Book Review -- Ranger's Apprentice: Erak's Ransom (Book 7)

Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not going to lie...I was disappointed by the jump back in time when I got to book 7. I was all ready to continue moving forward after book 6. Having said that, I found this book wholly satisfying, and it was yet another new set of characters and a new land for our hero to explore. This series hasn't felt stale or boring to me yet, and I hope it stays that way. Thoroughly enjoyable; another grand adventure with our favorite characters. Well done, Mr. Flanagan!

Parents and teachers -- Medieval period style fighting and violence, mild language, no inappropriate physical relationships. Ages 11+ ; mature 9-10 year olds

Book Review -- The Seventh Most Important Thing

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a new author for me, and I liked her writing style and pacing. This book isn't flashy or in your face, but it's a good solid story about a boy who needs redemption and finds it in the oddest of places. I think kids can relate to many of the themes here: loss of a parent, struggles with money, outcast at school, and trouble with teachers. Lots to think about, lots to ponder. Great read!

Teachers and parents -- Family drama, no physical relationships, mild language, nothing questionable here. Ages 11+

Book Review -- The Curse of the Wedingo

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I love the writing. Mr. Yancey is a master of words. One quality I love of this book and the previous one is how it's set in the past. Somehow, that setting gives the book a rich feel. The story in this one didn’t grip me quite as much as in The Monstrumologist, but it’s still a well crafted tale. Be ready for the gruesome horror elements. This isn’t for the weak-stomached. Reading the first book in the series is helpful, but it isn't necessary. This book can stand alone.

Parents and Teachers: Violent monster gore, images of human death described in detail, some 4-letter word language, a few inappropriate references to the human body and its parts, discussion of fecal waste. Ages 13+ or the very bold 11-12 year old.

Book Review -- Fire & Ash

Fire & Ash by Jonathan Maberry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Confession time...I am not a fan of zombies. I can't watch them on the screen, big or small. I generally prefer not to think about them at all. So I'm as surprised as anyone that I literally read this entire series in two weeks. This particular book I read in two days. What is it about Maberry's books that made them palpable to me? Heart...the characters were ones that the reader could actually care about. The fact that they were fighting zombies and other bad guys was incidental. The zombies could've been replaced with aliens and it would've been just as compelling of a read. This final book was an excellent conclusion to the series. Maberry tied it up nicely and put a bow on it. Well done, sir. I am now your fan. I LOVED this entire series!

Teachers and Parents -- Violence (and lots of it) between humans and zombies, violence between humans and humans, graphically described zombie gore, teenagers in violent situations without adult guidance, no strong language (thank you, Mr. Maberry), and no inappropriate physical romance. 13+ with no reservations, 12 and under with parental/teacher guidance.

Book Review -- Rot & Ruin

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't usually like scary books (or zombie books), but this one captivated me. It wasn't just about the zombies...there was so much more here. The author did a great job of laying out the setting and the backstory of how the zombies first arrived. The main characters drove the story, and the bad guys weren't just the zombies. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this book was so good, I went straight into the sequel. Also, this is only my second "5 star" book since Christmas break was over. I will absolutely be reading more by this author. Parents and teachers...zombie violence and descriptors, physical violence between characters, mild physical romance (nothing objectionable/inappropriate), mild language (none of the "big" swear words); appropriate for 12+. Some of the younger teen set may not handle this well...it would depend on how "gentle" they are. 14+ for sure.

Book Review -- Refugee

Refugee by Alan Gratz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alan Gratz is becoming one of the hot authors of my 6th grade class due to his book Prisoner B-3087 which we did as a read aloud. This book, Refugee, is also a good one, although I didn't give it 5 stars because of two things. One, I got impatient with alternating the chapters between the three characters. I'll admit that I cheated at one point and read about five of Josef's chapters back to back. Two, I thought Gratz was going to tie the three characters together a bit more tightly than he did. They do connect at the end, but I had another scenario in my mind. Still, I thought this was a great book, I love his writing, and anyone who's read Prisoner B-3087 or Projekt 1065 will enjoy this one. Parents and Teachers -- historical fiction drama with some killing/death, ages 10+

Book Review -- A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this back in the day when I was a kid, probably in fifth or sixth grade. Since I didn't remember anything about it, I decided to read it again. It was a bit difficult to get into, but after a few chapters, I was cruising. This is a well-imagined fantasy book with a science fiction twist. Modern kids may struggle a bit since there are times that the writing feels a bit dated (I can vouch for that as several of my sixth graders have tried and abandoned this book), but for those who stick with it, they'll be rewarded with a wonderful fantasy adventure. I gave it four out of five stars because it was slow to start and also because I thought it ended very abruptly. Parents & teachers -- fantasy and adventure peril, children in intense situations with no parental assistance, no foul language, no inappropriate physical situations, ages 10+

Book Review -- The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, I knew who Neil Gaiman was because of the movie Coraline (which I only watched the beginning of because it was so creepy), but I'd never read any of his work. I heard about this book from a list of YA "must reads," so I decided to give it a whirl. Well. I was captivated! This story absolutely grabbed me right from the first chapter. It was a creative idea (human child raised in a graveyard by ghosts), and it had just the right mix of creepy but with heart. I loved, loved, loved it. Five stars all the way, and Mr. Gaiman is now an author I plan to read more of. Teachers and parents...supernatural horror situations, physical violence, no strong language, no inappropriate physical romance. 13+ for sure. 12 and under with caveats. Not for the 12 and under gentle crowd.

Book Review -- Three Times Lucky

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun mystery story! At first I wasn't sure. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the story and the characters. I think some of the southern-ness was tripping me up (I'm not from the south), but once I got cruising, this was a delightful read. I'll admit, I didn't have the mystery solved until the end of the book. There were several possibilities, but I hadn't guessed the author's solution. I ended up loving our heroine, what a fun person. I heartily recommend this one to all kids in the grades 4-6 range. Parents & Teachers -- crime mischief, kids in tense situations without parental involvement, no swearing (but the text indicates that the characters do use foul language), and no inappropriate physical romance. Ages 10+

Book Review -- The Monstrumologist

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a horror book for teens, plain and simple. Horror is not my favorite genre, but I tore through this book and could not put it down. The action was set in 1880's New England, and that made the horror more palpable to me, I guess. There was a bit of history slant towards the story. The horror elements were blood and guts, which is probably why I could stand it, too (amazingly, my most tolerable type of horror. I know...this statement seems ridiculous even as I type it).

I loved the author's use of language here. It was rich. It was precise. It was a joy to read. The characters were well-fleshed out and vivid. I read The 5th Wave by Yancey several years ago and while I enjoyed that book, I thought the writing was better in this one.

Since this is a YA book, I have several cautions (because I'm a 6th grade teacher and a parent) -- There is violence in this book. Several characters die horrible deaths. There are monsters in this book, and they are vividly described. Several other "icky" moments are just downright gross. I say all that to alert the parents and teachers out there that your younger YAs may not fare too well with this book. It depends on their gross-out tolerance. I wouldn't recommend this to my gentler students in 6th grade. Some of the more mature kids would do fine. So, I give this a 13+ recommendation but with caveats. There's virtually no bad language or inappropriate physical situations, so that's not a concern. Just a lot of violence alongside blood and guts. If you've got a weak stomach, beware.

Book Review -- Wildwood

Wildwood by Colin Meloy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

5 stars for the richness of the writing, 3 stars for the rambling story. Seriously, this book needed to be 150 pages shorter. I liked it...great story and plot, but it was too long. By the last 100 pages I was skimming. I loved how the author used language and the word choice was amazing, but if Tolkien can get Bilbo to the Lonely Mountain and back in less than 500 pages, then Meloy should be able to do that here, as well. I recommend this book if you have the patience for 541 pages.

Parents & Teachers - fighting and war violence, children on epic adventure with no parents present, no foul language, no inappropriate physical relationships. Ages 10+

Book Review -- Touching Spirit Bear

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my top YA books for the summer! I picked it up reluctantly from a coworker who recommended it, but then I was gripped. I could not put this one down and I tore through it. I didn't it want it to end. Talk about a story that stomped all over my heart. Themes here include change, and finding one's true self even underneath all the garbage. Redemption is another one. This is a book that teen boys would enjoy, and it really strikes a chord with troubled youth. Run, don't walk to read this book!

Parents and teachers -- Wilderness survival and violence, teen to teen violence, no swearing but some other strong words, tense situations, no inappropriate physical relationships. Ages 11+

Book Review -- Guts

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+

Book Review -- The Strange Case of Finley Jayne

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+.

Book Review -- The Nest

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+.

Book Review -- The Wednesday Wars

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+.

Book Review -- Projekt 1065: A Novel of World War II

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+.

Book Review -- The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

4.5/5 stars....Clones. Drug lords. Futuristic dystopian lands. This books has it all! Seriously, though, this was an engaging read for the YA crowd. It had just the right mix of science fiction and adventure, that I can see most of the 11+ crowd really getting into the story. Older kids can explore some ethical themes with this one. Is it right to have a clone just for the sake of organ harvesting and keeping someone alive past their natural lifespan? (That part reminded me of the movie The Island.) Even if drug production is legal, does that make it right? Are people really happier if they're mindless workers as opposed to having clear thought and free will? There's a lot to digest in this book and I think those themes are what makes it rise to the top. Add in a swarthy display of action and violence, plus some really likable characters, and this is a recipe for success. They only reason I didn't give it the full five stars is because I felt that the last 25% of the book wrapped everything up a bit too conveniently and easily. After the struggle that was so painstakingly described for the first 3/4 of the book, the end was just too neatly packaged for my taste. Also, I had a hard time getting through the first chapter. Then it picked up, and I was cruising.

All in all, I would expect most readers of the science fiction/dystopian crowd to really enjoy this one. It was worth the time and effort. 

Teacher & parents -- No bad language. No inappropriate physical contact between characters. Violence was present, both between kids/teens and from adults to kids. Some killing of secondary characters, but not graphically described in detail. Some disturbing moments described in the treatment of various characters. Certain situations are disturbing and thought provoking, and would be worth discussing with the younger set of readers. Ages 11+.

Book review -- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1) by L. Frank Baum

2 out of 5 stars. Oh my, I did not like this book at all. Disclaimer -- when the movie is the only version of the story that I've every really known, I figured it would be hard to give the book a fair shake. However, I just didn't think the writing was that good at all. Could it be a time period thing? Possibly. I just can't believe that this book was ever published and that there were sequels. Also, there are quite a few moments in the book that don't really seem to do anything to move the story along, such as when they meet the china people. What was the point of that? Anyway, I'm not sorry I read this because it is a classic, but I'll never read it again or anything else by Baum. Not a fan. 

Parents & Teachers -- No bad language. No inappropriate physical contact between characters. Some action-type violence. Visualizing a few of the scarier characters could disturb a few gentler readers, but nothing really to worry about for most kids. Ages 8+. 

Book review -- Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

3 out of 5 stars -- This is a book for the YA crowd, and if I were a teen, I'd likely rate it higher. Kids who are X-men fans (or any superhero fans) would likely enjoy this. It's an easy read, so the average YA will be able to zip right through it. I'd recommend it for boys or girls who like sci-fi. The main character is female, but she's tough enough to keep the boys reading. This is book #1 in a series and you've got to keep reading to get the entire story. It definitely doesn't end here.

Parents & Teachers - No inappropriate physical contact between characters or bad language. Fighting violence and sci-fi peril. Scientific testing on humans (could lead to interesting discussions on ethics). Kids in peril and without protective parents. Ages 12+.