Beauty by Robin McKinley

SYNOPSIS:  "Beauty," as she is called, is taken as ransom for her father's life to a castle to live with a hideous beast.  His life depends on her falling in love with him, but she can't bring herself to do so.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Robin McKinley is an award-winning author, and this book is excellent.  I don't think I've ever heard of a girl not loving it.  It's well-told and fanciful.  I would definitely recommend this to any teenage girl.

RATING:  PG

AUDIENCE:  Pre-teens, Teens, and Young Adults

STARS:  5

OTHER BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Ella Enchanted, Princess Academy

Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine

SYNOPSIS:  Dave Caros is taken to live at the Hebrew Home for Boys, after he is orphaned, and no one else in the family can be troubled by him.  He discovers a whole new world in Harlem, and learns what it means to be a friend.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I thought this was a good, easy read.  It is quite different from other Gail Carson Levine books, but I think it would still entertain young readers.

RATING:  PG

AUDIENCE:  Children and Pre-teens

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Holes, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

SYNOPSIS:  Kezi lives in ancient Mesopotamia.  She catches the attention of Olus, the god of wind.  They must complete difficult quests in order to be together.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I have read several books by Gail Carson Levine, and I think they would be great reading for pre-teen girls.  All are told in fairy tale fashion, and are easy-to-read.

RATING:  PG

AUDIENCE:  Pre-teens

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Beauty, Palace of Mirrors

Beka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce

SYNOPSIS:  Beka Cooper is a "dog," or keeper of the piece in an ancient town.  She is tenacious and tough, and doesn't give up, even in the face of adversity.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I did like two of the books in this series, although I wouldn't recommend the second because of sensuality.  The first book, and the third, however, were enjoyable.  They also had some sensuality, though, so I would reserve them for older readers.

RATING:  PG13 for Sensuality

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Wild Magic, Eon

Alanna series by Tamora Pierce

SYNOPSIS:  Alanna takes her brother's place as a squire, so that someday she can become a knight.  To do so, she must keep her gender a secret.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I have critiqued another series by Tamora Pierce, but I didn't enjoy this one as much.  I didn't think the writing was as good, and there was quite a bit of sensuality in the books.   I don't think I would recommend this series.

RATING:  PG13 for sensuality

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Eon, Wild Magic

Juliet by Anne Fortier

SYNOPSIS:  Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety deposit box in Italy, and tries to unravel the mystery of her family history, and especially an ancestress upon whom Juliet of Shakespeare fame is based.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book came as a result of my trying to read more books geared toward adults, rather than young adults.  Although I enjoyed the unraveling mystery at first, and got caught up in the history related in a parallel story, it soon became a little too much like a romance novel for me.  It had a bit of sensuality, and language, if I remember right.  I would be reticent to recommend it.

RATING:  PG13 for sensuality

AUDIENCE:  Adult

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Briar Rose, Night Circus

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

SYNOPSIS:  Nanny works for wealthy New York families, taking care of their children while they live their superficial lives.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I'm not sure what I expected from this book.  I think I knew there was a movie, (which I hadn't seen), and figured the book must be good if there was a movie made after it.  However, although it was clever and easy to read, there was quite a bit of language in the book, and some sensuality.  I wouldn't recommend it.

RATING:  PG13 for Sensuality and Language

AUDIENCE:  Adults

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Princess Diaries, Confessions of a Shopaholic

Entwined by Heather Dixon

SYNOPSIS:  Azalea and her eleven sisters dance in a magical forest all night long.  However, the Keeper has darker motives, and uses them to gain his freedom.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I thought the writing of this book left something to be desired.  However, it is a fun retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," that will satisfy most fairy tale fans.

RATING:  PG

AUDIENCE:  Pre-teens, Teens

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Just Ella, Fairest

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

SYNOPSIS:  Narrated by Death himself, this book focuses mainly on a girl named Liesel Meminger, who seeks refuge with a foster family in Nazi Germany.  During her time there, she learns about love and loss, and what is most important in life.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This is another one of those books with adult subject matter, but which was very touching and thought-provoking.  Although afterward, I couldn't stop crying, I did enjoy the book, and found it very moving.

RATING:  PG13 for Violence, Language, and adult material

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult and Adult

STARS:  4

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Number the Stars, Anne Frank:  The Diary of a Young Girl

Eon and Eona by Alison Goodman

SYNOPSIS:  Eona has been raised as a boy, to try to become a Dragoneye, or dragon master.  As she tries to keep her gender a secret, she finds herself amidst a war for power.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This is another book on my "books to read" list, which means I'm not sure what the source was.  It's a little farther in the realm of fantasy than I generally go.  Also, there were segments in it that were too sensual for me, and also some parts that were violent.  However, someone else might enjoy the series (Eon and Eona).  I would reserve it for older readers.

RATING:  PG13 for sensuality and violence

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult and Adult

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Alanna, Eragon

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

SYNOPSIS:  Skeeter, a white young woman living in Mississippi, wants to write a book, and decides to base it on "The Help," or the African-American women who serve as maids, housekeepers, cooks, and nannies for the wealthy white women in the area.  She finally talks Aibileen into helping her, and they enlist her friend Minny, also.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book is definitely an adult book.  It has scenes with some sensuality, and is full of adult topics, including racism, and abortion.  However, it is poignant and touching.  I'm undecided about whether or not to recommend this book, because there is a scene in it where a man exposes himself, which is very descriptive.  However, all in all, I did enjoy it.

RATING:  PG13 for sensuality and adult material

AUDIENCE:  Adult

STARS:  4

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Book Thief, To Kill a Mockingbird

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

SYNOPSIS:  Gemma Doyle is sent to a boarding school in England after the death of her mother.  She makes friends and has visions which lead her to start a secret group.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I'm not sure where I first heard about this book, but it wasn't really my style.  It was dark and in some parts sensual, and it was a little too supernatural for me.

RATING:  PG13 for Sensuality, and disturbing sequences

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Artemis Fowl, A Series of Unfortunate Events