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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 contemporary fiction, parents recommend

31 results
  • Review
    Before I Fall
    From suicide to bullying, every tough teen topic is present.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Lauren Oliver
    (Book, 2010)
  • Review
    Beautiful
    Good-girl-goes-bad tale packed with adult content.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Amy Reed
    (Book, 2009)
  • Review
    Airhead
    Freaky life-swap tale with fashion and flair.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Meg Cabot
    (Book, 2008)
  • Review
    Breathe My Name
    Teen copes after sisters die at mom's hand.
    AGE
    15
     
    Learning
    Select
    By R. A. Nelson
    (Book, 2008)
  • Review
    Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

    Exciting vampire tale sucks in reluctant readers.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Heather Brewer
    (Book, 2008)
  • Review
    Thirteen Reasons Why
    Disturbing suicide novel examines bullying, indifference.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jay Asher
    (Book, 2008)
  • Review
    After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away

    This novel by Joyce Carol Oates follows the story of a girl whose near-fatal car crash leads her to a new life.
    AGE
    15
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Joyce Carol Oates
    (Book, 2008)
  • Review
    November Blues

    Gritty, honest look at teen pregnancy. Teens and up.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Sharon M. Draper
    (Book, 2008)
  • Review
    The Ashleys #1: There's a New Name in School
    Standard clique book with same mean-girl behavior.
    AGE
    11
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Melissa de la Cruz
    (Book, 2007)
  • Review
    Story of a Girl

    Coming-of-age story about girl who had sex at 13.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Sara Zarr
    (Book, 2007)
  • Review
    The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

    Funny, gritty, and powerful novel of growing up on the rez.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Sherman Alexie
    (Book, 2007)
  • Review
    Slam
    An honest look at teen pregnancy from boy's point of view.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Nick Hornby
    (Book, 2007)
  • Review
    Love, Stargirl
    Peek into Stargirl's diary in this moody sequel.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jerry Spinelli
    (Book, 2007)
  • Review
    American Born Chinese
    First graphic novel to win major child lit awards.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Gene Luen Yang
    (Book, 2007)
  • Review
    An Abundance of Katherines
    Comic slacker-geek lit is fun for the right teen.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By John Green
    (Book, 2006)
  • Review
    Tyrell

    A gritty, realistic portrayal of homelessness and poverty, and how one teen can rise above it.
    AGE
    15
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Coe Booth
    (Book, 2006)
  • Review
    Flipped

    Honest story about first crushes -- tweens and up.
    AGE
    11
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Wendelin Van Draanen
    (Book, 2006)
  • Review
    Just Listen
    Teen angst and serious issues; best for mature teens.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Sarah Dessen
    (Book, 2006)
  • Review
    Hoot
    Award-winning tale is surprisingly uninventive.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Carl Hiaasen
    (Book, 2006)
  • Review
    I Am the Messenger
    Lots of mature content in gritty tale; OK for older teens.
    AGE
    15
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Markus Zusak
    (Book, 2006)
  • Review
    Criss Cross
    Newbery winner has depth, but no plot; tweens+.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Lynne Rae Perkins
    (Book, 2006)
  • Review
    Small Steps
    Holes sequel delves into edgier territory.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Louis Sachar
    (Book, 2006)
  • Review
    You Don't Know Me
    Teen uses humor and fantasy to cope with abuse.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By David Klass
    (Book, 2005)
  • Review
    The Boy from the Basement
    Gripping tale handles abuse with a delicate hand.
    AGE
    11
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Susan Shaw
    (Book, 2005)
  • Review
    Al Capone Does My Shirts
    Acclaimed book with mature themes is best for older kids.
    AGE
    11
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Gennifer Choldenko
    (Book, 2005)