What you will find on Joy Reads is nothing but living, quality, enjoyable books for many ages, with an especial love for the preteen and teen ages.

The older your child gets, the more the possibility increases that they will read a book that you might think is safe to read, that turns out to be unsafe, full of adult content and  themes. There are so many books that look innocent but have danger lurking between the covers.

I get it. When I was eleven or twelve, I went to the library and searched my own name, ordered the book that came up, and read it. (I believe the logic was that I was a pretty neat person, so anyone else with my name would also be interesting.) It was an adult romance. The questions I asked my mother afterwards were exceptionally alarming to her.
Maybe you’re not someone who reads a lot and your reader is outpacing you by miles. Maybe you’ve found you just don’t prefer the books they like. Maybe they’re getting into their teens and you’re afraid they’re going to be exposed to sex, drugs, and bad lifestyles glorified. Maybe you’re a teen looking for a haven of lovely books in a dark world. Hey, maybe you’re an adult that doesn’t really want any of that “adult” content in your life.

I’ve got you.

All the books on JoyReads are quality books. Books with good writing. Books with characters that aren’t just walking piles of bad attitude or nasty behavior. Non-fiction books that are living, interesting, and informative. Books that you can give to your preteen without fear. Books that your teen can read without feeling gross. Books that you can enjoy yourself.

“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”
– C. S. Lewis

A note: Sometimes I come across a book I really enjoy that has content I wouldn’t give to a child. These books I put in my “Parent Book Club,” clearly marked, for adults who want to judge their own boundaries and comfort levels. These don’t necessarily have bedroom scenes, but occasionally are just darker in tone than I would want my own children (or myself at that age) to be involved in.

Want to know more? Let me tell you about what each review looks like.

There are two sections: The nutshell and the ramblings. In the nutshell, I’ll give you the basics. The lowdown. The skinny. And any other outdated lingo that applies. The title and author, and the marker of the youngest age that should read the book. Everything I review can be enjoyed by older ages, but this will let you know which age group the book is best for. Then there’s a list of similar books. These are not grouped by age, so if your child enjoyed a book but is ready for a slightly more mature one in a similar vein, you can easy find a perfect fit.

If that’s enough for you, then you can proceed to your nearest library, independent bookstore, or preferred book acquisition avenue.

If you’re on the fence, or you just like reading about reading, you can read the ramblings. That’s where I’ll talk about things that stood out to me, whether they’re points I enjoyed or things that hold the book back. (It’s okay to enjoy a book that isn’t perfect! Just like it’s okay to be friends with people who aren’t Batman.) Spoilers, if they happen in this section, will be politely hidden from view. (There isn’t really a place where spoilers will be just standing around waiting to impale unsuspecting eyeballs. I prefer civilized spoilers to Spartans with spears.)

And whether you’re on the fence still or want to just jump right in, most reviews have a Kindle preview tucked behind the picture. (Some previews were unavailable; those links go through to where you can read the preview on Amazon directly.)

[Photo credits: header by Tam Wai, Silhouetted boy reading by Aaron Burden, older boy reading by Bruce Mars, found on Unsplash.]