This week for our By Teens, For Teens blog post, we have two VolunTEENs who submitted reviews for you. Isabelle R., age 16 reviews the gothic classic Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Then, for a complete change of pace, Jaden L., age 14 reviews the manga series One Piece by Eiichiro Oda.
Book Review:
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This book is a gothic mix of romance and thriller, coupling beautiful language with a familiar and intriguing plotline — the secret life of the aristocracy. The story starts in the picturesque Monte Carlo, with our main character working as a companion for an eclectic wealthy old woman. Her job is to take care of all this woman’s proceedings and health concerns, but she really is just a companion. She meets a man, a wealthy English aristocrat, and here begins a whirlwind romance in the summer sun.
Eventually, without adding spoilers to this review, she (who by the way remains unnamed throughout the novel) goes back to England with Maxim, her new husband. He lives on an incredible and daunting estate, which is his life’s work and pride. She quickly feels like a fish out of water, out of touch with the mannerisms and etiquette of this new life. But soon, a more morbid and mysterious plotline appears with the constant repetition of Maxim’s late wife. The rainy and cold estate here becomes the stage for an incredible thriller, including dark hidden secrets and those who work to hide them away forever.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an enticing novel, but especially to someone who is looking for a little bit of a rush. This book is not horror, but there are most certainly some frightening scenes and notions. Be prepared for a blood-rushing experience.
Series Review:
One Piece by Eiichiro Oda
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
In terms of storyline, One Piece is a masterpiece. The plot is never boring, and each new island Luffy and his friends explore is unique and entertaining in its own right. Unquestionably, one of the manga’s most valuable features is its outstanding worldbuilding. Every detail of the world has been thoroughly designed and arranged by the author. Characters get their own “cover story” recounting their travels after meeting Luffy from the start of the series. It brings light into the story and shows the reader that the main characters are only a small part of the wider universe in which they live.
