The Rapid Reader

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook is a junior fiction novel by Iva-Marie Palmer. Gabby has always been the best pitcher on the team. But when she's forced to transfer schools in the middle of the season, she's afraid her winning streak is coming to an end. Can Gabby learn to work with new teammates and find where she truly belongs? Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: None. Final Note: This was a really cute book, especially for younger girls who love sports. The illustrations were also a lot of fun! This story teaches a wonderful lesson on what it really means to be a winner.

Purchase this book on Amazon here! It's Kind of a Funny Story is a YA fiction novel by Ned Vizzini. It was selected by the ALA as a Best Book for Young Adults in 2007 and was named one of the 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels by NPR. Ned Vizzini penned this novel after a 5 day stay in the adult psychiatric ward at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. This book was turned into a movie in 2010. Craig is overwhelmed with his desire to succeed. After successfully studying his way into the top high school around, he suddenly finds himself unable to eat or sleep. Struggling with the pressure he feels, Craig begins to contemplate suicide. Instead, he calls a suicide hotline and ends up checking himself into psychiatric care for five days. This book is about those five days. Sex: There are some sexually explicit conversations and scenes in this book. Language: Moderate to high. Drug/Alcohol Use: Craig and his friends often drink and smoke marijuana. They are 15 years old. Violence/Gore/...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Looking for Alaska is a New York Times' Bestselling YA novel by John Green. It also won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2006. Although this book was published in 2005, it continues to be extremely popular and is often on required reading lists for high school students. There's a rumor floating around that it may become a movie sometime in the near future as well. Miles leaves his home in Florida to attend a boarding school in Birmingham, Alabama. While there, he develops close friendships with his roommate, "The Colonel", and a girl down the hall named Alaska. Throughout the year, they spend their time sneaking around and playing pranks on the "rich" kids. When tragedy strikes, Miles is determined to find answers and figure out how to move forward. Sex: This book is extremely sexually explicit. There are several graphic conversations and one scene in particular that is very detailed. Language: High. Drug/Alco...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Lucky Broken Girl is a middle grade semi-autobiographical fiction novel by Ruth Behar. Ruthie and her family have relocated to America from Cuba.When a tragic accident turns Ruth's world upside down, she spends a year contemplating her life and future. Her dreams change and she transforms into a brand new Ruthie. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: There's an instance of drinking and driving. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There's a tragic accident and several people die. Another character close to Ruthie also loses their life later in the story. There's also a semi-graphic scene about an enema being used because a patient isn't able to use the bathroom. Final Note: I thought Ruth Behar did a wonderful job sharing her experiences as a child. I loved how she frequently referred back to her Cuban heritage. I felt like I not only related to her as a person, but I also learned things I didn't kno...

Purchase this book on Amazon!   Short is a junior fiction novel by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Julia has always been small. So when her mother encourages her to audition for the local play and she's cast as a munchkin, Julia is not surprised. What does surprise her, though, is how much she loves it. Sex: None. Julia talks about some of the older cast members dating and liking each other, but it's all pretty harmless. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: Champagne is mentioned once. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Julia is sad throughout the book because of the loss of a pet. Another character talks about how she lost her daughter. Final Note: This book was so cute! I couldn't help but absolutely adore Julia. Holly Goldberg Sloan really hit this one out of the park. I think kids in grades 4-7 will enjoy this novel!

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a YA National Book Award Winner by Sherman Alexie. Junior has grown up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. But after being encouraged by a teacher, he decides to go to school at an all-white high school nearby. Loosely based on author Sherman Alexie's real life, this story shows what it's like to follow your dreams, even in the midst of heartache and loneliness. Sex: There are no sex scenes, but the narrator talks about masturbation several times and he makes comments about sex on numerous occasions. Language: Moderate to high. Drug/Alcohol Use: Lots of drinking. Junior blames alcohol for most of the problems on the Reservation. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Several fights and deaths. Junior faces lots of loss and heartache. Final Note: I'm not going to lie, this book had a lot of mature material. Normally I wouldn't even be able to finish, but I was extremel...

  Purchase this book on Amazon here! See You in the Cosmos is a middle grade fiction novel by Jack Cheng. Eleven-year-old Alex is fascinated by rockets. He builds a rocket all on his own and decides to send his golden iPod into space, with recordings for anyone who may be living out there. What begins as a simple journey to a rocket convention becomes an epic adventure to find answers about his family. Sex: There's no sex scenes. A character says he's going to stay at his girlfriend's house for the night. Not exactly sex related, but one character says she's having her period and Alex decides to research what that is online. It doesn't give details but he's embarrassed by what he finds. Language: Alex substitutes curse words with "bleep." Drug/Alcohol Use: Alex doesn't drink, but other characters in the book do. Alex mentions both beer and vodka. Alex mentions that he tried beer once and he didn't like it. Violence/Gore/Frightenin...

  Purchase this book through Amazon here! The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is a middle grade fiction novel by Pablo Cartaya. Arturo and his family own a beloved Cuban restaurant in Miami. When a new man moves to town, plotting to destroy their restaurant and build an exclusive set of high ride apartments, Arturo decides to fight back. Not only that, he also plans to make his Abuela proud and tell Carmen how he really feels about her. Will he succeed? Or it will it all be an epic fail? Sex: None. One kiss. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is one death and a death that occurred before the events of the story. Final Note: This was such a cute book! Perfect for both middle grade boys and girls. Arturo and his friends were fun characters and Arturo's family had an interesting dynamic. There's also some famous poetry thrown in. I think kids will really enjoy it.

  Purchase these books on Amazon here! *Disclaimer: I read the first book in this series several years ago. This review is mostly over the second and third books because I can't remember exact details from the first one. The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You, and We'll Always Have Summer are the three books in a YA trilogy by Jenny Han. Isabel, better known as Belly, has always spent her summers at the Cousins beach house with her family and her mom's best friend's family. As she gets older, she finds herself developing feelings for both Conrad and Jeremiah, Beck's boys. But when tragedy strikes the families, Belly must learn how to move forward and to follow her heart, no matter which way it leads. Sex: There are no actual sex scenes. Belly remains a virgin for the entire series. But sex is discussed on several occasions. Language: Moderate. Drug/Alcohol Use: There are instances of underage drinking and casual marijuana use in thi...

  Purchase this book on Amazon here! Well, That Was Awkward is a middle grade fiction novel by Rachel Vail. Gracie loves her life. She has awesome friends and a wonderful school. But one day, things change. When she's around her friend AJ, her heart seems to race and her palms begin to sweat. What's wrong with her? When it turns out AJ is crushing on her best friend, Sienna, Gracie tries her best to be a great friend. Sex: None. There are several mentions of kissing, but nothing more than that. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Gracie's older sister died before she was born. This comes up a lot in the story. Final Note: I know this book is technically a middle grade "romance," but I still LOVED it. Rachel Vail did such an awesome job showing how awkward it is to transition from preteen to teenager and how everything changes. The main character, Gracie, does a good job navigating difficult situations and...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Siren Sisters is a junior fiction novel by Dana Langer. Lolly's sisters are different from most girls. Instead of spending their nights sleeping, they are often called to the ocean to sing ships to their destruction. On her thirteenth birthday, Lolly will fully become a siren as well. But what if that isn't the life she wants? Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several deaths. It's a known fact that the sisters sing for ships to crash, but the scenes aren't super graphic. Final Note: I've read several books about sirens this year. This was the first junior fiction one I've read and it wasn't my favorite, but it was still pretty good. My biggest complaint is that the ending seemed rushed. But overall, Lolly was a very likeable character and the story was interesting. 

Eliza and Her Monsters is a YA fiction novel by Francesca Zappia. Eliza is the creator of a web comic called Monstrous Sea. Monstrous Sea has a huge following and the fans know everything there is to know about it: except who the creator is. Eliza prefers to be completely anonymous. One day at school she meets Wallace, a huge fan of Monstrous Sea. They quickly become close, but Eliza holds on to her secret. When she is accidentally exposed, Eliza isn't sure how to move forward. Her life is no longer a secret. What will Wallace think? Sex: There are no sex scenes, but Eliza's parents make a doctor's appointment for birth control when they find out she's hanging out with a boy. Eliza, as the narrator, often describes very vividly how she feels physically. Language: Moderate. There isn't a lot, but it's strong when used. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Suicide is discussed. A past death comes up in several conversations. E...

RoseBlood is a YA fantasy novel by A.G. Howard. It was inspired by The Phantom of the Opera. Rune Germain has the voice of an angel. But every time she sings, she becomes physically ill. When her aunt arranges to send her to RoseBlood, a French arts conservatory, Rune is terrified because of the building's links to the Phantom. Can she learn to control her voice and discover the truth about the Phantom? Sex: While there's no actual sex, there are many very sensual scenes. Language:I don't remember any bad language. If there was, it was mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Just a very strange Rave experience. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The entire book is very suspenseful, mysterious, and frightening. Final Note: I'm not going to lie. I didn't enjoy this book at all. Although I'm a Phantom of the Opera Fan, the twists in this book were just too far-fetched for me to enjoy. Teens who enjoy fantasy will either love or hate this book.

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 Names They Gave Us is a YA fiction novel by Emery Lord. Lucy is your typical Preacher's Kid. She does everything right and sticks to the rules. But when her mom's cancer reappears, Lucy finds herself questioning everything she believes in. Instead of spending the summer at church camp, she becomes a counselor at the secular camp next door. Lucy spends the summer finding her own faith, learning more about herself and her parents, and building friendships. Sex: There is a trans character. Teenage pregnancy and prevention are also discussed. Language: There isn't much language, but when it's used, it's strong. Drug/Alcohol Use: Several instances of underage drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: A few suspenseful scenes and many discussions about death. Final Note: As a Christian myself, I could find both positive and negative things in this novel. I believe every teenager raised in a Christian home comes to a point where they begin to quest...

The Siren is a YA fiction novel by Kiera Cass, the author of The Selection series. Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean in exchange for 100 years of servitude as a Siren. Kahlen makes it 80 years before the unthinkable happens: she falls in love. What can she do? And what will the Ocean do when she discovers the truth? Sex: There are no sex scenes, but sex is discussed and implied. Language: I don't recall any strong language. Drug/Alcohol Use: Minor drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The Sirens sing people to their death to feed the Ocean. This affects the main character, Kahlen, very deeply. Final Note: This book was completely different than the Selection series, but still very enjoyable. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. A very interesting take on sirens, especially after reading Daughter of the Pirate King.

Soundless is a YA fantasy novel by Richelle Mead. For as long as Fei can remember, no one in her village could hear. But now, it seems as though people are losing their sight as well. When Fei suddenly regains the ability to hear sounds, she and a friend decide to finally descend the mountain and seek help for their village. But what they find isn't what they expected. Sex: None. There is some mild kissing but nothing more. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: One scene of mild drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are several suspenseful scenes and deaths. Final Note: This was such an interesting concept! I'm not sure if this will have a sequel. I think it could stand alone or lead to other stories. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, but overall, it was a good book to read. I think both upper middle school and high school lovers of fantasy will enjoy this novel. 

Da Vinci's Tiger is a YA historical fiction novel by L.M. Elliott. It is the story of Ginevra de' Benci, the inspiration for Leonardo da Vinci's painting by the same name. It is the only da Vinci on permanent display in the United States. Sex: Allusions to sex, but nothing is ever written in detail. There is one scene where it seems as though Ginevra will be sexually assaulted, but it doesn't come to fruition. There are also accusations and whisperings of homosexuality. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Several violent scenes. One death in particular is fairly gruesome near the end. Final Note: This book had a hard time keeping my attention, but overall, it was a pretty interesting story to learn about. It wasn't the story itself that was hard to read. The writing, with all of the Italian words thrown in, was tedious to get through. It was intriguing to get a different author's perspective on da...