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+

Review Copy provided by netgalley

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.

Review Copy Provided by Amazon Vine