Pretties

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Tally Youngblood is finally a pretty. She is everything that she wanted to be. She is popular, has an amazing boyfriend, and she is pretty! Except for that weird feeling she has that something is very wrong.Then someone that is vaguely familiar appears and offers her a way out. Tally now has to decide between everything she always wanted and everything that she has been trying to forget. She must choose quickly because Special Circumstances intends to...investigate. Again a wonderful book and a wonderful addition to the Uglies series.

For Parents: 11+ there is mention of cutting.

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The Immortal Fire

Author: Anne Ursu

Charlotte and Zee know that their lives will never be normal again. They've been to the Underworld and been attacked by Poseidon who didn't really appreciate being beaten by two kids. They know that something big is going to happen when Charlotte is swept away by a Chimera. All they have to save the world is a map and a hint. They must go to Mount Olympus and fight Philonecron again, man that guy does not give up! They must stop him from taking Zeus's throne, but he actually needs help from two unlikely people. Can they stop him? A perfect ending to this trilogy. I must say that it is very hard to find a series where all the books are fabulous. The third and last book in The Cronus Chronicles.

For Parents: 10+

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The Siren Song

Author: Anne Ursu

Ever since they saved the world Charlotte has been grounded for life and Zee is being treated like he might break into a million pieces. No one knows what happened to them and they can't tell. Now Philonecron wants revenge and since he is the grandson of Poseidon he can get some serious help. Charlotte and Zee's lives are about to be disrupted once again and this time they must save, not the world, but Charlotte's parents and themselves. This one is just as funny as the first. Thrilling and suspenseful I could not put it down until I had finished it. This is the second book in The Cronus Chronicles.

For Parents: 10+

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For Parents

I would just like to say that a lot of the book that I have on here are romantic/romantic comedies, so the age limits that I have put on here only refer to appropriateness regarding language, sexual references, and violence. They have nothing do with whether or not your child is ready to read romances. Also some of the other things, for example, 10-year-olds might not find interseting.

Thank You,

Jessica

The Shadow Thieves

Author: Anne Ursu

Charlotte Mielswetzski has never had anything interesting happen to her; until her cousin Zee is sent to live with her and her parents to escape the mysterious "sickness" that is spreading throughout London's children. Then all of Charlotte's friends and schoolmates start getting sick too. Who are the strange men in tuxedos that are following her? And the creepy English teacher that takes mythology a little too seriously? Charlotte and Zee are then swept up into a quest into the not so mythical Underworld. They must defeat the bad guy named Phil and save the entire world, but can two kids hold out against all of the Greek "myths"? Love. This. Book. Of course I am partial to stories about Greek mythology. The first book in The Cronus Chronicles.

For Parents: 12+

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Uglies

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Tally Youngblood was just a normal 15-year-old waiting for her sixteenth birthday and her operation. Then she would cross the river into Prettyville. Until then, she was just a lowly Ugly. The she met Shay and her life was turned upside down. Now she has to choose what is expected of her and the chance of a new and different life. Special Circumstances force her decision though and she is swept up into a whirlwind of lies, chances and deceit. What can she do but go with the flow? This has been one of my most favorite series sine my school librarian suggested it to me. It is the first in the Uglies series.

For Parents: 11+

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Four Seasons

Author: Jane Breskin Zalben

Allegra Katz is a blooming pianist studying at the famous school of music: Julliard. Unfortunately, not everything is what it's cracked up to be. Ally has no time to do anything but schoolwork and piano. She has been playing since she was four, but now all she wants to do is break free but she's never known any other way. With the pressure building, she has to decide what music really means to her, but can she do it? This book is written in four "movements". It sort of takes you through a year in the life of a stressed high schooler. I myself am a pianist so I understand that between piano, school, and, in my case, sports, you really don't have as much time as you might like.

For Parents: 11+

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Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer

Once upon a time, there was a cyborg named Cinder. She had an evil step mother and one evil stepsister. She also had a nice stepsister that was her only human friend. Cinder is the best cyborg mechanic in New Beijing. Because of this, Prince Kai comes to her with something that is more important than he is letting on, and he needs it fixed before the annual ball. Then her sister becomes sick with the fatal plague that has been sweeping Earth for a decade and Cinder is blamed. Her stepmother volunteers her for plague research. It's  supposed to be an "honor" but no one has survived it. There is something odd about her though. She has something that others would kill for. I really liked this book. I found it a refreshing change from the normal. I like that she is a girl that doesn't need a guy to come and save her. I would suggest this to people who do like fairy tales but are bored of the overused stories.

For Parents: 12+

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Princess of Glass

Author: Jessica Day George

Princess Poppy is haunted with the memories of when she had to dance every night as the youngest of the twelve dancing princesses. She is part of the royal exchange program where the heirs of all of the countries switch to create good relationships. Poppy is sent to Breton where she plays cards instead of dancing. Also, where she makes friends with a prince who is also there. Then the maid Eleanora comes and decides that she likes him. Who will the prince choose? And who is Eleanora's 'benefactress' who has been providing her with dresses and jewels? Poppy can see that it has something to do with magic and she is just the person to deal with it. I loved this book! Of course I am a bit of a hopeless romantic so that might have something to do with it. I have read this book several times and that is saying something since I usually don't read a book more than once or twice.

For Parents: 11+

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The Woman Who Rides Like a Man

Author: Tamora Pierce

This is the third book in the Song of the Lioness series. In this book Alanna has just been knighted and she has told everyone that she is in fact a woman. Now she goes out to the Tortall desert to find adventure. She is forced to use her new found knight skills to prevent herself from being killed by the desert dwellers that have captured her. She is inducted into their tribe and becomes their first female shaman. She is changing their custom and some people are very opposed to the idea. She must fight to for all of the tribes and for all of Tortall. I really liked this book and I can't wait to read the next one. I find it interesting to watch as Alanna grows up and becomes her own person.

For Parents: There is some sexual things so I would say 12+ conservatively.

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The Little White Horse

Author: Elizabeth Goudge

When Maria Merryweather's father dies she is sent to live with her uncle, Sir Benjamin, at Moonacre Manor. The place where the house is, Moonacre Vally, holds many beauties, but also an ancient tragedy. Maria must fix what happened and renew the peace so that she can give the valley, and herself, a happy ending. But what can one little girl do? I actually saw the movie first and absolutely loved it so I decided to read the book that it was based on. The book and the movie are completely and I love them for different reasons.

For Parents: For any age.

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Down The Rabbit Hole

Author: Peter Abrahams

Ingrid leaves her soccer cleats at someone's house but she can't get them back because it is now the site of a murder. Slowly she starts to become involved in a mystery that she thought only happened to people like her idol Sherlock Holmes. Ingrid is already in over her head with everything that she is doing Alice in Echo Falls version of Alice in Wonderland, soccer and school. Suddenly, strange things start happening. Her director has a very serious strange accident on stage and the police seem very interested in everything about her. What can Ingrid do? How can she solve a mystery that just seems to be getting thicker by the minute? I loved this book. I do have a soft spot for a good mystery ever since I was young and started reading the Nancy Drew books. For this book I really just could not figure out "who dun it" till Peter Abrahams, the author, gave me the answer.

For Parents: 13+

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Wrapped

Author: Jennifer Bradbury

Agnes Wilkens is a seventeen-year-old girl living in London in 1815. She dreams of having adventures that take her out of the country and all around the world. Then she is thrown headfirst into an adventure that she didn't expect. One that starts with having the first cut into the wrappings of an ancient Egyptian mummy. Why is everyone paranoid about everything being returned that they found in the mummy? Why does she keep the little trinket that she found without anyone noticing? What is so special about it? I liked this book very much. It was interesting and throws you into a world where secrets lie in museums and things go bump in the night.

For Parents: 11+

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is an odd boy. He lives with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. They told him that his parents died in a car crash when he was a baby and that's how he got the lightning shape scar on his forehead. He had no reason to disbelieve them until he starts getting letters that he's not allowed to read and a giant comes and tells him that he is no ordinary boy; he is a wizard. Harry then goes to Hogwarts School of Wichcraft and Wizardry where he meets new friends and learns extrodinary things. He also finds out what really happened to his parents; how they were killed by the dark wizard Voldemort. Harry must face things that will threaten his life and will make several enemies. Will he make it out of his first year at Hogwarts? In this magical book, there are extordinary creatures and magical spells. You will be transported to a different world that you have only dreamed of that exists right under England's nose. I love this book so much. I grew up with the Harry Potter series and am sad that it is over. I have read this book at least fifty times and it still suprises me every time.

For Parents: For the whole family

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Trickster's Girl

Author: Hilari Bell

Kelsa's father just died from a disease that started in the trees and he isn't the only one. Then she meets someone, someone who says that he knows how to stop the sickness from spreading, to stop it all together. He is a very strange boy who claims to be the mythological god, Raven. He wants her to help him save the world before it is too late. This is the first book in a series. The second will come out in March. I found this a very interesting book. I was fascinated with this view to our killing the environment and how two people can help save it. I personally can't wait till the second book comes out so I can see what happens next.

For Parents: 11+

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To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

In the little town of Maycomb, Alabama, a court case changes it from quiet, sleepy to full of energy and hatred. Scout Finch's father has been given the case of a black man raping a white women. Scout and her brother Jem start hearing about it and they start getting nasty looks and words because their father is representing an African American. Will Atticus convince the jury that Tom Robinson is innocent? Or will he be killed like everyone else was in this time period? This is such a fantastic book. It is so well written and it really keeps you interested. I could not put it down. I had to read it for class and I finished it something like three weeks before we had to. It really shows you what went on during this time period. If I had to rate this on a  scale of 1-10 I would give it an 11.

For Parents: It talks about some pretty touchy subjects and it has some violence so I would not recommend it for anyone under the age of 13 or 14. It really depends on the child.

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Twenty Gold Falcons

Author: Amy Gordon

Aiden is forced to move away from their family farm with her mother after her father dies. She still greatly misses her father, misses the farm, and she doesn't fit into her new private school. Then, she is told the story of treasure hidden in in the Ingle Building. She starts to search for the gold falcons and she meets several surprising people, and has one of the most amazing treasure hunts of all time. I loved this book. I really didn't know where the treasure was until they told us at the end. Some of the characters that she meets surprised me greatly. I really would suggest this to anyone who likes a good treasure hunt.

For Parents: 10+

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Seeing Red

Author: Frank Beddor

This is the second book The Looking Glass Wars series. Alyss Heart the ruler of Wonderland has just begun to rule and already there are people that are trying to destroy all the things that are worth imagining. Still even with all of these things going on she trys to dodge away from her new bodyguard, Homburg Molly, so that she can spend some time with Dodge. Now everyone is seeing Alyss' Aunt Her Imperial Viciousness Redd. What should Alyss believe? That Redd has gotten out of the Heart Crystal and resurrected her former army? Because if she hasn't...who has? I didn't like this one as much as the first. It was ok, but if I had to rate it between 1 and 10 I would give it a 7.

For Parents: 11+

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In the Hand of the Goddess

Author: Tamora Pierce

This is the second book in The Song of the Lioness series. Alanna is now a squire and still no one at the palace but Prince Jonathan knows that she is a girl. When Jonathan's life is threatened by a strange sorcerer it will take everything that Alanna has to protect him, even though she might reveal who she is.I did like this book. It was as good as the first one which is rare.

For Parents: 10+

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Reality Check

Author: Peter Abrahams

Cody is the QB of his high school's football team, is dating the smartest, richest, and hottest girl in town, Clea, and might get recruited by Penn State for football. Everything was going great until Cody tore his ACL that ended his high school football career and his ex girlfriend, Clea, is reported missing from the boarding school that she was going to. All he has is the letter the letter that she sent him the day she went missing. With that and a couple of other things, he heads out to find out what happened. While he searches, he uncovers the town's dark secrets, but will he ever find Clea? Or is she gone forever? I thought that this was a very good book. I really could not figure out what was going on till the end.

For Parents: There is one little bit of violence so I would say 11+.

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