The Trumpet of the Swan

By: E.B. White

Genre: Children’s/Young Reader Fiction

Pages: 210

Published: 1970

Told in: Third Person

In a nutshell:

Louis is a mute swan. Unable to communicate he learns to read and write, but it still does not help him win the affections of the swan he loves since she cannot read. Louis’s father steals a trumpet to help his son gain a voice. Louis then forgoes a quest to pay for the trumpet to regain his father’s honor and to win the heart of his love.

What you may enjoy:

This book is considered a classic by many and fits right along with the author’s well-known book, Charlotte’s Web. It’s a fun loving story about sentient animals without actually giving them the ability to speak. It has a light feeling and humor to it. It has some good lessons and qualities for children to learn from, such as overcoming our physical challenges, being honest, hardworking, and the importance of asking questions and learning.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This is a book about animals who think and act like people. If you don’t like animal books or personified animals don’t expect to enjoy this book. The book has a lot of fluff, full paragraphs that can just be passed over without losing anything. The story often portrays adults and authority figures as simple minded idiots. Another problem people have had with this book is how easily Louis and Serena agree to give away one of their children to the zoo in exchange for their own freedom.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Swan shot at; swan shot, drawing blood, mildly graphic; fox attempts to attack a swan, mildly graphic; boy hits a fox, non-graphic; swan snaps man’s behind, non-graphic.

Sex and Nudity:

None

Language and profanity:

G*d

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The Egypt Game

By: Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Genre: Children’s/Young Reader Fiction

Pages: 215

Published: 1967

Told in: Third Person

In a nutshell:

A group of children play in a deserted yard, imagining they are in the ancient land of Egypt. Their games get interrupted by several different problems, the biggest being that the yard they play in belongs to a suspected murderer who is always watching.

What you may enjoy:

This book brings to life the memories and feelings of being a child, creating games, and learning new, exciting things. For a children’s book, the characters have depth and consistency. The book skims the surface of modern family problems without that being the book theme, instead focusing on what would be important to children.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The book is a little dated. Children no longer roam freely in the streets or are left to babysit so young. Also, this is not a historical fiction, it’s a story of kids playing pretend. If you don’t want to enter the world of a child’s imagination this book is not for you. Other complaints are that the book is slightly slow and that the imaginary game they play is weird.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images: 

man watches children; child’s dead body found, mentioned; child murdered, mentioned; child is attacked, described; brick thrown through a man’s window, mentioned; cutting out a child's heart, suggested; Egyptian rituals, described. 

Sex and Nudity: 

None

Language and Profanity: 

None

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Sleeping Beauty

By: Jenni James

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Retold Fairy Tale

Published: 2013

Told in: Third Person

Series: Faerie Tale Collection, #2

In a nutshell:

While Aleyna sleeps her spirit walks the halls of her ruined castle, seeing only how it used to be, not knowing she is asleep. Prince Darien and his friends come along to solve the mystery of this haunting beauty and of the horrors that happened in the once beautiful palace.  

What you may enjoy:

A very new and unique twist on the classic story of sleeping beauty. If you like a light book that spins a new story from a well-known tale, this is for you. Part fantasy, part romance, part action. This book is a fun, and quick read; the kind of book you can enjoy in its simplicity. And don't worry, the series doesn't need to be read in any specific order.

What you may NOT enjoy:

If you are lactose intolerant don’t read this. It is all 5 layers of CHEESY. Love at first sight, sappy one liners, and a unicorn that fixes everything. And in depth characters? None. This is not a book for people who want a developed, feast of a book. Also, be warned, there are plenty of typos.

Warnings:

Violence: 

people’s limbs torn off, mentioned and non-graphic; blood smattered on walls, mentioned; skeletons lying about, mentioned; man dragged off by creatures; man’s bones shattered, mildly graphic; man tortured, mentioned; unicorn attacked by creatures, mildly graphic; men battle creatures, mildly graphic; girl stabs finger, non-graphic; woman stabbed through, non-graphic; hundreds of people killed, mentioned.

Sex and Nudity:

man and woman hold hands; man and woman kiss passionately, graphic; man physically aroused, alluded to; woman physically aroused, mentioned; man and woman intend to have sex, mentioned; man nibbles woman’s ear.

Language and profanity: 

None

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Messenger

By: Lois Lowry

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopia

Published: 2006
Pages: 169

Told in: Third Person

Series: The Giver, #3

In a nutshell:

Matty lives in Village, a place that takes those who have been rejected by their communities. But things in Village are starting to change. People want to close their borders to new arrivals and the forest is growing increasingly threatening, even to Matty who has always been safe there.

What you may enjoy:

If you’ve read The Giver and wanted to know more, work your way on to this book. Messenger is the connecting piece between the first two books, The Giver and Gathering Blue. Each book tells a story of a different dystopian community. The books aren’t action packed or “rebel against Big Brother” type stories, but are more of an awakening where the characters discover the flaws of their society.

What you may NOT enjoy:

If you prefer fast moving, action packed dystopian then this book is not for you. The story focuses primarily on relationships and the flaws of humankind. This book is very strongly a “connector” book, meaning that in ways it’s less of a story and more of the link between books. It leaves a lot of open holes and unanswered questions, concluding abruptly with many loose ends.

Warnings:

Violence: man is strangled to death in vines, non-graphic; man is stabbed in the foot by a vine, non-graphic; woman’s feet are cut up and bleed, mildly graphic; boy gets infected blisters on arms that ooze, mildly graphic; boy was beaten, mentioned; boy dies, non-graphic.

Sex and Nudity: boy and girl kiss, mentioned.

Language and profanity: None

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