Teen Comments 2004 page 16
Gaiman, Neil. The Wolves in the Walls
First name or initials: Kim
Age: 13
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:undecided
Because: The Wolves in teh Walls was a good book alright. Cool little myth and
the creepiest, coolest pictures, but the fact that it is a picture book might
turn some people off.
Quality Rating:3 - OK
Popularity Rating:3 - Some will and some will not care to read it.
Should not be on the list. It's an ok book, easy to get into but it ends in a weird spot. --Stephen, 16, rate 3
Should not be on the list. It was a good book but hard to follow in the beginning. --Ashley, 17, rate3
Does not recommend this book for the list because he read about 20 pages and quit because he couldn't get into it. rates a 2 --Kory, 17,
First name or initials: Erin
Age: 14
Book Title: Senioritis
Author: Tate Thompson
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: I think that is should be a book for young adults because it is a book
about kids in our generation in every which way possible. All of the characters
talked and did things like my peers do.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it.
___________________
First name or initials: Cameron
Age: 15
Book Title: Senioritis
Author: Tate Tompson
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: I loved this book! It is such a true to life story.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:5 - Everybody was dying to read this yesterday.
_________________
First name or initials: Yahaida
Age: 15
Book Title: Senioritis
Author: Tate Thompson
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: This book really lets you look into the lives of people(students) who
in all reality are like alot of people you know or that you may even be.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it.
(Optional) I also want you to know...: That Mr. Thompson is the best teacher
ever!
______________
First name or initials: Kim
Age: 13
Book Title: Senoritis
Author: Tate Thopson
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:no
Because: I got to about page 40 in Senioritis. It wasn't that intresting to
tell you the truth. Alt Ed, which has the same kind of plot, was so much
better. The characters got to close to soon, and the characters switched around
to often. I wouldn't reccommend this book.
Quality Rating:2 - Only for people who are interested in this
Popularity Rating:3 - Some will and some will not care to read it.
Little, Jason. Shutterbug Follies
First name or initials: Kim
Age: 13
Book Title: Shutterbug Follies
Author: Jason Little
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: This was my first real graphic novel, and I have to say, I'm glad it was
this one, because else I might've never picked up another one. This book was
very coo, and although there were a few explict pictures, it didn't really take
away from the book. It's a murder/adventure mystry, and something you can read
the entire way through. I'd recommend this book!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read 4 - Pretty good.
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it. 3 - Some will and
some will not care to read it.
Maynard, Joyce. The Usual Rules
This was a best book, I really enjoyed reading it. It gave such a great insight to show the reader how the people that experience Sept. 11th first hand really felt. It almost made me cry when Wendy lost her mom and the change that she had to go thru. --Annie, 16
Aronson, Marc Witch Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials
This book was about the Salem witch trials and the people that were in it. I found it extremly interesting to read. I'm not so sure, it was a best book because most teens would not like to read about the Salem Witch Trials, unless they have to write a report on it. Anothe reason on why I loved this book was because Aronson's views of why the Witch Trails was unlike anything I heard before and it was different and allow me to think. --Annie, 16
Thank you for letting us use books, and letting me read Flame. I liked how the auther alternated between the charactors, and wrote about Sorahb piece by piece. I also liked that it was not futureistisc or like modern day, which changed the stratagie of the war. Another thing I liked was that not all the main charactors where on Farsala's side -- this made it more interesting. My favorite thing about the book is that the part about Sorahb is based on a myth . I would recommend this to other teens. My name is Zane and I am a 12 yr. old 7th grader. Sincerely Zane
___ __ __
BBYA?: Yes
Rate (1-10): 9
Popularity Rate (1-5): 4
Review:
Jiaan is the illegitimate son of Commander Merhab and is treated like a peasant
by the rest of royalty, which is never a good thing. He is also to be one of
the people who helps Soraya escape, I mean, she is his half-sister...
Kiva, a poor peddler who forges gold has to sell enough to get a friend out of
jail. He has to sell about 15 forged pieces in a week to be able to pay for her
in time but after she is out someone realizes that the gold was forged. On the
run he meets up with Soraya and Jiaan's party and is ordered to check on Soraya
when she is at her spot twice in two years. But then he runs into some Hrum on
the way...
By the way Farsala, where Soraya, Jiaan, and Kiva are native to are under
attack by the Hrum. That makes things a lot more interesting.
I loved Flame, it was full of fast-paced adventure, excitement, the key
ingredients in a good fantasy book (what any book needs). This series is off to
a great start and I can't wait for book two but I can already tell that you
probably would need to read the first one to understand the second one.
--Christa,13
Rodda, Emily. Rowan and the Ice Creepers
BBYA?: No
Rate (1-10): 7
Popularity (1-5): 2
Review: Rowan of Rin is back in service, when Rin is under attack by the Ice
Creepers. Ice Creepers are gigantic worms that thrive in cold weather and they
are deadly. The Ice Creeper's eat warm flesh and they have started coming to
Rin to get it. Spring should have started weeks ago. So it's up to Rowan and
three others to save Rin and the rest of their world from them, their journey
is hard and treacherous. This book should not be a BBYA because it seems like
it is written for younger audiences but it was still a book I enjoyed. Also I
gave it a popularity rate of 2 again because of the age factor. --Christa,13
Godfrey , Rebecca. The Torn Skirt
I'm not so sure that this is a best book or not. It was kind of a depressing book, it open my mind up a little more about how some teenagers could be. I think the author could ease off a bit on using the f-word so much. I think I would of enjoyed it more if I could of better relate to Sara ( main character). I don't think many teenagers would enjoyed this novel. --Annie, 16
It's a really good Fantasy book. I will not say
any more, because I know it will get on the
list. --Robbie, 14
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Eragon, by Christopher Paolini, is the first book
in the Inheritance Trilogy, and it deserves
the title "best book" more than any book I've ever read for a long time. It is extremelly well written; the
characters, setting, and plot is very real. It
starts out with an exiting prolouge and then
slows down while you get used to the world the story is set in. You meet the main character, Eragon, just as he finds the
Dragon, Saphira. Even here though, you can
feel the plot gradually picking up speed. Then the enemy attacks and the plot keeps moving quickly thoughout
the whole book. It all builds into a very
climactic ending that leaves you waiting for the next book in the Series. It's a page-turner, you don't want to put it
down! --GJHS student
___________
Eragon- This story is amazing. I absolutely loved this book. It was an interesting right from the first page. The words and text was really breath taking. I really found the characters were through, the adventure like non I have seen before and the mysteries fantastic. I would in fact place this book in the top ten. I give it a five on a rating scale. --(I really, really would love this book for the end of the year. Please?) --Heather, 14
________
First name or initials: Liz
Age: 15
Book Title: Eragon
Author: Christopher Paolini
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:no
Because: My, my, my... never have I read a book that made me want to puke more
or more often. Having read other novels by Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey,
J.R.R. Tolkien and many others I only have to wonder why they don't file
lawsuits for plagerism. THe characters in this book were dismal and the most
depressing part of this novel was that they did not all die in terrible and
painful ways. The plot, while having many good ideas, was brutally slaughtered
by Paolini's lack of description and development. While 20,000 words were
edited out of the original, this monstrosity was still 800 pages long. To sum
up, what a horribly wooden and derivative piece of drivel. Avoid at all costs!
Quality Rating:1 - Yecch! Force read only.
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it.
______________
I definately think Eragon, by Christopher Paolini, is a "best books" because it is extremelly well written. The characters, setting, and plot is so beliveable and keeps moving so steadily, that it's very hard to put down and leaves you wanting the next book in the series very badly. The story follows Eragon as he discovers Saphira, his dragon, journeys across the land of Alagaesia, and learn of his destiny as a Dragon Rider. His house is destroyed by the evil king's servents when they're searching for his dragon, and he vows to catch up with them and pay them back. On his way, he learns his magical strength from a storyteller, hears his fortune told by a witch, and masters his swordsmanship from a friend who must conceal his past. The story has several intense encounters with the evil kings minions, who grow stronger and more powerful all the time. This book is one that you don't ever want to put down. --Alex, Age: 14
________
First name or initials: AvidReader
Age: 7000+ (14)
Book Title: Eragon
Author: Christopher Paolini
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: Although this book does not have particularly advanced vocabulary, I
find that this book is of high quality. The storyline borrows from JRR Tolkien,
Anne McCaffrey, and many others, but this re-telling of the same stories has
been occurring for years. In fact, all the great classics have basis in other
tales, much as our actions are continually influenced by the actions of others.
Although the storyline is (in some areas) laughably predictable in the
generalities, the details of the story are what makes this book truly unique.
The descriptions are vivid and powerful. Altogether, my opinion is that for a
debut novel, the book is very well written. Although some may complain that the
True Names of objects use too many "l"s, "k"s,
"z"s, and "j"s, the overall experience is highly enjoyable.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it.
________________________
First name or initials: Robbie
Age: 14
Book Title: Eragon
Author: Christopher Paolini
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ! Even more so than Vampire High,
if possible. I swear, this book will sell million, and outrank Harry Potter
shortly. I cannot wait for the next installment. The characters are endearing,
the storyline is captivating, oh, I could go on forever.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it.
(Optional) I also want you to know...: (Can I have one of the copies of this
one, too, if it isn't too much trouble?)
________________
There are many terrible, terrible things one can
do when they have consumed enough alcohol that they would never even consider
doing in a legal state of mind. These things include but are not limited to;
acquiring tattoos, acquiring marriages to women/men you've known for a matter
of hours, and attempting to drive. However, in my personal opinion, there are
few things more horrifying and shameful then the thought of getting drunk and
waking up in your own bed with a copy of Eragon propped up on your chest,
turned to the last page.
Although I had only read one chapter before I found other things to involve
myself with, I'm quite certain if I had persisted past it, internal
hemorrhaging would have been the result of my efforts had preventive measures
not been taken (I hired an illiterate person to seal the book in a particularly
flammable lipid, which was then burned).
Alright...I suppose I exaggerate a bit, as I tend to do in such things, but the
book really wasn't that good. The only reason I even picked it up was its
���amazing- cover, which really caught the eye, but sadly was the only saving
point. It vaguely reminds me of Dragon Ball Z, except in novel form.
--Ryan, 17
This book was a breath of fresh air, at least as far as the science fiction plots go. The story is a fresh tale of genetically modified humans returning from a 300 year exodus from Earth, with the intent of taking over the planet forthright. They view all the human's on Earth as various kinds of scum, and seek to purge it by force, making way for all the genetically pure humans. Through the plot of a soldier stranded among the natives, you learn of deception of the High Consul regarding the situation (The air is breathable after all!), and the dangerous game they play with rival gangs to try and unite Earth against them.
Although I quite probably sound like a paid advertisement at this point, I liked this book, and nominate it for a best book. --Ryan, 17
McMullen, Sean. Voyage of the Shadowmoon, (Ryan begs for this book)
This book...was amazing. Although daunting in its very size, there are innumerable sub-plots that run throughout it, varying the plot between each chapter to prevent any one story from become stale or tepid, but not switching so often one becomes lost or confused. The main characters were enthralling in their own right, and seldom became predictable, and the endless comedy that arises from Laron the vampire often had me chuckling out loud, drawing some interesting stares from those around me.
I'm certain the person whom reads these would rather take a shard of glass to their wrists then read another plot summary about a book they've already read, so I'll simply say this. This book was amazing, definitely a best book above all the rest.
Ryan wishes to respectfully beg for this book above all else at the end of the year. --Ryan, 17
Open your Eyes: Extraordinary Experiences in Far Away Places.
Editor: Jill Davis
BBYA?: Yes
Rate (1-10): 9
Popularity (1-5): 4
Open your Eyes, was a collection of short
biographies written by popular authors, which they shared something that had an
impact on their life. Lois Lowry, Harry Mazer, and Katherine Patterson are three
of the ten authors that wrote memoirs in this book.
One of the stories was "Empress," by Lois Lowry. This was about a
time when she was 11-years old and she lived in Tokyo, Japan. She learns how to
be like an empress in a very unexpected way.
Another story was called, "Join the Army and see the World" by Harry
Mazer. He was in the 398th bomb group during the end of WWII. The Germans took
him after his plane crashed and he made history.
This was a superb book and I loved reading short memoirs written by some
excellent authors. My favorite one was about a mothers problems with the French
schooling. I laughed the entire time I read it. It can be easily said that
anyone who reads this book will like at least one of the memoirs in it. There
are stories about prejudice, courage, life lessons, and faraway places. Reading
this will literally open your eyes. --Christa, Age: 13
Should be on the list. It is a very well thought out plot
and I think the book is great for teens.--Justin, 16, 4
________
BBYA?: Yes
Rate (1-10): 8
Popularity (1-5): 3
Martha Boyle and her family go to visit their grandmother who lives in Cape Cod
every summer but this summer is different. Before they go Martha gets a visit
from a mother of Olive who got died a couple weeks ago. She gives Olive a piece
of paper from her journal that says the person who she wants to be friends with
the most is Martha. This is constantly on her mind throughout the summer but
Jimmy Manning is too. Jimmy and his brothers live in Cape Cod by Marthas
grandmothers house. He seems wonderful but he will end up showing his true
face.
Olives Ocean, was well written and just the
way you would want a book about a family visiting the ocean to be. I rated this
book an eight because it had a great plot that wanted to make you keep reading
it but not enough to make you satisfied entirely. --Christa, Age: 13
Hampton, Wilborn. September 11, 2001
This book should be on the list because it tell's us what the victims felt like and went through. It was a hard book for me to read. --Sean, 13, rates a 5