Teen Book Reviews: Fall 2022
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
Review by Aurora I.
Have you ever read the first three pages of a book and immediately knew that it was going to be one of your favorite books? That is what it feels like reading Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston. It is an LGBTQ+ romance novel. The two main characters are Alex Claremont-Diaz who is the son of the President of the United States and Prince Henry who is an heir to the British throne. They are both teenagers and dealing with everything that comes with being the children of world leaders. The protagonists who used to be enemies get romantically involved and a significant amount of drama follows them. Although the characters may not seem relatable because they live different lives than most readers, they still go through the same things that average teenagers go through. Casey McQuinston does an amazing job of taking the reader on an emotional roller coaster when reading this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes LGBTQ+ themes or romance novels. I enjoyed this book because it kept me on my toes. It does a great job of portraying young love and all the hardships that come with it. This book is good for readers 13 or older. Overall this book is incredibly entertaining, thought provoking and humorous. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone I know.
What if? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
Review by L.L.
Have you ever wondered how much Force power Yoda can output? Or if you had a periodic table made out of cube-shaped bricks, and each brick was made out of the corresponding element? Well, look no further. What if? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe has all the answers you never knew you needed. It is a science-based book that focuses on answering some of the most ridiculous, but entertaining questions. Munroe combines physics and comedy in this hilarious book. You’ll learn how to build a bridge made of Lego bricks carrying traffic from London to New York, if it’s possible to build a jetpack using downward-firing machine guns, and all the unexpected ways you can end all life on Earth. This book was highly entertaining, and extremely different from your regular go-to read (unless your go-to read is a science-based comedy book with stick figures). I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a funny, light read. It is also a great read for anyone who is looking for a book you can read over a long period of time. The layout of this novel makes it easy to read a couple chapters at a time, and doesn’t leave you on a cliffhanger. It’s great for anyone with a sense of humor, and doesn’t require any knowledge about physics/science prior to reading.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Review by Aurora I.
Are you a fan of coming-of-age novels? If so, then you will absolutely love The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is the perfect novel to curl up with after a long day and relax. It’s about a mentally ill teenager in the 90s named Charlie Kelmeckis and his journey throughout his freshman year of high school. The book touches on many important topics such as bullying, depression and friendship. I would recommend this book to anyone from the ages 12-20. It is appropriate for readers around 12 years old, but it depends on the reader's maturity level. It is very relatable for teenagers or anyone struggling with their friends, or school situation. Overall, it is an amazing book that will always describe high school perfectly.