Teen Reads Interview - Lily

Welcome to Teen Reads, a podcast that asks: What book should all teens read this year? Season one, Prose and Cons, is where teens go to bat for the books they love and love to hate. Brought to you by the North Vancouver City Library, this podcast features interviews with North Shore teens about the book they think all teens should read in 2025. Read along with our teens and vote to see which book comes out on top!

Lily Dykstra, Grade 12, Sutherland Secondary: 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Q: How do you fit reading into your schedule?

A: I usually read on the weekends or download an ebook from Libby and read on my phone while waiting for the bus, or in between classes. 

Q: What's your ideal reading environment?

A: In a comfy corner chair with a blanket, a side table for snacks, and a little lamp. 

Q: What is your favourite genre and why? 

A: Fantasy. I enjoy escaping while also learning a bit about different places, time periods, and people. 

Q: How do you get out of a reading slump? 

A: Reread an old favourite or keep trying new books until one sticks. 

Q: Where do you go for reliable/trusted book recommendations?

A: My friends or family. Online is usually a hit or miss, so I do my own research first. 

Q: If you could meet any author, who would it be and why?

A: Either R.F. Kuang or N.K. Jemisin both authors tell incredibly transportive stories, delve deep into human behaviour, and reveal truths about our world. Their handle on the crafts is admirable and I would love to learn from them. 

Q: What is your current read?

A: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Metal from Heaven

Q: What books on your TBR (To be read list) are you most excited to read?

A: Blood over Bright Haven, Katabasis, Jade City, and The Will of the Many

Q: Do you read one book at a time or do you have multiple books on the go? 

A: It depends

Q: What is your favourite book adaptation to film or TV? Why? 

A: Pride and Prejudice (the mini series) is one of the best adaptations I’ve seen because it’s so accurate to the books and is able to get all the information in there. One Day - book and show - is also phenomenal. 

Q: How did you choose your Teen Reads 2025 book? Why should other teens read the book?

A: To me, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is such an important addition to the Hunger Games franchise. It tells the story of President Snow’s teen life and his rise to power. There’s so much stuff in there, and while it can be slow at points, it’s completely worth the read, and I think more people should. 

Q: Share a quote from your Teen Reads 2025 choice

A: “You've no right to starve people, to punish them for no reason. No right to take away their life and freedom. Those are things everyone is born with, and they're not yours for the taking. Winning a war doesn't give you that right. Having more weapons doesn't give you that right. Being from the Capitol doesn't give you that right. Nothing does.”

Book synopsis: It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute. The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favour or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute ... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.