Wings by E. D. Baker

SYNOPSIS:  Tamisin isn't like other girls her age.  She has pointed ears, her freckles sparkle, and she sprouts wings.  Things become even more complicated as she tries to find out who she is . . . or WHAT she is.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I found the writing in this book to be a little choppy and unpolished, which made it hard for me to get through.  On the other hand, I think the book is intended for younger readers, so they may have more patience with the storytelling style than I would.  As far as content goes, this book had some violence, which I thought was a little gruesome.  It also had some frightening characters that might scare off younger readers.

RATING:  PG or PG13 for Violence and Frightening Sequences

AUDIENCE:  Teens

STARS:  1

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Small Persons With Wings, Artemis Fowl

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

SYNOPSIS:  Sydney's job is to make sure humans don't find out about vampires.  So when she finds herself sent to a boarding school to protect an endangered vampire from her own kind, she realizes she has her hands full.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I didn't realize when I checked this out, but it is actually a spin-off of another series.  Fortunately, it works all right as a stand-alone.  I was doing all right with this book until about halfway through when it started to get a little gruesome for me.  Personally, I'm not a huge fan of reading about vampires drinking blood, and there is quite a bit of that in this book, especially toward the end.  I also thought the plot like was somewhat unoriginal (another Twilight copycat), so I didn't end up being a fan of the book.  I wouldn't really recommend it, especially for younger audiences.  As far as content goes, there was some violence and horror sequences.  There was also some bad language in it.  There was a little bit of sensuality in it as well, although it was pretty minimal.

RATING:  PG13 for Violence, Scary Sequences, and Language

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Twilight, Fallen

Content Alert

Lately, mostly due to the bad weather, and cold and flu season, I've been using the digital library to get my reading fix, instead of checking out paper-bound books at the library.  Unfortunately, for the most part I've struck out, starting books that I didn't end up finishing.  Usually, the problem was content that I felt uncomfortable with.  As I've said, I think everyone should make their own choices of which books to read, but I wanted to list the books that I tried and didn't end up liking, for anyone who would appreciate the warning.

1.  Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

WHY?  There is segment involving a stripper that I could see, even skimming, was pretty darn descriptive.

2.  1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

WHY?  A disturbing and Sensual scene

3.  Paris Wife by Paula McLain

WHY?  Another Sensual scene

4.  Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

WHY?  I previously critiqued this series and didn't think it was too bad.  However, as sometimes happens, each book got progressively more sensual and violent.  I also thought it was overly dramatic.  Also, in some sections, there was content that would offend religious readers.

5.  Traveling Pants Series by Ann Brashares

WHY?  After the first book, there was more sensuality, and some language as well.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

SYNOPSIS:  Dr. John Watson chronicles the adventures of his roommate-turned-friend Sherlock Holmes, as he solves "unsolvable" mysteries and gets to the bottom of puzzling crimes.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  There are many, many works in this volume, spanning decades of the author's life.  As a result, I got the feeling at times that the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was tired of writing about Sherlock Holmes, and put less thought and effort into some stories than others.  Also, some of his viewpoints, although widely accepted at the time, are controversial, and even offensive today.  For example, his treatment of Mormons in A Study in Scarlet, and his racial slurs and opinions evidenced in several of his works, could definitely cause offense.  However, even avoiding these stories, there are still plenty of entertaining and puzzling mysteries to choose from.  The mysteries, at least, are just as intriguing today as they were in Doyle's time.  As far as content goes, there is the bigoted content, as well as plenty of violence (as in any mystery), so I would recommend this for older readers.

RATING:  PG13 for Violence and some controversial/offensive viewpoints

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults and Adults

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  And Then There Were None, O. Henry's Short Stories

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

SYNOPSIS:  The Heroes of Olympus series continues with this installment, picking up their story as a select few of the demigods unite to continue their quest.

AUNTIE SHARON RECOMMENDS:  If you liked the first two of the series, you will like the latest in the series.  However, I did wish there had been more teamwork and collaboration from the characters.  It seemed like for most of the book, they took turns having adventures, as though there were too many characters, and the author couldn't find use for all of them.

RATING:  PG for Fantasy Violence

AUDIENCE:  Teens and Young Adults

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Kane Chronicles, Nobody's Princess

Reached by Ally Condie

SYNOPSIS:  Cassia (See Matched) continues to assist the Rising, while hoping to be reunited with Ky.  When the population is infected with a horrible plague, it is up to she and Xander to try to discover a cure, and save their loved ones.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I thought this series was poetic and well-written.  It's an entertaining, thought-provoking story, and the final installment didn't disappoint.  As far as content goes, there isn't anything surprising or offensive, although the plague has some gruesome side-effects.

RATING:  PG

AUDIENCE:  Teens and Young Adults

STARS:  4

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Selection, Uglies, The Hunger Games

My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

SYNOPSIS:  After her questionable success (See My Fair Godmother), Chrysanthemum Everstar is again assigned to be a Godmother, this time to Tansy Miller, who finds herself living with her father and stepmother after her mother and sister find fortune in the world of fame.  As in her last adventure, Chrysanthemum finds herself making things worse instead of better.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I liked this book better than the first.  The storytelling is entertaining and fun, although parts of the plot seemed to be a little unrealistic, even within the genre of fantasy.  The content is audience age-appropriate, and I would recommend it as a fun, sweet read.

RATING:  PG for subject matter, including teenage rebellion

AUDIENCE:  Pre-Teens and Teens

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Small Persons With Wings, Artemis Fowl

Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner

SYNOPSIS:  We all know the story of Helen of Troy, but what happened before she grew up and sparked the Trojan War?  This story is about the childhood and adolescence of the famous queen.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I wasn't a huge fan of this book.  I didn't like the writing style, and thought the character was irritating and self-centered.  Also, the story ended abruptly, right when it started to get interesting, so I'm not sure a prequel to Helen's story was really in order.  However, the author had an obvious understanding of the period and mythology.   When I continued reading at the end, I found out that the she had been the recipient of several awards, so others may not share my negative opinion.  As far as content goes, there was some strong violence, as you might expect in a book based on Greek mythology.

RATING:  PG13 for Violence

AUDIENCE:  Teens

STARS:  1 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Illiad, Princess of the Midnight Ball, Entwined