Month: March 2021

Teen Book Reviewer – Gwenyth I.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

  • Title: The Hunger Games
  • Author: Suzanne Collins

Review:

As a highly appraised novel, I expected The Hunger Games to be a phenomenal book, and I was not disappointed. In this young adult dystopian novel, Katniss Everdeen is thrown into an intense, life-threatening competition, in which all citizens of Panem must watch teenagers from various districts fight to the death until only one individual remains standing. Katniss, a less fortunate teenager, is thrust into the competition and must endure the hardships of survival, love, and death throughout the course of the Hunger Games.

One thing that I enjoyed most about the book was the diversity seen within the characters. Not only is there a wide range of ages and social classes, but also gender. In a heavily male-dominated society, it is very nice to see the capability that shines through the teenage girls in this book. Further, Suzanne Collins’s use of language and the general development of the plot keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The action scenes and more vulnerable scenes are very insightful, which contribute to some of the main themes seen throughout the book. 

There are not many downsides to this particular book, but I do think that some scenes tend to be confusing to read. For example, while Peeta and Katniss are fighting off the wolves towards the end of the novel, I was struggling to understand the concept that these wolves had “the eyes” of the already decreased competitors. Another issue that could arise through this book is an increase in violence seen throughout teens who have read the book. The consistent push of violence throughout the book has become controversial throughout the reading community.  The Hunger Games includes many violent weaponry scenes, which could easily influence a young teen/child into implementing these actions into their life. But, I do not think this is a book marketed towards young children, so it is not really a big issue in my eyes. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would rate it 4.5/5 stars. Suzanne Collins does a great job at separating her novel from the typical dystopian novel, and I really appreciate that the main character is a teenage girl, which provides hope for more female leads in books that involve violence or combat. I am very excited to read the rest of the series!

Thanks so much, Gwenyth! -Mrs. Long

Teen Book Reviewer : Gwenyth I.

Book Review: You in Five Acts

  • Title: You in Five Acts
  • Author: Uma La Marche

Review:

You in Five Acts is an excellent book for any teens who are interested in the romance/drama genre, while also having a chance to immerse themselves in the conflicts that come with teenage responsibility. The author of the book, Uma La Marche, has done an outstanding job of constructing a novel that not only appeals to the preferences of Gen Z but also informing the reader of social injustices that exist within our society. Although this book is not something I would typically read, it has impressed me, as I finished the book in a single day!

This book follows five teenagers, each narrating a portion of the novel from their point of view while attending a prestigious art school in New York City. The whole novel is told as a recount of events, eventually leading to a dramatic, tear-jerking close.  Uma La Marche creates a diverse set of characters: Joy, an African-American dancer that is suffering from an ankle injury while dancing for a role that definitively sets up her life. Diego is Joy’s best friend, who has not openly admitted that he is in love with her. Liv is a desperate actress that has a dark secret and Ethan is a somewhat arrogant director that casts Liv in his play for the sole purpose of liking her. Finally, there is Dave, a new student from Los Angeles, well known for starring in the media as a young child.  Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it has some discrepancies. For having such an impactful ending, I think that the ending is so abrupt that it took a while to process the circumstances that led up to it. The book has a consistent pace until the final chapters, in which I felt Uma La Marche set up an ending that specifically wouldn’t lead to a sequel novel. Further, just from the book cover, any person would assume that this novel involves the concept of the performing arts, but this readily fades after the first portion of Joy’s narration. Apart from these issues, the novel does create so much drama and suspense that it’s barely noticeable for some.

Overall, I would rate the book a 4/5 as Uma La Marche is able to send a powerful message through a novel marketed for teens. This was definitely a page-turner and also brings up a conversation regarding race and privilege, which are topics that are definitely prevalent in our society today.

Thank you for a wonderful review! – Mrs. Long