The Ape Who Guards the Balance

The Ape Who Guards the Balance is by Elizabeth Peters. The tenth installment in the Amelia  Peabody series. It's 1907 and the Emerson clan is heading back to Egypt for another season of archeology. This season promises to be very boring, as Emerson is stuck in the already excavated tombs in the Valley of the Kings, but the life of an Emerson is never boring. There is an attempt made to kidnap Amelia, an attempt to harm Nefret, and Ramses and David are abducted. It appears the Master Criminal has returned, but what is he really after? Fans of this series will not be disappointed.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (some mature thematic content) - MP (mild profanity).

Defiance

Defiance is by Lili St. Crow. The fourth book in the Strange Angels series. Sergej has kidnapped Dru's best friend Graves and no one seems to want to help her rescue him. Christophe's continuing her training, but she has to deal with politics in the Order, her feelings for both Christophe and Graves, and the problems of being about to come into her full powers. When she discovers Christophe may have been involved in turning Graves over to Sergej, all hell literally breaks loose. Fans of this series will love this book as the action continues to build.

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

Battleborn: Stories

Battleborn: Stories is by Claire Vaye Watkins. Claire Watkins is the daughter of Paul Watkins, right hand man and procurer of women for Charles Manson. This collection of short stories contains a fascinating story about growing up in "The Family". It is a powerful collection of stories all set in the American West. Her characters endure hardship and violence and somehow manage to survive and overcome. From the Gold Rush to Vegas, to a story set at a desert brothel, Watkins' storytelling is powerful and moving. This is definitely an adult collection, but it is well worth reading and thoroughly enjoyable.

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

Ironhand

Ironhand is by Charlie Fletcher. The second book in the Stoneheart trilogy. Charlie must complete three challenges or lose himself to the power of the Stone. He must also find Edie who has been captured by the Walker. The Gunner has also been taken by the Walker and must escape and return to his plinth by midnight or he is doomed as well. As war threatens between the spits and the taints, Charlie, Edie, and their friends must find a way to save the spits and their own lives as well. This book is fast paced and action-packed. Both boys and girls will love this series.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (some mature thematic content).

Outpost

Outpost is by Ann Aguirre. The second book in the Razorland series. Deuce, Stalker, Fade, and Tegan have made it to Salvation. They are finally safe, or are they? As they struggle to adjust to life above ground, they discover that the Freaks above ground are growing smarter as well. Deuce must also deal with having two boys who want her. When Deuce, Stalker, and Fade sign up for summer patrols to protect the planters from Freak attacks, everything comes to a head. Fans of this series will enjoy this installment and will anxiously await the next book.

Ratings: 8th grade - 8 out of 10 - V (violence).

Witchlanders

Witchlanders is by Lena Coakley. True fantasy, not a romance, and with two male narrators. Ryder has grown up in the Witchlands governed by a coven of mostly female witches who live high in the mountains "throwing bones" to foretell the future. Falpian is the son of the king of Baen, the neighboring kingdom. When his village is attacked and his mother is killed Ryder sets out to kill the Baen assassin. He discovers that Falpian is not an assassin, and that the two of them can communicate via their minds and can create powerful magic through song. The two boys must uncover the secrets of the witches and stop another war; a war only they have the power to stop, if they can learn to trust each other. Boys will love this story, it's pure fantasy without the romance.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence).

Bitterblue

Bitterblue is by Kristin Cashore. The third book in The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy. This book is really a sequel to Graceling and should probably be read second before reading Fire. Bitterblue took the throne of Monsea after her father's death when she was a child. Her advisers have been running the kingdom ever since. Now that she is older, Bitterblue is beginning to ask questions and finds she does not like the non-answers she is getting. One night she sneaks out of the castle in disguise to explore her city for herself and meets Saf and Teddy, two truth-seekers who are trying to uncover the truth of the horror of her father's reign. When Teddy is almost killed by an unknown assassin, Bitterblue takes up their cause. What she discovers rocks her to the core of her being. Will she be able to find the truth so that she and her kingdom can finally heal, or will she be the next victim? This is a wonderful story, but the truth of Leck's doings are questionable for younger readers.

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