The Death Cure

The Maze Runner Series: Book 3
Author: James Dashner
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.3
Lexile Level: 760


The Gladers have survived both the maze and a blazing trek through the scorch trials in a test of strength which pushed them past endurance.  Now the trials are over and WICKED wants the Gladers help to complete the cure for the Flare.  Yet after all WICKED has put the Gladers through, can they be trusted?  Time is running out as this deadly disease progresses, and Thomas must decide whether he can trust the organization with which he was once an integral part of.  As Thomas and his friends race to find the cure, time is running out for the world.


This last book in the Maze Runner series was amazing.  I thought it was a great end to the story and loved reading it.  The content of this book was right on par with the first 2, so when you pick up this last volume you won't find anything new to offend you.  Overall great book, great series!


Enjoy!
Becky

Crossed

Matched Series: Book 2
Author: Ally Condie
My recommended reading age: 13 and up


Giving up her comfortable life in the Society, Cassia is chooses to be reassigned to the outer provinces in order to be reunited with Ky, the boy she is forbidden to love.  After spending 3 months on a work detail, Cassia hears word of Ky's location, and escapes in order to find him.  Crossing rugged terrain that threatens to test her past her limits, she and Ky are reunited, and together they work with some new allies in order to find the Rising.  


While my feelings on Matched (Book 1) were a bit ambiguous, I did want to read the second in the series, if no other reason than to see how things worked out.  Having finished it, I probably should have just read the encyclopedia.  The story moved along at a reasonable pace, and there were aspects that were interesting, but overall, it reminded me of a sappy romance novel with whiny characters.  I hate to say it was worse than Twilight, but it's definitely right there.  The author was trying too hard to write this teen romance, and only succeeded in making it nauseating, (there were many eye rolls on my part).  The violence was similar to the first book, and there wasn't' anything offensive, so kudos to Condie for not offending me.  I'm still debating if I'll read the third book... hopefully there will be cliff notes this time!


Enjoy!
Becky 

The Limit

The Limit

Author: Kristen Landon

Graded Reading Level: Z

Lexile Level: 690L

DRA: 70

AR: 4.4

My Recommended Age: 12 and Up

Most 13-year olds are not concerned with the their parents credit card limits or even how much their parents earn, however, in Matthew Dunston's world, if a family goes over their government mandated limit their oldest child is taken to a work house.  However, he is sure that this will never happen to him.  That is until one afternoon when the family is trying to buy groceries and they receive the message that they are over "the limit".  By the time they make it home from the store, the black car is waiting to take him.  Matthew soon realizes that his assignment to the coveted top floor of the workhouse is not everything it seems and he must discover the truth behind the security cameras, strange school assignments, locked doors, and falsely kind school administrators.


Considering the current economic situation, I can not think of a more plausible scenario for a Dystopian novel.  While many feel that money can be spent at will, I believe that this book illustrates a valid point with regards to spending money that you don't have.  In my opinion, this book ought to be a must read for all high-school financial literacy classes.  The book is clean with little violence and mild language.  It is a fast paced quick read that is easy to jump into and keeps you interested until the end.  Both my son and I thoroughly enjoyed it!


~Happy Reading
Liz

Legend

Legend Trilogy: Book 1
Author: Marie Lu
My recommended reading age: 12 and up


Born and bred to be a star in the Republic, June is a 15 year old prodigy.  With a perfect score on her Trial, there is little doubt about how far she can rise within the military ranks.  That is until June's perfect world is shattered when her brother is murdered by the republic's number one criminal, Day.  When a chance meeting brings these two unlikely characters together, they discover that things aren't what they seem in the Republic, and their number one enemy may not be each other.


I gave this book to my teenager for Christmas, and then raced through the pages myself, before she'd even had a change to read the back cover.  It was a fast moving, exciting book which kept me entertained until the last page.  The theme is much like the other teenage Dystopian society series that are so popular right now, but I didn't feel like it was a copycat like some of the others I have read.  There is some language, violence, and very harsh living conditions.  None of it was over the top, and I wasn't the least bit uncomfortable as I read.  Overall this is a great new series, and I am looking forward to the next book.  Hopefully my teenager will have time to read it before then!


Enjoy!
Becky 

Variant

Variant

Author: Robison Wells
Teen Fiction
My Recommended Age: 13 and Up

Maxfield Academy is the school of 17-year old, Benson Fisher's, dreams.  Having bounced around foster homes and public schools for many years, Benson is anxious to try out for school sports and make some real friends.  But when he arrives and realizes that it is not a private school but a prison surrounded by a large cement wall his hopes for a new life are crushed.   Now, he must find a way into a gang and out of the school without endangering himself or anyone else.

Named by Publisher's Weekly as a Young Adult Best Book of 2011, this book does a great job of bringing the reader into the story right from the beginning.  The book was enjoyable but definitely picked up a violent overtone as the chapters progressed.  There were some extremely violent scenes with some descriptions that made me a bit uneasy.  In addition to the violence, there was some hand holding and kissing but nothing more than that.  There is brief language which will probably be missed by most kids, but it is still there.  


Because at first glance the book seemed to fit into the Dystopian Society mold, I was a bit surprised that my library classified it as science fiction and not Dystopian.   From everything that I had read on the Internet, I assumed that this must be a mistake.  Alas, the library was not mistaken and the book definitely took on a Science Fiction feel.  So, if you or your teen does not like sci-fi, perhaps this is a good one to skip.


Happy Reading
~Liz

Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth
Lexile Level 700L
My recommended reading age: 14 and up

The turning point in Beatrice Prior's life has finally arrived, the day she will choose which of the five factions in her society to spend the rest of her life with.  For each faction values the characteristic that they believe maintains peace in the community.  But when Beatrice's aptitude exam labels her as "Divergent", she is warned to keep it a secret for her own safety, which makes her faction choice even more difficult.  After "the choosing", Beatrice starts her initiation, which pushes her to the limit.  Not knowing which of her friends to trust, and what a relationship with an unpredictable boy will mean, Beatrice struggles to find a new identity.  Her life becomes even more dangerous when she uncovers a plot that could mean the end of the peaceful society which she has always known. 

I had been itching to read a great series that would capture my attention, so I started Divergent on an airplane headed on a weekend get away trip with my sister.  This might not have been such a great idea, as I was quickly sucked into the story, which distinctly inhibited my ability to make small talk on the metro since I couldn't quit reading.  I enjoyed the book, and while it was a bit predictable, it still kept me going right up until the end.  There are several things I think readers need to be aware of, first, this is definitely not a book for early teens.  There is tons of violence, along with stunts that are just plain idiotic, yet made to be cool.  Tattoos and body piercings are shown as a mark of bravery, and even attempted murder isn't reported because it would be seen as weak.  The faction which Beatrice joins is pretty much anything goes, with no adult supervision, and nothing is off limits in order to win.  There was also cussing and mild intimacy.  Personally, I feel that anyone under high school age won't have the maturity for this book.  Overall, this was an entertaining read, but know what you, or your teen, are getting into before you start.

Enjoy!
Becky   

Ivy and Bean

Ivy and Bean

Author: Annie Barrows

Grade Level Equivalent: 2.7

Lexile® measure: 510L

Guided Reading: M

My Recommended Reading Age: 7 and up

Finally, a cover that is as cute as the book!

Who would have ever thought that two girls who are so different could be such great friends.  Bean loves to play outside and get dirty. Ivy is always in dresses and can't seem to get her nose out of her books.  The two have nothing in common, until Bean gets caught playing a trick on her older sister and Ivy's quick thinking helps Bean to escape.  Soon Ivy is offering her "witch-in-training" skills to put a spell on Bean's sister and their friendship is solidified.

This is a really cute book.  It is a great simple chapter book, that has large print and illustrations making it very appropriate for emerging readers.  There is nothing inappropriate about the book, but parents need to be aware that Ivy is convinced she is a witch.  Also, Bean is quite a little "smart-mouth", who plays tricks on her sister, much like a little sister would do.

Happy Reading

~Liz

The Forgotten Locket

The Forgotten Locket

Book 3: The Hourglass Door Series

Author: Lisa Mangum

I would rather spend four hours reading the warning labels on toilet bowl cleaners and denture glue than read this book again...I know it sounds harsh, but it was bad....

The final book of the trilogy begins when Abby steps through the black door, leaving Dante wounded, bleeding, and possibly blind.  She starts out on her journey through time with the goal of saving her family and friends, and stopping Zo from manipulating the river of time which would throw the future into chaos.  During her journey, Abby meets Dante's family, and breaks the heart of a new, although familiar, suitor. In the end, Abby must learn to control her "gift" and use it to mend the river.

This was so sappy and poorly written I found myself reading every fifth word.   A neighbor of mine mentioned that the love story was so great she found herself  "curling her toes" with excitement.  Personally, the only thing that was curling at my house were my eyelashes from all of the times I rolled my eyes...I actually think I was dizzy once. 

The river of time has always been as clear as mud to me, so I didn't really understand how Abby's gift enabled her to do all she did, and what the benefits of being a master of time were...not to mention how Valerie seemed to be able to surf the river with out any problems.  Of course, there again, that may be my problem as I already admitted I was only reading every fifth word. 

My biggest problem with this book was the gushy, lovey, sap that was written into every conversation.  Fortunately, it was clean gushy sap, but nonetheless still sap.  It was painful to read, and really distracted from what little plot there was.  I know that I am in the minority on this one, but I think I am going to stick to my Efferdent boxes and Lysol bottles.

Happy Reading

~Liz

The Sunflower

The Sunflower

Richard Paul Evans

Adult Fiction

This past summer, my sister and I helped our mother clean out her bookshelves and came across the complete collection of Richard Paul Evan's works.  When I emphatically suggested we send the books off to Goodwill, my sister and mother both asked, "Why? They are wonderful stories! You will really like them!"  Having not ever had the desire to read one of his books, I turned them down.  Fortunately, my sister picked out "The Sunflower" and suggested I read this one.  With the promise, "Really, this one is good, you will like it!"  Of course she was right, and I did like it, except for one small detail.

Christine Hollister had everything perfectly worked out, that is until her fiance backed out of their wedding only a week before they were to say their vows.  With little motivation left, she allowed herself to be talked into a volunteer humanitarian trip to Peru.  The trip is not a vacation, but an opportunity to work in an orphanage called The Sunflower.  Upon her arrival in the foreign land,  she meets American, Paul Cook, the handsome doctor who left the U.S. after being blamed for a series of tragic deaths in the emergency room.  The two enjoy a connection, but must face the realization that Peru and the United States are two totally different worlds, that neither wants to give up. 

I did really enjoy the book, although I am sure that it is not going to be on the recommended reading list for the Peace Corps...let me explain. Several years ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to travel to a small island in Indonesia with a humanitarian expedition.  While there, we worked with medical professionals, including doctors and dentists, helping small communities with basic needs.  We also devoted a large amount of time (and work) to building a water cistern which would carry fresh drinking water to the small village.  With my first hand knowledge, I can easily say that Christine had quite the posh trip!  Her brief experiences were nothing like the work trip I went on, and totally glazed over the obvious fact that in the middle of the jungle, it is quite difficult to put on makeup, 'run a brush through your hair', and look amazing as Christine did.  May I also mention, that I know what kind of shower facilities they had, and unless she was carrying a Costco size case of baby wipes at all times, she stunk!  I realize that the book is supposed to be a romance, and it was a good little story, I just had a hard time getting over the fact that there was no way it could have happened.  Of course, neither could half the books I recommend so obviously the problem is mine:)

Anyway, it was a good story, which I would recommend reading.  Just one hint, don't go and sign up for any Humanitarian Outreach Trips based on this book, because you will be cursing Richard Paul Evans the whole time.

Happy Reading

~Liz

The Sisters Grimm

The Sisters Grimm Series: Book 1
Author: Michael Buckley
Lexile Level: 840L
Guided Reading Level: R
Reading Level: 4.5
My recommended reading age: 8 and up
Fiction

Snow White as a school teacher, Prince Charming the Mayor, and what about the three little pigs serving in law enforcement?  As unbelievable as it sounds, that's what Sabrina and Daphne find when then are sent to live with their eccentric Grandmother in Fairyport Landing.  Sure that they have been dropped in the loony bin, Sabrina decides to run away and never look back... that is until a flattened house and an over-large footprint give merit to Granny Relda's claims that Fairyport Landing is home to real life characters from the Grimm Brother's fairy tales.  As Sabrina and Daphne attempt to figure out who has set a giant on the loose and why their grandmother was kidnapped, they become the newest Grimm family detectives.

This book series was a wonderful find.  My daughter read them all first, got her brother on board, and kept pestering me to dive in!  When I finally relented I wasn't sorry.  I raced through all eight of the books currently published, and am eagerly awaiting the conclusion (due out May 2012).  The books were very creative and original, with the fun twist of taking our favorite story book characters and putting them in the 21st century.  I didnt' find anything to worry about in this book, it's a fun, clean read for all ages!

Enjoy!
Becky