2026 Teen Book Reviews

Reviewed by Olivia L. 9th Grade

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is a dark fantasy novel set in a fictional world. In this world, there are Grisha. Grisha are from the country of Ravka, and their powers can range from healing and dealing damage to the body to manipulating elements.
The story follows Nina, Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, and Matthias on their journey to break into the Ice Court, the most impenetrable fort in the world and Matthias’s homeland, to rescue Bo Yul-Bayur. 
Bo Yul-Bayur is a scientist who invented the addictive drug jurda parem. Jurda parem has the power to heighten the senses of the Grisha and make them unstable. Will the street-theives-turned-jail-breakers succeed before this information is in the wrong hands?
I really liked this book because of how immersive the world was. I will admit that there are several sub-plots and background stories woven into their journey, which could make it a difficult story to follow, but for me, this made it more interesting. They each have so many different facets to their goals and ambitions, and I enjoyed seeing them change throughout the story.

Reviewed by Christian W. 11th Grade

The book Tomb Quest: Book of the Dead practically emits adventure. An adventure containing plenty of mummies, cultists and magic. The author Michael Northrop certainly knows what he's doing when it comes to making a story. Our story opens with a lot of plot heavy dialogue from the cultists. Then switches to the. Main character, Alex Sennefer. We find out that Alex has an unknown medical condition and he has to take special pills every day. We also meet his smart friend Ren Duran .Later, his mom disappears with some important artifacts. Alex and his friend Ren and an old professor. Have to find and stop the cultist and the mummy who they think kidnapped his mom. The best part of this book is the list of the alphabet and what hieroglyphs it corresponds to. 

Reviewed by Christian W. 11th Grade

Captain underpants and the perilous plot of professor poopypants is a big success when it comes to the humor department. If you have ever enjoyed childish humor, then you will probably enjoy this book.The book starts out with the origin story of Professor Poopypants and why he seeks a job. But when he gets to the school, he gets laughed at by everyone.He finally snaps when George and Harold make a silly, but cruel comic about him. From there on he decided to take over the world. He uses the growth ray to make his robot suit bigger then he shrinks the entire school. Finally he threatens to shrink anyone who doesn't change their name to something silly. But with the well timed help of the growth ray and Captain Underpants.They finally defeat Professor Poopypants. My favorite part of this book is the chart where you can change your name to something hilarious. 

Reviewed by Christian W. 11th Grade

Calling all lovers of things scary and creepy,this is a book for you! The book takes place in a town called Hurricane, a town that is still getting over the trauma of a terrible event that took place 10 years ago.The main characters have to deal with issues,mysteries and the evil animatronics connected with that tragedy . The thing I like most about the book is the art style.The art style does a good job at invoking fear,excitement,curiosity and sinister intent. I also like the design of the animatronics.The design is the same in the games,which I really appreciate. Finally if you look closely at some of the characters,their reactions are really funny.

Reviewed by Christian W. 11th Grade

Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer is a literary classic.You will really enjoy Tom's cleverness at tricking people ,even at the beginning of the book, his own aunt admitted to his cleverness. You will also enjoy the adventures he and his friends get into. The book kicks off with him stealing food and postponing punishment. Then comes the famous part of the book Tom convinces people they should be paying him to whitewash his fence. His method is very effective, leading to him getting a lot of trinkets.next follows his adventures in school, trying to make life more exciting.Later, he and his friends run away and go to an island. And also follows his adventure Injun Joe. Last but not least, his final adventure is Navigating through the caves and Getting out to safety.
I would rate this 10 out of 10 for adventure and humor.I  really enjoyed reading it, especially the parts where Tom is tricking people.

Reviewed by Mariona N. 11th Grade

The book Caraval by Stephanie Garber is an excellent novel. It follows a girl named Scarlett as she takes a reluctant journey to play a secret, magical game in the hope of rescuing her sister. Not only is this book a fun fantasy romance; there's an endlessly twisty mystery element that had me finding new little hints and details even on my fourth read! The world of Caraval is described beautifully throughout the novel, and expanded on in equal detail throughout the sequels and spin-off series. The characters and relationships are very compelling. I think this book is best for 14-17 year olds.

Reviewed by Yasmine B. High School

I recently read the book “Housemaid” by Freida Mcfadden. I’d been craving for something to put me on the edge of my seat, since my love for thrillers only grows every day. This book tells the story of a woman who takes a job as a maid in a rich family’s home, but finds out something twisted is going on. The beginning was slow, and it took a lot for me to trudge through the boring details. But that’s what eventually hooked me. Those “boring” details led to something sinister as the plot thickens. Nina (the wife that lives there) has wild erratic behavior, and you can tell something is off about her. But her cruel actions towards the main character make sense at the end of the book, which made me realize how much I love twists. The story flips completely in the middle, and all the characters I trusted looked extremely different. The sense of danger feels very real when you’re reading the book, and has you hating and loving the characters at the same time. Anyways, great book!

Reviewed by Olivia L. 9th Grade

This story is told from three characters perspectives on their journeys to find closure, love, and family. It takes place in Sowell Bay, Washington.

Marcellus the Octopus is a Giant Pacific Octopus who lives at the aquarium and forms an unlikely friendship with the cleaning lady, Tova. He knows his life will end soon, and his last wish is for Tova to have closure and find lost family.

Tova Sullivan cleans the aquarium to fill the loss caused by her 18 year old son Erik’s disappearance and her late husband. She thinks that she will grow old alone, with only the vacant cleaning position at the aquarium marking her passing. That is, until Cameron Cassmore shows up in town.

Cameron Cassmore lived with his aunt after his mother abandoned him when he was young. He is broke and unable to hold down a job, so he decides to track down his absent father and beg for 18 years of missed child support to put him back on his feet. What he learns about his father and the small town of Sowell Bay are enough to turn multiple lives around, not just his own.

I didn’t think that I would like this book very much when I picked it up, but I ended up loving it. The way that Tova and Cameron’s stories start very far apart but grow more intertwined is super interesting. I especially loved how Marcellus’s narratives were told from his perspective, which added a ton of foreshadowing and truly showed how smart octopuses really are.

Reviewed by Hazel J. 10th Grade

Where We Come From is a novel written by Oscar Cásares is a book that humanizes the struggles of the people who live on the U.S-Mexico Border. The book humanizes the illegal immigration issue and talks about the many sides of the story, like the coyotes, illegal immigrants, and the people living on the boarder. The book delves into right and wrong, and how it is not such a black and white issue. The author himself lived right by the border and has witnessed these issues. The book does go through a different character almost every chapter, so it can be a little difficult keeping track of which character one is reading. For people who are interested in how different policies and how these issues affect people’s lives, I would highly recommend this book. 

Reviewed by Hazel J. 10th Grade

Cruel Prince by Holly Black is one of the most exciting books I have ever read. It is a fantasy book about a human girl who lives with faeries. The book had so many twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and I ended up staying up all night just to finish the book. Holly black is an excellent storyteller because you fall in love with the characters and the story, as the plot unfolds. Unfortunately, while the book is an exciting read, the relationships are not healthy, and are slightly on the toxic side. Overall, Cruel Prince by Holly Black is a thrilling book that you should not miss out on.

Reviewed by Hazel J. 10th Grade

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson is one of the best books I have ever read. It tells the struggles of the main character Louise being in her sister Caroline’s Shaddow. Louise works hard but is never appreciated for all the hard work she does for her family. This story is so good and delves into the themes of jealousy and really works in emotion into the writing. I spent a whole night reading the book because I loved it so much. This is a book where the main character is not perfect and struggles. You fall in love with Louise and root for her and cry for her. Jacob Have I Loved is a read you cannot miss 

Reviewed by Havel J. 10th Grade

I must Betray you by Ruta Sepetys is one of the best books you will ever read. It is a historical fiction about a boy, Cristian Florescu, growing up amidst the Romanian Revolution during the 1989. The book has so many twists and turns that one would not see coming. The Romanian government is oppressive, but Cristian is selected to spy on friends and family for them. The book delves into the themes of right and wrong and how it is never black and white, especially when people are trying to survive. For those who love a historical fiction with action, this is the book for you. 

Reviewed by Olivia L. 9th Grade

When Cassie was little, her mother taught her how to profile someone. When Cassie was 12, her mother was murdered. Now, 5 years later, she is living with her father’s family when a boy shows up at the diner where she works and recruits her for an elite FBI program. This program uses group of teens with special talents to solve cold cases. But soon, a serial killer starts imitating Cassie’s mother’s murder, and in doing so, draws the group into a live investigation. Near the end of the book, Cassie discovers that the killer was much, much closer than she thought.
I absolutely loved this book because there were small hints throughout the book that tied into massive plot twists at the end. Right when I thought I knew what was happening, something changed and my entire view got flipped!

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

xxxHolic is a Japanese manga series by CLAMP about a highschool student named Kimihiro Watanuki, who can see spirits but has seen it as a curse for most of his life. He is forced to work at a wish granting shop run by the witch Yūko Ichihara as payment to get rid of his supernatural abilities. 

  I really liked this read! The art style is very beautiful and pays attention to detail. The story was not too hard to follow for me, and was not to overwhelming to read. The charaters are also easily likeable. I also think its very realistic about real problems that people have in real life. Will be getting more volumes! 

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

Mashle, Magic and Muscle is a manga seires created by Hajime Komoto about a boy named Mash Burnedead who is powerless but physically strong. Mash must enroll in a respected magic academy to live peacefully in a world full of witches and wizards, all while only using his muscles.

This manga was hilarious! You can imagine the shock on my face when I first read this book and noticed that it was HEAVILY inspired by Harry Potter. The characters in this manga are also easily likeable. I find the relationship that Mash has with his dad very heartwarming. I also was cracking up because of the way Mashs' dad and Brad were just watching over Mash like little guardian angels once he got into the Magic academy! One thing I didn't really like about this manga is that Mash basically wins every fight, which is kinda boring but it's still overall a nice read, I do recommend!!

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

Children of the Sea is a manga series made by Daisuke Igarashi, about a girl named Ruka who creates a bond with two boys, named Umi and Sora, who were raised in the ocean by sea creatures. They all want to solve a supernatural mystery including the ocean and its creatures.

This manga was very nice to read. As soon as I started the book I immediately got island/vacation vibes. The character designs and art style are a 10/10! When you look at the background of a panel it almost looks like a real picture! I also feel like I can relate to Ruka a lot because when I was younger I just got so angry and I would say or do things which I definitely regretted later. I find it so cute how Umi and Sora care for each other! I will definitely be getting more of this series and watching the anime!!

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

Snow White with the red hair is a fantasy romance manga created by Sorata Akiduki. Our main character, a herbalist named Shirayuki has to flee from a prince who wants her to become his concubine. While on the run, Shirayuki ends up meeting and befriending Prince Zen, an heir to a nearby kingdom.

I think Shirayuki is a wonderful heroine!

I love how she doesn't let people walk all over her. I will say that the storyline is kinda boring. There wasnt much happening in the book but if you dont want to much action or thrill then this could be for you!

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

Weathering with You is a romance manga written by Makoto Shinkai and illustrated by Wataru Kubota. The story follows our main character, Hodaka, who has run away from home. He soon meets a girl named Hina who has the power to control the weather in an always rainy Tokyo.

This manga was a nice read and the art & visuals were good too. It was kind of hard to follow at first but I was able to figure out the plot after a while. I will say some moments have me on the edge of my seat! Although I wouldn't say too much is going on, other than those short moments. I think I'll have to get the other two volumes to know. It's a good manga if you want a chill read though.

Reviewed by Rebecca A. 8th Grade

This novel follows Ryland Grace, a scientist who is about 13 light years away from Earth. He wakes up with no memory of why he is in space or why his crew mates are dead. Throughout the story, flashbacks make him realize he is on a one way mission to save humanity. An alien species is eating the sun and it is his job to find a way to stop them. But that slips his mind when he meets an intelligent alien, that he calls Rocky. Him and Rocky have the same goal, to save their species. So they decide to work together. Their journey is grueling, but saving their species must be worth it, so they continue on and in the end they find answers no one could expect.

I rate this book five out of five stars because I couldn’t put it down. The book made me question so many things but the ending left nothing unanswered. I recommend this book to anyone who loves science fiction due to its accuracy in scientific aspects. Ultimately this novel has been the best of 2026 so far and I can’t wait to read it again.

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

Hakumei & Mikochi is a Japanese manga series made by Takuto Kashiki, that follows two very tiny girls, Hakumei and Mikochi, and their daily lives & adventures with their animal and human friends in a fairy tale forest.

This read was very cozy and peaceful!! All the chibi characters were so cute too! Definitely a book you can read before you go to bed or when you need comfort. I also love the contrast between the seemingly simple chibi character designs and the complex and detailed background art. I believe anyone of any age can read this book and I highly recommend it! 

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

Kitchen Princess is a shoujo manga series drawn by Natsumi Ando and written by Miyuki Kobayashi. The story follows a young girl named Najika Kazami who enjoys cooking and wishes to become a great chef. She enrolls in the prestigious Seika Academy to find the boy who saved her when she was little and gave her a flan with a silver spoon, and also to achieve her dream.

I loved the shoujo 2000s vibes this book was giving! I also love that at the end of the manga, it includes yummy recipes from the book so you can try and make them yourself! The art style is also very cute. The relationship between the two brothers was really heartwarming and reminded me of my sister and me! Definitely a nice manga that kids can read so I recommend!!

Reviewed by Elizabeth V. 11th Grade

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that dramatizes the 1692 Salem witch trials. It follows a group of girls led by another, Abigail Williams, as they accuse others of witchcraft. Some of the girls themselves are based off of those involved within the real-life Salem witch trials. When you look deeper in the book after reading, you realize the ties it has to the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s during the McCarthy era. I find the allegory profoundly interesting as it mixes these two pieces of history. Moreover, I find the way Miller writes the play itself fun and entertaining as it explores the themes of mass hysteria.

Reviewed by Elizabeth V. 11th Grade

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a very interesting, short read. It follows a traveling salesman by the name of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one day to find out that he's been converted to a giant insect. Throughout the book, it's easy to recognize how conditional the love his family had for him. Even his sister, who initially cared, eventually finds him to have became a burden. I find the way Kafka writes extremely interesting as well, and it made the read super enjoyable. Additionally, the way he explores the themes of dehumanization through an absurd situation such as this makes it such a great book.

Reviewed by Elizabeth V. 11th Grade

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was such a beautiful, saddening read for me. It follows two friends by the name of George and Lennie as they try to follow their dream of owning land together. The book itself was written during the 1930s, the decade in which the Great Depression occurred. As such, it explores the loneliness and the inaccessibility of the American Dream that was experienced during that time. Additionally, I find it beautiful that two people as different as George and Lennie, found each other and kept each other company. This book was such an amazing read and I think it's a must-read for all. 

Reviewed by Elizabeth V. 11th Grade

Dracula by Bram Stoker is, in all honesty, the best book I've read in a while. The book is written in a form I haven't seen before. It's told through letters and diary entries, making it all the more interesting and personal. It follows the story of a vampire named Count Dracula as a group, lead by Professor Van Helsing, try to hunt him down. The book itself is famous for its depiction of vampires, as it became the blueprint for what we know vampires to be now. However, I think the source material itself is much more interesting than any current depictions. I think it's a must read for anyone interested in vampires and the like.

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

The Elusive Samurai is a Japanese manga series written and drawn by Yusei Matsui. This story is about a young boy named Hojo Tokiyuki, who must use his talent of fleeing to reclaim his family's throne after being brutally betrayed by Ashikaga Takauji, who was once a noble warrior.

I first heard about this manga because of the anime that was released, and I'm honestly glad I read the manga. The art style was definitely not watered down in the anime, and also gave it a very clean, precise vibe. I also loved the humor in this manga and definitely caught myself laughing a few times! Although the storyline isn't really for me, I can admit I do like this manga overall and I will be giving the anime a watch!

Reviewed by Lina H. 7th Grade

The Book I reviewed was “My Good Side: A memoir” and I gotta tell you, it’s an amazing read! It feels like you're on a call with a friend who experienced some crazy things in her life, there are so many plot twists and something new happening every chapter. If you like surprises I highly recommend giving this book a chance. Scheana is a strong woman. She stayed on her feet throughout everything she’s been through. I also love how she made a little section for photos inside the book, every person looked just as I imagined! I always thought reading was a smart-person hobby, never found it amusing. Like sitting down and reading words off paper? That was the most boring-est thing anyone could do! Reading this book really changed my perspective.I hope I can find more books that have Scheana's writing style.

Reviewed by Asher L. 9th Grade

We are Legion (We are Bob) is a hilarious sci-fi novel by Dennis Taylor, written in 2016, about a young man, Bob, who dies and becomes a half AI with incredible processing power and the ability to replicate. His conscience is then launched on a rocket ship to space where he creates more versions of himself and has many epic adventures. He discovers life on new planets, battles rival probes, and eventually spreads to the far reaches of the universe. This book was a fun read but may be a little difficult for less advanced readers. The humor is dry but still funny. The author is also well versed in all the technicalities required to write a book about many complex theoretical ideas. We are Legion (We are Bob) is a must read for anyone who is a fan of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, similar futuristic sci-fi books, or anyone who loves a good laugh.

Reviewed by Asher L. 9th Grade

For We are Many is the sequel to We are Legion (We are Bob) by Dennis Taylor. It is a sci-fi thriller that has many great laughs in it. While this book was slightly less well received than the first in the trilogy, reading it is still a good use of time. This book is a tough read and may be hard for learning or younger readers due to the in-depth scientific explanations. The humor in this novel is somehow dryer than the last and is sometimes not as funny as the author predicted. In total this is a fantastic book on space exploration and I would recommend it to many people, regardless of their favorite genre.

Reviewed by Asher L. 9th Grade

What if is a fantastic book by Randall Munroe, and personally my favorite of all time. It takes crazy hypothetical questions from the internet and applies hard science to them. This book is not easy to read. There are many equations and calculations from maths such as calculus 2 and beyond. I would recommend it for any advanced or older student, but not for anyone with a reading level equivalent to a middle schooler or below. If you are a fan of other books such as “Humble Pi” and “We Have No Idea” this will be an excellent read. All in all, this is a literary masterpiece on the crazy questions people have and how a well respected mathematician

Reviewed by Asher L. 9th Grade

What If 2 is a book by Randall Munroe. In it, he takes “absurd hypothetical questions from the internet” and applies complex mathematical equations and computation to actually find the answers. It is technically the sequel to What If but can be read separately from the original book as it has the same premise and short chapter-stories. This book is not for beginner or intermediate readers. It is very difficult to understand and is for an audience of young adults and people into advanced math. This book is a really great read, and I would recommend it to anyone with a high reading level who enjoys a good laugh.

Reviewed by Asher L. 9th Grade

The Martian is a book by Andy Weir about a man named Mark Watney who becomes stranded on Mars. The book is set up to seem as if you are reading Watney's logs in conjunction with seeing the reactions and ideas of the NASA engineers trying to save him. Throughout the book Weir provides hilarity and makes entertainment plentiful in the scramble to save a person in need. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I strongly believe that one day it will be the Hemingway of the 21st century. By far, one of the best books you will ever read.

Reviewed by Asher L. 9th Grade

Project Hail Mary is a science fiction novel written by Andy Weir. In it, the protagonist is forced to go on a suicide mission to save earth. Chaos ensues and he meets unlikely friends that help him save the day. This is a fantastic book for older readers that is definitely in the top ten books of all time. There are some thematic elements, and parents may want to review this book before giving it to young children, but for middle to high school students it should be fine. In all, this is a great book that is a must read for many people.

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

Yona of the Dawn is a popular shoujo manga made by Mizuho Kusanagi about a young girl named Yona, who is forced to flee her kingdom on her birthday, with her bodyguard, Hak, after a tragedy hits. She and Hak set out on an adventure to find legendary dragon warriors to reclaim her throne.

Reviewed by Kylah D. 7th Grade

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun is a Japanese yonkoma comedy manga by Izumi Tsubaki. It follows Chiyo Sakura who confesses to her crush, Umetarou Nozaki, only to find out that he's a quite popular shoujo manga artist who mistakenly thinks she's⁹ a fan of his work and hires her as a manga assistant.

Reviewed by Komrad B. 11th Grade

Project Hail Mary is a fun and unique sci-fi book that starts off with a doomsday scenario, in which the Earth's Sun is having its energy drained by space-dwelling microbes called Astrophage, which puts the Earth in peril as it is losing its source of heat and light. The Protagonist, Ryland Grace, is a microbiologist who wakes up on board a ship without any of his memories of how he got there, but he soon remembers what's happening to Earth, and why he is on the ship: he's on a suicide mission to study the one nearby star system that astrophage hasn't been able to drain. In this system (Tau Ceti), Grace discovers an alien ship with a small alien on board (Rocky), and Grace soon finds out that Rocky's home star is undergoing a similar process. Grace and Rocky work together, learn to speak to each other, and become friends as they explore Tau Ceti, eventually solving the astrophage problem. 

Reviewed by Komrad B. 11th Grade

Neuromancer is a dark, gritty sci-fi novel that is not afraid to throw you into an unfamiliar world with little explanation. The book follows Case, a hacker who had his nervous system damaged and tampered with by some previous shady employers, and he is looking for a "cure" so that his nervous system can be repaired and so that he can re-enter cyberspace again and continue working. Case gets hired by a man named Armitage, and works together with a cyborg named Molly to free a trapped Artificial Intelligence named Wintermute, so that they and the AI can do a high-stakes hacking job. Case and Molly embark on various heists throughout the book, eventually coming to the home of the Tessier-Ashpools, the family that created Wintermute. Wintermute starts working against Case and the team, and merges with Neuromancer, a counterpart AI, to become powerful and unstoppable. Case, however, gets his cure and heals his nervous system in the end. This was a really unique book, but I found it could be pretty confusing at times, because Gibson's writing style often let the explanations for the environment slowly come in over the course of the book, rather than being immediately clear at the beginning. Neuromancer is a tough read, but for those who can read it and who enjoy gritty sci-fi, I'd certainly recommend it.