Page to Post: No Accident by Laura Bates

In the Page to Post series, the Teen Book Guild spotlights the books that caught our attention after scoping out an entire shelf of titles in the Winter Park Library. From that first spark of interest to how we really felt after reading, you’ll get our honest take—no sugarcoating, just real talk from teens who love books (or sometimes don’t!).
If you’re looking for your next great read or just want to see if our choice was worth it, stick around. Let’s dive into the world of stories, one shelf and one book at a time.

Title: No Accident
Author: Laura Bates
Chosen by: Andres J.

Here Lies a Vengeful B**** by Codie Crowley

by Phoebe N.
Grade 12

Here Lies a Vengeful B**** is a mystery YA novel by Codie Crowley. To be published on August 24, 2024, the book follows Annie Lane who died and came back to life. The only problem? She doesn’t remember who killed her. Between her deadbeat ex and his friends or her always-stoned mom, her reckless and over-confident behavior made her an extremely easy victim of murder. Annie Lane tracks down all the possible suspects and tries to recollect the missing memories of what happened the night she was killed.

This book was filled with many plot twists involving countless other murder cases intertwined with Annie Lane’s that readers might never see coming. The story-telling captivates the reader and forces them to be wary of every side character, giving a sense of distrust and suspicion. However, the beginning of the novel was very slow-paced. Originally, I didn’t enjoy the supernatural aspect of the plot as it kind of conflicted with the realistic components of the story. But the writing was phenomenal and extremely enticing. Each scene is elaborate and detailed, allowing the readers to immerse themselves into the storyline and imagery. Additionally, everything accelerates towards the end, so despite the slow build-up in the beginning chapters, I found myself zooming through the ending chapters non-stop. 

Codie Crowley does a fairly good job at misleading the readers and convincing them to rule out a suspect amongst the characters which I found had further developed the suspense of the story. The romantic element in this novel is somewhat prominent and pleasant. To some extent, the relationship between the main character and the main love interest is realistic and relatable in the sense that teens experience flings and romantic attractions every now and then. Told in Annie Lane’s perspective, the readers get to experience her character development and self-realization as she reflects upon her troubled upbringing and bold personality. 

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a mix of realism and supernatural/fantasy. Although it may seem uneventful at first, the story picks up in the second half and everything comes together. I would also recommend this book to those who enjoy murder mysteries. As a reader, the intricate story-telling of this book made me feel like a detective. I am definitely excited for when this book gets released and wishing the best of luck to Codie Crowley for her debut novel! I think many teens would like this novel when it hits the shelves of the Winter Park Library. 

Librarian note: Thank you to Hyperion for sending the Teen Book Guild an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Epic Reading Challenge: June

Written by Grace H.

Welcome back to the Epic Reads Challenge 2024, where each month some of the TBG members choose a book that fits a specific prompt. Provided by Epic Reads, these prompts inspire new and unique book choices among readers. We encourage the community to join in this challenge with us and participate each month!

The prompt for June was… a book genre outside your comfort zone.

Most readers have a genre (or maybe a couple) to which they are loyal readers. Maybe your bookshelf is largely disproportional with a ton of books of a single genre (Romantasy, I’m looking at you). But this month the Teen Book Guild encourages you to step outside your comfort zone and try a different genre than you normally read, whether that’s romance, thriller, or even non-fiction!

This month I chose The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst, which is a YA thriller. I read a small amount of thrillers, but usually it’s not my favorite genre.

This exciting novel follows Claire, an anxious teenager who is spending the summer at a remote camp with people she’s never met before. But when she arrives at the camp, Claire and her new acquaintances discover that the entire facility has been burned. But that’s not all, something or someone in the woods has killed the camp director, and now is hunting the three girls.

This thriller really surprised me. It started off just like any other, with a scary problem for these teenagers to solve, but as the story went on, it took twists and turns that I’m not sure any reader could have predicted. The ending really surprised me, and I think if I was the author, I might’ve taken it a different direction, but all in all, I was happy I picked up this thriller.

I would certainly recommend this one to any readers who are looking to expand their genre horizons into the thriller/mystery category.

Someone Is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong

Reviewed by Phoebe N.
Grade 11

In Someone is Always Watching, by Kelley Armstrong; Blythe, Gabrielle, Tanya and Tucker have always been in a tight-knitted friend group, living an ordinary life. Things started getting disturbing and unpleasant when flashbacks and nightmares started to appear more frequently. It escalated rapidly when Gabrielle was found covered in blood next to their dead principal, unable to recall what happened. Crevices full of secrets and memories unravel between their friendships that eventually threatens their trust, relationship, and lives. “How can Blythe and her friends trust each other when they can’t even trust their own memories?”

The plot and storyline of this book are quite intriguing although in some scenes, it does get tacky and a bit corny, especially the characters’ thoughts. The prologue starts off with a memory of the first time Blythe met Tucker, introducing the good girl and bad guy trope and highlighting a sense of temptation even within those who are exceptionally fastidious and always abide by rules.

Chapter one begins with Blythe noticing something was off with Gabrielle; it wasn't until her big breakdowns around security cameras that eventually became alarming to everyone else. Repeatedly, Gabrielle would yell and scream at the school's security cameras while trying to dismantle them with inevitable aggression. “They’re always watching,” she would choke out. All the while, Blythe was receiving emails outside of the school’s server under the alias Veritas, Latin for truth, detailing a case linked to an eight-year-old boy committing a murder on his little sister’s tutor.

Slowly over the course of this book, many other characters within the friend group start reliving their memories and discovering the real truth about their school, and even themselves. Old and new relationships are formed, filled with action and romance.

The book includes perspectives from different characters involved, but mostly from Blythe’s point of view. From my experience, Blythe’s chapters and POVs were much more enjoyable compared to others because they seemed more rushed, whereas Blythe’s perspectives were more in depth.

TRIGGER WARNING: There are mentions of childhood traumas, child neglect, abuse, sexual harassment, murder and suicide. Please be aware if those topics trigger sensitivity or discomfort.

Some chapters end ominously, which could lead to confusion considering the switch in perspective and having two different events happening at once but at different locations. The pace of this book in the first 150 pages is quite a slow burn but the last 150 pages were eventful and full of surprises, picking up the pace.

Emotionally, this book was very descriptive, emphasizing the importance of friendship which sometimes overpowered family relations. I genuinely enjoyed it as a quick pick-me-up book for the summer. On the contrary, the last few chapters were a bit disappointing because plot twists and surprises were already revealed several chapters back. This leads to repetition of revealed secrets, making it less exciting and more of an annoyance.

Someone is Always Watching is an easy young adult fiction novel, with not much physical violence but more emotional distress. Kelley Armstrong did a good job regarding the prologue and being able to hook the readers but some of the corny and tacky writing could minimize to appeal more to an older audience. However, if you’re into mystery novels that are on the less violent spectrum, this novel may be for you. There is a hint of romance that lingers within most of the book but doesn’t get explored until towards the end. Those who enjoy One of Us Is Lying and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder should give this one a try.

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Reviewed by Grace H.
Grade 11

Six friends, but only five will survive. Five Survive was written by Holly Jackson, the bestselling author of the very popular trilogy, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. If you enjoyed that series, you will certainly enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed mystery.

This thrilling story follows high school senior Red Kenny, who is travelling in a borrowed RV to a notorious party town in New Orleans for spring break with five of her friends. The only problem is, Red and her friends never make it to New Orleans. Somewhere along the road, the RV is caught in an ambush, with all four tires shot out. The six teenagers are trapped in the confined space of the RV with a sniper outside. The sniper reveals through a planted walkie-talkie that he is after one thing and one thing only: a secret. Someone in the RV has a secret worth the highest price imaginable: a life. 

Red and her friends must discover which of them holds the secret that the sniper is after. Many escape plans are foiled as the characters realize that the sniper is more prepared than they originally believed. They start to question if there is a mole in their midst, someone who is secretly working with the sniper. Emotions run high in the tight setting of the RV, and the trapped victims become increasingly frantic as dawn approaches. After all, only five will survive until morning.

This novel was extremely fast-paced and easy to read. I tore through it in one sitting; the quick storyline kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was dying to know what happened next. The story is written in third person, but follows Red, and it took a few chapters to get used to the way that she narrates, as she is a forgetful and easily-distracted narrator. 

The characters were written well, especially Red and Oliver (the oldest and self-appointed leader of the friend group). The juxtaposition of the two of them was fascinating, with Oliver's over-confidence seeming very amplified in contrast with Red's timid and nonconfrontational manner. The author uses a lot of dialogue in the book, and this contributed to the fast-paced feel of the story, as well as making the reader feel connected to the characters and what they were thinking. The fear that all six of them felt was palpable, and was transferred to the reader, making the story truly riveting. The last few chapters of the book are action-packed but wrap up nicely in the end, with just enough mystery to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries and thrillers. The plot twists and intriguing dialogue will keep you on your toes throughout the story, and the ending will leave you reeling. The fast-paced writing style is also perfect for anyone who loves a quick read; you'll be tempted to finish it in one sitting! 

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

Reviewed by Nané K.
Grade 10

One day, an English teacher’s Islamophobic judgment sparks a fire that sends 14-year-old Jawad Ali down a road which ends in his kidnapping and murder. At the same time, high schooler Safiya Mirza, who is an aspiring journalist, faces racist and Islamophobic attacks that threaten the school newspaper she works on. 

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed is based on the true story of Bobby Franks’ murder in the 1920s. It takes a look into the horrific inner workings of racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia, using one liners about what is truth and what is fact to set the tone for a chilling page turner. Certain aspects of the true story Hollow Fires is based on are very similar to what happens in the book, but the events have been modernized and changed, adding a new level of insidiousness to a tough story. 

Hollow Fires is non-linear and told in a split perspective between Jawad (as a ghost) and Safiya. It jumps back and forth between Jawad’s reflections after his death, and Safiya investigating his murder. In the beginning, Safiya finds that her school newspaper column was hacked and replaced by alt-right sentiments, which puts the newspaper in jeopardy. As she deals with more discrimination at school, such as anonymous texts and threatening posters put around the school, an Amber Alert about Jawad’s disappearance goes out. As the story progresses, Safiya navigates the increasing threats against her, a budding romance with jock Richard, and uncovering the mystery behind Jawad’s kidnapping, and eventual murder.

The author’s writing is generally solid, with a strong character voice for main character Safiya. However, my immersion was constantly broken by the unrealistic dialogue and interaction between characters, which to me was a big contrast with the dark themes throughout the story. Additionally, I felt that the romance subplot was out of place for most of the book. When it was first introduced, it was a harsh difference from the previous chapters, which had been dark and depressing. It did end up being plot important in a shocking twist--which brings me to my next point. There is a big reveal of the murderer’s identity in the climax. However, by the time the twist comes around, I had already predicted who it would have been a hundred pages ago. It was not a surprising twist, but it was emotionally intense.

One thing this book does well, and what makes it such an engaging read, is the inclusion of different forms of media, from court reports, podcast transcripts, and interviews, to news articles. The journalism theme matched well with the “Fact/Truth/Lie“ one liner at the start of each chapter. The culture of the main character, being an Indian Muslim, made it interesting as well as educational for me, because I had not read a book with a Muslim main character before.

Overall, Hollow Fires is a gripping and compelling story, one in which I was so engrossed that I finished it in a single sitting. I got emotionally invested in the story, and felt sympathetic for Jawad’s unjust fate. I would recommend this book to readers because of its well done story, and to raise awareness about Islamophobia. 

All These Bodies by Kendare Blake

Reviewed by Anna M.
Grade 10

expected publication: September 2021

The premise of Kendare Blake’s All These Bodies was AMAZING. The mysterious atmosphere. The murders. The setting. The characters. Consequently, I cannot explain why it didn’t catch me. “Sometimes the truth is as hard to believe as it is to find.” Even the summary on the back of the book was enthralling. Regardless, All These Bodies was not the best book.

In 1958, seventeen-year-old Michael Jensen, a journalist wannabe, is growing up in Black Deer Falls, Minnesota. However, his life has taken a change for the worse. Everyone’s has. All throughout the Midwest, murders are taking place, and in every instance, the victims’ blood has been drained completely. In small-town Black Deer Falls, the murderer claimed the lives of Bob and Sarah Carlson and their son, Steven. The sheriff, Michael’s dad, found fifteen-year-old Marie Hale at the scene of the crime…covered in blood.  Michael wasn’t even friends with Steve, but he knew him, and the death hits him hard. And for some strange reason, Marie refuses to tell anyone what happened besides Michael. For Michael, this is a chance of a lifetime. A chance to hear what EVERY journalist in the country wants to know. Why? How? Nevertheless, this chance could bring more damage than opportunity. Is it worth it? Could such a young girl truly be guilty of such a big crime?

As you can see, the plot was incredible. I’m still trying to pinpoint why I didn’t enjoy it. It may have been the author’s writing technique. Then again, it could have been the deep and dramatic changes that unfolded throughout the novel. I appreciate a good murder mystery every now and then, but books start to lose me once they get into nasty, blood-drinking stuff.

Though most of all, it was that All These Bodies did not leave me feeling fulfilled. It left me a little sad and kind of defeated. I realize the author set the book up for a sequel; therefore, the ending of the novel was NOT the ending of the story. But even then, the book didn’t leave me craving more. I never say never, but I seriously doubt I’ll want to read the sequel.

In order for me to recommend this book, I would have to know who I was recommending it to. I know some people love depressing murder mysteries, while I know others who cry when they watch Bambi. It all depends on taste, and every individual is unique. This novel wasn’t my cup of tea; still, it could be yours. I appreciate books with an encouraging message and a happy ending. Therefore, this wasn’t for me. However, if you are into murder mysteries with a dash of horror, look no further. 

Also by Kendare Blake - Anna Dressed in Blood

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Reviewed by Kana C.
Grade 11

Audrey Rose is not your typical 1800s woman. She was born into a life of wealth and privilege. But other than attending tea parties and other typical events that ladies do, Audrey studies the gruesome art of forensic medicine.

When a string of brutally murdered corpses continue to show up in her uncle’s lab, Audrey gets drawn into the investigation. As she follows the clues, they bring her closer to her sheltered world. Audrey Rose is the girl who loved Jack the Ripper.

This book was amazing, with so many twists that I never saw coming. Kerri Maniscalco really brought the story to life with her amazing and very descriptive writing. Once I got into the story I couldn’t put the book down. Stalking Jack the Ripper is not for the faint hearted, Kerri Maniscalco goes deep into her explanations of the dead bodies and the forensic medicine process.

If you like a girl determined to be pretty, smart, and fierce and a witty, sarcastic, caring British boy involved in one gruesome mystery, mixed with a little bit (ok maybe a lot) of secrets, then Stalking Jack the Ripper is perfect for you. Maybe you can figure out who Jack the Ripper is before Audrey can. This is the story of the girl who loved the Ripper.

Monsters Among Us by Monica Rodden

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

In our everyday lives, we tend to not think of victims of any kind. Monica Rodden set out to change that with her book, Monsters Among Us. While the description promised a thriller, I found it to be only slightly harrowing, with a lot of time for thought and reflection, and very little action.

The story centers on Catherine Ellers, who has recently returned from her freshman semester in college after being assaulted. It begins with her at home in the wake of the attack, where she expects to cope and recuperate in peace. But peace is not in store for her. When a friend of hers is murdered, it shatters her, and she embarks on a quest to find the murderer. But because nothing in life is simple, there is a young man by the name of Andrew Worthington, whose connection to her goes far deeper than she expected. She now must venture into the part of her mind that blocked the memory of who he is-and she must find the killer.

The message of this book is hard to pin down because there are so many themes and subplots. There is an overall theme of Wuthering Heights, with a modern, sinister twist to it, and it deals heavily with violence against women. The characters are interesting, and there is great promise with the mystery of Andrew Worthington. Catherine is understandably incapable of trusting anyone, and works hard to put the past behind her. She relates to people well, and is a great friend. The secondary characters are also interesting, such as her childhood friend Henry, whom she enlists to help her. While they are interesting, though, they could stand to be fleshed out a bit more. The POV also switches according to what happened in the previous chapter, which can be a bit confusing because sometimes Rodden does not explain everything.

This book comes with such heavy themes that I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone. If you like activism for women’s rights and can handle strong language, then this book may be for you. A similar book I would recommend is Damsel by Elana K. Arnold. While I agree with the overall message of the book, there are so many underlying ones that it led to confusion. Because of these two reasons, I would give this book a 3/5 star rating.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Reviewed by Hope M.
Grade 11

Do you enjoy puzzles? Riddles? Codes? Twists? Secrets? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then The Inheritance Games will definitely be a novel you’ll want to try out! Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ newest creation includes all of the elements mentioned above, as well as romance, humor, danger, and an intricate plot that will keep you in suspense all the way until the end of the story (and even after).

Avery Grambs doesn’t realize how dramatically her life will change when she heads to the principal’s office of her high school. On an ordinary day, she is visited by a strange boy, Grayson Hawthorne, who informs her that her presence is mandatory for the reading of his grandfather’s will. Avery has no recollection of ever coming into contact with the deceased multibillionaire, so no one understands why he bequeaths her with essentially his entire fortune. However, there is a catch: She must live in his expansive mansion for a year, and she does not have the power to kick out the family who already inhabits Hawthorne House--the family who just disinherited almost all of Tobias Hawthorne’s wealth. When Avery realizes she was left with clues that will hopefully lead to answers, she embarks on a journey to solve the final puzzle her benefactor left behind.

Every character that Barnes introduced played a major role in the story, from the late Tobias Hawthorne to the homeless man Avery played chess with at the park. The setting was largely at Hawthorne House, but the hundreds of rooms and passageways created a place that will constantly make you wonder what will be discovered next. The plot was woven together so complexly; you’ll question how a specific detail fits in the story at all, but once it’s explained, it makes perfect sense! When reading the novel, I felt like I was a part of it, involved in the narrative and wanting to solve the mysteries with the same amount of determination as the characters. And I think those stories, the ones that make us feel like we’re in them, are truly the best ones.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves staying up late at night reading because you have to know what’s coming next. The author’s style will leave you guessing constantly, with all the twists and turns she adds to every chapter. Barnes put a lot of creativity into producing this masterpiece, and I think young adults will realize that as they read. It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about a novel, so you should definitely give it a try. I have a feeling it won’t disappoint!

Spoiler Alert Mini-Review: Damage Done by Amanda Panitch

Damage Done
Coming soon to WPPL

Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.

After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police.

Now that she’s Lucy Black, she's able to begin again. She's even getting used to the empty bedroom where her brother should be. And her fresh start has attracted the attention of one of the hottest guys in school, a boy who will do anything to protect her. But when someone much more dangerous also takes notice, Lucy's forced to confront the dark secrets she thought were safely left behind.

One thing is clear: The damage done can never be erased. It’s only just beginning. . . .



Spoiler Alert reviewer: Alexa
1=No. Just, no. 2=It's OK. 3=I liked it. 4=I really liked it. 5=It was EPIC!

The Book Itself
How well designed was the plot? 5!
How vivid was the setting? 4
How believable were the characters and the dialog? 5
How well did the book hold your interest? 4
How well did the author's language add to the book? 4
How well did the writing match the books intended audience? 5

Worldwide
Rank this book's mass appeal. 5
How readable was this book? 4
How pleasurable will reading this book be to most teens? 5! 5!

Personal
How highly would you recommend this book? 5! 5! 5! 5!
How likely are you to read something else by this author? 4
How memorable was this book? 5
How did you feel about the ending? 5
How creative was this book? 5! 5! 5! 5! 5! 5!

Marketing
How well does the cover match the story? 5
Rank the jacket blurb. 4
Rank the title. 4
How well does the title match the story? 4
Stopping point in the book? Finished

Tell us what you thought of the book overall:

In one word: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Tell us what you really did not like about this book: I love this book too much to hate anything about it!

Pick 5 words to describe this book: suspenseful, saddening, mysterious, drama, AWESOME!!

Spoiler Alert Mini Review: We'll Never Be Apart by Emiko Jean

We Will Never Be Apart
Coming October 2015

Synopsis:

Murder.

Fire.

Revenge.

That’s all seventeen-year-old Alice Monroe thinks about. Committed to a mental ward at Savage Isle, Alice is haunted by memories of the fire that killed her boyfriend, Jason. A blaze her twin sister Cellie set. But when Chase, a mysterious, charismatic patient, agrees to help her seek vengeance, Alice begins to rethink everything. Writing out the story of her troubled past in a journal, she must confront hidden truths.

Is the one person she trusts only telling her half the story?


Spoiler Alert reviewer: Madison

1=No. Just, no. 2=It's OK. 3=I liked it. 4=I really liked it. 5=It was EPIC!

The Book Itself
How well designed was the plot? 4
How vivid was the setting? 4
How believable were the characters and the dialog? 5
How well did the book hold your interest? 4
How well did the author's language add to the book? 3
How well did the writing match the books intended audience? 4

Worldwide
Rank this book's mass appeal. 4
How readable was this book? 5
How pleasurable will reading this book be to most teens? 4

Personal
How highly would you recommend this book? 4
How likely are you to read something else by this author? 3
How memorable was this book? 4
How did you feel about the ending? 4
How creative was this book? 4

Marketing
How well does the cover match the story? 3
Rank the jacket blurb. 3
Rank the title. 3
How well does the title match the story? 3
Stopping point in the book? Finished

Tell us what you thought of the book overall:

In one word: Unique

Tell us what you really did not like about this book: Lack of character description (it NEVER described the main character)

Pick 5 words to describe this book: unique, interesting, strange, different, mysterious