Linked by Imogen Howson

SYNOPSIS:  Elissa has been having horrible dreams since she became a teenager.  During these dreams, she feels like she is being tortured.  She wakes up with bruises and other injuries.  Because of the dreams, she becomes alienated by her friends and others who think she is a spoiled teenager trying to get attention.  So when a new doctor offers the opportunity for her to have a surgery which will cure her of the dreams, she leaps at the chance.  However, as the time before the surgery grows nearer, she begins to question if it is really a good idea.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This was an exciting and interesting adventure story.  I definitely enjoyed it.  However, because of some brief references to maturation, as well as some disturbing imagery, I would recommend it only for older readers.

AUDIENCE:  Teens and Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Disturbing Imagery and some mature references

STARS:  2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Tandem, Delirium

Variant by Robison Wells

SYNOPSIS:  Benson's life as a foster child has not been ideal.  So when he is accepted at a private boarding school, he jumps at the chance to make a new start.  However, when he arrives at the school, he is told that things are not all that he expected.  There are no adults at the school, and no one is ever allowed out.  From that moment on, his only objective is escape, by any means necessary.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  I don't often critique books geared towards boys, so hopefully this book will offer some variety to my usual reviews.  I didn't particularly enjoy this book, mostly because of the graphic violence.  However, it was action-packed, and darkly mysterious, so I could see older readers enjoying it.  I would only recommend it to older readers due to the aforementioned violence and some language.

AUDIENCE:  Young Adults

RATING:  PG13 for Violence and Language

STARS:  1 1/2

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Maze Runner, Thirteen Days to Midnight

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

SYNOPSIS:  Lucinda's life has been miserable since her parents died.  She spends her days scrubbing the house and goldsmith shop for her cruel and begrudging aunt, and her timid uncle.  However, everything changes the day the Amaranth Witch comes into their shop.  Through a crazy sequence of events, Lucinda finds herself on the adventure of her life.

AUNT SHARON'S TAKE:  This was a fun adventure story.  The writing wasn't amazing, but the story was sweet and entertaining.  I think teens who are fans of fairy tale remakes would enjoy this, as it seemed to echo of the Cinderella story quite a bit.  There is some mild violence, but otherwise, there is very little offensive content.

AUDIENCE:  Teens

RATING:  PG

BOOKS LIKE THIS:  Bella at Midnight, Entwined

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.