Matched Series by AllyCondie

from goodreads

3 stars

The end of school is two weeks away. Lately I have been researching different programs at our library, different books to keep the girls entertained and figuring out my own summer reading list. What I am discovering is there is so much choice. Everything looks good, and it is hard to pare things down. I want to read everything now, which would be an awesome super power, but is not a realistic option. Trying to find the perfect summer read, or the next great book for the kids is a hard undertaking. I have to be careful not to build up my expectations too much or else it will be a let down. Oh the horror of too many books and too little time!

What are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Synopsis

Cassia lives in a society that seems perfect. But when a glitch happens she realizes that there are limits to what she can do, what she can learn, and who she can love. The fabric of her society starts to unravel as she tries to figure things out and save/be with the person she loves.

My Thoughts

This was a pretty average series. The premise had a lot of potential and seemed interesting, but I don't think it lived up to its hype. It had parts that I liked and parts that just seemed meh. The first book did have a Giver vibe. Condie gave us a detailed society with things really thought out.

As the series progressed the story went in directions I wasn't expecting. I found the last two books to be such a contrast from the first book that it was hard to make the leap at first. I found that it dealt with too many abstracts. I wish I knew more about who lived on the fringes. It was confusing to know how they fit into the society. Not all of them were hiding from the society but, they weren't part of it either. It was confusing. I think it would have been helpful to have a map of the country as well. They talked about different provinces and cities, but it was hard to picture.

I found Cassia and Ky's relationship to be a bit hard to believe at first. She talked about her best friend Xander and how she was glad she was matched with him. But when she starts to think that Ky was an option all of the sudden he is all she wants. How could she fall so fast and so deeply? It seemed that Ky was always on the fringe of her radar. How could they be so intense? It just didn't seem believable.

While I liked how the series ended, and I liked it wasn't like all the other dystopians with lots of guns and violence, by the end I was reading just to finish it. I really didn't care about the characters and the society. I just found it dull. All the references to art work and poems and how those things were commodities got confusing and abstract.

This series would be good for getting your feet wet in YA dystopians but it was not my favourite series. It was just a bit dull for my liking.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

2 stars

Well it has been a while since I have posted. Why??? Well I have lots of appointments so that eats up my time. And because it eats up my time and I still have organizing and housework to do the blog was put on the back burner. Also, my laptop went caput. And while I have been using my husbands desktop, I didn't like ignoring Miss P that much as his desktop is in the basement. So it made spending time writing and editing blog posts not the easiest.

Well, thanks to our tax return I have finally gotten myself a Chromebook. It is not as fancy as my last laptop buy I figure since most of what I do is online anyway it made the most sense. Also, if I need to do anything else that requires an actual desktop, I can just use my husband's. I like that all my google stuff is right there and connected. Pretty cool.

Now I am just playing the waiting game. I am officially at term (37 weeks) and would love for this baby to get out. So send baby get out vibes my way.

Synopsis

This follows the life of Kathy and her two friends Ruth and Tom. They all go to a secluded school called Hailsham. This looks at their life at the school, and their life now and the memories they have. Through these memories they learn more about what their life is really about and the strangeness of the society they find themselves in.

My Thoughts

This is an adult, artsy, not violent version of a dystopian novel. I started into it thinking it was going to be more mysterious and thrilling, but it didn't turn out that way. I kind of found the book a bit dull and felt I was forcing myself to finish it.

I didn't understand why once the kids found out their true purpose in life they didn't want to run away and leave. They seemed to be accepting. Perhaps a little too accepting.

I wish that the author went more into the moral dilemma of the society. How this program really worked and was funded and how things got harvested. Like was it as the need arose or did they keep organs on bank or what. What did the rest of society really feel about it? Other schools were always alluded to. It would have been neat to see how those schools were run and what the difference was. How did the people get selected for what school they would go to?

I thought I was getting myself into a boarding school drama and ended up with it being a review of society instead. It took me awhile to realize it was a sort of alternate reality, though it could really happen and that is scary.

The time lines were a bit confusing as well. The author constantly alluded to something that would happen in the future, and then backtrack into the story to lead you to that point. It was not a technique I enjoyed reading. Once in a while maybe, but not every chapter. The story also jumped around a bit so it was hard to follow.

While the premise seems promising the delivery just wasn't there for me. I know some people love it, and that's great, it is well written. I just couldn't get into it to really enjoy it.

Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

from goodreads

4 stars

I started the year with a reading bang. It seemed I was constantly reading and finishing books so fast. Now the slow down has come. I am getting busy with other projects around the house, or reading aloud to Miss P more and going to lots of appointments.

Sometimes reading is like that. It goes through ebbs and flows. And really, that is life. You have moments where you are so busy if one more things falls on your lap you will burst! And then, you have moments where you can just laze around and be chill.

I am love that things do change and that there are times and seasons for things. I am also grateful that I can renew my library books online, for those times when I am slow.

Synopsis

The Legend trilogy is written in two voices. One is that of Day, the Republic's number one criminal, who is really a 17 year old boy trying to survive and help out his family. The other voice is that of June, the prodigy of the system who follows without question until her brother dies and she is faced with new information. Throw in a war, disease, rebels and romance and you get one pretty cool dystopian series.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this series. The characters seemed well thought out and well rounded. They didn't seem to have complete hero complexes that you often see in YA dystopian books. The characters admitted when they couldn't do something and accepted the help that was around them. They really leaned on others which was refreshing to see.

I really enjoyed the switching between voices of Day and June. It was neat to get two different perspectives. It made the story a bit more rounded and helped with the flow. You gained a deeper sense of the society they found themselves in.

I also liked how the series ended. Ending are such a hard thing to get right and I think Lu did an excellent job of making the story feel complete and you feel like the characters are going to be alright. 

There were times that I found the story not as engaging, or some of the interactions a bit weird or not in keeping with the characters and story. But on the whole this was a great dystopian. Definitely one that you should read if you haven't yet.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

from goodreads

2.5 stars

It is interesting how when you are forced to read a book, like in high school, you either love it and it expands your world or you hate it and it closes off your world a little bit. There is usually no middle ground. The loves and the hates are very intense. I liked most of the books I had to read in high school. I really enjoyed Lord of the Flies. I really disliked The Stone Angel. A friend of mine was required to read Wuthering Heights at her high school and she did not appreciate it at all. When I read it in university (for pleasure) I really liked it and couldn't understand why she hated it so viscerally.

The Handmaid's Tale falls into this kind of category. Many have read it as part of their high schooling. People either love it or hate it. I had a small inkling of what it was going to be about going into it but had no idea how the tale was told. I mostly read it to see what all the fuss was about and try to figure out why it made such a stir with those who read it in school.

Do you have books like that from your required reading days?

Synopsis

Through the eyes of Offred we learn of an America that has been turned on its head. Women who have viable ovaries are now "handmaids" who live in the houses of high ranking officials in their society. Their only purpose is to breed.

My Thoughts

Well to me this was kind of a blah book. While it is well written, and at the time was rather avant garde, it just didn't do it for me. I found it rather slow and boring until near the end.

I guess it needed to be slow and boring so we could understand what Offred was going through, how boring her days were. How alone she really was. I just wished there was some sort of action or more questions explained. And the jumping between timelines was sometimes confusing.

It was interesting to think of what a religious state would look like in the United States. How totally conservative it would become and how people would need to start changing their ways. What I thought was really interesting was how there were tourists that would come around the town. Its like the U.S. went back in time with the way they were dressed and did things, yet the rest of the world was still modern and progressive. It was an interesting juxtaposition.

The ending was kind of weird. You kind of wanted to know more about what happened to her. Did she ever find her family? Was she able to escape and be happy? What about the others?

So this book just wasn't for me. I can understand why people like it but I just couldn't get my head space there to fully appreciate it.

The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

from goodreads

2.5 stars

I really love goodreads.com. I love the fact that I can see what my friends are reading. I love that I can keep track of books I want to read, even though every time I go on I seem to add a billion! I love their reading challenge. I love being able to see what others think of books and with the ratings it helps to gauge whether the book is worth the time to read or not.

Yet, that rating system can be a bit of a bad thing, especially when it comes to YA books. It seems that most of the people who rate YA books either a) rate it before the book is even out. Like seriously? The book hasn't been published but people are all ready giving it a 5 star rating because of their anticipation??? Crazibus! or b) are so super enthusiastic about it that I believe they give an inflated rating. It seems with YA readers (of a certain age, that age being young) that there is no grey area when it comes to a series. Either they love it full tilt to the end or they don't, and most of them love it! And you know what, there is nothing wrong with readers being super excited about a series or about reading in general. It's great! I just wished they didn't saturate the ratings so I could get a more realistic view of a book. Oh well.

***spoiler alert*** while I will do my very best not to have spoilers I may inadvertantly give something away. If you have not read this series yet and don't want anything revealed you may want to wait to read this review. 

Synopsis

Thomas wakes up in a dark elevator. He doesn't remember anything. Thus starts this sci-fi ride within a maze and then beyond.

My Thoughts

I read this series because of the hype, especially the added hype around the movies. I especially wanted to see what my teenage niece was so excited about. 

While the idea behind the series is really cool and thought provoking, I found myself being utterly bored while reading the books. While I guess there were some exciting bits in them they were surrounded by boring dialogue and characters that I really didn't care for at all. Perhaps if I were more of a brooding teenager I would have appreciated the teen attitude and recklessness. Alas, I am a 32 year old mother and I found the macho vibrato so ridiculous.

In the first book I was definitely disliking the not answering of questions. Thomas just arrived there obviously needing some answers to where the heck he was and all he got was "you don't need to know right now" or "we'll tell you later", yet later never seemed to happen and when would he need to know? And then the people got mad when he explored or tested some boundary he shouldn't have. It's like hello!? maybe answer his questions and then he would not have done that!

I did like the slang that the gladers made up. It definitely helped this rowdy bunch of boys not swear, otherwise swearing would have been littered throughout this series, and I really detest swearing for swearing sake in books.

In the second and third book I did not like Thomas' anger towards Teresa. I felt that the intensity of the anger was really not warranted. It was also weird in the last books how close he was to his two friends from the glade considering he only knew them for like a week or so. How did he become all chummy and leadery with them. Wouldn't of these other people have other friends in the group? It was just weird.

This series I think would be good for teens that usually don't feel like reading. There is not a bunch of flowery mumbo jumbo in it and there are some cool fight scenes. But, if you are looking for a completed, relatively well thought out and understandable world (sort of like the one created in the Hunger Games) you aren't going to find it. There were too many holes and things happening that I just didn't get. I guess I had too many questions that weren't answered.

So all in all, this was a series that just wasn't for me. I only read the second and third book because I held hope it would get better and I wanted to see how the writer was actually going to wrap it all up. (I was satisfied with the ending though I know many weren't). While the concept was good, the execution, for me, was not excellent.

The author does have some other series that look interesting. I may give them a try, but I think I need to wait before I do.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

from goodreads

4 stars

I am so ready for summer vacation. I think I have hit my threshold for making lunches. Well I think I have hit my threshold for making dinners too. I am just done. Making menus week in and week out is very stressful. You need to make sure that the food is healthy and that everyone will eat it. It also has to fit into the time schedules, some nights get busy earlier than others. And right now, I don't feel like doing prep work or anything. I just want the food to magically appear. I think if I could have some magical power it would be that. With a snap of my fingers a healthy delicious meal would just appear. Now that would be awesome.

Synopsis

Enter a world divided into Silvers and Reds. Silvers are an elite life form, their blood is silver and they have special capabilities. They rule the roost. The reds are subserviant slaves. Their lives have little meaning to the silvers except for their man power.

When Mare becomes a servant in the royal court, she realizes that despite her red blood she has special powers too. When found out she becomes a pawn in the King's arsenal, but also a secret help to the red rebellion.

My Thoughts

I really did enjoy this book. With the YA genre, you never know what you are going to get, is it going to be too sappy or too predictable, or too ridiculous. This book was great. It kept me on my toes. It had a lot of twists and turns. I thought it was going a certain way and then it totally changed.

I did find the main character to be a bit obtuse. Seriously how blind and naive can you be! There was definitely some head smacking at some points.

The author has quite a few neat ideas. The different colour of blood is very interesting. It makes it so no one can hide who they truly are. The different Silver Houses with their different powers was also really cool.

The revelation at the end, totally called it at the beginning.

Some negative things I have heard about this book is that it is similar to other books. I have never read the ones that the commenters were talking about so I don't know if it is or not. However, I still really enjoyed this book.

This is the first of a trilogy and I am looking forward to how this all plays out. Now I just have to wait for the next one to be published. Let the count down begin.

Fairest by Marissa Meyer

from goodreads

4 stars

I have come to realize that I really have no life. Well, okay I do have one, but it is amazing how much of it revolves around books. If I am on the computer I have to check the status of my holds at the library or see updates on my goodreads feed. It is weird I know but that's the way it is. And you should see me if I know a book I really want to read is about to come out. I am checking at the library weeks before the release date to see if I can reserve it. Usually my perseverance pays off and I am able to be the first one to check it out! That's right, those bent pages and broken spines are all me (well I would actually never do that, but you know what I mean). But seriously, in the grand scheme of things it won't matter if I was the first person to check a book out at my library. No one else will now of that prestigious honour but me. But, when you are a book lover... that sensation just can't be beat.

*** Just a notice that I will not be doing my picture book review on Tuesday, instead I will be doing another chapter book. I have been reading so quickly lately I am like 6 books behind of where I actually am. The picture book reviews will resume the following Tuesday April 14th. ***



Synopsis

This is a prequel to Cinder, the first book in the Lunar Chronicles. This book looks at Queen Levana's life before she became queen. We see how she was moulded into what she would ultimately become.

My Thoughts

While I am impatiently waiting for Winter to be published, and sad of the delay this book has caused in that, I did really enjoy it.

I enjoyed learning about Levana's life and how her history really shaped the character we see in the rest of the series. You feel sorry for her. She had parents who didn't care for her. She had a sister who was rude and abusive and disfigured her. (Now we know about the need to cover her face all the time.) She was in love, and yet, did not understand what love really was. She wanted things so much but didn't know how to really give of herself and be trusting, though you can't really blame her.

Through this book Levana definitely becomes humanized. It gives her character new depth. It is also interesting to see how long some of these lunar plans have been in the works, such as the plague and the army of super soldiers.

Fans of the series are going to enjoy this book immensely. Even though it is a prequel I would not read this before Cinder or even Scarlet. I think it is important to see Levana first in those books and know the society through Cinder and Scarlet first and then go back to see the lunar perspective. This was definitely published at the right time. Now it is just a waiting game for Winter, which is supposed to be published in November.

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

from fantasticfiction.co.uk

3.75 stars

January was such a book reading month. I feel like those log chutes, where there are so many logs waiting to be sent through that they are jamming up because there is only room for one. I am trying to go in the order I finish them, but then I don't because for whatever reason I feel like talking about a different book and then boom, I realize I forgot one.

This is a series I read during Christmas, and I am finally getting to them now. Oh well. Better late than never!

Synopsis

It is the world after world war four. The North American continent is now on big country called Illea. Illea is in conflict with New Asia, and society is set in a caste system with 8 castes.

America Singer is in one of lower castes, a five. When a chance comes for her to enter a contest to marry the prince, soon to be king of Illea, her mother convinces her this is a great opportunity to advance. America isn't that sure. Why? Her heart is already given to another.

My Thoughts

When I think of how to describe this series I think, Hunger Games meets the Bachelor, only with way better accessories. I'm not sure why I picked the first book up but I am glad I did. I read the entire series during Christmas. While most of it is just fluff, there is still some substance in there. And reading these books made me so happy that I don't have to be a teenager again with the whole does he like me or not dilemma.

I think I liked this series the most because of the world that the author created. While the main crux of the story is the "Selection" and the love triangle between Prince Maxon, America and Aspen, Cass created a world that was very layered and seemingly well thought out. This is a society that was turned on its head to nothing that we recognize today. We learn that the first King of this new country was not as altruistic as he is remembered. The whole idea of two different kinds of rebels was interesting and I would have loved to learn more about them. The Northern rebels, who want information, and want to make a better society that is more just and fair. And the Southern rebels who just want to be elevated so they can squash those who squashed them. Those types of dynamics are part of life to day. The whole justice vs. revenge take on the ills of our lives/world. Very interesting. Perhaps she could do a spin off story that looked at the different rebel camps. (She has written a few spin off novellas available in ebook format.) There are also wars going on, but I don't think everything is truly on the up and up there. So many questions that just don't really get answered merely, teased at. Perhaps a longer book and one not written in the first person would have allowed her to focus on that a bit more too. It would be interesting to know more.

Near the end of the third book The One something is revealed about her father, and then that's all you hear about it. More answers and explanantions would have been nice. Why mention it or reveal it if it's not going to be explained later or bear any meaning after. It does connect one minor plot thing, but that's it. It would have been nice to know more and know if her father held some other role than just being an artist.

These are not books you want to read if you are looking for a serious book. But if you don't mind a little bit of teenage romantic fun once in a while this would be good a great pick. I think your teenage girls will like it, while you might be yelling at it saying "Just tell him/her how you feel!" "Be honest!!!" "Geez, just believe him already." I also found that some of the lines were a bit repetitive. 

I did like the characters. While sometimes I found America a little annoying, I liked her. She is not as strong as Catniss but she is not quite so foppish as Bella. America sticks to her moral character and does things she knows is right.

There is a fourth book coming out this year called The Heir.  It takes place many years after this series ends. I wonder if it will cover any of the changes of the society and delve more deeply in the rebellion stuff.

There was so much that was cool about this series, I just wanted a bit more substance and less "does he like me or not? Who to choose, Maxon or Aspen?" I wanted to know more about the world and society outside of the Selection. It seemed there was more going on, yet we never got to explore it.  I wonder if a movie or mini-series would be a good platform to address some of the questions I have about the society at large.

So, if you are into the YA book scene, I definitely recommend this series. It was a fun read.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

from goodreads

5 stars

There are some books that are meant to be read at certain points of your life. There are books I read as a preteen and real teen, that meant a lot to me at that time period. If I tried to read them now they would not have the same impact. But there are other books that I read as a teen that still give me insight and help shape the world around me. They still help me decide what I should value in the world, and what I should change. The help me be me.

The Giver is one of these books. Every time I read it I fall in love with it again and I am able to re-evaluate what I find important and what I do not. What I want the world to become and what I fear.

I am bit leery about seeing the movie. This book is so near and dear to me I am worried what Hollywood is going to do to it. Will I be sitting there saying "that's not how it was in the book, why did they do it like that?" Or will it give me an even deeper understanding to the world that Lowry created and thus a deeper understanding into our own world? We'll have wait and see.

Do you have a book like this? A book that no matter which time in your life you read it it still gives you joy and fulfillment?

***Spoiler Alert***
I am going to do my best at not giving any spoilers. But I know this book inside and out and may inadvertently give too much information. So there might not be any spoilers, but then there may not be. So read at own risk. :)

Synopsis

Jonas is entering an important stage in his life. He is twelve and at that age he gets placed in the career that he will work in for his life. He is excited and nervous all at the same time. But, when his name is skipped over at the ceremony, the whole community is a titter. Then he meets, the "Giver".

My Thoughts

I love this book. To me this is the ultimate dystopian. I can still remember the first time I read this book. I was twelve, my mom handed it to me before a road trip. And I was sitting in the front of our Plymouth Sundance totally in awe.

I love the world Lowry creates. I love how she slowly gives you tidbits about the community. I started picturing it one way and then she gives us another clue and it totally changes how I picture things. This makes it exciting and also gives the choices the community has made greater impact. For example, I pictured the streets with a bit of a slant or hill, especially when going towards the river, but then I read that there were no hills or real contrasts in elevation. Mind blowing.

I love how this book teaches the importance of love and bonding with friends and family. It teaches how important our emotions are, especially those of love. It also teaches the importance of facing hurt, disappointment and heart ache, with bravery and patience as this helps us with our empathy and understanding of others.

There is one scene that disturbs me more as a mother than it did when I first read it. It is the one with the baby twins. Some might say this scene shouldn't be in the book. But I think it opens the door for important discussion. A discussion that teens need to have so they can decide where their moral compass lies.

I would love to have more answers to some of my questions about this community. Such as, how many other communities are like this? How are they able to control the weather? How did this get formed? Why are they so technologically advanced when some of the other books in the series seem not as advanced? And so on. But without these questions answered it is still a satisfying read.

It is a simple tale, and it doesn't go as in depth as some adult readers might want it too but, as a older kids/YA book, it is great. It begins the conversation. This is the first book in The Giver Quartet. I have read all of them. I think The Giver is still my favourite, though I did enjoy the other books as well. They deal with different issues, yet they still allow a conversation to be had. Books that provide the jumping off point for conversations can't be all that bad.

The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

from goodreads

3 stars

I don't know what it is but dystopian novels fascinate me. I think it is neat to see what societies the author creates and then think, how would our world now get to be the world in the books. What massive destruction or political takeovers would have to occur to get the people to be part of this society. I like that they make you think about your own morals and values and makes you question the status quo. It's nice when books make you think and challenge you to reaffirm what you hold dear. Although right now we seem to be swamped with dystopian novels, each one still allows us to have a conversation with ourselves and others. I think that is the whole point of reading. It helps you discover what type of person you are and what you look for in others.


***Possible spoilers*** (Though I will try not to say anything that would be a spoiler I may inadvertently. I know this is a series that people probably don't want to have spoiled so I totally understand if you want to read the books first and then read what I thought.)

Synopsis

It is Chicago after a completely devastating war. The city is divided into 5 factions Erudite (the wise), Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful) and Dauntless (the brave). At age 16 you decide what faction to join. If you pass the initiation process you stay in the faction if not you are kicked out and become part of the factionless population.

Beatrice Prior (Tris) is from Abnegation. During her aptitude test she is told she is something that is a danger to herself and she needs to keep it secret. She shocks her family when she chooses a different faction. In her new faction she meets a boy named Four and together they find out secrets of their society and have tough decisions to make once the truth is known.

My Thoughts

Well, this is definitely no Hunger Games. I found with the Hunger Games I was sucked into the story from page one. It didn't take a long time for the author to set up the society and it got right to the action. The Divergent series on the other hand seemed to take the whole first book to develop the society. I found it to be slow paced and not as exciting as I was expecting it to be. Perhaps one reason why I wasn't over the moon with this series was because it was so hyped up. I heard only how awesome it was so I was expecting something that was going to blow my socks off. I didn't get that.

The first book in the trilogy, Divergent, was slow paced and really repetitive.  Tris feels guilty about leaving her faction, then feels strong in her resolve for choosing her new faction, then feels guilty again, then feels confident again. I was like, make up your mind, geish. The book left me with more questions than answers and just didn't hold my interest like the Hunger Games. I finished it because I was sure that the next book would be better as the society was already set up.

The second book, Insurgent, was definitely more action packed. The questions that I had after the first book were starting to be answered. I felt the author started to get into her writing groove as it was not as repetitive, though some of her descriptions of the make out sessions were very repetitive. Someone get that lady a thesaurus. This book shows the importance of honesty and forgiveness in relationships.

The third book, Allegiant, was really out of left field. She brought in a completely new story arc. It fit, but it left me with new questions. She almost needs to write a new book or series just dealing with the new revelations she brought into the society. I did feel satisfied with the ending. Some people were really upset, but I was o.k. with it. As a reader you always hope for happy endings for every character. In this case it didn't happen, yet it fit the story. And while my initial reactions was, dang that kind of sucks, I am not angry or feeling hurt, because it fit the story. Unlike an unmentionable character's death in Downton Abbey. Don't get me started about that! (If you have seen season 3 you know exactly what I'm talking about. I am still unimpressed. Though after seeing season 4 I am a bit less upset.)

On the whole I liked the series. It is not my favourite series but it was o.k. It gives you a lot to think about. Should we faction ourselves? Is it good to focus on one characteristic or embrace many characteristics. Are some personality traits better than others?

Even though I did enjoy it, there were times that I got frustrated with the main character. Tris has a hero complex, where she thinks she is the only one who can do things and that she needs to do it herself. I found her to be immature at times. I know she is only 16 but she still doesn't need to be so whinny and self-sacrificing.

There are some plot holes or questions that weren't completely answered. During the whole series I wanted to know more about what society was like outside the city. What did those living outside the city really think about those in Chicago? Perhaps Roth is leaving room for another series set in the outside. I know that knowing that information is not really important to the story, but it would be interesting to know.

This series is definitely a 14+ series. It has a bit of a harder edge to it. And while there is no blatant sex, somethings are eluded to making it more appropriate for older teens. I think girls may like this series more because of the romance component but, there is enough action that would hold boys' interest. A teen reader would probably rate the series higher than what I did. My nieces loved it. I guess I am becoming a true adult!