A Girl Named Digit

A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan follows Farrah a math wiz who finds herself tangled up with the FBI after cracking a code that detected a terrorist attack.  Farrah has never been normal.  She's not just a math wiz but has a compulsion to order everything in her life.  After having a hard time with bullies in middle school she decides to hide who she is in High School.  She lives an unhappy life, lying to everyone and herself about who she is until the unthinkable happens.  After cracking a code of numbers that appear on television a plane is bombed at the local airport and she realizes that she could have prevented it.  She goes to the FBI and finds herself running from the terrorists while trying to crack the code to prevent another bombing and dealing with her attraction to her young FBI handler.

I loved this book.  It was cute and funny and I loved Farrah learning to come to terms with the intelligence that she had always hidden before.  It reminded me a lot of Meg Cabot's Vanished series (which is also awesome, go read those if you haven't already) in tone.  A cool and interesting mystery and a special ability combined with a sexy older (but not too much older) love interest.  I tore through this book and hope that there are more Digit books in the future.

Appropriateness:  At the beginning of the book we are introduced to the life that Farrah isn't happy with which includes going to parties and drinking (but she does not get drunk) and making out with guys (which she describes as unappealing).  The FBI agent/love interest is older than her (she is seventeen and he is 21) and the age (minor/adult) difference between the two is mentioned frequently as a major obstacle.  There is no sex and the physical nature of their relationship is limited to kissing although the two do spend the night in the same room (and on the same couch) while they are on the run.  I would recommend this book for teens 13+ and encourage parents to use it as a starting point to discuss being yourself and also to discuss statutory rape and the reason that teen/adult relationships are not appropriate and illegal and why exactly it was so important for John that they wait on their relationship until Farrah turned eighteen.

Review copy provided by Amazon Vine

Rough Waters

Rough Waters by S. L. Rottman follows Scott who along with his brother Gregg is uprooted to Colorado after the death of his parents to live with an uncle that he has never met.  His uncle runs a white water rafting company and has trouble making ends meet and puts them to work in his company. While Scott is open to the experience Greg is resentful and rebellious.

This is a wonderful book that's full of realistic action and will really appeal to teen boys.  Greg is a character that teens will be able to relate to, one that wants to do the right thing but stumbles and gives into peer pressure at times.  There are plenty of lessons to be learned in the book but it's the rafting scenes that really shine.  The reader can picture themselves on the raft, going on rafting trips and facing danger on a daily basis.  This book is a bit old and there are some things that are dated (like not being able to afford a long distance phone call) but the message and story is still exciting and relevant.

 Appropriateness:  Greg's older brother gets into a lot of trouble in the book.  He drinks and smokes, breaks the law and is disrespectful to women.  This is all viewed as negative and destructive and an example of how not to behave and Scott for the most part is a very good kid.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+ with a special emphasis on boys and reluctant readers.

Review Copy provided by Netgalley

 

Happy Families

Happy Families by Tanita Davis follows twins Ysabel and Nicholas as they spend spring break with their father who have recently learned of their father's secret, that he is transgender.  The book is told in alternating voices as the twins spend time with their father, the first in months and try come to terms with their father's new life and try to heal their family.

This was a very good social issues book.  Introducing teens to an issue that they are not familiar with in a way that is interesting and relateable.  While I was not rushing to finish the book I had no problem finishing it and I found myself caring about the characters and hoping for a happy ending.  The author doesn't provide a happy ending but does provide a hopeful one.  This is a book that needs to be on library shelves.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in the book.  The author does a good job talking about transgender persons and the differences even providing a glossary in the back of different terms and resources for more information.  I would recommend this book to teens 12+

Review copy provided by Netgalley

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm follows Libby who has a summer internship at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum running the camp for girls (in period costume).  Her summer is filled with evil co-workers, handsome boys, cute kids and a ghostly mystery.

This is a delightfully fun chic lit romance.  The type of book that makes you smile.  Libby is a smart and confident girl who isn't afraid to be different.  Cam and Garret the two men in her life are both equally charming (at times) and seem like real people.  The only negative is that the book is rather short (around 200 pages) however that is a plus for reluctant readers or readers who want a quick read.

Appropriateness:    There is quite a bit of drunken behavior by one of the side characters.  The alcohol is used to make him appear to be a bad person.  Libby takes a beer at one point, drinks a sip as to not cause a scene (complains about it) and then trades it for rootbeer.  The romances are limited to kissing and are sweet and funny.  While the book feels mature enough for older readers (with characters that seem like older high schoolers) it is appropriate for the middle school audience.  I recommend this book to readers 12+

Chomp

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen follows Wahoo a boy whose father is an animal wrangler.  When a reality show contacts Wahoo's father Micky about providing animals to set up a survivalist's show he is reluctant but agrees because he needs to pay the bills.  Will Wahoo and Micky be able to handle the arrogant Derek Badger?

I loved this book.  It was engaging and funny without being afraid to tackle some heavy subjects.  I loved the setting with all of the animals and Derek Badger the fake survivalist and his reality show made for some really funny reading.  It reminded me of one of those great family movies that has you laughing throughout.  I sped though the book and was happy with the nice solid ending that wrapped everything up.

Appropriateness:  This book tackles some very difficult subjects but does so in a way that's age appropriate.  Wahoo's friend Tuna comes with them because her father who is a drunk who gave her a black eye.  Wahoo's family has dealt with financial difficulties due to his unemployment due to a medical disability.  I would recommend this book to readers 10-14 it's a nice starting point to talk about child and substance abuse and what to do if they suspect a friend is in trouble.

Review copy provided by Amazon Vine

The Sisters Grimm

The Fairy Tale Detectives, the first book in the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley follows Sabrina and her sister Daphne who move in with their grandmother in a very strange town.  They immediately notice that there is something strange in the house and town.  They soon find out that the town they live in is filled with fairytale characters and they must solve a mystery to save their grandmother from a giant that is tearing up the town.

This is a fun series that intermediate and middle grade readers will enjoy.  It's got two spunky female characters who are self reliant and smart.  The mystery combines the familiar tales with an imaginative spin and also introduces the fact that the sanitized versions that our kids were introduced to are different than the originals which were much scarier. 

Appropriateness:  This is a great book for readers who have graduated into full chapter books.  The reading level is about 4.5 (lexile 840) and the book is just over three hundred pages.  The story has some minor violence (of the action variety) but is not very scary.  While the two main characters are female there are several male characters that boys will like and there is not even a hint of romance.  I would recommend this book to boys and girls 9-13 (or younger readers who can handle the size of the book).  It is interesting enough that it will work as a read aloud and first in a multi book series.

Ladies in Waiting

Ladies in Waiting by Ms. Laura L. Sullivan follows three girls named Elizabeth (Zabby, Beth and Eliza) who have positions as ladies in waiting for Queen Catherine right after her wedding to King Charles the II.  The three girls must learn to navigate through the ways of the court and figure out what they are going to do with their lives.  Will they be forced to live the life that someone else chooses for them or will they be able to make their own decisions.  Choose who they love.

I enjoyed this book, it had parties and great dresses and everything a reader wants when reading this type of historical romance.  It has enough history to make the reader want to do a little research but not so much that the reader feels like they're in history class. The three girls were great friends and each had their own issue to overcome which showed a different part of their society.  The story however was slow at times.  I felt like I was reading a 550 page book when in fact the book was under 400 pages. 

Appropriateness:  This book didn't feel like a young adult book however, it did feel like the historical romance novels that I read when I was a teen (except without the sex).  It was not a fast read and there was some MASSIVE vocabulary (words that can be figured out in context but many that I was not familiar with).  There wasn't any sex however, there was an obsessive amount of talk of virginity and sex as it related to the girls in their time period.  I would recommend this book to readers 14+

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin follows Kelsey at the start of her freshman year.  Kelsey gets through her freshmen year dealing with the soccer team, fights with friends, a surprise role in the school musical and even a bit of romance.

This is a delightfully funny book that I loved.  Kelsey is a smart and funny and the disasters that happen to her seem realistic.  Kelsey is a girl who has to deal with a lot of real problems in the best way she knows how.  She's got great friends and isn't afraid to get into her school activities.  There's a little side plot regarding her friends possible homosexuality that was dealt with beautifully.  I laughed so hard while reading this book at one point I had to stop reading I was laughing so hard.  I finished the book quickly and would be thrilled to read another book by this author.

Appropriateness:  Kelsey and her friends drink when they're alone together and they drink at parties often getting very drunk and it is clear that they started drinking in middle school.  The romance consists of a few kisses and one situation where a boy gets too handsy with Kelsey (and she pushes him off).  I'd recommend this book to teens 13+ and use it to talk to your child about teen drinking.

The Thirteenth Princess

The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler is a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses (and yes, this is probably the fifth retelling of this tale that I've read, I can't get enough).  In this retelling the star is Zita, the thirteenth princess who was raised as a servant after her mother died during her childbirth.  Zita has to solve the mystery of her sister's illness and has a little romance on the side as she grows up.

I loved this retelling.  It was sweet and romantic (in a way that was very appropriate for young readers) and full of magic.  Zita made for a fantastic heroine who orchestrates the rescue with the help of a few friends.  I also liked that the author took out the creepy part of the story (the rescuer being able to marry any princess) and just gave us a soldier whom had a mutual affection for the oldest sister.  This is an easy and quick read.

Appropriateness:  This is a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages..  There is a bit of a romance between Zita and Brekin which is sweet and innocent.  The lexile is 850 putting it on a sixth grade reading level making it a great book for middle school readers and advanced older elementary students.

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelly Coriell tells the story of Chloe who suddenly looses her social standing when she is frozen out by her best friend.  Chloe becomes part of the school radio station for her independent study project.  Chloe becomes friends with people she never would have talked to before and her radio show gets the station the publicity that it needs.

I really enjoyed the book. Chloe was a great person who was able to handle her loss of popularity with class and find herself a new place to fit in.  I loved the relationship that she had with her grandmother and the romance was sweet and did not monopolize the plot.  I sped through the book remaining interested throughout.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  Chloe is a Junior in high school and acts her age.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

Review copy provided by netgalley