The Rapid Reader

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book is a YA fantasy novel by Jennifer Donnelly. A retelling of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Lost in a Book tells the story of Belle as she adventures through the Beast's library. When she finds a book called Nevermore, Belle discovers that she can enter the book and escape the prison of the Beast's castle. But fantasy is not always better, and sometimes things are not quite what they seem. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Several suspenseful scenes near the end of the book, but nothing too scary. Final Note: This was a delightful addition to the Beauty and the Beast story! It kept all of the well loved aspects and added a special spin to Belle. It was interesting to read Belle's perspective and feelings about her captivity and how she started to love the Beast.

Geekerella is a YA fiction novel by Ashley Poston. Elle Wittimer loves Starfield. It was the show she and her dad always watched together, the show that brought her parents together. Before he died, Elle's father started ExcelsiCon, a cosplay convention for Starfield fans. Now Starfield is being remade into a new movie and Elle is desperate to win the ExcelsiCon costume contest so that she can escape her evil stepmother and stepsisters for good. Before the contest, Elle receives an anonymous text from a fellow Starfield fan. As their texting friendship grows, Elle wonders what she'll find at ExcelsiCon. Will her Prince Charming be there? Sex: None. Elle's best friend and coworker tells her she's gay. Language:Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Elle's stepsisters occasionally call her best friend a "druggie," even though she isn't. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Elle's parents died before the events of this book. Final Note: This wa...

The Shadow Queen is a YA fantasy novel by C.J. Redwine. A retelling of Snow White, this novel tells the story of Lorelai, the rightful princess of Ravenspire, who is on the run from the wicked queen, Irina. After years of learning how to manage her magic, Lorelai plans to confront Irina and take back her throne. Sex: None. When Lorelai and Eldr share thoughts, they sometimes think flirtatious things about one another. Irina has a lover, but there are no mature scenes. Language: None that I recall. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Several deaths. Lots of fight scenes and violence. Some people have their hearts ripped out, similar to the television show Once Upon a Time. Final Note: Both Lorelai and Irina have magical abilities. Nothing is terribly dark, but Irina forces her magic on the land and uses it for power, while Lorelai always asks permission and uses her power for good. I loved this retelling of Snow White. Snow White isn't my fav...