The Chronicles of Avonlea Series by L.M. Montgomery

SYNOPSIS:  This collection of short stories takes place in Avonlea.  Although there are some stories featuring our beloved characters, there are others included to add to the volume, as well.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I loved this book.  I like to have an audiobook downloaded at all times to listen to while I am working out, and librivox.org makes catching up on the classics so easy.  My favorite story in the book was "The Materializing of Cecil." This book would be great for any audience, but is based mostly on adults, so I would recommend it for Pre-teens and above for that reason.

RATING:  PG for Subject Matter

AUDIENCE:  Teens, Young Adults, Adults (Pre-teens, also, if they are up to it.)

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Story Girl, Anne of Green Gables

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

SYNOPSIS:  This story is actually two stories in one.  One is about Ben, whose mother has just died, and finds himself adrift in the world. The other, told mostly in pictures, is about Rose, living decades previously, who is a Deaf girl in an unaccommodating world.  Their stories converge in a surprising way.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Like The Invention of Hugo Cabret, this story is great for reluctant readers because it is interspersed with many pictures, a book that straddles the line between picture book and chapter book.  However, the subject matter is slightly more mature, and more dramatic, so I would recommend it for slightly older readers.

RATING:  PG for Subject Matter

AUDIENCE:  Pre-teens and Teens

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Dave at Night

Virals by Kathy Reichs

SYNOPSIS:  Tori Brennan, niece of Temperance Brennan, lives on an island owned by a university, which studies wildlife.  She and her friends stumble into the middle of an experiment on a wolf-pup, and end up catching a human version of a disease that affects only dogs.  The disease ends up having some strange and supernatural side effects.  As Tori and her friends get swept up in a mystery, their side effects come in handy.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book was exciting and had just the right mix of girl power and adventure.  However, there was some pretty strong language in it, so I would only recommend it to older readers.

RATING:  PG13 for Violence and Language

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Maximum Ride, I Am Number Four

Click Here to see the critique of the next book in the series.