4 Teen Reviews

This crazy winter weather makes one want to stay in and stay warm. But that's OK as long as you've got a good book or two to read. This is how teen reviewer Kate (9th grade) has kept herself busy these past few weeks. Here are reviews for four books she read:

Cruel Beauty, a debut novel for Rosamund Hodge, is yet another retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with a twist: "The main character, Nyx, is the "Belle" in this retelling. She was born to kill the Beast, but the Beast wasn't ready for Nyx. This book was a wonderful twist on a well-known story." This book, which Kate claimed practically jumped off the shelf and hugged her, was "an amazing book." Kate recommends Cruel Beauty for ages 13-15.

Kate picked up Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell because she'd heard so many good things about it. She found it entertaining, but it wasn't the best thing she'd ever read: "It was a sweet book about friendship. The romance and characters were well-developed, but the plot wasn't very elaborate." Her favorite character was Park. "I loved Park! He was an amazingly put-together character!." She recommends this book for ages 13 and up.

Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse, a romantic comedy about a teen who accidentally kidnaps her favorite rock star, caught Kate's eye and kept her interested throughout. "It was an extremely entertaining and quick read. I really enjoyed the protagonist, Judy. She was really funny, and it was fun to read (the story) from her point of view." Kate recommends Rockoholic for ages 13-15.

Lastly, Katie read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell on a friend's recommendation. This story, about a college-bound, fan fiction-writing teen who must learn to break from her comfort zone and adjust to a very different way of life, was so enjoyable that Kate would definitely recommend it to others. "This was such a relatable book! The main character, Cather, was just so relatable in every way! She enjoyed reading and writing fan fiction about Simon Snow (a Harry Potter-esque character). I think it was interesting how you (the reader) get to see Cath's fan fiction. It showed how she put her writing skills into her college life." Kate recommends this one for ages 13 and up.

Interested in writing a review or two or more for this blog? Stop by the Teen Reference Desk and talk to any of the staff working there. We'll show you what you have to do.