The Rapid Reader

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Me and Marvin Gardens is a middle grade fiction novel by Amy Sarig King. Obe Devlin's family has had their farm taken over by developers. The only thing Obe has left is the creek. He doesn't even have his best friend Tommy anymore.Tommy found new friends when the development kids moved in. One day, Obe spots a creature that is unlike anything he's ever seen or read about before. He names him Marvin Gardens and the creature becomes his best friend. But when something strange starts to happen, Obe must decide if he can share his secret. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is some bullying and fist fighting. Final Note: This book was super cute! I recently read Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere and this book was pretty similar, but with a deeper story line. I think middle school boys and girls will really enjoy this unique novel!

Bless This Mouse is a junior fiction novel by Newbery Award winning author Lois Lowry. A rather large group of mice call St. Francis their home. Led by Mouse Mistress Hildegarde, their biggest fear is the Great X, also known as the exterminator. When some of the church mice are discovered, the Great X is called. Armed with bravery and quick wit, the church mice face their foe and hope to save their home Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The church mice fear for their lives. There are a few suspenseful situations, but nothing terrible. Final Note: This book is so cute! The mice are just as endearing as Despereaux from Kate DiCamillo's novel. The story is set in a Catholic church and it's the perfect atmosphere for this mouse colony. I think kids in early-mid elementary would really enjoy this book.

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Stay! Keeper's Story is a middle grade fiction novel by Newbery Award winning author Lois Lowry. Keeper has had many names. As he looks back over his life, he shares his story with the reader. From birth to present time, Keeper has experienced loss, fame, and friendship. Sex: None. Keeper mentions seeing his mom "flirt" with a male dog. Language: Pal refers to his mother as "a fine bitch." It's not used as a curse word, but may be something parents want to know about ahead of time. Drug/Alcohol Use: Jack drinks beer. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: A couple of dog fights. Keeper hears that his sister may be "put to sleep," but he doesn't understand what that means. One of Keeper's companions dies. Final Note: This book was published in the late 90's, but I love Lois Lowry and wanted to read some of her lesser known books. This was a quick read and very enjoyable! It reminded m...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   The Wolf's Boy is a junior fiction novel by Susan Williams Beckhorn. Kai had been cursed since birth. Born with a crooked leg, his family thought he wouldn't live and left him in the woods. But a mother wolf took Kai as her own and nursed him back to health. Kai's mother returned for him and brought him back to live with his people, but later in life, Kai discovered one of the mother wolf's offspring in trouble. He adopted this young wolf and named it Uff and together they formed a family of their own. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: A couple of different suspenseful scenes between the people and the animals they are hunting. A mother and child are ripped from their hut by a wild cat and killed. Kai comes face to face with a bear. A few instances of bullying. Final Note: I think this book would appeal to young male readers. Kai is seen as an outcast within his...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   The Wild Robot is a junior fiction New York Times bestselling novel by Peter Brown. It won a heap of awards last year, almost too many to list. It deserves every award it received! I adored this book and can't wait to read it to my kids. Roz is a robot who finds herself on a deserted island. She slowly learns how to interact with the animals who live there and how to become wild like everyone else. She also rescues a gosling and becomes his adoptive mother. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Even though Roz is just a robot, it's still sad when she gets broken. There's also a scene where other robots come to get Roz and take her off the island. There's a fight scene, but nothing too dramatic. Final Note: I loved this book! I just saw that there is a second book and I can't wait to read it. It's such a unique story and will be appealing to both boys and g...

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 ...