Teen Book Reviews – RPL

Reviews of Recent Reads

Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet (Joanne Proulx) June 13, 2008

Filed under: High School, Realistic Fiction, teen — afangster @ 5:32 pm
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It’s not easy being a teenager and it’s even hard to be a teenager known as the Death Prophet. Just ask Luke Hunter, who predicted the death of his friend Stan – right down to license plate of the van that runs him down. Confused and terrified, Luke can’t bear to face his own grief or the attention his freakish ability garners. Instead, he hides behind his loud music and an addiction to prescription medication. However, turning away from his family and friends doesn’t stop the premonitions. Luke is haunted by a vision of a missing, harassed by local media and a Christian fundamentalist group. He has a confusing new crush and his best friend is freaking out. Dumping the pills, but clinging to the music, Luke looks for answers, only to realize that he hasn’t asked the right questions.

Filled with musical references and lots of swearing, “Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet” will be very appealing to teens. The rhythm of the story is somewhat uneven, but feels right for the voice of a confused, emotionally strained teenage boy.

Recommended for ages 14+

 

Unwind (Neal Shusterman) January 25, 2008

UnwindImagine a world where your future is decided at age thirteen. You either go forward , get married and have a family, OR you get Unwound (chopped up into bits and harvested to save lives). Meet Connor the troublemaker, Risa the orphan and Lev, whose birth and unwinding have been planned since conception by his very religious parents. Each being Unwound for a different reason, but all three thrown together as one plan of escape turns into a race against time.

As the story unfolds, Shusterman reveals fascinating and thought provoking details about the world of “Unwind.” We learn about clappers, storking and the ubiquitous (and ironic) ‘Bill of Life.’ Details from the gruesome harvest camp are disturbing, but thought provoking. Each character must examine and question the true meaning of sacrifice.

Fans of Scott Westerfeld’s “Uglies” series and Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” will enjoy this take on the dangers of a Utopian society.

Recommended 11+

 

Everlost (Neal Shusterman) January 25, 2008

Filed under: Fantasy, High School, Middle School, adventure, ghosts — afangster @ 12:05 am
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EverlostMost people believe our spirits go somewhere when we die. But what would happen if you got lost on the way there? “Everlost” is the story of two young souls, Allie and Nick, who accidentally lose there way after dying in a tragic car accident. They end up as ‘Afterlights’ in the world of Everlost. There they meet Lief, another young Afterlight who helps them learn the quirky rules of their new world.

Their adventures lead them to Mary Hightower, author of numerous books on Everlost, as well as self-proclaimed leader of the Afterlights. When Allie becomes suspicious of Mary’s glib proclamations and restrictive rules, she convinces Nick and Lief to runaway, getting the trio into even deeper trouble. As Nick and Allie struggle in their new world, they both learn more about their own journeys through life, death and love.

A traditionally dark subject, Shusterman shares a thoughtful, and often humorous, slant on our spiritual journey. This will appeal to fans of Gabrielle Zevin’s “Elsewhere” or Eoin Colfer’s “Wish List.”

Recommended for 11+