_Shabanu: Daughter of the Winds
By Suzanne Fisher Staples       

Publisher's Note:  Life is both sweet and cruel to strong-willed young Shabanu, whose home is the windswept Cholistan Desert of Pakistan. The second daughter in a family with no sons, she’s been allowed freedoms forbidden to most Muslim girls. But when a tragic encounter with a wealthy and powerful landowner ruins the marriage plans of her older sister, Shabanu is called upon to sacrifice everything she’s dreamed of. Should she do what is necessary to uphold her family’s honor—or listen to the stirrings of her own heart?

Overall Review:  Shabanu: Daughter of the Winds is the coming-of-age tale of a young Muslim girl who lives in the Cholistan desert in Pakistan.  Suzanne Fisher Staples tells a poignant story portraying the life and culture of these desert families and the role of women in them.  The language is stark and vivid, much like the lives and landscape of the desert people Staples is writing about.  The story is a little slow to get going and continues somewhat unremarkably for a while, giving a detailed picture of how life is for a young Pakistani desert girl whose family raises camels.  One keeps wondering again and again when the climax will come, then suddenly it’s there like a hammer strike and the story explodes!  In the conversation with the author in the back of the book, Staples says that Shabanu is an exploration of the “universality of human experience” and the similarities of women across many cultures; however, I found it very difficult to overcome the drastic and sometimes shocking differences between Shabanu’s culture and my own.  In the end, though, I found myself in tears over the spirit of a young girl struggling against the strictures of her society and how she reconciled herself to them and became a woman.  An eye-opening and thought-provoking read.  Overall Rating:  4 our of 5 Stars.

Content Review:
Violence: Few strong Instances

Profanity:  None

Sexual Content: Several mild instances

Mature Themes:  Few strong instances

Recommended Age Group: 14+

There are several instances of death in this book, both by natural causes (they do live in a harsh desert climate) and by less natural.  Two main characters’ lives and virginity are threatened, and there is at least one instance of a harsh beating.

There is no profanity to speak of. 

The family lives in the desert in small huts and raises camels; issues of both animal and human sexuality are referred to several times, though never detailed or in a base manner.  Again, the virginity of characters is threatened. 

Mature themes are based mostly in the fact that girls are married off at age thirteen to one of their parents’ choosing and all the ramifications therein, and the potential rape of a young girl.  Sexual themes in raising animals, close desert life, and girls thinking of their own futures—while never explicit in any way—would also lend the book toward a more mature audience. 

Shabanu is rrecommended for ages 14+.

_This review was written by Kristen.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Laurel Leaf, a Random House Imprint for a review.

Here Lies Linc
by Delia Rey

Publisher's Note:  When 12-year-old Linc Crenshaw decides he wants to go to public school, his professor mom isn't so happy with the idea. He's convinced it will be the ticket to a new social life. Instead, it's a disaster when his mom shows up at their field trip to the local cemetery to lecture them on gravestones, and Linc sees her through his fellow-students' eyes. He's convinced his chances at a social life are over until a cemetery-related project makes him sought-after by fellow students he's not so sure he wants as friends, helps him make a new, genuine friend, and brings to light some information about his family that upends his world.

Overall Review:  From the title, and even the cover art, of this book, I admit that I was expecting something in the way of a silly spooky teen story to get you ready for Halloween.  Wasn’t I surprised to find, instead of a supernatural fantasy, a wonderful story based on a true account!  Here Lies Linc has a contemporary and engaging plot, full of finding connections with yourself and your past.

Linc (Lincoln) learns so many things as he struggles to find himself.  He’s in a new school and has a strange mother.  He doesn’t know where he belongs.  I have to admit that through much of the book, I didn’t like Linc.  He had no backbone and seemed to have no qualms with lying, stealing, and pretending to be someone he wasn’t.  However, he did improve and learn!  It did make me think of the fact that many of us, at one time or another, feel like we want to ‘fit in’ and do some pretty dumb things to do it.  Luckily, Linc’s mistakes take him down a very interesting path of discovery—both of the past and of his future.  He makes some wonderful friendships with very unlikely people (especially his cute old neighbor, Mr. Krasny, whom I loved) and discovers the joy of searching through the past and making lasting connections with his community.

Learning about the Black Angel monument in the Iowa City, Oakland Cemetery was so interesting, especially because it was true!  We have the opportunity to follow Linc as he works to disprove the ‘curse’ of the Black Angel and uncover the true identity of the woman who commissioned the monument and why she did it.  I loved reading the epitaphs at the beginning of each chapter, and they become even more fun as I discovered that they are real epitaphs from actual headstones!  There were funny ones, sad ones, and many famous ones.  It made me wonder what I would write on mine…  More than anything, though, I loved seeing the joy that came to so many people as they searched through the past to uncover the truth!

This novel takes place around a cemetery, but it never gets creepy. Instead, it makes you want to go to a cemetery and wander around, just to see what stories you may find!  Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 Stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: One mild instance

VIOLENCE: A few very mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: One very mild instance

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+

There is one mild exclamation of profanity (a character is thankful about something).

The few very mild instances of violence include a short description of a movie some characters are watching (a horror movie for Halloween—included zombies and a ‘jump’ scene), a story about a cursed statue (some characters become ‘cursed’ after defacing a ‘cursed’ statue and lose arms/fingers), and some mean pictures/remarks about another person (bullying).  There is also a very cranky character who seems to take joy in the misery of others and has to have total control.  Some characters are trapped in a burial vault for a short time.

The only instance of any sexual content is when one character mentions she discovered she was pregnant after her boyfriend left town.  It is a necessary part of the story, as there was some adoption/lost family involved.  This specific information is told in just the manner I just did (matter-of-fact, and in one sentence).

The mature themes are mild and include overcoming grief, trying to fit in at a new school (bullying, being embarrassed of a parent or old classmates, lying or stealing in order to ‘fit in’, etc.), and communicating with family and friends.  There is one character who is caught drunk. 

Here Lies Linc is recommended as a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 12+!

Gregor and the Code of Claw
(The Underland Chronicles #5)
by Suzanne Collins

Publisher's Note:  Everyone has been trying to keep Gregor from seeing the final prophecy, The Prophecy of Time. It says something awful: It calls for the warrior’s death. The warrior being Gregor, of course. Now, an army of rats is quickly approaching and Gregor’s mom and little sister, Boots, are still in Regalia. The entire existence of the Underland is in Gregor’s hands and time is running out. There is a code that must be cracked, a new princess to contend with Gregor’s burgeoning dark side, and a war designed to end all wars.

In this suspenseful final installment in the acclaimed Underland Chronicles, Suzanne Collins unfolds the fate of the Underland and the great warrior, Gregor the Overlander, in a manner that can only be described as masterful.

Overall Review:  Gregor and the Code of Claw marks the end of our adventures in the Underland with Gregor and his friends and family.  This book had even ‘more’ than the others in the series: More indepth characters, more raging emotions, more humor, and more war.  In the previous book, Luxa makes an oath to revenge the deaths of the nibblers, and in so doing, declares war on the rats.  Now, we have the makings of the war to end all wars.

There are many questions raised and answered.  There’s the question of Sandwich’s ‘prophecies’—are they to be trusted?  Who is Sandwich, anyway?  There’s the question of the Code of Claw… Who is supposed to be able to crack it? And what will they find once it’s been done?  Another question is that of the necessity of war.  Is it really and truly necessary?  It does so much damage—is it still worth it after all the loss and sacrifices that are made?  Can it be avoided before it’s too late?  The end was very ambiguous and raised even more questions to ponder.  I felt very torn as I closed the book, as there was just so much left unsaid.

The characters are still full of character and flaws.  I was so happy to see more of Gregor’s sister Lizzie.  She is a sweet girl and so intelligent.  I loved the relationship between her and Ripred.  Solovet is not my favorite—and almost seems to be on par with the Bane when it comes to her methods of running things.  Two wrongs, as they say, do not make a right!  There was so much growth and change in Gregor and his entire family.  We were able to see their struggles and watch them stretch to overcome obstacles that were completely foreign and overwhelming.  The whole message of this series isn’t so much closure as an ongoing plea for peace and a statement of the dangers of war and mistrust.  Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: One mild instance

SEXUAL CONTENT: NONE

VIOLENCE: A few strong and many mild to moderate instances throughout

MATURE THEMES: Mild to moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 16+

As with this entire series, this book has no sex (the slight romance continues from the previous novel), only one word that could be considered profanity, and it is full of violence.  This time, however, instead of just statements (such as ‘so-and-so was killed’), it becomes at times even more disturbing with a lot more blood and gore and descriptions!  Many characters die in various ways: Swords, boiling oil, fire, poison, torture, massive ambushes, teeth and claws.  These are all premeditated acts of war, and most of them are on the gruesome side (especially the boiling oil and burning alive).  Some (in the case of poison and torture) are only mentioned that they happened without description.  The war is very bloody.  There are some skirmishes where characters fight with knives one on one, and they become very descriptive: Characters lose body parts and there is always a lot of blood and some disturbing descriptions. 

The themes, aside from the extreme violence of war, would include despair and helplessness, deceit, and overcoming all odds. 

Due to some extreme and descriptive violence, this is recommended for ages 16+.

American Born Chinese
by Gene Luen Yang

Publisher's Note:  Jin Wang starts at a new school where he’s the only Chinese-American student. When a boy from Taiwan joins his class, Jin doesn’t want to be associated with an FOB like him. Jin just wants to be an all-American boy, because he’s in love with an all-American girl. Danny is an all-American boy: great at basketball, popular with the girls. But his obnoxious Chinese cousin Chin-Kee’s annual visit is such a disaster that it ruins Danny’s reputation at school, leaving him with no choice but to transfer somewhere he can start all over again. The Monkey King has lived for thousands of years and mastered the arts of kung fu and the heavenly disciplines. He’s ready to join the ranks of the immortal gods in heaven. But there’s no place in heaven for a monkey. Each of these characters cannot help himself alone, but how can they possibly help each other? They’re going to have to find a way—if they want fix the disasters their lives have become.


Overall Review:  "It's easy to become anything you wish...so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul."  Do you turn away and despise who you know you are, or do you embrace yourself and what you stand for?

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang explores family, culture, and society through the experiences of three distinct characters: the monkey King, a Chinese-American boy Jin, and an All-American teenager, Danny.  Yang offers us an original tale that triumphantly explores the struggle of succumbing to the pressure of being accepted, and forgetting who we really are.  As these three seemingly unrelated stories suddenly converge, we learn that although we face trials, we must recognize that we have all been intentionally created for a purpose, and that this knowledge will lead us to find our own personal destiny and give us the power to overcome whatever stands in our way. 

American Born Chinese is highly recommended for parents, teenagers, and book clubs, and offers a fantastic jumping-off point for discussion into the value of a person, and how being who you are meant to be can be freeing (sometimes literally, as with the monkey king!)  Don't discount the graphic art of the book...in fact, the symbolism offered by the pictures is what drives home the meaning behind the story.  In the end, the merging stories will make you question everything you just read, will push you to put the pieces together and figure it out, and even lead you to take a long, hard look in the mirror and consider yourself carefully.  Told in a clear, fresh voice, American Born Chinese shines as an encouraging, witty, and memorable story of being true to yourself, no matter what others expect you to be.  Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars! 


Content Review:

PROFANITY:  One dozen instances of coarse langauge

VIOLENCE:  Few very mild instances and 2 instances of mild violence  

SEXUAL CONTENT:  Three mild instances and one moderate instance

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 16+

The profanity in this books consists of a dozen instances of mild coarse language, including a few racial names, a few very mild profanities, and a few instances of general name-calling.

Violence was all very mild or mild and brief.  The very mild instances included a bully threatening a kid, and a girl who punches a boy for stealing a quick kiss, and a boy who punches another boy for calling him a name, a character is slapped, and two boys get in a brief fist fight.  Mild violence included 2 instances of characters being stabbed through with a spear, a picture of a monkey with his head cut off,  multiple pictures of a character in fights with others, and an instance/picture where a character relieves himself on a pillar.

Sexual content included three mild instances and one moderate instance. Mild instances included a joke about the female chest, an instance in which we know that a character has urinated in another kid's soda, and a brief thought about a girl taking off her clothes.  The moderate instance was a non-descriptive innuendo where a boy invites a girl to participate in a sexual act.

Mature Themes include a scene where a boy is smoking, judging others for being different, self-worth,
discovering who you are, and accepting yourself even when others do not. There is also a very uplifting, underlying theme surrounding our divine worth as individuals.

American Born Chinese is recommended for ages 16+.

This review was written by Melissa
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Square Fish for a review

Gregor and the Marks of Secret
(The Underland Chronicles #4)
by Suzanne Collins

Publisher's Note:  It's only a few months since Gregor and Boots returned from the Underland, leaving their mother behind to heal from the plague. Though Gregor's family receives frequent updates on her condition, they all know Gregor must return to fulfill his role as the warrior who is key to the Underlanders' survival. Accompanied by his now-talkative little sister Boots, still considered the honorary "princess," Gregor joins forces with another princess--12-year-old Luxa--and Ripred the rat to defend the Underlanders and the vulnerable "Nibblers," or mice, from the rat army.

Overall Review:  Gregor and the Marks of Secret doesn’t begin with the reciting of a prophecy—in fact, no one even imagines there is one!  Now that Gregor’s mother is stuck in the Underland recovering from the plague, it seems almost the entire family is down there at one time or another, but it’s very laid back and almost fun!  But, life doesn’t stay quiet for long for poor Gregor and his sister, Boots, and soon they find themselves racing for their lives instead of having a picnic!  The mice need help, but no one can find them!  While Gregor and the rest of his comrades search for them, they encounter earthquakes, avalanches, caverns full of active volcanoes, intense air currents, some very angry rats, and even a surprising encounter with some scorpions!

I enjoyed many of the parallels in this novel.  At times, I felt I was in the middle of Journey to the Center of the Earth with all the travels through Hades Hall and the Firelands.  And I must admit to seeing some similarities to WWII (The Hilter/Nazi regime and concentration camps, specifically), which was very interesting and thought provoking.  And with all the singing of the nursery rhymes, it makes you think about the ones that we grew up with (Ring Around The Rosies, for example) and what they truly mean!

The journey of discovery that is made by everyone is also very interesting.  Gregor, Luxa, and Howard learn some tough things along their way.  Discovering who you are isn’t always a pleasant experience.  The importance of stepping back to take a look at yourself through someone else's eyes and learning to trust your own instincts—or the instincts of others—becomes an eye-opening priority for our heroes.

I am constantly amazed at how Suzanne Collins can come up with such amazing stories.  You think you know where you’re headed, but then something new pops up and you’re on a completely different route!  It is fun and full of adventure—I can’t wait to see where the final chapter takes me!  Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 Stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: One mild instance

VIOLENCE: Many mild to moderate instances throughout

SEXUAL CONTENT: NONE

MATURE THEMES: Mild to Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 14+

Gregor and the Marks of Secret is another installment that is free of any sexual content, and has only one word that could be construed as profanity, as well as a few crude references to the rear end of some fireflies. 

There is violence once again.  There is a very unbalanced character who kills another character and fights with many.  There is one incidence of cannibalism (a rat eats a rat).  The rats are always trying to kill others, especially one specific character.  Characters are attacked by snakes, and the battle that ensues is intense.  Marks are left by characters on walls or other surfaces that signify a death sentence.  A specific group is targeted and forced from their homes—they are killed en masse in two different instances: Once by pushing all of them off a cliff; another when they are all killed by poison gas inside a volcano crater.  A character dies from poison gas from the volcanoes. 

Mature themes would include fear, death, loss of loved ones, secrets, lies, genocide, and the ongoing battles (mostly Nature vs Man).   

Gregor and the Marks of Secret is recommended for ages 14+.

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
(The Underland Chronicles #3)
by Suzanne Collins

Publisher's Note:  Book Two left off with Gregor reading the Prophecy of Blood: a prophecy that calls for Gregor and Boots to return to the Underland to help ward off a deadly plague. But this time, Gregor’s mother refuses to let him return to the Underland . . . until the rat Ripred assures the family that Gregor and Boots are just needed for a short meeting, which the crawlers will attend only if their “princess” Boots is present. Gregor’s mom finally relents, on the condition that she go with them. The Underland plague is spreading, and when one of Gregor’s family is stricken, he begins to understand his role in the Prophecy of Blood, and must summon all his power to end the biological warfare that threatens the warmbloodedcreatures of the Underland. Fans of Suzanne Collins’s acclaimed fantasy series will find more suspense and action than ever in this thrilling third saga.

Overall Review:  If I were pulled into an Underland with my kids, would I treat them like little kids even though they were considered warriors?  I think I would!  And I LOVED watching Gregor’s reaction to having his mom along—and she delivers the protective mom lines just as she should!  From telling Gregor off for being gone to the bathroom too long, to telling everyone how they have to travel with a plastic bag because Gregor gets carsick—it was definitely a young person’s nightmare!  It’s always more difficult to act the part of warrior, protector, caregiver, when your parents are present!

In Gergor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, we follow our heroes through the jungle!  The characters continue to charm even in a tropical climate!  Boots is still one of my favorites.  I love her sweet little toddler-isms!  Gregor is still the innocent young boy thrown into something that he needs to grow into.  There are more rats to get to know this time around, and it’s always interesting as they work with the rest of the Underlanders and you get small visions of all that they’ve been through.  Maybe they’re not the evil mortal enemies they appear to be afterall??  The characters are so real!  We feel with them the frustration of defeat; just when you think you’ve finally reached your goal and it is snatched from right under your nose!  There were twists that I was definitely not expecting, and it’s a good thing all the books are out now, so you don’t have to be as overly concerned at the cliffhanger endings!

In this installment, I have a few bones to pick—there were way too many things left undone.  There was a lovely scene where Gregor takes it upon himself to groom one of the rats.  This may sound lame and weird, but it was so sweet and innocent and even powerful in its seriousness.  I loved it, and was sad when nothing else was made of it.  It didn’t seem to help things along the way.  Perhaps in the next book?  Also, why is nothing more mentioned of Hamnet’s life after Regalia?  I kept waiting for a mother to appear.  I’m hoping these things are referenced again in later books, so I may just have to wait.  And my last big issue—the end is very abrupt.  I suppose all of this just means it’s time for me to go on and read some more!  Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: One mild instance

VIOLENCE:  Some Mild to moderate instances throughout

SEXUAL CONTENT: NONE

MATURE THEMES: Mild to Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 14+

In following with the rest of the series, there is no sexual content at all, and only one minor word is used that could be considered profanity.

This installment of the series includes a virulent plague that causes a great deal of death.  It also has very disturbing symptoms: Large bumps on the body that burst, inability to breathe, weakness, etc.  A bat with the plague crashes to the ground and dies.  In the jungle, many of the plants are very dangerous.  A character is eaten by a vicious plant.  Many ants are killed by plants.  The ants also attack the characters; two of the characters die, the rest are severely injured.  Characters fight and kill many creatures.  Poisonous frogs kill some creatures.  A character kills one of the frogs with the sword.  A character is executed.  

The themes include a lot of fear, death, and overcoming overwhelming odds to save those you love.  

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods is recommended for ages 14+.

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane 
(The Underland Chronicles #2)
by Suzanne Collins

Publisher's Note:  In the months since Gregor first encountered the strange Underland beneath New York City, he’s sworn he won’t ever go back. But when another prophecy, this time about an ominous white rat known as the Bane, calls for Gregor’s help, the Underlanders know the only way they can get his attention is through his little sister, Boots. Now Gregor’s quest reunites him with his bat, Ares, the rebellious princess Luxa, and new allies and sends them through the dangerous and deadly Waterway in search of the Bane. Then Gregor must face the possibility of his greatest loss yet, and make life and death choices that will determine the future of the Underland.
Suzanne Collins has created characters and a world that are capturing countless imaginations. This second installment of the Underland Chronicles is sure to win her even more enthusiastic fans.

Overall Review:  Get ready for more intense fun as we follow Gregor and Boots on another incredible adventure!  At the end of the first book, another prophecy is mentioned, but only just.  (The prophecies are riddles in poetry form that the characters have to decipher and follow.)  Now, with the entryway into the Underland glued and bolted shut, Gregor feels safe from the wiles of the Underlanders.  Unfortunately for him, however, there are a few more entrances than just the grate in the laundry room wall!  In order to fulfill the next prophecy, The Prophecy of Bane, he and Boots are once more thrust into the world of darkness, tunnels, waterways and giant talking creepy-crawlies!  This time around, they spend a lot of time in the water (sometimes there is the feeling of Voyage of the Dawn Treader or Jason and the Argonauts) and then in the dark Labyrinth of the world of the rats—in search of The Bane!

Once again, I loved the character development.  We see more of Ares, the bat, and what a personality he has!  I also became more attached to the friendly warrior, Mareth , Luxa the future queen, and  Howard, a new character who happens to be Luxa’s cousin.  All who went on the journey to ‘fulfill’ the prophecy went because they cared.  Well, all but the ‘shiners’, but they definitely added some color to their travels!

I think above all the action and adventure of the plot, the thing that I am really loving about this series is the depth of humanity.  There is such a sense of loyalty and responsibility that pervades the lives of the characters!  Gregor, for instance: How many 11 year old boys would find opportunities to work to earn money—then use it to buy food for his family and diapers for his little sister?  And when he goes after Boots (who is kidnapped), how many young boys would think to call home to let them know where he’s going?  Gregor even begs Ares to rescue Boots first—no matter what—even though Ares has sworn to protect Gregor at all costs.  These are just a few examples.  Over and over again, throughout the pages of this book, love and loyalty and caring shine through.  It even comes through as humor, when Temp (a giant cockroach and best friend of Boots) permits Boots to dress him up with doll clothes!  He definitely didn’t enjoy it, and it’s slightly odd to think that a huge cockroach is cute, but how could I not love the little guy for letting a little lost and frightened girl play dressup?

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane is another fast paced ride through the wilds of Underland, and a great addition to a fun series!  Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: Two mild instances

VIOLENCE: Mild to Moderate instances throughout

SEXUAL CONTENT: NONE

MATURE THEMES: Mild to Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 14+

In keeping with the first of this series, Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane has no sexual content whatsoever. 

There are two mild exclamations of profanity this time around.  And there are two references to the glowing end of a firefly which could be considered crude. 

Above all, there is violence.  There is a short scene of warrior training that includes sword play and some gymnastics.  A character explains briefly the best places in which to kill a rat.  There is a fight against a giant squid that is a little intense.  A character has a brief and disturbing nightmare involving fish with large teeth.  The characters encounter a whirlpool—a craft is destroyed and some characters are almost lost.  A character discovers an ability to fight that is hard to control.  Some very creepy bugs eat a character (it was quick and disturbing).  Some dinosaur-esque serpents attack the characters and most are injured.  Some rats get into a fight—they end up killing each other and it’s a little gory.  The characters are forced to eat raw fish after their supplies are destroyed. 

The main themes are all about accountability, responsibility and dealing with the results of our choices.  There is also the moderate fear factor of facing the unknown along with grief over the loss of loved ones and friends. 

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane is recommended for ages 14+.

The Girl Who Could Fly
by Victoria Forester

Publisher’s Note: When homeschooled farm girl Piper McCloud reveals her ability to fly, she is quickly taken to a secret government facility to be trained with other exceptional children, but she soon realizes that something is very wrong and begins working with brilliant and wealthy Conrad to escape.

"Piper decided to jump off the roof. It wasn't a rash decision on her part. This was her plan: Climb to the top of the roof, pick up speed by running from one end all the way to the other. Jump off. Finally, and most importantly, don't fall. She didn't make plans in the event she did fall, because if you jump off the roof of your house and land on your head, you really don't need any plans from that point on. Even Piper knew that. So that's what she did. She jumped clean off her roof. But before we get to what happens next, you'll probably need to know a thing or two about a thing or two..."

Overall Review:  How many of us have dreamed we could fly?  (How many of us tried as children only to find—the painful way—that we can’t?)  What if you found that you could fly?  What would you do?  Piper has floated around a great deal since she was born, much to the chagrin of her parents.  One day, she decides it’s time to control it!  This leads to a series of events that include a ride in a helicopter with some very interesting people, a trip down a talking elevator though a fascinating facility, and meeting up with other kids who are not unlike Piper with all kinds of strange and wonderful abilities!

There is so much in this book—there’s the fun of all these children with amazing talents (flying, x-ray vision, telekinesis, super speed, super strength, super genius intelligence, etc.); there’s the defining of ‘different vs normal’—What really is different?  What is normal?  Whose job is it to decide?  And when that distinction is made, what should be done about it?  Is it ok to ‘normal-fy’ everything to a perceived standard, or is it better to just love everyone and everything for what they are and enjoy the spice it adds to life?

The Girl Who Could Fly is well written and fast-paced.  It is full of the joys of childhood and growing up, and mixed with that little extra edge of ‘sci-fi’ fun!  I found myself feeling so attached to these characters—and, oh, how I loved Piper’s backwoods-y accent!  I smiled and cheered when things were looking good; I cried and sobbed through their hardships and heartbreak.  Lovely writing and full of fun for everyone!  Overall rating is 5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: 2 Mild and 2 Moderate instances

VIOLENCE: Some mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: A few very mild instances

MATURE THEMES: Mild to Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+

There were 2 mild/moderate instances of profanity (all from one character).

There is some bullying from various characters (includes pushing, destroying others’ personal property, threats, etc.)  A character tortures creatures that are not ‘normal’ in order to make them ‘normal’; and if they don’t become ‘normal’, they are destroyed.  There is a chase scene in the sky.  A character tells of a sibling’s death.  A character falls from a great height and dies.

A character has x-ray vision and is twice reported to look through girls’ clothes to see their underwear.

The mild mature themes include the importance of showing love and caring for others, and the question of what is ‘normal’, why it’s important, and having tolerance for those we perceive not to be ‘normal’.  The more moderate themes include parents who don’t want their children, taking children from their parents, and the ethics of separating/destroying/discouraging things that are considered different.

The Girl Who Could Fly is recommended as a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 12+!

See content reviews for similar titles:

A Million Miles From Boston
by Karen Day

Publisher's Note: School's out! That means Lucy is off to her favorite place: Pierson Point, Maine, where she spends summers with her family. And as she tries to forget her worries about starting middle school and about Dad's new girlfriend, Lucy can't get there soon enough. Pierson Point is where she feels most like herself, and where memories of her mother, who died when Lucy was six, are strong and sacred.

But this summer, nothing is the same. Ian, a boy from home in Boston, comes to Pierson Point with his family. Ian is loud, popular, and mean. He and Lucy can't stand each other. To top it off, Dad wants his girlfriend to become a bigger part of Lucy's life.
Karen Day's engaging novel shows that people aren't always what they seem, and that friendship can be found in the most unusual places.

Overall Review:  A Million Miles from Boston was wonderfully written by an author who really understands the ‘young’ young adult audience. It is full of blossoming social awkwardness, and yearning to be seen as mature and competent. Karen Day realistically depicts Lucy’s emotional development as we see her go from being confused about her mother’s death to accepting it, and also as Lucy learned to accept and appreciate her father’s new girlfriend. The story was realistic and meaningful, and is absolutely perfect for an 11 to 14 year-old.  A fantastic book for any young (or old!) reader.  Overall Rating is 4.5 stars!


Content Review:

PROFANITY: None

VIOLENCE: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE: 9+

Karen Day does a great job in keeping this book clean while still lightly addressing some difficult subjects. There is no violence, profanity, or sexual content. However, there are several mature themes such as dealing with the death of her mother, watching her father begin a relationship with a new woman, a family with alot of conflict, and some teen vandalism. Although this book does address these touchy subjects, it never goes into a lot of description about any of these events. Karen Day brought up the subjects only enough to get us thinking about them.  This book could be read and enjoyed by any age.

 A Million Miles from Boston by Karen Day is a Squeaky Clean Read for Ages 9+.

This review was written by Shelley
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Wendy Lamb Books for a review

Small Steps
by Louis Sachar

Publisher's Note:  Two years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is home in Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life around. But it's hard when you have a record and everyone expects the worst from you. The only person who believes in Armpit is Ginny, his ten-year-old disabled neighbor. Together, they are learning to take small steps.
 
Armpit seems to be on the right path until X-Ray, a buddy from Camp Green Lake, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme. X-Ray's plan leads to a chance encounter with teen pop sensation Kaira DeLeon, and suddenly Armpit's life spins out of control. Only one thing is certain: he'll never be the same again.
 
Combining his signature wit with a unique blend of adventure and deeply felt characters, Sachar explores issues of race, the nature of celebrity, the invisible connections that shape a person's life, and what it takes to stay the course. Doing the right thing is never a wrong choice—but always a small step in right direction. 

 
Overall Review:  In Louis Sachar’s capable hands, the natural prose and dialogue in Small Steps results in a fluid and satisfying read.  Small Steps’ only connection to the Newberry-winning Holes are the characters Theodore Johnson (aka Armpit) and X-Ray.   Thematically, the book does not dig too deep and some of the characters and relationships are loosely sketched, thus stretching plausibility.   However, the main character Armpit comes alive as a breathing, bleeding, and believable protagonist who is just trying to do the best he can to put his life on track and move forward.  He is an everyday guy that one can’t help worrying with--while rooting for his success.  Small Steps has a somewhat open ending—not because it is a set-up for a sequel—but because there isn’t always a fairy-tale ending and real life is open-ended.  We all just move forward, doing the best we can, while taking small steps.  Overall Rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
 
Content Review:

VIOLENCE:  two mild instances and one moderate instance

PROFANITY:  a few mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT:  a few mild instances

MATURE THEMES:  a few mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP:   14+

Mild violence includes a character being handcuffed and hit with a billy club and a brief fist fight between two teenagers.  The moderate instance of violence is a scene in which a character attacks some other characters with a baseball bat, knocking one unconscious and breaking another’s arm.  There is a stabbing with a knife in the same scene and a character is punched until he is unconscious.  These events are briefly described.   

Profanity consisted of approximately a half a dozen mild, religious profanities.  While not technically profanity, there are two times a crude word is used and a character “flips the bird” at another character.

Sexual content consisted of two characters kissing twice; reports of a man cheating on his wife; comments by one character that songs are all about “sex” but she is a virgin; a pop star is told to “dance sexy” and that the backup singers provide “sexual energy”; a news report wrongly reports that a character was found in bed with another character.

Themes include having goals, starting over, doing the best you can, choices, valuing people for who they are, and lying.

Other content includes a scene where some adults are drinking beer; a parent demands a urine sample for drug testing; two characters scalp some concert tickets.

This book has two characters from the book Holes so I assumed, incorrectly, that Small Steps was a companion book for a younger audience.  Small Steps is definitely aimed at an older audience than Holes because of the themes, storyline, and age of the protagonist.

Small Steps is a clean read for ages 14+.

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