West Orange Public Library's Teen Zone!

Tumblr account for the West Orange Public Library's Teen Department, featuring programs & book reviews!

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Leah On the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli: A Book Review 

        Becky Albertalli, author of award-winning Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, returns with another addition to the Simonverse. This novel is told from the perspective of Leah Burke, Simon’s best friend as she comes to terms with her identity and life purpose during her senior year of high school. With huge milestones coming up, life is hectic. She always feels out of place as an overweight drummer who’s never been in a relationship and is bisexual. Not that many people know, not even her openly-gay best friend. Follow Leah on her coming-of-age quest to finding and embracing her true self. 

      As a fan of Albertalli’s previous books, I can say that this newest book is just as good as its predecessors. Filled with drama and heartfelt moments, this LGBT+ novel is relatable for teens all over. This novel will leave readers with different feelings towards Leah as they will be on an emotional rollercoaster while she experiences the stresses of high school. I recommend this book for ages 13 and up.

- Vanassa Lafleur, West Orange Public Library Teen Book Reviewer 

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Chaotic Good: A Book Review

The summer before her senior year, Cameron’s life is uprooted when her family moves to Eugene, Oregon. Although the move means leaving her friends it gives Cameron the perfect opportunity to finish a fashion portfolio she needs to get into CalTech’s prestigious costume department for college. Creating cosplays (costumes of fictional characters) has always been a passion of hers and earned her a sizable online following. Unfortunately, as many people enjoyed her work there are more who accused her of just seeking male attention; these male commenters become increasingly aggressive, insisting she is not truly a fan of these traditionally male hobbies. Matters are only made worse when she has to deal with similar condescension and sexism in the real world whenever she goes into a comic book shop. Under her twin brother’s advisement, Cameron decides to dress up as a guy and is amazed to find how differently she is treated in the comic shop and how easy it is to avoid unwanted attention. Quickly, Cameron finds herself trapped in a lie once her boy alter-ego is invited to join a Dungeons and Dragons campaign and wonders how long she can keep up the act.

Whitney Gardner’s story is a quick and fun read; Cameron is a likable character who is easy to sympathize with and I was never bored while reading. The novel teaches valuable lessons that are sure to resonate with many young boys and girls. Cameron’s trials and tribulations show how a person does not need to choose between what is typically considered a male or female interest because hobbies restricted based on your gender. Cameron likes sewing and wearing dresses while also reading comics and playing D&D. Her character shows that people do not need to feel confined to what society says their likes and dislikes should be. Overall, I would recommend this book to any teen looking for a heartwarming story about accepting yourself despite what others think.

By Arthi Sivendra, West Orange Public Library Teen Reviewer

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A Book Review by Niyat Michael, West Orange Public Library Teen Book Reviewer

Ace of Shades is the first and only book so far of The Shadow Game Series and is written by Amanda Foody. This novel is about a girl who is a dancer who travels to New Reynes. This whole book is basically centered around one card game that basically decides if you die or you live.

The main character, Enne, is a young woman whose life is built on a society of fame and wealth. She is the daughter of two very powerful families. Both who were eliminated by the people of this society. When her family was killed, Enne was adopted and the story begins with her adoptive mother (who she thought was her real mother), went missing. Enne is a dancer and she has been dancing since she was a small child, she always felt like she was in background but when she travels to New Reynes, she meets a man named Levi, and the become good friends. Throughout this book, we see Enne find out who she truly is like her real name, the mystery behind her real family and if her adoptive mother is still alive. This book is a fictional story and also includes some real elements like the reign of a family being over, crime, and the arts.

I really enjoyed this book. If you have read and liked A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Hunger Games, or The Throne of Glass Novellas you will enjoy it too.

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Marley Dias Gets it Done and So Can You!:  A Book Review

Marley Dias Gets it Done and So Can You! is a nonfiction novel by Marley Dias, addressing social activism and standing up against many of the issues facing contemporary society. Marley Dias is a 13 year old fighter for change and founder of #1000blackgirlbooks. In this book, Dias tells readers of her experience standing up for more black girl representation in literature while also teaching readers how to do so themselves. This book is an inspiring story of how change cannot only be made by adults. Kids have the capability to bring about change and make the world a better place too.

Personally, I think that this is one of the most influential books that I have ever read. Marley Dias’ fighting spirit and enthusiasm is shown through her diction throughout the entirety of the book. The colorful pages, pictures, and quote kept me fully engaged in reading. Although Dias is younger than I am, I look up to her and hope to be able to speak up against injustice in the world. Ultimately, this book would be a great read for middle school and high school students who are interested in taking action against today’s social issues.

Vanassa LaFleur, West Orange Public Library Teen Book Reviewer

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Teen Talk next Wednesday March 28th at 7pm! #teentalks #woplteens (at West Orange Public Library)

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Buried Heart by Kate Elliott:  A Book Review

Buried Heart is the third book of the Court of Fives Series and is written by Kate Elliott. I would recommend you read the books in order, because the previous ones set the tone for everything otherwise. You miss most of the important parts of the series. However, it’s still a great novel even if you start on the third book. I stayed with this series because of the strong characters that are in this novel. The strong feminine roles also helped me stay with this novel. It’s so appealing because of the main idea of the book. It’s a political revolution and that setting is really interesting to read as it develops.  My favorite character is Jessamay’s mother, she has gone through a lot like raising over three children by herself

The main character, Jessamy, is a young women whose life is dangerously built on the whims of a society on the brinks of destruction and change. She is the daughter of an upper class Patron and his Commoner partner and is also mixed race of Sarose and Efean, the two main races in this universe. Jessamy has been training to compete in the multi-level athletic course of the Fives and she is really good at it. The course is usually for Patron males not females, and for her to not be a pure one is truly astonishing. Jessamy experiences conflict within herself, pulled apart by her love for her Patron father and her Patron lover Kalliarkos, just as she is dedicated to the cause of her Commoner side. Throughout this book, we see Jessamy find out who she truly is as a person and we watch her grow.  This book is a political revolution story, but it is also a test of relationships.

I really enjoyed this book. If you have read and liked A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Hunger Games, or The Throne of Glass Novellas you will enjoy it too.

Niyat Michael, West Orange Public Library Teen Book Reviewer

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Join us for our next Teen Talk! Wednesday February 28 from 7pm-830pm. Topic: Making Change in Your Community. Open to grades 9-12. #teentalks #westorangepubliclibrary @westorangelibrary

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We have a ton of new books in the teen zone! YAY for your West Orange Public Library card! #yabooks #youngadultbooks (at West Orange Public Library)

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YA Books For Fans of STRANGER THINGS

A booklist for fans of YA books who are now obsessed with the Netflix series STRANGER THINGS.

Stranger Things is back - which means you’ll need books to read to fill the void once you’ve finished binge-watching the second season! Here’s a list from BookRiot.com!

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West Orange Teen Talks at Town Hall happens tomorrow, 10/25, at 7p! Spread the word! #wearewestorange #woplteens #teentalks #teensmatter (at West Orange, New Jersey)

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Celebrating diverse books for teens and all ages always! #weneeddiversebooks #woplteens #books #yabooks #teenbooks (at West Orange Public Library)

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Register for West Orange’s Teen Talk event - for  West Orange Teens in grades 9-12!  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wo-teen-talk-tickets-38773338098

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Percy Jackson Trivia Thursday 10/19/17 at 4p!! Ages 9-13! #percyjackson #trivia #rickriordan (at West Orange Public Library)

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I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo:  A Book Review

High school senior Desi Lee always has a plan, it’s what made her the valedictorian of her class and keeps her on track to go to Stanford. However, are all her lists and preparation enough to score her a boyfriend? After meeting the cute and artsy new kid, Luca, Desi decides to put this question to the test. Armed with the infinite wisdom of the Korean dramas she has watched with her father, Desi creates a foolproof plan to get the guy and her happily ever after...that is, if she can pull it off.

This was an enjoyable book to read, I found Desi to be an entertaining and witty protagonist and the story was never dull. This being said, the story was also very predictable, it starts out giving you a list outlining exactly what is going to happen, leaving very little room for surprise. Also, while Desi’s antics were wild and comedic, they seemed too much like a Korean drama rather than a realistic fiction novel. While this was the point, it made it difficult for me to understand how someone as smart and logical as Desi would continue with such an outrageous plan. All this aside, this was an easy read based on an interesting concept that would be great for any teen looking for a cute romance with plenty of swoon-worthy moments.

Arthi Sivendra, West Orange Public Library Teen Book Reviewer

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Teen open mic night bringing the local talent! (at West Orange Public Library)

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Teen open mic tonight at 7p!!! #openmic #woplteens #teenopenmic (at West Orange Public Library)

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Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali:  A Book Review

S.K. Ali's novel Saints and Misfits is a story about Muslim faith, identity, and social issues, which stars a Muslim teenage girl as the main character. Her name is Janna Yusuf and she is an Arab Indian-American hijabi, which means she wears an article of clothing known as a hijab on her head, for religious purposes. Janna is convinced that there are three types of people in her life: saints, misfits, and monsters. To her, saints are the people moving her world forward. For example, Mr. Ram, a senior citizen who Janna volunteers to spend hours with on Thursdays. Mr. Ram gives Janna inspirational verses from some of the finest poetry he can recall from memory. Janna considers herself a misfit, because she doesn't feel like she fits into her father's brand new family, or the one that was left over, which includes Janna's mother and engaged older brother, Muhammad, who is a university student. And then there are monsters, like the one person who everyone at the local mosque thinks is untouchable and holy but tried to assault Janna. This is a fact that only she knows about it and it plagues throughout the entire novel. At her high school, Janna spends part of her time crushing on Jeremy, a school athlete who is non-Muslim, for which Janna also considers him a misfit.

 The book deals with many social topics, having to do with both the Islamic community and other topics. Janna's uncle writes an advice column where he responds to people's submissions with witty and insightful feedback every week, using the rules of Islam as his guidelines. S.K. Ali finds a good balance between time in the book spent at home with either family, time spent outside at either the mosque or Seniors Game Club, and time spent at high school with Tats, a close friend of Janna's, all of which helps make sure the story never gets bland or boring. This can make some events feel heavy when you first read them and in contrast others can feel rushed but meaningful. Regardless, the story is about a self-empowered young woman who simply needed a nudge in the right direction, and despite the amount of temptation and a few unrealistic expectations, managed to channel her anger, receive support, and stand up for herself, all while preserving the standards of her faith. Patient readers will enjoy this book and its many tough topics, as well as the humor sprinkled here and there by the author, often revealed through the intriguing thoughts Janna has as she lives her life.

Recommended for fans of realistic fiction and juvenile humor.

Carlos Herbozo, West Orange Public Library Teen Book Reviewer