The "V" Reviews
Velvet Undercover, by Teri Brown
*Oregon Spirit Book Award honor book, 2015*
Why this book is worth considering:
I think the heavens have just opened up and the angels are singing. I am so excited to have found this novel that I'm almost giddy! True, I wasn't much interested in it at first. The cover is poorly done, leading me to think it would be a cheap thrills, lustful, trashy novel full of vulgar words and teenage sex. Boy, was I wrong, and I am so glad I didn't give up on it and just return it to the library unread. In sharp contrast to the overwhelming array of dark, edgy, depressing, and/or troubling YA novels available as "entertainment" today, Velvet Undercover truly is entertainment in the most delicious form. No, it will never stand alongside classics like The Outsiders or be taught in a high school literature curriculum. However, it is an exciting, intricately plotted, lightly romantic, historical spy thriller that most parents can hand their teens without fear. There is no sex, swearing (that I can recall), tirades against God, excessive darkness, or any of the other disturbing content that concerns so many of us. YEA!!! I will be offering this to my own teen daughters. I wish this was a movie!
Why this book may not be right for your teen:
As clean as it is, parents should be aware that this novel is set during World War II in Berlin, Germany. The protagonist is an English teen recruited as a spy for an English agency, and she is sent into very dangerous adult territory--the kaiser's palace--to play the role of an adult. Although she never kills anyone or engages in sexual or vulgar behavior in her role as the duchess's cousin, she does have to be attentive to an affair between the married prince and his mistress, drink wine as social customs dictate, poison a woman (though she saves her life shortly afterwards), and deal with some non-graphic violence against other people. The novel also discusses war danger, such as chemical weapons and the gruesome fate that befalls spies who are caught (though not in graphic detail). Very few teens would find this novel disturbing in the least, but some parents may reasonably be wary.
In addition to this content, parents concerned about literary quality will want to know that though the plotting is well-done and avoids predictability, the writing is occasionally awkward and overly dependent on certain devices to convey the protagonist's inner turmoil (I can't count the number of times she says, "My heart slams against my ribs.").
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens/ older teens/ all teens / no teens.
Author website: www.teribrownbooks.com
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*Oregon Spirit Book Award honor book, 2015*
Why this book is worth considering:
I think the heavens have just opened up and the angels are singing. I am so excited to have found this novel that I'm almost giddy! True, I wasn't much interested in it at first. The cover is poorly done, leading me to think it would be a cheap thrills, lustful, trashy novel full of vulgar words and teenage sex. Boy, was I wrong, and I am so glad I didn't give up on it and just return it to the library unread. In sharp contrast to the overwhelming array of dark, edgy, depressing, and/or troubling YA novels available as "entertainment" today, Velvet Undercover truly is entertainment in the most delicious form. No, it will never stand alongside classics like The Outsiders or be taught in a high school literature curriculum. However, it is an exciting, intricately plotted, lightly romantic, historical spy thriller that most parents can hand their teens without fear. There is no sex, swearing (that I can recall), tirades against God, excessive darkness, or any of the other disturbing content that concerns so many of us. YEA!!! I will be offering this to my own teen daughters. I wish this was a movie!
Why this book may not be right for your teen:
As clean as it is, parents should be aware that this novel is set during World War II in Berlin, Germany. The protagonist is an English teen recruited as a spy for an English agency, and she is sent into very dangerous adult territory--the kaiser's palace--to play the role of an adult. Although she never kills anyone or engages in sexual or vulgar behavior in her role as the duchess's cousin, she does have to be attentive to an affair between the married prince and his mistress, drink wine as social customs dictate, poison a woman (though she saves her life shortly afterwards), and deal with some non-graphic violence against other people. The novel also discusses war danger, such as chemical weapons and the gruesome fate that befalls spies who are caught (though not in graphic detail). Very few teens would find this novel disturbing in the least, but some parents may reasonably be wary.
In addition to this content, parents concerned about literary quality will want to know that though the plotting is well-done and avoids predictability, the writing is occasionally awkward and overly dependent on certain devices to convey the protagonist's inner turmoil (I can't count the number of times she says, "My heart slams against my ribs.").
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens/ older teens/ all teens / no teens.
Author website: www.teribrownbooks.com
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
VIII, by H.M. Castor
Why this book is worth considering:
For history buffs, this is a fascinating novel about Henry VIII and his descent from a god-fearing, honorable boy to a wicked tyrant. It is told in first-person, an unusual angle for a historical king, but Castor does her job well. Brought inside Henry's mind, we are given a chilling, front-row seat to the possible thought processes and experiences that may have made him the notorious king he was. The novel does include some violence, abuse, drinking, romance, and Christian references/thinking, but they seem only typical of the period.
Why this book may not be right for your teen:
This novel is unusual for YA in that Henry is actually an adult for most of the novel. We follow him from childhood all the way to his death at the age of 55. I believe the novel qualifies as YA because some of the mature parts of the story--such as his wives' executions--would likely be much more explicit than they are in this novel. In fact, I wish Castor had been a little more explicit in some places, because her caution (as I perceived it, anyway) made it difficult to tell what actually happened to his wives. I knew some of them were executed, but Castor does not make this very clear. The one thing that would really be a concern to some parents, though, is the occasional swearing. Since the setting is medieval, the swear words are either blasphemous or meaningless to us as swear words. Most, unfortunately, are blasphemous. Other concerns for sensitive readers include discussions of war, jousting, child neglect and abuse, and romantic (non-graphic) situations. Keeping in mind Henry's obsession with having sons, the focus is heavily on sex in a roundabout, non-graphic way. Although most teens would handle this well, it might bother some.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens/ older teens/ all teens / no teens.
Author website: none (The book jacket lists a website, but it goes to an unassociated blog.)
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
Why this book is worth considering:
For history buffs, this is a fascinating novel about Henry VIII and his descent from a god-fearing, honorable boy to a wicked tyrant. It is told in first-person, an unusual angle for a historical king, but Castor does her job well. Brought inside Henry's mind, we are given a chilling, front-row seat to the possible thought processes and experiences that may have made him the notorious king he was. The novel does include some violence, abuse, drinking, romance, and Christian references/thinking, but they seem only typical of the period.
Why this book may not be right for your teen:
This novel is unusual for YA in that Henry is actually an adult for most of the novel. We follow him from childhood all the way to his death at the age of 55. I believe the novel qualifies as YA because some of the mature parts of the story--such as his wives' executions--would likely be much more explicit than they are in this novel. In fact, I wish Castor had been a little more explicit in some places, because her caution (as I perceived it, anyway) made it difficult to tell what actually happened to his wives. I knew some of them were executed, but Castor does not make this very clear. The one thing that would really be a concern to some parents, though, is the occasional swearing. Since the setting is medieval, the swear words are either blasphemous or meaningless to us as swear words. Most, unfortunately, are blasphemous. Other concerns for sensitive readers include discussions of war, jousting, child neglect and abuse, and romantic (non-graphic) situations. Keeping in mind Henry's obsession with having sons, the focus is heavily on sex in a roundabout, non-graphic way. Although most teens would handle this well, it might bother some.
Literary artistry: * * * * *
I would suggest this book to younger teens/ older teens/ all teens / no teens.
Author website: none (The book jacket lists a website, but it goes to an unassociated blog.)
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
