The Giver by Lois Lowry

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Ember
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blurb: Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Review:
This book was the very thing I have been looking for in quite a long time. I know this because upon reading the last word, a shiver crept through me and my eyes began to sting with longing for more.

Jonas lives in an ideal world. Conflict does not exist. Poverty, injustice and divorce are unheard of. There is no color in his community. Everything is nondescript. Each December, children who reach the age of 12 are given a job that was selected to fit their aptitudes. Jonas is given more, for as of age twelve, he must bear atop his shoulders a weight equivalent to a million mountains.

When I finished the book, I asked myself why on earth it took me so many years to finally read it. I've seen this book around since I was ten years old, and now, six years later, I am glad that I did not read it earlier. Had I done so, I might not have understood the beauty in the simplicity of the language. I might not have understood the importance in distinction. I might not have felt the sting of tears at the idea that there could be a world without love and loss. Without pain and joy. 

Jonas lives in this indifferent life, and it was certainly something new for me to perceive. The idea behind the story is very bizarre, but definitely atmospheric. The setting was such that the colorless world seemed almost palpable to me.

And the characters! Their conformity with the rules was very well executed. The characters did not come off as card boards even though they felt nothing they were not taught to feel. In all honesty, until about halfway through, I began to wonder myself what was so rotten about the nondescript life they lived in. It was that real. I thought everything really worked. There is no struggle! But there is also no choice.

I would recommend this book to everyone. Though it was written for children, the depth between the lines is enough to fill up anyone with wonder. 

Summer 2014 Must Reads!!

It's finally that time of the year when all the book nerds throw back, relax, and get ready for extreme reading. Oh, joy, I am so stoked because summers are when you can finally get to try perhaps a new genre, or a book you've heard plenty about, but have never gotten around to read. The only problem is, the world is overflowing with books of all sorts, so much so that it can be sort of intimidating stepping out of your norm. This year, I've actually already taken some baby steps away from the YA field. Today, I will share with you the books I've read this year that would make worthy summer reads. So progress, good folk.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS    

1) The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Blurb: 
Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy. (more)

Why you should read it: 
Ever read a book that really makes you feel nostalgic? Makes you feel a longing for childhood, or just really goes deep into your memories and emotions and builds a nest there? This book does that with its subtle hint at beautiful lessons about what it means to be a child and how we grow up to forget. The setting was beautiful and vivid, containing every sort of comfort (a pond, quiet old town, a barn, green hills).

Bottom Line:
Read to feel a moment of awe.

2) The Little Prince

Blurb:
A pilot forced to crash land in the Sahara desert encounters a little prince who is visiting the earth from his own small planet with its three volcanoes and a beautiful flower. Through this encounter, the pilot comes to discover many of life's universal truths which illuminate the human condition with all its foibles, cunning and eccentricities. The Little Prince is a strange and wonderful parable for all ages, championing the beauty and wisdom of childhood which fades when one becomes a 'grown up'. (more)

Why you should read it:
The Little Prince is a timeless, abstract classic that is relatively fast to read. The pictures within the books are absolutely breath taking, and the dialogue is so very unique and emotional.

Bottom Line:
Read to indulge in the aesthetic of language and art simultaneously. 

3) The Golem and the Jinni

Blurb:
Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a strange man who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian Desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Struggling to make their way in 1899 New York, the Golem and the Jinni try to fit in with their neighbors while masking their true selves.

And then, one cold and windy night, their paths happen to meet. (more)

Why you should read it:
If you are a die-hard fan of beautifully constructed love stories, than jump right on and read this baby! The main characters are so very unique, and the story will keep you on edge and turning the pages because you simply cannot get enough of the plot.  

Bottom line:
And then, one cold and windy night, their paths happen to meet. Tell me this line doesn't give you goosebumps of anticipation.

4) The Ghost Bride

Blurb:
Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price. (more)

Why you should read it:
For those of you who are reluctant to step out of YA fiction, this piece of work is a great place to start. The writing style is not very different than that of YA. The plot of the book is very unique, and the mysterious element really reels you into a whole new world. And if you are not accustomed to reading about books that take place overseas, well, you should be worried. Books with Chinese or Japanese settings can be extremely beautifully crafted, and extremely addicting. After you read this, you will want more books with a similar setting, at which point I would recommend Three Souls by Janie Chang 

Bottom line:
You will not be able to predict the ending. Or the romance (insert wink).

The Saga of Larten Crepsley by Darren Shan

NOTE: This review is very general to the whole series, being a prequel and all. There are no spoilers.

 
Title: The Saga of Larten Crepsley (#1 Birth of a Killer, #2 Ocean of Blood, #3 Palace of the Damned, #4 Brother's to the Death)
Author: Darren Shan
Rating: 5 stars
Blurb: (Of the first book only)
The highly anticipated prequel to the New York Times bestselling Cirque Du Freak series!
Before Cirque Du Freak...
Before the war with the vampaneze...
Before he was a vampire.
Larten Crepsley was a boy.
As a child laborer many centuries ago, Larten Crepsley did his job well and without complaint, until the day the foreman killed his cousin as an example to the other children.

In that moment, young Larten flies into a rage that the foreman wouldn't survive. Forced on the run, he sleeps in crypts and eats cobwebs to get by. And when a vampire named Seba offers him protection and training as a vampire's assistant, Larten takes it.

Review:
Darren Shan has done it again. The Master of Horror is now too the Master of Originality, and the Master of Storytelling. He is the Master of Masters. Brother's to the Death was the fourth and final in the Larten Crepsley Saga, and though this saga is a prequel to the Cirque Du Freak Saga (many sagas there), it contained the same
 thrill, emotion, and depth as a non-prequel. I say this because prequels can often get tiresome. The events do not always bear a shock or surprise, but the same cannot be said for Darren Shan's Larten Crepsley books.

The idea behind his novels may revolve around vampires, but do not be fooled. These vampires are some of the most ancient, most noble and vicious. These vampires do not glitter and nor do they turn to ash beneath the sun. They are not all handsome (most are not), but they are some of the most heartfelt vampires I have ever read about. Mr. Shan has simply blown the scales of the 'Feel-o-Meter'. The characters, vampires and non vampires alike, are heavily padded with realism and depth. Their lives are so fascinating. Even after having turned the last page I found myself stuck in the 19th century, standing beneath a dark sky. The atmosphere of the story seemed to have drifted from the pages, engulfing me, blinding me like a thick fog.

I implore everyone to give Darren Shan a try. Although it would be a good idea to start from the original saga, The Cirque Du Freak. His characters are some of the most profound I have ever set eyes upon. His plots are some of the most fascinating. I can proudly say that Darren Shan rests a place in my heart along with Rick Riordan, Patrick Ness, and Neal Shusterman.

(On a side note, in this review I've tried to speak generally of all four books in the Saga).

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Rating: 5 Stars
Blurb: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. (more)

My Review:

Blue Sargent will kill her true love with a kiss, or so it was prophesied by the women in her family. The seers. And so when she sees a spirit on St.Mark's eve, it is clear that he is either her true love, or the one she will kill.

That can't end too well, and especially because the spirit happens to be a boy by the name of Richard "Dick" Campbell Gansey III. He is rich and attending Aglionby Academy, the local school for the rich, obviously. Aside from wealth, he has good friends, a not so nice car, insomnia, and a sick obsession with a lost Welsh King. I adore Gansey on so many levels. His characterization is astoundingly well formed, astounding to the point where I can imagine him right beside me, a solid human being.

Or perhaps the reason I feel connected to him, and the other's no doubt, is because Maggie Stiefvater has created such a thick atmosphere, I can almost feel the fog pouring out of the pages. As if I am there, and oh boy, the feeling is just breathtaking. I love that about this book, and the same effect was embedded inside her book, The Scorpio Races.

The plot is nicely paced, with enough to keep us on our toes yet simultaneously have us reclining on our chairs. The ideas are just extraordinary (really, they are), and the characters and setting are nicely built upon.

From the wit to the adventure and suspense, I would recommend this book to all and any. Do not be fooled into thinking that this is just another typical romance. It's not, it's so much more. It will keep you up at night, transforming the darkness outside to a forest in which an old king may lie, and the sweat on you to a warm Henrietta summer breeze. Read it. Just go and do it, you will not be disappointed.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

I haven't written a book review for quite a while, but now that I have some time (actually I'm pushing away some essays to write this review) I will do just that. Funny thing is, my class will be reading Lord of the Flies starting this week, but me being a bad girl and all, I went ahead and read it myself. I'd heard many negative things about this book from many of my fellow friends. I can't blame them. They read the book with their classes, and why would anybody in their right sense enjoy a book...moreI haven't written a book review for quite a while, but now that I have some time (actually I'm pushing away some essays to write this review) I will do just that. Funny thing is, my class will be reading Lord of the Flies starting this week, but me being a bad girl and all, I went ahead and read it myself. I'd heard many negative things about this book from many of my fellow friends. I can't blame them. They read the book with their classes, and why would anybody in their right sense enjoy a book they were forced to read? Despite the negative remarks, I quite enjoyed this book. In fact, I found it to be an exhilarating ride filled with allegorical depth and eye tearing moments. Many elder critics have stated that this book is nothing but a didactic novel coated with allegory, and that once the reader passes the figurative aspect of the book, nothing but a bare skeleton is left. A bare skeleton lacking substance in characterization and actual theme building. I would say otherwise. The characters, though they may all represent something greater then themselves, are all very realistic. Their behavior, for young adolescents, invites the sympathy of the readers. They are stranded on an island after all, with no adults to look after and take care of them. This sympathy is further built upon when the young adolescents began to rebel against each other, and some of these children are made to bear the brunt of the weight more than others-these children being Ralph and Piggy; two key characters who also happened to be my favorites. Ralph is the first character we are introduced to, and so we build a general bond with him. This bond grows as he becomes the leader of a group of boys and struggles to hold them together. Piggy is the second boy we encounter, and whereas Ralph is the mighty bronze, Piggy is the intellectual behind him. The one true friend who sticks by him through the good and the bad. The friend who acts as, more or less, the brain. Golding has created three dimensional characters out of these two. Ralph, for example, may be the leader, but he too is vulnerable to the evil, as Golding suggests, that shadows man. This vulnerability renders Ralph an interesting character. His shameful behavior, calling Piggy names, teasing some of the other boys, entices emotion out of the reader. We are made to feel disgusted, and in a sense, betrayed by our beloved character. To say the least, Ralph is a faulty little boy, but as the journey progresses and innocence is lost, he makes us proud through his courageous actions. That brings us to the theme of the book. Yes, many people say that the theme relates to the undeniable evil within man, which, when given the right circumstance, brings out the savage in us. I'm going to be a bit more general and state the theme to be that no human being is perfect, and evil is within every shadow and corner. Ralph is, as I see it, the representative of imperfection. He is the chosen leader on the island, but he too must succumb to a lower level. And as with Piggy, though he may be a modern intellectual, his physical aspect degrades him before the other boys. Golding, in regards to Ralph and Piggy, chooses to exhibit imperfection by using different means; Physical (Piggy), and spiritual (Ralph). As with evil always present in some form or way, Golding has used many different characters to portray this message. There would be Jack, one of the opposing boys, along with Roger. Jack is a haughty boy who likes to be in the light. He craves power, leadership, and when he does not get these things, he resorts to evil. Not evil right away, but as the readers, we see a gradual inclination towards evil on his part. He starts off by breaking up into a separate group, and then he takes to theft, following that, murder. As for Roger, he does not crave power, but simply wishes to bring harm upon the vulnerable. At one point he wishes to harm a younger boy, but the ever loosening grip of civilization holds him back. Of course, in the end that grip loosens completely, and he too, resorts to evil. As I have explained above, evil is not necessarily innate in all men, as some suggest the theme to be, but it is ever present for those to trip and fall down in its abyss (Roger, Jack). There is a lesser degree of evil, as shown in Ralph, but I would suggest that to be nothing but childish folly. To conclude, this book was absolutely stunning. I was swept away by the adrenaline that coursed through the book. I was brought to tears when my favorite characters were brought to tears, and I was absolutely amazed at the depth of this 'didactic' novel.

Starters (Starters and Enders #1) by Lissa Price

Title: Starters (Enders #1)
Author: Lissa Price
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blurb: HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

Review: Alright, where to start... I'll be honest to say that the cover page of Starters pulled me in more than the description. The little blurb on the back was interesting, but I couldn't find anything unique about it. I mean, I can't number the times I've read about a post-something story where the main characters are on the streets (OK, maybe not that many books, but the idea just doesn't fascinate me as it did the first time). So honestly, I didn't have great expectations for this book. I had hope, but I have that for most books, or else I wouldn't try them.

OK, I'm boring you. So let me cut to the chase. The thing I really loved about this story was the suspense. Lissa Price did a good job staying away from a predictable conclusion, and that basically kept me from putting the book down. I wanted to know what all the hubbub was about, and along with an unpredictable conclusion, there was a good pace, whereas things weren't too slow, or too fast. As the story played on, the characters were nicely built on. We get to know more about them and for me, the relations became very important, and fascinating.
I'm not just talking about the romance, there was a bit of that (not a whole lot), but Callie, the main character, and her relations with the people she meets and her renter. In the beginning the reader doesn't know who Callie will be able to trust, and who she can't. Even when the good guys are brought into the light, things end up being different, and here's why:

The whole story revolves around young people renting their bodies to old people, Enders, allowing them to do whatever with that body. So if this is the case, than how can you tell who is really who they say they are... are you guys getting me? Oh, the suspense!

Another thing that I loved was the whole idea of young people renting their bodies. Throughout the book, this idea becomes scarier and scarier, and you start to want the main character to overcome this scary reality, and when good things do start to happen, the relief that follows is very strong. I loved how Lissa Price was able to play with out emotions like that.

Finally, let me say a word or two about the romance: Team Michael. There you go folks, you heard it here first. Now go try the book out, it's as good as it's cover! Better!   
 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Rating: 10 000 000/5

 

I just finished reading this book for the second time. The first, as I recall, was when I was about 12 years old, and back then, I loved it, but not with the kind of passion I'm feeling now. Where do I start? Ok, ok, I know. I'll start with the thing that's been on my lips for this past week (took so long because of exams) the most.

 

Markus Zusak. Ugh, Markus Zusak. Now, I myself am quite addicted to writing stories, and have high hopes for the future. After reading The Book Thief, I'm in a tug of war between totally hating Monsieur Zusak, or totally adoring him. Zusak, Zusak, Zusak, you dare write so masterfully? You dare, oh you make me feel pathetic! Now, as much as I totally envy him for his style of writing, I couldn't stop myself from praising him before my family and friends. Praising him and his story. Let me give you guys an excerpt:

 

Me: His narrator is death, hey, you listening? Death, man, death, how creative can you get?

Brother: Mhm, interesting..
Me: Give me some ideas for my own narrators, I can't just write without a known narrator, god, I just can't write like that!

Brother: Life?

Me: NO, it's not death, man, life is just so... I dunno. Forget that, you know, Markus Zusak wrote the story when he was in his 30s, obviously he writes better than me *crosses arms*
Him: You're just jealous.

Me: His characters, oh, his characters- ALL OF THEM- are so, soo, characterized! They all have a role, all have distinct characteristics.

Him: Mhm

 

I wish I could write like Zusak, he's just, brilliant. Brilliant.

 

Now on to the other thing I totally felt myself going *drools* over. The narrator, Death. Rather than having an unknown narrator, Markus Zusak decided to make the narrator death. From the above excerpt, you guys already know I'm head over heels for Death. Death is witty, he is solemn, and he spoils a lot of things. But I like how he spoils events, it gives the whole book a very 'story being told' kind of feel to it. I, I don't know how to explain this, but it gives you this feeling.... gah, I don't know! This is why I envy Zusak, he totally steals the words from my mouth!

 

Another thing about the Book Thief was that throughout the whole story, there wasn't like a fixed plot. Hmm, what I'm trying to say, is that rather than having one anti force and everything revolving around it, there were many little things here and there. Yes, the major anti-force at the end of the day was the Fuhrer, Hitler. Liesel hated him for what he did to his mother, as Hans Huberman hated him for what he did to the Jews, and because of the Fuhrer everything was happening. But at the same time, the main story was just about a girl named Liesel Meminger, and her everyday life. The things she felt, the things she got into as a child, her friend Rudy Steiner...

 

RUDY!!!! I Ruddy love you! (Do you guys get it? Ha, ha.). Rudy is your typical boy. Wait, no, he's above typical, but anyway. He's the kid on the block who aspires for much, and gets himself into much mischief. He's bold (A kiss, saumensch?), he's brave (jumps into cold water, and giver of bread). He's everything a character should be balled up into childhood arrogance. I loved him for that, and oh, I totally loved the description Zusak gave him. The boy with lemon coloured hair.

 

Max. The Jewish fist fighter (god, how does Zusak come up with this brilliance?). Max, I have to say, was my absolutely favourite character...and... hey, is it wrong if I totally ship him and Liesel? PAUSE, don't get me wrong guys, I totally love Rudy, and I totally rooted them, but when the tragic something happens in the end (trying not to spoil), Max and Liesel are like all that are left of Himmel street, and the loneliness that I felt was just too much. At first, the friendship between Max and Liesel in itself was just brilliant, but you know, when she grows up? Besides, Max and Liesel are totally perfect, and you can't tell me otherwise! Max, oh Maxi Taxi *Weeps* And hey, Death even mentions a husband in the end, and I can't picture anyone except for Max in Rudy's place. How could any other man be half as brilliant as the characters that death took away on Himmel street?

 

Rosa Huberman (so many cherries, just hang on, guys). I liked her swearing. Saumensch, Saukerl, bring it on, Rosa! Rosa is the foster mother of Liesel, and she is constantly calling Liesel names. You may at first think, wha? Rosa is an despicable character! But no, she's a character with beautiful and distinctive characteristics. She's calling people names constantly, but at the same time she's loving. This just makes her more believable, rather than the cheesy mother who always gives you a hug, and a smile and bakes chocolate chip cookies. Puh-leaze.

 

All the characters introduced in the story are unforgettable. Even if they weren't as important. They all had a role, and as death likes to say: They all had a date with him.

 

All the relationships were excellently created, and built upon. It's through when they say, slow and steady wins the race.

 

I could probably go on and mention all the things I loved about this book (the thieving of books, and the thieving of food. The street soccer, Rudy and Jesse Owens. The stories of Max, the Standover man who was never really a man, but a woman. Arthur the teenage thief. Max fainting and hitting his head on the accordion. Rudy jumping into the water and saving the books. The domino playing. Kurt Steiner. The Jews and Hans Huberman giving them bread. Max and Liesel meeting in the end, and hugging and crying...etc)

 

I just don't know what to say or do. This story has been a whole load on my shoulders, and I absolutely cannot forget it. I just, just can't do it. Ok, this review has to come to an end now, though much of the emotion on my shoulders is still there, being heavy and all.

 

Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

Title: Unwholly
Author: Neal Shusterman
Rating: 5/5

Blurb
It’s finally here. The long-awaited sequel to the bestselling Unwind, which Publishers Weekly called a “gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller.”

Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa—and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp—people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simultaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live.

 

Review

So, let us start by mentioning Neal Shusterman. I adore the man, truly, I do. His storytelling skills are as sharp in my memory since a few years back when I read his Skinjacker trilogy (go check that out too). Neal Shusterman can not only create a riveting setting, but an equally gripping plot. He gives us the POV's of so many distinct characters, and still somehow manages to make them all work out. Let me all explain in detail:

 

The plot, first. The plot of the whole series revolves around the idea of 'unwinding', where adolescents of a certain age are eligible to be tossed out by their parents, and become unwound. The first book introduces all of this unwind business, and in the second book, we're taken a step further. To create a totally new person out of different parts of unwound teens. This is Cam, and Cam is one of the characters who's POV we get to taste. Cam is a curious character, and his curiosity helps entwine his life with Connor, Lev and Risa-not necessarily in that order. He plays many roles in the book, and one specific role that I totally adore him for comes in the end, what he does, you'll have to read to find out.

Ok, then there was Connor. Connor is the kind of character you root for throughout the story. He's the guy who's POV you'd want to read the most. The guy who, if something happened to him, you'd probably roll on the floor going: NO, not my baby Connor *weeps*. He's the leader, Connor, he's the guy who just wants the best for everybody, while at the same time he's doubting certain things about himself. In the first book he gets a replacement arm when his breaks, and this arm belongs to the guy who 'was going to hurt Risa', so now he's not sure he'd be able to control himself before her. Aw, relationship problems between my favourite couple! It only makes the story interesting.

Another character we get to see things from is Starkey, a new to be unwind kid. Starkey is a major fan of Connor, the AWOL, but when he meets Connor, he's a big disappointed. Things happen, and Starkey just proves to be my new voldymort *gags*.

Overall, all these different characters meet and connect somewhere along the way, and they are all connected to the plot, like different pieces of a puzzle. Throughout the book, Neal Shusterman can truly get that reaction from us, the realisation that all the characters are somehow important. In general, his style of writing is truly amazing, and I so can not wait for the third book in this trilogy!

The ending was not a cliff-hanger, but definitely there were many things that happened, and many reactions and results we need to see in the next book.

All Good Children by Catherine Austen

Blurb

Creativity is a crime Max commits every day.

It's the middle of the twenty-first century and the elite children of New Middletown are lined up to receive a treatment that turns them into obedient, well-mannered citizens. Maxwell Connors, a fifteen-year-old prankster, misfit and graffiti artist, observes the changes with growing concern, especially when his younger sister, Ally, is targeted. Max and his best friend, Dallas, escape the treatment, but must pretend to be "zombies" while they watch their freedoms and hopes decay. When Max's family decides to take Dallas with them into the unknown world beyond New Middletown's borders, Max's creativity becomes an unexpected bonus rather than a liability.

Review

Honestly, my review will do this book no justice. In fact, I should have written this review a long time ago, just never got around to it. Which is weird because I loved this book. Now, I'm not talking about the liked, love. I'm talking about the loved, loved. It is one of those novels that will bring tears to your eyes because of its ferocious writing style. Its power dripping in all the words, and oh, all the emotions. You guys noticing how I'm using all the italics? I can't emphasise my point enough. Let me start by praising the author. Because you know what? A lot of people don't think of it this way, but the power of writing is in the authors hands. Catherine Austen has made my top three, and to make my top three, you need requirements that go beyond the normal. Beyond the beyond. I can't even describe this requirement. It's like something that lives in my heart (sound too cliché? I don't kid when I say: I love books). I loved all the characters in All Good Children. I loved how they were all connected, and by the way, I'm the kind of person who loves romance in novels, but this book has made me realise that friendship is so much more stronger. I loved the voice of the main characters, and the not so main characters. I loved the plot and how it was intertwined with everything else in the book. It was very powerful.

The story takes place in the time we are living in, yet everything is a little bit tighter. Everything is more high tech, and parents can actually decide what kind of child they want. The richer your family is, the more perfect you will be. Like, say, Xavier Lavigne. No, he's not the main character, but he is the neighbour of the main character and also my favourite. Just picture the perfect, tall, athletic blond and you've got Xavier. What I like about him is that he has a very unique and original personality. For example, instead of greeting you with a 'hi' or 'hey', he'll launch into some sort of rant about something. Whether it be something nerdy about science, some new facts, or just about society. He's also a master mind hacker. He can get you in just about any network. In fact, while Max (main character) was away visiting some dead relative, Xavier marked him present for all his classes at school.

When Max, his sister Ally, and his mother return, things aren't really the same. In fact, ever since the death of his father, things haven't been the same. Max is almost as black as his mother, while Ally is white like his father, so there were some issues there. Also, ever since the death of their father, they've been really poor. Max, who loves creativity, and his friend Dallas, who has a rich father, notice that that the children in Ally's school are acting weird. Very obedient, like 'zombies' as they would refer to them as. When all the children in Ally's school become zombies, she must pretend to be one of them or else the authorities would have to give her the medicine they gave the other children. The whole thing is called 'NESTING', and it's supposed to turn children into obedient freaks. Sad thing is, when Dallas and Max get themselves into detention, it's their turn to be given the shot, but because of some reasons (read the book) they're saved, and now it's their turn to act like zombies. (Nesting, guys, look at the nest on the cover!)

What I really liked about the book was not really the plot, though it was still amazing. What I liked was how all the relationships were really a big part of it. Once you become a zombie, or see someone you love turn into a zombie, it's like watching your family turn against you. Turn into complete strangers who are totally incapable of emotions and that is just sad. Of course, it wouldn't be sad if you, the reader, wasn't given the opportunity to connect with the characters first.

That's another thing I loved about this book. The biggest development was that of the characters, yet there was still an active plot throughout the story. Max is this short, art loving dude who you just can't get enough of. He has a somewhat big ego, and is addicted to is RIG (which is kind of like an ipod touch, just more developed). He isn't the kind of character who's always talking loudly just to draw attention or seem cool, nor is he the quiet, good boy like in most stories. He's in between, and he actually has an original personality that actually shows in the book.

Oh, and then there was Dallas. There was a part in the story were I wanted to strangle him, but not because I didn't like him, but because he was acting like a zombie *shudders*. And I didn't care so much because he wasn't my favourite character (but I did like him) but because he was Max's best friend. And it was like I was watching someone important to me, ignore me like Dallas did to Max.

Overall, I can't praise this book enough. I can't thank Catherine Austen enough for making me realise that reading a book with a strong friendship is more heart-clenching then reading a book with a cheesy romance. I cried almost every other page, and it was only because of the importance of family and friendship. Definitely a five stars. Well, OK, 100/5. I'm not even kidding here.

Unwind (Unwind, #1) by Neal Shusterman

Blurb

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

                                                     Review

If you haven't already read this book, then I suggest you go do that now. Trust me, you'll be grateful for this.  Neal Shusterman, also the author of the Everlost trilogy, has created such an original, and promising book with amazing characters that people can connect with. The plot is so magnificent, I don't even know where to begin. I remember that I went up to practically everyone saying 'Unwind, want to know what that is?'
After having read this book, I don't think I will ever look at surgeons, and nursery rhymes the same way. The author has taken everyday children's rhymes and shone a darker light on them. Get this :


Humpty dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty dumpty had a great fall.
All the kings horses and all the kings men,
couldn't put Humpty together again.


Now relate this to the little blurb up above. If you haven't figured it out, let me tell you. The author here is saying that Humpty broke (unwound, so his body parts are transplanted to other people) and no one could put him back (and no matter what, they couldn't fix him ever again.) Read the story and you'll find out what this all means *shivers*.


Connor, who in my eyes was like the main character even though there were three point of views, is a trouble maker. Not the kind who deals with drugs and all that, but a trouble maker who is misunderstood. He likes to sit around near the highways, just because he loves the feel of it, not because he's some bad boy. So I really felt for him when his girlfriend decided not to runaway with him when he found out he would be unwound. Of course, he found someone better- cough, cough. He has a really kind heart, sort of gets into fights when he's tempered, but that gave him a unique personality. Even to the other characters in the story, he was someone people really looked up to, and was given many honourable titles. If there's a character you really fall in love with, there's nothing better then to see them being praised in the story.


Then there's Risa. I could really connect with her in ways that, honestly, I don't even know myself. The author just had this influencing writing style, that you find yourself in love with everyone. Risa wasn't talented enough in the over crowded State Homes, and Lev, a tithe, was born for unwinding.

I felt sort of sad for him. He was so convinced that it was his duty to be unwound, but in the end, he was actually a really big hero, and I admire him for it.

The author came up with many interesting thoughts and ideas in the story, for example, in the book, there were people called clappers. Clappers were people who had some sort of explosives in their bloodstreams, and when they clapped, everything around them would explode. They were sort of like terrorists. Anyway, the clappers are somehow connected to the whole story, and you'll have to read to find out.

Overall, this book was AMAZING! No, even more then just amazing, I can't find words. Words don't exist for this book. It's the kind of book that stays with you for a long time, and really makes you geek out over everything in it. A true sci-fi, and adventure with romance that was paced just perfectly. Five stars for sure, in fact, a million stars!  

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Goodreads Blurb

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back. Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Review

Blood Red Road. The first thing that popped into my mind was: oooh, vampire novel! So I took it home thinking about how this might be the next Twilight. It wasn't. In fact, it was better. Moira Young has created a very original piece of work intertwined with memorable characters (good and bad), and a plot with twists and turns that keep the book alive. Her writing style was a little different then the kind of stuff you see everyday. It was written in a way that really brought out the main characters personality. Words like 'Can't' were written like 'C'aint'. Also, the lack of quotation marks was a bit weird at first, but you get used to it. It's a good way for the author to personalise her writing style.

The story takes place in a dessert like area, where Saba, her brother Lugh, Emmi, her sister, and her father live in a little dried up place called Silverlake. They are the only ones there, and don't know much about the outside place (which, apparently, is still in the dessert). Ever since the death of their mother, Saba's father kept them there, and always talked about how the stars held their destinies and whatnot. When Lugh is taken away by mysterious people, Saba has no choice but to embark on a journey to save her brother, and she is tagged along by Emmie, her little sister.

Emmi and Saba didn't really get along. In fact, their mother died giving birth to Emmi, and that is the reason Saba has never looked at her as a sister, but things change as they get deeper into the journey, having to put their trust in each other if they want to survive. There's a lesson to be learned there. That if you give someone a chance, you can actually come to terms.

The same goes for when Saba meets Jack (who serves as a love interest later on), they aren't exactly friendly with each other, but things change once Saba gives him a chance.

Everything about this story was so different! The setting, characters, speech. It teaches us about finding ourselves, and I loved learning more about Saba and this inner instinct that she called the Red Hot, which was her way of saying powerful anger. I loved everything, and am so trilled to hear that there will be a second book coming out in October. Definitely a good 5 stars. Go pick it up, and let me know what you think  

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

                 Goodreads Blurb

Nick and Allie don't survive the car accident... ...but their souls don't exactly get where they're supposed to get either. Instead, they're caught halfway between life and death, in a sort of limbo known as Everlost: a shadow of the living world, filled with all the things and places that no longer exist. It's a magical, yet dangerous place where bands of lost children run wild and anyone who stands in the same place too long sinks to the centre of the Earth. When they find Mary, the self-proclaimed queen of lost kids, Nick feels like he's found a home, but Allie isn't satisfied spending eternity between worlds. In this imaginative novel, Neal Shusterman explores questions of life, death, and what just might lie in between.
                      ******************************Review*********************************                  
Neal Shusterman has done an amazing job with Everlost, book one in the Skinjacker trilogy. He has created many memorable characters, and the action is going in a breathtakingly steady pace. I loved how Nick and Allie enter this whole new world hovering between life and death. You'd think this was just some other world, but no. It has its own system, own rules created by the children who roam the place. More specifically, Mary, who is like a ruler in Everlost. Mary, I think, is just as lost as the children in Everlost (no pun intended), and she refuses to deny it. I do admire her persistency, but I find her really annoying, and snobby.

Allie, I have to say, was my favourite character. She's the exact opposite of Nick. He's more of a settle down, hide from trouble kind of guy, whereas Allie wants to get into action. In this case, she wants to get back into life. And so she over hears rumours of ways you can actually reach earth, and decides to go find the big bad Monster of Everlost. The McGill. What she finds in the end, of course, is totally different.

I would recommend this book to EVERYONE. Neal Shusterman has created an awesome piece of book, and honestly, why let it go to waste? If you're a fantasy, adventure, horror, lets not forget romance kind of person, pick this book up! It's got many twists and turns to last you an eternity! I'm giving this one a five out of five, even though it deserves a billion.
      

The Catastrophic History of You and Me

Goodreads Blurb

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

                                                        *************************REVIEW******************************
What can I say? Jess Rothenberg has merged together three key elements to create a successful book. Witt, romance, and a few tears. I have to say, the character development was amazingly done, and the plot itself had many twists and turns that kept the book alive. Even the writing style. It'll capture you in the first line like it did me.

First, Brie was a very interesting character. She's your average teenager who has the life. Perfect friends, perfect family, and perfect boyfriend. It's interesting to see how a girl like her will react to everything beyond. How she'll react to finding out that her perfect life wasn't so perfect after all, and that the truth's she found out where lies, ended up being truths? Complicated, I know, and that's what I liked about it. Brie has a really witty personality (love the 'your mom' jokes), and she's definitely a character who's point of you you'll enjoy witnessing.

On to the plot. Poor Brie died of a broken heart-literally- which I find a little bit unreasonable, but I guess all is fair in the game of love and books. Anyway, so she finds herself in a little pizza place where she has an encounter with a boy named Patrick. Patrick helps Brie out, and the more she learns about the after life, the more she starts to discover about her life. It wasn't as perfect as she thought it was.

I would recommend this book to anyone (over the age of maybe... 12?). It has a very active plot, well developed characters, and an amazing voice, definitely a five stars.

Home Truths by Jill MacLean

Fifteen year old Brick MacAvoy's parents are a hard case. His mother is always away at work, leaving Brick to babysit his sister, and his father has a temper that he releases on Brick. With a self-absorbed mother, and an abusive father, it's no wonder that Brick has been saving up all the money he can so that on his sixteen birthday, he can leave his house, his town, and everything that has always tormented him. So when he gets the chance to scrape Rolf Langille's shingles for a hundred dollars, he jumps at it without a second thought. As he starts to come over more to Mr. Langille's, he realises that not everyone is like his mother and father, and soon he starts to question everything. Is Brick a bully? And does he still want to move out when he's sixteen? That would mean leaving his sister behind....

*******************************Opinions***********************

Jill MacLean has done it again. This is the third book that I have read by her, and every time, she amazes me to no extent. Home Truths was a very compelling, and down to earth novel about a teenage boy with an abusive father. The characters and events that took place were so emotional, and well written that you could really feel what the protagonist was feeling. The details were very precise and written in a style that had me wanting more.

Brick was a very interesting character. He was abused at home by his father, yet he himself bullied those who were smaller then him, and he didn't realise what he was doing until a girl he was sort of crushing on told him. On the inside, though, Brick is a very caring person who takes his sister out for ice cream, and reads her books at night, and so every time Bricks father hit him for something he didn't do, I always felt like "Argh!" The fact that I was feeling for the character just goes to show how much I was into it.

Also, I like the topic Jill chose to write about. It really relates to what some teens go through these days, and it shows that not everything is always hopeless. The book, by the way, is a nominee for the Red Maple award this year, and I can for sure say that my vote is going towards Jill MacLean.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Being the Star Wars fanatic that I am, I couldn't resist to pick up this book. I mean, it's got Yoda written all over it! Literally! Tom Angleberger has spun a tale using Yoda from the Star wars films. It surrounds a boy named Dwight, who has created this finger origami Yoda, and apparently, the finger origami Yoda can give advice- even though it is just a piece of paper. So the question is. Is Origami Yoda Real? Tommy, the protagonist needs to find out, so hBeing the Star Wars fanatic that I am, I couldn't resist to pick up this book. I mean, it's got Yoda written all over it! Literally! Tom Angleberger has spun a tale using Yoda from the Star wars films. It surrounds a boy named Dwight, who has created this finger origami Yoda, and apparently, the finger origami Yoda can give advice- even though it is just a piece of paper. So the question is. Is Origami Yoda Real? Tommy, the protagonist needs to find out, so he begins to collect stories from different people in his school and creates a case file. I absolutely LOVED this book because it had me laughing, and believe me, that's not an easy task to do. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the sequel.

Thirst no.4 by Christopher Pike

BLURB

 Alisa is a five-thousand-year-old vampire, stronger and more cunning than her adversaries. But now she's trapped in the body of a newborn vampire and at the mercy of a terrible thirst. Worst of all, she's facing enemies whose fierce desire for domination grows ever stronger.

The immortal race the Telar is threatening to release a virus to decimate humanity. But Alisa and her friends can't take down the Telar on their own, and they must turn to the mysterious organization the IIC for help. But the IIC has secrets of its own and may have ulterior motives.

With two rivals and no one to trust, Alisa must rely on her dark side to defeat them. But it could cost her life, or her soul...

***************SPOILERS*******************I have to say, out of all the books in the Thirst trilogy, this one stuck with me the most. I felt like the plots were those out of another world, I mean, the Telar, the IIC, the Cradle. It's like a big plot surrounded by a bunch of smaller yet still effective ones. I honestly found the idea of the 'Lens' very scary, and it sort of took my breath away. The author seems to have a vast knowledge on a lot of stuff, and you can clearly see that in this book.

The one thing that threw me off was the ending. I felt it was a little abrupt. I wanted to know how Matt and Seymour would react to seeing a dead Shanti. I mean, sure, ends up she's actually Tarana, but Seymour and Matt don't know that. Anyway, the other thing That ticked me off in the whole trilogy was the fact that there was no 'single' love interest. To put it simply. I miss Ray. You guys remember him from the very first book? I still cant seem to get over him *sobs*.

The other thing I miss a lot is one of Sita's famous phrases. Allow me to play it out.

Person A: "No, please! I don't want to die!"

Sita: ".... Then you should never have been born."

 

It's funny, I envy her for getting to say such an amazing line! Other then that, This book was just fantastic, and I might go over and re-read this trilogy some day.

Monsters of Men By Patrick Ness (review/spoilers)

Third Book in the award winning Chaos Walking Trilogy.

"War," says the Mayor. "At last." Three armies march on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others. Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape. As the battles commence, how can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there ever be peace when they're so hopelessly outnumbered? And if war makes monsters of men, what terrible choices await? But then a third voice breaks into the battle, one bent on revenge - the electrifying finale to the award-winning "Chaos Walking" trilogy, Monsters of Men is a heart-stopping novel about power, survival, and the devastating realities of war.

 

Review

Trust me when I say, that Patrick Ness is a brilliant genius. He is a master mind story teller, and if anything, I aspire to write like him some day. The Chaos Walking trilogy has left me in a chaotic mess, even though it's been a few years since I last read Monsters of Men. I recall it was a mid August, Friday morning-last work day for shipping-and I was sure it would come that day (because it had already been to many weeks since I pre-ordered). Sure enough, it had come, though I was still sleeping at the time. Just to fast forward, I finished the 600 pages in maybe a day and a half, or two. The urge to finish it the day it arrived was almost unbearable, but I managed. On the second day, though, I couldn't help it- I stayed up most of the night after failed attempts at closing the lamp, and then turning it back up. 

 

Aside from my own little experience, let us move on to the commentary.

 

The plot. It all starts in The Knife of Never letting go (killer title). In the third book, we see Todd, the protagonist, grow from a young boy living his young, innocent life, to a young man, learning to use his thoughts and emotions as power weapons. By the time we get to Monsters of Men, the plot has thickened, and more and more roots start to grow. So much is going on at one time, but Ness pulls it all off. Within the plot, many emotions are intertwined. Certain events will literally make you sit up straighter and read like it's the end of the world. Others will make you close the book, take a deep breath, and open again.

There are many twists in the plot, and that keeps the overall book very interesting. Patrick Ness does not make anything seem predictable, even if you think a conclusion has been reached, something else happens. And guys, you'll never be able to predict the actual ending. Or you might-just not how it happens. 

 

Another thing I absolutely adored about this last book (more like the whole trilogy) was the style and voice of the story. I have to say, these two things are the ones that have helped bring the whole trilogy to life. The dialogue and sentences are written so they fit the voices of the characters. For example, Todd might say something like:  "It's a ruddy great idea". It really gives you the sense of a farmer boy who just never learned to read. The way Todd narrates the story as well, flows naturally, and it makes us love him more. And the way Patrick Ness organises the sentences just enhances the voice. Another example:

 

I ride after him, gun up, not shooting, just watching and feeling-
Feeling  the thrill of it-
Cuz that's it-
That's the nasty, nasty secret of war-
When yer winning-
When yer winning, it's ruddy thrilling.

The way it's written really gives you the feeling that as Todd is thinking this, he's thinking it in quick, short thoughts, like the information is so important, and he's really feeling it all.

 

The characters were all beautifully characterised (as I like to say).

Character: The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.

The above is a definition of what character really means, and when people speak of different characters in a story, they are talking about their qualities-distinctive qualities. Something that makes those characters original, and Patrick Ness gives us just this. Todd is a bit on the arrogant, tough, yet innocent side. Viola is ambitious, and bold, yet kind. The mayor is the big bad guy, but he's still human, and still has a history.

There's also a lot about this book that a person can take out of. I think it was the whole information overload thing. Information is everywhere, like a constant noise you can never escape, and the idea in itself is so beautastic, it makes me wish I'd gotten to it first! Anyway, another thing I liked was the transformation of characters as they develop friendships, and relations, and what these connections can mean to someone. Here, it was the relation between Todd and Viola-not your typical romance. It was nice, slow, and very developed.

 

All in all, many things happen in this third instalment of the Chaos Walking trilogy that just left me euphoric. The ending especially, so go read it, and then read it again!

 

Oh, and yeah, the title 'Monsters of Men' really fits the story.

 

 

Now I just want to get a few spoilers off my should, won't take long. Don't read ahead if you haven't read the book yet!

 

-The Mayor gave Davy an empty GUN!!! He dares?!

-Oh my goodness, Todd, don't become like the mayor!

- :O Ben is back...

- Todd and Viola sitting in a tent *finally*

 

-Todd... dead.... might come back to life *me collapses*