Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice

Welcome to the Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice - a blog designed to promote teen literacy and provide a voice to teens in our community. When visiting this blog, you can expect to find book, movie, TV and music reviews, study and homework tips, and other topics relevant to teens.

The content is created by and for teens under the guidance of the Mission Viejo Library’s volunteer coordinator.

Students in grades 6-12 interested in earning volunteer service credit and sharing their passions while refining their writing skills are welcome to join the Teen Blog Team. To become a part of the Teen Blog Team, fill out the online application. For more information, contact mvlteenblog@cityofmissionviejo.org.
 

July 2026

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The Moth Keeper
~ Eden B.

"The Moth Keeper" is a beautifully written and illustrated book by Kay O´Neill that follows the story of a girl named Anya who is appointed as a Moth Keeper, which is the protector of the Moon-Moths, but even as she is motivated to pursue her job and support her village, she dreams of being under the sun, however it could cause complications and problems for everyone.

Kay O´Neill is one of my favorite authors, their books are always so beautifully illustrated and crafted to bring attention to the book and the story, I love the graphics so much. This book especially captures many stunning drawings and illustrations to make the story more captivating and sensational for the audience, which is what has grabbed my attention in the first place. The first book I read written by Kay O´Neill, was "The Tea Dragon Society," which I love a lot, it is my favorite series written by them, and then I continued readings books by them and each time they have always been a way for me to relax and be captivated by the story, as it has many elements of fantasy in it, but it leans more as a comfort fantasy book.

I would recommend this book for any fantasy seeking readers, and also readers who are hoping for a comfy, relaxing book. I am always so excited to read the new release of books that Kay O´Neill writes and illustrates, as they are such outstanding quality books for anyone. The Moth Keeper is available to check out at the Mission Viejo Library!

 

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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma
~ Hugh H.

"The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma" is a children’s novel written by Trenton Lee Stewart. The story revolves around four children named Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance. At the beginning of the book, the children are confined within the carefully guarded home of Mr. Benedict at a place called Stonetown. This confinement is necessary for the children’s safety because they are being hunted by the villainous Mr. Curtain and his henchmen, known as the Ten Men. Mr. Curtain is also trying to hunt down a machine in Mr. Benedict’s possession called the Whisperer, which has the ability to control minds and manipulate memories. The children must work together to outwit Mr. Curtain and protect the Whisperer.

This is the third book in the series and I really enjoyed it. One of my favorite things about this series is the character development. Many of the characters are very clever and entertaining. I also love reading about the different puzzles and mysteries that need to be solved as the story progresses. This book has a lot of interesting elements, including secret codes and telepathic messages. I felt totally engaged throughout the story. The book is almost four hundred pages long but it reads extremely quickly because it is so well-paced and enjoyable. I had a hard time stopping once I picked it up and started reading. I would definitely recommend reading the previous books in the series before reading this one, because they give important background to the events and characters here. Just like the others, this book is filled with adventure and many exciting twists and turns. I would highly recommend this along with all the other books in the series. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma is available for check out at the Mission Viejo Library.

 

Spend More Time with Yourself 
~ Gemma G.

In today’s world, being alone is often viewed as something negative. Because of this, many people become uncomfortable with being by themselves. Silence can feel awkward, and being alone can sometimes get lonely. However, learning to spend time with yourself is one of the most important things you can do for your mental and emotional well-being.

Doing things alone is so important for any teenager because it helps inner strength flourish. When things aren't going your way in some places, finding joy in other things that you love to do promotes self-love and reminds you that your happiness does not have to depend entirely on other people or outside success. Spending time by yourself allows you to recharge mentally, discover new interests, and build confidence in who you are as an individual. Over time, these moments of solitude help you become more emotionally independent, which is a very important part of growing into adulthood.

Finding Joy in Your Own Company - Spending time alone does not have to mean sitting in silence doing nothing. In fact, some of the most enjoyable experiences in life can happen when you are by yourself. The key is finding activities that genuinely bring you peace and fulfillment.

You could go on a walk while listening to music, read a book, journal, exercise, draw, cook, play an instrument, or simply sit outside in nature. Even these small moments allow you to slow down and appreciate all the little things that come with life.

Nature in particular can be incredibly calming. Nature reminds people that life does not always have to move at a fast pace. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to pause for a moment and simply exist without all the added chaos in your life.

Another healthy habit is reflection. Reflection means taking time to think honestly about your emotions, goals, mistakes, and growth. Many people avoid reflection because it forces them to confront difficult thoughts, but self-reflection is one of the best ways to mature emotionally. You begin understanding why you think the way you do and what changes you may want to make in your life.

To Conclude - Learning to enjoy your own company is a sign of emotional strength. You really do realize that happiness does not always come from external factors, and sometimes the most meaningful moments happen when you are simply alone with your thoughts, appreciating life for what it is.

 

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Hawaii
~ Nicholas C.

When you think of Hawaii, you think of paradise and tanning on the beach with sunglasses on, but it’s so much more than that. Hawaii has so much culture and plenty of activities to experience the true Hawaii. When you visit, you don’t want to waste your time. A top attraction for me is food because I'm usually hungry when I get off a flight, so I find a local spot near the hotel that satisfies my cravings. My favorite food truck is Giovanni’s shrimp truck, which also has a location in a produce market. Giovanni’s is simple yet striking. I get my garlic scampi plate with freshly cooked shrimp covered in garlic scampi sauce and minced garlic on top of a soft bed of white rice. A fan favorite snack from all around the islands is spam musubi, which is cooked spam on white rice wrapped in Hawaiian seaweed. It's a staple in my trip every time.

Hawaii has so many cultural and fun activities, like Hula dancing and parties, to parasailing and snorkeling. Hawaii has something for everyone. My personal favorites are the snorkeling tour, which showed the glistening, clear blue water and the bright colors of different corals in the reef. The boat had a little platform which you could jump off, and I was back flipping the whole time. I also spent time on the sea trampoline, which was super fun. Tons of people enjoyed this tour and had lots of fun making memories, including my family.

After bathing in the salty ocean water, you’re always going to want something sweet. A local favorite is shaved ice and Dole Whip. Shaved ice comes with so many flavors, my favorites are Blue Hawaii, Pina Colada, and make sure to get it with fresh mochi and condensed milk drizzled on top of the ice, it's perfection itself. Filled with fun, Aloha Stadium is not just a stadium but a marketplace with so many different items you can get. Aloha Stadium is a must in my trip because of all the different foods, like Hawaiian barbecue, poke, and katsu. And so many vendors sell such fun Hawaiian things like towels, plushies, keychains, clothes, accessories, luggage, and more. Aloha Stadium is the best place to get your souvenirs.

 

Beyond the Clouds
~ Jannelle G.

Have you ever wondered about the mysteries that lie beyond the clouds? Or questioned where we and everything else we know began? Well, what we know —thanks to the scientists who paved the way to our understanding— so far is that galaxies, stars, planets, and many other things contribute to this vast universe that has yet to be understood.

I, just like almost everyone else, am curious and enjoy thinking about the cosmos. My favorite topic is the origin of stars and the impact they have once they die. The theory of the Big Bang tells us that the universe was mainly hydrogen and helium. Stars are formed through nuclear fusion —the process in which two atoms fuse to form a heavier atom, releasing large amounts of energy that powers stars— to create other heavier elements like carbon, nitrogen, etc. When stars get older, they will eventually die in a cosmic event known as a supernova explosion, in which they release the elements into space. Many call this “stardust”, and those remains are eventually part of new stars, planets, or even life on Earth!

The most intriguing part is: those same hydrogen and carbon atoms that were once formed in ancient stars, are now carried within you! Down to the carbon in our cells, the oxygen we breathe daily, and even the calcium in our bones were created in ancient stars that form the beautiful night sky we know today.

From now on, if you ever happen to look up at the night sky and feel so far from its reach, remember that you are looking at the same universe that created you.

 

How did the South Korean international soccer team lose twice during a group stage and not advance in a round of 32?
~ Sunwoo J.

This year is one of the most exciting years for soccer fans in the world because of World Cup 2026. Canada, USA, and Mexico are host countries for this World Cup and the FIFA organization expanded eligibility from 32 to 48 countries. South Korea qualified for the World Cup again and we said that we have one of the best Korean squads in World Cup history. We have a lot of players from Europe, including Heung Min Son, Kang In Lee, and Min Jae Kim. Most of the soccer experts said we would advance in the round of 32 because the level of our group stage was one of the easiest ones. We had Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Africa in our group and we didn’t suffer from any players’ injuries. The results, 1 win against 2 losses and our loss to South Africa eliminated us. As a Korean, it was so embarrassing for me. In this post, I’m going to talk about how we didn’t make it past the round of 32 despite all of our advantages.

Before the World Cup started, Korean citizens were concerned about the tactics of Myung-bo Hong, who is our head coach. Before I talk about the World Cup, I will explain who he is. Myung-bo Hong used to be a soccer player and part of our squad in 2002. He was a great defender and he contributed to our miracle in 2002. In 2002, Korea and Japan hosted the World Cup and we made the semi-finals and got 4th place. He is remembered as a legendary center back in Korea but now he will be remembered as the worst head coach ever. Everybody is super disappointed in him and I’m disappointed in him as well.

Before the 2026 world cup, only 32 countries could participate in the world cup and the knockout stage was started from a round of 16. But now, FIFA expanded from 32 to 48 countries and the knockout stage started from a round of 32. Korea was part of one of the easiest groups in this world cup. Everybody expected that Korea would definitely make it through the round of 32. We had a good start at the first game. We played against the Czech Republic and we won 2-1. But in the second game, we faced Mexico and we lost 1-0. We didn’t get any shots on target until 88 minutes in. The game was so boring and frustrating. In the last game of the group stage, all of the things that we were concerned about happened. We played against South Africa and we lost 1-0. We already knew that the kick of the defender and goalkeeper was good and we didn’t do anything. We didn’t give any pressure to them and we didn’t stop their counterattack a single time. We didn’t play well offensively as well. We had no shots on target during the first half and we didn’t know what to do in every situation. For example, when Kang In Lee had the ball, somebody should have been at the side and somebody should have moved without the ball to get his pass. But they just didn’t move at all because Mr. Hong had no tactics at all. After the game, lots of experts and YouTubers criticized him a lot. When he was giving an interview, he blamed the players and made unreasonable excuses.

Today (June 28), he resigned and the journey of our 2026 World Cup ended. This World Cup will be remembered as the worst World Cup ever. It is so frustrating and embarrassing for us. Finally, I learned a lesson from this failure which is that I should take full responsibility if I make a mistake.

 

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The Reappearance of Rachel Price
~ Ray D.

Genre: Mystery
Age: 13+
TW: Mild violence

In "The Reappearance of Rachel Price," author Holly Jackson crafts another shocking mystery novel full of unique twists and turns. Since I’m a fan of Jackson and her other works, I knew I had to read it the moment I saw it.

Bel, is featured in a documentary about the disappearance of her mother, Rachel Price, who was assumed to be murdered — until she suddenly reappears. (Just like the title says 🤯)

As Bel unwillingly interacts with her mother, she notices slip-ups and holes in her mother’s story and has to figure out what really happened with her mother, before it’s too late.

As with most of Holly Jackson's novels, I enjoyed this book. The premise is unique, since almost all other mystery novels are about solving a murder. I really appreciated the change.

I was able to constantly analyze what Rachel was saying, how she interacted with the other characters, and what she was like. She was a fleshed out character, mostly due to the fact that she's still alive. In traditional mystery novels, the victim is murdered and remains either a blank slate or a caricature, making them just an excuse for the plot to start.

The clues were well thought-out and released at a good pace, making me second-guess what really happened again and again. However, I do have one minor complaint: one essential clue felt shoe-horned in and somewhat of a stretch. Despite this, I greatly recommend "The Reappearance of Rachel Price" to any teenager wanting a book that breaks the mold of what a mystery novel looks like. The Reappearance of Rachel Price is available for check out at the Mission Viejo Library.

 

Book Review - Take Me to Your Leader by Neil deGrasse Tyson
~ Elane F.

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I’ve been on a bit of a nonfiction kick for the past few years. However, despite my strong interest in aliens and extraterrestrial life, I had never actually picked up a book on the subject until "Take Me to Your Leader" by Neil deGrasse Tyson caught my eye. Maybe it was the conspiratorial vibes of other books, or the fact that many of these books seem to be aimed at elementary and middle school aged boys. This book avoids both of these pitfalls to create a very enjoyable book on all different aspects of aliens landing on Earth. The book utilizes a lighthearted tone which allows the book to feel more like a conversation with a friend rather than a lecture from a teacher. One note I have is that this book doesn’t quite match what you expect from it: the book jacket paints it to be more scientific while I found a lot of the book to be a review of aliens in pop culture. However, I still found the speculations to be thought provoking and I had never really thought about how strange some of our habits here on Earth might seem to an onlooker! Overall, this was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone looking to get into reading nonfiction with a light and fun read!