teen book review blog https://library.escondido.org/teen-book-reviews.aspx http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification mojoPortal Blog Module en-US cathy.janovitz@escondidolibrary.org (Cathy Janovitz) 120 cathy.janovitz@escondidolibrary.org (Cathy Janovitz) cathy.janovitz@escondidolibrary.org Cathy Janovitz no The Fault In Our Stars The fault in our stars

Hazel Grace Lancaster is sixteen years old and slowly dying of thyroid cancer. Because of her circumstances and actions she has effectively isolated herself from her peers and spends a great deal of her time contemplating existence and its end. But then she meets with Augustus Waters who genuinely wants to be friends with her, and is extremely persistent. At first she is wary of investing herself in a relationship when she knows it will be short lived, but Augustus continues to tell her that he appreciates her for who she is and doesn't want to miss his chance to spend time with her.

I tend to find teenage romance novels thoroughly unconvincing. But The Fault In Our Stars didn't fall into any of the traps that the genre seems to be full of. Not only was there a plot, it was engaging and brilliantly resolved. The characters were endearing, and easy to relate to despite my having nearly nothing in common with them. Perhaps best of all, the book answered larger questions than just, "Will she go to prom with her crush?" and actually faced up to some painful ideas about life and how life is just slow death.

I recommend this to anyone who likes thinking and is able to take interesting perspectives and questions from the guise of a teenage romance novel without losing it. You really cannot judge this book by its cover. The Fault In Our Stars might make you cry, but it isn't a shameless tearjerker. It will, I guarantee you, make you think. Probably about death. But in a hopeful way.

Clara, 15

Rating: 

smiley Find at the library

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https://library.escondido.org/the-fault-in-our-stars cathy.janovitz@escondidolibrary.org https://library.escondido.org/the-fault-in-our-stars https://library.escondido.org/the-fault-in-our-stars Wed, 05 Oct 2022 19:54:00 GMT
All the Bright Places All the bright places

Two teens bond over difficult situations and find happiness and learn how to overcome hard times. In the end they experience a deep friendship and love that most do not get to experience.

This book was so good. So moving... I actually cried. It makes you really think and appreciate the good little things in life. It's the kind of book that makes you cry but once you finish it you can't stop thinking about it. It's the kind of book you read more than once.

 

I would recommend this book to all of my friends. It's a story that many teenagers can relate to and really gets you emotional and thinking. It deserves a place on everybody's bookshelves.

Rory, 17

Rating:  

smiley Find at the library

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https://library.escondido.org/all-the-bright-places cathy.janovitz@escondidolibrary.org https://library.escondido.org/all-the-bright-places https://library.escondido.org/all-the-bright-places Mon, 19 Sep 2022 19:23:00 GMT
Paper Towns Paper towns

I read this book for the first time last summer. I was living in Italy for half a year when I came across a small book store. John Greens Paper Towns was the only book they had in English. In middle school I had read The Fault in Our Stars and I remember 13 year old me being gutted by Greens writing. So with all of these factors, I bought the book. I took with me on a train ride from the city I was living in, Turin, to Rome. The train ride was 4 hours long and I read the whole book front to back. The entire time I was gaining respect for Margo Roth Spiegelman and admiration for Quentin. 

This book kept me planted on the edge of my seat. I found my self in the character Margo. She did only what I've dreamt of. running away. just escaping my very own paper town. Green writes about this surreal moment between the two main characters. they are looking over their town. Margo refers to it as a Paper Towns and although I read this many moons ago, that moment stays with me. I highly highly recommend this book.

Anna, 16

Rating:  

smileyFind at the Library

 
 
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https://library.escondido.org/paper-towns cathy.janovitz@escondidolibrary.org https://library.escondido.org/paper-towns https://library.escondido.org/paper-towns Thu, 01 Sep 2022 21:14:00 GMT