Emily S. — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 10:22:34 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't a regular school. It teaches the creatures of the night, the Moroi vampires and dhampirs, their guardians. Rose Hathaway and her best friend Lissa Dragomir have just gotten dragged kicking and screaming back into this life, the life they ran away from years ago. It's supposedly the most safe for them, but St. Vlad's contains many more dangers than they know. They both get caught up in ancient bloodlines, forbidden romances and the threat of one or both of them being turned into Strigoi, the most ruthless and cold-hearted killers to walk the Earth. Will they pull through, or will they succumb to the dark depths of the night?

This is a very good and unique interpretation of the common genre of teen vampire books. It has romance, intrigue, danger, loyalty and love. A great choice for fantasy lovers or just readers in general.

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"Vampire Academy" by Richelle Mead

"Dare You To" by Katie McGarry

Marissa H. — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 10:00:57 GMT

Rating: Excellent! (5)

It all started with a dare. Ryan is dared to get the tough girl's number. He loses the dare. Beth thinks Ryan is dumb and is glad she will never see him again. However, when she covers for her mom and s arrested, Beth is sent to live with her uncle. What she doesn't know is that she's moving to Ryan's hometown, and he wants to know her. But with Ryan being the baseball star and Beth the girl with the bad home life, will a relationship between them ever work out?
I really enjoyed this book. While it is a romance definitely marketed to girls, I think some boys would also enjoy it. It alternates chapters between Beth and Ryan, and Ryan's chapters are a lot about baseball. Beth isn't a girly girl either, so this book would be a good read for boys or girls.

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