Champion by Marie Lu

SYNOPSIS:  The Legend Trilogy concludes as June and Day find themselves thrown together after eight months spent on opposite sides of the Republic.  Their goal is still the same:  to save the Republic and the people who live in it.  However, with their troubled history, and the almost insurmountable odds, they are unsure if they can find a way to be happy together.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I was not a fan of the first half of this book for many reasons.  It was dark, hopeless, and depressing.  There was stronger sensuality in this book than the others in the trilogy, including both a bedroom scene, and a homosexual kissing scene.  By the time I was halfway through it, I was looking forward to being rid of it.  For those reasons alone, I wouldn't recommend the book.  However, the last half of the book was exciting, and the ending was satisfying.  Since I don't believe it's possible to read just the last half of the book, I'd recommend skipping it and looking up the ending on Wikipedia.

AUDIENCE: Young Adult

RATING:  PG13 for Violence, and Strong Sensuality

STARS:  1

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  I Am Number Four, Divergent

Dark Star by Bethany Frenette

SYNOPSIS:  Audrey has always know her mom is different.  After all, she is a superhero.  However, she wasn't completely informed on whom (or what) her mother was fighting every night.  When girls in her town begin to disappear, and Audrey herself has a frightening run-in in an alley, she is thrown into a world she never knew existed.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I had a different mental image of what this book was going to be, and just like the title says, it was quite a bit darker than I imagined.  Also, there was a bit of theoretical imagery, which I personally am not a fan of.  However, I think it would be an entertaining read for mature readers who enjoy dark fantasy thrillers.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult

RATING:  PG13 for Violence, Language, and Disturbing Imagery

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, I Am Number Four

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

SYNOPSIS:  Flavia has just had a shock.  Her mother has been found.  In so many ways, this news changes everything around her.  However, she will not rest until she solves all the mysteries surrounding this new development.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I don't think it is a mystery that I am a huge Flavia de Luce fan.  (Pun not intended.)  The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is one of my all-time favorite books.  However, I did feel a bit let down with this latest installment of the series.  I loved the Sherlock Holmes mysteriousness of the previous books.  This book was more in the direction of The 39 Clues.  There was also more grotesque violence in this book than in its predecessors.  That being said, however, I thought it was very well written, and I still enjoyed it quite a lot.

AUDIENCE:  Adults and Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Violence

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Agency, Cahills vs. Vespers

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

SYNOPSIS:  When Colton's appendix burst, he spends several days on the brink of death.  However, more than just his recovery proves to be miraculous, when he begins telling stories of his stay in Heaven.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book was an interesting and heart-wrenching read.  It was quite short, and as a parent, I was caught up in the author's painful story of his son's illness.  Regardless of personal beliefs, I think the son's account of the afterlife was quite interesting.

RATING:  PG for Adult Topics

AUDIENCE:  Adults

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Vow

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

SYNOPSIS:  Cammie feels like there is a target on her back, after she finds out the truth about a series of attacks.  However, when her favorite teacher is accused of being an enemy, she feels she must find out the truth, even if it means throwing herself into danger.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Each of the books in this series is a bit more mature than the last, and this book fit the pattern.  However, even with more betrayal and consequences, the book still keeps questionable content to a minimum.  Although it does have some violence and very mild sexual references, I think it would be a fun adventure for teens.

AUDIENCE:  Teens

RATING:  PG with some Violence

STARS:  2 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Evil Genius, Airhead

Genius Wars by Catherine Jinks

SYNOPSIS:  Cadel's life is finally normal.  Prosper is still on the run, but Cadel has been keeping himself away from the investigation.  He feels he has an unspoken agreement with Prosper to stay out of each others' business.  When Sonja is severely injured, however, Cadel realizes it's still not over.  As those he loves become the targets of attacks, he decides to find Prosper himself.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I like this series, because it has adventure and mystery, and is intelligently-written.  However, it does have some violence, as well as quite a bit of language and crude jokes.  I would recommend it for mature readers.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Language and Violence

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Artemis Fowl, Virals

Die for Me Series by Amy Plum

SYNOPSIS:  Kate is still reeling from her parent's tragic accident when she moves to Paris to live with her grandparents.  When she meets Vincent, she feels like she has found something to live for.  However, when she discovers that he is not quite human, her world is turned upside-down once again.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Reading this book felt a little like reading an amateur version of Twilight.  I'm getting kind of bored with remakes.  However, for die-hard fans, it may be a good enough imitation to pass muster.  As far as content goes, there were some brief scenes of sensuality, albeit mild, in the first book, and some strong sensuality and sexual references in the second.  There was also quite a bit of graphic violence.  I would reserve it only for mature readers.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adult

RATING:  PG13 for Mild Sensuality and Strong Violence

STARS:  1 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Shiver, Fallen

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

SYNOPSIS:  Cammie and the other Gallagher Girls are back, this time facing a bigger threat than ever.  While helping her father's campaign for Vice President, Macey is attacked, with Cammie by her side.   Cammie and her friends are determined to protect her, through all the twists and turns, and no matter how deadly the consequences.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Although I'm not a huge fan of the colloquial dialogue in this series, I can see it being fun and entertaining to teenage readers.  However, this book has more violence and danger than the others in the series, so I would caution younger readers against it.

AUDIENCE:  Teens

RATING:  PG with Violence

STARS:  1 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Princess Diaries, The Agency

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

SYNOPSIS:  Tris's story continues in this conclusion to the Divergent Series.  The story picks up right where it left off, with the reveal of Edith Prior's message.  Tris decides to get out of the compound, no matter what it takes.  What she finds there, however, turns her life upside down.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Frankly, this book was a bit of a let-down for me.  I was expecting more from it, and it felt like it fell short, in my opinion.  As far as content goes, there is some more sensuality, violence and language again in this book.  I'm tempted to recommend skipping this book and the rest of the series.  At the very least, I would only recommend it to older readers due to the content.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Sensuality, Language, and Violence

STARS:  1 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Birthmarked, Partials

Genius Squad by Catherine Jinks

SYNOPSIS:  Cadel's troubles are far from over, even with Prosper English in jail, and the Axis Institute disbanded.  He is placed in a foster home with a budding criminal, and a spoiled brat, and has only very limited access to a computer, or to his best friend Sonja.  Although his social worker and the detective assigned to his case mean well, they can't stop underestimating Prosper English, and Cadel doesn't feel safe.  When a couple of adults approach Sonja and Cadel in hopes of getting them to join their "Genius Squad" in order to take down GenoME, Cadel leaps at a chance to change his dismal life.  However, he soon begins to wonder if it is a change for the better, or a change for the worse.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Although the book can be a bit dry in places, and definitely has some language content issues, for the most part, I thought this book was an exciting, worthwhile read.  I would only recommend it to older readers, however, due to the language and some crude references.

AUDIENCE:  Teens and Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Language and Crude References

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Artemis Fowl, The 39 Clues

Jinx by Meg Cabot

SYNOPSIS:  Jean has always been unlucky, so unlucky, in fact, her family all call her "Jinx."  So she's not surprised at all when she has to move in with her uncle and aunt to escape a troubled past in Iowa.  While in New York, however, she realizes things aren't always as they seem, and her bad luck may actually be something good in disguise.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I checked this out on audiobook because I thought the plot might have potential.  However, it was pretty typical Cabot, in that there was a simplistic, predictable storyline, with colloquial storytelling, and some crude jokes and sexual references.  There was also some language, and references to drug use, and occult practices.  I don't think I'd recommend this one.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Sexual References, Language, and Drug References

STARS:  1

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Airhead, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You