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

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The Maze of Bones

By: Rick Riordan

Genre: Young Reader Adventure

Pages: 220

Published: 2008

Told in: Third Person

Series: The 39 Clues, 1^st of 11

Compare to:

The Name of this Book Is Secret, Pseudonymous Bosch

Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket

Charlie Bone Series, Jenny Nimmo

In a nutshell:

When Dan and Amy’s grandmother dies she leaves her descendants two options: accept 1 million dollars or take the first clue towards becoming the most powerful person in the world. Dan and Amy take the clue and compete with distant relatives for the family secret and their lives.

What you may enjoy:

This is a fun book for both boys and girls. The story combines the perfect amount of fiction with fact to give the story a realistic feel. The action and mystery move the story along at a steady, engaging pace.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The series as a whole is geared toward mass marketing, so the characters are shallow and the plot simple and “as to be expected.” Each book is written by a different author and feels episodic.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Heavy box crashes into people, knocking them down; man punched in the face; several people fist fight; men electrocuted; people knocked unconscious; explosion puts kids in a hospital.

Sex and Nudity:

None

Language and Profanity:

G*d

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Wander

By: Lewis Bright Rees

Genre: Dystopian/Horror

Pages: 535

Published: 2017

Told in: First Person

Compare to:

World War Z, Max Brooks

The Immortal Rules, Julie Kagawa

I Am Legend, Richard Matheson

In a nutshell:

In a destroyed world, after a plague left behind “Feelers”, people of heightened emotion that torture and kill for pleasure, Wander has been alone for years, just surviving. But everything changes when she decides to help Dagger and together they work towards one of the last remaining civilizations.

What you may enjoy:

Good writing with an exciting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is not a dull moment in the book. Equal parts thrilling and horrifying.  

What you may NOT enjoy:

There is an unnecessarily large amount of language throughout the book. Some of the violence is disgustingly graphic. Littered with typos.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Men kick a naked boy; girl’s limbs cut off and fed to her; people eat human flesh; people mutilate their bodies (graphic); woman shot in the head; people’s mutilated bodies described (graphic); man shot in the head, spraying blood; woman shot in the back; man shot in the leg; man stabbed in the leg; man shot in the chest; man shot in between the eyes; woman kicked in the face; woman shot in the face; man beats boy; man shot in the stomach; man’s head shot off (graphic); man shot in the head; bullet goes through man’s skull (graphic); man stabbed in the armpit; people eating from a human corpse; scalpel cuts through boy’s mouth (graphic); girl hit in the face; boy slices up girl’s hand; girl’s fingers cut off (graphic); people killed with a meat cleaver; man stabbed in throat with a scalpel; girl kicked and beaten; boy’s gaping cheek stapled together; man beaten to death; woman shot; man’s throat slit with a hatchet; woman falls, breaking bones; rotting corpse of a woman described; girl shoots man in stomach and head; woman shot in the throat; man shot in the head; woman’s head slammed against a wall; girl shoots woman’s hand; woman shot in the head; people shot with a crossbow; man shot in the head; woman shot in the head; corpses hanging by their entrails; corpses crucified with barbed wire; mutilated bodies strewn about.

Sex and Nudity:

Man kisses woman; two boys kiss

Language and Profanity:

Sh*t (25 times)

H*ll (51 times)

Bullsh*t (3 times)

Forms of d*mn (15 times)

Forms of F*ck (20 times)

J*sus (6 times)

G*dd*mmit (13 times)

Forms of b*tch (2 times)

G*d (7 times)

*sshole (3 times)

Chr*st (3 times)

Sh*tty (6 times)

*ss (5 times)

B*st*rd

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The Paper Magician

By: Charlie N. Holmberg

Genre: YA Fiction/Fantasy

Pages: 224

Published: 2014

Told in: Third Person

Series: The Paper Magician Trilogy, #1

Compare to:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor

A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libba Bray

Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson

In a nutshell:

Ceony is disappointed when she is assigned to apprentice as a paper magician, instead of metal. But, everything changes when her teacher’s heart is stolen by a dark magician. Ceony learns how powerful paper magic can be as she fights for her teacher’s life.

What you may enjoy:

The magic system is interesting and unique. Holmberg has created some fascinating magic all through the use of folded paper. The characters are engaging and fun, with depth and allure. This book is great in its uniqueness. You won’t find others out there like it.

What you may NOT enjoy:

Things get a little strange as Ceony ENTERS a heart. There are moments when your mind starts to wander as the plot becomes uninteresting. The book states the location as England in the early 1900s, but the details and dialogue don’t fit the scene.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Girl thrown back by an explosion; blood on girl; man held up in a choking grip; heart pulled from man’s chest; woman shot in the chest; woman screaming through giving birth; girl wades through a river of blood; severed animated hands reach to grab girl; hand chokes girl; dead, slaughtered bodies of men, women, and children lay rotting; woman cuts open her hand; woman throws blood at girl; man throws girl against a wall; man throws girl across a room; man pulls girl’s hair; girl cuts open arms and bleeds to death; girl slashes woman’s face; woman slaps girl.

Sex and Nudity:

Man grabs girl’s leg under her skirt; boy and girl kiss; man and woman kiss

Language and Profanity:

Damn (2 times); God (2 times)

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The Shack

By: William Paul Young

Genre: Fiction (Christian)

Pages: 252

Published: 2007

Told in: Third Person

Compare to:

Walking With God, John Eldredge

So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore, Jake Colsen

He Loves Me, Wayne Jacobsen

In a nutshell:

After evidence is found in a shack that Mack’s kidnapped daughter was murdered, he falls into a deep sorrow. Years later Mack receives an invitation from God to visit him at the shack. When Mack goes, he learns things about God and religion that he never expected.

What you may enjoy:

This is a pondering book, mostly filled with theological conversations between a man and God. If you want a book that makes you think and ponder on your religious beliefs, this may be a book for you. The relationships in the book are profound and tender.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The depiction of God as a women and how casually God is depicted is uncomfortable, bordering on blasphemy. Some of the religious theology is strange. The book feels a preachy and insincere.

Note: You will either love or hate this book. There is not much in between.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Girl jumps from a cliff; boy tied to a tree and beaten; man falls, gashing his head; boy nearly drowns; girl kidnapped; torn girl’s dress soaked in blood

Sex and Nudity:

Man kisses his father on the lips; Jesus kisses God on the lips

Language and Profanity:

Damn (3 times); hell; oh my God; bitch

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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

By: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrations: Bagram Ibatoulline

Genre: Young Reader Fiction

Pages: 200

Published: 2006

Told in: Third Person

Compare to:

Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White

The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Beverly Cleary

Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson

In a nutshell:

Edward is a porcelain rabbit who is vain and proud. When his owner loses him at sea he goes on a journey, meeting people who will teach him about love and hope.

What you may enjoy:

A beautiful story, both touching and heartbreaking. You grow attached to each character just as Edward does. The plot keeps you spellbound all the way to the end of the book. And the artwork is stunning!

What you may NOT enjoy:

The book uses some large vocabulary and deep concepts that may be difficult for younger children (depending on he child). It portrays characters as either good or bad, but not much of in between.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Boy dies (mentioned); drunken man hit boy; girl dies.

Sex and Nudity:

None

Language and Profanity:

None

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A Night Divided

By: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Genre: Juvenile Historical Fiction

Pages: 317

Published: 2015

Told in: First Person

Compare to:

I Pledge Allegiance, Chris Lynch

Stones in Water, Donna Jo Napoli

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry

In a nutshell:

When the Berlin wall goes up Gerta’s family is separated. Four years later she sees her father on the west side of the wall telling her to dig her way out. But will Gerta and her brother be able to dig to safety without being caught?

What you may enjoy:

This is a great look for kids at how the Berlin Wall affected people. The story is moving, especially the relationships in the family. It’s a pleasant read that will also expand your basic understanding of the Berlin Wall.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This book only touches on the history of the time, not fully expanding on the fear that was felt. Descriptions were often vague, making the story difficult to visualize. The end drags on a little more than necessary.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Woman jumps from a window and dies; boy shot in the back; boy tortured (mentioned); people killed for trying to escape; man hurt, bleeding from head; girl held forcibly; man lays dead; boy shot in the leg; man shot in the chest and killed (pool of blood mentioned).

Sex and Nudity:

None

Language and Profanity:

None

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