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

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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.  

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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 

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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

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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 

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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)

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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

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