Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie

SYNOPSIS:  Parker Pyne is a retired statistician for the British government.  He puts his knowledge to use by helping people find happiness.  His ad brings many unhappy people to his office, all of whom find exactly what is best for them.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I love Agatha Christie.  However, it may be hard for some, especially younger readers, to get into her mysteries, since they are long and sometimes detailed.  This book may be a good starter for young people.  Instead of one big mystery, it includes several smaller stories, which are long enough to be entertaining, and short enough to keep the reader's attention.  While they don't display Agatha Christie's mystery-writing genius to her full potential, they are still fun to read.

AUDIENCE:  Adults

RATING:  PG with some mild references to male and female escorts, and some racial slurs

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  O. Henry's short stories, The Complete Sherlock Holmes

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

SYNOPSIS:  Gwyneth has always lived in her cousin Charlotte's shadow.  Charlotte is polite, smart, and pretty.  More importantly, she is destined to inherit the family's time travel gene, an honor, and a burden.  When Gwyneth starts having symptoms of time travel, however, everything goes awry.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I really enjoyed this book.  It was fun, exciting, and had just exactly the right amount of romance and adventure.  However, there were some content issues, including some mild sensuality and references to maturation, and some mild language.  I would recommend it to older readers.

AUDIENCE:  Teens and Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for mild Sensuality and Language

STARS:  3 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Agency, Nicola and the Viscount, Confessions of a Shopaholic

Theodore Boone Series: Kid Lawyer, and The Abduction by John Grisham

SYNOPSIS:  Theo Boone is the result of a lawyer mother and a lawyer father, and no siblings.  In other words, he loves everything related to the legal system.  In fact, he considers himself an amateur lawyer, and frequently gives his schoolmates legal advice.  Being involved with the legal scene also means he gets an inside look at a lot of drama and adventure.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  Although I found these books a little dull, I think they would be great for younger readers, especially any who are interested in the judiciary system.  They are not all action and adventure, but there is some detective work going on, which kids should love.  I would recommend them for younger readers.

AUDIENCE:  Preteens and Children

RATING:  PG for Mild Violence

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The 39 Clues, Dave At Night

The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

SYNOPSIS:  Alton Richards has a rich great-uncle.  His family's fondest wish is to become beneficiaries of his will.  So when he needs a cardturner to help him play bridge, Alton is volunteered for the job.  Over time, Alton learns a lot from his great-uncle, not all of it about bridge.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This book was somewhat slow going, due to the fact that it is about a game I know nothing about.  As the story was told, the author had to keep taking "time outs" to explain what he was talking about.  However, he openly admits this at the beginning of the book.  There are also some content issues, including sexual allusions and some language.  However, it is pretty mild.  All in all, I did enjoy this book, and would recommend it to anyone who isn't bothered with the technical explanations along the way.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Mild Sensuality and Language

STARS:  2 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Dave at Night, Wonderstruck

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

SYNOPSIS:  Jenna wakes up from her coma with no memory of her life.  All she knows is what her parents tell her, and what she learns from watching home videos of her life.  Eventually, as memories start to come back to her, she realizes there is more to her story than anyone is telling her.  She has to come to terms with all that her parents have done to her, and for her while she was unconscious.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This story brings up some interesting topics, including innovative medical technology, and a parent's love.  I enjoyed it.  It did have some graphic imagery, and I think there was some language in it, but all in all, it was a good read.

AUDIENCE:  Teens and Young Adults

RATING:  PG with Violence and Language

STARS:  3

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Partials, Wither

The Vow by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter

SYNOPSIS:  This is the true story of a newlywed couple who are involved in a horrible car accident.  Afterward, Kim loses her memory from the recent past, and as a result can't remember anything about her new husband.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I had heard this story, and watched the movie, and wanted to read the book to find out the rest of the story.  I'm glad I did, because the book was widely different from the movie, and I enjoyed it more.  Given the story, it isn't surprising that there is some graphic imagery, which I would recommend only for older readers.  Also, the book has a religious focus in it.  All in all, I would recommend it for older readers.

AUDIENCE:  Adult, Young Adult

RATING:  PG13 for graphic imagery

STARS:  2 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Dear John, The Lucky One

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

SYNOPSIS:  Nick Carraway is caught in the middle of a dramatic love triangle.  His cousin Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, who is also in a relationship with a married woman.  When Daisy's pasts lover, Jay Gatsby meets Nick and asks him to arrange a meeting between Daisy and him, things really begin to get dramatic.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I had read this as a teenager, but had basically forgotten everything about the story.  Frankly, as an adult, I had a hard time with it.  I recognize that it is a classic, and has something to teach, as well as a tragic story to tell.  However, I didn't enjoy reading it for leisure.  There is also quite a bit of content, as could be inferred from the plot summary, including sensuality and unfaithful marriage relationships, alcohol use, and graphic violence.

AUDIENCE:  Adult

RATING:  PG13 for Violence, Sensuality, and Adult Material

STARS:  1

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  The Odyssey, Great Expectations