The Rapid Reader

Purchase these books on Amazon here! The Unwind Dystology is a series of YA dystopian novels by Neal Shusterman. Connor, Risa, and Lev are the three main characters in this four book series. The Second Civil War is over after new reproductive laws are passed. Abortions are no longer legal, but when a child is between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, their families can choose to have them "unwound." Unwinding takes all of a person's organs and transplants them into new donors. Unwinding can happen for several reasons. Connor was a problem child whose family just couldn't "handle" him anymore. Risa is the victim of an overcrowded group home. Lev is a tithe, a child designated by his parents from birth for unwinding. But these three manage to escape and start to challenge the way society views them. Will things ever change? Sex: Sex is not a big aspect of this series, despite it's coverage of reproductive rights. There is a near sexual assault ...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Warcross is a YA science fiction novel by Marie Lu. The world no longer revolves around reality: it revolves around Warcross. More than just a game, Warcross is a virtual reality that has a fan base that spans the entire world. When Emika Chen hacks the opening game of the international Warcross Championships, she becomes an overnight celebrity. Not only that, but she catches the attention of the Warcross creator, Hideo Tanaka. Hideo immediately gives her a job and a place in the championship games. But Emika's investigation will unearth secrets she wasn't expecting. Sex: There are a couple of mildly sensual scenes. They never go too far, but they have the potential to in future novels or even in the reader's imagination. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: A few instances of drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several fights and battles. A couple of deaths are talked about in the past tense as...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Renegades is a YA science fiction novel by New York Times' Bestselling Author Marissa Meyer. The first in a series, Renegades tells the story of Nova and Adrian, two teenagers with extraordinary abilities and secret identities. Nova, also known as Nightmare, the niece of a well-known Anarchist, hates the Renegades. Her one mission in life: to take them down. Especially their newest member, the Sentinel. Adrian, also known as the Sentinel, is the adopted son of the two most famous Renegades. He's also on a mission: to find the true identity of Nightmare.  Sex: None. There are some flirty scenes and Adrian was adopted by two dads, but romance isn't a huge aspect of this book. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several battle scenes, fights, and deaths. Final Note: This series is going to be amazing! I couldn't put this book down. Marissa Meyer is a phenome...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! The latest novel by the bestselling author of Divergent , Carve the Mark is a YA fantasy book by Veronica Roth. Cyra lives in a universe where everyone is connected by the current. Her brother is a ruthless leader and Cyra is forced to use her current gift however he deems fit. Akos comes from a different part of the galaxy. Born into a family of prophets, he is later kidnapped along with his brother and whisked away to the land of Shotet, where Cyra resides. Although they are supposed to be enemies, Cyra and Akos are able to form an unlikely friendship. Will their bond be strong enough to face Cyra's brother and rescue Akos' brother as well?  Sex: It is alluded to, but there are no graphic scenes. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: There are some drugs used, but they are fictionalized and particular to this series. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are many fights and deaths in this book. Final Note: I w...

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! Midnight Without a Moon is a middle grade historical fiction novel by Linda Williams Jackson. Rose Lee Carter is a 13-year-old African-American girl living in 1950s Mississippi. Life is moving forward normally until Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African-American boy, is killed for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Now Rose must decide what is truly important: letting things stay the same or fighting for her rights.  Sex: There are mentions of unplanned teenage pregnancies. A character sneaks off to see a boy at night, but no details are told.  Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The death of Emmett Till is very emotional and disturbing. While less graphic than some other books, this novel still shares details.  Final Note: I truly believe this book is a Newbery contender. Upper middle grades and high school students will learn a lot from this story. Rose is a likeab...

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...

To All the Boys I've Loved Before, P.S. I Still Love you, and Always and Forever, Lara Jean are the three YA fiction novels in a series by Jenny Han. Lara Jean has had many loves. She wrote them all letters and kept them safely hidden in a hatbox in her room, or so she thought. When her little sister Kitty mails the letters, Lara Jean finds herself having to face everyone. Will it help her find the one she truly loves? **Disclaimer: I've read this entire series but it's been awhile since I read the first book. My content reviews will be over the second and third books in the series. Sex: Lara Jean and her boyfriend aren't sexually active, but sex is talked about a lot. A video of her and her boyfriend in a hot tub circulates around school and it appears to be more than it actually is. While the characters do discuss sex often, and there's a scene that comes close, there are no actual sex scenes in the last two books. Language: Moderate to strong. (I say mod...

Dorothy Must Die is the first book in the YA Dorothy Must Die series by Danielle Page. Amy Gumm wants to escape. Her mother is an alcoholic and everyone at school seems to hate her. But when a tornado strikes and sends her from Kansas to the Land of Oz, Amy discovers she's much stronger than she originally thought. Dorothy has taken over Oz and the love of power has left her evil. Now Amy, the new girl from Kansas, must fight Dorothy, and hopefully bring the magic back to Oz. Sex: None. Amy comments on how seductively Dorothy dresses. Language: Strong. Drug/Alcohol Use: Amy's mother is an alcoholic. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several deaths, some gruesome. There's also several battles and fighting. Final Note: While it was an interesting concept and retelling, I didn't particularly care for this book. The language was needlessly strong and the story wasn't as captivating as the original. This is part of a series and I don't in...

The Heir and The Crown are the last two books in the YA Selection series by Kiera Cass. Twenty years after the events of The One, The Heir and The Crown follow the story of King Maxon and Queen America's daughter, Eadlyn. Born seven minutes before her twin brother, Eadlyn is the official heir to the throne. When it seems as though the country is in a state of unrest, Eadlyn's parents encourage her to do the unthinkable: host a Selection to find a husband. Agreeing, just to appease her parents and her country, Eadlyn thinks there's no way she'll find true love. Happily Ever After is a collection of YA companion stories to the first three Selection books. Sex: There are no sex scenes. There are a few kissing scenes, and a character comes out as gay, but there is nothing graphic. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild wine drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: A few references to deaths that occurred in earlier books. Final Note: It was nice t...

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...

Daughter of the Pirate King is a YA fiction/fantasy novel by Tricia Levenseller. Seventeen-year-old Alosa is one of the fiercest pirates around. She purposely gets herself kidnapped to search for the missing piece of a treasure map her father has sent her after. But what she doesn't count on is meeting Riden. Despite their attraction, Alosa has other missions in mind: find the map, keep her true identity a secret, and make her father proud. Sex: The seductiveness of sirens is mentioned. When Alosa is held captive, some of the male pirates make lewd comments. Alosa uses her "womanly charms" to get her way from time to time. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: The pirates drink often. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Alosa is held captive for most of the book. While some of it is of her own choosing, there are some instances where it's not. There are several deaths and fight scenes. Final Note: This was such a fun read! I don't think I've ever ...

I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 is a middle grade historical fiction novel by Lauren Tarshis. The twelfth book in the I Survived series, Joplin Tornado tells the story of Dex, an eleven-year-old resident of Joplin, Missouri. Our with a storm chaser, Dex is caught in the middle of the F5 twister when it hits his hometown. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The tornado scenes are pretty suspenseful. Final Note: The I Survived series is an engaging way to introduce kids to disasters and wars in history. This book in particular tells the story of a disaster that happened fairly recently, so it makes it even more real for the reader. I have nothing but good things to say about these books!

Flawed and Perfect are the two books in a YA dystopian duology by Cecelia Ahern. Celestine North has a wonderful life. Her parents have the best jobs, she's extremely well-liked, and she's dating the popular Art Crevan. In a society where anyone who makes a mistake is considered Flawed, Celestine seems like perfection. But when she makes an instinctive decision that breaks the rules, Celestine is faced with life-changing consequences. Sex: Celestine is intimate in the second novel. It's not graphic, but readers will know it happened. Also, the Flawed are forced into immodest attire as part of a punishment in one later scene. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: These are very suspenseful books. People who are Flawed are branded with an 'F' on their body. The location of the brand depends on the flaw. Several characters must go into hiding and several people are abused and harmed. Final Note: I loved this ser...

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...

Anastasia Again! Is a middle grade fiction novel by Newbery Award winning author Lois Lowry. It is the second book in the Anastasia Krupnik series. Twelve-year-old Anastasia is not happy that her family is moving to the suburbs. She’s convinced that everyone there is strange and that she’ll never fit in or find friends. But her new home is a pleasant surprise. Maybe she’ll like the suburbs more than she thought. Sex: Sex isn’t described in detail, but Anastasia mentions that maybe the book she’s writing “needs an explicit sex scene.” (It’s mentioned in a humorous way – like Anastasia doesn’t know what that actually means.) Anastasia explains to her brother what a flasher is, leading to a funny scene near the end of the book. One of Anastasia’s male friends from school finds a Playboy magazine on the ground and puts it in the briefcase he carries around. (She mentions this disdainfully.) Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Anastasia often remarks that her dad is drinking a ...

Children of Exile is a middle grade fiction novel by New York Times' bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix. The first in a series, Children of Exile tells the story of twelve-year-old Rosi. Raised by adults called "Freds," Rosi, her brother, and all of the other children in their town, were taken from their birth parents. Now, the Freds say that all of the children must go home. With no explanation, Rosi and all of the children are loaded onto a plane and sent on their way. But home isn't anything like what Rosi expected. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: War plays a big part in this series. Rosi is beaten in one scene. There are several suspenseful moments. Final Note: Margaret Peterson Haddix is one of my favorite children's authors. The Shadow Children series is one of my favorites of all time. I felt like this series could have been good, but it's very hard to follow. Also, the twi...

The Elite and The One are YA fiction novels by Kiera Cass. Books two and three in the Selection Series, The Elite and The One continue the story of America and her fight for Prince Maxon's heart. Sex: There are no explicit scenes, but there are a few moments of intimacy between characters in both books. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Several deaths over the course of the two books. The rebels often attack and those scenes are suspenseful. Final Note: I'm still really enjoying this series! I have a couple of books left to finish, but so far I've been pleased. These books are definitely for older teenagers, but it shows the romantic aspects without being too terribly steamy or detailed. The story line is very intriguing as well.

Gooney Bird Greene is a junior fiction series by Newbery Award winning author Lois Lowry. (Number the Stars and The Giver.) Gooney Bird Greene is full of ideas. She loves being a unique individual. This series is all about her adventures in second grade. Sex: None. Language: None. Mild potty humor like you would typically hear from second graders. Drug/Alcohol Use: A classmate remarks that his dad smokes. A wine glass is set out for a display but when a parent complains, it's removed. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: None. Final Note: This series is truly wonderful. It's like an early Junie B. Jones, but with more challenging vocabulary. Gooney Bird is quite smart and her teacher fosters her uniqueness. If you can get your daughters to pick these up, I don't think they'll put them down. ***There are a few other titles in this series, but these are the three I've read most recently.

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Everland is a YA fiction novel by Wendy Spinale. It's the first book in the Everland series. London has been destroyed by a group of Germans called the Mauraders. After a biological warfare plant was bombed, a deadly virus was released, killing nearly all of the adults and leaving most children orphaned and sick. The leader of the Mauraders, Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer, also known as Captain Hook, is on the hunt for a cure. Meanwhile, Gwen Darling meets a boy named Pete, the leader of an underground city of Lost Boys. When it becomes apparent that Gwen is the only person truly immune to the virus, Captain Hook makes it his personal mission to find her. At the same time, Gwen, with the help of Pete, Bella, and several other Lost Boys, is on her way to Everland to rescue her sister, Joanna. Sex: None. There is obviously romantic feelings between Pete and Gwen. Also, Lily is very flirtatious with the Lost Boys. Pete mentions that Gw...