Categotry Archives: Reviews
Tarnished (Perfected, Book #2)
Perfected, Book 2
Juvenile Fiction
Entangled: Teen
December 1, 2015
304
Freedom comes at a cost... Ella was genetically engineered to be the perfect pet-graceful, demure...and kept. In a daring move, she escaped her captivity and took refuge in Canada. But while she can think and act as she pleases, the life of a liberated pet is just as confining as the Congressman's gilded cage. Her escape triggered a backlash, and now no one's safe, least of all the other pets. But she's trapped, unable to get back to Penn-the boy she loves-or help the girls who need her. Back in the United States, pets are turning up dead. With help from a very unexpected source, Ella slips deep into the dangerous black market, posing as a tarnished pet available to buy or sell. If she's lucky, she'll be able to rescue Penn and expose the truth about the breeding program. If she fails, Ella will pay not only with her life, but the lives of everyone she's tried to save...
Review:
This review of “Tarnished” is going to be short, because when I requested it I neglected to notice that it was the second book in a series. I’ll review it based on the plot and writing, but as a reader you should begin with the first book (Perfected) to save yourself the same confusion I brought upon myself.
The premise is disturbing while also being compelling. As soon as I saw that it included the concept of humans being kept as pets, I knew it would be a good dystopian plot. I am excited to read the first book to see what it was like getting to the beginning of the second book of the series.
The characters were sympathetic and likable, and the writing flowed well. While I was confused over some details, I still feel confident recommending this series to older young adults and up.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence, Sexual Situations, Abusive Situations
Nexis (Tricksters, #1)
Tricksters, Book 1
Juvenile Fiction
Entangled: Teen
December 1, 2015
304
In the domed city of Evanescence, appearance is everything. A Natural Born amongst genetically-altered Aristocrats, all Ella ever wanted was to be like everyone else. Augmented, sparkling, and perfect. Then...the crash. Devastated by her father's death and struggling with her new physical limitations, Ella is terrified to learn she is not just alone, but little more than a prisoner. Her only escape is to lose herself in Nexis, the hugely popular virtual reality game her father created. In Nexis she meets Guster, a senior player who guides Ella through the strange and compelling new world she now inhabits. He offers Ella guidance, friendship...and something more. Something that allows her to forget about the "real" world, and makes her feel whole again.
Review:
How much I enjoyed “Nexis” took me by surprise. Of course it sounded like something I would be interested in, otherwise I would not have read it in the first place. What I wasn’t expecting was to read the last page and five minutes later already be jonesing for the sequel.
There were a few issues at the beginning. It took a little while to get into it, and the prose could be a bit flowery at times. Be patient. By the time you get into the virtual reality game called “Nexis” things pick up quickly. I really wish we had a game like that to play. It really sounded like a lot of fun. You know, aside from it tying into the dystopian outside world. That is most certainly not a place in which I want to live. There was a plot twist I picked up fairly early, but it in no way affected my enjoyment of the book.
The world-building is excellent, both inside and outside of the game. A lot of time was taken to make the reader understand the society. In fact, that was a lot of the reason the beginning was somewhat slow. All of the information actually turns out to be important throughout the rest of the book.
Of course there is a love story. Let me warn you now there is some instalove, but once you read on a bit you realize the game actually encourages heightened feelings. It’s a valid reason, so it didn’t bother me like that normally does.
I can’t tell you how hard I shipped the two main characters. It would actually be embarrassing. What I will say is I am captain, first mate, and all of the crew of the ship, and the ship is the size of the titanic.
I recommend “Nexis” for anyone in high school and up who likes dystopian books mixed with some steampunk and a large helping of romance.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Abusive Situations
Unbound
Juvenile Fiction
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
December 15, 2015
320
Find out what happens to Connor, Risa, and Lev now that they’ve finally destroyed the Proactive Citizenry in this collection of short stories set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman. Connor Lassiter’s fight to bring down Proactive Citizenry and find a suitable alternative to unwinding concluded in UnDivided. Now Connor, Risa, and Lev are free to live in a peaceful future—or are they? Neal Shusterman brings back his beloved Unwind characters for his fans to see what’s left for those who were destined to be unwound.
Review:
I’m going to keep my review of “Unbound” short and sweet, as I don’t want to give away who has their own individual stories to those who are fans of the excellent “Unwind” dystology. If you aren’t a fan or haven’t read them, what are you doing here? Shoo. Go read them and then come back. Otherwise you won’t appreciate, much less understand, anything about this book.
Highly recommended for fans of the “Unwind” series. You won’t be disappointed.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Challenger Deep
Juvenile Fiction
HarperTeen
April 21, 2015
320
A captivating novel about mental illness that lingers long beyond the last page, Challenger Deep is a heartfelt tour de force by New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman. Caden Bosch is on a ship that's headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior. Caden Bosch is designated the ship's artist in residence to document the journey with images. Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head. Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny. Caden Bosch is torn. Challenger Deep is a deeply powerful and personal novel from one of today's most admired writers for teens. Laurie Halse Anderson, award-winning author of Speak, calls Challenger Deep "a brilliant journey across the dark sea of the mind; frightening, sensitive, and powerful. Simply extraordinary."
Review:
I really have no idea of how to review “Challenger Deep”, but I am going to try.
It is an extremely well-written book on mental illness, complete with drawings to accompany the story. The plot is very confusing, as it is meant to be, but all becomes clear in the end. If I try to describe much else it will spoil the experience for you, so I am going to stop there. It’s something that needs to be discovered on your own.
I would like to commend Brendan Shusterman, Mr. Shusterman’s son, for sharing his own story with us on the pages. It is not non-fiction, but his own struggles add a very personal touch. Also, his drawings are amazing.
I recommend “Challenger Deep” for anyone middle grade and up who wants to learn about, or is struggling with, any type of mental illness. While it may be difficult at points to read, please stick with it. It is worth it.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence
It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History
History
Henry Holt and Company
November 3, 2015
256
A humorous, well-researched pop history of the disastrous love lives of prominent historical figures, from Lord Byron to Elizabeth Taylor If you are lying in bed right now, a pint of ice cream in one hand, a bottle of scotch in the other, and this book clenched between your teeth (one tooth is missing from last night's bar fight), with tears streaming down your face over how much you loved, loved, loved your ex, let me commend you on how well you are coping. You could be doing so much worse. So much worse. You could be beheading your ex, or castrating strangers, or starting an exciting new life with a sex doll. YOU ARE A HERO. In It Ended Badly, New York Observer columnist Jennifer Wright guides you through thirteen of the worst breakups of notable figures in history--from Emperor Nero (sadist, murderer several times over), to Viennese artist Oskar Kokoschka (he of the aforementioned sex doll), to Norman Mailer (public stabbing). With her conversational tone and considerable wit, Wright digs deep into the archives to bring these terrible breakups to life. It's fun, pop history that educates, entertains, and really puts your own bad breakup behavior into perspective. It Ended Badly is for anyone who's loved and lost and maybe sent one too many ill-considered, late-night emails to their ex--reminding us that no matter how badly we've behaved, no one is as bad as Henry VIII.
Review:
“It Ended Badly” is one of the perfect kinds of books. Not only do you get to learn something, but you also get to laugh. Educational Entertainment: What’s not to love about that?
There are thirteen true tales of love gone wrong that will have you grateful for the relationship you have, as well as the ones you no longer have. At least they didn’t end THAT way. “It Ended Badly” is also a perfect gift for a friend or a loved one who is suffering a recent heartbreak. By the end of the book they will be laughing so hard they’ll forget what was wrong in the first place.
I recommend “It Ended Badly” for pretty much any adult who loves history or a unique book of humor. Five enthusiastic stars!
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Rules for 50/50 Chances
Rules for 50/50 Chances
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
November 24, 2015
Hardcover
352
Seventeen-year-old Rose Levenson has a decision to make: Does she want to know how she's going to die? Because when Rose turns eighteen, she can take the test that tells her if she carries the genetic mutation for Huntington's disease, the degenerative condition that is slowly killing her mother.
With a fifty-fifty shot at inheriting her family's genetic curse, Rose is skeptical about pursuing anything that presumes she'll live to be a healthy adult-including her dream career in ballet and the possibility of falling in love. But when she meets a boy from a similarly flawed genetic pool and gets an audition for a dance scholarship across the country, Rose begins to question her carefully laid rules.
Review:
I don’t think I’ve ever been as conflicted about a book as I am about “Rules for 50/50 Chances”. It is a solid 3 1/2 but can’t be rounded up to a 4.
The protagonist, Rose, is a ballerina with a mother who is suffering with Huntington’s disease. While I don’t know anyone with Huntington’s and therefore not speaking from experience, I believe the author did a good job of conveying the challenges and emotions it presents to an average family. One of the strongest points of the book is how well-developed the family dynamics are, with each member of the family seeming so real it’s like you know them. I especially enjoyed the family trait of being train buffs, which ultimately led to the reasons why trains are awesome. (Spoiler alert: Trains really are awesome.)
There is also quite a bit of diversity in the book. Caleb, the main male character, is african-american, while Rose’s best friend, Lena, is asian-american. Rose herself is part Jewish. The differences in culture, as well as the differences in the diseases that run in their families, are explored and not ignored as some books tend to do.
That being said, I had two major issues when reading this book. The first is that Rose and Caleb are both somewhat unlikable and judgmental toward each other. In fact, Rose is generally unlikable in almost all of her interactions. While some of it is pointed out, so obviously done purposefully, her irritation level went off the charts for me. Also, I cannot see those two ever developing an actual healthy relationship. The second problem is that it was just too long. Some of it could have been cut and the plot would have run quite a bit more smoothly. As it was I found myself having to force myself to keep reading some parts.
“Rules for 50/50 Chances” is by no means a bad book, and it brings up many important issues and diseases. It’s a good contemporary read for both young and old adults who have a bit of patience for the slow parts and the character flaws.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations
My Secret to Tell
My Secret to Tell
Sourcebooks Fire
October 6, 2015
Paperback
320
His smile is a crime.
Emerson May is "the good girl." She's the perfect daughter, the caring friend, the animal shelter volunteer. But when her best friend's brother breaks into her room, his hands covered in blood, she doesn't scream or call the cops. Because when Deacon smiles at her, Emmie doesn't want to be good...
The whole town believes notorious troublemaker Deacon is guilty of assaulting his father. Only Emmie knows a secret that could set him free. But if she follows her heart, she could be trusting a killer...
You can't always trust the boy next door.
Review:
“My Secret to Tell” is a combination of mystery and “bad boy” romance which is blissfully free of love triangles.
The characters of Emmie and Deacon were a lot of fun to read. Their banter felt natural and not at all forced. They also did not suffer from instalove, and I appreciate that fact quite a bit. Emmie faces many of the problems that most young adults face, including parental expectations versus personal wants. Deacon has quite a few problems, but many of the problems have a good cause. What I particularly liked was that none of the problems, good reason or not, are actually excused as appropriate behavior. That includes from Emmie. How often does unblinded love happen in a young adult romance? Not enough.
The plot was fun, though I did figure out a good bit of the twist before it was revealed at the end. That’s the reason I gave it four stars instead of five. It’s a quick read. While not completely light, it also isn’t too heavy, so it’s a nice book to take on a vacation or read during downtime. I’d also like to mention that the descriptions of the North Carolina coast are beautiful and completely accurate. If you have a love of the area, you will enjoy it for that alone.
I recommend “My Secret to Tell” for young adults and adults alike who are looking for an enjoyable read.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Mentions of Drug Use
Need
Need
HMH Books for Young Readers
November 3, 2015
Hardcover
352
“No one gets something for nothing. We all should know better.”
Teenagers at Wisconsin’s Nottawa High School are drawn deeper into a social networking site that promises to grant their every need . . . regardless of the consequences. Soon the site turns sinister, with simple pranks escalating to malicious crimes. The body count rises. In this chilling YA thriller, the author of the best-selling Testing trilogy examines not only the dark side of social media, but the dark side of human nature.
Review:
It takes quite a bit to scare me as far as books are concerned, but “Need” had me wishing I had left the lights on when I went to bed. It’s a solid new book from the author of the popular “Testing” series that fans of thrillers or the author will not want to miss.
The story is told through the first person with Kaylee and through the third person using various students who are members of the new social networking site “Need.” Need promises to deliver what those who make requests need (though it’s really wants), but at a price. Mixing the points of view makes for a great mystery that gives the readers enough clues to keep it interesting, but not so many that it’s obvious what is going on.
All of the characters are compelling, even those with only a few pages in total devoted to them. The plot makes for a page-turner and never slows down. It also brings up many serious issues about social networking and human nature, both good and bad. In fact, aside from a few events that seem a bit of a stretch of reality, I can’t find anything that I didn’t like about “Need”. Also, there is one instance of animal abuse and death, though it isn’t gratuitous and is important to the plot, so please beware if that triggers you.
I recommend “Need” to all of those old (and brave) enough to handle a book that is terrifying because it could actually happen. It can be used to spark discussion about dangers, both online and off, as well as how we treat others.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy of the book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Animal Abuse
Meritorium
Meritorium
Meritroplois, Book 2
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
September 28, 2015
Paperback
262
Under the System everyone is assigned a numerical Score that decides their worth to society and whether they live or die.
Charley has escaped from Meritropolis...
but in his quest to take down the System that has taken his brother from him, he must go through Meritorium, a city where gladiatorial games of life or death combat are waged between High Scores and Low Scores, man and beast.
Charley and Sandy must face man-eating plants, religious zealots, slave traders, and the ever present mutant animal combinations that roam a dystopian Coliseum presided over by Emperor Titus, the one man standing between Charley and the answers he seeks. Man is not an animal, but if they are to make it through Meritorium, will they even be able to tell the difference?
The lines between man and beast, friend and foe, will blur in Meritorium, the riveting sequel to the bestselling Meritropolis.
Review:
“Meritorium” is the second book in the Meritropolis series. The debut book, “Meritropolis”, introduced a unique and well-developed world, along with an interesting cast of characters. Unfortunately, “Meritorium” did not live up to the original.
The characters and plot are still interesting, which is what frustrated me the most about the problems in the book. There was quite a bit of “over-explaining”, which did nothing but slow down the flow of the plot and cause me to grow impatient with it. Additionally, there were some interesting religious themes, but instead of letting the story carry them, they were also explained in too great of detail. It reduced the impact and made it read like a sermon, whereas subtlety would have given much more for the reader to ponder.
“Meritorium” had a lot of potential, but I can’t recommend it because of the reasons above. I’m still looking forward to the next in the series, as I have high hopes it will return to the writing style the made “Meritropolis” so good.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Violence, Gore, Animal Abuse, Child Abuse
Tell the Story to Its End
St. Martin's Griffin
October 20, 2015
Hardcover
208
"Tell the story to its end," says Eren with a grin.
His yellow eyes are glowing like embers in the night.
"When I reach the end," I say, "what happens? You'll have the whole story."
"Hmm," he says, looking at me and licking his lips with a dry, grey tongue. "What happens then? Why don't we find out?"
People are keeping secrets from Oli. His mum has brought him to stay with his aunt and uncle in the countryside, but nobody will tell him why his dad isn't there, too. Why hasn't he come with them? Has something happened? Why won't anyone talk about it? Oli has a hundred questions, and only an old, empty house in the middle of an ancient forest for answers. But then he finds a secret of his own: there is a creature that lives in the attic...
Eren is not human.
Eren is hungry for stories.
Eren has been waiting for him.
With Eren to listen, Oli starts to make sense of what's happening. But Eren is powerful, and though he's willing to help Oli, he's not willing to do it for free; he wants something in return. Oli must make a choice: he can learn the truth -- but to do so he must abandon himself to Eren's world, forever.
From striking new voice Simon P. Clark comes Tell the Story to Its End; richly atmospheric, moving, unsettling, and told in gorgeous prose, it is a modern classic in the making.
Review:
“Tell the Story to Its End” is a short fantasy book with the horror elements of a Grimm’s Fairy Tale thrown in. It is definitely something that leaves you with chills, and the tone is perfect for the weeks leading up to Halloween, as Eren is a truly terrifying character.
There are wonderful quotes about the process of storytelling sprinkled in among the story, and the main story itself is composed of the telling of several smaller stories. I will say that it can be frustrating if you try to look into it all too deeply, as it can get jumbled and lead to quite a bit of a headache. This one is better if you just go along with it and enjoy the words. An added bonus is some beautiful artwork the pops up throughout the book.
I recommend “Tell the Story to Its End” for any middle reader or up who enjoys being a bit spooked. It is also a good read-aloud for those with younger children who can still sleep if they hear a good ghost story.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Violence, Scary Imagery
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