Advanced Reader Review Group (ARRG: Ages 14-18)

Between Shades of Gray is a captivating biopic, detailing the Soviet's treatment of Lithuanians at the end of World War II. Going into this book I had little knowledge of Lithuania, and much less about how the Soviets treated their peoples. It is surprising, then, that the suffering of so many people has been forgotten. In even, concise prose, Septys portrays the horrific trials of that time period in extraordinary detail. Ultimately the book shows that both sides of the war were capable of the same horros. Still, even on the darkest nights there is hope, as Between Shades of Gray illustrates in refreshingly lucid narrative.

-Ben

When we read a book often we are completely focused on two things: Plot and Character. While these define the essence of a book, there is another thing which is sometimes overlooked: how the words appear on the page. Charles Benoit, writing in 2nd person, provides a unique usage of an uncommon narrative voice. While initially surprising, it is easy to fall into the unusual rhythm of the book. You provides a brutal look into a 10th grader's life. However, Benoit skillfully avoids the traps of this genre. The book is neither preachy, nor campy. Rather, it is starkly honest and profoundly relatable. You will surprise and shock you, and is an enjoyable book for teens.

-Ben 

Split is one of those books that you can't put down once you've started reading it. The witty dialogue and enthralling plot are only the beginning. The detail included in each page makes it seem like you're in the story as well. Each character possesses an incredibly unique personality with all the intricacies and idiosyncrasies that make life interesting.

-Nathan

Although Split deals with the painful issues of domestic violence, it is ultimately a compelling story about the transition from victim to empowerment. The scenes of violence do not overrun the plot and instead the focus is on the intensely real characters. Avasthi crafts believable personas, thereby making it easy, as a reader coming from a stable family, to understand why the characters behave the way they do. I highly recommend this book for older teens looking for a well-written and satisfying story. 

-Olivia 

Dashner is a master of suspense. The Entire book keeps you on edge, cliff hanger after cliff hanger as Thomas tries to understand this new world he has been brought to. Every moment of this book is spent questioning what is to come and squirming in excitement as the tale reveals it's self bit by bit. The story is absolutely genius and I would recommend it to anyone interested in action and adventure.

-Elizabeth 

Barry Lyga captures a realistic snapshot of life in Hero Type. No one is perfect in real life, and neither is the protagonist in this story. The challenge is dealing with those imperfections, and this book's engaging plot addresses that. Hero Type raises an important point about our society today in a life-like story that will keep you reading.

-Nathan

-Ben

-Olivia

-Olivia

A startlingly unique book, The Knife of Never Letting Go by patrick Ness displays the author's unique style of writing and prose. Patrick Ness defies the conventions of modern science fiction novels, and creates a books that rings with truth and anger over the human state of mind. The setting of The Knife of Never Letting Go is as difficult as the rest of the book to describe, but can be thought of as a futuristic dystopia. Surprisingly for a fictional book, The Knife of Never Letting Go is extremely realistic, and frightening because of the reality of the setting. There are no gleaming metal cities, no spaceships, no space-opera dialogue, and no multitude of alien species. Turning his back on this idealized future, Patrick Ness writes a fast paced and succinct novel whose breathtaking plot twists cause any reader to be instantly caught up in the action. At once exhilarating and horrifying, this book catches you in its intricate plot and leaves you desperate for more.

-Ben