Teen Reviewers

As part of our 2013 Teen Summer Reading Program, we've offered to trade book reviews for duckies (not real ones), and the turnout has been fantastic! Here are but a few reviews from OPL teen readers:

Ariana, 14, read The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, and she loved this mystery: "(The Westing Game) was brilliantly written and captivating from start to finish. It had characters you can understand and an amazing plot!" Ariana would recommend this book to everyone!

Noah, 12, read The Fourth Stall Saga, v. III on recommendation from the librarian, and ended up sharing it with others: "I recommended this book to a friend because it puts a different take on everyday middle school life. And it's got a big cliffhanger. Whenever you think something's going to happen, a complete opposite thing happens. It's an overall good read." 

Nicole, 12, loved Katie Alendar's Bad Girls Don't Die: "It's a great book! The dialogue seems pretty true and the plot is somewhat believable. This book is well-written with a distinctive voice. It's pretty interesting. And it's very descriptive." Nicole would recommend this suspenseful story for ages 12-15. 

Kendall, 14, really enjoyed Airborn, the first in Kenneth Oppel's Airborn saga: "I liked the book because the main characters are about the same age (as me). Also, I liked the adventure and a little bit of the romance. The inventions and modes of travel are very Steampunk and cool, if you like that sort of thing." Kendall recommends this sci-fi adventure for all ages. However, she warns, there is some violence.

Interested in writing for this blog? Stop by the Teen Desk and pick up a review form. Reviews don't have to be long. They don't even have to be positive (we except negative reviews too!). And these reviews most definitely are not book reports like you'd do for school. Think of these reviews as telling a friend how much you loved (or didn't love) a book. Your reviews just might help another teen find their next favorite book. How cool would that be!--AJB

Chilling Reads

The nights are still chilly enough to curl up with your favorite warm blanket. So why not add a chilling book to the equation? OPL's Teen Department has plenty to choose from!

Suspense writer Dan Poblocki offers readers The Nightmarys (plus two other spine-tingling books): People who anger Abigail are suddenly finding that their worst, most private fears are coming true. But if there's a connection, why is Abigail being haunted too? It's up to Timothy to find out...IF he's brave enough, that is!

The Monstrumologist, by Richard Yancy, details the life of 12-year-old orphan Will Henry and his apprenticeship to a man who hunts monsters for a living...often with terrifying results. This first installment kicks off this excitingly scary series that's perfect for fans of Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak.

The Moth Diaries, by Rachel Klein, is one of theose books where the reader must draw their own conclusions based on first-hand information that may not be entirely accurate. Is Ernessa really a vampire? Or just an innocent (albeit odd) girl with whom the anonymous narrator develops a dangerous obsession? You judge! Uncommonly suspenseful!

Katie Alendar's Bad Girls Don't Die is more of a stereotypical haunting story, but it will still keep you awake long into the night: Something is very wrong with Alexis' little sister Kasey, who is exhibiting increasingly bizarre and dangerous behavior. Can Alexis get to the bottom of this before it turns deadly?

Want more? Look for the "Horror" and "Suspense" spine stickers. Or ask the on-desk librarian for recommendations. --AJB