The "M" Reviews--See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
The Maelstrom, by Henry H. Neff (The Tapestry series, book 4)
Why this book is worth considering:
War is coming. A ultimatum is given, and it’s only a matter of time. Max is again squarely in the middle of it but not alone. It seems as if all time has focused on this moment. Tons of action and intrigue continue in the series with just enough doubt to make you question which side is which at times...but not for very long. There are some instances where the book gets you to question who is good and who is evil…and then dumps you right back into the action. Trust, friendship, and family are steady themes in these books.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
Demons rule the world, and angels are apparently captive slaves. There continues to be a fair amount of violence… and fear… now in wide open spaces, with many demons and demonic machines. Otherwise, the books continue to be really clean. There is (finally) the beginning of a romance, references to swearing, and the only drugs are mythical poisons created from other-worldly sources.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://www.henryhneff.com/
Reviewer: Ethan Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
War is coming. A ultimatum is given, and it’s only a matter of time. Max is again squarely in the middle of it but not alone. It seems as if all time has focused on this moment. Tons of action and intrigue continue in the series with just enough doubt to make you question which side is which at times...but not for very long. There are some instances where the book gets you to question who is good and who is evil…and then dumps you right back into the action. Trust, friendship, and family are steady themes in these books.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
Demons rule the world, and angels are apparently captive slaves. There continues to be a fair amount of violence… and fear… now in wide open spaces, with many demons and demonic machines. Otherwise, the books continue to be really clean. There is (finally) the beginning of a romance, references to swearing, and the only drugs are mythical poisons created from other-worldly sources.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://www.henryhneff.com/
Reviewer: Ethan Blomquist
Making Bombs for Hitler, by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
*Winner, Battle of the Books, Chesapeake Public Library; YALSA Quick Pick 2018; Winner: Iowa Teen Award, 2018-2019, Grades 6-9; A Mighty Girl Book of the Year, 2017; Geoffrey Bilson Award nominee, 2013; Kobzar Literary Award shortlist, 2014; Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice WINNER, 2014; Silver Birch fiction WINNER, 2013; Starred Selection, CCBC Best Books for Kids, 2012; OLA Best Bet, top ten middle grade for 2012; Resource Links Best Book for 2012*
Why this book is worth considering:
Although this is a middle-grade novel with a protagonist who is only nine years old, the storyline and themes are much more appropriate for older readers, including teens of any age. The protagonist grows several years older throughout the novel, as well. Much of the story is sad and disturbing, because it relates the protagonist's sufferings under Hitler in painful, realistic detail. At the same time, it is about a little-known part of Holocaust history: the kidnapping and enslavement of ordinary Christian citizens in Eastern Europe. While it is not a "fun" novel, it is a powerful one definitely worth reading, and it does end with freedom and hope. Parents will find nothing concerning in terms of drugs, drinking, sex, or religion.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
This isn't a novel for the very sensitive reader. Despite its middle-grade status, it does not shield readers from the reality of Hitler's concentration camps. This is hard, cold realism, however beautifully written. It is a fascinating history lesson worth discussion, not a relaxing escape for a rainy day. Many characters are treated brutally and sometimes violently, and children are killed, though graphic details are kept age-appropriate.
Although religion is treated with respect, since every character is either Christian or Jewish, Christian readers may be a little bothered by Lida's use of her crucifix necklace as a comfort object. She seems to regard it as more of a connection to her family and sometimes even a talisman against evil, rather than as a reminder of God's presence and love. However, in the overall context of the novel, this is really a minor concern and even understandable.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: https://www.calla.com/wordpress/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*Winner, Battle of the Books, Chesapeake Public Library; YALSA Quick Pick 2018; Winner: Iowa Teen Award, 2018-2019, Grades 6-9; A Mighty Girl Book of the Year, 2017; Geoffrey Bilson Award nominee, 2013; Kobzar Literary Award shortlist, 2014; Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice WINNER, 2014; Silver Birch fiction WINNER, 2013; Starred Selection, CCBC Best Books for Kids, 2012; OLA Best Bet, top ten middle grade for 2012; Resource Links Best Book for 2012*
Why this book is worth considering:
Although this is a middle-grade novel with a protagonist who is only nine years old, the storyline and themes are much more appropriate for older readers, including teens of any age. The protagonist grows several years older throughout the novel, as well. Much of the story is sad and disturbing, because it relates the protagonist's sufferings under Hitler in painful, realistic detail. At the same time, it is about a little-known part of Holocaust history: the kidnapping and enslavement of ordinary Christian citizens in Eastern Europe. While it is not a "fun" novel, it is a powerful one definitely worth reading, and it does end with freedom and hope. Parents will find nothing concerning in terms of drugs, drinking, sex, or religion.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
This isn't a novel for the very sensitive reader. Despite its middle-grade status, it does not shield readers from the reality of Hitler's concentration camps. This is hard, cold realism, however beautifully written. It is a fascinating history lesson worth discussion, not a relaxing escape for a rainy day. Many characters are treated brutally and sometimes violently, and children are killed, though graphic details are kept age-appropriate.
Although religion is treated with respect, since every character is either Christian or Jewish, Christian readers may be a little bothered by Lida's use of her crucifix necklace as a comfort object. She seems to regard it as more of a connection to her family and sometimes even a talisman against evil, rather than as a reminder of God's presence and love. However, in the overall context of the novel, this is really a minor concern and even understandable.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: https://www.calla.com/wordpress/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Masque of the Red Death, by Bethany Griffin (Red Death Saga, book 1)
*A Junior Library Guild Selection; optioned for television; ALA Best Book for Young Adults nomination; Spring 2012 Indie Next List; *
Core themes: plague survival; the limitations of science; working through grief and anger; first romance; trust and betrayal
Drugs/alcohol: protagonist takes semi-recreational drugs to help her sleep and forget terrible past;
Religion/occult: Religion has been mostly abandoned in the face of the terrible plague around which the novel is centered. Churches are mentioned, but the plague has destroyed the city so thoroughly that there is little spiritual support, although at one point the main characters wonder if religion should become part of their lives again. The swamp people have developed a kind of religion devoted to crocodiles, and they give them human sacrifices. Also, one of the two villains in the novel is a self-appointed, pseudo-Christian, fanatical leader called Reverend Malcontent.
Romance/sexuality: 1 Note: Although the romantic content is mild, there are a number of implications. They are not particularly crude and may be missed by less sophisticated readers, but the writer does frequently hint at physical relations and desires, both present and past. The protagonist herself is very inexperienced, because she has taken a vow not to have romantic relations, but this resolution begins to crumble in the latter half of the book.
Violence/abuse: The city is wrapped in a plague that has destroyed its population in gruesome and devastating ways. Children are not spared, and the protagonist's brother himself died a horrible death. The ravages of this disease, as well as a new disease that begins late in the book, are described with some graphic details. Also, the prince of the city is very evil and executes people for the smallest infractions. Some of his acts are described in detail, as well. Other violence includes a bomb that destroys a church, criminals who prey on pedestrians throughout the city, and self-defense killings.
Vulgarities: 1
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: If I had known that this novel would be so dark and that it had a sequel, I wouldn't have chosen it to read. It is well-written in many ways and could arguably have received four stars, but I found myself wishing it would end just midway through. Even now, I am not sure I can stomach the sequel. It is important to explain that I don't like dark stories, and many teens today do, so my distaste for the book is more because of its darkness than because of the writing. The writing, however, did frustrate me, because the author has a very spare style, leaving too much to the imagination with lots of hints about things but little explanation. Because she does not provide any kind of real-world context--the setting is only an oceanside city that we must presume is in America through subtle clues--I found myself spending much of the book trying to settle myself into the setting. When are we? Where are we? What culture is this? Is it real-world, parallel universe, steampunk, or what? Sometimes it seemed modern, other times Victorian, other times medieval. Although this might not bother some readers, it was disorienting to me. In short, the novel raised a lot of questions it never answered--or at least never answered very well. That said, if you can look past a lot of subtle hinting, the novel was fairly clean in regards to sex and language, but there were some religious and violent issues that are hard to look past for a teen. I would not be too concerned if my teen read this, but there are much more edifying stories that I would rather her read.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.bethanygriffin.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*A Junior Library Guild Selection; optioned for television; ALA Best Book for Young Adults nomination; Spring 2012 Indie Next List; *
Core themes: plague survival; the limitations of science; working through grief and anger; first romance; trust and betrayal
Drugs/alcohol: protagonist takes semi-recreational drugs to help her sleep and forget terrible past;
Religion/occult: Religion has been mostly abandoned in the face of the terrible plague around which the novel is centered. Churches are mentioned, but the plague has destroyed the city so thoroughly that there is little spiritual support, although at one point the main characters wonder if religion should become part of their lives again. The swamp people have developed a kind of religion devoted to crocodiles, and they give them human sacrifices. Also, one of the two villains in the novel is a self-appointed, pseudo-Christian, fanatical leader called Reverend Malcontent.
Romance/sexuality: 1 Note: Although the romantic content is mild, there are a number of implications. They are not particularly crude and may be missed by less sophisticated readers, but the writer does frequently hint at physical relations and desires, both present and past. The protagonist herself is very inexperienced, because she has taken a vow not to have romantic relations, but this resolution begins to crumble in the latter half of the book.
Violence/abuse: The city is wrapped in a plague that has destroyed its population in gruesome and devastating ways. Children are not spared, and the protagonist's brother himself died a horrible death. The ravages of this disease, as well as a new disease that begins late in the book, are described with some graphic details. Also, the prince of the city is very evil and executes people for the smallest infractions. Some of his acts are described in detail, as well. Other violence includes a bomb that destroys a church, criminals who prey on pedestrians throughout the city, and self-defense killings.
Vulgarities: 1
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: If I had known that this novel would be so dark and that it had a sequel, I wouldn't have chosen it to read. It is well-written in many ways and could arguably have received four stars, but I found myself wishing it would end just midway through. Even now, I am not sure I can stomach the sequel. It is important to explain that I don't like dark stories, and many teens today do, so my distaste for the book is more because of its darkness than because of the writing. The writing, however, did frustrate me, because the author has a very spare style, leaving too much to the imagination with lots of hints about things but little explanation. Because she does not provide any kind of real-world context--the setting is only an oceanside city that we must presume is in America through subtle clues--I found myself spending much of the book trying to settle myself into the setting. When are we? Where are we? What culture is this? Is it real-world, parallel universe, steampunk, or what? Sometimes it seemed modern, other times Victorian, other times medieval. Although this might not bother some readers, it was disorienting to me. In short, the novel raised a lot of questions it never answered--or at least never answered very well. That said, if you can look past a lot of subtle hinting, the novel was fairly clean in regards to sex and language, but there were some religious and violent issues that are hard to look past for a teen. I would not be too concerned if my teen read this, but there are much more edifying stories that I would rather her read.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.bethanygriffin.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Matched, by Ally Condie (Matched Trilogy, book 1)
*2011 ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults; 2011 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Fiction; IRA Teachers' Choices 2011, Advanced Readers; Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books 2010, Fiction; YALSA Readers' Choice Nomination 2012, Science Fiction & Fantasy*
Core themes: adoption, marriage, love
Drugs/alcohol: three pills are provided for each character for certain reasons, such as calming
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: mentions of a murder, very little force
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: This book was very entertaining, and I enjoyed reading it a lot. Most of the time I could not put it down; however, I was increasingly annoyed and frustrated with the heroine and the choices she made. I suppose that’s what made me want to read it more. It’s a different, futuristic view of society, and it is a similar idea to the Divergent series. I think most teens would enjoy reading this book, and they do not have to worry about foul language or other inappropriate content.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://allycondie.com/
Reviewer: Annika Blomquist
*2011 ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults; 2011 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Fiction; IRA Teachers' Choices 2011, Advanced Readers; Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books 2010, Fiction; YALSA Readers' Choice Nomination 2012, Science Fiction & Fantasy*
Core themes: adoption, marriage, love
Drugs/alcohol: three pills are provided for each character for certain reasons, such as calming
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: mentions of a murder, very little force
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: This book was very entertaining, and I enjoyed reading it a lot. Most of the time I could not put it down; however, I was increasingly annoyed and frustrated with the heroine and the choices she made. I suppose that’s what made me want to read it more. It’s a different, futuristic view of society, and it is a similar idea to the Divergent series. I think most teens would enjoy reading this book, and they do not have to worry about foul language or other inappropriate content.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://allycondie.com/
Reviewer: Annika Blomquist
Matched Trilogy, by Ally Condie
The reviews featured on this site include all three books:
Matched
Crossed
Reached
Please read the individual reviews for details.
The reviews featured on this site include all three books:
Matched
Crossed
Reached
Please read the individual reviews for details.
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy, book 1)
*NYT Bestseller; New York State Charlotte Award; Kentucky Bluegrass Award; Oregon Reader’s Choice Award; New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award; Missouri Truman Readers Award; Illinois Abraham Lincoln Award; Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award; Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award; Georgia Peach Book Award; New Jersey Garden State Book Award; 2009 Discover Great New Writers Holiday Selection; 2010 Texas Lone Star Reading List; Florida Teen Reads Award; Barnes & Noble.com Best Teen Books of 2009; movie release in September 2014*
Core themes: deception, friendship, sacrifice for the greater good, does the end justify the means, survival of the fittest
Drugs/alcohol: none
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: several instances of being attacked by man-made monsters/machines; mention of someone being cut in half in the past; small amount of fist fighting and semi-graphic descriptions of boys fighting the monsters; one instance of a boy dying from a knife being thrown at him.
Vulgarities: 1 Note: the boys in this story have come up with their own version of swear words. They are "klunk,” "shuck” and "shank”. "Shuck” is the most frequently used word and is sprinkled throughout the entire book.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: The Maze Runner is about a boy named Thomas who wakes up in an elevator with no memory of how he got there and where he is going. He arrives at a place called the Glade where other boys have also had the same experience. They spend their days trying to find the way out of a constantly changing maze. When Thomas arrives, everything starts to change, and it is more important than ever to find a way out.
Told through the eyes of the protagonist, Thomas, the reader is left just as clueless about what is going on as Thomas is. Initially, the pace of this story is slow, but it mirrors the process of Thomas’ self discovery pretty well. As the pace picks up, so does Thomas’ actions and realizations. The end leaves the reader with more questions than answers and will probably make them want to pick up Book 2: The Scorch Trials as soon as possible.
ADDENDUM: The Kill Order prequel contains much more graphic violence and very little plot compared to rest of the trilogy. If you have read The Maze Runner trilogy and still have some questions you hope The Kill Order can answer, I would recommend reading the prologue and epilogue of The Kill Order. That is where the details I found interesting were located. I think The Kill Order could have been so much more interesting, but I can’t comment more on this without spoiling The Maze Runner trilogy plot.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens /all teens/ no teens.
Author website: http://www.jamesdashner.com/
Reviewer: Sabrina Holland
*NYT Bestseller; New York State Charlotte Award; Kentucky Bluegrass Award; Oregon Reader’s Choice Award; New Hampshire Isinglass Teen Read Award; Missouri Truman Readers Award; Illinois Abraham Lincoln Award; Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award; Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award; Georgia Peach Book Award; New Jersey Garden State Book Award; 2009 Discover Great New Writers Holiday Selection; 2010 Texas Lone Star Reading List; Florida Teen Reads Award; Barnes & Noble.com Best Teen Books of 2009; movie release in September 2014*
Core themes: deception, friendship, sacrifice for the greater good, does the end justify the means, survival of the fittest
Drugs/alcohol: none
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: several instances of being attacked by man-made monsters/machines; mention of someone being cut in half in the past; small amount of fist fighting and semi-graphic descriptions of boys fighting the monsters; one instance of a boy dying from a knife being thrown at him.
Vulgarities: 1 Note: the boys in this story have come up with their own version of swear words. They are "klunk,” "shuck” and "shank”. "Shuck” is the most frequently used word and is sprinkled throughout the entire book.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: The Maze Runner is about a boy named Thomas who wakes up in an elevator with no memory of how he got there and where he is going. He arrives at a place called the Glade where other boys have also had the same experience. They spend their days trying to find the way out of a constantly changing maze. When Thomas arrives, everything starts to change, and it is more important than ever to find a way out.
Told through the eyes of the protagonist, Thomas, the reader is left just as clueless about what is going on as Thomas is. Initially, the pace of this story is slow, but it mirrors the process of Thomas’ self discovery pretty well. As the pace picks up, so does Thomas’ actions and realizations. The end leaves the reader with more questions than answers and will probably make them want to pick up Book 2: The Scorch Trials as soon as possible.
ADDENDUM: The Kill Order prequel contains much more graphic violence and very little plot compared to rest of the trilogy. If you have read The Maze Runner trilogy and still have some questions you hope The Kill Order can answer, I would recommend reading the prologue and epilogue of The Kill Order. That is where the details I found interesting were located. I think The Kill Order could have been so much more interesting, but I can’t comment more on this without spoiling The Maze Runner trilogy plot.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens /all teens/ no teens.
Author website: http://www.jamesdashner.com/
Reviewer: Sabrina Holland
Meet the Sky, by McCall Hoyle
Why this book is worth considering:
Brava, Ms. McCall! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Part adventure, part romance, part drama, this contemporary novel is a YA novel that all teens can both enjoy and ponder. Best of all, it has little mature or controversial content. No, it isn't great literary art. The writing is ordinary and the premise (girl and boy are thrown together; girl doesn't like irresponsible boy; girl and boy eventually fall for each other) is unoriginal, but overall, the novel is well-written and meaningful--definitely worth reading and even discussing. The theme of learning to live fully and with courage is both valuable and different.
Also, this novel is unusual in the YA genre in that it is free of vulgar language, swearing, and blasphemy. It has no sex, abuse, violence (other than that caused by a hurricane), or religious references (other than the protagonist praying for safety). Compared to most YA, it is squeaky clean.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
Although the novel is unusually clean for YA, romance is a major plot element. Only light kissing occurs between the protagonists, but there is definitely sexual tension between them that even a young teen will notice. This is conveyed through emotion rather than discussed, and it is natural for the circumstances and the ages of the characters; however, very conservative parents might feel it crosses a line.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: https://mccallhoyle.com/index.html
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
Brava, Ms. McCall! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Part adventure, part romance, part drama, this contemporary novel is a YA novel that all teens can both enjoy and ponder. Best of all, it has little mature or controversial content. No, it isn't great literary art. The writing is ordinary and the premise (girl and boy are thrown together; girl doesn't like irresponsible boy; girl and boy eventually fall for each other) is unoriginal, but overall, the novel is well-written and meaningful--definitely worth reading and even discussing. The theme of learning to live fully and with courage is both valuable and different.
Also, this novel is unusual in the YA genre in that it is free of vulgar language, swearing, and blasphemy. It has no sex, abuse, violence (other than that caused by a hurricane), or religious references (other than the protagonist praying for safety). Compared to most YA, it is squeaky clean.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
Although the novel is unusually clean for YA, romance is a major plot element. Only light kissing occurs between the protagonists, but there is definitely sexual tension between them that even a young teen will notice. This is conveyed through emotion rather than discussed, and it is natural for the circumstances and the ages of the characters; however, very conservative parents might feel it crosses a line.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: https://mccallhoyle.com/index.html
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25, by Richard Paul Evans (The Michael Vey series, book 1)
*#1 NYT Bestseller; 2014 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Awards Intermediate Masterlist; Barnes & Noble Bestseller*
Core themes: sacrifice for others, greed, friendship, choosing what is right over material gain
Drugs/alcohol: one instance of champagne at dinner
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: one instance of physical bullying by three kids attacking the protagonist and punching him. Physical torture through electric shock, light and food deprivation. Launching of smoke bombs and some shooting of guns.
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: A group of teens learn they each have special electrical powers as the result of a machine malfunction. A scientist from a worldwide organization uses bribery, threats and torture to coerce the teens into becoming a new super-race of humans. For the ones who say "no,” it is a battle to escape and save their friends and family from certain death. Good choice for both boys and girls, but may especially appeal to those teens who are more science/math oriented.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens /all teens/ no teens.
Author website: http://www.michaelvey.com/index.php
Reviewer: Sabrina Holland
*#1 NYT Bestseller; 2014 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Awards Intermediate Masterlist; Barnes & Noble Bestseller*
Core themes: sacrifice for others, greed, friendship, choosing what is right over material gain
Drugs/alcohol: one instance of champagne at dinner
Religion/occult: none
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: one instance of physical bullying by three kids attacking the protagonist and punching him. Physical torture through electric shock, light and food deprivation. Launching of smoke bombs and some shooting of guns.
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: A group of teens learn they each have special electrical powers as the result of a machine malfunction. A scientist from a worldwide organization uses bribery, threats and torture to coerce the teens into becoming a new super-race of humans. For the ones who say "no,” it is a battle to escape and save their friends and family from certain death. Good choice for both boys and girls, but may especially appeal to those teens who are more science/math oriented.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens /all teens/ no teens.
Author website: http://www.michaelvey.com/index.php
Reviewer: Sabrina Holland
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
*an Amazon Best Book of the Month; a Los Angeles Times Summer Reading Guide Pick; NYT #1 Bestseller; translated into 40 languages; Amazon's 100 Young Adult Books to Read in a Lifetime list; movie released in 2016*
Core themes: the search for self-discovery; working together to fight evil; the pain of discovering reality for what it really is; being different and learning to accept it; the impact of family secrets; how we think we know people...yet don't
Drugs/alcohol: some of the story takes place in a pub, where there is significant adult drinking
Religion/occult: no religion; however, the book does contain monsters who were once peculiar themselves and who tried to essentially become gods and failed. Also, each peculiar child has a power of some kind, such as levitation or having prophetic dreams. None of these children used any kind of magic or other demonic ritual to obtain these powers; they were born with them. Some readers, however, might be uncomfortable with this aspect of the story.
Romance/sexuality: 1--although the romance is generally mild, there is an instance of graphic kissing
Violence/abuse: Because human-like monsters are an essential part of the story, readers encounter some bloody violence, as well as references to past violence, both at the beginning and the end. It is only slightly less graphic than the kind of violence found in adult novels.
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5--frequent
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: If you combined Pippi Longstocking and the TV show, Heroes, and made the combination into a horror story, you'd get Miss Peregrine. I will say straight off that while I enjoy suspense and Twilight Zone-type stories immensely, I am not at all a fan of horror novels. This story definitely slides into the horror genre at times, but it also crosses into fantasy, suspense, and Twlight Zone-style weirdness. Because of that, I was hooked from the first page and didn't look back. Miss Peregrine is a work of YA genius in some ways. Through its use of fascinating photographs to tell a strange story with just the right creepiness most of the time, it seemed to stand apart from other YA books in its own little subgenre.
As much as I enjoyed the book, however, I cannot recommend it without major caveats. If you are okay with Harry Potter and if you are comfortable with your teen encountering fairly frequent vulgar language and some fairly graphic bloody violence, you will probably be okay with Miss Peregrine. It is very different from Harry Potter, but the same kinds of things that bother the consciences of anti-HP people may bother them about Miss Peregrine. The important difference to understand is that the peculiar children of Miss Peregrine do not use magic. They are born with their abilities, like the characters on Heroes and Pippi in Pippi Longstocking, and they never work spells or participate in demonic rituals. Even so, there are some elements that some readers will feel step too firmly into the realm of the occult. Other readers will disagree and say it is just a fantasy. Either could be right; I am not sure. Regardless, Miss Peregrine deserves its status on the New York Times bestseller list as a prime example of fresh, original, and well-written YA fiction.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens. This recommendation is made with reservations. It will not be suitable for all older readers.
Author website: http://www.ransomriggs.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*an Amazon Best Book of the Month; a Los Angeles Times Summer Reading Guide Pick; NYT #1 Bestseller; translated into 40 languages; Amazon's 100 Young Adult Books to Read in a Lifetime list; movie released in 2016*
Core themes: the search for self-discovery; working together to fight evil; the pain of discovering reality for what it really is; being different and learning to accept it; the impact of family secrets; how we think we know people...yet don't
Drugs/alcohol: some of the story takes place in a pub, where there is significant adult drinking
Religion/occult: no religion; however, the book does contain monsters who were once peculiar themselves and who tried to essentially become gods and failed. Also, each peculiar child has a power of some kind, such as levitation or having prophetic dreams. None of these children used any kind of magic or other demonic ritual to obtain these powers; they were born with them. Some readers, however, might be uncomfortable with this aspect of the story.
Romance/sexuality: 1--although the romance is generally mild, there is an instance of graphic kissing
Violence/abuse: Because human-like monsters are an essential part of the story, readers encounter some bloody violence, as well as references to past violence, both at the beginning and the end. It is only slightly less graphic than the kind of violence found in adult novels.
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5--frequent
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: If you combined Pippi Longstocking and the TV show, Heroes, and made the combination into a horror story, you'd get Miss Peregrine. I will say straight off that while I enjoy suspense and Twilight Zone-type stories immensely, I am not at all a fan of horror novels. This story definitely slides into the horror genre at times, but it also crosses into fantasy, suspense, and Twlight Zone-style weirdness. Because of that, I was hooked from the first page and didn't look back. Miss Peregrine is a work of YA genius in some ways. Through its use of fascinating photographs to tell a strange story with just the right creepiness most of the time, it seemed to stand apart from other YA books in its own little subgenre.
As much as I enjoyed the book, however, I cannot recommend it without major caveats. If you are okay with Harry Potter and if you are comfortable with your teen encountering fairly frequent vulgar language and some fairly graphic bloody violence, you will probably be okay with Miss Peregrine. It is very different from Harry Potter, but the same kinds of things that bother the consciences of anti-HP people may bother them about Miss Peregrine. The important difference to understand is that the peculiar children of Miss Peregrine do not use magic. They are born with their abilities, like the characters on Heroes and Pippi in Pippi Longstocking, and they never work spells or participate in demonic rituals. Even so, there are some elements that some readers will feel step too firmly into the realm of the occult. Other readers will disagree and say it is just a fantasy. Either could be right; I am not sure. Regardless, Miss Peregrine deserves its status on the New York Times bestseller list as a prime example of fresh, original, and well-written YA fiction.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens. This recommendation is made with reservations. It will not be suitable for all older readers.
Author website: http://www.ransomriggs.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Monster, by Walter Dean Myers
*winner of Michael J. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, Coretta Scott King Award Honor book; National Book Award Honor for Young People’s Literature; New York Times Bestseller; American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults; American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers; American Library Association Teen Best Books for Young Adults; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book; Amazon.com Top Ten Teen Books; Book Sense 76 Pick; Booklist Editor’s Choice Selection; Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book; Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee; Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Finalist; Horn Book Fanfare Honor List; International Board on Books for Young People Honor List; Kentucky Bluegrass Book Award Finalist; Los Angeles Times Book Award Finalist; Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award in High School Category Nominee; New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age; New York Times Notable Children’s Book; Ohio Buckeye Children’s Book Award Nominee; Parents’ Guide to Children’s Media Outstanding Achievement in Books Honor; Publishers Weekly 100 Best Books of the Year; Riverbank Review Children’s Book of Distinction; Texas Tayshas Reading List; Wyoming Soaring Eagle Award Nominee; *
Core themes: guilt vs. innocence; examination of conscience; effect of an individual's actions on family and friends; how the small decisions we make can have profound impact on our futures; the importance of choosing friends and acquaintances wisely; the ease at which trust and integrity can be lost by a single connection to wrongdoing; the American judicial system; the subconscious effect that race and gender can have in the minds of jurors
Drugs/alcohol: stolen cigarettes are key part of crime investigation
Religion/occult: brief scene of an interrupted worship service at the prison
Romance/sexuality: none
Violence/abuse: frequent references to violent, horrific aspects of both prison and the murder investigation around which the novel revolves. These include several references to gang rape and forced homosexual relationships within the prison. The references are generally vague and non-graphic and do not pertain to Steve, the main character; however, astute and particularly sensitive readers will not miss them.
Vulgarities: 1, 3 (infrequent)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: Perhaps because the bulk of this novel takes place in a courtroom or perhaps because of the author's personal background, Monster is a surprisingly clean book compared to the typical YA offerings. Were it not for the violence, which was integral to the story, I would recommend the book to all teens. Myers's writing is skillful and powerful, bringing the reader deep into the mind of Steve, a frightened, black teen on trial for his life. Although I am not a fan of courtroom drama, this novel is an example of YA's cream of the crop. Unlike some novels (IMHO), it deserves the awards it received.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens /all teens/ no teens.
Author website: http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*winner of Michael J. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, Coretta Scott King Award Honor book; National Book Award Honor for Young People’s Literature; New York Times Bestseller; American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults; American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers; American Library Association Teen Best Books for Young Adults; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book; Amazon.com Top Ten Teen Books; Book Sense 76 Pick; Booklist Editor’s Choice Selection; Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book; Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee; Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Finalist; Horn Book Fanfare Honor List; International Board on Books for Young People Honor List; Kentucky Bluegrass Book Award Finalist; Los Angeles Times Book Award Finalist; Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award in High School Category Nominee; New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age; New York Times Notable Children’s Book; Ohio Buckeye Children’s Book Award Nominee; Parents’ Guide to Children’s Media Outstanding Achievement in Books Honor; Publishers Weekly 100 Best Books of the Year; Riverbank Review Children’s Book of Distinction; Texas Tayshas Reading List; Wyoming Soaring Eagle Award Nominee; *
Core themes: guilt vs. innocence; examination of conscience; effect of an individual's actions on family and friends; how the small decisions we make can have profound impact on our futures; the importance of choosing friends and acquaintances wisely; the ease at which trust and integrity can be lost by a single connection to wrongdoing; the American judicial system; the subconscious effect that race and gender can have in the minds of jurors
Drugs/alcohol: stolen cigarettes are key part of crime investigation
Religion/occult: brief scene of an interrupted worship service at the prison
Romance/sexuality: none
Violence/abuse: frequent references to violent, horrific aspects of both prison and the murder investigation around which the novel revolves. These include several references to gang rape and forced homosexual relationships within the prison. The references are generally vague and non-graphic and do not pertain to Steve, the main character; however, astute and particularly sensitive readers will not miss them.
Vulgarities: 1, 3 (infrequent)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: Perhaps because the bulk of this novel takes place in a courtroom or perhaps because of the author's personal background, Monster is a surprisingly clean book compared to the typical YA offerings. Were it not for the violence, which was integral to the story, I would recommend the book to all teens. Myers's writing is skillful and powerful, bringing the reader deep into the mind of Steve, a frightened, black teen on trial for his life. Although I am not a fan of courtroom drama, this novel is an example of YA's cream of the crop. Unlike some novels (IMHO), it deserves the awards it received.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens /all teens/ no teens.
Author website: http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw
*1997 Newbery Honor; 1997 Golden Kite Award*
Core themes: prejudice, superstition, courage, inner strength, resourcefulness, bullying
Drugs/alcohol: mentions two people who drank too much; no drugs
Religion/occult: superstitions
Romance/sexuality: none
Violence/abuse: abuse and threatened violence toward a girl who's considered "different"
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: Although this wonderful story takes place a long time ago, the way the other village young people treat Saaski (the main character) is no different from the way people who are seen as odd or different in some way have often been treated throughout history, right up to the present day. Today in our schools we call this kind of treatment “bullying.” And, sadly, the village adults in the story did little to stop the abuse. In fact, in the end, they flatly join in. They are ultimately ruled by their superstitions.
The author makes it clear that Saaski is really a sweet girl who never purposely hurts anyone else. Through this book, perhaps the reader can understand a little better how cruel prejudice can be and how the mistreated person feels. Hopefully, walking with Saaski through her hurtful experiences in this story will inspire the reader to be more accepting of someone who is perceived as “different.” And you can’t help but admire Saaski’s courage and resourcefulness in the face of all her difficulties.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens. Note: Though this book is marketed to middle-grade readers, the content and vocabulary are appropriate for young adults, as well.
Author website: none
Reviewer: Joyce Pardue
*1997 Newbery Honor; 1997 Golden Kite Award*
Core themes: prejudice, superstition, courage, inner strength, resourcefulness, bullying
Drugs/alcohol: mentions two people who drank too much; no drugs
Religion/occult: superstitions
Romance/sexuality: none
Violence/abuse: abuse and threatened violence toward a girl who's considered "different"
Vulgarities: none
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: Although this wonderful story takes place a long time ago, the way the other village young people treat Saaski (the main character) is no different from the way people who are seen as odd or different in some way have often been treated throughout history, right up to the present day. Today in our schools we call this kind of treatment “bullying.” And, sadly, the village adults in the story did little to stop the abuse. In fact, in the end, they flatly join in. They are ultimately ruled by their superstitions.
The author makes it clear that Saaski is really a sweet girl who never purposely hurts anyone else. Through this book, perhaps the reader can understand a little better how cruel prejudice can be and how the mistreated person feels. Hopefully, walking with Saaski through her hurtful experiences in this story will inspire the reader to be more accepting of someone who is perceived as “different.” And you can’t help but admire Saaski’s courage and resourcefulness in the face of all her difficulties.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens. Note: Though this book is marketed to middle-grade readers, the content and vocabulary are appropriate for young adults, as well.
Author website: none
Reviewer: Joyce Pardue
Mostly Good Girls, by Leila Sales
*ALA 2011 Best Books for Young Adults nominee; 2010 School Library Journal starred review*
Why this book is worth considering:
Finally, a girly YA novel that isn't edgy, dark, or depressing. That's not so easy to find these days! This tale is easy to read, hip, and modern, while managing to rise above the typical mind-candy content that characterizes so many lighthearted YA novels today. In its serious moments it addresses themes of friendship, academic pressures, the empty side of privilege and wealth, and the fuzzy line between good-natured teasing and verbal attacks. In its lighter moments there is humor, lighthearted banter, and innocent romantic crushes. The protagonist is also less sophisticated than most while still presented as a cute, fun, and ordinary teen girl. Refreshingly, she has almost no experience in romance, drinking, drugs, or sex. While this is no great work of literature either in structure or in content, teen readers could do much worse than choosing this novel.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
Aside from plotting flaws--sometimes the storyline seemed to stall--the novel does contain some content that may concern some parents. Although Violet and her best friend are inexperienced in most ways, they do swear with some frequency. This includes some blasphemy. They also experience liquor for the first time together, deciding it is time they knew what it felt like to get drunk. To be fair, though, this scene is kind of humorous and avoids glamorizing underage alcohol consumption. There are some references to sex, such as when they discuss a fellow classmate they know to be sexually active, and the two girls discuss their mutual crush and their desire to kiss him with some frequency. Again, though, this crush is presented in such a lighthearted, natural way that I did not find it morally offensive. Parents who do not approve of homosexual relations should also be aware that the girls' mutual crush reveals at the end of the novel that he is gay. Although Violet's stunned reaction is socially acceptable, this twist in events is brief and included more for the sake of humor than it is to push a PC agenda.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://leilasales.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*ALA 2011 Best Books for Young Adults nominee; 2010 School Library Journal starred review*
Why this book is worth considering:
Finally, a girly YA novel that isn't edgy, dark, or depressing. That's not so easy to find these days! This tale is easy to read, hip, and modern, while managing to rise above the typical mind-candy content that characterizes so many lighthearted YA novels today. In its serious moments it addresses themes of friendship, academic pressures, the empty side of privilege and wealth, and the fuzzy line between good-natured teasing and verbal attacks. In its lighter moments there is humor, lighthearted banter, and innocent romantic crushes. The protagonist is also less sophisticated than most while still presented as a cute, fun, and ordinary teen girl. Refreshingly, she has almost no experience in romance, drinking, drugs, or sex. While this is no great work of literature either in structure or in content, teen readers could do much worse than choosing this novel.
Why this book might not be right for your teen:
Aside from plotting flaws--sometimes the storyline seemed to stall--the novel does contain some content that may concern some parents. Although Violet and her best friend are inexperienced in most ways, they do swear with some frequency. This includes some blasphemy. They also experience liquor for the first time together, deciding it is time they knew what it felt like to get drunk. To be fair, though, this scene is kind of humorous and avoids glamorizing underage alcohol consumption. There are some references to sex, such as when they discuss a fellow classmate they know to be sexually active, and the two girls discuss their mutual crush and their desire to kiss him with some frequency. Again, though, this crush is presented in such a lighthearted, natural way that I did not find it morally offensive. Parents who do not approve of homosexual relations should also be aware that the girls' mutual crush reveals at the end of the novel that he is gay. Although Violet's stunned reaction is socially acceptable, this twist in events is brief and included more for the sake of humor than it is to push a PC agenda.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens/ no teens.
Author Website: http://leilasales.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
My Name is Not Easy, by Debby Dahl Edwardson
*National Book Award finalist for Young People's Literature (2011); 2013 Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award nominee*
Core themes: familial bonds, longstanding tension between native Alaskan cultures, religious structures vs. traditional ways, coming-of-age experiences (both universal and culture-specific) and life lessons
Drugs/alcohol: two students drink pilfered vodka; one student's dad is an alcoholic;
Religion/occult: A Catholic boarding school is the primary setting for the novel, and thus religion plays a major role in the lives of the students (many of whom are not Catholic). Religious references include Psalm 23 recited in fear when a car breaks down and part of a Hail Mary prayer is said for a nun. Catholicism is not portrayed in a very positive light throughout the novel, either, although the author's purpose does not appear to be to demean the religion but to instead tell a story about a real facet of Alaska's history. Normally, I would criticize the author for buying into stereotypes of Catholic education and cliches about mean or scandalous priests and nuns; however, because the author drew on true stories to write this novel, the negative portrayal is probably realistic. Even so, Catholic readers might be offended by some negative reactions that non-Catholic characters have towards the head priest and Catholicism in general. Even the assistant priest questions how the school is teaching the kids about Christianity by just making them go to mass. One comment about native Alaskan beliefs was also mentioned when one of the protagonists tells how the Inupiaqs believe that naming a baby after a deceased persin is the spirit of that person coming back.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: The head priest of the school is a very angry man, for some reason never fully explained (my guess is that he was somehow forced into the priesthood, when he really wanted to be a boxer). He takes this anger out on the students by being a bully and by beating boy students with a 2x4 when they misbehave. Other examples of violence include a reference to JFK dying during the course of the story, and a teen student is killed in a plane crash (non-graphic). Also, at the end the mean priest and a teacher nun die in an earthquake/tsunami.
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 5 (infrequent)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: At first, I thought I would love this story. The beginning fascinated me, and the author's writing impressed me with its lyrical beauty. But though the author's writing continued to impress me, the story eventually became more frustrating than fascinating. Plot points became confusing, and some of the characters' actions didn't ring true for me. For example, near the beginning of the novel, the youngest of three brothers who arrived at the school was taken away and adopted out to a family in Texas, because he was sent to the school too young. Even though his mother was still living and able to care for him back home, the priest's decision to adopt the boy out, instead of flying him home, was never explained, and his brothers, though angry, never fought for his return or even for answers as to why he was adopted out. When the brothers discovered letters the youngest brother had written to them but that the priest kept hidden, they didn't confront the priest about it. Because this was such a serious wrong, I found their silence odd.
Understated plot points and character actions like this peppered the novel. Though they may have been realistic for the native Alaskan people (and thus the novel may be better understood by Alaskan readers), they only confused me and raised questions that the author never answered. There also seemed to be gaps in the narrative that I assume the author expected readers to fill in with their imaginations. All these things together left me impressed by the novel as a literary work, yet frustrated as a reader.
All that said, I appreciated the novel as a whole for its window into this little-known thread of Alaskan history and am glad I read it.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.debbydahledwardson.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*National Book Award finalist for Young People's Literature (2011); 2013 Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award nominee*
Core themes: familial bonds, longstanding tension between native Alaskan cultures, religious structures vs. traditional ways, coming-of-age experiences (both universal and culture-specific) and life lessons
Drugs/alcohol: two students drink pilfered vodka; one student's dad is an alcoholic;
Religion/occult: A Catholic boarding school is the primary setting for the novel, and thus religion plays a major role in the lives of the students (many of whom are not Catholic). Religious references include Psalm 23 recited in fear when a car breaks down and part of a Hail Mary prayer is said for a nun. Catholicism is not portrayed in a very positive light throughout the novel, either, although the author's purpose does not appear to be to demean the religion but to instead tell a story about a real facet of Alaska's history. Normally, I would criticize the author for buying into stereotypes of Catholic education and cliches about mean or scandalous priests and nuns; however, because the author drew on true stories to write this novel, the negative portrayal is probably realistic. Even so, Catholic readers might be offended by some negative reactions that non-Catholic characters have towards the head priest and Catholicism in general. Even the assistant priest questions how the school is teaching the kids about Christianity by just making them go to mass. One comment about native Alaskan beliefs was also mentioned when one of the protagonists tells how the Inupiaqs believe that naming a baby after a deceased persin is the spirit of that person coming back.
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: The head priest of the school is a very angry man, for some reason never fully explained (my guess is that he was somehow forced into the priesthood, when he really wanted to be a boxer). He takes this anger out on the students by being a bully and by beating boy students with a 2x4 when they misbehave. Other examples of violence include a reference to JFK dying during the course of the story, and a teen student is killed in a plane crash (non-graphic). Also, at the end the mean priest and a teacher nun die in an earthquake/tsunami.
Vulgarities: 1, 3, 5 (infrequent)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: At first, I thought I would love this story. The beginning fascinated me, and the author's writing impressed me with its lyrical beauty. But though the author's writing continued to impress me, the story eventually became more frustrating than fascinating. Plot points became confusing, and some of the characters' actions didn't ring true for me. For example, near the beginning of the novel, the youngest of three brothers who arrived at the school was taken away and adopted out to a family in Texas, because he was sent to the school too young. Even though his mother was still living and able to care for him back home, the priest's decision to adopt the boy out, instead of flying him home, was never explained, and his brothers, though angry, never fought for his return or even for answers as to why he was adopted out. When the brothers discovered letters the youngest brother had written to them but that the priest kept hidden, they didn't confront the priest about it. Because this was such a serious wrong, I found their silence odd.
Understated plot points and character actions like this peppered the novel. Though they may have been realistic for the native Alaskan people (and thus the novel may be better understood by Alaskan readers), they only confused me and raised questions that the author never answered. There also seemed to be gaps in the narrative that I assume the author expected readers to fill in with their imaginations. All these things together left me impressed by the novel as a literary work, yet frustrated as a reader.
All that said, I appreciated the novel as a whole for its window into this little-known thread of Alaskan history and am glad I read it.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.debbydahledwardson.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist