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.

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Rebel McKenzie

Rebel McKenzie by Candice Ransom follows twelve year old Rebel who is sent off to live with her poor sister to spend the summer babysitting her nephew after running away because she was upset about not being able to go to paleontology camp.  Rebel finds out that things are very difficult for her sister who is attending beauty school after a divorce.  The trailer is small and there isn't a lot of food.  She makes friends with the neighbors, decides to enter a pageant and end up making a difference in a lot of lives.

This is a great book that kids will love.  It's so nice to read a book with a character that is not excessively rich (that isn't specifically about poverty).  While some of the money situations are a bit difficult to read about it's not the focus of the book and it's not written to be tragic, just the setting for everything.  There's a great set of original characters including the two neighbor girls, one who is a snotty reigning pageant queen and the other who is a mess after the loss of her mother.  My only complaint about the book was that the ending wrapped up a little perfectly with some obnoxious behavior being rewarded. 

Appropriateness:  This is an easy and quick read that will be enjoyed by it's intended audience of 9-12 year old girls (although it's a little flighty for readers older than that).  The book will provide parents with a good opportunity to talk about poverty with their kids and how we take things for granted that others have to struggle to obtain.  There is no adult content, romance or violence.

Sirenz Back in Fashion

Sirenz Back in Fashion by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman is the sequel to Sirenz.  This series follows Shar and Meg who once again have found themselves in unwilling service to Hades again.  Shar is swept away to the underworld.  While there her existence is completely missing from Meg's world, replaced by rich girl Paulina whom Meg has to trick into wearing the golden fleece which will send her to Hades.

This was a nice sequel to Sirenz and felt like it's own book that could stand on its own.  I missed the interaction between the girls as they were separated for most of the book.  I found myself giggling at the humor in the books and the wacky situations that the girls got themselves into.  The twist at the end was perfect.  I finished the book quickly and enjoyed it as much as the first in the series.

Appropriateness:  This is one of those rare books that is written for older teens and is not only completely free of adult content but also has very light romance making it appropriate for younger readers who want to read something a little more sophisticated.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

The Lost Code

The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson takes place in a post apocalyptic wasteland.  Owen has won a place in a summer camp that takes place inside a protective dome.  However soon after starting he drowns.  After being saved he wakes up in the clinic and then soon finds that he has a big secret.  A secret that must be kept from those in charge and one that could save the world.

This is an interesting mash-up of mythology and dystopia.  Owen lives in a land that's almost uninhabitable and he finds that an ancient secret that lies in his DNA could be the secret to changing it all.  I enjoyed this book but found it bumpy at times.  The mythology was a little out there and forced at times and the dystopia wasn't fully explained.  Owen was a great main character and there were several strong supporting characters.  I finished the book quickly.

Appropriateness:  This book has no adult content.  It felt like an older YA book that older teens will enjoy without having an excess amount of romance (to turn off the boys), violence and there is no sex or substance abuse.  It has a main character who is male making this a book that will appeal to male readers (it also has a fairly strong female lead although most of the girls are just a giggling herd).  I would recommend this book to fans of dystopian and fantasy 13+

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Princess of the Wild Swans

Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler is a retelling of the Six Swans.  The story follows Meriel the only daughter in the kings household.  She adores her brothers and when her father comes home with a new wife who seems to resent their existence Meriel becomes worried.  After the new Queen sends her brothers to school Meriel is suspicious.  When she finds a new group of swans on the lake that seem like her brothers she knows that something is wrong.  She soon finds out that they've been enchanted and she must make them shirts out of stinging nettles and remain silent until the task is done.

This is a wonderful retelling.  Zahler does a fantastic job with these retellings in a way that makes them perfect for the middle grade readers who love princesses but have no desire to read a romantic story.  This book is full of magic, suspense and girl power.  I finished the book quickly and had a huge smile on my face when it was over.

Appropriateness:  This is a fantastic middle grade book that is also great for younger advanced readers.  The story is fun and interesting full of evil queens and princesses without the usual romance that you would find in fairytale retellings.  There is some nice vocabulary the lexile is 819.  I would recommend this book to readers 9-13 with the book being short and interesting enough for a read aloud.    

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare follows Ella, a scholarship student at a fancy private school where she is spending her senior year doing a research project on an artist whose life she is obsessed with.  When a fellow art student and popular kid Alex tutors her in French she is unable to believe that he is really attracted to her.

I liked large portions of this book but there were a few plot points that bugged me.  The art portion of the plot however I didn't like and I found myself skipping and skimming the sections regarding her research and obsession with the artist.  I loved the romance and Ella's struggles with her body image.  The characters were fantastic from Ella's friends and family and even her teachers.

Appropriateness:  This is a great romance that older teens will enjoy.  There is no sex but there is some nudity (in a scene regarding a scar of Ella's) and kissing.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

Red Heart Tattoo

Red Heart Tattoo by Lurlene McDaniel tells the story of several students that are involved in a school bombing.  The book focuses mostly on Roth a boy with a troubled past who rushes in to save victims of the bombing and Morgan the class president whom he saves and whom is blinded in the bombing.  The students must figure out how to heal and move on after the horrible tragedy.

While I enjoyed this book and was very interested in how everything would work out I also found myself frustrated by the format.  The story follows several different characters, bouncing from one to another without headings to tell the reader who they are following.  However, aside from this it was a very good story with realistic and diverse characters dealing with everyday problems and pressures in addition to tragedy.

Appropriateness:  This is a tough book that puts teens in tough situations.  The teens are in their last year of high school and act their age.  The book follows one of the teens that orchestrates the bombing and other teens deal with the pressure to have sex, teen pregnancy and minor law breaking.  There is some heavy petting but no actual sex.  I would recommend this book to teens 14+

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Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo follows Ravka a girl who lives in a fantasy world that has echos of ancient Russia.  Ravka is in the Army working as a mapmaker when her best friend is attacked which releases a dormant power that she didn't know she had.  She finds out that she's a Grisha one of a group of magic makers and her power is one that can save her country from the darkness that has enveloped it's borders.  She's whisked away to the palace to learn to control her powers and finds it's more than she's imagined.

I really liked this book.  The setting was rich and the mythology fully formed.  I found myself really interested in learning about Ravka's world and really pushing for her to take control of her powers and herself.  While she made some bad decisions she didn't have the stupidity issues that a lot of female characters do in YA.  The love triangle really worked.  My only problem was that I wished that I had a glossary with explanations of all the specialized terms and titles that the author used through the book that I couldn't keep up with (and this may have been added in the final version, I had an advanced copy).  I finished the book quickly and am excited to read the next chapter in the series.

Appropriateness:  There is a bit of questionable romance in the book with the main character developing a relationship with a guy who is much (centuries?) older than she is.  The relationship read to me as super creepy and the other side of the love triangle is a boy who is age appropriate.  There is no other adult content.  The characters ages are not clear but they appear to be young adults and the story would appeal to readers 13+

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Don't You Wish

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire begins with Annie unhappy with her life.  She's unpopular, her father is a horder whose inventions never work and poor.  While shopping her mother finds a picture of her ex-boyfriends wonderful mansion and comments that it could have been hers.  The next day Annie wakes up in a new bed in a new house and a whole new life with her Mom but a different Dad.  Ayla's life is completly different, she is rich and popular and spoiled.  Will Ayla get back to her old life?  Does she want to?

I really liked this book.  Annie is put in that place that everyone wonders.  Who would I be if my life was different?  Annie is faced with a huge amount of peer pressure as she is placed into a life that she never imagined and wasn't prepared for.  What is she to do with a father that expects her to sell out her mother, with a boyfriend who pressures her for sex and with friends who expect her to drink,shoplift do drugs and treat unpopular people horribly?  I loved watching Annie deal with these pressures and decide for herself what was right and what is worth taking a risk for and what is worth giving up.

Appropriateness:  This book contains a lot of adult content but it's dealt with in a way that makes it appropriate for even young teens as Annie faces the pressure to have sex, do drugs (hard drugs), bully and shoplift in very admirable ways.  Annie does drink a couple times because of the peer pressure but she makes sure not to drink very much and does not get drunk.  I would recommend this book to teens 13+ and would encourage parents of young teens to use the peer pressure lessons as a learning tool.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter is the fifth book in the Gallagher Girls Series.  This series follows Cammie Morgan who goes to a school that trains teenage girls to be spies.  Cammie wakes up at a convent with a huge chunk of her memory missing.  She remembers leaving school but does not remember anything after that.  Cammie returns to her school and her friends who are furious at her for leaving and tries to fit in while also trying to find out what happened when she was gone.

I loved this book.  The author has done a wonderful job with this series which started out light and fun and has gotten darker and more mature through the series.  I sped through the book, reading it quickly and can't wait for the next book to come out.

Appropriateness:  While this book is more mature than some of the first in the series it is still completely appropriate for the middle school aged reader.  There's a bit more violence than in earlier books but the romance is still light and flirty.  I would recommend this series to readers 11+

The Little Woods

The Little Woods by McCormick Templeman follows Cally who is new at St Bede's academy, the place where Cally's sister went missing years before.  Cally finds out when she moves into her room that the girl whose bed she is sleeping in disappeared earlier in the year.   Callie makes her way through the politics of private school dealing with friends, romance while trying to figure out the mystery of the missing girls.

I didn't expect much when I started the book but I've always been a fan of boarding school books so I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised.  I found myself engrossed and entertained even thinking about the mystery when I put the book down.  Cally was an interesting character, a quirky girl on the outskirts of the social scene.  This is a fun and creepy book that older teens will enjoy.

Appropriateness:  This book is full of adult content.  There are a lot of drunken parties and there is a lot of pot smoking and talk of other drugs, casual sex (with a condom), cheating and a teacher/student relationship.  Our main character for the most part stays away from the alcohol and drugs, making excuses to not drink and drinking small amounts so others don't know she's not drinking.  I would recommend this book to readers 16+ and use the book as a starting point for a discussion on peer pressure.

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The Marked

The Marked by Imara Scott is the second book in the Delcroix Academy series.  This series follows Dancia a girl with strong powers who attends a school whose purpose is to train kids with powers.  Dancia is initiated into the top secret program whose purpose is still unclear.  Her ex-boyfriend Jack has joined a rogue group which makes Dancia even more unsure if the Program is everything it claims to be.

This book follows a fairly predictable path in the series.  It is not bad but not exactly original and I wasn't really feeling the romance.  Dancia's powers are cool and I loved the training scenes.  Her friends were more like an afterthought thrown in occasionally and used at the end.  I would recommend this book to fans of the first book but I was not in love with it enough to be eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  I would recommend it to readers 12+

Insurgent

Insurgent by Veronica Roth is the second book in the Divergent series.  This book continues where the first left off in the aftermath of the war started by the Euridite leaders.  Trice having solved the mystery of what was going on with the simulations and why being a divergent makes her so dangerous now has to bring down the Eurdite leader who caused the war.

I've been unhappy with the second book in dystopian trilogies lately.  They all seem to consist of the heroine going on a journey and then ending up where she started.  I was happy to find that this book was different.  Roth allows the reader to see more of the society that she created while dealing with the war that has broken out.  I enjoyed the book and can't wait for the next installment in the series.

Appropriateness:  There is less adult content in this book than the first (no sex/drinking) although there is still a lot of graphic violence, depictions of war and torture.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+

Fear

Fear by Michael Grant is the fifth book in the Gone series by Michael Grant.  This is a science fiction series about a group of kids who find themselves trapped in their town after all the adults disappear.  To make things even more complicated many of the kids have developed superpowers and there are several evil elements (both kids and mysterious creatures) that have made things very difficult in the FAYZ.

This series is so much fun, full of terror and suspense.  This book gives us a new point of view of what is going on outside the bubble and a cliffhanger ending that leaves the reader breathless.  The problems of the earlier books still exist with there being so many characters that I have problems keeping them and their powers straight (can we get a list in the next book) and the book drags at times.  Despite these problems Grant has managed to keep the series fresh and moving even this far into the series.  I can't wait for the final book in the series.

Appropriateness: This series is perfect for teenage boys.  It's sick and twisted and extremely violent.  The violence is gruesome the kids kill each other and some of the characters even relish the idea of torturing and killing other kids.  The kids drink alcohol to excess and do drugs.  There's a sexual relationship between a couple in this edition, and group of kids display some very hateful and racist behavior.  However, there are consequences both physical and emotional to all of the negative behaviors and none of them are glamorized.  I wouldn't give this book to a nine year old but it's absolutely appropriate for the12 and up audience that it's targeted towards and this is a series that boys will enjoy.  This is a series to buy for your child who hates to read.

Flirting in Italian

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson follows Violet a British girl.  When Violet finds a picture at a museum that looks just like her she becomes obsessed.  She finds a small finishing school in Italy right next to the castle where the picture was painted and convinces her mother to allow her to go.  The school is located at a beautiful villa and she and her three friends are poised to have a wonderful time eating wonderful food, drinking delicious wine and flirting with cute Italian boys while trying to solve the mystery of why she looks so much like the girl in the painting.

This is a fun and flirty book that is a true romance.  It takes place in a fun and foreign location with great friends and cute boys.  However, there is a plot point with her crush (whom she kisses a lot) whose mother lives at the castle with the painting (if you get what I'm saying) that is not resolved at the end of the book that is a bit icky that is going to turn off a lot of readers.  If you can get past that you'll find that this is a cute and fun romance that your older teens will enjoy.

Appropriateness:  This is a book that straddles the line between adult and teen lit.  Had Violet been two years older it would have fit perfectly in the chic lit section.  There are several steamy kissing scenes but they do not go further than that.  There is a lot of drinking (which is legal in Europe) however there is also a lot of discussion of the need for a designated driver (yay) and a lot of talk about how there is no need to drink to excess (yay).  I would recommend this book to readers 16+ and use it as a starting point to discuss responsible drinking and the importance of designated drivers.

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Spellbound

Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins is the third book in the Hex Hall series.  This series follows Sophie a demon.  Sophie starts this book unable to access her demon powers and a huge revelation about her family.   She soon finds herself back at Hex Hall which has been taken over by the Casnoff's who have evil plans.

This was a good third book in the series.  Hawkins does a good job of continuing the story while still allowing it to remain fresh and original.  While I didn't speed though the book I did enjoy it.  Fans of the series will not be dissapointed.

Appropriateness:  There was no adult behavior in this novel.  The romance is limited to kissing.  I would recommend this series to readers 12+

Alien on a Rampage

 Alien on a Rampage is the sequel to Aliens on Vacation.  This book begins with David returning to his grandmother's bed and breakfast for a second summer.  He's excited for another vacation full of responsibility and adventure.  Things aren't all he thought they would be.  Amy has taken over a lot of responsibility and Grandma's creepy alien repairman Scratchell seems to be hiding something big.  Can David save the hotel and the world?

This sequel was just as good as the first book in the series.  The mystery was more serious than in the first book but still filled with humor.  A great addition to this book was David's alien pet with an insatiable appetite.  I laughed and smiled and couldn't put the book down until I finished it. It reads like a funny Disney channel movie.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book and is has a great message.  I recommend this book to boys and girls 10-14 with it being completely appropriate for younger readers who aren't overwhelmed with the size of the book.

ARC provided by publisher

Bumped

Thumped by Megan McCafferty is the sequel to Bumped a dystopian satire about a society where teenagers are encouraged to get pregnant.  The story alternates between the voices of twins Harmony and Melody who have told the world that they are both pregnant with twins and born on the same day.  Harmony has gone back to Goodside with her husband although she is pregnant with Jondoe's babies.  She is unhappy in this religious community and unwilling to conform.  Melody is part of a huge fraud, faking the most public pregnancy in the world.  The two have to come to terms with their decisions before the untruths blowup in their faces.

I really enjoyed this book.  It was a nice sequel to Bumped and it was a sequel, not a second book in a series so it had a nice and fulfilling ending at the end (something that's lacking in a lot of YA lit) that even packs a nice message at the end.  The book is satire and filled with a lot of tongue and cheek moments that had me giggling.  This series is unlike anything else on the market and one I would recommend to teens.

Appropriateness:  This dystopian tale much like others that have been on the market recently was built around a premise of the government controlling or encouraging teenage sexuality.  In this case teenagers are encouraged to become pregnant, to "bump" (have sex) and to give their babies away.  Even though sex and sexuality is the main premise of this book the content is still fairly tame.  There is one heavy makeout scene that is not descriptive.  The ultimate message of the book is a liberal sex ed philosophy, that sex should be meaningful and not done because of pressure from outside forces, that controlling sexual behavior (either way) isn't positive.   I did not find the content to be inappropriate for a middle school audience (although some may find the topic icky) and would recommend the book for ages 13+   I would take this book as an opportunity to have some frank discussions with your kid on teen pregnancy and the media's pressure to live in a sexualised society as the book really encourages those sorts of discussions.

Enchanted

Enchanted by Aletha Kontis follows Sunday, the youngest sister in an an interesting family.  Sunday makes good friends with a talking frog and spends her days telling him stories.  The frog is the prince, the son of a man who has used magic to keep himself young and the man who has ruined Sunday's family.

This book is a huge mix of fairytale references mixed with magical fairies.  The main tale is that of The Princess of the Frog but other pieces of tales are woven into the story to spice things up.  I enjoyed this book but did not find it as easy to read as many other fairytale retellings/mashups.  There was something about the writing that made the story not flow as well as it could have.  I did however love the book and at no point did I want to put it down (and I've been inpatient lately).

Appropriateness:  There's no adult behavior in this book.  The romance consists of a few kisses.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+ however it is not inappropriate for younger readers.

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Ordinary Magic

Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway takes place in a magical world.  When Abby learns that she has no magic her life is uncertain.  In Abby's world people with no magic are called Ords.  They are not only considered unlucky but they are often sold by their families to adventurers who want to use them for their ability to break through spells.  Abby's sister finds her a place at a new school that not only protects ords but prepares them for the world.

This is a fantastic book and I was totally enchanted by it.  The world was a fantastic one and the idea of a girl in a magical world who doesn't have magic is an original one, even doing the dishes is new for her.  I loved the school and her classmates and her family.  The kidnappers were fantastic villains adding a nice bit of adventure to the book.  I finished the book quickly and was enchanted the whole time.

Appropriateness:  This is a fantastic book that middle grade readers will love.  Abby is a spunky girl who cares for her friends and is not afraid of a little hard work.  There is no adult content in the book and the scary scenes are just a bit scary.  This book is perfect for the 9-14 crowd and is interesting enough (and short enough) for younger advanced readers and to be used as a read aloud.

Review Copy Provided by Netgalley 

A Girl Named Digit

A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan follows Farrah a math wiz who finds herself tangled up with the FBI after cracking a code that detected a terrorist attack.  Farrah has never been normal.  She's not just a math wiz but has a compulsion to order everything in her life.  After having a hard time with bullies in middle school she decides to hide who she is in High School.  She lives an unhappy life, lying to everyone and herself about who she is until the unthinkable happens.  After cracking a code of numbers that appear on television a plane is bombed at the local airport and she realizes that she could have prevented it.  She goes to the FBI and finds herself running from the terrorists while trying to crack the code to prevent another bombing and dealing with her attraction to her young FBI handler.

I loved this book.  It was cute and funny and I loved Farrah learning to come to terms with the intelligence that she had always hidden before.  It reminded me a lot of Meg Cabot's Vanished series (which is also awesome, go read those if you haven't already) in tone.  A cool and interesting mystery and a special ability combined with a sexy older (but not too much older) love interest.  I tore through this book and hope that there are more Digit books in the future.

Appropriateness:  At the beginning of the book we are introduced to the life that Farrah isn't happy with which includes going to parties and drinking (but she does not get drunk) and making out with guys (which she describes as unappealing).  The FBI agent/love interest is older than her (she is seventeen and he is 21) and the age (minor/adult) difference between the two is mentioned frequently as a major obstacle.  There is no sex and the physical nature of their relationship is limited to kissing although the two do spend the night in the same room (and on the same couch) while they are on the run.  I would recommend this book for teens 13+ and encourage parents to use it as a starting point to discuss being yourself and also to discuss statutory rape and the reason that teen/adult relationships are not appropriate and illegal and why exactly it was so important for John that they wait on their relationship until Farrah turned eighteen.

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Rough Waters

Rough Waters by S. L. Rottman follows Scott who along with his brother Gregg is uprooted to Colorado after the death of his parents to live with an uncle that he has never met.  His uncle runs a white water rafting company and has trouble making ends meet and puts them to work in his company. While Scott is open to the experience Greg is resentful and rebellious.

This is a wonderful book that's full of realistic action and will really appeal to teen boys.  Greg is a character that teens will be able to relate to, one that wants to do the right thing but stumbles and gives into peer pressure at times.  There are plenty of lessons to be learned in the book but it's the rafting scenes that really shine.  The reader can picture themselves on the raft, going on rafting trips and facing danger on a daily basis.  This book is a bit old and there are some things that are dated (like not being able to afford a long distance phone call) but the message and story is still exciting and relevant.

 Appropriateness:  Greg's older brother gets into a lot of trouble in the book.  He drinks and smokes, breaks the law and is disrespectful to women.  This is all viewed as negative and destructive and an example of how not to behave and Scott for the most part is a very good kid.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+ with a special emphasis on boys and reluctant readers.

Review Copy provided by Netgalley

 

Happy Families

Happy Families by Tanita Davis follows twins Ysabel and Nicholas as they spend spring break with their father who have recently learned of their father's secret, that he is transgender.  The book is told in alternating voices as the twins spend time with their father, the first in months and try come to terms with their father's new life and try to heal their family.

This was a very good social issues book.  Introducing teens to an issue that they are not familiar with in a way that is interesting and relateable.  While I was not rushing to finish the book I had no problem finishing it and I found myself caring about the characters and hoping for a happy ending.  The author doesn't provide a happy ending but does provide a hopeful one.  This is a book that needs to be on library shelves.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in the book.  The author does a good job talking about transgender persons and the differences even providing a glossary in the back of different terms and resources for more information.  I would recommend this book to teens 12+

Review copy provided by Netgalley

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm follows Libby who has a summer internship at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum running the camp for girls (in period costume).  Her summer is filled with evil co-workers, handsome boys, cute kids and a ghostly mystery.

This is a delightfully fun chic lit romance.  The type of book that makes you smile.  Libby is a smart and confident girl who isn't afraid to be different.  Cam and Garret the two men in her life are both equally charming (at times) and seem like real people.  The only negative is that the book is rather short (around 200 pages) however that is a plus for reluctant readers or readers who want a quick read.

Appropriateness:    There is quite a bit of drunken behavior by one of the side characters.  The alcohol is used to make him appear to be a bad person.  Libby takes a beer at one point, drinks a sip as to not cause a scene (complains about it) and then trades it for rootbeer.  The romances are limited to kissing and are sweet and funny.  While the book feels mature enough for older readers (with characters that seem like older high schoolers) it is appropriate for the middle school audience.  I recommend this book to readers 12+

Chomp

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen follows Wahoo a boy whose father is an animal wrangler.  When a reality show contacts Wahoo's father Micky about providing animals to set up a survivalist's show he is reluctant but agrees because he needs to pay the bills.  Will Wahoo and Micky be able to handle the arrogant Derek Badger?

I loved this book.  It was engaging and funny without being afraid to tackle some heavy subjects.  I loved the setting with all of the animals and Derek Badger the fake survivalist and his reality show made for some really funny reading.  It reminded me of one of those great family movies that has you laughing throughout.  I sped though the book and was happy with the nice solid ending that wrapped everything up.

Appropriateness:  This book tackles some very difficult subjects but does so in a way that's age appropriate.  Wahoo's friend Tuna comes with them because her father who is a drunk who gave her a black eye.  Wahoo's family has dealt with financial difficulties due to his unemployment due to a medical disability.  I would recommend this book to readers 10-14 it's a nice starting point to talk about child and substance abuse and what to do if they suspect a friend is in trouble.

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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.

Ladies in Waiting

Ladies in Waiting by Ms. Laura L. Sullivan follows three girls named Elizabeth (Zabby, Beth and Eliza) who have positions as ladies in waiting for Queen Catherine right after her wedding to King Charles the II.  The three girls must learn to navigate through the ways of the court and figure out what they are going to do with their lives.  Will they be forced to live the life that someone else chooses for them or will they be able to make their own decisions.  Choose who they love.

I enjoyed this book, it had parties and great dresses and everything a reader wants when reading this type of historical romance.  It has enough history to make the reader want to do a little research but not so much that the reader feels like they're in history class. The three girls were great friends and each had their own issue to overcome which showed a different part of their society.  The story however was slow at times.  I felt like I was reading a 550 page book when in fact the book was under 400 pages. 

Appropriateness:  This book didn't feel like a young adult book however, it did feel like the historical romance novels that I read when I was a teen (except without the sex).  It was not a fast read and there was some MASSIVE vocabulary (words that can be figured out in context but many that I was not familiar with).  There wasn't any sex however, there was an obsessive amount of talk of virginity and sex as it related to the girls in their time period.  I would recommend this book to readers 14+

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin follows Kelsey at the start of her freshman year.  Kelsey gets through her freshmen year dealing with the soccer team, fights with friends, a surprise role in the school musical and even a bit of romance.

This is a delightfully funny book that I loved.  Kelsey is a smart and funny and the disasters that happen to her seem realistic.  Kelsey is a girl who has to deal with a lot of real problems in the best way she knows how.  She's got great friends and isn't afraid to get into her school activities.  There's a little side plot regarding her friends possible homosexuality that was dealt with beautifully.  I laughed so hard while reading this book at one point I had to stop reading I was laughing so hard.  I finished the book quickly and would be thrilled to read another book by this author.

Appropriateness:  Kelsey and her friends drink when they're alone together and they drink at parties often getting very drunk and it is clear that they started drinking in middle school.  The romance consists of a few kisses and one situation where a boy gets too handsy with Kelsey (and she pushes him off).  I'd recommend this book to teens 13+ and use it to talk to your child about teen drinking.

The Thirteenth Princess

The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler is a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses (and yes, this is probably the fifth retelling of this tale that I've read, I can't get enough).  In this retelling the star is Zita, the thirteenth princess who was raised as a servant after her mother died during her childbirth.  Zita has to solve the mystery of her sister's illness and has a little romance on the side as she grows up.

I loved this retelling.  It was sweet and romantic (in a way that was very appropriate for young readers) and full of magic.  Zita made for a fantastic heroine who orchestrates the rescue with the help of a few friends.  I also liked that the author took out the creepy part of the story (the rescuer being able to marry any princess) and just gave us a soldier whom had a mutual affection for the oldest sister.  This is an easy and quick read.

Appropriateness:  This is a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages..  There is a bit of a romance between Zita and Brekin which is sweet and innocent.  The lexile is 850 putting it on a sixth grade reading level making it a great book for middle school readers and advanced older elementary students.

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelly Coriell tells the story of Chloe who suddenly looses her social standing when she is frozen out by her best friend.  Chloe becomes part of the school radio station for her independent study project.  Chloe becomes friends with people she never would have talked to before and her radio show gets the station the publicity that it needs.

I really enjoyed the book. Chloe was a great person who was able to handle her loss of popularity with class and find herself a new place to fit in.  I loved the relationship that she had with her grandmother and the romance was sweet and did not monopolize the plot.  I sped through the book remaining interested throughout.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  Chloe is a Junior in high school and acts her age.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

Review copy provided by netgalley

The Selection

The Selection by Kiera Cass is a dystopian romance that takes place in a strictly regimented society where citizens have no choice as to their lot in society.  America is a five, both of her parents are artists and she has grown up in poverty.  She is secretly in love with Aspen, a six who is destined to work as a servant his entire life and who is forbidden to America because of his caste.  When a letter comes in the mail inviting America to enter a contest to become the newest princess America reluctantly applies and finds herself flown into an extravagant bachelor like contest to win the heart of the prince.  Will she be able to leave her childhood love and move on? 

This was a strange strange book that I couldn't put down.  I sped through the book finishing it in less than a day all the while being amazed with the the absurdity of the concept of a dystopian dating reality show.  I liked America as a character but found the other characters to be one dimensional.  There's the nice one and the bitchy one and many many who aren't important enough to get a real personality.  The two leading men are interesting enough but I didn't find myself rooting for one over another.  The book ends on a cliffhanger with no real resolution which is frustrating.  This story is being made into a pilot for the CW this fall.

Appropriateness:  There are a few heavy makeout scenes and discussions of virginity.  Nothing that is shocking and it's easily skimmed or skipped.  While America is a teen, her life is more like that of a girl in her young twenties and thinking of marriage than a teen which will make the book attractive to older YA's and the crossover audience.  I recommend this book to readers 13+

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Never Eighteen

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic tells the story of Austin who has a few things to do before he dies.  Austin and his friend Kaylee, the best friend whom he has secretly loved travel around the state to do some things that he needs to do before he dies.  Trying to help people move on and fix their lives.

This is an interesting book that tries to get the reader to think about the mistakes that are made in life and the need to fix them. Austin and Kaylee are interesting characters and the love story is predictable but sweet.  I didn't find the plot particularly engrossing however I think that fans of this type of story (Nicolas Sparks fans) will enjoy the book.

Appropriateness:  This is a book with a lot of adult content.  There is sex (with condoms yay!) and a bit of drunkenness (with a mention of the designated driver yay!) .  I would recommend this book to teens 14+ who are fans of sweet and sad stories.

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Croak

Croak by Gina Damico follows Lex who is sent to live with her uncle after a turbulent year where Gina's anger consistantly gets the best of her.  When she arrives in her uncles hometown she finds that things are not as she thought they would be.  Her uncle is a Grimm Reaper and he is going to teach Lex how to kill.

I loved this book.  The mythology was original and interesting.  I loved tough girl Lex and the other teens that she worked with.  The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing.  The ending is clear and fulfilling enough to not feel like a cliffhanger but there is still plenty of mystery to be explored.

Appropriateness:  This is a great book for teens that is mature enough for older teens to enjoy.  There is no real adult content although the teens do drink a mythological substance recreationaly while hanging out in a bar like setting.There is a bit of a romance but not enough to turn off readers who are not interested in romance.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

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The Springsweet

The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell is a sequel to The Vespertine.  This book follows Zora who moves in with an aunt in Oklahoma shortly after the landrun following the death of her fiancee.  Zora finds that this new frontier dangerous and difficult but filled with interesting people.  Zora soon finds that she has the ability of a springsweet, one who can locate water, and finds herself in a love triangle between the man who is right socially and the man that is right for her heart.

I loved this book.  While it was a sequel to The Vespertine it felt more like a companion novel which has a character from the original but does not continue the original story.  The historical setting was written well allowing the reader to feel like they are in the frontier setting.  The book is short and the plot engrossing leaving me with a story that I could not not put down.  Both this book and The Vespertine reminded me of the historical romance novels that I loved and adored as a teen (but without all the sex.)

Appropriateness:  This is a wonderful historical romance that teens will love.  There is no alcohol or drugs.  There are a few sections where it could be implied that more happened than just kissing but it is left to the imagination.  I would recommend this book to readers 13+

Something To Hold

Something To Hold by Katherine Schlick Noe tells the story of Kitty a white girl who moves onto an Indian reservation in the early 1960's with her father who works for the forest service.  Kitty's year starts out very rocky, she feels like an outsider in a world she doesn't understand.  She soon makes friends and finds herself confused by the differences in the way she is treated compared to her Indian classmates and neighbors.

This is a fantastic book, based on the authors own childhood, that explores what life was like for those on the reservation.  This is the type of book that belongs on a library shelf to be explored by kids for years to come.  It presents several complex issues such as racism, child abuse and injustices that Native Americans had to deal with.   I enjoyed Kitty's story and finished the book without putting it down.

Appropriateness:  There are some difficult topics in this book (addiction, abuse, racism) that are handled very appropriately for the intended audience although some adult discussion to the full context of these issues would be helpful for readers to get a full understanding of the topic.  Kitty is eleven and there is no romance.  I would recommend this book to readers 9-14.

Review Copy obtained from Amazon Vine

Last Chance

Last Chance by Nora McClintock follows Robyn a dog bite victim who is forced to spend her summer volunteering at am animal shelter after she is arrested during a protest.  Also working at the shelter is a group of teens who are part of an anger management program rehabilitating abused dogs.  When Robyn thinks she sees one of the boys stealing she'll have to figure out if people really can change.

This was a pleasant but unremarkable book.  The mystery and the bad boy semi-love interest was fairly predictable.  I did enjoy reading about the animal shelter and think that kids who are interested in dogs would probably really enjoy this book.  While I was interested in the book I didn't find myself itching to finish or unable to put the book down and it took me several days to finish.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in the book.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+

ARC provided by netgalley

Fever (Chemical Garden)

Fever by Lauren DeStefano is the second book in the Chemical Garden trilogy.  This series follows Rhine who lives in a world where everyone is infected with a virus that kills men at 25 and women at 20.  This book catches up with Rhine and Gabriel right after their escape.  They travel to New York in search of Rhine's brother facing many speedbumps on the road.

This book was fairly typical for a second book in a dystopian.  Girl leaves previous environment, girl meets many questionable characters and faces a lot of danger and finds herself confused about her relationship.  While I wasn't astounded or surprised by the book and again found myself rolling my eyes at the decisions the heroine made I did like the book and the world continued to fascinate me. If you liked the first book in the series you will enjoy this one also.

Appropriateness:  The world that Rhine lives in is one that is filled with sexual exploitation.  Women are bought and sold and kidnapped for sex and to be impregnated.  There are no sex scenes in the book but sex is a big part of the plot and there are several situations where Rhine is at risk to be raped.  I would recommend this book to readers 14+

Take a Bow

Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg follows a group of students in their Senior year at a competitive performing arts school in New York City.  The story revolves around Emme a shy composer who slowly comes into her own and learns to stand up for herself.  The story is told through the eyes of Emme and several of her classmates: Sophie, her best friend whom she'll have to come to realize is using her.  Carter, Sophie's boyfriend and child star who is not sure if he wants to be an actor and Ethan who has always cared about Emme.

This was a fantastic contemporary novel about older teens.  I loved Emme's growth throughout the book as she learns to stand up for herself, believe in herself and become the performer that she never knew she could be.  The performing arts school felt like a real place and the author did a good job creating a school that seemed real and had the students doing high school level work.  I sped through this book finishing it quickly.

Appropriateness:  This is a book about teenagers that act like teenagers.  There's alcohol abuse (which is in every case depicted as stupid and destructive) and some discussions of sex.  I would recommend the book to readers 13+

Bewitching

Bewitching by Alex Flinn is a combination of several retold fairy tales that all involve Kendra the witch.  The story starts with Kendra discovering that she is a witch after saving her brother from the plague that has killed most of her small town.  She then comes into contact with another witch who lives in a gingerbread house, a girl with a wicked stepsister, a mermaid.

This was a frustrating book that was also very good.  It was essentially a collection of short stories retelling various fairy tales and each of the tales were interesting and fun to read.  However, the way the book was formatted was very frustrating.  The book starts with the tale of Hansel and Gretel in the middle ages and then moves to the present to tell half of a Cinderella tale and then takes breaks throughout that story with short retellings of other tales throughout Kendra's history.  While each of the tales themselves are interesting the way they are all sliced together is jarring and took me out of the story, stalling the plot and slowing the book to a stop.  I would recommend this book because I loved each of the stories I just wish that the author had published them as a group of short stories instead of the way they were formatted.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  This book reads a little older than Flinn's last book Cloaked but is still appropriate for that audience (as well as the older teen audience).  I would recommend this book to readers 12+ who are fans of fairytale romances.   

Radiate

Radiate by Marley Gibson features Hayley a girl who decides to try out for the cheerleading squad for her senior year in high school.  After making the team and going through grueling summer practices she notices that there is something wrong with her leg and makes an appointment at the doctor.  She soon finds out that she has a tumor on her leg.  Haley fights through her cancer, refusing to give up on cheerleading and ultimately inspiring her entire community.

I almost didn't read the book because the blurb on the first page of my ARC said something about how the book could show readers the power of positive thinking and my first reaction to that was barf, sounds like too much cheese for me.  However, once I got into the book I couldn't help but be hooked by Hayley's story.  While there were a few things that bothered me (Hayley being so uneducated and unrealistic about her disease, her obsession with popularity) for the most part I felt myself really being drawn into her story and inspired by Haley's actions (even more so when you read the note at the end written by the author's mother and find out that the story is a fictionalized account of the Author's her own disease).  Her classmates act in realistic ways and she has to deal with classmates that are less than supportive.  While the book is tough it's not a book that readers will cry their way though.  I couldn't put this book down and finished it very quickly.

Appropriateness:  There are some party situations with underage drinking (which Hayley does not partake in).  Hayley is seventeen however she acts younger than her age.  I would recommend this book to readers 12+ 

Review copy provided by netgalley