Author: Matt de la Pena
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: November 12, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
Source of Book: ARC borrowed from friend

Shy took the summer job to make some money. In a few months on a luxury cruise liner, he’ll rake in the tips and be able to help his mom and sister out with the bills. And how bad can it be? Bikinis, free food, maybe even a girl or two—every cruise has different passengers, after all.
        But everything changes when the Big One hits. Shy’s only weeks out at sea when an earthquake more massive than ever before recorded hits California, and his life is forever changed.
        The earthquake is only the first disaster. Suddenly it’s a fight to survive for those left living.

First Thought: Oh, boy, am I glad I read this book – although, perhaps floating in a tube on the lake wasn’t the best setting in which to read it.


Matt de la Pena has written a thrill-ride, page-turner, heart-pounding in fear for what’s happening and what might happen, suspenseful thriller of a novel. 


Shy is a great character. He’s smart, he’s sensitive, he’s a guy who cares about his family and is trying to make a crappy situation better. He’s endearing in his worries, hopes, desires, realness. Issues of race come up, especially within the context of class on the ship and between the passengers…and after the sinking. When it’s about survival, it doesn’t matter how much money you had to go on this luxury cruise.


THE LIVING takes place in a scary world where a sickness has evolved and is killing people in poor areas. And everyone is not as they seem – there is a huge mystery/conspiracy element to this story as well. There’s a bit of everything in here, but it works SO well! Lives are at stake…and many are lost, and the U.S. as we know it is drastically changed. 


It’s engagingly written and the plot keeps it moving forward. There’s a little bit of an insiders view of cruise ships, and then people start dying. There are some parts with more obvious foreshadowing, but for some of our students that will be a good thing. Matt de la Pena has crafted a well-written 3rd person that lets us read it as an outsider, but still feel like we know the character and what he’s going through. 


There are game changer moments throughout the story, but the biggest ones come at the end…and make me anxious for the follow-up, THE FORGOTTEN, to find out what Shy is going to do next, how he’s going to continue to survive, who will survive with him, if he’ll finally get answers, and how the entire west coast of America will survive after the catastrophic events.


Final Thoughts: It’s just really good. Read it…and then put it in a teen’s hands! 
Also: I’m desperate for the next book!

Title: THE 5th WAVE
Author: Rick Yancey
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (a Penguin imprint)
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Number of Pages: 457
Source of Book: ARC from a friend
Book Website: http://the5thwaveiscoming.com/

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After
the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky
escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave,
only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the
5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The
beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone
they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to
stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and
mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her
brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust
and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To
give up or to get up.

First Thought: It was as good as everyone told me it would be.  

I was nervous to start this book because so many people had told me how good it was, and I didn’t want to be disappointed if it didn’t live up to my expectations…but I had no reason to worry. I loved THE 5th WAVE. Rick Yancey has written an entirely engrossing novel that explores the notion of what one will do, believe, and question in order to survive in a brutal world that has completely changed everything that has ever been known. There have been four waves of aliens “attacking” the citizens of this world, and the remaining survivors are waiting for the fifth, without knowing what it could possibly entail. One of the things I liked most about this story was the way in which the multiple perspectives were woven together to create a fuller understanding of what different character’s experiences are in these circumstances, and gives the reader an outsiders overview of what is going on in the different areas some characters may not know about. Yes, there are some gruesome parts, but when fighting for survival, sometimes one has to continue to exist. Yancey‘s writing was descriptive and I was wrapped up in the story the entire time I was reading; I couldn’t stop turning pages so I could find out what would happen to these characters next. I spent time in a believeable world based on unbelieveable situations, in circumstances I can’t imagine having to deal with, and I loved every page of it.

Final Thoughts: Unputdownable, suspenseful sci-fi that I would absolutely recommend. (How quickly can I get the next book?!)

Title: BOT WARS
Author: J.V. Kade
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (a Penguin imprint)
Release Date: March 21, 2013
Number of Pages: 368
Source of Book: ARC from author

Twelve-year-old Trout St. Kroix has been searching for his missing father for the last two years, after his dad disappeared while fighting in the Bot Wars. The Bot Wars began after robots became so advanced that they revolted and demanded more workers’ rights, causing the government to declare all robots terrorists and ban them from the Districts. Trout never questioned anything the government told him–even when his own nanny bot was banished–until a vid he posts about his missing dad goes viral and new information pops up. At first Trout is wrenched his dad might be alive, but when his brother disappears, Trout learns nothing is what it seems . . . not even his own father.

Percy Jackson meets Transformers in this heart-stopping, futuristic adventure that will make you question everything you know–and look at robots in a whole new light

I’ve already shown this to two of my middle school boys in class, and had them read the summary to see what they thought, and they both said they would read the book because it sounds good to them.

BOT WARS by J.V. Kade (who also writes YA as Jennifer Rush-ALTERED) is an intriguing sci-fi look into the future. The robots are advanced, as is the American society, but is it really all as it seems? In true dystopic fashion, the main character finds out maybe he doesn’t know as much as he thought he did, and maybe there are some people out there fighting against the government that created a “better” world. There are intriguing allegories that can be made about slavery/working class and how those groups are treated.

In BOT WARS, Kade has created an exciting book full of non-stop action that has a bit of a rescue/heist feeling to it. It is an enjoyable, suspenseful read. It’s full of fun characters – both human and robot – who are very entertaining. But what really makes the heart of this book are the family ties that make it an even stronger book than just the story of the robots vs. humans. Beyond all of the fighting and political aspects, it’s about a young boy searching for the father he has been missing for two years, and his inability to give up hope that he’s out there somewhere just waiting to be found and reunited with him. A boy needs his dad, and a dad needs his son…but how can they each keep each other safe in a world of robots? This is an action-packed, cleverly imagined middle grade book with strong boy appeal. Hand this off to those who want futuristic books, those who love science-fiction, and those who would like reading a book about a boy who won’t give up hope.

Title: MIND GAMES
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Number of Pages: 256
Source of Book: ARC loaned to me from my fabulous teacher friend, Lea

Fia was born with
flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always
exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around
her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped
in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for
corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over
between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking
each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times
bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick,
edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters
determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

MIND GAMES is a compulsively readable story that shows a completely different side to Kiersten White than her PARANORMALCY series did. It was awesome and unexpected, while still having some of the trademark Kiersten White easy, contemporary style of writing that I love of hers. But this character is so different from what she has written before. The structure of this story built upon itself to drive the suspense to a climactic moment that I never saw coming. White has built a world of girls with psychic powers intertwined in a thriller of a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was an unputdownable pageturner. I have so many thoughts after reading this engaging, twisted, emotional, intriguing, thought-provoking, kick-butt novel, and all of them are good.

I really love reading books with strong girl characters, and when they’re a little bit broken as Fia is, it makes it that much more relatable. Fia is kind of my new hero after reading MIND GAMES. She is conflicted, but knows what’s most important to her. She is broken, but strong. She is scared, but fearless. She is hopeless, yet determined. She is the strength of this novel. Between Fia, the world that Kiersten White created, the mysterious thriller aspects, the relationships, and the back and forth timeline of the story, I never knew where it was going to end up. MIND GAMES was an excitingly thrilling novel and I enjoyed every page of it. I can’t wait for the next one to find out what happens next!

Title: SCARLET (Lunar Chronicles #2, sequel to CINDER)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (a Macmillan imprint)
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Number of Pages: 464
Source of Book: Signed ARC from publisher at ALA

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling
Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if
she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway
around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out
there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and
the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet
encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her
grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he
clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf
work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths
with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious
Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her
king, her prisoner.

I think I enjoyed SCARLET even more than CINDER. Much of that has to do with the way Marissa Meyer wrote the characters of Scarlet and Wolf and how much I enjoyed reading their parts of the story. I do love a story told in multiple voices, and the way in which the stories of Scarlet and Cinder started off on opposite sides of the wold and slowly worked their way together was well done. However, I was enjoying Scarlet and Wolf so much early on that I rushed through the Cinder chapters a little bit to get back to the ones I was enjoying more. As it went on though, I remembered why I liked Cinder, especially with her new sidekick (who is quite entertaining), and as I saw how it was all coming together, it was hard to stop reading.

The way Marissa Meyer has created this world in which her characters live, and how their stories are all coming together (and will continue to do so in the final two books of the series) is intriguing to me as a reader. It is a complicated, well-drawn world, but it has characters that I really start to care about quite a bit. These characters are flawed and scared and insecure, but they are girls who become strong in their struggles. Both Scarlet and Cinder are having to become stronger than they every imagined they would have to as they find out more and more about what’s going on in their larger world. They also sometimes have to rely on and sometimes have to save those who are traveling this journey with them.

One of the most interesting things about this story is the way that Meyer weaves in elements of the original fairy tale, but in a totally modern twisty way. If you read CINDER, I absolutely recommend that you read SCARLET. I enjoyed seeing where Cinder’s story is headed with the new information she learned at the end of the first book, and I was drawn even more into the story by the introduction of Scarlet and Wolf and the discoveries that are made with the two of them and everything they have to go through in this story. I can’t wait to see where they all end up in the next book, CRESS, based on Rapunzel, coming in 2014, and then WINTER, based on Snow White , in 2015. It’ll be a long wait, but if this book is any indication, it will be worth it.

Title: THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT (sequel to UNDER THE NEVER SKY)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Number of Pages: 352
Source of Book: ARC from the fantastic Harper Collins School & Library reps during the “Day of Awesomeness” at NCTE

It’s been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don’t take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe’s precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

I was absolutely enamored with Veronica Rossi‘s debut book, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, and it stuck with me for a long time, so I was very anxious to get the sequel, THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT. I loved this second book too, most especially being back in this world with these characters. THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT has the same beautiful writing and imagery
and unique world-building from the first book, but we find out even
more about how this world came to be and what might be going on as it
disintegrates even further.

So much of this story is about the family relationships and how they affect Aria and Perry and Roar and everyone else that has been dependent on their families to help them survive in this environment. As we begin to delve deeper into these stories and what’s happening with these characters, Rossi also gives us more detail about how this world came to be the way it is and the difficulties the people are truly facing in this environment. There is real life or death at stake here and it makes everything feel that much more urgent and every moment more suspenseful.

Rossi has written a series that is truly a love story at it’s heart, and things are not easy for Aria and Perry, as they are both wanting to look out for each other, and be together, but that may not be what’s actually best for either one of them. Perry is coming into his own as a leader of his tribe, one of what I feel is the strongest elements of the book, which means having an “outsider” at his side may not be beneficial. And, of course, there are other side plots happening that require attention from each of them. I really just want them to get over themselves and stop trying to protect each other
and just be together to protect themselves together. They do support
each other so much though and it’s obvious they’re meant to be, it just might not be easy to get there.

The plot for this story is well done for a second book, with quite a lot going on, while at the end still leaving it clear where it’s headed for the third book, INTO THE STILL BLUE. I know I’ll be anxiously waiting to get my hands on the final book in this trilogy to see where they all end up.

Title: PIVOT POINT
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison
Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is
faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes.
It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought.
When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has
to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the
paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is
staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as
it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the
future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is
adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high
school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands
her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in
school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When
Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s
unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she
holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which
reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live
without.

I loved this book so much. It’s fresh and original and unexpected. It’s an amazing book that was entertaining and engaging. It has characters I wanted to be friends with, lines of text that I read repeatedly because I wanted to soak up and remember them, a uniquely original world built upon a science fiction/supernatural base that reads like a contemporary, a layered storyline being told of two divergent paths that are interrelated, twists that kept me on my reader toes, and a writing voice that I connected with and felt comforted by and made me want to keep spending time enveloped in this prose. PIVOT POINT is the debut novel by Kasie West (who is repped by Michelle Wolfson, the same agent as Kiersten White and Daisy Whitney, whose new books I also love), and it is one that I think teens are going to love. I know I did. This is the kind of book that left me still thinking about it the next day wondering what was happening in those character’s lives next and wanting to go back and reread it again right away.

One of the details Kasie West included that I really loved in PIVOT POINT was the way that Addie loves books so much, and all kinds of books, but real paper books. There are many times throughout the story it comes up, and it made me happy to read it each time. Addison also has the kind of personality that I love in my main characters – a little bit spunky and sassy, with an intelligence and caring behind all she does. Her attitude is great, and there were many moments throughout where I laughed out loud at something she said. In regards to gym class in a new school: “Nobody should be forced to do physical exercise on Mondays.” Him: “My bookcase is all yours.” Her: “I’ve just decided those are my five favorite words in the world.” And many, many more that I wanted to hold onto to remember on another day. *All lines quoted from an uncorrected proof.

Another element that is incredibly strong is the twistedness of the plot and the way the two directions the story goes are interwoven together. The links are there to see how it might go with either choice in the same situations, and the alternating chapters stop at just the right point every time. There is a history to this world that is intriguing and fully thought out, but that still seems to have more to discover. There is also a depth to this story that delves into the true repercussions of choices we make and the path to get to what we may want might not always be easy. It’s about figuring out who is meaningful and necessary in her life, and what she can do to keep them there. And I can’t talk about this book without mentioning the boys. Duke and Trevor both have their charms, and they were written in such a way as to make the reader adore both of them, and not be sure which way you want the story to go yourself. Which is exactly how we should be feeling because that’s how Addie would be feeling. I also claim this book has one of the best first kiss scenes ever, but everything stays clean enough that I could hand it to my middle school students without a concern. In fact, I think they’ll love it, too.

This is the kind of book that leaves you contemplating at the end because either choice has its good sides and its bad, so it’s hard to know which one you’d want the character to choose. It does end with a definite decision and ending; however, I found out there will be a sequel, so I’m very excited to get to spend more time with these characters in this world and read more of this fresh voice in YA. Please go get PIVOT POINT in February, or preorder it now, and read Kasie West’s debut novel. You won’t be sorry.

Title: ALTERED
Author: Jennifer Rush
Publisher: Little, Brown
Release Date: January 2, 2013
Number of Pages: 336
Source of Book: ARC requested from publisher

When you can’t trust yourself, who can
you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father
works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and
administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below
their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s
heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape,
killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following
Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes
her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs.
There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living
in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon
discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them
expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the
clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all
away.

I had no idea what to expect when I opened ALTERED by Jennifer Rush; I just knew that the summary sounded really good. I had just finished two other incredible books, so I was hesitant to start one I hadn’t heard much about yet for fear I would be disappointed, but I had no reason to be worried with ALTERED. I was hooked on this heart-pounding story from the first page. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop reading. This was a one day read for me because it was so action-packed and surprising that I just wanted to keep going to find out what was actually happening until the very end. ALTERED has all the best of the medical alterations sci-fi intrigue, secret organization, on-the-run types of stories, with a uniquely interesting backstory of how these boys and Anna got there.

ALTERED is an addictively good, completely intriguing story. I loved the journey I was taken on from the start of learning about the lab, to the escape, to being on the run, to the mystery of their past, to the unexpected reveals, to the relationships built and broken and repaired, to the place the characters are left at the end. Jennifer Rush has given the reader an exciting blend of family drama, relationship building, hot boys, guns and weapons, action-packed fighting sequences, mystery, suspense, and outmaneuvering of the organization chasing them. There were several scenes when I literally gasped out loud. The whole group of core characters has a dynamic that is endearing, and their interactions are so engaging. Love those boys! ALTERED is a twisty novel full of gasp-worthy moments, action, loveable characters, and a little bit of a romance to tie it all together.

I’m so glad to hear that there will be another book following this one! There is a definite ending, so I wasn’t sure because it could have been that this story is complete, but it is left at a spot that had me hoping there would be more time with these characters and more to discover at this point in their story. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the follow-up book from Jennifer Rush to spend more time with Anna, Sam, and the boys!

Title: EVE & ADAM
Author: Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (a Macmillan imprint)
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Number of Pages: 304
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at IRA Convention

Sixteen-year-old
Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother,
EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure,
Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really
questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is
that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is
exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster
than physically possible.

While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s
lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if
off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like
Evening, he’s never questioned anything… until now. Solo drops hints
to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it.
Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship
project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of
Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world
completely.

EVE & ADAM had a premise that sounded really interesting to me, and with two powerhouse authors (who are married-I didn’t know that before!), I definitely had to give it a shot. I’m really glad that I did, and it was a page-turner for sure, but it wasn’t as high of a quality of a story as I expected. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, because I did, but it was more of a down and dirty action movie type of book to me, as opposed to a thoughtful exploration of the medical/genetic scientific experimenting. I think that comes from it being so plot and action driven as opposed to character driven like some other books. But I did like the characters of Evening and Solo quite a bit. I really just wanted to hang out with them and create trouble.

Michael Grant (of GONE fame) and Katherine Applegate (THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN), team up well and have written a book that will appeal to both guys and girls. It’s fast-moving and plot-driven, involves conspiracy theories and villains, medical miracles and experimentations, questionable good guys and bad guys – who may change depending on the perspective, has a bit of romance and lots of action. I read this book in one day. One of the things I really enjoyed was the way that this world was imagined. It’s a normal world, but inside Spiker Biotech, is a whole other story. EVE & ADAM is suspenseful and mysterious and an enjoyable, quick read. I’ll be looking forward to seeing what happens in the sequel, ADAM & EVE.

Title: A MILLION SUNS (sequel to ACROSS THE UNIVERSE)
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: January 10, 2011
Number of Pages: 386
Source of Book: Bought the Hardcover on release day

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It’s
been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is
over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship
Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of
the ship. He’s finally free to enact his vision – no more Phydus, no
more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship,
he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They
must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of
years earlier, unable to fight the romance that’s growing between them
and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of
the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth
Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with
action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this
time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off
this ship.

It’s been so long since I read the first book, and I’ve read so many similar books in between that I couldn’t remember how much I really liked the world that Beth has created here, but boy do I ever! I’m really glad I went back to this series. It picked up right where ACROSS THE UNIVERSE left off and sucked me right back into the story. It was suspenseful, and there’s tension and secrets and philosophical dilemmas and reveals and manipulations and surprises, and it all makes an engaging story. I was definitely surprised by what ultimately happened in this story. If you read the first book, you’ll definitely want to read this sequel so you can continue the story with Amy and Elder and the Godspeed. Their relationship is intriguing and the world is engaging and there is realistic tension in this space science-fiction story as they fight to survive and discover things about their ship that they never could have imagined. I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes in the final book in the trilogy with SHADES OF EARTH in January!

Title: ECHO’S REVENGE: The Ultimate Game Book 1
Author: Sean Austin
Publisher:  AAA Reality Games
Release Date: May 2012
Number of Pages: 281
Source of Book: ARC from Publisher

“Echo’s Revenge: The Ultimate Game” is the story of 2 brothers, online game masters, who discover that the game creature which they have repeatedly killed while gaming online- “ECHO”- is alive and pursuing them in real life. Through their experiences engaging with this overwhelming opponent, they discover the power of their loyalty to each other as they defeat this seemingly invincible predator. This novel series is part of the on-going investigation taking place at Echohunt.com, which also features science, technology and engineering issues related to reality games.

Reggie Stone, age 14, and Jeremy Stone, age 11, are accomplished game masters. These 2 brothers prefer to live in the online world of gaming which they can control, rather than the explosive, unpredictable world of their mother and her boyfriend. In the online game world, Reggie and Jeremy battle monsters and can easily control their destiny- or so they think.

While participating in a focus group for AAA Reality Games, Reggie meets the top players of the online game “ECHO’S Revenge”. What the gamers don’t know is that during the focus group the latest evolution of the legendary shape-shifting game monster- ECHO-7- has become a sentient creature who closely monitors all of the game masters’ self-admitted fears and weaknesses. When Reggie returns home, his mother’s boyfriend has a dangerously violent outburst which forces Reggie and Jeremy to flee from their home. Unknown to them, the outburst is a blessing in
disguise.

As the boys start on their cross country journey to find their father, they begin to notice frequent Amber Alerts. What surprises them is that they recognize the kidnap victims in the alerts- they are all top gamers from the focus group. During their cross country journey, the boys hitch-hike with a variety of colorful characters and compile their own street code of life and ethics.

When ECHO tries to capture them outside a 7-Eleven convenience store in San Francisco, it finally reveals itself and the boys realize that it is the kidnapper of all of their fellow gamers. Confident after evading this terrifying enemy which knows far too much about them, the brothers arrive at their father’s house only to be ambushed, kidnapped, and taken far away to be imprisoned in an abandoned mineral mine in the Mojave Desert. It is here, in a cauldron of underground enslavement with the other kidnapped game masters, that the boys are challenged beyond their physical and emotional limits as they learn the full impact of what ECHO-7 has become: an omnipotent God-like power.

Although face with probable death, the brothers decide to challenge ECHO. They engage the creature, and in doing so discover the power of their loyalty to each other as they defeat ECHO at its own game. In the creature’s final moment of sentience, it realizes it’s fatal error, and that it has “lost the game”, but manages to commit one final act which haunts all of the gamers forever.

I was contacted by the publisher and asked to do a review of this book, especially because of it’s appeal for boys and the recent educational interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) curriculum. I was intrigued; however, was not able to find time to fit it into my review schedule. But, it sounded exactly like the type of book some of my students would love, so I read the summary to two of my boys who have read books like INSIGNIA, BRAIN JACK, THE MAZE RUNNER, EPIC, etc and loved them. They insisted that I had to accept the request and get this book for them to read. I agreed to do so under the stipulation that they had to write their thoughts afterwards, and the publisher was happy to send an advance copy for student-written reviews. After hearing what they had to say, I’m planning on adding this one to my to-read stack for the summer.

What follows is my students words and thoughts about ECHO’S REVENGE after they read it (and they loved it and are adamant that I need to get the next book if/when it comes out). ***Possible spoilers as written by students***
Student 1: There are only three books that I admire. The books are THE HUNGER GAMES, PERCY JACKSON, and ECHO’S REVENGE. ECHO’S REVENGE has a lot of action, adventure, and mystery. The action and adventure keep you at the edge of your seat wanting to read more. How would you like to be in a car going really fast or see a farting dog? Or what about a crow 33 feet in the air gliding towards you? What about two brothers fighint a 35 foot tall deadly creature and pushing it into a bottomless pit? This is why I can’t wait till the next book!!
Student 2: ECHO’S REVENGE was a great book and definitely makes my top 10. I liked how the book kept you guessing. Most of the time I didn’t know what was going to happen next. My favorite part is when all of the Echo gamers rebel against Echo in the Cauldron. I thought there were some slow parts such as when Jeremy and Reggie were planning to escape. But overall it is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone. The way it ends makes me want to read the next one. I never saw the whole virus thing coming.

Title: INCARNATE
Author:  Jodi Meadows
Publisher: Katharine Tegen Books (a HarperCollins imprint)
Release Date:  January 31, 2012
Number of Pages:  384
Source of Book:  Won ARC contest from the wonderful Beth @ A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.


NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?


HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?


Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

This
book is a little bit of a struggle for me to write about because I
liked it, but I never fully connected with it as much as I wanted to, but I can’t pinpoint
exactly why. There is a dystopic feel to this fantasy book, and
it has a really intriguing premise, but there was just something about
it that was a little bit off to me. It has elements of mystery,
suspense, beliefs, finding strength, bravery, romance, religion,
political intrigue, soulmates, and battles with fantasy creatures. The
unique premise dealing with reincarnation and souls being reborn was
engaging, but I’m not sure the world was fully realized for me. The plot
pacing kept me turning pages and I wanted to keep reading to find out
what would happen next, but some of the big reveals and surprises still
left me a little bit confused. Maybe that was a piece of it-I still
wasn’t sure what exactly was going on by the end. Because I was left confused, and some of it seemed weirdly out of place, it was a difficult read for me; although, I loved the premise and the whole idea of what was going on with the reincarnated souls. 

I liked the characters
for the most part: Ana as a “newsoul” discovering things about the
world while surrounded by others who had been there before, and Sam being thousands of years old and discovering a new person
for the first time. I liked their interactions and the development of
their relationship and the reveals of their feelings for each other.
But, it was always tempered with a niggling thought in the back of my mind that
it was a little bit uncomfortable because of the emphasis on him being
so old and her being so young. I guess that was what bothered me the
most about this book because I wanted to like them together, but I felt
like I also shouldn’t, so it made it difficult to fully get lost in the story. And I really wanted more from some of the secondary characters too because I liked the little bits I got to know about them. I’m
glad I read it and I want to know what happens next because I really
liked the way that Ana and Sam supported each other and the strength of
their relationship by the end, but it’s the other elements of the story
that make me question if I’ll read the next book or not. I’ve seen other reviewers who have really liked it, so maybe I just didn’t “get” this particular book, or read it at the wrong time (too many dystopians in a row can do that to a reader!) Overall, I’d say check this one out from the library.

Title: CINDER (Lunar Chronicles #1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (a Macmillan imprint)
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Number of Pages: 400
Source of Book: ARC from NCTE Convention
Author’s Website: marissameyer.livejournal.com

Humans and androids
crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the
population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make
their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen
with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her
stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the
handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an
intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty
and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her
past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet,
Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a
masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

I liked CINDER a lot – it was one of those books that kept me turning pages because of the well-paced plot and I didn’t want to stop reading it. It was a little predictable, but also exciting. There were parts I thought I knew what was going to happen, and they ended up a little different, but overall I felt like I knew many of the big things were going to happen before they occurred. Now, because this is a retelling so has a basic structure of familiar things sI would look for, that’s to be expected, but I wanted more of the big moments to be more a surprise to me. However, I still really enjoyed reading it, and can see that this would actually be good for my middle school students.

This book is full of political intrigue, suspense, action, and not knowing what would happen next or how things would work out. There is an intergalactic battle brewing and it adds another whole element to the tension of the story beyond just what is going to happen to Cinder. There was strong world-building as I felt as if I was there with the characters and understood what was happening and why they were dealing with the things they were, but it wasn’t overly drawn out with lengthy sections for exposition. It was worked right in and pieces were slowly revealed to the reader as the characters learned them. There are androids and cyborgs and netscreens and hovercrafts and all kinds of technological advancements which add a great science-fiction element to the story as well.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the characters. Cinder is just a warm-hearted character – I was really pulling for
her to make it through all of her difficulties. I liked her and I wanted
her to come out on top in the end. She is kind and caring even though
she has not received this same treatment from others in her life. She is
brave, but she has no idea how brave until she is faced with some
difficult choices, and realizes what she would and can do to help save
people. She is finding her strength throughout this book, and she does
it all with an integrity of character that is admirable. She may not be
physically 100% human, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have the
feeling and thoughts of one (contrary to what some might believe).

There were some great secondary characters (Peony,
Ito, Kai) who were endearing as well and made it possible to believe that Cinder would have the
will to get through some of the stuff she’s going through. And, there are also the requisite evil characters who I really hated (as I was supposed to). Prince Kai is actually my favorite character and he has the start of a sweet romance going on, but he has a whole lot of other issues to deal with as well. I have to say that I would have liked even more of Kai; although, the third person writing style gives us a lot of insight into his character and feelings, but mostly from Cinder’s perspective. Kai is strong and sweet and young and looking for something to help him through as he is forced to grow up really fast, and I was definitely supporting him throughout.

The ending was intense…I’m not sure where this story could go next. It was previewed a little bit in the final conversation, but I’m still not sure what to expect from the second book. I’m glad this is going to be a quartet of books, but can’t believe that means we’ll have to wait until 2015 to get the end of the story! I will definitely be picking up the rest of the books though to see what happens with Cinder and Kai next!

Title: TIMEPIECE (sequel to HOURGLASS)
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont USA
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Number of Pages: 336
Source of Book: Borrowed ARC from bookseller friend Rani
Author’s Website: myramcentire.blogspot.com

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking…
    
Kaleb Ballard’s relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers,
the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before
disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to
see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the
mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb’s powers expanding, or is
something very wrong?
      Then the Hourglass is
issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he’s stolen
on the time gene, or time will be altered with devestating results. 
    
Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no
choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they
even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough…
    
The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science
fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where
every second counts.

My first recommendation is
that you go back and reread HOURGLASS before starting TIMEPIECE (or at
least the end of the first book with all of the reveals). If I had done
that, I probably wouldn’t have felt as confused by this sequel. The
backstory that Myra has created in this series about time travel is
extensive, which is a great thing to keep me thinking, but it also
requires that I pay attention so I can follow along with what’s
happening. At the end of the first book which Emerson narrates, the
Hourglass organization and the time-travel aspects were explained
clearly, but I read that one awhile ago, so as I was thrown right back
into the middle of it with TIMEPIECE, I was feeling a little bit lost
because there were some specific details I couldn’t remember that were
referenced often in this book as they were the impetus for everything
that happens. So, go reread the end of the first book and then jump
right into the continuing plot in this one.

Since the
second book starts right in the middle of the action, it makes it even
more exciting than the first one because the characters and reader now
know the basics of the time-travel aspects and the “battle” that is
going on with the villains (or are they?). This book is nonstop action
and suspense as the Hourglass kids try to figure out what is really
going on so they can fix the time-space continuum that is a little off
kilter right at the moment. This is all done within the context of the
quaint setting of this small town of Ivy Springs again with some of the
same loveable cast of characters.

However, (and I
didn’t know this going into it) this second book has a narrator switch,
and this time we get to hear Kaleb’s voice talking us through the story.
I loved this change as he is an entertaining (and highly snarky) and deeply layered
character who is often misunderstood. Seeing his empathy abilities from
his perspective created depth to this book that added an emotional core
to the science-fiction story. I loved getting to know him better and
feeling for him and his situations even more. Emerson’s best friend Lily
also plays a larger role in this book which was fun because she’s a
great character too. Myra has a distinct ability to make us fall in love
with her characters and to fall in love with others as they do in the
story. It seems so realistic because we’re enmeshed in the emotion with
them as they struggle with their feelings and we take the journey with
them.

This book has lots of reveals, lots of suspense,
lots of entertainment, and lots of thinking to it, and I enjoyed reading
it. There is a feeling of an ending to this book, but it also sets
things up for the next book really well at the end. Although this is a
second book, it still had action and resolution to things so avoided
that “second book in a trilogy” drudge that some trilogies I’ve read
have. I’m intrigued to see where this story will go, and especially who
might be narrating the next book in the series. Definitely add this one
to your summer reading list.

Title: SHATTER ME
Author: Tahereh
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Number of Pages: 352
Source of Book: Borrowed ARC from Tara @ fictionfolio.com
Author’s Website: http://stiryourtea.blogspot.com/

Goodreads Summary:
Juliette hasn’t touched
anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident,
but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why
Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no
one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay
attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population,
food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the
wrong color.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Juliette is alone – and can’t be touched. She is deadly – and lonely and neglected. All she wants is to feel human again and know that she has a choice in what she does and how she’s treated, but with her abilities, it’s not meant to be. Once people realize what she can do, they’re going to try to use here. They’re going to try to sway her to their side. They’re going to try to make her do what they want. Juliette’s journey through this book leads to a growing strength and conviction as she figures out what she really wants and who she wants to be. Along the way she
discovers a strength she never knew she had – in more ways than one.

Tahereh’s writing is really, really unique. It’s a little bit reminiscent of a
Laurie Halse Anderson style with a not completely linear writing
quality-there are poetic parts to it and repeated lines and an
interestingly effective use of the strikeout tool that I’ve never seen
before amazing incredible entrancing. It took me a little while to get used to it, but once I did, I was hooked. Oddly, I noticed the use of the word “shatter” quite a bit
throughout, and I’m not sure if it’s because I knew the title so it
stuck out to me more, or if it was a bit overused, but overall, a slight
quirk in an otherwise extraordinary story.

The first part of the book is really about Juliette and her solitary confinement, but then a boy shows up. Adam was unexpected. Adam turns out to be different than he seems; although, he does have his secrets. I loved Adam though – he is the kind of sweet boy character who has always
been out for good that I like to read about in YA books. He’s probably one of my favorite boy characters I’ve read (he’s kind of in the vein of a Peeta-type of love interest) recently. There are some definite scenes of romance in this book-nothing too graphic, but definitely there.

Once you get to a certain point, it’s a can’t-put-it-down read and the action kicks in. Up
until then, it’s a more subtle kind of book. It’s a dystopian,
but you don’t really get the world building until the last part of the
book; it’s much more character driven up until then. It doesn’t really all come together for the reader to understand what’s actually happening until the last part of the book – and by then you care so much about the characters that your heart is breaking for them. But, we get Kenji then – and oh how I loved Kenji and the comic relief he provides when it’s most needed. I hope we get more of him in book two!

There is an overall feeling of a slow exposition and then a lot of the action happening in the later half of the book. By the end, I was left with a Hunger Games-ish feel. In the last quarter of the book – all of a sudden the game was changing with much bigger stakes and I was even more intrigued by what was going to happen. I very much feel like the ending was left open for a series and can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next now that Juliette knows what she does. I do think this will be a much talked about book come November!

Title: HOURGLASS
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Number of Pages: 397
Source of Book: Bought the hardcover in it’s release month (had to go to three different stores to find it in stock!)
Author’s Website: http://myramcentire.blogspot.com/

Goodreads Summary:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .
 
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

I really, really loved HOURGLASS. It reads like a contemporary with science-fiction (and somewhat supernatural) elements, but also has a little mystery and a little suspense and a little romance and a little bit of family stories thrown in. It’s a well-rounded story, and hard to describe or pinpoint exactly what the main focus is because all of the parts are so enjoyable. There’s just a good feeling to this story – the setting and vision elements are well described – and I love the little town they’re living in.

I liked the main character, Emerson, a lot. She’s not in a good place because of the traumatic events of her past and the visions she’s seeing, but she’s working through it. She’s tough and strong and earnest and looking to feel like she’s not crazy. Once she learns about and meets other people who have “abilities” she starts to find a place for herself where she can feel she belongs and is somewhat normal. Who can’t relate to wanting to feel like you belong?

The whole time travel aspect of the story is really interesting and unique. The Hourglass is mysterious – in fact I want to know more about it – I’m still not sure I understand the organization after the first book. The author did a good job of explaining the physics and the elements of time travel without confusing me and in a little bit at a time way that helped me to absorb it, just as Emerson needed to. Towards the end, there was lots of action and unexpected twists and turns; however, I did feel that it almost went a little too fast at the end (there were so many game changer type things that happened) – I didn’t have time to soak in each thing that happened before the next twist – maybe because I was reading it too fast because I wanted to know what would happen?

And, of course, there is romance. There’s Michael and then there’s Kaleb. I don’t want to say too much about them or what their abilities are, but I can say, I can see Emerson’s draw toward both of them. One seems way more obvious than the other to just be the good friend, but with the time travel elements, it seems we never know what is going to happen, and both boys are looking out for Emerson.

Secondary characters were great in this book. I loved the relationship Emerson has with her older brother Thomas who has basically had to take care of her, and his wife Dru is one of my favorite characters in the whole story. I’m also waiting for the sequel for Emerson’s best friend Lilly to be fleshed out a little bit more – I know there’s something we haven’t learned about her yet that is going to be important.

Overall, I wanted to jump into this book and live with these characters. I liked them all that much. And the writing made it easy for me to spend a little time with them, although I did feel some parts were a little rushed, but I think because I wanted to savor this story a little longer. I should also mention, it has pretty short chapters, so it is easy to find stopping points, although you won’t want to put it down! Overall, I really liked it, but it did feel like a first book to a series, so I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the series in 2012!

Title: BRAIN JACK
Author: Brian Falkner
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Number of Pages: 349
Source of Book: Library Check Out
Author’s Website: www.brianfalkner.com

Goodreads Summary:
In a dystopian near-future, neuro-headsets have replaced computer keyboards. Just slip on a headset, and it’s the Internet at the speed of thought. For teen hacker Sam Wilson, a headset is a must. But as he masters the new technology, he has a terrifying realization. If anything on his computer is vulnerable to an attack, what happens when his mind is linked to the system? Could consciousness itself be hacked?

Brian Falkner, author of The Tomorrow Code and The Project, delivers an action-packed and thought-provoking sci-fi thriller in which logging on to a computer could mean the difference between life and death.
*************************
BRAIN JACK is a great boy book, especially for those into computers, code, or the hacking world.  I’ve always been intrigued by those who have the technological skill to be hackers and this book showcases them in an exciting way. This book is an exciting, don’t-want-to-stop-reading, dystopian, techno-thriller full of action. The interesting thing the author did is created the action through much of the hacking moments by writing the coding actions as if they were a battle themselves, thus making it more exciting. This world Falkner created where neuro-headsets are used to make your computer usage faster by skipping the brain to hand keyboard and mouse step, is a scary vision of where technology could go. It’s definitely a commentary on how far we should allow technology to go – and is there a time where the technology could get smarter than the people using it? This book has a future world where online gaming is now an addiction as we see drug use in today’s society – people can’t unplug and it ruins their lives. There are terrorist attacks all the time (in fact Vegas is now a radioactive wasteland) and there are secret and not-so-secret government groups protecting the people and looking for the terrorists – by trying to find the computers from which they are hacking in. It’s a book that makes you question who is good and how do you know?

I never knew what was coming next and each time a plot point felt wrapped up and I couldn’t imagine where he would take it next, a twist would be thrown in that I was never expecting. It kept is exciting and made me not want to put it down and stop reading. There wasn’t too much character development compared to stories that I’m used to, but as far as thrillers go, I think it was fairly typical – this book is more about the action and excitement and suspense. However, I did love Sam and Dodge was great comic relief. This book is one to read, but with the caution that there are some very technical terms, so if you’re not familiar with coding/computer technology, it may take a little getting used to, but it’s worth the effort.

4 STARS for BRAIN JACK

Author: Pittacus Lore
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: August 3, 2010
Number of Pages: 440
How I Got It: Bought it at the local indie at another author event
Movie Releasing: February 18, 2011

Goodreads Summary:
In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorians. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.
I AM NEXT.
**********************
I loved this book – it made me hope, it made me think, it made me cheer, it made me worry, it made me love, it made me cry(!), it made me want to analyze my own life and be a better person, it made me want to keep reading and not stop. The writing is constructed in an interesting way because it really highlights the tension and builds the urgency of the plot with short and to-the-point sentences in the beginning. The book sets up the background premise clearly and engagingly, and then allows the reader to get settled in with John as he makes friends, all the while building the suspense in knowing that something bad will have to happen, he will have to be found, but he’s not yet trained and ready. Yet, the background is revealed little bits at a time so the reader discovers it as John does, allowing us to grow along with him as we learn what happened between the Loric and the Morgadorians back on Lorien. This book is packed with action, and if you’ve read my reviews you know I don’t like creepy or scary, and although this deals with aliens and this battle for taking over Earth, I didn’t think it crossed the line into too scary or creepy for me at all. It keeps the story moving forward with the tension that is brought from not knowing what is going to happen.

The characters were well-written, although at first a few seemed stereotypical high school roles, as they developed through the story and the events they were pulled in to, I learned about them and liked them all. I cared about them and what was going to happen to them, and loved how the relationships developed and deepened through the events in the story. They seem like honest, real teenager feelings and interactions with the primary and secondary characters. Ultimately, the end is exciting, tense, heart-breaking, and hopeful all in one, and sets up the story nicely for the sequel to come. One of my favorite things about the book was some of the deep thoughts about life; and hope; and love; and will; and goodness; and courage; and trust; and being and standing up for oneself that came clear throughout. It’s a smart book and a good book and an exciting book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading (it gains a few bonus points for setting a pivotal part of the story in Athens, Ohio where I went to college at Ohio University and even referencing Court Street, so there was a bit of a nostalgia quotient for me during that part of the story). I can’t wait to revisit these characters in the sequel and see how they progress in their battle.
 
4 1/2 STARS for I AM NUMBER FOUR
Sequel is THE POWER OF SIX releasing in August, 2011, and I’ll definitely be reading it!

If you like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books, I think you’ll like the Lorien Legacies as well.

Author: David Macinnis Gill
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: August 24, 2010
Number of Pages: 352
How I Got It: Signed Hardcover free from ALAN Workshop

BLACK HOLE SUN is a good guys vs. bad guys type of plot, with the uniqueness of taking place in a future where people have left Earth to create a liveable world on Mars. I was really looking forward to reading this book because I had been hearing good things about it, I thought it might be a good boy book, and Suzanne Collins blurbed it. Unfortunately, I was left a little disappointed – I think mostly because I spent much of the novel confused and trying to figure out this fictional world and because I’m not really a fan of creepy creatures and this book has a few of them. The jacket flap simply says: Durango is playing the cards he was dealt. And it’s not a good hand. He’s lost his family. He’s lost his crew. And he’s got the scars to prove it. You don’t want to mess with Durango. It’s an intriguing teaser and shows that the book is all about Durango’s journey, but it tells little about his friends that are on the journey with him, the science of this future society, or the sarcasm that you’ll find in his character’s interactions with his artificial intelligence brain chip. The book gets complicated, but I did want to keep reading to find out what would happen, it just was a little bit of a frustrating book for me as I tried to figure out what was going on..

There is one thing I really wanted from this book that I didn’t get – a map of the world they live in on Mars and a glossary of all of the unique terms used in the book.  Each chapter title is the location on Mars and the time the chapter takes place, but in this creative world the author made up with many unfamiliar words for me, I was left feeling lost because I had trouble following the action in the beginning. I would have liked a few more places with exposition in the beginning where the world was explained to me so that I could understand it a little bit more. Ultimately, it’s a good book in a creative and unique world with an action-packed story of a boy trying to prove himself and fight off the bad guys, a group trying to figure out how to keep their secret hidden and battle an overwhelming enemy, an entertaining humorous band of secondary characters helping him out, and a lot of sarcasm and wit; but it’s definitely a book that takes a lot of concentration and paying attention to keep track of what’s going on and to figure it all out.

3 STARS for BLACK HOLE SUN

INCARCERON is one of those books that I think boys will really like because it deals with prisons, fights, escapes, mysteries, secret plans, backstabbing, assassination plots, and science-fiction stuff that has action scenes and is intriguing. That being said, I struggled with it because I was really confused for most of the first hundred pages or so, and it wasn’t until page 200 that I had that jaw-dropping moment where I started to figure things out and wanted to know what would happen next. At that point I started to care more about what would happen to Finn and his crew that were trying to find a way out of the prison, while I was eager to see if Claudia, the Warden’s daughter on the Outside, would figure out what was really going on and be able to rescue Finn from Incarceron. 


They live in a society that has halted progress. The world’s technology got so advanced that they created a prison that was a closed system. They would take all of the criminals and put them in there, lock the doors, and never allow anyone else in or out. Then on the outside, they follow Protocol to live as if it is two hundred years ago without the technology that they are so scared of. One thing I really liked was how the story was told – we get to see part of the story from Finn’s perspective and the other part from Claudia’s perspective. I’m finding I really like the books that give multiple points-of-view to tell the same story; it’s especially necessary in this book where the story actually happens simultaneously in two different places. The book deals with a lot of issues of progress in society, the benefit or detriment of technology advances, and if solutions are really good or just another way of putting someone in a prison.


My feelings about INCARCERON reminded me of when I read The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I struggled through not knowing what was going on in the beginning, got further in and started to care and want to know what would happen to the characters, got close to the end when it through me for a loop with a really weird sci-fi/supernatural element, felt like I had finally started to get to the part where I was figuring things out, and then it ended – but left a huge cliff-hanging ending making me reluctantly eager to read the next book.  I know that’s not a glowing endorsement, but again, I think it’s just not right up my alley as far as genre goes.  I’m not sure if I’ll read the next one, as this one’s 443 pages took me quite a while to read, mostly because I wasn’t dying to read the next pages enough to put aside other things. I will definitely recommend it to my boy students to give it a try.


3.5 STARS for INCARCERON
The sequel, SAPPHIQUE, comes out December 28th.

* This review will not discuss any major spoiler plot points*


Have you had the experience with a book where…you get to the end and realize that you read the book so fast because you couldn’t wait to find out what happens that you actually want to reread it so you can savor the story the second time? That is what reading MOCKINGJAY was like for me – it’s just one of those books.  If you haven’t yet read the first two books: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, you must!  Now that I’ve seen where Katniss’ journey was ultimately headed by the end, I’m so glad I went along with her!


From “The Ashes” to “The Assault” to “The Assasin” the plot of this story kept me on the edge of my seat flipping pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen to Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Haymitch, Finnick, and Prim next.  It was action-packed with twists and turns I wasn’t expecting, although with one major one that I saw coming but was hoping for, that kept me guessing as to where the story would end up, but always hoping Katniss would find her way through. It was like uncovering the windows to see a view into the hidden worlds of Panem that I couldn’t image in District 13 and the Capitol. It was honest, hopeful, gruesome, empowering, soul-searching, and heartbreaking all at the same time.  


It was truly Katniss’ journey to hurt, heal, discover herself, and ultimately find hope in the world she lives in and the role she’s been forced into. I really enjoyed the development and growth of the stories of the secondary characters in this final installment.  However, this story is all about Katniss and how she must move past the horrors she’s seen in two Hunger Games and to discover who she is meant to be and what kind of person she wants to be and how to become that person, do what’s right for her, and help the ones she loves. All of this while dealing with carrying the weight of the entire citizenry of this country at war (which in reality has been at war for 75 years) on her shoulders. Many people talk about Team Peeta or Team Gale, and there is a satisfying conclusion to that piece of the storyline, but really, this series is not about a love triangle at all. It’s about growth for these characters, these children, who have to mature and work out a world they’ve been thrust into, growing up faster than they should ever have to, and the mistakes they make and the way they find their way through.


Suzanne Collins crafted a page-turning story throughout all three of the books in the series that constantly surprise the reader and leave a sense of hope and rooting for for those that survived. This third one was an emotional journey, but I would say this trilogy is one of the best YA series out there!
5 Stars for MOCKINGJAY