The "A" Reviews--See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
*National Book Award winner; NYT Notable Children's Book of 2007; California Young Reader Medal; Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner; Bn.com Best Teen Book of 2007; Los Angeles Times Favorite Children's Books of 2007; Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Fiction of 2007*
Why this book is worth considering:
From National Book Award to banned book—how does that happen? And what’s a parent supposed to do with such a dichotomy? In all honesty, I don’t know the right answer. After reading this novel, though, I can say that making a judgment about it based on its banned-book status is an injustice. We may be cautious parents, wanting to lead our teens to entertainment that will edify the mind and spirit, but we also must remember that a book is more than the sum of its parts. Swear words, violence, and sex, in other words, do not a trashy book make! In Part-time Indian’s case, they don’t add up to a trashy book at all. On the contrary, the novel opens a window into the Native American community that isn’t readily available to those outside the reservations. Arnold Spirit, the main character, tells his story like a modern teenage boy might—complete with swearing, sexual references, and other crude language—but his voice is also sensitive and insightful, his experiences authentic, thought-provoking, and touching. In such a busy world it is easy to make snap judgments on books based on a rumor here, a piece of information there, but Part-time Indian deserves a closer look than this. As crass as it may be in certain parts, this novel will stay with me for a long time.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
It is difficult to know whether it's right to recommend this book to cautious parents or not. As I indicated above, it is an excellent novel from a literary standpoint. I don't know the criteria for the National Book Award, but I can see why this sailed ahead of its YA counterparts. I have read other award-winning books that I thought were awful trash; Part-time Indian, though, deserves some accolades for its moving, insightful account of a teenage American Indian boy trying to escape the hopelessness and poverty that of his community. Still, it will not be the right book for some teens.
Although I am generally a cautious, concerned parent myself, in my opinion the swearing isn't frequent or offensive enough to warrant throwing this novel out. In fact, I'd rather my kids read this book if they had a choice between it and a clean put poorly-written novel--and I don't say that lightly. That said, swearing is peppered throughout the book. Besides some swearing, it's important to note that Part-time Indian also contains several casual references to masturbation and other crude acts. There is no sex or even passionate kissing in the book, but there are a few lustful comments and sexual humor between Arnold and his friends. In addition, there is also a short reference or two to the way Christianity negatively impacted Indian life. Teens who don't understand the nuances of this historical issue sufficiently may find these references confusing or even disturbing. To call the book "anti-Christian," as book-banners have done, though, is a stretch. These few sentences in the novel express the genuine feelings and perspective of Arnold's community, something that outsiders would do well to accept and ponder. Overall, the book hardly touches on religion at all outside of a few instances of Indian spirituality familiar to Arnold; however, parents should be aware that there are a couple of anti-Christian references. The book also contains some violence--for example, Arnold's sister dies in a fire, and his best friend is regularly abused at home. Violence is not a frequent part of the story, though.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens.
Author's Official Website: http://fallsapart.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*National Book Award winner; NYT Notable Children's Book of 2007; California Young Reader Medal; Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner; Bn.com Best Teen Book of 2007; Los Angeles Times Favorite Children's Books of 2007; Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Fiction of 2007*
Why this book is worth considering:
From National Book Award to banned book—how does that happen? And what’s a parent supposed to do with such a dichotomy? In all honesty, I don’t know the right answer. After reading this novel, though, I can say that making a judgment about it based on its banned-book status is an injustice. We may be cautious parents, wanting to lead our teens to entertainment that will edify the mind and spirit, but we also must remember that a book is more than the sum of its parts. Swear words, violence, and sex, in other words, do not a trashy book make! In Part-time Indian’s case, they don’t add up to a trashy book at all. On the contrary, the novel opens a window into the Native American community that isn’t readily available to those outside the reservations. Arnold Spirit, the main character, tells his story like a modern teenage boy might—complete with swearing, sexual references, and other crude language—but his voice is also sensitive and insightful, his experiences authentic, thought-provoking, and touching. In such a busy world it is easy to make snap judgments on books based on a rumor here, a piece of information there, but Part-time Indian deserves a closer look than this. As crass as it may be in certain parts, this novel will stay with me for a long time.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
It is difficult to know whether it's right to recommend this book to cautious parents or not. As I indicated above, it is an excellent novel from a literary standpoint. I don't know the criteria for the National Book Award, but I can see why this sailed ahead of its YA counterparts. I have read other award-winning books that I thought were awful trash; Part-time Indian, though, deserves some accolades for its moving, insightful account of a teenage American Indian boy trying to escape the hopelessness and poverty that of his community. Still, it will not be the right book for some teens.
Although I am generally a cautious, concerned parent myself, in my opinion the swearing isn't frequent or offensive enough to warrant throwing this novel out. In fact, I'd rather my kids read this book if they had a choice between it and a clean put poorly-written novel--and I don't say that lightly. That said, swearing is peppered throughout the book. Besides some swearing, it's important to note that Part-time Indian also contains several casual references to masturbation and other crude acts. There is no sex or even passionate kissing in the book, but there are a few lustful comments and sexual humor between Arnold and his friends. In addition, there is also a short reference or two to the way Christianity negatively impacted Indian life. Teens who don't understand the nuances of this historical issue sufficiently may find these references confusing or even disturbing. To call the book "anti-Christian," as book-banners have done, though, is a stretch. These few sentences in the novel express the genuine feelings and perspective of Arnold's community, something that outsiders would do well to accept and ponder. Overall, the book hardly touches on religion at all outside of a few instances of Indian spirituality familiar to Arnold; however, parents should be aware that there are a couple of anti-Christian references. The book also contains some violence--for example, Arnold's sister dies in a fire, and his best friend is regularly abused at home. Violence is not a frequent part of the story, though.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens.
Author's Official Website: http://fallsapart.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Albrek’s Tomb, by M.L. Forman (Adventurers Wanted series, book 3)
Why this book is worth considering:
Dragons. Now we’re getting somewhere. That dragon in the first book? Pshaw! Alex is off again and his growth as a wizard is extraordinary. Is there anything he can’t do? I hope not. This is a story of honor, friendship, and the search for family that you never want to end. While Alex learns more about wizardry and himself, he also learns that there may be a looming danger to all the known lands. He’s beginning to feel the weight of wizardly responsibility and will do everything he can to help his friends.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
This whole series is squarely in the realm of magic and mysticism, but good and evil are clearly defined. These are characters of honor and grace, so there’s no swearing or vulgarity. There’s no romance or even hints of sex.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://www.adventurerswanted.com/
Reviewer: Ethan Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
Dragons. Now we’re getting somewhere. That dragon in the first book? Pshaw! Alex is off again and his growth as a wizard is extraordinary. Is there anything he can’t do? I hope not. This is a story of honor, friendship, and the search for family that you never want to end. While Alex learns more about wizardry and himself, he also learns that there may be a looming danger to all the known lands. He’s beginning to feel the weight of wizardly responsibility and will do everything he can to help his friends.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
This whole series is squarely in the realm of magic and mysticism, but good and evil are clearly defined. These are characters of honor and grace, so there’s no swearing or vulgarity. There’s no romance or even hints of sex.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://www.adventurerswanted.com/
Reviewer: Ethan Blomquist
Alex and Eliza: A Love Story, by Melissa de la Cruz (Alex and Eliza Series, #1)
Why this book is worth considering:
Ahhh...what a nice change for girls! Heart-melting romance, colonial American history, and a little political intrigue all wrapped in one nice, beach-ready package without all the smut that accompanies so many YA books these days. I enjoyed this book so much. It wasn't challenging or particularly "literary" in the way great YA books are (like The Book Thief), but it was fun and relaxing and clean. I don't know if I'll read the rest of the trilogy, so I can't say how clean the other two books are, but I'm guessing that they will be similar to this one because of the historical subject matter and de la Cruz's writing style.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
I found very little in this novel that concerned me. While the author did play to modern PC sensibilities in how she developed her characters--such as making Eliza spunky and independent, like some kind of proto-feminist--she didn't overdo it. I felt that she also remained true to the historical setting and was respectful in regard to the Christian morality and traditions that were customary at that time. The novel contains a light smattering of realistic swear words (d---, h---, etc.) and crudely sexual language. Because its set during the Revolutionary War, there is also some violence and situations of serious peril (including a near rape); however, de la Cruz did a good job with using a light touch. Because of that, none of the content seemed inappropriate for the age group to me. Finally, the novel does contain references to Christianity and specifically the Christian Reformed denomination that was prevalent in the novel's setting. Again, though, these are kept realistic and respectful.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: https://melissa-delacruz.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
Ahhh...what a nice change for girls! Heart-melting romance, colonial American history, and a little political intrigue all wrapped in one nice, beach-ready package without all the smut that accompanies so many YA books these days. I enjoyed this book so much. It wasn't challenging or particularly "literary" in the way great YA books are (like The Book Thief), but it was fun and relaxing and clean. I don't know if I'll read the rest of the trilogy, so I can't say how clean the other two books are, but I'm guessing that they will be similar to this one because of the historical subject matter and de la Cruz's writing style.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
I found very little in this novel that concerned me. While the author did play to modern PC sensibilities in how she developed her characters--such as making Eliza spunky and independent, like some kind of proto-feminist--she didn't overdo it. I felt that she also remained true to the historical setting and was respectful in regard to the Christian morality and traditions that were customary at that time. The novel contains a light smattering of realistic swear words (d---, h---, etc.) and crudely sexual language. Because its set during the Revolutionary War, there is also some violence and situations of serious peril (including a near rape); however, de la Cruz did a good job with using a light touch. Because of that, none of the content seemed inappropriate for the age group to me. Finally, the novel does contain references to Christianity and specifically the Christian Reformed denomination that was prevalent in the novel's setting. Again, though, these are kept realistic and respectful.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: https://melissa-delacruz.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
The A-List: A Novel, by Zoey Dean
Core themes: sex and romance (in that order), both casual "hook-ups" and romantic encounters; transition struggles between homes; damaged parent-child relationships; lifestyles of east- and west-coast wealthy; dynamics of female relationships when there is mutual love interest
Drugs/alcohol: pervasive underage drinking and mild drugs (cigarettes, pot, Valium); character has alcoholic sister
Religion/occult: brief discussion of horoscopes around dinner table
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2, 3, 4-- be aware that all content is pervasive, graphic, and very adult (for example, girl and boy protagonists visit a sex store just before going to a party in order to find a replacement outfit for girl's damaged dress).
Violence/abuse: none, unless you count catty girl purposely demeaning another girl and ruining her dress
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (all content pervasive throughout novel)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: As was Gossip Girl, The A-List is actually an adult book that has been modified just enough to allow it to be published in the young adult market. Basically, this means "anything goes," except for graphic descriptions of sexual intercourse (although it is not far off). Actually, I have to hand it to Zoey Dean. I thought Cecily von Ziegesar went as low as it was possible to go with Gossip Girl, but I was wrong. The A-List goes even lower. The only plus for The A-List is that the story is a wee bit more interesting and better-written, so that I am almost tempted to read the next book. Almost. I am not a prudish person and do not always make the best entertainment choices, but this disgusted me, especially since I know it is being marketed to my own daughters.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens.
Author's Official Website: none, but has author page with publisher-- http://alloyentertainment.com/authors/zoey-dean/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Core themes: sex and romance (in that order), both casual "hook-ups" and romantic encounters; transition struggles between homes; damaged parent-child relationships; lifestyles of east- and west-coast wealthy; dynamics of female relationships when there is mutual love interest
Drugs/alcohol: pervasive underage drinking and mild drugs (cigarettes, pot, Valium); character has alcoholic sister
Religion/occult: brief discussion of horoscopes around dinner table
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2, 3, 4-- be aware that all content is pervasive, graphic, and very adult (for example, girl and boy protagonists visit a sex store just before going to a party in order to find a replacement outfit for girl's damaged dress).
Violence/abuse: none, unless you count catty girl purposely demeaning another girl and ruining her dress
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (all content pervasive throughout novel)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: As was Gossip Girl, The A-List is actually an adult book that has been modified just enough to allow it to be published in the young adult market. Basically, this means "anything goes," except for graphic descriptions of sexual intercourse (although it is not far off). Actually, I have to hand it to Zoey Dean. I thought Cecily von Ziegesar went as low as it was possible to go with Gossip Girl, but I was wrong. The A-List goes even lower. The only plus for The A-List is that the story is a wee bit more interesting and better-written, so that I am almost tempted to read the next book. Almost. I am not a prudish person and do not always make the best entertainment choices, but this disgusted me, especially since I know it is being marketed to my own daughters.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens.
Author's Official Website: none, but has author page with publisher-- http://alloyentertainment.com/authors/zoey-dean/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Allegiant, by Veronica Roth (Divergent series, book #3)
*2014 Children's Choice Book Award Finalist; 2014 Teen Choice Book Award Winner; Barnes & Noble Best New Teen Books of 2013*
Allegiant is the final book in the Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth. There is a lot of online controversy about this book, because many fans are unhappy with the direction the story took. The first book was very solid, and the second one suffered a little as Tris made some weird decisions that seemed odd but at least pushed the plot forward. Allegiant languishes somewhat in that it is required to give you all the information that has been missing in the first two books, keep the drama of the Tobias/Tris relationship going, and tie it up all neatly at the end. To do this, Roth switched to a dual POV system that is new to the series. Each chapter is labeled Tris or Tobias, but the voice doesn’t change much in the chapters, so at times I couldn’t remember whose POV it was without looking back. The plot and action also became convoluted, and I had a hard time understanding why characters were making the choices they were. I will not address the ending at all as I don’t intend to include spoilers. If you don’t want it spoiled, I highly advise staying away from any book sites (or Amazon, for that matter) until you finish reading it.
Overall, the content in terms of violence, foul language, and sexuality is similar to the first two books. The one exception is that I believe there is an actual sex scene in this book, but to be perfectly honest I wasn’t completely sure. If there was an award for this type of thing, Judy Blume would receive “most explicit” and Veronica Roth would win “most vague” or maybe a “huh?”
I think this book will be the death knell for the movie franchise they are in the process of creating. I doubt they will make books two and three into movies, unless they alter the third book significantly to appeal to fans who are upset about how this story was wrapped up. I think Divergent would have been better as a longer, stand-alone story or two books at the maximum. Everyone wants trilogies or more these days because it equals money and a franchise. Sometimes the plot simply cannot support a trilogy, and a single book that would have been great becomes mediocre when it is forced into a series.
Please see Divergent (book #1), for additional notes.
*2014 Children's Choice Book Award Finalist; 2014 Teen Choice Book Award Winner; Barnes & Noble Best New Teen Books of 2013*
Allegiant is the final book in the Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth. There is a lot of online controversy about this book, because many fans are unhappy with the direction the story took. The first book was very solid, and the second one suffered a little as Tris made some weird decisions that seemed odd but at least pushed the plot forward. Allegiant languishes somewhat in that it is required to give you all the information that has been missing in the first two books, keep the drama of the Tobias/Tris relationship going, and tie it up all neatly at the end. To do this, Roth switched to a dual POV system that is new to the series. Each chapter is labeled Tris or Tobias, but the voice doesn’t change much in the chapters, so at times I couldn’t remember whose POV it was without looking back. The plot and action also became convoluted, and I had a hard time understanding why characters were making the choices they were. I will not address the ending at all as I don’t intend to include spoilers. If you don’t want it spoiled, I highly advise staying away from any book sites (or Amazon, for that matter) until you finish reading it.
Overall, the content in terms of violence, foul language, and sexuality is similar to the first two books. The one exception is that I believe there is an actual sex scene in this book, but to be perfectly honest I wasn’t completely sure. If there was an award for this type of thing, Judy Blume would receive “most explicit” and Veronica Roth would win “most vague” or maybe a “huh?”
I think this book will be the death knell for the movie franchise they are in the process of creating. I doubt they will make books two and three into movies, unless they alter the third book significantly to appeal to fans who are upset about how this story was wrapped up. I think Divergent would have been better as a longer, stand-alone story or two books at the maximum. Everyone wants trilogies or more these days because it equals money and a franchise. Sometimes the plot simply cannot support a trilogy, and a single book that would have been great becomes mediocre when it is forced into a series.
Please see Divergent (book #1), for additional notes.
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Alliance, by Mark Frost (The Paladin Prophecy series, book 2)
Core Themes: sacrifice, trust, friendship, quest for power/world domination, greed
Drugs/alcohol: none
Religion/occult: similar references to ancient indian tribes and the "hierarchy" from the first book.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: significantly less violence in this book than in The Paladin Prophecy. A few gory descriptions of beings from the Never Was.
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: Alliance picks up a few months after the events in The Paladin Prophecy. Will and his friends are busy developing their newfound powers and trying to figure out who is really behind the Knights of Charlemagne. Once again, Mark Frost is not stingy with what he reveals and when he reveals it. I also like that Will is a planner and gets what it is going on, instead of a character who is always in the dark and blindly walks into trouble. The characters in this series are smart, realistic, and funny--a great
combination!
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author's Official Website: http://bymarkfrost.com/
Reviewer: Annika Holland
Core Themes: sacrifice, trust, friendship, quest for power/world domination, greed
Drugs/alcohol: none
Religion/occult: similar references to ancient indian tribes and the "hierarchy" from the first book.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: significantly less violence in this book than in The Paladin Prophecy. A few gory descriptions of beings from the Never Was.
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: Alliance picks up a few months after the events in The Paladin Prophecy. Will and his friends are busy developing their newfound powers and trying to figure out who is really behind the Knights of Charlemagne. Once again, Mark Frost is not stingy with what he reveals and when he reveals it. I also like that Will is a planner and gets what it is going on, instead of a character who is always in the dark and blindly walks into trouble. The characters in this series are smart, realistic, and funny--a great
combination!
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author's Official Website: http://bymarkfrost.com/
Reviewer: Annika Holland
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins
*International Bestseller, NPR's Year's Best Teen Reads (2010), NPR's 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels (#53), Cybils Award Finalist for Young Adult Fiction (2011), YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults (2012), YALSA's Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults: Forbidden Romance (2012), TAYSHAS Reading List (2012), Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers --Honor (2012-13)*
Core Themes: adapting to new surroundings, first romance, working through misunderstandings, learning
to be a better friend
Drugs/alcohol: Two specific occurrences of drinking and being sick from it later. The story takes place in
Paris which has a lower drinking age.
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2
Violence/abuse: Two separate, minor incidents of one person punching another. One could argue that one character's father is overly controlling and therefore emotionally abusive.
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 Note: This looks like a lot, but in most instances it is one or two occurrences.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: One of the main reasons I chose to review this book is that I keep seeing it everywhere I go and I love the idea of a story set in Paris. Overall this is a solid, well-written teen romance. It may rely a little heavy on misunderstanding to drag the angst out, but then again Jane Austen did the same thing so who am I to criticize? Where I think this story really shines is in the descriptions of Paris through an American's eyes, especially when she visits the historic buildings and food shops. I also like the comparisons she draws between the French and Americans when she goes back to America for Christmas. I rated this for older teens because the kids are all high school seniors living away from home, and there is a little bit more mature content.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://naturalartificial.blogspot.com/
Reviewer: Annika Holland
*International Bestseller, NPR's Year's Best Teen Reads (2010), NPR's 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels (#53), Cybils Award Finalist for Young Adult Fiction (2011), YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults (2012), YALSA's Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults: Forbidden Romance (2012), TAYSHAS Reading List (2012), Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers --Honor (2012-13)*
Core Themes: adapting to new surroundings, first romance, working through misunderstandings, learning
to be a better friend
Drugs/alcohol: Two specific occurrences of drinking and being sick from it later. The story takes place in
Paris which has a lower drinking age.
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2
Violence/abuse: Two separate, minor incidents of one person punching another. One could argue that one character's father is overly controlling and therefore emotionally abusive.
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 Note: This looks like a lot, but in most instances it is one or two occurrences.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: One of the main reasons I chose to review this book is that I keep seeing it everywhere I go and I love the idea of a story set in Paris. Overall this is a solid, well-written teen romance. It may rely a little heavy on misunderstanding to drag the angst out, but then again Jane Austen did the same thing so who am I to criticize? Where I think this story really shines is in the descriptions of Paris through an American's eyes, especially when she visits the historic buildings and food shops. I also like the comparisons she draws between the French and Americans when she goes back to America for Christmas. I rated this for older teens because the kids are all high school seniors living away from home, and there is a little bit more mature content.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://naturalartificial.blogspot.com/
Reviewer: Annika Holland
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Anomaly, by Krista McGee (Anomaly series, book 1)
Core themes: discovering faith and vocation; science versus faith; freedom, the meaning of love; rebuilding a post-apocalyptic world (after a nuclear war); the problem of evil
Drugs/alcohol: only those given to the members of the State by the scientists, though you could argue they were more about control and experimentation than medical care
Religion/occult: The State has eradicated religion, condemning it as a source of the war and instability in the past. The narrator, Thalli, learns of “the Designer” from a preacher in the State allowed only to speak to those who are about to be annihilated. Apparently an evangelical Christian, he guides her through this book (and the sequel), teaching her about God, how to pray, and how to seek his will.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: “annihilation” (execution) of those “detrimental” by the State and those who become ill (a friend of the narrator); annihiliation of all of Thalli’s podmates (everyone her age) because of a lack of oxygen
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: Generally, Christian books are not reviewed on this site, but given the scarcity of Christian dystopian fiction and the inherent tendencies of the genre toward violence, this series was included. Anomaly seems very similar to Divergence on the surface, and the Christian theme is only barely mentioned in the description, but it is the main theme of the book. I think this book, while not perhaps written at the literary level of The Hunger Games, allows discussion of the intersection of faith and science and Christian evangelization in a post-apocalyptic world. Science and the Scientists come off rather poorly in the first book (and we learn worse in the second). One of the more interesting themes is that of romantic love in relation to God’s love. Thalli is ignorant of “primitive” methods of procreation, being created in a lab herself (but “designed by God,” as she discovers), but as she learns of God from a preacher who describes his marriage, there are discussions of the purpose of romantic love and a bit of what it might look like. It’s refreshing to see that in a young adult novel, even if it may still seem a little naïve and vague.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author's Official Website: http://www.kristamcgeebooks.com/
Reviewer: Jill Papsdorf
Core themes: discovering faith and vocation; science versus faith; freedom, the meaning of love; rebuilding a post-apocalyptic world (after a nuclear war); the problem of evil
Drugs/alcohol: only those given to the members of the State by the scientists, though you could argue they were more about control and experimentation than medical care
Religion/occult: The State has eradicated religion, condemning it as a source of the war and instability in the past. The narrator, Thalli, learns of “the Designer” from a preacher in the State allowed only to speak to those who are about to be annihilated. Apparently an evangelical Christian, he guides her through this book (and the sequel), teaching her about God, how to pray, and how to seek his will.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: “annihilation” (execution) of those “detrimental” by the State and those who become ill (a friend of the narrator); annihiliation of all of Thalli’s podmates (everyone her age) because of a lack of oxygen
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: Generally, Christian books are not reviewed on this site, but given the scarcity of Christian dystopian fiction and the inherent tendencies of the genre toward violence, this series was included. Anomaly seems very similar to Divergence on the surface, and the Christian theme is only barely mentioned in the description, but it is the main theme of the book. I think this book, while not perhaps written at the literary level of The Hunger Games, allows discussion of the intersection of faith and science and Christian evangelization in a post-apocalyptic world. Science and the Scientists come off rather poorly in the first book (and we learn worse in the second). One of the more interesting themes is that of romantic love in relation to God’s love. Thalli is ignorant of “primitive” methods of procreation, being created in a lab herself (but “designed by God,” as she discovers), but as she learns of God from a preacher who describes his marriage, there are discussions of the purpose of romantic love and a bit of what it might look like. It’s refreshing to see that in a young adult novel, even if it may still seem a little naïve and vague.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author's Official Website: http://www.kristamcgeebooks.com/
Reviewer: Jill Papsdorf
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: The Pox Party (Traitor to the Nation series, volume 1), by M.T. Anderson
*2006 National Book Award; 2007 Boston Globe/Horn Book Prize; 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book; Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Fiction of 2006*
Core themes: consequences and defenses (from the 18th-century point of view) of slavery; coming of age and losing innocence to difficult truths; the soul's passionate longing for freedom; war; scientific inquiry as one of the highest ideals; grief and homesickness; hypocrisy of the colonists about slavery (how they wanted to be free from Britain but didn't recognize the Africans' right to be free)
Drugs/alcohol: none
Religion/occult: various references to Christian thinking, prayer, and belief, according to what was realistic to the time (all references were general and not at all preachy); adult slave counsels Octavian to pray to a certain rock in the tradition of their homeland
Romance/sexuality: 2--quite a few references in this category, all of them crude and unromantic
Violence/abuse: The novel has too many violent moments and scenes to list them individually, so this might make the novel as a whole disturbing for younger or more sensitive readers. Some of the violence includes scenes of battle and smallpox ravages, abuse of slaves, and killings of animals--most of these quite graphic.
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 7 (Note: Only the "1's" were repeated with any frequency.)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: The craftsmanship and artistry of this novel are as astonishing as the novel's claim about Octavian's life. I have never read any historical fiction book that is as convincing as this one. How the author managed to write in what appears to be an authentically 18th-century style escapes my imagination--and he did so in not only one voice and one point of view, but several! It was a powerful novel in every respect and deserves the National Book Award that it received. Still...it is not for the faint of heart, and it is not an easy read for the typical teen because of the elevated language. The novel is full of various types of brutality and understatement, and the author does not shy away from its difficult themes. Because of these caveats, its "young adult" label is questionable; despite the fact that the protagonist is a child-then-teen, much of its content is quite adult in nature.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens. Note: Sensitive readers of any age may have a hard time with this novel.
Author's Official Website: http://www.mt-anderson.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*2006 National Book Award; 2007 Boston Globe/Horn Book Prize; 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book; Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Fiction of 2006*
Core themes: consequences and defenses (from the 18th-century point of view) of slavery; coming of age and losing innocence to difficult truths; the soul's passionate longing for freedom; war; scientific inquiry as one of the highest ideals; grief and homesickness; hypocrisy of the colonists about slavery (how they wanted to be free from Britain but didn't recognize the Africans' right to be free)
Drugs/alcohol: none
Religion/occult: various references to Christian thinking, prayer, and belief, according to what was realistic to the time (all references were general and not at all preachy); adult slave counsels Octavian to pray to a certain rock in the tradition of their homeland
Romance/sexuality: 2--quite a few references in this category, all of them crude and unromantic
Violence/abuse: The novel has too many violent moments and scenes to list them individually, so this might make the novel as a whole disturbing for younger or more sensitive readers. Some of the violence includes scenes of battle and smallpox ravages, abuse of slaves, and killings of animals--most of these quite graphic.
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 7 (Note: Only the "1's" were repeated with any frequency.)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: The craftsmanship and artistry of this novel are as astonishing as the novel's claim about Octavian's life. I have never read any historical fiction book that is as convincing as this one. How the author managed to write in what appears to be an authentically 18th-century style escapes my imagination--and he did so in not only one voice and one point of view, but several! It was a powerful novel in every respect and deserves the National Book Award that it received. Still...it is not for the faint of heart, and it is not an easy read for the typical teen because of the elevated language. The novel is full of various types of brutality and understatement, and the author does not shy away from its difficult themes. Because of these caveats, its "young adult" label is questionable; despite the fact that the protagonist is a child-then-teen, much of its content is quite adult in nature.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens. Note: Sensitive readers of any age may have a hard time with this novel.
Author's Official Website: http://www.mt-anderson.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Asylum, by Madeleine Roux (Asylum series, book 1)
*Barnes & Noble's Best New Teen Books 2013*
Core themes: finding the delicate balance between trust and caution in a friendship; the power of curiosity, even in the face of danger; how even unknown family members and ancestors can affect the person we become
Drugs/alcohol: professor smokes a cigarette
Religion/occult: The plot of this novel hinges on the ability of a serial murder being able to channel himself through other people by taking over their minds, overriding their self-control, and thus framing them for his crimes and fear tactics. Also, one of the main characters is a homosexual teen whose parents are religious (no religion specified, but the reader can easily assume Christianity); they think he has gone to a "pray-away-the-gay" camp, while his uncle has secretly rerouted him to the New Hampshire college at which the novel takes place. One scene takes place in the vestibule of a Baptist church when protagonist visits pastor to obtain information about past members.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: several disturbing scenes take place--characters find two murdered people (different scenes) and another person who was almost murdered; several discussions of past horror stories from the days when the college dormitory was an asylum for the criminally insane; some disturbing photographs (remember, this is a "photo-novel") of patients being roughly treated; a showdown scene during which the serial killer almost murders protagonist through a gruesome "operation."
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 5 Note: #5 very infrequent; #1 and 3 fairly frequent.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: While I generally avoid horror stories, I was drawn to this book because of its fascinating topic: a former asylum for the criminally insane turned into a modern college dormitory. Somehow I had the feeling it would be pretty mild for a horror novel, and it was. Most of the novel was either creepy or normal teenage drama. There were a couple of murders in the book, but these are not described as they happened but rather after the fact, when the bodies were discovered. The scariest scene happens near the end but likely won't haunt any but the most sensitive of readers, since no one ends up getting much hurt.
Where this novel might really be a problem for some readers is in the occult element, because the serial killer is able to work through ordinary people by channeling himself and overriding their wills. There are no ghosts or demons, but this occult/supernatural element is an essential one. That said, even though I personally try to keep my kids from anything to do with the occult, there was something almost cartoonish about this particular treatment of the channeling phenomenon. Most of the novel was serious enough. The characters were dealing with legitimate fears and strange happenings, but in the last third of the book I felt like the author upset the believability of her story by wandering into predictable plot outcomes and sequences that reminded me of old movies or cartoons with overly-dramatic staging and cliched dialogue. Because of this, the serial killer channeling himself through some character seemed much tamer and unreal than it might have with another horror writer. I didn't think "demonic" as much as I thought "Twilight Zone."
All in all, this horror-story-hater actually kind of enjoyed the novel as a kind of mind-candy entertainment. I wouldn't make a point of selecting it for a teen to read, but I've read far worse YA books than this one. My only real beef with the novel, other than the occult element, is that some of the novel's big questions weren't resolved to my satisfaction or were not explained very well when they were answered.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens.
Author's Official Website: http://www.madeleine-roux.com/blog
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*Barnes & Noble's Best New Teen Books 2013*
Core themes: finding the delicate balance between trust and caution in a friendship; the power of curiosity, even in the face of danger; how even unknown family members and ancestors can affect the person we become
Drugs/alcohol: professor smokes a cigarette
Religion/occult: The plot of this novel hinges on the ability of a serial murder being able to channel himself through other people by taking over their minds, overriding their self-control, and thus framing them for his crimes and fear tactics. Also, one of the main characters is a homosexual teen whose parents are religious (no religion specified, but the reader can easily assume Christianity); they think he has gone to a "pray-away-the-gay" camp, while his uncle has secretly rerouted him to the New Hampshire college at which the novel takes place. One scene takes place in the vestibule of a Baptist church when protagonist visits pastor to obtain information about past members.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: several disturbing scenes take place--characters find two murdered people (different scenes) and another person who was almost murdered; several discussions of past horror stories from the days when the college dormitory was an asylum for the criminally insane; some disturbing photographs (remember, this is a "photo-novel") of patients being roughly treated; a showdown scene during which the serial killer almost murders protagonist through a gruesome "operation."
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 5 Note: #5 very infrequent; #1 and 3 fairly frequent.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: While I generally avoid horror stories, I was drawn to this book because of its fascinating topic: a former asylum for the criminally insane turned into a modern college dormitory. Somehow I had the feeling it would be pretty mild for a horror novel, and it was. Most of the novel was either creepy or normal teenage drama. There were a couple of murders in the book, but these are not described as they happened but rather after the fact, when the bodies were discovered. The scariest scene happens near the end but likely won't haunt any but the most sensitive of readers, since no one ends up getting much hurt.
Where this novel might really be a problem for some readers is in the occult element, because the serial killer is able to work through ordinary people by channeling himself and overriding their wills. There are no ghosts or demons, but this occult/supernatural element is an essential one. That said, even though I personally try to keep my kids from anything to do with the occult, there was something almost cartoonish about this particular treatment of the channeling phenomenon. Most of the novel was serious enough. The characters were dealing with legitimate fears and strange happenings, but in the last third of the book I felt like the author upset the believability of her story by wandering into predictable plot outcomes and sequences that reminded me of old movies or cartoons with overly-dramatic staging and cliched dialogue. Because of this, the serial killer channeling himself through some character seemed much tamer and unreal than it might have with another horror writer. I didn't think "demonic" as much as I thought "Twilight Zone."
All in all, this horror-story-hater actually kind of enjoyed the novel as a kind of mind-candy entertainment. I wouldn't make a point of selecting it for a teen to read, but I've read far worse YA books than this one. My only real beef with the novel, other than the occult element, is that some of the novel's big questions weren't resolved to my satisfaction or were not explained very well when they were answered.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens.
Author's Official Website: http://www.madeleine-roux.com/blog
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Audacity, by Melanie Crowder
Why this book is worth considering:
What a breath of fresh air! Why do I have to read so many trashy or depressing YA novels to get to one that is truly an edifying, worthwhile read? Although the title is an unfortunate choice and the free-verse narrative style is getting a bit worn (in fact, Audacity sounds much like another novel reviewed on WII, Like Water on Stone), Crowder's choice to use this style actually heightens the power of the story's events. Based on real-life Clara Lemlich, Audacity traces her Jewish family's escape from the pogroms of Russia to turn-of-the-century New York City at the height of the Industrial Revolution. At this time factory workers suffered brutal working conditions, and Clara finds herself trapped in their endless daily cycle of misery in order to help support her family. A fighter at heart, though, she helps lead the rise of the unions and the fight for improvements in the factories. This led to the Uprising of the 20,000 in 1909 and, ultimately, better working conditions. Not only is Audacity the fascinating true story of an inspiring young woman, it is also a window into an important chapter of American history. Homeschool parents may want to pay particular attention to this novel, since it would be the perfect addition to an American history curriculum. Following the novel is a section of historical notes and interviews that help to clarify the context of the story and fill in more details of Clara's life.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
This is the kind of YA novel I want to push into the hands of teens. They come around so rarely that I'd hate for any teens to miss it or others of its quality. At the same time, no novel is right for every teen. Parents of very sensitive teens should be aware that Clara's youth was one of poverty, struggle, and frequent misery. Because of this, the novel contains a lot of violence and abuse, coupled with descriptions of profound human suffering. Clara herself, being an agitator, is sometimes beaten by thugs hired by the garment factories in an attempt to squash the union movement. It is important to keep in mind, however, that because the novel is told in free-verse style, the author leaves out a lot of the details of this violence and abuse that she might include in a typical prose novel. The novel contains only the beginnings of a romance, as Clara gets to know the man who will someday (in real life) become her husband, and there are only one or two mild swear words (like "d---"). Religion plays a central part of the story, since Clara's family is orthodox Jewish; this affects some of her choices and emotional struggles. There is no drug or alcohol use worth noting.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://melaniecrowder.net/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
What a breath of fresh air! Why do I have to read so many trashy or depressing YA novels to get to one that is truly an edifying, worthwhile read? Although the title is an unfortunate choice and the free-verse narrative style is getting a bit worn (in fact, Audacity sounds much like another novel reviewed on WII, Like Water on Stone), Crowder's choice to use this style actually heightens the power of the story's events. Based on real-life Clara Lemlich, Audacity traces her Jewish family's escape from the pogroms of Russia to turn-of-the-century New York City at the height of the Industrial Revolution. At this time factory workers suffered brutal working conditions, and Clara finds herself trapped in their endless daily cycle of misery in order to help support her family. A fighter at heart, though, she helps lead the rise of the unions and the fight for improvements in the factories. This led to the Uprising of the 20,000 in 1909 and, ultimately, better working conditions. Not only is Audacity the fascinating true story of an inspiring young woman, it is also a window into an important chapter of American history. Homeschool parents may want to pay particular attention to this novel, since it would be the perfect addition to an American history curriculum. Following the novel is a section of historical notes and interviews that help to clarify the context of the story and fill in more details of Clara's life.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
This is the kind of YA novel I want to push into the hands of teens. They come around so rarely that I'd hate for any teens to miss it or others of its quality. At the same time, no novel is right for every teen. Parents of very sensitive teens should be aware that Clara's youth was one of poverty, struggle, and frequent misery. Because of this, the novel contains a lot of violence and abuse, coupled with descriptions of profound human suffering. Clara herself, being an agitator, is sometimes beaten by thugs hired by the garment factories in an attempt to squash the union movement. It is important to keep in mind, however, that because the novel is told in free-verse style, the author leaves out a lot of the details of this violence and abuse that she might include in a typical prose novel. The novel contains only the beginnings of a romance, as Clara gets to know the man who will someday (in real life) become her husband, and there are only one or two mild swear words (like "d---"). Religion plays a central part of the story, since Clara's family is orthodox Jewish; this affects some of her choices and emotional struggles. There is no drug or alcohol use worth noting.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://melaniecrowder.net/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Awakening, by Karen Sandler (Tankborn series, book 2)
Core themes: discrimination; racism; romance across class lines; caste systems; meaningless laws for humane treatment of the least powerful; there are good people who aren’t “fighting” on your side.; how physical attraction does not always mean love; immoral scientific research. Big Questions: Why does skin color matter? What does it mean to be human? (Can someone with animal DNA be human?) Should you sacrifice everything for love?
Drugs/alcohol: use of drugs as stimulants by peripheral characters; Risa chews “devil leaf;” forced use of drugs
Religion/occult: Some people of Loka believe the suns are gods or a dual-god; the Infinite of the GENs was invented by trueborns to aid in controlling them; most trueborns believe or profess belief in a Lord Creator who is not well-described or defined. There are two GEN girls who seem to die and come alive again and then have the ability to heal others at least temporarily. (See comments below.)
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2, 5
Violence/abuse: beatings and abuse by trueborns and enforcers; resetting or realigning GENs (which erases their memories and personalities); fringe group blowing up warehouses and warrens (apartment housing for GENs); Devak’s mother abandons him and steals his land; fighting between enforcers and those who want to revolt, some of it brutal and graphic; murder (a faked suicide); Kayla (the main character) kills someone in self-defense.
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 6 Note: The racial slurs are invented ones.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: The GENs were given an invented faith, some of which was based on old documents of Earth, and there is some struggling with faith in the Infinite when the subterfuge is revealed. One convert to the faith in the Infinite says the ancient documents had “far more truth and majesty than anything he’d learned about the Lord Creator.” There are overt references to a “myth” of a man who could raise the dead, and the rumors of the girl who seems to do so in the book “talk about her like Lord Creator Himself or his only daughter.” Some of the lowborn allabain (like gypsies) talk of a promise that the Lord Creator would send his daughter, “the healer.”
There are subtle and obvious references to Christ. I think teenagers with a solid understanding of Christian faith would be able to recognize the references without any confusion with the Truth. Neither of the girls who seem to be able to heal others talk or act as if they are gods. Even so, it could be confusing the way the faiths in the Lord Creator, the Infinite, and those “myths” of Earth are all mixed up together. It can seem like the author wants us to think all faiths are equal, though I’m not entirely sure what she wants us to think. The faith of any particular character does not seem to be well-resolved in this or the third book, so there are no obvious answers.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://karensandler.net/
Reviewer: Jill Papsdorf
Core themes: discrimination; racism; romance across class lines; caste systems; meaningless laws for humane treatment of the least powerful; there are good people who aren’t “fighting” on your side.; how physical attraction does not always mean love; immoral scientific research. Big Questions: Why does skin color matter? What does it mean to be human? (Can someone with animal DNA be human?) Should you sacrifice everything for love?
Drugs/alcohol: use of drugs as stimulants by peripheral characters; Risa chews “devil leaf;” forced use of drugs
Religion/occult: Some people of Loka believe the suns are gods or a dual-god; the Infinite of the GENs was invented by trueborns to aid in controlling them; most trueborns believe or profess belief in a Lord Creator who is not well-described or defined. There are two GEN girls who seem to die and come alive again and then have the ability to heal others at least temporarily. (See comments below.)
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2, 5
Violence/abuse: beatings and abuse by trueborns and enforcers; resetting or realigning GENs (which erases their memories and personalities); fringe group blowing up warehouses and warrens (apartment housing for GENs); Devak’s mother abandons him and steals his land; fighting between enforcers and those who want to revolt, some of it brutal and graphic; murder (a faked suicide); Kayla (the main character) kills someone in self-defense.
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 6 Note: The racial slurs are invented ones.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: The GENs were given an invented faith, some of which was based on old documents of Earth, and there is some struggling with faith in the Infinite when the subterfuge is revealed. One convert to the faith in the Infinite says the ancient documents had “far more truth and majesty than anything he’d learned about the Lord Creator.” There are overt references to a “myth” of a man who could raise the dead, and the rumors of the girl who seems to do so in the book “talk about her like Lord Creator Himself or his only daughter.” Some of the lowborn allabain (like gypsies) talk of a promise that the Lord Creator would send his daughter, “the healer.”
There are subtle and obvious references to Christ. I think teenagers with a solid understanding of Christian faith would be able to recognize the references without any confusion with the Truth. Neither of the girls who seem to be able to heal others talk or act as if they are gods. Even so, it could be confusing the way the faiths in the Lord Creator, the Infinite, and those “myths” of Earth are all mixed up together. It can seem like the author wants us to think all faiths are equal, though I’m not entirely sure what she wants us to think. The faith of any particular character does not seem to be well-resolved in this or the third book, so there are no obvious answers.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://karensandler.net/
Reviewer: Jill Papsdorf
