The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Volume 2) by Beth Brower

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Reading Level: High School, Adults

Possible Concerns:

• Ghosts. A Roman centurion, who appears friendly thus far, haunts the town. He says a man of war will ruin the house, and the maid/cook views this to be a serious omen.
• Superstition. Objects move and appear in other places, presumably by a friendly ghost. Emma has what she calls a “Lucky Unlucky Marble.”
• Blackmail/Favors. Emma promises a favor to a dangerous man in exchange for him assuring safety of her friends and loved ones. It feels like a dark and unwise deal.
• Sexual innuendos. When considering marrying a rich but unattractive man, the girls discuss the process of becoming pregnant with his children, an undesirable process due to his boring personality and physique. They use terms such as germination of peas, and other references to how one might go about bearing another man’s children.
• Smoking. Some men are described as smoking cigarettes.
• War. Emma lost someone in Afghanistan. There is discussion of losing someone to war; a friend brings a photo of Afghanistan.
• Deaths of two parents. The teenager is an orphan.
• Deceit and Theft. Emma’s friend hired a man to pose as her cousin and be her escort for social gatherings past curfew. They talk Emma into posing as being married to him as part of a plan to reclaim some books that have been confiscated.
• General disrespect for authority. The main character has a mind of her own, and is disrespectful to elders. Granted, they entirely deserve it.

Book 1 was more innocent than this one, I’m adjusting the recommended age to High School and above. See also my review of Volume 1.