Puddin', by Julie Murphy

Millie Michalchuk is just your average plus-sized teenage girl with big dreams to become a News Anchor despite, Millie being bullied at school because of her weight or the fact that her parents sent her to fat camp every year.Millie is a fun and loving girl with a bold personally she becomes bold when she meets Callie Reyes. Your typical popular girl that everyone is jealous of. Millie and Callie have many things in common including the fact that they don't feel like they fit in.Callie always gets mistaken for the babysitter since she is tanner than the rest of her family. While Millie gets bullied because she weighs a bit more than the rest. It does not stop them from reaching their goals, Millie is going to change her story by attending Journalism camp this year instead of fat camp while, Callie is going to be more friendly and kind than before.

Puddin', by Julie Murphy, is just an average girl next door type of book. Millie is relatable towards the general audience including me, she brings a spark to this book like nothing before with real emotion and goals to achieve what she wants.She does not care what people think about her along with her new friend,Callie.Callie is as well unstoppable alongside Millie proving to everyone she has changed. I’d recommend this book to a friend since, it brings light to many girls out there that weigh more than others that have confidence to help them strive. My favorite part of the book is when Millie and Callie drive through Texas to arrive at the Journalism camp to confront the people that denied her entry.

Reviewed by P.K., Grade 9

Downtown Central Library

To All the Boys I've Loved Before, by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before, by Jenny Han, is a young-adult romance novel centering around Lara Jean Song Covey, a sixteen-year-old half-white, half-Korean girl. In the novel, Lara Jean writes lengthy letters to boys she develops crushes on. The drama first begins when her older sister, Margot, leaves for college in Scotland. In the process, she had to break up with her boyfriend, Josh, who also happens to be the Song Covey's neighbors.

Personally, book wasn't my cup of tea only because I'm not the biggest fan of romance novels. However, the book would definitely appeal to teenagers and possibly even adults who like and enjoy romance as a genre. The story was well-paced and it didn't leave you bored. Since it was filled to the brim with drama, you won't stop reading to finally see how everything hashes out. It felt like each chapter had another situation that Lara Jean had to solve.

Reviewed by Melody S., Grade 9

Montrose Library

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, is a fun and interesting book. it takes place in a fictional town along the Mississippi river in the 1840's. it is about a boy named Tom sawyer who loves to play hooky and go on adventures. The book is inspired by the author’s upbringing. Twain grew up in Hannibal Missouri. This book has tons of fun adventures in it. Tom white washing, practicing superstitions, stealing from the sugar bowl and much more this book was very fun to read.

I loved this book! I love how this book is relatable even though the times are different. I think that this book would be loved my older kids in middle school and high school. It made me feel like I was actually there going through the adventures with tom. I would definitely recommend this book because it was really interesting and I would love to point out that the love kids shared then is really different from the way kids share love now. It was also really cool to see how they dressed differently and had superstitions much more different from what we have today. This book is must read!

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9

Montrose Library

The Stalker Chronicles, by Carley Moore

The Stalker Chronicles, by Carley Moore,  is a book following Cammie Bliss through her sophomore year of high school. She has a reputation of being a stalker that she has most definitely earned. We also learn of her past choices. While dealing with her reputation, she is also trying to leave it behind, to turn over a new leaf. She tries to do this with the new boy in school, Toby Waxman. Cammie's younger brother gets a girlfriend and Cammie's parents are going through a divorce. Through this divorce, Cammie discovers that she has something in common with her father. Her best friend Rosie helps her get through this part of her life.

I like how the story is told. The character development is fantastic. It does not happen quickly, but happens at an adequate pace. Development is seen not only in Cammie, but the supporting characters as well. I think the group of people who would like the book would be high school teens, mainly the girls. This book let me see into the eyes of teenage stalker. I enjoyed reading the parts where Cammie would do things that would probably get her in trouble if someone found out. This book was overall an adventure to read and I liked the author’s depiction of high school life.

Reviewed by Dusk R., Grade 11

Downtown Central Library