_ Plain Kate
by Erin Bow

Publisher's Note:  A debut novel that's as sharp as a knife's point.

Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood-carver's daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden charms are so fine that some even call her "witch-blade" -- a dangerous nickname in a town where witches are hunted and burned in the square.

Overall Review:  Combine a charming, haunting, and lyrical writing style with a fabulous cat, a complex villain, and a lonely but strong girl, and you have Plain Kate by Erin Bow.  The protagonist, Plain Kate, struggles valiantly to make her way in an unfriendly world filled with magic, Roamers, and witch-hunters.   Kate’s aloneness in the world made my heart ache for her and elevated the tension in the story while creating an unpredictable storyline.  Kate’s feline companion provided needed comic relief at key times.  Although it is filled with some painful moments, Plain Kate concludes on an authentic and hopeful note.  Loved it!   Overall Rating:   5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:
VIOLENCE:  a few mild and moderate instances

PROFANITY: none

SEXUAL CONTENT:  none

MATURE THEMES:  a few mild to moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE:   12+

Violence included the following incidences:  there is a report of deaths due to illness; there is report of death by burning; there is a report of a death by drowning; a market stall is attacked and destroyed with an ax; a character is attacked by a crowd/mob and the character’s ear is cut with a knife; there is a report of deaths by a plague; a character is locked in a cage and then the cage is set on fire; a magical creature destroys some people; a character is tortured; a character dies by knife; a character dies.

Mature themes include stereotyping, witch hunts, death, exploitation of the weak and outcast, revenge, and restitution.

Other content of note was magic involving the use of blood.  The blood was not obtained through violence per se, but nevertheless those scenes could be a bit disturbing for someone sensitive to blood.  Also there was a reference to a “woman’s monthly blood”.  Because of these items and some of the heavier themes, I would recommend a slightly older reader.

Plain Kate is a Clean Read for ages 12+!

_This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer

The Amulet of Samarkand
by Jonathan Stroud

Publisher's Note:  Nathaniel is a magician's apprentice, taking his first lessons in the arts of magic. But when a devious hot-shot wizard named Simon Lovelace ruthlessly humiliates Nathaniel in front of his elders, Nathaniel decides to kick up his education a few notches and show Lovelace who's boss. With revenge on his mind, he summons the powerful djinni, Bartimaeus. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure, the Amulet of Samarkand, he finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, and rebellion.

Overall Review:  The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud and its main character, Bartimaeus, rock!  There is just no other way to say it.  This book introduces us to Nathaniel, an apprentice magician, and to Bartimaeus, a djinn.  Armed with an infallible, lofty self-esteem, Bartimaeus keeps the narrative clipping with his observations, asides, and snarky comments which are delivered via footnotes.  The footnotes are sheer brilliance of the highest degree and propel this book into an elite class of fiction.  In addition to the format and the characters, the plot line is strong and never flags.

This book can be found shelved in either the children’s section or the young adult section, but it is one of the rare books that can capture an older audience.  Bartimaeus is complex and entertaining enough to hook an adult.  This is the first book of a series that started as a trilogy, but last year a fourth Bartimaeous book ( essentially a prequel) came out.  Taken as a whole, The Bartimaeus Trilogy is near the top of my all-time best series list due to individual book strength, continuity and congruent vision among the books, and several of the best characters of recent children/YA fantasy.    Overall  Rating:   5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:
VIOLENCE:  many mild instances and a few moderate instances

PROFANITY:  two mild

SEXUAL CONTENT:  none

MATURE THEMES:  none

RECOMMENDED AGE:   12+

Violence consists primarily of magical battling, including but not limited to:  explosions, clouting, vaporizations, bombing, squishing, detonations, throwing.[1]   The majority of violence is inflicted by the various imps, djinni, afrits, madrids, and foilots on each other as they carry out their masters’ biddings.   The descriptions were brief[2] and non-gory.  There is a reported murder.  A fire results in two deaths.  There are instances of characters being knocked unconscious by walls, rolling pins, etc.  There is the death of a couple of human characters as a result of some of the magical dueling. 

Only two mild profanities were noted.  

This book is best for a strong reader who can navigate the footnotes employed by the author.   Sidenote:  Don’t be alarmed, as I initially was, when the book begins with pentacles and the summoning of a demon.[3]  Those items are quickly re-defined within the parameters of the magical, fictional world the author has created and are not sinister.[4]   

The Amulet of Samarkand is a Clean Read for ages 12+!

[1] You get the idea.  Think Mario Super-Smash Brothers type of fighting.

[2] Yet, quite amusing.

[3] Don’t call him a demon.  Bartimaeus prefers djinn.

[4] Think genie in a lamp.

This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer

Century #1:  Ring of Fire
by P.D. Baccalario

Publisher's Note:  Every hundred years, four kids from four cities must save the world.

Rome, December 29.

A mix-up with their reservations forces Harvey from New York, Mistral from Paris, and Sheng from Shanghai to share a room with the hotel owner’s daughter, Elettra. The four kids discover an amazing coincidence—they all have birthdays on February 29, Leap Day. That night, a strange man gives them a briefcase and asks them to take care of it until he returns. Soon afterward, the man is murdered.

The kids open the briefcase. In it they find a series of clues that take them all over Rome, through dusty libraries and dark catacombs, in search of the elusive Ring of Fire, an ancient object so powerful that legend says even a Roman emperor couldn’t control it.

In the first book of the Century quartet, Italian author P. D. Baccalario begins a mystery that will take four cities and four extraordinary kids to solve.

Overall Review:  With non-stop action, clue-chasing, and an exotic location, Ring of Fire feels like National Treasure, The Thief Lord, and The Lightning Thief all rolled into one.  This book brings together a distinct cast of four international characters to solve a mystery ignited in Rome.  The first in a series that promises to take readers around the globe, Ring of Fire has a 39 Clues-vibe.   However, perhaps it would be fairer to say the 39 Clues Series has a Ring of Fire-vibe, since Baccalario’s book was published in Italian first.  Never predictable, the book has charming touches like the photographic inserts with visuals accompanying the path of clues.  The sinister villain, Mr. Mahler, receives high marks for originality.  The choice of present tense gives the book a subtle feel of immediacy.  Hard-hitting pacing propels the story to a conclusion that has more questions than answers, leaving the reader anxious for the next book.  Quite enjoyable, this is one of those series that can hook young readers, female and male alike, with its action and likeable, diverse protagonists.  Overall  Rating:   4 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

VIOLENCE:  a few mild and three moderate instances

PROFANITY:  several mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT:  none

MATURE THEMES:  none

RECOMMENDED AGE:   12+

Mild instances of violence included a building collapse resulting in a reported death and some minor injuries to several characters; a character is punched and rendered unconscious; a character is shoved against a wall and slapped; a scuffle between two characters involving punching and tackling results in a character tripping and hitting his head; an explosion.   Moderate violence consisted of a brief scene in which a character’s throat was slit with a most unusual murder weapon; a scuffle with a security guard in which a character bites another character and a security earpiece is melted while in the guard’s ear; a character is shot and other characters encounter blood and the injured person.

Mild profanity was noted nine times.

Although younger readers would probably enjoy this book, the three scenes of moderate violence seemed a bit much for a nine year old.  Thus, I recommend it for ages 12+. 

This book is a Clean Read for ages 12+!

This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Random House Books for a review

Hana’s Suitcase
by Karen Levine

 Publisher's Note:  In March 2000, a suitcase arrived at a children's Holocaust education center in Tokyo, Japan. Hana Brady was written on the outside. Children who saw the suitcase on display were full of questions and the director decided to find the answers._

Overall Review:  “In their early years no one really noticed or cared that they were different. Soon, though, the fact that they were Jews would become the most important thing about them.”

In Hana’s Suitcase author Karen Levine painstakingly recounts the true story of Hana Brady, a young Jewish girl. In 1942, Hana is separated from her loving Czechoslovakian family by the Nazis and sent to a Jewish ghetto. However, Hana’s journey is not just a story of the Holocaust.  It is a unique and riveting story because of its astonishing ties to the Japanese Holocaust effort (something I was surprised to know even existed). Hana’s Suitcase is not just a biography, but a historical mystery with a remarkable and bittersweet ending. 

The horrors of the Holocaust are seldom appropriate for younger audiences, but Levine pays particular attention to details. The narrative is engaging and quick-paced, yet notably sensitive when discussing delicate topics. I was impressed that key elements of Hana’s story --concentration camps and ghettos-- were discussed without sharing too many graphic details. Throughout the book, Levine defines important terminology and uses simple wording. Hana’s Suitcase is an excellent and award-winning work that will educate pre-teens about the Holocaust. Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!

 Content Review:
PROFANITY: none

VIOLENCE: mild

SEXUAL CONTENT: none

MATURE THEMES: mild

  RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+

 There is no profanity or sexual content in this book.

This is a story about the Holocaust, an event defined by its violence. In this book, violence is seldom mentioned, or if it is, the event is stated and not detailed. There is alluding to death by gas chamber.

There are several mature themes; however, they are approached from a young or child's perspective.  These themes include war, death, loss of a parent, concentration camps, suffering, tolerance, peace, prejudice and family.

Hana’s Suitcase is a clean read recommended for ages 12+!

_This review was written by Rachel.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Albert Whitman and Company  for a review.
 

The Coming of the Dragon
by Rebecca Barnhouse

Publisher's Note:  Rebecca Barnhouse weaves Norse gods, blood feuds, and a terrifying dragon into this spectacular retelling of the end of the Old English poem Beowulf.

When he was a baby, Rune washed up onshore in a boat, along with a sword and a pendant bearing the runes that gave him his nickname. Some people thought he was a sacrifice to the gods and wanted to send him right back to the sea. Luckily for Rune, King Beowulf disagreed. He lifted the boy from the boat and gave him to Amma, a wisewoman living on a farm far removed from the king’s hall, to raise as she saw fit.

Sixteen years later, Rune spends his summers laboring on the farm. And at King Beowulf’s request, he comes to the hall each winter for weapons training. But somehow he never quite fits in. Many people still fear he will bring a curse on the kingdom. Then a terrible thing happens. On a lonely crag on a mountain that belongs to the giants, someone awakens a dragon. It is time for Rune to find the warrior inside himself and prove to the doubters once and for all that he is a true hero.

Overall Review:  Rebecca Barnhouse certainly doesn’t make it easy on Rune, the sixteen year-old protagonist in The Coming of the Dragon.  In fact, she never cuts him a break and this may be what gives him authenticity and keeps the reader guessing about plot direction.  Filled with self-doubts and constantly second-guessing decisions that he has made, Rune seems a very real person indeed.  (Finally, a thoughtful hero who transforms and grows over the course of the narrative!)  Also, this book achieves real character depth in several of its supporting players through some high-caliber writing, while never sacrificing plot progression.  Inspired by the epic tale of Beowulf, the storyline begins before the encounter of Beowulf and the dragon and then continues the narrative beyond the action outlined in the poem.  Barnhouse provides an outstanding Author’s Note at the end of the book expounding upon the original poem and her inspiration for the book.  The Coming of the Dragon has all the elements and the tone necessary to become a classic for years to come and is highly recommended!  Overall  Rating:   4.5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

VIOLENCE:  several mild and three moderate instances

PROFANITY:  one mild instance

SEXUAL CONTENT:  none

MATURE THEMES:  a few mild

RECOMMENDED AGE:   12+

In general, violence is the typical medieval fare of sword fighting, archery, and such.  Much of the violence was dragon versus man rather than man versus man.  Descriptions throughout were brief, non-graphic, often implied, and at times I felt were more “action” than violence.  Mild instances included an accidental injury of a character’s leg by a scythe while harvesting; report of five men dying by dragon attack; report of ancient battles and the deaths that happened; reports of more deaths as a result of dragon attack; a character encountering a body that has been charred by dragon fire; a vision of a possible battle with flames; a dragon sets houses aflame and two “figures fell”; a character appears to fall off a cliff.  Moderate instances include a character coming to a farm to find it destroyed by dragon fire and all the inhabitants dead with some of the bodies being badly charred; an epic battle between Beowulf and the dragon where the dragon breathes fire and bites, inflicting poison, as Beowulf attempts to find a weak spot to place his sword (this scene comes almost straight from the poem); a final battle scene between men involving tackling, hitting, arrows, sword fighting, etc. and several deaths occur (non-graphic in nature, but a somewhat extended scene).

One mild profanity was noted.  A common medieval bathroom term that today is considered somewhat coarse was used twice. 

General and mature themes included were loyalty, loneliness, isolation, and responsibility; courage and cowardice; peace and war; revenge/vengeance and forgiveness.  The treatment of the themes was mild in nature.

Other content of note includes a character being cruel to another character by attempting to urinate on him.

The mild content of this book would make this an enjoyable read for medieval enthusiasts and accomplished readers as young as fourth or fifth grade, but on the other end of the spectrum, the 16 year-old protagonist gives this book some true upward readership breadth. 

This book is a Clean Read for ages 12+!

This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Random House for a review

The Stone Child
by Dan Poblocki

What if the monsters from your favorite horror books were real?

Eddie Fennicks has always been a loner, content to lose himself in a mystery novel by his favorite author, Nathaniel Olmstead. That's why moving to the small town of Gatesweed becomes a dream come true when Eddie discovers that Olmstead lived there before mysteriously disappearing thirteen years ago. Even better, Eddie finds a handwritten, never-before-seen Nathaniel Olmstead book printed in code and befriends Harris, who's as much an Olmsteady as he is. But then the frightening creatures of Olmstead's books begin to show up in real life, and Eddie's dream turns into a nightmare. Eddie, Harris, and their new friend, Maggie, must break Olmstead's code, banish all gremlins and monster lake-dogs from the town of Gatesweed, and solve the mystery of the missing author, all before Eddie's mom finishes writing her own tale of terror and brings to life the scariest creature of all.

Overall Review:  Dan Poblocki pulls no punches in The Stone Child by jumping right into action in literally the first sentence.  With solid and distinctive characterization, the author introduces Eddie, Harris, and Maggie, a trio of unlikely friends brought together by a mystery.  Poblocki does a fabulous job of painting suspenseful scenes that take the reader right to the edge and then pulling them back again; achieving a good balance in cultivating apprehension without crossing the line.  Creative creatures and a sprinkling of humor at a few key moments add to the charm.  First rate pacing clips the story along to a befitting and well-done conclusion.  One minor complaint was the miniscule font size and style chosen for some of the book and journal entries made the text difficult to read.  The suspense, peril, atmosphere, intriguing back story, and just the right amount of creepiness hooked me.  Since I don’t like “scary” books and avoid anything that remotely approaches horror, the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed this book comes as high recommendation indeed.  Scare yourself…just the right amount… and read The Stone Child.  Overall  Rating:   4.5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

Violence:  a few mild instances

Profanity:  three mild instances

Sexual content:  none

Mature themes:  none

Recommended Age:   12+

Violence consists of a vehicle hitting a creature; characters being chased by hooded creatures; magical creatures or beasts threatening and attempting to harm characters, although no harm is inflicted.  Characters learn through reading that in their community a child was abducted and a school teacher was found dead in a field.  The characters read a passage from a fictional book in which a scary and non-defined creature is hit by a car and then it turns the driver into goo when he touches it. 

Profanity consists of three mild profanities. 

No mature themes were present, but general themes include creativity, bravery, friends, and persevering to solve difficulties.

This book is quite atmospheric and frightening at times.  The characters read excerpts from scary books four times; three of those excerpts contain no violence, but are hair-raising.  There are three instances in which characters experience illusions and those scenes are confusing and scary.  While most of the time “nothing” happens, it can be intense reading.  The publisher tagged the age group as 9-12, but I recommend a 12+ based on the fear factor.   This book is a Clean Read for ages 12+.

This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Random House Books for Young Readers for a review.

_Crystal Bones
by C. Aubrey Hall

Publisher's Note:  A YA fantasy trilogy about a twin boy and girl, the children of a Fae mother and a human father, who discover a new destiny when their parents are murdered.

Overall Review: Twins Diello and Cynthe are excited to turn thirteen and come of age—but their birthday doesn't shape up quite how they'd hoped. Instead of a celebratory breakfast and a day spent at the market fair, they are given a list of errands... and the day turns from bad to worse when they return home to find their farm in flames. Plunged into an adventure neither of them had expected or hoped for, Diello and Cynthe have to stay safe, retrieve a magical secret, and uncover the truth behind their parents' real history—before it's too late. Crystal Bones hooked me from the beginning! Although the book is aimed at a middle-grade or early young adult audience, C. Aubrey Hall has created a wonderfully sophisticated setting for this first book in her Faelin trilogy—the story of half-human, half-Fae twins Diello and Cynthe. I loved the realistic-feeling fantasy world and the development of Diello's character as he makes his first steps into manhood. My only complaint was that I felt a few more things could have used fleshing out, including the character Cynthe. Overall, though, I heartily enjoyed Crystal Bones and would happily recommend it to any fantasy-loving young teens! Overall Rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Content Review:
PROFANITY: Very mild

VIOLENCE: Moderate

SEXUAL CONTENT: Very mild

MATURE THEMES: Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+

There is no actual profanity, but several angry insults.

There is moderate violence throughout the book—an army of goblins raids the twins' farm and kills both of their parents (the twins come on the scene afterwards), and the twins have several run-ins with violent goblins throughout the book, as well as a fight with a "trog" monster in the woods. At the end, a central character kills several goblins and feels great remorse for it (although it was necessary). Throughout the book, themes of death and violence are handled with respect and gravity, and the violence is never gratuitous.

There is very mild sexual content—a boy and girl have small crushes on each other, and another (simple-minded) boy says that he likes to stare at a girl because she is pretty.

Mature themes consist of death (including the death of parents), cruel treatment, bigotry, and killing in self-defense.

This book is recommended for 12+.

_This review was written by Cindy B.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Marshall Cavendish Publishing for a review.

_The Giver
by Lois Lowry

Publisher's Note:  Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world.

When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does Jonas begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Overall Review:A very simple read yet with a thought-provoking twist is exactly what Lois Lowry's book The Giver offers to the reader. Care, trust, unity and happiness dwell in the dystopian town that Jonas lives in. The characters thrive in exactness and everything seems perfect, but is it too perfect? Jonas and the reader become united in understanding as the “giver” unveils the horrible truths within the city and its' people. Sufficient description is given to catch the attention of the reader yet leaves enough to the imagination to bring the events and characters to life. Sure to leave one pondering about implications in the book, The Giver is a story full of depth, wisdom and strong characters. Overall rating 5 out of 5 stars.

Content Review
Profanity: none

Violence: mild with one moderate instance

Sexual Content: mild

Mature Themes: mild mature theme

Recommended Ages: 12+

This book contains no profanities. The violence includes a smacking of a three year old for an offense. Warfare, starvation and killing animals are shown to a character through memories in the story. The moderate instance of violence is a disturbing way of killing an infant through injection of fluids. Sexual content is very minimal in that a character feels “stirrings,” a mention of a dream, and his body “wanting” something. The Giver mentions the dependance the elderly have on the younger people, needing their help to bathe. This is a very profound read which introduces the reader to situations in the world including warfare, pain, responsibilities and coming-of-age dilemmas which gives it a mild mature theme.

The Giver is recommended for ages 12+.

This review was written by Misty.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
_This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House for a review
 

The Rivalry:  Mystery at the Army-Navy Game
by John Feinstein

Publisher's Note:  Bestselling writer John Feinstein is back with another exciting sports-mystery, this one set behind the scenes at the storied Army-Navy football game.

Teen sportswriters Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are thrilled to be covering "America's Game."  The Black Knights of Army and the Midshipmen of Navy have met on the football field since 1890, and it's a rivalry like no other, filled with tradition. But this year, the match-up is also filled with intrigue.

For weeks, Stevie and Susan Carol have been spending time at Annapolis and West Point, getting to know the players, and coaches. And the secret service agents. Since the president will be attending the game, security will, of course, be tighter than tight. As the game draws nearer Stevie and Susan Carol can tell that the agents are getting tenser.  

But as usual when Stevie and Susan Carol cover a big event--nothing is quite as it seems, and the coaches aren't the only ones calling plays...

Overall Review:  The Rivalry:  Mystery at the Army-Navy Game by John Feinstein is definitely a sports book first with the mystery playing second fiddle.  The story follows two, fourteen year-old, aspiring reporters, Stevie and Susan Carol, as they are immersed in the culture of two military schools, the schools’ rivalry, the historic game, and what it feels like to be reporting from the sidelines.  Whispers of a mystery don’t really appear until about page 100.  Feinstein’s writing is solid and flows best when he is absorbed in the sports and newspaper reporting aspects of the story.  One complaint was the sheer number of characters introduced made it difficult to keep track of names and connections.  Many of those characters were non-critical to the plot and unfortunately, a lot of them were named Bob.  The book had an interesting feel of retro-reporting/sleuthing combined with an ultra-contemporary setting that referenced current sports figures, the recession, and President Obama.  Mystery fans could probably pass on this book, but since it is filled with sports facts and play-by-play football game scenes, it is a good selection for the young, sports fanatic.  Overall  Rating:   3.5 out of 5 stars.

Content Review:

VIOLENCE: one mild instance

PROFANITY:  a few mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT:  two mild instances

MATURE THEMES:  a few moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE:   12+

Violence consists of a character being accidentally hit by a football player when a play goes out of bounds resulting in a minor injury to the character.

Mild religious profanities were noted seven times.  While not technically profanity, one coarse term was used.

Sexual content is extremely mild.  It consists of a girl greeting her boyfriend with a hug and a kiss and later the same characters kiss once.

Mature themes referenced are gays in athletics and racism against African Americans.  Although both are mentioned, they are addressed quite mildly.  The first involves a three to four sentence dialogue exchange between characters indicating that there is probably more bias in the locker room against gays than against African-Americans.  The second theme, racism, is briefly mentioned in context of some people not being happy about the election of an African-American President and how there is sometimes racism and/or racist remarks during football games. 

The Rivalry:  Mystery at the Army-Navy Game is a Clean Read for ages 12+.

This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by  Knopf Books for Young Readers for a review.

Airborn
by Kenneth Oppel

Publisher's Note:  Sailing toward dawn, and I was perched atop the crow's nest, being the ship's eyes. We were two nights out of Sydney, and there'd been no weather to speak of so far. I was keeping watch on a dark stack of nimbus clouds off to the northwest, but we were leaving it far behind, and it looked to be smooth going all the way back to Lionsgate City. Like riding a cloud. . . .

Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on the Aurora, a huge airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferrying wealthy passengers from city to city. It is the life Matt's always wanted; convinced he's lighter than air, he imagines himself as buoyant as the hydrium gas that powers his ship. One night he meets a dying balloonist who speaks of beautiful creatures drifting through the skies. It is only after Matt meets the balloonist's granddaughter that he realizes that the man's ravings may, in fact, have been true, and that the creatures are completely real and utterly mysterious.

In a swashbuckling adventure reminiscent of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, Kenneth Oppel, author of the best-selling Silverwing trilogy, creates an imagined world in which the air is populated by transcontinental voyagers, pirates, and beings never before dreamed of by the humans who sail the skies.

Overall Review:   Airborn is narrated by Matt Cruse, the 15 year-old protagonist and resourceful cabin boy on the airship Aurora.   Set in a world that echoes ours, where oceans named the Pacificus and the Atlanticus are transversed by magnificent airships fueled by hydrium, Matt’s encounters with the dauntless Kate de Vries, notorious pirates, and mysterious creatures place him and his ship in peril.  Witty dialogue and perfect pacing propel this story through twists and complications to its climax.  Not relying on stereo-types, Oppel builds his diverse cast of characters from the ground-up, breathing life into them, giving them depth, and engaging the reader.   Airborn provides a flawless mix of characters, swash-buckling action, humor, and a whisper of romance to deliver an enthralling adventure.  It is a fantastic read for any age and is particularly accessible as a great guy read.  (Bonus Tip:  There is a fabulous (Yes, fabulous!) full-cast audio recording of this book available.  I have listened to it twice and as a rule, I don’t do things twice.  It is perfect for that road trip.)  Overall  Rating:   5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

VIOLENCE:  a few mild instances and two moderate instances

PROFANITY:  a few mild

SEXUAL CONTENT:  one mild

MATURE THEMES:  none

RECOMMENDED AGE:   12+

Instances of mild violence consist of some animal attacks and death by pistol shot of some characters. Descriptions are brief.  The two moderate instances involve animals attacking and killing characters with some brief detail provided. 

Profanity includes a few mild, religious profanities and was noted five times.  While not profanity, one character is called by a coarse name. 

Sexual content is limited to a couple of chaste kisses. 

No mature thematic material is present. 

Airborn is a Clean Read for ages 12+!

This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer