Scorch

Scorch by Gina Damico is the second in the Croak series.  This series follows Lex a grim reaper as she goes about her business sending souls on their way.

While I greatly enjoyed the first book in the series.  It was slow and not very exciting and after feeling like it a chore to read too many times I finally gave up and put the book down.

Approropriateness:  This is a fairly clean series that will appeal to older teens.  I recommend it to readers 13+

Shades of Earth

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis is the third book in the Across the Universe Trilogy.  The book begins with Amy and Elder crash landing on the surface of the planet.  They then unfreeze Amy's parents and the other scientists and military on the ship. The two groups clash from the start. Can they figure out a way to live in peace?  Can they fight the dangerous threat on the planet and figure out who and what the enemy is.

This book was terrific and kept me guessing throughout.  It was a fitting end to the trilogy.  Amy and Elder grew in ways that were true to their characters and the new setting worked perfectly and readers were given a nice solid ending. I couldn't put the book down and finished it quickly even though it was very long.

Appropriateness:  This series is very scary and violent with implied sex (and attempted rape in previous books). I recommend this series to readers13+

Etiquette and Espionage

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger is the first book in the Finishing School series.  This book follows fourteen year old Sophronia who has been sent off to finishing school by her parents to learn to be more ladylike.  She soon figures out that this is not an ordinary finishing school.  After being attacked by flywaymen (highway men who fly) on her way to her school who are looking for a mysterious prototype she finally gets to the school which is a giant airship and the teachers aren't just there to teach them how to be fine young ladies but they're teaching them how to be spies and assassins. 

This is an interesting novel which fans of steampunk lit will love.  The descriptions of the ship and steam creatures are fantastic to read and I loved the descriptions of the day to day activities on the ship.  There were some things that felt under developed however.  The first is the world is a bit underdeveloped.  There are vampires and werewolves whose existence doesn't seem to add to the story one bit.  The names of the characters are all so strange and so long that it really took away from the story for me.  All in all it's an entertaining story.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  The main character is fourteen but seems a bit older.  There isn't more than a touch of romance.  I would reccomend this book to readers 12+

Fabulous Hair

DK Publishing's book Fabulous Hair is a great book for girls who would like some simple new hair styles and hair care tips.

This is a great book that my daughter can't put down.I bought it for her because she enjoyed the American Girl hair care book so much and wanted new styles to try. She reported the book is much better and has a lot more information.   This book has hair care tips and styles for girls with a variety of hair types (even ethnic hair) and is easy to read with great instructions that my third grader had no problem reading and figuring out how to do herself (although the information is not complex enough for adult readers).

I recommend this book to readers 8-12

Safekeeping

Safekeeping by Karen Hesse follows Radley who returns home from volunteering in Haiti to find that the country has been thrown into complete chaos. A fringe group has taken control of the government, assassinated the president, thrown thousands of citizens in jail and made interstate travel illegal without a permit. When Radley finds herself stranded at the airport she must travel on foot to her parents house and after that to Canada without being caught by the police that she believes are after her because of her parents.



I had mixed feelings about this book. The series of pictures intertwined throughout the book just didn't work for me. Instead of enhancing or illustrating the story they just seemed like filler, often having nothing to do with the plot whatsoever. The story however was interesting and kept me reading till the end. While I felt the author didn't explain the problems going on in the country well enough (and the heroine didn't talk to anyone for the majority of the book) the survival and travel story was interesting and kept me reading to find out what would happen in the end.


Appropriateness: This is a book that teen readers will enjoy. There is a mention of rape (with Radley's friend) but besides that there is no adult content. While Radley has to work to survive the reader feels her strength and perseverance instead of the hopelessness and fear that these types of books often contain. I would recommend it to readers 12+

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Nibbles, A Green Tale

Nibbles: A Green Tale, by Charlotte Middleton tells the story of Nibbles, a hamster who loves dandelions.  When all the dandelions are eaten and Nibbles and his friends are resigned to eating slimy cabbage Nibbles gets to action.  He finds one last dandelion sprout and takes careful care of it until it sprouts and then walks to the top of a hill and spreads the seeds so that more can grow.

This is a terrific picture book that not only teaches about conservation but also teaches a nice lesson on the plant cycle.  The kids that I read it too all loved it and had different favorite parts and said they would love to hear it again.

Appropriateness:  This book will be enjoyed by students 4-8 and could be enjoyed by older students as part of a green lesson.

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The Twinning Project

The Twinning Project by Robert Lipste follows Tom and Eddie, twins living on two different earth's five years apart.  The twins have known about each other and have communicated through a psychic link.  They soon learn they indeed were separated and that they have to switch in order to save the world.

This book was odd.  While I liked the characters and some of the plot worked the whole premise was just bizarre.  The part time travel, part alien premise was just absurd.  Strangely however, I didn't put the book down and finished it rather quickly.  I think if the author had stuck with it just being a time travel story it would have been a much better story.  It's one of those books that's both bad and good at the same time/

Appropriateness:  There was no adult content in this book and no major violence.  I would recommend it to boys 10-14

There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish

As a music teacher I am always on the look out for what I call "singing books."  I've found there to be an overabundance of "old lady" books so while I was excited to see this I didn't jump on it as much as I do with other folk song books. 

However, when I read this to my classes they thought it was terrific.  They enjoyed the refrain (yo ho ho watch his belly grow) and espically loved the pictures of the fish and the bird playing with all the other things that the pirate swallows.  The ending, while not unexpected had my students laughing and I know they'll ask to hear this one again.

This will be a nice addition to any school or home library and is a must for small kids who love pirates.

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Mystic City

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence stars Aria who wakes up in the hospital with chunks of her memory missing.  She is told that the memory loss was caused by an overdose of a magical drug and that she is engaged to the son of her father's political rival whom she was sneaking around to see.  She soon finds out that things are not as they appear, that her father will do anything to keep the power he desires.

This was an interesting book that lovers of paranormal romance will enjoy.  The world building was fantastic, a combination between modern and paranormal with a bit of steampunk and dystopian mixed in.  The Romeo and Juliet style romance really works and I think readers will really fall for Aria and Hunter.  I did find the enemy to be a bit evil and one dimensional and wish there had been more of an explanation as to the reasons behind their hatred of the mystics.

Appropriateness:  There is quite a bit of talk of drug use (although it's a magical drug) and while the characters seem very teen the plot has to do with an engagement and marriage.  I would recommend this book to readers 14+ and think that it will appeal to the adult crossover audience as well as the teen.  While the book is being compared to The Hunger Games and X-Men in the promotional lit it is a heavy romance with a bit of action so this is a book for romance lovers as opposed to those who are attracted to action heavy novels..

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One Tough Chic

 One Tough Chic by Leslie Margolis stars the smart and confident Annabelle.  When Annabelle decides to show off her dog training for the school talent show it's a total disaster so her teacher assigns her to be a judge.  Will she be able to be fair when her friends want her to give them the win?

This is such a great book in a great series by Margoils.  Annabelle's troubles with boys and friends are spot on for middle school aged girls and she's a fantastic role model working hard at school and standing up for what is right and fair even when it's hard.  I finished this book quickly, it was sweet and fluffy.

Appropriateness:  This is a great book for middle school aged kids.  There's a lot of boy stuff that might turn off younger readers (obsessing over if a boy is her boyfriend and obsessing over kissing) but no adult or inappropriate behavior at all.  I would recommend this book to girls 11-14.

Review copy provided by Netgalley

Breathe

Breathe by Sarah Crossan follows Alina, Bea and Quinn who all live in a dystopian society where the air that you breathe is sparse and controled by a corporation.  When the three leave the security of their domed city into the airless outland with enough oxyegen to last them only a few days they soon find themselves on the run from the corporation who will do anything to protect their profits.

This was a terrific dystopian novel, the idea of a society where the very air we breathe is limited was interesting and the theme of profits before anything allows for discussion and thought.  I read this book quickly and loved the twists and turns.

Appropriateness:  This book does not have any adult content.  It is fairly violent and filled with tension.  The love triangle is not enough to put off male readers and it has a strong male viewpoint with Quinn as one of the main narrators.  I reccomend this book to readers 13+

Erasing Time

Erasing Time by CJ Hill tells the story of twins Taylor and Sheridan who wake up to find themseves transported four hundred years in the future.  Scientists transported the twins instead of the scientist they were looking to transport to help them perfect a new weapon.  The twins are initially overwelmed with the society they have been transported into unnerved with the many differences in the society and soon realise that they must escape from the city and it's controling government.

This was an interesting dystopian novel and the time travel aspect made for a nice way for the reader to explore the society.  I didn't find the plot that different than other dystopian novels on the market (teens in dystopian society, teens discover something fishy, teens must escape, evil government chases them. . . . ) but it was enjoyable enough.  I remained interested in the book throughout.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in the book.  The characters were both eighteen and the romance did not involve much more than kissing and it was not the focus of the story.  I would reccomend this book to readers 13+ (but it is appropriate for younger advanced readers).

Samurai Awakening

Samurai Awakening by Benjamin Martin stars David Matthews a foreign exchange student living in Japan.  He begins the story unable to speak much Japanese and horribly out of shape.  However, when he attends a sword ceremony he finds himself possessed by a Japanese god and suddenly able to speak and understand Japanese.  He soon starts to train and becomes a part of this new family who fights evil.

This is a very detailed book that will speak to readers that are very interested in the topic.  The plot moves a little slowly because of all the detail which makes it not as engaging for those who aren't interested in Japanese mythology however the book is not overly long (it's right around 300 pages).  This is a book that readers will either love or hate.

Appropriateness:  This book seems very heavy at times.  Although there is no inappropriate content and or much relationship drama and it is not overly violent it's a little heavy for middle grade readers and I'd recommend it to readers 14+.

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Summer of the Gypsy Moths

Review given to me by a delightful fifth grader who loved this book and asked for more like it.

Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker is a great book.  It is about two girls Stella and Angel, and their gaurdian Lousise who dwelt in Cape Cod.  In the beginning of the book the girls hate eachother but gradually become best friends because Lousie dies unexpectedly.  The girls don't tell the police and have to take care of themseves and cover up for their missing guardian.

This book fills you with emotions and is very intersting.  Stella and Angel's backgrounds are realistic yet their circumstances are unlikely.  It is a terrific book.

This is a nice chapter book that elementary school aged girls will love.  It is not filled with super difficult vocabulary but is interesting enough for fifth graders making it a great one for struggling readers.

Review copy provided by Amazon vine.  Review provided by one of my team of kid reviewers.

Silly Looking Thing

The Silly Looking Thing by Eva M Sakmar-Sullivan tells the story of Itsy Bitsy Frog.  Itsy Bitsy Frog goes down to the pond every day to play.  When what he calls a Silly Looking Thing asks to play he says no way, even deciding that he would avoid the pond.  After talking to his parents he learns that he hasn't been acting right.

This is an adorable picture book that teaches about friendship and acceptance with a bit of science on the side.  It's short and sweet and teaches a great lesson.

This book will be enjoyed by kindergarten and first grade students.

Review Copy provided by netgalley

Prom

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson features Ash, a lower class Philadelphia senior who is more interested in hanging out with her dropout boyfriend than the prom.  But when the prom adviser is arrested for stealing the entire prom budget she somehow becomes in charge of organizing and fundraising to keep the prom alive.

This is a book that will have some appeal to reluctant readers who are sick of reading about perfect goody too shoes girls who do everything right.  Ash has a looser boyfriend, no college ambitions and doesn't come from a well off family or go to a good school.  This is unlike Anderson's other heavier books and instead reads more like a generic fun fluffy teen chic lit prom book (but with a non-perfect heroine).  Because I'm a fan of that type of novel I loved this book and tore through it quickly with a smile on my face at the happy ending.

Appropriateness:  There is a lot of adult behavior in this book.  Ash is sexually active with her boyfriend (although there are no sex scenes) and does not think twice about getting drunk.  Ash is the type of kid that you hope your daughter doesn't end up like, barely graduating high school and attached to a looser boyfriend although she does have a good heart.  I'd recommend this book to readers 13+ and use it as an excuse to talk to your kids about how the choices you make in your teens have long term consequences. 

Virtuosity

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez follows prodigy violinist Carmen who decides to take charge of her life at an important time in her life.  She stops taking her anxiety drugs and goes out with one of her fiercest competitors.  For the first time she questions how she's lived her life and defies her mother when she starts dating her toughest competition.

I enjoyed this book.  It did a fantastic job of putting the reader into this world of classical music.  The romance was sweet and felt natural with ups and downs and distrust.  Carmen is a great character who rebels by taking charge of her life.  Her addiction to anxiety drugs (encouraged by her mother) was believable and would be a nice starting point for a discussion of the many "enhancing" drugs that are taken to improve performance.

Appropriateness:  A main plot point in this book is Carmen's addiction to Anti-Anxiety drugs.  The romance is sweet and innocent while also interesting enough for older teens.  Carmen spends the night in her boyfriends room and wakes up with her dress on.  There is also a suicide attempt.  I would reccomend this book to teens 14+

Review Copy obtained by Amazon Vine

You Are So Undead to Me

You Are So Undead to Me by Stacy Jay follows Megan Berry a Zombie Settler.  Megan's settler abilities have just come back and at the most inconvenient time.  Megan is a teenager trying to get a date for homecoming and audition for the Pom squad.  This is hard enough without both regular and rogue zombies disturbing her life.  Will Megan be able to figure out who is creating these zombies and save homecoming?

This is a delightful "fluffy" zombie novel.  I loved the settler mythology that was created and Megan's powers and responsibilities conflicting with her desire for a normal life made for a story that was fun without being too terrifying or bloody.  I finished the book quickly and can't wait to read the next in the series.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  The romance consists of a bit of kissing.  I recommend this book to readers 11-15

Undead

Undead by Cirsty McKay stars Bobby who finds herself in danger when her classmates turn into rabid zombies on a ski trip.  Bobby, Smitty and a few other classmates find themselves on the run from their teachers and classmates who were turned into zombies.  They have to get away and find out what it was that caused the mass outbreak.

This is a terrific humorous horror novel.  It did a perfect job of combining the absurd with the horrific keeping the reader both scared and giggling throughout.  The side characters are caricatures and so much so that it's funny.  The nerdy computer guy, the bitchy cheerleader, the outcast, rebel and of course the evil villains and terrifying zombies. 

Appropriateness:  This book has a lot of zombie violence.  Vice principals are beheaded, little kids are bitten and the main characters are in a lot of danger.  Aside from the violence there is no adult content.  The romance was a very small subplot and was limited to just kissing.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+

Fang Girl

Fang Girl by Helen Keeble stars Jane who wakes up and finds herself in a coffin.  Now just because she was obsessed with vampires didn't mean she wanted to be one.  She soon travels home to see her very shocked parents (and brother who is sure she is a zombie) who treat her change like an interesting science experiment.

I could not stop laughing throughout this book.  It was a fantastic comedy.  From the brother who was sure she was a zombie to her zombie goldfish and her obsession with organization I couldn't stop reading and finished the book quickly.  I can't wait to read more from Hellen Keeble.

Appropriateness:  This book has no adult content and the romance is light and fluffy.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+

Revived

Revived by Cat Patrick follows Daisy, a girl who has died and been brought back to life five times.  As a small child she was involved in a horrible bus accident and then placed in a secret government experiment.  Each time she dies she's moved to a new town and given a new identity.  When Daisy moves one last time and makes some real connections and starts to question the program she has been involved in for her entire life. 

Cat Patrick again has created a great science fiction romance.  This book was a great read and kept me guessing throughout.  I loved the premise of the experiment and the sweet romance.  This was a great original story that I couldn't put down.  I'm excited to read what Cat Patrick has in store for her readers next.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book although the characters do lie to the adults in their lives.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+

Ashen Winter

Ashen Winter by Mike Mullen is the sequel to Ashfall.  This book starts with Alex and Darla at his Aunt and Uncle's farm.  After they are attacked by bandits who have Alex's parents gun on them Alex and Darla decide to leave the safety of the farm to find Alex's parents.

This is a terrific sequel to Ashfall with all the drama and suspense and horror of the first in the series.  I continued to love Alex and could feel his love for Darla.  The characters and setting were well developed and the bad guys in the book were terrifying.  The introduction of two new characters, one of which was autistic were a great addition to the plot.  This is a very long book but I couldn't put it down and thought about it even when I wasn't reading hoping that Alex would get through his journey safely.

Appropriateness:  This is a scary and disturbing book and Alex and his companions are constantly at risk of death and rape and there is talk of girls being prostituted and needing to have sex to survive.  I would recommend this book to readers 14+

Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #1: Professor Gargoyle

Professor Gargoyle, the first book in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series, stars eleven year old Robert who starts a new middle school away from all his friends.  Once there he starts to notice that things are very strange.  A hoard of rats run through the hallway, something strange is going on in the library and his science teacher is downright creepy.

I loved this book.  It's a perfect combination, from the cover that makes kids ache to read it to the story of a lonely bullied boy who learns to handle himself and make friends and the creepiness that is at just the right level for the intended audience.  I tore through this book finishing it in a matter of hours.  It has a nice message and a great male character that kids will be able to identify with.

Appropriateness:  This book is the perfect amount of creepy for the 10-12 year old audience without being violent or scary.  It is certainly a boy book but girls will also enjoy it.   

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Perfect Cover

Perfect Squad, the first book in The Squad series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, stars Toby a teenage hacker and social nobody who is shocked when she finds that she has been invited to join the varsity cheerleading squad.  When she learns that she squad is a cover for a covert spy organization run by the CIA.  Toby has to put her hacking skills to use to save other operatives while also unwillingly being turned into a popular cheerleader.

This is a fun girly spy novel.  It reminded me a lot of the Gallagher Girls series in that it is super girly with an equal amount of cool spy stuff.  I tore through the book excited to read what was going to happen next and I'm excited to read the next book in the series. 

Appropriateness:  This book takes place in a high school and the characters act their age, going to parties and talking about relationships.  I would recommend this book to girls 13+

Really Weird Removals.com

Really Weird Removals.com by Daniela Sacerdoti tells the story of Luca and his sister Valentina who find out that they have the sight when their long lost uncle appears.  This allows them to see mysterious and dangerous creatures such as faries ghosts and trolls.  Because of this sight they get to help their uncle with his business of removing these irritating and nasty creatures who have infested people's homes.

This is a cute book that kids will like.  It's the perfect read for kids who are new to full length chapter books with the kids going on many adventures throughout the book.  The characters are well written and relateable and the creatures are different without being scary.  Kids will love the book and find it easy to follow.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult or questionable content in this book.  The book deals with monsters without being creepy or scary.  I would recommend this book to readers 9-11.

Review Copy provided by netgalley

Humbug Witch

Humbug Witch by Lorna Ballian is a delightful Halloween picture book featuring a Witch who can't do anything right.  It's sweet and silly and not scary at all making it a perfect read aloud for pre-school - first grade students around Halloween. 

Review copy provided by Netgalley

Trafficked

Trafficked by Kim Purcell follows Hannah a girl from Moldova who travels to America to work as a Nanny.  She takes the job after her parents disappear because she knows her grandmother can not support the two of them.  She soon finds things are not as she was promised as the family she works for treats her like a slave, requiring her to work all hours without pay and without the ability to leave.

I enjoyed the book although the main character had issues at time with being very very naive.  This book does do a good job of portraying human trafficking in the US without being to graphic for the audience.  I remained interested in the book throughout and finished it quickly.  It has an ending with a solid finale that leaves the reader satisfied. 

Appropriateness:  This is a tough book that is about a difficult subject.  While it handled the material in an age appropriate way the topic is still a tough one for teens.  There is an attempted rape and there is quite a bit of apprehension that the reader feels fearing that the main character will either be raped or sold into prostitution.  I would recommend this book to readers 14+ and younger teens if they have an adult to talk to.  This is a good book to explore the subject of human trafficking for teen readers, with the focus being on a domestic servant as opposed to one forced into prostitution it makes the story a bit easier to read. 

The Raft

The Raft by S. A. Bodeen is an edge of the seat thriller that follows Robbie as she is forced to survive after her plane crashes.  We follow her from the mainland Hawaii where she leaves her sister to the plane the raft and beyond as she struggles to live without water or food or any way to get help.

I loved this book and could not put it down.  I started it in the morning and read till I finished it because I couldn't stand not knowing what was going to happen next.  Robbie is strong but still very realistic both breaking down and pushing through when she really needed to.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  It is an edge of your seat thriller that is scary without being violent.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+ and feel that boys would like this book as well as girls (if they can get over the book being about a girl).

Son

Son by Lois Lowry is a continuation of the Giver Series.  This book starts out before the Giver starts with Claire who is the birthmother of the baby who lived in Jonas' house.  After having a difficult birth Claire is shuffled off to work in the hatchery.  Not having been given the pills that the rest of the population takes Claire begins questioning her role in society and becomes obsessed with the child that was taken to her at birth.  She vows to do anything she can go eventually be reunited with him. 

This was a nice final book in the series that not only tied all the stories together but also provided a conclusion to the stories of all the characters.  I thought that the book was a bit uneven with the three sections which took place in three locations (much like the three books in the series took place in different locations) with the first section being much stronger than the other two. 

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  There are some fairly traumatic childbirth sequences in the first several chapters which could turn off young (or male) readers.  The story is very heavy and full of things that should be discussed making it perfect for younger readers who are looking for a more introspective and thoughtful story.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

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A World Away

A World Away by Nancy Grossman follows sixteen year old Eliza who takes a job working as a Nanny to take a break from her Amish upbringing and explore the modern world.  Eliza grows up during her time away, falls in love, learns some family secrets and must decide if she is ready to become baptized and return to the Amish community or stay in the English world.

This was a delightful coming of age novel.  There is a lot of "Bonnet fiction" written for the adult audience and this book explores that environment but is solidly written for a teenage reader.   I really enjoyed this book.  It was sweet and watching Eliza explore the world and make decisions of what she was doing with her life.  I appreciated that while she was naive she was not excessively so.  I loved this book reading it quickly.

Appropriateness:  There is a bit of alcohol and drinking, an incident of Drunk driving and a few discussions of sex.  There is one incident of a boy pushing himself on Eliza but it does not progress further than she is willing.  I would recommend this book to readers 14+

Skipping Stones at the Center of the Earth

Skipping Stones at the Center of the Earth by Andy Huller is the story of Cal, a boy with fire red hair that has grown up in an orphanage that is located on the sunny side of an island located in the center of the earth.  The book tells a few interrelated and interesting stories.  The story of  the discovery of a giant screw that is found at both poles, how the screw is found and how it is unscrewed creating the hole in the earth that Cal's orphanage is located inside.  The story of Cal's father and most importantly the story of Cal.  The orphanage that Cal lives in is a strange place.  They have fire poles instead of stairs and the food is horrible.  Cal sneaks out every morning to watch a man skip stones in the great artic lake.

This is a very interesting middle grade book.  It has an outlandish setting and background that kids will love.  The orphanage has a creepy but interesting vibe to it and the idea of there being a screw at the north and south pole is really interesting.  The characters are all distinct and interesting with the secondary characters having distinct and interesting personalities.  This is a book full of quirky and original characters.  There isn't much action in the book but the unfolding landscape keeps the reader interested.

Appropriateness:  There isn't anything in this book that would upset parents.  There is absolutely no romance and although the orphanage is creepy and horrible there isn't any violence.  The almost exclusively male cast makes this a book that young boys will enjoy.  I would recommend this book to kids 10-14.

Crewel

Crewel by Gennifer Albin takes place in a dystopian world that is controlled manufactured and regulated.  The world is manipulated by spinsters, women who have the ability to weave the fabric of the world.  Adelice knows she has this ability to weave but has been told to hide it her entire life.  When her ability is spotted during a test the government comes for her.

This was an interesting mix of magic and dystopia in a book that left me guessing.  Adelice is a very talented girl who is able to scheme and hold her own without needing a man to tell her what to do.  There's a nice love triangle which doesn't bug me as most love triangles do.  The book ended on a cliffhanger but also had quite a bit of finality.  I looked forward to reading this book and finished it quickly.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  There is some talk of purity and the government maintaining and enforcing standards regarding sex and procreation and some great room for thought on what life means and control vs free will.  Adelice is in her late teens and the book is written for the older YA reader (however there is no inappropriate content for younger readers).  I would recommend this book for readers 14+ and the adult crossover audience.

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Malcolm at Midnight

Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck with illustrations by Brian Lies tells the story of Malcom a classroom rat.  After arriving at McKenna school he soon finds himself part of a caper involving a secret society of school pets, and evil cat and a kidnapped iguana.  Malcolm must use his smarts and wits and his human friends to clear his name and to help save the school.

I loved this book.  Malcom was delightful and his relationships with the other pets and his classmates were fun to read.  The book is narrated by a mystery writer to the teacher and there are lots of footnotes defining the vocabulary words that the narrator adds to the story.  The book has a bit of everything friendship, adventure, mystery and even a touch of romance and the pictures are fantastic. I tore through the book enchanted at every turn, this is a book I will be buying for gifts.

Appropriateness:  This is a fantastic book that will be enjoyed by the middle grade audience.  It will appeal equally to girls and boys (Malcolm is a boy but his best student friend is a girl) and has some great vocabulary for growing readers.  I would recommend this book to readers 10-14 and it is fully appropriate for younger advanced readers. 

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Deadly Pink

Deadly Pink by Vivian Vande Velde takes place in a virtual reality fantasy game.  When Grace's mother comes and gets her from school she learns that her sister Emily is stuck inside a game that she created and slowly dying.  Grace is needed to go inside and retrieve Emily, a task that shouldn't take more than a few minutes.  When Grace enters the game she finds a pretty pink wonderland created for little girls but she finds that rescuing her sister is far more difficult than she could imagine.

This book was odd and after thinking about it I think the problem was the foundation of gaming.  The story within the game was a fun fantasy read and I loved following Grace as she outwitted the characters to rescue her sister.  The story outside the game was predictable and took away from the fantasy.  I think if instead of reality gaming the story was pure fantasy involving a trip to fairy land it would have worked much better.  I did like the story and I finished the book fairly quickly (and I've been in a mood lately where I'm dumping books half way through) but I won't be rushing to read another story that takes place in the virtual gaming world.  The suicide plot makes the book inappropriate for the tween audience who would enjoy the fantasy world of the game.

Appropriateness:  There is quite a bit of talk of suicide in this book.  It is handled well with the repercussions to outside family members being addressed and reasons why it's not ok.  Other than that there is no adult content.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

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In the Bag

In the Bag by Kate Klise tells the story of four people who meet through circumstance.  Two single parents, Daisy and Andrew traveling to Europe with their kids Webb and Coco.  When the kids discover their bags have become switched they quickly start up an internet romance and are anxious to meet.  When they concoct a way to meet in Paris while their parents are working they don't know that their parents are meeting in Spain at Webb's art exhibit.

This was a fun book that would be perfect for a mother daughter book club.  It straddles the line between YA and Adult with separate narrations and could be easily stocked in either section.  I sped through this book delighted by both romances and the fun set of circumstances that gets both couples together.  This is a fun light beach read that mom's can share with their daughters.

Appropriateness:  This is a book that older teen readers and adults will love.  It does not have any sex scenes and neither set of couples move further than kisses.  Coco does think about having sex with Webb because she thinks he'll expect it rather than because it's something she really wants to do (boo) and makes sure she's prepared by buying condoms (yay) but they don't because they don't get that comfortable with each other.  The two kids also make some rather stupid mistakes when it comes to meeting someone that they'd met on the internet (good chance for parents to go over internet safety) and while they do meet in a public place she then takes him to the apartment she's staying in.  I would recommend this book to readers 16+ but would not find it even the least bit controversial (provided you use it as an example for internet safety) for high school aged readers.

Jump into the Sky

Jump into the Sky by Shelly Pearsall takes place at the end of World War Two.  The book follows Levi whose aunt has shipped him from Chicago to North Carolina to meet up with his father who is in the military.  Levi encounters hatred and fear in a Jim Crow era south.  He also meets some very kind people who help him and finally is able to meet up with his father, a member of an elite paratrooper squadron in Washington State.

This is a fantastic piece of historical fiction that kids will enjoy and provides plenty of room for exploration.  I was fascinated by the story of the paratrooper company and the descriptions of Jim Crow era south are chilling.  This is a nice addition to the group of children's books that take place in the time period and it provides a different perspective portraying the African American experience making it a must buy for middle school libraries and classroom.  I finished the book quickly and was always interested in what would happen next. 

Appropriateness:  There are some harsh racial overtones that a young reader would probably need to discuss.  I would recommend this book to readers 11+ (although it is not inappropriate for older elementary schoolers, just very heavy).

Princess Academy Palace of Stone

Palace of Stone is the sequel to Princess Academy by Shannon Hale.  This book follows Miri as she heads to the palace to study in the university there.  While there she learns that things are not as good in the kingdom as she initially thought.  The people are upset by the selfishness of the royal family and begin a call for revolution.  Will Miri be able to save her friend the new princess while also changing what is wrong about their kingdom?

This book like Princess Academy was perfect.  It's politics and philosophy inside a pretty package with a sweet heroine who wants the best for everyone.  I tore through this book always excited to see what was next while reveling in the magical world.

Appropriateness:  This is a sweet book that will appeal to a broad audience.  It is written for the middle grade audience (10-14) but is interesting and deep enough for older readers if they can get past the title of the book.  The romance is sweet and innocent, nothing that would turn off young readers.  I would recommend this book to readers 10+

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First Comes Love

First Comes Love by Katie Kavinsky tells the love story of Grey a troubled boy who is happy to stay in the shadow until he meets Dylan a pushy girl who is visiting his town and looking to experience something new.  Grey who at first is irritated by Dylan slowly finds himself caring about her and she help him heal and move on with his life.

I liked this book.  It's a nice contemporary romance that has very real characters who aren't popular or absurdly rich.  The romance is realistic and passionate and I really enjoyed both of the characters come to understand themselves.  I finished the book quickly.

Appropriateness:  This is a book that's written for and about older teens.  Both Grey and Dylan are high school graduates who are taking community college courses and they act their age.  The relationship eventually grows sexual and there are lots of mentions of condoms (yay!).  I would recommend this book to readers 16+

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Viola in the Spotlight

Viola in the Spotlight by Adriana Trigani is the second book following filmmaker Viola.  Viola has returned from boarding school to spend the summer with her parents and friends.  She plans on spending time with her two best friends and is unhappy to find that they've already made summer plans.  Viola then throws herself into many projects (filming them all) including an internship with her grandmothers broadway show that is opening.  How will she handle her best friend Andrew who wants to be more than a best friend and another friend using her to sneak around with a boy, can she live all summer without the roommates she's grown to see as sisters?

I love Viola and her friends.  This book transported us to a new setting and gave us some new characters (while keeping the old).  Viola experiences highlights and low times over the summer.  She's a strong girl who isn't boy crazy and who cares about her filmmaking and helping out her friends.  I sped through the book and loved reading Viola's story.

Appropriateness:  This is a great contemporary novel that young adult readers will enjoy.  There is no adult content in the book and Viola's attitudes towards relationships in the series is refreshing when compared to most boy crazy heroine.  I would recommend this book to readers 11-15 however it is not inappropriate for younger readers (although Viola is 14 and in high school).

Smart Girls Get What They Want

Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer follows Gigi a super smart girl who decides to make a change in her life after discovering how much of a nobody her friends older sister was in high school.  Gigi and her friends slowly loosen up and become part of the high school community while maintaining their strict academics and experience some love on the side.

This was a fantastic book.  Gigi is smart and a strong and unapologetic.  While she does change during the break she never at any point allows herself to compromise her ideals or what is important to her.  The romance was sweet and had me smiling until the end with a love triangle that really worked.  I finished this book quicky and couldn't put it down.

Appropriateness:  This book is able to maintain an older teen feel while still remaining completely innocent and appropriate for younger readers.  There is no adult content.   Gigi is the girl that all of us wish our daughters would be, smart and demanding and unwilling to give up anything for a boy.  The romance is sweet and limited to a few kisses.   I'd recommend this book to readers 13+ who are fans of romance and chic lit.

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Rebel McKenzie

Rebel McKenzie by Candice Ransom follows twelve year old Rebel who is sent off to live with her poor sister to spend the summer babysitting her nephew after running away because she was upset about not being able to go to paleontology camp.  Rebel finds out that things are very difficult for her sister who is attending beauty school after a divorce.  The trailer is small and there isn't a lot of food.  She makes friends with the neighbors, decides to enter a pageant and end up making a difference in a lot of lives.

This is a great book that kids will love.  It's so nice to read a book with a character that is not excessively rich (that isn't specifically about poverty).  While some of the money situations are a bit difficult to read about it's not the focus of the book and it's not written to be tragic, just the setting for everything.  There's a great set of original characters including the two neighbor girls, one who is a snotty reigning pageant queen and the other who is a mess after the loss of her mother.  My only complaint about the book was that the ending wrapped up a little perfectly with some obnoxious behavior being rewarded. 

Appropriateness:  This is an easy and quick read that will be enjoyed by it's intended audience of 9-12 year old girls (although it's a little flighty for readers older than that).  The book will provide parents with a good opportunity to talk about poverty with their kids and how we take things for granted that others have to struggle to obtain.  There is no adult content, romance or violence.

Sirenz Back in Fashion

Sirenz Back in Fashion by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman is the sequel to Sirenz.  This series follows Shar and Meg who once again have found themselves in unwilling service to Hades again.  Shar is swept away to the underworld.  While there her existence is completely missing from Meg's world, replaced by rich girl Paulina whom Meg has to trick into wearing the golden fleece which will send her to Hades.

This was a nice sequel to Sirenz and felt like it's own book that could stand on its own.  I missed the interaction between the girls as they were separated for most of the book.  I found myself giggling at the humor in the books and the wacky situations that the girls got themselves into.  The twist at the end was perfect.  I finished the book quickly and enjoyed it as much as the first in the series.

Appropriateness:  This is one of those rare books that is written for older teens and is not only completely free of adult content but also has very light romance making it appropriate for younger readers who want to read something a little more sophisticated.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

The Lost Code

The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson takes place in a post apocalyptic wasteland.  Owen has won a place in a summer camp that takes place inside a protective dome.  However soon after starting he drowns.  After being saved he wakes up in the clinic and then soon finds that he has a big secret.  A secret that must be kept from those in charge and one that could save the world.

This is an interesting mash-up of mythology and dystopia.  Owen lives in a land that's almost uninhabitable and he finds that an ancient secret that lies in his DNA could be the secret to changing it all.  I enjoyed this book but found it bumpy at times.  The mythology was a little out there and forced at times and the dystopia wasn't fully explained.  Owen was a great main character and there were several strong supporting characters.  I finished the book quickly.

Appropriateness:  This book has no adult content.  It felt like an older YA book that older teens will enjoy without having an excess amount of romance (to turn off the boys), violence and there is no sex or substance abuse.  It has a main character who is male making this a book that will appeal to male readers (it also has a fairly strong female lead although most of the girls are just a giggling herd).  I would recommend this book to fans of dystopian and fantasy 13+

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Princess of the Wild Swans

Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler is a retelling of the Six Swans.  The story follows Meriel the only daughter in the kings household.  She adores her brothers and when her father comes home with a new wife who seems to resent their existence Meriel becomes worried.  After the new Queen sends her brothers to school Meriel is suspicious.  When she finds a new group of swans on the lake that seem like her brothers she knows that something is wrong.  She soon finds out that they've been enchanted and she must make them shirts out of stinging nettles and remain silent until the task is done.

This is a wonderful retelling.  Zahler does a fantastic job with these retellings in a way that makes them perfect for the middle grade readers who love princesses but have no desire to read a romantic story.  This book is full of magic, suspense and girl power.  I finished the book quickly and had a huge smile on my face when it was over.

Appropriateness:  This is a fantastic middle grade book that is also great for younger advanced readers.  The story is fun and interesting full of evil queens and princesses without the usual romance that you would find in fairytale retellings.  There is some nice vocabulary the lexile is 819.  I would recommend this book to readers 9-13 with the book being short and interesting enough for a read aloud.    

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare follows Ella, a scholarship student at a fancy private school where she is spending her senior year doing a research project on an artist whose life she is obsessed with.  When a fellow art student and popular kid Alex tutors her in French she is unable to believe that he is really attracted to her.

I liked large portions of this book but there were a few plot points that bugged me.  The art portion of the plot however I didn't like and I found myself skipping and skimming the sections regarding her research and obsession with the artist.  I loved the romance and Ella's struggles with her body image.  The characters were fantastic from Ella's friends and family and even her teachers.

Appropriateness:  This is a great romance that older teens will enjoy.  There is no sex but there is some nudity (in a scene regarding a scar of Ella's) and kissing.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

Red Heart Tattoo

Red Heart Tattoo by Lurlene McDaniel tells the story of several students that are involved in a school bombing.  The book focuses mostly on Roth a boy with a troubled past who rushes in to save victims of the bombing and Morgan the class president whom he saves and whom is blinded in the bombing.  The students must figure out how to heal and move on after the horrible tragedy.

While I enjoyed this book and was very interested in how everything would work out I also found myself frustrated by the format.  The story follows several different characters, bouncing from one to another without headings to tell the reader who they are following.  However, aside from this it was a very good story with realistic and diverse characters dealing with everyday problems and pressures in addition to tragedy.

Appropriateness:  This is a tough book that puts teens in tough situations.  The teens are in their last year of high school and act their age.  The book follows one of the teens that orchestrates the bombing and other teens deal with the pressure to have sex, teen pregnancy and minor law breaking.  There is some heavy petting but no actual sex.  I would recommend this book to teens 14+

Review Copy provided by netgalley

Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo follows Ravka a girl who lives in a fantasy world that has echos of ancient Russia.  Ravka is in the Army working as a mapmaker when her best friend is attacked which releases a dormant power that she didn't know she had.  She finds out that she's a Grisha one of a group of magic makers and her power is one that can save her country from the darkness that has enveloped it's borders.  She's whisked away to the palace to learn to control her powers and finds it's more than she's imagined.

I really liked this book.  The setting was rich and the mythology fully formed.  I found myself really interested in learning about Ravka's world and really pushing for her to take control of her powers and herself.  While she made some bad decisions she didn't have the stupidity issues that a lot of female characters do in YA.  The love triangle really worked.  My only problem was that I wished that I had a glossary with explanations of all the specialized terms and titles that the author used through the book that I couldn't keep up with (and this may have been added in the final version, I had an advanced copy).  I finished the book quickly and am excited to read the next chapter in the series.

Appropriateness:  There is a bit of questionable romance in the book with the main character developing a relationship with a guy who is much (centuries?) older than she is.  The relationship read to me as super creepy and the other side of the love triangle is a boy who is age appropriate.  There is no other adult content.  The characters ages are not clear but they appear to be young adults and the story would appeal to readers 13+

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Don't You Wish

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire begins with Annie unhappy with her life.  She's unpopular, her father is a horder whose inventions never work and poor.  While shopping her mother finds a picture of her ex-boyfriends wonderful mansion and comments that it could have been hers.  The next day Annie wakes up in a new bed in a new house and a whole new life with her Mom but a different Dad.  Ayla's life is completly different, she is rich and popular and spoiled.  Will Ayla get back to her old life?  Does she want to?

I really liked this book.  Annie is put in that place that everyone wonders.  Who would I be if my life was different?  Annie is faced with a huge amount of peer pressure as she is placed into a life that she never imagined and wasn't prepared for.  What is she to do with a father that expects her to sell out her mother, with a boyfriend who pressures her for sex and with friends who expect her to drink,shoplift do drugs and treat unpopular people horribly?  I loved watching Annie deal with these pressures and decide for herself what was right and what is worth taking a risk for and what is worth giving up.

Appropriateness:  This book contains a lot of adult content but it's dealt with in a way that makes it appropriate for even young teens as Annie faces the pressure to have sex, do drugs (hard drugs), bully and shoplift in very admirable ways.  Annie does drink a couple times because of the peer pressure but she makes sure not to drink very much and does not get drunk.  I would recommend this book to teens 13+ and would encourage parents of young teens to use the peer pressure lessons as a learning tool.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter is the fifth book in the Gallagher Girls Series.  This series follows Cammie Morgan who goes to a school that trains teenage girls to be spies.  Cammie wakes up at a convent with a huge chunk of her memory missing.  She remembers leaving school but does not remember anything after that.  Cammie returns to her school and her friends who are furious at her for leaving and tries to fit in while also trying to find out what happened when she was gone.

I loved this book.  The author has done a wonderful job with this series which started out light and fun and has gotten darker and more mature through the series.  I sped through the book, reading it quickly and can't wait for the next book to come out.

Appropriateness:  While this book is more mature than some of the first in the series it is still completely appropriate for the middle school aged reader.  There's a bit more violence than in earlier books but the romance is still light and flirty.  I would recommend this series to readers 11+

The Little Woods

The Little Woods by McCormick Templeman follows Cally who is new at St Bede's academy, the place where Cally's sister went missing years before.  Cally finds out when she moves into her room that the girl whose bed she is sleeping in disappeared earlier in the year.   Callie makes her way through the politics of private school dealing with friends, romance while trying to figure out the mystery of the missing girls.

I didn't expect much when I started the book but I've always been a fan of boarding school books so I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised.  I found myself engrossed and entertained even thinking about the mystery when I put the book down.  Cally was an interesting character, a quirky girl on the outskirts of the social scene.  This is a fun and creepy book that older teens will enjoy.

Appropriateness:  This book is full of adult content.  There are a lot of drunken parties and there is a lot of pot smoking and talk of other drugs, casual sex (with a condom), cheating and a teacher/student relationship.  Our main character for the most part stays away from the alcohol and drugs, making excuses to not drink and drinking small amounts so others don't know she's not drinking.  I would recommend this book to readers 16+ and use the book as a starting point for a discussion on peer pressure.

Review copy provided by netgalley