The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is Also a Star is YA fiction novel by New York Times bestselling author Nicola Yoon. It was an Amazon Best Book of 2016 and also a Goodreads Best YA Book of 2016 nominee. For a full list of awards, check Amazon!

Natasha is on a mission. Her family's deportation back to Jamaica looms over her head and she's determined to stop it. And then she meets Daniel, a cute boy on the streets of NYC. Daniel has always been the son his parents want him to be. Nothing has ever made him want to be anything different, until he meets Natasha. Told over the course of a day, from both Natasha and Daniel's perspectives, The Sun is Also a Star is a modern romance, but not the typical story you'd read.

Sex: Several heavy make-out sessions. Affairs are mentioned.

Language: Mild to moderate.

Drug/Alcohol Use: Minor underage drinking. Natasha's father was arrested for drinking and driving, and that's why they're being deported.

Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: A fight between Daniel and his brother.

Final Note: A new take on the modern teenage romance. I really liked how the story included both perspectives and even the background stories of minor characters. Although I enjoyed her previous novel, Everything, Everything more, I still liked this book! There are also a few theological discussions in this book that parents may want to be aware of as well.

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My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

My Lady Jane is a YA fiction novel by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. Written in three different perspectives by three different authors, this romantic comedy tells readers what really (maybe) happened in history with Lady Jane Grey. This book was on Publishers Weekly's list of top YA books for 2016. (And it was well-deserved!) Sex: During the Edward and Gifford chapters, the boys often comment on the figures of women. People are under the impression that Gifford is a "ladies man." Two of the characters are in an arranged marriage and the book does mention in the last chapter that they "totally consummated." There are sexual innuendos but nothing graphic. Language: Extremely mild, especially for a YA book. Drug/Alcohol Use: A few mentions of drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is a war and plenty of people are threatened with losing their heads, but since this book is a comedy, it's nothing graphic or seriou...

The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish

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.

What is The Rapid Reader?

Hello fellow parents and friends! My name is Danielle. I had the idea for this blog a couple of years ago when I was working in my son's school library. It was a known fact that I was an avid reader of middle school and young adult literature and several parents would ask me about books before checking them out for their kids. (Or buying them at the book fair!) Because I read so much, I've never worried too much about what my kids might be reading. My oldest is only eight years old and anything he's read, I've read already! But what about parents who don't necessarily enjoy reading or have the time? I wanted to offer a resource that gave these parents the chance to make educated decisions about books their kids are reading. That's how this blog was born! Before we go any further, I want to point out that I am strongly opposed to book banning. I believe in freedom of speech and expression of art through literature. But I also feel strongly that kids should ...

The Rapid Reader

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