52 Reasons to Hate My Father

52 Reasons to Hate My 
Father
by Jessica Brody

From the publisher:
"Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it. 

Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.

Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.

In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him."

The concept and plot of this book reminded me very strongly of The Ultimate Gift, except way fluffier, more annoying and none of the depth that was in that book. However, I had fun reading it, and it is popular with my 7th and 8th grade girls. I had a really hard time caring about the spoiled heiress, and the intern who was supposed to be the love interest was so one dimensional it was ridiculous. I much preferred the happy Don Juan's taco friend who taught Lexi and thing or two. So it was fluffy, it was fun, but there was no depth or heart. The ending wrapped up way too quickly and conveniently and, quite frankly, wasn't even very believable.
On another note, this book has the most awesome book trailer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjWYB... 

Areas of concern:
*Quite a bit of underage drinking and clubbing.
*Drunk driving.
*Rich people paying off people to keep bad behavior out of court.
*Drunk spoiled heiress making horrible choices including making out with someone she doesn't even like.
*A father on his 6th engagement. The daughter recognizes that this "stepmother" will only last about 2 years. 

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12+

School Library Journal - Grades 7+

Court of Fives

Court of Fives
by Kate Elliott

From the publisher:
"On the Fives court, everyone is equal.

And everyone is dangerous.

Jessamy’s life is a balance between acting like an upper-class Patron and dreaming of the freedom of the Commoners. But away from her family, she can be whomever she wants when she sneaks out to train for the Fives, an intricate, multilevel athletic competition that offers a chance for glory to the kingdom’s best competitors.

Then Jes meets Kalliarkos, and an improbable friendship between the two Fives competitors—one of mixed race and the other a Patron boy—causes heads to turn. When Kal’s powerful, scheming uncle tears Jes’s family apart, she’ll have to test her new friend’s loyalty and risk the vengeance of a royal clan to save her mother and sisters from certain death.

In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott’s first young adult novel weaves an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege. "

The world building in this book was so confusing I felt like I needed a full-sized map in front of me at all times with little green army men positioned all around. Or, more probably, different colored little army men so I knew who was who. And the world-building that was done was boring. It was given in pages of explanation, and in terms that didn't come together in my head. But that's just me. Other people may appreciate the complexity. 

I also didn't really love any of the characters. The main character, Jes, puts her whole family at risk by joining the Fives competition, which she knows will hurt her father's career and make her sisters even less marriageable than they already are because of their mixed heritage. But SHE wants this so badly that she does it anyway. She is constantly talking about her love for her family, and yet she destroys their lives. And then we are supposed to feel empathy for her as she struggles to save her family like she is some big hero, when she is doing exactly what she wants and the rest of her family is bitterly suffering for her selfishness. 

The love interest, Kal, is a spineless little princeling who just blindly does whatever Jes tells him to.

And what the heck is wrong with Bettany? The main character has a twin sister who is always shut away. I thought she had some disease, but the best I could figure is that she had a tendency to be outspoken and full of anger for their situation, so they didn't want her to say anything to embarrass them. 

All that sounds very negative, and those things really did bother me, but it wasn't all bad, and I think teenagers will really like it. There was a lot of action, a very evil bad guy, a cool competition that I pictured as an ancient or medieval American Ninja Warrior, and plenty of suspense with a little magic thrown in. I definitely see readership for this one in my library.

Areas of concern:
*The parents of the main character were never able to marry because of their different citizenship and status. 
*It is discovered that one of the sisters has a lesbian lover and that she has been taken away to be a concubine to the evil bad guy. (That whole story line was very small and just mentioned - nothing graphic.) 
*Some kissing between the main character and her spineless little princeling.
*Because the main character looked like a Commoner and not a Patron, sometimes she was fondled when she was out in public.
*The main character is caught in a bathing house without clothes in front of a group of men. 
*Some weird, mystical/magical scary suspense at the end of the book. Not really sure where that is headed.

Suggested Ages:
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12+
School Library Journal - Grades 7-10

Red Queen

Red Queen
by Victoria Aveyard

From the publisher:
"The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?"

Whew, what a roller coaster of an ending! I am completely mentally exhausted. This was an awesome book. I have read several reviews that have been critical because it was too similar to another book called Red Rising . I have never read that book, but I was reading Snow Like Ashes at the same time as I was reading The Red Queen , and there were definite similarities there. However, I really liked them both. This one had flavors of a bunch of different books, including Steelheart , but why does that matter? I read somewhere that every romance book ever written is somehow a knock-off of a Jane Austen book because she covered every plot device possible in a romance. And, quite frankly, I'm one that likes to stick to what I like anyway. So if you enjoy a good fantasy/dystopian/superpowers/light romance, who cares if it is similar to another book? 

Things I liked:
*Romance was there, but it wasn't like other YA books where the couple become so involved with each other that they don't care that the world is ending, or whatever. This romance takes a back seat to the drama of the world they are living in and the causes they are fighting for. 
*The heroine is very conflicted about the violence of the revolution she is fighting for. She believes in the cause, but isn't fanatical about it and realizes the cost. The people who are dying on both sides are sons, daughters, fathers and mothers. 
*Loved the superpowers! These people aren't just ninjas or good warriors, they can summon fire, water, control metal, control minds, freeze things (even the blood inside of someone's body)... How do you defeat that? 
*The world building was fabulous. Glass/diamond walls? Bowl of Bones? A city built all on stilts? A sort of secret, homemade subway system? I could go on and on, it was fascinating. Is there going to be a movie? I need one!
*The twists! Oh my goodness, the twists!

I definitely recommend this one, with the following concerns:

Areas of concern:
As with all dystopians, there is quite a bit of violence. 
Disturbing torture.
Disturbing deaths and murders.
There was a handful of cuss words.
A few mild kisses.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 13+

School Library Journal - Grades 9+
*Mrs. Duke thinks that the violence in this book isn't any worse than The Hunger Games, so if your child has read that, this one should be okay.*

The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, #1)

The Mysterious Howling
by Maryrose Wood

From the publisher:
"Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander, age ten or thereabouts, keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia, perhaps four or five, has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf, age somewhere-in-the-middle, is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels.

Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must help them overcome their canine tendencies.

But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the vast forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?"

The 5th book of this series just came out, and I finally got around to reading the first one.  I really enjoyed it; it is smart, funny, engaging and quirky.  With a lexile level of 1000 and an AR level of 6.8, this is a great book for those middle grade students who need a higher reading level without some of the YA content.  It contains many pearls of wisdom from the inimitable Agatha Swanburne, not to mention our young governess-heroine Penelope.  There are quotes from literature, and even some Latin phrases thrown in for good measure.   With that being said, you might assume this is one of those books that adults love but middle graders don't like.  However, I have several students who love this series.  This would be a good family read-aloud, or a road trip book.  I understand the narrarator is fabulous on the audiobook.  There are a lot of mysteries left unexplained, so be ready to start the next one quickly.  

Areas of concern:

Children appear to be in mortal danger

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-12

School Library Journal - Grades 5-8
*Mrs. Duke thinks that older middle grade and upper grade will appreciate and understand the book more than elementary students.  It would be sad to miss a lot of the funny parts because you were too young to understand or catch them.*

Rose

Rose
by Holly Webb

From the publisher:
"Rose isn't like the other orphans at St Bridget's Home for Abandoned Girls. Instead of dreaming of getting adopted by loving, wealthy parents, Rose wants to get a job and be independent. She doesn't need anyone but herself. She finds her escape working as a maid for Mr. Fountain, an alchemist. Unable to ignore the magic that flows throughout the grand residence, Rose realizes that just maybe; she might have a little bit of magic in her too. This new series featuring magicians, witches, talking cats, mist-monsters, and friendships will have young readers in a trance!"

This is a little gem of a book. It is a short, quick read that is delightfully creative. I have read other reviews that said it is Downton Abbey meets Harry Potter , which is a total win-win for me. I was immediately drawn to pragmatic Rose, the main character. Surrounded in the orphanage by dreamers who are waiting for unknown parents to show up and claim them, Rose just wants to leave the orphanage and make her own way in the world. She is spunky but knows her place and doesn't bemoan her circumstances. She is hard-working, loyal, and just wants to do her job well. She didn't ask for her magic, and doesn't want her magic. It sets her apart from the other servants and makes her feel strange. In this book, magic is just for the rich, and the servants distrust it. Because of her magic, she is drawn into some very scary situations and realizes that she had better learn how to control it.

The secondary characters in the book are also very well drawn. I love how the author portrays Isabella as such a spoiled brat, but then lets us see who she could really be. Interaction with different characters are woven seamlessly into the story. This book draws you into it's magical world and holds you spellbound.

Areas of concern:
There is a very evil villain who does very evil things to little children.
There are a couple of mild cuss words.

Suggested Ages:
Kirkus Reviews - Ages 9-12
School Library Journal - Grades 4-7

The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse
by Marie Rutkoski

From the publisher
"Winning what you want may cost you everything you love". 

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart."

This is the last of my summer forgot-to-blog-at-the-time books.  I remember that it took me forever to read this one, and that is usually not a good sign, especially since I read several others at the same time. Maybe it would have been better if I had read it straight through, but I was pretty bored during most of it. I ended up enjoying it, but it definitely didn't bowl me over.   However, it was clean and it has a GoodReads rating of 4.07, so I'm obviously in the minority.  I think teenagers will really like it.    

Areas of concern:
The whole plot deals with conquering neighboring countries and enslaving them. 
I don't remember any bad language or sexual situations.

Suggested ages:
Kirkus Reviews - Ages 12-18
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12+