Occasionally, we will feature spoiler-free book reviews written by local teens. These reviews are for teens, by teens, although adults are known to enjoy some of these titles too! Teens, if you are interested in writing book reviews for SBPL, visit our For Teens page. You can receive 1 service hour for each book review, up to 5 hours per month.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Review by E.B.
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Eight people are invited to vacation on a mysterious island by an acquaintance. They all accept. After all, what’s a better way to spend the summer than taking a relaxing trip to a private island? But this book isn’t a vacation story. And Then There Were None is a murder mystery written by the brilliant Agatha Christie. This pleasant island excursion soon becomes unusual when the wealthy host is nowhere to be found. Only Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, the servants, are present. And who is their host anyway? No one knows what he or she even looks like! Things get even more mysterious after dinner, as the visitors are happily drinking coffee. All of a sudden, an unknown voice from another room starts reading out a judgement. It claims that everyone on the island is responsible for a murder! Everyone on the island is hiding a guilty secret, for which they are being tried. That same night, one man drinks some brandy and chokes to his death. By the morning, a lady has died in her sleep. Horrified by the foul play, everyone begins vigorously searching the island for any place where the murderer could be hiding. They come to a shocking conclusion: the murderer can’t be hiding on the island, the murderer lives in the house, the murderer is one of them! The death and mystery doesn’t end there. One by one, the visitors are killed, but the murderer escapes. And strangely enough, all the deaths correlate to a gruesome nursery rhyme about ten little Indians, which has been hung in all the rooms in the house. Who planned this awful party? Why were these guests chosen? And who is the murderer!? To find the answer to all these questions, read Agatha Christie’s chilling novel, And Then There Were None.
Flygirl by Sherrie L. Smith
Review by L.L.
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Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith is a very empowering book. It follows the main character Ida Mae Jones, a black girl from New Orleans, and is set during World War II. When Ida hears about the chance to fly for her country through the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, it is as if all her dreams were coming true. However, in order to join, she would need to pass as a white woman. This is a book about self-discovery, and how intersectionality plays a role in shaping one’s identity, something that is a significant issue we still deal with today. It explores the hardships of pretending to be someone you’re not, and the heavy price you must pay to achieve your goals. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and books that focus on social justice issues such as racism and sexism.
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
Review by L.L.
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An enthralling collection of poetry, Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman is a beautifully written book. Gorman uses her words to craft stunning works of art, reflecting the hardships of the recent pandemic. Her poems are moving, and will touch the hearts of anyone who reads them. She dives into America’s history of war and hardship, as well as the modern issues of COVID-19 and police brutality. The pages include captivating images that give meaning to the poems. This book also includes the poem Amanda Gorman read aloud to the country during President Joe Biden’s inauguration, a moving piece that tells the story of where America came from, and where it may go if we keep fighting for a better future. This book was emotional and heartfelt, and makes you look at life through a different lens. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a beautifully crafted poetry book. It’s perfect for people who want to feel seen/heard, and is a great motivator to continue protecting our world. It’s also an amazing book to read over and over again, because each time you’ll find a new meaning within the pages. This book will become one of your most treasured items, and a friend who understands whatever it is you’re going through.