Middle school students have reading interests that run the gamut from Diary of a Wimpy Kid to Twilight. Sometimes as a parent it is hard to know what is age appropriate for your child. Through this blog, I will try to help parents make informed decisions about what is available in our library. I am hoping that this blog will be a resource for our parents, and that we can all work together to make our students life-long readers!



Thursday, March 7, 2013

Altered

From the publisher:

Altered
by Jennifer Rush
 
"They were made to forget. But they'll never forgive.

Everything about Anna's life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch, at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There's Nick, solemn and brooding; Cas, light-hearted and playful; Trev, smart and caring; and Sam . . . who's stolen Anna's heart.

When the Branch decides it's time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape. Anna's father pushes her to go with them, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs.

 
On the run, with her father's warning in her head, Anna begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about herself. She soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they're both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away."
 
This book was exciting, intense, action-packed and interesting. There were several unexpected twists and turns. The characters were appealing and well thought out. However, I never felt a connection between the main characters and there were several instances where these super-human people were just plain stupid. I expect more out of my super-humans.

Areas of concern: (See my rant on The Raven Boys.) The language was absolutely horrible, the "f" word was everywhere, not to mention all the other cuss words and vulgarities you can possibly think of. It was horribly violent, and not werewolf or alien violence, but people killing people violence. Blood splattering, vacant, staring eyes violent. There was also one pretty hefty make-out scene.
 
Suggested ages:
Booklist:  Grades 7-12
Kirkus Reviews:  Ages 12+
Publisher's Weekly:  Ages 12+
*Mrs. Duke says:  "Seriously?  Those suggested ages are what made me order the book for our library and I completely disagree with them.  Do I recommend this to adults? Only if any of the afore-mentioned things are okay with you. Do I recommend it for a 12 year old - apparently the intended audience? Definitely not."

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