Teen Book Reviews: January 2024
Magnus Chase and The Sword of Summer
Review by Levi
Magnus Chase and The Sword of Summer is a great novel. It is the first book in a series by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and is an excellent way to start a series. Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer has a plot that is both funny and engaging that perfectly transitions from comedy to action seamlessly. It grabs your attention right from the start with a crazy encounter with a fire demon Surt, and the surprises don't stop there. The characters traverse through many realms of ancient Norse mythology, with a modern new twist on it all. Then something crazy happens that I don't want to spoil, so you should definitely read the book for yourself to find out what happens. I enjoy learning about the many Norse gods and monsters, and I also like how creative everything is. There are talking words, huge sea serpents that eat the full heads of cows, and battles of blacksmithing between dwarves. Magnus is a great main character because he is also unaware of the huge world of Yggdrasil, so the reader can follow along with him and learn alongside him as he learns more. The side characters Sam, Blitz, and Hearthstone are also great additions which help us learn more about the world and its diverse range of inhabitants, ranging from human to evil squirrel. Any fans of Rick Riordan’s other novels like Percy Jackson and the Olympians or The Kane Chronicles will definitely enjoy this novel. Overall, I would recommend this book to everyone and would rate it an 8.5/10.
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Review by Levi
Aru Shah and the End of Time is a really interesting book that explores a mythology that is often not written about, Indian mythology. It is a fresh take on a tried and true topic, and I think it does Indian Mythology justice. It is about a 12 year old girl, Aru, and how she finds out she is a reincarnation of one of the five legendary Pandava Brothers, who are ancient heroes. The Author, Roshani Chokshi, begins the book with Aru bringing her friends to the cursed lamp while her mother is on a trip and out of town. She accidentally releases a primeval evil demon, which begins the whole adventure. Along the adventure we meet the side characters that will help Aru along her journey to defeat the now free demon, a talking pigeon Boo and another reincarnation of a different Pandava brother, a young girl named Mini. They explore and learn about the mythical new world, and adapt to the status that comes with being the daughters of the gods and reincarnations of legendary heroes. The diverse range of mythical monsters and beasts are entirely new to me and you probably haven't seen or heard of them before. This book is perfect for fans of Rick Riordan's novels, and is even officially recommended by him. I would rate this book a 9/10. It is almost perfect, and the only criticism I have for it is that the main villain could have been elaborated on a bit more and developed further.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
Review by Levi
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a must read book for any kid. It develops an amazing world that every reader wants to be a part of. It is the story about a young boy, Harry Potter, who discovers a whole new magical world of wizardry and monsters. He escapes his cruel aunt and uncle, and makes a whole new family along with new friends, both human and otherworldly. He goes to learn at the prestigious magical school Hogwarts and has to adapt to the new wizarding society around him all while being hunted by a mysterious dark wizard. Along with his new friends Ron and Hermione, Harry solves mysteries and learns how to play the magical wizard sport Quidditch. Every side character, from the various students to the wide array of teachers, are fleshed out and well developed. From the wise and always helpful headmaster Dumbledore to the dumb but lovable fellow student Neville, each individual character is truly their own. You will grow to love and hate them, but it’s all a great time. This book is great for any age of people, but especially for kids 4-10 to read with their parents, siblings, or on their own. Any fans of the popular “Magic School” trope will love this book, as this is the one that popularized that entire genre. This book is a perfect 10/10, as it really has it all with no noticeable flaws. It is the perfect intro to the series which is one of the best of all time.