Category: teen

teen, tween

Survivor Song: Tales of Treacherous Traverses Through Waters and Woods

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Joseph Kehoe
Publisher: You Come Too Publishing
Genre: Children / Adventure
ISBN: 978-0-9816836-1-4
Pages: 144
Price: $5.99

Author’s website

Children living in suburbs where the biggest danger is crossing a busy intersection dream of heading off to the wilderness and great adventures. In Survivor Song Joseph Kehoe takes us into dark wooded areas, down river rapids, and into snowstorms to give us a taste of nature and the elements at their fiercest.

In these thirteen harrowing stories of adventure and survival, kids will come face to face with some of their deepest fears. Will they manage to face their demons and come out alive? Most of the kids in these stories do — but some don’t.

Although this book is listed as intended for ages 10 and up, the more sensitive reader may find these tales a little too upsetting. But kids will be forced to think about how they would handle these situations if they ever found themselves in them, which might lead to great discussions in school and at home. The author is also a frequent guest speaker at schools, sharing these and other stories.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

science-fiction, teen, tween

SpaceCoyotes and the Secret of the Blue Planet

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Paul Fredrics
Publisher: Matador
Genre: Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-1906510-374
Pages: 344
Price: £13.99 (import)

Author’s website
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Forty years ago, an Anilar expedition to the Blue Planet (Earth) failed. Had this been any ordinary mission, fourteen year-old JoJo would never have given it a second thought. But one of the men on the spaceship was her grandfather, and she is now being denied her dream of becoming a SpaceCoyote because of him.

Jimmy Green’s rock band, Applejuice, was destined for greatness, until their lead singer unexpectedly moved out of the country. Now Jimmy is forced to endure Apple Valley’s spoiled darling’s attempts to sing, while his band grimaces in pain.

JoJo convinces her little brother 2B to come with her on a clandestine visit to the Blue Planet, but suddenly finds her ship crash-landed on its surface. All she wants to do is get home, and Jimmy’s band may well be the answer to her problem. But Jimmy may have more answers than either of them could ever expect.

JoJo’s spunk and determination to try to clear her grandfather’s name are admirable. Whether it’s hacking into top secret computer databases, stealing a spaceship, or fighting off evil grommets and CoyoteBots, nothing will stop her from succeeding at her mission. And Jimmy’s extraordinarily compassionate and helpful nature finally prove to JoJo that Earth isn’t the evil place she’s been led to believe it is.

SpaceCoyotes and the Secret of the Blue Planet is a fast-moving adventure through time and space. In a situation where nothing is as it seems, it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad. I highly recommend this enjoyable science fiction story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

Urban Falcon

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jennifer Caloyeras
Publisher: Diversion Press, Inc.
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-935290-08-7
Pages: 232
Price: $12.95

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Evan Falcon has spent his whole life in Elbow Creek, a tiny rural town. When his father gets a new job, he’s forced to move to Lincoln Heights in the middle of eleventh grade and adjust to life in the big city.

Moving as a teen is tough, especially when his best friend in Elbow Creek is no longer talking to him. Evan finds a new friend, and life starts to feel more normal, especially when he meets Maya. But trouble with his parents leads to being grounded and having to come up with creative ways to date and hang out with his classmates.

And lurking in the background is the sneaking suspicion that his mother is having an affair. How can Evan let his parents know that he knows, and does he even want to tell them? Would this revelation disrupt his life even more than it already is?

Jennifer Caloyeras has created a convincing world for Evan Falcon as he adjusts to his big move. The reader sympathizes with his struggles and wants the best for this likable young man. Urban Falcon is a great read, and I look forward to seeing more from this talented new author.

Warning: Rated mature for sexual situations and language.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

The Lost Sister

Bergers Book Reviews

sister
Author: Megan Kelley Hall
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Teen
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2680-8
Pages: 272
Price: $9.95

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At the conclusion of Sisters of Misery we learn that Cordelia is still alive, and she plans to come back to find Maddie. In this sequel, The Lost Sister, we find out what led to Cordelia’s disappearance, and where she’s been hiding for the past year.

All the major players in this drama have received a tarot card, which seems to convey an eerie warning. Death is in the air, and the evil won’t stop until certain people are finally removed from Hawthorne, once and for all. Is this story taking place in our modern century, or have they returned to the witch trials of Massachusetts? Magic and mystery surrounds them, blending both eras until almost indistinguishable from each other.

But why is all this death necessary? For what end? Maddie will find out when she faces her enemy in the final showdown.

Once again, author Megan Kelley Hall has created a haunting novel of madness in a small, affluent New England town. In this sequel, she ties together the loose ends left open when Cordelia vanished. Although it’s not quite as well written as Sisters of Misery, readers will still enjoy this conclusion to a chilling story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

parenting, teen

The Lake That Stole Children

Bergers Book Reviews

lake
Author: Douglas Glenn Clark
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Fable
ISBN: 978-1438243580
Pages: 50
Price: $6.25

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The fisherman knows only discipline and strict obedience in raising his two children. Although his son also wants to fish in the river, he is repeatedly denied his heart’s desire. Until one night he goes against his father’s wishes and faces the river by himself.

The lake claims the son, who joins other children inside a large glass fish. Their common bond is sadness, and the adults on the shore don’t want to face their part in the children’s disappearances. But the fisherman wants his son back, and he’s brave enough to face the glass fish.

Written in fable style, The Lake That Stole Children shows us many facets of our emotions and personalities. In this tale, the father recognizes his own limitations, and makes positive changes as a result of losing his son. And in seeing his father change, the boy grows up learning how to be a better father.

While the author intended this story to be a harrowing thriller for young adults, I didn’t feel there was enough action to grab the teen audience. But as a short story for adults, it packed a powerful message. Parents always need to be aware of their kids’ emotions before they disappear into their sadness, lost to us forever.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

Weeping Under This Same Moon

Bergers Book Reviews

weepingcover1
Author: Jana Laiz
Publisher: Crow Flies Press
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0-9814910-0-4
Pages: 271
Price: $14.00

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In 1976, Mei, a Chinese girl living in war-torn Vietnam is forced to flee her country. Sent away on a tiny boat, she and her teenage brother and young sister leave their family behind, hoping to arrive on safe shores. With no guarantee of survival, they embark bravely on their journey.

In the United States, Hannah, a teenage girl, finds herself struggling to fit into a culture focused on drugs and parties. A non-conformist, she is drawn to important causes, and finds herself alone most of the time. When she hears of the plight of the “Boat People” escaping Vietnam, she knows she needs to help.

Weeping Under This Same Moon tells these two girls’ stories, which begin to intersect as Hannah befriends Mei and her family, and helps them acclimate to life in the US. Told with amazing perception and attention to detail, the author brings their stories to life. Great character development helps us to understand each girl and her unique situation.

This book is a fictionalized account of two real women who forged a lifetime friendship during a time of adversity. I highly recommend Weeping Under This Same Moon – a story of friendship, hope, and the spirit of helping others.

Reviewed by: Alice Berger

romance, teen

Adios to All the Drama

Bergers Book Reviews

Adios to All the DramaAuthor: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2557-3
Pages: 336
Price: $9.95

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Mariana’s summer fling, Alex, is staying with her family as he researches colleges in the area. Although she’s missed him, she still has unresolved feelings for her locker buddy, Bobby. But things are weird between them ever since she found out her friend, Emily’s, secret.

Madison is now head over heels for a popular guy named Evan, but Emily’s behavior has Mariana concerned. Is she going for her friend’s guy behind her back? Nothing Emily does makes any sense anymore.

When a ballet performance disaster occurs, Mariana finds out the answers to her friend’s strange actions. And she finally makes the decision that’s been weighing on her own heart at her aunt’s wedding.

I really enjoyed this three book series, but this one was definitely the best, in my opinion. Despite the fact Mariana is not one of the popular girls, she manages to stay true to herself and her own values in this book, not succumbing to any peer pressure to compromise herself.

Mariana shows great self-confidence in making all the right decisions for herself, knowing she needs to live with the consequences. I enjoyed getting to know her, and I’m sorry to see this series end.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

romance, teen

Amigas and School Scandals

Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2555-9
Pages: 304
Price: $9.95

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After a summer vacation in Puerto Rico, Mariana Ruiz has returned to Spring Mills and her old life. But she’s brought home her cousin, Lilly, who is enrolling in Mariana’s high school. After only one day of classes, Lilly is an instant hit, and the most popular freshman in the school – and Mariana’s best friends are less than thrilled with her arrival.

Now Mariana needs to restore her strained relationships with Madison and Emily. Missing Madison’s Sweet Sixteen party over the summer was a faux pas she may never live down, until Madison talks her into having her own party for her sixteenth birthday. But Mariana doesn’t want a bash like Madison’s, so Lilly helps with a compromise.

Along with friend problems, Mariana still has family issues to deal with. Her estranged aunt wants to be part of the family, but Mariana’s uncles still hold grudges against her. And Mariana finds herself suddenly attracted to her locker buddy, Bobby, who had gone on a date with Emily over the summer. Emily won’t tell anyone about it, which confuses Mariana as to her friend’s feelings for Bobby – until the truth finally comes out.

Amigas and School Scandals picks up right where Amor and Summer Secrets left off, as Mariana leaves Utuado and her summer fling, Alex. But although summer is over, new dramas and tensions are just heating up.

Teens will easily relate to Mariana’s struggles to include her cousin Lilly into her circle of friendship, while doing all she can to keep her best friends, even if it means passing up a hot guy. Amigas and School Scandals will pull you into Mariana’s world and keep you hooked until the last page. I look forward to reading the final book in this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

Sisters of Misery

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Megan Kelley Hall
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2679-2
Pages: 308
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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Maddie Crane doesn’t always feel like she fits in with the wealthy girls she hangs out with, but they’ve always been her best friends. And until her cousin Cordelia shows up in town, she doesn’t give it much thought. Cordelia is different – magical, ethereal and unimpressed with the other girls – and she creates instant enemies. But Maddie is drawn to her, and starts to wonder what she sees in her supposed friends.

The Sisters of Misery, as they call themselves, won’t put up with Cordelia’s attitude, and they decide to teach her a lesson on Halloween. When their plans go awry, Maddie is determined to find out what really happened on that fateful evening.

As she digs deeper into the mystery of Cordelia’s fate, she’s drawn into the web of small-town deceptions. But the biggest shock comes when she finds out even her own family is living a lie.

Spell-binding, suspenseful, and shocking, Sisters of Misery will hook you right from the opening scene, and pull you into the drama as Maddie tries to find the answers to her burning questions. And when it seems that Maddie has found out all she needs to know, the last answer will chill you to the bone. Now, finally free of Cordelia and her home-town, Maddie learns that Cordelia isn’t through with her, leaving a whole new set of questions that must be answered in the sequel.

Though at times I found it disturbing in its sheer brutality, Sisters of Misery is an enjoyable and gripping read that will keep you glued to the page. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

romance, teen

Amor and Summer Secrets

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2553-5
Pages: 296
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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Mariana Ruiz doesn’t know why she’s being exiled to Puerto Rico for the summer. She should be at home, helping her best friend, Madison, celebrate her Sweet Sixteen. Instead she’s sent to visit relatives she’s never met before, most of whom don’t even speak English.

Mariana is part Puerto Rican and part Polish, but the only Spanish she’s ever picked up has been from her classes at school. Her cousin, Lilly, speaks English, but Mariana doesn’t trust her motives, and keeps her distance, despite Lilly’s attempts to be friends. Instead she helps her aunt plan Lilly’s Quinceanera.

An unexpected romantic surprise awaits Mariana at Lilly’s party, and soon she finds she’s enjoying the summer she never wanted to happen. But along with amor, she also finds out about a family secret that shocks her.

This fast-paced and tension-filled story pulls the reader into Mariana’s world, as she experiences her first adventure off her own turf and finds love. Amor and Summer Secrets is an enjoyable read, and once you pick this book up, you won’t be able to put it down. The first of three books, it will leave you wanting to read more from this talented new author.

Reviewer: Alice Berger