Tag Archives: Young Adult

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The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell (review by Monica K. ’14)

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The Trials of Renegade X (Renegade X, #2)The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell continues soon after the first novel left off, as Damien tries to become a full hero. Obstacles include his snarky personality, a girlfriend at Vilmore, and an emerging villainous superpower. Having the same themes as the first book, the sequel emphasizes family relationships and the letterism of Golden City society. The narration also retains Damien’s witty voice and many elements from the first. Towards the end some plot points were a bit too familiar, but overall the story was clever, fun, and heartwarming. Fans of The Rise of Renegade X would definitely enjoy the sequel. – Monica K. ‘14

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Glass by Ellen Hopkins (review by Nikita R. ’16)

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Glass (Crank, #2)Glass by Ellen Hopkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Suddenly dealt with the responsibilities of motherhood, Kristina Snow must somehow raise a child while battling her addiction to “the monster,” known as crystal meth. Despite her love for her child, Kristina finds herself becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the monotony of her daily life in comparison to the excitement of her past. In Glass, the second sequel in the Crank series, Ellen Hopkins once again brings to life the story of a confused, desperate teenager who has become swept up in a world she is not ready for. Although the average reader has not necessarily shared Kristina’s experiences, any teenager or adult will understand her emotions and decisions. This book is a must-read, for teenagers especially. – Nikita R. ‘16

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Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook (review by Joyce Z. ’17)

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Nobody But UsNobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nobody But Us is a cliched (but with a twist) novel about a boy and a girl who run away together. Zoe has dealt with her drunken father’s abuse ever since he was responsible for her mother’s death when she was young. Will was abandoned by his mother and is constantly being bounced from one foster home to another. Zoe never stands up for herself; Will often causes trouble because he can’t control his temper. Although Zoe and Will are constantly facing new challenges, I feel like this book dragged on for too long. Most of the book is about their constant fighting and their emotional up and downs while running away. Towards the end, however, this book becomes more intense and ends with a heartbreaking twist. Some may feel the storyline is too predictable, and that there are not enough turns and twists. One positive aspect of this book is that the point of view is constantly switching from Zoe’s to Will’s so that we are able to know the internal thoughts of both protagonists. Overall, I think that Nobody But Us is a good book but not a must- read. – Joyce Z. ‘17

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Lies by Michael Grant (review by Kai A. ’17)

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Lies (Gone, #3)Lies by Michael Grant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With Sam no longer in charge, and the Council debating but not acting, Zil and his Human Crew are allowed to grow more extreme in their efforts against the freaks, and Caine moves in as he becomes more desperate to survive. Worst of all, Drake has survived, and so has the Darkness; it lingers in some minds, spreading rumors. Grant overcomes the challenge of matching the dynamics of a FAYZ-like society and the mentality of children to the characters’ thoughts, hopes, and dreams, and he excels at creating a storyline that comes together in a beautiful, intense climax. However, he often fails to explain each event and motive sufficiently, instead he relying on cheesy, artificially emotional explanations and overly stereotyped characters that I’d expect from an amateur author. Also, I feel that he tries to create an atmosphere of foreboding, but the foreshadowing and the predictability of the characters all too often give away the best twists in the plot. Therefore, I recommend Lies only to those searching for quick-paced, dystopian action but not necessarily good writing or deep characters and compelling ideas. – Kai A. ‘17

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The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (review by Nikita R. ’16)

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The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #2)The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thirteen-year-old Percy Jackson is once again brought into a world full of danger and uncertainty when he undertakes a dangerous quest to rescue his best friend Grover from a vulgar, monstrous Cyclops. Traveling with his half-brother Tyson and his comrade Annabeth, the trio experiences a lifetime of adventures as they encounter the mythological foes of legends, from the cunning sorceress Circe to the fearsome monster Charybdis. Full of engrossing, distinct characters, the strongest point of Sea of Monsters is the rich, humorous dialogue that reveals a phenomenal level of characterization, while also making the reader chuckle. Riordan’s world of mythological wonder mixed with relatable personal struggle makes this novel a must-read for teenagers and adults alike. – Nikita R. ’16

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The Hunger Pains by The Havard Lampoon (review by Kai A. ’17)

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The Hunger Pains: A ParodyThe Hunger Pains: A Parody by The Harvard Lampoon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Based on The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Pains follows Kantkiss as she unwittingly accepts being volunteered for the Hunger Games in place of her sister, Princess, and proceeds to the Capital with the affable but pudgy Pita. The Harvard Lampoon pokes fun at Collins’s sensation, distorting it into a laughable story revolving around Kantkiss’s obliviousness, which allows The Lampoon to mock the characters and plot in a sneering, sarcastic tone. The Hunger Pains begins with an introduction of the main characters and a creatively expanded historical background, though a little too much emphasis on names and an incredible amount of stereotyping. Additionally, the humor is enjoyable but sometimes limited, starting out as juvenile and transforming into inappropriate. In summary, The Hunger Pains is a quick, easy read made for those who are easily amused and need a laugh, but nothing more. – Kai A. ’17

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Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (review by Cynthia H. ’16)

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Eleanor and ParkEleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It all starts with comic books and mixtapes. This is the star-crossed love story of Eleanor Douglas and Park Sheridan, two 1986 teens who don’t fit anywhere but together. They find themselves sharing a seat on the school bus and have refused to look back since. The amazing pacing of the book makes it extremely hard to put down; however, it is the realistic voices of Rainbow Rowell’s characters and the genuine ordeals they must endure that will have readers falling in love with Eleanor and Park as hard and fast as they fall for each other. Be prepared to root for this couple until the beautifully heartrending yet hopeful final chapters, and remember: Nothing ever ends. – Cynthia H. ‘16

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UnWholly by Neal Shusterman (review by Catherine H. ’17)

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UnWholly (Unwind, #2)UnWholly by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Connor is now known as E. Robert Mullard and has to run the Graveyard, a haven for AWOL Unwinds. He has less and less time for Risa, and the mysterious company, Proactive Citizenry, eventually takes her away. There, she meets Camus Comprix, a perfect person made entirely from Unwinds, who is struggling to come to terms with what he is. On the other hand, Lev has recovered from his trauma and is now helping to rescue tithes. Neal Shusterman has developed each character in a unique fashion, crafting the story to fit the world he has created. The second installment of the Unwind Dystology, I highly recommend UnWholly to anyone who enjoyed Unwind or likes dystopian novels. – Catherine H. ‘17

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Marked (A House of Night Novel) by P.C. Cast (review by Meilan S. ’17)

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Marked (House of Night, #1)Marked by P.C. Cast
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Although I loved this book in 5th grade, I decided to revisit it now that I am in its target audience. Unfortunately, my impression of it has changed vastly with age. Meet Zoey Redbird, a teenage girl with no personality whatsoever. After being marked as a fledgling vampyre, she is shipped off to a school for other vampyres, called the House of Night. Sound familiar to anyone? Before long, Zoey is embroiled in conflict with the resident mean-girl, Aphrodite, after Zoey starts dating her ex-boyfriend. Said ex-boyfriend is inexplicably drawn to Zoey because… it’s inexplicable. Each character in this sad excuse for a book is a cardboard cutout, from the “hot guy” to the “gay best friend” to two characters whose only identifiable character trait is their love of shoes. Zoey is worst of all: an annoying, unsympathetic protagonist who embodies the worst of teenagers. Honestly, this book confuses me. The plot and character development are on an elementary school level, but the unrelenting bombardment of adult content makes that impossible. If anything, this book is so comically awful that it makes a fun read. The rest of the series is no different, though Zoey gets a new character trait: inability to comprehend monogamy.

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