Teen Buzz

Reviews

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Review by Cadance L.

4 Bees: Lit (Really Good) 

The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920s and told from the perspective of Nick Carraway. The book revolves around Jay Gatsby, a mysterious but wealthy man who was born into poverty, and his love for Daisy Buchanan, a rich woman. However, Daisy is now married to Tom Buchanan, a
man born into wealth and status, whom she chose over Gatsby in their youth because of his money. Still, Gatsby is determined to win Daisy over with his newfound wealth. Throughout the book, Nick meets new characters, some rich and some poor, before finally realizing the shallowness of the upper class.

There are many main themes in the story, and I think that the theme of “rich vs. poor” is very well written. I especially enjoyed how the theme of “money can’t buy happiness” was reflected in the characters’ lives, especially Daisy and Gatsby. One thing to note is that there is some difficult language in the book, since it was written in the 1920s.

Overall, I would recommend the Great Gatsby to anyone who enjoys a story with flawed characters, likes to decipher the deeper meaning of a story or wants to read a story with an
unexpected ending.

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson (Dance of Thieves #1)

Review by Zainab F.

2 Bees: Vanilla (Meh)

Dance of Thieves by Mary. E Pearson is a young adult fantasy novel. The characters are dynamic with interesting personalities, and the conflicts
between them is an interesting read. However, the overall vibe and story pace of the book was a bit slow, and it got confusing at times. The
story ending is good though, and wraps everything up in a nice way.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts (Powerless #1)

Review by Zainab F

5 Bees: The GOAT (I Loved It!) 

Powerless by Lauren Roberts is an amazing read. It’s a young adult fantasy novel about a kingdom filled with people, known as elites,
possessing magical powers gifted to them after a plague wiped out hundreds of people. In the kingdom of Ilya, those born without powers,
known as Ordinaries, were banished. The main character Paedyn, is a remarkable young and strong women who shares a dual POV with the
main love interest, Kai Azer. The story has many intriguing plot twists and I would overall recommend this to anyone with a passion for reading
romance and fantasy

We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper

Review by Avalee J

5 Bees: The GOAT (I Loved It!) 

Becky Cooper’s reimagining of the atrocities that took place on Harvard’s campus in 1969 is
sure to keep you hooked. We follow Cooper as she uncovers the school’s deepest secrets,
unraveling the truth right along with her. From whispered myths to first-hand accounts, you feel
as if you are investigating alongside the Harvard alumni as she struggles to pick up the clues
from a long-lost murder case. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat at each page while
reading Becky Cooper’s best-selling book We Keep the Dead Close.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Inheritance Games #1)

Review by Katelyn S.

4 Bees: Lit (Really Good) 

The book inheritance games is the first book in a 3 book series. It focuses on Avery Grambs, a high school student with a bad home life and nothing in her wallet. So you can take it as a shock when she finds out that a man she has never met passed away and happened to leave his fortune of billions of dollars with his massive mansion to her. When forced to then move in with his grandsons the Hawthorne brothers, she faces challenges day after day. This book is full of mysteries and riddles. You as the reader have no idea who or what to trust, this book was impossible to put down. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and bought the next 2 books the day after I finished it. If you love mysteries with a bit of romance and heartbreak this is a great book for you. For me this book is a 4/5 and is one of my favorite books to pick up once and a while. A great book with short yet exciting chapters.

 

 

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #1)

 

Review by Zainab F.

5 Bees: The GOAT (I Loved It!)

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is the perfect mystery thriller book for a cozy read. This book revolves around a tragic case that happened five years ago in their town, where Andie Bell was “supposedly” murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then later was found dead. Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a senior highschool student who is determined to prove Sal Singh’s innocence, goes on a quest with Ravi Singh to uncover the dark secrets of the case. This was a very interesting read, and I enjoyed seeing how the story played out along with the plot twists and comedic relief. The characters were unique and stood out in their own ways, with many intriguing conflicts. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery, suspense, and thriller.

 

And check out out our program Mystery & Mayhem: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Interactive Experience coming up this March Break! 

 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Folk of the Air #1)

 

Review by Zainab F.

5 Bees: The GOAT (I Loved It!)

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is one of the best books I’ve come across. The story is set in a fantasy world where a brave young woman, Jude, must find her way through all the fae. It perfectly combines action, thriller, romance, and politics to make an intriguing story. Each character has its own unique personality, and there are numerous surprises in this book that contribute to the overall suspense. There are so many interesting conflicts, from family tension to political rivalries. This story is truly inspiring and perfectly captures the feeling of being “powerless” and “not fitting in.” Instead of fitting in, Jude stands out by proving all the people that looked down upon her wrong. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense, romance, and fantasy. Overall, an amazing book and I wish I could read it for the first time again.

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter (Better Than the Movies #1)

 

Review by Katelyn S.

5 Bees: The GOAT (I Loved It!)

Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter lives up to its name, it’s better than most romcoms I have watched or read. The story of wes and liz was such a funny emotional ride. It’s one of my favorites as you get really relatable and funny characters. The story keeps you hooked and the ending leaves you feeling warm inside. Overall it’s a great read if you just want to read something that leaves you feeling happy. It’s a great YA romance book, this book is a 5/5 for me.

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2)

 

Review by Katelyn S.

5 Bees: The GOAT (I Loved It!)

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber was an amazing book. I felt in touch with the characters and loved seeing how their personalities developed. This book made me laugh, cry and scream all at the same time. It’s the book that got me out of a reading slump and was worth reading. If you loved the first book Once Upon a Broken Heart you’ll love this one. The plot twists and ending where things I could never have expected nor did I see them coming. It’s a great YA fantasy romance. 5/5 stars for me.

 

Scythe by Neal Shusterman (Arc of a Scythe #1)

 

Review by Ananth S.

4 bees: Lit (Really good)

Neal Shusterman’s Scythe is a dystopian young adult novel, and it tells the tale of a futuristic society where death has been completely cured and the only way a human can die is by the method of “gleaning” (a fancy word for murder). Only the appointed “Scythes” of this world can glean people. This specific story follows two teenagers, Citra and Rowan, and their adventure of becoming a scythe themselves.

Something that really captivated me throughout the story was the consequences of immortality that were seen within the story. As time goes on within the story, you begin to slowly understand how immortality can change someone, and change a person. Especially if they are a Scythe themselves. That’s what two of my personal favorite characters, Scythe Faraday and Scythe Goddard show. Scythe Faraday is the mentor to Citra and Rowan, with him showing the two that although immortality is a gift, you can never let your guard down. While Scythe Goddard uses the immortality and powers of a Scythe to his advantage, which to him is ruthlessness and cruelty to all of his victims.

Despite this book having a very unique concept in mind, there are a few nitpicks I do have about the book itself. As you go further and further into the book, more and more plot points are added within the story, and it is very hard to keep track of which plot points are currently happening within the story. Another thing within the story which seemed to annoy most likely just me were the names. This story is supposed to take place in the far future of America. This does not mean you should have the name Tyger.

Even though, to a lot of people, this book could be considered “tedious”, “stereotypical” or even just “boring”, I found this story to be extremely captivating and interesting the entire way through, with the second book “Thunderhead” being just as captivating. Overall, I would give this book about a 4/5. Bordering on almost perfect, just a couple of small nitpicks which cause the score to be lowered. Would recommend it if you are a fan of The Hunger Games or Maze Runner.