New Release Book Review: Turtles All the Way Down

Title: Turtles All the Way Down

Author: John Green

Publication Date: October 10, 2017

Genre: Realistic fiction

Pages: 286

Age Rating: Readers over 13

My Opinion: 7/10

Hi, Readers!

       Happy New Year!  I hope everybody got to unwrap lots of new books over the holidays.  I know I sure did, and I'm super excited to read them.  One of the best parts about winter break is getting the opportunity to snuggle under a blanket with some hot chocolate and enjoy a good book (which is what I'm doing right now).  One of my best friends had loaned me John Green's newest novel, Turtles All the Way Down, a couple of months ago, and I finally got around to finishing it this afternoon.  Although I had a lot of trouble getting into the story at first (hence the two months it took me to read the entire thing), I ended up feeling satisfied by the end.

       Aza Holmes is a high schooler who struggles with a number of mental issues such as OCD and anxiety.  She spends her days locked away in the spiral of her own mind, escaping only when dragged out by her best friend, Daisy.  When the father of Aza's old camp friend and now unbelievably wealthy neighbor, Davis, suddenly goes missing, Aza and Daisy decide to search for some clues.  Under these unusual circumstances, Aza is reconnected with Davis, and the two of them attempt to navigate this difficult time in their lives together.  John Green's beautiful prose weave together Aza and Davis's relationship with the struggles of being a teenager and the intense labyrinth of Aza's mind to create a story of hardship and friendship.

Aza's perspective on "Turtles all the way down"

       As you may know from some of my previous blog posts, John Green is one of my favorite authors of all time.  He has such a strong voice as a writer and never fails to capture unique perspectives perfectly.  His books are filled with powerful one-liners that always stick with me for weeks after reading them.  To be completely honest, though, I felt that Green may have tried a little bit too hard on this one.  He hadn't released a novel in a while, and I felt that some of the universal revelations in Turtles were a tad bit forced.  For instance, after including an anecdote explaining the title, Green went back and referenced the title yet again, unnecessarily, a few pages later.  In addition, although Aza's mental struggles are the main focus of the novel, Green falls back on the same description words often, such as "thought spirals."  I wish that a few different perspectives on the mental illness could have been included.

       I definitely enjoyed the second half of the novel more than the first.  One of my favorite scenes came near the end of the novel, when Aza and Daisy attend an underground art show.  Although Aza feels like she doesn't change as a person throughout the course of the novel, she definitely learns the importance of friendship and loyalty.  I wish that the end of the book had been different, but I did not feel like anything was missing in the conclusion.

       Turtles opened my eyes to the perspective of people suffering from mental illnesses, and for that reason I would recommend it to a friend.  It's a pretty heavy topic and is much more serious than the books I usually enjoy reading, but I learned a lot and I'm glad I finished it.

Happy reading, and stay warm!

P.S. Just wanted to share - my Creative Writing professor from last semester is in the same Fantasy Soccer league as John Green! How cool is that?!

New Release Book Review: Kalahari

Title: Kalahari

Author: Jessica Khoury

Publication Date: February 24, 2015

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: Science fiction

Pages: 368

Age Rating: Readers over 13

My Opinion: 7/10

Hi, Readers!

       I guess I've been in a Jessica Khoury mood lately, and I decided to read the last published book in the Corpus series, Kalahari.  After loving book one, Origin, and feeling disheartened by book two, Vitro, I was glad to find that Kalahari was almost as good as the first Corpus novel.  It had a slow start, but by the end of the novel, I was hanging on to every word that Khoury wrote.

       Sarah lives in the middle of the Kalahari Desert in Africa with her father and a bushman guide.  The three have been doing scientific research there for as long as Sarah can remember, and she has had little contact with the outside world.  When the group runs short on research funds, they agree to host five teenagers at their campsite in exchange for extra funding.  However, they have no idea that these teens are completely inexperienced in the wilderness and are used to luxury accommodations.  When Sarah's dad mysteriously goes missing one night, she embarks on a journey with the teenagers to find him.  Along the way, she begins to discover some mysterious clues, including a silver lion.  Instead of finding her father, she begins to find something much more dangerous.  Faced with difficult life-or-death decisions, Sarah must lead this group of teens safely through the Kalahari, find her father, and solve the puzzling mystery she has unearthed.

       When the novel began, I was not a big fan of Sarah as a character.  She is clueless when it comes to social interaction, and her idea of fun is seeing who can throw monkey pellets the farthest.  Yawn.  However, by the end of the story, although she doesn't seem like the coolest teenager around, she demonstrates admirable bravery and determination, and she is a strong role model for younger readers.

The Kalahari Desert

       One of my favorite parts about Khoury's writing style is that she is not afraid to kill off characters.  I had absolutely no idea who would survive or die throughout Sarah's adventure through the desert, which made me want to read on and on.  Also, Khoury did an excellent job including the perfect amount of romance in the novel - not too little but not too much.  Kalahari was mostly action-packed, but there were a few sweet scenes between Sarah and one of the teen visitors that made her more relatable.

       On the other hand, in my opinion, the plot line of Kalahari was a bit far-fetched, even for a science fiction novel.  There was not enough background information about the setting or about the science, and it left me questioning the plausibility, even in an alternate world, of the adventure happening.

       All in all, Kalahari is the second best book in the series for sure.  There is no beating Origin, but it wasn't hard to surpass Vitro.  My suggestion to you, readers, is to read Origin, skip Vitro, and only pick up Kalahari if you have a lot of extra time to read a pretty good book.

Happy reading!

  

New Release Book Review: Four

Title: Four: A Divergent Story Collection

Author: Veronica Roth

Publication Date: July 8, 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Dystopian, science fiction

Pages: 208

Age Rating: Readers over 13 due to some violence

My Opinion: 6/10

Hi, Readers!

       My first ever blog post was about Divergent, by Veronica Roth.  I loved the book's thrilling and mysterious plot line and fantastically developed characters.  When I heard that Veronica Roth had written a prequel of sorts to the series, I had to get my hands on it.  Four is a collection of mini-stories that tell the tale of Tobias Eaton's transformation from Erudite to Dauntless to Divergent.  Although it is not the most loquacious or descriptive novel, it stayed true to the Divergent series and will certainly please fans of Four and Tris.

       The Divergent series is written completely in the point of view of Tris Prior.  However, author Veronica Roth completely changed up the perspective of many memorable events from the novel and compiled them in a collection, titled Four.  It takes place over a time period of about three years, starting from Tobias's betrayal of his previous faction and ending with the upcoming revolution (which is at the beginning of Insurgent).  Four gives readers insight to his relationships with his faction members and his thoughts on Dauntless in general.

       One of the downsides of Four is that it seems like an afterthought to such a brilliantly written trilogy.  The novel includes minimal description, and it reads more like a play-by-play of events than a novel.  Veronica Roth missed out on the "show, not tell" idea, and she stated what happened over time instead of focusing in on specific moments.  However, I will take what I can get because I love how Roth still had enough ideas left in her Divergent toolbox to craft another book.  If only J.K. Rowling would do the same with Harry Potter!

Theo James, who plays Four
in the Divergent movies

       Reading about about certain events from Four's perspective instead of Tris's was interesting.  He had a different viewpoint about his own fear landscape, and reading about how he fell for Tris from the male perspective was enlightening.  I wish that Roth would have focused more on Four's relationship with his father because nothing was ever resolved.  Also, I kept waiting for a different ending to the novel, and it seemed like it was cut short.  It should have taken place over the span of all three Divergent books instead of disjointedly covering one and a half of them.

       I would certainly recommend Four to any die-hard Divergent fans because they will not be disappointed.  On the other hand, if you haven't read the series, stay far away from Four.  You will be completely confused by the characters and events in the novel.  Some events are alluded to but never explained, such as when Edward was stabbed in the eye.  I repeat - if you haven't read Divergent, or at least seen the movie, DO NOT read Four.  If you have read Divergent and enjoyed it, though, definitely check out Roth's addition to the series.

Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Sky Raiders

Title: Sky Raiders (Five Kingdoms #1)

Author: Brandon Mull

Publication Date: March 11, 2014

Publisher: Aladdin

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 432

Age Rating: Readers over 8

My Opinion: 9/10

Hi, Readers!

       I was more excited than a little kid on Christmas morning when I got my hands on the newest Brandon Mull book, Sky Raiders.  I'm so glad to share my thoughts about the book with you for this It's Monday!  What Are You Reading?, a blogging meme hosted by Teach Mentor Texts, Book Journeys, and Unleashing Readers.  Mull's Fablehaven series is one of my favorites of all time, and I have high expectations for the rest of his new Five Kingdoms series as well. 

       Cole is a sixth grader who leads a fairly ordinary life in Mesa, Arizona, hanging out with his best friend Dalton and crushing on a beautiful girl named Jenna.  He thinks he's hit the jackpot when he gets the opportunity to go trick-or-treating with Jenna and her friends, and to impress them, he takes them to a haunted house.  However, as soon as the kids enter, something seems amiss.  The decorations are too realistic, and the house is too creepy.  Suddenly, kidnappers pop out of nowhere and bring Dalton, Jenna, and the other kids through a portal leading to the 'Outskirts'.  Cole hides to avoid capture, but he follows them in to try to rescue his friends.  When they become seperated, Cole is sold into slavery to the Sky Raiders, a group of scavengers who pillage empty castles in the sky.  His fate and the fate of his friends become entangled with that of an undercover princess on a mission to overthrow her dictatorial father.  The children must face unthinkable threats and dangers in order to reunite, and they must figure out a way to return to Earth.

       As you can probably tell by my summary above, the plot line of Sky Raiders is extremely intricate.  One of the best parts about the novel is that settings are always described in great detail when the characters are traveling through them.  For instance, when Cole and his friends entered part of the 'Outskirts' that was made out of food, I could picture in my mind their carriage driving by enormous lakes of milk and cookies and mountains of cake.  Another successful part of Sky Raiders is that it made me want to read the rest of the series right away.  There were a lot of loose ends by the conclusion of the novel that set it up perfectly for its sequel, which is due to come out in October.

Sky Raiders' sequel,
The Rogue Knight

       My only complaint about Sky Raiders is the age of the characters.  Brandon Mull is definitely writing the series for a younger audience, probably elementary and middle school readers.  However, I wish that he had Cole be in middle school in order to appeal to a wider audience of readers.  Just think - kids love reading about characters who are older than themselves because it makes the characters ten times cooler.  It's not nearly as fun to read about characters who are younger and have less life experience than yourself.  I think that Mull would have attracted a much wider audience if he would have aged his characters by a couple of years.  All in all, though, I managed to mostly forget the young age of the characters while I was reading and tried to pretend that they were older.

       Overall, Brandon Mull certainly did not disappoint in the first book of his newest series.  He took a very magical and fantastical approach to the novel, much more than in any other books he's written.  His creation of the character Cole reminded me a lot of Seth from Fablehaven.  Any young reader would absolutely love Mull's Sky Raiders.

Happy Reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Fugitive X

Title: Fugitive X

Author: Gregg Rosenblum

Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Science fiction, dystopian

Pages: 272

Age Rating: Readers over 12

My Opinion: 8/10

Hi, Readers!

       Sometimes I feel annoyed with authors who write sequels because they feel the need to completely recap their previous novel in the first few chapters of the sequel.  Therefore, for this It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? (a blogging meme hosted by Teach Mentor Texts, Book Journeys, and Unleashing Readers), I chose to review Fugitive X, by Gregg Rosenblum, because it skips the usual sequel boredom and jumps right into the action.

       Nick, Kevin, and Cass are the returning main characters from Revolution 19, and they have escaped the City and are on the run from killer robots in the wilderness.  The "Bots" wish to capture the three siblings in order to return them to the City for Reeducation, meaning wiping their brains of all memories and integrating them into society.  However, the siblings have other plans - they want to rescue their parents from the City and stay clear of Reeducation.  Things do not go as planned when Cass is captured by the Bots and Nick and Kevin are split up.  They have to put their trust in a sketchy rebel organization if they want any hope of helping their sister and rescuing their parents.  Along the way, they discover some horrifying secrets about their pasts and futures.

       This sci-fi novel is one of the most action-packed books that I've read in a while - there are killer robots and dangerous rebels on every page.  Nick, Kevin, and Cass are double-crossed, tricked, and played, and they struggle to figure out who they can trust in the wilderness.  I think that the most interesting aspect of the novel is the relationship between humans and robots.  Although there is a unified feeling of hatred towards the City Bots, Kevin especially has to interact with a new race of bots and discovers that they are not all as bad as they seem.

Book one of the
Revolution 19 series

       The biggest positive and negative about Fugitive X is that it stays true to the point of a sequel - it is entirely a continuation of the first book in the series.  Characters from the previous novel are not reintroduced, so unacquainted readers will be extremely confused about what is going on.  However, the novel both starts off and ends with a plot twist, so it is an excellent bridge between the first and third books.

       Fugitive X has both male and female appeal in that two of the main characters are boys and one is a girl.  There is plenty of action and violence to satisfy a young male audience, most likely aimed towards middle- and high-schoolers, and there is a great deal of suspense.  Any science fiction lover will appreciate the unique world that Gregg Rosenblum has created in his Revolution 19 series, but watch out - you must read the books in order!

Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Ignite Me

Title: Ignite Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publication Date: February 4, 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Fantasy, dystopian

Pages: 416

Age Rating: Readers over 13

My Opinion: 8/10

Hi, Readers!

       I just finished the Shatter Me series, by Tahereh Mafi, and I've decided to share my thoughts about the final addition to the trilogy, Ignite Me, as well as the series overall for It's Monday!  What Are You Reading?  This blogging meme is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts, Book Journeys, and Unleashing Readers.

       Juliette has faced a lot of issues in the past two books (Special powers!  World war!  Boys!), but there is even more excitement coming in Ignite Me.  Juliette wakes up in a Reestablishment compound, which is an army base that houses soldiers of the world's evil dictator.  Then, she discovers that her enemy/lover, Warner, saved her from the mass destruction that just occurred at her previous rebel base and home, Omega Point.  Now, Juliette is not sure if any of her friends are even alive.  As soon as she finds the lone survivors of Omega Point, they join up with Warner to overthrow the Reestablishment.  However, Juliette has to put her thoughts ahead of her feelings to save the world, a task that is easier said than done.

       Ok, so I was absolutely in love with Shatter Me and couldn't read it fast enough.  Then, I got my hands on its sequel, Unravel Me, which was also phenomenal. Ignite Me definitely had some big shoes to fill, and it succeeded in a number of ways.  First of all, I love how the entire book is about girl power!  Juliette manages to get over herself - she was pretty obnoxious in the second book - and puts others before herself more often than not.  Also, she harnesses her inner strength and can now control her powers.

       I finished reading Ignite Me a few days ago, and I am still trying to decide whether or not I liked Tahereh Mafi's conclusion of Juliette and Adam's rocky relationship.  Through the first two books, I was totally Team Warner, but now I just feel bad for Adam.  He gets the short end of the stick because he really likes Juliette and she completely blows him off for Warner.  On the other hand, I am so pleased with how Juliette realizes that she wasn't actually in love with Adam to begin with.  I mean, the girl was locked up for an entire year and had never touched another human being - of course she got excited to see a boy for the first time.  Luckily, she discovers in Ignite Me that she does have options and she never lets any guy get in the way of saving the world.

       Overall, the Shatter Me series is one of the best YA series I've read in a while.  It is definitely up there on my list of favorite books, and it was published at the perfect time because teens are really getting into dystopian novels right now.  I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading YA fantasy or dystopian novels such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Testing.  Now I can't wait to read Unite Me, composed of two novellas from Warner and Adam's points of view. 

Happy reading and have a fantastic Monday!

New Release Book Review: OCD, the Dude, and Me

Title: OCD, the Dude, and Me

Author: Lauren Roedy Vaugn

Publication Date: March 21, 2013

Publisher: Dial

Genre: Realistic fiction

Pages: 240

Age Rating: Readers above the age of 10

My Opinion: 9/10

Hi, Readers!

       As you may know, Christmas is exactly 16 and a half days away!  I am getting very excited because I will visit family and friends, watch Christmas specials on television, spread holiday cheer, and most importantly, not go to school!  Here is my plan for the holidays, courtesy of Elf:

       My mom keeps asking me what I want for Christmas, and I never know what gifts to request.  Therefore, I decided that my December book reviews will be about great books that I recommend as gifts for book lovers and reluctant readers alike.  This week, I chose to review OCD, the Dude, and Me, by Lauren Roedy Vaugn.  This heartwarming novel is perfect for teenage girls and readers who enjoy a bit of sarcasm and comedy.

       Danielle Levine does not fit the prototype for the popular girl at her high school, and she often feels left out from her classmates due to her struggles with OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).  When her English class takes a field trip to England, Danielle initially assumes that the trip will be just as bad or even worse than her experiences at school because she has no classmates who are her friends.  However, she begins to enjoy exploring the foreign setting and makes a few long-lasting friendships along the way.  She also begins to grow more comfortable in her own skin.  Danielle tells her story of adventure and coming of age through journal entries, essays, letters, and e-mails.

Danielle learns to face and overcome her OCD.

       When I started the novel, I did not have any previous knowledge about or experience with OCD.  I was surprised and intrigued that Danielle had OCD but that it was not the main focus of the novel.  Although her condition impacted certain decisions that she made, it definitely did not control her life.  It was extremely enlightening to read Danielle's personal thoughts because her mind processed events in different ways than I would, yet she was still relatable.

       Danielle struggles with many different issues throughout the novel.  Aside from having OCD, she is bullied a lot at school because she is overweight and has a distinct appearance.  Also, she is forced into attending social skills classes with a group of individuals who are even more quirky than she is.  Author Lauren Roedy Vaugn does an excellent job at touching on various modern-day social issues while retaining a conversational and comedic tone.

       My absolute favorite part about the novel is that Danielle goes through a definite and realistic change throughout the novel.  It warmed my heart when she came out of different negative situations as a better person.  She overcame many more issues than I could ever imagine having to face.

       OCD, the Dude, and Me is a must-read for all teenage girls.  It gives insight to how all teens struggle with issues of different kinds, and it stresses the importance of friendship and strength.  If you are looking for a book to read yourself or to gift to a friend, I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of OCD, the Dude, and Me at your local bookstore.

Happy reading and happy holidays!

New Release Book Review: Altered

Title: Altered

Author: Jennifer Rush

Publication Date: January 1, 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genres: Science fiction

Pages: 323

Age Rating: Readers above the age of 13

My Opinion: 8/10

Hi, Readers!

       Have you seen the movie Abduction, starring Taylor Lautner and Lily Collins?  If not, basically, a boy finds out that his entire past was a lie and he goes on a big adventure while trying to escape some bad guys.  The plot line of Abduction is very similar to that of Altered, in a good way.  The novel has lots of plot twists and mysterious references to the past, giving it an edgy feel.  However, it is definitely a book geared towards a female young adult audience (like me!).

       Four boys live in Anna's basement.  They are the test subjects of The Branch, a mysterious agency that Anna's father works for.  Anna is not entirely sure why the boys are locked up, but she knows that they are dangerous and unstable.  They are also her best friends.  One day, agents from The Branch come to take away Nick, Cas, Trev, and Sam.  They do the unthinkable and escape, taking Anna with them, and drive to a safe house.  Because of the escape, Anna begins doubting her father and her past with the knowledge that The Branch is hunting her as well.  The five teenagers must work together to discover how their pasts are all intertwined and follow the clues to discovering who Anna's real family is, all while escaping dangerous agents of The Branch.

A fan-made collage of the four boys in The Branch program

       My favorite part about Altered is the perfect mix between action and mystery.  Sure, there are loads of fight scenes and weapons, but the five teens also have to solve the mystery of why they are being followed by The Branch.  For example, my favorite scene is when Anna goes shopping for new jeans at the mall, all happy and thoughtful about the boys, and then The Branch shows up and she must escape safely while surrounded by hundreds of innocent onlookers.  Sadly, the mystery of Anna and the boys' past is not solved in book 1, but it does make me want to continue the series.

Erased, the second book
in the Altered series

       Altered definitely caters towards a female young adult audience in the way that Nick, Cas, Trev, and Sam are described.  Anna is the main character, and she has a major crush on Sam, so her thoughts are romantically inclined.  Additionally, Anna is not as involved in the fight scenes as the boys, so she focuses more on telling the readers how she can either escape to safety or try to step in.  I was not especially pleased with Anna's role as the protected female who can't win a fight, but she shows strength mentally throughout the book.

       Overall, I did enjoy reading Altered because of its mystery and excitement, and also because of its somewhat realistic feeling for being a science fiction novel.  Each night that I picked it up to read, I wondered what would happen next, and that is why I would definitely recommend that you grab a copy of Altered.  The second book in the series is Erased, which will become available for purchase on January 7, 2014.

Happy reading!

New Release Book Review: Pulse

Title: Pulse

Author: Patrick Carman

Publication Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Genres: Science fiction, Dystopian

Pages: 384

Age Rating: Readers above the age of 12

My Opinion: 6/10

Hi, Readers!

       Pulse, by Patrick Carman, is a fairly cookie-cutter Young Adult novel.  It includes adventure, excitement, and romance in a formulaic plot line.  There are some suspenseful moments and a dramatic ending, but the book is fairly predictable.  However, Pulse caught my interest because of its focus on building deep character relationships that will carry throughout the entire series.

A quote from Pulse along with
a picture from its promotional video

         In the year 2051, the earth has suffered from numerous natural disasters and the entire United States population is confined to two States.  Faith Daniels is one of the few stragglers who refuse to move into the states.  When she is forced to switch schools, she meets new classmates like the sketchy Dylan Gilmore, the intelligent Hawk, and the popular twins, Wade and Clara Quinn.  Faith develops a relationship with Wade, but he quickly disappoints and she moves on.  Dylan Gilmore suddenly enters her life and tells her that she has telekinetic powers, and Faith's entire life is thrown out of wack.  She develops a rivalry with Clara and Wade because they also have powers.  Next thing Faith knows, the entire fate of the world rests in her weak, telekinetic hands, and there is little hope that she will be able to save her friends.

       Pulse is written in many different points of view.  Throughout the book, almost every character has a section where they are telling the story.  Sometimes it is a little hard to follow what is going on due to these multiple perspectives, and Carman's writing style is not always pleasing to the senses.  Carman has rough writing that could use to be edited and cut down.  Extraneous details are included in the plot line.  If you are looking for a book that is well written, Pulse is not the best choice for you.

       Another reason that Pulse did not get a higher rating from me is that Faith discovers her telekinetic powers more than halfway through the book.  Her powers are introduced in the beginning of the book, but they become significant much later on in the novel.  They almost seem like an afterthought in order to make the dystopian novel into a science fiction novel.

       However, the most successful aspect of the novel is Carman's creation of deep and interrelated characters.  Faith is not very relatable to the reader, but her best friend, Liz, is definitely easy to connect with.  Also, Faith's friend, Hawk, has a geeky aspect that makes him lovable, yet he also partakes in illegal futuristic drug dealing, adding an element of danger.  Clara Quinn appears to be a bully on the surface, but she really wants to be loved and feels separated from the rest of society.  Wade Quinn wants Faith to like him, even when he messes up big time on their first date.  Each and every character in Pulse has little quirks about them that make them interesting to read about, which is why I would recommend the book to avid readers.

Another quote from Pulse

       The final verdict - if you do not read many books, do not start with Pulse.  It is not worth your time because the writing style is extremely rough and choppy.  However, if you read a lot, Pulse is great for you because you will really connect with each character individually.  Pulse is followed by a sequel, Tremor, and more books are following.

Happy reading!

New Release Halloween Book Review: Steelheart

Title: Steelheart (Book 1 in the Reckoners series)

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Publisher: Delacorte

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 384

Age Rating: Readers above the age of 13

My Opinion: 9/10

Hi, Readers!

         Halloween is quickly approaching, bringing along costumes, pumpkins, and (the best part) candy.  This year, I've been getting into the spooky spirit through reading, as well as decorating.  I am currently reading Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson.  Steelheart is great because it has the superhero plot line of a comic book and the character development of a novel.

       When Calamity strikes, the post-apocalyptic United States is divided up and taken over by various Epics.  Epics are super villains with unique powers such as invincibility, illusion, and super strength.  One Epic, named Steelheart, takes over David's town and kills thousands of innocent bystanders, including David's father.  Seeking revenge, David joins a band of rebels called the Reckoners, Epic assasinators.  He must determine whether humans will ever have a chance to take back their country by attempting to defeat the all-powerful and practically invincible Epic, Steelheart.

Steelheart's alternate cover

       Steelheart especially appeals to males because the main character, David, is an eighteen year old man.  He tells his tale of seeking revenge in a masculine perspective, but the story includes a number of strong female characters as well.  David is rescued numerous times by an Epic-fighting, gun-wielding powerhouse named Megan.  Both boys and girls will enjoy reading Steelheart because of the wide variety of characters and personalities.  

       Although this book follows a superhero and super villain theme, it also includes a great deal of comedy.  David, a very nerdy and awkward character who has to grow into his personality throughout the novel,  loves to create hilarious puns that don't always make sense but are very comedic.  For example, David describes Diamond the gun dealer by saying, "He had a smile like a parrot fish, which I've always assumed look like parrots, though I've never actually seen either" (143).  David has exceptional insight into situations, but he cannot always formulate what he is trying to say, which makes reading his speeches very funny.

       Halloween's not just about the ghosts and the goblins - superheros  and villains are some of the most popular costumes for 2013.   Steelheart got me into the Halloween mood because of it's action-packed scenes of superheros and super villains battling it out.  Make sure you put Steelheart on your reading list because it is sure to become a big hit.

Happy Halloween!

New Release Book Review: The Testing

Title: The Testing

Author: Joelle Charbonneau

Publication Date: June 4, 2013

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Genre: Dystopian

Pages: 336

Age Rating: Readers above the age of 12 due to disturbing violence

My Opinion: 9/10

Hi, Readers!

       Are you a fan of futuristic series such as The Hunger Games trilogy and The Maze Runner, filled with action and excitement?  If so, The Testing, by Joelle Charbonneau, is the perfect book for you.  This page turner has thrilling plot twists on every page.  By the end of the novel, I was practically begging for the sequel to come out.

       Cia Vale lives with her family in a small colony comprised of survivors from the world's Seven Stages War.  When she graduates from school, she is selected, along with three other classmates, to participate in The Testing, a governmental search for the nation's future leaders.  She is initially excited to continue her education until her father warns her of The Testing's potential dangers.  When she boards the skimmer to take her to The Testing, she is warned to trust no one.  As soon as she arrives, she is required to participate in four rounds of intense testing, facing brutal competition and sabotage from 107 other students.  Cia realizes that she is no longer competing only to become a future leader, but for her life and memories.  Will she make it through The Testing alive?

Cia has to complete four rounds of testing.

       Although The Testing has a slow beginning, it really picks up the pace as soon as Cia arrives in Tosu City in order to compete with the other students.  One of the most prominent themes in the novel is trust.  As soon as Cia leaves home, she tries her best to heed her father's advice: "Trust no one."  However, she makes friends with a group of misfits after carefully analyzing their behavior.  Cia discovers both the positive and the negative impacts that her trust has on her test results.

Independent Study,
sequel to The Testing

       I love that Cia is such a strong female character.  Throughout the novel, she is the one who saves the boy, instead of the other way around.  Cia finds a great group of friends and fiercely strives to protect them at all costs by using intelligence and resourcefulness.  She is a solid role model for all teenagers and never stops in the face of adversity.

       Clearly, I am looking forward to the release of The Testing's sequel, Independent Study, coming out this fall.  *Spoiler Alert*, Cia survives, but is drastically changed and now attends The University.  This series could easily be made into a blockbuster movie franchise, and it attracts all audiences.  Make sure you pick up a copy of The Testing.

Enjoy a good book,