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 Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick

Publisher's Note:  Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

Overall Review:   A literary work of art, The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a story unlike any you've read before.  Author Brian Selznick has blended captivating illustrations with an intriguing written story to give us an absolutely unique reading experience.  In this book, the illustrations are actually intertwined with the story, telling moments or even whole chapters inbetween the written segments.  The author's meticulous attention to detail through his illustrations enriches the story and allows the readers to actually become involved in the adventure as they "read" the pictures. 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is also a deserving recipient of the 2008 Caldecott Award for illustrations.  Beautifully engaging, and artfully composed, this book is destined to become a classic.  Just as Georges Melier was a pioneer of French film, author Brian Selznick will be credited with contributing to the rise of the graphic novel into popular literature.  Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars!


Content Review:

PROFANITY:  One religious exclamation

VIOLENCE:  A few very mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT:  Two very mild pictures, NONE in the written story

MATURE THEMES:  Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP:  9+

Refreshingly squeaky clean for all ages, The Invention of Hugo Cabret has only a few very mild instances of content.  There is one religious exclamation.  As for violence, there are three exact instances, and all are extremely mild and appropriate for readers of all ages:  two children wrestle eachother for control of an item, a remembrance of how a character died in a fire (a simple, straightforward overview of the events, no details at all), and a character's hand is "crunched" in a slamming door.  There is absolutely no sexual content in the story at all.  The only worry for sexual content would be for younger readers and comes in the form of two of the pictures in the book: one is a portrait of a man in a toga-like loincloth (a portriat reminiscent of Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam", yet the man is covered), and the other is actually an old photo of a woman in a mermaid costume.  Neither of the images is graphic or offensive, but parents may want to be aware of these two.  Other images in the book do include a few of monsters and imaginary creatures.  Again, these images may only be of concern for readers under the age of 12, and are not violent in nature, but are just portraits of monsters.  The mild mature themes rating is for the character who dies in a fire, and themes of orphans and thievery.  This book is also highly recommended as a read-aloud for all ages (my youngest, age 3, enjoyed it immensely).  Overall, The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a fantastic Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+, and will also appeal to older readers, including adults.   

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

The Chosen
by Chaim Potok

Publisher’s Note:  Few stories offer more warmth, wisdom, or generosity than this tale of two boys, their fathers, their friendship, and the chaotic times in which they live. Though on the surface it explores religious faith--the intellectually committed as well as the passionately observant--the struggles addressed in The Chosen are familiar to families of all faiths and in all nations.

In 1940s Brooklyn, New York, an accident throws Reuven Malther and Danny Saunders together. Despite their differences (Reuven is a Modern Orthodox Jew with an intellectual, Zionist father; Danny is the brilliant son and rightful heir to a Hasidic rebbe), the young men form a deep, if unlikely, friendship. Together they negotiate adolescence, family conflicts, the crisis of faith engendered when Holocaust stories begin to emerge in the U.S., loss, love, and the journey to adulthood. The intellectual and spiritual clashes between fathers, between each son and his own father, and between the two young men, provide a unique backdrop for this exploration of fathers, sons, faith, loyalty, and, ultimately, the power of love.


Overall Review:  “Merely to live, merely to exist—what sense is there in that?  A fly also lives!”  So states the father of Reuven Malter, a young jewish boy in America.  In The Chosen we meet Reuven and Danny Saunders: Two boys who couldn’t be more different.  They are both Jewish, but the similarities stop there.  They become friends over an accident.  Danny hits Reuven in the face with a baseball during a game.  Reuven’s glasses shatter into his eye, and from that moment on, life changes its course.  Reuven’s eyes are literally and figuratively opened as he sees everything in a new light.  This is, of course, one of the important side effects of traumatic experiences—we are torn away from our old point of view and comfort zone, and given new ideas, experiences and friendships.  Danny comes to the hospital to apologize and the boys become fast friends.  It is an unlikely friendship from the beginning, but they are so good for each other—balancing their ideas and personalities to perfection.  I loved following Danny and Reuven through their formative years, watching them make decisions that were difficult; waking up to what life really has to offer and finding the strength to follow their own dreams.  They go through so many emotions, disillusionments, and learning experiences.  They both have amazing minds and intellects.  The book overall is astounding.  The scope of information presented is huge—yet it is also intricate, well researched, and delicately complex.  We learn amazing things about WWII from a totally different perspective.  There is some fascinating information presented on Jewish history, customs, and beliefs.  It never feels like a textbook or an encyclopedia, though.  The story is poignant and flows with expert ease.  The Chosen is a coming of age story that reminds us to wake up, to live life to the fullest, to open our eyes and see what can’t be seen…to Listen to the unspoken silence.  Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars.


Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few mild instances throughout

VIOLENCE: Some mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild to Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 16+

At the very beginning of the book, there is a baseball game between two groups of young men.  During this game, there is quite a bit of ‘religious’ profanity.  Every once in a while, another word is sprinkled in here and there, but it is never as concentrated as during the ball game.  There is some violence, but it really is handled very low-key for the content that is dealt with.  A character is hit in the face with a baseball and his glasses shatter into his eye (he’s eventually fine).  There are some references to boxing and the effects of serious fights (losing eyes, etc.).  There are many fistfights and a lot of anger and hatred at times. 

Also, there are many mentions of WWII, and subsequently we read a lot about the death toll of certain battles as well as seeing the desolation of post-holocaust life of the American Jews.  Other smaller wars, skirmishes and battles are also mentioned along with many terrorist acts.  Many people are killed in battles, hangings, bombings, etc.  This is all told as hearsay as the main characters are not in the heat of the action.  A younger audience may not enjoy this book due mostly to the more adult themes of raising children, making serious life/religious choices, deep friendships, and the effects of war, but all of these themes are lovingly handled--The Chosen is a book to make you think deeply that is a Clean Read for ages 16+.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond
by Elizabeth George Speare

Publisher's Note:  Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Caribbean island she left behind. In her relatives' stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit's friendship with the "witch" is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!


Overall Review:  Literature at its finest, The Witch of Blackbird Pond is an unsurpassed coming of age tale that has survived the test of time, and will undoubtedly be found in the hands of readers for generations to come.  Orphaned and alone, seventeen year-old Kit Tyler flees from her luxurious life in Barbados when faced with an unwanted marriage proposal.  She arrives (unexpected) at the home of her only living relatives, in Puritan Conneticut.  But the disquieted Puritan villiage is filled with suspicion, and Kit's headstrong, impulsive personality gets her in trouble and eventually leads to an accusation of witchcraft.  Beautiful, intriguing, and completely unforgettable, The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a must-read.   Readers will absolutely adore the slowly blooming (and often frustating) romance between Kit and Nat, which is sweetly satisfying.  I first discovered this book as a teen, and wore the cover off my copy because I read it so often, and it still remains one of my cherished favorites.  Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars! 
 

Content Review:

PROFANITY:  one very mild instance

VIOLENCE: a few very mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 14+

This book, as a whole, is very clean and appropriate for older teens, young adults, and adult readers alike, and will appeal to all age groups.  There is one very mild profanity that a character says out of frustration.  There was a mild instance of violence in which townspeople set fire to the house  of a character thought to be a witch.  A character swims in the river, and some people wonder if she is a witch.  A character proclaims that he is proud that his ship does not carry slaves, and very briefly describes the conditions on a slave ship.  There is a mild witch hunt, where a character is locked in a shed for a night.  There is a brief, mild witch trial, i nwhich the accuser claims to be "bewitched" by the accused.  A passing mention is made of two women who were hanged for witchcraft in a nearby town.  A quaker woman tells another character that she and her husband were branded on the forehead and flogged out of town (simply stated).  There is no sexual content at all.  Mature themes are very mild and include talk of witchcraft (no details), a character fleeing an arranged marriage (simply stated), the strict religious lifestyles of Puritans and Quakers, and the animosity of the Puritans towards the Quakers.  This book is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 14+.  

This review was written by Melissa
A  Squeaky Clean Reads Reviewer

The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan

Publisher's Note:  Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.   Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves. 


Overall Review:  What would it be like if all those stories from Greek mythology were actually true? That's the premise of The Lightning Thief, the first book in a series about modern demigod Percy Jackson (the son of Poseidon, god of the sea, and a mortal woman). Percy has spent his life getting kicked out of private schools, struggling with ADD and dyslexia, and putting up with his mom's horrible boyfriend. When a school field trip reveals that some of his teachers are more than they seem, Percy discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, one of the "Big Three" Olympic gods from Greek mythology. He's whisked away to spend the summer at Camp Half-Blood, a place where demigods are protected from the hordes of Greek monsters trying to hunt them down! The pace of Percy's adventures never slow down as he makes friends with a satyr and a fellow demigod and is sent out on his very own quest, running into familiar characters from Greek mythology all along the way. At times the quick pace of the story can feel choppy, but overall, it's fast, clean fun! For any child or adult who enjoys fun, smart fiction and/or Greek mythology, The Lightning Thief is the perfect book!  Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars.


Content Review:

PROFANITY: Mild

VIOLENCE: Moderate

SEXUAL CONTENT: Very Mild

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+

In the world of The Lightning Thief, the Greek gods are real, and the characters often use mild oaths in the name of their "gods." Because the book is focused on Percy's adventures, many of which are battles with the unsavory monsters of Greek myth, there is violence throughout the book. However, nothing is especially gory or gratuitous. There is some very mild sexual content in that all of the demigods are illegitimate children of the Greek gods and humans; gods having affairs with mortals are mentioned, but never in a way that is explicit. There are some mature themes throughout the book, such as bad relationships (Percy's mom and her boyfriend), affairs, and characters in danger. Although it could easily be enjoyed by younger children, due to the age of the characters, this book is recommended as a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 12+.

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

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

Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson


Publisher's Note:  Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country.


Overall Review:  Speak is an incredibly deep and emotional story that everyone should read. This novel will resonate with anyone who has ever dealt with depression or abuse. It also very accurately depicts teenage life and helps us understand and appreciate the traumatic things that all teenagers go through. I could not put this book down and found myself wishing that   there was a sequel so that I could continue to read Melinda’s story. Anderson’s writing is meaningfully realistic and clear. Read this book. Period.  Overall Rating is 5 out of 5 stars!


Content Review:

VIOLENCE: Few Strong Instances

PROFANITY: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: Many Strong Instances

MATURE THEMES:  Strong Throughout Entire Book

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 14+

 Writing a content review for “Speak” is a difficult task. “Speak” is not clean. Profanity is the only area in which this book is squeaky clean. Since this book’s subject deals with rape and depression, there are alot of difficult scenes and situations. Anderson writes very carefully and realistically and intends only to help other teenagers who might be in similar situations.  
 
A rape occurs. It is not glorified and there are not alot of details, but it does happen. Melinda deals alot of depression as she learns to cope with what happened to her. Her classmates make fun of her and the perpetrator taunts her. Near the end of the book she is attacked again but defends herself.  Her family situation is not supportive and her parents and some teachers are rude to her. There are a few references to sexual acts. 
 
Generally I couldn’t recommend a book with ratings this high in sexuality, violence, and mature themes, but for “Speak” I make an exception.  Please understand that this book is not a fluffy happy book. It is full of difficult and scary subjects. However,  the writing is respectful, and the subject necessary.  This book is recommended for ages 14+ because of sexuality and mature theme.

This review was written by Shelley
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer