Surviving the Applewhites
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 10+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
A screwball comedy with a real heart: a hardened boy softens when a chaotic family takes him in, and a girl who feels plain finds her gift. The content is mild. The reservation is the household itself. The adults chase their own art, an aunt keeps a guru, and learning means doing what you like. Talk about that.
For parents
Read aloud from 9, independent reading from 10. Common Sense Media says 10 and up. Jake smokes at first and swears, but the words are not printed. Ask what really changed Jake. Ask whether school should only be what we feel like doing, and what obedience to good teachers gives us (CCC 2217).