by ·0 Comments

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Douglas Adams

Although The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, written by Douglas Adams is a fairly old book, published in 1979, it still remains a lively story full of adventure and dark humour. The story begins with a normal English citizen, Arthur Dent, who wakes up to a construction team that wants to destroy his home to make way for a bypass. The next thing he knows, his eccentric best friend Ford Prefect, tells him that the Earth is about to be destroyed and hitchhikes his way onto a Vogon fleet’s spaceship with a dazed Arthur in his wake. But soon, they are rejected by the Vogons, who are unpleasant space creatures, and sent out to suffocate in space — that is, until they’re picked up by yet another ship — a stolen top-of-the-line government project, driven by the president of the universe. The novel follows their wild adventures through space and time and their search for the answer to the ultimate question; the answer to life, the universe and everything.

I think this novel is a great sci-fi comedy with plot twists and turns at every chapter. Douglas Adams’ strange sense of humour is entertaining, although the narrative of the whole story does get a bit confusing near the end. It can become a little difficult to keep track of everything that’s taking place in the novel because a lot of the story flips back and forth in between the past, present, and many different locations around the universe. Despite all this, I still think it’s really fascinating to read, especially when you consider how long ago it was written and the author’s perspective of futuristic beings and technology. So, overall, I’d recommend this book to anybody who’s into adventurous sci-fi, because it’s exactly the sort of thing they’d enjoy.
– Mady R.

View in Library Catalogue

by ·0 Comments

Salt & Stone

Victoria Scott

This is the sequel to Fire & Flood.

Tella Holloway has completed the first half of the race (two ecosystems: jungle and desert) and is moving on to the more difficult part of the race because living two weeks in the jungle and desert with a very high possibility of dying, isn’t enough for the cure that her sick older brother Cody needs to survive. Now Tella will trek through the two more difficult ecosystems, Ocean and Mountains, to remain a contender eligible to win the grand prize. With the help of her new-found friends from the jungle, Guy Chambers, Harper Shaw, Olivia Flinch, Jaxon Levine, and Braun Kirkland, they join as a team to overcome the obstacles of the ecosystems. Introducing a couple more characters, Tella will guide them through the harsh climates overcoming the events that scared her from the last book and learn secrets behind the race and among her friends. She starts to worry that they may not be her friends at all…

I prefer this book over Fire & Flood simply because the story starts to pick up more and is slightly more descriptive when there is action. This book, you’ll see has a lot more unexpected turns of events also making it slightly better than the first book. Overall the book Salt & Stone was very nerve-racking due to the anticipation of what will happen next and the secrets Tella’s teammates keep, wondering what they are. I would have given this book 5 stars but due to the ending and how this is the last book in the series I lower it down to 4. Still an amazing book. – Celine J.

View in Library Catalogue

by ·0 Comments

Fire & Flood

Victoria Scott

Tella Holloway is on the brink of insanity. Her brother Cody, has an illness that seems impossible to cure. Her family decided to move from Boston to the middle of nowhere. Possibly the fresh air of the great outdoors could help Cody recover. Unfortunately, that plan failed and is driving Tella crazy, desperate for a cure for her poor brother and things to go back to normal. As if her prayers and pleas have been answered, Tella gets invited as a contender to take part in the Brimstone Bleed, a dangerous race through four ecosystems all for the winning prize of the cure for any illness. The only problem was there can only be one champion and Tella’s determined to win, no matter what problems arise and what secrets are revealed that can change everything she ever thought of.

I personally enjoyed the book as it was very entertaining and adventure like with some exciting battle scenes. I also favor how there were accurate facts on survival skills because in most stories it is very inaccurate. This book also stood out for its relatability towards the reader as it included the struggles of being a teenager, spoiled with technology and how modern-day teens are compared to adults and children. Overall, the book Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott was packed with suspense, action, adventure, romance, friendships, teamwork struggles and the undying determination to do anything and everything for a person you care about.

If you like The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner series, you’ll love this! – Celine J.

View in Library Catalogue

by ·0 Comments

Confessions of a High School Disaster

Emma Chastain

This story is about a soon-to-be high school student who is nervous about her new life. She is going through new feelings she can’t explain, losing friends, and trying to find herself through new interests. Chloe Snow is a bright and positive freshman trying to find her place in a new environment, and she quickly learns that life isn’t as easy as it was in her safe elementary school, when her mother lived at home and everyone was a happy family. Now, she goes through missing her mom (who is an author exploring Mexico) while trying to balance hormones, friends, theater and home life — all while she is young and naive.

In my opinion this book wasn’t the greatest. I enjoyed a lot of it and though it was fresh and light, it didn’t wow me. It was an easy read that was refreshing, yet hard to get through because of the lack of detail. The writing wasn’t the most interesting to read for a lot of the book. The plot was okay, but it felt overdone because the author didn’t catch the real emotions of Chloe or any other characters. I think the author should have tried a little harder to find a meaning for the book and illustrated more driven and realistic characters. I wish the author looked beyond the dramatic side of Chloe’s life and looked at her pain she was going through during the entire book. Emma Chastain didn’t address her feelings of loss for her friends and her missing her mother. Otherwise this book was refreshing and funny and I would recommend it as a book that anyone could read for fun.  – Fatima S.

View in Library Catalogue

by ·0 Comments

Three Dark Crowns - Kendare BlakeThree Dark Crowns

Kendare Blake

Three dark queens are born in a glen… this fantasy novel takes place on the isle of Fennbirn, where every generation the queen gives birth to triplets, each one possessing a different powerful magic. But only one can become heir and rule the island, so on their sixteenth birthday, the young queens are unleashed upon each other in a fight to the death for the crown.

Mirabella is an elemental, able to control the winds and fire. Katharine is a poisoner, trained in crafting poisons and immune to them herself. Arsinoe, a naturalist, can command the plants and animals. Raised apart from each other in three cities of magic, the queens have not met since they were children. But as their sixteenth birthday and the presentation ceremony approaches, it becomes apparent that the rise to power of the next queen is dependent on a lot more than their natural gifts, as some of their natural gifts are lacking. Mirabella is the most talented and has the support of the Temple, but Arsinoe and Katharine each have powerful friends and allies willing to risk themselves for the queen who shares their magic.

While the beginning of the book can be a little slow, it builds a world of politics, romance, and danger as you learn about the inhabitants and history of Fennbirn – perhaps though, for those people who like detailed worlds, it is not as fleshed out as we’d like. The love triangle is the most frustrating part of this book, as its intention is unclear. Nevertheless, the story grows towards a climax and cliffhanger that will make you want to read the sequel, One Dark Throne, which will be published in late 2017.  — Lisa WM

View in Library Catalogue

by ·0 Comments

Join our community of Teen Reviewers, and review books, music, and movies — share your favourites with your friends, and find some new favourites too! Teens can earn one community service hour for every review! Reviews may be posted on the Teen Blog and used in Library promotions. You may review up to ten items per year. Items reviewed must be from the Oshawa Public Libraries collection, or from our selection of ARCs (Advance Reader Copies).

Reviews must:

  • Be a minimum of 250 words in length.
  • Contain both a summary of the book/movie/album, as well as a personal critique.
  • Not contain “spoilers”.
  • Be suitable for publication.

Becoming a reviewer is easy – simply fill out the “Become A Reviewer” form to select your first items to review. We will contact you by email to let you know your items have been approved, so you can begin writing!

Questions about reviewing? Email teenreviewers@oshawalibrary.on.ca