Wake by Amanda Hocking

SYNOPSIS:  Sisters Gemma and Hadley find their lives turned upside down when the beautiful, fearsome girls from town take a sudden interest in Gemma.  When her behavior begins to be erratic, Hadley tries desperately to save her from their influence.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I hate to be completely negative about a book.  I guess I can say that this book is dark.  Some people like that, I think.  As for myself, I was not a fan.  I thought the writing was subpar, the storyline was simplistic and a bit juvenile, the characters were moody and dramatic, and the content too graphic.  The book had language content, graphic and disturbing violence and imagery, and sensuality.  My recommendation is to skip the book altogether.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 with Graphic, Disturbing Imagery, Violence, Language, and Sensuality

STARS:  0

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Fathomless, Beastly

Prodigy by Marie Lu

SYNOPSIS:  This sequel to Legend picks up where the first book left off.  As Day and June look for Tess and try to get help for Eden, they discover a new source of propaganda, and have to once again get to the source to find out what is really true.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Although I liked Legend, I didn't like its sequel quite as much.  I just felt like the second book was a bit darker, and a bit more hopeless.  However, it did have page-turning action, and intelligent characters, so I'm sure fans of the first book will not feel they have wasted their time in continuing with the series.  As far as content goes, there is violence again, and language.  Also, there is a bit more sensuality in the sequel, including some references to a homosexual relationship.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Violence, Sensuality, and Language

STARS:  1 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Hunger Games, Divergent