Clean Reads discussion

I'm trying to put together a list of books that I want to read this summer... for now it's all YA Fiction on my list - Jessica Day George's new book, the next Ranger's Apprentice book, The Red Pyramid from Rick Riordan, and I'll be grabbing a copy of the next Hunger Games the minute it comes out.

But 4 books won't keep me busy all summer long. So, I was curious. Do you have a reading list for the summer? Are there any books that will come out this summer that you can't wait to get your hands on? I'd love it if you'd share some of the books you're hoping to read over the next few months!

I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts on The Red Pyramid ... I'm rereading the Amelia Peabody series right now, and think that'll be a fun follow-up. I'm also looking forward to reading the next Mary Russell series (I'm a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, so these books are right up my alley.)

I want to read The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I heard it's really good.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a good book and I don't remember any sexual situations, but there is some aggression, lots of prejudice, and a few inappropriate situations (can't elaborate without divulging part of story). Our book club spoke with Jamie Ford and he was really nice and very interesting.

That's good to know, because I was thinking of suggesting it for our book group.

Recommendations for Summer Reading...but I don't remember how clean they were...they are what I would classify Junior/YA, so there may be some violence or controversial situations or topics: Sisters of the Sword by Maya Snow, Blue Fingers by Whitesel, Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley, Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, Airborn by Oppel, The The Hound of Rowan by Neff and Jean Craighead George's "Mountain books".

I saw that you already read The Ranger's Apprentice, Fablehaven, Gregor the Overlander, Eragon, Princess Academy, Peter and the Star Catchers and Narnia.

Books that I thought were YA for violence or situations, but I enjoyed anyway: the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson (lots of teen attitude and some intense fight scenes and some kissing in later books) Spy High by A.J. Butcher, Alex Ryder by Horowitz, Alchemyst by Micheal Scott, and Pendragon books by D.J. MacHale.

The Remembering Isaac series is a wonderful read-by-the-pool series. The author isn't a writer, and is the first to say so, but they're very enjoyable nonetheless. I'd check them out.

Ah... thank you! I've got quite the list set up for myself now... let's see how many I can actually read this summer!

Books I'm eager to read this summer:
I really liked the Iron King, although it wasn't completely clean, had swear words and a some sensual stuff, but I really liked the book and am eager for the Iron Daughter. And I'm excited for Mockingjay. Those books, I don't know if I would call them clean. They don't have sex, but they're very violent and sadistic. And I've heard that the Last Song is good, I also really want to watch the movie. Halo, I think I read somewhere that it is a clean romance novel. I think the author is Christian. But it sounds really good.

Obert Skye also wrote the Leven Thumps series, and is LDS (so, yes, he is Christian). His books are definitely clean and, I think, very imaginative!

I read the first Leven Thumps, and it was good, just not amazing. So I don't really have a strong inclination to read the rest, though someday I will, and I probablly will like them. I really like Pillage though. It's really short, it could have been better, but I really like it, and I'm really excited to read Choke. I also love those covers!

I agree about Leven Thumps, it's different and clean, but a bit slow, I think. But some of my friends love the series. I've read the first 2 so far.

Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel followed by the prequel A Stranger to Command are fantastic if you haven't read them... I didn't want them to end.

Melissa wrote: "That's good to know, because I was thinking of suggesting it for our book group."

The hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet has nothing inappropriate in it.
A girl named zippy is the best book i've ever read. but it's not YA. I'm not a huge YA adult reader but my favorite clean books are, zippy, i capture the castle, the jan karon 'mitford' books, the book thief and all of robin mckinley's books, esepcially 'sunshine' (written well before 'twilight) and beauty. if you want to stick with YA books, the gregor the overlander books are wonderfully written (written by the same lady who writes the hunger games).

I love Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It's completely clean (no cuss words, no gore, or other icky stuff). It's an adorable story. I'd reccomend it to everyone

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is also very authentic. I have a Japanese friend who was in a camp with his family and he said that's the way it was. In addition to being an interesting story it is also very informative.

I just finished The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott -- and it was absolutely delightful! Romance mixed with the historical background of Louisa May Alcott's family, life and writing. It is TOTALLY CLEAN. I thought it was the perfect summer read.
Here is my review, if you are interested:
http://www.gerberadaisydiaries.com/20...

Anything by Ted Dekker will keep your nose in a book all summer.

Denise wrote: "Anything by Ted Dekker will keep your nose in a book all summer."

I read Black, Red and White by Ted Dekker and it was interesting, but just a warning, it is really 1 book published in 3 parts. It is clean, but it is Christian fiction, so I wouldn't expect anything else.

i'd recommend impossible by nancy werlin. it's a fun, imaginative, quick read. (nice for the last few days of summer break!) the story's based on 'scarborough fair.' i'd give it a heavy PG or very light PG13 rating.
there is some YA type subject matter, but i recommend it as a clean read because the characters actually have moral standards!! shocking, but yes. i was very pleasantly surprised. they don't drink, smoke, swear, or engage in any other interesting activities. ;)
they also place a lot of emphasis on their family relationships. a functional family. not perfect, but supportive of one another. impressive.

just thought i'd share that here, in case anyone's looking for a last summer hoorah.

Joy wrote: "i'd recommend impossible by nancy werlin. it's a fun, imaginative, quick read. (nice for the last few days of summer break!) the story's based on 'scarborough fair.' i'd give it a heavy PG or v..."

I second that! Fantastic tale, I read this as a spring break fourteen hour car ride time passer, and I was so into it, I didn't notice I was carsick until I was done!

Gotta check out this Nancy Werlin! Never heard of her. Where have I been? Oh yeah,addicted to reading everything by Ted Dekker.:) denise

Anyone read anything by Allegra Goodman? She has a new book out called "The Cookbook Collector". I've never read anything by her and don't want to get hooked into a book that I'll have to put down. (Strong language and immorality are my main concerns.) It sounds like a really good story.

I have been reading a lot of YA books and I have been pleasantly surprised with the book list for the Rebecca Caudill award in Illinois. Not all the writing was steller in the books I've read, but they have all been very interesting and as far as I remember, clean. These books are geared for grades 4-8. And the nominee list has a breakdown of suggested grades for each book.

I read most of the 2009 list. If you live in Illnois, you can vote in February on your favorite book for the year from a list of 20 books after you've read 3, if you are in a participating school or library.

http://www.rcyrba.org/

You can try the Squeaky Clean Booklist, here:

http://www.squeakycleanreads.com/sque...

I've read almost all of these books, and they're good, clean reads!

I haven't heard of the Rebecca Caudill Award--I will definitely check those books out. It's great to find another good resource.


~Melissa
www.squeakycleanreads.com