Koncocoo

Best Teen & Young Adult Religion & Spirituality

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: Stories of Life, Love and Learning (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
This book is filled with stories that will make you laugh and make you cry. Jack Canfield is co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, which includes forty New York Times bestsellers, and coauthor of The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be .
Reviews
"This book inspires teenagers to believe in themselves without being sappy or judgmental."
"I gave this book to my grandsons and only read bits and pieces before giving it to them."
"love it great book for teens."
"This book was in good condition, the content is for teens but i enjoy reading them before giving them to my granddaughters."
"They use to read this book in elementry and i want read it my self."
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One God, One Plan, One Life: A 365 Devotional
One God, One Plan, One Life helps teens to cut through life’s distractions and rely on the one thing that is truly important—a relationship with God. With more than 130 million products in print, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author.
Reviews
"Max takes us to I Corinthians 13 on an amazing journey."
"Its a small prayer book."
"This is a good buy filled with many good biblically based prayers."
"This, as usual with anything from Max Lucado, was an outstanding book."
"Can't wait for Easter Baskets to be found with this headlining!"
"This book gives biblical and practical views of living as a Christian."
"Use these scriptures and prayers each evening before retiring."
"Love these prayers and sent a copt y to my nephew who is deployed near Afghanistan!!"
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The Manual to Manhood: How to Cook the Perfect Steak, Change a Tire, Impress a Girl & 97 Other Skills You Need to Survive
For all the guys out there who want to have it all together, Jonathan Catherman offers this collection of one hundred step-by-step instructions on almost everything a guy needs to know, including how to; wear cologne correctly · grill a steak · tie a tie · manage money · talk to a girl · plan a date · write a résumé · ask for a reference · clean a bathroom · throw darts · change a tire · behave during a traffic stop · fold a shirt · clear a sink drain · find a stud in a wall. With The Manual to Manhood , you'll be well on your way to becoming one of the best. As both a parent and a professional, Jonathan is committed to assisting young men in the making to experience success and significance as they mature into manhood and lifelong leadership.
Reviews
"Our 13 year old boy doesn't read often, but I'm praying that maybe one day he will pick it up and learn a few things."
"This was a gift for a teenaged boy."
"I like it , Not sure if my 16 yr old grandson does."
"Awesome advice for teens."
"All young men should have this book."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Buddhism Books

Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens
Many of today's teenagers are tired of the pressure to compete and consume-and are looking for a different way to live their lives. Written in a style that will have immediate appeal to young "seekers" and those wanting to understand the ancient teachings, this book addresses such relevant topics as peer pressure, emotional difficulties, stress, fostering peace, and even protecting the environment. Introducing concepts such as meditation, enlightenment, metta (lovingkindness), karma, the four noble truths and the eight worldly conditions, Winston writes accessibly but doesn't try overly hard to sound cool or relevant.
Reviews
"He loves this book and has read it 3 times."
"I have used various chapters from this book in teaching a Zen Buddhist youth group composed of younger teens."
"My 13 year old son absolutely loves this book."
"Best book of its kind that I have found."
"My fourteen years old child really enjoy this book."
"It's not about a religion, it's a frame of mind."
"Excellent intro to Buddhism for teens and pre-teens."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Eastern Religions

Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens
Many of today's teenagers are tired of the pressure to compete and consume-and are looking for a different way to live their lives. Written in a style that will have immediate appeal to young "seekers" and those wanting to understand the ancient teachings, this book addresses such relevant topics as peer pressure, emotional difficulties, stress, fostering peace, and even protecting the environment. Introducing concepts such as meditation, enlightenment, metta (lovingkindness), karma, the four noble truths and the eight worldly conditions, Winston writes accessibly but doesn't try overly hard to sound cool or relevant.
Reviews
"He loves this book and has read it 3 times."
"I have used various chapters from this book in teaching a Zen Buddhist youth group composed of younger teens."
"My 13 year old son absolutely loves this book."
"Best book of its kind that I have found."
"My fourteen years old child really enjoy this book."
"It's not about a religion, it's a frame of mind."
"Excellent intro to Buddhism for teens and pre-teens."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Hinduism Books

Fire in the Heart: A Spiritual Guide for Teens
Whoever he is, the old man has appeared on that very day to change the boy's life. The old man gives the boy four days of "soul training," a time of riddles, tricks, parables, and incredible twists that brings out surprising answers to each of four burning questions about spirituality: "The old man with the white beard showed me the spiritual side of life," writes Deepak Chopra, "where real passion and excitement come from. The teen and Baba spend a day discussing each question; these four sections are divided into smaller lessons or chapters that end with the young man describing what he learned and how he has applied Baba's wisdom to his life. The prominent themes are consistent with those common to the genre: finding order in chaos, looking for the missing "something" in life, meaningful communication, and understanding and belief in what one cannot see.
Reviews
"Dr. Chopra knows the truth."
"I bought this book for my 14 year old sister. She read a sample of it on my ibooks and loved it."
"great book for any one that wants to look at a new perspective."
"A gift - will have to wait."
"A book for every teen and father."
"Dov was the young man who was actively listening although he was nonverbal during his early years and Tito Mukhopadhyay was the gifted poet/author who has severe autism. Communication is an inherent part of all individuals; it is listening to people on the spectrum that hopefully will create a more tolerant world and put false claims about autism permanently to rest."
"My fiancé is very picky when it comes to spiritual books like this, but when he read one random page from this book, he got hooked and I was very happy to see him want more and more of this book."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Islam Books

No god but God: The Origins and Evolution of Islam
Adapted for young readers from No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam , this exploration of Islam by Reza Aslan, internationally acclaimed scholar of comparative religion, delves into the rituals and traditions of a religion that is largely misunderstood by the West. Because all religions are bound to the social, spiritual, and cultural landscapes from which they arose and in which they developed, prophets must be understood as reformers who redefine and reinterpret the existing beliefs and practices of their communities. On the contrary, by Muhammad's own admission, his message was an attempt to reform the existing religious beliefs and cultural practices of pre-Islamic Arabia so as to bring the God of the Jews and Christians to the Arab peoples. As unique and divinely inspired as the Islamic movement may have been, its origins are undoubtedly linked to the multiethnic, multireligious society that fed the Prophet's imagination as a young man and allowed him to craft his revolutionary message in a language that would have been easily recognizable to the pagan Arabs he was so desperately trying to reach. In the arid, desolate basin of Mecca, surrounded on all sides by the bare mountains of the Arabian desert, stands a small, nondescript sanctuary that the ancient Arabs refer to as the Ka'ba: the Cube. Then, in a remarkable ritual--the origins of which are a mystery--the pilgrims gather as a group and rotate around the Ka'ba seven times, some pausing to kiss each corner of the sanctuary before being captured and swept away again by the current of bodies. The Ka'ba, like the Pyramids in Egypt or the Temple in Jerusalem, may have been constructed as an axis mundi: a sacred space around which the universe revolves, the link between the earth and the solid dome of heaven. The only thing scholars can say with any certainty is that by the sixth century c.e., this small sanctuary made of mud and stone had become the center of religious life in pre-Islamic Arabia: the time known as Jahiliyyah. Traditionally, the Jahiliyyah has been defined by Muslims as an era of moral depravity and religious discord: a time when the sons of Ismail had obscured belief in the one true God and plunged the Arabian Peninsula into the darkness of idolatry.
Reviews
"Please note that this book, published under Random House's "Ember" imprint, is an abridged version of author Reza Aslan's original book, edited for teen readers."
"I bought it because of Asian's book on Jesus (Zealot: the Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth)."
"Perhaps the processes are "over simplified" but Aslan makes the Islam's internecine warfare somewhat more comprehensible."
"It is an excellent start to one's understanding of a faith with deep roots to Judaism and Christianity."
"As a graduate of programs in Middle East studies, I found this to be a well written and interesting, if opinionated, account of the origins and development of Islam."
"An easy to read book which will give you a deeper understanding of Islam and prophet Mohammad."
"Everyone should read this book to understand Islam and it's peaceful intentions, as "people of the book", embracing the Bible, Jews, Jesus and God, and living into God's love for all including women."
"Not as good as Zealot (which I loved) but the first half was very interesting to me on a religious scholarly basis."
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Best Judaism for Teens & Young Adults

Four Perfect Pebbles:: A Holocaust Story
For the next six and a half years the Blumenthals were forced to live in refugee, transit, and prison camps, including Westerbork in Holland and Bergen-Belsen in Germany, before finally making it to the United States. Four Perfect Pebbles features forty archival photographs, including several new to this edition, an epilogue, a bibliography, a map, a reading group guide, an index, and a new afterword by the author. The information is solid and well presented, however, and through its personal-narrative format the book should reach readers who might not be willing to read such titles as Milton Meltzer's Never to Forget (HarperCollins, 1976). ?Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Reviews
"A short story and an easy read."
"Amazing book."
"Very inspiring!"
"Book had great content but seemed to lack the depth that I tend to expect."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Philosophy

This Book Loves You
The Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller From the mind of PewDiePie, the #1 YouTuber in the world with 40 million fans and more than 10 billion views, comes This Book Loves You , a collection of beautifully illustrated inspirational thoughts and sayings. PewDiePie is the most popular YouTuber in the world, with more than 40 million subscribers and a world record breaking 10 billion views.
Reviews
"Alright, this book has a lot of high and low points but I'm going to tell you now: This book is MEANT to make fun of those "inspirational quotes", not to actually BE them. And to parents that want to get this book for your kid, ask yourself this: Are they in High School? I've been suffering with depression for a long time, and I've read this book during my low points to pick me back up (if you can believe that, then keep reading)."
"And I agree with people who think this humor can only be understood by Bros and future Bros (?."
"I really love this book and I have been poods fan for 5 or 4 years and since I knew him on YouTube I was really happy during that day I saw him but one day my friend was feeling bad real bad , I gave her that book so she could feel better during the next day she knew about you and felt really happy with my book she wanted to give back but I told her keep it and ever since that day it made her day and im sitting here for poods replys to one of my comments on one of videos (still waiting here poods ) BROFIST :D cx."
"This book describes Pewdiepie perfectly: Funny, deep in a weird way and FABULOUS."
"Super happy with this book!"
"this book is really funny."
"Great gift for a Pewdiepie fan who also enjoys collecting books."
"Real nice book giving a lot of entertainment to children and adults."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Romance

Divergent Series Four-Book Paperback Box Set: Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Four
This four-book set includes paperbacks of the three books in the #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy, plus the companion volume told from the perspective of the immensely popular character Tobias, all wrapped up in a dazzling keepsake box. Veronica Roth's debut is a gripping dystopian tale of electrifying choices, powerful consequences, unexpected romance, and a deeply flawed "perfect society." The four pieces included—"The Transfer," "The Initiate," "The Son," and "The Traitor"—plus three additional scenes, give readers a fascinating glimpse into the history and heart of Tobias, and set the stage for the epic saga of the Divergent trilogy. Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Four: A Divergent Collection, and Carve the Mark .
Reviews
"This set includes the trilogy, along with the extra book titled, "Four". They couldn't stop talking about it, so I bought this series for them, and I even read it myself."
"The idea of having to wait to read the entire series because it isn't out yet is rather annoying, so I'd just rather wait then get obsessive over it. I finished this in a sitting... mainly because I just broke night and read through it until the end. I have been spoiled for some parts of the movie and some parts of the books thanks to Tumblr and Instagram, but still an amazing read... something I was not expecting."
"Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books. When dystopia is done right there is nothing like it in the world. All of the contemporary, paranormal, historical, even epic fantasies will never measure up to how I feel when I get lost in these worlds. I'm always afraid, almost doubly so when it comes to books that are surrounded by a lot of hype, what if this is one that disappoints me? The dystopian Chicago world that Veronica Roth has created is definitely unique, unlike any others I've read so far. It was interesting to learn a bit about the 5 different factions, a few more so than the others at this point, and also see how they interacted in a mixed setting like the high school in the beginning of the book. I'm not one for lying and dishonesty but sometimes letting someone off easy instead of brutal honesty just feels better. All the kissing of the boys and the swoons and the fluttering of the heart are all awesome, but when I read dystopia I want creative worlds and conflicts and action and uprisings, rebellions. I want everything to fall apart and I want to be stressing out wondering how in the hell these people are going to come back from everything that's happened. I am irrevocably in love with this series so far and you can bet once I type the last word in this review I'm picking up Insurgent, which is sitting right next to me, and you better not even think about disturbing me!"
"Romantic relationship of lead characters: I enjoyed the fact that although these characters are obviously attracted to each other, they do not fall into the puppy love/lust relationships all too often seen in books marketed to a younger crowd."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Education & Reference

The Way Things Work Now
Famously packed with information on the inner workings of everything from windmills to Wi-Fi, this extraordinary and humorous book both guides readers through the fundamental principles of machines, and shows how the developments of the past are building the world of tomorrow. It is a very handsome book, a fascinating collection of riddles and a sound educational accomplishment that, while explaining in words and pictures - mostly pictures - some of the mysteries of physics, makes you smile, and often laugh. The author is honest enough to say that the book was intended for children of all ages, and brilliant enough to make all its readers feel brighter than they ever thought they could be.”— The New York Times “ The Way Things Work is not the only book that has tried to explain modern mysteries, but it's the best. “Keep the book a secret from your kids for a while and study up on the explanations of questions you're anticipating.
Reviews
"I'm unusually attached to this book: I laid my hands on the earlier edition as a very young child, and it probably shaped my interests more than anything else - ultimately setting me on a very interesting and rewarding life path."
"This book was tailor made for our young grandson who is very smart!"
"My 10 Year old friend, Loves the book, so I would say the book is an excellent one."
"I'll admit, we've been carefully enjoying it (ourselves) before we gift wrap it - hahaha!!"
"I love that it gives stories with the information."
"Great book."
"My husband LOVED this book as a child."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction & Fantasy

Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)
And most recently, The New York Times called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the “fastest selling book in history.” This is the ultimate Harry Potter collection for Harry Potter fans of all ages! Newbery Medal winner Nancy Willard has written numerous beloved books for children and adults, including poetry, picture books, and novels.
Reviews
"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Personal Health

Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat
Cooking for teens, like finding the perfect gift for teen boys and girls, is almost impossible. MEGAN CARLE and JILL CARLE are both graduate students at Arizona State University.
Reviews
"Christmas gift for granddaughter, age 11."
"Easy to follow directions and healthy recipes."
"Bought a few of these for my kids in college."
"Item is exactly as described."
"I bought this for my little sister who is 13 to learn to start cooking meals other then sandwhiches and ramen."
"Great pictures and good recipes."
"good cookbook, but arrived wit a waterstains and was dirty."
"Not very healthy, recipes unimaginative and really quite bland."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Biographies

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
A charmingly illustrated and educational book, New York Times best seller Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. A New York Times Best Seller. Best Science Books of 2016, Science Friday Greatest Science Books of 2016, BrainPickings.org. The book has good coverage of the 1800s and early 1900s — a critical time when women’s expanding participation in science was changing the very structure of how knowledge is pursued. Interspersed with gems like a colorful timeline of women’s achievements, and a cartoon celebrating a wonderful hoard of lab supplies, Ignotofsky’s profiles of diverse female scientists is a great addition to the shelf of any student, of any age." "In this wittily illustrated, accessible volume, Rachel Ignotofsky highlights 50 women who changed the course of science." "With the help of eye-catching artwork, Ignotofsky celebrates not just astronauts, but also the engineers, biologists, mathematicians, and physicists who’ve blazed a trail for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields from the ancient to modern world. The book elevates this information with beautiful and instructive infographics that delve into topics like the number of women currently working in STEM fields." “If there were constellations celebrating the incredible accomplishments of women in science, Rachel Ignotofsky's illustrations would serve as the blueprints. Women in Science captures the joy of so many essential discoveries while also celebrating the extraordinary lives of the women who've achieved them.” – Rachel Swaby, author of Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science—and the World “I wish I had a daughter so I could give her a copy of Rachel Ignotofsky's lovingly illustrated Women in Science . Ignotofsky provides young women with the courage and confidence to follow the exciting paths these pioneers have blazed before them.” – Eileen Pollack, author of The Only Woman in the Room: Why Science Is Still a Boys' Club. “ Women in Science is a comprehensive and stunningly illustrated tribute to brilliant female minds. The book offers the next generation of young women a diverse set of relatable and enormously inspiring role models.” – Lisa Congdon, illustrator and author. “In Rachel Ignotofsky’s edifying and inspiring book we meet some of history’s most remarkable women. That’s what the reader is doing in this book: stargazing.” – Lauren Redniss, author of Radioactive and Thunder & Lightning “Paired with her delightfully whimsical drawings, the concise and accessible profiles of women scientists in Rachel Ignotofsky’s book reveal the setbacks faced by women in male-dominated scientific careers and show how these women cared deeply about making the world—and the world of science—a more equal place. With its enthusiastic tone and its colorful layout, this inviting introduction to women in science urges its readers to take advantage of their education and to participate in scientific discoveries of their own.” – Rory Dicker, author of A History of U.S. Feminisms.
Reviews
"Which is fine since we've just read a few pages and it opened up opportunities to discuss all sorts of things, about science and society, and piqued our interest to look up additional pictures and facts on the Internet."
"I read a different segment to my 4 year old daughter every night and follow up with a photo of the person we just discussed on my phone along with the wiki article."
"Some others in our collection include: -“Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win”. -“Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls”. -“Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2”. -“Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G."
"I thought it would be a good idea to let her know women have played some important roles in our history."
"I ordered two for the young women in my family who are budding scientists."
"However, the tiny font and color contrasts are REALLY hard for mothers of Advanced Maternal Age."
"This makes a really cool looking coffee table book."
"Your Daughters will be inspired by the knowledge and background of women Scientists."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Sports & Outdoors

Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance
Simone Biles’ entrance into the world of gymnastics may have started on a daycare field trip in her hometown of Spring, Texas, but her God-given talent, passion, and perseverance have made her one of the top gymnasts in the world, as well as a four-time winner of Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro. Nineteen-year-old Biles, Olympic gold medalist and the most decorated U.S. gymnast of all time, takes readers along her journey to the podium in this memoir. She began her gymnastics training at the age of six after a field trip to Bannon’s Gymnastix, where the coaches quickly discovered that she “had what it took to go all the way.” Biles describes not only her gymnastics training and career but also her personal life, including her grandmother’s death, the difficult decisions she made in order to balance school and gymnastics, her “bratty period” in her early teens, and her love for her car, with its zebra-print interior. This inspiring and humorous memoir details how Simone, with the help and support of her family, coaches, faith, and friends, succeeded in winning five Olympic medals in 2016, four gold and a bronze.
Reviews
"My granddaughter loves it!"
"I liked so much this book because I'm a gymnast too so mostly I had already seen Simone in the TV or in the GK magazines I loved reading this and God bless you!"
"This is the best book I've ever read."
"This was a wonderful and inspiring story."
"She is a great writer and a great athlete."
"Well written."
"Great for my 12 yeat old who competes."
"Put your mind to and her dream will come true your dream already came true but I believe in her she amazing and I love her for her personal I love your smile."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Literature & Fiction

Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)
And most recently, The New York Times called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the “fastest selling book in history.” This is the ultimate Harry Potter collection for Harry Potter fans of all ages! Newbery Medal winner Nancy Willard has written numerous beloved books for children and adults, including poetry, picture books, and novels.
Reviews
"SPECIAL NOTE: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases (with the exception of changing all "Philosopher's Stone" mentions to "Sorcerer's Stone"). Good or bad is naturally for each reader to decide--just know, if you plan to read the books while listening to Jim Dale's audiobooks, you'll notice a few superficial differences. The quality of this new illustrated edition is phenomenal. All chapter intros are illustrated."
"IMPORTANT: For U.S. customers purchasing the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will notice the text has NOT been converted to the "Americanized" version of the original U.S. releases. This difference isn't as prominent or noticeable as it was with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, but still something to keep in mind. Also, to answer a question that has come up quite a bit, this is the FULL BOOK and not an abridged or shortened version. Underneath the book jacket, the novel is bound in a sturdy orange hardback with green lettering on the spine."
"I was ravenous to get my hands on my copy as soon as it was delivered this morning, but was quickly disappointed. But when I took a close look at my dust jacket, I was extremely upset to find that the gold foil lettering for "Harry Potter" had been rubbed away and destroyed completely in some places leaving ugly, black matte in its place-- pock marking the otherwise handsome gold lettering. Needless to say I'm in awe how Bloomsbury has managed to put together such an incredible project, with JK Rowling's remarkable literature and Jim Kay's otherworldly illustrations-- and allowed it to be put together in a low quality binding! Not all alone in a box... Update (October 9th): I have finally received my new book and it was in much, much better condition. The cover and spine were tight, intact and falling apart from the binding like my original copy."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Teen & Young Adult Historical Fiction

The Book Thief
The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that is now a major motion picture, Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul. “Brilliant and hugely ambitious…Some will argue that a book so difficult and sad may not be appropriate for teenage readers…Adults will probably like it (this one did), but it’s a great young-adult novel…It’s the kind of book that can be life-changing, because without ever denying the essential amorality and randomness of the natural order, The Book Thief offers us a believable hard-won hope…The hope we see in Liesel is unassailable, the kind you can hang on to in the midst of poverty and war and violence. Young readers need such alternatives to ideological rigidity, and such explorations of how stories matter. And so, come to think of it, do adults.”. - New York Times, May 14, 2006.
Reviews
"The Book Thief by Markus Zusak follows the life of a girl named Liesel Meminger in Germany during World War II. The majority of the story encompasses Liesel’s journey in Molching with her foster parents, the Hubermanns, where she learns to read, builds connections, steals books (as implied by the title), and lives through the struggles of war. Liesel’s best friend was “permanently hungry.” Liesel and her foster parents also hide a Jewish man named Max in their basement for a share of the story. Zusak brings a more human lense to the people in Germany, and demonstrates that they struggled in the war."
"It was offered on sale so I bought it because I knew I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. I read books on two computers (one is a windows machine and the other is a chrome box), my Kindle paperwhite, and, occasionally, on my Android phone. And really, when I'm reading a book, I don't want to stop and look at videos of the related movie."
"It's written from the perspective of Death about a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany."
"As a World War II story of desperation and the understanding of the atrocities surrounding the characters I felt heavy and then uplifted by the tiniest glimmers of hope."
"This is a very good book, made more relevant to me as I had just visited Dachu, the German prison camp for political prisoners near Munich, this past fall. It is good to see the story through the eyes of a child who loses her father, mother and brother, then is adopted by a German couple living in Munich."
"This story absolutely has some of the most amazingly descriptive language."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Hobbies & Games

Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure and Coloring Book for Adults
From the creator of the worldwide bestsellers Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest , a beautiful new adult coloring book that takes you on a magical journey beneath the waves With. this coloring book for adults, Johanna Basford invites color-inners of all ages to discover an enchanting underwater world hidden in the depths of the sea. Her intricate, hand-drawn illustrations are loved the world over by those who have colored in (sometimes more than once) her bestselling books Johanna's Christmas , Magical Jungle , Lost Ocean , Secret Garden , and Enchanted Forest .
Reviews
"With her newest book, “Lost Ocean”, she builds upon the stunningly beautiful and extremely intricate designs that I have come to expect from her. There are so many designs, including: sailing ships, mermaids, fish, sea mammals, jellyfish, and shipwrecks and more flora of the deep than I can count, each page is a wonderful experience in coloring. Recent versions of “Secret Garden” had improved paper – so much so, that this note is now included at the top of the page in all italics and with caps “Good news for all SECRET GARDEN fans! As I know that I love to use my markers, I have already purchased a second copy of the book so I don't have to choose a medium based on what happens to the backside of my page. I design needlework for my “day job” but that contains a lot of stress (deadlines, trying to perfect the pattern, etc.)."
"Although the thickness is nice and my markers do not leak through, if I blend too much, the paper starts to disintegrate."
"There are some differences in the paper color being more white in this book vs the other two being more of a natural recycled color. Even the Prismacolor Verithin pencils that can maintain a sharper tip with an excellent sharpener will be a bit of a challenge to show up and stay in the lines in numerous water bubbles through out the book. So my experience in the different challenges staying in the lines and pressing hard enough to try to get the colors to show up isn't a difference for me. The Crazy Art Deep Plum colored in the sea horses eye was meant to color just the outer circle of the eye and, granted the tip isn't perfectly sharp, but it colored the whole eye and it looks brown not deep plum. There isn't enough of an area for the color to show up much with this cheaper/lower quality pencil. I tried a Colbalt Green Polychromo pencil (looks more turquoise green) in the bottom left corner of the picture on a few dots and lines and while these tips aren't the sharpest, it still managed to show up and color the tiny bubbles. Other reviewers have previously said that the TRIPLUS Fineliners didn't bleed through, but I just used pencils and gel pens coloring in my book, so I can't say for sure. The Violet Prismacolor Verithin in the stripes in the tail of the fish show up well and stayed in the lines, but the curvy grass and the bubbles colored in with the Bleu Violet Prismacolor Verithin didn't stay in the lines as well. If you don't mind coloring larger sections of details within the picture all the same colors to make things easier and more realistic for staying within the lines for the pens or pencils you are using, you might be happy. BEWARE: If you want to be able to immediately start coloring when you get this book using the same materials you used in the last books... you might find out that the details are harder than you think, to either get to show up or stay inside the lines due to the actual picture size differences. The 4th picture shows part of a picture from one of the older books versus this new size of detail."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Mysteries & Thrillers

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children)
As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
Reviews
"This book was one of the first books SHE mentioned wanting to read on her own. We jumped in the car and raced off to the book store to see if we could capitalize on her "read all of the books mood" once she flipped through the book she was hooked in... inside the store!"
"I bought the book without reading the description, so reading it was a bit of a mysterious adventure — one that I took with Jacob."
"It is a pretty good book for young adult literature."
"Well-crafted characters and a solid story make this book an interesting read; however, although the story is interesting, it is not terribly compelling."
"I really enjoyed this book, especially the actual photos of the "peculiar children" and their families (what an interesting idea!)."
"All in all this is a well crafted story that will pique your interest, then captures your imagination and makes downloading the next novel inevitable."
"It is definitely creepy and for those who are easily spooked it may give you some nightmares but this is a young adult fiction novel so don't be too scared as they wouldn't set the genre to that if it was meant to be a horror book."
"Enjoyed reading this story of 'Peculiar Children', from Ransom Riggs."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Social Issues

Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat
Cooking for teens, like finding the perfect gift for teen boys and girls, is almost impossible. MEGAN CARLE and JILL CARLE are both graduate students at Arizona State University.
Reviews
"She was so excited because it said ‘Teens’ in the title and that makes her feel so grown up."
"Christmas gift for granddaughter, age 11."
"Easy to follow directions and healthy recipes."
"Item is exactly as described."
"good cookbook, but arrived wit a waterstains and was dirty."
"Bought for teenage Grandson who likes to cook."
"I would not buy this book for a teenager unless they have expressed an interest in learning to make more complicated recipes then simple teenage favorites."
"Not very healthy, recipes unimaginative and really quite bland."
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Best Teen & Young Adult Art, Music & Photography

The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire: The World of Dan and Phil
THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From YouTube sensations Dan Howell (danisnotonfire) and Phil Lester (AmazingPhil) comes a laugh-out-loud look into the world created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the Internet. Now they invite you on a behind-the-scenes journey, filled with absolutely essential advice, tons of humor, lots of awkwardness, and TMI honesty that they will probably regret. Here's just a small sample of the fun surprises readers can look forward to: • The inside story of that time they met One Direction. Their quirky comedy videos about their lives and observations on the world have earned them a following of over 11 million subscribers across their channels and a show on BBC Radio 1.
Reviews
"Dan and Phil put so much effort into this, and it really shows."
"kms that was gold my mEME QUEENS ARE GROWING UP SO FAST."
"It was really nice to read and see that it was everything Dan and Phil had described and more."
"Very nice think book with lots of neat facts and stuff."
"I really love the fact that it is written in the form of a back and forth dialogue between Dan and Phil, since their silly banter is one of the best things about watching their videos together."
"This book is in the style of a yearbook, chronicling his and his best friend, Dan Howell (DanIsNotOnFire) through their youth, YouTube, and a bit of present day."
"Imagine if you will having a piece of Dan and Phil's life in the palm of your hands..."
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