about the tween book blog

This is the place to be for reviews of Tween and YA books! And, best of all, it is written by a 13-year-old who knows the perspective of tweens and teens!

Monday 28 March 2016

Rebel Bully Geek Pariah

Rebel Bully Geek Pariah by Erin Lange

Their on the run. A bunch of kids who you would never expect to be friends. But they've done some bad things and are wanted by the police. Well, that's one way to make friends.

Rebel Bully Geek Pariah really proves the point that you need to be a good few chapters in before you can say you've tried the book. In fact, it took me the first 13 before I finally decided I liked it. And when it got better, it got a lot better. If you give it a try, don't put it down if you don't like it straight away.

I am going to give it a 9/10
and an age rating of 12+ due to bad language and other in appropriate things.

(sorry there's no picture, it's not letting me add one for some strange reason. The mysteries of the internet...)

Saturday 26 March 2016

Horrible Histories

Guest Post : Sam Jakobi

Horrible Histories by Terry Deary. Illustrated by Martin Brown.

Horrible Histories is about the gruesome bits of history. Subjects include: Awful Egyptians, Terrible Tudors, Slimy Stuarts, Rotten Romans and Blitzed Britain.

I think they are very good because they tell you lots of things about history. There very cool because they have lots of quizzes in the the middle, to test your knowledge. I also like the jokes. My favourite book in the series is Terrible Tudors because it's a really fat book so I never get bored.

I am going to give them a 9/10
and an age rating of 6+

Tom Gates, The Series

Tom Gates by L Pichon

The Tom Gates Series is about a boy in yr 5 called Tom Gates (there's a surprise). He really likes doodling and never hands in his homework on time. That is pretty much the story of his life.

The Tom Gates Series is a really great group books. It is really funny. Pichon is a genius when it comes to things like this. Her doodles are just brilliant.

I am going to give it an 8/10
and an age rating of 7+

Sunday 20 March 2016

War Horse

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

Some of you might have read the theatre review and know the story. But if not, enjoy...

When Albert's dad brings Joey, a young foal, home from market. But then WW1 breaks out and Joey is sold to the army. Will Joey survive the horrors of the war, and if so, will Albert and Joey ever see each other again?

Let me start by saying that the book is loads different from the play, (and the film, I assume. I've never watched it. All though I have got it. Somewhere...). My cousin was reading it, so I decided to pick it up. And boy, was it good. The plot is great and I love the way you see the entire thing through Joey's eyes, the first good book that I have read told through the eyes of an animal.

I'm going to give it a respectable 9/10
And an age rating of 8+


Blood Oath

Blood Oath ( Gladiator School 1) by Dan Scott

Lucius' dad has been proclaimed a traitor and Lucius and his family have lost everything. Luckily, their uncle has decided to put them up and give Quintus, Lucius'brother,  a job as a gladiator.  But Lucius doesn't trust Ravilla,  the uncle.  With the help of Egyptian slave girl Isidora,  he tries to prove that his father is innocent and his uncle is up to no good.

I really liked this,  although it is one for slightly younger people. The plot was pretty well thought up,  the characters were awesome and there was a bit of educational value in there as well.  My only criticism is that at some points the quality of the actual writing get could be pretty average.

I an goong to give it a 8/10
And an age rating of 9+




Sorry if this post has a few grammatical errors,  I wrote it on a phone. ☺




Wednesday 16 March 2016

The Accidental Superstar

The Accidental Superstar by Marianne Levy

When a video of Katie Cox singing in her bedroom goes viral, Katie cannot believe her luck. When she get's approached Top Music, a record label, she is ecstatic. But with her mum finding a boyfriend, her dad overseas and all her friends slowly growing further away from her, will she be able to stay a superstar?

Accidental Superstar was a bit of a letdown. The plot was meh, it was not particularly well written and the characters were unexceptional. None of it really stood out to me. Having said that, there were a few good moments, such as the end (don't worry, no spoilers).

I think I am going to give it a 6/10
and an age rating of 9+

Sunday 13 March 2016

Mind Your Head

Mind Your Head by Juno Dawson

Mind Your Head is a book about mental health.
(probably the briefest description I have written but that is really all there is to it!)

I picked up this book because I thought it was going to tell me more about mental health. I was interested in the subject and wanted to know more. When it turned out to be more of a support book and not something for people just interested in mental health, I felt a bit let down. The first chapter wasn't too promising, going on about 'Sexy Diseases'*, and after a few more chapters like this, I returned it to the library.

*actually the chapter heading of the first chapter.

I am going to give it a 5/10
and an age rating of 11+

Thursday 10 March 2016

The Restaurant at the end of the Universe

The Restaurant at the end of the Universe by Douglas Adams

After being almost killed by Vogons, speaking to his dead great grandfather, being teleported to the HQ of 'the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galxy' with nothing but a depressed robot for company, being almost killed (again) this time by frogstar pilots, surviving the Total Perspective Vortex and being told he is the most important thing in the universe, there is just one more thing Zaphord Beeblbrox needs. Lunch.

Such a funny book. It is not like other comical books because the comedy in this one is written believably, even if it is the least believable story ever! Having said that, it's not particularly well written.

I am going to give it a 9/10
and an age rating of 11+

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Paper Towns

Paper Towns by John Green

Q has always known Margo as a bit of a stranger, even though they live next door to each other and he has a crush on her. But then Margo takes Q on a night-time mission of revenge. Q thinks that maybe Margo will actually speak to him once he gets back to school. But Margo isn't there. Q starts looking for Margo. He keeps going when everyone else has stopped. But will he find her? And, if he does, will she want to come back?

Another amazing book from John Green. It is from Q's point of view, which adds to the story. You only see Margo as Q wants you to see Margo. There were some funny moments added in there, which always goes down well in my books.

I am going to give it a 9/10
and an age rating of 12+


Sunday 6 March 2016

What should my next poll be?


Please Comment : - )

Dead Ends

Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange

Dane is the school bully. He goes round beating people up " because they deserve it." But he has a few rules. No hitting girls or kid's with learning difficulty's. So when he catches Billy D staring at him, he doesn't beat him up. Soon they become friends, sort of. They go on the search  of Billy D's dad. but not all is as it seems.

I thought that this was a really good book. The plot was brilliant and I really liked the characters.

I am going to give this book an 8/10
and an age rating of 11+