Teen Comments 2004 page 17
First name or initials: Kim
Age: 13
Book Title: Boy Meets Boy
Author: David Levithan
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:undecided
Because: Well, basically this was a teen
romance. Well a gay teen
romance. That might ward off some people. Otherwise it was an okay book. I
liked it because it wasn't the normal angsty male/male romance books. It was
also a little more philosophical. But it wasn't anything special.
Quality Rating:4 - Pretty good. 3 - OK
Popularity Rating:3 - Some will and some will not care to read it.
Vampire High, by Douglas Rees, is a best books
book because it's a very well written book
about a kid trying to make friends with people of a different culture. The only difference is that they're all
vampires! The main character just moved to a
town with actual vampires! The vampires and the
humans in there have hated each other for years, but they don't fight each other because the humans are terrified and the
vampires know that there are lots more humans
then them. The main character makes friends with a vampire, and starts a chain reaction that will change both cultures
for the better. However, most people are afriad
of the change, and the vampire half of the
community are out for his blood! The only thing I didn't like was that it was over too quickly. --GJHS student
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First name or initials: Katrina
Age: 16
Book Title: Vampire High
Author: Doug Rees
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: When I first heard of this book, it was from my best friend, who
called me on the phone and told me I just HAD to read the book she was reading.
She later gave me the book for my birthday. I started reading Tuesday night at
7 and finished an hour and a half later. Once started, I could NOT put the book
down! When I finished the book, my only disappointment was that I had to stop
reading the wonderful book. I love all the new twists and turns that are
totally unexpected, but make complete sense. Everybody HAS to read this!This
book can be read by everybody and loved by all
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:5 - Everybody was dying to read this yesterday.
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Vampire High is a very cute, well written book about a boy who
attends a school for vampires. I think it's a best book because you feel like
you're there every moment of the book. --Katherine, 14
______________
First name or initials: Liz
Age: 15
Book Title: Vampire High
Author: Douglas Rees
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: Being an avid fantasy reader, I have to admit that when I first read
Vampire High I was shocked. Fantasy of this quality does still exist! I
couldn't put it down! I picked it up Saturday morning and read it by Saturday
afternoon. The first thing I did was call my best friend and tell her that she
HAD to read this book. Then I hung up and read it again. Not only does Rees
combine the best elements of fantasy in a plot that is sure to keep you
laughing, he also has many hilarious satirical elements such as the law firm
"Leech, Swindol, and Twist". The characters make me want to go out
and FIND these people. He captures the craziness of highschool with a tiny bit
more weirdness factor and the terror of that school down the street, Our Lady
of Perpetual Homework. Masterfully written and carried out this a book that
everyone should read and everyone will love.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:5 - Everybody was dying to read this yesterday.
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First name or initials: Robbie
Age: 14
Book Title: Vampire High
Author: Douglas Rees
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: Should this book be a Best Book for Tenns? YES YES YES! This was one
of the best books I have read in years. I flowed so much that I got it monday
at four, and finished it Tuesday at five thirty. It seemed that every page you
could predict was was going to heppen, but then it would take a profiund twist,
and you would say 'wow! I didn't see that coming!' If this book doesn't make
BBYA, I'm not going to regard that list very highly. I
myself nominated this book. This is a hilarious book.
It should be on this list because the scenario is
just so far-fetched. It was a well-executed book, down to the last page. The names are inventive, the story line intriging, and everything about it just screams 'BESTSELLER'
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:5 - Everybody was dying to read this yesterday.
(Optional) I also want you to know...: If possible, this is a book I would like
to keep at the end of the year, please.
First name or initials: Hilary K.
Age: 16
Book Title: Rainbow High
Author: Alex Sanchez
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:Definitely a best
book
Because: A view into the mind and life of today's homosexual and AIDS inflicted
youth. Three teenage boys boys need to deal with coming out to friends,family,
and teammates about their sexuality; and the impending HIV/AIDS test. All the
while dealing with school, college, and the typical high school kid dramas. s a
sequel, but stands alone as is.
Quality Rating:4 - Pretty good.
Popularity Rating:3 - Some will and some will not care to read it.
First name or initials: Hilary K.
Age: 16
Book Title: Dirt Eaters, The
Author: Dennis Foon
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes undecided
Because: Foon draws all into the world of science fiction with dreams and
realities blending in an extraordinary tale of one orphan and the people who
raise him. Foon could have explained the concept of the "dirt eaters"
and the political aspects of the time up front, not as the story unfolds.
Quality Rating:4 - Pretty good.
Popularity Rating:3 - Some will and some will not care to read it.
Grunwell, Jeanne Marie. Mind Games
First name or initials: Kim
Age: 13
Book Title: Mind Games
Author: Jeanne Marie Grunwell
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:undecided
Because: Mind Games is about a group of 7th graders with a science fair project
dealing with ESP. It was a pretty good book, because it wasn't written in
normal book format, and is the collection of the obsevations etc. I liked it,
but I'm not sure how it'd fair with others, and I'm begining to question my own
ideas on it. Because it was only an okay book. And it dealt with 7th graders,
so Juniors or what might not enjoy reading a book about 7th graders that they
can't relate to...
Quality Rating:4 - Pretty good. 3 - OK
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it. 3 - Some will and
some will not care to read it.
BBYA: No
Rate (1-10): 4
Popularity (1-5): 2
Review: This book was flat and dull. It had a good start for a beginning, like
the skeleton of a beginning but it was missing the hook. I couldnt get into it
and I really didnt enjoy reading what I read of it (about 35 pages). -Christa,
13
Blackwood, Gary. Shakespeare's Spy
BBYA: Yes
Rate (1-10): 8
Popularity (1-5): 3
Review:
Widge, is now Shakespeare's scribe and is now apart of the troupe. Mostly when
he has been acting he has been playing girls but his voice is changing. Later
on that proves to be the least of his worries. Costumes are being stolen one by
one from the costume room and no one knows who is doing it. All they know is
that its someone in the troupe. Also the members of the troupe are having their
wages cut. On top of all that Queen Elizabeth is in bad health and is getting
worse, meaning that acting might lose its funding soon. Dont forget the plague
is still spreading all around England.
Shakespeare's Spy, was a great book. Also
it is a book that stands alone well, I havent even read the others in this
series and I still understood everything perfectly. I gave it an 8 because it
jumped around a lot but it still kept me interested. -Christa, 13
BBYA: Yes
Rate (1-10): 8
Popularity (1-5): 3
Review: He is a small boy, with no real name who lives in Warsaw during the
Holocaust. All he has is a yellow stone around his neck that was given to him
by his father and that hes a gypsy boy but no other memories than that. Hes
also fast, which proves to be helpful for stealing food for himself and
orphans. Then hes taken in by a group of young men, who all are living in the
lap of luxury, with food and good clothes, until they are forced into the
ghetto. Where they are forced to fend for themselves.
This was an excellent historical fiction book and an easy read. The short and
choppy sentences really made you feel that this was a seven or eight year olds
perspective of the ghetto and life before. -Christa, 13
Glick, Susan. One Shot
This book should be on the list because it touches and warms your heart and soul. rates a 5 --Chad, 17,
Fields, Henry. After the Death of Anna Gonzales
Should be on the list. It has a good story to it and I do believe it is a true story. It makes you think twice about committing suicide. --Chris, 17, 4
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Should be on list because it tries to give examples to not kill yourself, even if you are alone. This was very touching to my heart because this girl reminds me of my sister, so that makes me responsible for her and my little brothers.--Jose, 15, rates a 5
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Should be on the list because it talks about family and how people are to her and friends. --Alexis, 16, rates a 5
Whallers, Lorie Anne. Loose Threads
Kay is your average middle school girl. But
when her grandma is diagnosed with breast cancer, her life is changed
forever. Through the hardships, battles, and treatments, Kay learns to
make the best of situations. With her mother and great-grandma for
support, her family comes closer than ever.
I thought this book was very well written in free-verse
poetry. Although the message is touching and can relate to anyone, it
would be particularly great for middle school aged teens. Dealing with
one of life's hardest lessons, death, "Loose Threads" was a
remarkable book. Rating: 4 (out of 5) --Lisa, 14
Nick, a wealthy New York City teen,
likes to take advantage of his ego as a master graffiti artist.
However, he faces some problems between gangs in New York.
I didn't really like this book. Although the
author claims to have based this on his life and seeing wealthy gangs in the
east, the characters seemed unrealistic. I've heard that this book was
the male version of "Gossip Girl," which can be seen in some ways,
but overall, it didn't match up to how catchy and intresting "Gossip Girl"
was. Rating: 2 --Lisa, 14
Paulsen, Gary. How Angel Peterson Got his Name and Other Outrageous Tales About Extreme Sports
How Angle Perterson Got His Name, is a good book. This book brings back memmories of when I tried doing some of this stuff. I would deffinently recommend this book to others. Thank You, --Aubrey (12?)
Douglass, Sara Beyond the Hanging Wall
First name or initials: Ashley J
Age: 17
Book Title: Beyond the Hanging Wall
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: I absolutely adored this book! It is exactly the type of thing I like
to read. The plot and characters were awesome, if not entirely original. This
is definately a best book.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:5 - Everybody was dying to read this yesterday.
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I did not like the book Beyond the Hanging Walls. I'm not really into Midevil Times. Also I thought the book was counfusing. I didn't quite understand it. Thanks --Kyle (12?)
Woodruff, Elvira. Ravenmaster's Secret
First name or initials: Ellington
Age: 15
Book Title: The Ravenmaster's Secret
Author: Elvira Woodruff
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: This was a fascinating book about the Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London during the 1700s. It follows the story of one young son of a Yeoman Warder, the Ravenmaster, as he lives his life solely inside the walls of the Tower, and attempts to rescue a Scottish girl kept prisoner in the Bloody Tower. While all references might not have been 100% accurate, the way it was written clearly expressed that fact and never tried to sell it to me as truth. This book was exciting and provides a rare fictional work of London in the 1700s.
Quality Rating: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.
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This was also an historical fiction book, so Hear the Wind Blow isn't alone. This was much more enjoyable though. It's set in the middle ages, which is one of my favorite time periods. I liked this book, but I don't remember much else. I remember though it was a Best Book too. --Kara, 15
DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux
Truthfully, I thought this book was meant for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. I still liked it, but the story was "preached to you" in a childlike way. It was nice, but not a Best Book. --Kara, 15