Teen Book Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Amazon Summary:

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she's not popular, not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet good girl who's always done what she's supposed to-only now, in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change but doesn't know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe's: star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, and on the fast track to a brilliant future-until he was expelled for being a "term-paper pimp." Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change but doesn't know how.

One fateful night, their paths cross at Wren's family's Arthurian-themed catering hall. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are-and falling in love.

Book Review:

Wren Caswell doesn’t like being told what she can and can’t do. Maybe that’s what caused the profoundly attractive, Grayson Barrett, to seek out the seemingly average girl also known as Wren. Or maybe it’s because she saved his life.

Wren Caswell has always been comfortable with being the quiet one, until it no longer proved to be beneficial. Grayson Barrett was a little too confident at times, but together they were just what the other needed. I enjoyed this book quite a lot. And the fact that I enjoyed it quite a lot surprised me because I’m not usually a fan of realistic fiction however, I found myself unable to put the book down.

I fell in love with the characters after every new page as I watched them develop throughout the entire novel. I fell in love with Wren’s character especially because she became so confident and so strong! This book portrays love, friendship, loyalty and strength. If you love the realistic fiction genre and don’t know what to read next, this should definitely be your next read!

Enjoy!
Rachel (Teen Reviewer)

Teen Book Review: Uncertain Soldier by Karen Bass

Amazon Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Erich is a prisoner of war working at a northern Alberta logging camp. Twelve-year-old Max goes to school—reluctantly—in the nearby town. The two would be unlikely friends, except that neither has anyone else to turn to. At the height of World War II, nobody wants to befriend a German. It doesn’t matter that Erich was forced into the military by his father, or that Max was proudly born in Canada. They are both easy targets for the locals’ grief and anger against the Nazis.

The other prisoners are no more welcoming, distrustful of Erich’s perfect English and his dislike for Nazism. Still, when a series of accidents shake the logging camp, they pressure Erich to question the Canadians and find the saboteur—even if his questions get him into trouble. Caught between angry prisoners and suspicious captors, Erich is afraid to take any action at all. It is only when Max’s schoolyard tormentors cross a dangerous line that Erich realizes that his real loyalties lie not with a regime or a country, but with his friend.

Teen Review:

Uncertain Soldier by Karen Bass is an exciting story that gives insight to what it was like in a Canadian prisoner of war camp during World War 2 as shown from a local boy and a German prisoner’s point of view. Daily struggles and conflicted viewpoints are shown from both prisoners and civilians, accurately portraying people from either side of the war.

I really enjoyed this book. There are some books I’ve read that have fulfilled the saying “I can’t put this book down”, and this was definitely one of them. The storyline constantly progressed, and it was entertaining. The story was easy to follow and I got a sense for the characters as I read because there was the switching viewpoint. It was realistic too, events in the book did or could’ve happened.

I found the characters relatable too, I could understand where they were coming from with their actions and feelings. It was also nice how it shows that not all the Germans were evil, some were just fighting for their country or forced to fight. I would recommend this especially to those who likes mystery stories or World War 2, but to anyone since it was a good book.

Ian (Teen Reviewer)

Teen Book Review: Fairest (Lunar Chronicles Series) by Marissa Meyer

Goodreads Summary:

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

Review:

“Fairest” a novel from The Lunar Chronicles series. This novel will never fail to leave the reader guessing, with all it’s plot twist, tragedies and heart shattering moments. This fantasy romance novel will pull on your heart strings at one moment and in a flash turn your mood from angry to content. With Marissa Meyer writing you’ll have to expect a twist upon any of her novels.

The main character Levana is a young determined princess, who shadows her sister Channary. Channary is soon to be queen, she doesn’t like all the politics and the problems of war with the land. She would rather be out partying, unlike Levana. Levana wishes to rule but will never rule due to being the second born. Levana has been through a lot, whether it was the bullying from her sister or the fear of what happened to her years ago in the accident. Levana’s problems are far vast. She’s falling for a man she barely knows personally, but one thing she does know is he’s married. What will she do?

This dark and deep novel will make your jaw drop, at every problem encountered. This crazy story will end with a grand finale but will keep you stuck staring at the last words wishing it wasn’t over. The story was extremely well written and is simply marvelous! I recommend this novel to anyone who likes a fantasy romance read.

Anissa (Teen Reviewer)