Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

Review: Bookish Boyfriends by Tiffany Schmidt

Book Review and Content, Clean Fiction, Magical Realism, Middle Grade 8-12, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Bookish Boyfriends
Tiffany Schmidt
ABRAM Kids
Published on May 1st, 2018

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Bookish Boyfriends
Boys are so much better in books. At least according to Merrilee Campbell, 15, who thinks real-life chivalry is dead and there’d be nothing more romantic than having a guy woo her like the heroes in classic stories. Then she, her best friend, Eliza, and her younger sister, Rory, transfer to Reginald R. Hero Prep–where all the boys look like they’ve stepped off the pages of a romance novel. Merri can hardly walk across the quad without running into someone who reminds her of Romeo.

When the brooding and complicated Monroe Stratford scales Merri’s trellis in an effort to make her his, she thinks she might be Juliet incarnate. But as she works her way through her literature curriculum under the guidance of an enigmatic teacher, Merri’s tale begins to unfold in ways she couldn’t have imagined. Merri soon realizes that only she is in charge of her story. And it is a truth universally acknowledged that first impressions can be deceiving…

My Review

A solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to four. When I started reading this book, I quickly lost interest and began to hate it. The characters (especially the main one) got on my nerves, and I found the writing style very irritating. I didn’t think I was going to finish it at all, honestly, but I made myself promise to at least read to 50% before giving up. Then, around the 25% mark, something changed. I’m not sure exactly what it was–if the author finally hit her stride, or if the characters improved or what–but suddenly, I found myself empathizing with the characters instead of berating them. I was pulled into the story (somewhat skeptically) until I was staying up late just to read a little bit more. Bookish Boyfriends, to my surprise, was suddenly good. Now, there was a few hiccups here and there (some of the characters still made horrible, face-palm worthy choices that I don’t agree with), but overall, I actually enjoyed this book. I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel, even a whole series with this theme. Overall ,it was a clean, pleasant read that straddles the line between middle grade and YA.

Some of the things I liked most included:

–Merrilee actually listened to her parents and made the right choice, at least once. You have no idea how satisfying it was to find a contemporary YA heroine being somewhat sensible for once.

–The story twist I didn’t see coming

–How the author incorporated the retelling aspect while still making the story her own

Some things I didn’t like:

–The lack of sensible adults

–Merrilee’s silliness at times

–The lesbian/bisexual couple represented and the mention of a homosexual customer. As a conservative Christian this was a red flag for me.

Recommended for Ages 12 and up

Cultural Elements
One character is described as being biracial, and partly Asian. One character is described as having brown skin. A lesbian/bisexual couple is featured, and there is a mention of a homosexual customer.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some characters “curse,” but actual words are not given.

Romance/Sexual Content
Heavy kissing and embracing, semi-detailed. Describing how attractive male characters are (stays appropriate for age range overall).

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
One character behaves threateningly towards Merrilee, trying to intimidate her into a relationship. One character is injured during sport’s practice.

Drug Content
Some reference to teen drinking at a party (no main characters participate).

Note: I received a copy of this book to review from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Seeker of the Crown by Ruth Lauren

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Seeker of the Crown
Ruth Lauren
Bloomsbury
Published on April 3, 2018

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Valor risks everything to protect her friends in this second book in a thrilling fantasy series that’s Percy Jackson meets Frozen.

One month has passed since Valor broke her twin sister Sasha out of jail. But the girl who imprisoned her to begin with—Princess Anastasia—has gone missing. The queen, desperate to find her daughter, asks Valor and Sasha to track Anastasia down and bring her home.

But just as the girls and their friends embark on the search, the queen also vanishes, throwing the realm into utter chaos. If Valor can’t restore order, she risks getting sent back to prison . . . and tearing her newly reunited family apart once again. She must rely on people she can’t quite trust, as well as her own instincts, to protect the people she holds dear.

My Review
“Percy Jackson meets Frozen” is a great description of Seeker of the Crown. Two sisters with very different roles and talents team up with a couple of outlaws awaiting pardons to save their kingdom from a rebel princess who means to take all for herself.

The action never lags—from the first page to the last, Valor runs from one challenge to the next as the stakes get higher and higher. This plus the clear, smooth writing makes this book a quick, fun read.

Valor’s tenacity and independence set her up as a strong heroine. She struggles to trust others and depend on them for help. But when her impulsive actions get her into trouble, she has to accept that she can’t do things totally alone.

I liked that the two sisters were so different. Valor’s point-of-view leads us through the story, but we learn a lot about her relationship with her twin, Sasha. While Valor is impulsive and a fighter, Sasha is a thinker and more rules-oriented.

The only hiccup for me was that the girls are only thirteen. The story world describes them as basically being adults—beginning apprenticeships and having a lot of independence—but I found it hard to get my head around that sometimes. I don’t think there was anything wrong with it, I just struggled to connect with them as such young characters. I kept thinking they were fifteen or sixteen.

On the whole, Seeker of the Crown is a great adventure, and except for some mild-ish violence, it’s clean! I think fifth and sixth grade readers would enjoy it most, but the style of the storytelling should make it appealing to some older readers, too. I’m so glad I got to read it, and now I want to go back and read the first book. I had no trouble following the second book without reading the first one, but I’m interested in the story enough to want to know how it all started.

Recommended for Ages 8 up.

Cultural Elements
The characters and story setting have a Russian/Scandinavian feel to them.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Valor remembers her captivity in a terrible prison (where she had been wrongfully imprisoned) and makes some references to torture. I’d describe these references as dark but not graphic. They focus on her mental and emotional scarring rather than physical harm.

Battle scenes show soldiers in combat. Valor defends herself with a crossbow and is prepared to shoot enemies.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

Review: Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage

Book Review and Content, Clean Fiction, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Paranormal, , , , , , ,

Ghosts of Tupelo Landing (Mo and Dale Mysteries #2)
Sheila Turnage
Kathy Dawson Books
Published on February 4, 2014

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Ghosts of Tupelo Landing
Small towns have rules. One is, you got to stay who you are – no matter how many murders you solve.

When Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner of an old inn, she doesn’t realize there’s a ghost in the fine print. Naturally, Desperado Detective Agency (aka Mo and Dale) opens a paranormal division to solve the mystery of the ghost’s identity. They’ve got to figure out who the ghost is so they can interview it for their history assignment (extra credit). But Mo and Dale start to realize that the Inn isn’t the only haunted place in Tupelo Landing. People can also be haunted by their own past. As Mo and Dale handily track down the truth about the ghost (with some help from the new kid in town), they discover the truth about a great many other people, too.

My Review
Three Times Lucky was one of my favorite books from my reading list last year, so as soon as I started listening to audiobooks (after my daughter was born at the end of the year), I knew I needed to get the sequel. While it’s packed with the same great characters as Three Times Lucky, I felt like the story didn’t have the same oomph. Maybe because I was already familiar with the town and people, so it didn’t have that same freshness as the first book. The ghost mystery didn’t have quite the same weight as a murder mystery, either, and it had some definite willing-suspension-of-disbelief requirements. Which is okay. It still had the same killer descriptions and hilarious antics and dialogue as well as a fantastic cast of characters.

I still enjoyed The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing a lot. I’m glad I read it—nothing wrong with more Mo and Dale in my reading. I would be interested in reading the third book. Fans of books like Because of Winn Dixie and Elsie Mae Has Something to Say will want to check out this series and won’t be able to help falling head over heels for Mo and Dale.

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Cultural Elements
Takes place in a small southern town. I think all the characters were white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Mo talks about her wish to marry Dale’s older brother someday.

Spiritual Content
Mo and Dale meet a ghost living in the old inn. They decide to interview her for a school project and hope they can figure out what happened to her so she can be at peace. They have some other ghostly encounters, like seeing ghost cars in the middle of the night.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
One of the men in Mo’s town is rumored to have a still where he brews alcohol.

 

Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2018

Lists, Middle Grade 8-12, News and Fun, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

February 2018 Reviews

Romance and dystopian stories, favorites and books I just didn’t get… here’s what you missed this month in reviews.

The Returning (Seer #3) by Rachelle Dekker

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I liked the fast-paced storytelling and the way you could read this book without remembering what happened in (or without reading) the earlier books. I had some issues with the theology, which you can read about in my review.

Everless by Sara Holland

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

A friend suggested that I read this book, and I’m so glad she did. Really fascinating concept and characters I enjoyed.

The Unicorn Quest by Kamilla Benko

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I think you pretty much can’t go wrong with a book about unicorns! This was a fun read, perfect for readers aged 8 to 12.

For Love and Honor (An Uncertain Choice #3) by Jody Hedlund

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Another book from one of my daughter’s favorite authors. It’s a sweet, light romance, great for readers just starting out in the genre.

The Ruby Moon by Trisha White Priebe and Jerry B. Jenkins

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I had a hard time following the story in this book. It’s got a wide cast of characters and a lot happening. If the story interests you, I’d recommend starting with the first book in the series instead of this one.

Hawk’s Flight by Carol Chase

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

One of my favorite books of all time– though it’s out of print. I love the characters, and the story still feels fresh to me even after reading it easily a dozen times.

Duels and Deception by Cindy Anstey

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Gabrielle says: Overall, I give this book 4 stars. While not terribly life-altering (it leans more to the ‘fluff’ side than the profound), it was a delicious read, and as such, merits my approval. Fellow Janeites looking for a quick, easy read will enjoy this one.

When Light Left Us by Leah Thomas

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I read this book because I so enjoyed Thomas’s other books about Moritz and Ollie. This one is very different, but I found the same compelling characters and great descriptions of emotion in here that made me fall in love with the other books.

The Messengers: Discovered by Lisa M. Clark

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This might be the best Christian dystopian book I’ve ever read. I really enjoyed reading it and liked that the story so seamlessly supported its Christian message.

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I struggled with this book. While I found the story interesting, I feel like it was really issue-driven, to the point that everything else seemed to take a back seat to the issue of women’s sexual equality. It’s an important issue, for sure, but I felt like it dominated the story too much for my taste. If you like issue-based books, though, it might be a good one to check out. See the notes after the review for content information.

What did you read in February 2018?

What about you? Did you find any books you have to talk about or books you want to recommend? Leave a comment below sharing them with us.

Also, if you’ve read any of the books we reviewed, leave a comment telling us how you liked the book or what you thought about it!

Review: Ruby Moon by Trisha White Priebe and Jerry Jenkins

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , ,

Ruby Moon (The 13 Series #2)
Trisha White Priebe and Jerry Jenkins
Shiloh Run Press / Barbour Publishing
Published on October 1, 2016

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Ruby Moon
In this delightful sequel to The Glass Castle, The Ruby Moon opens as preparations begin for the upcoming Olympiads. Join Avery as she learns that a male runner is needed for an important race and she volunteers so she can get close to the action. . . Can she hide her own identity? One slip-up could mean a trip to the dungeon–or worse. Much is at stake while the kingdom enjoys the greatest games on earth.

My Review
The most intense emotion I felt reading this book was confusion. The Goodreads summary and back cover copy focus on the race Avery runs. She hopes to win the prize—an audience with the king—so she can warn him of what she believes is a plot to end his life. In the book, though, the race happens early on and the scene itself only lasts a few pages.

Much of the book follows Avery as she gathers information about several different things. She tries to find out if the king has a surviving heir. She looks into some mysteries of her past about her family. She searches for clues as to why her friends seem to be going missing all of a sudden.

All of those threads were interesting, but they never really converged or developed into a full-fledged conflict with any sort of resolution. From beginning to end, Ruby Moon was a trail of breadcrumbs that didn’t truly lead anywhere. Most of the questions raised through the story still remain unanswered by the last page.

Ruby Moon doesn’t pause to explain a lot which might have happened in the first book. Avery describes her friends as captives, yet they seem to come and go within the castle pretty freely as well as make a few trips to the outside. So I wasn’t sure why they felt as though they were captives. In fairness, I didn’t realize when I picked this book up that it was the second book in the series. It’s possible the first book answers some of my questions and would make the setup of this story make more sense.

I’m not sure what to say about this book, honestly. I thought the concept was fascinating and loved that the story was powered by its younger characters. It could be that this book suffers from an issue common to second books—being light on plot and serving more as a bridge from the first book to the final series conclusion. If you like the concept—kids trapped in a castle trying to save a kingdom which seems to have wronged them—I’d recommend starting with the first book, The Glass Castle, rather than this one.

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Cultural Elements
Lots of characters with raven hair. No race details given in the story.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
The king believes having his representative win the race will show that he has God’s favor. He’s super invested in this outcome, and rumor has it, if his runner fails, it will be a fatal failure.

Avery retreats to the chapel to pray a couple of times.

Violent Content
Avery’s comrades seem to be disappearing from the castle. She worries what will happen if castle guards or dangerous men living under the castle find them.

Drug Content
Avery believes someone is slowly poisoning the king.

Review: The Unicorn Quest by Kamilla Benko

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The Unicorn Quest
Kamilla Benko
Bloomsbury
Published on February 6, 2018

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About The Unicorn Quest
Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor… until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden.

There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other. The beloved unicorns have gone, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes, it will take all of Claire’s courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns’ greatest secret.

My Review

This was such a fun book! At first I expected the story would involve both sisters and possibly be told in alternating viewpoints. I’m not sure why I thought that, but it’s told in only the younger sister, Claire’s point-of-view, and though her sister is a major part of the story, she’s not actually on scene much.

I loved the story world, especially the land of Arden and its system of magic and cultures. Several groups have isolated from each other in the aftermath of a war. Each group has a specialized type of magic. There are the Gemmers, who can manipulate stone, the Spinners, who can control thread and weave stories, the Forgers, who have power over metals, and the Tillers, whose magic relates to plants. I thought those were a kind of unique spin on magic. The story uses them cleverly, too.

Claire and her friends from Arden form an unlikely team, and at first, they set out to find Sophie together. As the story progresses, Claire, who at first seems like a timid girl, the kind who follows in her sister’s shadow, begins to assert her own ideas and act on them. She becomes a lot more confident, even as she faces challenges far beyond her expectations. All in all, I think this is a great book for middle or late elementary readers.

Recommended for Ages 8 up.

Cultural Elements
Claire’s family is white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
In the land of Arden, characters use various types of magic. (Briefly described in my review.)

Violent Content
Claire learns about a terrible war that took place in Arden years before her visit in which all the unicorns were massacred because people thought they’d gain immortality with a unicorn heart. She hears sounds of battle around her in a haunted field. No gory descriptions.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.