Guts: The True Stories behind Hatchet and the Brian Books by Gary Paulsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Disclaimer....I love Gary Paulsen books. I've loved every one I've ever read. He has a way of writing that seems so normal and plain, but once you stop to look more closely, you realize how rich it is. This book is an excellent choice for those who've read Hatchet or any of the other Brian books because Paulsen tells the tales of his own life that played into his writing of those books. I think reading "Guts" at this time also sparked some extra interest in me because we just took a trip out west this summer. I was able to relate to his tales of the wilderness adventures since we had been in the wilderness. I think this book is most enjoyed by those who've read some of his other works, but even if you haven't, this is a well-written book with the "real" adventures of Gary Paulsen. Fantastic. Ages 10+
The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a freebie I got on Amazon, so I read it at one of those times when I had nothing else to read. It had been on my Kindle for awhile. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised. A period piece with a whiff of fairy tale, but an interesting heroine...it definitely kept my pages turning and I enjoyed it for a quick summertime read. I might actually read another book about Finley Jayne if I came across one. Nothing objectionable here, some mild action, and a slightly gruesome human experiment but not described in shocking detail. Ages 12+.
The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Not gonna lie, I got a bit creeped out during part of this book and it had to do with swarming wasps. I'll leave it at that and let you read the book to find out what I'm talking about. All in all, I enjoyed this book as I do most of Kenneth Oppel's writing. It was a very original idea, and that makes it stand out in a crowd. Certain middle schoolers might find this book off-putting because it does get intense in the second half. I wouldn't recommend it to a gentle crowd. Others will find the main character's struggles with anxiety and social issues relatable. I "enjoyed" it, and I put that word in quotes because I'm not sure it's the right one. Let's say the book stuck with me and disturbed me a bit. So, there definitely is a quality about it that makes me say, "Well done, Kenneth Oppel, well done." Ages 10+.
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The pacing of this book wasn't quite what I expected, but once I fell into it, I really enjoyed this book. It's not high-action, but yet enough happens here to move the story. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's sad, and a few times it's outright frustrating. (I hated the main character's father.) I loved how Shakespeare was used throughout the book. I think it's one quality that would make this book endearing to older YA readers. There's a lot to consider with this story, especially considering the time period it's set in. All in all, I think that this is a high quality piece of writing that the YA crowd can really sink their teeth into.
Parents & Teachers -- Nothing objectionable here. Fine for all kids. Ages 12+.
Projekt 1065: A Novel of World War II by Alan Gratz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fast-paced, heart-pounding, action-packed. For fans of historical fiction, this is a great book to add to your collection. What I especially liked was the tale of espionage, but with the kid as the spy. I think it would grab the imagination of the YA reader and really pull him/her into the action, especially for kids who are interested in the Nazis, Hitler, and WWII.
There's a lot of action here, as well as some violence. A few scenes are described graphically, so it's not for the more gentle readers. A few characters are beaten and killed. Many German words are used, but the author is able to use context clues to explain them well. I can't vouch for the historical accuracy of the story, but the author does give some historical footnotes at the end, so it seems like there is some basis for truth here. However, I always approach historical fiction not as a tome to be taken to heart, but as an impression of the time period. In that regard, I think the author did a great job.
Other reviews have compared this book to others by the same author. Since I haven't read any of his other works, I can't make that comparison. All I know is that this was time well spent for me. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Parents & Teachers -- No inappropriate physical contact between characters. No romance. War violence as referenced above. Some intense language, but no outright swearing. Ages 12+.
