Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

SYNOPSIS:  Percy Jackson discovers that Greek gods still exist, and that his father is one of them.  He goes to Camp Half-Blood, where he is sent on a quest filled with adventure.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This series seemed a little immature and silly to me, but that is just the grown-up talking.  For pre-teens and teens, I think this book will be really enjoyable and exciting.  There is some violence in it, but it is mostly age-appropriate, and not scary or gory.  The last book, however, is darker and more serious, so I would recommend that one only for teen readers.

RATING:  PG

AUDIENCE:  Books 1-4 Children and Pre-teens, Book 5 Teens

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Harry Potter, Kane Chronicles

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

SYNOPSIS:  Harry Potter discovers that he is a wizard, and that he is a famous one, when he is invited to attend school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  The writing and the story in these books is really unparalleled.  Great for boys or girls, adults and young people.  However, as Harry grows up, his readers do also.  I would recommend the first two books for Children, the third for Pre-teens, and the rest for Teens and Young Adults, because there are some violent scenes, especially in the last book, and also some language.  However, this is probably my favorite series ever, and is very entertaining.

RATING:  Books 1-3 PG, Books 4-7 PG13 for Violence and Language, as well as scary sequences

AUDIENCE:  Books 1-3 Children/Pre-teens, Books 4-7 Teens and Young Adults

STARS:  5

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Charlie Bone, Lightning Thief, Septimus Heap

Matched and Crossed by Ally Condie

SYNOPSIS:  Cassia lives in a future society where too many choices are considered distracting.  Even marriages are arranged based on data about each young adult.  Cassia is matched with her lifelong best friend, but finds herself drawn to another young man she has known all her life, but who is not given the privilege of being matched.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  These books are fun to read.  They prompt some good questions for readers about free will and personal preference.  Sometimes the plot is a little slow going, but I enjoyed the narrative.  I think they would make a good read for a teen or young adult.

RATING:  PG

AUDIENCE:  Teen and Young adult

STARS:  4

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Uglies, The Hunger Games, Divergent

To read about the last book in the trilogy, click here.

Goose Girl Series by Shannon Hale

SYNOPSIS:  Ani, a princess, is sent to marry a prince in a neighboring kingdom.  However, there is a mutiny, and she finds herself lucky to be alive.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I loved and would recommend this series to anyone.  The main character learns to stand up for herself, and to accept herself the way she is.  I liked the message of each book, and thought the special abilities of the characters was fun and entertaining.  However, there is some mild violence, so I would recommend them to older readers.

RATING:  PG for violence, maybe PG13 for some books

AUDIENCE:  Teens

STARS:  4

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Ella Enchanted, Fairest, Princess Academy

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

SYNOPSIS:  Miri lives on Mount Eskel with her father and sister.  When the priests predict the future princess will be from Mount Eskel, all the girls of marrying age are sent to a Princess Academy to learn skills befitting a princess.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I absolutely loved Princess Academy.  It was well-written, with endearing, strong characters, and a great message.  A well-deserved Newbery Honor winner.  The second book was not as good, in my opinion, but readers who loved the first book will find themselves entertained by it as well.

RATING:  PG for some mild violence

AUDIENCE:  Children and Teens

STARS:  5

OTHER BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Ella Enchanted, Beauty, Palace of Mirrors

Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

SYNOPSIS:  The main character, Bella, moves to a small Oregon town to live with her father.  While living there, she meets Edward, a vampire, and falls in love with him.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  These books are wildly popular for a reason.  The stories are engaging, romantic, and exciting.  Girls can relate to Bella, and daydream about her love interest.  However, I don't think the best audience for them is a teenage one.  For one thing, there is quite a bit of sensuality in the books, which gets a bit explicit in the final book.  Also, Bella is obsessed with Edward, which I wouldn't encourage in any healthy relationship, but would actively discourage in a teenager.  I would recommend the first two, but not the whole series, and would only recommend them for older readers.

RATING:  PG13 (Sensuality and Violence)

AUDIENCE:  Young adult

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Maximum Ride, The Host

Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson

SYNOPSIS:  Maximum Ride and her "flock" are genetic experiments that got away.  They all have wings, and some have other superpowers.  The series follows their adventures as they try to save the world.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I really liked the first book, but the series kind of went downhill from there in my opinion.  The quality of the writing wasn't as good, and the story took unbelievable twists and shocking turns.  They were dreamlike in a jarring, unstable way.  Also, there was a lot of violence, and a kind of "kids vs. adults" mentality that I wouldn't really want to encourage.  Also, I had a problem with some of the language.  (I am referring to the use of "OMG" type curses, which I take offense to.)  All in all, though, they were fast-paced and exciting.  I think I could recommend the first three, if not the whole series to a teen looking for a quick and exciting read.

RATING:  PG13

AUDIENCE:  Teen

STARS:  3 1/2

OTHER BOOKS LIKE THIS:  I am Number Four, The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

SYNOPSIS:  In case you have been living under a rock, the Hunger Games trilogy is about Katniss Everdeen, a teen who becomes a tribute in a set of games designed to have only one survivor.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  The first time I read these, I wished I hadn't.  Not only did my house fall to pieces while I read them, all three in three days, but I also felt a little let down by the end.  However, the books were exciting and thrilling to read, and I liked the message of standing up for yourself, and the strong female heroine.  That being said, I would not recommend the books for young readers, as the violence is sometimes disturbingly graphic, and there are other issues that are geared towards older readers.

RATING:  PG13 for violence

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult

STARS:  4

OTHER BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Uglies, Divergent, Matched