Heartland: Coming Home

Photo Credit: Fanpop

Lauren B. (creator). (2007). Heartland. [Television Series]. Canada: CBC.

This show is a Canadian drama that was originally books and was made into a TV series. It follows a girl, Amy who is struggling to get back to normal after the sudden and tragic death other her mother. Her sister Lou has to move back from the city in order to help out around the ranch. This ranch was run by their mother and their grandfather. The ranch is struggling to make money and they need to reorganize it a bit in order to make sure they don't lose it. In the first episode you see how compassionate Amy is when it comes to horses, there was a horse being abused she had convinced her mother to save it. This is when they get into a car accident and her mother doesn't survive.  Throughout the series you meet a bunch of people that from the small Albertan town where Amy and her family lives.

This show is directed towards girls would be at least 12 years old, but would also appeal to older ages too. While the show is set on a ranch in rural Alberta and concentrates on horses mainly however the relationships that develop in the show are interesting and diverse and would appeal to a wider audience than just people who are interested in horses. One limitation that might affect the appeal of the show is the fact that many of the shows that are made in Canada are seen as not as high of quality as other shows.

Rating: 4/5

Pretty Little Liars

Photo Credit: Pintrest

King,  M. (creator). (2010). Pretty Little Liars. [Television Series]. USA: ABC Family.

This is a series about four girls who are still dealing with the loss of their best friend and the leader of their group. One of the girls has recently moved back to town after being gone for a year with her family, they moved away almost immediately after the disappearance of Alison. The four girls, Aria, Emily Hanna and Spencer start to reconnect after they each get anonymous messages from a mysterious person who only goes by "A". This person seems to know all of the secrets that they had told to Alison before she went missing. In the first episode they discover Alison's body and have a funeral for her where they decide that they should stick together. However along with dealing with the mysterious "A" each of the girls have their own issues at home to deal with as well as their school work.

This show would be appealing to almost any girl that is above the age of 14. The show deals with something that not many girls would be able to relate to (the mysterious stranger texting them threatening to reveal all of their secrets) however the sides stories of all their different family issues could be relatable to the teens watching. They might have to deal with their parents being separated or divorced, or a sibling that makes them look inferior for example. However the way that the characters deal with the situations are not the best but they do end up having to face the consequences for this.

Rating: 4/5

Teens at VPL: Vancouver Public Library

Photo Credit: Vancouver Public Library

Vancouver Public Library. (2015) Teens at VPL. Retrieved from http://guides.vpl.ca/teens.

The teen website for the Vancouver Public Library looks very similar to the course guides here at Dalhousie University. It has the main page with links across the top, "What's Happening", "Community Service Opportunities", "Books and More", "Resources", "citizenU" and "TeenRC". In the "What's Happening" link there is a section for programs and contests which leads you to the Events Calendar. In the "Community Service Opportunities" there are the, Teen & Tween advisory group, the manga group, reading buddies and another link for community service opportunities. THe "Books and More" link has lists that help you figure out other things to read if you like certain titles or authors. The resources tab has things like health, education, and relationships. CitizenU is a program to combat bullying, and TeenRC is the teen reading club website. The reading club is for people who are 12-18.

The Vancouver Public Library Teen section doesn't look like it would be appealing to the teens. However the resources that are on there look like they would be very helpful. They have a wide variety of resources that the teens might need, from  reading advisory, to heath and homework help. The age group that would find this appealing would be wide because of the variety of resources available.

Rating: 4/5

Teen Zone - Annapolis Valley Regional Library

Photo Credit: Annapolis Valley Regional Library

Annapolis Valley Regional Library. (2015). Teen Zone. Retrieved from http://www.valleylibrary.ca/teen-zone.

The Annapolis Valley Regional Library has a sections for teens called the "Teen Zone" the main page has quick links to "My account", "Ask Us" as well as "Get a Library Card". There are also links for "Teen Council", "Girl Power", and "March Break 2015" as well as a list of other activities and latest news for the library. Along the side of the main page there is a small list of new teen books. I clicked through to the Girl Power page to see what it was about. It is a program for any girl that is age 10-15 they do a variety of things, they talk, they do crafts, write, surf the web bake play games among other things. I don't understand why it wouldn't just be marketed to all teens instead of making it just for girls however. The Teen Council is for teens who are 13-17 years old who meet at the Kentville Library on Sunday afternoons. From the looks of their website they hold parties for the teens as well as other things throughout the year.

The main page of the teen section doesn't seem like it would be appealing to anyone much less to a teen. When you click through to some of the sections of the website you get taken off of the library's website and to wordpress sites. These look like someone made an effort to make the sites more appealing to teens. The Girl Power site is clearly directed towards girls but it doesn't look like they are targeting the younger end or the older end of the age bracket. The Teen Zone website looks like they tried to be neither too "girly" or too boyish. They chose to stick with black and grey with red accents and the pages look like loose leaf. The fact that they made it so it wouldn't seem to be leaning toward either group as well as posting pictures of both on the site might
make new teens wish to join in.

Rating: 3.5/5

Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Sheinkin, S. (2012) Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--The World's Most Dangerous Weapon. [audiobook] New York: Roaring Brook Press.

This is book is a non-fiction story about the story of the building of the worlds first atomic bomb. Sheinkin does this by using the lives of the scientists, spies and saboteurs. The material is from archival material and government documents. There are tales from the Norwegian spies that wanted to sabotage the efforts to make the atomic bomb. Within the story there are also pictures that help the readers (or listeners) to understand what happens when an atomic bomb goes off. There are also many first person accounts of the making and researching of the bomb which allows the reader to get into the heads of those researchers and scientists. As well as those who experienced the aftermath of the bomb. The way that he ends the book is very thought provoking, “The making of the atomic bomb is one of history’s most amazing examples of teamwork and genius and poise under pressure. But it’s also the story of how humans created a weapon capable of wiping our species off the planet. It’s a story with no end in sight… And like it or not you’re in it” (Sheinkin, 2012). 

This book might not appeal to as many as some of the other books in this reading blog. However it gives a wonderful look at a monumental moment in history. With the explanations and diagrams to go on with them the young readers would be able to understand just what goes on in an atomic bomb. The fact that there are first hand accounts of the aftermath would let them connect to people that went through this terrible thing. The audience of this book would be between the ages of 12 18 for the YA age groups but could also appeal to adults as well. 

Rating: 4/5

See you at Harry's by Jo Knowles

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Knowles, J. (2012). See You at Harry's. [audiobook]. Summerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 

This story is about a 12 year old girl who is starting to go to jr high (or middle school) and finds that her parents are super embarrassing. He even made them be in a super cheesy commercial for the family restaurant. Fern feels like she doesn't matter much in the family she feels like she is invisible to the rest of her family, everyone else seems to be busy all of the time. Her youngest brother Charlie was not planned and seems to be the only one who cares much about Fern and is always stuck to her. She also always seems to be the one to be stuck taking care of Charlie because her mom is always so busy. Fern does have a best friend that is always there to offer her reassuring words and and a shoulder to lean on. However things only get worse for Fern when a tragedy strikes and Charlie passes away. This happens while Fern is supposed to be looking after him and she feels responsible for it. Now she feels even more alone and isn't sure how her family could ever return to normal. Throughout the rest of the story you see these realistic characters deal with the loss of a family member. 

While this book is aimed at the lower end of the YA age group (age 10) it could still appeal to the older ages as well. There is a chance that parents might want to remind their children what sort of language is appropriate as there is some language in the book that might not be seen as appropriate. This book shows realistic characters dealing with something that anyone might have to deal with, and might allow teens to relate. With the side story of the older brother coming out and his family not embracing him in his choices could resonate with members of the YA community. 

Rating: 3.5/5

Seventeen Magazine

Photo Credit: Seventeen Magazine

Seventeen Magazine. (2015) New York: Hearst Communicaitons INC. 

This magazine has articles related to fashion, what are the trends, what to buy and how to wear it. It also has articles about how to dress for certain situations. There is also a beauty section that gives you beauty tips and how they can try the newest makeup trends and fit them into their everyday lives. There is another section where they can learn different fitness tips, or read articles related to positive body image. As with many magazines that are targeted toward women there is a section about with articles related to relationships and understanding the opposite sex. What was surprising to me was there is a section related to personal development strategies, increasing confidence or selecting the right college. There are also interviews with celebrities talking about various things like their upcoming projects or their latest releases.

This magazine is for the higher end of the YA group, the high school (grades 10-12) age group. Some of the articles discuss sex and relationships which might be deemed inappropriate for some of the younger members of the YA age group. Some parents might not realize this is the case until they bought it and allowed their children to read it. There are some articles that deal with what teens have actually dealt with and would be more relatable to the reader.

Rating: 2.5/5

Alternative Press Magazine

Photo Credit: Alternative Press

Alternative Press (2015). Ohio: Alternative Press.

Alternative Press is a magazine that is marketed towards people who are interested in the underground, alternative or punk music scene. The magazine contains tons of interviews with bands, reviews and news from the industry. They talk about tour dates, album releases, new acts and have reviews of EPs and CDs. While this may not be what you typically think of when you think of a teen magazine it showcases they other side of the teen world, the not so glittery side. This months issue for example has a list of 100 bands you need to know, spanning all different kinds of music. There is reviews of new releases from Death Cab for Cutie, Sleeping with Sirens, Falling in Reverse and You me and Everyone we know. This magazine gives the teens that are more interested in whats going on in music something to read.

This magazine would appeal to the boys in the YA group as well as girls (depending on their music choices). It could also appeal to many adults with the bands still being people they would listen to. I know I listen to a few of these bands and wouldn't mind reading reviews of their new releases before I bought them.

Rating: 4/5

Ms. Marvel Vol 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

Wilson, W. G. (2014). Ms. Marvel Vol 1: No Normal. New York: Marvel Wide.

This graphic novel is a reimagining of a superhero that has been done many times. There has been a Ms Marvel reincarnated different times, this time she is an ordinary girl named Kamala Khan living in Jersey City. She is ordinary until she suddenly has fantastic powers after saving a classmate's life. Now she not only has to struggle with the identities of, daughter, student, friend, Muslim, sister, immigrant, American, Pakistani she now has the new worries about who she is as a hero. This is the first time a Muslim character has been the main character in a Marvel comic. She struggles with the desire to do good while staying within her curfew and figuring out who she can trust. This is just the first book in the series of 5 volumes. 

This novel would be widely appealing to many different age levels including the entire YA level. Many of youth are probably struggling with their own identity crisis. When you are going through all of the changes that happen in your teen you are figuring out who you are and how you fit in. A great asset to the book is the fact that the main character is a member of a minority group that has not been shown in the best light before. This gives those girls a positive model to look to in popular culture. 

Rating: 4/5

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Flinn, A. (2007). Beastly. London: Harperteen. 

This fairy tale retelling is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It is set in New York in the present time. The main character is a boy who used to be Kyle Kingsbury before the witch in his English class cast a spell on him turning him into a beast who has to hide during the day.  Before he was turned into a beast he had everything anyone would want, he had the popularity and the good looks. While his father has made tons of money as a news anchor, he doesn't have any relationship with Kyle. This makes Kyle into a cruel boy who doesn't care much about anything and relies on his good looks and money. The girl in his English class casts the spell on him because he had played a cruel joke on her. He asked her to a dance never actually intending to go with her and goes with the the "hottest" girl in school. His maid buys the wrong flower for her and she gets really upset. When he gets into the dance he is still upset and sees the ugly girl that he had invited earlier and tells her that no one would ever want to dance with her. The curse gives him two years to find true love or he will have to stay a beast forever. He is sent to neighbourhood far away and given a blind tutor. When a he is almost robbed he trades the mans life for his daughter, to save her from being traded to someone much worse than him. They grow to be friends and he realizes he loves her when she runs away and gets into trouble. 

The appeal of this story is that it is set in the present time and if there was magic in the world it could potentially happen. The people that would read this would be the higher end of the Jr High level (grades 8-9) and the High school (grades 10-12) and potentially some younger adults. It is different enough from the original that you don't feel like you are reading a childish story. 

Rating: 4/5

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Collins, S. (2008) The Hunger Games. Scholastic Press. 

The story starts out with you being introduced to Katnis who is living in a post-apocalyptic nation called Panem. It doesn't say where exactly you are in the world but the nation consists of 13 districts, one is the wealthy Capitol and the much poorer 12 other districts. These districts provide supplies for the Capitol. In the early stages of the nation there was a rebellion with the 12 poorer districts attacking the Capitol. This rebellion was squashed by the Capitol and this led to them needing something to show that they are in control of the districts. They decided on a televised event called the Hunger Games, each district must put forth one boy and one girl as tribute. These tributes are between the age of 12 and 18, and are picked at random. Katnis's sisters name is in for the first time this year and she gets chosen. Katnis volunteers to be taken instead to protect her younger sister. She goes to the capitol with the boy tribute a boy around her age to compete in the games. She must survive the games in order to get home again to see her sister and her mother. She goes through many terrible things throughout the games and eventually it is just her and Peeta left as the game makers said that two tributes could win if the were from the same district. However they take it back so they decide to trick the game makers and each berries that would poison them both and there would be no victors at all. This however would not give the districts the small amount of hope that the games are supposed to provide. The game makers decide to let them both win. However they do need to pretend to be in love as they had throughout the game. It ends with them pulling into district 12 ready to play act for the cameras. In the second book in the series "Catching Fire" Katnis and Peeta are doing the victors tour and the districts are starting to act like they did in the rebellion. The capitol is still angry that they were tricked by the two tributes and decide to show them that they are the ones in charge. During the next reaping for  the Hunger Games the tributes are only chosen out of the previous victors (meaning for district 12 it would have to be Katnis). Her and Peeta are going to go back into the arena. Unbeknownst to Katnis there is a plan to break her and the other tributes and take them to join the rebellion in district 13 (a district that was supposed to have been destroyed). However when they are rescued Peeta gets left behind and gets taken by the Capitol. 

This book would be appealing to a large audience, ranging from the entire YA group all the way to adults. The fact that they never say exactly where they are allows you to think that it could be where you are living now and could be you. This allows the reader to relate more to the story and be sucked in. However you almost know from the very beginning that Katnis will win or come close to winning or do something to trick the game makers. It is a predictable plot line, however you find yourself being invested in the characters and really wanting them to make it.

Rating: 3.5/5

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling

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Rowling, J.K. (1997). Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. New York: Bloomsbury.

Harry Potter thinks that he is just a normal boy who is destined to live under the stairs at his Aunt and Uncles house avoiding his cousin and his group of terrible friends. The story opens with Mr. Dursley noticing really strange things happening on his way to work, people wearing weird clothes and owls out during the day. That night the headmaster of Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore meets up with other professor outside of the Dursley home waiting for Hagrid (the game keeper) to bring little Harry. You find out that Harry's parents were killed by an evil wizard by Voldemort and he will be left with his Aunt and Uncle. After this you fast forward to Harry and his family getting ready for his cousins birthday party, Harry still has no idea that he is special though he has noticed that strange things happen around him. Letters start to arrive for Harry which his Uncle won't let him read or even look at. The letters start to arrive even on days that the mail isn't delivered and Mr. Dursley starts to panic trying to keep the secret from Harry. Eventually they are on an island where Mr. Dursley thinks that they won't be able to be bothered. However Hagrid finds them and Harry learns that he is a Wizard and he will be going to Hogwarts for school. The school year is full of events that would only happen to someone who wasn't normal, there were trolls in the dungeon, secret passage ways and crazy creatures. They find out that there is the philosopher's stone hidden in the castle and decide to try to find it before Voledemort does. With the help of his two best friends they do get to the stone however a Professor has gotten their first. Harry out wits the Professor, who has Voldemort in the back of his head and saves the day.

This book would appeal to all ages in the YA group. The fact that we like to pretend that there is magic in the world and there could be another world of people living amongst us. This book does allow the reader to enter another world which would be part of the books appeal. The only limitation that might make it more difficult for someone to have access to the book would be that the book was challenged at different points and it might not be in their library.

Rating: 5/5

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Gregory, P. (2001). The Other Boleyn Girl. London: Harper Collins. 

This story concentrates on Mary Boleyn, who comes to King Henry VIII's court when she is only fourteen years old. She starts as a maid to the queen but very soon catches the eyes of the king and starts to like it. She does realize that she is just a pawn for her family and their ambitions to further themselves and launch their family into higher society. They encourage her to further the affair that she is having with the king.  This affair lasts for a number of years which she bears a daughter Catherine and a son Henry. The family was very concerned that every time Mary was pregnant and confined to the bed the king would take a different lover and cut the Boleyn family off. To stop this from happening the family gets her sister Anne to flirt with the king and keep his interest. However Anne wants to have the king for her self and has lofty ambitions of becoming queen one day. Anne manages to keep the king waiting for her until the divorce between him and Katherine of Aragon is final. The end of Mary's story does in fact have a happy ending. Her first husband William dies of the plaugue but finds a new love who she marries and becomes the step father to the two children she had with the King. They spend the rest of their days in the country away from the court. 

This book would appeal to the higher end of the YA group. This would be the high school students (grade 10-12). It is a cross over book from the adult fiction. It gives the reader just enough history to know that everything isn't made up but it also satisfies the need to know what the people might have been thinking. The book is similar to other historical fiction novels out their but the writing style of Philippa Gregory makes it really easy to read and understand. It would be a good starter book for someone who was trying to get into reading historical fiction.

Rating: 4/5

Uglies by Scott Westfield

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Westfield, S. (2005). Uglies. New York: Simon & Schuster. 

Tally is about to turn sixteen, she can't wait because once she does she will be able to finally get the operation to become pretty and move to the city. Her best friend has already turned sixteen and has had the operation and is having the time of her life in the city. However she makes a new friend who isn't sure that she wants to become pretty and is thinking that maybe it would be better to spend life on the run, on the outside. After her new friend runs away Tally is put on the spot by Dr Cable to find her new friend (Shay) or she will not be able to get the operation and join her best friend in the city. She agrees to this and sets off to find the town of uglies and turn Shay in. However in her travels she meets a boy who was born in the wilderness and thinks that Tally is beautiful the way that she is. While living in the Smoke she finds out things about the operation, the brain surgery that makes the people more "manageable" and decides that maybe she doesn't want the operation and decides to not call Dr. Cable. However the Special Circumstances storms into Smoke and arrests everyone. David and Tally escape somehow and watch everyone being carted off to the city. They decide to try to rescue everyone who was captured, they rescue his mom but are too late for his dad and Shay (she has been turned pretty). The ending leaves the reader wondering what is going to happen next as Tally volunteers to get the operation so Davids mother can try out the cure for the brain surgery part of the operation. 

This book would appeal to both the Jr High (grade 7-9) and High School grades. It has a high interest level I think. The fact that it is dealing with what other people perceive as beautiful and what society tells you that you have to do in order to be beautiful. It is good that the main character realizes that she doesn't need the operation to be pretty. However it is still someone else telling her that she is pretty ( the boy she meets tells her that he thinks she is beautiful the way she is). It would be better if she realized this on her own, as it is right now the girl is still relying on an outside opinion. 

Rating: 2.5/5

Swimming in the Monsoon Sea by Shym Selvadurai

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Selvadurai, S. (2005) Swimming in the Monsoon Sea. Toronto: Tundra Books. 

Winner of the CLA Young Adult Book Award, 2006.

Fourteen-year-old Amrith who lives in Shri Lanka in the summer of 1980 enjoys his life in the household of his Auntie Bundle and Uncle Lucky with his two girl cousins. He had plans to get the lead in the schools version of a scene from Othello. In the beginning of the story you know that it was tragic circumstances that caused him to be living with his Aunt and Uncle but you don't find out the whole story until much further into the story. He finds out that he has other relatives that he has never met, his mother's brother has come to look a property that he was left and has brought Amirth's cousin with him. Amirth ends up putting his plans on hold to get to know his cousin and wants to learn everything about him. He finds himself having feelings he never expected to have for his cousin. He finds himself falling in love with the boy and then struggles with how to deal with it. In the culture that he was brought up in this is something that is seen as dirty and unclean. He struggles to deal with all of the feelings inside, the jealousy and the love that he feels for the people in his life.  

This book would appeal to the higher level of the YA group mainly High school (grades 10-12) and maybe even into early adulthood. It deals with something that could affect many of the potential readers. As we are growing up we deal with things that are different from what we thought and especially they fact that this young boy who is gay is living in a culture that doesn't accept that. Many of the people that would be reading this story might be in a similar situation and might relate to the story. One of the limitations of this book is the pop culture references, they are older (the story being set in 1980) and some of the younger readers might not understand them.

Rating: 3/5

Soldier Doll by Jennifer Gold

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Gold, J. (2012). Soldier Doll. Toronto:Second Story Press.

Elizabeth and her family have moved from one side of the country (British Columbia) to Ontario for her fathers work, he is in the Canadian Military. After this move he will be deploying overseas to Afganistan. She and her father enjoy looking for little knickknacks at garage sales. With this in mind she finds her dad what she thinks will be a fantastic birthday present, a small little wooden doll that has been painted to look like a soldier. This doll is a special doll which might be what inspired a poem written by a women after her fiance went off to war.  She and a boy that she met at the local book store with the help of her dad begin to research and unravel the story of the doll and figure out all the hands that it has passed through slowly figuring out the origin of the doll. The book jumps between the different owners of the doll as Elizabeth finds out the pieces of the puzzle. When they find out who the original owner is they make plans to meet there when her father is on leave in the middle of the deployment. This plan is derailed however when she comes home and finds out that her father has been killed in the line of duty. However her and her mother still go on the journey to meet the original owner.

This book would appeal to girls that are in Jr High (grades 7-9) and High School (10-11). It is dealing with something that many young people never thought they would have to deal with. If their parents are in the military deployment and postings have been come more and more prevalent in the past few years. However I feel like there should be some sort of warning that the father will pass away. It would be helpful for the librarian who might be suggesting the book for someone to read to know that the father who is being deployed is killed in action. Many people who are dealing with deployment this is a very real worry for them and might make them worry even more.

Rating: 4/5

Riot Act by Diane Tullson

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Tullson, D. (2012). Riot Act. Victoria: Orca Books Publishing.

A young boy and his friend go to watch a the final game for a hockey team, they had the chance to win for the first time in many years. The downtown core was packed with people who had been watching the game, when the home town team loses. The alcohol fuelled spectators react to this the way that you might not associate with a team losing a game. There are riots throughout the downtown core, emergency crews are all over the place but people don't seem to care. There are people breaking into stores, stealing and vandalizing in general. The young boy, Daniel and his friend have had some drinks and do start to take part in the riots at first but then realize they are in more trouble than they realize. While trying to escape they let the rioters into a pizza shop where they proceed to destroy the place. Daniel realizes that things have gone way too far, incriminating pictures are taken by members of the crowd and the pizza shops owners daughter. In the aftermath of the whole event Daniel is treated like a hero while his friend is treated like a villain. He fights with himself about turning himself in and deciding what the right thing would be to do.

This book would appeal to the higher end of the Jr High grades (8 and 9) and perhaps lower high school (10). It is a high/lo book and the reading level would be achievable for those who struggle but is still dealing with a topic that they might be struggling with themselves or something that they could relate with (the use of alcohol). The book doesn't really let you know what happens to Daniel once he has come clean about his part in the riot. You don't get told what happened at home or that even when you make the correct choice there is still consequences.

Rating: 3.5/5

Butterflies Don't Lie B.R Myers

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Myers, B.R. (2014) Butterflies Don't Lie. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing.

A 16 year-old girl, Kelsey lives in a rural Nova Scotian village. Her best friend has left for the summer and she has gotten a job at a local restaurant. She is worried about how she will survive the summer without her best friend. Her crush has recently become single and Kelsey and her best friend have made a checklist to help her to get a kiss and date from Blaine (Kelsey's crush). Her new job was the  first step however once this is checked off everything seems to go wrong for Kelsey. She worries about how her actions look to other people and what other people think of her. This seems to make her not want to branch out and try new things for fear of looking silly. She makes an unlikely  friend at work with the boy that works in the kitchen and one of the girls she never talked to at school. In the end she figures out that sometimes you need to let things happen.

This book would appeal to the Jr High (grades 7-9) age group potentially the lower end of high school (grade 10). The books does lean more towards the female readers because of the subject matter that it is dealing with and how it is dealt with. The story is strictly told from the point of view of Kelsey. Girls would relate to this book because they may be feeling the same feelings and have the same worries that Kelsey has about her life.

Rating: 3/5