Refugee by Alan Gratz

1930s Nazi Germany, Josef and his Jewish family must flee the country, to escape the madness of Hitler, and the horrors of WWII.

1994 Cuba, Isabel’s family and fellow residents encounter civil unrest, riots, and dictator Castro with hopes for a better future in America.

2015 Syria, the Middle East war rages on, destroying the country, leaving Mahmoud, his parents, and siblings on a dangerous journey to Europe.

This story does not shy away from the atrocities of war, the unconditional sacrifices or the treacherous travel conditions refugees must face. And although this is an immensely important and very current topic, I was unhappy with how the stories jump from one character to another, making it rather difficult to find cohesiveness.

– KC

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson has gotten kicked out of many schools.  All these weird things keep happening to him.  It isn’t his fault.  But then it gets a little overwhelming.  A Minotaur is chasing him!  Eventually, he is guided to a camp called Camp Halfblood where he finds out that his dad is a Greek God.  At this camp, there are other children of Greek Gods. However, things go wrong when the King of the Gods, Zeus, accuses Percy of stealing his weapon. That sends Percy on a quest to find it. Will he come up short or will he be the hero?  Read the Lightning Thief.

-Ben (Teen Reviewer)

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

 

Another state another school. Roy Eberhhardt just moved from Montana to Florida. He thinks school will be normal but when looking out the school bus window he notices something strange. A boy running bare foot.  Later he decides to follow that boy. And little did he know he would be in over his head. He finds out the boy wants to vandalize a construction company to save the owls. Can only a couple kids stop a powerful company and save the owls?  Read Hoot by Carl Hiaasen.

-Ben (Teen Reviewer)

Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

 

Based on the hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale, this novel takes the reader to the fictional world of Night Vale, “a friendly desert community where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep.” The story alternates between the perspectives of Jackie Fierro, a pawnshop owner who has been nineteen for the past several decades, and Diane Crayton, a young mother struggling to connect with her teenage son. Despite Jackie and Diane’s best efforts to avoid one another, their fates seem fundamentally intertwined, taking them out of Night Vale to pursue a man in a tan jacket, a mysterious place called King City, and a piece of each of their pasts neither of them thought they would see again. Witty, fantastical, and utterly surreal, Welcome to Night Vale: a Novel is recommended for fans of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Neil Gaiman, and the Welcome to Night Vale podcast.

-Kayleigh (Teen Reviewer)

Cover Up by John Feinstein

Life is good for Susan Carol Anderson and Steve Thomas.  They are famous all over for solving sports mysteries. But then the Super Bowl comes up and the both get their hands caught in one of the biggest sports scandals ever. Can two 14 year olds really figure this one out or will they run into a brick wall?  Read Cover Up to find out.

-Ben (Teen Reviewer)

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Donovan Curtis is a boy who gets into a lot of trouble.  But one day he accidentally  goes over the top.  He winds up in the principal’s office again. But things get mixed up and he’s gets away scot-free.  Then a letter comes in the mail.  It’s something for gifted school.  He goes, but he knows he doesn’t belong. But he does help the gifted kids in different ways.  Will he stay hidden or will it turn into a mess?   If you want a funny read- this is the the book.

– Ben (Teen Reviewer)