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.

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth takes place in a dystopian world where citizens are sorted into factions when they reach adulthood by personality traits.  The different factions take care of different parts of the government, the Abnegation faction where Beatrice grew up prides itself on it's selfnessless and is in control of the government.  While taking the assessment there is a problem with Beatrice's result, she does not fit solidly into any of the traits and is classified as a divergent.  However, it is dangerous being a divergent in a society that rewards a solid focus.

I was weary when starting Divergent.  I've read so many dystopians lately that seem to be written with a cookie cutter format but this one is different.  The world that Roth created is strong and interesting.  Beatrice (who goes by Trice) is strong and independent and true to herself.  When she chooses a different path than is expected she fights for acceptance and to earn a place in her new faction.  There is a romance but it isn't the focus and Tris in no way needs a man to enlighten or save her.  This dystopian is original and has the quality of Westerfields Uglies or Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games.

Appropriateness:  There are mentions of adults drinking and being drunk as part of society but the teenagers do not drink.  There is some sexual content and a scene which could be interpreted as the main character possibly having sex (although it is very vague).  The book is quite violent and contains many graphic fight scenes and murders.  The main character is 17.  I would put the interest level at 14+

The novel will be released in early May.  I received an ARC from Amazon Vine.