3 2005 Teen Comments on Books Eligible for Awards

Runyon, Brent The Burn Journals

Top 10, because there is so much detail to the story and really made me not want to put the book down. --Savanah, age 17. rating 5
*Would like this book.

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Printz Award, because it had a lot of details and it had been one of the
best books I've read for the longest time. --Nicole, age 17, rating 5
*would like this book.
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Top 10 becaue it defineately has a lot of issues teens today struggle with.
--Adriana H. age 15. rating 5
*Would like this book.
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Top 10 because this book inspired me to not give up no matter what
happens. I am an incarcerated student and this book gave me hope that I
can be a survivor through hard times. --Kayla, age 15, rating 5
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Top 10, because this book reminds teens that you are not the only one that has ever been ina situation and wanted to commit suicide.
Asley E. age 15, Rating 5

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The Burn Journals, Runyon
Quick Picks I like the way it is written. Quercky, fun, honest,
intense, great story.
Ksenya B. sge 16, rating 4
*would like this book

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This book was SO good! It should majorly be on the best books list. It's about a 14-year-old boy that lights himself on fire. This book describes his recovery and his amazing transition from suicidal thoughts to healthy thinking. - -Karlie,14---    I was wondering if I could have this book, The Burn Journals, at the end of the year. I thought it was SO SO SO good!

Mikaelsen, Ben. Tree Girl

This book was amazing.  It made me feel like I was really there in real life. --Barbra age 16, Rated 5

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This book was very real and down to earth.  The fact that this book is a true story makes it as though you are there and you are Gabrielda. -- Sarah W., age 14, rating 5

Whitney, Kim Ablon See You Down the Road

This book was not very well wriiten and had a very typical plotline. It's author did not seem to have any idea what she was talking about and, as a result, completely destroyed any potential the book had. The characters were weak, the plot shabby and meandering. I do not think that this is Top 10 material. Yuck.
-Rachel (14)

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First name: Angie
Age: 15
This was a very interesting book to me, because I did not know anything about the Irish Travelers or even that they existed. The book held my interest, but not as much as some others that I have read recently.

Quality Rating: 4
Popularity Rating:3

Swanson, Julie A. Going for the Record

So far this year, most of the books I've read have been relatively disappointing as compared to some of last year's. Going for the Record was a nice change of pace. In this endearing novel, seventeen-year-old Leah, who's life revolves around soccer, is transformed from a girl to a woman over the summer that her Dad dies from Pancreatic cancer. This book took my through all of the phases, and then a little of the recovery process that Leah struggled with to get her life back into sync. I cried at least five times in this book, and I'm a teenage boy, so I think that this book is a BBYA. If ever there was a book that shows you how painful it is to lose a parent, Going for the Record is one of those books.-- Robbie J., 15

Haycak, Cara. Red Palms

The book Red Palms,  by Cara Haycak was an excellent chronology of a young girls coming of age on an island during the depression. I loved this book, it was extremely inspirational and moving. It was well written and made me think; I could not stop reading it.this was a truly excellent book for teens. This would make a Teen Top Ten book for teens. I would love to have a copy of it. --Rachel, 14.

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Williams-Garcia, Rita. No Laughter Here

A book about two young friends.  Inseperable except one goes on a trip to her parents homeland, in Africa, and comes back devoid of happiness.  The other girl discovers the secret that has caused her friend to become such and finds help in the only way she knows, the internet.  This story deals with a very pertinant issue that developed in a country and time that has no place in the new, american culture, yet it penetrates secretely and deeper than most people realize.  The book is written from an elementary school child's point of view, yet deals with a very mature subject extremely well.  I would suggest it for any interested in the customs of other lands, or in the secrets of today's society. -- Hillary, 17

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No Laughter Here is an exrtremely moving novel, although it was not written very well. The subject is very strong, and yet the book seems to be written for ten year old girls. It was not very well thought out and very slow. Not a Teen Top Ten. --Rachel, 14 years old

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First name or initials: Ellington
Age: 15
Book Title: No Laughter Here
Author: Rita Williams-Garcia
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:no
Because: I generally find books that introduce me to new and unusual cultures and rituals highly entertaining. With no laughter here, I felt this immediate interest. This is a book about female genital mutilation, or female circumcision, which affects up to 1 million girls worldwide. This story had a great idea, but nothing more. I found the story dull and extremely anti-climatic, which was disappointing. I found myself wishing they would amuse me, and enlighten me, but it never happened, which is too bad, because it had the idea that could have made it a best book.Quality Rating:3 - OK
Popularity Rating:2 - Only people who are looking for this type will read it

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    This book was really informative about African rituals. However, I don't think that it is appropriate for the age group it's recommended for. It has a lot of mature content. I also found that the ending was reall abrubt. It didn't really tie the story up. Overall, this book was reasonably good, but it shouldn't be a best book.     A girl named Victoria goes to Africa over the summer, but when she gets back, her best friend Akilah notices that she's acting different. Between these two girls, a horrible secret is discovered about African rituals.  --Karlie, 14

Qualey, Marsha. Too Big a Storm,

Printz Award Because this was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It tells a lot about tings that happen in the 70's that I did not know about and I really loved. --Sarah V., 17, 5 ***Would like a copy of this book.

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Kaaberbol,  Shamer's Daughter

Teen Top 10, because I liked the language use, characters and their traits. This book goes into detail about injuries, building settings and landscape. My kind of book. --Upe, 16, 5, ***Would like a copy of this book.

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Jones, Patrick. Things Change

Top 10, This is something a lot of teens have a tendenct to go through.
Every teen should read this book. -- Ashley W., age 17, rating 5
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Top 10, because it's good for girls in abusive relationships.
Andrew W., age 17, rating 3
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It was one of the best books I've read and it is
real. It talks about things that happen to teenage girls everyday. A
lot of girls can't cope with that. It also had a lot of good details in
it. --Nicole B. age 17. rating 5
*Would like this book.
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think this is a quick read that you don't want to put
down because you can relate to how both the girl and guy feel. You hope
things change. --Chelsea M. age 17. rating 4
*Would like this book.
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Top 10 Award
"I like this book because it is a situation that happens a lot with teens. It kept me hooked until the end." --Sarah O., Age 15, Rating 5
Yes, I would like this book.
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Top 10, because it is about real life situations that happens every day.
Zach, age 16, rating 5
*would like this book
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Things change, Jones
Teen top 10, Because I could relate to it. I especially like the fact
the couple would not let anyone break them up and that she broke up the
relationship.
Ashley E., age 15, rating 5
*Would like a copy of this book.

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First name or initials: Trystan
Age: 18
Book Title: Things Change
Author: Patrick Jones
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: I know this is cliché, but I couldn't put this book down!  I got so involved in the lives of both characters, and their problems as well.  Abuse in a relationship is a touchy subject (no pun intended).  Too often society chooses to view the person inflicting the abuse as a monster.  I thought the author of this book did a good job making what that character (Paul) did seem despicable without making the reader absolutely hate the character as a person.  You end up feeling sorry for him, really.  The character receiving the abuse is also frustrating, pitiable, and yet understandable.  I've always thought that if I were to be abused by my boyfriend, he'd never be anywhere close to me again (literally and figuratively).  This book made me realize just how difficult it could be to let go, and why some can't do it. I thought the whole book was beautifully written; one section of Paul's is particularly breathtaking.  I definitely think this is a best book.
Quality Rating:4 - Pretty good.
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it.

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When I read the back of this book, I set myself up for a different kind of story. But this story still had the same basic story line as I expected. It's about a girl that finally gets to go out with the guy she's liked for a long time. But when she finally gets together with him, she finds out he's not the guy she thought he was. I would consider this a best book. --    Karlie,14

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First name or initials:        Ellington
Age:   15
Book Title:    Things Change
Author:        Patrick Jones
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because:     It is not often I read a book on dating abuse, and even less I find one that is well written. Things Change by Patrick Jones, provided a meaningful novel about dating abuse. Most abuse novels use scare tactics to entice the reader and go into great detail about the abuse. This book however provided enough detail for you to know what was going one without deeply disturbing the reader. Things Change was a well written novel with and excellent plot and ending that truly takes one out of their world, to experience that of someone subjected to dating abuse.
Quality Rating:4 - Pretty good.
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it.

Meacham, Margaret A Mid-Semester Night's Dream

The first thing a reader should know about this book is; this is a simple story.  There aren't any heart-clutching twists, it just goes from beginning to end.  I'm glad I spent the 45 minutes it took to read and finish it.  It's a good story, but to me this was a 3rd-6th grade book.  Not a Best Book, just for average range. .—Kara, 14

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This was a good book...for a ten year-old. If I had been younger I would have enjoyed it, but it was way below reading level. I found it to have a childish plot line. A girl likes a boy. She qualifies for fairy assistence. She gets a ditsy faerie godmother in-training named Gretta. Gretta screws things up by casting spells, even though she's not supposed to. For example, she turns the girl blue. Maybe a quick pick book, but only if nothing better comes out. --Robbie, 15

Koja, Kathe The Blue Mirror

It was good and intersting. It is one of those books that teens would like because it tell's about what happens when you run away. -- Noe R. Age 17. Rating 3
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Teen Top 10 because it was one of the best books I've read.  I really, really liked it.This book puts things in a teens perspective.  It seemed real to life to me.--Ashley  E., age 14, rating 5 --*** Would like this book!

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Teen Top 10, because it's a lesson learned for kids.  Kids ca choose different life styles than their parents. --Justin R., age 17, 4

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Should be a top 10, it is one of the best books I've read. This is a
good book about hardships in life. It also encourages us to use our
talents to the best of our abilities.
Upe
17
5

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Printz Award because it tells how you can't know anyone by their
outer apperiances or by the things they say because everyone has
their secrets that tell how people really are.
Sarah V.
17
4
***would like a copy of this book.

Riding Low on the Street of Gold, edited by Judith Ortiz Cofer

It should win an award because it’s a bunch of short stories of Latin people.  It keeps you hooked.  I like the way the story starts.  It’s really good literature.  --Ian S., 14, rating 5,  *Would like this book

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Top10 because it's really good to relate to teens.  The story I read
and really liked was about some Mexican Teens.
Rigo
17
5
***would like a copy of this book

New Magics

I have finished "New Magics " however. It is an awesome book. It's justa as good as "New Skies". All the stories in it are well written. Some of them make you think, and some of them are just quick reads. It's definitely a best book. I don't normally enjoy anthologies because I feel I don't learn enough about the characters in a short story, but I still really liked this. A must read for a fantasy reader of any kind, and for non-fantasy readers, too! It's a great introduction into the fantasy world with stories from some of the best. --Ramana, (I'm 17 now)

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This book includes stuff about King Arthur, Galaad, and a Phoenix Egg, and the Philosopher" Stone.  Also the Apple of Life and other sorcerey's and magics.  Fantastic character development. Very nice settings all in all, great fantasy. Should be on the Best Book List. --Ben, 15

Burgess, Melvin Doing It

I hated this book.  It had no storyline, and was very rouchy.  don't waste your time reading it. --Katherine, 15

L'Homme, Erik Quadehar the Sorcerer
I thought Quadehar The Sorcerer had good character development, very good lay out of the Uncertain World and The Lost Isle.  This is a Best Book. --Ben, 15