Ratings Explanation

Violence:  There are many instance of fighting with muskets, knives or fists.  Many people die and there is some description of the various ways.  There are many chase scenes.  Brusenna is frequently treated roughly.  She is shot, hit, bound and gagged.  There is a type of war between soldiers and the witches and many people die.  Brusenna almost drowns.

Sexual Content:  A boy taunts a girl and then grabs her breast.  Senna strips naked and applies a potion to her body.  When a girl changes from a seal to a human, she is naked.  A boy jumps on top of her to cover her up.  Someone asks, “oh, you’re ashamed of being naked?”  There are some kisses throughout.

Adult Themes:  There is some severe prejudice against the witches.  They are treated unfairly and ostracized for who they are, even though they do not harm anyone.  Brusenna experiences this in her village as people will not sell to her and she is forced to pay exorbitant prices for everything.  Her mother leaves her to seek out the other witches and Bresenna feels abandoned.

Synopsis

Once upon a time the witch song controlled the world and it’s elements, keeping everything in balance.  Then things started to change and the witches began to disappear.  When Brusenna’s mother, one of the last remaining witches, is also taken captive by an evil traitor witch, Brusenna realizes that she is the last hope for a dying world.  Unfortunately, she is also very young and inexperienced in the ways of the witch.  Her journey is frightening and dangerous but she is not alone.  Her quest brings many loyal and true friends to her cause.  But will that be enough to stop the evil before it grows to strong?  Will Brusenna’s song be enough to save them?

This book was filled with adventure and action.  I enjoyed the interesting take on witches and the beautiful world that was created in my mind.  Brusenna’s own personal journey is heart warming.  She has spent most of her life being treated poorly by everyone around her.  Her self esteem is low.  She feels weak and uneducated.  But through trials and experiences her confidence grows and she begins to realize the extraordinary power that lies within her.  There were many things to like about this book.  This book is labeled for 11 years old and up and while I’m not sure I’d let my 11 year old read it, I’ll be passing this one on to my 14 year old.  She will love this book.

Ratings Explanation

Language:  There are about 10 instances in which God’s name is used casually (for God’s sake, OMG, for example).

Synopsis

More than anything in the world, Matty wants a horse of her own. Growing up in the resort town of Gull’s Nest, she sees the wealthy New Yorkers visit each summer, bringing with them their spoiled children and beautiful horses. When she lands a job at the local riding stables, Matty learns to care for horses and is also allowed to take riding lessons. She loves riding just as much as she knew she would. Matty moves in with her Grandmother for the summer and discovers a very old painting of an enchanting black horse. Matty wishes with every part of herself that this horse could be her very own. She knows it’s impossible, of course, so why does she feel pulled outside in the middle of the night with the horse in mind? And why does it seem like the horse in the painting is trying to communicate with her? And how is there a black horse, that looks exactly like the one in the painting, waiting for her in the meadow by the pond? Matty just might learn that what her Grandmother has always said is true: Be careful what  you wish for.

It is nice to find a book for this age group that is free of sex and violence. I enjoyed the part of the story in which Matty finds some old journals that reveal the history of the horse and painting. If you have a young horse lover, this would be a fun read for them. Thanks to Nancy DiFabbio for providing a copy for review.

Ratings Explanation

Language: There are a few instances of name calling such as brat and “Skunk”.  It is mentioned that a few people curse.

Violence:  “Shadows” attack a man and he dies.  Two bullies with BB guns push Leven around.  Leven manipulates the weather and uses lightening to chase the bullies.  Leven is punched by another boy.  A being in the persona of a tree wreaks havoc on a home and its occupants.  A man threatens Leven with  physical violence.  A snake catches and swallows Leven and Winter.  Clover bites Leven which causes him to fall into a dreamlike state.  “Shadows” attack people in a train station.  Sabine threatens to kill Leven.  A frozen being is shattered into thousands of pieces.

Adult Themes: A storm causes fire, destruction and death.  Leven’s father dies in a car accident one week before he is born, and his mother dies after giving birth to him.  A baby girl is born and not wanted by her mother.  The father left months before she was born.  Babies are switched in the hospital.  Leven is not loved by his Aunt or Uncle and is even forced to sleep on the porch each night.  Likewise, Winter is not loved or treated well by her mother.  Some people  occasionally go missing and end up in Foo, never to return to earth.  Terry goes to a bar.  He has money stashed away for drinking. Geth experiences painful changes.  A few vehicles are stolen by the characters in the story, resulting in a police chase.  There is mention of stolen treasure by some fishermen.  The characters don’t always pay for the things they need.  There is mention of a man smoking a pipe.  At one point, Leven has a vision of his death.

Synopsis

Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps was born into sad circumstances and lives a lonely existence with an uncaring Aunt and Uncle in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But Leven comes to discover who he really is and what he was meant to do with the help of a little creature named Clover, a thirteen-year-old girl who can freeze things named Winter, and an unusual little being named Geth, who happens to be the king of Foo.  Leven never dreamed that his purpose would lead him to the world of Foo, the place of people’s hopes and dreams. He must reach the gateway between earth and Foo before Sabine takes over both worlds and carries out his evil plans.

There are five books in the Leven Thumps series with “Gateway to Foo” being book one.  This story uses quite a bit of imagination and would appeal to children in grades 5 through 8 in particular.  I did appreciate the absence of inappropriate language and sexual content, although the description of the negative people in the story seemed to associate them with being fat, lazy and unattractive, while thin people were kind and beautiful.  The back of the book has a glossary of terms which I would recommend reading first to better understand the world the author has created.  Drawings of some of the characters were included throughout the book as well.  A favorite quote was, “Optimism is our best ally.”  It was good to read about individuals who came to know of their worth and potential and were willing to make the necessary sacrifices for the benefit of others.

Ratings Explanation

Language:  There are a couple of instances of name calling.

Violence:  Elijah is chased by something unknown.  Elijah’s whole family is killed.  Elijah is hit across the face by the chancellor and then hit across his hands with a stick that has thorns on it.  He bleeds.  Someone is trying to whip Samuel.  Samuel mentions that he has been hit before.  Someone almost falls over a ledge but is rescued.  Something is trying to get Elijah.  Samuel is kidnapped and Elijah’s room is thrashed.  A guard is hit and is knocked unconscious.  Hannah is kidnapped and the ropes that bind her hands tear into her skin.  A Maliphist sends lightning and knocks kids off their horse.  One kid is knocked unconscious.  The earth rumbles and breaks apart causing the Maliphists to fall in.  Elijah breaks into a prison, is caught and hit across face.  There is a chase.  The Maliphists and Magi have an encounter using elements to fight each other.  Elijah’s uncle was tortured in prison.

Sexual Content:  A young child is running around naked.

Adult Themes:  Elijah’s family is killed and his Uncle is missing, leaving him alone.  Samuel’s family doesn’t care about him.  Maliphists prey on young boys with problems.

Synopsis

After witnessing his family’s murders, thirteen-year-old Elijah Hawk is left alone, confused and scared.  His instincts saved him, but he couldn’t save his family.  Now he senses someone or something is still after him, someone other than the detective hauling him away to some far-off boarding school.  Through a kind and patient professor, Elijah learns of a new world of people and powers unlike any he has ever known.  The Magi take Elijah in and begin to teach him of their ways.  But, another group of people, the Malaphists, demand that Elijah be theirs and they will stop at nothing to get to him.  When two of Elijah’s friends are taken in place of him, he knows he must do something.  He cannot continue to let people suffer because of him.  But what can one thirteen-year-old kid do?

The Magi was a pleasure to read from beginning to end.  A couple of times I completely forgot I was reviewing because I was so caught up in the book.  There were so many great things to love about this book.  I appreciated the “clean” nature of this book.  There was no swearing or sexual situations that would make me hesitant to pass this book on to my kids.  It was filled with growing relationships of friendship, action and suspense.  Here is my favorite quote from the book.  ”The soul is the fingerprint of the Creator.  Once a soul connects to another soul, they unite and become one.  So if your soul is able to access the soul of an element, you can control that element the same way you would control your own body.”  Cool.  This is a family friendly book for all ages.  My thanks to Kevin Turner for offering this book to me for review.  I’ll be looking forward to the next installment!

Ratings Explanation

Language: Name calling and belittling

Violence: Fighting with fists, brooms and mops.

Adult Situations: Spencer’s father has left their family. Adults lie to children. Garth uses children to help him gain power.

Synopsis

Spencer Zumbro is starting sixth grade at a new school. So far, things aren’t going so great. To make things worse, he keeps falling asleep in class. During one of his little naps, the class bully draws on his face with permanent marker. Spencer runs to the bathroom to clean it off. The only thing he can find is a mysterious bottle of pink soap which burns his face but removes the marker. That is when he first notices the strange creatures roaming the school. The problem is, no one else can see them, except for maybe the janitors, who seem to be chasing them down with their cleaning equipment. Everyone starts to think Spencer is a little crazy. Everyone that is except a mysterious man named Garth Hadley. Garth convinces Spencer to follow him out to his van one day after school, where he promises to explain everything. The van is loaded with all kinds of janitorial supplies, which Garth explains are actually magical. Garth tells Spencer that he is from the BEM, a special division that protects students from evil, magical janitors. Spencer is not quite sure how to take all of this in, but when Garth invites him to help debilitate the evil warlock janitor who reigns in his school, he can’t pass it up. Spencer is given a few magical tools to help him locate the bronze nail and hammer which are the source of the warlock’s power. Spencer decides he needs help and recruits his gullible classmate Daisy. After exposing her to the mysterious soap, Daisy too can see the magical creatures and joins Spencer in his quest to save their school. After unwillingly becoming involved in all kinds of menacing and rule breaking activities to help Garth, Spencer and Daisy are suspended from school and given detention with the dreaded janitors. After a few days working with the ‘evil’ janitors Marv and Walter, they learn the story of the strange creatures from a different perspective. The janitors tell them that it is actually Garth Hadley who is the evil one and they are only trying to protect the school from him. They explain that Garth is actually trying to keep the strange creatures around to drain the smarts out of all the kids. That changes everything. Spencer and Daisy join the janitor team and learn to use a whole new set of magical cleaning supplies. It is now up to them to try and save their school from Garth and his BEM team.

This book has been a huge hit at our school, especially with the upper elementary kids. Who would have thought that cleaning supplies would make such an impact on the literary world? I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot up to the very end which opens up all kinds of possibilities for a sequel. A great book for all ages.

Ratings Explanation

Language: Mostly name calling and belittling.

Violence: Scientific-type experiments on animals and humans, including children. Some die from the effects of the experiment. The elixir gives them super strength, alters their physical appearance, and takes over their minds. Several attempts to kill and several murders committed. Fighting with fists and weapons.

Sexual Content: Modo blushes at the sight of Octavia. He is amazed at how beautiful she is. While climbing down a sewer, Octavia removes her dress exposing her Victorian type underclothing so that she can move around more easily. Modo doesn’t quite know how to handle that.

Adult Content: Modo is born a deformed child and given away. He ends up traveling with a freak show. Children are kidnapped to became part of a huge scientific experiment. Modo tries to find love and acceptance in his strange life. He desires to be part of a family.

Synopsis

Modo was born an ugly, deformed child and was given away to a traveling freak show. He was discovered and purchased while still an infant by Mr. Socrates. The man noticed that Modo had the unusual ability to transform himself. Unbeknownst to Modo, Socrates raised and trained him to become a Secret Agent for the Permanent Association. When Modo turns fourteen, he is given his first assignment in London to discover the purposes of a science society club and its connection with the disappearances of several street children. During his investigation, Modo discovers another secret agent, Octavia Milkweed, who is also working for the Permanent Association. They get more than they bargained for when they stumble across the Clockwork Guild in the depths of London’s sewers. This evil, secret organization has enlisted the help of a mad, brilliant scientist who is able to harness amazing strength from ordinary animals and human beings with his elixir. The Clockwork Guild has plans to use this discovery to destroy the British government. Octavio and Modo scale the roof tops and explore the sewers in an attempt to save their country.

I really liked this book. It was a great mix of adventure and intrigue with a hint of romance. Modo’s character is fascinating. He is an interesting mix of strength, intelligence, adventure and compassion. I’m excited to see how he develops throughout the other books of the series. I also loved the author’s use of the descriptive language. I even learned a few new words. A great read for an adventure and mystery lover.

Violence: There is brief talk about a dragon eating girls. A man mentions that a boy should be “horsewhipped” and a knight cuts off the head of a giant.

Adult Themes: It is mentioned that a character’s parents died when he was young.

Synopsis
John, Susan, Barnaby, Fredericka and Abbie love books and take trips to the library each week to find new treasures. One week, just as they are leaving the library for the day, one of the children reaches for an old, worn book that the librarian tells them is a “seven-day book.” Curious about what that means, the children open the book as soon as they leave the library to start reading it out loud to the group. What they find in the book surprises — they are the characters in the book and are off on their own adventure.

This book was very fun to read. Different lands, creatures and adventures with each chapter. It was a clean and very easy read. It was a great adventure that would be fun for all ages.

Ratings Explanation

Language: About 40 instances of common swear words and about that many additional religious exclamations or references (80 total). Much of the language occurs in conversations between the heroine and her best friend. Laini Taylor has a knack for clever banter between the two friends, but it is often peppered with swearing and profanity.

Violence: Karou fights with Akiva. He cuts her with his sword and she stabs him with a piece of wood. She is attacked by a chimaera. Hand to hand combat between Karou and a man. He shoots at her and she holds  him at gunpoint. Akiva relates the story of  the destruction of a city and the execution of most of its inhabitants, blood runs down the streets. Many are killed in the war between seraphim and chimaera. Some battle scenes. A chimaera is beheaded. An angel is tortured and his blood stains the clothes of the chimaera warlord. The reader “hears” his screams, but there is no description of the actual torture. There is a pain tithe for using magic. Someone has to suffer each time it is used.

Sexual Content: Karou’s boyfriend poses nude for her art class. He drapes himself over a daybed with his knees apart. Her friend refers to his “boy parts”. It is stated that the seraph emperor visited a different concubine each night, “breeding bastards to fight the war.”  Several sensual kisses. Madrigal is “pure” (a virgin) and thinks about sex with Thiago. She wears a very revealing dress and he wonders what is underneath it. Madrigal and Akiva “lay entwined atop their clothes” and he kisses her everywhere. It is understood that they have sex.

Both Karou and Brimstone refer to her loss of virginity. She regrets having given herself to Kaz, who was not true to her. Brimstone counsels her not to put anything unnecessary into her body: chemicals, alcohol, smoke, inessential needles and “no inessential penises, either.”  He continues, “Stop squandering yourself, child. Wait for love.”  Karou regrets her decision to get involved with Kaz and suffers the consequences of embarrassment and an aching heart which resulted from her poor judgement.

While there is not a lot of explicit sexual activity in the book, there is a feeling of sensuality through parts of the story. Characters are longing, aching, kissing and discovering.

Adult Themes: Karou knows that the teeth she collects for Brimstone come with a price. Elephants, birds, wolves, etc have been killed to harvest the teeth. Akiva’s world is at war. “War is all. If they’re not fighting it, they’re providing for it, and living in fear, always. There is no one without loss.” Resurrection by means of magic. Sexual relationships.

Synopsis

“Part of being friends with Karou was resignation to never really knowing her.” But 17-year-old Karou, an art student in Prague, doesn’t really know herself either. And she often has the feeling that she should be doing something else. But what is the something else? Is it connected to her chimaera father, Brimstone, who sends her on errands all over the world to collect teeth from unsavory dealers? And for what purpose does Brimstone need all of the teeth?

On one such errand to Marrakesh, Karou encounters Akiva, an otherworldly, beautiful angel with fire-colored eyes. As soon as she sees him, her brain registers Enemy and her body readies for battle, but she also feels an incredibly strong connection to him. As Karou eventually learns about Akiva and his world, the story of her own life unravels, and she finally finds the answers and the love she has been searching for all her life. The consequences of knowing, however, may be more than she is capable of  dealing with.

Oh wow, this is a well crafted book and there are many things I really liked about it. Laini Taylor has a way with  language and she creates an experience of reality mixed with fantasy that takes the reader seamlessly between the two worlds. I also enjoy the language of conversation and Karou’s dry sense of humor, always deflecting questions about her personal life with levity. I appreciate Brimstone as Karou’s father figure. He is wise, always expecting the best from Karou, and he counsels her well.

The writing is great and the story is really engaging, but there is some content that I am uncomfortable with for the younger end of the young adult spectrum. Of course there are many YA books with FAR more content than Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but if the content is an issue, just be aware.  I would recommend this book for a mature high school student and older.

Some discussion topics could include:

What makes a “monster”? Once you get to know and like someone on the other side of a battle, does that change how you feel about the battle?

Be careful what you wish for. Wishing has an interesting role in this story and Brimstone teaches Karou that real power is in hoping, not wishing. “Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope makes its own magic.”

I LOVE that she worked a Mark Twain quote into a fantasy novel! ” ‘All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.’ Mark Twain, you know. He had a fine mustache. Men of wisdom so often do.” Ignorance and confidence… sounds like a great intro for a conversation with a teenager!

Can hope really cross boundaries, conquer hate, and make its own magic?

Ratings Explanation

Language:  There was occasional use of the words hell and damn along with the “S” and “A” word once or twice.  Diety was referenced twice.  Crude words such as bastard, piss, tit, crap, balls, etc were used a handful of times.  Someone makes an obscene gesture.

Violence:  The majority of violence in the story has to do with the vicious nature of the water horses (capaill uisce).  Men and animals are either injured or killed by the water horse attacks, with some detail given of the injuries and gore.  The riders cut their fingers in a ceremonial ritual prior to the race.  Two men fight, threatening each other with knives.  Someone slashes another person’s leg with a knife.

Sexual Content:  There is a reference to the size of a woman’s “tits”.  There are a couple of crude remarks such as, “Because Dory Maud did Mr. Davidge” and “The private parts of Dory Maude’s invisible lovers”.  Both remarks were made in jest.  An insult is made, “Is she a better ride than you’re used to?”  There are a couple of kisses between Sean and Puck (Kate).

Adult Themes: A boy witnesses his father’s death by a water horse.  Three siblings lose their parents in an accident while boating.  There is some detail described as to the purpose of a butcher shop.  There are a few instances in which people are smoking and drinking beer.  Someone becomes drunk.  Riders risk their lives in the Scorpio Races.

Synopsis

Spectators are drawn to the Island of Thisby every year for the Scorpio Races when men risk their lives riding the menacing water horses (capaill uisce) which come ashore every autumn.  Some riders live.  Others die.  Sean Kendrick is a four time winner and well known for his expertise with the capaill uisce.  Puck (Kate) Connolly is the first woman to run the race and feels compelled to do so for the sake of her family.  She puts all her heart into preparing for it, but will her efforts be enough to get her through the race alive?

This is one of the best stories I have read in a long time!  It has made my personal list of favorites.  The author Maggie Stiefvater successfully blended the mythological water horse with reality, and at times in the story I completely forgot that the capaill uisce were not real!  If only it were possible to go to Thisby to see these water horses and meet these wonderful characters she has created!  I was completely fascinated by them!  Sean is a man of few words but very sure of himself and is relied upon by all who know him.  He has the ability to connect with the horses, kind of like a horse whisperer.   I love Puck’s courage and the way she is protective of her family.  She is easily irritated and for some reason it made her even more endearing.  In addition, Sean and Puck’s developing relationship occurred with the fewest of words and the least amount of physical contact, yet there was no denying the deep connection between them.  Simply beautiful!  I would recommend this book for 7th grade and up.  In fact I would recommend it for adults as well!

Ratings Explanation

Language: Some name calling and belittling of the enemy.

Violence: War and battle-type violence. A poisoned arrow is stabbed into the heart of a sleeping giant goblin. Fighting with swords, clubs, arrows and magic. Three arrows are seen protruding from a giant cyclops’s eye. A sword is stained red with blood. The royal family is taken up to a tower, arms bound together, for the villagers to see while a goblin wielding a sword parades in front of them getting the observers riled up. Cheers are heard from a distance and the reader knows the family has been executed. Bodies fall from the trees after they are shot by arrows or hit by clubs. Deadly creatures are created to be soldiers to fight the enemy. An evil wizard uses his powers to destroy.

Adult Themes: An evil pirate wants revenge on his enemy and plots to start a war. A young princess must deal with the loss of her family and find someone to care for her.

Synopsis

After carrying through with his evil plot, a pirate causes the goblins and people of Sonnencrest to go to war. The goblins take over the city, killing the royal family, except for young Princess Babette who was lucky to escape into the local woods. After days of travel, Babette comes to a small cottage belonging to a kind wizard named Astrolex. Knowing the danger she is in as the sole survivor of the royal family, the wizard takes her in and cares for her. Astrolex uses his magic to transform Babette into an unattractive gypsy girl so that she will not be discovered by the goblins. Under the kind wizard’s care, Babette learns that forgiveness and love transform into a powerful magic for good. Ten years later, the kingdom of Sonnencrest is still under goblin rule. The people have been oppressed so long that they have all lost hope for a better life. All, that is, but a young, lame boy by the name of Darrow who dreams of freedom. The small framed boy decides to begin a quest to free the kingdom. He travels the countryside hoping to find others willing to fight. After he has traveled many days, he too stumbles across Astrolex’s cottage. With help from Astrolex and the disguised Babette, Darrow continues his quest and finds others that want to join his cause. Darrow’s eloquent words and fierce hope bring more followers to his group daily until they are large enough to capture the goblins attention. Battle becomes imminent, but unfortunately, Darrow’s army has more men than weapons. To make matters worse, an evil wizard is on the goblins’ side. Darrow must find a way to use his keen intellect, his valued friends and his faith in good to overthrow this powerful enemy.

Honestly, I am not a huge fantasy fan. This book, however, sucked me right in. I loved the characters. They were uniquely real and faced human frailty and weakness as we all do. The beauty of it was how they learned that their strength came from hope, love and forgiveness, which became their strongest weapon. There was also plenty of intense adventure and suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. The book ends with this: “There are no true heroes. They are ordinary persons, perhaps possessed of some skill or another, lifted by people who need to believe that somewhere, someone possesses a magic that can rewrite the future and leave them in a better place.”

To top it off, this book was written by a father/son team. At the time Alex and his father Hal started writing this book, Alex was eight years old and still could not read because of a learning disability. After Hal had finished reading The Hobbit to Alex one night, Alex suggested that they write a book together, which they did. Today, Hal has given up his job as a political consultant to write and Alex is an Honor Roll Student at St. John’s College High School in Washington D.C. Quite an impressive duo. Quite an impressive book!