Heist Society

Author: Ally Carter

Summary: Been looking for the next female action hero? Here she is – meet Kat, a teen who has been raised in a family of thieves. As much as she wants to escape the life, it just won’t let her go. Now she has to pull off an almost impossible heist with her crew of teenage friends to save her father. Among her crew is Hale, her friend/romantic interest, Gabrielle, her cousin, and Simon, a teen tech whiz.

The really cool thing about this book, in my eyes, was how neatly Carter tied in a little history lesson without sounding preachy or boring. Integrating the story of the art lost during World War II into the novel gave it more depth and believability, and gave Carter an opening for more books about Kat and her quirky family.

Themes:
Family
Courage
Confidence
Doing what is right

Age Appropriateness:
Middle grades and up



Areas of concern (content):

Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence, etc.: mild

The River Between Us

Author: Richard Peck

Summary: Unlike Peck’s other books, such as A Year Down Yonder and The Teacher’s Funeral, this novel is serious in tone. It switches between two time periods, 1916 and 1861. The time switch occurs suddenly without any explanation until the end of the story, which could prove confusing for some. It is rare for a young adult or children's novel to be written as a "framed tale," but this one does so with little awkwardness.

The main story line is about a young girl named Tilly living in Illinois at the beginning of the Civil War. Her family’s routine is changed when they take in two strangers who arrive from the south by steamboat; Delphine and Calinda. Tilly learns about family, prejudice, and standing up for herself through her experiences with these newcomers.

The secondary story line, in which a young boy learns the truth about his family and his heritage, is what encases Tilly's story. It seems almost unneccesary until Peck wraps it all together at the end, making the two stories into one lesson about acceptance and pride in yourself and your family.

This novel tells about an aspect of the Civil War history that most young readers will know little about – the free blacks who lived in New Orleans and how the threat of the war and the changes it could bring affected them. It also gives insight into the fear of being “found out” in the case of those whose skin was light enough to “pass” as white.



Themes:
Prejudice
Family
Pride in yourself

Age Appropriateness:
Grades five and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence, etc.: mild depictions of the aftermath of battles and illness

The Lacemaker and the Princess

Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Summary: Young Isabelle is a lacemaker, like her mother and grandmother.  In the months before the French Revolution, Isabelle's family is struggling financially. Isabelle is sent to the Palace of Versailles to deliver some lace, where she is nearly trampled by a crowd.  The queen, Marie Antoinette, saves her and makes Isabelle her daughter's new companion. Isabelle becomes a friend to the princess, all the while hearing the rising anger against the king and queen.  This novel is a well-written piece of historical fiction that makes the characters seem human and tells about the events of the French Revoltion in a way that makes them real to the reader.  Isabelle is a character that readers can relate to; a young girl who is caught between her family and her friend.

Themes:
Loyalty
Equality
Poverty

Age Appropriateness:
Grades three and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: very, very mild

Bones of Faerie

This book, by Janni Lee Simner, is a fabulous book for fans of fantasy. It is also a great coming-of-age story, morality tale, and fairy tale.

Summary: Set after a war between the worlds of the humans and faeries in which modern conveniences are now stories told by old-timers. Liza has always been taught that magic kills and anything magical must be killed before it can hurt others. So it is when her baby sister is born with faerie looks; Liza's father abandons the baby on a hillside to die, and Liza's mother leaves soon after. Liza's own magical powers begin to assert themselves, causing her to leave her village for fear she will become a danger to those she loves. In the process she finds true friends, her own inner strength, and, yes, her mother.


Themes:
Xenophobia & Prejudice
Family

Age Appropriateness:
Middle grades and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: very mild


Okay, that's it for my first review. If you have suggestions for other categories I should include in my ratings, let me know!

Welcome!

I never thought I'd give in to the blogging craze, but here I am! With the number of young adult and children's books I read and enjoy recommending to others, it only seems natural to expand my reach, and publish my recommendations to the world. Yes, I know that I could just do that on Amazon, but I wanted a place that is mine (don't we all) where all my reviews could be found together.

First, a little about me. I've been teaching for about eight years, and I love getting my students excited about reading. The simplest and best way to do that is to have lots of books available for them to choose from. So, I have shelves and shelves of books in my room. But I am picky/careful. I won't put anything in myclassroom until I have read it myself. I do this for two reasons:
1. I can do a better job of recommending books to my students if I have actually read more than just the back cover.
2. I just don't want to put something in my classroom that my students are not ready for in terms of maturity, content, etc. I want my students and their parents to feel safe choosing books from my shelves. For me, it isn't about censorship, as many of the books I have and love will challenge students to think in different ways and from different perspectives than they are used to. It is simply a matter of what is appropriate for me, as a teacher, to give them access to. Some things are the domain of the parents. Books that I feel are questionable but have value to them I put in a special area that requires a parent note giving the student permission to read the specifi book.

Now I think I have babbled enough. I look forward to sharing my reviews of childrens and young adult lit with the world!