The Rapid Reader

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers is a nonfiction YA book by Deborah Heiligman. This biography tells the story of Vincent and Theo Van Gogh, not only brothers, but best friends. Heiligman did extensive research, reading all 658 letters Vincent wrote to Theo during their lives. Brilliantly weaved together, this is a tale of love and friendship. Sex: Both brothers had encounters with prostitutes. While not described in detail, these incidences are recorded in the book. Language: Mild. Drug/Alcohol Use: There was some minor drinking. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: Several deaths are covered in this book. There's also the infamous ear loss scene. Final Note: One of the best biographies I've ever read. I didn't have much knowledge of the Van Gogh brothers before reading this and I came away feeling like I actually knew them. I highly recommend this book!

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Pathfinders: The Journeys of 16 Extraordinary Black Souls is a middle grade nonfiction book by Coretta Scott King winner Tonya Bolden. This book tells the stories of 16 individuals who made history, but who are often forgotten or not recognized. Beautifully presented with eye-catching illustrations and photographs, this is a book that brings history to life and will be interesting for readers of all ages. Sex: None. Language: None. Drug/Alcohol Use: None. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There are a few deaths mentioned. Final Note: A wonderful book worth picking up! This book has tons of information and many great lessons about perseverance. I highly recommend this one!

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   I See London, I See France is a YA contemporary novel by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski. Sydney is spending four weeks of the summer traveling through Europe with her best friend Leslie. It's a nice break for Sydney, who has spent her entire life caring for her anxiety-ridden mother. But when Leslie's ex-boyfriend shows up with his handsome best friend, Sydney finds more than she was looking for. Sex: There should definitely be a mature rating on this book. Sex is talked about quite frequently and there are some parts that are graphic. Language: Moderate to high. Drug/Alcohol Use: There are scenes with both. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: None. Final Note: Sorry Sarah Mlynowski, but I was NOT a fan of this book. There are many other books a lot like this one that are much more tastefully written.

Purchase this book on Amazon here! Grit is a YA contemporary thriller by Gillian French. Darcy spends her summer raking berries with her sister Mags and their cousin Nell. She works hard at her job as a distraction, and she needs a lot of distracting. A local girl has been missing for a year and Darcy and Nell are hiding a secret of their own. On top of all that, Shea, the boy she went too far with on the Fourth of July, won't leave her alone. Will Darcy make it through the summer with no new secrets, or will the ones she already keeps come spilling out? Sex: Sex is big theme in this book, but there aren't any explicit details. Language: Moderate. Drug/Alcohol Use: Underage drinking and drug use. Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: It's suspected that a girl is dead. There are several instances of physical abuse and fist fights.  Final Note: I don't read a lot of thrillers, but this one was pretty good. It was a little predictable, but no...

  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...

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...

Purchase this book on Amazon here!   Thirteen Reasons Why is a YA fiction novel by Jay Asher. It is a New York Times Bestseller and is now a Netflix Original Series. This review is about the BOOK ONLY. I have not watched the show. For parents interested in the show's content, IMDB.com has a detailed Parents Guide. I can say that the show is rated TV-MA for a reason. When Clay comes home from school one day, just a few weeks after his classmate Hannah Baker committed suicide, he finds a shoe box full of cassette tapes addressed to him. When he begins to listen, he can't believe what he hears. It's the voice of Hannah, explaining why she committed suicide, and how the actions of 13 different people contributed to her decision. Clay is instructed to listen to all of the tapes and then pass them on. But why is Clay included? What did he ever do to Hannah? Sex: Sex is a big theme in this book. The majority of the sexual discussions revolve around rumors and aren't ...

    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...