Teen Book Review: Someone to Love Me by Anne Schraff

Someone to Love Me is a very interesting book, if you like realistic fiction and books that deal with real problems. Someone to Love Me is about a girl named Cindy Gibson who doesn’t love herself, so she dates a boy named Bobby Wallace who abuses her.

I think that, if you read this book, you will love it! Many girls have issues with themselves, emotionally and physically, and this book relates to that. I also liked that Cindy’s friends gave her advice on how to be true to herself and not let any boy give her a negative self-image. Someone to Love Me is a book that will interest you a lot and also the whole Bluford Series!

Reviewed by Maddy

Teen Book Review: Confessions: a novel by Kate Brian

They want blood…

I am befuddled as to what to say about this minute portion of Kate Brian’s writing. It provides for the mystery fans but, hardly provides for followers of Cecily Von Ziegesar books who were led to believe the book was going to be a Gossip Girls clone. For both fans, this novel takes you through a whirlwind; from disappointment to enjoyment, laughter to boredom.

Since this is an addition to Brian’s series, the main idea of the novel seems simple, but is rather complex. In the book, Reed Brennan is attending a private school, Easton. When things seem to be going smoothly, Reed’s current boyfriend is arrested for the murder of her ex-boyfriend. Though the evidence appears to present a clear cut murderer, Reed believes that her boyfriend didn’t commit the crime.

The book is well written and somewhat enjoyable but, this mystery themed novel is not what the Cecily Von Ziegesar fans signed up for. Also, it’s not a book that you would run out to buy or the type of book that you would tote around and read in every waking moment during the day. In the preceding novels, hazing and social hierarchy had a consistent roll in each novel. However, this novel allows those qualities to wither away into what I perceive will lead to nothingness. Kate Brian is trying to change the series’ identity but, she can’t. I’m worried that this book will always try to jump between those two groups of fans I described. The series is going through an identity crisis. Followers of both types of books have one thing in common: They are both blood thirsty crowds that aren’t being satisfied as consistently as they should be. Their commonality is that they want blood.

I wouldn’t prevent anyone from reading this book because it is a well written book. This book would be a fit suggestion for mystery fans. It was over all entertaining and distractive. Since I am not a mystery fan but, rather a Cecily Von Ziegesar fan, I still want blood.

-Reviewed by Larissa-Helen

Teen Book Review- Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Not a book you have to read before you die...

If you want a book that inspires you to gauge your eyes out in horror and disgust, this is the book for you.

Before I Die was written by Jenny Downham. The book’s premise is centered on a teenage girl who is terminally ill with what can be assumed to be a cancerous disease of some nature. This girl decides that, before she dies, she wants to do all the things she has never done. Her sidekick is her best friend, who keeps encouraging the main character to complete the goals on the list.

I disliked this book because it was just so depressing. My first thought, after the first chapter, was that this book wasn’t sad or dark…just annoying. Yes, she is terminally ill. We know. We get it. Then, after a while, she starts to say that she doesn’t want to complete the list anymore but forces her friend to make her continue. Why?

I couldn’t figure out the setting. First, I thought they were in America, then I thought they were in England. Finally, I stopped caring. If you read this book, you’ll be inclined to burn it and if you want to read it, then you’re just crazy.

-Reviewed by Larissa-Helen

Twilight: The Movie

Have you heard who has been cast as Bella and Edward in the Twilight movie?

Kristen Stewart (Panic Room, Into the Wild and Speak) nabbed the role of Bella, while Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter movies) will play Edward.

What do you Twilight fans think?