Reading Level: Junior High

Elephant Secret

We Bought a Zoo meets Jurassic Park in a gripping story featuring the evergreen appeal of human-animal friendships and set in an elephant sanctuary, about a thirteen-year-old girl, a cast of elephants, and a surprising new arrival—a woolly mammoth. Sam was born and raised in an elephant sanctuary. When a beloved elephant dies giving birth, Sam develops a connection with baby Woolly—who isn’t actually an elephant but was cloned from woolly mammoth DNA. And the billionaire genius behind the cloning experiment will stop at nothing to protect his investment. Smart, determined, and loving, Sam stands up to this powerful adversary to protect the sanctuary and her herd. In the best tradition of child-animal friendship stories, Elephant Secret explores the strong and complex bond between Sam and her elephants while offering a fascinating, authentic glimpse into elephant—and human—behavior. 

Sam feels more comfortable around elephants than around humans, yet she still faces conflicts that middle-grade readers will relate to, like the awkwardness of going to a school dance and not always knowing what to say. When Woolly is born, however, her world narrows to the baby mammoth, her father, and her father’s girlfriend, Joyce. At first, Sam resists spending time with Joyce, but as the story progresses, she comes to realize that Joyce genuinely cares about her and about the elephants. As an attorney, Joyce also puts her legal skills to work in support of the sanctuary. 

Sam’s sense of family is woven throughout the descriptions of the elephants, who are portrayed as majestic creatures with distinctly human qualities—intelligence, compassion, and loyalty. When Woolly is born and his mother dies, Sam steps into the role of feeding and caring for the baby mammoth, and readers will fall in love with him just as she does, picking up plenty of fascinating facts about elephants, mammoths, and cloning along the way. Sam’s bond with Woolly is especially endearing; when she risks her life to save him, she reflects, “Risking my life was one thing. Risking hers was unthinkable.” With Joyce’s help, Sam comes to understand that she herself is just as valuable as the woolly mammoth—even if he is the only one of his kind in existence. 

The death of her mother has left Sam believing that “there isn’t much you can do to change anything that happens in your life. Things just happen, and you get on with it. I guess I learned that the hard way from the very beginning of my life [when her mother died].” Despite this outlook, Sam finds the courage to stand up to the billionaire who tries to take the sanctuary from her family, proving that she and her father are willing to fight for what they believe in, no matter how difficult the odds. 

The author’s note offers background on the discovery of mammoth remains in Russia and why such finds matter for the science of cloning. The book frames cloning as a hopeful advancement and is dedicated to “those making science fiction into science fact so that one day we all may have the opportunity to see woolly mammoths grace our planet once more.” 

In the end, Elephant Secret succeeds as both a heartfelt coming-of-age story and a thought-provoking look at the ethics of science and conservation. Through Sam’s evolving relationships—with Woolly, with Joyce, and with her own grief—Walters reminds readers that healing and connection often come from unexpected places. It’s a book that will appeal to animal lovers and science enthusiasts alike, leaving readers not only informed about elephants and cloning but genuinely moved by Sam’s journey toward trust, resilience, and love. 

Sexual Content  

  • Sam’s father and his girlfriend kiss. “Then she took his hand and he bent down and they kissed. I knew they kissed and stuff, but they were usually careful not to do anything in front of me.” 

Violence  

  • An abused elephant that was “kept in a small pen” killed his trainer. “Crushed him . . . It was no accident. It was very deliberate and very thorough.”  
  • The elephant, Daisy Mae, goes into labor and a vet has to perform a Cesarean section. “Daisy Mae’s whole side had been cut open, and there was blood everywhere. The two vets were practically inside the incision, their arms and upper bodies not even visible.” Daisy Mae dies, but her baby survives.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Tranquilizers, antibiotics, and adrenaline are used on the abused elephant.   

Language  

  • Kids at school call Sam “Elephant Girl,” which annoys her. 
  • Sam thinks some teenagers are jerks. 
  • Sam goes to a school dance. While dancing with a boy, she calls him an idiot; then feels bad about it.  
  • An adult uses “Oh, my God!” as an exclamation once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • When Daisy Mae goes into labor, there are complications. Sam’s dad says, “We wait and hope and maybe even pray a little.”  
  • Sam and her father are forced to leave the animal sanctuary. After they leave, Woolly refuses to eat. Someone asks them to return to feed the mammoth before it dies. Sam’s dad says, “Maybe it’s the right thing [letting Woolly die]. We shouldn’t be creating life. Maybe nobody should be playing God, not even you.” 

Small Wonder

Tick, called Small Wonder by his grandfather, lives peacefully at the edge of Ellia, along with his little brother and faithful horse. But then a deadly assassin and an invading army arrive. The kingdom is in danger and Tick has six moons to get to King’s Keep and warn their ruler. Traveling through forests and over mountains, encountering bandits and rogue knights, Tick is determined to honor his grandfather’s last words of advice . . . make it count. Can Tick warn the kingdom in time and protect his little brother from the dangers they encounter? As they make their treacherous journey through Ellia, Tick starts to uncover a long-buried history that will change everything he thought he knew. 

Right from the start, Small Wonder jumps into action as Tick and his brother, Leaf, barely escape a Hunter determined to end their lives. With few supplies and no one to help, Tick relies on the lessons his grandfather taught him. Because he always strives to do what is right, Tick is easy to root for and incredibly likable. Even though he faces many hardships, he never loses sight of his morals. For example, when bandits attack, Tick and Leaf hide in a tree, and the bandits make camp nearby. Tick notices a caged man among them and, despite the danger, finds a way to free him. Tick believes you should always do the right thing, without reward or recognition. 

During the trek to Ellia, Tick perseveres because of his love for two people: Leaf and his grandfather. Leaf, who is only four years old, relies on Tick for every need, and like most siblings, the two occasionally get on each other’s nerves. Even so, their bond is clear, and Tick bravely protects his brother at every turn. Tick’s ability to care for Leaf and navigate danger comes directly from his grandfather’s teachings. Though his grandfather has passed, he remains present through Tick’s many memories of him. Grandfather taught Tick many lessons, including “If you have one chance, then you have to make it count.” 

The action never lets up, but it’s Tick’s emotional depth that gives the story its heart. He earns the admiration of everyone he meets because he’s kind, patient, and courageous, and along the way he comes to understand that the true mark of a king is bravery, modesty, and love for one’s people. The book also makes room for imperfection, acknowledging that mistakes are simply part of being human—a nuance that keeps Tick relatable rather than idealized. Woven through the external threats is a slower-building mystery about Ellia’s history, which adds an extra layer of intrigue and gives readers a reason to keep turning pages even between action sequences. Importantly, these lessons emerge naturally from Tick’s conflicts rather than being stated outright, so the story never feels preachy. 

Small Wonder succeeds as both a fast-paced adventure and a quieter story about grief, responsibility, and growing up too soon. Tick’s unwavering decency, paired with genuine sibling warmth and a mystery worth uncovering, makes this an engaging read for fans of character-driven fantasy. It’s an exciting, heartfelt journey that proves true bravery lies in doing what’s right, no matter the cost.  

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Bandits capture a man and put him in a cage “barely big enough to fit a dog. . . He wore nothing but rags, and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. The bandits were taking turns spitting wine at him.” One of the bandits suggests tossing the man into the fire. Tick causes a ruckus and saves the man. 
  • The bandits attack Tick and try to capture his horse. “A bandit flew past Tick, flinging a long rope weighted with rocks through the air. The rope snapped around Pebble’s forelegs, the momentum of the rocks wrapping it tightly and trapping her.” Pebble falls and is ensnared in the ropes.  
  • Barrett, a bandit, grabs Tick and “Tick booted him in the face, hard. Barrett roared with pain and Tick pulled himself free.” Tick and Leaf hide in a tree. The bandits sit under the tree and “open a bottle of wine, passing it among themselves” and getting “more drunk.” The men took turns “flinging their empty bottles at Tick.” 
  • The bandits threaten to kill Pebble and have “horse steak.” Before they can, a hunter attacks them. “Thwack. A sudden, soft sound, like a snap. Barrett halted in mid-step. . . and then, with a gurgle, he collapsed onto the fire in a plume of sparks.” The hunter kills all of the bandits over the course of a page.  
  • Tick goes into a house to look for food. A woman jumps at him, “screaming at the top of her lungs and hacking him with something hard. . . The woman was hitting him with some kind of club, and it hurt.” The woman realizes Tick and Leaf are just kids and feeds them. But then she gives them a sleeping potion and steals their money while they are sleeping.  
  • In the mountains, an avalanche buries Tick. “There was no snow in his mouth. He couldn’t move his lips, his tongue. He had blocked his face with his arm at the final second.” Leaf gives Tick a rope and has Pebble pull him out of the snow.  
  • The current ruler, King Cass, had murdered his brother and sister-in-law.  
  • In the mountains, the Hunter finds Tick and Leaf. “Tick heard a whistle and ducked just as the arrow shot past his ear. . . he felt a hot bloom of blood and clapped a hand to the side of his head.”  
  • The Hunter then sends his hawk after Tick. “The hawk came screaming down on top of them [Tick and Leaf]. Tick hit the ground just as the second arrow sliced through the air where he’d been standing. . . Wham. [Pebble’s] iron shoes hit the hawk with a devastating double blow. There was an explosion of feathers, a shriek of agony, and the hawk spiraled to the ground, dead in an instant.” 
  • The Hunter grabs a dagger. “The blade came fast and low, swiping at Tick’s stomach—he only just leapt back in time. . .” He hides in a crevice and “the Hunter leaped after him with a final slashing thrust. . . The tip of the blade missed Tick’s face by a single hair.” Tick leaves Leaf in the crevice and goes after the Hunter. 
  • In the fighting, Pebble is shot with an arrow. Tick “wrenched the arrow from her neck, making her whinny in pain.” Then he went after the Hunter with a knife. “Tick swung high and the blade caught the Hunter’s face, slicing a thick gouge across his cheek. The Hunter staggered back in shock.” The Hunter steps back, not realizing it isn’t safe. “He pitched backward, arms circling through the air as he toppled straight over the precipice. . .” The fight with the Hunter is described over seven pages.  
  • The castle doors are just closing when Tick and Leaf arrive. An enemy army is close behind them. “The first arrow hit the ground just beside them. Tick gasped. A horse-archer was already lining up his next shot. . . The second arrow whistled through the air, missing Pebble by inches.” Ellian’s force began shooting back, allowing Tick and Leaf to enter the castle.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Tick meets a group of bandits who are sitting around a fire “passing bottles of wine between them. Judging from the number of empty bottles scattered on the ground, they’d raided a caravan loaded with the stuff.” 
  • When the Ellian people celebrate the enemy’s demise, they drink wine.  
  • When Leaf is ill, a knight gives him medicine. 

Language  

  • A man calls Tick a “stray” and a “little maggot.” 
  • A bandit calls his group “dimwits.” 
  • One of the bandits says, “Flippin’ heck.” 
  • A woman calls Tick a “thieving little brute!” 
  • “God’s teeth” is used as an exclamation once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While in the mountains, the cold weather makes Leaf sick. “Tick hoped and prayed they’d see another route down, but there was nothing.” 
  • Tick finds two knights in a cave. He asks them for help, saying, “You have to help my brother. You have to save him.” And then he, “Held Leaf up like an offering to a god.” 

Impact: The Story of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks

September 11, 2001, began as a picturesque late summer day. The sky was blue and sunny, without a cloud in sight. Very quickly, that beautiful morning turned into one of the darkest days in America. Terrorists hijacked four airplanes. In New York, two planes hit the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center within minutes of each other. A third collided with the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. After a passenger revolt, the fourth plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, en route to Washington, D.C. In total, thousands died. This event would become known as 9/11: the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. 

Impact: The Story of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks reconstructs the morning of September 11 through firsthand accounts from people who experienced the attacks. An entry in Capstone Press’s Tangled History series, which explores primarily American tragedies, the book follows events from 7:40 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Its short, chronological chapters shift among the perspectives of witnesses, survivors, and victims, allowing the reader to experience the morning through the people caught in it. Each chapter opens with a photograph depicting upsetting scenes, such as the Twin Towers on fire, the aftermath of the Flight 93 and Pentagon crashes, and the remains of Ground Zero. However, the photographs are no more graphic than those featured in school textbooks. These include images of the towers on fire, the second plane approaching the South Tower, the impact crater and remains of Flight 93, the towers’ collapse, and the aftermath of said collapse. No images of bodies or those who jumped or fell from the towers are featured. 

Every account in Impact: The Story of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks is powerful and insightful. A few stories stand out, such as that of survivor Jan Demczur, a window washer who became trapped in an elevator with five others in the North Tower after the first plane’s impact. They used his squeegee to break through the drywall, eventually escaping through a bathroom on the 50th floor. There’s also the story of Mark Bingham, a passenger aboard Flight 93 who was among those who attempted to regain control of the plane from the terrorists. Though Bingham and the other passengers involved did not survive the ensuing crash, their efforts undeniably saved countless lives in D.C. Another notable story is that of Jay Jonas, an FDNY firefighter who, along with his men and a woman they had rescued, survived when the North Tower collapsed on top of them. 

Because Impact: The Story of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks covers mature and disturbing subject matter, it is not recommended for younger or otherwise sensitive readers. While the text is simplified and easy to understand, the book does not shy away from the gravity of what people experienced on 9/11, including being trapped in the buildings, what first responders saw and dealt with, and the deaths of thousands of victims. As such, Impact is best suited for readers ages 10 to 14, particularly older readers ready to learn about a difficult chapter in American history. 

In total, Impact: The Story of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks is an incredibly effective work of narrative nonfiction. It successfully puts readers into the shoes of those directly affected by the attacks on 9/11. It provides a human side to that day that younger readers first learning about the attacks may not otherwise encounter. Its use of firsthand accounts and carefully selected photographs makes Impact: The Story of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks an accessible introduction to the events of September 11, 2001. For young readers to grapple with this history, the book offers something textbooks often can’t: a visceral sense of what ordinary people endured and the courage many showed in the face of tragedy. It’s a valuable read for anyone looking to understand not just what happened on 9/11, but what it felt like to live through it. 

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • Nicole Simpson feels the South Tower shake from her office on the 73rd floor. Her co-workers wonder if it’s another bomb: “Everyone who worked in the World Trade Center knew that terrorists had bombed the building before.” Looking out the window, Simpson sees “paper everywhere” floating down to the street, noting that the paper “was on fire.” 
  • The chapter “In a Flash” opens with an unnamed woman at her desk on the 93rd floor of the North Tower: “Her last moments were filled with terror. An airplane. An explosion. A scream cut short.” Another unnamed woman cries as “thick black smoke” fills her office. She opens a window to escape the flames, but “Within minutes, it’s unbearable. She’s roasting alive. Trapped.” With no other choice, she “throws the window open the rest of the way. She jumps” to her death. 
  • Firefighter Jay Jonas, captain of Ladder Company 6, responds to the scene with Matt Komorowski and Tommy Falco. Jonas hears a woman scream while “pointing up at one of the high floors where the flames were an inferno.” He then sees “the shape of a body falling from the tower.” Komorowski says, “Someone just jumped!” and “They’re jumping out of the windows! Oh no, no!” Jonas recalls, “It was horrifying.” 
  • People watch the North Tower burn on television, “smoke oozing from an open gash in the side of the building.” Suddenly, “countless millions gasped as they watched a dark shape race across the screen. . . it was another airplane. And it had just rammed straight into the other tower.” An accompanying photograph shows the second plane approaching the South Tower as the North Tower burns. 
  • Upon entering the North Tower’s lobby, Jay Jonas found it to be “in chaos. Two badly burned men lay on the floor near the main doors.” 
  • Mark Bingham watches in horror as Flight 93 is hijacked. One hijacker “grasped a sharp blade. It looked like a box cutter.” During the hijacking, Bingham witnessed, “Passengers screaming. Someone shouting there was a bomb on the airplane. A flight attendant brutally stabbed.” As Bingham and the other passengers are ordered to the back of the plane, he considers overpowering the hijackers but fears for his life: “The hijackers had already attacked at least one person. They wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.” 
  • At 9:37 a.m., Karen Baker and her friend Elaine Kannellis are working inside the Pentagon. “Then the ground shook. A loud, grinding thud rang through the halls. In the distance, a voice shouted, ‘It’s a bomb!’”  
  • Onboard Flight 93, Mark Bingham, Todd Beamer, and other passengers learn that their plane is headed toward a target via phone calls to the ground and decide to fight back. They plan to “storm the terrorists using the only weapon they could get—scalding hot water.” Beamer tells an operator, “We’ve got hijackers with knives. One seems to have a bomb. I don’t know where the pilot or copilot are. They may be dead or wounded.” 
  • After setting down the phone, Beamer, Bingham, and Tom Burnett prepare to confront the hijackers. “Bingham was prepared to do whatever it took to make sure those hijackers failed, even if it meant driving the plane into the ground.” Beamer then “stood and led the charge. ‘Let’s roll.’” 
  • The chapter “No Words” describes the crash of Flight 93: “At more than 500 miles an hour, Flight 93 raced like a bullet toward the ground. . . A mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke rose above the trees.” The plane “slammed into the ground with terrible force,” leaving “a scarred, burning crater” in the Pennsylvania countryside. None of the forty people aboard survived. A photograph shows the impact crater and wreckage, with the caption noting, “The impact of Flight 93 left a surprisingly small crater. Rescuers couldn’t believe an airplane had crashed there.” 
  • Jay Jonas and his men are helping Josephine Harris evacuate the North Tower when they hear a “low rumble” and feel the “walls and the floor” hum as the building begins to collapse. “They could feel each and every floor collapse. They had seconds—only seconds—until that wave reached the fourth floor and smashed them to a pulp.” Jonas “closed his eyes and thought of his family as he waited for the weight of the North Tower to crush them all.” They all survived the collapse. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural Content 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • When Nicole Simpson felt the building shake after the plane hit the South Tower, she wondered: “Oh, God. Now what?” 
  • Rick Leventhal, a Fox News reporter, witnessed the South Tower’s collapse while covering the event on the ground. His engineer, Pat Butler, whispered, “My God. The whole thing, just. . . gone. How many people were still inside?” 

by Nicholas Paragano 

Star Wars: The Wrath of Darth Maul

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away. . . 

More than a decade had passed since his fateful duel on Naboo, in which the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi ultimately defeated Darth Maul. Darth Maul lost more than just the battle that day—he lost the bottom half of his body to a lightsaber, his role as a Sith Lord, and the memories of the life he had that led him to that moment. Now a shell of his former self, Maul lives like a feral animal on the junk planet Lotho Minor.  

The Wrath of Darth Maul is the final entry in a series of biography-like novels about iconic Star Wars characters. As with the prior books, The Wrath of Darth Maul opens with a prologue set in the present: Maul is stranded on Lotho Minor and desperately trying to remember his past. This establishes the book’s framing—chronological telling of Maul’s life, from his earliest memories of being taken from his home planet by Darth Sidious up to the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Unlike the previous books, there are no interludes tying the past to the present. This makes sense given that the present Maul did not remember his past – having constant interludes to the present would make the narrative confusing. The Wrath of Darth Maul consists of eighteen chapters sandwiched between a prologue and epilogue.  

The Wrath of Darth Maul is, by far, the darkest and most violent of the series, even more so than The Rise and Fall of Darth Maul. In the acknowledgements section, Windham thanks his daughter Violet, who reassured him that he could make “at least one person feel sorry for Darth Maul,” which he certainly succeeds at. Indeed, the Sith Lord’s childhood is one of tragedy, as he was forced from his home at an early age and forced to train in the Dark Side of the Force by Darth Sidious, who kept Maul at a training facility on Mustafar most of the time. Even the smallest mistake or transgression would mean physical punishment from Sidious, who taught young Maul to embrace pain and allow it to fuel his anger, making him strong with the dark side.  

Readers curious to learn about Darth Maul’s backstory will find a rich telling of his rise as a Sith. The book also provides a fascinating look into Darth Sidious as he trains his first apprentice. Sidious also makes great effort to keep his identity a secret from others, even Maul, who only knows a hint of his master’s public identity as the politician Palpatine. 

Some of the most interesting chapters take place during Maul’s years as a student at Orsis Academy, a school that trains students to become paramilitaries, assassins, mercenaries, and intelligence agents. His one rule set by Sidious and Trezza, the Academy’s director, is not to use his Force powers so as not to attract the attention of the Jedi, the Sith’s greatest enemies. Maul demonstrates his raw strength during his years at Orsis, becoming one of its strongest fighters, which ultimately spells the school’s doom. Sidious would order Maul to destroy the Academy and to kill all the staff and students to protect the secrecy of the Sith. 

Because of its darker subject matter, The Wrath of Darth Maul is best suited for middle-school-aged readers and above. There is frequent violence and death throughout, often from Maul’s hands. The book also covers mature themes, such as the abusive relationship between Sidious and Maul. Themes of manipulation, revenge, anger, and hatred are also present. Though the violence is not overly graphic, the tone of The Wrath of Darth Maul is noticeably darker than Windham’s previous books. Maul also expresses great enjoyment in killing others and constantly fantasizes about hunting down Jedi. 

It should be noted that this book, like the prior books, now falls under the Legends continuity—a distinction given to the old Expanded Universe, i.e., most Star Wars books, comics, games, and other media (minus the films and The Clone Wars) released before Lucasfilm’s acquisition by Disney in 2012. This means that this book is no longer considered part of the canon that connects to newer films, books, and other media released post-Disney; instead, it exists in an alternate continuity. Despite this fact, The Wrath of Darth Maul still holds up, and since it mostly takes place before the films, there is little that is contradicted by newer Star Wars media.  

The Wrath of Darth Maul is an excellently written, in-depth exploration of the history of one of Star Wars’ most iconic villains. It adds surprising depth and tragedy to a character who had little screen time, much less dialogue, in The Phantom Menace. Its darker tone and themes are best suited for older readers and especially for fans curious about Darth Maul’s backstory. Years after its publication, The Wrath of Darth Maul is still an engaging and thought-provoking character study of Maul, even if technically no longer part of the Star Wars canon. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • In the prologue, a feral Maul kills a rat that tried to attack him. “The rat never saw the fist that crashed down on the back of his neck.” 
  • To teach him not to flinch, Sidious fills Maul’s quarters with small animals called dinkos. The lights are turned off and the door is locked. The dinkos attack and spray their venom at Maul, who “took almost an hour to kill all the dinkos. When he was done, he passed out on the floor of the gore-filled quarters.” The next morning, Sidious opens the door and sees that Maul has “inflamed skin, swollen eyes, and bloody hands and feet.” 
  • During a training exercise, a training droid accidentally hits Maul, breaking his ribs. Maul awoke and “felt that the bandages were wet with blood.” Once alone, Maul made a drawing on the wall with his blood, a sketch of his view of Mustafar outside his first room at the facility. 
  • As another test, Sidious leaves Maul stranded on the volcanic surface of Mustafar and forces him to find his way back to the facility. Seeing a small group of Mustafarians, Maul thinks of a plan: “he would track them, find their food, and steal it. If it became necessary to kill them to ensure his own survival, he would gather rocks to strike them dead or strangle them with his own bandages and broken bones.” Though it is not explicitly stated, it is implied that Maul uses this plan to survive. 
  • Following Sidious’ order to “select the largest and most muscular student. Introduce yourself. Hurt him. No killing,” Maul gets into a fight with another student named Dalok on his first day at Orsis Academy. “Maul grabbed the back of Dalok’s head, pulled Dalok’s face against his own, and sank his teeth into Dalok’s fleshy nose… with his teeth and one arm, Maul held tight to Dalok’s head while he moved his other hand to grab Dalok’s throat.” During the attack, Dalok “convulsed” and passed out. Dalok survives, however, because he is an Abyssin, a species with “regenerative abilities.” 
  • Maul learns that another student, a Nautolan named Kilindi Matako, is a former slave and that her former owners are dead. Kilindi confirms to Maul that she killed them. Why she killed them isn’t explicitly stated, though it is likely because she wanted freedom and revenge for how they treated her. “Yes. They were a large family. I killed them all.” Maul thinks, Good. 
  • Two Rodian students, Fretch and Hubnutz, mock Kilindi for being a slave. In response, “Maul grabbed three of Fretch’s long green fingers and twisted them sharply. The sound of rapidly snapping bones made Fretch gasp and Hubnutz cringe. Fretch made a sick gurgling noise.” Maul then warns them: “Either of you call Kilindi a slave again, I’ll tear your arms off and feed them to you.” 
  • At fifteen, Maul is pursued by Fretch, Hubnutz, and a Mandalorian instructor named Meltch Krakko on Orsis as part of a training exercise. His pursuers fire blasters (set to stun) at Maul and “were kicking rocks over the rim” at him. Maul thinks, “They’re trying to kill me.” He grabs his own blaster, “moving his arm back and forth to aim at each of his cringing targets. He didn’t miss once. . . Maul shot at their legs and continued shooting them after they fell and began screaming.” Since his blaster was also set to stun, no one was seriously injured. 
  • Not long after, Maul participates in the Gora, a survival challenge in which he is left alone in the wilderness of Orsis for several days with only a vibroblade. During the challenge, “He moved like a jungle animal through the forests and grassy swamps that filled the enormous crater, killing some beasts in self-defense, some for food, and others for sheer sport. Never before had he known such freedom. After years of obeying orders while containing his rage, he was able to run and hunt and kill as he pleased.” 
  • Later, Maul is kidnapped by the Nightsisters, witches from his home planet of Dathomir. They plan to take him home but are intercepted by a Vollick who wishes to force them all into his army. Maul fights back against the invaders with an energy sword, but they fire at him with their blasters. “One stray bolt grazed the side of Maul’s upper right arm, drawing blood.” During the battle, Maul manipulates the speed of cargo containers in the hangar bay. “The containers moved faster than the soldiers could run, and they were crushed.” After reaching the hangar, Maul finds “over a dozen Weequays lying dead on the hangar’s deck. Although none of the Weequay bodies bore obvious wounds, Maul knew how they had died, and also the identity of their killer (Sidious).” 
  • After they reunite, Sidious reveals that the Mandalorian Meltch Krakko betrayed Maul, allowing the Nightsisters to kidnap him during the Gora. As a result, Sidious commands Maul to “deal with Trezza and the others at the school.” Returning to Orsis Academy, Maul moves swiftly and quietly through the campus. “First, he killed the Academy’s sentries, and then the security guards posted outside the training rooms and barracks. He used the Force when it was most efficient, and his bare hands whenever it pleased him. Knowing that most cadets would already be asleep in the barracks, he went noiselessly from one darkened room to the next, leaving a trail of death.” Maul found and killed the Rodians Hubnutz and Fretch: “he woke them before he broke their necks.” 
  • Entering Trezza’s office, Maul findsTrezza, Meltch Krakko, and Kilindi, who gasped at “Maul’s blood-soaked body.” Krakko grabbed his blaster and began firing. Maul dodged multiple shots with ease, “before he grabbed Krakko’s blaster with one hand, and his neck with the other. Krakko sputtered angrily. [Maul] hurled Krakko’s lifeless body into the fireplace.” 
  • Trezza immediately raised his hands and tried to plead with Maul. “He was not surprised to see the flat metal knife pop out of Trezza’s sleeve.” Trezza threw his knife at Maul, who caught it by the handle, “then whipped it back with blinding speed at Trezza’s upper chest. Trezza gasped, clutched at his chest, and collapsed upon his desk.” 
  • Kilindi “didn’t run. She did try to smile.” Her death is the only one not described in detail. Maul knows that Kilindi was one of the few people at Orsis who treated him with kindness. Even though she was the closest thing he had to a friend, “he never paused at all. His only purpose was to serve his Master.” 
  • Shortly after destroying Orsis Academy, Sidious presents Maul with one final challenge before he can become a Sith Lord. Maul is sent to a planet in the Outer Rim with several assassin droids. “I have sent a fleet of assassin droids to attack you. . . They are all programmed to kill.” Maul is tasked with surviving on the planet for one month. 
  • The assassin droids are “relentless” in their pursuit of Maul. “Programmed to fight to the death, they had blasters built into their chests and hands. . .  they never slept, never allowed Maul to sleep long, never hesitated before they pounced. . . the droids drove him into the frozen mountains and across the burning deserts.” After twenty days, Maul knows he is at risk of losing his mind “because the attacks never stopped. . . [he] was beyond paranoid.” 
  • During an attack, Maul sustains a blaster wound to his thigh. “The wound festered. The pain was blinding.” He hauls himself into a cave as his wound worsens. “The pain was beyond excruciating. He had no doubt that death would come soon. He thought he was hallucinating when he saw a figure appear at the mouth of the cave.” 
  • The cloaked figure is no hallucination; it is Sidious. He challenges a weakened Maul to a duel, handing him a lightsaber. “Now it is time for your final battle.” As Maul struggles, Sidious taunts him. “You are weak. Not worthy of being a Sith Lord.” To further manipulate him, Sidious claims that he secretly has a second apprentice who is healthy and has already conquered the challenge. This fuels Maul’s rage, which in turn fuels his strength. “He felt so powerful that he believed he could accomplish anything. And more than anything else, he wanted his Master’s blood.” 
  • Maul “sprang at Sidious,” striking at his Master with a swing “aimed to rip [Sidious] in half.” Another parried blow makes Sidious “stagger backward.” Maul thinks, I’m going to kill him. “You want to kill me? You want to kill your Master?. . . You hate me?” Sidious asks. His Master shifts “like a liquid shadow” and strikes a blow that knocks Maul’s lightsaber from his hand. “Maul knew he was going to die, but he did not cringe.” He grabs Sidious’ wrist and “sank his teeth into his hand. Maul tasted blood and spat it back at Sidious.” As Sidious raises his lightsaber to strike Maul, he “waited for the pain and shock of death,” but is surprised when his Master instead tosses the lightsaber to the ground. 
  • Sidious spares Maul and confirms that he has passed the final test to become a Sith Lord, revealing that there was never a second apprentice. Sidious asks, “‘Your rage. You enjoyed it? You enjoyed wanting to kill me?’. . . ‘I took pleasure in it,’ Maul confirms.” 
  • At the beginning of the events of The Phantom Menace, Maul watches Sidious’ hologram communication with Viceroy Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation, who informs him that the two negotiators aboard their ship are Jedi. Sidious orders the Trade Federation to accelerate its planned invasion of Naboo. As for the Jedi, Sidious says, “The Chancellor should have never brought them into this mess. Kill them immediately.” Knowing that the Trade Federation will likely fail in its attempt to kill the Jedi, Maul privately thinks, “The Jedi are mine. Mine to hunt. Mine to destroy.” 
  • Maul further fantasizes about hunting down his enemies. “He closed his eyes and visualized the [Jedi] Temple in his mind and saw a smoking ruin. The bodies of fallen Jedi knights and their small Padawans littered the stairways and hallways. He saw himself standing in the rubble, surrounded by Jedi corpses.” 
  •  After the two Jedi escape Naboo with Queen Amidala, Sidious tasks Maul with tracking them down. Maul traces them to Tatooine, where “he realized his entire body was tingling with excitement. He could hardly wait to kill Jedi.” 
  • Maul’s ship is captured by a pirate freighter above Tatooine. After boarding the freighter in an escape pod, he kills several Togorian pirates with his lightsaber. The violence includes dismemberment (“the arm holding the vibroblade fell upon the deck”), a pirate being decapitated (“Maul’s blade. . . connected with the Togorian’s neck”), another being “cut. . . in half,” and a lightsaber being driven through a pirate’s chest. 
  • Maul kills the ship’s captain. “Blood pounded in Maul’s ears as he spun his lightsaber, slashing the captain’s arms before delivering a killing blow.” 
  •  Before leaving the freighter, Maul battles one final pirate, who wounds his leg with a vibro-axe: “Maul felt the blade slice into flesh.” Wanting the pirate “to die in agony,” Maul uses his lightsaber and “took off the pirate’s arm.” The wounded pirate later follows Maul aboard his ship. 
  • Maul rigs the pirate freighter to explode after he escapes. The explosion kills the remaining pirates and blasts the Togorian stowaway from Maul’s ship. Afterwards, Maul reflects that it “felt good to be alive after his enemies were dead.” 
  •  As Qui-Gon Jinn and Anakin approach the Queen’s starship on Tatooine, Maul ambushes them on his speeder bike. Maul remains focused on killing the Jedi, thinking, “If he happened to mow down the boy in his path, so be it.” 
  • After failing to stop the Jedi from escaping, Maul broods on his failure. “I will destroy you, Qui-Gon Jinn. . . I will stand over your dead body in triumph, Qui-Gon Jinn. . . you will pay.” 
  • Arriving on Naboo, Maul finally confronts Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi and engages in a lightsaber duel. While fighting Qui-Gon, “with a flick of his wrist, he drove one of his red blades straight through Qui-Gon’s chest. . . Maul yanked the lightsaber free from Qui-Gon’s torso and the Jedi collapsed beside the core.” 
  • During his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul uses the Force to throw Obi-Wan into the reactor core, but Obi-Wan escapes and cuts Maul in half with Qui-Gon’s lightsaber. “As he fell, the upper half of his body separated from the lower.” Though furious and believing he was about to die, Maul uses the Force to channel his rage and keep himself alive. 
  • In the epilogue, a mad Maul uses “a broken bit of blackened bone” to scratch drawings onto the wall. “Some figures were being tortured, others killed.” 
  • Morley, a “snakelike scavenger,” tries to warn Maul that someone is coming to kill him. Instead, Maul attacks Morley, enjoying “the sounds of Morley’s screams” and “the loud snapping of bones that broke Morley’s spine.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural Content 

  • The Nightsisters, witches from Maul’s home planet of Dathomir, use the Force to create convincing illusions of themselves. During one encounter, “dozens of Nightsister warriors materialize,” though Maul realizes they are “nothing more than a powerful Force illusion.” 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

by Nicholas Paragano

Star Wars: A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… 

Raised in secret by his aunt and uncle on the desert planet Tatooine, Luke Skywalker grew up believing he was an orphan. He knew almost nothing about his parents; his uncle told Luke that his father was a navigator on a spice freighter. Luke knew one thing for certain — the life of a farmer was not his destiny. One way or another, he would find a way off Tatooine and become a pilot, to chase the same adventures his father once did. 

Star Wars: A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker is the third book in a biography-style series of iconic Star Wars characters written by Ryder Windham. It follows the titular hero from his earliest years growing up on Tatooine, to the events of the original trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) and even beyond.  

Like the previous entries in the series, A New Hope employs a framing device to add further depth to Luke’s iconic story. The book begins with a prologue, set not long after the events of Return of the Jedi, aboard the New Republic cruiser New Hope. Luke asks his sister, Leia Organa, if she wants to talk more about their father Anakin Skywalker, who was once the fearsome Darth Vader. Leia refuses, reminding him of the atrocities Vader committed, including the destruction of her home planet Alderaan. While understanding Leia’s hesitation, Luke still longs to know who his father was. He wonders, “How can I know myself if I never really knew my father?” Luke begins to reflect on his life so far, starting with his earliest memories as a boy on Tatooine. 

The progression of Luke’s character from impatient, longing farm boy to calm, stoic Jedi Knight is further fleshed out beyond what is seen in the films. Windham utilizes many stories from the Expanded Universe to expand upon and fill the gaps in between the films. Some of the highlights include the stories of Luke’s childhood on Tatooine, which make up a significant portion of the early chapters. These more grounded moments make Luke’s character progression and journey more impactful. Windham also cleverly incorporates a deleted scene from A New Hope, in which Luke’s childhood friend Biggs Darklighter returns home from the Imperial Academy and reveals his intention to defect to the Rebellion. Though this scene might have slowed the pacing of the film it was deleted from, it works incredibly well here, strengthening Luke’s motivation to leave Tatooine and adding emotional weight to their reunion before the Battle of Yavin.  

Luke’s struggle with his own identity is another compelling theme covered throughout the book. He believes that learning more about his father, Anakin Skywalker, will help him learn more about himself in the process, so Luke actively seeks out the few leads he has on Anakin’s past. For instance, Luke journeys to Mos Espa on Tatooine, where he uncovers Anakin’s career as a podracer (including a recording of his win at the Boonta Eve Classic), and, more significantly, that Anakin and his mother were once slaves. This shocking revelation adds complexity to Luke’s perception of his father; that he was not just once the evil Darth Vader, but also once a young boy both incredibly gifted but burdened by hardship and oppression. This deepens Luke’s own conflict as he tries to balance his father’s legacy while forging his own path. As Han Solo tells Luke near the end of the book, “The way I see things, knowing who your father was isn’t nearly as important as knowing who you are.” 

Like the previous titles in the series, The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader and The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi, this book also now falls under the Star Wars Legends continuity. This is a distinction for most Expanded Universe material released prior to Disney’s acquisition of the franchise in 2012. As a result, it is no longer considered canon that connects to the newer films, books, games, and series – most notably, the sequel trilogy, which continues Luke’s story decades after Return of the Jedi. Despite this fact, A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker is still a faithful and thoughtful retelling of the original trilogy, standing on its own merits regardless of its non-canon status. 

Overall, A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker serves as yet another excellent Star Wars character biography by Ryder Windham and an engaging retelling of the original trilogy. It offers a thoughtful character study of Luke Skywalker, highlighting his internal journey – his doubts, his compassion, and his quest to understand who his father truly was. Windham makes an already compelling protagonist even more compelling in the process. This book is an excellent choice for both younger readers and long-term Star Wars fans, offering a comprehensive, reflective look at Luke’s journey from farm boy to Jedi Knight. 

Sexual Content 

  • During their first encounter on the unnamed jungle planet, the mind witch S’ybll tricks Luke by presenting herself as a younger, attractive woman. S’ybll tells Luke that she needs someone like him to protect her. “‘I need you,’ she whispered before she pulled him closer and kissed him.” 

Violence 

  • In the prologue, Luke asks his sister, Leia, if she ever thinks about their father. Leia says she does not, but Luke still wants to talk about him. “I know you’re still upset about how he—” Luke begins, before Leia interrupts: “Tortured me? Stood by and did nothing while Grand Moff Tarkin destroyed the planet Alderaan? Cut off your hand? Killed more people than we’ll ever know?”  
  • At seven years old, Luke considers the many dangers of Tatooine, including deadly creatures such as womp rats, whose teeth could “easily slice through flesh,” krayt dragons, and most dangerously, the Tusken Raiders, described as “masked nomads” who “sometimes attacked and killed without any obvious motive or reason.” Luke also recalls his Uncle Owen’s warning, “If the heat doesn’t kill you on Tatooine, everything else will.” 
  • When Luke is thirteen, he, his friend Windy, and Windy’s pet dewback Huey become lost in the desert when a storm kicks in. Suddenly, a krayt dragon appears and roars at the three of them. The creature lunges at Luke, who dodges and falls to the ground. As he looks back, he witnesses the krayt dragon attacking Huey: “he heard a terrible crunching sound and saw the krayt dragon biting down on Huey. . . Huey’s body went limp and dangled from the krayt’s jaws.” 
  • At fifteen, Luke takes a ride in Biggs Darklighter’s landspeeder near an abandoned Republic cruiser, the Spice Siren, which has become infested with womp rats. When one womp rat digs its teeth into the speeder’s hull, Biggs grabs his blaster and “fires an energy bolt into the womp rat’s head.” The two then decide to eliminate the rest of the local population. “It took them fifteen minutes to kill the remaining womp rats. They shot skillfully and efficiently. . .” Later, they gather the carcasses and “use some spare fuel to set all but one ablaze.” 
  • Later that day, Luke and Biggs come across a long-abandoned Tusken Raider camp and find “a number of shattered humanoid skeletons.” Biggs tells Luke, “Those skulls. . . they’re cut clean in half. The only thing I know that can cut with that kind of precision is an industrial laser.” 
  • At age seventeen, finally having a landspeeder of his own, Luke spots a womp rat in the distance. Without even slowing down, Luke grabs his blaster and “squeezed the weapon’s trigger. . . Luke hollered with excitement as he saw the fired energy bolt strike the vile womp rat, killing it instantly.” 
  •  After a skyhopper race with his friends, Luke is surprised to see a militia scout approaching, warning them of “Tusken Raiders on the rampage!” Not long after, a group of “at least a dozen” Tuskens arrives and begins to attack. Luke and his friends take cover and return fire with blasters. As he attempts to leave in a skyhopper to warn Anchorhead, Biggs Darklighter is attacked by a Tusken wielding a gaderffi stick. “Luke shouted as the gaderffi struck Biggs.” Acting on instinct, Luke fires his blaster at the attacker. “The blast caught the Tusken in the chest, and the masked figure collapsed in a heap against the rocks.” Biggs is poisoned by the weapon, which had been dipped in “sand bat venom,” but is treated soon after and survives. 
  • In an interlude, Luke recalls the events of A New Hope, knowing he would never forget “his horrific discovery of the charred remains of Owen and Beru, slain by Imperial stormtroopers. . . the realization that the Empire had obliterated the planet Alderaan. . . [and] the death of Ben Kenobi on the Death Star”, as well as “the Battle of Yavin, which had taken the lives of many Rebel pilots, including Biggs Darklighter, shot down by Darth Vader in the Death Star’s trench.” 
  • After escaping the planet Ardius on a Rebel mission, Luke and C-3PO crash land on the ice planet Hoth. Luke meets other survivors, a girl named Frija and her father, an ex-Imperial governor hiding from the Empire. Wanting to be left alone, the governor draws his blaster, but Luke quickly uses his lightsaber to slice the blaster, which “shattered in the man’s grip.”  
  • Frija decides to accompany Luke to repair the ship’s communicator, having grown tired of her father’s isolation on Hoth. They are soon confronted again when the governor returns, wielding another blaster he had hidden in the ice caves. He begins firing at Luke, who attempts to draw the man’s fire away from Frija so she can deliver communicator parts to C-3PO. Upon overhearing “communicator parts,” the governor becomes even more enraged. “Another blaster shot rang out. . . the blast caught Frija in the back. . . she fell from her mount and collapsed against the snow.” He exclaims, “No! I wanted to hit the pack with the communicator parts!” before blaming Luke: “Now you’ll die for it!” Luke swings his lightsaber, “its blade met the rifle’s barrel just as the governor squeezed the trigger. The rifle jerked as it backfired a split second before the lightsaber swept through the sleeve of the governor’s tunic and across the back of his right hand.” The governor collapses into the snow and lies motionless. A wounded Frija then reveals to Luke that both she and her father are droid replicas, and that their human counterparts are alive elsewhere. 
  • After the Millennium Falcon lands on a jungle planet for repairs, Luke wanders off and encounters a “mind-witch,” S’ybll, who uses illusions to appear younger. After a brief encounter with a Night Beast, Luke is knocked unconscious. He awakens blindfolded. Despite S’ybll’s warning, he removes the cloth after hearing C-3PO. Seeing her true form as an old woman, S’ybll reveals she has been manipulating him and projects an illusion of Darth Vader. Luke resists, causing the illusion to vanish. Enraged, she attempts to drain his mental energy and attacks by hurling stones. Luke turns her assault against her; a falling column crashes down, “the noise was followed by an almost total silence.” S’ybll is presumed dead, though she later returns. 
  • Toward the end of his duel with Darth Vader on Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back, Vader severs Luke’s hand: “Darth Vader’s lightsaber swept through Luke’s wrist. . . Luke screamed. His hand arced away from the suddenly cauterized stub at the end of his right arm, carrying his lightsaber with it.” After revealing that he is Luke’s father and urging him to join him, claiming “it is the only way,” Luke refuses, thinking, “No. It’s not the only way.” Luke lets himself fall into the reactor shaft. He survives and later receives a prosthetic hand. 
  • After his father’s redemption at the end of Return of the Jedi, Luke returns to Tatooine to investigate Anakin Skywalker’s past. He learns not only of Anakin’s podracing career, but also that Anakin and his mother were once slaves. A childhood friend of Anakin, Wald, reveals the fate of Luke’s grandmother: “Sand People abducted her from the Lars farm. Took her off into the desert and killed her.” Luke’s “legs felt weak” upon hearing this and he immediately leaves Tatooine. 
  • Han Solo informs Luke of a distress signal from the planet Tarnoonga, sent by two Rebel scouts who were “attacked by an Oskan blood eater.” Han reports that “according to the report, an unidentified woman killed the creature before it could harm anyone” and that she “used a lightsaber.” Upon arriving on Tarnoonga, Luke encounters the mysterious woman, Frija, but soon realizes she is actually S’ybll, who survived their previous encounter and has lured him into a trap. Inside an Imperial outpost, S’ybll unleashes a blood eater on Luke. He “jumped back to avoid the incoming claw, then kicked off the wall, launching himself over the monster’s torso while swinging his lightsaber downward and through the thing’s head. . . the blood eater remained standing on its one leg for a moment, but it was already dead.” 
  • After freeing the Rebel scouts, Luke confronts S’ybll. After a tense confrontation, Luke grabbed his lightsaber with the Force, “ignited his blade and turned quickly to defend himself.” “He didn’t realize that S’ybll was already lurching toward him. His lightsaber went straight through her chest. S’ybll’s mouth fell open and she made a croaking noise. . . teetering on her spindly legs, S’ybll sneered and said, ‘I never did like you.’ Then the mind witch’s eyes rolled up into her skull and she collapsed upon the cavern floor.” Luke confirms that S’ybll is indeed dead. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • There is some brief, very mild language, though nothing more serious than some light taunts. For example, when Luke was thirteen, his friend Windy informs him that when he was in Anchorhead, two kids named Fixer and Tank called both him and Luke “small fry” because they weren’t old enough to drive landspeeders. Windy calls Fixer and Tank a “couple of jerks.” “‘They called us jerks too?’ Luke asks. ‘Not us, you idiot,’ Windy said, rolling his eyes. ‘Them! They’re the jerks!’” 

Supernatural Content 

  • Luke has two encounters with S’ybll, a mind witch. After Luke discovers her real identity, S’ybll explains, “I’m a mind witch. . . I can reach into your memories and create illusions to ensnare and weaken you until a psychic link is forged. Then I drain the mental energy from you, the very life essence that will renew me. . . make me young again!” Two notable examples of her illusions include creating false apparitions of both Ben Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.  

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

By Nicholas Paragano 

The Cursed Spotlight

Nari lands her first big break when she is selected to perform the coveted Spotlight Solo during the Lunar New Year celebration. However, the spotlight has a curse—every past solo has gone terribly wrong! Even worse, a fire demon dog threatens her band, AURA’s, performance and grows stronger with every doubt. To battle the fear of failure, Nari must rely on the help of her friends and the boy band VORTEX to give her the courage to seize the spotlight. 

After defeating the demons that haunted the school and fed on fear, AURA is back and preparing for finals. After being chosen for the Spotlight Solo, Nari fears the rumors that the solo is cursed and wants no part of it. During the break, Nari invites Tae and Hana over to watch a grand end-of-the-year concert. She also invites Soojin, who reluctantly attends. The girls connect and, when Nari is selected as the performer of the Spotlight Solo, travel back to K-pop Academy to prepare for their performance. Practice is intense, and Nari struggles with the weight of the spotlight. However, it is clear that something is amiss when the girls encounter a mysterious force causing trouble within VORTEX, a boy band making its debut at the winter performance. Nari draws strength from her friends to build her confidence and come face-to-face with a fear-feeding fiery spirit called a bulgae. During the big performance, the bulgae causes Nari to freeze up during a big moment. However, with the help of her friends, Nari pulls through and casts the bulgae out. The performance is a humongous hit, and AURA proves that friendship is always stronger than fear. 

This second installment of the K-Pop Academy Series focuses on Nari, and the shift is effective: she becomes a strong protagonist, given the solo in a big stage performance, and throughout the book she goes through a journey of discovering self-confidence and casting out fear. The other characters also receive more focus and care, as the book takes the time to develop their relationships, so AURA feels more like a real group of friends rather than simply a bundle of characters. The book does, however, seem to undo Soojin’s growth from the previous book—she begins cold and separate from AURA despite the last book’s ending suggesting she’d grown friendlier toward them. Despite this, Soojin is developed into a multi-faceted character, making her interactions with AURA more believable and significant. Overall, the book’s focus on its characters benefits it greatly; everyone gains depth and changes over the course of the story, making The Cursed Spotlight a strong, inspirational read.

The story is much less fast-paced and more focused than the first book, The Stage of Shadows. Its slower pace allows for more character development, especially for Nari. The bulgae is effectively kept in mystery and built up to before its appearance, making it feel more threatening. This time, the mysterious enemy isn’t the focus of the story. Instead, Nari’s struggles to take the spotlight take center stage and the bulgae simply represents her gnawing fear of failure. The creature’s defeat at the end of the book signifies Nari conquering her fear and her growth in confidence. This role fits the book’s focus well, giving the story a mystical element without taking away from its true purpose as a character-driven tale. 

The themes once again center on friendship and casting out fear, with Nari’s journey focused on building confidence in her abilities and trusting that she is good enough. Her friends play a key role in helping her become her best self, and the book emphasizes that one doesn’t have to carry the weight of their anxieties and insecurities alone. It champions friendship as a source of strength and an essential tool for reaching one’s highest potential—a message that feels especially relevant today. 

K-Pop Academy: The Cursed Spotlight expands on the world established by The Stage of Shadows by developing its characters into strong, relatable protagonists, and reminds the reader that perfection isn’t required to succeed—friendship is what makes one truly strong. The improvements to the book’s structure, pacing, and character development make it a step up from its predecessor, even with less action. The Cursed Spotlight successfully builds on the K-Pop Academy series and is sure to continue entertaining and inspiring its fans.

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • A bulgae enters the girls’ empty room and leaves burn marks behind. Later, the bulgae attacks a group of boys in their dorm. “There was this crash near the window. The glass shook, but it didn’t break. . . when I went back in, the others were on the floor, and something slammed me into the wall.” 
  • While in a hallway, Nari fights the bulgae with her daggers. “She moved without thinking. One slash at the glowing shoulder, pivot, second strike from the opposite angle. The blades didn’t hit anything solid like flesh – they sliced through the heat around the bulgae’s body, sending sprays of sparks across the wall. The air burned her exposed skin, but she kept going. The fire dog reared back. . . It swiped a paw through the air, right where Nari’s head had been a split second earlier.” She eventually defeats it using her voice. The scene is described over four pages. 
  • During the big Lunar New Year performance, the bulgae returns when AURA is on stage. Together with the boy band VORTEX, AURA uses their voices to defeat it. “Together they lifted the chorus again. Their hands painted arcs through the air and a shimmering blue afterglow trailed behind them. . .The bulgae stumbled backward, flames drawing inward. Its shape shrank, folding in on itself until the inferno peeled away.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • The Spotlight Solo is said to be cursed. Whoever gets the solo freezes on stage and loses their voice. The girls think demons cause it. “Anyone who gets the Spotlight Solo fails out or transfers the next summer. . . maybe demons hate solos.” 
  • The girls encounter a spirit called a bulgae. It is a fire dog that feeds off fear and makes the singers freeze on stage. 
  • Soojin mistakes a bird for a demon. 
  • The bulgae’s energy is connected to the stage lighting system, causing the lights to flicker when someone shows fear or doubt. 
  • During the final performance, the bulgae possesses a street dog and is exorcized using their voices. 

Spiritual Content  

  • Demons are not referred to in a religious context. 

by Brent Krueger

When Tomorrow Burns

When best friends Nomi, Vi, and Arthur were younger, they discovered a book of prophecies. It was so very comforting to know what was coming. But as the kids grew older, they forgot about the book.
Until the final prophecy started coming true.  

Now, as seventh grade tests their friendship and wildfires threaten Seattle, the final prophecy promises fire and destruction. Nomi tries everything to prevent calamity. The only problem? She needs help… but Vi’s acting strange, and Arthur stopped talking to her.  

Vi can’t tell Nomi, but she’s been texting the coolest boy in school, and it’s going well. Until that boy makes an unexpected request, and she must decide who she wants to be. Meanwhile, Arthur joined the cross-country team, but he can’t outrun the real reason he ended his friendship with Nomi. The best he can do is try to hide it. As the prophecy escalates, past and present intersect, fate and friendship collide, and secrets spread like wildfire. Together, Nomi, Vi, and Arthur must face the future… even, and especially when it’s so uncertain. 

When Tomorrow Burns is told from four points of view: Nomi, Vi, Arthur, and a tree. This structure lets readers see how the three friends’ perspectives differ from one another, as each holds secrets from the others. For Vi and Arthur, these secrets center on a first crush and unfamiliar emotions they don’t yet understand. Many middle grade readers will relate to the friends’ struggles to understand each other alongside their newfound awareness of the opposite sex. When Nomi and Lucas connect over social media, she feels a special connection and sends him a picture of herself wearing only a bra. Lucas then shows the picture to his friends, and the fallout highlights the dangers of sexting in an age-appropriate way. 

The story grows more complicated with the addition of the tree’s point of view. Interspersed throughout the book, these short chapters often reference times in history when people faced discrimination, such as the Japanese internment camps and the Salem witch trials. However, these events are mentioned so briefly that readers may struggle to fully understand them. For example, when settlers began arriving in the West, people pushed “Chinese immigrants onto boats, forcing them out of the country. Others had set fire to Duwamish longhouses, destroying entire villages in the process.” 

The book also attempts to educate readers about friendship difficulties, discrimination, and gender identity: Arthur has two fathers, one character uses they/them pronouns, and Nomi’s mother says, “It’s good to let people choose their identity.” Additionally, one of Arthur’s friends assumes he’s gay, though he isn’t. These threads don’t always feel like natural extensions of the story and may confuse some readers. 

The novel further explores discrimination, both historical and current, through conversations like the one between Arthur and his friend about the difficulties of being a boy. They discuss how it’s “harder than ever to be a boy… People aren’t as prejudiced against [Asian boys] as they are against white boys.” Later, during a tour of an underground city, a guide states, “White men have made a whole lot of rules that benefit them, and harm everyone else.” While arguably accurate, the comment leaves Arthur feeling that “it was hard to be a boy, because it meant people blamed him for everything, even though he hadn’t done anything.” 

Unfortunately, When Tomorrow Burns tries to tackle too many social issues at once — sexting, classism, discrimination, and global warming among them. With so many characters and facts to track, and with the narrative bouncing frequently between points of view, readers must pay close attention to every word to avoid getting lost. Because of this, the book is best suited to strong readers who enjoy puzzling through characters’ inner thinking. 

In the end, When Tomorrow Burns is an ambitious book that bites off more than it can fully chew. Its heart is in the right place, and its central friendship story lands well, but the sheer number of weighty themes crammed into a middle-grade novel dilutes its impact. Readers who stick with it will find moments of genuine insight, but this is a book that asks a lot of its audience. If you’re looking for an entertaining book that explores friendship, check out these books: The Astonishing Maybe, Manatee Summer, and Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up. 

Sexual Content  

  • Vi takes a selfie of herself in a bra and sends it to a boy, who shares it with all of his friends. 

Violence  

  • There is a reference to the witch trials: “where whole communities had burned women at the stake—turning girls to flame for talking too much, or not talking enough, or simply having a really nice garden.” 
  • Nomi gets angry at the boy who shared Vi’s selfie. During class she lunged “tackling Lucus to the ground.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • An adult uses “Oh Christ,” as an exclamation once. 
  • Arthur’s father asks, “Arthur, are you having romantic feelings for boys?” Instead of answering, Arthur says, “Oh god.” 
  • Freaking is used four times. 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Vi accidentally sets her bedroom on fire. When Vi gets out of the house safely, her mom says, “Thank god.” 

Eureka

The year is 1885. San Francisco is dangerous for Chinese immigrants like twelve-year-old Mei Mei. She must venture on her own, without her family or friends, to Eureka, California, where it is supposedly safe.

But 300 miles from home, Mei Mei misses her Ma Ma’s kindness, helping out in her Ba Ba’s store, and playing hide-and-seek with her best friend, Hua Hua. Despite her fear and the increasing violence against her community, she finds hope in an unexpected friend, the giant redwood trees, and a new dream: learning how to read in English. As the world around her grows scarier, Mei Mei discovers her own power, as well as the joy of found family, the importance of courage, and the nature of freedom. 

Eureka is told from a unique point of view — Mei Mei, a young Chinese girl who moves from San Francisco to Eureka to live with her aunt and uncle. Mei Mei doesn’t understand why her parents want to send her to Eureka. She thinks it’s because “Maybe my badness / has gotten too big / and now I must be sent away.” As she grapples with her parents’ decisions, she also deals with understanding her culture and the dangers of being a Chinese girl in a predominantly white society. For example, Mei Mei often compares Ma Ma’s feet to hers. At first, Mei Mei wants to have pretty feet like her Ma Ma. That changes when she realizes her “big, unbound feet, / wide, long, thick, / flat” give her a freedom that her mother doesn’t have. While many of Mei Mei’s conflicts are rooted in the time period, every reader will understand her desire to go to school, have friends, and have the freedom to make decisions. 

Both in San Francisco and Eureka, Mei Mei witnesses discrimination and fighting between Chinese gangs. Because the story is told from Mei Mei’s point of view, the violence is not depicted in graphic detail. Nevertheless, the book carries a content warning for violence and racism. Despite this, Eureka is an important book to read in order to understand the racism that permeated many early American towns. Because Mei Mei is Chinese, she cannot attend regular school; she is in danger of being kidnapped, and she is put to work as a servant for a white family. This leaves her wondering “why all women can’t be free, why all women can’t be rich and run.” 

Mei Mei faces many obstacles that may upset readers. She often compares her feet to Ma Ma’s feet, and the description of foot binding may be distressing to some. Additionally, the story hints that Mei Mei’s aunt and uncle were dishonest and tricked Mei Mei’s parents into sending her to them. They were not necessarily cruel to her, but they arranged her job and took her pay. In the end, Mei Mei finds her way back to San Francisco with the help of a trusted friend. 

Eureka is a fast-paced, suspenseful, verse-written story that powerfully portrays the hardships faced by Chinese people in early America. It focuses on the expulsion of Chinese people and the burning of Chinatown in Eureka, California, in 1885. The author’s note and back matter provide additional context about this horrific event and Chinese culture. 

Ultimately, Eureka is a moving and necessary read. Through Mei Mei’s eyes, readers experience the injustice, resilience, and quiet courage it took to survive in a world that was often openly hostile to people who looked like her. The story’s verse format gives it an emotional immediacy that will resonate with young readers, while its historical grounding makes it a valuable tool for understanding a too-often overlooked chapter of American history. Mei Mei’s journey — marked by fear, longing, and eventual triumph — reminds us that the search for freedom, belonging, and education is timeless. 

 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Mei Mei’s Ma Ma cannot walk without help, because her feet were deliberately malformed as a sign of wealth. “‘It showed we were richer,’ she / said, ‘and that we didn’t need / to work the fields. She said men liked it, / thought it was beautiful, / especially when / we walked, dainty, nearly / falling over like dolls.’” 
  • “Ma Ma once told / me that her ma ma / trimmed my ma ma’s / toenails, soaked her feet in a metal / tub filled with herbs and / pig blood to / soften her feet.” Her ma ma’s feet were wrapped tightly. “Then she pushed the toes / on each foot down and / curled them under as / hard as she could / downward / downward / then squeezed them / until the toes broke, until the arch of each / foot broke.” The bandages were sewn so she couldn’t take them off. At the time Ma Ma was four years old. 
  • Mei Mei’s Ba Ba warns her to be careful because “The Chinese people have been kidnapping / young girls like me” and making them slaves. 
  • The Chinese people fight with the white people about money. The Chinese people stay in Chinatown unless “they want to / get shot in the head.”  
  • Tom, a young Chinese orphan, is a servant in a rich man’s house. While serving dinner, he drops something, and Mei Mei hears “a slap and then / the sound of something hitting a wall.” 
  • The Chinese gangs fight. Afterward, Mei Mei’s uncle comes home. He “falls over like a large wounded animal.” His face is “bloody and red, / purple bumps by his eye. / He’s groaning.” 
  • While working for a white man, Mei Mei goes upstairs to his daughter’s room. The girl’s father, Mr. Bobbit, finds out and gets angry. “He grabs my arm and lifts / me up so that my feet / are dangling an inch / from the floor. . . He drops me onto / the ground, and I’m surprised I don’t / fall on the floor / but am still standing / tall, upright. . . Before I know it, / he’s dragging me and / shoving me into the closet. / Then darkness.” The punishment scene is described over three pages. 
  • Two Chinese gangs fight and some of them have guns. Mei Mei watches through the door. “The dirt rising up in / clouds of messy dust, / hands flying, / fist clenched, / more gunshots.” During the fight, two men are killed, three are injured, and the police arrest some of them, including Mei Mei’s uncle. 
  • In another fight, Mei Mei sees “Uncle and another man / pushing, yelling, and I see / a red flash, hear a bullet / break the air, then another / and another.” During the fight, a white man and a boy are injured. The scene is described over several pages.  
  • All of the Chinese are told to leave Eureka. If they don’t, “They said they’ll hang us on the gallows they’re building right now.” 
  • Miss Yu, Tom, and Mei Mei flee from Eureka. They are in the woods when a mountain lion attacks Tom. “Tom falls back / onto the ground. Everything’s blurry, / there’s brown fur, / Tom’s face, / white fangs / that start to get bigger. . .” Mei Mei scares the mountain lion away. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Mei Mei is called a Chinaman in a derogatory way.  
  • Some of the white people yell mean things at the Chinese, such as “Go back to China!” and “Chinese must go!” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • In Eureka, the redwood trees “go so high up, / they must be able / to see heaven, which / the church teachers / told me all about.” 

The Bathhouse

During the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution, the new religious regime of Ayatollah Khomeini cracks down on religious opposition, promising to purge and convert all of the so-called “devil worshipers.” A normal teenage girl, the unnamed protagonist, is arrested because of her brother’s connection to leftist politics and activism. Held captive in a public-bathhouse-turned-prison, she is subjected to torture and death threats. She meets many other prisoners, and together they attempt to survive the oppressive conditions while maintaining their spirit and sanity. 

The novel is based on interviews with real Iranian women detailing their experiences during and after the Iranian Revolution. As such, it tackles difficult topics such as religious persecution, torture, and human cruelty. The prisoners are subjected to many different forms of violence, including beatings, stonings, and executions. Moshiri does not shy away from the reality of the violence, providing at times bloody descriptions through the eyes of the protagonist’s innocence. The protagonist remains unnamed throughout the work to represent each woman who endured the same torturous experience. 

As the novel progresses, the protagonist is powerless against her captors and loses her ability to fight back. The book focuses more on depicting the brutality of the prison rather than the resistance against it. This approach is highly effective at showing the cruelty that the prisoners endure and the consequences of tyrannical power dynamics. The protagonist, despite being physically powerless against her captors, has a strong character. She is resilient throughout the devastating abuse, but she tries to comfort others and protect them. While she doesn’t physically resist, her survival and unwillingness to convert act as forms of rebellion.  

The supporting cast of characters further conveys the sadness of the situation, as many of them are there for the wrong reason. Despite the hardships, the women stick together, protect each other, and care for one another. However, as each one meets their fate, sometimes death, sometimes escape, the protagonist is left on her own. The characters in the novel provide heart despite the oppression they face and serve as the work’s emotional core. They enhance the themes of both human kindness and cruelty, making the novel’s message effective. 

The Bathhouse has strong themes of religion, hierarchies of power, and disillusionment of ideals. Jamali, the head of the prison, declares that he intends to convert all of the “devil worshippers” to the religion of Islam under the new Iranian regime. Despite this claim, the prison guards commit many atrocious acts that go against what their religion teaches. Some prisoners who convert only pretend to do so to survive, such as Zohre and Ferial, who do it to protect their babies. The divide between Jamali’s supposed ideals and the brutal reality of the prison demonstrates the consequences when religious power is abused as a form of oppression. Since Jamali is backed by the new government, the actions in the bathhouse, such as the execution of political and ideological opponents, are not condoned nor stopped. Moshiri shows through the protagonist’s experience that disillusionment between the Iranian Revolution’s ideals and reality has devastating consequences that lead to horrid acts done for oppression and control over opposition. 

While the protagonist is released from prison at the end of the novel, the ending remains somber as she now has to live out the rest of her life having experienced great atrocities for simply being related to a political activist. The perpetrators of the great abuse do not face any consequences. It is an ending meant to convey the weight of the horrible conditions many people experienced during the Iranian Revolution and does not offer any comfort, forcing the reader to come to terms with what they just experienced. 

The Bathhouse is a powerful account of the religious persecution of the Khomeini regime.  It has a lot of foul language and violence, including sexual violence. The Bathhouse is not a novel one reads for entertainment. Similar to Night by Elie Wiesel, it has heavy themes of survival amidst cruelty that are only for mature audiences. If read in the right mindset, it is an extremely powerful work that opens one’s mind to humanity’s potential for good, evil, and survival despite oppression. Readers interested in Middle Eastern history may also want to read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.    

Sexual Content 

  • When a group of armed men storm the protagonist’s house, they make her change clothes. “Then I felt cramps in my belly. I reached under my skirt to see if I was bleeding, but the boy kicked the door open, jumping into my room. . . I realized that he had been watching me getting dressed.” 
  • The protagonist is on her period for a portion of the book and describes her bleeding. “Thinking about her opened a hot flood inside my belly. I bled again. My underwear and my skirt were wet with blood. Blood dripped down my thighs. . . Another gush of blood flooded out. I let it pump out of me, flowing under my body.” 
  • The protagonist mops up her blood and passes out. “I knelt on the floor, wiping the blood, but more gushed out. I panicked. All my insides were pumping out. As I was wiping the floor, my eyes blurred and I thought that I was Ferial and I was losing my baby. . .Then I thought I’d rather lie down here and get some sleep close to my bloody child.” The protagonist is making a comparison and is not pregnant.  
  • The protagonist, at 17 years old, wants to comfort a baby so she “unbuttoned my uniform and took my breast out. I didn’t need to put my nipple in her mouth, her mouth found it. She began to suck. She sucked and I closed my eyes, feeling a sharp pain in my hard breast. She was not crying now, just sucking on my empty breast.”  
  • Before female prisoners are executed, they are raped so that they are not virgins and go to hell. 
  • Before she is to be executed, the protagonist is brought into a room, blindfolded, and raped. “Now one of them held my arms from above and someone else removed my uniform. They pressed my arms down and I heard a scream–not my scream, one of the girls’ in the room, because I’m sure that I remained mute and didn’t utter a syllable when something pierced me and tore my insides. All I could imagine in that deep darkness I’d fallen into was Sister Sultani drilling a hole in me with her long forefinger.”  

Violence 

  • The protagonist’s parents died in a car crash. “When he and Mother died in a car accident, a policeman handed us a plastic bag containing their belongings.” 
  • A group of armed men storm the protagonist’s house and threaten her with machine guns. “He prodded me with the butt of his machine gun, cursing.” 
  • The armed men tie people up and put them in blindfolds, slapping them to keep them quiet. 
  • At the bathhouse prison, the guards often beat and abuse the prisoners to force them to convert to their religion. “And then I heard the distinct sound of whoop. . . whoop. . . whoop. . . From somewhere a woman screamed, ‘No. Stop! Don’t. . . I’ve seen it; yes, with my own eyes–’” 
  • The blindfolded prisoners are dragged around by ropes and handcuffed. “Now I felt something around my neck and in a second I was pulled by a leash. I felt like a blind goat on the way to the altar.” 
  • The guards severely beat. “Whoop. . . I felt a sudden blow on my head. The shock was more disturbing than the pain itself. . . Whoop. . . Another blow. My scalp was on fire.” These descriptions occur often. 
  • Many prisoners are executed by firing squad, including the protagonist’s brother. It is described as “a mountain of iron collapsing.” 
  • The protagonist describes the prisoners in very bad condition. “I remembered that there were eighty people less. I looked around to find Ferial or Hamid, I looked for Zohre and her baby, too. The inmates’ faces were tired, sleep-deprived. Some had black and blue bruises, some had bandages around their head.” 
  • The protagonist describes her pain when she gets beaten. “One million wasps stung my palms and pierced their sharp needles into my flesh. . . My palms looked like balloons, or two red rubber gloves with air blown in them.” 
  • After being in prison for a while, the protagonist develops suicidal thoughts. “Let them whip me in the empty pool. Let them shoot me. For the first time since my arrest, I wished for death.” 
  • To make a prisoner give information about her son’s friends, the staff hangs her son from the ceiling in front of her. “Mrs. Moradi, who was behind me in line, told me in a whisper that all day yesterday they had hanged her son upside down from the ceiling and had forced her to watch. Finally she couldn’t tolerate it and rushed toward her son to bring him down. That’s when they whipped her face.” 
  • Many of the prisoners are severely beaten on many occasions. The novel describes the beatings and screams of pain. For example, one prisoner hangs herself before she is to be raped and executed. “She was on the next death list. She had told her friends that she was not afraid of death, she feared the rape.” 
  • The prisoners are forced to stone other inmates. “Many girls didn’t cooperate. The guards pushed them in the pool and others hit them. Now there were several women in the pool and I could see the blood. I tried not to look inside the pool, at the bloody heads and the bruised bodies. . .  [a prisoner] ripped her scarf off, baring her bald head; she tore her black uniform open, she undressed, shrieked again, and then jumped in the pool of dust and blood to be stoned with everyone else.” 
  • A group of prisoners is tortured by being forced to stand outside blindfolded overnight and being forced into small boxes for a week without being let out.   

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • The smell of alcohol is briefly mentioned.  

Language 

  • Bitch is used often. 
  • Damn, Goddamn, crap, and fuck are used. 
  • The prison guards call the prisoners “dirty little leftists” and “godless leftists.” 
  • The guards often call the girls “unclean” and “devils.” 
  • Whore is used twice. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • The novel takes place during the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. The new Islamic regime persecutes anyone who does not follow their religion. God is often mentioned as the “Great Leader” and “His Holy Face.” 
  • The protagonist mentions neighborhood parties in which people “discussed the existence or non-existence of the Sacred Face of the Great Leader on the moon.” 
  • The protagonist mentions her old playmate had been sent to fight in the Holy War. “Since the army had recruited their only son, sending him to the Holy War, the couple hadn’t had a full night’s sleep.” 
  • The prisoners call the execution site the “Wall of the Almighty.” 
  • Jamali, head of the prison, interrogates the protagonist of her religion. They discuss Christianity, Judaism, atheism, God, and Satan. 
  • Jamali describes atheism as “devil-worshipping.” 
  • A doctor is arrested for being political and talking about her beliefs. “I just said something about the picture on the moon. Because it’s ridiculous. It’s medieval. The shadow on the moon is the Sea of Tranquility. It’s a real sea. Astronauts have seen it. . . it’s lunacy.” 
  • The protagonist and other prisoners call out to God on many occasions. 
  • The staff of the prison kneel and do prayer. “The Party is one, the Party of Allah. . .” 
  • The religious leaders call on the prisoners to repent. “This is your last chance to repent and join the ranks of the believers. This way the gates of heaven will open to you. Now you’re hanging over a pit of fire, any minute we can cut the rope and drop you into the burning flame. The rope of Allah is in our hands now. Our Leader is chosen by Allah and our government is the government of Allah.” Some of the prisoners claim to repent. 
  • The prison manager, Jamali calls the protagonist “Mother Teresa” for trying to save a baby. 

Wilderness Hacks

Hatchet meets Survivor in this high-action, humor-filled middle-grade adventure about two kids stranded in the wilderness, whose annoyance with each other rivals the roaring rapids and ferocious predators they must face. 

12-year-old Sadie Hahn didn’t plan to eat grubs on camera to win a contest. And she definitely didn’t plan to win first prize while making a guest appearance on a YouTube show hosted by America’s favorite 13-year-old survivalist, Radley Shaw. But she’ll do anything to cheer up her little brother Silas, who’s too young to qualify.  

Rad has millions of followers and exactly zero real-life friends, so the contest is a great chance for him to hang out with kids his own age. But it’s hate-at-first-sight when Silas throws a wrench in his plan, and Sadie decides Rad is just a clueless poser who doesn’t know the first thing about survival. Disaster strikes when their scripted rafting trip turns into a real fight for survival. Lost in the mountains, Rad and Sadie must find shelter, build a fire, forage for food, and try not to become food for a hungry predator. 

Wilderness Hacks’ chapters alternate between Rad’s and Sadie’s perspectives, highlighting one of the main themes: our assumptions about others are often wrong. The two kids immediately get off on the wrong foot because they assume the worst of each other, heightening the drama and suspense in a way that mirrors the social dynamics most middle schoolers know well. Even though Rad and Sadie dislike each other, both characters are unique and likable because of their insecurities and difficulty expressing their emotions. Readers will relate to their conflicts, recognize their conflicting emotions, and appreciate their different strengths. Notably, the dual perspectives also illuminate how each character carries burdens the other can’t immediately see. Sadie’s panic attacks, for instance, reveal a vulnerability that surprises Rad, and when he responds with genuine kindness by guiding her through breathing techniques, it marks a turning point in their reluctant friendship. 

This emotional depth extends to the book’s thoughtful portrayal of characters with invisible disabilities. Sadie’s brother Silas is autistic and has celiac disease, and Sadie’s constant worry about him — knowing that even a crumb of gluten can trigger serious side effects — is rooted in real grief: her father died because his own celiac disease went undiagnosed. These details are woven naturally into the story rather than feeling like add-ons, giving the adventure genuine emotional stakes alongside the physical ones. 

Wilderness Hacks is a fast-paced, action-packed story that readers won’t want to put down. The dual perspectives, high-stakes drama, and short chapters will engage readers while teaching important life lessons about survival, friendship, and not making assumptions about others. The back matter — including Sadie’s Secret-Spice Recipe, Rad’s Top Ten Survival Essentials, and a list of “Would You Rather” questions — extends the fun beyond the final page and makes the book especially well-suited for classroom use or book clubs. One of the characters mentions Bear Grylls, which may lead readers to explore other survival-themed books, including the Girls Survive Series, Bear Grylls Adventures, and Survival Tails. Overall, Wilderness Hacks is an entertaining survival story that requires both protagonists to use their individual skills, teamwork, and grit to survive. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Rad finds a dead man in the river. “He’s lying half in, half out of the water, his upper body exposed and swollen, straining against a life jacket. He’s not wearing a helmet—just the life jacket and swim trunks—and his feet are bare.” Later that night, the kids hear animals eating the man. 
  • A mountain lion attacks Rad. He looks back and “it’s that motion that has the mountain lion’s massive jaw and teeth scraping Rad’s helmet instead of his face when the big cat launches itself at Rad like a guided missile on a moving target.” 
  • When the mountain lion pins Rad to the ground, he feels “searing agony as claws scrape my back. . . The thud of impact as it brings me to the ground and then scrambles to find a better angle on my throat.” Sadie screams, and “thrust[s a tree branch] again, and the cat backs up this time, still screaming.”  
  • Sadie props Rad against a tree. Riding a bike, she leaves to get help. When she returns, “The mountain lion is crouched down, ready to pounce, and Rad has no idea. . . The cat leaps a split second before I reach them, and I wrench the handlebars toward the airborne animal. . . There’s a snap and a crack and then. . . Nothing.” The mountain lion attack is described over several chapters. Both kids are injured. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • After the mountain lion attack, Rad is given painkillers in the hospital. 

Language  

  • In the narration, people are occasionally referred to as jerks. For example, Sadie thinks, “I sound like a jerk.” 
  • As a joke, Sadie tells Rad, “I’m usually better at spotting you weirdos.” 
  • Sadie tells Rad that he’s acting like an idiot. Later, in a fit of anger, she calls him an idiot. 
  • Sadie thinks that Rad is “a balloon-headed meatball.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • When Silas asks Sadie to enter a contest, she prays “that this new obsession won’t have me eating anything that still has a face.” 
  • When faced with a difficult situation, Sadie mumbles. Radley asks who she is, and she says, “God.”  

Who Were the Beatles?

By early 1964, the Beatles were on top of the world. They began what would become the “British Invasion” when they made their American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, before an audience of more than 73 million viewers. This would only be the beginning of their global domination that endures to this day. How did they become the most famous rock band in history? Who Were the Beatles? explores the full history of the Fab Four in a fun, accessible format and introduces readers to the lives, music, and continuing legacy of the group that changed music forever. 

Who Were the Beatles? is an entry in the Who Was? biography series, designed to introduce younger readers to important historical figures. The book is divided into eleven chapters covering events before, during, and after the Beatles’ time together as a group. The first four chapters are dedicated to the early lives of each member: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. These early chapters provide fascinating details about the childhoods of the Beatles, such as Ringo’s many bouts with illnesses that kept him in the hospital for extended periods, John and Paul both losing their mothers at young ages (and how their losses affected them musically), and George’s relatively stable and happy childhood in comparison to his bandmates.  

As the book progresses, it covers the formation of the band, the rise of Beatlemania and the touring years, the Beatles’ transition to a studio band from 1967 to their breakup in 1970, and each member’s solo career. The last major event covered is the shocking murder of John Lennon in December 1980. There are several references to violence, drugs, and alcohol, so this book may be better suited for middle-grade readers. 

Who Were the Beatles? is an easy-to-read book with short chapters comprising simple language and large text that makes for a breezy read. Every page features large black-and-white illustrations, as well as blurbs to provide context for other events and figures of the era (the Sixties, the Vietnam War, and other musicians who inspired the Beatles, such as Elvis Presley and Little Richard). These additions are helpful for younger readers, helping them better understand the broader history of the era in which the Beatles were famous. The end of the book also features a timeline of Beatles history from 1940 to 2001 with other important historical events (such as the moon landing or the Soviet Union’s collapse) that coincided with them. 

Altogether, Who Were the Beatles? is an entertaining, comprehensive biography of the Beatles’ career filled to the brim with charming illustrations and pop culture references. It serves as an excellent entry point for new Beatles fans or young readers interested in the history of pop music.  

Sexual Content 

  • The opening chapter describes Elvis Presley’s provocative stage presence, noting that he wore “very tight” jeans and “swiveled his hips” while performing. It also explains that television appearances sometimes showed him “only from the waist up” so audiences would not see him dancing. 
  • Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s second wife, was considered an “experimental artist” even for the 60s. “For example, she once made a film of a fly walking up and down a naked person’s body.” 

Violence 

  • The opening chapter covers John Lennon’s early life. On the day he was born in 1940, “World War II was raging in Europe. Liverpool, England, was being bombed by the Germans.” John’s mother, Julia, gave birth early in the morning as “the walls of the hospital shook from falling bombs.” 
  • Tragically, just before John’s eighteenth birthday, his mother was “hit by a car and died.” 
  • A one-page blurb discusses the Vietnam War. “By 1964, thousands of soldiers were fighting in Vietnam. The war dragged on for years. More than fifty thousand American soldiers died before it ended.” 
  • A two-page blurb provides context on the turbulent events of the 1960s. “John F. Kennedy was shot and killed. His brother Robert was shot and killed. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed. The wave of violence shook everyone. The world didn’t seem safe.” 
  • Chapter 10 covers the careers of each member after the Beatles’ breakup in 1970. George Harrison and his family purchased a “hundred-room mansion” in England to live in privacy, but in 1999, a man broke in. George was stabbed, but he recovered, and the man was arrested.” 
  • Chapter 11: “The Saddest Day” explains the events of December 8, 1980, when John Lennon was assassinated in New York City. That afternoon, outside his apartment at the Dakota building, he signed a copy of his new album for a fan named Mark David Chapman, who “wasn’t like other fans. He was mentally ill. He heard voices in his head, voices that told him to hurt John Lennon.” Chapman waited outside the Dakota for Lennon to return later that evening with his wife, Yoko Ono. “When John and Yoko arrived home, Chapman called out, ‘Mr. Lennon.’ Then he took out a gun and fired. John Lennon. . . fell to the ground. He died shortly after. He was only forty years old.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • During the Beatles’ early days performing in Hamburg, Germany, they started taking “pills [to] stay awake on stage.”  
  • Their fans are described as “interesting.” Sometimes, they “had too much beer and got into fights. They threw chairs and swung from lights hanging down from the ceiling.” 
  • When the landmark album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band released in 1967, John stirred controversy with his song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” “People thought John was writing about LSD, a drug that some people were using.” 
  • During the mid-1970s, John’s marriage to Yoko Ono was falling apart. The couple separated for a while, and in that time, “John began to drink too much. He also took drugs.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural Content 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • One of the most infamous controversies involving the Beatles occurred in 1966, when John Lennon told a reporter that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus right now.” “Many people were deeply offended. Some radio stations held protests with big bonfires. People were invited to throw Beatles albums into the flames. John quickly apologized.” 

by Nicholas Paragano

Oil-Soaked Wings

An oil spill in the ocean means destruction for both animals and their habitats—and lots of work for Seaside Sanctuary, where Elsa Roth’s parents work. When pelicans are gravely hurt in the spill and brought into the sanctuary, Elsa and her friends are given important roles in caring for the birds. But the animals can’t be released until their habitat is clean—and the company responsible for the spill doesn’t seem interested in stepping up. Can Elsa and her friends spearhead the cleanup and save the pelicans? 

When Elsa and her best friend Olivia discover an oil spill in their community, they immediately jump in and help the pelicans that have been covered in oil. The girls quickly learn how to properly care for the birds without treating them like pets. The girls learn that “it’s very important the pelicans don’t start associating humans with food. We don’t want them to get comfortable with us.” Despite this, Elsa and Olivia become attached to a pelican, whom they name Pellie. When Pellie dies, the girls are devastated, but they continue to help in the rescue efforts. 

Oil-Soaked Wings teaches readers how oil spills can destroy an ecosystem. “The oil would kill fish and crab and coral and seaweed and dolphins and seals and birds. And it would stay and stay until someone cleaned it up, which was hard—and expensive—to do.” When the company responsible for the oil spill refuses to help clean it up, Elsa and Olivia organize a group of kids to clean the beach. Even though Elsa and Olivia are just kids, Elsa’s dad encourages them by saying, “Some people think that because you’re kids, you can’t produce any kind of change. But that’s not right. Kids can have a huge influence on real-world problems. They just need to gather and organize.”  

Both Elsa and Olivia are likable protagonists who love animals and work alongside adult volunteers. They show readers how to organize a beach clean-up and how to use the media to get the word out. Because of their efforts, the company takes action to clean up the oil spill. The girls’ actions highlight the importance of using their voices to effect change.  

Oil-Soaked Wings is told in eight short chapters, and each begins with a black-and-white illustration. The end of the book includes a glossary, discussion questions, writing prompts, and additional information about pelicans. The books in the Seaside Sanctuary Series can be read in any order because each focuses on a new adventure. Oil-Soaked Wings is an engaging story that realistically depicts the harmful effects of an oil spill while also showing how Elsa and Olivia made a positive impact on their injured animals.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Darn is used once.

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Three Good Things

Leni has lived in so many different places in the last few years that she’s not surprised when her mom wakes her in the middle of the night and tells her to pack up her things. 

The reason for this move? Her mom tells her they have won the lottery, and they have to go underground. Leni is still not surprised when they end up in a filthy motel. But when Leni makes a new friend and tries to explain their lifestyle, she begins to understand just how messed up her life has become. 

Every day, Leni fights the isolation and loneliness of living with a parent with a mental illness. She constantly worries about her mother. Did she take her medication? Where will they sleep tonight? To make matters worse, she doesn’t have anyone to turn to for help. Even though her grandfather gives them money, he isn’t willing to take them in. While many teens might not relate to Leni’s situation, they will understand her desire to have friends and a stable home life.  

Three Good Things gives readers a look at the difficulties caused by homelessness and mental illness. Since talking about these topics is difficult, reading about Leni’s situation will help readers empathize with others. Because the book is short, it lacks depth and doesn’t describe some of the harsher details of homelessness and mental illness. However, this also keeps the book moving at a fast pace to hold the reader’s attention.   

As part of the Orca Current collection, Three Good Things is specifically for middle-school students reading below grade level. The book is published in Orca’s Ultra-Readable format with enhanced features such as a dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, and increased line spacing to improve reading accessibility for dyslexic and reluctant readers.  

With a likable protagonist, a high-interest topic, and a fast-paced plot, Three Good Things will appeal to many readers. The story is a quick, enjoyable read that encourages others to look for the positives in life. If you’d like to explore the topic of homelessness in more detail, read How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor, Almost Home by Joan Bauer, and Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. 

Sexual Content  

  • Leni punched her landlord when he “squeezed me against the wall in the hall one day to feel me up.” 

Violence  

  • After Leni takes a lottery ticket away from her mother, Leni’s mom “whacks me with her shoe.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Leni frequently mentions her grandfather’s smoking.  
  • Leni’s mother is supposed to take medication for her mental illness. Leni often refers to the meds but doesn’t give specific information.  
  • Leni’s grandmother accidentally overdosed on mental health medication. 

Language  

  • Crap is used four times. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None

The Water You’re Swimming In

Noah is used to being a straight-A student, swim champ and all-around easy kid. 

But things haven’t been the same since Noah’s older brother Jamie ran away to Halifax, leaving only a note behind. His parents spend every free second on the phone or driving to Halifax to try to find Jamie, and Noah is left trying to mask his anxiety and grief by pretending to be the perfect son who does everything right. But inside he feels like crying and gets a knot in his stomach whenever he thinks of Jamie. 

Some warmth returns to their home when Grandma Aisling comes to stay, bringing her fiddle and her genius for making chocolate cake with her. At school, funny and kind Alysha joins his class, and Noah has a new friend to distract him from his worries. When a swim competition is announced with the grand prize being a trip to Halifax, Noah knows he has to win it so he can go to Halifax himself and get Jamie back. 

Noah’s family dynamics are complicated, and his brother running away makes life even more difficult. His parents are so worried about Jamie that Noah thinks he has to be perfect so he doesn’t add more stress to their lives. To make matters worse, Noah doesn’t have any friends or a trusted adult he can confide in. While readers may not relate to Noah’s specific situation, they will understand his desire to have friends and be loved. The theme is strengthened as Noah shares his fears during each hardship, allowing readers to sympathize with him.  

Throughout the story, Noah’s parents and grandmother appear infrequently. They are so focused on Jamie that Noah feels invisible. However, after Noah goes to look for Jamie on his own, this shakes everyone and finally forces them, including Jamie, to examine the family dynamics and seek professional help. The story highlights that even loving parents don’t always make the right decisions. Additionally, the book explores sibling relationships and the difficulties that are caused by misconceptions and family expectations.  

The beginning of the book describes the conflict between the Christian school kids and the public-school kids at length. This section of the book feels rather odd, especially since there is only one scene in which the students interact: a water-balloon fight. The thread adds nothing to the story and breaks the flow.  

The Water You’re Swimming In blends Noah’s personal struggles at home and at school, which keeps the book interesting. Even though the swim competition is an important part of Noah’s plan to bring Jamie home, he spends little time in the pool and starts skipping practice to spend more time with his new friend, Alysha. While the story builds up the importance of the competition, there is little suspense when it finally arrives because the event isn’t described in much detail. Despite this, the book has many positive aspects, including a likable protagonist, an imperfect but loving family, and realistic conflicts. The Water You’re Swimming In encourages readers to express their feelings and not make assumptions about others. Readers who enjoy stories about friendship, family, and swimming should also read Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas, Deep Water by Jamie Sumner, and Live and Let Dive by Jake Maddox.  

Sexual Content  

  • Jamie’s friend, Alysha, breaks up with her girlfriend and finds a new one. 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • During dinner, the adults have a glass of wine.  
  • Noah’s grandma is an herbalist and uses plants to heal people. 
  • One evening, Noah’s parents drink wine. Jamie is given a sip of wine. His grandma drinks beer.  
  • Noah tells his new friend that some kids smoke cigarettes at the park. 
  • Noah goes into a bar to look for his brother. Two old men were drinking “large glasses of beer.” 

Language  

  • Heck is used five times. 
  • Darn is used once. 
  • Damn is used twice.  
  • Noah explains his family dynamics, saying, “Mom sometimes calls me her genius child, which I know secretly pisses Jamie off.” 
  • Oh my lord and OMG are each used as exclamations once. 
  • Noah gets sick after going to bed with wet hair. His grandma says, “Sleeping with a cold, wet head hat, what kind of fool are you? My God, you’re as hot as hellfire.” 
  • The kids at school call Noah a “nerd” and “teacher’s pet.” 
  • Jamie thinks he is an idiot. 
  • When a classmate is mean to Jamie, his friend asks, “Jeez, what’s up her butt?” 
  • Noah skips school to go look for his brother. Afterward, his mom asks, “What in dickens are you thinking, Noah?” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None

Manatee Summer

Peter and his best friend, Tommy, have a goal for their last summer before middle school: finish their Discovery Journal, a catalog of the wildlife around their Florida town. When they spot a manatee in a canal, Peter knows they’ve found something special—and when the manatee is injured by a boat, something to protect! 

As Peter joins the fight to save Florida manatees, he also finds himself caring for his ailing grandfather and facing an unwelcome surprise that jeopardizes his friendship with Tommy. Soon, Peter is adrift, navigating shifting tides and realizing that he has as much to discover about himself as he does about the world around him. 

Manatee Summer focuses on Peter, who is given “Official Caregiver Duty” for his grandfather, Papa, who has Alzheimer’s. Peter believes that if he is the best caregiver ever, Papa won’t have times of confusion. Caring for Papa is stressful and, at times, Peter doesn’t know what to do. However, he doesn’t reach out to others for help because he doesn’t want anyone to know about Papa’s condition. Many readers will relate to Peter, who longs for a summer of freedom and fun, but instead faces family expectations and secrets. Like most middle-grade readers, Peter is trying to understand his own conflicting emotions and find his place in the world.  

Peter’s family obligations often conflict with Peter’s friendship with his best friend Tommy. Tommy has been hiding a secret of his own, and when Peter discovers this, he pretends that Tommy doesn’t exist. Peter’s relationships with his friends and family interfere with his desire to help the manatees. With everything going on in his life, Peter often feels powerless because “even if I can make a difference, it won’t fix everything. . . manatees will still be at risk. Animals all over the world will still be at risk. The problem is too big—so big it might just swallow me whole.”  

Manatee Summer tackles the difficult subject of Alzheimer’s in a child-friendly way that helps readers understand Peter’s feelings. Peter’s relationship with Tommy and his budding interest in activism are woven into the story, allowing readers to see how interconnected all his relationships are. In the end, Peter learns the importance of using his voice in his personal life and in public. The story also highlights that people are imperfect and that we often need to view others with compassion and understanding. The book’s only problem is that there are a few instances in which Peter reflects on morality. For instance, Cassidy, a young woman who works at a manatee rescue center, lies, saying she doesn’t hate public speaking. Afterward, Peter thinks, “Maybe it’s okay [to lie] if morality is relative.” Adults may want to discuss morality with younger readers.  

Manatee Summer is an engaging story that highlights the importance of caring for the natural world. Peter struggles with the changes in his life and his fear of public speaking. With the help of his family, Peter shows personal growth and realizes that fighting for what matters—friendship, family, and the manatee—is truly important. And although he cannot fix every problem in the world, he can make a difference in the lives of the manatees and the people in his community. Readers who want to learn more about helping wildlife should also read the Vet Volunteers Series by Laurie Halse Anderson and the Rescuing Animals from Disasters Series by Stephen Person. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Peter is on “Official Caregiver Duty” for his grandfather, Papa, who has Alzheimer’s. Peter has to give Papa his pills “at three o’clock.”  
  • During a hurricane, both Peter and Papa are injured and have to go to the hospital. The nurse gives them both painkillers. 
  • At a restaurant, a woman sings about “heartache and whiskey.” 

Language  

  • Jerk is used five times. For instance, Tommy tells Peter, “I don’t think you’re a jerk, though. You did act like a jerk. But that doesn’t mean you are a jerk.” 
  • One of the neighbors tells her husband, “Be nice, Eddie, Lord save you.” 
  • Oh God, God, and dear God are used as exclamations nine times.  
  • While talking to an adult, Peter’s mom says, “I swear to God, if you say another word to me about my son. . . you are not going to like what happens next.” 
  • An older man who is receiving physical therapy tells the therapist he “doesn’t need any dang help.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • When Peter goes to Emerald Springs State Park, he calls his mom to let her know they arrived. She replies, “Thank God.” 

The Stage of Shadows

Hana has always dreamed of becoming a K-pop idol. When she earns a scholarship to K-Pop Academy, Seoul’s most prestigious training school, she’s determined to work hard to make her dreams come true. However, when she arrives, she encounters the dark whispers of demons who are slowly taking over the school, feeding on fear and chaos. With her new friends, Hana must learn to fight against the darkness and protect everything she cares about. 

After Hana witnesses the shadowy forces behind the strange occurrences at K-Pop Academy, Principal Lee reveals that demons have infiltrated the school and are exploiting the students’ doubt and impacting their performance on stage. She recruits Hana to lead a team that will protect the school and fight back against the demons. Hana, along with her new friends Tae and Nari, forms the K-pop group AURA. At dance performances, the group attempts to fend off the demons and prevent them from infecting the students with fear. However, during a training session, Nari is pulled into a mirror dimension by demons. To rescue her, Hana teams up with her enemy, Soojin, hoping to reach perfect unity through dance and pierce the darkness. After much practice, the group is able to break through the mirror and pull Nari out, sealing the demons away. Soojin joins AURA, and together they become a bright K-pop group that promises to defend the academy from the demons. 

Hana, the main character, goes through the “new kid” school experience. However, the fast-paced nature of the book largely skips over Hana’s school struggles, which limits her relatability. Upon arriving at the academy, she instantly makes enemies with the school’s “Miss Perfect” and becomes friends with Tae and Nari. Despite being new, Hana is strong, confident, and determined to help her friends, making her a likable protagonist. Through her leadership and treatment of others, she provides a good role model for the reader. Her friends lift her up when she begins to doubt if she belongs. The interactions between Hana and her friends are charming, and while the other characters are underdeveloped, they make a strong group that serves as the heart of the story. 

As the debut work of author Mina Finch, The Stage of Shadows is imperfect. The book jumps straight into the mystery, and the fast-paced beginning leaves no time for the characters to develop. Instead, the plot focuses on hunting and battling demons, leaving the day-to-day experience of a K-Pop Academy student behind. Thus, some character details are not entirely clear, and some plot points feel somewhat random and convenient to the story rather than sufficiently developed and earned. However, the imperfect plot and inconsistencies do not detract from the book’s excitement and intrigue, and it delivers a good, albeit slightly repetitive, story arc that introduces the audience to the world of K-Pop Academy. 

The Stage of Shadows is marketed to K-Pop Demon Hunters fans and borrows elements from the hit movie, including special weapons to defeat demons and seal them back with song. However, the story makes enough additions to offer a fresh take on the premise of K-Pop Demon Hunters, including demons that feed on fear and inhabit a mirror “in between” dimension. It is clear the book was made to capitalize on the movie’s massive popularity. 

The book explores the themes of friendship and confidence. It promotes connection and kindness through its characters’ actions, such as the protagonist, Hana, working with her “frenemy,” Soojin, to save their friend, Nari. It mentions social classes within the academy but does not fully develop its potential to address the social and ethnic hierarchy of Korean society. However, it keeps the themes simple for its age range while drawing some attention to the unfairness of the social structure. 

K-Pop Academy: The Stage of Shadows immerses the reader in the world of K-pop, providing a behind-the-scenes view of the culture and training of the famous idols. It seamlessly blends action and demon-fighting with the art of musical performance while delivering a solid beginning to a series with great potential. The Stage of Shadows is sure to entertain young readers and satisfy those who are looking for an extension of their K-Pop Demon Hunters obsession. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

 Violence 

  • Two students get into a physical fight. There is no description of the actual fight. 
  • Hana fights a demon during a vocal performance. “She pivoted low and swept her leg through the air, and the shadow shimmered against her kick. She flipped again, arms slicing down. . . pinned the shadow under her, and slammed it down onto the polished floor.” The demon dies. The scene is described over a page.
  • Principal Lee gives Hana, Tae, and Nari a sword, bow, and daggers. The girls use them to fight and defeat demons. During one battle, “Their daggers and bow slashed through the air in practiced rhythm. They leapt, spun, and landed together, striking the floor at the same time. The shadows hissed and shattered.” 
  • Tae fights a demon. “She grabbed the wriggling shadow by its tail, whipping it back and forth against the wall like a wet towel. Whack. Whack. Whack. It let out a hiss and popped into smoke.” 
  • During a performance, demons attack and burn the lead singer. “Her feet skidded out of sync. Something dark, a faint gray line, shimmered over her wrist. She pressed a hand to it, eyes wide. Then a beat later, her perfect smile was back, but her other hand trembled faintly as she raised the mic.” 
  • When the girls are practicing, they are attacked by demons. “Hana swung. Her blade cut through the air and shadow both, leaving a trail of light that hissed like steam. The thing recoiled, reforming instantly.” The demons capture Nari and drag her into a mirror. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • Soojin calls others “clumsy buffalos.” 
  • “Unnie” is used as a term for a new student. It is sometimes used rudely. 
  • Hana is referred to as a “dirt spoon” to represent her low social standing among the students. “Silver spoon” and “gold spoon” are used to refer to higher social tiers. 
  • The girls talk about Soojin behind her back, referencing nepotism many times. 

Supernatural 

  • In the book, there are demons called Eoduksini that come from the underworld and feed off of fear and doubt. They latch onto people and enhance their fear. 
  • Hana’s grandmother describes someone as having “the fire of a demon in her.” 
  • After two girls get in a fight, Hana describes it “as if they’d been possessed.” 
  • Jason uses a demon-detection device to sense demons. It can also sense Nari’s life energy when she is pulled into the mirror. 
  • A demon pulls Nari through a mirror into another dimension “between here and. . . there.” 
  • Demons are said to hate red ink. 
  • The girls use runes to save Nari from the mirror. 

Spiritual Content  

  • Demons are not referred to in a religious context. 

by Brent Krueger

The Abduction

When his best friend, April, disappears from her bedroom in the middle of the night, no one, not even Theodore Boone—who knows April better than anyone—has answers. As fear ripples through his small hometown and the police hit dead ends, it’s up to Theo to use his legal knowledge and investigative skills to chase down the truth and save April. 

The Abduction focuses on Theo as he follows the clues, looking for April. The story involves Leeper, a distant relative of April, who has just gotten out of jail. Theo’s determination and worry over April make him likable. However, to find his friend, Theo takes off with his uncle Ike, even though he knows his parents would disapprove. In addition, Theo convinces his friend to lie for him. While his intentions are honorable—save his friend—his deceit is intentional. After finding April, Theo calls his parents to explain why he lied to them and receives no punishment. 

Since the book is written from Theo’s point of view, much of the action is only seen through his perspective. Instead of being an active participant, Theo watches the investigation. For example, when police find a body in the river, Theo and his friends watch from a hillside. This provides readers with a buffer between the crime’s harshness and the information they receive. The book stays accessible to younger readers because they witness the characters’ fear from the outside rather than feeling it themselves. 

When Theo and his uncle find April, the scene is anti-climactic because she was never in any real danger. After she is found, they take a long car ride back home, and the book ends with a court hearing involving April and her parents. The lack of action makes The Abduction best suited for readers who enjoy learning about police investigations and character motives. Even though the book isn’t as action-packed as other books in the series, Theo is an interesting protagonist who gives readers an inside look at criminal investigations.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • April says her parents are “crazy” and have “drug convictions.” 
  • April’s mom left her alone at night because “her mother was taking pills and losing her mind.” 
  • Leeper, a relative of April, bought “cigarettes and beer.” 
  • A man who is mentioned once spent most of the evening in his favorite bar, drinking his favorite cheap beer. 
  • Theo’s uncle Ike represented a client who was “convicted for operating a small-time drug ring.” 
  • When Theo went to visit Ike, he had a “bottle of beer already opened.” 
  • Theo and Ike go to a frat party. “Theo had never seen so many cans of beer in his young life. Girls were dancing on the porch as their dates watched them and smoked cigarettes.” Theo also sees two cans of beer. 
  • April says her father’s band drinks and does drugs.

Language  

  • Theo’s mom says, “Oh, my God” one time. 
  • April says “Omigosh” once. 
  • Theo thinks his mother is “a Nazi about his cell phone bill.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • When April returned home, “the entire town took a deep breath, smiled, and thanked God for a miracle.” 

Orca in Open Water

When an orca is rescued from an Oceanarium, a less reputable aquarium, and brought to Seaside Sanctuary, the seaside marine biology facility where her parents work, Elsa Roth is excited to help with the animal’s care and rehabilitation. It’s a crucial step before it can be released into the wild. But the whale has been in captivity for a long time. It’s up to Elsa and the rest of the sanctuary staff to teach the animal how to live on its own — the whale’s survival depends on it. 

Elsa and Olivia are excited to join a month-long expedition aboard a ship to research orcas near the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest. On their first day out, they find a baby orca who has been separated from his pod. The two girls immediately jump in to help capture the starving orca. The girls are admirable because they both care deeply about animals and are willing to help in any capacity, including handling slimy, live fish. In this installment of the Seaside Sanctuary, the girls spend much of their time learning about orcas. 

The story’s conflict centers on a dispute over what is best for August, a baby orca who has become separated from his pod. The sanctuary staff believes the orca should be returned to his pod. On the other hand, Oceanarium wants August to live in their facility and eventually be showcased in live performances. From the beginning, Oceanarium is villainized. For instance, Oceanarium is compared to a prison, where the animals are “thrust into a cell with a total stranger.” The book goes on to explain, “Oceanarium is a company whose goal is to make money. They capture young mammals, like bottlenose dolphins and orcas, plus other animals like seals, and train them to do tricks in shows. It’s not natural for the animals, and it’s cruel.” In its effort to show the importance of rehabilitating animals and returning them to the wild, Orca in Open Water’s portrayal of Oceanarium is one-sided.  

Anyone who has been to SeaWorld will make the connection between the two marine mammal parks, which may upset younger readers. Despite this, Orca in Open Water will appeal to animal-loving readers. The story is told in ten short chapters, and each begins with a black-and-white illustration. The end of the book includes a glossary, discussion questions, writing prompts, and additional information about orcas. The books in the Seaside Sanctuary Series can be read in any order because each tells a new adventure.   

Overall, Orca in Open Water is a fast-paced, entertaining story that gives readers an in-depth look at orca culture. Like the other installments in the series, the book highlights the importance of humans keeping away from wild animals so they can be returned to their natural habitat. The main characters, Elsa and Olivia, act like typical middle graders just learning how to fight for a cause. Their adventure shows the importance of advocating for those without a voice, like August. Plus, the beautiful ending depicts August being reunited with his family, one very similar to a human family. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • While visiting Oceanarium, Elsa learns that the orcas “attack each other and fight, which they never do in the wild. Some orcas have even killed others because they’re just tossed in a tank together. They even attacked the trainers and hurt them.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Crash From Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell

In 1947, during the early years of the Cold War, a field in Roswell, New Mexico was disturbed by a strange crash and smattering of debris. Some say the bodies of extraterrestrial beings were strewn across the ground, that a UFO had crashed there, and that the government was covering up the evidence in a massive conspiracy. But what really happened at Roswell? 

The infamous “crash from outer space” has become a fixture in our culture, inspiring a surge of UFO sightings and conspiracy theories. But at its heart is the story of military scientists, a city on the brink of the Cold War, and a debris field scattered with mystery. What was it that actually crashed at Roswell? Were alien bodies found? Was it Russian spies? Secret military technology? And did the government try to hide what they found? 

Crash From Outer Space takes an in-depth look at the witnesses and evidence surrounding the Roswell UFO sightings, beginning with the first evidence that came to light—a press release from the military. Fleming expertly walks readers through all of the evidence, and at times explains why it was deemed “bogus.” Since most of the physical evidence was taken by the military, there is a lot of speculation about what it actually proved. Readers who want to play detective and have all the clues point in one direction will be disappointed. Many of the clues in Crash From Outer Space can be interpreted in several ways, and even today, not everyone agrees about what happened in Roswell. 

Most of the evidence comes from witnesses, so it is important for readers to assess the credibility of each source. Crash From Outer Space forces readers to think critically about whether witness testimony and the information presented are credible by using criteria for weighing evidence, such as whether the witness is an expert and whether other experts have studied the information. The book also discusses the validity of witnesses who “merely repeated what someone else had said.” Furthermore, there are many instances of “extraordinary evidence” given. To help readers think critically about the evidence, Fleming breaks down the basic principles of critical thinking into five categories. This allows readers to put the information into perspective and use the scientific method to determine if the evidence is reliable.  

Using news reports, witness testimony, photographs, and other evidence, Crash From Outer Space allows readers to examine the complicated history of the Roswell alien crash. Fleming breaks down the information into manageable sections and includes black-and-white illustrations, photographs, and historical documents. This information helps readers understand why experts don’t always agree. For example, the book shows photographs of lights in the sky, which some believe prove aliens have visited Earth. Despite the large amount of information, the book is easy to read and engaging. 

Crash From Outer Space is a must-read book for anyone interested in UFOs. Moreover, any young person who wants to understand the importance of evaluating evidence should read the book. In today’s world of fake news, chatbots, and AI, Crash From Outer Space challenges readers to look at evidence objectively and warns that people often trust witnesses even when they are not credible. This book helps readers develop media literacy and critical thinking skills and learn to analyze both sides of the story. Anyone who wants to understand the Roswell incident better will love Crash From Outer Space.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • During World War II, the United States dropped “atomic bombs—more powerful than anything previously made by humankind—on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. The bombs had essentially vaporized both cities, and killed a quarter of a million people.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

On Pins and Needles

Zoey Webber returns in the second installment of the Sew Zoey series, reentering the familiar yet evolving landscape of middle school with her characteristic creativity and resolve. The narrative returns readers to Zoey’s world, sustaining the series’ momentum. Defining moments emerge, including Zoey’s anticipation of meeting her fashion idol, her first crush, and her decision to enter an important sewing competition. At the same time, the story introduces a more complex emotional conflict. Misunderstandings create tension between Zoey and her two close friends, testing her views on loyalty. The central question becomes whether Zoey can fix her struggling friendships before they fall apart, while still chasing her dreams and holding on to her confidence. 

On Pins and Needles continues the journey of 12-year-old Zoey as her DIY fashion blog gains momentum, expanding both her creative voice and her presence in the emerging social media landscape. Each chapter opens with a blog entry addressed directly to her followers, offering insight into her daily life and the designs currently taking shape in her imagination. A school football game sparks one of her earliest creations, an unexpected dress inspired by the comfort of a sports jersey, a soft, breathable knit fabric known for its stretch. Zoey reflects, “That’s what I love about making clothes: all the happy surprises that it brings!” 

Zoey’s network of support grows stronger, highlighting how resilience is built through connections with others. Cecily Chen, her fashion idol, steps into a mentoring role, helping Zoey move past school tensions and think strategically about her brand. Jan, the fabric store owner, proudly connects them at a book signing, while Aunt Lulu and Zoey’s immediate family provide steady emotional grounding at home. The return of a mysterious benefactor whose earlier kindness shaped Zoey’s journey in the first story underscores the power of encouragement. Together, these figures model perseverance, generosity, and integrity, giving Zoey clear examples of how to carry herself with confidence.  

In the previous book, boys were not something Zoey spent much time thinking about. In On Pins and Needles, a classmate named Lorenzo enters the picture, prompting Zoey to question her confidence in her appearance. For the first time, she feels jealousy as she watches him pay attention to her best friend, Kate, while openly rejecting her during a lunchroom conversation. The humiliation that follows is a reaction many twelve-year-old girls will recognize. The text explains, “It wasn’t as if Zoey didn’t get attention herself these days, but it was for her clothes, and that felt very different from getting attention for her looks.”  

“I will not be jealous,” Zoey tells herself, even as she struggles with her feelings toward Kate. At the same time, Cecily Chen invites Zoey to enter a sewing contest in which the winning design will be reproduced and sold in stores. With only five days to create something, the pressure mounts. It is an exciting opportunity, yet Zoey feels increasingly strained as tension with Kate deepens, fueled by her lingering feelings of rejection and jealousy over Lorenzo. The situation worsens when she misses a soccer tournament she had promised to attend, allowing readers to sense the growing distance between the girls. As the text notes, “Zoey had never gone so many days without talking to Kate, and she realized she missed her a lot.” Complicating matters further, Zoey becomes entangled in a misunderstanding with her close friend Libby, whose aunt is one of the contest judges. Libby begins to question whether Zoey’s friendship is genuine or influenced by this family connection to the competition and its prize. Caught between ambition, loyalty, and insecurity, Zoey reaches a difficult emotional crossroads, and readers can feel her inner turmoil. 

On Pins and Needles opens each chapter with illustrations that offer a visual glimpse of what Zoey’s sketches might look like, without directly showing her sketchbook or blog. Zoey continues to treat her blog as a diary, sharing candid reflections with her followers about the highs and lows of creative expression. Concerned about her privacy, her father intervenes by logging into the blog and editing her posts, believing he is protecting her. Instead, his actions add another misunderstanding, intensifying the strain already building within her friendships. 

The story thoughtfully uses metaphor to explore the effort required to repair strained relationships. Zoey describes her situation as a “friendship emergency,” comparing it to mending fabric. “You take threads from the fabric itself and use it to fill in the hole, so it basically disappears. . . They say it is just as strong, if not stronger, in the end.” 

As in the first story, specific vocabulary is intentionally introduced, including terms such as “accordion pleats,” “basting stitches,” and “tracing wheel.” The text also incorporates fabric terminology such as “ikat” and “ombré,” along with technical terms from fashion, such as “muslin test dress” and “adjustable dress form.” These specialized terms are supported through clear textual context, allowing readers to build understanding and reinforce new vocabulary without disrupting comprehension.  

As the second book in the series, On Pins and Needles delivers all the elements of an engaging read and leaves readers eager to follow Zoey’s journey. The story closes with relief and resolution, rewarding readers as Zoey works through misunderstandings and restores her friendships. The dual backdrop of Zoey’s creative world and her relatable school life provides an ideal setting for teens to confront difficult emotions, make sense of them, and ultimately find a positive way forward. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Maureen Lowe 

American Dog: Poppy

The summer before sixth grade, Hannah and her family moved to California. Hannah has no friends, and she doesn’t know what to do with herself. With a large birthmark on her face, Hannah feels like an outcast, and she’s nervous about making friends. After her family settles into their new house, Hannah finds an unruly pit bull named Poppy. Hannah connects with Poppy because they’re both judged on appearances—Hannah for her birthmark, Poppy for being a pit bull. Hannah discovers that the dog, Poppy, belongs to her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Gilly, who is recovering from surgery and can no longer manage an energetic dog, so she may have to return Poppy to the shelter. Hannah is distraught, but when Mrs. Gilly sees how much she cares for Poppy, she makes Hannah a deal. If Hannah can get Poppy certified as an obedient dog that follows commands, Mrs. Gilly will be able to keep her, which means Hannah won’t lose her only friend. 

Hannah struggles to connect with the other neighborhood girls her age, especially Sophia, who makes mean comments about Hannah’s birthmark. Because she has no friends, Hannah spends her summer attending a dog obedience class with Poppy. Throughout the summer, Hannah contends with bullies, Poppy’s frustrating inability to follow instructions, and the loss of her home. Hannah is an interesting and inspiring character because of how she deals with her struggles as an anxious tween. The way she conquers her fears feels realistic. Many of her issues come from her interpreting situations with paranoia, leaving her feeling ostracized when that’s not actually what’s happening—like when she decides that everyone at the dog training class is judging her skills with Poppy, but in reality, not many people notice. Poppy forces Hannah into new situations that ultimately help her adapt to her new environment in a beautiful way. Hannah’s relationship with Poppy is incredibly sweet, and they help each other become less anxious.  

That said, a few details could be improved. For example, the book is predictable and repeats the same patterns. For example, two cakes are destroyed in two similar situations with dissimilar outcomes—but these outcomes don’t show Hannah’s or Poppy’s character development. Additionally, Sophia’s two best friends, who disapprove of Sophia bullying Hannah, are too similar and would be better suited to the story as a single character. Sophia’s two friends both fawn over Poppy, love animals, surf a lot, and welcome Hannah with open arms. Even though they’re friends with Sophia, they cheer Hannah on. These characters don’t affect the story much, and it would be similar if they were a single character.  

American Dog: Poppy has well-developed themes that suit the intended audience of middle school kids perfectly. The way the author dissects anxiety from Hannah’s perspective is accurate. Many readers will feel empowered by reading about how Hannah conquers her fears and makes new friends. One primary theme includes not judging things by their appearance. 

For the animal lovers and those who like coming-of-age stories, Poppy’s enthusiasm and Hannah’s brave evolution will be a fun read. This book is full of moments when pets emotionally support their owners, new friendships, and second chances—especially when Hannah takes Poppy in, giving Poppy a second chance. It’s wonderful to read how Hannah comes into her own as a protagonist and grows when challenged. Overall, this is a delightful story with a beautiful message: things are never as bad as you think, especially when you have good friends. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The story includes bullying, but it never escalates to physical altercation. However, Hannah is often excluded or looked at strangely. For example, Hannah is often bullied by Sophia, a new neighbor. When Hannah first meets Sophia, Sophia reacts poorly to Hannah’s birthmark. Sophia says, “What’s wrong with her face?” This makes Hannah feel insecure. Throughout the book, Sophia tries to exclude Hannah from her friend group by making comments like these. 
  • Much of Sophia’s bullying also comes from Poppy’s actions. At Sophia’s dog’s party, Poppy eats the entire dog cake, leaving none for the other dogs. Again, Sophia reacts poorly and says to Hannah, “I knew it was a mistake to invite you.” Hannah leaves the party in tears.  
  • At the obedience class graduation party, Poppy plays with a terrier dog. The terrier dog ruins a cake meant for the dogs while playing with Poppy. The owner, Carol, is offended. Carol blames Poppy for engaging with the terrier, and, by extension, Hannah for her dog’s mistake. Carol says to Hannah, “Your dog has been nothing but trouble all summer. . . your dog is a menace.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Kate Schuyler 

Time Cat

Gareth doesn’t have nine lives, but he is definitely not an ordinary cat. For one thing, he can talk. For another, he has magical powers that Jason never dreamed of. Gareth tells Jason he can take them traveling through time, “Anywhere, any time, any country, any century.” And in the wink of a very special cat’s eye, they’re off. From ancient Egypt to Japan, from the land of young Leonardo da Vinci to the town of a woman accused of witchcraft, Jason and Gareth are whisked from place to place and friend to foe. This fantastic tale grabs the imagination and takes it far and wide, on the adventure of not one, but nine, amazing lifetimes. 

The first country Jason and Gareth visit is Egypt in 2700 B.C., where King Neter-Khet becomes angry when he cannot command Gareth to “purr and make himself agreeable to pharaoh.” Neter-Khet’s attempts add humor, especially since he doesn’t understand why cats don’t listen to his commands. In the end, the king learns that even he cannot command a cat. This trip reinforces the idea that “you should be you.” 

The second time jump sends them to Rome and Britain in 55 B.C., when Julius Caesar was fighting in Gaul. Although Caesar does not appear, Jason is taken in by Caesar’s legions, and Gareth becomes their mascot. During a battle, Jason and Gareth flee and end up in Cerdic Longtooth’s village. At first, Cerdic is afraid of Gareth, but soon he appreciates that the cat keeps mice away from their winter stores. The section ends with Cerdic’s new understanding of cats. 

The next time-travel adventures share the same pattern. Jason and Gareth jump to a new historical location where locals often have false ideas about cats. However, Gareth shows how cats benefit humans. This story often lacks details about each time period. For example, Jason visits Ireland in 411 A.D., where he meets Patrick. While the story hints that this is Saint Patrick, readers who do not have knowledge of the man’s history will not understand Patrick’s statement: “Underneath it all there is some purpose, some reason I should be here. What it may be is hidden from me now.”  

Jason travels to Japan in 998 A.D., where he meets the emperor, and then to Italy in 1468, where he meets Leonardo da Vinci. The next time jump takes them to Peru in 1555, where Jason meets Dom Diego, a prominent Spanish conquistador, who briefly mentions the conquerors’ thirst for gold. However, Dom Diego is portrayed as an honorable man who was more interested in knowledge than wealth. The next jump takes the protagonist to a small fishing village on the Isle of Man in 1588, followed by Germany in 1600, where Jason learns about the witch trials. The final time jump sends them to America in 1775, where Jason meets a peddler who is spreading word of the revolution.  

On each leg of the trip, Jason learns a valuable lesson, including the following:  

  • Beauty is on the inside, not on the face.  
  • Practicing essential skills is important.  
  • You should only worry about what’s happening right now.  
  • “Trying to make someone do what they aren’t really good at is foolish.”  
  • Greed can be dangerous, especially if you try to snatch wealth without putting effort into honest work.  
  • It is important to take time to think and watch. “Just because you’ve seen something, it doesn’t mean you stop looking. There’s always something you didn’t see before.” 

Time Cat will appeal to a wide range of readers, from history buffs to cat-lovers. The story takes readers on an action-packed journey through time. Along the way, Jason meets many historical figures. While readers may not recognize all of them, this doesn’t detract from the book’s enjoyment. Each stop is brief, so it doesn’t offer readers an in-depth view of the period. This keeps the action moving while still weaving in important lessons. At the end of the trip, Gareth tells Jason, “If you think back, everybody we met had something to tell you—about themselves, and about yourself. It’s a way of finding out a part of what you have to know to be a grown-up.” But the book doesn’t just look to the past; it ends on a hopeful note, with Jason excited about making his own adventures in his time. Best of all, Time Cat introduces fun facts about cats, historical figures, and significant events in history that will inspire readers to explore these topics further. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Jason was sent to his room because he “punched his younger brother in the ribs for laughing at him” and talked back to his mother. 
  • In Egypt, the king orders Jason to be fed to the crocodiles.  
  • Caesar’s legions land on “Britannia’s chalky cliffs” and are immediately welcomed with arrows. As Jason tries to keep pace with the legion, “arrows sang through the air. The legionaries hurled their spears. Howling and shrieking, the Britons poured across the beach.”  
  • Jason falls behind and is chased by a charioteer. Jason runs “plunging into the woods, running blindly, going deeper and deeper.”  
  • While in the woods, an animal attacks Gareth. “Gareth grappled with the animal in mid-air. Two bodies thrashed on the ground and turned into a spinning, spitting ball. One screamed.” Jason was so intent on watching Gareth that Cedric Longtooth is able to approach unnoticed. “In front of [Jason] stood a bearded man dressed in skins. He held a long, ugly spear pointed at Jason’s throat.” The man’s wife scolds him and welcomes Jason as a guest.  
  • According to Cedric Longtooth, “when we catch somebody from beyond the woods, we simply chop them up. But you’re an invader, and some of us have suggested it might be more correct to burn you in a basket.” 
  • A girl finds a snake in her room. To protect her, Gareth attacks. “Before the serpent could strike, Gareth caught it behind its flat skull. The serpent’s tail lashed out and wound around Gareth’s body. Over and over, the fighters rolled across the floor.” The fight is described over two pages. The serpent dies. 
  • Patrick talks about how he came to be in Ireland. King Niall of the Nine Hostages kidnapped Patrick and his two sisters. He says, “They took us all, to sell as slaves. . . They tied us up, carried us to the boat, and sailed away.” 
  • Ichigo, the Emperor of Japan, had been allowing his uncle Fujiwara to make all of the decisions. When Ichigo begins to issue commands, Fujiwara blames Jason and “seized Jason by the hair.” Ichigo saves Jason and tells his uncle, “You dare threaten your Emperor? I could have you boiled in oil! Humble yourself in the Celestial Presence!” 
  • While in Peru, Jason is walking when he runs into Inca warriors. “One of the warriors whirled a three-stranded rope with heavy metal balls at the ends. An instant later, Jason and Gareth lay on the ground, tangled in the weighted cords. Lances leveled, the Incas moved forward.” The Incas demand a ransom, which Dom Diego pays by promising to try to show the Conquerors that the Incas are men of peace. 
  • On the Isle of Man, the protagonists meet a cat named Dulcinea and her kittens. Dulcinea was aboard a ship when it sank. Luckily, a sailor had put the cats in a barrel that floated to the island.   
  • In a small village in 1600s Germany, people thought cats had devils hiding in them. “Two days ago, the witch hunters drowned fifty and burned another fifty. Poor suffering animals.”  
  • In order to steal a woman’s land, Master Speckfresser says, “The town council takes over the property of a witch—after she has been duly roasted, of course.”  
  • After Master Speckfresser accuses a woman of witchcraft, Jason reveals that Speckfresser was using spells to call demons. Speckfresser threatens Jason with a “sickle-shaped knife. Jason dodged the sweeping blade. . . Jason leaped from one side to the other, as the knife whistled around his ears.” The guards appear at the door, accompanied by a miller named Johannes, who has been placed under arrest.  
  • Johannes, Master Speckfresser, Jason, and another woman are taken to the judge. “Johannes jumped up. With one motion of his powerful arms, he tipped over the judges’ table. The sheets of parchment went flying. . . Seizing a chair in one hand, the burly miller laid out [a guard]. A window smashed. One of the miller’s fists sent a guard sprawling to the wall.” All of the accused witches escape and leave town. 
  • In 1775 America, Jason and Gareth witness a battle between the British and the Americans. “Jason saw the Regulars level their rifles. The farmers hesitated, then moved forward. The sword of the British officer flashed downward. . . The Minutemen raced through the drifting smoke towards the Regulars, firing, reloading, crouching behind hillocks and large clumps of grass. . .  There was a second volley of musket fire. Jason heard a man cry out and saw another slump to the ground.”  
  • During the attack, Jason is with a peddler, who is called Professor Parker. “Another volley came from the Regulars. Professor Parker staggered against the wagon. Jason leaped down. The professor was pressing his hands against his chest. His face had gone gray.” The book implies that the professor dies. Jason takes a horse and goes for reinforcements. The battle is described over three pages.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • When Gareth purrs at Cedric Longtooth, he exclaims, “By the Druid’s beard. I believe he does like me!” 
  • A girl calls Jason a “stupid boy.” Later someone calls him a “foolish boy.”  
  • In Ireland, a man calls someone a “porridge-headed fool.” 
  • Jason and Gareth are called “two unworthy and totally useless specks of dust.” 
  • A woman calls a suitor a “black-haired lummox.” 
  • Several times, Master Speckfresser is called a “greedy gobbler.” 
  • A man calls the townspeople who believe in witches “stupid fools.” 
  • In 1775 America, the British soldiers are referred to as Lobsterbacks.  

Supernatural 

  • Gareth can take Jason on trips through time. The magic isn’t explained, other than that the two jump in time when Gareth blinks. 
  • In Ireland, they meet a magician named Lugad. “All he needs to do is cast a spell, and the rats and all the creepy, crawly things go away.” Lugad tells people that he has killed all the snakes. When a snake is in the girl’s room, Lugad says, “An evil spirit. An evil spirit if I ever saw one. . . This is the ghost of a serpent.” 
  • Patrick tells a girl, “There are no magic beasts, only God’s creatures as you see them, and no spells worth the saying of them.  
  • In 998 A.D. Japan, a trader says cats can tell the time of day and predict the weather. 
  • Sailors used to believe having a cat on the boat was good luck.  
  • Jason peeks into a house and sees a German man “wearing what looked like a nightshirt painted with strange designs. . . He dropped a pinch of something on the glowing coals, and a cloud of smoke puffed up.” The man is performing a ritual, trying to call forth a spirit. During the ritual, he exclaims, “By the spirit of Zazamonkh. . . Asmodeus! Ahriman! Beelzebub! Appear! I command you!” Nothing happens. 
  • In a small village in 1600s Germany, many people are accused of being witches. A woman explains, “Somebody—I don’t even know who—started the idea that there were witches here. Since then, we’ve had no peace. If anyone stubs his toe or gets sick, if anyone’s garden doesn’t grow right—there’s a witch to blame!” 
  • A woman explains why there aren’t many cats in the village. “There’s no kind of worriment or wickedness they won’t put on a cat. Cats have the evil eye to bewitch whatever they look at. They can turn themselves invisible or fly through the air. They take the shape of a witch, and a witch takes the shape of a cat.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • Jason and Gareth travel to Egypt when cats are worshiped. Gareth explained, “[The Egyptians] have all kinds of sacred animals, but the cat—ah, the cat is most important. We’re sacred to the great goddess Ubaste of the Sun and Moon.” 
  • Jason and Gareth arrive in Egypt 2700 B.C. during a festival for the cat goddess. The priest chants the Hymn of the Cat. “Thy head is the head of the Sun-God, / Thy nose is the nose of Thoth. . . The whiskers are the rays of the Sun; Thine eyes hold the Sun and Moon.” The chant is nine lines long.  
  • The Egyptian priests believe Gareth’s white marking is “the mark of the sacred ankh, symbol of life.”  
  • King Neter-Khet believes he is a god whom everyone, including cats, should worship.  
  • According to one of Caesar’s legions, when one isn’t sure what to do, they should “ask for an omen.” When Petronius asks Jason and Gareth to travel with the legion, Jason is reluctant to join. Petronius prays, “O Mars, god of battles, mighty Jupiter, father of the gods, or whatever it is the regimental augur says. Shall this boy and this cat march with us? Give us a sign.” Gareth leaps onto the center of a shield, and Petronius takes that as a signal that Jason and Gareth should join the group.  
  • Cedric Longtooth asks a Druid if Gareth is good or bad luck. The Druid replies, “Some of our best families. . . pray to the spirit of the catamountain.” The Druid believes the cat is good luck.  

Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. 

For the first time in years, the dark lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, was dreaming. In his dream, his son, Luke Skywalker, had fallen to the Dark Side and joined his father as his new apprentice. Vader’s longtime goal had been accomplished until his own Master, Emperor Palpatine, turned on them both. Startled awake, Vader wonders if this dream was a simple nightmare or a premonition of the future. 

Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader is an epic retelling of the first six Star Wars films (Episode I: The Phantom Menace to Episode VI: Return of the Jedi) entirely from the point of view of Anakin Skywalker, from his early childhood as a slave on Tatooine, to his heroics as a Jedi Knight, and his fall to the Dark Side as the evil Darth Vader, chronicling key events up to and including his redemption and death at the end of Return of the Jedi.  

The book begins with the dream serving as a prologue, shortly before the events of Episode VI. This leads Vader to reflect on his life—beginning with his earliest memory at three years old: Anakin and his mother first arriving on Tatooine. From that moment, the story progresses chronologically, with Anakin’s discovery by Qui-Gon Jinn, his training under Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the mounting pressures of the Clone Wars, the Chosen One prophecy, and an increasing fear of loss that eventually leads to his fall to the Dark Side. 

The concept of using dreams and memories as framing devices is a brilliant decision by author Ryder Windham. It shows that Vader is constantly haunted by the echoes of his past—namely, with the discovery that the Rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star, Luke Skywalker, is in fact his son. The readers are placed inside Darth Vader’s mind and get to know his exact thoughts during pivotal moments in the saga. This framing is especially effective in providing additional context and emotional depth to Anakin’s fall to the Dark Side during the events of Revenge of the Sith, which otherwise felt rushed. 

It should be noted that this book now falls under Legends continuity—a distinction given to the old Expanded Universe, i.e., most Star Wars books, comics, games, and other media (minus the films and The Clone Wars) released prior to Lucasfilm’s acquisition by Disney in 2012. This means that this book is no longer considered part of the canon that connects to newer films, books, and other media released post-Disney, and instead exists in an alternate continuity. Despite this, The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader remains a faithful retelling of the first six films and stands on its own merits, even if it includes references to Expanded Universe material that is no longer canon. 

Overall, The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader serves both as an excellent retelling of the Star Wars saga and an insightful, emotional study into its main character, offering unparalleled insight into the mind and inner conflict of the most feared man in the galaxy. It is a great choice for middle-school readers who are ready to dive deep into an expanded, more reflective, and emotionally rich retelling of Episodes I-VI through the eyes of Darth Vader. 

Sexual Content 

  • During the events of Attack of the Clones, Anakin is reunited with Padme Amidala. After retreating to Naboo to protect her from threats of assassination, “They were standing on the garden terrace at a lodge that overlooked a lake, and Padme was wearing a gown that revealed the fair skin of her back and arms when Anakin cautiously leaned close to her face and kissed her.” The two fall in love over the course of the film and marry in secret. 

Violence 

  • In the prologue, Darth Vader dreams that Luke Skywalker has joined him on the Dark Side, only for Emperor Palpatine to attack them with Sith lightning. Luke screams as he is electrocuted, and Vader smells “roasting flesh” before awakening. The scene, while intense, is presented clearly as a nightmare. 
  • Shortly after Anakin and his mother arrive on Tatooine, an enslaved alien attempts to escape from captivity but is killed when an explosive device inside his body detonates. His remains are described as a “smoldering mess,” and Anakin is told this is what happens to slaves who try to flee. 
  • After the Battle of Naboo at the end of The Phantom Menace, Anakin learns that Qui-Gon has died in a lightsaber duel. “From Obi-Wan’s grim expression, Anakin knew what had happened. Qui-Gon Jinn was dead.”  
  • At the beginning of the events of Attack of the Clones, Padme’s ship is destroyed upon arrival on Coruscant, killing six people. A second assassination attempt that night results in a chase through the city. The would-be assassin is disarmed in combat and later killed by a poison dart before she can reveal who hired her. Anakin thought that the assassin “got what she deserved.” He knew that as a Jedi, he shouldn’t believe that anyone deserved to die, but he’d “thought it just the same.” 
  • Anakin’s mother is kidnapped and tortured by Tusken Raiders. He finds her tied up and barely alive. She soon dies in his arms. In his grief and rage, Anakin massacres the entire Tusken camp. Later, when speaking to Padme, Anakin admits openly to killing not just the men, “but the women, and the children, too.” Though he later admits shame, he also acknowledges, internally, disturbing satisfaction. 
  • During a duel with Count Dooku, Anakin is struck with Sith lightning and later has his arm severed in a lightsaber duel. He survives and receives a cybernetic arm. 
  • Three years later, in another duel with Dooku, Anakin cuts off the Sith’s hands and, at Palpatine’s urging, kills the unarmed prisoner. “Anakin rapidly uncrossed the blades, cleaving through Dooku’s neck. Dooku’s body collapsed alongside his hands, while his body rolled and thudded across the floor like an ill-shaped ball.” 
  • Anakin, desperate to learn the teachings of the Dark Side, allows Palpatine to kill Mace Windu with Sith lightning, pledging himself to the Sith. Given the name Darth Vader, he is then ordered to kill the remaining Jedi and Separatist leaders. “Now, so many years later, Vader reflected on all the Jedi he killed that day. Remembering the stunned expression of Mace Windu as he fell from Palpatine’s office window and the screams of the Jedi younglings and their teachers, he felt no remorse. . . Smoke had still been billowing from the Jedi Temple when Vader traveled to the volcanic world of Mustafar to kill the Separatist leaders in their hideout.” 
  • After being confronted by Padme on Mustafar, Anakin choked his wife for what he believed to be her treachery, which would eventually lead to her death. 
  • Obi-Wan and Anakin would engage in an exhausting duel. Besting his former apprentice, Obi-Wan severs Anakin’s legs and remaining arm. Anakin is left severely burned on the lava planet. His suffering is described: “His screams were filled with anger as well as pain, not unlike that of any entirely helpless creature.” He would ultimately survive and be placed in a life-support suit. 
  • Darth Vader kills a Rebel ship’s captain by choking him and snapping his neck. 
  • At Vader’s command, sandtroopers kill Owen and Beru Lars on Tatooine. Their burning homestead is described: “He found the sight of rising flames – even holograms of flames burning millions of lightyears away – to be most satisfying.”  
  • The Death Star destroys the entire planet of Alderaan in a test of its super laser, leading to the loss of billions of lives. The destruction is described as swift and total, with the planet being blown “to oblivion.” 
  • Obi-Wan confronts his old apprentice on the Death Star. Vader strikes Obi-Wan down during the duel, but to the Sith Lord’s surprise, Obi-Wan’s body completely vanishes upon death. 
  • Darth Vader kills Admiral Ozzel for making a tactical mistake that allowed the Rebels to raise a planetary shield. Ozzel is relieved not of his rank or position, but “of his life.” 
  • Vader severs Luke’s hand during a duel on Cloud City. “Luke screamed as Vader’s red blade swept through his right wrist, and watched with horror as his hand and lightsaber fell away into the deep reactor shaft.” Luke survives, and like his father, is given a cybernetic arm. 
  • A year later, Luke and Vader face off in a climactic lightsaber duel in the Emperor’s throne room aboard the second Death Star. Luke eventually bests his father, severing his mechanical hand. “As he fell back against the bridge’s railing, he was unable to stop Luke’s blade from severing his right wrist. Metal and electronic parts flew from Vader’s shattered stump, and his lightsaber clattered over the edge of the bridge and into the apparently bottomless shaft.” 
  • The Emperor attacks Luke with an intense bout of Sith lightning. Luke’s pain and suffering is described: “Vader watched Luke curl in a fetal position as the Emperor hurled an even more staggering wave of lightning at his victim.” He collapses and begs for his father’s help while Vader watches. 
  • Unable to let his son die, Vader uses his remaining strength to grab Palpatine and throw him down a reactor shaft. He heard “the explosion of dark energy that consumed the falling Emperor.” In doing so, Vader is redeemed.  
  • The injuries sustained by the emperor’s lightning did irreparable damage to Vader’s suit and left him mortally wounded. He asks Luke to remove his helmet so that he can look on to him “with [his] own eyes” before dying. His remains are burned in a funeral pyre by Luke on Endor. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • After being struck with a toxic dart, Padme’s would-be assassin mutters in an alien tongue, “Wee shannit . . . sleemo”, which Anakin translates as “bounty hunter slimeball.” 
  • When describing what he had done to the Tusken Raiders to Padme, Anakin screams, “I HATE them!” 
  • Obi-Wan tells Anakin that he was the Chosen One and that he was supposed to “destroy the Sith, not join them!” In response, Anakin yells, “I hate you!” 

Supernatural Content 

  • After being fatally struck by Darth Vader, Obi-Wan’s body “had completely vanished.” This is because Obi-Wan had become one with the Force in death. 
  • Similarly, after Anakin dies, he is in the Netherworld of the Force. Obi-Wan’s spirit guides him: “If you ever wish to revisit corporeal space, then I still have one thing left to teach you. A way to become one with the Force. If you choose this path to immortality, then you must listen now, before your consciousness fades.” Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Yoda appear as spirits to Luke on Endor.             

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Nicholas Paragano 

Lucky Enough

When seventeen-year-old Alex’s dad dies, it feels like her entire world stops – only it doesn’t. Her family moves on as if nothing happened, and Alex feels pressured to do the same. She starts dating the quarterback of the football team, going to parties, and getting ready for the big homecoming dance – all in the hopes that her life will turn back around. The more she gets used to the raves and recognition, the less time she has to think about her father – even if it’s at the cost of her own identity.  

Then she meets Cameron, a boy who quickly finds his way under her skin and into her heart, and suddenly, Alex is reminded that grief, like her heart, is not something to keep locked away. 

Lucky Enough is told from Alex’s perspective and weaves in several different story threads, including her grief over her father’s death, her relationship with the popular crowd, and the pressure to have sex for the first time. Over the summer, Alex began dating the high school quarterback, Jordan, and became part of his friend group, which includes Paige. However, both Jordan and Paige are so self-centered and unlikeable that readers will wonder why Alex wants to be part of their group. As the homecoming dance approaches, Paige pressures Alex to have sex with Jordan so he doesn’t break up with her. To save her relationship, Alex promises to have sex with Jordan, which gives readers the false impression that boys are entitled to sex, even if the girl isn’t ready. Unfortunately, Alex lacks a moral compass, which leads her into a life focused on going to parties and getting drunk. While many teens will relate to Alex’s conflicts, her decisions are often reckless and illogical. 

Alex’s friends and family are underdeveloped and one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with any of them. Even though he claims to love Alex, Jordan is absent for most of the story, and when he does appear, he is only interested in physical intimacy. When the relationship finally ends, there is no surprise and little emotional impact, especially because both Jordan and Alex quickly move on to someone else.  

While at a party, Alex meets Cameron, who shows her kindness. At first, she resents Cameron’s intrusion into her life, but she soon learns that they share something in common – the loss of a parent. And unlike Jordan, Cameron isn’t just a romantic distraction; he helps her deal with her grief. Unfortunately, the book has little romance and no swoon-worthy scenes. While Cameron is more developed than Jordan, neither love interest creates enough emotional connection for readers to fully invest in the romance.  

Lucky Enough tries to demonstrate healthy grief processing through Alex’s journey. At first, Alex does everything she can to distract herself from her loss. However, this strategy only leads to more heartache. Finally, Alex shares her feelings with her family, visits her father’s grave site, and accepts that her father will never return. Cameron, who also lost a parent, helps Alex “find ways to recognize the person you miss the most in the spaces and people all around you. The ways that they are still here.” 

While Lucky Enough explores grief after losing a parent, this message is watered down by the tangle of friendship drama and partying. Alex spends so much time drinking and running away from her problems that the happy ending doesn’t feel earned. Instead of focusing on grief, the story tries to incorporate too many threads, which muddies the message. Readers looking for a more focused exploration of grief might prefer Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp, or Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner. 

Sexual Content  

  • Alex is dating Jordan Tucker, the high school quarterback. Occasionally, they kiss, but it is not described in detail. For example, while at school Jordan “places an arm on either side of my body against the lockers, leaning in to kiss me.” 
  • A party is broken up when the teens hear sirens. During the chaos, Alex meets a boy named Cameron. He looks at her bodysuit and says, “So, I take it the police interrupted your hookup plans?” Alex thinks, “I thought I looked hot. Not skanky.”  
  • While looking through Instagram, Alex sees “Becca’s tongue shoved down Daniel Michelson’s throat.” 
  • Paige, one of Alex’s “friends,” encourages her to have sex with Jordan. Paige makes fun of Alex for being a virgin. Paige says, “It’s just, we all know you and Jordan still haven’t slept together. I didn’t know what’s taking so long, honestly. His last girlfriends gave it up after the first week of dating.” 
  • Alex thinks about the night Jordan tells her that he loves her. “Kissing Jordan felt like swimming laps around a pool. No, more like diving into the deep end and not being able to find your way back to the surface.” That night, they go to the movies and sit in the back row. Jordan pulls Alex onto his lap, and he kisses her. “A shiver ran down my back from his touch and my lips brushed against his. He kissed me softly and then pried my lips open with his tongue, finding mine and encircling it as if he was tracing all the tiny bumps that coat the top.” 
  • Paige again encourages Alex to have sex with Jordan. Paige says, “I know you’re a virgin, and that’s super sweet and all, but you’re going to lose [Jordan] if you don’t do something. . . I have watched him have many girlfriends, and none typically last more than a few months. He’s a player, yes, but he’s a player with needs.”  
  • While at a party, Jordan pulls Alex into the woods, where he has spread out a blanket. Alex wonders how he got drunk so quickly. “He leans over and kisses me intently. . . I lose myself in his mouth. His hands are everywhere. . . until they reach around the front of my waist and start unbuttoning my jeans.” Alex finally yells at him to stop.  
  • When Alex refuses to have sex with Jordan, he gets angry and says, “We’ve been going out for months now, and you won’t even let me get to second base. Do you know how that makes me look?” He continues, “Look, I still like you. But a guy like me has needs, and I have a reputation to uphold.”  
  • Jordan tells Alex that if they don’t have sex after the homecoming game, he’s going to break up with her. She wonders, “Am I making it a bigger deal than it is? Does losing my virginity really matter in the grand scheme of things, when if I don’t do it, I’ll lose Jordan instead?” Alex is also worried that she’d lose her popularity if Jordan breaks up with her.”  
  • After being pressured by Jordan, Alex tells him, “I want to be with you. All the way. Why don’t we [have sex] after the game tomorrow?”  
  • Alex’s sister is excited about meeting a “cute girl.” 
  • Alex, Jordan, and a group of friends ride to the homecoming dance together. Alex overhears Jordan tell a guy that he “can’t wait to rip [her dress] off.” During the ride, Jordan sits next to Paige. Alex thinks, “Something about the way Jordan laughs at what Paige is saying, or how his eyes momentarily glance over her entire body, makes my stomach churn.” 
  • While riding to the homecoming dance, Alex pulls Jordan’s “face to my own and push my tongue against his, claiming him for everyone to see. The entire limo erupts into screams.”  
  • At the homecoming dance, Jordan disappears. Alex goes to look for him and finds him behind the stage curtains. She sees Paige and Jordan making out. “Her bare leg wrapped around the back of another pair wearing white pants.” Alex screams at them and “Jordan pushes Paige off his body so fast, it takes me a moment to register how intertwined they really are with each other. Paige pulls her dress down as if it’s an inconvenience, and not like she got caught making out with her friend’s boyfriend.” Alex leaves the dance in tears. 
  • After leaving the homecoming dance, Alex goes to a club and dances with a man wearing a mask. When she thinks the man might leave her, Alex “put my hands back around the base of his neck, pulling his face to mine. My lips crush into his and I’m met with a sweeter kiss than before. He tastes like tequila and a hint of cherry soda. . . His muscular arms wrap completely around my waist as they press my body into his own. . .” 
  • After the homecoming dance, Jordan and Paige start dating. While at a party, Alex sees Jordan “shoving his tongue so far down Paige’s throat I swore he was going to get it stuck there.” When Alex turns to flee, she bumps into a “couple making out.” 
  • Jordan follows Alex and says he’s sorry. “His lips brush mine softly, and all of a sudden the familiar feelings of safety and comfort rush through me. I part my mouth to taste more of him as his hands find my hair. . . His hands are everywhere, moving from the back of my neck and down my back. . . his hands slide under my dress.”  
  • Alex meets up with a boy named Cameron. She thinks, “Every time he touches me, my skin burns with desire and my entire body aches when he pulls away.” They kiss. “Both of his hands are on the sides of my face, and he kisses me gently, so soft and quick that before I know it I’m staring back into his eyes again and he’s looking at me desperately.” 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Since the book has excessive drinking, with teens often getting drunk, not every instance is documented below. 
  • Even though Alex and her friends are underage, they party and get drunk every weekend. At a party, Alex is with her best friend, Blaze. When they hear the sirens, Blaze “finishes slurping down her beer.” Alex thinks, “This is another reason why I love Blaze. No matter how bad a situation we are in—aka the threat of going to jail for underage drinking right now—she didn’t have a care in the world, as long as she finished the drink in her hand.”  
  • During a party, the teens hear sirens. They jump into cars and leave in a panic. Alex gets into a car with a boy she has never met.  
  • One of Alex’s friends is dating a boy who got kicked off the football team for smoking pot. 
  • While at a party, Blaze pours vodka into a cup for Alex, who “take[s] a big swig and flinch[es], the clear liquid burning down the back of my throat.” Alex and Blaze drink “a quarter of it before we both tap out. At this point the room is spinning and I’m not sure which way is the front or the back of the house.” Alex jumps into the pool fully clothed.  
  • At one party, Alex arrives and is “thankful for the distraction of drunk guys and girls wearing little to no clothing as we get out of the car.” Blaze and Alex pour beer from a keg.  
  • While riding in a limo on the way to the homecoming dance, Alex and her friends drink champagne. Alex drinks and “the bubbles go straight to my nose. . . I find out the hard way it’s not a drink to be chugged. . .” When the glass is empty, she grabs the bottle and “take[s] another big gulp directly from the top. For a minute I wonder if the fizz will float to my head and I giggle at the idea of my brain being briefly filled with bubbles.”  
  • To get her mind off Jordan, Alex goes to a club with Blaze. Alex “downed almost two blue drinks, I’m starting to feel good.”  

Language  

  • Profanity is used frequently. Profanity includes ass, bullshit, crap, damn, hell, pisses, and shit. 
  • When Alex starts dating Jordan, a girl refers to Alex as “his playmate.” 
  • God is used as an exclamation four times. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While at a club, a waiter brings Alex tequila, and she thinks, “Thank God.” 
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