Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi

 This is one of those books that is reviewed everywhere by everyone for months after it comes out, which always catches my attention - who doesn't want to read the next best book, right?! But I hesitated reading this because the reviewers give it the grade rating of 9th grade or higher, which makes it a little too mature for us at the middle school. But I remained open to it as a possible addition to the library collection, and finally bought a copy to read and review on my own, wondering why it was rated so highly yet only for high school or above.

Children of Blood and Bone is now the first in a two-book series, and comes in at just over 500 pages. Already that makes it not the right book for everyone. While reading it, I admit there were a few times I wished it were done so I could move on to my next book. However, in those moments I decided to trust the reviewers and keep reading...I am SO glad I did! The last 100 pages were some of the best action-packed, romance-laden pages ever! So fast-moving! After getting through a few of the slower parts of the story, I was rewarded with an overall remarkable story.

Adeyemi's first book mashes African history with fantasy and African-American sentiment into a wild blend of a story. If adventure, magic, kingdoms, wars and battles and romance is your thing, you will surely like this! I found that the reason some reviewers were giving it the higher grade rating was the romantic relationship that builds up as the story goes along, peaking at some intimate suggestions that I think most mature 8th grade readers could handle. Probably even mature 7th graders. In fact, I didn't find anything more suggestive than in any Twilight books, nor anything that would even make me blush. So a strong story, with older teen characters, doing and thinking what many older teens think about when it comes to someone they are attracted to - oh, and with a unique storyline, action and adventure thrown in. 

The closest comparisons I can think of for this book would be Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, only for older middle school or high school readers. After reading the story, the Author's Note at the end of the book will make you cry. It's not the same to read it before the story - I did both. It will be something sure to move you after you complete the book. Not sure I would read the second book until I finished the first, but now I probably will dive in again. What happens to Zelie? 4 paws and a wag!