Pasadena Public Library
Review by Satya Rajendra, Grade 7 Noggin by John Corey Whaley Noggin is an excellent, must-read book by John Corey Whaley. The story is full of funny jokes and hilarious moments. The book is full of positive roles models and messages. The novel has some mature content for teen readers, […]
Review by Kelly Huang, Teen Reviewer Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare Lady Midnight marks the start of a new trilogy that takes place in Cassandra Clare’s highly-esteemed Shadowhunter world in which Shadowhunters, or half-angel warriors, are sworn to fight demons. Clare’s long-awaited release takes place five years after the events […]
Review of the Santa Catalina Branch Anime Club by Coleman S., teen reviewer A while ago, I started watching anime and thought, “Man, it would be great if I could share this with someone.” Well, fast forward about five years and I met Deborah Takahashi, a Branch Librarian for the Pasadena […]
Review by Satya Rajendra, Grade 7 Desert Dark by Sonja Stone Nadia Riley has been selected to go to an elite school known as Desert Mountain Academy. What she or her parents don’t know is that the school is actually a secret training facility for future CIA black-ops members. But […]
YA Book Club recap by Kara Eng, Grade 11 Summary: Caden Bosch is on a ship that’s headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior. […]
Review by Kira Toal, Teen Reviewer Un Lun Dun by China Miéville Un Lun Dun by China Miéville is the story of Zanna and Deeba, two twelve year old girls who discover the bizarre mirror version of London. Their presence in the nonsensical city of living umbrellas and predatory garbage bags […]
Review by Kira Toal, Teen Reviewer Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey Dragonswood is difficult to capture in few words. The novel is centered on a 17 year old girl named Tess who is accused of witchcraft and forced to flee her home in Wilde Island. She and her two close […]
YA Book Club recap by Madison Comick, Grade 8 Summary: Ten years ago, God gave Braden a sign, a promise that his family wouldn’t fall apart the way he feared. But Braden got it wrong: his older brother, Trey, has been estranged from the family for almost as long, and […]
Review by Kira Toal, teen reviewer The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the Northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars (people with inhuman characteristics that make them despised by the […]
YA Book Club recap by Kara Eng, grade 11 “A nice combination of American history and a look into the experience of orphans and the foster care system. It’s the first time I’ve heard about orphan trains. I’m curious to learn more.” –Kara E., grade 11 “This is the first […]