The Rapid Reader

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   The Selection is a YA fiction dystopian novel by New York Times Bestselling Author Kiera Cass. It is the first book in The Selection series. America is pretty happy with her life. She isn't in the best caste, but she isn't in the worst. She loves music and she's in love, even though her relationship has to remain a secret. Then everything changes. America is chosen to be part of the Selection, a competition between 35 women to win the heart of the prince. But does America want to be Queen one day? How will her life change? Sex: America has several physical scenes with her boyfriend, but they never go all the way. She mentions that it's against the law and that people in her caste have no way to get birth control. America is also told that she's required to give the prince anything he wants, even if that includes intimacy. One of America's maids may have been raped during a rebel raid. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol ...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   November 9 is an adult fiction novel by New York Times Bestselling Author Colleen Hoover. When Fallon was 16 years old, she was scarred in a house fire, destroying her career as a young actress. While arguing with her dad during lunch on the second anniversary of the fire, a young writer named Ben comes to her rescue. Fallon is moving to New York the next day and neither want to begin a relationship, but they agree to meet on November 9 for the next five years so Ben can write a book about it. With no contact at all on the other days of the year, will they draw closer together or further apart? Sex: Moderate to high. The scenes are pretty easy to skip if the reader desires to do so. Language: Moderate to high. Drug/Alcohol Use: Minor. It doesn't play a big role in the book. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: A character close to a main character dies in an accident. Ben's mother died a couple of years earlier. When the sto...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Cut is a YA fiction novel by author Patricia McCormick. Callie is a high school runner who has started cutting herself. Not only does she harm herself, but she doesn't feel like she can speak anymore. When a school nurse notices the scars on her arms, Callie is sent to a treatment facility called Sea Pines. While there, Callie is able to get to the root of her pain and begin healing. Sex: None. Language: Moderate. Drug/Alcohol Use: Some of the patients at Sea Pines are drug abusers. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Callie cuts herself. Some of the girls at Sea Pines struggle with eating disorders. Some of the discussions in group are very emotional. Final Note: Originally published in 2000, this book was one of the first books to explore cutting and self-harm in young girls. While difficult to read at times, it shows the raw reality of teenagers struggling with how to deal with their emotions and pain.

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Kid Owner is a middle grade fiction novel by New York Times Bestselling Author Tim Green. When Ryan finds out that the dad he never knew has died, he isn't quite sure how to feel. But just a few days later, Ryan gets the shock of his life. Not only did his dad love football as much as he does, but he also owned the Dallas Cowboys and left his ownership of the team to Ryan. Will Ryan get to keep the team? Will it make a difference for his own middle school football career? Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: Brief mention of beer. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Some bullying. Final Note: Another great book by Tim Green. Most boys wonder what it would be like to play for the NFL. What would it be like to actually own your own team? Tim Green's books for middle grade readers are really great reads for young boys. Even for kids who aren't into sports, these books are still enjoyable.

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Thirteen Reasons Why is a YA fiction novel by Jay Asher. It is a New York Times Bestseller and is now a Netflix Original Series. This review is about the BOOK ONLY. I have not watched the show. For parents interested in the show's content, IMDB.com has a detailed Parents Guide. I can say that the show is rated TV-MA for a reason. When Clay comes home from school one day, just a few weeks after his classmate Hannah Baker committed suicide, he finds a shoe box full of cassette tapes addressed to him. When he begins to listen, he can't believe what he hears. It's the voice of Hannah, explaining why she committed suicide, and how the actions of 13 different people contributed to her decision. Clay is instructed to listen to all of the tapes and then pass them on. But why is Clay included? What did he ever do to Hannah? Sex: Sex is a big theme in this book. The majority of the sexual discussions revolve around rumors and aren't ...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Home Run is a junior fiction novel by New York Times bestselling author Tim Green. It's the fourth in his Baseball Great series. I didn't realize this book was part of a series until after I'd finished it. When his father takes a job as a college baseball coach in Florida, Josh hopes it will encourage his parents to get back together. Instead, Josh's mother ends up losing her house and her job. Josh decides to stay with his mom and enters a contest to try to win her a new home. All he has to do is hit 20 home runs during the season and then land a home run into a bathtub. Can he do it? Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several sad scenes between Josh and his parents. Josh has two teammates who lost their father in the war. Josh's baseball coach can be a little scary and intimidating. There's a scene where Josh hears gunshots outside of his house ...

    Purchase this book on Amazon here! My Brother's Keeper is a YA fiction novel by best-selling author Patricia McCormick. Toby's life seems to be spiraling out of control. His father has left, his mom is wrapped up in dating a new man, and his older brother, Jake, is not acting like himself. Toby believes he's in charge of getting his family back on track. But when it seems like something serious is going on with Jake, Toby isn't sure how much help he can, or wants, to give. Sex: The opening chapters in the book are during Toby's sex education class. Some crude comments are made. Language: Moderate. Drug/Alcohol Use: Jake is a drug addict. He openly admits to doing acid. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is one particularly suspenseful scene when Toby's younger brother goes missing. Toby and Jake get into a fistfight. Final Note: A real look at what it's like to have a family member struggling with addiction. Hopefully a book li...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   New Kid is a YA fiction novel by New York Times bestselling author Tim Green. Tommy Rust is the star of his baseball team. But before he's able to finish the season, his father shows up and tells him that it's time to leave town. Tommy has spent his entire life moving from place to place because of his dad's dangerous job. When he arrives in a new town, as Brock instead of Tommy, he meets a coach who encourages his talent and offers to train him. But what if Brock has to leave town unexpectedly again? Sex: None. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: The baseball coach has a drinking problem. Brock's classmate, Nagel, has a brother who consistently underage drinks. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Several instances of fighting and bullying. Coach hits a kid with a baseball. Someone tries to kidnap Brock. Brock's father often loses his temper and carries a gun. Brock's mother was murdered when he was little. ...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   When Friendship Followed Me Home is a middle grade fiction novel by Paul Griffin. Ben is walking home from the library one day when a dog follows him home. His mother, who adopted him from foster care two years before, immediately exclaims that he can keep him. With the help of Flip, Ben soon becomes friends with the local librarian's daughter, Halley (like the comet). When Ben faces struggles, Ben and Halley are there to help him through. Sex: Ben's friend Chucky often remarks and asks about Halley's chest and rear. Ben usually tells him to stop. Also, Ben's mother remarks that she found Ben after her partner, Laura, died. There is one kissed shared between characters. Ben and Halley often hold hands, but Ben always says it's "just as friends." Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Ben says that he was dropped off as a baby and drugs were found in his blood. But, he's never been addicted to anything. Uncle ...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Unbound: A Novel in Verse is a middle grade historical fiction book by Ann E. Burg. Told completely in verse, this is the story of Grace. When summoned to work in the Big House, Grace is forced to leave her family. Her mother warns her to "keep her eyes down and mouth shut," but this proves easier said than done. When Grace accidentally slips and reveals her thoughts out loud, she and her family are forced to leave and run to freedom. Sex: None. Grace mentions that Uncle Jim, her mother's husband, isn't her father. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: Grace's mother and aunt give the small boys something to make them sleep while they're trying to get away. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Because this is a book about a slave family running to freedom, there are several suspenseful scenes. The Missus in the Big House often threatens people with whippings. Final Note: This is a perfect book for middle grad...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   A Clatter of Jars is a junior fantasy novel by Lisa Graff. This book is the sequel to A Tangle of Knots. Told in multiple perspectives, this book tells the story of Talented kids at Camp Atropos. Every kid has their own special Talent - some can speak to frogs, some can levitate items, and one can even collect memories. But when everyone's Talent is switched, the campers begin to suspect that Camp Atropos isn't exactly what it seems. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: None. Final Note: A really cute fantasy novel for kids! It's been several years since I read A Tangle of Knots, but this series is lots of fun. It's perfect for budding readers who have an interest in fantasy books!

The Wolf Keepers is a junior fiction novel by Elise Broach. Twelve-year-old Lizzie Durango gets to live at the zoo because her father is a zookeeper. Of all the animals, she's most interested in the new wolves. One day while waiting for lunch, Lizzie spots a boy who seems to be secretly making the zoo his home. Lizzie befriends Tyler and the two of them work together to find out why the wolves keep getting sick. They soon find themselves on an adventure in the Yosemite wilderness. Sex: None. Lizzie remarks that her father sometimes goes out with Karen, the zoo vet. She mentions that Karen "never stays the night." Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Tyler's biological mother is a drug addict. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are some suspenseful scenes. Some of the wolves are sick and appear to have died. Lizzie's mother died when she was a newborn and Tyler's mother is in rehab. Final Note: What a great book! Although it's not techn...

The Bicycle Spy is a junior historical fiction novel by Yona Zeldis McDonough. Set during World War II in France, Marcel loves riding his bicycle everywhere. When his parents ask him to start delivering bread for them, Marcel doesn't think anything of it. But then he finds a note hidden in the bread. Are his parents working for the French Resistance? Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: This book has a few suspenseful scenes. Marcel is delivering notes for his parents and sometimes encounters soldiers and guards. Also, his best friend is Jewish and there is some suspense surrounding her and her family. Final Note: A great historical fiction novel for grades 3-6! It reminds me a lot of Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, with a male main character instead of female. It's a quick and fairly easy read.

Little Women and Me is a YA fiction novel by Lauren Baratz-Logsted. When Emily's English teacher asks them to pick their favorite novel and choose one thing they would change about it, Emily chooses Little Women. While trying to decide what she would make different, Emily is sucked into the book and forced to live it out in its entirety. Will she be able to change the story for good? Sex: There is no sex, but Emily often talks about kissing and making out. Language: Emily sometimes calls herself the "skank" sister. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild drinking at a party. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The typical death scenes from Little Women. Final Note: A very lighthearted retelling of Little Women. It was a cute, quick read, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick. I felt it focused way too much on "getting the guy" instead of developing strong female characters.

Something Blue is an adult fiction novel by New York Times' bestselling author Emily Giffin. The sequel to Something Borrowed, this book switches perspective and continues the story from Darcy's point of view. When she's left pregnant and alone, she decides to visit her friend Ethan in London and see where life takes her. Sex: There are several sex scenes. Some are a little graphic. Darcy shares what she really thinks and the author didn't hold back at all. Language: Moderate. Drug/Alcohol Use: Social drinking. Not as much as in the previous novel, since Darcy is pregnant. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Like Something Borrowed, this book is extremely lighthearted and there's nothing frightening or scary. Final Note: This series is basically a chick flick in book form. Emily Giffin is a gifted storyteller. While I typically prefer books that make me think or that I can learn something from, this was a pretty enjoyable quick read. There are ...

Absolutely Almost is a junior fiction novel by Lisa Graff. Albie is almost good at a lot of things. But as his dad often lets him know, almost isn't good enough. Albie also struggles in school and no one seems to know why. But when his new babysitter, Calista, comes around, she helps him see that he's special in his own way. Sex: None. Calista mentions that she has a boyfriend, but besides that, there are no romantic relationships in this book. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Albie is bullied a lot at school. Final Note: I adored this book! Told from Albie's perspective, it was so interesting to see how he navigated life, friendships, and school. I would recommend this book for classroom reading, as it touches on accepting people for who they are and realizing that everyone is different.

Drama is a middle grade fiction graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier. Callie loves theater and set design. While working on the school play, she meets twin brothers Jesse and Jordan. Are they all just friends? Or is there love in the mix? Sex: None, but two of the main characters are gay. One announces it from the very beginning and the other discovers it about himself at the end. There is also a couple of kissing scenes. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: None. Final Note: In my opinion, this book is for upper middle school and high school. While I really enjoyed Raina Telgemeier's Smile and Sisters, this one was not my favorite. It does openly discuss sexual identity, so parents just need to be aware of that beforehand. (The blurb on the back doesn't even hint about it.)

Piper Houdini is a YA fiction novel by Glenn Herdling. Piper has been shuttled back and forth between foster homes since she was a baby. When she's twelve years old, someone claiming to be her father takes her to Harry Houdini's house, who happens to be her uncle. Here she encounters a mysterious and magical world that Piper had no idea existed. Sex: There are several sexual references. One character comments on the fact that she's "slept with lots of men." She is also nearly raped in an alley but is rescued Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: This book is set in the 1920s during Prohibition, but some characters do still drink and are known to visit speakeasies. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: This book deals with things that are mystical. The occult and vampires play major roles in this story.  There is also a character who is considered a zombie. Final Note: This book wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be. Harry Houdini frequ...

Something Borrowed is a New York Times' bestselling adult fiction novel by Emily Giffin. Rachel is turning 30 and life is not turning out how she planned. Although she's a successful lawyer, she hates her job and doesn't even have a boyfriend. Her best friend Darcy, on the other hand, loves her job and is engaged to the perfect man. When Rachel finally does begin to fall in love, it's with the one person who is completely off-limits: Dex, Darcy's fiancee. Sex: This book revolves around the affair Dex and Rachel have behind Darcy's back. There is definitely sex, and while it's not as graphic as other books, it's still a prominent aspect of the book. Language: Moderate to high. Drug/Alcohol Use: The characters drink often. Dex and Rachel's affair begins after a night of drunkeness. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: None. In this aspect, the book is very lighthearted and laid back. Final Note: Your typical chick lit. Emily Giffin ...

Eleven and Holding is a middle grade fiction novel by Mary Penney. Macy is eleven years old and misses her father fiercely. After returning from Iraq, her dad left on a "special mission" and won't make it home for her birthday. To make matters worse, Macy's parents sold her Nana's cafe and Macy's mother just seems to be pushing her father further away. Macy decides to take matters into her own hands, find her father, and bring him back home. Sex: Macy makes comments about puberty and wondering when she'll mature. She also worries that her mother has feelings for Chuck, the man who bought her Nana's cafe. One character comes out as gay near the end of the book. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: One of the main characters is an alcoholic. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Macy is still dealing with the grief of losing her grandmother. Death is discussed in relation to other characters as well. Final Note: Some of the material was a li...

Sisters is a middle grade graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier, based on her own life. Raina always wanted a sister, until she got one. Now growing up with Amara is more than she bargained for. They seem to compete and argue about everything. But is Raina just missing the true friendship they could share? Sex: None. Raina's cousin Lindsay makes a few remarks about makeup and boyfriends, but just to show that she's more "mature." Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The two sisters argue a lot. Their parents seem to be going through a rough spell and Raina and Amara wonder if they will get divorced. Final Note: Raina Telgemeier nailed it again. Telling the story of a family road trip, and also using flashbacks to previous significant events, Raina shares what it's like to have a sister. She shares it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Smile is a middle grade graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier, based on her own life. It tells the story of Raina, who fell outside of her house after a girl scout meeting and knocked her two front teeth out. Over the next several years, Raina goes through lots of dental work. She also finishes middle school and starts high school. Along the way, Raina learns what it means to have true friends and how to love herself. Sex: None. A group plays spin the bottle at a party but Raina refuses to participate. Also, the boys at school pop bra straps when the girls start wearing them. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Raina encounters some bullying from her so-called "friends." Final Note: This was a lovely graphic novel about what it's like to go through that awkward stage in middle school, especially when wearing braces. It touches on real issues when dealing with classmates.

Shade Me is YA fiction novel in the new Nikki Kill series by Jennifer Brown. Nikki does not see the world like everyone else. She sees things in a variety of colors, a condition called synesthesia. When a fellow classmate is brutally attacked, Nikki uses her synesthesia to follow clues and try to figure out what really happened. Sex: Nikki is sexually active. The scenes aren't terribly graphic, but it's obvious that it's happening. Also, one of the main story lines is about an escort business and Nikki pretends to be an escort to try to get information. Language: Moderate to high. Drug/Alcohol Use: Several mentions of drinking at parties and in the home of underage people. Nikki is drugged. One character is known for stealing and selling drugs. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are a couple of deaths in this book. One character is brutally beaten and in the hospital. Nikki is involved in several physical altercations. Final Note: I typically lik...

I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 is a junior historical fiction novel by Lauren Tarshis. The fourth in the I Survived series, this book tells the story of Danny, a young boy who has recently moved to Hawaii with his mother, a nurse at Hickam Air Force Base. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Danny must try to keep safe and make it to his Ma. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: This book mentions that hundreds of people are wounded or killed in the attacks. Someone close to Danny is shot and fighting for his life. The scenes aren't incredibly graphic in nature, but they could be disturbing for some kids. Final Note: This is an awesome series for kids in grades 2-6. My son and I have read several of the natural disaster books in this series. This was our first war-related one, but I thought Tarshis did a good job of sharing history without making it too graphic or disturbing for younger reade...