The "I" Reviews--See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore (The Lorien Legacies, book 1)
NOTE: Also part of this review: The Power of Six (Book 2) and The Rise of Nine (Book 3)
*made into movie 2011; 2011 Delaware Diamonds Award -- High School (Nominee); 2011 Isinglass Teen Read Award -- Grades 6-8 (Winner); 2012 Volunteer State Book Award -- High School (Runner-Up); 2013 Grand Canyon Reader Award -- Teen (Recommended); 2013 Iowa Teen Award -- Young Adult (Winner); 2015 Colorado Blue Spruce Award -- Young Adult (Nominee)*
Core themes: self-preservation for a greater good, sacrifice, loyalty, taking care of the environment
Drugs/alcohol: one instance of teen drinking at a party; allegation that a fire was started because of marijuana use
Religion/occult: In Book 3 there is a brief plot line involving the Hindu religion and belief in Vishnu.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: multiple occurrences of fist fights and battles with alien beasts
Vulgarities: 1, 3 –- infrequent
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: John Smith, an agreeable hero with loyal friends, battles enemy aliens who have taken over his home planet of Lorien and now want to take over Earth as well. Overall, this is an enjoyable page-turner for those who like lite sci-fi adventures. There is not too much detail here to bog down the average reader, just enough to get a good plot going and to root for the good guys. For those who like their sci-fi fully fleshed out, this may be a little too simple for you. This series is along the lines of Michael Vey and The Paladin Prophecy–-teenagers with special powers who are being hunted by aliens and/or a corrupt organization.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://iamnumberfourfans.com/
Reviewer: Sabrina Holland
NOTE: Also part of this review: The Power of Six (Book 2) and The Rise of Nine (Book 3)
*made into movie 2011; 2011 Delaware Diamonds Award -- High School (Nominee); 2011 Isinglass Teen Read Award -- Grades 6-8 (Winner); 2012 Volunteer State Book Award -- High School (Runner-Up); 2013 Grand Canyon Reader Award -- Teen (Recommended); 2013 Iowa Teen Award -- Young Adult (Winner); 2015 Colorado Blue Spruce Award -- Young Adult (Nominee)*
Core themes: self-preservation for a greater good, sacrifice, loyalty, taking care of the environment
Drugs/alcohol: one instance of teen drinking at a party; allegation that a fire was started because of marijuana use
Religion/occult: In Book 3 there is a brief plot line involving the Hindu religion and belief in Vishnu.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: multiple occurrences of fist fights and battles with alien beasts
Vulgarities: 1, 3 –- infrequent
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: John Smith, an agreeable hero with loyal friends, battles enemy aliens who have taken over his home planet of Lorien and now want to take over Earth as well. Overall, this is an enjoyable page-turner for those who like lite sci-fi adventures. There is not too much detail here to bog down the average reader, just enough to get a good plot going and to root for the good guys. For those who like their sci-fi fully fleshed out, this may be a little too simple for you. This series is along the lines of Michael Vey and The Paladin Prophecy–-teenagers with special powers who are being hunted by aliens and/or a corrupt organization.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://iamnumberfourfans.com/
Reviewer: Sabrina Holland
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, by Ally Carter (Gallagher Girls series, book 1)
*Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Winner; Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Winner; Amelia Bloomer Book Award; Kansas Notable book; Texas Lone Star Reading List; Georgia Peach Book Award Runner-up*
Core themes: beginning training in espionage; first romance; the struggle of trying to live within clear boundaries and testing the wings of independence; consequences of deceit and lies; "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence"; boarding school life; the grieving process; learning to see parents as multi-faceted people, not just caretakers
Drugs/alcohol: rebel character smokes during school tour
Religion/occult: protagonist uses a cover identity to hide her true identity, which includes saying she's homeschooled for religious reasons; protagonist offers up a half-serious/half-joking prayer to "God in heaven"
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2 Comment: The "disrespect to adults" (as #2 signifies) is actually done by the school itself, when it admits a student without notifying her parents that they will be training her to be a spy.
Violence: brief, teacher-led discussion of the danger of torture that spies face if caught by the enemy during a mission; some hand-to-hand combat techniques used in several scenes but with no real harm done
Vulgarities: 1, 6
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: This novel was optioned for a Walt Disney movie at one time, which is interesting, because that is exactly what the book feels like. Light, warm, zany, with a little pathos thrown in to keep it from being too sticky-sweet, it is easy to imagine this novel as a big-screen feature in the tradition of The Princess Diaries. This is no example of great literature, and parts of it were a little confusing to me, as well as cliched, but it is generally a safe choice if you have a teen who just wants something relaxing and fun to read.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens. Note: Be aware that only the first book of this series was reviewed, so I can't comment on subsequent books. However, a teen reader notified me that the series does get darker. In her words, "I am on the last book right now, and wanted to let you know that the rest of the books are less happy Disney life. The last few books are a bit darker, than I thought. They are still interesting, but it is more like a Hunger Games style, almost. Instead of just having a minor boy problem, the girl is getting hunted by an evil clan who wants her dead."
Author website: http://allycarter.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Winner; Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Winner; Amelia Bloomer Book Award; Kansas Notable book; Texas Lone Star Reading List; Georgia Peach Book Award Runner-up*
Core themes: beginning training in espionage; first romance; the struggle of trying to live within clear boundaries and testing the wings of independence; consequences of deceit and lies; "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence"; boarding school life; the grieving process; learning to see parents as multi-faceted people, not just caretakers
Drugs/alcohol: rebel character smokes during school tour
Religion/occult: protagonist uses a cover identity to hide her true identity, which includes saying she's homeschooled for religious reasons; protagonist offers up a half-serious/half-joking prayer to "God in heaven"
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2 Comment: The "disrespect to adults" (as #2 signifies) is actually done by the school itself, when it admits a student without notifying her parents that they will be training her to be a spy.
Violence: brief, teacher-led discussion of the danger of torture that spies face if caught by the enemy during a mission; some hand-to-hand combat techniques used in several scenes but with no real harm done
Vulgarities: 1, 6
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: This novel was optioned for a Walt Disney movie at one time, which is interesting, because that is exactly what the book feels like. Light, warm, zany, with a little pathos thrown in to keep it from being too sticky-sweet, it is easy to imagine this novel as a big-screen feature in the tradition of The Princess Diaries. This is no example of great literature, and parts of it were a little confusing to me, as well as cliched, but it is generally a safe choice if you have a teen who just wants something relaxing and fun to read.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens. Note: Be aware that only the first book of this series was reviewed, so I can't comment on subsequent books. However, a teen reader notified me that the series does get darker. In her words, "I am on the last book right now, and wanted to let you know that the rest of the books are less happy Disney life. The last few books are a bit darker, than I thought. They are still interesting, but it is more like a Hunger Games style, almost. Instead of just having a minor boy problem, the girl is getting hunted by an evil clan who wants her dead."
Author website: http://allycarter.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
If I Stay, by Gayle Forman (If I Stay series, #1)
*#1 USA Today Bestseller; #1 NYT Bestseller; nominated for 2010 Carnegie Medal, coming out as a movie soon; Amazon Best Book of the Year; Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Fiction of 2009; 2010 Texas Tayshas Reading List; 2010-11 Georgia Peach Book Awards Honor Book; Barnes&Noble.com Best Teen Books of 2009*
Core themes: music, family, death
Drugs/alcohol: alcohol is mentioned
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2
Violence/abuse: none
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 4
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: This book is very interesting and it makes you think about intense subjects such as death. Also, it is coming out as a movie which looks very good. However, it is a mature book. If swearing bothers you, then you may not want to read it. The sexual part of this book really is just one part and is not very descriptive. Older teens could definitely handle the book and perhaps get a lot out of it.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://gayleforman.com/
Reviewer: Annika Blomquist
*#1 USA Today Bestseller; #1 NYT Bestseller; nominated for 2010 Carnegie Medal, coming out as a movie soon; Amazon Best Book of the Year; Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Fiction of 2009; 2010 Texas Tayshas Reading List; 2010-11 Georgia Peach Book Awards Honor Book; Barnes&Noble.com Best Teen Books of 2009*
Core themes: music, family, death
Drugs/alcohol: alcohol is mentioned
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2
Violence/abuse: none
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 4
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: This book is very interesting and it makes you think about intense subjects such as death. Also, it is coming out as a movie which looks very good. However, it is a mature book. If swearing bothers you, then you may not want to read it. The sexual part of this book really is just one part and is not very descriptive. Older teens could definitely handle the book and perhaps get a lot out of it.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://gayleforman.com/
Reviewer: Annika Blomquist
I'll Meet You There, by Heather Demetrios
*A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection, A Bank Street Best Children's Book, A Goodreads Choice Award Nominee, A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2015*
Why this book is worth considering:
With characters that jump off the page and an emotional depth that is lacking in many novels, Heather Demetrios is an excellent writer. At first I didn't want to read the book and actually did skim some of it, because it really isn't my kind of story. Edgy, ultra-realistic, and sometimes a bit depressing, the story and its characters were both unfamiliar and uncomfortable for me. Despite that, Demetrios handled themes of love, loss, military heroism, and trauma so deftly that she managed to connect with me in a way I didn't expect, sometimes nearly bringing me to tears. Also, Skylar--the character telling the story--is mostly likable and in some is a good role model. She is sensitive, ambitious, determined to make something of herself despite her low odds, and she has a deep sense of family and responsibility. She cares for her mother, tries to keep things going when tragedy strikes, avoids drinking and drugs, and mostly chooses to avoid romantic/sexual entanglements in order to give herself the best chance possible to make it to college. For all reasons literary, I'll Meet You There is a worthwhile read.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
As well-written as it is, parents and teens need to consider this novel very carefully before they dive in. In my opinion this is actually not a young adult novel; it falls more in the category of "New Adult," which is a new subgenre in which the content and characters of a novel are more relevant to readers who are out of high school and transitioning into full adulthood. Because it is marketed as a YA novel (there being no formal "New Adult" marketing category, I think), parents need to know that the two main characters are both out of high school and one is in his 20s. The subject matter is thus very mature for teens. Not only are there themes of love, loss, and emotional trauma, as I said earlier, Demetrios rarely pulls the shade down for younger readers.
Although it comes across as authentic for the characters, rather than gratuitous, vulgar language (both swearing and crude) is unusually frequent. There are only a couple mentions of God, but these instances are not so much disrespectful as they are disbelieving. Romance is also central to the book. While the love story itself is fairly sweet, sex has a strong presence. Skylar, who tells the story, has chosen to keep her virginity, but she loses it by the end of the book in a semi-graphic scene and then mentions how her new sexual relationship continues. That said, it should be noted that she did wait until she truly fell in love. In addition, the novel includes characters who either speak about past sexual experiences or who engage in them during the course of the story--all of which are kind of vulgar and semi-graphic. This includes Skylar's mother, who starts a sexual relationship with a man of poor character while Skylar is still living in the house. While this is appropriate in the literary sense, it may disturb some readers. There is also a significant amount of drinking and (I think I recall) some drug use. Skylar chooses not to participate in this (her dad was killed while driving drunk), except for once when she hits an emotional low point. Finally, because the male protagonist lost a leg in the war in Afghanistan, Demetrios does include some flashbacks to the violence he experienced there.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens. Note: I would suggest this only to teens 18 and up and only then with caution.
Author Website: http://www.heatherdemetrios.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection, A Bank Street Best Children's Book, A Goodreads Choice Award Nominee, A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2015*
Why this book is worth considering:
With characters that jump off the page and an emotional depth that is lacking in many novels, Heather Demetrios is an excellent writer. At first I didn't want to read the book and actually did skim some of it, because it really isn't my kind of story. Edgy, ultra-realistic, and sometimes a bit depressing, the story and its characters were both unfamiliar and uncomfortable for me. Despite that, Demetrios handled themes of love, loss, military heroism, and trauma so deftly that she managed to connect with me in a way I didn't expect, sometimes nearly bringing me to tears. Also, Skylar--the character telling the story--is mostly likable and in some is a good role model. She is sensitive, ambitious, determined to make something of herself despite her low odds, and she has a deep sense of family and responsibility. She cares for her mother, tries to keep things going when tragedy strikes, avoids drinking and drugs, and mostly chooses to avoid romantic/sexual entanglements in order to give herself the best chance possible to make it to college. For all reasons literary, I'll Meet You There is a worthwhile read.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
As well-written as it is, parents and teens need to consider this novel very carefully before they dive in. In my opinion this is actually not a young adult novel; it falls more in the category of "New Adult," which is a new subgenre in which the content and characters of a novel are more relevant to readers who are out of high school and transitioning into full adulthood. Because it is marketed as a YA novel (there being no formal "New Adult" marketing category, I think), parents need to know that the two main characters are both out of high school and one is in his 20s. The subject matter is thus very mature for teens. Not only are there themes of love, loss, and emotional trauma, as I said earlier, Demetrios rarely pulls the shade down for younger readers.
Although it comes across as authentic for the characters, rather than gratuitous, vulgar language (both swearing and crude) is unusually frequent. There are only a couple mentions of God, but these instances are not so much disrespectful as they are disbelieving. Romance is also central to the book. While the love story itself is fairly sweet, sex has a strong presence. Skylar, who tells the story, has chosen to keep her virginity, but she loses it by the end of the book in a semi-graphic scene and then mentions how her new sexual relationship continues. That said, it should be noted that she did wait until she truly fell in love. In addition, the novel includes characters who either speak about past sexual experiences or who engage in them during the course of the story--all of which are kind of vulgar and semi-graphic. This includes Skylar's mother, who starts a sexual relationship with a man of poor character while Skylar is still living in the house. While this is appropriate in the literary sense, it may disturb some readers. There is also a significant amount of drinking and (I think I recall) some drug use. Skylar chooses not to participate in this (her dad was killed while driving drunk), except for once when she hits an emotional low point. Finally, because the male protagonist lost a leg in the war in Afghanistan, Demetrios does include some flashbacks to the violence he experienced there.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens. Note: I would suggest this only to teens 18 and up and only then with caution.
Author Website: http://www.heatherdemetrios.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Impossible, by Nancy Werlin
*NYT Bestseller*
Core themes: finding one's true love; mental illness and the descent into it; the power of family curses and demonic beings; the greater power of goodness and love over evil; the strength of the human spirit against impossible odds
Drugs/alcohol: students drink at prom
Religion/occult: villain is an evil male elf who possesses powers over the human mind; clear pro-choice views
displayed by a couple of characters
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2
Violence/abuse: semi-graphic rape and subsequent suicide by the rapist, who was under possession by an evil elf; protagonist takes a prescribed abortifacient drug "to avert any risk of pregnancy"; protagonist's foster mother expresses opinion that she should get abortion, once it's discovered that the drug didn't work; protagonist's mentally ill mother attacks her daughter's foster family by throwing a whole cart full of glass bottles at them; evil elf curses several generation of women in protagonist's family, causing mental illness in every one of them after the birth of their first daughters
Vulgarities: not reviewed for this book but very little, if any
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: On one hand this novel was incredibly unrealistic, even laughably so. Although fantasy is by definition unrealistic, there is still a need for authors to make their fantasy "believable," to make possible the suspension of disbelief necessary for the reader to become truly engaged in the story. Because this fantasy takes place in our world, I'm sure it wasn't easy for the author to determine how and where to draw the line between realism and fantasy, but parents should at least be aware of a few things. (SPOILER ALERT!) The novel contains a rape committed by a boy who was possessed momentarily by the villainous elf; a parent-approved teen marriage; a wildly fast road trip to find the place in which the protagonist can break her curse; and her pregnancy, which ends with her plowing an entire field without help only hours before she gives birth (in order to break the curse) in an abandoned summer cottage.
On the other hand the novel is refreshingly original in its premise and was well worth my time as an adult reader, simply because I appreciate such daring storytelling and creative ideas. Some of the content was disturbing to me, such as the demonic influence the Elfin Knight was able to have over the characters. The novel, however, did contain some positive themes, such as the strength of the human spirit when faced with great evil.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.nancywerlin.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*NYT Bestseller*
Core themes: finding one's true love; mental illness and the descent into it; the power of family curses and demonic beings; the greater power of goodness and love over evil; the strength of the human spirit against impossible odds
Drugs/alcohol: students drink at prom
Religion/occult: villain is an evil male elf who possesses powers over the human mind; clear pro-choice views
displayed by a couple of characters
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2
Violence/abuse: semi-graphic rape and subsequent suicide by the rapist, who was under possession by an evil elf; protagonist takes a prescribed abortifacient drug "to avert any risk of pregnancy"; protagonist's foster mother expresses opinion that she should get abortion, once it's discovered that the drug didn't work; protagonist's mentally ill mother attacks her daughter's foster family by throwing a whole cart full of glass bottles at them; evil elf curses several generation of women in protagonist's family, causing mental illness in every one of them after the birth of their first daughters
Vulgarities: not reviewed for this book but very little, if any
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: On one hand this novel was incredibly unrealistic, even laughably so. Although fantasy is by definition unrealistic, there is still a need for authors to make their fantasy "believable," to make possible the suspension of disbelief necessary for the reader to become truly engaged in the story. Because this fantasy takes place in our world, I'm sure it wasn't easy for the author to determine how and where to draw the line between realism and fantasy, but parents should at least be aware of a few things. (SPOILER ALERT!) The novel contains a rape committed by a boy who was possessed momentarily by the villainous elf; a parent-approved teen marriage; a wildly fast road trip to find the place in which the protagonist can break her curse; and her pregnancy, which ends with her plowing an entire field without help only hours before she gives birth (in order to break the curse) in an abandoned summer cottage.
On the other hand the novel is refreshingly original in its premise and was well worth my time as an adult reader, simply because I appreciate such daring storytelling and creative ideas. Some of the content was disturbing to me, such as the demonic influence the Elfin Knight was able to have over the characters. The novel, however, did contain some positive themes, such as the strength of the human spirit when faced with great evil.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.nancywerlin.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Infinity, by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Chronicles of Nick Series, book 1)
Core themes: bullying, parent/teen relationship, struggles in a one-parent home, choosing between good and evil, revenge
Drugs/alcohol: none
Religion/occult: a mishmash of creatures from ancient Greek mythology and various “orders” of demons, vampires, werewolves, dead and undead zombies, voodoo priestess, shapeshifters, and the kitchen sink for good measure…
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2, 4
Violence/abuse: multiple battles involving fighting back zombies, some gory descriptions, demons threatening other demons, many references to getting your brains eaten like it is commonplace
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: I can’t decide if this book is meant to be tongue-in-cheek or taken seriously. Either way it falls flat. The protagonist is full of obnoxious sarcasm (attempts at humor?) and possesses few to no redeeming qualities. He is pretty much an anti-hero that we are supposed to root for, which is difficult when he really gives us no reason to do so. His only redeeming quality is that he seems to want to protect his mother, but he spends most of his time disobeying and lying to her, and she is portrayed as a constant nag. There is a ridiculous amount of supernatural beings, both good and evil, that the reader is asked to keep track of (still waiting for the Easter Bunny to show up in some capacity), and the delineation between good and evil is gray at best. At one point a main character tells Nick that not all demons are evil. Really? This is one of those books where I think there is just enough realism in some of the demonic names the author uses that this could be used as a gateway to a fascination with occultism. Although Nick does make one good choice in the end, there is far too much moral relativism and mindless violence going on in this book to recommend anyone filling their mind with it.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/
Reviewer: Sabrina Holland
Core themes: bullying, parent/teen relationship, struggles in a one-parent home, choosing between good and evil, revenge
Drugs/alcohol: none
Religion/occult: a mishmash of creatures from ancient Greek mythology and various “orders” of demons, vampires, werewolves, dead and undead zombies, voodoo priestess, shapeshifters, and the kitchen sink for good measure…
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2, 4
Violence/abuse: multiple battles involving fighting back zombies, some gory descriptions, demons threatening other demons, many references to getting your brains eaten like it is commonplace
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: I can’t decide if this book is meant to be tongue-in-cheek or taken seriously. Either way it falls flat. The protagonist is full of obnoxious sarcasm (attempts at humor?) and possesses few to no redeeming qualities. He is pretty much an anti-hero that we are supposed to root for, which is difficult when he really gives us no reason to do so. His only redeeming quality is that he seems to want to protect his mother, but he spends most of his time disobeying and lying to her, and she is portrayed as a constant nag. There is a ridiculous amount of supernatural beings, both good and evil, that the reader is asked to keep track of (still waiting for the Easter Bunny to show up in some capacity), and the delineation between good and evil is gray at best. At one point a main character tells Nick that not all demons are evil. Really? This is one of those books where I think there is just enough realism in some of the demonic names the author uses that this could be used as a gateway to a fascination with occultism. Although Nick does make one good choice in the end, there is far too much moral relativism and mindless violence going on in this book to recommend anyone filling their mind with it.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/
Reviewer: Sabrina Holland
The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games series, book 1)
Why this book is worth considering:
For teenaged readers, this novel may be perfect for a cozy, winter, leisure read. It is full of complexity and intrigue, as well as some mild romance; plus, it's not depressing like so many YA novels. It is serious at times, but it isn't what I'd call "dark". I could easily imagine it as a summer movie. Best of all, it is relatively clean. There are a few mild swear words (d--, a--, etc.), and the author created one character who likes to do a lot of "fake swearing"--words that come close to real swear words but stop short. However, I don't recall any blasphemy or truly vulgar language, except for one instance of the use "orgasmic" to describe a food (I think) that the protagonist enjoyed. There is no sexual behavior, and the romance stops at one or two instances of deep kissing. The only reference to drinking or drugs is when a character puts some whiskey in a cup of tea. There is a minor homosexual character who has a romantic relationship with another minor character; however, it isn't a focus of the story and feels more like a PC box the author felt she had to check more than a worldview she wanted to push.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
To be honest, I didn't really enjoy this novel that much. For me the characters were a bit flat, predictable, and conventional, and I found myself speeding up at times due to boredom, despite the exciting premise and twisty-turny nature of the plot. I recognize that my disinterest may be mainly due to my age and the fact that I expected a story more along the lines of The Hunger Games, which had a lot more action. Still, it is firmly in the category of "leisure read"--mind candy without any deep literary merit. It's intended to entertain and challenge puzzle-lovers, not edify the soul or spark discussions. Girls will likely enjoy this story more than boys.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://jenniferlynnbarnes.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
For teenaged readers, this novel may be perfect for a cozy, winter, leisure read. It is full of complexity and intrigue, as well as some mild romance; plus, it's not depressing like so many YA novels. It is serious at times, but it isn't what I'd call "dark". I could easily imagine it as a summer movie. Best of all, it is relatively clean. There are a few mild swear words (d--, a--, etc.), and the author created one character who likes to do a lot of "fake swearing"--words that come close to real swear words but stop short. However, I don't recall any blasphemy or truly vulgar language, except for one instance of the use "orgasmic" to describe a food (I think) that the protagonist enjoyed. There is no sexual behavior, and the romance stops at one or two instances of deep kissing. The only reference to drinking or drugs is when a character puts some whiskey in a cup of tea. There is a minor homosexual character who has a romantic relationship with another minor character; however, it isn't a focus of the story and feels more like a PC box the author felt she had to check more than a worldview she wanted to push.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
To be honest, I didn't really enjoy this novel that much. For me the characters were a bit flat, predictable, and conventional, and I found myself speeding up at times due to boredom, despite the exciting premise and twisty-turny nature of the plot. I recognize that my disinterest may be mainly due to my age and the fact that I expected a story more along the lines of The Hunger Games, which had a lot more action. Still, it is firmly in the category of "leisure read"--mind candy without any deep literary merit. It's intended to entertain and challenge puzzle-lovers, not edify the soul or spark discussions. Girls will likely enjoy this story more than boys.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://jenniferlynnbarnes.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Insurgent, by Veronica Roth (Divergent Trilogy, book book 2)
*2012 Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction; 2013 Children's Choice Book Award Finalist; 2013 Teen Choice Book Award Finalist; Barnes & Noble Best Teen Books of 2012*
Insurgent picks up immediately where Divergent left off. Tris and some of her friends are recovering from a battle with another faction that is usurping control of their society. Much of storyline in this book revolves around talking to the other factions and trying to get them to join the fight as well as trying to find out what the rogue faction is planning. It is a difficult task since most factions are content with the status quo or harbor personality traits that do not condone violence for self-defense. In addition, Tris has to navigate through the underworld of the factionless--people who did not fit in with any of the other factions and are left homeless to live on the streets. She needs to decide whether to trust their intentions or if they are another group trying to take control of the government.
Overall, Insurgent is a well-written page turner that keeps the plot going. I like that it is a tightly written story with realistic action, an interesting plot and a little bit of romance. The fact that the author can pull all of this off with almost no foul language, overt sexuality, or a preachy/politically-correct tone speaks volumes about her ability. I wish more YA authors wrote like Veronica Roth.
Please see Divergent (book #1) for additional notes.
*2012 Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction; 2013 Children's Choice Book Award Finalist; 2013 Teen Choice Book Award Finalist; Barnes & Noble Best Teen Books of 2012*
Insurgent picks up immediately where Divergent left off. Tris and some of her friends are recovering from a battle with another faction that is usurping control of their society. Much of storyline in this book revolves around talking to the other factions and trying to get them to join the fight as well as trying to find out what the rogue faction is planning. It is a difficult task since most factions are content with the status quo or harbor personality traits that do not condone violence for self-defense. In addition, Tris has to navigate through the underworld of the factionless--people who did not fit in with any of the other factions and are left homeless to live on the streets. She needs to decide whether to trust their intentions or if they are another group trying to take control of the government.
Overall, Insurgent is a well-written page turner that keeps the plot going. I like that it is a tightly written story with realistic action, an interesting plot and a little bit of romance. The fact that the author can pull all of this off with almost no foul language, overt sexuality, or a preachy/politically-correct tone speaks volumes about her ability. I wish more YA authors wrote like Veronica Roth.
Please see Divergent (book #1) for additional notes.
Invictus, by Ryan Graudin
Why this book is worth considering:
While I am not a fan of science fiction, I was blown away by Graudin's brilliant imagination in this complex novel about time travel, parallel universes, and other tantalizing (and sometimes frightening) possibilities. Her teens seem real and relatable, while still belonging to another time. For readers hungry for a complex, well-crafted, science fiction adventure, Invictus is almost sure to satisfy. Best of all, there is little mature or troubling content to be concerned about. Yes, there is plenty of swearing--but it is futuristic swearing. Though a couple of the words can be traced back to a swear word of today, all of them are meaningless to us. Also, there is no sex or religious content that would offend most parents. There is some romance with some kissing and perhaps a vague implication or two; however, I feel I could hand this novel to my teen with little hesitation. The focus of the novel is squarely on the breakneck plot.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
While I wasn't offended or troubled by much of the content, I did find the story hard to follow at times. I understood the general arc of the plot and enjoyed much of it, but the author lost me in many places either with futuristic jargon I couldn't figure out or with plot turns that were supposed to be understood through hints and within the context of dialogue. One reviewer stated that Graudin's prose is "gorgeous," but I felt it was quite flawed and muddled in places. Too many times I needed her to spell things out for me, rather than give context clues. Perhaps this is all just me, however; other readers may follow the story with no trouble.
The novel does contain some violence but nothing that I think would be disturbing for a teen, and there is a section where the crew of the time machine visits the Las Vegas of our time and gets a little wild with the drinking and partying. While they enjoy watching the gambling all around them, most of them refrain from gambling themselves because of the damage that could do to the timeline.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://www.ryangraudin.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
While I am not a fan of science fiction, I was blown away by Graudin's brilliant imagination in this complex novel about time travel, parallel universes, and other tantalizing (and sometimes frightening) possibilities. Her teens seem real and relatable, while still belonging to another time. For readers hungry for a complex, well-crafted, science fiction adventure, Invictus is almost sure to satisfy. Best of all, there is little mature or troubling content to be concerned about. Yes, there is plenty of swearing--but it is futuristic swearing. Though a couple of the words can be traced back to a swear word of today, all of them are meaningless to us. Also, there is no sex or religious content that would offend most parents. There is some romance with some kissing and perhaps a vague implication or two; however, I feel I could hand this novel to my teen with little hesitation. The focus of the novel is squarely on the breakneck plot.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
While I wasn't offended or troubled by much of the content, I did find the story hard to follow at times. I understood the general arc of the plot and enjoyed much of it, but the author lost me in many places either with futuristic jargon I couldn't figure out or with plot turns that were supposed to be understood through hints and within the context of dialogue. One reviewer stated that Graudin's prose is "gorgeous," but I felt it was quite flawed and muddled in places. Too many times I needed her to spell things out for me, rather than give context clues. Perhaps this is all just me, however; other readers may follow the story with no trouble.
The novel does contain some violence but nothing that I think would be disturbing for a teen, and there is a section where the crew of the time machine visits the Las Vegas of our time and gets a little wild with the drinking and partying. While they enjoy watching the gambling all around them, most of them refrain from gambling themselves because of the damage that could do to the timeline.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://www.ryangraudin.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
The It Girl, by Cecily von Ziegesar
I have a confession to make! I could not stomach this book. Yes, I tried--I even got through a few chapters! Finally, though, I had to put it down, because it was nothing but Gossip Girl in another setting. The novel is full of the same smut--gratuitous promiscuity, drinking, drugs, and shallow characters. Not worth my time, not even for a review.
Author website: none
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
I have a confession to make! I could not stomach this book. Yes, I tried--I even got through a few chapters! Finally, though, I had to put it down, because it was nothing but Gossip Girl in another setting. The novel is full of the same smut--gratuitous promiscuity, drinking, drugs, and shallow characters. Not worth my time, not even for a review.
Author website: none
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
The Ivies, by Alexa Donne
Why this book is worth considering:
One of my guilty pleasures is books about the wealthy, such as The Nanny Diaries and The Primates of Fifth Avenue, which is why I chose The Ivies to read for my next (and, as it turns out, final) book. I also enjoy school stories. The Ivies does not disappoint on that point, either. All of the characters, except for a select few (including the narrator), call mansions home, and most of the novel is set at a posh, co-ed boarding school in New England. It's also an exciting page-turning thriller, the perfect read for a vacation or a snowy evening at home. The plot is intriguing and well-developed, and the characters seem and speak like real people. Concerned parents will be glad to know that there are no sex scenes and no anti-religious content, and there is no/little smoking or drugs.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
The truth is that I should have put this novel down after just a couple of chapters. It started out innocently enough, but I was hooked by the time the swearing began ramping up. It was all downhill after that and has become one of the many novels that I regret reading. Unfortunately, other than the exciting, whodunit storyline, there is little to like about this book. It is like the most sordid daytime soap opera that includes everything disgusting outside of graphic sex and drugs (though there are LOTS of sexual references, some of them graphic). Also, the characters may be realistic and well-developed from a literary standpoint, every single one of them is unlikable, except for the detective trying to unravel the case. The students' moral compasses are either distorted or non-existent, their mouths are filthy, and they are mostly shallow and vindictive. Even the protagonist is unlikable and hard to sympathize with. The teens drink as though they are legal adults; there is never any indication they have to be careful and sneaky to avoid the campus authorities. In fact, it seems as if the on-campus adults do virtually nothing to chaperone them. Oddly, the students always have plenty of alcohol, even though the school is rural and it is unlikely that the on-campus authorities would purchase the alcohol, even if they looked the other way while the students drank. The students also sleep around and send "sexts" freely with each other--mostly heterosexual but a little homosexual, as well. Wokeness isn't strongly noticeable in the novel, but it is there. The protagonist (who is black but doesn't discuss race much) expresses woke sentiments regarding college admissions for black students but labels the frustrations of white, male students who struggle against the woke tide "racist".
As I approached the end of this novel, I found myself feeling so repulsed by the depravity and godlessness of these young characters that I felt icky, like I had a spider's web stuck to my skin. This kind of novel is the reason I began this website in the first place. I wanted to help parents find good books for their teens without having to discard the entire YA genre. And there are good books--beautifully-written, meaningful stories worth reading. Then there are books like this one that do nothing but fill our youths' minds with anti-role models and depraved images and ideas. It is the opposite of what we parents want for our children. Unfortunately, there are too many out there, and I have discovered with this book that I cannot read any more of them.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/.
Author Website: http://alexadonne.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
One of my guilty pleasures is books about the wealthy, such as The Nanny Diaries and The Primates of Fifth Avenue, which is why I chose The Ivies to read for my next (and, as it turns out, final) book. I also enjoy school stories. The Ivies does not disappoint on that point, either. All of the characters, except for a select few (including the narrator), call mansions home, and most of the novel is set at a posh, co-ed boarding school in New England. It's also an exciting page-turning thriller, the perfect read for a vacation or a snowy evening at home. The plot is intriguing and well-developed, and the characters seem and speak like real people. Concerned parents will be glad to know that there are no sex scenes and no anti-religious content, and there is no/little smoking or drugs.
Why it may not be right for your teen:
The truth is that I should have put this novel down after just a couple of chapters. It started out innocently enough, but I was hooked by the time the swearing began ramping up. It was all downhill after that and has become one of the many novels that I regret reading. Unfortunately, other than the exciting, whodunit storyline, there is little to like about this book. It is like the most sordid daytime soap opera that includes everything disgusting outside of graphic sex and drugs (though there are LOTS of sexual references, some of them graphic). Also, the characters may be realistic and well-developed from a literary standpoint, every single one of them is unlikable, except for the detective trying to unravel the case. The students' moral compasses are either distorted or non-existent, their mouths are filthy, and they are mostly shallow and vindictive. Even the protagonist is unlikable and hard to sympathize with. The teens drink as though they are legal adults; there is never any indication they have to be careful and sneaky to avoid the campus authorities. In fact, it seems as if the on-campus adults do virtually nothing to chaperone them. Oddly, the students always have plenty of alcohol, even though the school is rural and it is unlikely that the on-campus authorities would purchase the alcohol, even if they looked the other way while the students drank. The students also sleep around and send "sexts" freely with each other--mostly heterosexual but a little homosexual, as well. Wokeness isn't strongly noticeable in the novel, but it is there. The protagonist (who is black but doesn't discuss race much) expresses woke sentiments regarding college admissions for black students but labels the frustrations of white, male students who struggle against the woke tide "racist".
As I approached the end of this novel, I found myself feeling so repulsed by the depravity and godlessness of these young characters that I felt icky, like I had a spider's web stuck to my skin. This kind of novel is the reason I began this website in the first place. I wanted to help parents find good books for their teens without having to discard the entire YA genre. And there are good books--beautifully-written, meaningful stories worth reading. Then there are books like this one that do nothing but fill our youths' minds with anti-role models and depraved images and ideas. It is the opposite of what we parents want for our children. Unfortunately, there are too many out there, and I have discovered with this book that I cannot read any more of them.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/.
Author Website: http://alexadonne.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
