Pasadena Public Library
review by John Chon, age 16 The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano The Glass Spare, by Lauren DeStefano, has the interesting premise of the observation of a character set in the Middle Ages. Wil Heidle, daughter of a king with empire-building dreams, is hidden away from the kingdom, unlike her siblings. She […]
review by Jacob Chon, age 16 Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen All Sarah has ever wanted was a simple life. However, destiny did not decide it to be that way. Thrust into one of the worst governments in human history, and cursed with a Jewish bloodline that marks her for death, Sarah […]
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson A Young Adult Book Cub Recap by William Krestow, Age 16 Spensa’s world has been under alien attack for decades. Pilots are the heroes of what’s left of humanity, and becoming a pilot is Spensa’s dream. Ever since she was a little girl, Spensa has […]
review by Aminda Zou, age 14 The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo The Poet X is a marvelous novel told in poetry form where Elizabeth Acevedo narrates the story of a silenced young woman, Xiomara Batista. This novel addresses the issues of racism, sexism, and the importance of self-defense and having a voice. […]
review by John Chon, age 16 Odd One Out by Nic Stone Odd One Out by Nic Stone is a story about self discovery. This book follows two very close childhood friends, a straight guy and a lesbian girl. Courtney “Coop” and Jupiter “Jupe” are very close, with Jupe’s parents being gay fathers […]
review by Jacob Chon, age 16 Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli High school is an awkward place. Personal interactions are tough, romance is opaque, and Leah Burke is no stranger to these issues. Her progressive ideas and accepting attitude towards others is only matched by the difficulty of doing so. […]
review by Nina Dinan, age 15 I Have the Right To: A High School Survivor’s Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope by Chessy Prout with Jenn Abelson I Have the Right To: A High School Survivor’s Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope is the memoir of Chessy Prout, a student […]
Thunderhead by Neil Shusterman A Young Adult Book Cub Recap by William Krestow, Age 16 In Thunderhead, Neil Shusterman portrays not a dystopian future, but a utopia, where humanity has conquered even death and is governed by a philanthropic AI called the Thunderhead. However, it is a utopia on […]
review by Ashley Z, age 13 Light Years by Kass Morgan The book Light Years is told from the perspectives of Vesper, Cormak, Arran, and Orelia, all from different planets in the solar system. They are all accepted in to the Quatra Fleet Academy, the most prestigious school in the entire solar system, and […]
review by Jacob Chon, age 16 Devils Unto Dust by Emma Berquist Devils Unto Dust is a zombie novel set in a post-Civil War era. Willie is just a girl trying to survive in the harsh, Midwestern desert. She lives in constant fear of the shakes—zombies who have lost every shred of […]