Review Roundup: 8/27/10

Our teen book reviewers have spoken! See what they have to say about the books teens like you are reading!

Title of Book: The Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Name of Reviewer: Bisma Baloch
Description: Seventh-grade for Percy Jackson has been going pretty smoothly…too smoothly. However, everything changes when Percy has to play dodgeball against giant cannibals in gym class! And things just start to get worse when Percy finds out that Camp-Half Blood isn’t safe anymore because its magical borders have been harmed. It’s up to Percy and his friends plus his long lost half-brother, a Cyclops named Tyson, to journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp.
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Title of Book: Things Not Seen
Author: Andrew Clements
Name of Reviewer: Purnaesh
Description: As an average 15-year-old boy, Bobby Philips leads a completely normal life. Until he disappears, no not running away or getting kidnapped. Bobby just plain disappeared. He can be heard and be felt, but he cannot be seen. Even his dad the theorizing physicist can’t figure it out. In Bobby’s head, this means HE is left with no life, no school, and no friends. That is, until he meets Alicia, a blind girl he meets at the library. She’s blind so Bobby can’t help but trust her after so long only talking to his parents, who aren’t really much to talk to. He tells her about his condition, and soon, people want to know where Bobby is. And if his invisibility became public, there would be dire consequences, and they only have a couple days. A story full of parent child bonding, friendship and a whole lot of excitement, that everyone will love.
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Title of Book: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Name of Reviewer: Stephanie
Description: This 1949 classic is about the dystopian society occurring in the year 1984. The novel serves as a warning of a potential totalitarian government in the future. The novel details the life of Winston Smith, a citizen of one of the three world superpowers Oceania. The society which Winston lives in is ruled by the omnipotent Big Brother. Every individual is carefully monitored and dictated on what their thoughts should be. Winston quietly begins to rebel against this society as he sees the hypocrisies created by the government. This novel is chilling and intellectual. While the year 1984 has passed without the government depicted in the novel, one cannot help but draw disturbing parallels between some instances in the novel with modern society. One should definitely read this novel. Not only is it referred to often in our society’s media, the novel is also fun intellectually and will leave the reader thinking for hours after the depressing yet realistic ending.
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Title of Book: Dune
Author: Frank Herbert
Name of Reviewer: Stephanie
Description: Dune, often labeled as science fiction’s best-selling novel, is about Paul Atreides, the son of Duke Leto. The Atreides clan has just lost their home planet in favor of the desert planet Arrakis. Conspirators against the Atreides plan to gain control of Arrakis (and later, the universe) and its invaluable resource of spice. Meanwhile, Paul begins to discover new powers as he starts to resemble what an ancient prophesy embodies as a superhuman. This novel, despite its acclaim, is disappointing. The novel is excessively long and predictable. The characters lack depth. Transitions between attitudes, in particular with Paul’s attitudes, are unrealistic and shallow. Relationships, even between close relatives or loved ones, are distant and unfulfilling. Perhaps my negativity stems from my small dislike of science fiction overall, but the ending is as unsatisfying as the rest of the novel.
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Title of Book: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Author: Mark Twain
Name of Reviewer: Stephanie
Description: This novel is the sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and is narrated by Tom’s friend, Huckleberry Finn. Huck is a young boy who has recently acquired a fortune and is living with Widow Douglass and her sister Miss Watson. The two try to civilize Huck, but Huck resists and only decides against running away when Tom Sawyer announces he is going to make a gang of robbers. Huck is taken away from the widow when his father appears. His father brings him to the outskirts of town and beats him daily. Huck decides to fake his death and with Miss Watson’s slave, Jim, sails down the Mississippi River. Twain wrote this novel to satirize the antebellum South and does so by writing completely in the vernacular of the time and by exaggerating Southern behavior as it is encountered in the novel. He incorporates racism very casually, which both shocks the reader and makes the reader understand how societal norms were at the time. Because it is written as if Huck was the one directly telling the story, the novel is a bit difficult to read. However, this Great American Novel is worth the patience and deserves to be read.
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Title of Book: Inherit the Wind
Author: Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Name of Reviewer: Stephanie
Description: This play is based on the Scopes “Monkey” Trial. The play is about teacher Bertram Cates who intentionally breaks the law by teaching the theory of evolution to his biology class. He is put on trial with the renowned defense lawyer Henry Drummond. Brady, the prosecuting lawyer, is loved by all and the small town is already against Cates. As the trial moves to a national scale, the trial becomes an argument against the law banning the teaching of evolution. This novel is thrilling with its courtroom battles. Drummond becomes the reader’s favorite as he demonstrates his prowess in the courtroom. Questions of morals rise up and challenge the small town to rethink its values. The play is relatively short and easy to read, but the reader should take his or her time with it due to the depth the plays goes into.
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Title of Book: Teen Idol
Author: Meg Cabot
Name of Reviewer: Riya
Description: Jen Greenley is the "It" girl in all the magazines. Reporters want to know what color she's wearing to the Clayton High School Spring Fling, and whether she's going to wear her hair up or down. Meg Cabot's trademark charming wit and ability to capture Jen's multitude of emotions make this book a delightful read for everyone. Jen's transformation from laid-back listener to instigator of social change, with inspiration from Luke Striker, will have you cheering for everyone touched by Jen's bravery. TEEN IDOL is a story with messages concerning self-image, confidence and friendships, but Cabot always keeps it lighthearted and funny. A perfect read for summer --- or fall, or winter, or spring.