Throwback Book Review

 Throwback Book Review

Miss. Amanda still thinks you should read this!

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Awkward
by Svetlana Chmakova

            On the first day at a new school, Penelope pushes away school nerd Jamie who was just trying to help her. Now every time she sees him things are a little awkward as she still hasn’t apologized despite wanting to. When the school Art Club, which Penelope is a part of, and the Science Club, which Jamie is in, find themselves in a war things get even more awkward.

            Anybody who has ever done anything stupid that they want to, but too embarrassed to, apologize for will find themselves relating to Penelope. She is a very realistic character dealing with social anxiety.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Theme Graphic - Multi-Racial Teen Lives

 

Weekly Wednesday Quote

 

Throwback Book Review - Dear Martin

Throwback Book Review

Miss. Amanda still thinks you should read this!

 📖Recommended for Grades 9 and up📖

Dear Martin

by Nic Stone
The cop didn’t care that Justyce was a good kid and Ivy League bound. All he saw was the color of his skin, landing Justyce in handcuffs.  In order to deal with his struggles of race inequality today, Justyce turns to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., writing letters to the late activist to look for answers and explain how the events happening in the world today, are shaping him.
Wonderful and relevant, this is a book not to be missed. Justyce is a character all readers will love, admire and feel for. The supporting characters are an intriguing bunch filled with both likable and unlikable characters. The unlikable characters are supposed to be such though, and an important aspect of this story. 

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Theme Graphic - Native American Teen Lives

 

Weekly Wednesday Quote

 

Book Review - They'll Never Catch Us

 📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

They’ll Never Catch Us

by Jessica Goodman

Cross-country runners and sisters Stella and Ellie Steckler are determined to get scholarships to help them get out of their town. After events that unfolded last season, it looks like a scholarship may be out for Stella, but Ellie still has a shot. That is until a new girl, and star runner Mia joins the team. When she disappears, all eyes are on the Steckler sisters as suspects.

Alternating between Stella and Ellie’s perspectives, this book is part sports story, part mystery, and part suspense. It is also just as much about the sisters as it is about what happened to Mia. Readers aren’t likely to predict what is revealed but will have fun trying to guess. Warning, this book is a tad slow to start, but worth it in the end, if you can stick through it.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Theme Graphic - 2021 Teens' Top Ten

 

Weekly Wednesday Quote

 

Book Review - White Smoke

 📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

White Smoke

by Tiffany D. Jackson

Marigold’s mom has accepted a new job with a Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house in the midwestern city of Cedarville. So now the family, including Mari’s younger brother Sammy, new stepfather, and new stepsister Piper, lives in a newly renovated house, surrounded by many abandoned boarded-up houses. Mari should be excited to run from her problems back home, but this home comes with new issues. The house appears to be haunted, as many bizarre things happen. The more time the family stays in the house, the more danger they find themselves.

This story may be Jackson’s first horror novel, but it still has the same Jackson vibe. Readers will be engaged in this wild ride and have no idea what will happen next. Mari is an unreliable narrator, and that really works in this story. If you are looking to get into horror, this is an excellent place to start.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Theme Graphic - Big Fat Notebook

 

Weekly Wednesday Quote

 

Book Review - Instructions for Dancing

  📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Instructions for Dancing
by Nicola Yoon
After her parent's divorce, Evie Thomas no longer believes in love. However, she feels justified in her belief after the strangest thing happens one day. After seeing couples kiss, she gets visions of their relationships, leading right up to how they end. It all started when Evie found a ballroom dancing book that led her to a studio where the opportunity to take lessons occurs. Her partner is the owner's grandson, called X, and while Evie doesn't plan to fall for him, that appears to be happening.
If you're not a fan of fantasy, you're in luck because this isn't fantasy. It is magical realism, as the only unbelievable part is Evie's visions. The characters are all likable and feel real (ignoring the vision part). Evie and X's budding romance is the core of the story. Still, Evie's family drama, and her relationship with her friends, are also significant to the story. Oh, and without spoiling too much, you might want to have tissues on hand once you hit the second part of this book.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio