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.   

Review copy provided by Amazon Vine

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+