Seven Blind Mice

Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young is a terrific folk tale about seven blind mice.  When something new comes each mouse goes out to see what it is and they all come back with different ideas.  The final mouse looks at the entire thing and figures out what it is teaching a great lesson.

I purchased the picture book as well as the audio version of this book.  The audio version is beautiful and the background music is magical and really adds to the story.  I used it in my music classroom because the music was so fantastic.

I recommend this story to kids 3-7.  It's a fantastic read-a-loud.

The Things You Kiss Goodbye

The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor follows Bettina who is growing up in a very strict household.  Her greek father is very controlling about where she goes so when her new boyfriend introduces himself to her father she's thrilled to be allowed to spend time with him.  However, after a summer of him being the sweet and dutiful boyfriend changes.  He starts being more and more cruel, tugging her hair and knocking her books out of her hands.  One day after her boyfriend hurts her she runs into an auto shop and develops a friendship with a man called Cowboy.

This is one of those books that is just uncomfortable and hard to read.  Almost all the men in Bettina's life were just horrible.  From her controlling father who treated her like an inconvenience to her horrible boyfriend and then the only person in her life who treats her well is the 26 year old man that she has a complicated relationship with.  Everything does magically work out at the end for the better but it's a long way getting there.  It's a difficult read but it is still enjoyable.

Appropriateness:  This book is chock full of adult content.  Bettina is sexually active with her boyfriend and is pressured the first time and there are abusive and inappropriate relationships as a focal point of the book.. There is quite a bit of drinking.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+ and use it as a way to discuss healthy dating relationships with your child.

In The End

After the End stars Juneau who has grown up in a small colony that survived after the third world war and has been training to be the spiritual leader for their community.  When she returns from a hunting trip she finds her entire community gone and sets off on a journey to find them.  However she soon finds out that the world is much different than she's been told.

This dystopian novel really worked for me.  There were quite a few believability hurdles that I had to get over but it still worked.  The romance was swoonworthy and the magic/scifi twist turned out at the end.  I sped through the book unable to put it down.

Appropriateness:  There's no adult content in this book.  I recommend it to fans of dystopian romance fans 13+

On Top of Spaghetti

 

This version of On Top of Spaghetti by Amanda L Jenkins is a hilarious version of the song that sings well provided you can get past the huge fart joke that ends the story.  It's a book that'll make you laugh and shake your head.  I recommend it for readers 5-7.

Story of a Girl

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr follows Deanna whose life was ruined after she was caught having sex with a much older boy in the backseat of a car by her father at thirteen who hasn't looked her in the eye since.  The boy went around school bragging about it and her reputation has never recovered. 

I really enjoyed reading this book.  Reading about Deanna as she worked to realize what had actually happened in the past.  That the boy she'd had sex with was using her (the word rape is never used but it's a great example of statutory rape) and had preyed on her desire for love.  Deanna's family is in shambles, her brother is a teenage father living in the basement with his child and her father is emotionally abusive to everyone in the house.  Deanna grows throughout the book and is better off than she started, however things do not end perfectly.  I was interested throughout the story and felt the ending resolved well.

Appropriateness:  There is alcohol and drugs and sex in this book (the sex is described distantly and never erotic) although it's never viewed as a positive thing.  This would be a great book to read with your young teen to discuss statutory rape.  Deanna has a horrific life, yet goes on day by day and works to make things better for herself.  I recommend this book to readers 12+ 

Alienated

Alienated by Melissa Landers follows Cara and Aelyx two teenagers involved in an exchange program that's a first of it's kind.  Cara is shocked when she finds out that she's been chosen to be one of three hosts for L'eihr exchange students who are the first exchange students on earth.  Aelyx and Cara slowly learn about each other while dealing with protesters and hate from those who are not happy with Aelyx's presence on earth.

This is a nice romance with a slow build up. The fish out of water and xenophobia slant were interesting but a little heavy handed at times.  It seemed to take a long time for the meat in the story to start but I remained interested throughout.  I really liked Cara but found myself wondering how she could be so nice to Aelyx who is a snobby jerk for most of the book.  This book is far more romance than sci-fi.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  There are some allusions to erections (Aelyx mentions having to think of the periodic table to calm down) and one scene where it's implied that the two are making out without shirts on.  There's also quite a bit of sex discussions (who won't and how does it happen and talk of reproduction).  I would recommend this book for readers 13+ 

The Twelve Days of a Muppet Christmas

The Twelve Days of a Muppet Christmas is a super fun version of the Twelve Days of Christmas done Muppet Style with all your Muppet Friends.  My students thought it was hysterical and laughed and sang along.

I recommend this book for kids 4-8

Life by Committee

Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu follows Tabitha who has a complicated life.  Her young parents are dealing with the stresses of pregnancy, her best friends have dumped her and spend every minute they can making her life difficult and she's in a relationship with a boy who has a girlfriend.  When she finds a mysterious web address in the back of a book she finds a web community called Life by Committee.  She posts a secret and an assignment is given based on that secret. 

I really liked this book.  The main character had a personality that I loved and her problems were those that girls can relate to.  She was being bullied for the body that she got after hitting puberty (It's not slutty it's from the Gap!).  It's a great book about taking control of oneself and making good choices.  The end is a bit silly but it worked.

Appropriateness:  There's a lot of adult content in the book but nothing graphic.  Tabitha's dad smokes a ton of weed.  There's quite a bit of bullying that's very real in the way that girls bully each other for their looks (it would make a good starting point for a discussion of bullying).  The sexual content isn't extremely graphic but involves cheating.  I recommend it to readers 14+

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The Taking

The Taking by Kimberly Derting follows Kyra.  After Kyra has an argument with her father and runs out of the car she wakes up behind a dumpster.  After returning home she finds out that five years have passed and she hasn't aged a day.  She becomes close with the younger brother of her old boyfriend and tries to figure out what has happened.

I enjoyed this book and remained interested throughout.  It was interesting, the mystery was believable and the romance was well crafted.  The plot wasn't that different from others I've read with the same sort of premise (girl has no memory, boy helps girl escape the big bad) but I still was interested. 

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content and the romance involves nothing more than kissing.  I recommend this book to readers 12+

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To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han follows the half Korean Lara who finds her life turned upside down after the letters that she wrote her past crushes are somehow mailed.  Lara soon finds herself in a sham relationship with a popular boy so she can make her sister's ex-boyfriend (and her current crush) jealous.  Things end up becoming more complicated than she expected.

This book had a bit of a slow start and I almost ended up putting it down.  I'm glad I stuck with it because it was fantastic and romantic.  Jenny is a sweet girl whose half Korean heritage (her mother was Korean and her father tries to help the family stay a bit connected to their roots) along with her close relationship with her sisters and her shy personality make her different from most YA heroines.  The book is the beginning of a series so it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.

Appropriateness:  There are mentions of sex but just in gossipy terms.  The relationships consist of no more than kissing and Lara is very clear with what she's comfortable with relationship wise and it would be a good means to talk to girls who may be dealing with partners who are more experienced than they are.  I recommend this book to readers 12+

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If I Were a Cow

If I were a cow is a book about a cow who decides he's going to go on vacation from being a cow.  To make up from his absence the other animals move into each others jobs.

I read this book to a group of second and third graders for a book review exercise and they adored it.  They thought the pictures were funny (seeing each animal transformed into another) and the story entertaining.  It would be good in a classroom setting to discuss the different habitats of different animals.

I recommend this book for kids from 4-8

The Tyrant's Daughter

The Tyrant's Daughter by JC Carleson follows Laila, who moves to the US with her mother and her brother after the assassination of her father who was the leader of a small middle eastern country.  Laila struggles with acclimating to US culture and learning the truth about her father.

I really enjoyed this novel. The author did a fantastic job making Laila's life as unusual as it is seem realistic and believable. I enjoyed the relationships between Laila and her friends as well as the strained relationship she has with her mother.  I finished the book quickly and was fascinated by Laila's story.

Appropriateness:  There's a bit of romance which includes some heavy petting. I would recommend this book to readers 14+ (although it is not inappropriate for younger readers).

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Who Needs Magic

  Who Needs Magic by Kathy McCullough is the sequel to Don't Expect Magic staring teenage Fairy Godmother Delaney.  Delaney having granted her first wish is heading into summer itching to get another client.  When she meets another teen fairy godmother she starts doubting her own abilities while also being competitive.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first.  Delaney's sefishness level was much higher than it was in the previous book and I just wanted to knock her upside the head so she'd get a clue.  The book was also missing the sweet romance as Delaney's boyfriend goes away for the summer.  The book was still cute and had a sweet ending with nice lessons learned.  Readers of the first book will enjoy this if not as much as the first.

Appropriateness:  There's no adult content in this book, I recommend it for readers 12-16

Over in the Hollow

Over in the Hollow by Rebecca Dickenson and illustrated by S. Britt is a fun Halloween version of the classic children's song Over in the Meadow.  The owls and ghosts and other creatures all make their own sounds, it's got all the scary creatures with their parents making them super cute. 

My students love this version and demand it even after Halloween is over.  It's terrifically fun to sing.

I recommend this book for kids 3-8, it's a perfect sing a long.

A Mad Wicked Folly

A Mad Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller follows Vicky an upperclass girl who is sent home from finishing school after she's caught posing nude in her art school class.  Upon returning home she finds herself engaged to a man she's never met and her father forbids her from her art.  Vicky finds a way around his restrictions, finds herself drawn to the suffragette movement and begins questioning the life that she has grown up with.

This was a fantastic book.  It had all the things that I love in historical romance novels but with a fantastic early twentieth century feminist twist.  Instead of being thrilled to be in the world of debutantes and coming out's Vicky wants to go to college to study the art that she loves.  I adored the descriptions of the clothes, city and the early women's rights movement.  The romance seemed secondary to the story of Vicky finding herself but it was still wonderful and there was a terrifically romantic ending.

Appropriateness:  Vicky is an artist and draws naked men as part of her training.  The drawing is non-sexual and she repeats this several times (although others are outraged) that the drawing is not emotional (although she does have a chaste relationship with her model).  This is a great book to talk to your daughters about feminism and how hard the women in our past had to work so that we could have equal rights.  I recommend it for fans of historical romance 13+

Taking Flight

Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina tells the unlikely story of Michaela DePrince's journey from an orphanage where she was ranked as the least liked child to the stage as one of the world's most recognizable ballerinas because of her amazing story that was first brought to the world in the documentary First Position.

I really enjoyed this memoir and found myself unable to put it down. Michaela's story reads as uplifting even at it's darkest and the only time I felt a bit teary was at the very end (and it was smiley tears). It's a quick and fast read that young dancers (and those who enjoy reading about dance) will find enjoyable and be inspired by. The second half of the book has quite a bit of ballet jargon that may confuse non-dancers (although it's easy enough to just imagine something beautiful). I as the mother of a tiny ballet dancer did not have enough knowledge to imagine many of the steps she spoke of (it would have been nice to have a glossary of ballet terms at the end). The prose is simple and very easy to read and there's a nice set of pictures in the middle to help connect the reader to Michaela.

Appropriateness: Michaela and her mother Elaine did a fantastic job writing about her early life in a way that young readers could handle without feeling that it was too traumatic. I would have no problem letting a fourth or fifth grader read this book and it's written in a way that would encourage kids to want to learn both about ballet and about war in Africa. I recommend this book for readers 10-16 (it's a bit simple for adult and older teen readers unless they're already invested in her story).

10 Turkeys in the Road

10 Turkeys In The Road by Brenda Reeves Sturgis and Illustrated by David Slonim is a fantastic Thanksgiving book that kids love.  The counting book begins with a farmer unable to get by because there are turkeys in the road.  The delightful illustrations continue with each number until they finally steal his truck and he ends up at the turkey circus.

My students loved this book and I was able to put it to a familiar tune and sing the entire thing.  They giggled at the illustrations that get sillier with each page that's turned.

I recommend this book to kids 4-8 and it's a must have addition to holiday picture book libraries. 

Dem Bones

Dem Bones by Bob Barner is a terrific book that weaves the song Dem Bones along with information on the bones in the body.

My students adore this book.  While it doesn't read aloud very well (too much information on each page) they still think it's fantastic and want to hear it.  It's a perfect addition to any home or classroom library. 

I recommend this book for kids 4-8.

At the Old Haunted House

At the Old Haunted House is a fun Halloween Retelling of the classic children's song Over in the Meadow.  This version sings very well and the pictures are engaging and fun without being scary.  My music students love to sing along.

I recommend this book to readers 3-8.

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Who took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar>

Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar by Bonnie Lass and Philemon Sturges and illustrated by Ashley Wolff is a delightful animal version of the classic chant.

My students love this book and enjoy guessing who it was that took the cookies.  I recommend it for kids 3-7

Ten Timid Ghosts

Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell is a fantastic counting book with a great rhythmic text that can be sung.  My students loved the story line which consists of a witch moving into a haunted house and then scaring the ghosts one at a time so they'll leave.  At the end the ghosts scare the witch and then hand out candy to the trick or treaters. 

I recommend this book for kids from 3-8

Captive (The Blackcoat Rebelion)

Captive by Aimee Carter is the second book in the Blackcoat Rebellion series.  This series follows Kitty who lives in a world where your rank determines how you live.  She was "masked" to look like Lila a member of the royal family.  In the first book we saw her transformation and learned about the rebellion.  In Captive, Kitty again finds herself being used as a pawn as others try to gain or maintain control.  After she's caught in a compromising position she is sent elsewhere and has to fight to find who is working in her interest while everyone is trying to use her.

I really enjoyed this book.  I'm very skeptical when it comes to sequels in dystopian series because so many of them are bad.  This book however didn't fall into that trap.  The story continued and the new location and characters meshed with the old story and there were surprises and mysteries.  The book kept me guessing, interested and I finished it quickly which is notable because I'm in a mood lately where I hate everything and take a while to finish books. 

I love Kitty and it's nice to see a girl who has learning disabilities (dyslexia which makes her unable to read) not let them hold her back and succeed despite the challenges they face  Her dyslexia is a part of her not the defining characteristic.  The romance was not heavy handed and worked nicely and the other relationships continued in a believable manner.  The author does a good job at making multifaceted small characters.  I can't wait for the next book in the series to find out if Kitty turns from a pawn into a queen. 

This is the second book in a series and it should not be read out of order.  The book starts right after the second finished but they

Appropriateness:  This is a series that teen dystopian fans will enjoy.  It is quite violent with battle and mild torture scenes along with people being killed right and left by the bad guys to keep everyone else in control.  There is also a sex scene in this book which takes all of three paragraphs and is very vague.  So vague that I'd be just fine with my fifth grader reading it.  There is no drug or alcohol use (aside from people being drugged instead of shot).  I recommend this book to readers 13+ and it would be fine for younger fans of books like The Hunger games (and a good discussion piece on how violence and the fear of violence can be used to control groups of people).

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The Jewel

The Jewel by Amy Ewing follows Violet who has spent her last several years training to be a surrogate for the royalty in her society.  Royalty can't have children so poor girls are tested to see if they have certain powers to manipulate matter and if they test positive they move to a training academy.  Violet is one of the highest ranked girls of her year and is bought by one of the most powerful royals and finds herself wrapped up in a controversy she couldn't even imagine.

I have mixed feelings on this one.  In some ways it wasn't good at all, the romance was laughable and unneeded and the world building was incomplete and implausible.  Even though all of that I found myself really enjoying Violet and her story.  The plotting was fast paced and the side characters interesting and I just really wanted to know what happened next and finished it in a weekend.  Unfortunately the story had no ending and I'll have to decide if I'm willing to read another book to find out what will happen to Violet (I don't care about what happens with the romance, it was a waste of print but at least was minimal). 

Appropriateness:  There is some minimal sexual content in this book, a sex scene that's very tame.  There's also a bit of wine drinking.  It's nothing that I'd really find inappropriate for older middle school or high school aged readers but I wouldn't hand this book to readers on the bottom edge of YA (and the pregnancy plot would probably turn them off anyway).  I recommend this book to female fans of dystopian romance 13+

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Oh No!

Oh No! by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann tells the story of a group of animals that fall into a large hole one at a time. 

The repetitive text makes this book a fantastic read aloud (I have my students say Oh No with high low tones each time it comes up).  The kids love this story and ask to hear it over and over.

I recommend this book to kids 3-8 and it's a great one for classroom libraries (and music teacher collections).

Tuesdays at the Castle

Thursdays with the Crown by Jessica Day George is third book in the Tuesdays at The Castle Series.  This series follows the plucky Celie who lives in a magical castle.  In this book the castle as transported Celie, her friends and siblings and her pet griffin to the land where the castle originated.  They have to find out how to save the castle and get home.

I adore this series and this book did not disappoint.  Celie was strong and her griffin was wonderful and the castle remained the character that it has been in other books.  I rushed through the book and can't wait to find out what happens on Fridays.

Appropriateness:  This is a fantastic series that I'd recommend to elementary and middle school aged readers either as a read aloud or to read independently (for fourth grade and up).  It's non-violent and without romance.

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Zac and Mia

Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts tells the story of two teens with cancer.  Zac has been fighting leukemia and is in isolation in the hospital when the unrully Mia moves in next door.  The two form an unlikely friendship when Mia reaches out months after their hospital stay.

This was a great story.  A nice change from the typical sob fest with overdramatic romance that we've seen lately with other similar stories.  Zac and Mia were both flawed characters and needed each other.  I didn't fly through the book but I did find myself interested throughout and I was very happy with the way it ended.

I recommend this book to readers 14+.  There is a bit of sexual content in the beginning of the book but nothing explicit.  Mia spends the majority of the story making bad decision after bad decision, the book does a good job of showing why her decisions are wrong.

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Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green follows Miles who is a new student at boarding school.  An outcast at his past school Miles quickly falls in with a crowd of kids who spend most of their time smoking and drinking while planning pranks on their enemies the rich kids at schools they call the weekend warriors.  Alaska, a girl in his group is Miles' obsession, and we see her struggle until the unforseen happens.

I just couldn't take this book.  It was so well regarded and I've enjoyed other books by John Green but something about the setting and characters didn't work for me.  It takes place in apparently the worst boarding school ever.  Where there's little to no supervision aside from one teacher who runs after those who are obviously misbehaving (and rarely catches them).  The kids smoke (and smoke and smoke, smoking is almost a subplot it's used so much) and drink and hang out in rooms of the opposite sex with no oversight at all which I find totally unrealistic for a school that's housing minors.  The characters seem to be caricatures of the troubled and lonely and the main character doesn't even think twice before taking a cigarette or drinking.

Appropriateness:  This is certainly not a book for young teens.  There are fairly graphic descriptions of sexual acts.  The characters drink and smoke and do drugs as a major plot point in the book.  I would recommend it to teens 16+

A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea

A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea by Jessica Law and Illustrated by Jill MacDonald is a fantastic singing book that my students love.  The pictures are fun and the kids love singing a long.  If you're not familiar with the song (or don't want to learn it from the sheet music) there's a video on youtube that you can follow a long with.

I recommend this book for kids from 4-8

Two Lies and a Spy

Two Lies and a Spy by Kat Carlton follows Kari as she tries to save her spy parents when they disappear and are declared to be traitors.  With the help of the things she's learned from her parents and the abilities of some of her friends Kari has to prove that her parents are not traitors.

This book was a ton of fun and a bit silly.  Kari, who has all these super spy abilities also makes some silly mistakes and conveniently her friends have all the skills that she needs to solve the mystery.  I did enjoy the book and couldn't put it down.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book and only a bit of romance.  I recommend this book to readers 12-16.

Paper Craft Crazy Critters

Paper Craft Crazy Critters is a fantastic book of monsters that can be punched out and then folded together.  The monsters are funny and fun to put together, my daughter had a great time making a group of monsters.

 I recommend this book for kids 9 and up (they're too difficult for young kids).

The School for Good and Evil

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani follows friends Sophie and Agatha.  Sophie has dreamed all her life of being kidnapped and taken to the school of good where she would turn into a fairytale heroine and her friend Agatha who loves cats and being alone seems like a fit for the school of Evil.  When the two girls are dropped off at the opposite schools they're sure there must be a mixup.  Sophie is pretty and blonde, she could never be evil and Agatha wants nothing to do with the pretty and spineless princesses she's living with.

This is a fantastic fantasy.  I loved reading all the evil things that pretty Sophie did and the kind things that Agatha did.  The school and it's world is fascinating to read about.  The book is very long but kept me interested throughout.  I loved the strong female characters in this book.  It's not often that you find fantasy that's held with a pair of solid female leads.  I can't wait until the next book comes out.

Appropriateness:  This is a fantastic book that will be enjoyed by middle grade readers 9-14 (it is very long so take that into consideration when deciding if it's right for your child).

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen by Howard Binkow is a terrific book to teach kids the importance of listening.  My students thought it was very funny and understood why things were better for Howard when he did listen.

I recommend this book for kids 4-8

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Let There be Peace on Earth is a beautiful picture book version of the popular folk song by the same name.  The song is beautiful as are the pictures.  It's a great book to read on World Peace Day.  I recommend it for kids 5-9

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden is a fantastic rewrite of the Old Macdonald song except with the different steps to grow a garden instead of animals on a farm.  My students adored this book and loved singing along.  I recommend it for kids 3-8

My Faire Lady

My Faire Lady by Laura Vettersten follows Rowena who takes a summer job working at a Renaissance Faire as a face painter after a bad breakup.  Ro is soon thrown back into the Renaissance where she meets hunky knight Christian and funny whip cracker Will.

I really enjoyed this book.  It was funny and the Renaissance Faire setting was perfect for a light summer romance.  The author did a fantastic job of integrating multiple characters into the story allowing the reader to feel the community of the faire.  The female relationship between Ro and her roommate was as important to the story as the romantic ones.  I also loved that Ro learned about herself during the summer and that was as important to the story as her love life.

I'd also like to compliment the cover art, it's nice to see a cover artist that actually reads the book as the cover artist got everything right down to the rainbow toe nail polish.

Appropriateness:  This is a YA romance that is written for older teens (despite what the cover might make you think).  Rowena is seventeen and acts her age.  The teens get drunk and share tents with their boyfriends.  I did like that during one of those overnights it's stated that the couple did not have sex (which is nice compared to a lot of trope out there that a guy can't spend the night with a girl without having sex).  I would recommend this book to readers 14+

Grateful

Greatful A Song of Giving Thanks by John Bucchino and illustrated by Anna-Liisa Hakkarainen is a sweet book with a sweet song.  It was pretty but just didn't resonate with the kids and it's not one that they request to hear again.

Don't Call Me Baby

Don't Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley follows Imogene whose mother has been chronicling her life since she was an infant on her blog.  Imogene can't do anything without her mother snapping a picture or writing a post on her blog (which the entire school knows about).  Her best friend whose mother is a food blogger faces the same challenges that she does.  When she gets an assignment from her English teacher to write a blog of her own she decides to turn her life and her Mother's life upside down.

I really enjoyed this book.  It did a great job of exploring the life of someone who is unwillingly in the public eye.  It had just the right amount of romance to keep the reader interested but the real meat of the story was the battle between Imogene and her mother between Imogene's right to privacy and her Mother's ability to make a living.  I spend through the book interested throughout.

Appropriateness:  There's no adult content in this book.  I recommend it for readers 13+

The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault in our Stars by John Green follows terminal cancer patient Hazel.  When she meets fellow cancer patient Agustus at a cancer support group her whole life changes.  The two develop an instant bond.

This is a great book, while it is sad it's also very uplifting and funny.  I found myself smiling more than I was sad and adored the beauty of these sick teens being able to find love and comfort in each other.  I couldn't put the book down and bawled at the end.

Appropriateness:  There's quite a bit of adult content in this book and it's written for the older teen and adult crossover audience.  There's some sex which isn't too descriptive and the book (obviously) is heartbreaking at times.  I recommend this book for readers 15+ (but would be fine with my middle schooler reading it also if she was up to it).

Graduation Day

Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau is the third book in The Testing series.  This book continues following Cia who is determined to put an end to the testing that takes place in their community.  Will she be able to figure out who she can trust and can she handle this new set of tests.

This was a terrific final book in the series.  It did a fantastic job continuing the feel of the series and also wrapping up all the things that were left dangling in earlier books.  What happened to those who failed the testing?  What is to come of the community and Cia's family and her love life.  This series in some ways felt like a real copy of The Hunger Games when it first started but it was a nice surprise all the way through providing a satisfying conclusion.

Appropriateness:  This is a very violent book and it is disturbing at times.  Aside from the violence there is no adult content.  I recommend this series for readers 13+

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Audrey Bunny

Audrey Bunny by Angie Smith and Breezy Brookshire is a sweet book about a bunny who wants nothing more than to be loved but is worried that her imperfections will cause her not to be.

This is a sweet book with a nice message.  It has a bible quote at the end and a couple of religious discussion questions but is not overhanded in it's religious message.  Even those who are not Christian can appreciate it for it's universal message of acceptance.

I recommend this book for kids 4-7

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Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin follows Naomi who falls down the stairs and looses all of the memories from the last six years of her life.  Her parents are divorced, she has a little sister and a boyfriend and social life she doesn't recognize at all.  Naomi has to figure out how to live a life she doesn't understand and decide which parts she wants to change.

This is a great book that I couldn't put down.  Naomi's journey is fascinating to read as she comes into herself.  She develops new friendships while trying to figure out her life.  The ending works well leaving the reader satisfied.

Appropriateness:   There's a bit of underage drinking (with disastrous results) and some talk of sex.  There are several discussions of mental illness and suicide.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

Scarlet in the Snow

Scarlet in the Snow by Sophie Masson follows Natasha who finds herself at a mysterious house after running from wolves in the snow.  She's immediately drawn to a beautiful rose and when she touches it the houses terrifying owner demands that she stay at the home.  Natasha learns a lot as she works to help her family and save the one she loves.

This is a beautiful fairytale, a mix between the classic Beauty and the Beast tale and a fantasy story.  The beautiful snowy setting makes for a dream like setting and Natasha is smart and resourceful when it comes to making sure that the ones she loves are protected.  I enjoyed this book throughout and it was a beautiful twist on a classic fairytale with a strong female heroine who does the saving herself.

There is no adult content in this book.  It felt like a book written for the older YA/adult crossover audience but is appropriate for younger audiences also.  I recommend it for readers 13+

Escape from Eden

Escape from Eden by Elisa Nader follows Mia, a girl who has spent most of her life living in a cult run by a controlling leader who makes all the decisions for them.  She has always been a bit questioning and disobedient and when a new boy is brought into their community she starts to see beyond the surface to what the reverend really is doing.

I found this book totally engrossing.  I've always been fascinated by cults and this book gave me everything I wanted in that plot line.  I did think that things went a bit off the deep end with how evil the reverend was but it was a good adventure ride to the end. 

Appropriateness:  There's a lot of talk of mind controlling drugs and quite a bit of talk about sex and prostitution.  I would recommend this book for readers 13+

Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is a fantastic book that follows the unlikely romance between Eleanor and Park.  Eleanor lives a horrible life.  She's just recently moved back in with her mother and her abusive boyfriend after being kicked out a year earlier.  Eleanor's life is terrible at school as she is the punching bag for every bully, then when she's at home she has to hide from her mother's boyfriend in the room she shares with all of her siblings.  Her only happiness comes when she sits next to Park on the bus. 

I adored this book and couldn't put it down.  Eleanor's life was tragic and Park was a fantastic unlikely hero.  This is the type of book that makes the reader think about the way they treat people and the home lives that their classmates may have.  The romance is sweet and realistic, far from the typical instalove or super physical relationships that typically happen in romances.

Appropriateness:  There's quite a bit of discussion of abuse and it's quite traumatic to read at points, it would be a good one to talk to your child about.  There's some alcohol use.  I recommend this book to readers 14+

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary Had a Little Lamb by Sarah Josephina Hale and Illustrated by Laura Hulliska-Beith is a fantastic extended version of Mary Had a Little Lamb.  My students adored listening to the new verses that I sang after the first traditional version.  While they liked the book I don't think it's one that they're going to be asking for again and again like some of my other folk song books.

I recommend this book for kids 4-8

Old Macdonald Had a Woodshop

Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop is a fun version of the Old Macdonald had a Farm book, except instead of animal sounds the reader gets to make all the sounds of the different tools.  My students adored this book and loved making all the different sounds, singing along from the first page.

I recommend this book for kids 3-8

Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion)

Pawn by Aimee Carter follows Kitty who finds herself wrapped up in a game where she doesn't even know who is playing.  After taking her placement test Kitty is devastated to have been assigned a III which puts her on the lower levels of society.  After grabbing the attention of a lawmaker she finds herself bought and then masked, turned into a copy of the prime ministers daughter at a level she could never have dreamed of attaining herself.  She soon finds herself examining the society that she grew up in and unsure about the members of her fake family, who is good and who is bad and whose side is the right one.

I enjoyed this book and it truly kept me guessing throughout.  Kitty has a major learning disability which makes her unable to read which made for a nice twist from the seemingly perfect heroines that I usually read about.  The dystopia was interesting, unbelievable but it worked.  The chess game between the different characters is what I liked the most.  Trying to figure out who was using who and what for kept me interested.

Appropriateness:  There is a scene where an older man tries to take advantage of Kitty which is shut down and early in the book Kitty goes to work at a brothel.  I would recommend this book for readers 13+

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Friends and Traitors

Friends and Traitors is the second book in the Slayers series.  This book follows a group of teens who are training to be Dragon Slayers to protect the world from the evil Overdrake that plans on using his dragons to take over the country and become a dictator.  Tori and her friends have left camp and are all living at home.  She's heartbroken because her boyfriend won't contact her during the year and ends up confiding in Dirk (whose father is EVIL).  When Tori starts to hear the dragons she worries that they have hatched and thus begins our adventure.

While the first chapter or two of this book was a bit slow (I had a false start) it warmed up rather quickly and became a book that I couldn't put down.  It was fun and full of adventure, romance and friendship and even had a bit of humor.  I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Appropriateness:  There's no adult content in this book.  I recommend it to readers 12+  It's a great book for girls who love fantasy and adventure.

A Girl Named Fearless

A Girl Called Fearless by Catherine Linka follows Avie, a girl living in a world where women are scarse after a hormone caused women of childbaring age to get cancer and die. The paternalist movement has slowly taken over and girls are kept under lock and key with their every move controlled by the men in their lives and they then are put on contracts and sold into marriages they have no choice about. When Avie's father signs her contract into marriage with a controling paternalist politician Avie has to decide if she's going to run.

I really enjoyed this book and I didn't expect to. The dystopian premise is believeable and well crafted (and for once we've got a heroine who remembers what it was like when things were normal). The reader could believe that under similar circumstances powerful men would do everything they could to control women and keep them in the home under the guise of protection. The romance worked well (with no insta love and no triangle) and I really felt the love between Avie and Yates. There were also several fantastic side characters who I cared about and all had believable intentions in the way they reacted to the world. I sped through the book, finishing it quickly and remained interested throughout.



Appropriateness: Sex and purity is a big theme in the book, there is no sex but the characters virginity is talked about a lot along with the character being checked to confirm that she's still a virgin. I would reccomend this book to readers 14+ and it would be a great one to talk about with girls (and boys) with why equality for all is so important.

A Tale of Two Centuries

A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris is a companion book to My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century.  This book follows Alessandra, Cat's sixteenth century cousin who is tired of her life.  She finds a gypsy's tent and finds herself transported to the twenty first century where everything is new and terrifying.  Alessandra soon finds herself satisfied with the freedoms of modern life and falls for a handsome boy. 

While I didn't like this book as much as the original I did really enjoy the fish out of water aspect of the novel.  I also liked that even though this is a solid romance novel that the romance is secondary to Alessandra's desire to be more than just a wife and mother.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  It is heavily romance focused.  I would recommend this book for teens 13+