_ Anna Karenina
By Leo Tolstoy

Publisher's Note:  Married to a powerful government minister, Anna Karenina is a beautiful woman who falls deeply in love with a wealthy army officer, the elegant Count Vronsky. Desperate to find truth and meaning in her life, she rashly defies the conventions of Russian society and leaves her husband and son to live with her lover. Condemned and ostracized by her peers and prone to fits of jealousy that alienate Vronsky, Anna finds herself unable to escape an increasingly hopeless situation.

Set against this tragic affair is the story of Konstantin Levin, a melancholy landowner whom Tolstoy based largely on himself. While Anna looks for happiness through love, Levin embarks on his own search for spiritual fulfillment through marriage, family, and hard work. Surrounding these two central plot threads are dozens of characters whom Tolstoy seamlessly weaves together, creating a breathtaking tapestry of nineteenth-century Russian society.

Overall Review:  Anna Karenina is an intense story about love and its consequences. Written by the great Leo Tolstoy, this epic novel follows two central characters -- glamorous Anna Karenina and brooding Konstantin Levin -- on their respective searches for happiness. Though Anna and Levin have individual journeys, their social lives overlap. This overlap produces a vibrant cast of secondary characters. Every character was memorable, multi-dimensional, and provided valuable perspective and insight into the lives of Anna and Levin. Particularly noteworthy was the fact that all were remarkably well-educated. They were readily able to participate in the many detailed discussions within the book about philosophy, religion, politics, moral good, and public welfare.

The emotional content in Anna Karenina was astounding. Tolstoy writes scenes with unmistakable depth, drama and passion. Readers will be invested in these characters! Many may find Anna’s internal struggle over entering an affair dark and depressing.  I actually felt heavy and bogged down while reading these parts. Thankfully Levin’s search for true love and happiness is more cheerful and significantly balances the book’s mood. Tolstoy also includes a vast array of details about imperial Russian life that will make readers feel as if they were there, too.

With unique characters, powerful emotion and fine detail, it is little wonder Anna Karenina is a classic. Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:
PROFANITY: mild

VIOLENCE: moderate

SEXUAL CONTENT: moderate

MATURE THEMES: moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 18+

 There is a handful of profanities in this novel; most were religious exclamations.

 Instances of violence include a man being crushed by a train, a character shooting himself, and another character throwing herself in front of a train. During a horse race, an animal slips and breaks its back. A childbirth occurs. Shooting animals for game occurs on numerous hunting expeditions. The majority of these violent instances are given with only the briefest of detail.

One of the main story lines of Anna Karenina is infidelity. From the very first page characters are engaging in affairs. While nothing is overly gratuitous, there are several allusions to intercourse and an allusion to abortion and prostitution. A young woman wears a low cut bodice to impress a man. A young girl is examined naked by a doctor.

Mature themes include infidelity, God and spirituality, religion, adultery, love, betrayal, death and family.

A character is also addicted to morphine.

Due to mild profanity and moderate amounts of violence, sexual content and mature themes, this classic is recommended for ages 18+!

_This review was written by Rachel.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Sterling (Barnes and Noble Classics) for a review.

The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas

Publisher's Note:  Dashing young Edmond Dantès has everything. He is engaged to a beautiful woman, is about to become the captain of a ship, and is well liked by almost everyone. But his perfect life is shattered when he is framed by a jealous rival and thrown into a dark prison cell for 14 years.

Overall Review:  Love. Betrayal. False Imprisonment. A Daring Escape. A Hidden Treasure.  A Calculated Revenge.  The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas has it all.  A classic among classics, this story justly deserves all the praise its fans have heaped upon it over the years.  It transcends beyond an adventure story into the dissection of motives, revenge, and justification.

Overall Rating:   5 out of 5 stars!

Reviewers Note: Readers beware! Make sure you read the right book!  The edition of this book that was sent to me for review had an anonymous abridgement and translation.  Frankly, it was poor.  Significant sections of the story are omitted all together, some story lines are not finished, and sections of no relevance to the plot are included.  These flaws result in the diminishing of a great story to a barely tolerable, diluted one.   If you choose an abridged version, I strongly suggest the version by Lowell Bair.  That is The Count of Monte Cristo I fell in love with! 

Content Review:
VIOLENCE:  a few mild instances

PROFANITY:  one mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT:  one mild instance

MATURE THEMES:  a few mild to moderate mature themes

RECOMMENDED AGE:   16+

The following content review is for the Sterling (Barnes and Noble Classics) edition with translation and abridgement by an anonymous party.  Content in the unabridged version or in other abridgements, may (and does) contain additional items which are not noted here.

Violence  includes the following:  report of a robber and his methods; report of impending execution; report a of skirmish and fighting with a few details; report by a character of a battle involving death by sword, knife, gunfire; the death by poisoning or illness of five characters; the suicide of two characters. 

Profanity was noted once.  There were instances when characters called upon God or Heaven for help, but these instances fell under the category of supplication. 

Sexual content consists of a character kissing another character’s hand.  An affair was implied.

Mature themes include, but are not limited to betrayal, revenge, vengeance, judgment, and suicide.  This book has excellent discussion material for a book club or school project. 

This particular abridgement of The Count of Monte Cristo is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 16+!

_This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Sterling (Barnes and Noble Classics)  for a review.

_ David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens    

Publisher's Note:  Dickens' favorite of all his novels, David Copperfield is the story of a boy who loses both parents at an early age, and who escapes the torture of working for his pitiless stepfather to make something of himself and, with any luck, find true happiness.

Overall Review:

“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show”

So begins the delightful tale of David Copperfield, Charles Dicken’s favorite and most autobiographical novel.The writing within this book is beautiful and poetic, powerful and oftentimes haunting. A few scenes were so tragic and touching that they brought tears to my eyes. Cheerfulness and laughter are also found within these pages; several chapters are truly magical and should be read again and again to fully savor their sweetness! Dicken’s descriptions were so vivid that it was often surprising to look up and not find myself in England.

As a character, David is lovable from the beginning. His narrations are refreshingly honest, optimistic and even wholesome. As years pass and David matures, he remains noble and virtuous despite many disastrous crises in his life. Long after the story has ended, readers will be touched by the goodness of David’s character. In fact, all the book’s characters are unique and memorable. This is a tale rife with heros and heroines, villains and scoundrels. Each character has a complex personality, distinct role and often a specific dialect that breathes this story to life.

 With remarkable characters and beautiful prose, it’s easy to understand why David Copperfieldis a classic.Overall rating is 5 out of 5 stars!

  Content Review:
PROFANITY: none 

VIOLENCE: several mild instances and one moderate

SEXUAL CONTENT: mild

MATURE THEMES: mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 16+

There is no profanity in this novel.

Instances of mild violence include a fistfight between two young men, several schoolboys caned or hit across the knuckles with rulers, and a woman striking a man. The moderate incident is when a boy is beaten by his stepfather. Several characters die by means of illness, shipwreck, and old age. Many of these instances are causally mentioned and little to no detail of the violence is given.

Sexual content is primarily made up of school-boy crushes and childish kisses. Two characters run away together and the consequences of their actions are often alluded to. The term ‘running away together’ is never explicitly defined.

Mature themes include abuse, death, neglect, poverty, hardship, societal standing, love, forgiveness and friendship. Most of these themes are discussed from young David’s childish perspective and therefore glossed over.

 David Copperfield is a Clean Read for ages 16+!

_This review was written by Rachel.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Sterling (Barnes and Noble Classics) for a review.

The Scarlet Letter
by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Publisher's Note: America’s first psychological novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a dark tale of love, crime, and revenge set in colonial New England. It revolves around a single, forbidden act of passion that forever alters the lives of three members of a small Puritan community: Hester Prynne, an ardent and fierce woman who bears the punishment of her sin in humble silence; the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected public figure who is inwardly tormented by long-hidden guilt; and the malevolent Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband—a man who seethes with an Ahab-like lust for vengeance.The landscape of this classic novel is uniquely American, but the themes it explores are universal—the nature of sin, guilt, and penitence, the clash between our private and public selves, and the spiritual and psychological cost of living outside society. Constructed with the elegance of a Greek tragedy, The Scarlet Letter brilliantly illuminates the truth that lies deep within the human heart.

Overall Review: In Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic tale of sin, redemption, and guilt, Hester Prynne is forced by her community to wear a scarlet "A" on her clothing after she is discovered to be pregnant out of wedlock. Although she is repeatedly asked for the name of the man also implicated in her crime, Hester keeps her silence, and retreats to a cottage at the edges of the town to raise her child. The Scarlet Letter is a compelling look at guilt and redemption, and at the role confession plays in repentance. Hawthorne's characters are vivid, and it's easy to picture quiet Hester, her wild daughter Pearl, the anguished minister Arthur Dimmesdale, and the crazed, revenge-driven Roger Chillingsworth. The climax and conclusion are strong and satisfying, and the themes of this novel will leave readers pondering long after they have closed the book! At times, I felt like the story might have worked better as a short story, as there were certainly times where the narrative seemed repetitive. Also, modern readers will find some of the ideas in The Scarlet Letter strange—for example, throughout the story, Hawthorne asserts that Pearl's character is inherently flawed because she was conceived illegitimately—an idea that I found pretty odd! On the whole, however, The Scarlet Letter is a terrific exploration of what it truly means to repent and be redeemed. Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Content Review:
PROFANITY: None
VIOLENCE: Very mild
SEXUAL CONTENT: Very mild
MATURE THEMES: Mild
RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 16+

There is no profanity in The Scarlet Letter (although there are sometimes religious allusions to the devil and similar themes). Violence in this book is very mild; one character intends obvious malice toward another, and their relationship is very ominous—however, no real violence ever occurs. There are also allusions to one old lady, who is described as a "witch," meeting the devil and his helpers in the forest at night. There are passing allusions to punishments for crimes, but nothing is ever described in detail. Very mild sexual content consists of the fact that the story itself concerns adultery and a child conceived out of wedlock. Nothing is ever described. Mature themes consist of adultery, sin/guilt, repentance, redemption, illegitimacy, revenge, and certain characters allying themselves with the devil. Although the content is very mild, the general subject matter (adultery) and elevated language of this book makes it best suited for older readers. This book is recommended as a Clean Read for ages 16+.

This review was written by Cindy B.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Sterling Classics for a review

_
The Jungle Book
by Rudyard Kipling

Publisher's Note:  Children will delight in this unabridged version of Rudyard Kipling’s classics, Jungle Books One and Two! Not only does this attractive volume feature the beloved tales of Mowgli, the “man cub” raised by wolves, and Rikki Tikki Tavi, but also the lesser-known but wonderful stories of Toomai, the boy who gets to see elephants dance; Quiquern, who saves his Eskimo people from starvation; and Kotick, the white seal.

Overall Review: Kipling’s masterful way with words makes it easy to see why The Jungle Book has been a classic for so long! In this collection of fifteen stories (originally published as The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book), Kipling weaves tales of exotic animals from the lush jungles of India to the barren ice plains of Alaska. I was captivated by the beautiful descriptions, the well-developed characters, and the plots that were sometimes stirring, sometimes amusing, and sometimes both. The stories in The Jungle Book are timeless, bringing a different world to life in their pages. Although the old-fashioned high diction of the dialogue could be difficult for a young reader to follow, this would make a great read-aloud book! Themes of courage, honor, love, loyalty, and friendship make The Jungle Book a terrific read for all ages. Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Content Review:
PROFANITY: Very mild

VIOLENCE: Mild, some moderate

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

There is very mild profanity, consisting only of made-up oaths (i.e. “By the broken lock that freed me”).

There is mild to moderate violence throughout the book, consistent with stories of the animal kingdom--animals hunt and kill other animals, occasionally an animal (or group of animals) is hunted or killed by a human, occasionally mention is made of a human being hunted or killed by an animal (nothing graphic is ever shown). Animals are skinned for their pelts. An animal is killed with a large gun and it is said that he is blasted into pieces. A kite (carrion bird) is mentioned throughout the book as feeding off of corpses (nothing is ever described). Although occasional mention is made of blood or dead bodies, nothing is graphic.

Although a few characters in the stories form mild romantic attachments, and in one story a boy and a girl are trapped in a storm and must spend several nights in a snow house together (the story is completely non-sexual), there is no real sexual content.

Mature themes consist of death, jungle violence (i.e. hunting, predation, etc.), and corruption and greed.

This book is recommended as a Clean Read for ages 9+.

_This review was written by Cindy B.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Sterling (an imprint of Barnes and Noble) for a review.

My Ántonia
by Willa Cather

Publisher’s Note: Widely recognized as Willa Cather’s greatest novel, My Ántonia is a soulful and rich portrait of a pioneer woman’s simple yet heroic life. The spirited daughter of Bohemian immigrants, Ántonia must adapt to a hard existence on the desolate prairies of the Midwest. Enduring childhood poverty, teenage seduction, and family tragedy, she eventually becomes a wife and mother on a Nebraska farm. A fictional record of how women helped forge the communities that formed a nation, My Ántonia is also a hauntingly eloquent celebration of the strength, courage, and spirit of America’s early pioneers.

Overall Review:  My Ántonia is a portrait of a life well lived that begins in early childhood and moves all the way through adulthood—with all the foibles and mishaps in between.  What a beautiful, lovely, rambling narrative of the ‘old’ West!  Life in the early settlements was so difficult.  There were many dangers known and unknown, such as snakes and wild animals, devastatingly cold and brutal winters, loneliness, depression, accidents and amputations—many times without the aid of hospitals, doctors or medicines!  Throw into that mix a brand new country with a language you don’t understand and you have the makings of some pretty desperate circumstances!  I loved when the narrator talked of reading Swiss Family Robinson, or Robinson Crusoe, and complaining that they were very dull compared to his real life experiences!  Regardless of the harsh circumstances, however, the focus truly remains on the joys of life and the wonder of the experiences of childhood.  We see what it means to be a true friend and neighbor.  We feel the power of forgiveness.  We explore the beauty of the land through each season as the world turns.  We enjoy the simple pleasures of life.  The simplicity of this novel is refreshing, yet the meaning is complex and all-encompassing.  Life passes us by, with all its ups and downs laid out before us, and while the narrative is simple and naïve, we are swept away in its beauty and grandeur.  Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 Stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few Mild to Moderate instances

VIOLENCE: A few Mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: A few Moderate instances

MATURE THEMES: Mild to Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 18+

There are a few instances of mild profanity (mostly giving thanks), and a few more moderate exclamations in keeping with the time period (I only noted four).

The Violence stays mostly mild just because there is hardly any description on any of the following circumstances:  People are attacked and eaten by wolves (it is not gory—sad, but not descriptive); there are two instances of suicide (someone shoots himself, another jumps in a threshing machine); a character chases another through a field with a knife (trying to keep her away from her husband); a character kills his wife, then mortally wounds himself—hoping he’d be found so he could outlive his wife and her family wouldn’t inherit his land and money (morbidly funny).  It is all well done without shocking or gory details, but adds to the starkness and harshness of life portrayed in the story.  A character is beaten when he is mistaken for someone else.  There is also some slapping, yelling, and general unkindness at times.

The Sexual content is moderate because of the subject matter at times.  While we are spared intimate details, the ideas are still there.  A character is purported to have many relations with women other than his wife.  This same character is caught sneaking into his maids’ quarters (the maid isn’t there, and he’s surprised to find a man there instead, since the maid was afraid and asked for help) with intent to do something… There are many allusions to babies coming out of wedlock, but no details.  A character goes to be with her fiancé, supposedly in order to marry him, but she finds that he doesn’t actually want to marry her and he runs off, leaving her pregnant and without a husband.  There is some ‘frivolous’ kissing when the characters are teenagers.

The Mature Themes are mostly mild and center around the difficulties of life during the early settler days, which include death, prejudice, wicked people trying to cheat others, surviving harsh living conditions (including poverty and weather), and adapting to new cultures. 

My Ántonia is recommended as a Clean Read for ages 18+!

The Odyssey (Classic Starts)

Publisher’s Note: Homer's epic tale of the warrior Odysseus's decades-long struggle to return home after the Trojan War is simply and beautifully retold, with all the drama intact. Young readers will thrill at Odysseus's adventures with the man-eating Cyclops; the enchantress Circe, who turns his crew into pigs; and the angry sea god Poseidon.

Overall Review:  Ah, the joys of the Greeks and Mythology! This little book is a ‘Classic Start’—in other words, it’s a watered-down version intended to whet the appetites of young readers for the originals.  I loved reading this condensed version of Odysseus’s travels after the Trojan War.  Young people will love reading about the fight with the Cyclops, passing the Scylla monster, listening to the Sirens, and sitting in on a visit to Hades!   We get to know some of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses as they meddle in the lives of the mortals.  This abridgement of Odysseus’s journey is very well written.   For young readers interested in learning more about Mythology, this is a great place to start!  Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: None

VIOLENCE: A few very mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

There are a few instances of mild violence.  Since it is the abridged version, it is VERY tame. When the Greek gods are involved, there are always wars and fighting and plans to kill people and take revenge on someone.  The gods are usually angry at someone or other and try to punish them—in this instance there were many storms at sea.  A Cyclops eats men for breakfast and dinner.  The men, in turn, stab the Cyclops in the eye and blind him.  A monster eats men as they pass through a spot in the ocean.  There are plots for murder and revenge; beggars are made to fistfight; there is a great fight at the end to defeat the ‘evil’ suitors.  It is all stated in a very matter-of-fact way without any blood or gore.

The mature themes are fairly mild.  There is the mythology itself with its myriad gods and goddesses.  They cast spells to make people more brave, beautiful, afraid, etc.  There is the theme of home and family: of staying faithful to those you love and never losing hope no matter what. 

The Odyssey (Classic Starts) is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+!

Johnny Tremain
by Esther Forbes

Publisher's Note:  This story of a tragically injured young silversmith who ends up hip-deep in the American Revolution is inspiring, exciting, and sad. Winner of the prestigious Newbery Award in 1944, Esther Forbes's story has lasted these 50-plus years by including adventure, loss, courage, and history in a wonderfully written, very dramatic package. It's probably not great for little guys but mature 11-year-olds or older will find it a great adventure.  1944 Newbery Award Winner.

Overall Review: Set against the stirring backdrop of the early days of the American Revolution, Johnny Tremain is the story of a young apprentice silversmith whose talent is surpassed only by his high opinion of himself. After a horrible accident forces him to dramatically change the course of his life, Johnny is caught up in the growing unrest in Boston as the citizens of the American colonies protest taxation without representation. Through secret meetings, stirring speeches, and daring deeds, Johnny gains a deep understanding of and appreciation for the need to fight for liberty and justice. Johnny Tremain is an engaging book, with a vivid cast of characters and a well-researched plot. I loved watching Johnny go from an arrogant apprentice to a strong young man with firm convictions. I especially liked that, while the book is obviously from the point of the view of the American colonists and pro-revolution, the British soldiers Johnny meets had great depth of character as well. Forbes does an excellent job of showing the heartbreaking complexity of war, while balancing it against the need to fight for truth and freedom. This is a book every American should read! Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!



Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few mild

VIOLENCE: Mild

SEXUAL CONTENT: Very mild

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+

There are a few mild expletives, many of them creative made-up oaths. There is some mild violence, mostly relating to war; there are also a few scenes in which young boys get into fights with other young boys (nothing is ever described) and one scene where the main character sees a man who has been tarred and feathered. One of the main character's friends dies. There is very mild sexual content—a young girl is seen dressed in a light shift. When confronted, she says that she's been told she's too young to be scandalous (it's implied that if she was older, her lack of dress would be sexually provocative). Mature themes consist of war, sacrifice, and the need for freedom.  This book is recommended as a Clean Read for ages 12+.

Thiis review was written by Cindy B.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Random House Children's  for a review

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis

Publisher's Note:  The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, completed in the winter of 1949 & published in 1950, tells the story of four ordinary children: Peter, Susan, Edmund & Lucy Pevensie. They discover a wardrobe in Prof. Digory Kirke's house that leads to the magical land of Narnia, which is currently under the spell of a witch. The four children fulfill an ancient, mysterious prophecy while in Narnia. The Pevensie children help Aslan (the Turkish word for lion) & his army save Narnia from the evil White Witch, who's reigned over the Narnia in winter for 100 years.


Overall Review:  I have loved the Chronicles of Narnia all my life.  As a child, I loved to read them because the story was magical!  I imagined in my mind the journey of Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan as they discover the new land in the wardrobe.  I reveled in the characters—talking animals, dwarfs, Aslan, even the children themselves.  The battles between Aslan’s people and the evil hordes of the White Witch were breathtaking and intense.  And of course, who wouldn’t love the comeback of Aslan to surprise the White Witch and her minions just as Peter and all who followed Aslan felt that all was lost!  I loved the majesty, the prophecy and the legend of the land of Narnia.  As an adult, I still love to read the story, but there is even more meaning to it now.  The depth of C.S. Lewis’ symbolism is lovely and unimposing.  There are magical enchantments, treachery, brotherly love, and the power of giving one’s life for another—that magic older than the dawn of Time itself.  The characters breathe through the pages.  The land is full of color, culture, and magic.  I have always loved being swept away into the land of Narnia, and now I share its magic and mystery with my own children.  Overall rating is 5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: None

VIOLENCE: A few mild and two moderate instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

The themes in this book are varied, and I put mild because of some scary creatures, situations, and peril.  As this book is mostly a tale of good versus evil, there is some violence involved.  There is a very evil character who turns many creatures to stone—they are, in essence, dead (but it’s made right in the end).  A character is made to suffer quite a bit: he is slapped, yelled at, made to starve, made to walk with his hands tied behind his back, tied to a tree in order to kill him, etc.  There are some mildly scary chase scenes involving large wolves.  A character is attacked by a wolf—it is killed by another character.  The battle at the end has quite a few casualties on both sides and many are wounded.  There is a giant who crushes enemies,  the evil witch who turns everyone in her way into stone (some are then crushed, so they cannot be saved later), dwarfs with axes, etc.  One character is tied up, taunted in horrible ways, and then stabbed to death.  These battles and episodes are very well written, however, and I’ve had no qualms reading this aloud to my children many times.  This is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+.