Teen Comments on Books Eligible for 2006 Awards
Amanda, Age 17
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Yes
If yes, what would you say to convince him or her to read it? This book was good in many ways. The plot develops in a way that is fun and deep at the same time. It is easy to understand, especially as a teenager, because it is written from the point of view of an eighteen year old. I found this book to be both humourous and serious at the same time.
Describe the most compelling aspect of the book. I wanted to keep reading because I had to find out what really happened to the woman, Grace, and if there was any chance of her becoming normal again. I was compelled not only by the writing and the story, but also by the characters. They were easy to relate to and I found them to be a big part of why I wanted to keep reading the book.
Check all age ranges of readers suited for this book: 14-15 16-17 18 up
Q (Quality) rating: 4Q Better than most
P (Popularity) rating: 4P Broad general teen appeal
It is fun and light, but is serious at the same time. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very readable and very easy to connect with. Plus, the story line was very nice. I loved the way Rachel progressed from being scared of Grace to loving her like a sister!
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This was a heart-warming and touching book that everyone should read. It was a love story in a way and undescribably touching and sad. I finished it in one day. 4Q, 3P. Should be nominated. -- Izzy, 12
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I loved this book. I'm always nervous about trauma books; they tend to be pity relient and bypass important character developement. This one was told by a person who learned about Grace as she lived with her. As a reader, we saw who Grace now and before she got hurt. It showed true compassion, but not preachy, or hanky-like. Odd habits and comments by the main character keep a fresh feeling to the book. Like the snorkel she has to use to keep from breathing the radiator fumes. I would really like to see this as a Best Book. -- Kara, 15
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This book is wonderful, but it has several major
flaws. I found myself bursting into fits of laughter
every few pages, becasue some of this poor girl's
encounters are just that funny! Rachel is just out of
High School, going to college, and she gets a job as
a primary carer for a brain damaged woman named Grace.
The other thing about Rachel is that she suffers from
chronic blushing, but that featured so few times that
it was forgotten and in the end detracted from the
story. "Oh yes, I forgot! She blushes!" When Rachel
finds Grace's 'spooky box' filled with personal bits
and bobs, another story unfolds, but while the pieces
in Grace's past are interesting, there are far too
many for them to be as cryptic as they are. Another
thing that I disliked about this book was that Grace's
sisters, Brioney and Charity, hilarious as they were,
dissappeared about three-quarters through the book for
unknown reasons. Still, this book is funny and witty
and very worthwhile, although I hope there is a sequel
coming, because the ending is so endearing and
open-ended that I need more! -- Robb, 16
Mazetti, Katerina. God and I Broke Up
Hmm. The first few chapters were to confusing and required to much thought for my tastes. Once I finished it, these chapters made a great piece of the story, but it was discouraging at first. The story is all about putting the odd pieces together, and I liked that. I didn't like how the main character was as about as perceptive as a gnat. Lots of obvious, smack-in-the-face trouble signs came from Pia, the main character's best friend. (I forgot her name.) A bit heavy for free reading in my opinion, but a good book. Maybe not a best book. -- Kara, 15
it got me hooked at the start but started to loose
me towards the end. It shows how blacks and whites still struggle to be
friends, and Eddie and Marcus did just that; they struggled but became
best friends. The ending leaves you hanging and I don't like that. I
hope there is a second book to this.
Jesenia H, age 16, rating 3
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Top 10 because I like it and I kind of relate to this. It reminded me
of my friend and me. -- Chris S., age 15, rating 4
* Would like this book.
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Top 10 because it was a very good book. I could relate to Marcus taking the blame for someone else while the other person is going scott free. It also shows how friends can get torn apart so fast. -- Anthony W., age 16, rating 5
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Black and White, Volponi
Top 10, because it's a story about two teens growing up and getting in
trouble and falling in love. -- Travis S, age 15, rating 5
*Would like this book
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Printz, because this book becomes more and moreintersting the further
you go and is really intense.
Mike C
17
5
*Would like this book
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Black & White, Volponi
Top 10 because it is a good book and uses good word choice and
descriptions. --Eddie H., age 14, rating 5
*Would like this book
Bird, Johnson
Top 10, because I loved how the author explained things so weel that you
felt like you were in the adventure.
Megan D
17
4
Davis, Sampson, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt
We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Led to Success
Top 10, because I can relate to it and the things they do. I know if I
try like they did, I can achieve my goals.
Justin D., age 16, rating 5
*Would like this book
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Printz Award, because it kept me interested throughout the entire book
with more exciting events taking place further and further along.
Mike C., age 17, rating 5
*Would like this book.
Wooding, Chris - The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray
Printz Award because this is one of the most intersting and thrilling
book I have ever read. -- Sam C., age 15, rating 5
*Would like this book.
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Cordi, Age 17
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Yes
If yes, what would you say to convince him or her to read it? One of the best YA horror/fantasy novel out there. Period.
Describe the most compelling aspect of the book. Where to start? The characters are wonderful, well developed and likable. The world Wooding created is real, and a wonderful combination of fantasy and Victorian London. Wooding draws from many sources (buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dracula, etc.) without becoming to dependant on any. His voice is new and original, and the novel seems as though it was effortless, the many genres combining beautifully to make a wonderful novel.
Check all age ranges of readers suited for this book: 14-15 16-17 18 up
Q (Quality) rating: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
P (Popularity) rating: 5P Everyone wants to read it
Additional Comments Would like copy.
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Top 10 because it has a really good plot. It doesnt jump around alot
but if you can get into it, it's very interesting. -- Erick S,. age 14, rating 5
*Would like this book.
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Top 10 because it's a reall good book for teens. It keeps you sucked
into the book like you are in the story. --Andrew W., age 17, rating 5
* Would like this book.
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this book was awesome! A non-stop action thriller. A mix between Lord
of the Rings and Harry Potter. Iloved it and would like to see a
sequel. -- Chase B., age 15, rating 5
*would like this book.
A multitude of things come to my mind when I think of the book "Runner" by Carl Deuker. I think about the poor character descriptions, development, and motivation. I think about the oddly out-of-place terrosrist-centric plot that would have been better three years ago. I think about the amazingly segregated ten pages of action and suspense. I think of the horribly anti-climactic and underly-sentimental ending. But most of all, I think about why the main character doesn't learn the name of another major charcter until that character is dead, and just refers to him as "the fat guy". This book had some very odd quirks in it. Why were three or four chapters dedicated to things about a newspaper, only to be forgotten later? Why was a chacter brought in early, left out, and then brought back near the end for no apparent reason? Why did the action-based portion of the plot seem very contrived and forced? I don't know, and I don't think Carl Deuker does, either, but if he plans on writing another novel, I suggest he does. ~Robbie, 16
Tunnell, Michael O. - Wishing Moon
"Wishing Moon" by Michael O. Tunnel surprised me in more ways than one. When I started reading it, I thought it would be a cliche syerotypical story, but it ended up not only being fresh and original, but also very good as well. Tunnel uses good imagery throughout the book, and his characters, while not overly developed, have personalities that seem very endearing. This story also had several twists that were unexpected, and I especially liked how the princess, who is usually protrayed as kind and warm, turned out to be bloodthirsty and cruel. Another thing that I enjoyed was the relationship between the main character, Animah, and her Jinni. This book provided a little of everything, from romance to mystery to fantasy and more. This is a must read for everyone, and I mean that.
~Robbie, 16
Park, Linda Sue - Project Mulberry
I think it's always very fun to come to the end of the chapter, turn the page, and see the next chapter there, a whole new adventure. But "Project Mulberry" actually showed me a different way of liking the end of chapters. In between each chapter was a conversation between the main character, Julia, and the author, Ms. Park, and they were often very amusing. My favorite one was where Julia contacted Ms. Park while she was in the bathroom, because she just HAD to talk to to her.
Of course, it isn't just these little bits that make this book fun to read. The story is a musing and fresh, the charactters are realistic and artfully wrought, and the words seem to flow like something with very low viscosity. I couldn't put it down. I also learned quite a bit (at least I think so) about silkworms, which is interesting. Ms. Park obviouslyt did a lot of reasearch for this book, and it payed off.
All in all, "Project Mulberry": Mission Sucess.
~Robbie, 16
Harrison, Mette Ivie - Mira, Mirror
"Mira, Mirror" by Metter Ivie Harrison was an interesting book. When Mira, an apprentice to a young witch, gets turned into a magic mirror by her adopted sister, she loses all her abilities to love. Her sister, the fabled stepmother from Snow White, eventually dies, leaving Mira to live moer than one hundred years on a crumbling wall. Surprisinly, this only takes sixteen pages to portray, including the hundred years. After this, though, a new story begins, one where Mira befreiends a runaway peasant girl. While this book had an original twist, I found myself not feeling very much for the main character, Mira, mostly because not only was she an inanimate object, but because the girls she befriends are easier to like, possessing better qualities than the selfishness of Mira. Another odd point about this book is that it is very easy to put down. I did so for a week and didn't regret it, but was still able to jump right back into the story. After two-thirds ofthe book, however, things actually get interesting, although there is no grand adventure, daring fights, or faraway lands. The end is surprising, but it left me strangely dry-eyed and not very sad at all, as I thought it should have, seeing what it portrays. All in all, Harrison has captured the dark side of fairy tales, but still needs to work on elements of style for me to read any books by her in the future. ~Robbie, 16
Stone, David Lee - Ratastrophe Catastrophe
This book was at first confusing, and weird but as I read more and more about it. It became interesting and cool. The setting, plot, characteristics and characters are fantastic but I think this book maybe deserves a reward. --Ben, 16?
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I am racing down a mountainside, trees rushing past my body to my left and right, the frigid wind wailing in my ears. I catch some air, throw a helicopter and an Iron Cross, then I'm back on the ground, my skis letting me almost glide over the powder the way a swan glides over a lake . . .. Actually, I'm just living vicariously through Sandro Birch, the main character in Slalom. I really have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to skiing, a (what is the right verbiage for "helicopters" and "Iron Crosses"?) since I have never even set foot on a ski resort, which is ironic, because I live in Colorado. Anyhow, that just goes to show you that you don't have to like skiing to enjoy Slalom; you don't even have to like snow (I don't. Basically, what all this means is that I need to move to Florida. I can handle hurricanes, just don't make me drive in a blizzard. But I digress. Onward.) Slalom is the story of Sandro Birch, whose mother had a torrid love affair with an Italian Olympic hopeful 17 years ago in a ski town in Colorado, got left there by said Italian, and found herself pregnant with Sandro (named after his father, Alessandro). Instead of trying to make a life for herself somewhere else, thought, she decides to wait in that same ski town for Alessandro, the love of her live, to return. Then one day (17n years later), he does. Things get . . . interesting from there.
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Several things were enjoyable about this book, namely the characters, who were all vividly drawn, even if they weren't always likeable. One of my favorite parts was the ongoing discussion of whether or not fate exists. Also, Rottman give the reader an intimate look at how Sandro relates to other people, especially his mother. He doesn't always say or do the right thing when he's with her, (in fact, he rarely says or does the right thing when he's with her) but that only serves to make him more human.
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The only thing that really bothered me was the ending. It was like bird flying into a window. We're flying along, (or, in this case, skiing) and suddenly WHAM! We get hit with a "maybe" as the last word and an 11-line epilogue and we're thinking, "Whoa, did I miss something? What happened? That's it? Is there going to be a sequel or something? I would've noticed if someone had torn out about five pages, wouldn't I?" It feels as if the author had a 250-page limit, finisher with 246, and thought, "Wow! A hole four pages under!" When they should have been, Oh maybe two pages under.
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Still, though the ending was a disappointment, the rest of the book was entertaining and touching by turns, which isn't easy (unless you're a comedian who gropes people). -- Emily, 16