Teen Galley Reviewers
Teen Books Reviewed by Teens for Teens

Summer Reviews

About the Teen Review Committee

Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist by Liz Kessler
Reviewed by: C.F.

Brief Summary: This book mostly explains the past, rather than what happens next. Emily finds a ring that once belonged to Neptune. She just *has to try it on, but it's stuck on her finger! When Neptune finds out, he puts a curse on her so that at the next full moon, she will become either human or a full time mermaid. And that means she has to say goodbye to one of her parents.

Review: This book was not as good as the first one (The Tail of Emily Windsnap), or the second one (Emily Windsnap and the Monster of the Deep), but was still pretty good. Most of the events were extremely predictable, so it was not very suspenseful. Plus, I knew what happened at the end by page 50. It would be a very interesting book if you haven't read the first or second in this series, but it's too late for me.

Purchase Recommendation:
__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
***__ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
***__ This book is geared toward middle school students
__ This book is geared toward high school students
__ My parents and 4th grade sibling would love this book (good for all ages)

Hex Education by Emily Gould and Zareen Jaffery
Reviewed by: C.F.

Brief Summary: Sophie Stone, daughter of big shot Hollywood horror film director "Spooky" Stone, has just moved from L.A. to the little burg of Mythic Massachusetts. And, she hates it there. The school's "mean girl" hates her. Dorky Paul "Pudder" Pudnowski has been stalking her. Her teacher assigned her a report on a book with no words. And on top of all that, she found out she's the leader of a coven of witches (yes, witches with magical powers and all that) that have to save the world from an evil witch that is trying to take it over, according to an ancient prophecy that doesn't say whether she'll live or not.

Review: This book was a bit short, and the end seemed a little bit rushed, and there was no climax, really. It just ended. However, there was an excellent plot, and even the background information was enough for me to say that I would give this book four out of five stars. Simply the authors' explanation of Sophie's everyday life was intruiging.

Purchase Recommendation:
__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
**__ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
**__ This book is geared toward middle school students (7th grade and higher)
**__ This book is geared toward high school students

Have to Have It by Melody Mayer
Reviewed by: C.F.

Brief Summary: Three "nancy friends," Esme, Kiley, and Lydia, try to keep their jobs and their lives in order in L.A. Kiley's rock star boss, Platinum, was arrested for drug use; Esme loses her kids in a crowd; and Lydia is basically on probation for "borrowing" her boss' things.

Review: This book was one of the best of all twenty-one of the galleys I got. The storyline included many different aspects of the nannies' lives: budgets, romance, responsibilities, and even having a place to live. When I was reading this book, I couldn't put it down, but then it left me hanging. The next book, Tainted Love is definitely one that I want to read .

Purchase Recommendation:
***__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
__ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
***__ This book is geared toward high school students

Trigger by Susan Vaught
Reviewed by: LM

Brief Summary: Trigger is a sad and disturbing novel about a bright, well-liked boy named Jersey... who shoots himself. He survives, though, and must live the rest of his life with the consequences of brain damange. Jersey struggles to rekindle old friendships, pave a road through his disabilities, and remembers what caused him to press the trigger that fateful day.

Review: The characters in this book were not at all memorable. I also found the plot mundane and too slow-paced, as well as repetitive.

Purchase Recommendation:
__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
***__ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
***__ This book is geared toward middle school students
***__ This book is geared toward high school students

Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb
Reviewed by: LM

Brief Summary: Mia is crushed when her mother (and best friend) dies suddenly of melanoma. This book is about her entire family overcoming the horrific loss.

Review: This was a sad but excellent book that is sure to be a hit. Althought the characters weren't particularly memorable, the plot starts out slowly, but speeds up towards the end.

Purchase Recommendation:
***__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
__ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
***__ This book is geared toward middle school students
***__ This book is geared toward high school students

Not Like You by Deborah Davis
Reviewed by: LM

Brief Summary: Kayla's mother, Marilyn, has a drinking problem and constantly forces the pair to move. Kayla has become fed up with this on their fifth move in only two years. She is the main character in the story of a mother and daughter's struggle to regain friendship.

Review: This was an average book. I never felt like I really bonded with any of the characters in the book. The plot line was predictable, and the story not well written.

Purchase Recommendation:
__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
***__ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
***__ This book is geared toward middle school students
***__ This book is geared toward high school students

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by: ID.

Brief Summary: The continuation of the story of Bella and Edward, the mysterious vampire boy, that was started in Twilight, the first book in the series.

Review: New Moon is set in Washington, in an average town... or is it? New Moon, the sequel to Twilight, is a fast paced novel with an excellent mix of adventure, action, romance, and my personal favorite, vampires. New Moon starts just about where Twilight leaves off, so be sure to read Twilight first.

Purchase Recommendation:
***__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
__ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
***__ This book is geared toward middle school students
***__ This book is geared toward high school students

I Wanna Make My Own Clothes by Clea Hantman
Reviewed by: I.D.

Brief Summary: Clea Hantman's book provides ideas for fun and easy ways to renovate your old clothing without too much effort.

Review: I Wanna Make My Own Clothes is illustrated and written for kids in 3rd or 4th grade, however some of the projects in the book are either too hard for someone of that age, or the projects are middle/high school clothing, such as tube tops.

Purchase Recommendation:
__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
***__ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
__ This book is geared toward middle school students
__ This book is geared toward high school students
***__ My parents and 4th grade sibling would love this book (good for all ages)

Converting Kate by Beckie Weinheimer
Reviewed by: ID

Brief Summary: After her non-religious father's death, Kate and her religious mother move. Converting Kate is about a girl trying to find something she believes in, as well as breaking away from her mother to find herself.

Review: Converting Kate is partially on a subject that is used quite a bit in other books. This subject is breaking away from parents. The thing that sets this book apart is that it also discussed religion in a very eye opening manner .

Purchase Recommendation:
***__ Definitely Purchase - one of the better books of the year
***_ Possibly Purchase - average book
__ Definitely Do Not Purchase

Age Recommendation:
***__ This book is geared toward middle school students
***__ This book is geared toward high school students
__ My parents and 4th grade sibling would love this book (good for all ages)

About the Teen Review Committee:

The Teen Review committee of the Teen Advisory Board reviews galleys (advance copies of books not yet published) and new teen books, and their reviews are published on the Darien Library's teen website. Our current review committee includes: Izzy, Olivia, Caroline, and other members not currently reviewing.

Our next galley give-away will be at our September Teen Advisory Board meeting. New members are welcome to join the Teen Review committee at that time.