Fablehaven Series

By Brandon Mull

This is a great series about a secret preserve for magical creatures. It follows Kendra and Seth who are brother and sister. The best part of the book is that it teaches good morals. It is not for young kids but it is good.

Language: Not a problem

Morality: Not a problem

Violence: There are many scary creatures, and many instances of peril. Each book gets a little more intense, and violent.

Age:10 and up

Inkdeath

By Cornelia Funke

The really awesome conclusion to the Inkheart trilogy.

5 out of 5 star

Language: Violent language and some mild swearing

Morality: Some reference to immorality, graphic.

Violence: A lot of violence, some quite brutal. talk of torture, and pain.

age: 16 and up

Inkspell

by Cornelia Funke

2nd book in the Inkheart trilogy

Continues the Inkheart story. Dustfinger and Mo become the main characters.

5 out of 5 stars

Language: Some violent language, and mild swearing

Morality: Some non-graphic reference to adultery.

Violence: quite a bit of violent language, and some graphic violence.

age: 14 yrs and up

Prologue: The Brothers (Great and Terrible Series)

By Chris Stewart

This is a fictional story about the Pre-existence. I know sounds dangerous. Amazingly this author pull it off in a believable way. While clearly not doctrine, it is interesting. The fictionalization of spiritual leaders did not make me cringe, as some other Mormon author's characterization of leaders has. It is a painful reminder of what our purpose on earth is. In some points the book is heart wrenching. One must possess a good working knowledge of preexistence and latter-day revelation to Joseph Smith to understand the deeper implications of this book. It is steeped in Mormon doctrine. The story is gripping and intense. As long as you understand this is fiction, it is quite enjoyable.

5 out of 5

Language: While there is no swearing the debates get heated and carry quite a bit of emotion. Lucifer is quite brutal in his denunciation of God's plan of happiness, which might startle younger children.

Morality: not an issue

Violence: There are several scenes of violence. Particularly one where the earth life is depicted, very brutal violence is described, while not in detail, it could be disturbing.

age: 14 and up

Inkheart

By Cornelia Funke

This book has impressive imagery the prose in the book is stunning. It tells the story of a girl Meggie and her Father, Mo. It is very interesting and enjoyable to read. This is a fantasy book of sorts, but places the fantasy in our world.

5 out of 5 stars

Language: Occasionally there are swear words, only those found in the Bible.

Morality: Not an issue

Violence: Many threats of violence and rumors of violence. Some children are in direct peril, which may be frightening to young readers. The villains are ruthless and show no mercy. There are abductions, and people put in cages.

Age: 12 and up

Ender's Game

This is a great book that deal a lot with ethics, and war/violence and leadership. The plot revolves around Battle School, a place where children are trained to fight the "buggers" alien invaders who have attacked earth. The intellectual component is very engaging, It is definitely intended for an older audience since it deals with war and more complex themes.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Language: This book has more swearing than most books about children. There is also crude language, and six year old humor.

Violence: This book is about war, and training soldiers therefore it has much violence. Some of the violence is quite graphic and due to the age of the children it is brutal.

Morality: No explicit immorality.

For a more complete review: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Enders-Game.html

Age appropriate: 14 and up

Speaker Series (About Ender as an adult)

By Orson Scott Card

Includes: Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind

This is an intellectually engaging series that deals with ethics of interspecies relations, in proxy for interracial. It deals with tolerance, acceptance, and also deals with power structures, especially the role of religion and government. Also discussed are issues of morality, why is fidelity in marriage and abstinence before is beneficial to society. I found these books quite engaging. It also deals with remorse, forgiveness and redemption. Premise of the Plot is that a sentient species is found on a planet that has been colonized by humans, the plot revolves around issues such as how should they be treated, also much more human aspects are about a family on the planet who are the main characters.

4 out of 5

Language: frequent swearing

Violence: some violence, including children fighting, and a father who is physically, verbally and emotionally abusive. A ritual involving disemboweling a living piggie, and human are depicted.

Morality: A portion of the book is devoted to evolutionary conjectures about how the other sentient species evolved, which included conjectures on their reproduction. At times this is a little uncomfortable. Randomly there will be innuendos that also made me slightly uncomfortable.

Age: 16 and up

Ender's Shadow (Shadow Series)

By Orson Scott Card

Includes: Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, and Shadow of the Giant

This series follow a character from Ender's Game... Bean. Beans early life was difficult and violent. This book series also follows Peter (Ender's brother) and his Jeesh. This book series deal alot with political unrest and governments seizing power. A lot of war is depicted. The most interesting aspect of this series is the political struggles and maneuvering.

3 out of 5

Language: Very frequent swearing

Morality: One instance in the Shadow of the Giant. Virlomi puts on a new dress and walks into Hyderabad. Just skip to the beginning of the next chapter. You won't miss anything, I skipped it when it became apparent it wasn't good and it worked out just fine.

Violence: Graphic and unnecessary violence in these books.

Age: 16 and up

Kingdom and the Crown Series

By Gerald Lund

An insightful book series about the life of Jesus Christ. This series really help me put the life of Christ into a historical context, so I could better understand the parables and significance of events. The story is great and engaging, as well as providing ample opportunity to expound on the political atmosphere in the Holy land at the time of Christ. This series has meticulous citations, so you can know the sources of the stories.

5 out of 5 stars

Language: not an issue

Violence: there are depictions of battles between the Romans and zealots, and lots of fighting. Including several deaths.

Morality: not an issue

Age: 12 and up

Because of Winn-Dixie

By Kate DiCamillo

This is a heartwarming tale of a girl whose mother left them, and her and her father are trying to make a new start in a new town. She finds a dog and adopts it, during that summer she meets people and learns to deal with her mother's absence.

5 out of 5 stars

Language: not an issue

Violence: not an issue

Morality: not an issue

Age: 8 and up

The Tiger Rising

By Kate DiCamillo

This is a story of a boy and a girl who move to the same town, for different reasons. Both of them have some things to deal with , the boys mother just died of cancer and the girls father just left her and her mother. It is a good story about how to deal with crisis.

5 out of 5 stars

Language: not an issue

Morality: The girls father ran out on the family with his secretary.

Violence: son is slapped on the back of the head by his father, he hits his father.

Age: 10 and up

Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

By Kate DiCamillo

This is a delightful story about a selfish, stuck up, china rabbit and how he learns to be kind and love others. He really does go on a miraculous journey. It is an engaging tale, although it is meant for very your readers. I enjoyed it, and Lily loved hearing me read it to her.

5 out of 5 stars

Language: not an issue

Violence: not much, one character dies of an illness

Morality: not an issue

Age: 3 and up

Tale of Despareux

By Kate Di Camilo

This is a great tale, mostly about forgivness. If a child is haveing a difficulty with forgivenss this is a good book. I tried to read it to Lily (3 years old), she enjoyed most of it but some of it was a little to much for her. I really enjoyed it. it is very craftily written, and is intended to be read out loud to children. Thus it is written in a very conversational tone.

5 out of 5 stars

Languge: Some talk of blood and killing, no swearing.

Violence: A mouse and a rat loose there tails, a queen dies (scared to death). The rats are scary characters who love to make others suffer.

Morality: A child is geven away into slavery by here father, later there is forgivness and all is made right , but in the middle of the book this could scare a small child.

Age: 3-5 years old and up depending on how much of the story you read. all of Despareux's story is appropriate for a 3 year old, the rest of the book not till 4 or 5 years old.

Work and the Glory

By Gerald Lund

I really enjoyed this series about LDS church history. Although it is fictional there are meticulous citations at the end of every chapter so you know where the stories come from. I found this very helpful, it also helped so I knew which stories were true and which were the fictionalized part. I think this series is a must for anyone wanting to know more about church histroy with out reading history books. While historically accurate I do find some of the ficitonal conversations by some of the real characters a little out of character, but that is the right of literary license.

5 out of 5 stars

Language: Not a worry

Violence: some scenes of brutal violence, althought they are actual which probably makes them worse.

Morality: Deals with polygamy, and some members infidelity, also some accusations of church members of church leaders of inpropiety.

Age: 12 and up, must be mature enough to deal with the issue of sectarian violence and polygamy.

The Alliance

By Gerald Lund

This a post apocalyptic book about settlements that were set after a nuclear war between the USA and Russia. There are different types of societies, some which are very restrictive, and remove the free will of those who belong to the community. It is similar to The Giver enough that if you liked it you would love this book.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Language: Not a worry

Violence: Some intense violence, but nothing too graphic.

Morality: Not a worry

Age appropriate: 12 and up

Pillage

By Obert Skye

This book is about a boy and some dragons, it is a well written book that is fairly engaging. It is a fantasy book that takes place in the northeastern united states.

Overall: 4 out of 5 Stars

Language: Not a problem

Violence: There are some bullying, by other children, and some of the dragons attack cities. Nothing really intense.

Morality: Not a problem

Age appropriate: 10 and up

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

For plot synopsis, go to
http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/

Overall rating: Four out of Five stars

Morality: No sexuality. Examines themes such as media, technology, and the fact that anyone, anywhere always has the freedom to choose their actions.

Language: Don't remember.

Violence: It has a fair amount of violence, but is not overly graphic.

Age appropriate: 14 and up

The Chronicles of Narnia

by C.S. Lewis

I give this series a five out of five stars. I doubt that anyone is not familiar with this book series, so I will just say all the books are great and I really enjoy reading them.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Language: Not an issue

Violence: Wars and rumors of wars, but nothing graphic. The last book has a little more explicit violence.

Morality: Not an issue

Age appropriate: 8 and up

Dark is Rising Series

By Susan Cooper
The series includes (in order) Over sea, Under stone, The Dark is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree.

This is a first rate series about the fight between good and evil. Very good books. The story is of children who help the "light" to fight back the "dark" as it comes rising. The children go on quests to find "things of power" to help repel the "dark". The book deftly points out how some people can serve the "dark " without knowing it by being racist, angry or selfish. It deals with some of Arthurian fantasy, king Aurthur being a great King of the "light." I really enjoyed this book series.

Overall: 5 0ut 0f 5 stars

Language: Maybe two instances of taking the lords name in vain.

Violence: Some Children are put in situations of peril, but nothing too intense.

Morality:One character refers to another character saying "anyone could see she was anyone's girl" Which wasn't true of the character but could imply immorality and lead children to ask for clarification.

Age appropriate from between 10-13

The Messenger

By Lois Lowry

Last of "the Giver" series we find out what happened to Jonas from "the Giver". This book is much darker that the two books that go before. There is ominous impending doom hanging over the whole book. People begin to change and become mean and dark. Meant for an older audience.

Overall: 4 out of 5

Violence: Some violence and anger in this book. As well as some death and brutality.

Morality: No issues with morality

Language: Not an issue

Ages 12 and up

Gathering Blue

By Lois Lowry

This book is somewhat of a sequel to "The Giver" It takes place in a very similar time but ina different part of the world. This world is not as controlled or technologically advanced as Jonas's community was. It is the story of a girl with a gift. She fights hard to survive in a brutal and archaic society. This book instills a lack of trust in authority very similar to "The Giver".

Overall: 4 out of 5

Violence: More violence and anger in this book. As well as some death and brutality. one character has his eyes clawed and is left for dead.

Morality: No issues with morality

Language: not an issue

Ages 10 and up

The Giver

By Lois Lowry

This book is a good book that makes you think. This is a story about a boy who grows up on a society where there is no ability to choose. It might deal with issues that are not appropriate for the age group that it is meant for. It deals with freedom of choice is a controlled world. This book also deals a lot with the idea of pain.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

Morality: The main character has sexual "stirrings" in the form of a dream. The dream is not graphic.

Language: Some inappropriate use of the word 'Lord'

Violence: There is death by injection, and some scenes of bloody warfare.

Age appropriate: 10 and up

The City of Ember Series

By Jeanne DuPrau

Series Includes (in order): The City of Ember, The People of Sparks, The prophet of Yonwood, and The Diamond of Darkhold

The plot revolves around an underground city that was built to save the human race from total destruction in the last great world war. The main characters are eleven years old. I think this book is great for children, it does deal with end of the world themes, and wars with total destruction, but contains no graphic violence. Children do get in perilous situations, but not too intense for children. This book series deals with the issues of controlling anger, how to know right from wrong, and how to resolve conflict.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Morality: Teaches good morals such as how to get along with others and resolve conflict, No sexuality.

Language: Some inappropriate use of the word 'Lord'

Violence: Talk of wars, some fights and brawls but no graphic violence.

Age appropriate: 10 and up

Book Reviews that Mean Something

This site is a place to find reviews of books that help you decide whether you want to read a book or not. Not just to rant about how good or bad it is. Five categories will be used:
Over all rating
Morality
Language
Violence
Age
This will be especially useful for those looking for books their children could read.