Catch Rider

Catch Rider by Jennifer H. Lyne tells the story of Sid, a poor girl living in an unstable family who has a gift for riding horses.  When she gets a job working as a groom at a wealthy stable she ends up competing in a riding competition so the owner can show off her horse.  All she's ever wanted is to compete but with the financial barriers and her family instability it seems impossible.

This is a great book with a complicated character that you can't help but root for.  Sid's family life is difficult and her ability to deal with abuse and poverty makes what could be a fluffy horse novel very engrossing.  I couldn't put the book down and finished it quickly.

Appropriateness:  There's a lot of difficult and traumatic situations in this book due to Sid's family such as severe poverty, alcohol, domestic and child abuse.  The main character steers clear of adult behavior and is for the most part a very good kid. I reccomend this book to readers 13+

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The Testing

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau is a young adult dystopian novel that takes place in a society that's rebuilding.  The society chooses members of the community to participate in the testing every year to compete for spots in the university.  When Cia is chosen her father tells her that he suspects that the testing that he went through was brutal.  Things start out simple but soon become dangerous.

This book is the closest to a Hunger Games rewrite as I've seen.  There's young teens chosen to compete in a dangerous contest that's run by the leaders in the capital city.  There's a booby trapped city, teens killing teens to get further in the contest and even evil people/animal hybrids.  While it was very reminiscent of The Hunger Games I did find it entertaining and couldn't put it down.  It's full of non-stop action and has a great romance and a bit of a mystery.  If you can get over the similarities you'll enjoy the book.

Appropriateness:  This book is very violent with kids killing kids and it's hard to read at times.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

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Demonosity

Demonosity by Amanda Ashby begins when Cassidy has a strange encounter with a knight after trying on a temporary tattoo at the mall.  She soon finds out that she has been chosen to protect the Black Rose which resides in a popular girl from school from the demons that are determined to get to it's power.  Cassidy has to juggle not only the demons but her sick father, a persistent ex boyfriend, a new suitor and learning lines for the school play.

I'm a big fan of Amanda Ashby and this book did not disappoint.  This was a fun, paranormal story with a hint of romance.  I loved Cassidy, she was a fun and quirky girl who really cared about her friends and family.  Nash, her best friend is asexual which is a character trait that isn't seen much in YA lit.

Appropriateness:  I would recommend this book to readers 12+  there is no adult content at all and the violence is very minimal making it appropriate for younger readers who like to read YA lit (however the story is complex enough for older teen readers who enjoy paranormal romance). 

Deviant

Deviant by Helen Fitzgerald follows Abigail, a girl who has spent her life in orphanages and foster homes.  When she finds that her mother has died and receives a strange letter from her telling her about the sister and father she never knew in California her life changes.  When she arrives in California things just don't seem right and a mystery has to be solved.

This book is strange.  It was weirdly paced and seemed to change from one type of book to another several places.  There's a mystery that pops up in the last fifty pages that seems to come from nowhere.  However in spite of it's weirdness I kept reading (and I've been in a mood where I don't finish things lately) and couldn't put it down at the end.

Appropriateness:  When it comes to adult content this book has it all.  It starts with Abi befriending a girl who is working for a pimp and then moves to drinking and drugs, lawbreaking and an overdose in California.  None of the negative behaviors are glorified and the main character seems to have a good head on her shoulders and makes good decisions.  I'd recommend this book to readers 14+   

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