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Teen SRC 2019 – P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

P.S. I Still Love You

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han. This is the continuation of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, and it is just as amazing as the first book. Everything has gotten deeper into the story but when you read it, it makes you sink right in.

Lara Jean and Peter have been pretending to be together, just for personal benefits… until they actually fell in love. This is Lara Jean’s first relationship, and it all started with a dramatic make-believe. Things got complicated when another boy who received her letters came back for her. He was very charming, and he liked her too. Lara Jean was feeling the same way, but she also loves Peter. What will she do? Can she be in love with two boys at the same time?

P.S. I Still Love You is definitely some romance trouble again. It’s quite interesting and entertaining to see inexperienced Lara Jean slowly unravel her love life. I love this book just as much as the first, I would really recommend this series.

Teen SRC 2019 – How To Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo

How To Keep Rolling After a Fall is about a teenager with a really, REALLY, bad past. (Nikki) From the start, you’d think that she was a normal teenager…except for the fact that she was framed for a cyberbullying incident. Normally it wouldn’t have been so bad, but the victim attempted to commit suicide. People hate her, her reputation is tarnished, and she has to hide her identity in fear of being called out and recognized.

However, after a brutal breakup, Nikki’s luck turns around. She meets a guy named Pax, whose dreams of being a water polo player are ruined when a car accident cripples both his legs. Stuck in a wheelchair, Pax has to give up on scholarships that were available before everything happened. Miraculously, these two people meet and are involved in one another’s lives.

Can both Nikki and Pax have a second chance at life, or let the past get to them until their whole future is gone?

Out of a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this book 8.5. (Lost points for taking too long to get together)

Teen Book Review – Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

Far From the Tree - Benway, Robin

Far from the Tree by Robin Benway. tells the story of three siblings that were put up for adoption by their biological mother.

Grace, the middle child, knew she was adopted, but was never interested in finding out anything about her biological family, not until she had to give up her own daughter for adoption. Now, she aches for the hole Peach (her daughter) has left behind and wonders if her bio mom felt the same way after giving her up all those years ago.

Maya, the youngest sister, had always felt a bit like an outsider; the only brunette in a prominently red-headed family. Her parents adopted her three months before they found out they were pregnant with Lauren, her younger sister. She used to be close to Lauren, but now everyone feels like they’re drifting apart. Of course, the fact that she has an alcoholic mother, and parents that can’t be in the same room for five minutes without yelling doesn’t help matters.

Joaquin, the older brother never got adopted. Being a boy, and half-Mexican might have something to do with it. His latest set of foster parents are perfect, though, maybe too perfect. So is Birdie, Joaquin’s now ex-girlfriend. Joaquin knows he will ruin everything, he knows that he will manage to hurt them. He doesn’t deserve them, and trying to explain that to them will hurt too much. So Joaquin does what the years in foster care has taught him to do; keep his secrets and fears close to himself, and not get too attached.

This book was wonderful to read. It touched important topics, such as foster care systems, teen pregnancies, racism, and the need to belong. Parts in this book made me want to cry, while some made me laugh. It was written in three different perspectives, which is my favourite style of writing, because it feels like reading three different books at the same time. The only thing about this book I didn’t like was the predictability of the plot and the characters. Other than that, AMAZING. I give it a 9/10.

Teen Book Review – Neighbourhood Girls

Neighbourhood Girls, written by Jessie Ann Foley, is about a girl named Wendy Boychuck, whose father gets arrested unexpectedly, especially for the fact that he was a cop.

Because of this, Wendy suddenly becomes the talk of the town. She is isolated and rumours start to form about her. So when Wendy starts her new school year, she gets approached by ‘the popular girls’ and doesn’t get bullied anymore. The only price was to leave her best friend. So yeah, she ditched her only real friend.

What’s more, is that her private school is closing due to low budget and staff. In a quest to get over the pressure, stress, and guilt, Wendy decides to lie low and stick with the popular kids. However, Wendy starts to realize just how bad of an influence her new ‘friends’ are giving her. Her only reason for not leaving is her fear, which would increase her chance of getting made fun of, so she stays with them unwillingly. It’s the right choice…right?

This book was okay, but I seriously died and I hated the ending soooo yeah. I’ll give it 3/5 stars.

P.S I bought this book so it’s not at the library yet.

Teen Book Review – Sadia by Colleen Nelson

Fifteen-year-old Sadia Ahmadi is a proud muslim who is passionate about basketball. Her best friend, Mariam however wants to be noticed, and not be shunned for wearing her hijab, and starts de-jabbing (removing her hijab), at school every morning. Conflicted, Sadia tries to convince Mariam not to, but watches fro the sidelines her best friend being transformed into a completely different person.

When tryouts for an elect basketball team is announced, Sadia jumps at the opportunity. When tournament day comes, Sadia is faced with a difficult question; Should she wear her hijab and not play, or remove the hijab.

This was an amazing book, that really opened my eyes and broadened my perspective. I could not put this book down. I felt connected to the characters and could almost feel what they were feeling. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a fast read. I would rate this book a 5/5 stars Rebecca

Teen Book Review – Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

First off, Happy New Year everyone! May 2019 treat you well :))

Image result for fangirl book cover

This week I read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and I found it really quirky and cute but not as relatable as I thought it would be. That aside, I must say I enjoyed it far more than Eleanor and Park, also by Rainbow Rowell, which was the second hyped-up book that didn’t meet my standards (after The Hate You Give). Fangirl is about a young woman named Cather just getting used to college life. Her twin sister, Wren, has always been the risk-taker and the extrovert while Cath stayed in the background and lived in the fictional universe of popular series: Simon Snow, and now, in college, she’s feeling isolated more than ever. At the beginning of the book, Cath is super shy and goes out of her way to blend in and disappear. When she’s in her room, she avoids her roommate as well and instead focuses on the Simon Snow fan-fic she’s been working on her whole life. As the story progresses, however, she meets new people…whether she wanted to or not and starts to open up more and more.

Like any Rainbow Rowell or John Green book, there isn’t really a plot and the main component is just continued character development and relationships, which sadly, bores me quite a bit. However, I did like this book, just not as much as I probably would’ve had it had a more intense storyline. Overall rate: 4/5 stars, nice light read.

Teen Review – Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by Lev A. C. Rosen

Okay what? This book is just…..uh…..very…..mature for a 8th grader. Namely, me. I wasn’t Image result for jack of hearts and other partsreally a big fan of the book. AT ALL. If you read the blurb of this book, you will know what it is about. A teenage gay boy, his friends, a sex column, and a stalker. Well, I didn’t read te blurb, assuming that no book can be THAT bad. I mean, I love books, and, well, I’ve enjoyed about 99% of the books I’ve encountered in my lifetime. So.

I took it off the shelf seeing that it was fairly new and had a very eye-catching cover page. Yeah. Probably shouldn’t have judged a book by its cover, but……ANYWAYS. Enough about that. This book was basically about a boy named Jack who’s in high school. A VERY INAPPROPRIATE HIGH SCHOOL, in fact. So, one day he gets a note that says: “You’re cute” (or something like that…I returned the book immediately after realizing how unsatisfactory it was). Then, his friend asks him to write in a sex column. Already heading towards the wrong side, y’all. So, to prevent further uncomfortable-ness? I’ll just stop here and warn you: IT’S REALLY SEXUAL GUYS. Yeah. Just don’t. I mean, it was a pretty good plot, but…..a bit TOO much for me. So…. huh.. backing off…..

I guess that BASICALLY kinda maybe sorta summarized my whole….uh…. opinion on this book. But, y’know, everyone has their preferences!

Teen Review – To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Random thought: Imagine if Nickelodeon was a book? This is Jojo Siwa, and you’re reading Nickelodeon! Hah! Sorry. That was really random. Anyways, back on topic: Image result for to all the boysbooks. So, you’ve probably been asking (or not) why I haven’t been so active recently, and thets because of school. AHA school is just SO great isn’t it? Nope. Okay, school isn’t as bad as they describe in movies, but hey, I’m back, so obviously i didn’t die!

So, I’ve been recently reading this book: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. It’s such a good book! I love how Jenny Han portrays the characters so well! Btw, guys, if you haven’t watched it already on Netflix, do it now!

AANYWAYS……this book is about a girl named Lara Jean who writes letters to all of her crushes and hides them in a box. Until, someone accidentally(or not…) sent them out. So, now she has to face the ultimate humiliation. Then we get introduced to Josh. Josh used to date Margot, Lara Jean’s older sister. But after they broke up, Lara Jean’s childhood crush rose up again. Another one of her childhood crushes, Peter Kavinsky, is the most popular and charming guy at school. AKA a guy who recieved one of Lara Jean’s letters that was mistakenly sent out. In order to make Josh notice Lara Jean, she tries to make him jealous-by ‘pretend-dating’ Peter Kavinsky. So, it would be a win-win for both of them. Peter has just recently broken up with his pretty and popular girlfriend, Genevieve. So, with the same tactic, both would get the best result….right?

I loved this book so much! I borrowed it from my school library, and you have no idea how many times I’ve renewed it! 😁

Teen SRC 2018 – Into White by Randi Pink

Into White

Into White by Randi Pink

Toya lives in Montgomery, Alabama and is shunned by almost everyone due to her race. Her only friend is her brother Alex. Desperate to be anything but black, Toya’s prayers are answered. Her new appearance attracts boys, friends, and popularity, but everyone who was important to her slowly starts to inch away from her.

This was an incredible book. It was not only humorous but it also had a great plot. The author Randi Park did an incredible job portraying the relationship between each character, in a short quick read. I would rate this book a 5/5.

Teen SRC 2018 – The Fault in our Stars by John Green

The Fault in our Stars is written by John Green.

Narrated by Hazel Grace, 16-year old girl who has Cancer, The Fault in our Stars is a novel about love, friendships, and the struggles and restrictions of living with cancer. Finished high school early, and now pursuing college, Hazel is someone who people call antisocial. Hazel’s mom decides that she is depressed, and sends her to a Support Group, along with a bunch of kids who also lives with cancer. Soon she meets and befriends, Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor, who lost his right leg to osteosarcoma. Gradually, they both share a bond, with the both, sharing each other’s favorite book. As Hazel’s favorite book finished without a conclusion, Augustus is determined to find the author and find out about the ending of the book. Hazel is at first, reluctant, but then discovers it is possible, they both take a trip to Amsterdam, to meet the author in real life. At Amsterdam, Augustus confesses his love for Hazel. At Amsterdam, the both of them discover and the journey of their lives and learn to step outside of their comfort zone.

I would rate this book a 5/5 as it has a great plot and it is one of those books that will make you want to laugh and cry.