Review: Canary by Rachele Alpine

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Canary
Rachele Alpine
Medallion Press
Published

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Sixteen year-old Kate still reels from the recent loss of her mother. Now she and her brother Brett communicate with their emotionally-absent father through a series of post-it notes. When Dad lands a new job as basketball coach at a ritzy private school, he opts to transfer both kids to the new school.

Kate, determined to adjust and desperate to reconnect with her father, begins attending basketball practices and cheering from the stands. That’s when she meets Jack, a gorgeous and popular star player and boyfriend of any girl’s dreams. But the thrill of being Jack’s girlfriend soon loses its shine when she discovers several unsavory habits of his. Jack pressures and Kate bends, pressing herself into the mold he expects her to be. Then with one drink, everything changes. Those who should protect her wound her instead, and Kate begins to unravel.

But beneath her tumultuous emotions and failing hope, Kate finds a steel resolve within herself. Instead of being destroyed by bullying, she finds her voice and dares to make herself heard, no matter the consequences.

Canary is a raw and beautiful story. At intervals, Kate’s often poetic and poignant blog posts appear, adding another layer of depth to an already fascinating story reminiscent of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak or Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen. Fans of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher may also enjoy this novel and its bold attention to the devastating problem of bullying in schools and communities today.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
No F-bombs, but regular use of other swear words.

Sexual Content
Several references to sex and some jokes about aberrant sexual behavior. A girl discusses pressure to engage in sex with her boyfriend. She succumbs to his persistent requests. At a party, a boy drugs and attempts to rape a girl who is barely able to fight him off. The scene is pretty brief and without a heavy number of details. The instance sparks rumors, rude comments, and general mistreatment toward the victim.

Spiritual Content
Brief reference to heaven in the context of a funeral conversation.

Violence
During the assault, the boy shoves the girl, bruising her. Several boys bully another boy in the cafeteria. Students also harass the assault victim.

Drug Content
Several scenes features parties at which teens consume alcohol. A boy slips a drug into a girl’s drink, rendering her disoriented and helpless.

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

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Review: The Amazing Adventures of Toby the Trilby

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Middle Grade 8-12, Paranormal, ,

The Amazing Adventures of Toby the Trilby
Angela Castillo
CreateSpace Independent
Published October 17, 2013

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When an unknown Voice beckons to Toby to leave his home in the caves and seek others on the earth’s surface, Toby can’t help but obey. His caretakers, scientists who’ve created him from a melding of human and cat DNA, pack supplies for Toby and allow him to leave their care. Though the scientists have had no word from earth’s surface for a long time, they prepare him as best they can and respect his desire to choose his own path in life.

On his journey Toby meets many human survivors, many of whom are cruel or mentally damaged in some way. While at the outset of the story, it seems the Voice leads him on some kind of evangelistic mission, Toby’s real quest is to discover somehow whether being born in a test tube means he has a soul or not. In a sort of burning-bush type of meeting with the Voice, he learns the truth of this question.

This is a short, fairly simple story which may appeal to preteens struggling with issues of self-worth and spirituality. The plot develops loosely, leaving some threads unfinished, but Toby’s innocence and compassion are admirable and endearing traits that draw readers into the story and open dialogue about injustice and personal value.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Toby begins a journey outside the caves in which he has lived his life at the request of a Voice he continues to hear throughout the story. He realizes the speaker is God and makes a commitment to follow Him.

Violence
Renegade children surround Toby and threaten to cut off his cat tail. He escapes before they can harm him.

Drug Content
After Toby is injured, he wishes for quick-healing medicine his caretakers provided for him when he lived in the cave.

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

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Review: Perfect Glass by Laura Anderson Kurk

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , ,

Perfect Glass
Laura Anderson Kurk
Playlist Fiction
Published June 1, 2013

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About Perfect Glass

Henry begins his year-long trip to Nicaragua, leaving Meg behind in Chapin to finish her senior year. Henry faces the challenges of assembling a new building for his sister and brother-in-law’s orphan home in a country with limited supplies and deep distrust toward Americans. Meg meanwhile finds herself the center of affection for the new and fascinating Quinn O’Neill and the unlikely companion to a feisty elderly woman wielding a shotgun.

Meg wants desperately to secure admission to the University of Wyoming, so she and Henry can stay together through college and she can pursue a degree through the writing program there. Quinn helps Meg put together a video about the deadliness of texting and driving. She wants to believe his interest is only friendly, but she seems to be the only one who thinks so. Henry’s plans unravel quickly and governmental changes put the ministry he serves at risk of closing completely. While privately he is nearly falling to pieces, he must maintain a brave face for the children in his care. Even when his girlfriend seems to drift dangerously close to cheating on him with Quinn.

My Review

Fans of Kurk’s first novel, GLASS GIRL may find it to be a story difficult to beat. The intensity of Meg’s journey of loss and love in that novel makes it difficult to imagine creating a follow-up that can match, but PERFECT GLASS does just that. Henry continues to be the strong yet gentle man in Meg’s life, but adversity brings his flaws to the surface. Meg returns to salve the wounds of a dynamic older woman, demonstrating the beauty of character that can bloom after suffering. This is a fabulous novel and a worthy read for teens interested in missions overseas or looking for a classy romance.

Content Notes for Perfect Glass

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
Very brief references to a past rape, very limited details.

Spiritual Content
Both Henry and Meg face startling failures. Each falls back to regroup, but must learn that sometimes one’s personal strength isn’t enough, and only dependence on God can suffice. Meg befriends a boy who has many questions and little faith and a woman with deep anger toward God. Both challenge her to justify her faith.

Violence
Men surround a boy in Henry’s care and threaten to attack him, until Henry gets involved. Henry witnesses a man slap a teenaged boy on the back of the head and confronts him about it. Brief references to a past murder and rape, very limited details.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links which do not cost anything for you to use but help support this blog.

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Review: False Covenant by Ari Marmell

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,

False Covenant
Ari Marmell
Pyr
Published June 5, 2012

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Widdershins, a young thief and sole follower of her god Olgun, struggles to keep her tavern and its crew afloat through mostly legal means. Rumors about her involvement in the recent murder of the Archbishop strain relationships with other members of her guild, despite the fact that its leadership declared her innocent. When a new evil emerges on the streets of Davillon,

Widdershins is charged with the task of locating its source. What she discovers nearly undoes her. As the nightmarish creature begins to target her, Widdershins must team up with unlikely allies and join physical with spiritual forces. Gods help the people of Davillon if she should fail.

Marmell creates a fantastic world with a colorful cast of characters, both natural and supernatural. In a town on the outs with its powerful Church, politics and spirituality collide, birthing an unstoppable horror. Fantasy fans and gamers who like Dungeons and Dragons will fall into this story and not surface until completing its last page.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Infrequent but severe.

Sexual Content
Brief kissing.

Spiritual Content
Many references to the politics of the reigning church leadership. Rather than worshipping one god, the church services pay homage to many. Widdershins is the sole surviving follower of a god outside the group worshipped by the church.

Violence
Battle violence containing some graphic or disturbing details.

Drug Content
Widdershins owns a tavern, so there are some brief scenes depicting alcohol consumption. Nothing central to scene or story.

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

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Review: The 13th Sign by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,

The 13th Sign
Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
Feiwel and Friends
Published January 8, 2013

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When her grandmother is too ill to fulfill a birthday tradition, thirteen year-old Jalen finds herself in the creepy voodoo shop alone. Jalen is ready to storm out after another disappointing and ill-fitting reading for her sign, but she is strangely drawn to a mysterious book sealed by an ornate lock. Too late Jalen and her friends discover that opening the book releases the thirteenth sign, causing a shift in the personalities of everyone on the planet and unleashing the other twelve signs, sworn to protect Ophiucus, the thirteenth. Now Jalen must fight the twelve, for only by defeating the other signs will she survive and restore order to all.

O’Donnell Tubb writes a fast-paced and highly entertaining story which will appeal to fans of Rick Riordan’s novels starring Percy Jackson and friends. This is a story of friendship, loyalty and destiny loaded with fun characters and desperate battles.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Jalen’s grandmother believes strongly in horoscopes. Jalen herself is skeptical until she must face and defeat a physical manifestation of each sign.

Violence
Brief battle scenes. No graphic details.

Drug Content
None.

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

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Review: Goddess Tithe by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Clean Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , ,

Goddess Tithe
Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Rooglewood Press
Published November 12, 2013

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A young sailor eager to learn of life on the seas finds himself the keeper of a foreign stowaway. Despite the crew’s whispers of the goddess who demands to be given the lives of those found hiding aboard merchant vessels, the captain promises safe passage to the mysterious traveler. The young boy, Munny, struggles to understand why the captain would risk the lives of his crew to spare this strange man. As the enraged goddess tosses the ship about on enraged seas, Munny becomes caught between the captain’s order to protect the passenger and the crew’s plots to throw him overboard.

Fans of the Tales of Goldstone Wood series will recognize the mysterious stowaway as the adventurous Leonard from books two and three. Stengl weaves humor into the story through the language barrier between Leonard and Munny, who seldom understand one another, sometimes leading to hilarious results. Munny lives in bondage to the fear of the goddess who controls the seas, and yet through the story he learns of a greater power, one personal and benevolent and of the beauty of grace and its power to banish vengeance. Goddess Tithe is a beautiful story, though its length prevents it from developing the complexity of Stengl’s longer stories. Series fans will find the same lovely prose and deep spiritual undercurrents classic to all of the Goldstone Wood novels.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
The sailors believe that a ruthless goddess lives beneath the waves of the sea and demands to be given any stowaways found aboard sea vessels. The story explores themes of vengeance versus grace and the value of self-sacrifice.

Violence
An older sailor boy bullies Munny. Brief fight scenes with few graphic details.

Drug Content
None.

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

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