Teen Comments on Books Eligible for the 2004 Best Books for Young Adults List page 9
Matthews, Andrew The Flip Side
First name or initials: Kim
Age: 13
Book Title: The Flip Side
Author: Matthews, Andrew
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: I really enjoyed this book because although it did have a more mature
topic, a boy named Rob who begins to find a liking for dressing up as a girl,
it was the topic was intriguing and helps you see "the other side".
It was really short, but made a point, so in a way it was more than a story,
but a lesson.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read 4 - Pretty good.
Popularity Rating:3 - Some will and some will not care to read it.
This was a book for more older readers. It was about a boy who loves to dress in girl clothes and has a friend that is gay. It was really strange and I really didn't like it that much, but it was a quick read. - -Karlie, 13
Stone, Miriam. At the End of Words: A Daughter's Memoir
Should not be on list because it's a good book but too depressing. --Ashley, 17, rate 3
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First name or initials: Lainy
Age: 17
Book Title: At the End of Words: A Daughter's Memoir
Author: Stone, Miriam
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:no undecided
Because: This wasn't a book that I recomend to others unless they were going
through the same type of situation. I did like how the poetry was entwined with
the story in the right parts of the story and I enjoyed to honesty of the
author but like I said earlier, this just isn't a book I would concider a
"must read."
Quality Rating:2 - Only for people who are interested in this
Popularity Rating:3 - Some will and some will not care to read it. 2 - Only
people who are looking for this type will read it
Should be on list it is kind of easy to read and it has alot
of action. --Juan, 17, rate 4
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Should be on list. This book is really good if you like
poems. It really shows some very good ones.--Ashley, 17, 5 I love this
book and would love to own it. The poems are amazing.
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Should be on the list because the poems were
great. They really moved me. I also enjoyed the fact they were written by
teens. It seems like the poets wrote from their hearts. --Justin, 14, rates a 5
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First name or initials: Lainy
Age: 17
Book Title: Paint Me Like I Am
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: The poetry in this book was so real to life. It exposed the emotion
and heartbeat of my generation. While some of the poetry wasn't of the highest
quality there was an abundance of wonderful poetry. This book displayed many
diferent poets from many different walks of life, but mainly the hard roads. I
felt that I could relate to the poets as well as their passion for writting.
What I also enjoyed about this book was the small quotes and writting prompts and
ideas to help the reader write as well.
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...: I would like to own this book at the end
of the year.
Schwartz, Virginia Frances Messenger.
Frances aka Baby, who's the main character was a well-develop character, it was the events that happened to her or around her, that was dull. I felt sympathy for all the characters especially Baby's family. It wasn't the kind of book that when I finished reading it, I said "wow." However, it was still a good book. It could be a best. But I think it could be better somehow. -- Annie, 16
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First name or initials: Chelsea
Age: 12
Book Title: Messenger
Author: Virginia Frances Schwartz
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: This book is full of sadness and adventure. It kept me going until I
finished it in one night. The story gets right to the point were you can't wait
to find out what happens.
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...: There isn't that much conversation, it
is mostly just what the main character, Frances' (Baby), remembers in her life.
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I couldn't finish the book Messenger by Virginia Frances Schwartz. It was boring and not interesting. I read 67 pages and then dropped it. If you are looking for a book with action and adventure, this is not it! I do not recommend it for bbya. --Elise,17
Banks, Lynne Reid. The Dungeon
First name or initials: Trystan
Age: 17
Book Title: The Dungeon
Author: Lynne Reid Banks
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: I find myself in turmoil after finishing this book. I did enjoy
reading it; I finished it in one day! But did I like it? Not really. It did
affect me emotionally where other books this year have failed to do so. The
writing was interesting and original, and the characters real. So why did I
dislike it? It deals heavily with the ability of a person to be unrelentingly
cruel and utterly destroyed by a driving desire for revenge. This book doesn't
provide the reader with a comfortable happy ending; she is instead left to
ponder how horrible humanity can actually be.
I went into this read thinking it would be easy and enjoyable (after all, it is
the last day of school!) and instead I found myself questioning if I myself
belong to a species with such a "capability for cruelty" as another
Best Book author put it.
And yet, I think it should be a best book. The best of books, after all, makes
us question the people are, and though I would prefer not to spend the
beginning of my summer pondering the poisonous possibilities of people, I
cannot in good conscience disqualify a book because it makes me think. Indeed,
I must acknowledge and commend it for doing so.
So yes, it should be a best book.
Quality Rating:4 - Pretty good.
Popularity Rating:3 - Some will and some will not care to read it.
This was an interesting book, and it was also quite good. I think it
should be a best book. It takes an original idea and spins a story around
it that teens can connect to and love. --Heather, 17
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Definally a unique story, I didn't even know what song reading was until after reading this book. A suprising twist in the end, which proves that life is not always fair. The book circles around the character Mary-beth, which also happened to be the song reader, who can reveals the problems of a person by the songs they have in their head. I would recommend this book to a best. When I got done with the book, I felt the pain of all the characters and I love that. --Annie, 16
Wrede, Patricia C. & Caroline Stevermer Sorcery & Cecilia, or, the Enchanted Chocolate Pot
This book should be on the list because it is a
great book . It's hard to get into at frist but once you start understanding
what's going on it's easy to read and very interesting. --Stephen, 16, Rates 5
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First name or initials: Annie
Age: 14
Book Title: Sorcery and Cecelia or the enchanted chocolate pot
Author: Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: This is an absolutely wonderful book. I love that it takes place in
England but they have magic as well. I think that Kate and Cecelia writing
letters back and forth during the Season is a great way to write the novel.
This book is funny and fun to read. I also love how they talk in the story,
using words like odious and phrases like chuckle-headed.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:4 - Lots of people will want to read it.
This is a book about a high school that suffers
trauma from a shooting 50 miles away, and while they're just getting over their
grief, a student guidance counsel guy suddenly appears, and weired things start
happening. Metal detectors are everywhere, you can't go down the hall without
being searched, and you can't wear the color red. And at the top of all that,
people are regularly disappearing, students and teachers alike. At first
glance, this book just looks like an ordinary teen
novel, but as you get more immersed in this world, you find that it's just like
an X-files show. I thought this was a very good book! The way that the author
gave you clues that something weird was going on was interesting, and drew you
deeper into what was going on. I think this deserves to be on best books!!
--Keli, 12
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This book was wonderfully written. A shooting goes on at a school called
Pleasant Valley and it affects a school 50 miles away. Outrageous rules are
made and teachers and students are disappearing. It is a best book. --
Karlie,13
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First name or initials: Kim
Age: 13
Book Title: After
Author: Francine Prose
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: I will be highly dissapointed if this doesn't get onto the list.
The book takes place after a shooting at Pleasent Valley High School, 50 miles
away from Central High, where Tom Bishop goes to school. The school goes into a
change, where it is way secure, and people begin to disapear.
This is very freaky, very intriguing, very exciting. It is a must read, because
it feels like it could happen at any point. Hard to explain, but read it, and
you'll fall in love with it too.
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read 4 - Pretty good.
Popularity Rating:5 - Everybody was dying to read this yesterday.
(Optional) I also want you to know...: Nominate it!
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Name: Christa, Age: 13
Book Title: After
Author: Francine Prose
BBYA?: Yes
Rate (1-10): 10 Review: After, was about a
High School that took safety way to far. At Pleasent Valley High there was a
shooting and it's 50 miles away from Tom Bishops school. Soon after that, a
grief counselor comes to there school, to help the students cope with the grief
from the recent shooting. The students schedule is changed so that they can
have assemblies every morning, that tell about new rules (etc). But when
students who break the rules and start disappearing things get really 'freaky'.
This book is an awesome thriller and it 'messes with your head.' I recommend
this book to anyone who likes a fast paced story.
First name or initials: Jessie
Age: 12
Book Title: DreadFul acts
Author: Philip Ardagh
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: It was the BEST book I have read in about 3 years, I read it in one
day. I loved It SO,SO,SO much. I want to have the book for my little brothers
and sisters to be able to read with out me having to return it to the libary.
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 there is a possable way I can Get on
of these books.
Jablonski, Carla. The Books of Magic: the Invitation
It's been a while since I read
these, so I'm a little fuzzy on the plot.I remember the main character Tim is
taken through the history and also time in the first book.I didn't think it was
a best book, it would have made more sense if I knew more about the comic that
inspired the book.In the second book, you meet Tim's biological father
(parallel with "Luke I am your father.") This book was a bit
foggy around the edges. I didn't think it was a best book.Again it
probably would have been with the graphic novels.--Kara, 15
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Should be on list it is kind of easy to read and it has alot
of action.--Juan, 17, rate 4
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Really, really, great book. Definitely a best
book. Like the person who read this before me (sorry, not very good at names)
said "it could stand on it's own; you don't really need the ones that come
after it. Can't wait for the next one!--Kirsen, 14
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The Invitation is the first part of a series called the Books of Magic. It is about a boy called Timothy Hunter. Four strangers come to him, taking him on a journey to show him magic. I thought this was an excellent book, written well and a good plot. I heard that it couldn't stand on its own, but I think it can. Even though the Invitation only introduces the characters, and never goes into the main plot, it doesn't leave things unexplained. I loved how the author ended this book. It was creative, and left the reader waiting for the next book. I think this is an excellent fantacy book, and I'd say it is definently a best book. --Sara, 15
Pratchett, Terry. The Wee Free Men:A Story of Discworld
Wee Free Men was a very cute story about little blue men & a
witch with a frying pan. It's a cute adventure that makes me think about
the ideas & I still ponder them. A best book. --Katherine, 14
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First name or initials: AvidReader
Age: 7000+ really 14
Book Title: The Wee Free Men
Author: Terry Pratchett
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: This book, in my opinion, surpasses all of Pratchetts previous works
in humor and inventiveness. Rarely has such an original story been written.
This book has complex and (well, as close as you can get in Pratchett's novels)
realistic characters.
The story centers on young Tiffany Aching, an up-and-coming youth who's chosen
profession is witchcraft. Although this seems like an unusual career choice for
a "properly" raised farmgirl, Tiffany proofs her mettle when she
smashes a monster from another world in the head with her saucepan after using
her brother and a bag of candy to lure it into range.
Tiffany soon encounters the Nac Mac Feegle, who are also know as the Wee Free
Men, a clan of pictsies. Their mischeviousness is balanced only by their
courage and (VERY deeply buried) good natures. So when the Queen of Faeries
kidnaps Tiffany's brother (whom she detests) there is only one possible
outcome...
CHAAAAAAAARGE!!!!!!!
As the Wee Free Men would say
"Vote fer this book, an ye canna be wrong!"
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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Tiffany a resident of chalk is forced to save her brother, when he is taken by the evil Queen of Fairyland. But she is also a witch in training armed with a frying pan and Nac Mac Feegles (a.k.a. Wee Free Men (6-inch alcohol loving blue-men)) to help she journeys to save her brother. She finds there hard trials along the way to overcome.Terry Pratchett has great style of writing that is fun and enjoyable to read. The Wee Free Men, had a great plot line with witty characters and is bound to be a great in fantasy. Rate(1-10): 10.--Christa, 13
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This book was really funny. It was a great book, I think it should be a best book. Everyone will love it. --Heather, 17
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First name or initials: Jake
Age: 12
Book Title: The Wee Free Men
Author: Terry Pratchett
Should this book be on a list of Best Books for Young Adults:yes
Because: It was excellent. I couldn't put it down. I stayed up until 1:00 a.m.
on Tuesday because it was just to good to put down!
Quality Rating:5 - One of the best books I ever read
Popularity Rating:5 - Everybody was dying to read this yesterday.
Barrett, Tracy. Cold in Summer
Moving is hard on everybody, but especially one girl who moves from a big
city to a rural town. While alone one day, she comes across another girl, cold
to the touch, and she says that she's lived in town her whole life, but can't
find her home . . . . Now she has to find the other girl's home, so she can get
back to her family. Too short to be a best book. --Hilary, 16
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Name: Christa, 13
Title: Cold in Summer
Author: Tracy Barrett
Rate (1-10): 7
BBYA Nominee?: Honestly, I can't decide...
Review: Cold in Summer, was a very good book, after the first hundred pages.
The beginning was awful, it barely caught my interest, the plot line was great
but the details weren't the best. Then after I finished the first hundred
pages, it started to go somewhere... Ariadne, the main character, is having
problems fitting in the new town they just moved to. Everything is boring in
her opinion until she sees a ghostly figure of a girl named May Butler. The
funny thing is that she can disappear in the blink of an eye. Ariadne starts a
new school project, mainly in hopes of finding who or what May is. By the
middle of Cold in Summer the plot thickens and the ending is awesome.
Goldstein, Bobbye S. Mother Goose on the Loose
Name: Christa, 13
Title: Mother Goose on the Loose
Author: Bobbye S. Goldstein
Rate: 10
BBYA?: Definitely
Review: Mother Goose on the Loose, was an amusing cartoon book that made fun of Mother Goose Rhymes. It was witty and it reached the purpose of all cartoon books, too make you laugh. This is one of those books that you pick up on a rainy day when you are bored out of your mind and you just need something to laugh about. Many will enjoy this hilarious book. (Oh, if you like Gary Larson cartoons you'll love this.)
Singleton, Linda Joy Don't Die Dragonfly
Reader: Jocelyn
Age: 15
Title: Don't Die, Dragonfly
Author: Linda Joy Singleton
Galley No
My review: Don't Die Dragonfly is the first book in Linda Joy Singleton's The Seer series. If the next books are as good as book number one, this is sure to be one of my favorite book series (earning a place next to books by such fabulous authors as JK Rowling, Tamora Pierce, John Marsden, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and Scott Westerfeld). Some problems have caused Sabine Rose to be expelled from her old school, and she just wants her time at Sheridan High to be normal. No more creepy weirdness--namely, having psychic visions. Unfortunately, wishes don't always come true. Her psychic powers are acting up again. In her visions, Sabine sees a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. These are scary, dangerous visions, and Sabine doesn't know what to do about them. Can she figure it out before it's too late? This is a very enjoyable novel, suspenseful and full of great characters. Linda Joy Singleton is a great writer! This is highly reccomended for anyone who loves a good mystery with a great paranormal element. Book number two in this series is in my to-read stack; I can't wait to get a chance to read it!
Would you nominate this book for an award? Yes
QUALITY 4Q Better than most
POPULARITY 4P Broad general teen appeal