Novel Review for "Just Listen"

"Just Listen" is a book that almost every teenager can relate to. A teenage girl goes through everyday struggles of friendship, family, and boys. I really enjoyed reading this book. Sarah Dessen did a wonderful job understanding how present-day teens think. It made me realize that every person has their problems, even if things seem fine on the outside. Things you say can deeply affect others. I think that this book is excellent for teens who are still trying to figure out what kind of person they want to become. This book is an intriguing page-turner that made me think about the choices I will have to make in the future.

This book is also a story of young love. This aspect of the book made me think about judging others. One quote that will stick with me from this book is: "Don't think or judge; just listen". The two main characters, Annabel and Owen, are a very unexpected couple. Gossip spreads like wildfire throughout the school. Annabel and Owen become known as "Beauty and the Beast". The teenage couple learn so much about each other in a very short amount of time. If Annabel had judged Owen and walked away from his many offers of help in her times of need, they would have never been together. The author did a great job developing this love story, it wasn't cheesy and unconvincing; it was real.

I feel that the books ending went too quickly. I was slightly scatter-brained throughout the last few pages of the book. I expected Owen and Annabel to officially become a couple. I did enjoy this book; however, I feel that the ending was disappointing. This was the only part of the novel in which my expectations fell short. Annabel's life somewhat falls apart, then she picks up the pieces and puts them together. In some aspects of the book I feel Annabel's reaction was not realistic. Overall, the good outweighed the bad and I would still recommend this book to anyone.

I never thought I could learn so much for a book. I learned not to judge anybody. Everybody is guilty of stereotyping others. It has become human to look at others and judge them by appearances. This book was easy to relate to. It was a modern read about situations most people face everyday. I think that this book can be enjoyed by a wide range of people. This book inspired me too think differently. I learned to not think, not judge; just listen.

Thanks for reading!

Million-Dollar Throw

My novel "Million-Dollar Throw" immediately caught my attention bacause it was about sports. Although I don't read very often, I really liked this book. This novel is all about a boy named Nate who is the star quarterback of his football team in Valley, Massachuesetts. Although this may seem like every thirteen-year-olds dream, he is soon hit with the fact that his family is struggling financially and that his best friend, Abby, is going blind.

She decides to go to Perkins School for the Blind, but, before that, she manages to sign Nate up for a chance to throw a pass through a hoop from thirty yards away on Thanksgiving night, and he won! Now Nate, the biggest Tom Brady fan around, knows what this money can do for his family and thus the pressure is on.

As the story goes on, Abby's vision getting worse, Nate is progressively getting worse and worse at passing and eventually gets benched. His hope for making this "Million Dollar Throw" is dwindling on a thread. His mind isn't fully in each of his football games.

After Abby got back from Perkins, he begans to come out of his depression and becomes confident in himself again. Thanksgiving Night rolls around and the limo cames to pick up his family to go to the stadium. When he gets on to the field Tom Brady was there and Nate got to meet his idol. With his heart beating a mile a minute, he throws the ball and makes right through the hole!

Before he lets the money go to his head, he decides to do something fantastic with it. He tells his mom that he is going to pay for Abby's surgery, no matter what the cost.

This book met and exceeded my expectations and I loved this book, and I'm sure you would too.