The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

SYNOPSIS:  Four friends find themselves going their separate ways one summer, and decide to share a pair of jeans, sending it back and forth, so that they can stay together while apart.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I'm a little undecided on whether I would recommend this or not.  There is some good writing in this book, as well as four likable characters.  Each has their own unique perspective, which is a fun way to read a book.  However, there is some sensuality in the book, and although the character in the book regrets her promiscuous actions later, I would still only recommend the book for older readers.

RATING:  PG13 for Sensuality and Language

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  3 Willows, Along For the Ride

To read a brief update about future books in the series, click here.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

SYNOPSIS:  Tessa Gray goes to England to find her brother.  However, she finds much more than she bargained for.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I read this book before City of Bones, not realizing it was a spin-off of the series, and found myself a little lost.  Then I read City of Bones, and didn't like it at all.  This book was a little better, but not much.  It still had quite a bit of violence, and some sensuality.  I would be reluctant to recommend this book, also.

RATING:  PG13 for Sensuality and Violence

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Twilight, City of Bones

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

SYNOPSIS:  Clary Fray finds she can see supernatural things that others can't.  Her mother disappears, and she tries to unravel the mystery of her life with the help of teenagers known as "Shadowhunters."

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  These books are very popular, but I myself was not a fan.  I wasn't even interested enough to read the next book in the series.  Also, there is a quite a bit of sensuality, and a lot of violence.  I wouldn't recommend them, although, as I said, others seem to like them.

RATING:  PG13 for Sensuality and Violence

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult

STARS:  2 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Twilight, Maximum Ride

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

SYNOPSIS:  Hugo Cabret is on his own.  He is an orphan, and was taken in by his uncle, who cares for the clocks at a train station in Paris.  When his uncle disappears, Hugo takes on his chores, trying to keep his situation a secret.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  You may wonder why this thick chapter book has won the Caldecott Medal.  The answer is that it is a story told with words and pictures.  I would definitely recommend this book to a reluctant reader, because the pages fly by, with text interspersed with artistic charcoal illustrations and photographs.

RATING:  G

AUDIENCE:  Children, Pre-teens, and Teens

STARS:  4

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Polar Express, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie By Alan Bradley

SYNOPSIS:  Flavia De Luce is too smart for her own good.  At eleven-years-old, there is a murder at her home, and she is determined to get to the bottom of it herself.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I really loved this book.  It was a fun story, with a lovable protagonist, who has us cheering right from the start.  However, there is a brief reference to a sexual predator, and there is a murder, as well.  Also, anyone who reads this book will want their dictionary handy, because there is a lot of advanced vocabulary in it.  I would recommend it more for young adults and adults, but a mature teen could handle it as well.

RATING:  PG with violence and some adult issues

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults and Adults

STARS:  4

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Nancy Drew, And Then There Were None

To see a review of the next book in this series, click here.

A Posse of Princesses by Sherwood Smith

SYNOPSIS:  Rhis is a princess, who is invited to a party for the Prince of Vesarja, along with many other princesses, to socialize.  One princess is kidnapped, so Rhis organizes a rescue mission to save her.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I thought this book was a little rough, and a little cheesy.  I think it was recommended to me because I liked Shannon Hale's books.  However, although on paper they look similar, the writing style in this book was inferior, in my opinion.  However, it would make a fun read for girls who enjoy stories about princesses.

RATING:  PG

AUDIENCE:  Pre-teens, Teens

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Just Ella, Palace of Mirrors

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

SYNOPSIS:  Artemis Fowl is a spoiled rich boy, who has gone bad.  His current objective is to discover what he can about the Fairy world, and blackmail them to get their gold.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I wasn't a big fan of this, but I think it just wasn't my style.  If I remember right, there was some language, as well as some bathroom humor in it.  Also, there is a character that smokes a cigar.  However, I think that for boys, especially, it makes a fun combination of modern-day technology with ancient fairy tales.

RATING:  PG with Violence and rude humor

AUDIENCE:  Teens

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Percy Jackson, Fablehaven

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

SYNOPSIS:  It's been years since Elizabeth Bennett married Fitzwilliam Darcy, and they are preparing for an annual ball at their house.  Unfortunately, there is a murder on their estate, and it looks like Wickham is the primary suspect.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book is a little slow, so may be daunting to a reluctant reader.  However, it was a good, clean read, aside from the murder, and the violence that comes with it.  Because of reading difficulty, I would say this is good for adult readers, although it would be a fun read for any other Pride and Prejudice fan.

RATING:  PG with Violence

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults, Adults

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  And Then there were None, Pride and Prejudice

Witch and Wizard Series by James Patterson

SYNOPSIS:  Whit and Wisty discover that they have magical powers.  They discover this as they are forcibly taken from their home by guards from the New Order, whose primary focus is to stamp out anything cultural or supernatural.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I'm sure there are people out there who like these books.  I'm not trying to be mean, but I felt like reading them was a waste of my time.  I'm glad it only took me about 5 minutes to read each book.  The story-line was choppy and unbelievable, and there was some violence and gore which seemed unnecessary to me.  However, they are quite popular, and I'll admit I was somewhat thrown by all the fantasy imagery, so others may like them more than I did.

RATING:  PG13 for violence

AUDIENCE:  Teens and Young Adults

STARS:  1

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, A Wrinkle in Time

Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot

SYNOPSIS:  Mia Thermopolis discovers she is a princess, and heir to the throne in Genovia.  She comes into the spotlight just when she is discovering boys and trying to find her own sense of style.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I checked this book out thinking it would be like the movie, and I was wrong.  I would definitely say the books are for an older audience than the movie.  There is some language in the books (OMG curses, again), as well as casual references to sex, and some sensuality.  I wouldn't recommend these books, because of the content, especially to younger readers.

SYNOPSIS:  Mia is back, now a polished adult.  Well, sort of.  In the midst of a crisis in her country, she tries to plan her perfect wedding, all the while dealing with one surprising turn of events after another.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book is in the same style as the other books of the series, but I'm pretty sure the intent was to grow up with the audience.  Expect even more adult material, and several references to sex and sensuality.

RATING:  PG13 for sensuality

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults and Adults

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Nanny Diaries, Confessions of a Shopaholic