Inside the Outsiders
The Outsiders is a great opportunity for parents and teachers to begin discussions on a myriad of moral questions, from prejudice to friendship.
Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell
Good, not great, and harmless overall. Not a small thing in the world of modern literature.
A World of Wonder, Enchantment, and Danger
Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven is an absorbing, well-plotted, and enchanting series that offers young readers real goods, but sometimes wanders too close to real darkness.
How to Read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
If it is approached as a unique new adventure in the paradigm of the original series, it is likely to disappoint.
The Unwanteds
This fictional, conflicted world provides little merit for readers of any age. I recommend passing on The Unwanteds series in favor of others.
The Bad and the Ugly of YA Lit
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” has a little bit of the good of contemporary young adult fiction, but way more of the bad and the flat out ugly.
Close Encounters of the Medieval Kind
“Eifelheim” is a very fine science fiction novel, and should be on the reading list of everyone interested in the interaction of medieval and modern philosophy, science, and even politics.
Scythe
Dignity and gravitas sound together to form the deep chords of this piece, and author Neal Shusterman is a somber organist.
The Prisoner of Alcatraz
If parents are looking for a story that will present a heroic role model for their boys to imitate, this is not the series for them.
A Post-Apocalyptic World of Dogs
This is the moral message of the book … don’t just think of yourself, don’t just let everyone do everything for you, combine self-reliance with care for others.