These are all book and music reviews written by teens and librarians in our community. Click on the titles to find the items in the Sarasota County Library Catalog.
You can send your reviews to us at this e-mail address: htweed@scgov.net. Please include the title and author or artist, a three or four sentence review, and your first name.
A Farewell to Arms
by Ernest Hemingway
This is an amazing book telling the tale of Lieutenant Frederick Henry-an american ambulance driver out in the Italian front. He falls in love with english nurse Catherine Barkely. After getting hurt by a mortar shell and finding out Catherine is pregnant, Lt. Henry decides to desert the army and move to Switzerland to start a new life. I would highly recommend this book. Read it to find out what happens next!
-Nicole
by John Bunyan
This book follows a sequential journey of the troubled pilgrim, Christian. This man seeks to save himself and escape his doomed City of Destruction. As he travels through a path of great perils to get to the holy Mount Zion, his faith is put to the test while making him wiser in every possible way. Even though he sees many ignorant, careless, and evil people along the way, he overcomes their power by making great friendships. This is a great story for all Christian readers to educate them about the true meaning of being a Christian and how you can find spiritual peace.
Dane Bardroff
by Carol Plum-Ucci
I read the young adult book, The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci. The book was a mystery, and I really enjoyed it. The book was written well and at some parts it got very intense to where I did not want to put it down. I liked the book because it had a unique plot to it. I found it different from the many other mystery books I have read. The main character is Torey Adams. After a boy at his school goes missing he slowly realizes how shallow his friends are, which makes him veer away from his normal routine and start hanging with unlikely people. He tries to solve what happened to the missing boy (Christopher Creed) and why no one shows that they care that much over such a life changing event. The truth unravels as the book goes on. With its many twists and turns its hard not to finish it in one night. I recommend this book if you like suspense, mystery and interesting plots.
- Becky Magarry
by Phillip Pullman
This is the last book of the series and the best one. It is full of danger and surprises. Lyra, Will and two Gallivespian spies travel to the world of the dead. Meanwhile, Lord Asriel is preparing an army to face the creator. Everything depends on Lyra and Will, every decision can ruin the world or save it. Will they survive or doom the world?
-Marisa
by Phillip Pullman
After the bridge is opened up between two worlds, there is chaos. Lyra goes over the bridge and meets Will. The strange thing is that Will has no daemon. When someone takes the alethiometer, Lyra and Will have to work together to get it back. Will they ever see it again or will they die trying to get it back? I love this series and you should read it.
-Marisa
by Phillip Pullman
When Lyra is offered to be taught by Mrs. Coulter she accepts. She is given a strange gift and is sent with Mrs. Coulter. When she realizes that Mrs. Coulter is evil she runs away and goes north to rescue some kids with a group of warriors. This long and difficult journey is exciting and worth reading.
-Marisa
Spy High Mission Four: The Paranoia Plot
by A.J. Butcher
After a traumatic event, the team gets a new member named Rebecca Dee. She is mysterious and has green hair. But, with a new member comes freak accidents and the school is in awe. Will the Bond team survive? This was my favorite book out of the series because of the mystery and the twists and turns.
-Marisa
Spy High Mission Three: The Serpent Scenario
by A.J. Butcher
At Spy High, Jennifer gets a message and disappears from the school. The team looks into Jennifer’s past and discovers some surprising secrets. Jake decides to go after her while the team stays at school. When Jake finds Jennifer she is determined to kill Talon, a guy from her past. Will she kill him or be killed??
I liked this book because it is different than the rest of the series.
-Marisa
Spy High Mission Two: Chaos Rising
by A.J. Butcher
The Bond team is back and competing for glory and the Sherlock Shield. If they win, they win forever glory and brag rights. When a dome crashes and Nemesis appears things go horribly wrong and the Sherlock shield isn’t as important anymore. Can they defeat Nemesis or will the whole world suffer? I recommend this book because it is better than the first one.
-Marisa
by A.J. Butcher
The Bond team, newly recruited is the most favorable. With Ben (the leader), Jake (the loner), Caly (the computer wiz), Eddie (the comedian), Lori (the smart one), and Jennifer (the martial arts expert) the team could be unstoppable. That is if they could get along. When they are unknowingly sent out on a spy mission will they live or become mutants???? I recommend this book to people who like thrillers.
-Marisa
This book is a prequel to The Frog Princess that explains a lot about the series. It talks about Grassina as a child, her sister Chartreuse and her mom (Emma’s grandmother) falling to the family curse. Also, in this book Grassina and Haywood meet in an unexpected way. I recommend this book because it is full of magic.
-Marisa
by E.D. Baker
In the royal family, when a woman turns 16 years old, they cannot touch flowers. If they do, they turn into mean, ugly hags. Emma turns 16 in one week and is determined to end the curse. With some help from her partner in crime, Eadric of course. This book is full of twists and turns.
-Marisa
by E.D. Baker
After finally reversing the frog spell, Emma and Eadric are soon set out on another adventure. They need to collect magical items to turn Emma’s aunt‘s (Grassina) true love back into a human. While Grassina finds Haywood, Emma and Eadric have to find the impossible. This book is full of new creatures and a chase against time. I recommend it.
-Marisa
by E.D. Baker
When Emma, a princess kisses a frog to turn him back into a prince, the unexpected happens. Emma turns into a frog! This is a hilarious tale between a prince, Eadric and Emma trying to survive and become humans again. Will they live happily ever after?
-Marisa
by Scott Westerfeld
A sequel to Uglies, that’s worth waiting for. Tally becomes a pretty, but something is wrong. Tally can’t remember all of her past. When a mysterious person comes from her ugly days, she remembers what’s wrong with the pretty life. Suddenly, it isn’t so fun to be a pretty and dangerous to remember. When choosing between remembering and living, will she survive? This book keeps you on your toes and is just as exciting as the first.
-Marisa