Lovely, Dark, and Deep by Justina Chen (Review by Anya W. '20)

Lovely, Dark, and Deep by Justina Chen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Viola Li has a Plan. After the end of her first trip with her aunt, to Africa, she's working on several more bake sales to raise money for the causes she's written about. A few more of her scheduled vacations, and she'll have just the right resume for acceptance as a journalism major to her dream school in Dubai.
Except, as it turns out, sometimes the malaria vaccine can give you extreme, permanent, photosensitivity. Thanks to her professional disaster manager parents, Viola's entire life and all her plans for the future are permanently deconstructed within a week. All that's left now is figuring out how to cope.

Chen's novel is a good beach read, and typical YA. The romance, while not badly-written, is not particularly epic-it would have had the same impact as a friendship. However, her writing is excellent at evoking empathy within the reader, and breathes life into her main characters.
-Anya W. '20



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The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (review by Anya W. '20)

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What's a girl to do when she's got too much to say and no one to pour it out to? Fill journal after journal with words turned into verse, spilling her story across pages for no eyes but her own. A diary of free verse is an indulgence Xiomara can allow, one not banned by the strict rules of her cold home, but what about a poetry club? A boyfriend? A crisis of faith? Covering for her brother? As the walls close in, Xiomara has to grow up and decide what's important, and how far she's willing to go to keep it.

Acevedo's freeform masterpiece is a touching and realistic portrayal of adolescence. She perfectly captures the mindset of someone on the verge of adulthood--the contrast between affection and suffocation day in and day out. -Anya W. '20

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Good Enough by Paula Yoo (review by Melissa K. '18)

Good Enough by Paula Yoo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

High school students can relate to Patti Yoon, a high school senior juggling six AP classes, SAT boot camp, and college applications. At her Korean church youth group, overachieving is the norm and everyone has their own unique "hook" into the Ivy Leagues: Lisa Kang is a nationally ranked fencer; Isaac Rhee is the captain of the academic decathlon team at his high school; Sally Kim is a Siemens Competition winner. Patti's "hook" into college is her violin. As a B-tier violin prodigy, she is the concertmaster of her youth orchestra and considered one of the best violinists in Connecticut.

However, Patti's seemingly predetermined life takes a turn when she meets Ben Wheeler, a trumpet player who invites her over for jamming sessions, takes her to a punk concert, and encourages her to apply to Juilliard even though her parents think that a career in music is too risky. Sprinkled with Spam recipes, SAT tips, and lists of ways to "Make Your Korean Parents Happy," Good Enough is a candid and surprisingly funny take on the pressures facing today's high school students. - Melissa K. '18

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Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (review by Monica K. '14)

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If books were meals, Just Listen by Sarah Dessen would be the chicken noodle soup of the YA Lit world. The youngest of three sisters, Annabel Greene withdraws into herself following her sister's eating disorder, her former best friend's malicious bullying, her growing lack of interest in her modeling career, and the constant isolation at school and home. However, before she can completely fade away, she meets the music-obsessed, completely honest Owen, who helps her gain the self-confidence to speak of what really happened the night her remaining friendships were ruined. Dessen skillfully combines family story and romance with dashes of humor, making a very accessible, engaging read. Fans of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.Just and other novels by Sarah Dessen will enjoy Just Listen. – Monica K. ‘14

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Looking for Alaska by John Green (review by Joyce Z. '17)

Looking for Alaska by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Miles (aka Pudge) starts out at his dad’s old high school, he’s not completely sure what’s going on, but he knows that it’s definitely not what he expected. Chip or Colonel, his roommate, introduces him to a girl named Alaska Young whom he immediately falls for. After Alaska crashes into a police car and dies, Pudge has to face what happened that night and try to forgive himself for Alaska’s death. Did Alaska drive into a police car to kill herself, or was it just a simple accident? Was she just a wild, moody prankster or was she a depressed teenager who never got over her mom’s death? John Green draws out suspense throughout the whole novel. The reader has to decipher what really happened from the few, vague clues and the mysterious atmosphere Green deliberately employs. Looking for Alaska will please those who enjoy reading suspenseful stories full of plot twists and guesswork that will keep them on the edge of their seat. – Joyce Z. ‘17

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The Magicians by Lev Grossman (review by Monica K. '14)

The Magicians by Lev Grossman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Lev Grossman's The Magicians is almost impossible to enjoy. The darker, more mature cross between The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter, The Magicians follows the school years of Quentin Coldwater, a miserable, isolated genius who is admitted into a secret university of magic. It unflinchingly (and increasingly depressingly) depicts his constant quest for happiness as he navigates his way through classic adult rites of passage. Despite its admirably ambitious thematic goals, the book fails to maintain a strong, engaging plot and ultimately loses the reader. – Monica K. ‘14

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Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (review by Naomi M. '16)

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Terrorists have attacked San Francisco. The Department of Homeland Security takes a high school computer genius, Marcus, and his friends without any explanation to be brutally interrogated. Once released, Marcus finds that the government has turned his beloved city into a police state. Everyone is a potential threat. In order to bring down the paranoid authorities, he must figure out a way to bring the truth about the DHS to light. Armed with only his computer, Marcus sets a rebellion in motion larger than he could have dreamed possible. Reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984, Little Brother is a novel of the future - where fighting is done through technology and anyone can change the world. Lovers of dystopian fiction, this is the one for you. – Naomi M. ‘16

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Reasons to by Happy by Katrina Kittle (review by Nikita R. '16)

Reasons to Be Happy by Katrina Kittle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Normally spunky and fearless, Hannah Carlisle begins to succumb to her insecurities as she enters a cruel high school, struggles with an imperfect figure, and worst-of-all, confronts her mother’s cancer. Despite her affluent household and movie-star parents, Hannah experiences emotions relatable to any teenager. Through her personal fight against bulimia, she provides an insightful view into the destructive nature of eating disorders, along with an inspiring account of struggling to remain true to herself despite peer pressure. Reasons to Be Happy is a great read for almost any teenager, and would be enjoyed by most adults too. – Nikita R. ‘16

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Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (review by Anushka D. '15)

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Melinda Sordino begins her freshman year dreading to see the people she once called her best friends. She ruined any chances of being popular or even having friends when she called the cops during a summer party. But what no one knows is that Melinda is hiding something about what happened at the party, something that devastated her. Anderson uses heartbreakingly beautiful prose to deliver a story about a reality many teens have to face. By concealing the horrible truth even from the readers, she leaves them no choice but to read as Melinda falls apart. While Melinda is distant from everyone, she manages to create a strong impression on the readers, capturing their hearts with her loneliness and despair. Anderson keeps the plot focused, never straying to include petty romance or overcomplicated plotlines. Speak is wonderfully delivered and hard to put down. – Anushka D. ‘15

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Frostbite by Richelle Mead (review by Tiffany Z. '17)

Frostbite by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The second book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, Frostbite continues Rose Hathaway's adventures with her best friend, the Moroi princess Lissa Dragomir. Mead introduces many fresh new characters and revisits old ones in a different light. The constant threat of a mass encounter with the evil Strigoi heightens suspense, and in fact, the novel culminates in a dramatic, definitive battle that leaves readers curious for what will come next in the series. Although there is less action than in the first book, Mead tells the story with the usual wit and precision. What lacks in physical conflict is wholly made up with intriguing complications in relationships, especially a romantic one between Rose and her mentor Dimitri Belikov. The significance of the relationship between Rose and her mother, however, is less clear. Also, many less significant events receive unwarranted attention. Overall, Frostbite assumes the role of a bridge to further titles and simultaneously delivers the excitement and vivid storytelling of a centerpiece of the series. – Tiffany Z. ‘17

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (review by Daphne Y. '16)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although I assumed it to be another one of those fictions popularized by the movie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a very good read. The epistolary format allows the reader to connect with Charlie, the protagonist, and relate to the problems he encounters over the course of his freshman year. Charlie is a wallflower due to complications in the past, so he initially has a hard time making friends and socializing with anyone except his English teacher. I found myself mentally giving him advice on every letter. Referencing almost all aspects of life a teenager, the book is very thorough, though sometimes going a bit overboard, such as with the excessive drug abuse. The book is aimed towards all adolescents and maturing teens, but it can be appealing to adults as well, as they can experience or learn about a few things that their kids might be going through. It's really suited for everyone; a great novel to read and discuss with the family! - Daphne Y. '16

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Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (review by Tiffany Z. '17)

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead is the first book in a series that explores the life of Rose Hathaway, the guardian and loyal friend of royal vampire princess Lissa Dragomir. Rose and Lissa are just returning from an escape from their school for vampires, St. Vladimir's Academy. Upon arriving, however, they face not only trouble with the school clique but also potential boyfriend problems. The conflicts heighten when Rose falls in love with her mentor Dimitri Belikov and discovers dangerous secrets about Lissa's powers. Finally, the friends are suddenly faced with imminent danger from the evil Strigoi. The plotline is intriguing; circumstances and events flow together seamlessly, and characters are depicted fairly realistically, though near the end loose plot ends are tied up very hastily. Some elements of the book are bland or predictable. However Vampire Academy is a thrilling friendship drama and romance combined with plenty of action, and this first installment promises an exciting series. – Tiffany Z. ‘17

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