Book Reviews 2011-2012
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
I saw this book on the shelf at Books-a-Million and wanted it desperately just based on the cover. I know that people say "Don't judge a book by its cover" but sometimes that is the first thing to draw you in. Afterwards I looked it up on the internet and found out that tons of people were very impressed with this book. I was not disappointed. This book was great. It is told from the point of view of a girl and then switches to the point of view a of boy and tells both sides very well. The opening line caught me right away "They call the world outside the Pods the Death Shop" After that I was hooked. I loved the setting of the book and the tension between the characters. This is a dystopian novel like unto The Hunger Games and Divergent. The book doesn't give much of a summary on that back and I won't spoil it for you either. I will tell you that the story has lots of intrigue. based on some of the content I would suggest that it be read by 11th and 12th graders.
Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck
WOW, WOW, WOW! This is how I felt after I finished reading this, the fourth book in the Tiger's curse series. I can not tell you how excited I was to get to be reading this book and how thrilled I was with the ending. Unfortunately I cannot tell you much about the book because it would spoil everything. I will only say that the people who have been reading this series will be surprised and elated at the turns that happen in the book. There were times with I was like "No! That can't happen!" and times when I said, "Yes! That is exactly what I wanted to happen!" I normally put a book trailer for each book I review but this one doesn't have one YET. The author is holding a contest for the best fan made book trailer. The prize is amazing and multifaceted. Check it out at www.tigerscursebook.com in the blog section. In other news I got to go meet the author at a book signing. She signed the library's copy of Tiger's Destiny. I also answered some book trivia and won a prize. It was so cool getting to meet her. She read us a bonus chapter from Tiger's Voyage. I have posted the video of her reading on the IderLibrary YouTube page or you can view it on my blog page. I would suggest this series to girls and guys, but I think that due to the romance aspect girls would probably enjoy it more.
The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsh
America is a vast, desolate landscape left ravaged after a brutal war. Two-thirds of the population are dead from a vicious strain of flu. People called the sickness "The Eleventh Plague" This story deals with what life is like after the plague has done its damage and moved on. Stephen and his father are scavnegers who travel across the country in search of scrap to sell to buy food. He does not have a permanent home and has always lived that way. He is presented with the opportunity for a more stabel life but at a great cost. Stephen has to decide if it is worth it.
This book promised to be thrilling and amazing. I was left somewhat disappointed. I had a hard time identifying with the main character and the book got to a certain point and then kinda stalled. I expected the action to pick back up but then the book just ended and I was left feeling like I had wasted my time. I think that a 5th - 8th grade student may enjoy this book but for my tastes there juat wasn't enough action.
This book promised to be thrilling and amazing. I was left somewhat disappointed. I had a hard time identifying with the main character and the book got to a certain point and then kinda stalled. I expected the action to pick back up but then the book just ended and I was left feeling like I had wasted my time. I think that a 5th - 8th grade student may enjoy this book but for my tastes there juat wasn't enough action.
Wither by Lauren Destefano
The human race has eliminated cancer and all of diseases. They have perfected the art of long life and are virtually immortal. Sounds great, right? Well, it was for the the First generation. Then when they started producing children, they realized that every male child born died at age 25 and every female child born died at age 20. The human race and the world fell into disarray and we begin our story with Rhine a 16-year-old girl who has just been stolen from her home to be sold as a child bride. This book had a very interesting concept. The author had some very cool ideas ,but I was not swept away by her characters. I thought several times, "Why did you do it this way?" And I thought that if I had this idea I would have told it differently. That being said, I still devoured this book in 4 days. I did not want to put it down. And I am ready to dive into the second book and see what happens. I think that I was let down by the author's presentation mostly because I had just finished a book that was truly remarkable by an accomplished author. Had I not just been wisked away by the Delirium trilogy, I probably would not have been so critical with this book. Well, that's how it goes sometimes. I would suggest this book to girls in grades 9 and up. I would not suggest it for boys or younger girls. It the first book in The Chemical Garden series.
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
This is the second book in Lauren Oliver's Delirium series in which love is classified as a disease. I really enjoyed the first book and was really looking forward to reading the second book. It was all I had imagined and more. I was left broken-hearted at the end of the first book and when this book started I was kinda confused. But as I read more and discovered the timeline the author was working with, the book just got better and better. It is a very good book when horrible things happen to the main characters and you still want more. Lauren does such a good job presenting her characters and making you feel for them. The whole time I was reading the book I had convinced myself that something was going to happen even though the story pointed otherwise. About two before the end I finally decided that I was wrong and the characters lives would just get easier. Then at the end of the book, the very last paragragh, Lauren threw me a curve ball and proved me wrong and right. I was left at the end of this book thinking "Oh man, how are they going to fix this?" I am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the third book. A fantastic book and wonderful series.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Imagine a world where love is classified as a disease that will kill you or leave you less than human. Where there is a surgical cure for love that all must receive in order to live productive lives in any community. This is the life that Lena knows. She has never known any different. She has always been taught to stay away from boys or she might become "infected" with the deadly disease and then all hope would be lost. As she is counting down the days until her saving procedure, she encounters someone who can change her mind and her heart forever. This book was absolutely amazing. From the get go I was really interested in the book for its concept. But so many books lately have had a great concept and then the author doesn't do such a great job telling the story. Lauren Oliver did not disappoint. Not only did she have a great idea for a book, but she presented the idea in a believable fashion. Her characters were very authentic as well. I would be reading and realize that hours had passed and I had no idea what was going on around me. It was that captivating! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to finishing the rest of the series. I think that while it is told from the point of view of a girl that boys could also enjoy this book as well. I am having trouble finding a book trailer for this book so I may make one myself. Update: I have since found two official trailers for Delirium. One is just a straight up book trailer and the other is an interactive one. That one will give you a choice to make at the end and then send you to another video based on that choice. Pretty cool!
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Wow! That is the general word for this book. It is the sequel to Divergent which I absolutely adore. The book picks up exactly where Divergent left off and the action just keeps rolling. I was conflicted during the book because of some of the relationships and I wanted Tris to act a different way and that caused me to be kinda ticked at her. But by the end, all those problems were resolved and new ones were presented. So now we must wait for the 3rd book. Alas! I strongly recommend this series to guys and girls alike.
Notes From a Totally Lame Vampire by Tim Collins
This book was told "Diary of a Wimpy Kid style" It really was just a spoof to poke fun at the vampire mania that has been going on for so long. It is not a serious book and should be taken as such. It took probably 2 hours to read and it was ok. I got some giggles out of it but as a whole it is not a fantastic read. It is set in Britian so there are some cultural differences. It is about a teenage vampire who has unfortunately not been given the strength, speed, or good looks that vampires normally possess. He falls in love with a human and can't decide which he wants more: to spend time getting to know her or to spend time sucking her blood. Anyway, a cute book but not an epic read.
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
Imagine that everything you do in life is done online. You go to school online, date online, go to the movies online, even take "chat walks" online. That is the only life that Maddie has ever lived. She knows no different. Until she meets Justin. He has a very different way of looking at life. He believes that people should be unplugged and meet face to face to experience life. Meeting him changes everything.
I had been really excited about reading this book because the concept interested me so. But when I got into I was a bit disappointed. The characters didn't act very realistic and several of the events that take place in the book did not follow a logical pattern. The book was very close to being good and was not so awful that I put it down but I just think that maybe if another author had written a story around the same concept, perhaps they could have done a better job. There is going to be a followup book that comes out Fall 2012 and maybe it will close some of the loopholes from this book. I would say to give it a try and maybe you would enjoy it more than I did. Any book is worth a shot.
I had been really excited about reading this book because the concept interested me so. But when I got into I was a bit disappointed. The characters didn't act very realistic and several of the events that take place in the book did not follow a logical pattern. The book was very close to being good and was not so awful that I put it down but I just think that maybe if another author had written a story around the same concept, perhaps they could have done a better job. There is going to be a followup book that comes out Fall 2012 and maybe it will close some of the loopholes from this book. I would say to give it a try and maybe you would enjoy it more than I did. Any book is worth a shot.
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
I picked this book up and didn't put it down until I was finished. It was very good. The main character, Clara, is part-angel. Every part-angel has a purpose to fulfill while on Earth. Hers is slowly becoming known to her. It has something to do with a forest fire and a boy she has never met. The purpose takes them to a new city and new school where Clara finds out that being part-angel can be a scary life to live. This is the first book in a series that I think is going to be great. I was really able to feel for each of the characters and the ending really shocked me. This is a great fantasy/paranormal romance that anybody would enjoy.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
I have wanted to read this series since I started working in this library. I am finally into this series and loving it. It is set in the future and society has decided that it is best for humanity if everybody looks the same. So when a person turns sixteen they get an operation to turn them pretty. Tally has dreamed of turning 16 and getting the operation her whole life but when the time comes she learns that there may be more to life than just being pretty and maybe the government is a little too anxious to opereate on everybody. This is the beginning of a four book series. I really enjoyed the concept and the author does a great job of creating an entirely new world for the setting. I have found myself thinking and using some of the made up language that the characters use. It is definitely a story to get wrapped up in.
Eve by Anna Carey
I have been waiting to read this book for a long time, and it just got published. I saw a preview to it online and knew that it would be a great book. I wasn't disappointed. This book is set in the future after a great plague has killed most of the human race. The country is now only comprised of desolate forests and overgrown remains of cities and one new city called the City of Sand. A king has risen to "rebuild" what he calls "New America." Eve is an orphan living in a girl's school. She has always done what is right and followed all the rules and believed every word the king has said. Until she discovers a horrible secret about the girls' fates after graduation. She decides to flee and outside of the school, she realizes that she can't trust what she has always been told. This book is the first in a series about what it would take to rebuild the human race after chaos strikes. It was written very well and was captivating. My only complaint is that the second book Once won't be published until July 3rd. Oh the woes of a book-loving librarian!
The Limit by Kristen Landon
In the future world described in this book, every family has a spending limit. If the family goes over their limit their children are sent a a work house to work off the family debt. That is what happens to Matt. He is sent to the workhouse to try to correct his parents' mistakes. The longer that he is there, Matt starts to realize that there is something illegal going on. He and his work house friends decide to take it upon themselves to find out what is going on and to put a stop to it. This book have an interesting concept from the beginning but the writer made the characters to gullible and not very believable. The parents don't act like a real parent would act and at the end when all is said a done it is a nice little happy ending even though the world is not how it should be. I wish the author would have spent a bit more time on making the characters believeable and realistic. Not a bad book, but not great either.
The Future Of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Imagine that it is 1996 and you have just gotten your first computer with Internet access. DSL and Twitter have never been heard of and Facebook hasn't been invented yet. This is the world that Emma and Josh live in. Emma has just gotten on to the Internet for the first time on her new computer and she sees Facebook. It is showing the status updates that she herslef will post 15 years in the future. As she reads more about her futrue self she decides to change her future for the better. But sometimes knowing what is to come can be a bad thing. This book was really interesting. For me who grew up during this time period, it was easy to relate to. I think that anybody would enjoy this book as it was told from both a guy's and girl's point of view. It was pretty predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. Follow this link to see a couple of videos about the book on Amazon.com.
Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
I have been waiting for seven years to find out how the story of Eragon, the dragon rider, would end. I have to say after reading the 860 pages of the final book, Inheritance, I am pleased with the story as a whole. I feel like Christopher Paolini left some room for himself to write a sequel or a spin-off series. That makes me happy. There were some questions left unanswered at the end of the book and I feel that there is more of the story to tell. But if he never writes another story about Eragon, Arya, Roran, and Saphira I can at least feel pleased with the way their stories played out. If you have read the rest of the Inheritance Cycle, I would definately recommend this book to you. If you enjoy stories about magic and knights and dragons, this series would be an excellent read. All in all, a wonderful reading experience for me after waiting so long.
Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck
This the long awaited third installment in the Tiger Saga. If you have not read the two previous books, (Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest) let me give you a run down of the general gist of the series. Kelsey is just a normal 18-year-old girl from Oregan. She takes a job at the local circus and finds a white tiger named Ren. Unbeknownst to her, the tiger is actually an Indian Prince that has been cursed to remain a tiger all the time except for 24 min each day. After Kelsey wishes that he could be free, He is able to change to a man long enough to tell Kelsey that she is the girl from a prophecy that says that he and she have to conquer several trials in order to break the curse that was placed on him 300 years ago. She accepts and they begin their journey and fall in love on the process. Fastforward through two books and we find Ren and Kelsey struggling to complete the third of the trials which invovles a sea voyage and meeting five Chinese dragons. This series is an amazing love story packed with action and adventure. Ren and Kelsey have work through puzzles and trials that have a basis in all forms of mythology and history. As the story is mainly set in India, much of the trials center around Hindu culture and mythology. Tiger's Voyage ends much the same as the first two books - with a shocking cliff hanger that leaves you with your mouth hanging open and your heart screaming "That can't be the end! I need to know what else happens!" I, for one, can't wait for the next book to find out how it will all end! Follow this link to see the Tiger's Curse webpage or you can find a link to it on the Book and Authors Webmix.
Matched by Ally Condie
The Society controls everything - your education, your career, your food, and even your marriage. When citizens of The Society turn 17, they attend the Matching Ceremony where they are shown a picture of the person they will marry. Cassia is shocked and intrigued when her Match is revealed to be her best friend, Xander. But just as the information is sinking in, another face flashes across the screen, Ky. She is left to determine whether society picked the right match for her or if fate had other plans. Should she follow the rules by marrying her best friend and live a comfortable life, or should she risk it all in the hopes of finding her true love in Ky? As she contemplates her future, the stakes get higher and the game more dangerous for all involved. No one is allowed to break The Society's rules. Matched was an interesting book. I really enjoyed the concept of the Society and all their harsh rules. I couldn't imagine living in such conditions. The book seemed to take a long time to develop the characters, but once I got to know the characters, the story was much more intriguing. The second book, Crossed, seems like it is going to be good as well. I just can't decide who I want Cassia to end up with. You can view a great smapler at this address. Check it out and see if Matched is for you: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61616285/Matched-sampler
Divergent by Veronica Roth
This is a dystopian novel, like The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner. In this book each person is placed into one of five factions or groups when they turn sixteen. If they complete initation, they will become a part of that faction and live and work in their group for the rest of their life. If not they will be branded as a outcast and live on the fringe of society. The book is told from the point of view of Beatrice, a 16-year-old girl from the faction that values selflessness. She discovers that she doesn't quite fit into any one faction wholly, and that can be life-threatning. This is an amazing story with characters that you can identify with and grow to love. Divergent brings you into a new world that used to be Chicago. The way that the people think and act is very different than you are accustomed to. All around, a great book! I absolutely devoured this book. I can't wait for the next book in the series which comes out May 1st, 2012
The Death Cure by James Dashner
This is the conclusion of The Maze Runner trilogy. It was one of the best finishes to a series that I have ever read. I won't tell too much about the plot because that would ruin all the surprises - and this book is full of surprises. If you have not read the rest of the trilogy, The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials, you simply must. Anyone who is a fan of The Hunger Games needs to read this set of books. The series is based around a boy named Thomas. He wakes up in a strange place, called the Glade, with no memory. The Glade is inhabited only by teenage boys who were brought there at various times also with no memory of their former lives. Everyday they struggle to remember who they are and why they have been brought to the Glade. As they begin to remember bit by bit, they uncover a web of lies thicker than anyone could imagine. This series has suspense, mystery, blood, guts, and gore, and a bit of romance thrown in to boot. It is an awesome read for guys and gals alike. James Dashner has also released information about the prequel he is writing that will come out in Fall of 2012 called The Kill Order.
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Grace spends much of her time watching the woods in her backyard, looking for the strange and intriguing wolves that live there. But when her favorite wolf turns up on her doorstep, she discovers that she has found much more than an animal to care for... Sam is a werewolf for lack of a better term. The rules that govern this type of werewolf are different than in any other story I have read. The werewolves are human when it is summer and wolves when it is winter. Now that Grace and Sam have found each other, they have to fight against time and freezing temperatures to keep their relationship alive. This a sweet love story with some action mixed in. If you are a fan of the Twilight books, I think that you would like this series. The story is interesting, although the writer is not as thorough as I would have liked. Still a good book to read.
The Gaddess Test by Aimee Carter
Kate has been offered a deal: she can help keep her mother from dying, but in return she must leave her family and friends behind and enter into the trials of becoming a goddess. If she passes the trials, she will become the bride of Hades and live in the Underworld six months of the year to rule as queen. If she fails, she and her mother will die. This book is an interesting modern twist on Greek mythology. It is a great read for anyone who likes the Olympians or just a great love story. The Goddess Test has several plot twists and surprises along the way. It is fun to guess at which character is representing which Greek god or goddess. I was right about most of them but did not know who was the real villian until close to the end. There is going to be a second book, Goddess Interrupted. It comes out March 27th, 2012. Can't wait! Click this link to read an excerpt from the book. There isn't an official trailer for this book :( but this is a pretty good fan-made one using The Sims.