The White Dragon

The White Dragon is by Anne McCaffery. The third book in the classic science fiction Pern series. Jaxom and his small dragon Ruth must prevent a dragon war on Pern when the Southerners steal a queen egg from Benden Weyr. We also learn more about Pern's past in this novel. Fans of the series will love this book.

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

Castle Roogna

Castle Roogna is by Piers Anthony. The third book in the classic fantasy Xanth series. Dor is given a quest by King Trent to go back in time 800 years and find the Zombie Master to receive a zombie restoration potion for the zombie Millie loves. Dor discovers much about himself and about the history of Xanth that surprises him. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

Dragonquest

Dragonquest is by Anne McCaffrey. The second book in the classic science fiction Pern series. When Lessa brought the Oldtimers forward from the past to save Pern from the Thread, she didn't foresee the difficulty they would have adapting to the future. Now with Thread falling off schedule, F'lar and Lessa must deal with Thread, scared Holders and Craftmasters, and recalcitrant Dragonriders. In the meantime F'nor is thinking of attempting a ride between to the Red Star itself. Fans of this classic series will enjoy this installment. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (adult thematic content). 

The Source of Magic

The Source of Magic is by Piers Anthony. The second book in the fantasy Xanth series. King Trent sends Bink on a quest to discover the source of magic in Xanth. Bink and his companions are thwarted by an unknown force at every step of their journey; will finding the source of magic cost the companions their lives? Will finding the source of magic be the end of Xanth? A wonderful classic fantasy series. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

Lily and the Octopus

Lily and the Octopus is by Steven Rowley. A must read realistic fiction for anyone who has ever owned and/or lost a dog. Lily is a dachshund; she lives in L.A with Ted who is a writer. One day Ted realized Lily has a tumor, an octopus, on her head and that his time with his beloved Lily is rapidly coming to an end. This book will make you laugh and shed buckets of tears. Everyone who has ever had a dog, and who has lost that dog, will find this book heartrending. Having lost several dogs, one to a tumor on his leg, I understood every emotion Ted experienced. This was a marvelously beautiful and touching read. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read. 

Ratings: Adult - 10 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).  

The Complete Bostock and Harris

The Complete Bostock and Harris is by Leon Garfield. Two charming historical fiction tales in one package. Harris and Bostock are best friends; Bostock is an only child and rather dim, but loyal. Harris has four sisters and is "a genius," at least to himself and Bostock. In the first story Harris has been studying the Spartans at school and how they took babies that were imperfect into the woods and left them, some to be raised by wolves. He decides to try this experiment with his own infant sister - and hijinx ensue. In the second story, Harris wants Bostock's father's spyglass to watch a comet that will soon be visible, and again hijinx ensue. These stories are delightful, for adults and children. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read. 

Ratings: 6th grade - 10 out of 10. 

Redeemed

Redeemed is by P.C. and Kristin Cast. The final installment in the fantasy House of Night series. Zoey believes she has murdered two men and turns herself into the police and surrenders the Seer Stone. She is done with Old Magick. Then Neferet returns, declares herself "the Goddess," and begins to slaughter innocent humans, and only Old Magick can stop her - Old Magick only Zoey can wield. Fans of the series will love this final installment, and be sorry the series is over.

Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence). 

The Dutch House

The Dutch House is by Ann Patchett. A wonderful realistic fiction novel by a great author. This is the story of a brother, a sister, and a house. After WWII, a real estate developer named Conroy bought a mansion that had been built by a rich Dutch family now long gone. He and his wife move in and have two children: Maeve and Danny. After their mother deserts them, Maeve raises Danny, then their father marries again. Four years later he dies of a heart attack and their step-mother throws them out and takes all of the money and property, including the Dutch House. This story follows their story over several decades. A magnificent novel of love, obsession, and forgiveness. One of Patchett's best!

Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content). 

Pandora Gets Greedy

Pandora Gets Greedy is by Carolyn Hennesy. The sixth book in the fantasy Pandora series. Pandora and her friends travel to Rome to capture Greed and return him to the box. They are assisted by all the gods both Greek and Roman, except of course Hera and Juno who have their own plans to take power and get rid of Pandora. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment.

Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10. 

Shimmer

Shimmer is by Alyson Noel. The second novella in the fantasy Riley Bloom series. Riley and her guide Bodhi, are on vacation on St. John in the Virgin Islands. While there they come across a dead girl who is keeping other souls trapped by her anger. They discover she was murdered in a slave rebellion and Riley must find a way to help her cross the bridge to Summerland. Fans of the series will enjoy this book.

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

See What I Have Done

See What I Have Done is by Sarah Schmidt. A creepy historical fiction novel about the Lizzie Borden murders. The story is told from alternating point of views: Lizzie, her sister Emma, Bridget the family servant, and a strange character named Benjamin. This book makes me want to read more nonfiction about these murders; this book portrays the whole family as sick, demented, and strange. Parts of the book are really cringe-worthy. 

Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content). 

A Wild Swan and Other Tales

A Wild Swan and Other Tales is by Michael Cunningham. An adult fantasy of fractured fairy tales. Various fairy tales are taken and reworked in a dark, twisted, and definitely more adult way.

Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).  

Fyre

Fyre is by Angie Sage. The seventh book in the fantasy Septimus Heap series. Jenna has gone on her "journey" with her mother's and grandmother's ghosts prior to her coronation as queen. Sep and Simon are helping Marcellus restart the Alchemical fire. When two evil wizards escape from a magical ring, everyone must work together to return them to the ring and then destroy it in the fire. Fans of the series will thoroughly enjoy this final installment.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10. 

Darke

Darke is by Angie Sage. The seventh book in the Septimus Heap fantasy series. On the eve of their 14th birthdays Septimus and Jenna prepare for life altering events. Jenna must receive "The Book" as future queen and Septimus must begin Darke week to prove he can overcome the Darke. Then an old enemy conjures a Darke Domain that begins to take over the castle and Sep, Jenna and their friends may need the help of Simon to save the castle and the Wizard Tower. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment.

Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10. 

Pandora Gets Angry

Pandora Gets Angry is by Carolyn Hennesy. The fifth book in the fantasy Pandora series. Pandora and her friends head for Baghdad and on the way meet a young Persian boy who tells them an evil genie might be the key to finding Rage. Fans of the series will love this installment. 

Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10. 

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line is by Rob Thomas. The first in the mystery realistic fiction Veronica Mars series. Veronica has returned to Neptune to help run her dad's detective agency while he recovers from a serious accident. When a co-ed turns up missing after a party during Spring Break, Veronica is hired by the City Council to find the girl before the adverse publicity decimates the town economy. 

Ratings: 12th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence). 

The Apprentices

The Apprentices is by Maile Meloy. The second book in the fantasy Apothecary series. Two years have passed since book one. Jane is in school in England and Benjamin is traveling with his father. When Jane is falsely accused and thrown out of school for cheating, she discovers her roommate's rich father is trying to steal her invention - or is he? Jane is kidnapped and taken to an isolated island, Benjamin discovers she is in trouble and rushes to save her. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment.

Ratings: 7th grade - 7 out of 10. 

Johannes Cabal, The Detective

Johannes Cabal, The Detective is by Jonathan L. Howard. The second installment in the fantasy Johannes Cabal series. Johannes Cabal is back and attempting to steal a rare book on necromancy. He is captured and is to be executed, then the President of the country dies and Cabal is asked to bring him back to make an important speech which will quell a rebellion. He does, in his own way, but has to make a quick escape. Then there is a murder he feels bound to solve and as usual with Cabal strangeness ensues. Fans of the series will love this book; Cabal is as snide and creepy as ever. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence). 

The Magicians

The Magicians is by Lev Grossman. The first in the fantasy Magicians series. On his way to a college interview, Quentin discovers a dead body and the fact that he can do magic. He has always been fascinated by the children's novels set in the land of Fillory, and now sees a chance to do magic himself. Suddenly he is enrolled in a school for magicians and his life will never be the same. Soon however, he and his friends find that magic can be as dangerous as anything else in life. This book is a very dark cross between Narnia and Harry Potter.

Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence).