The Karma Club

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody stars Maddie who finds herself upset after her boyfriend cheats on her with a popular girl at school.  Maddie, upset that nothing bad has come onto those who have done her and her friends such harm have decided to enact their own bit of Karma.  They start a Karma club to enact vengeance on those who have wronged her.

I had real mixed feelings on this book.  On one hand it was fun and snarky in a mean girls type of way.  On the other hand I found myself hating Maddie more and more with each chapter as the pranks she pulled on her enemies (and her treatment of her friends) gets more and more extreme. Maddie's obsession with popularity also didn't win me over to her corner.  I was satisfied with the ending and think my problems with the book had as much to do with my age as anything else.

Appropriateness:  This is a fun and quirky book that teens will love full of lawbreaking and moral ambiguity.  As long as readers understand that the book is fiction and fantasy I wouldn't worry about them seeing it as more than an outlet to imagine themselves in the same situation doing horrible things to their enemies.  There is quite a bit of talk of sex but no actual sex (just some making out).  I recommend this book to readers 13+

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Middle Ground

Middle Ground is the second book in the Awaken series by Katie Kacvinsky.  This book stars Maddie who is supposed to have integrated back into regular society after her brush with the law protesting digital school.  After causing a commotion by hacking into a night club Maddie finds herself locked in a detention center for youths who are not integrating into digital society.  This detention center is stuff of nightmares.  Can Maddie survive?  Will she able to change things for others in her same situation.

I liked this book.  It did a good job of continuing the story without feeling like the story had stalled or that we had left the dystopian society that we were introduced to in the last book.  Maddie did occasionally frustrate me.  Her actions were in some situations so stupid that it made you wonder how she managed to stay alive.  Her total inability to realize that others were going to notice what she was doing was very frustrating at many points in the book.

Appropriateness:  The romance in the book does not get sexual but it does get a bit close (and one could imagine that it was sexual, it's a bit vague).  The main plot revolves around drugs that make the user hallucinate.  I would recommend the book to readers 13+

Leaving Fishers

Leaving Fishers by Margaret Peterson Haddix follows Dorry who is feeling unliked and alone after her family moves to a new town. After meeting Angela and her group of friends she finally feels accepted.  She then agrees to attend a church party with her new friends and then she slowly becomes wrapped up in their religion, the Fishers.  While things at the beginning seem bright and wonderful they soon get harsher and more demanding of Dorry's time and energy to the point where she is putting her academics and her family relationships at risk.

This is an interesting book that shows readers how cults slowly brainwash new members while also dispelling the myth that cults are always worshipers of strange religions by making the Fishers a Christian Cult.  The author also makes sure to emphasize that faith wasn't the problem, it was the specific religion.  I enjoyed this book and remained interested throughout.  My only complaint is that the book ended too quickly. I would have preferred a longer resolution to the story as it ended very quickly and without as much drama as there should have been.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  There are a few mentions of sex but not in regards to anything the characters are doing. I would encourage parents to use this book as an opportunity to talk to their kids about cults, religion and faith.  I recommend this book to readers 12+

Meet Mammoth

Ogg and Bob Meet Mammoth by Ian Fraser and Mary Ann Fraiser is an easy to read beginning chapter book.  This book stars Ogg and Bob who decide to adopt a Mammoth.  The two talk in cave man speak which makes the book much more simple for young readers.  The several chapters are easy to read and in full color and silly enough to make kids ask for more.

I would recommend this book to readers 5-8

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Give the Dog a Bone

Give The Dog a Bone is a terrific folk song/counting book that kids will love.  The author takes a great twist on the original song adding several suprises while still maintaining the singability of the text.  The variety of old men made my first graders giggle (one is dressed like a cat, one runs away from a swarm of bees) and the surprise ending (raptors hatching from the eggs) made my class laugh and laugh and laugh.  For the independent reader there are many dogs to count (with a listing of how many of each kinds are in the book) and the comic book bubbles throughout add some entertainment.

This book will be enjoyed by kids from 3-8.

Professor Atlas and the Summoning Dagger

I handed this one off to a delightful fourth grader who loved it

Professor Atlas and the Summoning Dagger by Paul Maguireis about two boys Brandon and Tyler who partnered up in a competition to have the chance of a lifetime to try to find the Summoning Dagger of Mercastus with Professer Fielding Atlas, world famous explorer and archaeologist.  When they win thhey travel to England to the site where the Hallswich Castle once stood.  While there they meet some friends and find the summoning dagger which transports them back in time.  Will they be able to find their way back to their homes?

This is a fantastic book that is both fun and exciting.  The student that I gave the book to could not stop talking about how exciting it was and how she read it very quickly.

Appropriateness:  This book features two strong male characters that boys will be able to relate to and has plenty of action to keep them interested.  I would reccomend this book for readers 10-14.

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The Little Vampire

The Little Vampire by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg follows Tony who doesn't have a lot of friends.  One day Tony gets a mysterious visitor in his room.  A vampire that's his age!  Tony then gets to go on adventures with his new vampire friend.


This is an adorable childrens book that short and fun to read.  It's got all the excitement for a kid that want something scary without actually being scary.  It's a nice quick read that kids (and their parents) will enjoy.

Appropriateness:  This book is a beginning chapter book, appropriate for kids reading around the third grade level.  It is interesting enough to be used as a read aloud and is perfect for the kid who likes monsters but does not want to be really scared.

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The Wrap Up List

The Wrap-Up List by Steven Arntson follows Gabriella who lives in a world where some people are taken by death who writes them a letter and gives them time to wrap up their lives.  They then write a list of their wishes and they have a chance to receive a pardon if they can guess their death's weakness.  When Gabriella receives her letter she makes a few unusual requests.  She wants a first kiss for her best friends and herself. 

I enjoyed this book but for it to be flawed in its setting.  The book took place with a timeline that wasn't logical and didn't make sense, Gabriella's grandfather was in world war two but the political situation in the book (a coming war making a great draft necessary) didn't work with that timeline.  The meat of the book however was fantastic.  I loved the mythology behind the deaths.  There was a great range of characters of different demographics who were well represented, from her best friend who comes out as a lesbian to the Hispanic Catholic faith of Gabriella and her family and the quirkiness of Hercule her death.  The innate sweetness of the book made me smile at the end.

Appropriateness:  There is a bit of alcohol use in the book, it is not glorified and it's made quite obvious that it's Gabriella's first time drinking.  The romance is sweet.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+

A Smidgen of Sky

A Smidgen of Sky by Donna Dorisi Winget follows ten year old Piper whose Mother is getting remarried.  Piper doesn't want a new father or a new stepsister.  Her father went missing after a plane crash when she was young and Piper still hasn't come to terms with his death.  After making some questionable decisions Piper realizes the mistakes that she has made and how she cares for her future stepfather and stepsister.  Can she fix things?

This is a delightful middle grade novel that hits the topics of divorce and remarriage, honesty and internet safety.  Piper was a great character, a girl in love with planes who is helpful to her neighbors.  I was engrossed in the story and finished it quickly.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book and there is a nice lesson on internet safety embedded in the story that is not too preachy.  I recommend this book to readers 9-12.

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The Poodle and the Pea

The Poodle and the Pea by Charlotte Guillain is a delightful retelling of the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea where all the characters are dogs instead of poodles.

This is an adorable book that kids will love.  The pictures are cute and silly and the story is very simple.  My favorite part is the afterword that encourages readers to retell the story in their own version and gives another simple retelling of the original story.

Appropriateness:  This is a very easy to read story that kids will love.  I would recommend it to readers 2-7 and teachers who are looking for books to illustrate how folk tales can be retold in different ways and change through time. 

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Flood

Flood by Alvaro Villa is a wordless picture book that tells of a family surviving a storm and a flood which destroys their home.

I really enjoyed this book and think that it will be a help to kids who are going through storm damage or who have witnessed it on the news.  While the damage is scary the story ultimately has a happy ending.

Appropriateness:  I would recommend this book to young readers of any age.  It is a terrific wordless picture book that could be a classic for years to come.

Review copy provided by Netgalley

Monster Knows Numbers

Monster Knows Numbers by Lori Capote is an adorable counting book that kids will love.  Each page has a different thing in Monster's room to count.  The pictures are adorable and well drawn and the text is easy to follow and read. 

This book is appropriate for ages 0-4

Dancing in the Dark

Dancing in the Dark by Robyn Bavati is a beautiful coming of age story about Ditty, a girl who is raised in a very Orthodox Jewish household who wants nothing more than to dance. After asking her parents if she can take ballet and being told no due to her religion she takes matters into her own hands. Ditty lies to her parents and starts attending classes working to pay her tuition and supplies on her own. Will she be able to achieve her dream of being a dancer and if she does will her parents support her choices and how will she handle the constraints of her religion with the requirements of ballet?




This is a beautiful book that I could not put down. It starts when Ditty is just twelve and follows her till she is eighteen. She makes hard choices and decisions for herself about her life and her religion while keeping her family in the dark. I could not put this book down finding myself engrossed throughout. The author provides a nice note to readers about her experiences growing up as a Jewish dancer along with a note that Ditty's family is not meant to represent all Orthodox or Jewish families.


Appropriateness: There is no adult content in this book. Although Ditty does lie to her parents in order to fulfill her dreams she maintains respectful to their beliefs and the beliefs of others. I would recommend this book to readers 13+

 Review copy provided by netgalley

Rapunzel Untangled

Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C Bennett follows Rapunzel a girl who believes that she has a terrible illness that makes it necessary for her to be isolated, living in a tower away from society.  While looking up something on the internet she stumbles upon facebook and soon forms a relationship with a local boy.  Luckily he turns out not to be a serial killer and she invites him to climb up into her tower and the two fall in love causing her to question everything her mother has told her about herself.

I wasn't expecting much when I started this little book but soon found myself unable to put it down.  The mix of the traditional and the contemporary worked very well and the additions to the story were perfect.  Rapunzel was innocent without being stupid and her handsome prince was kind and swoonworthy. 

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  Rapunzel does attend one "teen" party but it is made clear to readers that she drinks a root beer and does not have any alchohol  There is the whole plot point of inviting a boy that she has met on facebook to meet her at her house which is a bit troublesome and should invite some discussion of what could have happened.  I would recommend this book to readers 11-14.  It's got quite a bit of romance and kissing (which is not too detailed) but it also has a fair amount of adventure. 

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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.

Review Copy Provided by Amazon Vine