The Rapid Reader

Purchase this book on Amazon here! You Bring the Distant Near is a YA historical fiction novel by Mitali Perkins. This book spans three generations and tells the stories of five different girls. It starts with Ranee, who after moving to America is terrified that her daughters will lose their Indian culture. Her daughter Sonia is brilliant but outspoken, while her other daughter Tara focuses most of her attention on fitting in. As time passes, Sonia and Tara have daughters of their own who also struggle with finding their true identity. This novel beautifully weaves all of their stories together. Sex: None. There is some romance, but nothing graphic. There is one scene where an older man is interested in Tara and tries to come get her from her house, but nothing more than him banging on the door happens. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is a death that greatly affects the characters. Final Note: This was a ...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Lemons is a middle grade novel by Melissa Savage. Nine-year-old Lemonade has lost her mother and now must move to a small town called Willow Creek, California, to live with a grandfather she's never even met. When she arrives, she meets Tobin, the CEO of Bigfoot Detectives, Inc. He's on the lookout for Bigfoot and asks Lemonade to help him out for the summer. But Bigfoot may not be the only thing she finds. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Lemonade talks about the death of her mother and grandmother. There are a few suspenseful scenes. War is also discussed. Final Note: This was such a good read! Not only was the story full of adventure, but there were many positive lessons about family and friendship. I think both middle grade boys and girls will enjoy this one!

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is a middle grade fiction novel by Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia. After his Cool Papa dies, Clayton's mother forbids him from playing the harmonica his grandfather gave him. But Clayton can't stop. The blues are what connects him most to Cool Papa. Clayton runs away from home and his journey teaches him many things along the way. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Clayton has a few run-ins with a local gang on the subway. Clayton finds his grandfather after he has died. Final Note: I love Rita Williams-Garcia! This book was short, but it was an awesome read! Clayton is a character that many kids will be able to relate to. Clayton and his mother disagree, but I loved how they were eventually able to see things from the other's perspective.

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!

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Waiting for Normal is a middle grade fiction novel by Leslie Connor. It is a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and the recipient of many other young literature awards. Addie has waited her entire life for normal. But she never knows what she's going to get when it comes to her mother. Her mom is either all in and fully present, or long gone and completely absent. Addie's mother is bipolar. Sex: No sex. Addie doesn't know who her father is, but she's close to her stepfather. Her mom is often out late for business dinners with men. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Addie is frequently neglected by her mother. There are a few intense scenes but it's nothing inappropriate for middle grade readers. Final Note: This book has been on my list for awhile and I just now got around to reading it. I'm glad I did! Again, I truly bel...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! The Someday Birds is a middle grade fiction novel by Sally J. Pla. Charlie likes for everything to be predictable. He has a very specific way of doing things and he knows what he likes. But when his dad is sent across the country to be treated for a medical condition, Charlie and his siblings embark on a road trip that challenges everything he knows. Will he be able to go with the flow? And most of all, will he be able to find every bird on his dad's list? That's the only thing that will make him better, right? Sex: No sex, but Charlie often remarks on how "boy crazy" his sister is and she is often seen flirting with different boys. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are some discussions of death and war. There are also a few suspenseful scenes, but nothing too mature. Final Note: I loved this book! It's on my Newbery prediction list. Middle grade lite...

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Three Pennies is a middle grade fiction novel by Melanie Crowder. Marin has been in foster care since she was four. But even now, at the age of eleven, she still can't believe her mother left her and isn't coming back. Determined to find answers, Marin researches ways to find the woman who gave her up years ago. But then, Marin is placed in a foster home that seems as though it could become a permanent home. Will she be okay with life working out differently than she originally planned? Sex: None. Lucy, Marin's new foster mother, does mention that she was romantically involved with another woman.  Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is child abandonment in this novel and that may be a trigger for some kids. There's a frightening scene with a natural disaster. A death that occurred before the events of this novel is discussed. Final Note: I absolutely adored t...

  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.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before, P.S. I Still Love you, and Always and Forever, Lara Jean are the three YA fiction novels in a series by Jenny Han. Lara Jean has had many loves. She wrote them all letters and kept them safely hidden in a hatbox in her room, or so she thought. When her little sister Kitty mails the letters, Lara Jean finds herself having to face everyone. Will it help her find the one she truly loves? **Disclaimer: I've read this entire series but it's been awhile since I read the first book. My content reviews will be over the second and third books in the series. Sex: Lara Jean and her boyfriend aren't sexually active, but sex is talked about a lot. A video of her and her boyfriend in a hot tub circulates around school and it appears to be more than it actually is. While the characters do discuss sex often, and there's a scene that comes close, there are no actual sex scenes in the last two books. Language: Moderate to strong. (I say mod...

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.

Flawed and Perfect are the two books in a YA dystopian duology by Cecelia Ahern. Celestine North has a wonderful life. Her parents have the best jobs, she's extremely well-liked, and she's dating the popular Art Crevan. In a society where anyone who makes a mistake is considered Flawed, Celestine seems like perfection. But when she makes an instinctive decision that breaks the rules, Celestine is faced with life-changing consequences. Sex: Celestine is intimate in the second novel. It's not graphic, but readers will know it happened. Also, the Flawed are forced into immodest attire as part of a punishment in one later scene. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: These are very suspenseful books. People who are Flawed are branded with an 'F' on their body. The location of the brand depends on the flaw. Several characters must go into hiding and several people are abused and harmed. Final Note: I loved this ser...

Yours Truly is a middle grade fiction novel by Heather Vogel Frederick. It is the second book in the Pumpkin Falls Mystery series. Spring is finally coming to Pumpkin Falls, and with it, the annual maple festival. When it seems as though someone is stealing sap from local farms, the Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes come together to solve the mystery. But it turns out there's more than one mystery to solve. Sex: None. Truly is kissed on her birthday and she and her cousin discuss crushes on boys. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: None. There's a suspenseful scene where a character goes missing. Final Note: Heather Vogel Frederick has done it again! This series is just lovely. Perfect especially for middle school girls, Truly is a very relatable character. I especially loved how Frederick pulled in a character from her Mother Daughter Book Club series. There's also a historical aspect, bringing in some Civil War history and...

Anastasia Again! Is a middle grade fiction novel by Newbery Award winning author Lois Lowry. It is the second book in the Anastasia Krupnik series. Twelve-year-old Anastasia is not happy that her family is moving to the suburbs. She’s convinced that everyone there is strange and that she’ll never fit in or find friends. But her new home is a pleasant surprise. Maybe she’ll like the suburbs more than she thought. Sex: Sex isn’t described in detail, but Anastasia mentions that maybe the book she’s writing “needs an explicit sex scene.” (It’s mentioned in a humorous way – like Anastasia doesn’t know what that actually means.) Anastasia explains to her brother what a flasher is, leading to a funny scene near the end of the book. One of Anastasia’s male friends from school finds a Playboy magazine on the ground and puts it in the briefcase he carries around. (She mentions this disdainfully.) Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: Anastasia often remarks that her dad is drinking a ...

The Sweetest Sound is a junior fiction novel by Sherri Winston. Cadence Jolly is as shy as they come. Born with a beautiful voice, no one knows about her talent because she's too shy to share it. When a secret recording of her singing is accidentally released and goes viral, Cadence must make a decision. Should she lie to the ones she loves or finally come out of her shell? Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Cadence's mom left their family a few years before. She struggles with feelings of sadness and anger because of this. Final Note: A really cute junior fiction novel! I felt like Sherri Winston did a great job of addressing how it feels for a young girl to feel abandoned by her mother. I also really loved how Cadence handled peer pressure from her friends and how the community stepped up to take care of Cadence's family.

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is a middle grade fiction novel by Leslie Connor. Eleven-year-old Perry has spent his entire life in prison. Not because he committed a crime, but because his mother is a resident on Cell Block C. When someone discovers that Perry has been living in the Blue River Correctional Facility, he is taken from the only home he has ever known and placed into foster care. Now Perry will stop at nothing to be reunited with his mother again. Sex: None. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: A few of the residents have been incarcerated for drug-related charges. There are mentions of drinking surrounding Perry's mother's case. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The death of Perry's grandparents is mentioned. The story of the accidental death of a young teenage boy is shared with Perry. Final Note: I couldn't put this book down! Perry is such a lovable character. Not only is Perry amazing, ...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Fortune Falls is a junior fantasy novel by Jenny Goebel. It isn't confirmed yet, but Sadie is pretty sure she's an Unlucky. Anytime she's around, things seem to go wrong. Her thirteenth birthday and the Spring Luck Test are both quickly approaching and Sadie is a nervous wreck. If she fails the Luck Test, she'll be sent to a boarding school for unlucky children. Is there any chance that someone as unlucky as she may find some luck before the test? Sex: None. The characters are twelve and thirteen and while there's a few mentions of crushes, there's nothing serious. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Sadie lost her father the year before and blames herself. All of the unlucky characters are in a constant state of worry and anxiety. Sadie's little brother goes missing for a little while. There's a suspenseful scene involving a train. Final Note: A really cute ...

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! 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!   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 ...