The Rapid Reader

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Lost in the Pacific, 1942: Not a Drop to Drink is a nonfiction middle grade novel by Tod Olson. In October 1942, a B-17 bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The survivors included one of America's greatest living war heroes on a secret mission. For days, they drifted along in the ocean, with nothing to eat or drink. Would they make it out alive?  Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The crash scene is pretty suspenseful. There is also a death. There are several mentions of war and the story itself is about survival and is a little intense. Final Note: This is a truly wonderful book for middle grade students interested in war history. It was captivating and easy to read. Although about different people, it remind me a lot of Unbroken. I highly recommend this book for male middle grade readers especially.

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Scar Island is a middle grade fiction novel by Dan Gemeinhart. Jonathan has been sentenced to ten weeks at the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys. On an island in the middle of the sea, Slabhenge is far from civilization. When an accident leaves the prisoners without adult supervision, the "troubled boys" must figure out how to survive on their own. Will they make it out alive? Sex: None. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: One of the adults is seen drinking near the beginning of the book. The boys talk about getting into his "booze" later, but it doesn't happen. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: This is a very suspenseful book. There are a few violent scenes between the boys and several frightening scenes. There are also some deaths.  Final Note: Once again, Gemeinhart has written an awesome middle grade novel that both boys and girls will enjoy! Reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, thi...

I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 is a middle grade historical fiction novel by Lauren Tarshis. The twelfth book in the I Survived series, Joplin Tornado tells the story of Dex, an eleven-year-old resident of Joplin, Missouri. Our with a storm chaser, Dex is caught in the middle of the F5 twister when it hits his hometown. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: The tornado scenes are pretty suspenseful. Final Note: The I Survived series is an engaging way to introduce kids to disasters and wars in history. This book in particular tells the story of a disaster that happened fairly recently, so it makes it even more real for the reader. I have nothing but good things to say about these books!

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...