To Catch a Pirate

By:  Jade Parker

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Pages: 230

Published: 2007

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: PG

Compare to:

Anna and the Duke, Kate Locke

Victoria and the Rogue, Meg Cabot

A Countess Below Stairs, Eva Ibbotson

In a nutshell:

A year after the pirate, James Sterling, steals a kiss from Annalisa, she captains a ship to hunt him down. With his help she is determined to reclaim her father’s stolen treasure, even at the risk of Sterling stealing her heart.

What you may enjoy:

Short and fun little story. It has a Pirates of the Caribbean kind of feel. A casual, entertaining read when you want something quick.

What you may NOT enjoy:

Because it’s a short read, the characters and story lack depth. It’s a predictable story with many classic romantic tropes.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Knife held to a girl’s throat; dead bodies lay onboard a ship; man whipped; man punched; knife held to a man’s throat; man stabbed; two men shot.

Romance and Nudity:

Man kisses girl forcefully; man kisses woman (6 times); woman kisses man; man and woman kiss

Language and Profanity:

Hell (3xs), bastard, damn

Buy it on Amazon

Echo

By:  Pam Munoz Ryan

Genre: Children’s Historical Fiction

Pages: 587

Published: 2015

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Dash, Kirby Larson

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry

Wonder, RJ Palacio

In a nutshell:

The stories of 3 children in different parts of the world during WWII, bound together by a harmonica with mystical properties.

What you may enjoy:

This book is both moving and informative. The characters are well developed, relatable, and likable. The writing is well done. The story is enjoyable for all ages, although it’s a young target audience.

What you may NOT enjoy:

There are a few slow moving parts through the book. If you don’t like stories of 10-12 year old children, then you may not like this.

Warnings:

Violence and Graphic Images:

Boy is injured from being bullied; boy falls from a high ledge; man loses fingers in war; man shot in the leg and chest.

Buy it on Amazon

Blackmoore

By:  Julianne Donaldson

Genre: Proper Regency Romance

Pages: 286

Published: 2013

Told In: First Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Becoming Lady Lockwood, Jennifer Moore

My Fair Gentleman, Nancy Allen

Frederica, Georgette Heyer

In a nutshell:

Kate dreams of going to India so she strikes a deal with her mother. Now she must receive and reject 3 proposals in one month. Her best friend, Henry, agrees to help but it changes their relationship.

What you may enjoy:

This is an enjoyable, lazy day read. If you want a clean romance and like Jane Austen era, look no further. This book is for you. The setting is quaint and the writing is a good fit for the genre.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The story is predictable. There are weak components in the book, such as the unbelievable characterization of Kate’s family, and Kate herself is often unbearably annoying.

Warnings:

Romance and Nudity:

Describes a man wearing nothing but wet pants; man and woman kiss (descriptive but not graphic, 3 times)

Buy it on Amazon

The Gender Game

By:  Bella Forrest

Genre: Teen Dystopian

Pages: 418

Published: 2016

Told In: First Person

 “Movie” Rating: PG-13

Compare to:

Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Divergent, Veronica Roth

The Maze Runner, James Dashner

In a nutshell:

Violet has been sentenced to death for crimes committed in her female run society, but she is given a 2^nd chance if she will spy in the neighboring male run land. However, Patrus life is more difficult and dangerous than Violet expected.

What you may enjoy:

Engaging story and plot. If you like dystopian books, you’ll most likely enjoy this. There is a lot of fighting and action. Not as much romance as most dystopians.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The main character is difficult to connect with and enjoy. She’s your typical cliché dystopian character. Some of the details just don’t make sense and seem a little forced to keep the plot moving.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Girl hit with tranquilizer dart; girl stabbed in the neck with a fork; girl beaten up; two girls fist fight; girl’s throat cut open; two men cage fight; woman punched in the face; woman punched in the stomach; woman slapped; woman’s face cut; woman stabbed in the thigh; man knees woman in the face; man’s throat cut open; woman hit in the back of the head; man and woman stabbed to death; man falls to his death; dead bodies fall to the ground.

Sex and Nudity:

Man kisses woman’s neck; man kisses woman’s cheek; man and woman kiss passionately (graphic); man touches woman’s breasts

Language and Profanity:

Ass (2xs); hell (10xs); God 7xs); dammit (7xs); damn (6xs); bitch (2xs); bastard (2xs)

Buy it on Amazon

My Maasai Experience: Reflections

By:  Tracy Sillato

Genre: Travel Journal

Published: 2017

Told In: First Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Bill Bryson’s African Diary, Bill Bryson

My Maasai Life, Robin Wiszowaty

Facing the Lion, Joseph Lekuton

In a nutshell:

The author relays what she has learned and experienced while spending several weeks in a small Kenyan village.

What you may enjoy:

If you’ve considered doing volunteer work, especially in Africa, this book would be very enlightening for you. Sillato touches on some of the basic struggles and challenges people in small Kenyan villages face, giving the reader a better perspective on the issues.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This book needs heavy editing. There are many grammatical errors and typos. In some instances the text is difficult to understand because of the errors. Tenses frequently change and some jargon goes unexplained. 

Warnings:

None

Buy it on SmashWords

And Then There Were None

By:  Agatha Christie

Genre: Murder Mystery

Pages: 264

Published: 1939

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: PG-13

Compare to:

The Mystery of the Yellow Room, 

        Gaston Leroux

The Sign of Four, 

        Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

A Stranger is Watching, 

        Mary Higgins Clark

In a nutshell:

10 strangers are trapped alone on an island, accused of murder by an unknown host. One by one they are killed, following the lines of a nursery rhyme.

What you may enjoy:

This book keeps you guessing. Christie set up the perfect mystery without revealing the secret of it all until the very end. If you want a classic with a surprising ending, you’ll love this!

What you may NOT enjoy:

It is difficult to keep track of all of the characters in the beginning and the story starts off a little slow. By the time the mystery really starts to build, some of the specifics get confusing.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man chokes and dies; man killed with an axe (mentioned); man slaps woman; dead woman’s face described; man bleeds from gun wound in the head; man’s head crushed; drowned bloated body found; woman hangs herself.

Language and Profanity:

Damned (29xs); damn (9xs); damnable (3xs); God (15xs); hell; ass

Buy it on Amazon

The Night Circus

By:  Erin Morgenstern

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Pages: 400

Published: 2011

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: Hazy zone between PG and PG-13

Compare to:

The Golem and the Jinni, Helene Wecker

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke

The Last Dragonslayer, Jasper Fforde

In a nutshell:

Forced to compete to prove who the stronger magician is, Marco and Celia never expected to fall in love. But their competition is putting all of those who are part of the circus as risk, and their teachers won’t let them stop until only one magician is left standing.

What you may enjoy:

This is an easy book to get swept into the atmosphere. The writing is beautiful and the imagery is elaborately vivid. The plot clearly illustrates how interconnected people’s stories are. The romance is a simple part of the book, not what carries the story.

What you may NOT enjoy:

It is easy to get lost in this book because of the constant jumps in points of view and time periods. The plot itself is not enough to put 400 pages into. At its core, this book is primarily just depictions of a circus and the people who keep it going.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man cuts open girl’s fingertips; man breaks girl’s wrist; woman stabs her hand; man stabbed in the chest

Sex and Nudity:

Boy and girl kiss; man kisses woman’s neck; man kisses woman; girl kisses boy; man and woman kiss (2xs); woman kisses man (2xs); man takes off woman’s dress; man and woman are naked together; indicates that man and woman have sex

Language and Profanity:

 Hell, damned (4xs)

Buy it on Amazon

Coraline

By:  Neil Gaiman

Genre: Children’s Dark Fairy Tale

Pages: 162

Published: 2006

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Tales of Terror from the Black Ship, Chris Priestly

The Changling. Terri Windling

A Tale Dark and Grimm, Adam Gidwitz

In a nutshell:

After Coraline finds another dimension, her “other mother” is determined to keep Coraline there forever. The only way Coraline can return home is to find and rescue her parents.

What you may enjoy:

Coraline is a fun and clever character. It’s a good level of creepy/scary for kids without causing nightmares. It is a beautifully written creation.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The book starts of kind of slow. The story is creepy in a weird way. There are quite a few unanswered questions.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Rat’s head severed from its body; severed hand creeps around a house

Buy it on Amazon

Dracula

By: Bram Stoker

Genre: Classic LiteraturePages: 488

Published: 1897

Told In: First Person

 “Movie” Rating: PG

(Leaning toward the PG-13 side)

Compare to:

Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

In a nutshell:

The story, told through journals and letters, of how a group of people learned of the existence of vampires, and hunt down the one who started it all---Dracula.

What you may enjoy:

Classic story that makes all other vampire stories look silly in comparison. There is more dialogue and redeemable characters than “Frankenstein” and more details and story than Jekyll and Hyde. Since the story is told through multiple people, readers get many great perspectives.

What you may NOT enjoy:

Sometimes the language of the book is hard to follow for people unaccustomed to older English. Van Helsing talks far too much and all the men are overly dramatic. Some people have trouble their suspension of disbelief when it comes to the blood transfusions.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Wolves eat woman; vampire kills baby; man kills and eats birds raw; old man found dead; dead body found tied onto a ship; woman dies of heart attack; girl dies from blood loss; vampire bites child’s neck; vampire staked through the heart (slightly graphic); man lying in a pool of blood; vampire drinks from woman’s neck; vampire breaks man’s back, man dies; woman forced to drink vampire’s blood; man’s throat ripped out; vampire’s head cut off and heart stabbed through; man dies from knife wound.

Sex and Nudity:

Women kisses man; man kisses woman

Language and Profanity:

God (30 times); damn (2 times); hell

Find it on Amazon

Secret Life of Bees

By: Sue Monk Kidd

Genre: Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction

Pages: 336

Published: 2001

Told In: First Person

 “Movie” Rating: PG

(Leaning toward the PG-13 side)

Compare to:

Cold Sassy Tree, Olive Ann Burns

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

In a nutshell:

Set in the South during the 1960s, Lily’s life is shaped around the blurry memory of her mother’s death. After her black “stand-in-mother” gets into trouble, the two of them run away and stay with 3 bee keeping sisters where Lily learns about herself, life, and her mother.

What you may enjoy:

Eloquently written. The story is insightful for the time period and very expressive. Nothing feels forced, but the plot flows naturally and seems believable.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This is very much a “coming of age,” “sisterhood” kind of book. If that’s not your thing, you won’t like this. Some people find the religious practices of the woman a little wacky.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Woman shot and killed (mentioned several times); man shoves girl; man shakes wife violently; woman beaten; woman hit in the head; woman kills herself, her body weighed down in a river described; man slaps girl; boy throws bottle at a man

Sex and Nudity:

Women sit naked in a creek; girl lusts for boy while examining her naked body; man kisses woman; boy kisses girl

Language and Profanity:

Damn (or forms of it) 20xs; Hell 12xs; Ass (or forms of it) 9xs; God 5xs; Jesus Christ 7xs; Shit (or forms of it) 15xs; Bitch 4xs; Nigger 6xs

Buy it on Amazon

Gregor the Overlander

By: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Middle Grade

Pages: 326

Published: 2005

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Midnight for Charlie Bone, Jenny Nimmo

Into the Wild, Erin Hunter

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Robert O’Brien

In a nutshell:

After Gregor and his sister fall into the Underland, he is determined to get them home. But when it’s revealed that his missing father is held captive by the Rats, Gregor agrees to play a role in a prophecy that may be about him.

What you may enjoy:

This is a great book for young boys. Gregor is a good role model and the book is packed with action and excitement. It has good morals and lessons without having an agenda.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The giant rats, spiders, and cockroaches in the story are somewhat disturbing. The story itself is cliché―nothing new. The book builds and builds and then ends just as it’s getting started.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Giant bats injured and bleeding; giant rats stabbed and killed; girl slaps boy; woman dies from injuries; giant rat stabbed; bugs killed and eaten by giant spider twice (slightly graphic); giant cockroach head torn off; piranhas eat giant rats; rat slices open a boys arm; giant rats throat ripped out; giant spider cut in half; rat hoard falls off a cliff.  

Buy it on Amazon

The Wednesday Letters

By: Jason F. Wright

Genre: Romance

Pages: 280

Published: 2007

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: PG

Compare to:

The Wedding, Nickolas Sparks

Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom

A Child Called It, Dave Pelzer

In a nutshell:

After their parents die, the 3 adult Cooper children gather for the funeral and are surprised to find boxes full of letters their father wrote each week to their mother. Even more surprising are the secrets the letters hold.

What you may enjoy:

If you’re a fan of Hallmark channel movies, this is one for you! An uplifting and clean romance. It’s a fast read with a great message. The romance is sweet and satisfying with elements of mystery and drama.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This book is heavy on the cheese factor, with a tendency to overdramatize. The characters are a little too cookie cutter. Although not generally categorized as a Christian novel, it certainly pushes Christian values.   

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Woman has a heart attack; man and woman found dead; man beaten and ribs broken; man’s tooth punched out; woman raped.

Sex and Nudity:

Man tries to tear woman’s shirt off

Language and Profanity:

God

Drugs and Alcohol

Alcoholic character, man high on drugs 

Buy it on Amazon

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You:

Very Short Stories to Read Together

By: Mary Ann Hoberman

Illustrated: Michael Emberley

Genre: Beginning Reader

Pages: 32

Published: 2006

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

We Are in a Book! Mo Willems

Usborne Very First Reading Books

Kane Press Let’s Read Together Books

In a nutshell:

Short poem like stories that very between animals, friendship, playing, and more. The stories are split for two people to read together.

What you may enjoy:

This is a great book for new readers. It’s unique in style of getting two people to tell a story together. The words are simple and the lines are color coded to know who reads what.

What you may NOT enjoy:

Some of the verses are not very interesting. The illustrations are not engaging; there is no draw to look at the pictures.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Cat tries to eat a mouse

 Buy it on Amazon

Wonder

By: R.J. Palacio

Genre: Middle Grade

Pages: 316

Published: 2012

Told In: First Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli

Counting by 7s, Holly Goldberg Sloan

The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet, Erin Dionne

In a nutshell:

Starting middle school is hard enough for most but especially for August who was born with face deforming gene and has never attended school before. But being around other kids may be just what he―and the other students―need.

What you may enjoy:

Beautifully written with lovable characters. This is a happy, hopeful story. It moves along quickly and gives the perspective of several characters. The writing is so smooth that reading just 10 pages turns into 50. For a light, sweet book there is a lot of depth.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The purposeful typos and errors in some characters’ perspectives is distracting. The overarching moral that all problems can be solved by being nice bothers some readers. And structures of the plot are set up a little too perfectly.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Mentioned that a woman died of a heart attack; boy punched in the mouth; dog dies

Sex and Nudity:

Boy and girl kiss (twice)

Language and Profanity:

God (9 times)

Drugs and Alcohol

Teenage smoking 

Buy it on Amazon

Maisie Dobbs

By: Jacqueline Winspear

Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

Pages: 309

Published: 2004

Told In: Third Person

Series: Maisie Dobbs, Book 1 of 13

“Movie” Rating: PG

Compare to:

A Duty to the Dead, Charles Todd

The Face of a Stranger, Anne Perry

Somewhere in France, Jennifer Robson

In a nutshell:

Maisie was born to humble circumstances, but her sharp mind opens up many opportunities for her including attending college, working as a nurse during WWI and then running her own detective agency. But then one case brings back all the memories of her life and country at war.

What you may enjoy:

The horrors of war are not descriptive, but they are there. The book captures the time period well, depicting the social climate of the time. The history and mystery are well woven together. A delightful journey watching how Maisie grows and learns.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The main character is a little too perfect for some readers to enjoy. The flashbacks interrupt the mystery plotline, although the mystery itself is a weak part in the story. Also, there is a tendency to get confused by all the characters at the beginning.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man shot himself (mentioned); men shot in war (mentioned); men injured in war (mentioned); injuries mentioned; men die of war injuries; blood mentioned several times; blood on girl’s hands.

Sex and Nudity:

Suggested affair; woman kisses man; man kisses woman several times; man and woman kiss several times

Language and Profanity:

Damn, Bastards, Hell (5 times), God (5 times)

Buy it on Amazon

Red Planet

By: Robert A. Heinlein

Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi

Pages: 256

Published: 1949

Told In: Third Person

“Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

A Wrinkle in Time; Madeleine L’Engle

The Stars, Like Dust; Isaac Asimov

Ender’s Game; Orson Scott Card

In a nutshell:

When Jim’s alien friend, Willis, overhears and records a plot that threatens all of the colonists on Mars, they embark on an adventure to save everyone they care about.

What you may enjoy:

Heinlein makes life on Mars fun and thought out. The Martians keep the book puzzling and intriguing. The main characters in the story are engaging and endearing.   

What you may NOT enjoy:

The story contains some gaps and the conflict itself is weak, like its “bad guys.” There is also a good amount of sexism and some racism within the book.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man and woman shot and killed; man shot and killed; man shot and wounded; men disappear.

Sex and Nudity:

None

Language and Profanity:

damning

Buy it on Amazon

The Rent Collector

By: Camron Wright

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 304

Published: 2012

Told In: First Person

“Movie” Rating: PG

Compare to:

Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

Letters in the Jade Dragon Box, Gale Sears

The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

In a nutshell:

Sang Ly lives in a Cambodian dump with her husband and ailing child. In a last desperate hope to help her family, Sang Ly learns to read from their bitter rent collector.

What you may enjoy:

This is a book of hope and happiness in difficult circumstances. It teaches literature and the importance of an education. If you are looking for an inspirational, moving book this just might be for you.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The attitude and mannerisms of the characters in the book seem out of place, as if they have been Americanized. The voice of the main character feels unauthentic, and the ending is weak.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Boy run over by a truck; man beaten by a gang; woman slaps girl; boy beaten; boy stabbed, laying in a pool of blood with broken limbs; people shot and killed; man and woman shot and killed; baby shot and killed.

Sex and Nudity:

Man takes off his wife’s clothes; girl to be sold as a prostitute

Language and Profanity:

Damn (3 times)

Buy it on Amazon

Alanna: The First Adventure

By: Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult/Teen Fantasy

Pages: 274

Published: 1983
Told In: Third Person

Series: Song of the Lioness, Book 1 of 4

“Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

The Seer and the Sword, Victoria Hanley

Rowan Hood, Nancy Springer

The Blue Sword, Robin McKinley

In a nutshell:

Disguised as a boy, Alanna takes her twin brother’s place at the palace as a page learning to become a knight.

What you may enjoy:

Fantastic world with a strong female character. The story is packed with magic, mystery, and adventure. Alanna is a great role model for young girls. The plot line is light and fun.

What you may NOT enjoy:

Although unique for the time it was published, there are now many similar stories. Long YA books were rare, so Alanna packs in a lot of years and experiences into one book.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Girl held by a dark force; girl fights magical beings; boy beats girl; girl beats boy; boy dies

Sex and Nudity:

None. Note: starting with book 2 sex and a form of birth control are introduced

Language and Profanity:

Damned

Buy it on Amazon

The Trouble with Poetry

By: Billy Collins

Genre: Poetry

Pages: 101

Published: 2007

“Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

The Poetry of Robert Frost

The Collected Poems of Wallace Stevens

The Wild Iris, Louise Gluck

In a nutshell:

A collection of poems about everyday experiences and things.

What you may enjoy:

Collins voice is strong in his poetry. Each poem reads easily, almost like prose. The poems are simple, yet profound. You can read quickly for face value or slowly with deeper contemplation.

What you may NOT enjoy:

There isn’t much rhythm to this poetry. It doesn’t feel like poetry. And most of the poems have to do with Collin’s life and contemplations, making it mundane for some readers.

Warnings:

Sex and Nudity:

Husband and wife sleep together

Buy it on Amazon

As You Wish

By: Jackson Pearce

Genre: Teen

Pages: 304

Published: 2009

Told In: First Person

Compare to:

The Siren, Kiera Cass

Mirrored, Alex Flinn

You Wish, Mandy Hubbard

In a nutshell:

Viola feels invisible and just wishes to belong, but she’s hesitant to vocalize what she wants when a rushed jinn appears to grant her 3 wishes. Together, they learn what it means to belong and to be happy with who you are.

What you may enjoy:

Viola’s character sits well with teens. She vocalizes what many of them feel. While an effortless read, it carries subtle messages about self-respect and identity. The story is captivating and unique.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The story is predictable and cliché. It has your standard expected teen book characters and endings. While it does contain deeper lessons, the ending kind of cancels out the moral of the story.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man punched in the face

Sex and Nudity:

Boy and girl kiss passionately; Mentioned that a girl took off her shirt; Boy kisses girl; Boy and girl kiss (many different times, but never graphic)

Language and Profanity:

Hell, Damn (3 times), F*ck, Ass, God

Drinking and Drugs

Teen drinking several times, teen smoking

Buy it on Amazon

The Case of the Claymore Diamond

By: Daniel Kenney and Emily Boever

Genre: Young Reader Mystery

Pages: 82

Published: 2014

Told In: Third Person

Series: The Math Inspectors, 1 of 4

Compare to:

Nancy Drew, Carolyn Keene

Encyclopedia Brown, Donald Sobol

A to Z Mysteries, Ron Roy

In a nutshell:

A group of four friends who love math, decide to use their skills to solve mysteries while simultaneously proving how important math is.

What you may enjoy:

This series is meant for 3^rd-5^th grade readers. It fills a perfect niche for kids who love mysteries whether they like math or not. At the back of the book, word problems are provided that relate to the story. A great mix of math and literature!

What you may NOT enjoy:

The series is quite silly. The kids often compare themselves to the Scooby Doo gang, with their own set of cliché says. The adults are made to seem unobservant and slightly incapable.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man has a bleeding cut on his head

Sex and Nudity:

None

Language and Profanity:

None

Buy it on Amazon

Killer Cupcakes

By: Leighann Dobbs

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 146

Published: 2012

Told In: Third Person

Series: Lexy Baker Series, Book 1 of 12

Compare to:

Sunshine Hunter, Maddie Cochere

Pretty, Hip, and Dead, Madison Johns

Dying for Dinner Rolls, Lois Lavrisa

In a nutshell:

When Lexy’s ex is found dead, poisoned by her bakery’s cupcakes, she becomes number one on the suspect list. To prove her innocence, Lexy decides to solve the mystery herself.

What you may enjoy:

This is a fun short read. It’s not heavy on the mystery and adds some light romance. The writing is good for such a small, simple book.

What you may NOT enjoy:

There is not much depth to this book. The murder’s motive for framing Lexy is weak, and their character sporadic.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man poisoned; girl hit over head; man attempts to strangle woman; man sprayed with pepper spray

Sex and Nudity:

Man and woman kiss

Language and Profanity:

Damn (3 times); Hell; God; Bitch

Buy it on Amazon

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

By: Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade Fantasy

Pages: 385

Published: 2017

Told In: First Person

Compare to:

Goose Girl, Shannon Hale

Shadow Spinner, Susan Fletcher

The Seer and the Sword, Victoria Hanley

In a nutshell:

Perry, raised in a war driven culture with prejudices against the serving Bamarre, doesn’t know that she is actually of Bamarre descent. Learning the truth about her heritage brings new challenges and the desire to free her oppressed people.

What you may enjoy:

This book has great themes and fun characters. Levine creates a beautiful world. Perry inspires readers by making big changes through small actions. Heartwarming and fun!

What you may NOT enjoy:

Not one of Levine’s best books. While enjoyable, there is no push to keep reading. Some parts seem arbitrary and unnecessary.

Note: Although this book is placed in the same world as Levine’s “Two Princesses of Bamarre,” both books can stand-alone. (Although, readers may recognize the name of one common character)

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man loses leg below the knee; Woman hit in the chest by a horse and dies; Men hit over the head; Boy kills a man; Woman’s throat cut open, laying in a pool of blood; Ogre stabbed in the leg and bleeds; Woman slapped; Woman punched; Man whipped; Children killed; Gryffins stabbed and killed; Gryffins shot with arrows; Ogres killed; Woman stabbed in the shoulder; Man convulses and dies

Sex and Nudity:

Boy and girl kiss

Language and Profanity:

None

Buy it on Amazon

Open Season

By: C.J. Box

Genre: Crime/Modern Western

Pages: 278

Published: 2001

Series: Joe Pickett Series, #1 of 17

Compare to:

The Poacher’s Son, Paul Doiron

The Eagle Catcher, Margaret Coel

Gator Aide, Jessica Speart

In a nutshell:

Joe is a game warden in Wyoming. When three men are murdered in the woods something about the investigation doesn’t seem right to him. As he conducts his own investigation, Joe learns that the murders affect his family far more than he expected.

What you may enjoy:

This book feels real and plausible. The characters are well developed and realistic. Watching the Pickett family grow closer together is tender. The writing is excellent and consistent throughout.

What you may NOT enjoy:

There is a fairly large amount of language. Some of the comments about the women’s bodies in the book can be slightly graphic. A man’s pedophile-like comments can be slightly disturbing.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Dead man covered in blood; two dead bodies lay, chewed on by a wild animal; man shot in the face; man shot down; boy steps on glass; boy dies in a drunken car crash; woman shot and bleeding; man’s arm shot off; man’s knees shot out; man shot in the hip.

Sex and Nudity:

Man’s erection discussed; naked woman walks by; woman’s genitalia described graphically; man and woman talk about sex; man talks about women’s bodies non-graphically; men’s affairs mentioned; husband and wife discuss whether or not they will have sex; mentions pictures of a man’s genitals; man touches young girl’s bottom; mentioned that husband and wife have sex (two times); naked woman’s breasts described.

Language and Profanity:

Forms of the F-word (19 times)

Forms of Sh*t (13 times)

H*ll (23 times)

B*tch (3 times)

Forms of G*dd*mn (12 times)

G*d (7 times)

Forms of J*s*s Chr*st (7 times)

Forms of D*mn (10 times)

*ss (2 times)

Pr*ck (3 times)

B*st*rds

D*ck

Buy it on Amazon

Cyrano de Begerac

By: Edmond Rostand

Translation: Lowell Bair

Genre: French Play/Classic Literature

Pages: 240

Published: 1897

Compare to:

The Princess Bride, William Goldman

Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas

In a nutshell:

Witty and brave Cyrano is in love with Roxane, but feels unworthy of her because of his “grotesque” nose. Roxane’s love for the dim witted Christian grows as Cyrano secretly tells Christian what to say.  

What you may enjoy:

This book is a unique classic! It contains humor, romance, history, and action. Cyrano is a timeless, endearing character. The story is fun and reads quick and light.

What you may NOT enjoy:

Written in play format, making it difficult for some readers to follow or imagine. Some of the characters that seem important at the beginning never appear again.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man slapped; man kicked in the groin; man falls dead; man shot and killed; men wounded and killed in battle; man hit over the head with a wooden plank

Sex and Nudity:

Man and woman kiss

Language and Profanity:

G*d (13 times)

@ss

D*mn

Buy it on Amazon