Dress Codes for Small Towns — Teen Review

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review by Aminda Zou, age 14 Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney Stevens     Courtney Stevens narrates a thrilling story in the novel Dress Codes for Small Towns. It takes place in the small town of Otters Holt from the perspective of a young girl named Billie McCaffrey (and occasionally from Davey). The […]

The Final Six — Teen Review

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review by Jacob Chon, age 16 The Final Six by Alexandra Monir     Naomi, an Iranian-American high schooler, and Leo, an Italian orphan, have barely anything in common. Although both experience the firsthand tragedies of climate change, they live on opposite sides of the globe. That is, until they are selected into an elite […]

Whisper — Teen Review

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review by John Chon, age 16 Whisper by Lynette Noni     Whisper, by Lynette Noni, is a science-fiction book, one of many that have proliferated the scene as of late. This book is set in modern day, and it really puts the fiction in science fiction, with magical science that does not check out. […]

A Conspiracy of Stars — Teen Review

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review by Jacob Chon, age 15 A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia Cole     Olivia Cole’s A Conspiracy of Stars is an immersive novel of humans stranded on a distant planet. Much like colonists from earlier eras, these people must learn how to survive and thrive in their new world. The book centers around […]

A Stranger Things Murder Mystery

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Every year at the Pasadena Public Library, a show of sorts is put on display. This year’s Murder Mystery theme is based on the Netflix is Stranger Things. As always, teen volunteers are both cast and crew for the event. Teen Advisory Board members were interviewed about their experience planning […]

Hooper — Teen Review

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review by John Chon, age 15 Hooper by Geoff Herbach     Hooper, by Geoff Herbach, is unique in many ways, especially in its subject matter. The book follows an awkward, young high schooler, who centers his entire life around basketball. To quote the protagonist, Adam, “Basketball is a passport.” He is very adept at […]

I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives — Teen Review

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review by Nina Dinan, age 15 I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda, with Liz Welch     The story of how a middle school, pen pal assignment became a life-changing correspondence and friendship begins with two students, Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda. She […]

Just a Normal Tuesday — Teen Review

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review by Aminda Zou, age 14 Just a Normal Tuesday by Kim Turrisi Summary: It’s just a normal Tuesday…until sixteen-year-old Kai finds a suicide note from her beloved older sister, Jen. Now Kai is the only child in a family reeling with grief. Unable to make sense of her sister’s choice, Kai begins to […]

The City on the Other Side — Teen Review

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review by Jacob Chon, age 15 The City on the Other Side by Mairghread Scott     The City on the Other Side is a short and interesting novel about a young girl thrust into a war between fairies. Isabel, a daughter of a wealthy family, must learn how to play the part of a […]

Pasadena Loves YA 2018: An Experience

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by Alaina Joby, age 16 The much awaited Pasadena Loves Young Adult Festival attracted a crowd of people this year; with fifteen up and coming authors visiting and people flocking in to hear their panels, it was undoubtedly a successful event. The day was divided into panels, each dedicated to […]