The Bayview Trilogy
Have you read the Bayview High series? It is really very good older teen reading. If you want to understand the world of teenagers then this series for you. While your biggest teenage fear might have been who looked at you twice during lunch break, these teens have that and so much more, all the bullying that goes on online, all the behind the scenes stalking and trolling.
If you want a non-confrontational peak into your teen’s world, download the audible versions (they are full cast and superb) and listen while you drive together, trust me it will open up lots of conversations between you. While these books can be read independently, I highly recommend you read the series in order… the stories grow up with the characters.
- One of us is Lying
- One of us is Next
- One of us is Back
Five kids are in detention, and while they are all distracted by a fender bender at the window, one of them dies… but who did it, and how? While the parents are worried about how this will affect their kids’ future, their college applications, their place on the team and so on… the teens have much bigger concerns. Everyone has secrets and all of these kids have something to hide. The blame is tossed and turned about, but there is someone who knows all and he posts their secrets online, one by one… it is just a matter of time before the truth is out.
Bayview High is trying to get past the tragedy and trauma of the previous book, only to have a new game appear online. In this book Truth or Day is a terrifying challenge that if it appears on your screen you have 24 hours to choose: to have your darkest secret revealed or to take a death defying dare… and students die. This is a tough read from a mom’s perspective… you want your kids to know that they can talk to you about anything… but they don’t. Even if you think they do, they really don’t.
Now that our teens have outsmarted the first challenge and survived truth or dare, phones have mostly been band at school but nobody mentioned the bill boards. The bill boards are hacked, and the drama begins all over again. Let the games begin, and nobody knows the rules, no one at all. Friends go missing, secrets erupt and life is tougher than tough. At this stage you are so invested in the characters in this series, that there is no looking back. You simply have to know how it turns out… of course there are twists and turns and an extremely surprising twist in the tale.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Chalice of the Gods
You cannot go wrong with Rick Riordan. My middle graders have loved ALL of his books. This is the sixth book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series and you can definitely read any of these books independently. Extremely fun and exciting reads, short sharp chapters for kids who don’t love reading… every chapter ends “on the edge” and are very much just one more page-ish. The stories will do the rest. The book is packed with mythical creatures, ancient Greek gods and heroes from times gone by… and of course the Hero of the Day, Percy Jackson. While Percy Jackson, is hoping for a good final year of high school and is focusing on school and all that it has to offer, these ancient Greeks keep popping into his life and making his life extremely difficult. This book is about friendship, team spirit and all out conquering. Fantastic fun reads.
Raven and Rover
This author, Dino Martins, is a naturalist from Kenya and I love how the illustrations make you feel like you are dipping into a naturalist’s notebook. It is the story of Raven, a very clever crow, that watches over the African Plains from his lofty perch. The mother wild dog brings her puppies out to play for the first time, and she entrusts Raven to look after one of her pups, Rover. Raven and Rover become firm friends and as Rover discovers the new world around him, so do the readers of the story.
From butterflies to windstorms, tortoises and giraffes, we can learn about wildlife around the waterhole and lovely facts about wild dogs have been woven through. This book is just wonderful for youngsters who love true stories, that are filled with facts. The illustrations are stunning and it is a great read, learning about conservation and the endangered African Wild Dogs at the same time as enjoying a fabulous story.
These books was given to us for review purposes by Penguin Random House South Africa. This is not a sponsored post and opinions expressed are entirely our own.