Reading Level: Junior High

Maid For It

Though only in middle school, Franny Bishop seems to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. Whether she’s sneakily cleaning houses to pay for hospital bills or hiding prescription drugs in fear that her mother may relapse, Franny has made it her mission to take on any problems life throws at her family.  

On any given day, the words “leave bologna sandwich in fridge for mom” and “ask Mr. Jamison for extra-credit work” may be found in Franny’s agenda. An expert overachiever, she takes pride in completing everything perfectly—and often, alone. But when the pressure of school and financial struggles collide, Franny realizes she cannot conquer these problems by herself. She reluctantly enlists her classmate, and enemy, Sloan, to help clean houses. However, when Franny’s mother learns about her secret job, she reminds Franny that she is only a kid, and some burdens are not hers to bear.  

Told from a first-person point of view, Maid For It follows Franny as she attempts to live a self-reliant life. Franny is a likable character who feels the need to help those that she loves and is often uncomfortable with the thought of imperfection in herself. Readers will sympathize with Franny from the first scene, where she is called to the office and fears her mother has relapsed. Instead, she finds out that her mother has been in a car accident and will be immobilized for some time. Readers will feel compassion for Franny as she adopts an adult role, trying to earn money and care for her mom. The anxiety that Franny feels towards her mother’s potential relapse is palpable and drives the suspense of the plot, ensuring that readers remain engaged.  

Like many middle schoolers, Franny has a complicated relationship with her enemy-turned-friend, Sloan. She also struggles with her relationship with her classmate Noah, as she finds herself yearning to grow closer to him but also feels hesitant due to the complexities of her personal life. These relationships ground Franny, making her a relatable protagonist. While some readers may not find commonality in Franny’s problems with her mother, they are likely to understand the highs and lows of forming friendships and navigating the complexities of middle school relationships. Though Franny is dealing with heavy emotional problems at home, her time with Noah and Sloan shows Franny taking part in typical kid activities, such as going to fast food restaurants and attending a play together. Noah and Sloan add a lighthearted nature to the book, making it a more enjoyable read.   

Maid For It explores themes of perfectionism and delves into how children often put intense pressure on themselves to succeed. For much of the book, Franny is focused on supporting her family and excelling in school. By the end, however, Franny goes to her school’s dance with Noah and Sloan. This turning point shows her growth in understanding that she does not always have to be a provider, and that she can instead find comfort and solace in letting loose and being a kid. Franny’s development is shown through her stepping out of her comfort zone by becoming more social with kids her age, making her a character that audiences will easily root for.  

Sumner introduces serious and mature topics, such as sobriety, substance abuse, and financial instability. While the storyline is simple and easy to follow, Sumner does not shy away from being descriptive when speaking of Franny’s mother’s struggle with sobriety. For example, Franny recalls a time she found her mother after an overdose. Franny says, “I saw her foot first, jutting out from under the coffee table. She was on her stomach with a bottle of pills next to her. I screamed. She didn’t move. I got down on my hands and knees and shoved her. It was like pushing a bag of sand.” Through her honest portrayal of emotional topics, Sumner tells the story of a young girl learning to accept her own imperfections and set aside the burdens of others that were never meant for her to carry. Readers who want to explore more books that tackle the topic of drug abuse should read Stay by Bobbie Pyron. 

Sexual Content  

  • When Noah tells Franny that he snuck out of work for a minute to see her, Franny says, “I swear, the ice cream in my hand actually liquifies.”  
  • Noah tells Franny that he has a crush on her and that he thought Franny liked him. Franny says, “I did! I mean, I do . . . like you.”  
  • When Mimi, Franny’s mother’s sponsor, said that she knew Pastor Carl before he was a pastor, Franny’s mom sang, “Mimi and Carl, sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.” 

Violence  

  • Mrs. Pack, someone who works in the office at Franny’s school, tells Franny that her “mom was in the hospital” because of a car accident.  
  • Franny is dreaming of organizing her candy into her mom’s pill bottles. In her dream, her mom smacks her hand and digs her nails into her shoulder.  
  • Franny gets nervous when she finds her mom in the bathtub, not responding to her. Franny raises her hand and “slaps her once as hard as I can.” 
  • Sloan is crying to Franny about the pressure her parents put on her to do well in school. Franny said that her dad would “murder her if she failed math.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Franny’s mom was addicted to drugs, but she had been clean for “three years, our longest stretch yet.” 
  • Mimi is Franny’s mother’s sponsor and the owner of the laundromat. She is a “long-standing member of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous,” and hosts meetings at her laundromat on Wednesdays.  
  • Before visiting her mom at the hospital, Franny is scared that the doctor was wrong and that her mom “was high and it really was her fault.”  
  • The doctor decides to increase Franny’s mom’s morphine dosage to help with her pain, which scares Franny because “you don’t give drugs to the drug addict.”  
  • Mimi is happy to be sober because she’s lost “too many good years and good friends to alcohol.”  
  • When Derek, one of the people at the AA meeting, hears about Franny’s mom’s accident, he asks, “Was she high?”  
  • Franny says Derek only shows up to the meetings after a bad round of “uppers, the drugs that make you jittery and forget to eat and sleep.” She says her mother prefers drugs like oxy, which makes her sleepy and space out. 
  • Franny makes a note to leave “Tylenol on the coffee table for mom.” 
  • Franny hides her mom’s oxycodone because she wants to “be the one to divide when and how much she gets” to take to “help her heal.” 
  • Franny’s mom says Derek is staying at their house because he was fired for being high. Franny asks, “Is he high now?” Franny thinks he’s a “druggie stinking up our living room with his sweat and panic.”  
  • Franny’s grandparents received a call, causing them to rush out and leave Franny at the house. The next morning, Franny’s grandmother woke Franny to tell her that her “mother took too many of those pills yesterday” and is now “having a rest at the hospital.”  
  • When Franny gets back from her school’s dance and can’t find her mom right away, she gets nervous that her mom “took the pills because [she]’d left [her] alone.” 

Language  

  • Franny uses the word “dumb” a few times. 
  • Sloan cries, saying that she “sucks at math.”  
  • Franny calls Derek a “druggie” a few times because “he was high” and got fired from his job. 

Supernatural  

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • Before visiting her mom’s hospital room, Franny “shoots a prayer like an arrow. If she’s all right, I say to the higher power Mom is always talking about, I’ll never assume anything’s her fault again.” 
  • Franny believes that Mimi, her mother’s sponsor, prefers “monklife” living.  
  • On the drive home from the hospital, Franny’s mom sings “I heeeeeeeear the word of the Looooord.” 
  • When Mimi is asked if she will be at Church, Mimi responds, saying that she will be working, and that “clothes need cleaning as well as souls. Me and God have our own system worked out.” 
  • Franny’s mom created costumes for “The Easter Jubilee: A Message of Hope” and her family attended the show on Good Friday. 
  • After seeing her costumes onstage, Franny’s mom asks, “Who wouldn’t have a come-to-Jesus moment after seeing those disciples’ robes?” 

The Black Witch

Seventeen-year-old Elloren Gardner looks exactly like her grandmother but lacks her grandmother’s magic. Her grandmother was the Black Witch, the Gardnerian people’s savior and leader against the evil demons and blasphemers. Yet Elloren was raised along with her two brothers by her uncle deep in the woods, and all she wants to become is an apothecary so she can heal others. So when her aunt comes to take her to Verpax University, Elloren is overwhelmed by the outside world. Per their customs, her aunt wants Elloren to enter into an arranged marriage and fulfill her people’s prophecy by becoming the next Black Witch. However, by the time Elloren reaches school, the stories she grew up hearing don’t exactly add up.

Undaunted and determined, Elloren is a powerful and curious protagonist who strives to uncover the truth, as her country’s history isn’t all as it seems. While all the Gardnerians at her school revere her for who she resembles, every other group fears and avoids her. Her childhood isolationist and supremacist views fade the longer she spends time at school, and she soon gains the friendship and respect of other outcasts. Dealing with the complications of teenage life, including crushes and bullies, Elloren learns how to adapt to new situations and speak her mind. With the help of her new friends and her brothers, Elloren discovers the dangers and corruption of her increasingly religious government. How can she change a world that doesn’t want to change? This complex fantasy world will enthrall the reader with alluring, emotional characters and a powerful cause to root for.

Like many long fantasy series, The Black Witch‘s intricate worldbuilding can be overwhelming at times, and there are many details to track. Despite this, the plot remains simple and predictable. Much of the groundwork laid at the beginning of the book reveals some of the plot’s surprises, making them less impactful. It’s also difficult to root for the main character, Elloren, because she initially appears ignorant and unobservant, making her seem two-dimensional. However, her character evolves and gains greater depth throughout the story. Ultimately, the draw of the novel isn’t a unique plot but rather solid characters, worldbuilding, and the positive message it conveys. The author constructs a society that slowly descends into fascism, and the characters find their

Readers who enjoyed Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Dorothy Must Die will love the political intrigue, elaborate magic system, and fierce resistance network of The Black Witch. The book is filled with all kinds of supernatural creatures, from werewolves to elves to demons, vying for a good education in a world embroiled in international power struggles. Elloren is an inspiring character who grows when challenged, leading by example and standing by her moral principles. Overall, The Black Witch is a beautiful story with moments of unifying outrage, magical corruption, and lovely, budding friendship.  

Sexual Content  

  • While at a party, Elloren meets the famous Lukas Grey, who can’t take his eyes off her.  Lukas “raises [Elloren’s] chin, leans in and brings his lips to [hers] with gentle pressure.” 
  • Frustrated with Yvan’s hatred of her, Elloren dreams that Yvan “pulls [Elloren] toward himself and joins his lips to [hers] in fierce urgency.”  
  • Three friends question Elloren about her experience with Lukas, asking, “Have you kissed him?” Elloren is evasive and didn’t answer the question. 
  • After class, before going back to her stressful rooming situation, Elloren kisses Lukas. She thinks that her “lips are still warm and swollen from his fevered kisses.” 
  • After Elloren’s friend, Aislinn, kisses someone, she says she “didn’t just like it. [She] loved it. [They] kissed for over an hour. It was like heaven.” 
  • While Elloren is talking to her other brother, Trystan, he approaches her subtly. Elloren says, “You can’t really think he’s beautiful. You can’t think that way. Trystan, tell me you don’t mean it that way.” His non-response implies that he does admire men that way. 
  • Elloren discusses rumors of werewolf culture with friends. They think werewolves “stand up in front of everyone, pick out someone to mate with and mate with them right there, in front of everyone. Sometimes [they] mate when [their] men are in wolf form and [their] women are in human form.” This is all conjecture on the part of the characters.  
  • Diana, a werewolf, leaves the woods “completely naked. Seeing [Elloren], Diana breaks into a wide exhilarated grin. She strides toward [Elloren], oblivious to the two Gardnerian men down the path who halt to gawk at her.” Elloren’s culture is more conservative, so it takes a while for Elloren to convince Diana to clothe herself. 
  • After an emotional moment, Rafe, who had been friends and hunting partners with Diana for a long time, “brings his mouth to [Diana’s] and they kiss, gently at first. Then Diana moans and presses herself into him, their kissing quickly becoming passionate.” It was their first kiss, and rather spontaneous. 
  • To clear up a misunderstanding, another werewolf, Jarod, describes their culture. “When two Lupines decide to take each other as life mates, one of them stands up and announces his or her desire to be with each other to the whole pack. The two then go off privately into the woods.’” 
  • When Elloren asks Shane about his sister who is an old friend of Elloren’s, he says that someone “used [his] sister, forced his filthy self on her.” 
  • Prostitution is described a couple of times very vaguely. Elloren’s brother, Rafe, says that “some of our men do this. The seals are called Selkies, and they can take human form.” Elloren responds, “What? Aunt Vyvian told me people kept them as pets.” The Selkies are sea creatures who take human form. Gardnerians enslave them in prostitution because if one possesses their “skins,” the Selkies can be controlled. 
  • A Selkie named Marina says, “She was claimed by [a] man. Money given for her. He took her for his own and abused her. Many times.’” 

Violence  

  • Elloren explains that she “came to live with [her uncle] when [she] was three, after [her] parents were killed in the Realm War. It was a bloody conflict that raged for thirteen long years and ended with [her] grandmother’s death in battle. But it was a necessary war, my beleaguered country relentlessly attacked and ransacked at the beginning of it.” 
  • Along with descriptions of prostitution, there are descriptions of women in “actual, locked cage[s], only big enough for [them] to sit in, not stand,” and “two boys are poking at [one woman’s] side with a long sharp stick.”  
  • When Elloren is talking to a friend’s brother about his sister’s new fugitive status, he mentions that he “lacked the necessary level of detachment needed to kill [his] own sister.” 
  • Before reaching university, Elloren is viciously attacked by a creature with wings called an Icaral, because her grandmother was the Black Witch. Her grandmother killed many Icarals in the Realm War, and they held a grudge. “A strong bony hand slams against [her] mouth. An arm flies around [her] waist and locks [her] elbows against [her] sides in a viselike grip.” The demon is killed by a soldier as “a longer blade bursts through the creature’s chest” and “a fountain of blood spurts out.” The battle is described over three pages.  
  • At school, a classmate, Fallon Bane, bullies Elloren, intentionally tripping her. Elloren’s “foot painfully hits something solid,” and she “topples to the ground.” 
  • Some of the servants also bully Elloren. While working in the kitchen, a “hard kick to [Elloren’s] rear sends [her] sprawling” into mud and manure. 
  • When Elloren spends her first night in her room, her roommate threatens to kill her. She even goes so far as to “scrape [her] nails down the length of the door,” while Elloren hides in the closet. 
  • To prevent bullying, Lukas threatens the servants who were bullying Elloren. He says, “It would be a shame if something went amiss during military training exercises, and your parents’ home was fired upon.” He also threatens the lives of the servants’ children. 
  • Elloren’s friend, Wynter, trips. When Rafe helps her up, Wynter’s brother thinks Rafe is being inappropriate. The brother “reaches for his knife [and yells], ‘Stay away from our women!’” 
  • A hate crime is committed against Elloren’s friend, Ariel, and her pet chicken is found with “two stakes driven through its breast, its head dangling. Its severed wings are staked on either side of the animal’s body. Blood streaks down the door and pools on the floor below.” 
  • After Fallon Bane calls Diana unsavory names, Diana “leaps out of bed and slams Fallon to the ground” and tries to “impale Fallon’s new uniform.” 
  • There’s a vague description of abusive child labor and slavery a couple of times. One of the professors explained that “embroidery that intricate . . . was done by Urisk workers . . . many of them children. Working for practically nothing, beaten if they try to protest.” 
  • As Elloren and her friend, Yvan, walk in the woods, they discover a woman being kept in a cage by the groundskeeper. They see him “kick[ing] her hard in the side with his heavy black boot” and him “strik[ing] her so hard that she cries out and falls backward to the ground.” 
  • A woman wants all the Selkies killed. The woman “introduced the motion. To the Mage Council. Earlier this year. To have them shot as soon as they come to shore.” 
  • As fascist ideology grows, Elloren thinks that their leader, Vogel, tried to make it legal to “execute anyone who defaces the Gardnerian flag” or who maligns their religion. 
  • Elloren discovers a mistreated dragon lying “on her side, eyes closed, in a large pool of blood, her spectacular onyx hide covered, just covered, with gashes and lash marks. One of her wings and a hind leg are bent at odd, unnatural angles.” 
  • After a big dragon jailbreak, there’s a description of “dead men and dragons strewn across the field.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Elloren’s friend, Ariel, is described as having been locked up in a sanatorium and heavily medicated, so much so that she is addicted to a fictional substance called nilantyr that seems to have an effect similar to opiates. Ariel’s friend explains that, “When she takes the nilantyr, the memories disappear. It all goes blank and empty. It is a cold peace, but peace nonetheless.” 

Language    

  • Words like stupid, idiot, and hell appear frequently. 
  • The word whores is used once. 
  • Bitch is used twice. 

Supernatural  

  • This book features a diverse array of supernatural creatures, including witches with green skin, werewolves (referred to as Lupines), demons (known as Icarals), Amazonian women who utilize runes in battle, fairies, elves, Selkies, and various half-human, half-animal beings.  
  • The story is set in a world where magic is a reality, encompassing spells, runes, and other forms of magic. Almost all of Elloren’s classes at Verpax involve magic, and most of the violence in the book involves magical battles. There are no explicit spells spoken in battle. An example of this violence occurs when Elloren and her friends try to free the dragons, and “a glowing red orb whirls by overhead, along with stray wand fire, the orb exploding behind me into a circle of red flame.” 
  • In classes, spells are used to train younger students and test their magical ability. For example, when Elloren arrives at Verpax, the Commander of the Guard tests her magical ability by having her “lift the wand awkwardly and point it at [a] candle” and whisper the word “illiumin.” Elloren is shocked by the wand and drops it quickly. Spoken spells are rare in the book; most of them are implied.  
  • Gardnerians marry using magical bonds that appear as tattoos on their skin, exhibiting their marital status and binding the couple together more literally. If they run or divorce each other, the tattoo damages their skin and can kill them.  
  • When Elloren was a child, she was required to be wandtested to see how powerful she was. She describes it as “a powerful energy shoot[ing] through [her]” even going so far as “an explosion. Fire shooting from the tip of the stick. The trees around [her] suddenly engulfed in flames. Fire everywhere. The sound of [her] screaming.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • The Black Witch establishes a complex religious system that mirrors modern monotheistic religions and intertwines it with politics. This religion has strong allusions to the three main monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Their religious structures dictate more conservative norms and different swear words than what people literally use. References to their religion are heavily present in the novel, and priests hold prominent positions in high government and university institutions. 
  • Asleep and thinking at night, Elloren provides context for the color of her skin, as “like all Gardnerians, [her] skin shimmers a faint green in the dark. It’s a mark of the First Children, set down on us by the Ancient One above, marking us as the rightful owners of Erthia. At least, that’s what our holy book, The Book of Ancients, tells us.” 
  • An example of the more conservative customs, “wandfasting” means arranged marriage at a very young age. When describing one of her friends, Elloren thinks about how her “zealously religious family fasted her at thirteen to Tobias Vassilis.” Later, Elloren’s aunt explains that “wandfasting” is a beautiful sacrament, meant to keep them pure and chaste. The aunt says, “The lure of the Evil Ones is strong . . . wandfasting helps young people. . . stay on the path of virtue.” 
  • Elves are considered “idol worshippers.” 
  • After a particularly violent day, Elloren tries to calm herself by reading from their holy book. She reads that “all of creation joined together to worship, glorify, and obey the Ancient One.” The book describes the Gardnerian creation myth in detail, complete with justifications for species biases and discrimination. 
  • Elloren rooms with two Icaral girls. When Elloren tells her friends about this, they say that Elloren “should go to evening service with [them],” and that “the priest can exorcise [the Icarals’] evil.” Later, one of Elloren’s professors refuses to teach one of them because “to look at [her] would be against [his] religious beliefs.” 
  • When Elloren’s friend’s family visits and they meet one of the werewolves, they whisper a prayer: “Oh, most holy Ancient One, purify our minds, purify our hearts, purify Erthia. Protect us from the stain of the Evil Ones.” 
  • One of Elloren’s professors comes from a culture similar to that of the Amazons (called the Amaz), and their creation myth is different. Professor Volya explains that “the First Men were not grateful at all for what the Goddess had done for them. Instead, they tried to convince the Three Sisters to join them and slay the Great Mother, so that they could rule over all Erthia.” 

by Kate Schuyler

Virus

Scott is in life-threatening danger. Thanks to his newfound knowledge of Virtual Kombat’s (VK) fatal gameplay, Vince Power, the creator of VK, is pursuing him, threatening to kill him to keep VK’s secret hidden. As a result, Scott is forced into running and hiding as he tries to save his world while also saving his life. 

Everything changes when Scott meets the Virtual Kombat Rebellion (VKR), a group of people dedicated to stopping VK once and for all. Because Scott and VKR share the same perspective on VK, they team up with one goal: plant a virus inside VK to destroy the game. However, things won’t be easy, as the group must reach the Last Level to successfully install the virus. With people’s lives hanging in the balance, will Scott and VKR finally destroy VK for good? Or will their journey lead to an inevitable demise? 

Virus, the exciting second book in the Virtual Kombat Series, continues Scott’s fight against VK amid a broken world, searching for truth and happiness. The book functions similarly to the previous one, detailing Scott’s journey with plenty of action-packed scenes and high-stakes situations. Once again, Scott stars as the book’s main protagonist, and his unwavering dedication to truth, equality, and fairness makes him an admirable and influential character. However, Scott’s unchanging character is also slightly unrealistic, and like the last book, Virus struggles to characterize Scott outside of this perfect “Mary Sue” representation of the story.   

Like its predecessor, Virus recaptures Gamer’s enjoyable nature through its action-packed narration. Most of the book features intense, fast-moving scenes stuffed with fierce fights and adrenaline-pumping chase scenes. Once again, these fights are violent and slightly graphic, and frequently describe crushing blows, bloody injuries, and fatal kills in detail. For example, Scott’s fight against Shark, his mortal enemy, incorporates a variety of gory details: “He lashes out with an attack so fast I barely see it. The blade slices me across the arm. I cry out in pain as the smell of my burning flesh fills the air. My life bar flashes 80% as I dodge his next attack and counter with a side kick. But Shark easily evades it and blazes my thigh. I’m at 69% as I limp away, wondering how he can react so fast.” 

Thanks to the incorporation of the VKR, the book boasts numerous lessons about friendship, trust, and hope. For example, Scott learns that his desire to take down VK cannot be done by himself—he needs the help of others to accomplish his goal. More importantly, his partnership with VKR requires friendship and trust, two aspects that are frequently tested and grown throughout the story. One instance of this lesson involves a character named Java in the VKR, who is initially skeptical about Scott. However, as their adventure forces the two to work together, the book features major character development between the two, especially when Java risks her life to save Scott. It teaches readers the power of trust and support during difficult times.  

Overall, Virus is a fantastic continuation of the Virtual Kombat Series and adds new elements without losing its signature action-packed plot. Its brisk narration will keep readers on the edge of their seats, and its characters will teach readers important lessons about trust and hope. However, like Gamer, Virus suffers from the same lack of exposition and cliché tropes, making the book feel stale and unimaginative. Plus, Scott’s lack of major character growth can be another unrealistic factor within the grand adventure. Thus, Virus will appeal to a younger generation that loves fast-paced, exciting stories and needs an introduction to the literary world. 

Sexual Content 

  • Scott encounters Kate, one of his friends, believed to be dead, in a virtual coliseum and kisses her. “She leans forward and kisses me. Feeling her lips upon mine, I can’t believe that she’s a ghost in a machine. Kate has to be real. Alive!” 

Violence 

  • Two Virtual Kombat (VK) kombatants, Goliath and the Reaper, fight each other in a virtual arena. the Reaper kills Goliath by slicing through his body. “Then the Reaper reappears and cuts down with his long curved blade, slicing Goliath completely in half.” 
  • Scott gets attacked by a Wasp, “a yellow-and-black machine of rotors” that pursues after VK fugitives, but is saved by a mysterious girl with an EMP. “I shout at Stick, but the warning comes too late. He runs straight into the Stinger’s path, and it strikes him in the chest. He slumps to the ground and thrashes wildly as he’s paralyzed by the electro-dart.” 
  • A mysterious girl, later known as Java, “electro-stuns” Scott with a taser-like contraption after learning that Scott was an Elite Gamer for VK. “Then I feel two metal prongs on my stomach and a jolt of electricity blazes into my system. My body locks up. The pain overcomes me, and I black out . . . ” 
  • While escaping from a mysterious building, Scott fights and defeats three security guards with a flurry of punches and leg kicks. “I run at him and leap into the air. Twisting, I let loose a spinning hook kick. The guard is taken by surprise as my heel smashes into his head. He collapses like a felled tree.” This fight is described over four pages. 
  • Scott and his friends fight the Reaper, one of the bosses in the VK game, and defeat him by breaking his scythe. “I turn to see the Reaper rising from the lava pool. He floats toward me in a gray gown, his skeletal hands holding a long curved scythe. With vicious speed, he swipes with his blade. I leap over the razor-sharp steel and kick him in the chest. The gown crumples, but there’s nothing there for me to hit and the Reaper is left unharmed. The scythe swipes again, and I almost lose my head. I kick, punch, and strike with all my skill and strength. But it’s as if I’m fighting against thin air.” This fight scene is described over four pages. 
  • Scott saves his friend, Ginger Ninja, from a group of cowboys by beating them up. Scott kicks “the gun from the cowboy’s hand, then back-fist him in the head. His Stetson hat goes flying, and he falls to the ground. The other two cowboys reach for their guns. I knife-hand one in the neck and palm-strike the other in the face. Then finish them off with a double flying kick.” This fight scene is described over two pages. 
  • When Scott and his friends attempt to enter the Temple of the Ten Tigers, they are attacked by stone tigers and Scott’s sworn enemy, Shark. When the battle turns sour, the group is forced to escape the tigers and Shark by returning to the real world. “[Shark] lashes out with an attack so fast I barely see it. The blade slices me across the arm. I cry out in pain as the smell of my burning flesh fills the air. My life bar flashes 80% as I dodge his next attack and counter with a side kick. But Shark easily evades it and blazes my thigh. I’m at 69% as I limp away, wondering how he can react so fast.” This fight scene is described over four pages. 
  • When Scott watches a replay of Shark’s battle against a tiger, he notices that Shark can’t see without his shades. “She points to Shark as the tiger attacks him and swipes off his dark shades. Shark kicks the tiger away, then searches around for his shades like a blind man.” 
  • When Scott’s group is examining a booby-trapped temple, Pac-Man, one of Scott’s friends, steps on a tile and receives a spike to the foot. “Suddenly a spike shoots up from a tile into his foot. He screams in pain. Tugging his foot free, he staggers back before collapsing by the temple entrance.” 
  • After escaping the temple, Scott’s group is pursued by the stone tigers. “Its jaws open wide, and the beast pounces. I try to fight it off but its claws tear into me. My life bar drops: 73%. . . 62%. . . 51%. . .” Scott escapes to the real world with the help of a mysterious figure. The chase scene is described over three pages. 
  • Scott and his friends battle several gladiators in a virtual coliseum, including Shark. While several of the other gladiators are killed, Shark is stabbed through the back, but it remains a mystery if he really dies afterward. “Suddenly the tip of a samurai sword thrusts out of Shark’s chest. He splutters blood and collapses to the ground, his life bar on his chest blinking out.” The fight scene is described over eight pages. 
  • During the last level of VK, Scott’s friends are attacked and temporarily subdued by Vince Power, the cruel tyrant in Scott’s post-apocalypse world, disguised as Ginger Ninja. “Before anyone can react, a throwing electro-stars hits Spam in the neck. Sparks fly as the weapon stuns. Java goes for her sword, but Ginger Ninja breaks her arm with a brutal side kick.” 
  • At the culmination of the book, Vince Power fights Scott with bolts of lightning, nearly pushing him into a bottomless pit called the Infinity Drop. “His eyes spark blue, and his hands crackle with electricity. Bolts of lightning arc from his fingertips and strike me down before I can defend myself. My body twists in pain, and I’m flung back to the edge of the Infinity Drop.” 
  • After being attacked by Vince Power, Pac-Man is badly wounded and needs medical attention. He recovers shortly afterward. “Pac-Man groans. He’s bleeding badly but still alive. While Java tends to his wound and straps up her own arm, I head over to the terminal.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • Stick, one of Scott’s antagonists, says, “What a load of bull” when Scott tries to convince him that VK “burns out our brains.” 
  • Java disagrees with one of her friends and tells him to “shut up.” 
  • After Shark runs into Scott’s group of friends and ruins their attempt to beat VK’s level, Java exclaims, “Who the hell was that?” 
  • Java yells, “What the hell were you doing?” to Scott after he nearly dies. 
  • Java refers to Ginger Ninja as a “twerp.” 
  • Java yells, “Will you shut up and turn off the light?” to Spam after he wakes up the group, trying to piece together the temple’s riddle. 

Supernatural 

  • After Scott encounters Kat-Ana in VK, whom he believed was killed in the last book, Pentium, the creator of VK, tells him that she may be a “ghost in a machine.” “Pentium rolls forward and explains, ‘If your friend died half in and half out of VK, then her consciousness may have transferred into her avatar.’” 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Sydney

Australia’s largest city benefits from its place “Down Under,” as Sydney has grown into one of the most exciting and booming cities in the world. Inside, see how “Sydneysiders” and other Australians have carved their own identity from a mold created by Great Britain in the 1800s. Read about how today’s new waves of arrivals and visitors are adding diversity and growth to Sydney, while it continues to revel in its sunshine and enthusiasm for life.  

Major World Cities travels the globe to bring readers the up-close story—from yesterday to today—of the people, sights, sounds, and achievements of key urban centers. This series is the ultimate city travel guide. 

Major World Cities: Sydney takes an in-depth look into the city’s history by breaking down information into super-short sections. Each page has blocks of information typed in large font and placed into different-colored boxes to help readers distinguish when a topic changes. In addition, each page has one or more full-color graphic elements, including artwork and photographs. Each page has two to four paragraphs; however, the wide variety of topics may overwhelm some readers. Some words appear in bold text and are defined in the book’s glossary. Nevertheless, the complex sentence structure and advanced vocabulary make Sydney best suited for strong readers. 

Anyone interested in Sydney will find Major World Cities: Sydney an interesting nonfiction book with a pleasing format. To show a change of topic, each page uses white and yellow boxes with large headlines. Most illustrations also have a one or two sentence caption that gives additional information. The book contains 18 two-page spreads that describe Sydney’s culture, entertainment, education, and industry, as well as other interesting topics. The book also has a map of the city, a timeline, and a glossary. 

Major World Cities: Sydney is the perfect book for anyone who wants to research Australia’s past and present. Because the book covers so many topics, readers will find other fascinating topics to explore. For example, many don’t know that Great Britain used Sydney as a penal colony or that “a dynamic Scot called Lachlan Macquarie become Governor of New South Wales. . . By the end of his 11-year rule, Sydney was a true city.” Readers will enjoy learning how Sydney has a diverse population and a laid-back lifestyle. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Captain Cook and his crew arrived in Australia, “the Aborigines threw spears at the strangers, then ran off into the bush.”  
  • A two-page spread discusses crime and punishment. “By the late 19th century, gangs of thugs known as larrikins roamed the city, terrorizing its inhabitants. They committed many serious crimes, including murder.” There is one illustration of criminals waiting to ambush people on a road.  
  • One illustration shows Aborigines and their supporters protesting. One person has a sign that reads: “Police killed our brothers where is our equal rights for justice.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Organized gangs “arrange crimes and run illegal businesses such as drug dealing and gambling.” The Chinese Triads “are mostly involved in drug trafficking, financial crime, or money laundering.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • A short paragraph tells what religious groups live in Sydney, but no religious practices are described. “Most early Sydenysiders were Christians: either British Protestants or Irish Roman Catholics . . . Today the city contains many other Christian groups, too, including a large Greek Orthodox community.”  

The Eyes and The Impossible

Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals that share the park and ensuring the Equilibrium is in balance.

But changes are afoot. More humans arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats—an actual boatload of goats—who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world. 

The park, nestled by the sea, is a vast, lush sanctuary that is “green and windblown.” The park provides a protected sense of rugged mystery that draws the reader into this story about animals and their relationships. But it’s so much more. This story follows the comical, emotional, and philosophical observations and dilemmas that come when alliances are formed and tested between friends and communities. The day-to-day experiences of the protagonist, Johannes, reach a tipping point when he begins crafting an “impossible” plan that could change the course of his fate and that of those around him. Meanwhile, a heroic act is misunderstood, and new activity in the park places Johannes in danger, threatening both his life and the delicate ecosystem that protects the park’s inhabitants.  

As the narrator, Johannes invites the reader into his world where they meet a collection of memorable characters—his closest friends. The animals are humorous and share emotionally rich, interpersonal bonds that deepen the story. Time is comically exaggerated, much to the reader’s delight. From the start, and woven throughout the narrative, the theme of nature serves to guide, comfort, and amuse Johannes as he navigates the ups and downs of survival. Known for his speed and for running the perimeter of the park, Johannes is proud to be “unkempt and free.” 

Interspersed spiritual themes convey a reverence for nature. The animals express an appreciation for harmony and beauty in the natural world. Johannes perceives God as the sun—he delights in its warmth but also seems to understand it on a biological level, as a vital force behind all life and existence. “God is the sun. Clouds are her messengers. Rain is only rain.” This phrase becomes Johannes’s mantra, and its meaning is open to interpretation, allowing readers to draw their own connections. 

A sequence of exciting and revealing events propels Johannes to uncover his origin story. As plans for the “impossible task” unfold, the reader is drawn into a journey filled with lessons of love, loss, and friendship, resulting in an intelligent and heartwarming read. The story accelerates as Johannes attempts to carry out his plan, sweeping the reader up in a cascade of events that lead to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. 

Eggers taps into deep emotions, the kind that make readers connect with a character and root for them. Themes like success, fear, and happiness are woven into the story in a way that feels universally relatable. In addition, the story features illustrations by Shawn Harris every 30 pages, in the style of classical landscapes from old-world painters. With surprising depth for adults and plenty of charm for kids, The Eyes & The Impossible makes a perfect addition to a child’s reading list. Johannes takes great pride in his friendships and responsibilities: “I have been entrusted with seeing and reporting.” Much like our own lives, his mission is shaped by the relationships he forms, and ultimately, his love for others. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language 

  • In one scene, park rangers yell, “Oh my God” in response to raccoons causing chaos.  

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • The animals show reverence for nature. Johannes perceives God as the sun—he delights in its warmth but also seems to understand it on a biological level, as a vital force behind all life and existence. 
  • One storyline addresses the loss of purpose and, ultimately, death by depicting a ritual called “coda.” When injured or aged, seagulls take flight and then drop into the sea, signaling the end of life. 

My Survival: A Girl on Schindler’s List

The Nazis forced eleven-year-old Rena Finder and her family into the ghetto in Krakow, Poland. Rena worked as a slave laborer with scarcely any food and watched as friends and her father were sent away. A Girl on Schindler’s List details Rena’s experience as a young Jewish girl during the time of Nazi rule.  

Rena’s time in the ghetto was miserable, but things were going to get worse. Rena and her mother were marched to the Plaszów concentration camp, where they experienced Nazi terror firsthand. Near the end of the war, Rena and her mother were relocated to Auschwitz, where they met Oskar Schindler. In Auschwitz, they were put on Schindler’s list, which allowed Jewish prisoners to work in Schindler’s subcamp. Rena was one of the lucky few because the individuals on Schindler’s list were treated better than other camp members. They were given food, water, and Schindler’s factory also provided them with shelter from harsh winter conditions and death marches.  

Young readers will relate to Rena’s confusion about the world around her and empathize with her as she loses her childhood innocence and the rights she once had, such as the ability to play and learn like the non-Jewish children around her. She feels lost and scared when she is called a “dirty Jew,” and she wonders, “Why did that girl call me dirty? I’m not dirty, I took a shower just this morning.” Many of the chapters end in a question, which solidifies the feeling of confusion. She loses so much at such a young age, and young readers may feel the weight of this loss. As Rena matures, she begins to understand the harsh truths about the world and how much hurt hate can cause. 

Joshua M. Greene works to paint an accurate picture of the horrors Rena faced, making A Girl on Schindler’s List a quick and eye-opening read for young readers. The book includes depictions of murder and death, but the descriptions are handled with tact and grace. The descriptions are from Rena’s point of view, which provides a more innocent perspective on World War II. Each chapter flows smoothly into the next, advancing the story at a steady pace. However, the ending speeds up significantly, making the conclusion feel rushed.  

A Girl on Schindler’s List serves as an accurate first-person account of the horrors of the Holocaust. This novel serves as a tool to enlighten younger readers on the realities of World War II and Nazi Germany. A basic level of background knowledge about World War II is required to understand the context of this novel. The book is worth reading due to its accurate and nuanced perspective on the Nazi regime during World War II. It is narrated by a young girl, which lends it a unique perspective that few other Holocaust books possess. Readers who want to learn more about World War II should read Survival Tails: World War II by Katrina Charman and I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis. 

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • Rena hears about the torture in camps from adults. “In some camps, prisoners were worked to death. In other camps, prisoners were suffocated in gas chambers and their bodies burned to ashes in crematorium ovens.” 
  • Rena’s grandparents were taken away as punishment for hiding from Nazi guards. “I will never forget the expression on my mother’s face watching her parents walking away to be murdered.” Rena never sees her grandparents again. 
  • Amon Goeth, a Nazi guard at Auschwitz, finds pleasure in torturing Jews. “Each morning, he aimed his rifle at people coming and going and killed people at random.”  
  • As Rena and her mother are taken to Auschwitz, Rena hears gunshots outside the orphanage. She hears someone sharing the fate of the children: “Someone came up and whispered that the children in the orphanage were being murdered.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • Vodka is used as a bartering tool once Rena and her mother are freed from the camp. 

Language 

  • The word “Jew” is occasionally used in a derogatory way. For example, a girl yells, “Go home, you dirty Jew,” to Rena.  

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual 

  • Rena and her parents practice the Jewish religion. “We secretly held religious services at our apartment.” Religion is only mentioned once because the story is from Rena’s perspective, and being Jewish is just another part of her everyday life.   

The Triumphant

In the wake of their victorious fight to win back the Ludus Achillea, Fallon and her gladiatrix sisters have become the toast of the Republic. However, as a consequence of his actions during the Ludus uprising, Fallon’s love Cai has been stripped of his Decurion rank and cast down to serve as one of Caesar’s gladiators.

Amid fighting for Cai’s freedom, Fallon soon learns that Caesar’s enemies are plotting against him and planning to get revenge on his fearsome gladiatrices. When Caesar is murdered by these conspirators, Fallon and the girls lose any sort of protection they once had. Fallon also realizes that the foreign queen Cleopatra is now in grave danger.

Fallon rallies her war band and Cai’s friends to get Cleopatra out of the city, and the group heads to the safety of Cleo’s homeland, Alexandria, Egypt. Once there, the gladiatrices are promised a place of honor in the queen’s elite guard, but is that what any of them really want? 

The Triumphant begins with Julius Caesar’s death, giving readers a glimpse of Rome in chaos. Fallon and her warrior sisters help Cleopatra flee Rome and return to Alexandria, Egypt. Along the way, several of Fallon’s companions die, and Fallon blames herself for their death. While each death is a terrible loss, Fallon learns that her guilt is misplaced for several reasons. First, Fallon’s fellow warriors chose to stay in Rome or travel to Egypt. In addition, only one person can be blamed for another’s death—the person who killed them. In The Triumphant, Fallon mourns the death of her friends, but death is portrayed as another part of life. Cleopatra tells Fallon, “Caesar once told me that he didn’t understand those who feared death. It will come when it comes, he said. To everyone. Even to him.” 

Fallon and her warrior sisters take an epic journey from the corrupt Roman Republic to the wonder of the ancient world: Alexandria, Egypt. While on this journey, Fallon isn’t the only strong woman who shines. Fallon’s friend Elka plays a more significant role in the story, allowing readers to appreciate Elka’s strength and loyalty to Fallon. Cleopatra also has a starring role that highlights the belief that Cleopatra was the daughter of gods and, as such, she possessed both brains and bravery. In the end, The Triumphant shows that women are capable of choosing their own path. However, Cleopatra says, “Destiny is not something that is given. It’s something you prove yourself worthy of taking.” 

Anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories full of action and political intrigue will enjoy The Valiant Series. Fallon’s determination to give her sister warriors freedom is admirable. Caesar and Cleopatra give the story a historical element and added intrigue. Each installment of The Valiant Series highlights the importance of choosing your own destiny. If you’re ready to take another epic adventure, read A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas and the Dust Lands Series by Moira Young. 

Sexual Content  

  • A slave was sold to a brothel.  
  • Fallon goes to visit Cai, who is locked in a cell. When he is allowed out, Fallon kisses him. “I reached up to pull his bruised, beautiful face gently down toward mine. It was strange, being able to tangle my fingers in Cai’s hair. . . [his lips were] firm and soft at once, pressed hungrily against mine as if we could make up all the lost months. . .” 
  • One night, Cai and Fallon were keeping watch for trouble when “Cai’s head dipped beneath mine as his mouth moved from my wrist to the inside of my elbow. . . My fingers traced up the twin columns of muscle along his spine until I reached the collar of his tunic, and I could slip my hand underneath. . .” They are interrupted before things can go further. The scene is described over two and a half pages. 

Violence  

  • Cai is sent to be a gladiator. During his first fight, Cai’s “sica had still hit the mark early on and more than once. The man’s shield-arm shoulder and biceps were running blood from several long, shallow cuts. . . As Cai scrambled past his adversary, the points of his curved blades tagged the murmillo again—this time on the back of his legs, below his armored kilt. Blood splashed from the wound.” 
  • After Cai beats the murmillo, a group of gladiators surround him. One man steps up to help Cai. Cai and his ally “rushed forward, swords cutting the air before them, flashing sunlight like fire. . . Together, they swept through the line of their opponents, and the man unlucky enough to find himself at the center of that line dropped to the ground. . . bleeding from wounds on both sides of his body.”  
  • During the battle, “Cai’s left blade caught one of the attackers on the side of his neck. The ground gasped. . . as the man dropped to the ground. Blood sputtered in a fountain from between his fingers as he clutched at his throat. . . and then he was still.” The scene is described over six pages. One man dies, and others are seriously wounded.  
  • Fallon hears a story of a group that is “burning whole villages” and “killing most of the men and carrying off the women.”  
  • Other members of the Roman senate stab Caesar. Afterwards, “Caesar reached out, grasping handfuls of air. . . and then a group of men charged him like a pack of jackals on a wounded lion. . . blood flew, splattering the gleaming marble columns of the theatre portico.” The murder is described over a page.  
  • A gladiatrix was injured and later drowned herself. 
  • One of Fallon’s companions, Charon, is shot with an arrow. His “face was rigid with pain. He had one hand pressed to his flank—blood seeping between his fingers. . .” Fallon throws a knife and “was rewarded with a grunt of pain.” The attacker flees. Later, Charon dies from his wound.  
  • Fallon and her companions are traveling in a caravan when a man on a horse grabs someone. “[One of the gladiatrices] lurched to her feet and smashed the rider over the head with the short curved bow she carried, wielding it like a club. The man tumbled instantly from the back of his horse, dead or unconscious. . .”  
  • Another rider grabbed the gladiatrix Vorya. “He clutched at her tunic as Vorya raised her sword to strike, but she couldn’t get any solid footing. . . She fell forward, and there was nothing to stop her. . . Nothing but the rider’s blade, thrust to the hilt between Vorya’s ribs.” 
  • Nephele, Vorya’s companion, “lunged for the man who’d killed Vorya and, with a cry of pure rage, thrust her dagger straight through his eye. The man screamed and fell, arms and legs bent and twisting.”  
  • While being attacked, someone began shooting arrows at Fallon. “The first missed. The second laid a fiery kiss along the top of my shoulder, the razor-sharp point slicing through the fabric. . . carving a searing gash in my flesh.” The attack is described over seven pages, and several people die. 
  • After being chased by an enemy, Cleopatra says, “Then tell your dark god when you meet him that it was I who sent you to his realm.” Then she slit his throat “from ear to ear.”  
  • A woman named Tanis was trying to kill Cleopatra. Fallon shadows Tanis, waiting for the right time to kill her. Tanis “pulled the bowstring taunt beside her ear. And I hurled myself at her, hitting her with my shoulder, hard in the center of her back.” The two women fall off the roof, and Fallon “delivered a swift kick to her ribs . . . I hauled her to her feet and drove my fist into her face. Her head snapped back, and blood flew in a thin arc from her mouth.” Fallon calms down and lets Tanis escape. 
  • While Fallon is in a temple, she sees a reflection of a blade descending. “I heard the scuff of a sandal and spun around in time to see the jackal god Anubis himself swinging a sword at my head. . . He had the Aegyptian god of the dead with him!” The villain lifted a “bloodstained blade high above me. . . I lunged upward, the Tartarus key clutched in my fist like a dagger. And I drove it straight through his eye. . . [The villain] clutched weakly for the key, jutting obscenely out from his eye socket before toppling backward and hitting the surface of the reflection pool.” He sinks to the bottom of the pool, dead. 
  • Another man moves toward Fallon. The villain’s “second stop faltered. And as a sword’s point seemed to suddenly sprout like a flower from the center of his naked chest, he fell to his knees in front of me.” Cai killed the man to save Fallon. The scene is described over nine pages. 
  • In the final battle, Fallon’s friends and her father’s warriors battle the Romans. A Roman, Yoreth, attacks Fallon with a spear. “His first thrust tagged my thigh. . . a long, shallow cut. . .I blocked the next blow with my shield. . . he lunged forward with a long dagger drawn from his belt.” 
  • To save Fallon, someone shoots Yoreth with an arrow. Fallon “recoiled as he gagged once, a horrid, harrowing sound, and blood poured from his mouth.” 
  • Fallon attacks a warrior. “I threw my sword at him. It spun between his neck and shoulder. . . enough to make him scream and drop his own sword.” 
  • When a Roman threatens Fallon’s father, she “thrust my sword up under the polished black scales of his pristine ceremonial armor, stabbing him through the heart while he ranted.” The man and many others die. The final battle is described over five pages.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The adults often drink wine. Fallon goes to the gravesite of a dead gladiatrix. She had beer and “two cups. . . and poured out two measures of good dark Briton beer.” Fallon drinks her beer and “poured half of Nyx’s measure out onto her grave.”  
  • Fallon remembers when she drank wine spiked with mandrake. 
  • Fallon goes to a party where many are drunk.  
  • After Cleopatra discovers Ceasar has been killed, she is given “two measures” of wine.  
  • Fallon’s sister is given “potions to ease the searing headaches that made even the dimmest light unbearable.” Later, she is given “poppy draughts.”  

Language  

  • Profanity is used occasionally. Profanity includes ass, bastard, bitch, and damn.
  • “Ye gods,” “Jupiter’s beard,” and “Morrigan’s teeth” are each used as exclamations once.  
  • Some people call Cleopatra an “Aegyptina whore.”  

Supernatural 

  • A soothsayer warns of Caesar’s demise. She says, “Mars comes for you, great lord!”  
  • According to legend, Kassandra was a soothsayer. “Only she was cursed by the gods so that no one ever believed her. She could see the future but remained powerless to change it.”  
  • Fallon goes to the temple of Sekhmet to mediate. She has a vision of Julius Caesar, who is dead. They have a three-page discussion on why Caesar invaded Fallon’s island.  

Spiritual Content  

  • Fallon often refers to Morrigan, the goddess she worships. For example, Fallon believes Morrigan “had in her wisdom seen fit to send me so far from home to seek my density.” 
  • Fallon thinks about the Roman gods. “I knew the Romans worshipped virtually the same pantheon, only with different names. Were they interchangeable? The divine beings who, in spite of their own wars and ruins and tangled relationships, did their best to guide us mortals through our muddled and messy lives?” The passage continues for half a page.  
  • Some people believed that Caesar was a god. Likewise, some believe Cleopatra is the daughter of a god. Cleopatra said, “I’m the daughter of the gods. Isis and Osiris protect me.”  
  • A group worships the god Dis. After Caesar is killed, one man dips a sword in Caesar’s blood. It is implied that the man eats the blood.  
  • As Fallon and her companions try to get Cleopatra back to Egypt, Fallon is thankful that she is joined by others who know how to fight. “Even as I prayed to the Morrigan that we would have no opportunity to call upon those skills.” 
  • Some believe that earthquakes happen “when Hades gets angry.” 
  • While being pursued by an attacker, Fallon prays, “Hear me, my goddess. . . Help me save my friends. Send me your strength. . . Send me help! Take my blood, take anything you want from me . . . Raven of Battles. . . help me!” 
  • After the above prayer, Fallon’s friend, Hestia, is murdered. Fallon wonders, “Was Hestia’s sacrifice part of the price the Morrigan demanded of my prayer?” 
  • While trying to protect Cleopatra, Fallon “sent up silent prayers to the Morrigan and Minerva and Sekhmet that we could just get her aboard a ship without incident.”  
  • The Varnini tribe believes that after a person dies, they go to “drink the All-Father’s finest mead in his hall of heroes.” 
  • Fallon’s sister tells her, “The gods give and take life as it pleases them.” 
  • When Fallon returns to her home, she buries the ashes of a dead friend. Then she asks the Morrigan, “Is it enough? Will it ever be enough? Was Sorcha not even enough for you? Or will you take my friends and my father too?” The prayer is a half-page long. 

Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

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

On the remote desert planet Tatooine, a young slave named Anakin Skywalker dreams of freedom. One fateful day, two Jedi knights discover that Anakin is exceptionally strong in the Force. Anakin grows up to become a powerful Jedi and a hero of the Republic in the Clone Wars, but eventually is seduced by the dark side. Now, the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader, Anakin, betrays the Jedi Order and helps his master establish the first Galactic Empire. 

Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker, grows up on Tatooine, raised by his aunt and uncle and watched over by his father’s former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. When two droids with an important mission show up on his farm, Luke joins Obi-Wan to rescue Princess Leia, destroying the Empire’s feared Death Star in the process. Now a hero of the Rebellion, Luke trains to become a Jedi knight, learning the truth of his father’s identity. In a final confrontation with Darth Vader and the Emperor, Luke resists the temptation of the Dark Side and helps redeem his father from the evil he had been consumed by, saving the galaxy and restoring peace. 

Thirty years later, a girl named Rey has spent her entire life as a lonely scavenger on the planet Jakku, yearning for a sense of belonging in a harsh world. Drawn into the ongoing conflict between the Resistance and the First Order, Rey discovers her sensitivity to the Force. Upon uncovering the location of the missing Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, she is shocked to learn that Luke is not interested in returning to the fight. The older Jedi reluctantly agrees to train Rey as she tries to find her place in the galaxy while avoiding the temptation of the dark side. 

The Skywalker Saga is an entertaining retelling of the first eight films of the Star Wars saga, specifically told through the lens of each trilogy’s main protagonist—Anakin, Luke, and Rey. There are eight chapters, one for each film. The stories do not begin when the film starts, but with the introduction of each protagonist.  However, the overall plot is identical to the films. The Skywalker Saga is essentially an illustrated chapter book, with an average of seven to ten sentences on each page, and features beautiful illustrations by artist Brian Rood that almost appear to have been taken directly from the movies, reminiscent of Drew Struzan’s iconic Star Wars poster art. The images are large; some take up entire pages. The combination of a concise, engaging retelling by author Delilah S. Dawson and Rood’s illustrations makes for a compelling combination.  

Overall, Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga would be a good introduction to the saga for young readers and a key addition to any Star Wars fan’s book collection. Even if you’ve seen the movies a million times, Dawson still makes the story entertaining. The Skywalker Saga streamlines and simplifies complex plot points, making them understandable and engaging for readers of all ages. 

Sexual Content 

  • While enslaved by Jabba the Hutt, Princess Leia is forced to wear a metal bikini. “Leia was dressed in dancing clothes and forced to sit near Jabba’s throne.” 

Violence 

  • In The Phantom Menace, “Obi-Wan watched in horror as Qui-Gon sprang into action, only to be stopped forever by a swift slash of the dark warrior’s red saber.”  
  • Anakin watched in horror as “the blue electricity enrobed Master Windu and hurled him out the window to his death.”  
  • During Attack of the Clones, after Anakin discovers the Tusken Raiders have held his mother captive, Anakin “showed no mercy . . . he slaughtered the entire encampment.” 
  • In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin chops off Count Dooku’s hands in a lightsaber duel, before ultimately beheading him. “Finally, he found his Jedi calm, and with one swift stroke, he sliced off Count Dooku’s hands and caught the Sith’s lit red lightsaber midair.” 
  • In Revenge of the Sith, Darth Vader uses the Force to choke his pregnant wife Padme “to silence her, to punish her for hurting him so.” The Emperor later confirms that this led to her death. “The Emperor gave him a pitying look. ‘It seems, in your anger, you killed her.’” 
  • In A New Hope, Luke Skywalker “found smoke rising from their ravaged home. Luke’s aunt and uncle had been killed by the Empire.” 
  • In A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi confronts his former apprentice, Darth Vader, on the Death Star. To buy Luke and his friends time to escape, “He held his blue lightsaber and closed his eyes. As Luke watched, helpless, Darth Vader struck the old man down with a fatal blow.” 
  • During the climactic final duel in Return of the Jedi, when Luke refuses to join the Dark side, “the Emperor snarled and began his final blast of Force lightning to kill the young Jedi, once and for all. Suddenly, Darth Vader picked up Emperor Palpatine and threw him down a shaft at the center of the Death Star!” On the next page, there is an illustration of the Emperor falling to his death. 
  • In Return of the Jedi, Leia, a captive of Jabba the Hutt, “wrapped her chain across Jabba’s neck and choked the powerful gangster who had dared to treat her as a slave, ending his cruel reign.” There is a two-page illustration of Leia choking Jabba.  
  • In The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren murders his father, Han Solo, during a tense confrontation on Starkiller Base, “just as the sky outside went dark, he ignited the red blade, driving it through his father.”  
  • In The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren shows Rey an altered vision of himself, with his former master (and uncle), Luke Skywalker, confronting the younger Kylo with a drawn lightsaber. Kylo “lit his lightsaber to block the killing stroke, then used the Force to pull the temple down on top of his master.”  
  • In The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren later betrays his master, Supreme Leader Snoke, by “slicing him in half” with a lightsaber. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • In A New Hope, Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi visit a cantina on Tatooine. During an altercation between Luke and a pair of aliens, Obi-Wan offers to buy one of them a drink. 

Language 

  • The book contains examples of mild language throughout. For instance, in The Empire Strikes Back Princess Leia calls Han Solo a “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerf herder.” Generally, the profanity in Star Wars is toned down compared to its real-world counterparts.  

Supernatural Content 

  • In A New Hope, the Force itself can be interpreted as some form of supernatural entity. As Obi-Wan explains to Luke, “It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” 

Spiritual Content 

  • The Force is viewed as a form of religion by some characters, most notably Han Solo, who initially doubts the Force and its powers. As Han tells Luke in A New Hope, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” 

The Pirates of Pompeii

It is A.D. 79. The Roman world is reeling from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Hundreds of refugees are living in a makeshift camp, trying to come to terms with what has happened. Then even more tragedy strikes: the camp’s children begin to disappear. Flavia Gemina and her friends Jonathan, Nubia, and Lupus are determined to find out more and start to investigate a powerful and charismatic man known as the Patron. A dangerous trail leads them to the caves and grottoes of Sorrento, where they encounter pirates, slave dealers, and possible death. 

Flavia and her friends embark on a new adventure as they try to unravel the mystery of the missing children. After hearing rumors of the Patron, the children convince Felix—who may be responsible for the kidnappings—to take them to his estate. Once there, Flavia and her friends investigate every aspect of Felix’s world. While Felix is kind and generous, Flavia is still convinced that he is the mastermind behind the kidnappings.  

Flavia and the others meet Felix’s spoiled daughter, Pulchra. The bratty girl flaunts her wealth, beats her slave, and demands that Nubia be treated like a slave as well. Instead of standing up for her friend, Flavia treats Nubia poorly. After Pulchra beats Nubia, Nubia decides to join a group of runaway slaves. However, the slaves are in more danger than they know. 

The Pirates of Pompeii leads readers on an epic adventure full of suspense and surprises. Felix and his daughter Pulchra are welcome additions to the cast of characters. Felix’s generosity seems too good to be true, while Pulchra is a selfish brat who is easy to hate. Soon, Flavia begins treating Nubia more like a slave than a friend. When Pulchra and Flavia are kidnapped and beaten, they finally realize how horrible it is for slaves. The dramatic shift in Pulchra’s perception and Flavia’s offer to free Nubia redeems the girls and highlights the importance of treating everyone with respect.   

Lawrence uses vivid descriptions and diverse characters to bring Ancient Rome to life. While the wealthy lived in luxury, many Romans’ lives were difficult, and children were particularly vulnerable. Readers will empathize with the kidnapped children and the mistreated slaves. The final battle between the children and their kidnappers will leave readers cheering. The Pirates of Pompeii is a fast-paced adventure with well-developed characters that readers will love. In addition, it reminds readers: “Don’t be ashamed of your tears. A man is never afraid to weep for his family.” 

Readers can learn more about Pompeii’s tragic destruction by pairing The Pirates of Pompeii with Through Time: Pompeii by Richard Platt. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Many people died when a volcano close to Pompeii erupted, and “one man’s bloated corpse had washed up on the shore around noon.”  
  • Lupus joins a group of mourners. “When the professional mourners scratched their cheeks, he scratched his. It hurt, but it brought release. He needed to feel the pain.” While Lupus doesn’t know the person the mourners are grieving, he grieves Pliny, “the great admiral who had treated him with courtesy and respect, but who had died gasping like a fish.” He also grieves a friend’s death as well as his father’s death. “The father whose murder he witnessed, powerless to stop.”  
  • Flavia finds a little girl named Julia hiding in a cave, crying. Julia says men grabbed her and her brother, Rufus. “. . . Rufus was brave and had kicked on so hard that he had fallen to the ground. . . Then I screamed my loudest scream and bit the other one on the arm and Rufus kicked him between the legs and we ran. . .” Julia gets away, but her brother is missing. 
  • Flavia’s uncle Gaius was robbed. “The robbers who had cracked his ribs had also bruised his jaw and broken his nose.” Uncle Gaius’s dog “almost died trying to protect his master. . . and a knife wound in the chest had rendered him harmless as a lamb.” 
  • Nubia meets a runaway slave. She is worried because “the Romans crucified runaway slaves. She was not sure what ‘crucified’ meant, only that it was something terrible.” 
  • Lupus has difficulty eating because “someone cut out his tongue.” 
  • Jonathan’s father, Mordecai, explains that Emperor Titus “gave the command to burn the temple. Thousands of our people died in the siege of Jerusalem. . . There are those who say that he is the reason Vesuvius erupted. The rabbis always said God’s curse would come upon this land if ever Titus rose to power.” 
  • When Pulchra’s jewelry box falls off her bed, she blames her slave, Leda. Pulchra “slapped Leda hard across the face. . .” Later, Flavia finds Leda “curled up in a box. . . rolling her eyes in terror. She lay on one side with her knees drawn up almost to her face, which was red and swollen from crying.”  
  • Leda said Pulchra beat her for misbehaving and locked her in the box. Flavia convinces Leda to come out of the box. Flavia sees Leda’s back. “In one or two places, seeping through the fine yellow linen of her tunic, Flavia could see the dark stain of fresh blood where Pulchra had wielded a birch switch with particular vigor.” 
  • Pulchra beat Nubia for being “insolent.” Then Pulchra purposely broke Nubia’s flute. Nubia runs into a tree grove.  
  • Pulchra and Flavia get into a fight. “Furiously, Flavia grabbed a handful of Pulchra’s yellow hair and tugged as hard as she could. . . Pulchra screeched and aimed a few feeble blows at Flavia. . .” After being hit in the stomach, “Flavia doubled over, trying desperately not to be sick, then furiously tackled Pulchra around the knees and brought her thudding down onto the dusty ground.” 
  • As the girls were fighting, two masked men came out of the bushes and kidnapped Leda, Pulchra, Flavia, and Jonathan. “Flavia and Pulchra were still rolling in the dust when the masked men lifted them apart and wrenched their hands behind their backs. When she saw the leering masks, Pulchra screamed.”  
  • Flavia’s dog Tigris, “raced down the hillside and sunk his teeth into the shorter man’s ankle. . . The masked man cursed and kicked the puppy hard. Tigris flew up into the air, then landed in the dust with a thud. He lay motionless.” Later, Flavia is reunited with the puppy. 
  • The kidnappers take the group of friends to a cave where there are approximately fifty children tied up. The kidnappers beat Pulchra, Flavia, and Jonathan, but not Leda because, “You’ve been beaten quite enough.” 
  • Flavia “felt a searing streak of pain across her back. And then another. And another. . . [the kidnapper] had beaten her heart, too, though he had taken care not to break the skin.” The other beatings are not described. 
  • After being taken to a ship, the children fight the kidnappers. Their first move is to dump chickpeas on the deck. “As one of Venalicius’s big men took a step forward, his foot flew out in front of him and he crashed to the deck.” Jonathan used his sling to throw coins at the men, and Nubia threw a wine jug at a man. “It shattered on the man’s head and he sank gently to the deck.”  
  • Venalicius goes to grab a dagger, but “then a figure with tangled hair head-butted Venalicius in his stomach. He went down. . . And now children were swarming over him, tying his hands and legs and stomach until he was more rope than man.” Some of the men jumped overboard and sunk to their deaths while the others were tied up.  
  • Lupus sees the slave dealer, Venalicius, “treasured up like a pig for slaughter. . . Lupus wrenched the dagger from the cabin wall and in one savage motion he brought it down toward the slave dealer’s throat. Flavia screamed as she saw blood spurt from the slave dealer’s head.” Lupus cut off the slave dealer’s ear. Felix stops Lupus from killing the man. The story implies that Lupus saw the slave dealer kill his father. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Flavia’s uncle Gaius sells wine. Wine is mentioned when describing the items being given to the survivors. 
  • Before Flavia and her friends leave Pompeii, Jonathan packs a “dark brown powder.” He says, “We’re going to an unknown place with a possible criminal mastermind. You never know when you’ll need a good sleeping powder!” 
  • After his daughter is kidnapped, a farmer seeks help from Felix. Felix gives him wine, and “the farmer drained the cup and shuddered.” 
  • During dinner, wine is served to everyone, including the children. The steward “filled each guest’s cup, simultaneously pouring out foamy black wine from one jug and clear water from the other. The mixture ranged from ruby red in Felix’s cup to the palest pink for the little girls.” Flavia drinks so much wine that she is ill the next day. 
  • To help the kidnapped children get free, Nubia puts a powder in their wine. She believed it was a sleeping powder, but instead, it was “mushroom powder” that made the men hallucinate. 

Language  

  • Several times, Flavia exclaims, “Neptune’s beard!” 
  • An adult exclaims, “By Jupiter!” 
  • After a walk, Pulchra says, “Great Juno!” 
  • After Pulchra beats Nubia, Flavia thinks, “That stupid, spoiled little harpy with the golden hair and eyes. She had dared to strike Nubia!” 
  • Pulchra and Flavia call each other names such as spoiled little patrician, peasant, harpy, and gorgon. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • The gods Castor and Pollux are Flavia’s “guardian gods.”  
  • After the volcano erupted, “people moaned and wailed at the evil omen of a bloodred world. Some believed Apollo, the sun god, was dying and that he would never rise again.” 
  • After her uncle is robbed, Flavia wonders what they will eat. An adult tells her, “God will provide.” 
  • When Jonathan is in a coma, his father prays for him, saying, “Please, Lord, bring him back.” When Jonathan finally wakes, his father says, “Praise God!” 
  • When the emperor promises to compensate people who lost property in the eruption, the people cheer. “There were many shouts of ‘Hail Caesar!’ and ‘May the gods reward you.’” 
  • Felix has “an ancient shrine to the wine god, Dionysus.” Felix explains why the shrine has a picture of a ship with dolphins surrounding it. Pirates kidnapped Dionysus and “dragged the god into their ship and tied him up.” Dionysus escaped and “turned into a lion and roared in their faces. . . The pirates leaped overboard before the beast could devour them.” Afterwards, Dionysus drank wine. “The wind put Dionysus in such good spirits that he took pity on the drowning sailors and turned them all into dolphins. And that is how dolphins came to be.” 
  • Felix believes Flavia and her friends survived the volcano’s eruption because “the gods must surely have favored you.” 
  • Felix’s wife says, “I believe that my husband is part man, part god. Like Hercules. . .For a long time, I wondered which of the gods was his father. . .” 
  • Lupus was the only child who escaped the kidnappers. As he looks for Felix, he prays, “Let him be there.” 

Four Perfect Pebbles

Marion Blumenthal Lazan’s memoir follows her family’s escape from Nazi Germany. They fled to Holland, where the Nazis forced them into prison camps and they eventually were sent to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. Their journey is filled with pain and loss as they try to immigrate to the United States in hopes of survival. However, Marion’s ritual of finding four perfect pebbles shows her effort to remain hopeful.  

Four Perfect Pebbles is told in the third person, focusing on the life of Marion Blumenthal Lazan, a young Jewish girl who survived the Holocaust. While the story is filled with her real-life experiences, it’s narrated from an outside perspective, allowing the reader to see both Marion’s emotions and the historical context. Marion is a relatable and admirable main character who holds onto hope in the darkest of situations. Marion uses a ritual of finding four perfect pebbles to comfort herself with the idea that her family would survive. Her courage and curiosity make her compelling to read about, especially for readers interested in learning about history.  

The people closest to Marion are her family, which includes her mother, Ruth, her father, Walter, and her older brother, Albert. Her mother provides not just physical care but emotional strength, helping Marion endure the harsh conditions by keeping their Jewish traditions alive and telling stories at night. Walter is a calming and hardworking individual who aims to protect his family. He’s a beacon of strength for them. Marion’s older brother becomes a role model because of his courage and love. Their devotion to one another becomes the emotional center of the book. Marion doesn’t simply observe their actions; they shape her. This is what drives her to cling to the idea that staying together is what will keep them all alive.  

Four Perfect Pebbles is educational and emotionally impactful due to its descriptions of starvation, disease, and death. These moments are handled with care and respect, making them suitable for middle-grade readers yet still powerful enough to leave a lasting impact. It’s concise and direct writing, teaching readers about the Holocaust through the lens of the Blumenthal family. However, some sections, specifically the earlier chapters, feel somewhat slow and focus more on history than on Marion’s personal accounts. Historian Lila Perl co-writes this book, so the tone shifts between more narrative storytelling and factual explanation, which can make certain parts feel less personal.  

This book is absolutely worth reading because the memoir offers both education and empathy. The addition of real photos of the Blumenthal family, documents, and the camp makes the events even more real. For readers unfamiliar with the Holocaust, Marion’s story helps readers understand what children endured during the war. It’s a story about perseverance, family, and survival. Through Marion’s journey, readers are reminded that even the smallest things can bring hope. Four Perfect Pebbles leaves readers with the ultimate message that even in the darkest moments, hope can give people the strength to endure.  

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • Marion recounts the harsh living conditions of the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. The barracks were crowded. “As many as six hundred crowded into barracks meant to hold a hundred.”  
  • At the camp, Marion would wake up to “gasps and moans, rattling coughs, and short piercing cries,” and “the stench of unwashed bodies, disease, and death.”  
  • The prisoners were subjected to unhygienic conditions. There were no toilets, and they would go weeks without washing themselves. “We were covered in lice. They lived in our clothes, in our hair, and the itching never stopped.”  
  • There was also a constant fear of death. Marion notes that despite Bergen-Belsen not having gas chambers, many still worried they were being led to their deaths because “how could we ever be sure?” 
  • While at Bergen-Belsen, many people died from starvation and disease. “The wagon trundled past, and a closer look told her that it was filled not with firewood but with the naked, sticklike bodies of dead prisoners.” 
  • The news mentions gas chambers. “By June 1942, reports of Jews being gassed in Poland had already appeared in American and British newspapers and been aired on the BBC.”  
  • Typhus was the most prevalent disease and spread quickly. “No symptoms showed until the deep pink, pea-size spots appeared around the midriff. This rash had given the disease the common name of spotted fever. Its onset was accompanied by a severe headache and a high fever that often resulted in delirious ravings and hallucinations. Death usually followed within one to two days.” 
  • A pot of soup severely burns Marion’s leg and, due to harsh conditions, it’s unable to heal properly. “I was sitting on the bed, near the pot of soup, with my right leg bent at the knee. In our haste to cover what we were doing, we tipped over the pot and the boiling soup spilled across my leg, scalding the lower part from the knee down.” 
  • Marion’s father passed away from Typhus shortly after liberation. “For days, he lay in the farmhouse bedroom suffering from the burning fever, the stabbing headaches, and the weird fantasies and semiconsciousness of the disease. And then one morning, Albert went to his bedside and saw that he was dead.” 

Language 

  • Hitler disparaged various groups of people. For example, “He also denounced any Germans who were crippled, deformed, or mentally ill, as being unworthy of existence.”

Supernatural Content 

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • The Blumenthal family is Jewish, and their religious identity is mentioned throughout the story. Marion and her family maintain Jewish customs and adapt their meals for Passover. “I could make do with eating matzoh, our unleavened bread, instead of raised bread. But many sweets that I’d been looking forward to were not kosher for Passover.” 
  • While imprisoned in a transport camp, the family still maintained some religious observances, despite the conditions. “We lit the Sabbath candles when we could, whispering prayers that were part of her childhood.” 

Wrong Side of the Court

Fifteen-year-old Fawad Chaudhry feels his best when he’s holding a basketball. It’s a needed diversion from everything going on in his life. He lives in Regent Park, a Toronto community housing project with a high crime rate. He is the victim of constant physical and verbal attacks from his neighborhood bully, Omar. To make matters worse, his mother is determined to have him marry his first cousin in Pakistan.   

Basketball is Fawad’s escape. He often shoots around with his best friends, Yousuf and Arif. Fawad also spent his summer training with Yousuf’s older brother, Abshir. He even sleeps with a basketball in his arms. While that might seem odd, it makes perfect sense to him. That basketball was the last gift his father gave him before he died.  

As Fawad enters his freshman year of high school, he hopes to secure a spot on the basketball team, gain some much-needed confidence, and perhaps move past his lingering grief over his father. However, before the school year even starts, Fawad’s optimism is stifled by tragedy. He witnesses Abshir’s murder in a drive-by shooting. Yousuf, in his grief, isolates himself from his friends. Now, a school year that Fawad hoped would be a clean slate is burdened by the shock of Abshir’s death.  

Following the murder of Abshir, much of the story’s conflict stems from Fawad adjusting to high school in the aftermath. Fawad and Arif worry for Yousuf’s mental health while grieving Abshir in their own way. In addition, Fawad struggles with living in Regent Park because he dislikes the crime and its negative impact on people’s perception of him. For example, his school dance is ruined when Fawad intervenes in a fight between Arif and the protective older brother of Arif’s girlfriend, Ashley, whose parents simply chalk the fight up to Fawad being “a kid from Regent.”   

Through this conflict, Wrong Side of the Court communicates its central message: your circumstances do not have to determine your future. Fawad often feels like an outsider, saying that he never sees anyone like him in movies or on TV. In addition, no Pakistani American has become a professional basketball player. These negative feelings are alleviated by the positive figures in his life, including his friends, his sister, his coach, and other mentors. Through these relationships, Fawad builds the self-assurance he needs to pursue his dreams.  

On that note, Wrong Side of the Court has a refreshing depiction of teenage male friendship. While Fawad, Yousuf, and Arif repeatedly argue, they deeply care for one another. When Yousuf isolates himself in his grief, Fawad and Arif consistently check in on him while allowing him some space. The boys aren’t afraid to cry in front of each other and are quick to offer support to one another. In addition, Fawad and Arif encourage Yousuf’s musical talent, which ultimately gives him the confidence to pursue a career as a songwriter. 

Wrong Side of the Court is a coming-of-age novel that uses Fawad’s love for basketball to communicate the importance of self-worth. It examines the weight of violence while allowing for many moments of levity, ultimately delivering a hopeful message. Fawad experiences the regular plot beats of a high school story, such as dating for the first time and trying out for a sports team, while grappling with the impact that Regent Park’s violence has on those around him and his own image. The author, H.N. Khan, grew up in Regent Park, which gives the book more authenticity and allows Fawad’s relationship with the area to read as deep and personal. 

The story is told through Fawad’s first-person point of view, resulting in an informal writing style.  For example, Fawad describes his apartment complex as a “crusty-ass building, which literally looks like some builder shat out bricks and didn’t have enough money for the concrete to put between them.” The informal tone is realistic for a fifteen-year-old, and Fawad’s sarcastic descriptions of the people and things around him lend the book lots of humor. His passionate description of every basketball game will excite even readers who are not fans of the sport. Most readers are sure to find Fawad to be a likable protagonist. Beyond his sense of humor, he always stands up for his friends and never gives up on his goals.  

Overall, Wrong Side of the Court is an engaging and heartfelt novel. While some of the book’s conflicts feel too quickly resolved, it is well worth the read. With its violence, language, and sexual content, it is best suited for more mature readers. Although the book is 288 pages long, the story’s tight structure and brisk pace keep the reader consistently invested. Fawad’s journey is emotional and challenging, and the lesson he learns from it is a valuable one. As Venkatesh, a former Regent resident who became a successful programmer at Google, tells an awestruck Fawad later in the book: “All my life, there were a whole lot of people telling me I would amount to nothing. Then there were people telling me that I could be whatever I wanted. But one thing that stayed constant was my own belief in myself. That belief was my armor.” 

Sexual Content 

  • Arif brags about “going to third base.” Later, he says that he and his girlfriend are going to have sex while her parents are out of the house. This is not described or referenced again. 
  • Fawad describes a teenage couple he often sees making out outside his apartment building. One day, he sees them having a serious conversation and notices the woman is pregnant. 
  • Arif teases Fawad about masturbating by “shaking his hand up and down near his waist.” He adds, “Trust me, it’s way better with a girl.” 
  • On the first day of school, Fawad describes a girl as wearing “a tight top that lets me see the contours of her breasts.” He stops himself and thinks, “I don’t want to be that guy on day one, that’s just not cool.” 
  • A character mentions “getting head.” 

 Violence 

  • Abshir is killed in a drive-by shooting. While Fawad only hears the shooting from his room, he sees Abshir’s body from his window. “There’s a body in the middle of the street,” he describes. “Not just any body. It’s in front of Yousuf’s home. That’s Yousuf’s mom. She’s kneeling on the ground, holding the body, caressing its head, screaming.” 
  • Fawad and his friends tease each other and get into physical scuffles. In one instance, Fawad punches Arif in the stomach. 
  • Fawad punches the protective older brother of Arif’s girlfriend before he can hit Arif. “I clocked him right in the face,” Fawad describes. “There’s blood dripping down his nose.”   
  • Omar and his friends attack Fawad and Yousuf. Omar “punches Yousuf right in the gut, sending him to his knees,” before “kicking Yousuf in the head. That sends him flying back into the concrete.” Fawad fights Omar off. “I knock him to the floor, get a few solid punches in, and draw some blood,” he describes. The fight ends when Omar’s friend jabs Fawad “right in the back of the head.” Fawad describes feeling fuzzy and says he can “see red on the snow next to [his] face.” Fawad and Yousuf black out, then wake up in the hospital. 
  • When Omar’s father forces him to apologize to Fawad for bullying him, he “gives [Omar] a slap behind the head,” “twists part of his ear,” and arm. 
  • Fawad’s mother slaps him during a heated argument. “‘Fawad, do not talk to your mother like that,’ she yells, standing up, and slapping me across the face. It forces me to take a step back.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • Arif and Yousuf often “smoke up.” 
  • Fawad mentions that Abshir keeps “a stash” in his room. 
  • After Abshir’s death, Fawad says that Yousuf spends most of his time smoking weed in his room. 

Language 

  • Profanity is used frequently, in both Fawad’s narration and in conversation between characters. Profanity includes fuck, shit, bitch, damn, pussy, and ass. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • Fawad’s family and friends practice Islam.  
  • They attend classes at their mosque, where they practice reciting the Quran. No verses are transcribed in the book. 
  • Readers unfamiliar with most Islamic practices should note that not every religious action depicted in the book is customary. Most notably, arranging someone’s wedding at the age of fifteen is not customary today. 

Shadow Fox

Shadow the fox does not trust humans. Well, except for Nan, who feeds her chunks of fish behind a lakeside motel every night. When Nan goes missing, a man from the mysterious Whistlenorth Island comes ashore to seek the aid of Nan’s granddaughter, Bee, whom he thinks is destined not only to help Nan, but also to save Whistlenorth from the greedy and destructive Night Islanders.  

The plans go topsy-turvy when it becomes obvious that Bee does not have the magic powers of a chosen one — but Shadow does! Can a fox really rescue an island of people? As Shadow grudgingly comes to trust her new human companions, she and Bee develop a mystical bond, a special connection between human and animal that might be the key to driving the Night Islanders from Whistlenorth for good.  

The story is told from Shadow’s point of view, offering a unique perspective and allowing readers to understand how environmental destruction impacts wild animals. Shadow was hunting when a group of men cleared an entire swath of forest and killed Shadow’s mother and sister. Afterwards, Shadow doesn’t want to “like” anyone, especially humans. Shadow’s quest isn’t just about saving the people of Whistlenorth; the fox also has to accept her family’s death and allow others into her heart.  

Shadow and Bee discover they have a special magical bond that allows them to hear each other’s thoughts. Bee often comments on Shadow’s thoughts and helps her understand the human world. In addition, Bee gives Shadow confidence by saying, “Don’t you ever doubt yourself! I used to think that being wild was a bad thing, but being wild is the best thing.” In the end, Shadow realizes that she doesn’t need to act human to defeat the Night Islanders. Instead, she needs to think like a fox. This reinforces the idea that Shadow does not need to become a tame pet in order to save Whistlenorth.  

Shadow also has a special bond with a bird that she helped hatch. At first, Shadow does not want to care about the bird, but the bird refuses to leave Shadow’s side. Shadow notices the bird is “gazing at me as if I am his everything. I am the sun and the moon and the fish and the stars. Yes, he is just a bird, but he is everything worth fighting for, all wrapped up in feathers.” Shadow’s relationship with the bird and Bee helps Shadow overcome her grief and allows others into her heart. In addition, it is these relationships that give him the ability to save Whistlenorth. In the end, Shadow is motivated to save the isle because it’s the only way to save her friends. 

Shadow Fox has a strong environmental focus that helps readers understand the importance of caring for everything “wild.” The death of Shadow’s family highlights what happens when natural areas are destroyed to make room for progress. The environmental focus is seamlessly integrated throughout the book, without being overwhelming or preachy. Bee’s grandmother warns: “‘Make no mistake. If the foxes disappear, if the birds disappear, humans are next. We might still be breathing, we might still be alive, but inside, in here—’ She taps her heart with two fingers. ‘It’s all over.’” 

By telling the story from Shadow’s point of view, Sorosiak creates an endearing protagonist that readers will fall in love with. Shadow’s thoughts and actions are consistent with a wild fox, which often brings humor into the story. Shadow often thinks about food—including her favorite food, fish—and this leads to some silly moments. In addition, Shadow makes many references to fish. For example, Shadow describes the wind saying, “It pelts my face like a dead trout. Or a cold, stiff sturgeon.”  

Shadow Fox begins by describing the magical islands of Whistlenorth and the dangers presented by the Night Islanders. The worldbuilding is essential; however, it lacks action and suspense. When Shadow and Bee get to the island, the story becomes more interesting and intense. However, the large cast of supporting characters, the complicated plot, and the detailed fight scenes will require readers to pay close attention to the text. Despite this, animal-loving readers will be drawn into Shadow’s adventure and cheer when Shadow not only defeats the Night Islanders but also defeats her fears. For more stories that teach about the importance of caring for our environment, check out Spark by Sarah Beth Durst, Out of My Shell by Jenny Goebel, and the Wild Rescuers Series by Stacy Plays. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Shadow is in a barn when a groundkeeper appears. “One of his gloved hands grips my neck alongside the metal loop, and he lifts me straight into the air.” The man tells Shadow, “I was going to turn you into the wildlife authorities, but maybe I should turn you into a hat.” Shadow uses magic to escape. 
  • Bee sees bed birds. “They are a famous species. Little blue birds. They sneak through cracked-open windows at night and bite humans, sleeping in their beds.” 
  • Shadow’s mother and sister were killed when humans took “down a swath of the forest in a day,” and sliced down the trees. Afterwards, Shadow felt “a feeling [she]’d never felt and never want[ed] to feel again. The total loss, that emptiness, the knowledge that nowhere—nowhere out there—were [her] sister and mother breathing. Their breath was smothered out.” 
  • The Night Islanders are killing everything—plants and animals—to extract magic. A Night Islander wears a “metal cage that’s around his face, just two little holes cut out for eyes, and wearing . . . a beaver hat. The tail dangles along his neck. The matted pelt shrouds his head.” 
  • Two Night Islanders travel to Whistlenorth with the intent of kidnapping the chosen one. Shadow calls one of the men “the Hunter.” Shadow realizes that the Hunter and other Night Islanders are the ones that killed her family. “The ones with the metal and the smoke and the saws. . . They were Night Islanders!” 
  • The Hunter grabs Bee. Shadow attacks and “clamp[s] the second attacker’s leg in my jaws. He lets out a single yelping note, louder than a fox, before kicking, kicking, flinging me against the nearest tree. Arching through the air, I hit the bark with a thwomp. . . The blow has me seeing tiny bees, buzzing above my ears. One of my ribs bends inward, bruising but not breaking.”  
  • To escape the man’s grasp, Bee “opens her mouth and bites the Hunter’s mitten—hard. Another shriek escapes him, voice dark and blooming like blood. . .” Bee is unable to escape, and the Hunter kidnaps her. 
  • To free Bee, a pack of snow foxes attacks. “Advancing forward, all one hundred of them pounce, paws first, tongue second. Spit flies. Tongues reach out. . . The foxes lick ears. They lick toes. They lick fingers and noses and palms, slurping-slurp.” The foxes’ spit numbs the Night Islanders so they are unable to move.  
  • Shadow finds Bee. “The sleeve of her sweater is tied around her mouth and nose, blocking her breath. . . her wrists are bound with a strip of fishing net.” The snow foxes surround the Hunter, and he is “pinned in all directions by snouts and teeth.” 
  • The Night Islanders use their magic to make “spikes rise from the earth. . . They’re taller than the tallest oaks, sharper than thorns.” Shadow, Bee, and the bird are “hemmed in on all sides, like an ice cage.” 
  • To trap some of the Night Islanders, Shadow uses magic to summon “the canoes from the lakeshore. . . Falling to the earth, they trap a few Night Islanders beneath them.” 
  • The Night Islanders combine their magic to create a mound of snow that traps Bee, Shadow, and others. “Under the snow-flood, my body wiggles and flits. Thrashing, flaying! . . . And my breath has nowhere to go! The snow is packed so tightly. . . The Hunter and the Night Islanders. . .. They’ve summoned all the snow from the island to bury us alive.” Everyone escapes.  
  • The only way to defeat the Night Islanders is to take their magic. The bird uses magic to make a flock of birds out of snow. The birds disappear and reappear inside of the Night Islanders’ stomachs. “The Hunter shrieks, hippity-hopping on his toes. Now the other Night Islanders are clutching their stomachs, massaging their throats, beating their chests.” 
  • Once the birds have collected all of the magic from the Night Islanders’ stomachs, “the birds reappear as a flock. . . a little bit melted at the tips of their feathers but roughly intact. Their bellies bulge with magic. . . waddling calmly away.” The Night Islanders return to their isle.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • A man calls Shadow a “good-for-nothing.” 
  • When learning that the fox and Bee don’t swim, a man yells, “Fish sticks almighty.” “Fish sticks” is used as an exclamation four times. 
  • Bee uses “jeez” as an exclamation twice.  
  • Shadow uses magic, causing a dining room table, table settings, and hundreds of fish to appear suddenly. Nan exclaims, “Oh, holy herring in cream sauce.” 
  • When a Night Islander wakes up to the smell of fox urine, he yells, “What the—.” 

Supernatural 

  • Magic is prevalent throughout the book, so not every instance is listed below. Some people have magic that allows them to summon things. Shadow can “change smoke into tiny foxes and summon cans of pudding. Not so intimidating. Unless, I suppose, you’re afraid of pudding. Or aluminum.” 
  • Some people are cultivators. “We make things grow. Or shrink them. Some can even take an object and reshape it into something else. . . Like pudding cans into teaspoons.” 
  • Bee reads a book of predictions written by a woman who “had a knack for predicting the future, but she didn’t get it right all the time.” There are several general predictions. One says that Beatrice Shadowen from Minnesota, US, “will be chosen by nature to save the island from the magical extinction.” 
  • Nan explains where magic comes from. She says, “The magic comes from nature: the trees, the rivers, the soil. Think of it like oxygen. We breathe in magic, then breathe it out—intentionally—to make something happen.” 
  • Magic allows Bee and Shadow to hear each other’s thoughts and allows Shadow to understand human speech. Bee tells Shadow, “It’s not like I asked for this power. . . You got most of the magic, but—somehow—I got the power to understand you.” It also allows Shadow to read human books. 
  • After the groundkeeper captures Shadow, the fox becomes warm. “My belly prickles with the heat.” The fox becomes so hot that the “groundkeeper shrieks, his hand unclenching. . .” Somehow, Shadow had turned the groundkeeper’s gloves into pumpkin soup. Afterwards, “the groundkeeper is murmuring, examining his hands, which are slick with hot orange goop.” Both Shadow and the groundkeeper are confused about how the gloves changed.  
  • Shadow has a habit of taking people’s shoes. While in the barn with the groundkeeper, “one of my shoes is hovering in the air. . . Then another one. A bright-blue flip-flop, suspended like a hummingbird.” The groundkeeper runs away before seeing the shoes “circling the air before stacking all around [Shadow], a tower on four sides. With a flip-flop roof!” 
  • A swarm of bed birds surrounds Shadow, making her skin tingle. “Tiny sprigs of fur are beginning to sprout. Midnight-black tufts grow and rush over the paw. On my belly, too, is a feeling. A feeling like lying in the sun.” When the birds leave, Shadow’s fur is full and healthy. 
  • When Shadow thinks of fish toast, it appears. “A slice of white bread, smothered in lake-trout paste. It just. . .appears, right by my paws. Without thinking, I shove the toast in my mouth. . .” 
  • Shadow helps a bird hatch, and the bird imprints on the fox. Later, Shadow discovers that the bird has magic. The bird can disappear and reappear somewhere else. The bird can also transport others.  
  • While practicing her magic, Shadow makes a spoon grow. The spoon gets so big that “soon, it’ll be punching a hole in the houseboat. . . The houseboat creaks again, this time from the pressure of the spoon. It’s bending, metal thrusting against the rafters. . .” With Nan’s help, Shadow shrinks the spoon to its normal size. 
  • To help fight the Night Islanders, Shadow conjures dozens of foxes made of snow. Some are “spikier, with pine needles sticking from their snow like hackles.” To get to the Night Isle, the bird transports Shadow and the snow foxes.

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Heiress Takes All

Olivia Owens is a teenage heiress. Or at least she was, before her dad, millionaire Dashiell “Dash” Owens, cheated on her mom and then kicked Olivia to the curb. Olivia wants revenge, and she plans on getting it. . . at Dash’s third wedding. She puts together a crew of high schoolers hungry for a huge cash grab—hacker Cass, jock and baker Deonte, charismatic Tom, plus her former English teacher, Mr. McCoy — and plans a heist to steal millions from Dash while he’s getting hitched. “The Plan” involves phases, including sneaking phones into the wedding, detaining Dash’s lawyer Mitchum’s daughter to ransom her in exchange for the codes to the safe, breaking into the safe and transferring the money to the thieves’ accounts, and then, of course, the epic getaway. 

But not all goes to plan. Olivia’s ex-boyfriend, Jackson, who cheated on her (allegedly), is an unplanned distraction. Mitchum’s son Kevin sticks his nose into Olivia’s plan, and Olivia is forced to recruit him so he won’t snitch. Mitchum reveals that the safe contains not just money but incriminating evidence against Dash for an unknown crime. Dash’s second wife, Lexi, shows up to get revenge on Dash, breaking into the safe before Olivia can. Lexi is holding the codes to the bank accounts hostage until Olivia produces evidence of Dash cheating. To get what she wants, Olivia is forced to adjust and then abandon “The Plan” altogether. Will Olivia and her crew be able walk away millions of dollars richer? Or will they walk away in handcuffs? 

Olivia appears to be a character readers are supposed to sympathize with, but her actions and words come off as whiny, entitled, and unrelatable. She also doesn’t speak like a typical teenager, as she often uses unnecessarily advanced vocabulary that would likely baffle most teenage readers. Additionally, she speaks like a caricature of Gen Z, rather than an actual Gen Z kid (this is also true of other teenage characters). Olivia doesn’t feel real. Nonetheless, she has her positive moments, such as wanting to get justice for her mother. Ultimately, Olivia fails to be an enjoyable or realistic protagonist.  

Olivia’s crew is full of interesting, but underused characters, yet they do not make up for Olivia’s failings. Tom adds some much-needed snark and realism to the book, and Kevin brings the party by being the “dumb rich kid” who’s not as dumb as he seems. Deonte is a superstar jock who is also a magnificent baker, an intriguing combination, but he’s not a major presence in the majority of the book. The crew members take a backseat to Jackson, who adds a romantic subplot that is distracting. 

Heiress Takes All has some positive aspects. The setting of a wedding heist is intriguing, and some of the wedding-related elements of the story, such as sneaking phones into the wedding via a wedding cake, add a unique, playful element to a heist book. The twists are entertaining, keeping the heist exciting. After all, if the heist went off without an issue, it would be uninteresting. However, the writing is inconsistent in quality, especially in the first half of the book—some sentences are worded strangely, sometimes to the point of incoherence. The genuinely entertaining high points of the book simply can’t make up for the faults. The flawed portrayal of Olivia, along with hints of messages about family, work ethic, or class, fails to make the book meaningful. Heiress Takes All has its moments of delightful heist antics, but it’s bogged down by an irritating main character, confusing writing, and a misuse of side characters. If you’re looking for a fast-paced book that will capture your attention, check out the Heist Society Series by Ally Carter or the American Royals Series by Katharine McGee. 

Sexual Content  

  • Cheating is a pivotal subject, as Dash cheated on Olivia’s mother and allegedly cheated on his second wife, Lexi. Additionally, Jackson allegedly cheated on Olivia.  
  • Olivia fantasizes when she sees Jackson at the wedding. “Curls you could rake your fingers through forever, which then you decide to do, until fifteen minutes later, you have no idea what’s going on in the Netflix episode and oh hey, how did our shirts end up on the floor?” 
  • To have an alibi, Olivia makes out with Tom in the boathouse. “When I close the door behind us, my mouth on Tom’s, the wonderful rush of my heartbeat is very real.” The scene lasts two pages. 
  • Olivia reminisces about the romance she had with Jackson before he cheated. “The lips I remember whispering I love you into my neck whenever we had sex.” 
  • Jackson needs to change into a tuxedo, and Olivia doesn’t leave the room. She observes, “he undoes his tie and starts unbuttoning his shirt. Objectively, it’s sexy.” She recalls their relationship, saying, “He was my first in every way. The first time we had sex was perfectly planned.” This scene lasts eight pages. 
  • Olivia trips and Jackson catches her, causing an awkward yet romantic moment: “—when Jackson catches me, his grip gentle on my waist. The hot shock of him holding my hips is merciless, supplying me with memories like notes shoved under locked doors.” 
  • Olivia makes out with Tom again so as not to appear suspicious during the heist. “He really can kiss. The way he presses me up the wall, the dark heat in his eyes the perfect contrast to the cool paint behind me, has me feeling like he could offer classes.” 
  • When staging a breakup with Tom for her father to witness, Olivia yells, “Screw you, Thomas! . . . I never should have slept with you.” 
  • When Jackson confronts Olivia about her stealing, he softly grabs her wrist, and she thinks about their past relationship. “He pushed strands of hair behind my ears, held the small of my back when we were going through doors or upstairs, slid dress zippers down so slowly, I would shiver.” 
  • Olivia kisses Jackson upon receiving the news that they have successfully stolen the money from her dad’s offshore accounts. “Without hesitating, I press my lips to Jackson’s, operating on pure impulse. . . as if he’s made entirely of rogue hunger, he kisses me back fiercely.” 
  • Olivia implies that her father, Dash, is predatory, as he met Maureen (who is much younger than he is) when she was a TA in university. “He’d [Dash] been hunting for prospective employees, technically, but really, he’d been hunting for prospective Maureens [romantic partners].”

Violence  

  • Olivia’s mom was involved in a car accident. “Her car. . . skidded on ice into the highway divider. . . Her head hit the window hard. Her wrist crumpled from the impact. She was unconscious for fifteen hours.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • At the wedding, guests consume alcohol. Drunken behavior occurs various times. There is no underage drinking. 
  • At the bachelorette party, Olivia (who was drinking virgin mimosas) pried information about the wedding from “Maureen, who was five or six very real mimosas deep.” 
  • A young adult suggests Olivia and her crew join him in smoking marijuana, saying, “We could get high and watch Kung Fu Panda.” 
  • Dash and his groomsmen smoke cigars and drink liquor before the wedding. Olivia notes, “Cigar smoke and the raucous laughter of drunk groomsmen greet me.” 

Language  

  • Profanity is used sometimes. Profanity includes hell, ass, damn, dick, shit, and fuck.  
  • “Oh my God” and variations are used as exclamations occasionally.

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Wings of Starlight

Before Tinker Bell and her friends, there was Queen Clarion. Clarion, the soon-to-be queen, is preparing with her mentor, Queen Elvina, and the rest of the Warm Season fairies prepare for her coronation. Clarion tries her best, but feels unsure about her ability to govern, which is made worse by her lack of control over her magic. Matters become worse when a dark threat, called Nightmares, escapes from their ancient prison in the Winter Woods and wreaks havoc across Pixie Hollow. 

Reports of a monster crossing from Winter into Spring make their way to the palace. Clarion is determined to prove her worth by defeating the monster. But instead of finding a monster at the edge of Winter, she finds Milori, the young guardian of the Winter Woods. The two of them recognize each other as kindred spirits, and a romance blossoms. They decide to work together to figure out how to defeat the Nightmares, which directly defies Elvina’s orders. However, only in disobeying does Clarion discover her own abilities, as well as a way to end the reign of the Nightmares and unite Pixie Hollow.  

Readers will be enchanted with Princess Clarion, who struggles with confidence but has a compassionate heart and an earnest desire to help. Queen Elvina would have Clarion be an objective and aloof ruler, but Clarion has a warmth that drives her to connect with her fellow fairies. Readers will relate to Clarion’s fight to forge her own path forward. Clarion tries to mold herself into the ruler Elvina wants her to be. However, following Elvina’s block of Clarion’s governing magic. Once she starts to follow her heart, she finds the strength and magic within her to lead Pixie Hollow and fight the Nightmares. Clarion’s all-encompassing love and wish to do right by all those who believe in her make her an endearing hero and the perfect lead for this tale of love and “hope, even on the darkest and coldest of nights.” 

While at times lonely due to her position, Clarion is still surrounded by love in the form of her friends and Milori. Petra the Tinker fairy is a brilliant inventor and worrywart who acts as a voice of reason but eventually clashes with Clarion over her dangerous adventures with Milori. Artemis, loyal to a fault, became Clarion’s bodyguard after she defied orders to save a friend. Milori, solemn but sweet, gives Clarion the push to believe in herself after showing his own unwavering belief in her abilities and heart. Each of these characters is unique and adds dimension to Clarion’s journey of self-growth, because even though she has to find her own way, Clarion is by no means alone. 

Wings of Starlight is a perfectly paced book that balances terrifying threats with the quieter moments of Clarion and Milori’s romance. Saft creates captivating characters, whose flaws only make them more relatable. Clarion and Milori’s fight to end the terror of the Nightmares is not just a fight to save the fairies but to ensure a new future for Pixie Hollow. Winter Fairies have become effectively separate from Pixie Hollow over the centuries and are highly mistrusted. Queen Elvina even tries to sever them from the rest of the Warm Seasons. However, Clarion and Milori are able to stop her and the Nightmares, thus “welcom[ing] in a new era of a unified Pixie Hollow.”  

The conclusion is slightly melancholic because while the Warm Season and Winter Fairies are now unified, Clarion and Milori recognize that it is too hard to watch over Pixie Hollow and the Winter Woods if they stay together. This comes as a result of Milori sacrificing one of his wings and his ability to fly in order to save Clarion. Even so, Clarion, Milori, and Pixie Hollow are still able to move forward into a brighter future. Clarion’s story is one of courage, belief, love, and sacrifice, through which she learns to follow her heart, even when things are dire. Wings of Starlight teaches that when all is not as it seems, the best course of action is always to trust yourself, trust in your “talents,” and in the love of those around you. 

Sexual Content  

  • Clarion first meets Milori at the border of Spring and Winter. When Clarion hears his voice, “It made a shiver pass through her, one that had nothing to do with the cold.” 
  • Clarion and Milori meet up again. “They sat almost knee to knee in the darkness, close enough to touch. The very thought prickled along her skin like electricity. . . Somehow, this felt far more vulnerable. Especially when he was looking at her like this. Clarion could not name what exactly she saw there, but it made a terrible longing rise up within her.” 
  • As time progresses, Clarion and Milori both start to realize their feelings for each other. “There was no mistaking the wide-open yearning in his eyes…She wondered exactly how long he had wanted to kiss her. . . His hand came to cradle the side of her neck, and although his touch chilled her skin, warmth flooded her. Clarion leaned fully into Winter and kissed him.” 
  • After their first kiss, Clarion has a fight with Elvina and then comes back to the border to see Milori. He tells her that he hasn’t slept well, and Clarion realizes it’s because of their kiss and how quickly she left afterwards. “The sense memory of their kiss awakened, skipping across her skin in heated trails and stoking her glow to a rose-colored blaze.” 
  • Clarion and Milori are very close together as he invites her to a ball the Winter Fairies will be holding in her honor. While they are close, Clarion thinks, “It would be a simple thing, to rise onto her toes and kiss him as she had the other night, to thread her fingers into his snow-white hair.” 
  • After the Winter Ball, Milori takes Clarion back to the border but they both are reluctant to part because of the finality of the moment. “Then, his lips parted beneath hers, and Clarion felt herself catch flame.” 
  • However, because a Winter Fairy’s wings cannot tolerate the heat of the warm seasons and Warm Season Fairy’s wings would freeze in winter, Clarion and Milori must remain apart, but that does not stop their love. “They crashed together, and his mouth was on hers with a desperation that left her breathless. She met him with equal fervor. Her world narrowed to this: His hair, slipping through her fingers like water, His hands, skimming down the ridge of her spine and spanning the curve of her waist.” 
  • Artemis comes to visit Petra in the hospital after the Nightmares’ magic is broken and Petra wakes from her slumber. “The scout placed a kiss on her forehead, then, more tentatively, to her lips.” Artemis also tells Petra to never “scare [him] like that again.” 
  • Clarion and Milori give each other one final goodbye kiss as they face their new futures forever apart. Clarion “took his face in her hands and kissed him—briefly, selfishly, if only to commit him entirely to memory. The feeling of his lips, soft against her own. The way his breath hitched, no matter how many times they had done this.” 

Violence  

  • Throughout the book, Nightmares attack the fairies at various times and send some into deep slumbers where they face their own nightmares. Clarion’s close advisor, Rowan, the Minister of Autumn, is attacked by the Nightmares, and it is trapped in a magical slumber: “[Clarion] scrabbled to her feet and flew to him. He did not stir at her approach, but his chest rose and fell. Alive. Clarion nearly wept with relief. She knelt at his side and shook him. His expression contorted—not with pain, exactly, but…fear? His eyes flickered behind their closed lids. It almost looked as though he was having a nightmare.” All the fairies affected by the Nightmares stay asleep until Clarion defeats the Queen of the Nightmares, and the spell is broken, with all the fairies unharmed. 
  • Artemis, Clarion’s friend and bodyguard, tries to protect fairies from the Nightmares. Artemis “loosed her arrow. It soared through the air and into the beast’s open mouth. Although it skewered the back of its head, the serpent did not even flinch.” This fight lasts six pages and ends when the Nightmare serpent disappears into the forest. The fight is not without casualties as many fairies are under the Nightmares’ magic, like the Minister of Autumn, Rowan.  
  • When investigating the Nightmares, Clarion and Milori are attacked, and Clarion is injured. “A bright pain seared through her, but the Nightmare’s talons drove into the spot where she’d been lying.” 
  • The main attack occurs during the Winter Fairies’ ball for Clarion’s coronation, and many people are injured fighting the Nightmares, like Artemis and Petra. Clarion gets up after dodging something just in time to see her friends get injured: “she scrambled to her feet—just in time to see the beast sink its teeth deep into Artemis’s shin. Artemis screamed in agony. It shook its head viciously, thrashing her; Artemis’s body snapped back and forth like a rag doll…As Petra struggled to nock another arrow into the bow, the Nightmare swiped at her. She went soaring, then slammed into the trunk of a tree. A sickening crack split the silence…Petra lay very still, her red hair splayed out in the snow like a bloodstain.” This fight lasts a full chapter.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When Clarion and Milori fight the Nightmares, Clarion is injured and goes to the healing fairies for help. One of the healers, Yarrow, gives Clarion “a poultice of juniper, usnea, and linseed wrapped in a leaf parcel” and “balsam and wintergreen [that] will help with healing and inflammation.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • Wings of Starlight is set in a supernatural world where fairies live in Pixie Hollow, have magical “talents,” and help the seasons “arrive” on the mainland. All fairies are born with an innate talent, and “they almost always intuitively knew what to call it.” There are light-talents, garden-talents, water-talents, animal-talents, tinker-talents, and many other types of talents. They work with their same talents and all the other talent groups to create the changing of the seasons on the Mainland where humans live. 
  • Their world is sustained by the Pixie Dust Tree, a source of pure magic that is sometimes sentient. “The Pixie Dust Tree had put out new growth over the last few days; in the language of flowers, it said, I am here for you. Clarion marveled at how attentive it was being lately.” 
  • Additionally, the Nightmares are children’s nightmares in corporeal form, that can shapeshift into any animal and have venom. For example, Milori and Clarion are attacked near the Nightmares’ prison and Clarion becomes injured. “The smokelike form of the Nightmare writhed and bubbled until it took recognizable form: a raven. One by one, ten violet eyes blinked open on its body.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Sunrise on the Reaping

The 25th annual Hunger Games features a brutal twist: twice the number of boys and girls will be selected as tributes to compete in this televised fight to the death. On Haymitch Abernathy’s 16th birthday, he is chosen to compete in the Games and is sent to the Capitol with three other tributes to prepare. After a series of tragic events in the Capitol, Haymitch finds himself in the middle of a rebel plot to destroy the arena where the Hunger Games are held.

When the Games begin, Haymitch finds himself in an arena where nothing is as it seems. The arena, which appears to be an idyllic paradise, comes with a catch: everything in it is poisonous. Haymitch faces a near-impossible task. In order to make it home, he must survive the dangers of the arena and outlive the 47 other tributes, many of whom are his friends and allies. Survival is not Haymitch’s only goal, and as the brutality of the Games unfolds around him, he becomes more determined to complete his mission of destroying the arena. But will his rebellion come at a cost?

Haymitch is a courageous and caring protagonist, and many of his actions are driven by a desire to protect others. Although he faces terrible circumstances, Haymitch remains kind and loyal to his friends and allies. Fans of the original Hunger Games trilogy will be interested to meet this version of Haymitch, who is just as abrasive and jaded as he is in the previous books. However, Sunrise on the Reaping shows both Haymitch’s growth and his downfall. At the beginning of the novel, Haymitch is more naïve and easygoing, as he is unaware of the full scope of the Capitol’s horrors. As the story progresses, Haymitch learns to be both an empathetic leader and a strong fighter. Due to all that he has suffered at the hands of the Capitol, Haymitch’s character evolves into the beaten-down version of himself that readers are familiar with from the original series. Despite this, Haymitch still holds onto enough hope and strength to help aid in the events of The Hunger Games trilogy.

When Haymitch is sent to the Capitol, he is separated from his girlfriend, Lenore Dove. Lenore Dove is rebellious, free-spirited, and has a knack for getting into trouble. Another person who impacts Haymitch is Maysilee Donner, an angry, intelligent, and strong-willed teen with whom he forms a strong alliance in the arena. Both Lenore’s rebellious streak and Maysilee’s rage give a deeper understanding of the Capitol’s cruelty and the injustices the protagonists face.

Readers do not have to be familiar with The Hunger Games to understand Sunrise on the Reaping, but the book will be more enjoyable to those who are already fans of the series. Sunrise on the Reaping summarizes key details from the previous books, making it accessible to new readers of the series. Sunrise on the Reaping is similar to the original Hunger Games series in terms of setting and conflict, and much like The Hunger Games trilogy, takes place in District 12, the Capitol, and at a Hunger Games arena. The conflict is also similar, as Haymitch fights against tributes and mutts in the arena, much like how Katniss and Peeta did in the first and second Hunger Games novels. Sunrise on the Reaping takes these familiar elements and uses them to enthrall readers and subvert their expectations. However, Sunrise on the Reaping, unlike the original series, is more psychological and political. Rather than focusing mainly on survival in the arena, as the first Hunger Games novel does, Sunrise on the Reaping explores the Capitol’s failings and how these abuses affect the people living under this tyrannical government’s reign. Additionally, this novel is more mature and darker than other books in the Hunger Games series. The mature themes of this novel are handled skillfully and presented in a manner that is accessible to readers.

Sunrise on the Reaping is a must-read novel that teaches important lessons about trust, friendship, and hope. Despite being placed in horrific situations, the protagonists support one another and help each other to become the best versions of themselves. Haymitch often acts selflessly and is dedicated to defending and protecting his friends. This novel is fast-paced, detailed, and tells an enthralling story that will make readers reflect. Sunrise on the Reaping is an action-packed and emotionally charged addition to the Hunger Games series. Filled with ideas of trust, hope, and survival, readers will look deeper than the words on the page and consider the themes of this book. In this novel, Suzanne Collins weaves together a story featuring complex new characters and beloved fan favorites. Sunrise on the Reaping is an interesting and engaging novel that readers will struggle to put down and will remember long after they turn the final page.

Sexual Content  

  • Haymitch and Lenore Dove kiss often during the few scenes they share together. Haymitch narrates, “Then I kiss her again. And again. And she kisses me right back.” 

Violence  

  • This novel contains many violent scenes, and over 50 people (most of them children) die. 
  • Woodbine, a boy who is selected to compete in the Games, tries to escape and is shot in the head. “Just when I’m thinking he might make it — all those chance kids run like greased lightning — a shot rings out from the Justice Building rooftop, and the back of Woodbine’s head explodes.” 
  • While protecting Lenore Dove, Haymitch is hit in the head with a rifle. “I leap in to shield her, just in time to intercept the rifle butt that slams against my temple. Pain explodes in my head as jagged lights cut through my vision.” Haymitch is knocked to the ground, but he recovers.  
  • Maysilee and a Capitol worker named Drusilla slap each other after Maysilee insults Drusilla’s age and clothing. “Drusilla hauls off and slaps Maysilee, who, without missing a beat, slaps her right back. A real wallop. Drusilla’s knocked off her boots and into the chair I recently vacated.” 
  • After Maysilee slaps Drusilla, Drusilla beats her with a riding crop. “Drusilla flies up, rips the riding crop from her boot clip, and begins beating Maysilee, who cries out and raises her arms to protect her head. But the blows keep raining down, forcing her to the floor.” 
  • When the tributes are being presented in a parade, Haymitch’s friend Louella is killed in a chariot crash. “One of her braids rests in the blood leaking from the back of her skull, which cracked open when she hit the pavement.”  
  • A rabbit drinks poisoned water and “starts squealing like a baby bird, goes stiff as a board, then falls over dead. A trickle of red stains the fur on its chin.” 
  • Haymitch’s friend, Lou Lou, inhales poisonous pollen from flowers, and Haymitch states, “I cradle her in my arms as the convulsions begin. There is nothing I can do but watch, helpless again . . . her skin begins to turn blue.” Lou Lou dies. 
  • Haymitch’s friend, Ampert, is eaten by squirrel-like mutts. “One flies through the air and lands at my feet. Before it springs back up, I spy a bloody scrap of electric-blue fabric snagged on its incisors, and everything becomes clear. Carnivorous mutts. Tearing Ampert apart . . . Panting, I watch them fade away. Then I turn back to what I am meant to witness. A small white skeleton, stripped clean to the bone.” 
  • Haymitch gets into a fight with the other tributes in the arena. “A girl tribute from District 4 lunges with her trident pointed at my neck, I clumsily deflect with my left arm and whip out my knife just in time to drive it into her gut. Rolling to the side, I encounter a leg and hamstring it, leaving her district partner writhing on the ground. Scrabbling to my feet, I pull out the ax and cleave open his neck with a single adrenaline-fueled blow.” Both the girl and her partner die. 
  • Haymitch gets into a one-on-one fight with a tribute named Panache. “With a single swoop, he knocks the ax from my hand, his blade drawing blood, and then slams the shield into my chest so hard I lose my grip on my knife.” Haymitch recovers and the pair keep fighting.  
  • Maysilee shoots Panache in the throat with a poison dart. “What I see is the surprise that transforms his face as the dart pierces his throat.” Panache dies. 
  • Ladybug-like mutts attack Haymitch and Maysilee. “All up and down [Haymitch’s] arms, the creatures latch onto the flesh. Within seconds, they inflate to the size of acorns and begin exploding, splattering my face with my blood.” They pull the mutts off their bodies and recover from their injuries.  
  • Haymitch and Maysilee discover Buck and Chickory, two other tributes, stabbed with needles. “About fifteen feet away, Buck and Chickory lie writhing on the ground. Long spikes that resemble knitting needles protrude from their flesh. They paw at them with clumsy hands, as if they’ve got really bad frostbite, or something’s disabled their fingers.”  
  • In the arena, Haymitch and Maysilee encounter three Gamemakers along with two other tributes, Silka and Maritte. Maritte and Maysilee attack the Gamemakers. “Maritte’s arm snaps back and I think I’m a goner, but the trident whistles over my head and lodges in the mopper, sending him down into a pillow of poppies. Almost simultaneously, the woman with the drill grabs at the spot beneath her ear and comes away with a dart. She collapses as the final Gamemaker plunges head-first through the open berm into Sub-A. It takes a few moments before we hear her skull crack on the concrete below.” All three Gamemakers die.  
  • A group of flamingo-like mutts kill Maysilee. “They dive again and again at Maysilee, who’s kneeling on the ground, trying to use a tarp as protection while she vehemently slices at them with her dagger. A couple of dead birds lie on the ground, but they have taken their toll. Blood blossoms from her cheek, her chest, the palm of her hand.”   
  • A tribute named Wellie is decapitated in the arena by another tribute. Haymitch narrates, “In [Silka’s] right hand, her ax. Her left holds Wellie’s head, eyes still open, mouth agape. The only movement, the only sound, comes from the blood dripping into the pine needles on the forest floor. Wellie’s body lies crumpled in a heap a few feet away.” 
  • Haymitch stabs Silka in the eye. “In a last-ditch effort, I yank my knife from my belt and drive it back over my shoulder. A shriek.” Silka recovers enough to keep fighting against Haymitch.  
  • Silka is killed when an ax she throws rebounds into her head. “Then there’s the return of the whistle, her moment of confusion as the spinning ax catches the sunlight, and the dull sickening sound as it lodges in her head.” 
  • Haymitch holds his intestines in after he is struck in the gut with an ax by Silka. “My last sensations are of the slippery coils of my intestines in one hand . . . ” Haymitch is saved by the Capitol because he is the last tribute alive, and the victor of the Hunger Games.  
  • Haymitch accidentally gives Lenore Dove a gumdrop that has been poisoned by the Capitol. “A blood-flecked foam bubbles up over her lips” and she dies. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Haymitch brews moonshine with a woman named Hattie Meeney. “Brewing white liquor with Hattie Meeney is dicey business, but it’s a picnic compared to killing rats or cleaning outhouses.” 
  • Haymitch is drugged by the Capitol to keep him unconscious. “A coldness surges from the needle planted in my arm. Nothingness.” 
  • Haymitch becomes an alcoholic. “My liver’s wrecked and I only dry out when the train’s late. I drink differently these days, though, less to forget, more out of habit.” 

Language  

  • The word hell is used rarely.  
  • The word jackass is used rarely. For example, Haymitch says, “Oh, hello again, jackass!” 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic

In this collection of short stories, four classic fairy tales are retold with a twist, and Bardugo includes two original stories. In the first story, Ayama and the Thorn Wood, Little Red Riding Hood is Ayama, a poor serving girl who goes to confront the terrible beast of the woods. Instead of killing him, she persuades him to stop destroying the kingdom’s crops, and in return, he grants her the power to depose the land’s evil king.   

In the story The Witch of Duva, Hansel and Gretel become Havel and Nadya. After Havel goes off to war, Nadya discovers that it is not a witch who is eating children, but her own father.  

Then, in The Soldier Prince, the Nutcracker comes to life. At first, he thinks it is because of Clara’s superficial, admiring love, but he realizes it is actually the fatherly love from the clockmaker who designed him that brought him to life.  

Finally, in When Water Sang Fire, readers meet Ulla, the witch from The Little Mermaid. Ulla is betrayed by her closest friend, Signy, who marries the prince, Roffe. Signy later becomes Ariel’s mother. Thus, Ulla holds a grudge against Ariel and her family forevermore. 

In the first original story, The Too-Clever Fox, a clever fox escapes from predators with his sharp tongue, but when words fail him, he must ask for help from his only friend, a songbird.  

Finally, in Little Knife, a beautiful woman named Yeva is auctioned off for marriage, and a suitor named Semyon pleads with the river in the village to help him marry Yeva. Yet when the wedding day comes, the river helps Yeva gain her freedom from unwanted matrimony. 

Every fairy tale is told in omniscient third person, and almost every main character is a strong young girl who must overcome incredible cruelty and hardship. When the main character is male, there is no shortage of well-rounded supporting female characters. Contrary to the original fairy tales, the main characters never simply slay monsters or find true love. Rather, they question the truth of what has been told to them and work to find meaningful companionship. Though the main characters’ personalities vary, it is easy to root for them and sympathize with their difficult lives. 

The supporting characters are full of surprises, which is part of what makes this collection so intriguing. Many of the characters readers expect to be good (the prince, the suitor, the father) are actually sinister, and vice versa for the “evil” characters (the witch, the beast, the evil stepmother). The supporting characters urge the reader to question the characters’ intentions and decide for themselves what is true. As the back cover reads, “Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.” 

The Language of Thorns collection of stories is incredibly entertaining, with twists that constantly surprise and delight readers, whether they are familiar with or unfamiliar from the classic fairy tales. While the tales can often be dark, the messages and themes they convey are hopeful, emphasizing the power of love and companionship. In fact, the contrast of dark and light themes has a powerful effect. The Language of Thorns is perfect for fairy tale, fantasy, or thriller lovers. 

Sexual Content  

  • In The Witch of Duva, there is an implication of pedophilia from Nadya’s father, Maxim, but it is performed on an illusory double of Nadya rather than Nadya herself. “But her father’s hand slipped beneath the hem of her skirts, and the ginger girl did not move . . . Maxim opened his wet mouth to kiss her again.” The sexual content is described over a page, but it is implied that Maxim regularly preyed upon young women. 
  • In The Soldier Prince, Clara kisses the Nutcracker after developing a crush on him. “She could not wait. Clara stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his.”  
  • Clara kisses the Nutcracker again, believing him to be romantically interested in her. “He kissed her beneath the stairs.” 
  • Frederik kisses the Nutcracker after similarly developing a crush on him. The Nutcracker “kissed Frederik in the darkened hall.”  
  • In When Water Sang Fire, when Ulla, Signy, and Roffe go to the human world, Signy and Roffe have romantic interactions with many mortals. “Roffe took his pleasures [and] Signy suffered but drowned her longing in a tide of human lovers.” 

Violence  

  • In The Too-Clever Fox, Koja’s mother (a fox) eats a few of her young children. “So she snatched up two of her smallest young and made a quick meal of them.” 
  • Koja gets caught in a metal trap. “Koja ran all the way back to his den, trailing the bloody chain behind him.” 
  • Koja frequently kills and eats chickens. “He raced back from Tupolev’s farm with a hen’s plump body in his mouth. . .” 
  • Hunters Lev and Sofiya Jurek come to the woods and kill a bear that Koja was friends with. “Koja’s blood chilled at the sight of his fallen friend’s hide.” 
  • Sofiya stabs Koja and attempts to kill him. “‘Why?’ he gasped as Sofiya worked the knife deeper.” 
  • Lula, the songbird, attacks Sofiya to save Koja. “Lula came flying, and when she saw what Sofiya had done, she set upon pecking at her eyes.” 
  • In The Witch of Duva, Nadya’s fingers get cut off as ingredients for a spell. “At the sight of her fingers lying forlorn on the table, Nadya fainted.” 
  • Maxim eats a gingergirl who is an illusory double of Nadya. The gingergirl is not alive or conscious, but this implies that Maxim has been sexually assaulting and then killing and eating young girls. “Nadya watched her father consume the gingergirl, bite by bite, limb by limb.” 
  • Maxim dies when his stomach ruptures from the witch’s spell. “They found Nadya’s father there the next morning, his insides ruptured and stinking of rot.” 
  • In When Water Sang Fire, to walk on land, the mermaids cut off their tails. “Only then did Ulla add her own voice to the song and drive her blade into her tail.”  
  • Roffe murders a young boy with the help of Signy and Ulla in order to create fire that will exist under water. “Even above the sound of their voices, she heard a horrible wet thunk, and the boy cried out, woken from his sleep by the blade piercing his chest.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • Most animals talk throughout the book. “To her surprise, the runt answered, ‘Do not eat me, Mother. Better to be hungry now than sorry later.’”  
  • In Ayama and the Thorn Wood, Ayama turns into a monster. “Then she took off her hat, and all the people saw that she was a girl no longer.” 
  • In The Witch of Duva, there is a witch named Magda who can cast spells. She turns Nadya into a crow and creates a girl made of gingerbread who looks just like Nadya. When Maxim eats the gingergirl, he dies. “As for Nadya, she lived with Magda and learned all the old woman’s tricks, magic best not spoken of on a night like this.” 
  • In Little Knife, there is a river that is a sentient spirit named Little Knife. “‘You have been a loyal friend, and so I think I must name you,’ Semyon said to the river as he tried to wring the water from his ragged coat.” 
  • In The Soldier Prince, the Nutcracker is alive and can take children to a magical world via flight. “He would offer his hand and with a whoosh, they would fly through the attic window, out into the cold.” 
  • In When Water Sang Fire, Ulla, Signy, and Roffe are mermaids who can use magic by singing. Witches also exist. “It was the deepest magic, music of rending and healing, the only song all royalty were trained in from birth.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Gladiator’s Victory

Travel back to ancient Rome with time-traveling brothers Arthur and Finn as they try to convince a powerful gladiator to escape certain death in the Roman arena. Will the boys manage to persuade the gladiator to break free, escape the clutches of the powerful and evil lords, and avoid being caught by the unforgiving Roman soldiers?  

The Gladiator’s Victory explores the brotherly bond and begins with the introduction of Marcus, a gladiator who regrets not joining his brother in fighting for freedom. When Arthur and Finn go back in time to help Marcus, their bond is tested. When Senator Lucius discovers Arthur and Finn’s bond, he uses it to manipulate Finn. If Finn doesn’t poison Titus, Lucius’ rival, the senator will murder Marcus. Despite his conflict, Finn is determined to save both his brother’s and Titus’ life. As readers continue reading the Warrior Heroes Series, they will discover that while Arthur and Finn have different personalities, they are devoted to each other and willingly jump into battle to protect each other. The brother’s bond and their desire to help the restless ghost gives the story heart.  

Short sections interspersed throughout the book provide more historical information, including descriptions of life in Rome, life as a gladiator, the types of gladiators, and how the games worked. One section describes the origins of gladiators. “The Greeks did it and so did the Etruscans who lived near Rome in the early days. They used to get people fighting to the death as a sacrifice at funerals, and the Romans picked up the idea and ran with it.” Eventually, the funeral games became a big business so the gladiators “weren’t expected to kill each other anymore. . . Of course, people still wanted to see some blood, so the Romans would execute prisoners or get prisoners of war to fight to the death. . .”   

Even though The Gladiator’s Victory is part of a series, the books do not have to be read in order because each book focuses on Arthur and Finn going back to a different time period and each book wraps up the storyline.  

The Gladiator’s Victory is another action-packed adventure that leads Arthur and Finn into the dangerous world of Rome. In a world ruled by rich senators, the boys discover death lurks around every corner. Senator Lucius magnifies the ruthlessness of the wealthy and the vulnerability of slaves. The Gladiator’s Victory will leave readers reflecting on Finn’s situation—is killing an innocent man worth saving Arthur’s life? Despite this question, Finn displays admirable strength of character and a willingness to trust others with the truth. This leads to a surprising and satisfying conclusion that asks: What is worth dying for?  

Readers interested in jumping back into time but want to avoid intense battle scenes have many opinions, including Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth by Lloyd Alexander, Time Travel Adventure Duology by Elvira Woodruff, and the Tangled in Time Series by Kathryn Lasky. 

 Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Spartacus, a gladiator, recruited “an army of highly trained solider-slaves who wanted to be free.” Spartacus and his army were defeated. “And most of them were crucified to set an example to other slaves.” 
  • When Arthur travels through time, he appears in an alley. Festus, a bully who leads a gang of homeless boys, finds Arthur. Festus says, “Now get up and tell me why you’re here, or by Jupiter, I’ll crush your skull before you say another word.”  
  • Arthur convinces Festus to fight with no weapons. “Festus hurled his club to the floor and charged at Arthur without warning. . . Arthur stepped to one side, leaving a foot trailing so that Festus tripped and tumbled to the ground. . . Festus stepped forward, feigned as if to punch Arthur in the stomach and then dropped to one knee, grabbing hold of Arthur’s ankle and giving it a vicious twist. Arthur tumbled to the ground, and Festus pounced, pinning him with an arm across his chest and punching him hard on the chin.” 
  • As the fight continues, Arthur escapes Festus’ grasp and stands up. Arthur “grabbed Festus’ wrist in both hands and twisted as the punch carried the older boy forwards and past Arthur. . . [Arthur] standing behind Festus and twisting his arm up behind his back. He curled a foot in front of Festus and pushed, sending him crashing to the floor.” Festus admits defeat. One illustration shows Festus getting ready to punch Arthur. 
  • When Festus’ gang surrounds Arthur, an older group of men who watched the fight step in. When the men approach the boys, “the gang’s circle disintegrated, and a brawl broke out as fists and boots and knees and heads connected with each other.”  
  • Festus goes after Arthur with a club. Finn helps his brother by “leaping onto Festus’ back. Festus staggered backwards and then fell forward to the floor yet again. Arthur rushed forwards and stomped on Festus’ arm. He dropped the club and roared in pain.” The fight ends after four pages. An illustration shows Festus preparing to punch Arthur. 
  • Arthur and Finn are taken to a gladiator school. Finn is recruited to be a spy for Senator Lucius. The senator threatens Finn with punishment if Finn is unable to carry out his mission. Lucius “gestured toward the slave . . . The slave grimaced and opened his mouth. . . it seemed that the slave was missing his tongue.” 
  • Lucius wants Finn to use poison to kill his rival, Titus. 
  • Finn meets Lucius’ niece. She says, “If I could kill him without getting caught, I would. He is very, very careful. He kills anyone who gets in his way yet no-one can kill him. He poisons people . . . He poisoned my parents.”  
  • Arthur is ordered to spar with Ajax. Arthur is given a net “to ensnare” his opponent and a trident, while Ajax has a spear and shield. “Arthur spang into action, taking a step forward and jabbing with the trident, which clattered into Ajax’s shield and glanced off . . . Arthur switched the trident to his right hand just as Ajax lunged forward, holding his shield out before him like a battering ram and crashing into Arthur, who fell heavily to the floor. . .” 
  • Arthur believes Ajax is going to kill him. “Arthur slashed out with the dagger in the direction of Ajax’s feet and felt the blade jar against something hard as his opponent howled in pain, dropping his sword and falling to the floor.” Because Arthur injured Ajax, Arthur is ordered to fight in the gladiator’s ring in Ajax’s place. The fight is described over one page and has one illustration.  
  • Two gladiators, Marcus and Achilles, fight each other on horse. “Again and again they charged . . . at last Marcus caught Achilles with a glancing blow to the shield arm, drawing blood from his opponent . . . Achilles was knocked back in his saddle but stayed on his horse and wheeled around immediately.”  
  • As the gladiators charged again, Marcus’ horse reared, and “Marcus fell heavily onto the sand of the arena. . . Both men drew their swords and rushed to clash again, this time on foot. . . Achilles was down on one knee, fending off overhead blows until his sword was smashed from his grip by a particularly savage strike.” Achilles surrenders. The match is described over three pages.  
  • Unable to poison Titus, Finn lies. When Lucius finds out, he “screamed, lashing out and slapping Finn hard across the mouth. . . Lucius roared, leaping forward and grabbing Finn by the throat.” Lucilla jumps in to help before Lucius kills Finn. 
  • Enraged further, Lucius grabs Lucilla by the throat with the intent to kill her. “Marcus could hold back no longer. He leapt at Gaius [who oversees the gladiator’s school] and with one vicious punch laid him out cold. . .” Lucius mocks Marcus for being a slave, but Lucius’ “words turned to a high-pitched groan as Marcus lunged and thrust forward savagely, burying his sword in Lucius’ back. The girl fell gasping to the floor while Marcus stood behind the senator and pushed him away, causing him to topple forward off the sword.” Lucius dies. 
  • Finn, Arthur, Lucilla, and Marcus must flee Rome. They get help from Festus and his gang. To hide the fugitives, Festus has Lucilla and Marcus crawl into a cart filled with dead bodies.  
  • When guards discover the ruse, a fight ensues. Marcus “leaped down with a cry, punching the hold of his sword into one man and knocking him into the other so that both collapsed to the ground. Two quick thrusts followed, and moments later, Marcus was dragging the bodies down the steps and flinging them in the river.” A boatman takes the fugitives out of the city.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Arthur calls Festus and his gang cowards. 
  • A man calls Arthur an idiot. 

Supernatural 

  • Arthur and Finn’s grandfather created a museum about warriors throughout history. The museum is haunted, and when the grandfather died, “he started haunting the place too. He felt guilty about the trapped ghost warriors and vowed he would not rest in peace until all the other ghosts were laid to rest first.” 
  • When one of the ghost warriors touches the boys, “we get transported to the time and place where the ghost lived and died. And we can’t get back until we’ve fixed whatever it is that keeps the ghost from resting in peace.” 
  • When the boys travel through time, “the air in the room shifted, and seemed to fill with mist, drifting at first and then whirling faster and faster around them until the study could not be seen, and it felt to the boys if they were spinning through the sky.”

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

All Better Now

A deadly and unprecedented virus is spreading. But those who survive it experience long-term effects no one has ever seen before: utter contentment. Soon after infection, people find the stress, depression, greed, and other negative feelings that used to weigh them down are gone.

More and more people begin to revel in the mass unburdening. But not everyone. People in power—who depend on malcontents and prey on the insecure to sell their products, and convince others they need more, new, faster, better everything—know this new state of being is bad for business. Surely, without anger or jealousy as motivators, productivity will grind to a halt and the world will be thrown into chaos. Campaigns start up to convince people that being eternally happy is dangerous. The race to find a vaccine begins. Meanwhile, a growing movement of Recoverees plan ways to spread the virus as fast as they can, in the name of saving the world.

It’s nearly impossible to determine the truth when everyone with a platform is pushing their agenda. Three teens from very different backgrounds who’ve had their lives upended in very different ways find themselves at the center of a power play that could change humanity forever. 

In classic Shusterman style, All Better Now forces the reader to question everything and consider a world where altruism may upend society. The story focuses on three completely different characters—Rón, the son of one of the world’s wealthiest men; Mariel, a homeless teenager whose mother dies from the virus; and Morgan, an ambitious young woman who hungers for power and trusts no one. While the teens are interesting characters, they are neither relatable nor likable. However, each one showcases a different aspect of the virus, allowing readers to understand each person’s worldview.  

After Mariel’s mother dies, she purposely tries to infect herself but discovers that she is immune to the virus. At first, Mariel is disappointed that she will never experience the contentment of Recoverees, but she also acknowledges that Recoverees often make illogical decisions that lead to their demise. There is only one thing that Mariel knows for sure—everyone should have the choice when it comes to exposure to the virus.   

Unlike Mariel, Rón and Morgan do not believe people should have a choice. Morgan’s goal is to stop the virus from spreading, while Rón believes infecting others with the virus is his duty. Rón says, “It’s one we want to give to people we love, not because it makes us do it against our will, but because we choose to—because it generally makes our lives better.” On the other hand, Morgan believes anger, fear, and resentment are “the things that drove civilization. . . a world without ambition was not a world at all; it was a soulless still life hanging on a wall.” Throughout the story, the characters are confronted with difficult questions and the reader is forced to put themselves in each person’s shoes and decide what they would do in a similar situation. 

In classic Shusterman style, All Better Now forces readers to contemplate the idea of contentment and altruism. While on the surface, these are traits that everyone should be able to embrace, Shusterman shows how compassion and empathy can be taken too far. The exciting conclusion is ambiguous, leaving the reader to question the morality of the virus. Due to the complex plot, multiple points of view, and the complicated nature of the conflict, All Better Now is best suited for mature readers.  

Sexual Content  

  • Morgan, a genius with few friends, simultaneously dates a brother and sister. When they find out, the relationships end. 
  • After getting the virus, Dame Havilland and her butler move in together. After Dame Havilland makes a sexual innuendo, Morgan thinks, “Old-people sex should be outlawed. Or at least the discussing of it.” 
  • In a medical lab, some of the animals are “masturbating.” 
  • Rón meets a gay teenager who has a crush on him. Rón “leaned forward and kissed Elias. Elias all but went limp. Rón didn’t particularly like the kiss, nor did he particularly hate it. It was like a sip of water; just a thing with no flavor. But what Rón did like were the stars in Elias’s eyes. Then it was done.” Rón leaves and never sees Elias again. 
  • The cops bust into Elias’s house, looking for Rón. The SWAT team tells everyone to get on their knees. Elias says, “Sorry if I’m a little giddy. But it’s my first time on my knees for a man in uniform.”  
  • A vindictive woman who wants revenge tries to “have condoms and erotic magazines delivered to [a married couple] at every place they dined.” 

Violence  

  • A chapter focuses on Yuri Antonov, who is in the Air Force. He and two other men are ordered to destroy a bridge. Instead of destroying the bridge, Yuri “skews his vector, clipping the wing tip of the jet to his left. . . [the other jet] begins a barrel roll to the ground. The pilot has no choice but to eject. . .” The other pilot tries to get away, but Yuri “slides in behind his wingman and fires his guns, shooting up the tail, and one engine—being careful not to hit the cockpit.” Both pilots parachuted to safety.  
  • Dame Havilland wants to use Morgan’s mother as leverage. To get access to Morgan’s mother, Dame Havilland has to get past Griselda, the live-in nurse. “Griselda was grabbed from behind” and a man “held a handkerchief over her nose and mouth. . . everything began swimming like fishes, Griselda’s legs seemed to vanish.” Griselda is uninjured. 
  • One of the human test subjects in a medical lab corners Morgan. The man “pressed her against the wall, brought up the shard of glass, and swiped it across her neck – tearing a gash in her hazmat suit.” He breathes into her suit, trying to infect her with the virus. 
  • When a SWAT team forces their way into a house looking for Rón, Rón heard “a weapon discharged, and a spatula clattered to the ground.” Later, Rón discovers that “the Davenport city planner had been shot and killed.”   
  • Rón accidentally sets a tourist destination gift shop on fire. The fire blocked some people’s path, including Mariel, a teenager Morgan has been looking for. A driver tries to help by jumping in the fire. “Morgan knelt down to the driver, who was covered in blistered, blackened, third-degree burns, but still clinging to life. . . And then he died. Just like that.”  
  • One of the medical test subjects, a convict sentenced to life in prison, is given a vaccine. In her fever dreams, she sees “the faces of her victims staring in accusation. Her father looking the way he did when he beat her. . . She relives every hit she ever took, every bone she ever broke.”  
  • When Recoverees attack Morgan’s medical lab, her coworker, Preston, takes a vial of the counter-virus. When he leaves the lab, the intruders try to stop him. Preston “charged, barreling toward them, and smashing the heavy flashlight as hard as he could on one of their heads. The intruder went down.” Preston runs and is “hit by a single bullet in the hip—and even though it didn’t penetrate, he couldn’t believe how much a rubber bullet hurt.” Preston escapes. 
  • Mariel and Rón are in the medical research center when it explodes. “Mariel lay beneath the smoldering debris. She was broken. . . Grimacing, she sat up to find Rón wasn’t moving. A heavy piece of concrete had come down on his side, and another was on his leg.” They are both injured but survive. 
  • To get her money back, Dame Havilland must kill Morgan. While Morgan is unconscious, someone puts an astronaut suit on her. Then, Dame Havilland pushes her off a boat into the Norwegian Sea. Morgan “disappeared, space suit and all, in a single splash, gone beneath the waves as if she had never been there at all.” Morgan walks to land. 
  • After the medical research lab is destroyed, “They found evidence of a mass grave on the mountain. Test subjects.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • An old woman has a glass of “some sort of spirit.”  
  • Morgan fires her chauffeur because “he smelled faintly of whiskey.” 
  • Rón gives a woman “a robust Malbec.”  
  • Rón goes to a concert where he can smell “beer and pot on people’s breath.” 
  • After possibly being infected with the virus, one of the medical researchers uses cyanide to kill herself. 
  • When Morgan’s staff finds a way to stop the virus, her coworker looks for champagne but can only find vodka. They don’t drink it. 
  • While in the hospital, Rón is given “morphine or something along those lines” to help with the pain.  

Language  

  • Profanity is used occasionally. Profanity includes ass, asshole, bloody, bitch, crap, damn, dickwad, fuck, goddamn, hell, holy crap, and shit. 
  • Jesus, my God, and Mother of God are used as exclamations. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • When Rón tried to commit suicide, “his father sat by his bedside the whole time he was in the hospital, praying over rosaries Rόn didn’t know he had, and then in Hebrew, which Rόn didn’t even know he knew. Old Testament God, New Testament God. Yahweh, Jesus, Allah, Vishnu—it didn’t matter as long as one of them answered.” 
  • After Rón runs away, his father gets a clue to Rón’s whereabouts and he “wept, offering prayers of thanks in Spanish, in Hebrew, in Latin, in Arabic—to whatever version of God could hear him.” 
  • A man “prays to a God he never actually believed in that this virus will pass him by.” 
  • Rón infects a lady who sings in the church choir. He thinks, “Open mouths happily expelling air, trusting the good Lord to keep them safe. Or at least infect them with joy. But God needed a servant to do that.” 
  • Morgan meets the wealthiest man in the world. She says, “It must be quite a thrill to create things on a whim. You must feel like a God in this Fortress of Solitude.” The man replies, “Nothing but smoke and mirrors. I don’t delude myself into thinking it’s anything more.” 
  • Morgan and Rón stay the night at a random Recoveree’s house. A teenager shows Rón to his room and says, “My mom won’t let you share a bed if you’re not married. Just how she is.” The teenager says that his father’s death “drove her to Jesus.” The boy’s mom believes he’s going to hell because he’s gay. 
  • While having dinner at the recoveree’s house, she says, “If the Word could become flesh—who’s to say that the Word couldn’t also become virus? . . . Maybe this is what Holy Communion has been pointing to all along; taking in Jesus—God becoming part of us.”  
  • When Morgan’s medical facility is destroyed, Morgan flees and takes a commercial flight. She thinks she is safe because “whether or not she was worthy of life, no God, real or fictional, would kill all these people just to get at her.” 

Inside the Park

Pumpsie needs a win. Or to be more precise, he needs the Nashville Wildcats to win. Pumpsie’s been waiting his entire life—twelve whole years!—for his favorite team to make it to the playoffs. And this year—finally!—they’re just one win away. 

But when Pumpsie accidentally gets trapped in Lookout Field the night before the last game of the season, with only a lost dog named Campy for company, he may have accidentally stumbled into the best night of his life. For a baseball fan like Pumpsie, using the pro batting cages, running the bases, playing with the public address system, eating all the concession-stand junk food he can find is a dream come true . . . until he realizes he’s not alone in the stadium. Foul plots are brewing beneath Lookout Field, and now it’s on Pumpsie to swallow his fears, gum up his courage, and swing for the fences if he wants to save the Wildcats’ postseason chances. 

Readers will instantly be drawn into Pumpsie’s conflict and feel empathy for the boy who feels like all four of his siblings are loved more than he is. Pumpsie is upset because he never gets his parents’ undivided attention. This is reinforced when he is accidentally trapped in a baseball stadium, and none of his family realizes he’s missing. Pumpsie’s emotions swing from fear of being alone to the joy of exploring the stadium. Pumpsie’s explorations feel like a great adventure full of fun, fear, and a little bit of peril. 

Similar to the movie Home Alone, Pumpsie uses slapstick violence, such as coating the stairs with ketchup and mustard, to keep himself and the stadium safe. Since the story is told from Pumpsie’s point of view, readers will understand his reasoning as well as his emotional swings. Although some of the plot points are a bit outrageous and unbelievable, the story is so much fun that it’s easy to overlook the story’s flaws. However, one negative aspect of the story is that the two bad guys are arrested, but the man behind poisoning the Wildcats isn’t punished, and he gets “to keep his reputation intact.” Allowing the man behind the poisoning to go without punishment shows that the rich are allowed to do anything—even break the law—without consequences.

Inside the Park is a fast-paced, suspenseful story that throws in a dash of humor to create a story that hits it out of the park. Pumpsie is an extremely likable protagonist, and anyone who has ever felt overlooked will relate to Pumpsie’s conflict. Inside the Park will have readers rooting for both the Wildcats and Pumpsie, and the story’s conclusion is so perfect that it will have them smiling. Middle grade readers who enjoy humorous baseball stories should also read The Rhino in Right Field by Stacy Dekeyser. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Pumpsie is locked inside the stadium with two bad guys, Jordan and Travis. When Jordan sees Pumpsie, “Jordan [puts] a giant hand on my shoulder, pushing me so hard against the wall it knocks the wind out of me.” Pumpsie kicks “him in the shins as hard as I can.” 
  • To get away from the bad guys, Pumpsie shoots them with a T-shirt launcher. “The first baseball zips across the room, hitting Travis in his left leg with a smack. He immediately grabs at the spot and grits his teeth . . . The last ball crashes into Jordan’s forehead, just above his right eye, and his skin splits open like a cracked sidewalk.” Jordan is bleeding but otherwise uninjured. The scene is described over two pages. 
  • Jordan and Travis walk into another trap that Pumpsie created. Pumpsie yanks “the string, and all the wooden bats I took from the equipment room and batting cage tumble out of the net and onto Jordan and Travis. . . Travis curls up in a ball, clutching one swollen knee to his chest and then switching to the other. 
  • Pumpsie sprays hair spray at Jordan and Travis. “A fog of hairspray floats over Jordan’s and Travis’s heads and settles in their noses, in their mouths, on the tips of their fingers.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Jordan and Travis put Salmonella bacteria into the Wildcats’ food, which caused most of them to get sick, but they recovered. 
  • After winning a tournament, the Wildcats have champagne. 

Language  

  • Pumpsie’s older brother calls him names such as Poopsie, Poo-Poo, and other mean names. 
  • Dang is used once. 
  • Crap is used twice and crappy is used once. 
  • One of the bad guys asks Pumpsie, “What the heck are you smiling at, you little punk?” The bad guy also calls Pumpsie a brat.  
  • Pumpsie calls the bad guys idiots. 
  • An adult says, “Brothers can be jerks sometimes.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Pumpsie’s grandfather told him, “First is important, but sometimes last is more significant. . . And you know what God says. . . The last should be first.” 
  • When Pumpsie realizes he’s locked inside the stadium, he prays, “God, if you get me out of this, I promise to never be mean to [my sister] again.” 
  • Occasionally, Pumpsie says a prayer. For example, Pumpsie sent “up a quick prayer that Jordan and Travis don’t try to use the elevator while I’m getting everything ready.” 
  • An adult baseball player tells Pumpsie, “And from personal experience, I can tell you that even when you’re the one doing the wrong, God’s got a way of fixing that too.” 
  • After Pumpsie’s family finds him, his baby sister says, “Thank you, God, for making Pumpsie come back quick.” 

Aaron Judge

Any fan of the New York Yankees is sure to know the name Aaron Judge. Beginning his first major league season with thirty home runs — the most of any Yankee rookie since the legendary Joe DiMaggio in 1936 — Judge went on to secure such accolades as the 2017 Home Run Derby trophy and the Rookie of the Year award. He quickly became a favorite among Yankees fans. Anyone with a ticket to a Yankees game during the 2017 season would see a large group of fans crowded in the right field of the Yankee Stadium. These seats – nicknamed the “Judge’s Chambers” – were filled with fans wearing judge’s robes and cheering Judge’s name. During one game, this passionate crowd even included US Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor – a longtime Yankees fan. 

Although Judge’s rookie season featured the success most baseball players aspire to, it was the product of years of hard work. In this book, Jon M. Fishman details the life of Judge, from his beginnings as a promising high school athlete to his fantastic achievements as a major league player.  

Aaron Judge is five short chapters, with the last five pages comprising a glossary, index, and citations. Chapter One briefly introduces Aaron Judge’s career. Chapter Two recounts Judge’s high school years, during which he played several sports before focusing on baseball. Chapter Three provides a detailed account of Judge’s typical training routine. Although he is a player for the MLB – and one of the strongest in the league’s history – he still trains regularly. Fishman explains Judge’s workout routine, while defining terms readers may not know, such as “cardio” or “pilates.” Fishman uses this chapter to communicate an important message to the reader: being good at something does not mean you should stop working to learn and improve. In Chapters Four and Five, Fishman writes about Judge’s achievements with the Yankees. 

Each page features a photo from Judge’s career – from high school yearbook pictures to action shots of Judge striking a home run. Each chapter is meticulously researched and filled with information. With one to thirteen sentences per page, this book will be a challenge for beginning readers.  

Aaron Judge is an excellent study of Judge’s impressive career. It is a thorough introduction to readers unfamiliar with Judge. Readers who are already fans of Judge are sure to learn something new from Fishman’s extensive research. If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win? by Josh Anderson and the other books in the Sports All-Stars Series. Like Aaron Judge, each book describes the life and career of a famous American athlete playing today.

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Where Have All the Bees Gone?

Apples, blueberries, peppers, cucumbers, coffee, and vanilla. Do you like to eat and drink? Then you might want to thank a bee. 

Bees pollinate 75 percent of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts grown in the United States. Around the world, bees pollinate $24 billion worth of crops each year. Without bees, humans would face a drastically reduced diet. We need bees to grow the foods that keep us healthy. 

But numbers of bees are falling, and that has scientists alarmed. What’s causing the decline? Diseases, pesticides, climate change, and habitat loss are all threatening bee populations. Some bee species teeter on the brink of extinction. Learn about the many bee species on Earth—their nests, their colonies, their life cycles, and their vital connection to flowering plants. Most importantly, find out how you can help these important pollinators. 

The declining population of bees affects everyone who enjoys eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, and even ice cream. Where Have All the Bees Gone? explores the relationship between bees and plants in eight short chapters. Each chapter breaks down bee information in easy-to-read text broken up by infographics, pictures, and headlines that make each topic clear. The book is packed with interesting information; some topics include how bees are the perfect pollinators, the impact of bees on the economy, and the reasons behind the decline in bee populations.  

Where Have All the Bees Gone? explains the importance of saving bees and gives readers easy steps to help bees in their community. Hirsch lists ways readers can get involved in simple but powerful ways. She explains how to plant a pollinator garden, how to become a citizen scientist, and how to submit sightings of bees to organizations that track bee populations. Small steps, such as mowing the lawn less frequently, can help bees and other pollinators survive. Master gardener Pam Ford emphasizes that “a garden should be more than merely pretty. It should be full of life.” 

In Where Have All the Bees Gone?, Hirsch explores the importance of bees, providing fascinating details broken down into easy-to-manage sections. Readers will come away from the book with a new understanding of all types of bees: “There are green bees and there are blue bees, and there’s iridescence and tripes, and large ones and tiny ones.” By the end of the book, readers will be empowered to make small changes that will allow bees to feel at home in their yards.   

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

 Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Away

After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids, including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist, find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat.

As they begin to investigate, they discover that what they’re being told is less truth and more cover-up. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late? 

Away puts the spotlight on four characters—Ashanti, Harmony, Teddy, and Grandin. Each character has a unique voice and aspirations. Harmony, a student journalist, admires Nellie Bly and frequently refers to her. Harmony and Teddy, an aspiring filmmaker, team up to uncover the real reason they were evacuated. The two also have help from Ashanti and Grandin. The four teens come from different backgrounds, which provides readers with a broad view of the effects of the evacuation.  

When readers begin the book, they may have difficulty adjusting to the format. The story includes sections from each character’s perspective, which are labeled with different typefaces. The story also features news briefs, letters, screenplays, and plot descriptions. Ashanti often references the Greek gods and The Odyssey, which may confuse readers unfamiliar with Greek mythology. The characters’ stories merge when they arrive at the military base where they are being quarantined, and this is when the story becomes more intense and interesting.  

Each character brings something unique to the story. For example, Grandin’s family owns a farm and he aspires to attend West Point, while Ashanti wants to be a doctor. The characters’ aspirations are admirable, and readers will relate to each person’s worries. As the teens work to uncover the truth, they are forced to ask themselves difficult questions such as, “What’s the difference between a protest and a riot? Does the Bill of Rights still apply in an evacuation camp? During a statewide emergency? Can protestors be arrested and/or charged?”  

Although the beginning of the book is confusing and there are many plot holes, Away will appeal to middle-grade readers, especially those interested in movies and journalism. Away is the companion novel to Alone; however, each book has a separate plot that doesn’t intertwine, so they can be read in any order. 

Away encourages readers to persevere in their goals, just like the characters in the book. In addition, the teens discuss historical events and people who made a significant impact on the world due to their determination. For example, it is mentioned that Nellie Bly said, “Energy rightly applied and directed will accomplish anything.” Even though the characters are teens, they use their voice to shed light on the evacuation camp’s hidden purpose. Teddy reminds readers, “Anyone who says art can’t change the world never studied history.”  

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • When Harmony’s mom is out past curfew, Harmony is “pissed.”
  • Crap and holy crap are both used once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Ashanti often mentions Greek gods and other deities such as “Apate goddess of deceit”, and “the goddess Nemesis.” For example, at swim practice Ashanti stands “in front of mom / like Tethys the water goddess.” 
  • The residents are told they may have been exposed to “an invisible, imperceptible poison.” 

Gamer

Scott lives in a world dominated by Virtual Kombat (VK), a futuristic fighting game that pits players against each other in virtual reality arenas. Since a virus wiped out most of the adult population, VK has been a beacon of hope for orphaned children, promising them a bright career if they can rise in the game’s ranks. The best players are promised a place in the City Orphans’ Home, a highly sought-after building built by the game’s creator, Vince Power. It’s a paradise in a world ravaged by hunger, disease, and depression. 

When Scott finally becomes a VK tester in the City Orphans’ Home, he relishes playing VK twenty-four-seven with thousands of other kids. Each day feels like one giant rush of adrenaline, and Scott quickly rises through the ranks while acquiring new abilities and forming new friendships. However, things go wrong when kids disappear from the City Orphans’ Home without a trace, and rumors about VK’s safety begin to spread. As Scott continues to battle other players, he wonders if VK is truly the savior of the broken world. Or does the game with the tagline “so real, it hurts” actually have a deeper, darker truth?  

Gamer is an exciting, fast-paced novel that explores the importance of friendship and truth in a post-apocalyptic world. The story is told through the character of Scott, an adolescent boy who finds himself working for the most prominent figure of his time: Vince Power. Like many other characters, Scott’s primary focus revolves around surviving in a world ravaged by a virus. Despite his circumstances, Scott exhibits a strong moral value system, believing in essential truths such as equality and fairness, which makes him an admirable and likable character. However, this ability to hold to his values without struggle is somewhat unrealistic, resulting in weak and flat character development. 

The story’s enjoyable nature stems from its action-packed narration. Scott’s journey with VK moves briskly, replacing exposition with fast-moving chase and fight scenes. A significant part of the story takes place inside VK, where Scott’s battles with other players are narrated in a quick and vivid manner. These fight scenes are intense and slightly graphic, frequently describing crushing blows, bloody injuries, and fatal kills in detail. For example, Scott’s battle with a Mongol warrior is described: “I fell him with a lightning-fast sweep kick. Then I pummel him with a rapid flurry of punches—each one making a gut-churning crunch in the game’s sound effects. His life bar blinks out as I finish him off with an axe kick. The warrior coughs up virtual blood.” 

The story’s central conflict arises from Scott’s ongoing relationship with Virtual Kombat. Scott’s ability to see the truth of VK without losing himself in its pleasure teaches the readers the importance of seeking out the truth. This lesson is highlighted through Scott’s friendship with Kate, as Kate’s sudden disappearance spurs Scott to reevaluate everything he knew about VK. This scene also highlights the importance of friendship, teaching readers that their relationships are more valuable than personal success, fame, and glory.  

Gamer is the exciting first book in the Virtual Kombat Series. Its dynamic narration and intense fight scenes will easily keep readers hooked, and its main protagonist, Scott, will impart important lessons to readers through his thoughts and actions. However, the book’s lack of critical exposition and significant character growth may make the plot and characters feel stale, cliché, and uninspiring for older readers. It’s a story best suited for young action movie lovers and gamers, where the fast-paced narration is comparable to that of blockbuster Hollywood movies. 

Sexual Content 

  • After Kat-Ana saves Scott, Scott smiles at her and Kat-Ana jokes, “What are you waiting for, a kiss?” 

Violence 

  • Two Virtual Kombat kombatants, Thunderbolt and Destroy, fight in a virtual arena. Destroy kills Thunderbolt by crushing his head. “Destroy raises his fists on either side of Thunderbolt’s head and slams them together. It’s his most famous move—the Skull Crusher. It’s Game Over for Thunderbolt.” This fight scene is described over two pages.
  • Two street kids bully a little girl and a boy for some bread, slapping the girl and shoving the boy to the ground. “He shoves the boy to the ground and laughs as the kid cracks his head on the curb.” This conflict is described over two pages. 
  • The street kids, including a boy named Juice, attack Scott after he steals some bread from them. “Juice jumps on me from behind and tries to choke me. I elbow him in the ribs. He lets go, and I fling him over my shoulder. As he lands, I punch him in the guts.” This fight scene is described over two pages. 
  • A street boy named Shark chases after Scott with a blazer, a weapon similar to an electrified knife, through the city, threatening to “blaze and burn” him. Scott scrambles up a ladder and escapes over the buildings. “I dash to the edge of the roof and throw myself into the void. For a few seconds the air seems to take my weight as I plummet down. Then I crash onto the tar roof of the other building. I grunt in pain as my foot twists under me.” This chase scene is described over three pages. 
  • Scott fights and kills several other kombatants inside a VK arena as his virtual avatar. “I fell him with a lightning-fast sweep kick. Then I pummel him with a rapid flurry of punches—each one making a gut-churning crunch in the game’s sound effects. His life bar blinks out as I finish him off with an axe kick. The warrior coughs up virtual blood.” This fight scene is described over four pages. 
  • Two VK kombatants, Ginger Ninja and Kat-Ana, fight in a virtual arena. Kat-Ana kills Ginger Ninja by smashing his head. “Ginger Ninja slumps to the ground. Taking her time, Kat-Ana launches herself and lands two massive elbow strikes to the head. The avatar’s eyeballs pop out of his virtual head.” This fight scene is described over two pages. 
  • Scott’s avatar fights Kat-Ana in a VK arena. The fight only lasts for a couple of seconds because Scott presses the “escape button” after feeling pain and tasting blood. He describes, “I double up, winded. An uppercut from Kat-Ana floors me. Searing pain rockets through my skull, and I taste blood. In a blind panic, I stab at the escape button.” 
  • Scott fights Kat-Ana in VK, and Kat-Ana kills him. “But it’s too late. She slices off my head.” This fight scene is described over three pages. 
  • When Kat-Ana teaches Scott about Trigger Time in VK, they practice shooting each other with a gun and dodging the bullet. Scott masters Trigger Time after getting hit a couple of times. “I don’t even see the bullet. But I feel the heavy slug thud into my chest. I get blown off my feet.” 
  • Scott fights his natural enemy, Shark, inside the VK arena, and defeats him using his Mega-Punch. “With the last of my energy, I roll to the side, Power-Up, and use my Mega-Punch. My fist catches him bang on the temple. His eyes spin in his head like a slot machine. I’ve hit the jackpot.” This fight scene is described over four pages. 
  • Scott fights a variety of VK kombatants inside a castle yard, such as a samurai swordsman and a Maori warrior. Scott nearly dies in this battle but is miraculously saved by Kat-Ana. “I stumble over the samurai’s dead body and fall on the ground. The Maori warrior drives his spear into my stomach. I scream. The agony is overpowering.” This fight scene is described over four pages. 
  • Scott fights and escapes from a battle against Ginger Ninja inside a VK arena. Scott dashes “out to save my friend, driving the soldier back with a flying kick. Ginger Ninja thanks me by punching me in the face.” This fight scene is described over three pages. 
  • Scott fights the VK kombatant Destroy inside a virtual citadel. Destroy dies when a swinging scythe slices through him. “Destroy’s fists almost grind to a halt as I move out of their path. Then I select my Mega-Punch and use it to hammer Destroy in the gut. He staggers backward in slow-mo. Right into the path of the blade.” This fight scene is described over five pages. 
  • Scott fights Shark’s avatar inside the VK citadel and barely escapes when Shark chooses to fight Kat-Ana for the Crown. “The pain in my head rages now like a forest fire as Shark grabs me by the throat. He clenches his other fist, and its pulse blade burns bright red as he levels it with my right eye. I’m going to die—for real!” This fight scene is described over four pages. 
  • Kate, Kat-Ana’s real-life person, dies in real life after sustaining too much damage inside Virtual Kombat. When she takes off her headset, she gives Scott a weak smile before passing away. “Her head lolls to one side. The PlayPod emits a long droning beep. Her vital signs zero out.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • Kate mocks Scott after slicing his head off in VK. Kate says, “Anyway, with a face like yours, I was doing you a favor!” 
  • During the final fight with Scott, Shark threatens to toss Scott into the path of a swinging blade. Shark says, “Not before I slice you into shark bait!” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer

Rick Kotani is looking forward to spending the entire summer playing baseball. Sure, his team never wins, but he’s been practicing a special pitch he knows is going to land him a 400-million-dollar major-league contract . . . someday. That all changes when his mother throws a curveball of her own: Instead of playing ball in California, Rick will be heading to Oregon to help keep an eye on Grandpa Hiroshi while they move him to a retirement home. Trading no-hitters to be a babysitter? Rick is beyond bummed. 

But once there, Rick discovers Grandpa is actually pretty cool, and the two bond over a Japanese folktale about a fisherman, Urashima Taro, who trades his life on earth for the riches of an underwater kingdom. And like the fisherman, Rick soon forgets about his team back home when he joins a supercompetitive local league that only cares about being the best—at any cost.  

As the team racks up the wins and Grandpa makes his final move, Rick must decide which ending he wants for his story: Will he fall in line with his ruthless teammates and their victory-obsessed coach in his own “underwater kingdom,” or will family, true friendship, and integrity lead him back to shore? 

When Rick meets Toni, a girl his age who loves baseball, he is excited for the opportunity to play ball. However, the coach and players don’t care about having fun, they just want to win. The baseball coach is truly despicable because he belittles the players and doesn’t follow the rules. Even though it’s against the rules, the coach allows Rick to play, which requires Rick to lie so he can take the place of another player. Rick explains, “Technically, I wasn’t allowed to be part of the team since I lived outside the area and the team roster had already been finalized.” To make matters worse, the coach encourages Rick to throw a curveball, eventually leading to an injury. In the end, Rick acknowledges that he will never play for the MLB. While the realization is heartbreaking, the story ends on a hopeful note, hinting that Rick could continue to love baseball and shift his focus to being a referee.  

Rick’s relationship with his teammates is superficial, and his only true friend is Toni. However, Toni’s role is confusing. Plus, her parents’ sole focus is on her brother, and the coach wouldn’t allow her to play on the team because she is a girl. Toni’s situation is reminiscent of older times when gender roles were more rigid. This dynamic makes Rick’s relationship with Toni feel one-sided. Despite this, Toni plays an important role and demonstrates the qualities of a good friend. In the end, Toni reminds Rick, “You can’t change what happened. But what happens next is up to you.” 

Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer revolves around baseball and is interspersed with Rick’s family life and Japanese folklore. The combination allows the story to have a fast pace as it weaves between topics and explores the difficulty of divorce and dealing with an aging relative. The realistic conflicts will draw readers into the story as well as teach them the importance of sharing your feelings with others because “If you keep it in, it will eat you up.” Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer will entertain middle school readers who dream of playing for the MLB and remind them that winning isn’t the most important thing in baseball or in life.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Profanity is used occasionally. Profanity includes crap, dang, darn, fricking, heck, and hell. 
  • The word ass is implied but is spelled “a$$”. 
  • After throwing rocks at turtles, a boy says, “What about this bonehead tortoise?” 
  • There is some name-calling, including jerk and dingbat. 
  • “Good god” is used as an exclamation. 
  • While talking to a boy, the coach uses the word “goddamn.” 

Supernatural 

  • In the tale of Urashima Taro, magic is used several times. For example, when Urashima opened a box, “a plume of smoke wafted out, followed by a cloud that billowed around him.” After opening the box, Urashima turns into an old man. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 
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