Book Review: Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Bloods, Bk.2)

Schuyler Van Alen and her best friend, Oliver, began the story by traveling to Italy to find Schuyler’s grandfather in order to get his help on the crisis of the Silver Bloods. With his help, Schuyler might have a chance to uncover the truth that Silver Bloods still exist and are planning to attack the Blue Bloods. The Blue Bloods oblivious to the harm lurking in the shadows had preparations for the Four Hundred Ball held only for vampires. Mimi Force with her forever non-ending desire for trouble and fun decided to throw an after-party with the theme as a masquerade. Throughout the novel, Bliss experienced delusions and black-outs and ached for the return of Dylan. Schuyler still had a crush on Jack Force, and he in return longed for her in some degree. Schuyler felt helpless when it came to choosing between Jack and Oliver, and Mimi, full of jealousy, wished Jack only held his love for her.

Melissa’s sequel to Blue Bloods had new events coming up making the plot more intense and engaging to the reader. The book is fast-paced, and it never failed to make the reader’s eyes glued to the book the entire time. - Hamilton Teen Volunteer

Book Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

This story is an alternate version of World War 1.

When Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie are assassinated, it throws the entire continent of Europe into war. It sets Clankers, war machines, verses Darwinists, fabricated beasts. Deryn Sharp is an amazing airman and wants to join the British Air Service. However, only boys are allowed to join, so she disguises herself as a girl. While undertaking a test to join the Air Service, she ends up on the Leviathan, the most amazing beast in the entire British fleet. The Archduke’s son, Alek, is running away with his mentors and a Stormwalker. While hiding out in a castle in the mountains, the Leviathan crashes near his temporary home. He meets Deryn, and their fates intertwine.

The suspense and secrets in this book are abundant while the action keeps it fast paced. Hold on, as Scott Westerfeld takes you on an adventure aboard the Leviathan. - Shabab (Sunset Teen)

The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids is a book that follows high school students from Whitman High School and portrays the everyday stresses of a high school student. This book not only shows the lives of academic achievers and perfectionists but also the athletic overachievers.   It portrays the lives of nine high school students who have massive amounts of stress and full schedules.  It also gives helpful tips to for parents, students, and the school administration to help relieve some of the stress the students encounter.   In the book, Alexandra Robbins follows the lives of Taylor, who is perceived as “The Popular Girl,” AP Frank, who is perceived as “The Workhorse,” a mysterious junior who flies under the radar, perceived as “The Stealth Overachiever,”  Sam, who is perceived as “The Teacher’s Pet,”  C.J., who is perceived as “The Flirt,” Julie, who is perceived as “The Superstar,” Audrey, who is perceived as “The Perfectionist,” Pete, who is perceived as “The Meathead,” and  Ryland, who is perceived as “The Slacker”. Throughout the book these nine people show that although you might be seen or see someone as a certain “Type” of person you will never know until you step in their shoes.  I found this book to be a slow read; however, I did find the information to be fascinating and would recommend it to any high school student. - Braedon (Sunset Teen)

Book Review: The Reserve by Russell Banks

This book, unlike others, ties in more than just one knot. A story that begins as a playful romance is suddenly thrown into a murder mystery. I think it is really enjoyable how Vanessa Cole, who is very troubled and emotionally unstable, took the reader through the book. I thought is was amazing how they incorporated love and murder into one story and how smoothly it was carried out. Over all the book was very interesting because in a way it was realistic and many people are able to relate to this. - Nivenka (Sunset Teen)

Book Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano (The Chemical Garden, Bk. 2)

After successfully escaping her luxury prison of being one of the sister wives of Linden, Rhine thought her life will perfectly fall back into place like a puzzle piece. She finally ran away from her husband whom she did not love, and she now had Gabriel to live with in her new world of freedom. Unfortunately, experiencing only a few days of freedom, Rhine and Gabriel were taken against their will to a broken down carnival where Rhine became the key to getting money of the unpredictable ringmistress there. Rhine and Gabriel were desperate to leave this carnival filled with all kinds of horrors and go to Manhattan to find Rhine’s twin brother. It also seemed to Rhine that Vaughn, Linden’s father, constantly had the ability to be right behind her footsteps all the time. They continuously had to fight obstacles that popped out of nowhere and handle disasters hurled to them repeatedly. Rhine’s vision of a world better than being trapped in her husband’s luxurious home was beginning to crumble, and Rhine knew time was ticking down.

Lauren’s sequel to Wither, Fever, had unpredictable events right around every corner forcing the reader to read page after page. This book is fast-paced and ends with a cliffhanger for the readers. - Hamilton Teen Volunteer

Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

In The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight , two teens meet and spend a period of 24 hours together; which leads to an incredible series of events. They share secrets, histories, and family stories. They lose each other and (spoiler alert) find each other again—twice. Statistical Probability shows how being 4 minutes can lead to events that can change two peoples’ life forever, and how through meeting that one special person, you can mend relationships with your estranged father; start a relationship with your soon-to-be stepmother; let go of bad memories of your late father and move forward; and even how, through a wedding and a funeral, two people can find each other and start a relationship that looks like it will last for a while. I saw Statistical Probability in the bookstore a few months ago, and I was initially worried about whether it would live up to my expectations after building it up for weeks, but luckily, this amazing book lived up to and exceeded all hopes I had for it. I absolutely fell in love with Hadley and Oliver and rooted for them and their budding relationship. I hope to read more books by Jennifer E. Smith, and would recommend this to anyone who loves reading a quirky young-adult love story. - Erin (Sunset Teen)

Book Review: The Absolute Value of 1 by Steve Brenzoff

In The Absolute Value of 1, Lily, Noah, and Simon are typical teenage delinquents  at a Long Island high school. Family issues and the pressures of growing up complicate their friendships, and each deals with the changes differently. Lily worries that her love of math will challenge her slacker reputation, Noah retreats to his basement to avoid an abusive father, and Simon joins the track team to get healthy and pursue a girlfriend. The characters each narrate the same events but from their own perspectives. A series of misunderstandings, unspoken truths, and angry outbursts claw away at the group. As they drift apart, they struggle to balance emotional wounds with the need to create their own identities. - Amelia (Downtown Teen)