Revived by Cat Patrick

SYNOPSIS:  Daisy knows more about death than most people.  She's experienced it first-hand several times.  However, because she is part of a government study for a new drug called Revive, she is able to come back from death and continue her life, starting in a new location every time.  However, when she makes an effort to make friends, she finds it more difficult to live the life she has always known.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This was a fun adventure, although a bit dark and dramatic for my taste.  There was also a bit of sensuality, however, so I would recommend it more for older readers.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Sensuality

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Maximum Ride, I Am Number Four

United We Spy by Ally Carter

SYNOPSIS:  The Gallagher Girls series concludes as Cammie's mother and friends search for the few remaining Circle leaders before Catherine kills them off.  They are always one step behind, however, and wonder how they can come out of the battle alive.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book was more violent and serious than the rest of the series, but I still thought it was a fun adventure story, and a satisfying conclusion.  I would recommend it to more mature teens who can handle the serious story line and violent imagery.

AUDIENCE:  Older Teens and Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Violence

STARS:  2 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Cahills vs. Vespers, Maximum Ride

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

SYNOPSIS:  Isabel is finally free.  Her mistress has died, and Isabel herself saw the will that included a provision to free her mistresses' slaves after her death.  Unfortunately, this is not what happens.  Isabel and her sister, who suffers from a disability which causes her to have seizures, are sold to a cruel couple from New York.  Isabel must find a way to protect her sister, and find the freedom she deserves.  Her quest places her in the path of British and Patriot soldiers, both of which seek to use her to further their own ends.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  As you might expect in a book about slavery, this book is very sad and somewhat disturbing.  There is quite a bit of violence, as well as graphic and disturbing imagery, and brief and mild sexual reference.  I would only recommend it to mature readers for those reasons.  However, it was an eye-opening and historic portrayal of life as a slave during the Revolutionary War.  For readers who can handle the subject mater and material, I would recommend it.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Subject Matter and Graphic and Disturbing Imagery

STARS:  2 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Between Shades of Gray, The Mighty Miss Malone

Content Alert, Part II

I had a streak of bad luck with books again.  This usually happens when I run out of books or audiobooks, and have to take what is readily available.  In these cases, I don't usually end up being impressed, although I have been occasionally pleasantly surprised.

Like I have said, I am not a proponent of censoring.  Although I didn't personally agree with the content in the following books, I'm sure many disagree with me.  For my personal taste, which is admittedly conservative, I didn't enjoy these books, and put them down before finishing them.  However, I encourage everyone to make their own decisions.  Here are some books that, because of content, I decided not to finish:

  1.  The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

WHY?  I read this book a long time ago, but I still remember the strong sensuality, even in the first few chapters.  It was enough to cause me to quit reading it.

  2.  Numbers by Rachel Ward

WHY?  This book had potential.  It's about a girl who knows a person's death date just by looking at him. However, there was quite a bit of strong language.  I couldn't stomach it after a while, and put it down.

  3.  Liar by Justine Larbalestier

WHY?  I have a limit to how many times I can hear the F-word before I put a book down, but even though this book used strong language, I still stuck with it, because the storytelling was fluid and interesting, and I wanted to find out what would happen. There was some reference to body maturation, and some sexual references and sensuality.  There was also a scene of homosexual sensuality, so I didn't end up finishing the book.

  4.  Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin

WHY?  I knew they were making a movie based on this book, and wanted to try reading it.  However, there were several sexual references in this book, as well as some offensive language.  In addition, a few chapters in, there was a scene of strong sensuality (including homosexuality), so I gave up on it.

  5.  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time  by Mark Haddon.

WHY?  I was enjoying this book at first.  The writing was great, and the story was interesting.  However, it passed my threshold for strong language, so I didn't end up finishing it in the end.

  6.  Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

WHY?  I was intrigued by the previews for the movie, and hoped the book would be cleaner than the movie (based on its R rating).  However, there was quite a bit of strong language, violence, and sexual reference, and I gave up on it.

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

SYNOPSIS:  It's been two years since Mary's accident.  She has all but finished up at Oxford, and she will soon be in charge of her own affairs (and fortune).  When a friend asks her for help, however, she finds she can't turn her down.  While trying to get to the bottom of a mysterious church sect's popularity, she will be forced to question her religious beliefs, as well as define her relationship with Holmes.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and the second was also quite entertaining.  However, there are more sexual references in this installment (including a discussion of homosexuality), as well as a bit of sensuality.  There is also some language and violence.  I didn't enjoy the book enough to recommend it, especially to younger readers.

AUDIENCE:  Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Sexual References, Sensuality, and Violence

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Agency

Abandon Series by Meg Cabot

SYNOPSIS:  Pierce Olivera has never been the same since the day she almost died.  Everyone thinks it is because of the stress of her brush with death.  Really, it is because she met someone in the afterlife who won't let her go.  When she moves to her mom's hometown to try to get a new start, she realizes she can't run away from her problems.  They follow her wherever she goes.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I have read enough Meg Cabot to know what to expect.  The writing's not the best, and there's usually some crude jokes thrown in.  Sometimes, however, you take what is available.  This book was a little darker and more exciting that other Cabot books I've read.  There still were some sexual references and offensive language, however, as well as some strong sensuality in the second book.  There was also some dark imagery.  I would only recommend it to older readers, for those reasons.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Sexual References

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Kane Chronicles, Shiver

Tandem by Anna Jarzab

SYNOPSIS:  Sasha's life was forever changed the day her parents were killed in an accident.  By the time she is in high school, however, she has moved on and learned to live without them.  When she is kidnapped and taken to parallel universe, however, her world is changed once again.  She must decide whether to go along with her kidnappers, and return to her home, or fight against them, and say goodbye to the world she loves forever.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I didn't expect to like this book much, since I wasn't interested in the parallel-universe/theoretical physics discussion.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  The novel focused more on Sasha's story, and kept the science fiction to a minimum.  I really enjoyed this book.  As far as content goes, there was some language and violence, so I would recommend the book to older readers.

AUDIENCE:  Teens

RATING:  PG with Adult Language

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Selection, Dark Star

Rules by Cynthia Lord

SYNOPSIS:  Catherine has always wished her autistic brother was different.  Especially when a new girl moves in next door, who Catherine would like to impress.  When she meets Jason, who can't walk or speak, her views change completely.  She learns things about her brother and others like him that she will never forget.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book was poetic and thought-provoking.  I think it would make an touching and eye-opening read for pre-teens and teens.

AUDIENCE:  Children, Pre-Teens, and Teens

RATING:  G

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Mighty Miss Malone, A Corner of the Universe

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

SYNOPSIS:  Cammie left her school, on a quest to stop endangering the lives of those she loved, and to get more answers.  Months later, that is the last thing she remembers.  She wakes up in a monastery, not sure what has happened to her, or if it is even worth remembering.  As she retraces her steps, she will be put in the path of even more danger.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book kept with the series' trend of getting more and more mature with each book.  It was both more complex and interesting, and also more violent and dark.  I would recommend it for mature readers, since there is more violence and frightening imagery.  However, it is an exciting continuation of the series, and I think older teens would still enjoy it.

AUDIENCE:  Teens (older) and Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Violence

STARS:  2 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Agency, Cahills vs. Vespers