Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

This is an excellent book. Unique. Well thought out. The author must have been a high school debater. I need to read real Lincoln history now to straighten everything out. That is the down side. What is real and what is not? Messing with history.

caution: violence

***** adult

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

An original fantasy read, you keep turning pages to know what happens.

caution: violence

*** middle school and up

East by Edith Pattou

A beauty and the beast story. Wonderful adventurous read.

caution: violence

**** middle school and up

Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien

Don't be fooled by the cover, this is not a children's book. A story of survival. A Thrilling read.

Caution: violence

***** middle school and up

Fang by James Patterson

I adore the Maximum Ride books, but now it seems that Patterson is dragging them out. Nothing much new happens.

caution: violence & teen kissing

** middle school and up

Eastern Sun, Winter Moon by Gary Paulsen

Gary Paulsen's biography, his life was as dramatic as his novels.

caution: sexuality, violence, and language

**** adult

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

A story of two sisters and the secrets that tear them apart yet keep them together. This book is real and sad without any of the idealism that often creeps into books that have difficult historical settings. Different people deal with hardships in different ways. Sometimes overcoming these hardships is just a matter of continuing to put one foot in front of the other.

caution: violence and sexuality

*** adult

Forest Born by Shannon Hale

This is a beautiful book. A book that you can take something from at many stages of life. We all need good friends and mentors. We all struggle to find balance. We have all done things in the process of learning and growing that we are ashamed of and need to forgive ourselves for.

caution: violence

***** middle school and up

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

This would be an excellent book for upper elementary classes. Between each chapter of the story, there is a short explanation of how things were during the Revelutionary War Time Period.

Caution: war violence

**** upper elementary and up

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

This is an intriguing read about the thin line between art, obsession, madness, and love.

caution: sexuality

***** adult

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

I can't decide if I like this book or dislike it. There are many things I like:
poetry & great literature reading teens
relating to someone who is an outcast
the town librarian who runs the magical library on days when the regular library is closed
It is a compelling read

I am uncomfortable with the idea that this young witch (castor) is waiting for her 16th birthday to find out if she will be light or dark. The idea of not having control of being good or bad is disturbing to me.

Caution: language, teen lovey dovey stuff, some violence

*** middle school and up

Hamlet by John Marsden

Shakespeare's Hamlet in modern English.

I enjoyed it.

Caution: swearing, (the F word) sexuality, and violence

**** middle school and up

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson with Gabrielle Charbonnet*

* not really sure what with means?


Exciting page turner. Think Salem Witch Trials in the modern day.

Caution: violence

**** everyone

The Goosegirl by Shannon Hale

Love this book. Everyone is beautiful. Everyone has talents. This book is all about this discovery.... of finding your own strength.

Caution: violence

***** everyone

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Viking lore, magic, family dynamics, and the journey of self discovery. This is an excellent book.

Caution: violence

***** upper elementary and up

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

This book is the fallen angel version of Twilight. An exciting read. I worry though about romancing and glamorizing the idea that a "bad boy" turns good because of love. Are we setting girls up to get hurt?

Caution: swearing, violence, sexual themes

*** high school

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Almost identical plot structure to The DaVinci Code... but with the theme of how science and spirituality work together. This intellectual thriller takes place in Washington D.C. and is centered around Masonic rites. I liked that I have been there and could easily picture the buildings talked about in the book.

Enjoyable read.

Caution: violence & disturbing ideas

**** adult