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"Scarlet" is a Robin Hood story with a twist. Will Scarlet is posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the evil Lord Gisbourne. But what nobody knows, other than Robin Hood’s band, is that Scarlet is actually a girl! In a bid to save the people of Nottinghamshire from the crooked sheriff, Scarlett faces danger as Gisbourne draws closer to her. This leaves her with a drastic decision to make...
“I’m just an ordinary girl who believed in a dream.” These were the words spoken by the admirable 16-year-old girl who sailed her yacht, solo and unaccompanied, around the world. This fascinating tale takes you back to the childhood of Jessica Watson, when her dream first began, up through the time when she takes her inspirational journey.
The Year of the Beasts is a fictional book about two sisters during an eventful summer. Tessa, the oldest sister, becomes jealous of her younger sister, Lulu, when it seems that Lulu’s life is going swimmingly, while TessDia’s seems to have flat-lined.
Life is not easy for Khosi Zulu, a South African teenager who is living in poverty and the aftermath of a conflict. She and her immobilized family barely manage to cope with what little they have, and it gets worse when supernatural Zulu traditions add strain to their day-to-day life. Although Khosi is frequently reminded of the cruelty of the South African past and of the opportunities bestowed on her in the relatively free present day, she continually questions this logic.
With an older female perspective, this book was a very enchanting, compelling read. Author Padma Venkatraman includes her own experiences as a young girl seeking a spiritual adventure with her tribe. In a book that is part biography and part fantasy, Venkatraman creates a vivid world surrounded by water and coral reefs—a world where everything is different. She makes the island itself seem like a character as the seasons change.
Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys
The year is 1941 and World War II is raging in Lithuania, where 15-year-old Lina lives. It isn’t long before Soviet officers send Lina, her brother, and her mother through the Arctic Circle and into a Siberian work camp. Despite the freezing temperatures, cruel working conditions, and heartless officers, Lina manages to record her hardships in art and prose so that one day her story might be shared with the people and the world she had to leave behind.
Like the Hunger Games series? Then we recommend reading Shatter Me, the first book in an original and exciting new dystopian series by Tahereh Mafi. In Juliette’s world, everything is falling apart, the food supply is running out, the animals are dying, and power now rests in the Reestablishment, a group supposedly bent on finding a solution to the deteriorating world.
If you are 16—or, unthinkably, older—and have not yet conceived, there is something wrong with you. Big bellies are beautiful and stretch marks are beauty marks; we are our ovaries. That is the world Melody knows in Bumped, written by Megan McCafferty.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater (best known for her bestseller Shiver), is a thrilling love story filled with deep enthralling characters—including my personal favorite, Sean—and interesting plot twists. Though it can be slow at times, I highly recommend it.
Scars follows the emotional journey of Kendra, a teen artist trying to deal with the haunting memories of her sexual abuse. At first, it seems that Kendra might be getting better, thanks to the help of her therapist and new friend (and maybe more?) Meghan. But, she still can't escape her problems. Money is so tight that her therapy sessions may have to stop, her mom still won't listen to her, and, worst of all, her abuser seems to be back, trying to suppress her memories and frighten her into silence.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars is John Green's fifth novel, and his first from a girl's point of view. Through the course of the novel we meet Hazel Grace, a realist to the point of being pessimistic teenage girl with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs. Her outlook on life is pretty bleak until she meets happy-go-lucky Augustus Waters, a teenage boy who has had his leg amputated from his battle with osteosarcoma. These two unlikely friends meet and fall in love—against all odds.
Growing up is tough for 15-year-old Pearl DeWitt. She's discovering many not-so-pleasant family secrets, her parents are going through a divorce, and her best friend is spending more time with her boyfriend. As if life can't get any more complicated, Pearl meets a boy of her own, and from then on, her entire life is different.
Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy
The Taliban have just been driven out of Afghanistan and 13-year-old Zulaikha has hope that peace will come, not only in her country, but in her life as well. Zulaikha hopes that her tense relationship with her family, especially her stepmother, will relax, that she will be able to attend school, and that her cleft palate will be fixed so that the neighborhood boys will stop calling her "Donkeyface." And her hopes seem to be coming true when she meets Meena, who offers to teach her to read, and when American soldiers promise a surgery to fix her face. However, before any of these dreams can become reality, Zulaikha has to decide whether the sacrifices they require are not only worth it, but possible to make.
The day after her birthday party, Elizabeth Valchar (Liz), a very beautiful, popular, and wealthy girl, wakes up and finds herself dead. She's trapped in between the living world and the afterlife." With the help of Alex, a "nobody" who died the previous year and who is also trapped in between, Liz begins to solve the mystery of why and how she died so that she can finally be at peace.
Imagine if your high school was held in a shopping center and instead of learning about English, math, and science, you learned about the latest fashions, trends, and accessories. Now if that wasn't enough, imagine having your every move monitored and studied by advertisement companies, who were determined to track every thought and idea you have. This is exactly what fifteen-year-old Katey (Kid) has to endure every day.
It Could Never Happen To Me by Michelle Richards
Keisha Morgan, a 15-year-old girl with many insecurities, is overwhelmed when her new stepbrother takes an interest in her. When that interest becomes sexual, Keisha is left confused and embarrassed by her mixed-up feelings. How will she handle the situation and the frustration she begins to feel towards him?
Shine is about Cat, a young girl in a very small backcountry town. Her once best friend Patrick was found almost beaten to death in a vicious hate crime, and Cat is on a mission to find the perpetrator.
One of the questions we ask ourselves as we read books is whether we find the characters believable, whether they could be the everyday people, friends, family members. In the case of Lie, it is hard to believe the people whose story we share aren't real.
Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd tells the moving and powerful story of Ms. Lloyd's experience as a commercially sexually exploited teen and how she came to leave "the life" and start the organization GEMS (Girls Education and Mentoring Services) to help girls who are sexually trafficked in the New York City area.
When Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer
Imagine you are a strong, graceful dancer. Your plans are made: teach at a dance studio, go to New York, audition for ballet companies, and land the career of your dreams. For most this might sound like a dream, but for Soledad, this is a reality.
Beautiful Girl by Keisha Burton
Anorexia and bulimia have long been hidden in history, and only recently have dialogues emerged about these taboo subjects. But anorexia and bulimia are not as rare as one might think. In her book, Beautiful Girl, Keisha Burton gives readers a fictional, but realistic view inside this very scary world.
Alis by Naomi RichAlis by Naomi Rich is set in an undated time in a dark, gloomy world where the Maker's will and the rules of the Book cannot be defied. However, Alis certainly is one to defy when she is strictly obliged to marry someone thrice her age.
Gimme A Call by Sarah Mylnowski
Devi is completely heartbroken when Bryan, her boyfriend of three years, dumps her. She has no friends (she blew them off to hang out with Bryan all those years), no hobbies (she didn't have time for any, because of Bryan), and no prom date. She feels even worse when she drops her cell phone in a fountain, until she realizes that it can now call her freshman self.
Ask Elizabeth by Elizabeth Berkley
Elizabeth Berkley has ingeniously produced a book that will help and give answers to the questions all girls are secretly dying to ask. But she doesn't just do this single-handedly." No--girls all across the U.S.A share their theories, stories, and experiences on bullying, relationships, depression, self-confidence, and much more.
Hey Shorty! By Joanne N. Smith, Mandy Van Deven, and Meghan Huppuch
Do you know what sexual harassment means? Does he know what it means? Does she know what it means?" The answer to that question is, "probably not." And that's because, most of the time, it goes unnoticed because the majority of us are not educated about what "sexual harassment" really means and how serious it can be.
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
Though Alice's mom died of cancer years ago, she still feels like she can't move on. Her grief worsens when her father gets remarried to a woman named Victoria and Alice's half-sister, Ivy, is born. The only things that keep Alice at peace are her best friend Claire, her wonderful boyfriend Blaze, her music, and her faith.
Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang
Emmajin is different from the other women in her country. She is determined to become a warrior in the army. While she is a bit of an outsider, she is not expecting to meet Marco. Marco has an entirely new set of values from Emmajin. He changes everything and makes her question everything she thought she once knew and believed in.
Virginia by Susan HughesVirginia is about a 14-year-old girl named Ivy whose childhood friend, Virginia Donato, has a secret. Virginia claims an angel visited her and that she will bear the next child of God. Read a review of this suspenseful and thought-provoking novel!
Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney
In the mood for a some summer suspense? Check out this review of Three Black Swans about two cousins who, as a hoax, make a video of themselves saying that they are identical twins. When it goes viral, everything explodes in their family lives. Are they really twins after all? If so, who are the parents? And who is Genevieve?
Storyteller by Patricia Reilly Giff
While staying with her aunt, Elizabeth finds a peculiar drawing hanging on the wall. It's a portrait of her ancestor, Zee, who lived during the American Revolution and who happens to look just like Elizabeth. As Elizabeth, who is intrigued by their resemblance, begins to search for the truth regarding Zee's story, their stories begin to intertwine. Elizabeth must deal with her new environment and life with her aunt, and Zee must deal with the Revolution that threatens to destroy her life and family. If you like historical fiction, this review will probably be right up your alley. Check it out!
Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of my Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me by Condoleezza Rice
This fascinating memoir of Condoleezza Rice begins as she reminisces in detail about her childhood and upbringing. She grew up in the violent 1960's, in a place where black people weren't allowed to integrate with their white neighbors and where daily murder was just an ordinary affair. In the beginning of the book, she talks a great deal about her parents and how they devoted their lives to their precious daughter in the hopes that she would be able to achieve success. Read more about what our reviewer thought about this memoir from Condoleezza Rice, a powerful female role model.
See What I See by Gloria Whelan
Kate Tapert's world revolves around her paintings and her passion for art earns her a scholarship to art school in Detroit. She's overwhelmed as all her dreams turn into reality, until she arrives in Detroit, hoping to stay with her famous, estranged father whom she hasn't seen for ten years. He is not at all pleased to see her and when Kate finds out the painful truth, she decides to sacrifice her dreams to mend her relationship with her difficult father. See what our reviewer thought about this family drama!
When Molly Was a Harvey Girl by Frances M. Wood
When Molly and Colleen's father suddenly dies after an unexpected turn of events, they have to strive to keep their family together. Their best option seems to point them in the direction of a Harvey House down in Raton, New Mexico, very far away from their hometown of Streator, Illinois. There they must work very hard and try to keep themselves happy and tolerant, which turns out to be a lot harder than it sounds." Interested in hearing more about what our reviewer thought?" Read the review!
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Charlie is Vera's best friend and secret crush. When he dies under mysterious circumstances, Vera's true loyalty towards her friend is put to the test: She is the only one who can clear his name. Vera is harassed by thoughts of Charlie's spirit telling her to speak up about what really happened the night he died." Find out what our teen contributor thought about this book!
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez is set during the Communist Revolution period in the 1960s." Even though this novel is set during the Cuban war, the strong family ties and funny dialogue really make this novel lighthearted and positive." Find out what else our reviewer enjoyed about this book by reading her review!
Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci
Rose Sees Red is a book about friendship and understanding between an American and a Russian teen during the Cold War. It also takes a look at the complicated world of entertainment." Read the review to hear more!
Rock What You've Got by Katherine Schwarzenegger
OK, so we don't all have The Terminator as our father, but one thing we do have in common with Katherine Schwarzenegger is that she has faced the insecurities and body issues that many teens experience as they grow up." To learn more about what Katherine has to say, read the review!
Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner
Through enchantment and courage, Friesner paints the land of Egypt with breathtaking historical accuracy. Nefertiti, the main character, whose name means "the beautiful woman has come," is much more than a pretty face. Interested? Click the link to read the review!
A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott
Elliott's book is a great combination of science and historical fiction. Genna's courage makes her a positive role model, while Elliott's descriptions made me see everything through Genna's eyes. If you like science and historical fiction, check out this review!
After by Kristin HarmelKristin Harmel's After is a touching, inspirational story about a teenage girl, Lacey, who is trying to piece her life back together after her father's sudden death. Feeling responsible for his death, she teaches herself to push away her emotions, be strong, and care for her crumbling family. This leads her to feel immune to the pain of her father's death. She doesn't cry for an entire year." Find out if this is a book you might like to read by checking out the rest of the review!
The Noah Confessions by Barbara Hall
The Noah Confessions is the captivating story of Lynne, whose mother died in a car crash when Lynne was eight. As Lynne grows older, she places her mother on a pedestal of perfection. She remembers her as a flawless person, incapable of sin." Read the review to hear more about this gripping tale.
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
A Map of the Known World exceeds every expectation. It's funny, poignant, romantic, enriching, entertaining, and unforgettable. This is, without a doubt, a book that can be read over and over. It is an anthem for all teens who are just trying to figure out who they are and what they're supposed to do in this big world." Find out more about this great book by reading the review!
Teen Reviews: March 2010
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