tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46606023969111432652012-01-26T10:55:08.044-08:00Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.comBlogger761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-74701582559066793052011-11-23T22:11:00.000-08:002011-11-23T22:11:46.095-08:00

 By Ally Carter Rated PG This book is part of a whole series of books written by Carter that were recommended to me by my friend Melissa R. This is the only one in the series I have read, but this one is clean enough for a straight PG. Perfect for tweens and teens, the series revolves around Cammie Morgan, a teenage girl who attends a secret school for young spies, where she learns all the

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-3241760730389954192011-10-29T21:14:00.000-07:002011-10-29T21:17:02.034-07:00

by Alex FlinnI cannot recommend this book for several reasons, the most critical of which is that the protagonist is a sexually promiscuous 9th grader. This author will have to be evaluated on a book-by-book basis as apparently not all of his are as clean as Cloaked.

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-2642470311001922012011-10-29T20:29:00.000-07:002011-10-29T21:05:39.392-07:00

By Neil GaimanRated: PGI am writing this two days before Halloween and thus it seemed appropriate to write about something a bit spooky. What better than a graveyard? And this book is about a little boy who grows up in a graveyard. When Nobody is just a toddler, a mysterious man named Jack kills his parents and sister and, if plans had worked out, Nobody would have died as well. But by good

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-60302965364189803982011-10-18T15:00:00.000-07:002011-10-18T15:01:08.810-07:00

by Cindy C Bennett                                Rated PG-13 For Kate, life is pain. Pain at school, where her secondhand clothing and withdrawn personality make her the perfect target for bullies, but an even worse pain at home, where she lives with an alcoholic father and physically abusive mother. There is no safe place for Kate, except maybe her backyard swingset where, if she stays long

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-19389025489803130202011-09-16T15:07:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:24:04.919-07:00

by Stacy Lynn Carroll, Rated PG This is a fun story about 5 cousins who have the misfortune to all be named after Disney princesses. Like high school isn't tricky enough already! As they try to figure out the difference between all the toads and frogs out there, they end up learning that they are more than just their corny names as well. The girls make some iffy decisions along the way, but

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-35479057374845788622011-09-16T14:55:00.000-07:002011-09-16T14:55:28.605-07:00

by Cathleen Schine Not Recommended This book is getting quite a bit of buzz, but I had to put it down due to language and adult situations. 

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-43418618933776491112011-09-16T14:52:00.000-07:002011-09-16T14:52:18.179-07:00

You might have noticed that we've added a new category (you'll see it in the list of links on the right). We added this new category, "Not Recommended", because of all the books we start that just don't make the cut for this blog. Now you'll see the books we like as well as the ones we don't like. Hope it helps!

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-14484321479005727862011-07-10T15:53:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:24:49.042-07:00

by Jon Krakauer Rated: PG-13 In the spring of 1996, Jon Krakauer, a journalist on assignment for Outdoor Magazine, joined a commercially guided expedition to summit Mount Everest in 1996. This book chronicles the details that such a quest demands, the extreme physical and psychological toll the journey takes, and provides some insight into the motivations of those who are driven to make the

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-4072756136367767502011-06-27T21:11:00.000-07:002011-06-27T22:32:13.284-07:00

by Pam BachorzRated PG-13; Not RecommendedEnslaved to Darwin West and his cruel Overseers for 200 years, the Congregation has been gathering the precious Water from leaves to keep Darwin in luxury. And in all that time, only 6 have died. Only Ruby, her mother, and the Congregation's Elders know the real power behind the Water that provides their longevity - Otto's blood. But Otto has been gone

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-6515223096375323332011-06-25T23:12:00.000-07:002011-06-27T21:11:18.141-07:00

By Kay CassidyRated: PG-13; Not Recommended16-year old Jess Parker is a bit of a social pariah at high school . . . one of the downsides of being the new girl. And nobody makes her feel more like an outcast than Lexy, who seems to take special delight in tormenting Jess. On the last day of school, Jess receives a mysterious note in her bag. Following the directions in the note, Jess discretely

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-47044582699344008322011-06-25T22:47:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:25:19.636-07:00

by Douglas Adams Rated: PG-13 Arthur Dent knows it will be a bad day when he wakes up to realize his house will be demolished to make room for a highway. Unbeknownst to him, that is the least of his problems this unfortunate Thursday, for high above the earth, a Vogon construction crew is awaiting orders to demolish the earth to make way for an interstellar bypass. Arthur Dent is saved

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-46137010401702462042011-06-24T08:12:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:25:51.395-07:00

by Jael McHenry                               Rated PG-13 Oh, man! I hate it when this happens! This book would have a straight PG rating if it wasn't for one thing - the book is clean, clean, clean, and then the author throws in about 6 curse words, and unfortunately, the words are all the same one and all the one you'd most like to avoid. So, PG-13 it is. Since all but one of the cursing

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-85158086478768966162011-06-04T09:50:00.000-07:002011-10-18T14:02:14.295-07:00

I saw this summer reading list on LDS Living's web page, and I recommend it. http://ldsliving.com/tag/Summer%20Reading Be careful of the reading lists for tweens and teens that they give out at the library. I've found that many of those books contain inappropriate material. Happy summer reading!

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-30920964319909903442011-03-01T19:40:00.000-08:002011-07-23T11:36:59.563-07:00

By Alex FlinnRated: PG-13Johnny is a 17-year old boy struggling to make ends meet at the shoe repair shop run by his family at a high end Miami hotel. One bright summer day, a beautiful princess with a fabulous accent, long blond locks and a belief in magic walks into the hotel. Before long, she determines that Johnny is just the pure-hearted boy to help find her brother, the heir to the Alorian

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-12415214489265097802011-02-19T16:35:00.000-08:002011-02-20T18:51:59.577-08:00

by Pittacus Lore Rated: PG From all appearances, John Smith is an ordinary 15-year-old boy. . . oh, except his hands light up at will, he has super strength and speed and oh yes . . . he's from a different planet. Nine children and their guardians escape from Lorien just before it is destroyed by the invading forces of the Mogadorians. The Nine hide on earth, separated from each other for

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-32414356017393656772011-02-09T16:52:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:26:26.141-07:00

By Betty Smith Rated: PG-13Growing up during the early 1900's in the slums of Brooklyn, Francie and her brother Neely know their share of hardship. Their charming drunk of a father gets only occasional gigs as a singing waiter so the family's survival relies on the small income brought home by their mother's cleaning jobs and whatever pennies the kids get for selling scrap. This is primarily a

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-22554259344814341272011-02-04T19:13:00.000-08:002011-02-04T19:13:29.472-08:00

by Rosemary Wells                            Rated PG This children's novel was a fun and exciting read. It tells the story of 11-year-old Oscar, a young boy living through the Depression. As a result of the hard economic times, Oscar's father is forced sell off their beloved train set and go to California to find work, leaving Oscar to live with a dour aunt. When Oscar meets a kindly  stranger

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-20079857163855053552011-01-04T20:33:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:26:52.459-07:00

sby Laura Hillenbrand                               Rated PG-13 Louis Zamperini was a troublemaker with far too much energy as a boy, spending quite a bit of his time causing trouble and then "running like mad". Thanks to his older brother, when he was in high school, he transferred that energy to running, becoming the youngest person at age 19 to make the Olympic 5000 meter track team in 1936.

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-78046720367564021522011-01-04T20:20:00.001-08:002011-10-18T13:27:41.328-07:00

by Nicholas Sparks                               Rated PG Veronica Miller hates her dad. He left her, her younger brother and her mother and loped off to North Carolina, leaving them in New York. She hasn't spoken to him in 3 years and as far as she's concerned, that trend can continue indefinitely. When her mother drops her and her brother off in North Carolina to spend the summer with their

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-74795196541786614652011-01-04T19:34:00.000-08:002011-02-04T19:21:56.427-08:00

by Rick Riordan                               Rating: PGThis is the first book in a brand new series by Rick Riordan (of the Olympian series fame). When their father disappears in front of them in a mysterious and obviously supernatural incident at the British Museum in London, estranged siblings Carter (14) and Sadie (12) start on a trek to rescue him. Luckily, as direct descendents of ancient

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-1306283060060341332011-01-04T08:23:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:28:27.731-07:00

by Richard Paul Evans                               Rated PG I like Richard Paul Evans because he writes spotlessly clean romances, which are very hard to find. In addition, he's a great storyteller. I'm really not much of a romance reader, because when I read them I find myself saying, "I wonder why my husband never waxes eloquent about my beauty while drying dishes by my side?". They're just

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-63531457792082186692010-12-15T08:17:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:28:59.378-07:00

by Laurence Cosse Rated PG A delightful twist on a murder mystery, A Novel Bookstore follows two characters who come up with the fanciful idea to open a bookstore that sells only "good" literature. As the public, the press, and especially the  authoring world take issue with what constitutes a worthy novel, strange things begin to happen, like a host of similar bookstores suddenly opening up on

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-11922667982429473802010-09-29T13:33:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:29:24.729-07:00

by David Baldacci Rated PG 12-yr-old Louisa Cardinal and her 7-yr-old brother are suddenly thrust from their life in 1940s New York City to the rustic mountains of Virginia by the force of a tragic accident. From a poor but happy existence with their mom and dad, they go to a truly poverty-stricken and hard scrabble life with their great-grandma, also named Louisa Cardinal. As loss after

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-17667864362832695562010-09-07T09:50:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:30:10.517-07:00

by Jamie Ford Rated PG This novel could be described in many ways: as an exposition of the difficulties faced by Asian immigrants living out World War II  in the United States, an exploration of the dynamics of father-son relationships, or a "road not taken" tale, but I think it's best described as a love story. Henry Lee lost his heart to Keiko when he was just a boy, but during the time of

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-57826053807242240072010-09-04T13:57:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:30:39.310-07:00

By: Kate Morton Rating: PG It's 1913 and a 4-year-old girl is placed on a ship in England with the strict charge to remain hidden behind barrels, talk to no one and above all, tell no one her name ever, until the Authoress comes to her. But when the ship sails, the little girl is still alone with no Authoress. Months later, the ship docks in Australia and the 4-year-old, name completely

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-91328834367287336222010-07-02T21:51:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:31:20.751-07:00

by Matthew Pearl Rating PG-13 When Charles Dickens passes away in England, his publishers in the U.S. are left with only the first half of his last book - The Mystery of Edwin Drood. When the junior partner of the publishing company, James Osgood, goes to England to try to find the end of "Drood", he encounters more than he bargained for. Tracing Dickens steps as he wrote the book, James

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-20285009258194330502010-06-07T18:02:00.000-07:002010-12-19T22:25:19.441-08:00

by Shannon Hale Rated PG I admit I don't naturally gravitate to YA fantasy, but my sister steered me to this book because her kids liked it so much. And guess what? I liked it too. I'll take the synopsis from the author's website: "She was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue, a word she could not taste. Her name was Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree,

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-71416390290231405492010-06-07T17:57:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:31:48.157-07:00

by Oral Lee Brown Rated PG Although maybe not the most compelling writing, the true story of Brown's outrageous promised to a class of 1st grader's that she would pay to send them all to college is just the kind of yarn I love to get involved in. Oral Lee Brown made all of $40,000/year and lived in run-down Oakland, CA when she made her now-famous promise to a group of underprivileged 1st

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-27390965255610773892010-06-07T17:49:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:32:34.455-07:00

Reflections from the Life of F. Enzio Busche by Tracie A. Lamb Rated G How does a boy who came of age in Germany as part of the Hitler Youth organization end up as a respected Christian leader? Drafted into the German army at the age of 14, during the frenzy of WWII, it's no wonder that Busche's mind was filled with questions about a higher power. Having witnessed and experienced for himself

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-13049787630842002452010-06-07T17:41:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:32:51.470-07:00

by Kathryn Stockett Rated PG Okay, okay, I know...you've all probably read this one already, and I hate to be trendy, but here goes... The Help is a novel that centers on three brave women, one white and two black, who work together to secretly document the lives of the black maids who work for white families in Mississippi. The voice of the book switches back and forth between these three

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-20358374471197247722010-06-07T17:23:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:33:27.662-07:00

by Ron Hall and Denver Moore Rated PG Sorry for the hiatus on posting books here, I was sick...the bad part of that was I didn't feel like doing much, the good part is that I got some extra reading in. This book was a loaner to me by my friend OS, and I really enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for a good true story, and this fits the bill. It's the story of a wealthy art dealer and his wife,

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-67840431840229129222010-03-14T10:51:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:33:51.410-07:00

by Immaculee Ilibagiza Rated: PG-13 Imagine a world where your friends, people you've had dinner with and worked side by side with for years, turn against you and hunt you down like an animal. In 1994, this is what happened to Immaculee and her Tutsi family in Rwanda. This book is a true story of one woman's struggle to survive during the Rwandan holocaust and how she found God in the midst of

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-57994451670813831442010-03-14T10:16:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:34:19.691-07:00

by Charles Todd Rated: PG Waiting and hoping for her husband to return to their village in rural England from the Great War, a wife paints her door red as a welcome home. A year later, a paralyzed man goes missing from an exclusive health clinic in London. A few days after that, a woman is found dead in a house with a bright red door. Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge, himself tormented

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-28142682265228708632010-02-28T17:02:00.000-08:002010-02-28T17:02:14.866-08:00

By Anna del C. Dye Rated PG Guest review by Ashley Merrill For Front Street Reviewers Being a big fan of fantasy, I was looking forward to reading part one of this trilogy. After the first chapter I became a little skeptical, thinking maybe this was intended for a much younger audience. What I instead found was that Anna del C. Dye had done an absolutely spectacular job at turning this into a

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-24211469622094528872010-02-23T12:24:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:34:44.686-07:00

by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. Rated G Another wonderful recommendation from my friend LJ, who also recommended The Book Thief to me. She has great taste! My Grandfather's Blessings is a series of essays by Remen, who spent years working as a pediatrician, then later as a counselor to those with chronic and terminal illness. Her experiences, together with the wisdom passed on to her by her

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-73288354647222399392010-02-15T17:24:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:35:05.458-07:00

by Donna Hatch Rated PG Need a good book to read? Here's a review of one I recently read. The Stranger She Married by Donna Hatch is an intriguing romance set in 1818 England, but it is also a compelling tale of murder and revenge. Poor Alicia is still mourning the loss of both parents and her twin brother when her uncle insists she find a rich husband in order to save the family estate and

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-34476379659148840982010-02-07T21:03:00.000-08:002010-12-19T22:37:09.101-08:00

by Sharon Creech Rated PG This was a really wonderful young adult novel. The cover and title suggest it will be all Indian lore and nature trails, but it's not. While Salamanca, the main character, definitely has Indian roots that follow her through the story and are important to her, the book is much more than that. Salamanca is going on a cross-country road trip with her grandparents, a

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-90096338789818079442010-01-28T17:04:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:35:31.827-07:00

By Kathleen Kent Rated: PG Sarah Carrier was 11 when she was imprisoned and her mother was hung as a witch during the Salem witch trials of 1692. Two years previously, Sarah and her family had moved to Andover from Billerica. Her parents, although good people, were brusque and disliked by their neighbors and in a time of great religious fervor, the community judged them harshly for not

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-14338115656280590982010-01-22T15:45:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:35:51.668-07:00

by Debbie Macomber Rated G This non-fiction book was a pleasure to read. Heartfelt true stories, scripture verse, and the author's own insights weave together a timeless reminder of the value of generosity. Going beyond the simplicity of giving money or time as a definiton of generosity, Macomber shows how listening, encouraging, being hospitable, sharing hope, and more are also generous acts

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-45003871787390134272010-01-12T15:56:00.000-08:002010-01-12T15:56:08.757-08:00

by Kay Lynn Mangum Rated PG Kathy has lived her whole life in the shadow of her brother, Brett - a brother who died when she was two and that she barely remembers. That all changes when she receives a special gift on her 16th birthday - a secret journal that Brett wrote just for her. As she discovers the brother she thought she never had, she's also working on handling the whole high school

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-86284547118693970392010-01-04T19:56:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:47:14.574-07:00

by Gerald Lund Rated PG I was thrilled to receive this book for my birthday, since I am a big fan of Gerald Lund's historical fiction. This one was as good as I expected. Telling a tale of unbelievable courage and perserverance in the face of incredible odds, The Undaunted is the story of a little band of pioneers called to settle and create order in the lawless land near the Four Corners area.

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-15553541477622041882009-12-14T12:40:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:47:38.095-07:00

by Deborah Bedford Rated G Bea Bartling is famous for her yellow roses, said to be cultivated from the original planting left by settlers on the Oregon Trail. People come from miles around to see her roses. In fact, in seems like everyone comes but the one person she'd really like to see - her estranged son. When this son is killed in a tragic accident, Bea is overwhelmed by grief and

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-80797930309663329742009-11-22T19:53:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:48:03.347-07:00

by Lloyd C. DouglasRated PGThe tagline on the cover of the book convinced me to read this one: "The classic story of one man's search to find personal redemption through service to others."Bobby Merrick is a wealthy young playboy whose life is saved at the expense another's, the other man being a much-sought-after and beloved brain surgeon. The introspection that results from this tragic

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-60349630125131340612009-11-17T17:47:00.000-08:002009-11-22T20:16:56.059-08:00

by Cinda Williams ChimaRated PGSeph is an orphaned wizard who has never had anyone to train him in the use of his powers. Unfortunately, this results in disastrous incidents, including the latest - a fire at a warehouse party. Seph thinks his luck has finally changed when he gets sent to the Havens, an exclusive private school whose headmaster, Dr. Leicester, offers to train Seph in the use of

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-57827507952416305652009-11-10T19:05:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:48:28.551-07:00

by Yann Martel Rating PG Pi Patel is the son of a zookeeper in India with a strong inclination towards the spiritual. He practices Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism equally and can't understand why his spritual advisors are less than pleased by that. When Pi is 16, his parents decide to shut down the zoo and leave the political clime in India in favor of Canada. With them on their trip are

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-50639691303330622262009-11-10T18:49:00.000-08:002009-11-13T08:12:11.556-08:00

By Trenton Lee StewartRated: PGThis is the second in the Mysterious Benedict Society series. The four kids of the Mysterious Benedict Society are invited back to Mr. Benedict's house for a 1-year anniversary surprise. But when they reach the house where they first met, they discover that Mr. Benedict and Number Two have been kidnapped by the evil Mr. Curtain. They must follow Mr. Benedict's trail

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-40704581054883542682009-11-02T16:03:00.000-08:002011-10-18T13:49:02.069-07:00

by Wallace Stegner Rated PG This character-driven novel traces the intertwined lives of two couples. Great friends, they meet as young marrieds and live through each other's triumphs and setbacks during the 1930s, 40s and on. Don't hold your breath for any dramatic infighting or betrayal. This novel is about the opposite of that - the steady loyalty, compassion and forgiveness of true

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-56841762900147052022009-10-16T16:45:00.000-07:002011-10-18T14:02:38.127-07:00

by Markus ZusakRated PG-13A big thanks to my friend Lisa J. for recommending this book to me. Although I like a great many books, I love very few of them, and this one I loved. Narrated by Death personified, it took me a few pages to get used to the unusual rhythm of this book, but once I did I had to immerse myself in it until I was finished. My apologies to my family for making cereal for

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-88800152238821661272009-10-06T14:05:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:49:57.980-07:00

by Jason F. Wright Rated PG Luke Millward has a flourishing career and good friends, but what he's missing is a Dad. Estranged from a father who sank into alcoholism after the death of Luke's mother, Luke struggles with embarrassing memories of his dad's slide into alcoholic oblivion during his teenage years. He never realizes how much he actually misses him until he is summoned to New Orleans

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-74473522098615977942009-09-29T20:16:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:50:16.215-07:00

by Sue Monk Kidd Rated PG-13 The year is 1964 and the Civil Rights Act has just been signed, but not everyone agrees that's a good thing. Lily is a lonely teenager with a past that is a lot for a girl to carry around. Her mother died by Lily's hand when she was 4 and her father mistreats her. The only person who seems to care about Lily is the black housekeeper, Rosaleen, who helped raise Lily

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-31483982366527523982009-09-28T06:59:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:50:35.593-07:00

by Kaye Gibbons Rated PG A family of unusual women live together during the World War II era, a time when women of all sorts began doing things women had never done before. Charlie Kate, the matriarch of the family, has been working the natural art of healing since she was a young woman, and is wildly successful and sought after, even by the local doctors and pharmacists. Her daughter Sophia is

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-10404607427098489692009-09-23T14:18:00.000-07:002009-09-23T21:35:35.244-07:00

by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Rated PG-13 Farming and football, that's what 15-year-old DJ's family is all about. Her two older brothers were superstars on the high school football team before they left home, and her younger brother is shaping up to be the same. DJ isn't shaping up to be much of anything except a milker, since she was saddled with all the farm chores when her dad had hip surgery.

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-59928641264242279352009-09-15T21:53:00.001-07:002011-10-18T13:51:00.393-07:00

by Sandra Dallas Rated PG In small town, Depression-era Kansas, the only thing people have left is each other. Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, considers the women in the Persian Pickle Club to be her best friends, and looks forward to her weekly meetings with them. Soon, however, a city girl and a family of drifters move into town, and strange things begin to happen that will test the loyalty

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-14493102206369693552009-09-10T22:57:00.000-07:002009-09-15T21:53:17.693-07:00

by Trenton Lee StewartRated GAn ad in a British newspaper entices dozens of children to take a series of tests for gifted children. Only two pass. Along with two other children who have unique strengths, they are brought to Mr. Benedict and given a mission. . . .a mission to save humanity. The only question is what they are saving it from. These four lonely and unusual children combine their

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-19083414666326308632009-09-01T15:21:00.000-07:002011-10-18T14:00:58.022-07:00

by Dee HendersonRated PGSara lives life in the shadow of fear. Hunted by the man who kidnapped her and killed her twin sister more than two decades ago, and under FBI protection, Sara's days are marred by the constant suffocation of wondering who might be lurking around the next corner. And now she's falling in love - with a former pro football player, of all people. His high profile just might

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-28959573918936582022009-08-19T16:24:00.001-07:002011-10-18T13:51:44.791-07:00

by Terri Blackstock Rated PG Twins Kara and Lizzie are heirs to a billion dollar fortune, but they've grown up in a run-down trailer with relatives who care a great deal about money but not at all about little girls. The twins have been told all their lives that when their father died when they were three, their stepmother, Amanda, stole their inheritance and is just looking for an opportunity

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-84904545463852970842009-08-16T13:13:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:52:07.487-07:00

by Gerald N. Lund Rated PG "Before the world ended, the place was known as Star Valley, Wyoming." Eric Lloyd was only a small child when world war decimated the human population through nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare. But pockets of civilization survived, founded by visionaries who saw what was coming. Eighteen years later, the Alliance is an association of four large cities who have

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-90567522427961616822009-08-15T12:03:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:52:50.352-07:00

by Gary D. Schmidt Rated G I enjoyed Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy so much I thought I would try another novel by this author, and I'm glad I did. It's not too often you can read a clean coming of age story, but this one is squeaky. (It takes the main character three pages just to get up the nerve to say "butt"!) Holling Hoodhood spends his 7th grade year dealing with all kinds of

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-85033105874717439022009-07-29T15:19:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:53:10.441-07:00

by Primo LeviRated PG-13 Primo Levi was an Italian Jew of 25 years of age when he was arrested by the Italian fascists and sent to Monowitz-Buna, a work camp in Auschwitz, Poland. An arresting narration, this book chronicles the struggles of life in the camp, the deep deprivations, the seeming random assignment of death, and the tangled knot of rigid rules that would wrest the very humanity and

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-56372081833050237462009-07-27T18:43:00.001-07:002011-10-18T13:53:32.275-07:00

by Augusta Trobaugh Rated PG As the name implies, this novel reads like an old Southern spiritual. Four women wearing out the floorboards on the front porch as they rock and tell their family stories to each other, over and over. Only there are some stories that have never been told, stories that hurt too much, stories that no one should have to remember. And if nobody remembers them, perhaps

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-36114692364161298062009-07-23T19:16:00.001-07:002011-10-18T13:53:56.091-07:00

by Camron WrightRated GHarry is an old man afflicted with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Knowing his "good" days are numbered, he sets out to leave a legacy for his family through the poems he writes. After his eventual death, Harry's family discovers his book of poems. Witty, insightful, and quirky, the poems also hide clues to a greater treasure that Harry left behind. As his family works

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-68709656003202072462009-07-13T10:12:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:54:14.928-07:00

by Gary D. Schmidt Rated PG Recommended for age 9+ This is the best children's book I've read in a long time. Based loosely on a true story, this Newberry Honor-winning novel is about the life of a preacher's son who stands up to the racist town he lives in. Turner Buckminster is the new kid in town, and it's not going well. He's already in trouble with his father's parishioners because his

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-11199732486887520792009-07-07T17:09:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:54:37.066-07:00

by Alice Kuipers Rated G This poignant debut novel explores the relationship between mothers and daughters in a completely unique way - as a series of notes left on the refrigerator door. Certainly, it won't take you long to read this book, but it will just as certainly touch your heart. Claire and her mom spend their days running - Claire, absorbed in her teenage life, and her mom busy being a

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-6897889100956217232009-07-06T19:39:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:54:56.533-07:00

by Ray Bradbury Rated PGThis is a truly classic science fiction story. Set in a time when reading books is outlawed and firemen no longer douse fires but instead start them in order to rid the world of these dangerous books, Farenheit 451 chronicles the emotional and intellectual journey of a fireman, Guy Montag. Guy’s world is one in which no one is encouraged to think and absolutely no one is

Triciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07088867724285873499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-21420826093607977622009-06-29T20:38:00.000-07:002010-12-19T22:47:26.573-08:00

by Rodman Philbrick Rated PG My 12-year-old son recommended this book to me, and I was glad he did. Max the Mighty is actually the sequel to Freak the Mighty, which I haven't read, but if it's as good as this one (and my son says it's better), then you should start your reading there. Max is a giant sized boy with a timid heart who ends up running across the country with an 11-year old girl,

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-75484802713911255472009-06-28T19:02:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:55:16.760-07:00

By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie BarrowsRated PGThis book has one of the most confusing titles in the history of the world, which makes it kind of hard to plug during casual conversations ("The Guernsey who?"), but I will definitely plug it here. Set just after World War II, this book follows Juliet, an author who is drawn into a unusual new circle of friends based on an exchange of letters. A

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-26736122081198185532009-06-17T17:39:00.000-07:002009-07-13T10:45:53.437-07:00

by Janette RallisonRated PGAfter hearing good things about Janette Rallison's young adult fiction, I went to the library to get a taste. Well, I guess I wasn't the only one who heard good things! Not only was every single one of her books checked out, but there was a waiting list. So, I waited. And when I finally got to read Fame, Glory... a few weeks later, I was charmed. Ms. Rallison's voice is

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-87891725858987764992009-06-15T10:15:00.001-07:002011-10-18T13:55:52.767-07:00

by Jennifer Chiaverini Rated G When Sarah McClure moves with her husband to Waterford, Pennsylvania in search of work, she ends up at Elm Creek Manor, where the reclusive owner, Syliva Compson, not only gives her work but begins sharing her gift for quilting also. As the two women quilt together, the threads of Sylvia's long life begin to appear as she shares her stories of pain, love, and

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-76605175726570645242009-06-11T22:08:00.001-07:002009-07-13T10:46:52.924-07:00

by Angela Ewell HuntRated PGSuch a clean book! By the author of The Tale of Three Trees, this book is an epic adventure following a young woman who disguises herself as a knight in order to avenge her father's death in 13th century Bohemia. Lots of adventure, a little romance, and did I mention - so clean! This one is great for your teens.clean book, clean book reviews, clean books for teens,

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-50494185806699189532009-06-04T16:49:00.001-07:002011-10-18T13:56:11.907-07:00

by Terry Ryan Rated PG Non-Fiction The homespun true story of a determined mother who raised 10 kids and kept the wolf from the door with her penchant for perfect prose. This book left me with the delightful feeling that I could overcome anything through sheer determination and wit. There's a drunken dad and a small amount of language, but generally clean. clean book, clean book reviews, clean

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-53954037101908850162009-06-02T16:33:00.000-07:002010-12-19T22:51:36.672-08:00

by Frances Hodgson Burnett Rated G Grades 3-7 My favorite children's book from my youth! The title will be off-putting to your boys, but the story is infinitely interesting for boys and girls alike. Born and raised in India, young Sara Crewe is the wonderful combination of intelligent, wealthy, and kind. When her father enrolls her in an English boarding school, she finds herself suddenly

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-84413338132549329172009-06-02T16:30:00.001-07:002011-10-18T13:56:33.517-07:00

by Mitch Albom Rated G The Five People You Meet in Heaven is an enchanting fable. When Eddie dies at the age of 83, he finds out that heaven is a place where your life is explained to you by five people who were in it, people who changed your path forever. As the unseen connections of his earthly life are unveiled, you may find yourself re-thinking some of the "coincidences" in your own life.

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-26332944375690899322009-06-02T15:57:00.000-07:002009-07-13T10:49:58.606-07:00

by Rick RiordanRated PGAges 10+My tween son loves this author, and his books are pretty clean. The language is good, but watch for some violence, although it's mostly against mythological beasts, rather than people, which for some reason makes it better to me!The Lightning Thief is the first in a series that now includes 4 books. It follows the adventures of Percy, who discovers that he is the

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-11776075173875735172009-06-02T15:26:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:57:06.064-07:00

by Thomas Eno Rated G If you're going on vacation this summer, take this book! It's an easy but fulfilling read - a fictional account of what the Apostle John might be up to these days. This compelling story will make you think about the influence one person can have on the lives of others.clean book, clean book reviews, clean fiction, clean reads

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-28717849260517871762009-06-01T17:31:00.000-07:002011-10-18T13:59:09.786-07:00

By Blaine Yorgason Rated G Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE this book! I hate to be cliche, but this really is a "touching true story" about a family who adopts an amazing little girl, Charity. Charity was born without a brain stem, and was not expected to live. Not only did she live, but she lived to demonstrate the startling power of spirit over body, finding ways to communicate with the

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660602396911143265.post-8671332569878624572009-05-26T13:37:00.000-07:002009-07-13T10:51:59.988-07:00

By Betty MacDonaldRated GGrades 3-7I have loved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle since I was a child, and I highly recommend this series of books as summer reading for your little ones (up to age 11).Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a zany lady who has magical cures for everything that ails the children in her neighborhood. And I'm not talking measles! Her cures are for things like talking back, being a picky eater, not

Leciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16844790682288547614noreply@blogger.com0