Book Reviews
Thoughtful takes on YA, middle grade, mystery, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction.
Teen book journal and writing portfolio
Book reviews and writing by Lana Zuo.
A polished home for YA reviews, original writing, and the stories that stay interesting after the last page.
Writing
Original scenes, poems, character studies, and ideas in progress.
Featured Review
Sunrise on the Reaping: a devastating return to the arena
Suzanne Collins brings readers back to the fiftieth Hunger Games, showing Haymitch Abernathy before he became the bitter mentor readers know. Lana's review focuses on grief, survival, friendship, and the emotional cost of being turned into entertainment.
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Book Reviews
Recent Notes
Fantasy / Romance
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Perfect for readers who enjoy: dystopian fantasy, political intrigue, hidden powers, romance, and stories about rebellion against unjust systems. Red […]
Dystopian
Sunrise on the Reaping: A Devastating Return to the Arena
“He is not a cold mentor. He is a survivor still trying to protect the broken parts of himself.”
Mystery
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
New York Times Bestseller, One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus is a young adult mystery novel. Four […]
Romance
Midnight Sun: A New Perspective on an Iconic Saga
Midnight Sun by award-winning author Stephenie Meyer is an additional novel in the Twilight saga, an all-time favorite. Twilight told […]
Realistic Fiction
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou: Identity, Friendship, and Finding Your Place
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou, written by Jack Cheng, follows a young Shanghainese-American boy named Andy. When his grandparents […]
Mystery
Strange Houses by Uketsu
Strange Houses by Uketsu is a non-fiction horror phenomenon translated from Japanese. The story begins when a friend approaches the […]
Historical Fiction
Beneath the Wide Silk Sky by Emily Inouye Huey
Beneath the Wide Silk Sky by Emily Inouye Huey is a young adult historical fiction novel set during World War […]
Historical Fiction
Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz
Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz is a historical romance that reimagines the courtship between Alexander Hamilton and […]
Dystopian / Romance
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Shatter Me is the kind of book that grabs you from the first sentence and doesn’t let go. Written by […]
Dystopian / Romance
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder is a captivating science fiction novel with clever references to classic fairy tales. The protagonist, Cinder, a cyborg mechanic, […]
Mystery / Realistic Fiction
What Happens Next: Claire Swinarski
What Happens Next by Claire Swinarski is a beautifully crafted work of art. The story centers around 12-year-old stargazer Abby […]
Fantasy / Romance
The Elementae by A C Gaugher
The Elementae, a fantasy series by A. C. Gaugher, is a remarkable collection of books. The two stories, though divergent, […]
Realistic Fiction
The Kate In Between by Claire Swinarski
The Kate In Between is an inspirational realistic-fiction piece by Claire Swinarski. This beautiful story follows 12-year-old Kate McAllister as […]
Realistic Fiction
Finally Heard by Kelly Yang
Finally Heard, a novel by Kelly Yang, seamlessly blends the personal and digital spheres in a compelling work of realistic […]
Realistic Fiction
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll is a heart-wrenching novel centered around autistic 11-year-old Addie. In the novel, Addie […]
Mystery
Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus
Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus is a captivating mystery novel that masterfully intertwines teenage dynamics with a […]
Realistic Fiction
Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome by Patricia Park navigates the complexities of identity and belonging. This compelling piece of realistic fiction masterfully tackles […]
Realistic Fiction
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Rules by Cynthia Lord is an insightful novel. The book is told from the perspective of twelve-year-old Catherine. Catherine has […]
Realistic Fiction
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang is a heartwarming book. The book follows a 10-year-old Chinese girl named Lina Gao who […]
Dystopian
Divergent Series
Divergent by Veronica Roth is a captivating series. The series is set in a dystopian world that is split into […]
Dystopian
The Giver
Lois Lowry wrote The Giver, which is a heart-wrenching story. It takes you on a journey to a land of […]
Realistic Fiction
Vanderbeekers Series
The Vanderbeekers was a great series. This series is about a big family with five kids and three pets, Jesse, […]
Fantasy
Christmas Pig
Christmas Pig was a fantasy book by JK Rowling. This book is about a young boy named Jack. Jack has […]
Fantasy
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Keeper of the Lost Cities was a fascinating series by Shannon Messenger. There are currently nine books in this series […]
Fantasy
Ever After High
Ever After High was an incredible trilogy by Shannon Hale. The stories occur in a boarding school called Ever After High. […]
Fantasy
Ickabog
Ickabog is a fantastic book by JK Rowling. There are many twists and turns as the book follows a misunderstood […]
Realistic Fiction
Walk Two Moons
***This review contains spoilers. *** Reviewed by Eddie and Lana The book, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech was a […]
Realistic Fiction
When You Reach Me
Reviewed by Lana and Eddie We actually give this book 4.5 stars. When You Reach Me was a great book […]
Fiction
The One and the Only Bob
Reviewed by Eddie and Lana The One and Only Bob was a great book by Katherine Applegate! The author explained […]
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Writing
Stories in progress
A quieter space for original writing: scenes, short fiction, poems, and character sketches. The design leaves room for pieces to feel polished without making every draft feel too final.
About Lana
Reader, writer, and careful observer of endings.
Hi, I'm Lana. I started this site when I was younger, and now I'm shaping it into a place that feels more like me: curious, opinionated, creative, and always in the middle of another book.
I like stories with complicated characters, surprising choices, and emotional consequences. When I'm not reviewing books, I'm usually writing or collecting ideas for something new.