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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
Best: Really engaging, excellent learning approach.
Very Good: Engaging, very good learning approach.
Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Book reviews for misfits and underdogs

241 results
  • Review
    The Saturday Boy

    Tough, warmhearted story of boy who misses dad away at war.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By David Fleming
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Icons

    Confusing tale of aliens and government conspiracies.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Margaret Stohl
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Soar, Elinor!

    Exciting bio of '20s female pilot who found fame with stunt.
    AGE
    7
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Tami Lewis Brown
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Transparent

    Invisible girl flees mob dad in inventive fantasy thriller.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Natalie Whipple
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Catch Rider

    Riveting story of determined teen who can ride any horse.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
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    By Jennifer H. Lyne
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Kindness for Weakness

    Gritty story about a boy growing up fast in prison.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Shawn Goodman
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Twerp

    Poignant middle school novel has great humor and depth.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Mark Goldblatt
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Book of Broken Hearts

    Teen fights for forbidden love in sweet romance.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Sarah Ockler
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Elvis and the Underdogs

    Lighthearted story of sickly kid helped by huge talking dog.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jenny Lee
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Thousand Words

    Cautionary tale about teen girl whose nude pic goes viral.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jennifer Brown
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Hammer of Witches

    Fairy-tale creatures come to life in so-so swashbuckler.
    AGE
    11
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Shana Mlawski
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    P.S. Be Eleven

    Tween coming-of-age set amid shifting family, '60s dynamics.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Rita Williams-Garcia
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The End Games

    Zombie adventure with a twist is a cut above most.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By T. Michael Martin
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Handbook for Dragon Slayers

    Exciting medieval adventure with brave teens and dragons.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Merrie Haskell
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    I Funny: A Middle School Story

    Middle school humor mixes with moving disability subplot.
    AGE
    11
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Chris Grabenstein, James Patterson
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Natural Born Angel

    Sequel weighed down by focus on fame and abundant brands.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Scott Speer
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Invisibility

    Mix of brutality and tenderness makes fantasy seem real.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By David Levithan, Andrea Cremer
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Truth or Dare

    Popular, rich girls star in shallow, sexy series starter.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jacqueline Green
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace

    Fast-paced coming-of-age tale about finding yourself.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Nan Marino
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    New Lands: The Chronicles of Egg, Book 2

    Gross-out humor and adventure in lively Deadweather sequel.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Geoff Rodkey
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    One Plus One Equals Blue

    Upbeat tale about kids coping with disadvantages.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By MJ Auch
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Maid of Secrets

    Engrossing Elizabethan tale of murder and intrigue.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jennifer McGowan
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    That Is NOT a Good Idea!

    Goose outsmarts fox in funny, perilous story with a twist.
    AGE
    4
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Mo Willems
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl

    Teen's positive turnaround mixes with iffy beauty message.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Carolita Blythe
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    How to Lead a Life of Crime

    School-for-criminals mystery turns very dark and violent.
    AGE
    16
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Kirsten Miller
    (Book, 2013)