The Rapid Reader

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Lemons is a middle grade novel by Melissa Savage. Nine-year-old Lemonade has lost her mother and now must move to a small town called Willow Creek, California, to live with a grandfather she's never even met. When she arrives, she meets Tobin, the CEO of Bigfoot Detectives, Inc. He's on the lookout for Bigfoot and asks Lemonade to help him out for the summer. But Bigfoot may not be the only thing she finds. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Lemonade talks about the death of her mother and grandmother. There are a few suspenseful scenes. War is also discussed. Final Note: This was such a good read! Not only was the story full of adventure, but there were many positive lessons about family and friendship. I think both middle grade boys and girls will enjoy this one!

Purchase this book on Amazon here! York: The Shadow Cipher is a middle grade science fiction mystery novel by Laura Ruby. The Morningstarr twins had big plans for New York. Using technology never before seen, they created the city of the future. But when they suddenly disappear, the architects leave behind something called the Old York Cipher, a puzzle within the city with a treasure as its prize. Unfortunately, no one has ever been able to solve it, and most people have stopped trying. Until now. Siblings Tess and Theo, and their friend Jamie, decide to try to solve the Cipher once and for all, and save the city and buildings they love so much. (This is Book One in a new series!) Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several suspenseful scenes and they are some seedy violent characters. There is nothing too graphic. It's all to add to the sense of adventure. Final Note: This is going to be a...

  Purchase this book on Amazon here! The World's Greatest Detective is a middle grade mystery novel by Caroline Carlson. Toby Montrose lives on Detective's Row with his uncle. When a chance to enter a crime-solving contest comes up, Toby decides he must enter and prove that he can really be a detective. But Toby, and his new friend Ivy, get a little more than they bargained for! Sex: None. There are some comments about flirting, but nothing serious. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild wine drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are past deaths that are discussed and there is a murder case. There are a few suspenseful moments! Final Note: I really enjoyed this one! Growing up, I loved Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Encyclopedia Brown. This book was just as clever. It keeps readers guessing and is a story that will be entertaining for both boys and girls.

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Antisocial is a YA contemporary novel by Jillian Blake. Anna has just been dumped by her boyfriend. While they were together, she completely cut off ties with all of her previous friends. Now, she's all alone but trying to make amends. Unfortunately, someone in school has discovered how to hack into everyone's phones and is slowly releasing anything and everything people have searched, texted, or posted. No one's secrets are safe. Things Anna said in private messages may destroy her friendships for good. Sex: There is one character in particular who frequently talks about things of a sexual nature. Language: Moderate to high. Drug/Alcohol Use: There are instances of underage drinking and steroid use. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are threats between characters.  Final Note: While this wasn't my favorite book, it still successfully showed that nothing you say online or on your phone is actuall...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! The Pearl Thief is a YA historical fiction novel by Elizabeth Wein. The prequel to Code Name Verity , this book gives readers a look into Julie's life. When she was fifteen years old, Julie spent her summer saying goodbye to her grandfather's estate. While there, Julie is attacked but cannot remember the circumstances surrounding the incident. A family employee is also missing and no one can find him. Julie makes it her mission to find out what really happened and to help the Scottish Traveller family she has befriended. Sex: There are no explicit scenes, but Julie explores her sexuality, with both an older man and a female friend. Both scenes just involve kissing, but the details are pretty sensual. A man is naked when searching in the water. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Some drinking and smoking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are suspected deaths and Julie is attacked. There are a couple of f...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Scar Island is a middle grade fiction novel by Dan Gemeinhart. Jonathan has been sentenced to ten weeks at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys. On an island in the middle of the sea, Slabhenge is far from civilization. When an accident leaves the prisoners without adult supervision, the "troubled boys" must figure out how to survive on their own. Will they make it out alive? Sex: None. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: One of the adults is seen drinking near the beginning of the book. The boys talk about getting into his "booze" later, but it doesn't happen. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: This is a very suspenseful book. There are a few violent scenes between the boys and several frightening scenes. There are also some deaths.  Final Note: Once again, Gemeinhart has written an awesome middle grade novel that both boys and girls will enjoy! Reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, thi...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Grit is a YA contemporary thriller by Gillian French. Darcy spends her summer raking berries with her sister Mags and their cousin Nell. She works hard at her job as a distraction, and she needs a lot of distracting. A local girl has been missing for a year and Darcy and Nell are hiding a secret of their own. On top of all that, Shea, the boy she went too far with on the Fourth of July, won't leave her alone. Will Darcy make it through the summer with no new secrets, or will the ones she already keeps come spilling out? Sex: Sex is big theme in this book, but there aren't any explicit details. Language: Moderate. Drug/Alcohol Use: Underage drinking and drug use. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: It's suspected that a girl is dead. There are several instances of physical abuse and fist fights.  Final Note: I don't read a lot of thrillers, but this one was pretty good. It was a little predictable, but no...

Trouble Makes a Comeback is a YA fiction novel by Stephanie Tromly. It is the sequel to Trouble is a Friend of Mine. It's been a few months since Zoe has seen or heard from Digby. She's moved on with her life: new friends, new boyfriend. But when Digby shows up again, Zoe is pulled back in to his wild life. There are more clues to follow and more mysteries to solve. Sex: Nothing explicit. Sex is mentioned but it's not a large focus in these books. Language: Moderate. Drug/Alcohol Use: Underage drinking. There's also an illegal drug ring for performance enhancing steroids. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Just like the first book, there are some high suspense scenes and violence. Final Note: I've really enjoyed these books. Digby is such an interesting character and I love the comedic aspect. The writing is lighthearted and although there's definitely some romance, it's not the main focus of the story. I think both teenage boys and girls w...

The Ethan I Was Before is a middle grade fiction novel by Ali Standish. Ethan and Kacey were the best of friends. But when a terrible accident rips them apart, Ethan and his family pick up and move from Boston to a small town in Georgia. Now Ethan must figure out what life looks like moving forward. He meets Coralee and is enthralled by her marvelous stories. Can the two of them share secrets and give each other the friendship they both long for? Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several suspenseful scenes. Death is a big part of the story line as well. Final Note: I loved this book! This is Ali Standish's first novel and she hit it out of the park. It was hauntingly beautiful. My heart ached for Ethan. I think readers grades 6-8 would really like this one.

A Study in Charlotte and The Last of August are the first two books in the YA Charlotte Holmes series by Brittany Cavallaro. Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are descendants of the infamous Watson and Holmes. When they meet at boarding school, an unlikely friendship/romance blooms, despite the animosity between their two families. In both books, Jamie and Charlotte take on dangerous mysteries together. Sex: A character is raped, but the scene is not shown. The books are both told mainly from Jamie's perspective and he shares any sensual feelings he has about Charlotte with the reader. Sex is discussed between male characters pretty flippantly. Language: Strong. Drug/Alcohol Use: Charlotte is a drug user, but she does try to hide it and later quits using. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is an attempted suicide. There are several deaths in both books. Lots of violence between characters and suspenseful scenes. Final Note: As far as the story lines go, I...

Yours Truly is a middle grade fiction novel by Heather Vogel Frederick. It is the second book in the Pumpkin Falls Mystery series. Spring is finally coming to Pumpkin Falls, and with it, the annual maple festival. When it seems as though someone is stealing sap from local farms, the Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes come together to solve the mystery. But it turns out there's more than one mystery to solve. Sex: None. Truly is kissed on her birthday and she and her cousin discuss crushes on boys. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: None. There's a suspenseful scene where a character goes missing. Final Note: Heather Vogel Frederick has done it again! This series is just lovely. Perfect especially for middle school girls, Truly is a very relatable character. I especially loved how Frederick pulled in a character from her Mother Daughter Book Club series. There's also a historical aspect, bringing in some Civil War history and...

A Madness So Discreet is a YA historical suspense novel by Mindy McGinnis. When it's obvious that Grace is with child, her family places her in an insane asylum to wait out the birth. Not insane, but definitely damaged, Grace becomes mute. When Grace loses her calm and lashes out, she's banished to the cellar. While there, she's discovered by a doctor who decides to rescue her and use her as an assistant. Moved to a different asylum, Grace is able to find friendship and family. While assisting the doctor, she learns that the line between madness and sanity is not as clear as she once believed. Sex: There are several rape victims in this book. Nothing is told in detail. A few characters are prostitutes. One character is sick and has been institutionalized because of a sexually transmitted disease. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Minor drinking and the use of ether by a criminal. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several deaths. Grace and the doct...