Pasadena Public Library
Reviewed by Amber Elias, age 17 Inaugural Ballers by Andrew Maraniss Quickly after the invention of basketball by James Naismith, it was women who popularized the sport in late 19th century America. From then on, the battle for women’s representation in sports began, especially team sports played in schools and […]
Reviewed by Hailey Chen, age 16 Spell Hacker by M.K England Diz is like any other 18-year-old girl her age living in Kyrkarta. Tight-knit group of friends? Check. Living in a crappy apartment? Check. Running an illegal Maz siphoning gig, therefore stealing from a major corporation? Check. Magic, more commonly known […]
Reviewed by Samuel Redfearn, age 16 Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé Chiamaka Adebayo: Niveus Private Academy’s Head Prefect for three years running, a valedictorian candidate, the most popular and powerful student. That’s who she is at the beginning of her senior year at Niveus, having worked harder than anyone else ever since […]
Reviewed by Samuel Redfearn, age 16 Boys of the Beast by Monica Zepeda Monica Zepeda’s debut novel, Boys of the Beast, follows the story of three cousins on a road trip after the death of their grandmother. Matt is passionate about filmmaking, and wants to pursue this dream at USC, […]
Reviewed by Jasmine Sov, age 17 The Loophole by Naz Kutub Ever since Sayyed’s boyfriend Farouk left him to travel across the globe and “fix the world”, Sy’s been depressed day and night. With Farouk, it felt like anything could happen—but without him, Sy’s stuck in a dead end. But […]
Reviewed by Jasmine Sov, age 17 How We Ricochet by Faith Gardner Betty Lavelle’s life is going alright—she’s doing well at her internship, her older sister Joy is working at a café, and her mom just started a new job. So when they all go to the mall to pick […]
Reviewed by Giselle Carlos, age 18 Epically Earnest by Molly Horan Jane Grady is notorious for being the “bag baby,” but all she wants right now is a prom date. As a one-year-old found by her future father and aunt in an oversized Gucci bag at a train station, Jane found […]
Reviewed by Giselle Carlos, age 18 Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer Kristin Dwyer’s Some Mistakes Were Made is a heartfelt, memorable coming-of-age novel about young love and found homes. The novel revolves around best friends Ellis and Easton, who first grew close when Easton’s family opened up their […]
Reviewed by Jasmine Sov, age 17 Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa For “Salem’s biggest skeptic and non-witchy person”, Eleanor deals with a lot of witchy things. After a traumatic year of lost friendship and broken hearts, she’s been working at a family friend’s witch-themed gift shop to […]
Reviewed by Kaelin Lee, age 15 Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon Bethany Greene is a late bloomer who hasn’t had any romantic experience in her 16 years of life. When she finally finds the courage to ask her crush to Homecoming, she is shot down due to that very […]