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!

  

Book Review: Vitro

Title: Vitro

Author: Jessica Khoury

Publication Date: January 14, 2014

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: Science fiction

Pages: 384

Age Rating: Readers over 14

My Opinion: 5/10

Hi, Readers!

       If you happened to read my last post about Origin, you would have discovered how excited I was to read Vitro next.  Now that I've read it... boy, am I disappointed.  Jessica Khoury did such a phenomenal job making Origin a thrilling novel with unique and interesting characters, and I was expecting the same level of writing in the next novel of the Corpus series.  Sadly, Vitro was not up to the same standards.

       Sophie Crue has lived with her dad her entire life while her mother is on Skin Island, in Guam, doing scientific research.  However, out of the blue, Sophie gets a mysterious e-mail from her mother begging her to come to Skin Island ASAP due to an emergency.  Of course, Sophie leaps at the opportunity to visit, and she convinces her childhood friend, Jim, to fly her there on his airplane.  When the two arrive, they instantly realize that there is something mysterious happening on Skin Island.  They encounter a strand of genetically enhanced humans, named Vitros, who imprint on a single person as slaves.  A few of the prototype Vitros have went off the deep end, and they capture Sophie as a ransom to free themselves.  Worst of all, one of the Vitros, Lux, looks exactly like Sophie.  Sophie has to face a number of heart wrenching decisions, and must manage to survive her time on the island of horrors if she wishes to save the lives of the Vitros and herself.

What I would imagine Skin Island looks like

       As you may be able to tell from my summary above, Vitro was a pretty confusing novel.  What I noticed early on was that Khoury tried so hard to make the novel mysterious that she withheld too much information from the readers.  She relied too much on fast-paced action scenes, violence, and evil characters, and she did not put enough focus on the background of Skin Island and its inhabitants.  It seemed as though every chapter was filled with airplane crashes, explosions, guns, and kidnapping scenes.  In my opinion, Khoury should have focused a little bit more on the characters of the novel and their emotions, and less on the action.

Up next... Hopefully I saved
the best for last!

       The characters in Vitro were certainly much less developed than those in Origin.  Khoury attempted to create a backstory between Sophie and Jim where they were childhood friends, but the whole thing seemed pretty implausible.  I found it too unlikely that they would grow up together on a tropical island, get seperated for ten years, and then just happen to meet up again out of the blue.  Guess I need to work on my suspension of disbelief.  Also, I was not particularly fond of most of the characters in the novel, Jim in particular.  They were not very likeable or relatable, and I didn't form an emotional connection with them at all.  One character that I did enjoy reading about was the psychopathic Nicholas, who had a lot of potential to be a deep and unique character, but I felt let down when Khoury only developed him on the surface and made him fairly stereotypical.  

       I wish that Vitro was on the same level stylistically and content-wise as Origin, but it had a completely different vibe.  If you've already read Origin, spare yourself the time and don't bother checking out Vitro.  All problems aside, I am still planning on reading Khoury's third book in the series, Kalahari.  Fingers crossed that Khoury sticks with her guns and has written it comparably to Origin!

Happy reading!

Book Review: Origin

Title: Origin

Author: Jessica Khoury

Publication Date: September 4, 2012

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: Science fiction

Pages: 394

Age Rating: Readers over 11

My Opinion: 9/10

Hi, Readers!

       Each year, my public library has an annual book sale.  The books I usually purchase here are hit or miss, because all I know about them comes from the short blurb on the back.  Luckily, when I bought Origin at the book sale, I came into possession of a real gem.  I was enthralled with the characters, plot line, and themes of the novel, and it kept me reading late into the night.

Pia's jungle boy, Eio

       Pia's genes have been genetically bred over five lifetimes so that she is born immortal.  Her skin is impenetrable, her immune system is unbreakable, and she is... perfect.  However, Pia has never been outside of her small compound, Little Cam, located in the middle of a vast jungle.  Although Pia knows everything there is to know about science and math, she has never even heard of New York City, or even cities in general.  The scientists, especially Uncle Paolo, keep Pia on a strict regimen of learning and exercising in order to turn her into a superhuman who will eventually reproduce and be the start of a new, immortal population.  One day, Pia notices a hole in the electric fence surrounding Little Cam.  When she enters the jungle and the real world for the first time, Pia's life is completely changed.  She meets Eio, a local native boy, who shows her that there is more to life than test tubes and immortality.  Torn between two worlds, Pia must now decide where she belongs - future or present, science or emotion, and civilization or jungle.

 

       Just recently, in English class, we discussed the idea of perspective.  Seeing things from a different point of view can show readers that there is not just one way of living.  My favorite part about Origin is the first-person perspective of Pia, because she is relatable and yet entirely unrelatable at the same time.  Of course, being immortal, Pia lives life much differently than the average human.  However, she still feels happiness, sadness, and, most importantly, love.  The dilemma that Pia must face, although not realistic in the real world, creates a sort of empathy between her and the reader.  We go along the journey with her, finding out more of the truth as the plot line progresses.  

Up next... Vitro!

       One of the most brilliant aspects of Origin is that author Jessica Khoury was able to create a science fiction novel with a unique plot line.  Although I did pick up some hints of popular dystopian and science fiction books thrown in, the work of literature was about a new topic and had undiscovered characters.  In the age of mass-produced literature, I applaud Khoury's distinct style of writing and original ideas.  The Young Adult genre is filled with many "fake" novels that try to replicate the well-known ones in order to sell more copies, and I am happy to say that Origin is not one of those books.

       I would recommend Origin to anyone who enjoys The Hunger Games or Divergent.  Although Origin is a less extreme and hard-hitting version of those popular novels, it explores much more of the emotional impacts of dramatic events.  Now, I can't wait to get my hands on Khoury's next novel, Vitro, to see if it is just as good as Origin. 

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!

Book Review: Safekeeping

Title: Safekeeping

Author: Karen Hesse

Publication Date: September 18, 2012

Publisher: Fiewel & Friends

Genre: Science fiction, dystopian

Pages: 304

Age Rating: Readers over 11

My Opinion: 5/10

Hi, Readers!

       As you can probably tell from the novels I've reviewed previously, I absolutely love dystopian novels.  However, the best part about them is the action - there is always a new adventure or threat to deal with.  Karen Hesse's novel, Safekeeping, is a dystopian novel that seems to be devoid of action.  It has a fantastic cover blurb, but the novel itself is lackluster.

       Radley has spent the past few months volunteering at a children's orphanage in Haiti.  Now that she is ready to return to the United States, she discovers that she has missed a lot while she was gone.  After a number of airport security increases, Radley learns that the American People's Party has taken control of the government and that many "threats to the country" have been arrested.  As soon as she gets home, Radley faces another harsh reality - her parents are gone.  Without any money or safety, she embarks on a journey north to Canada to find shelter and safety.  Along the way, Radley meets a young woman named Celia, and the two travel together.  Radley must come to the realization that her beloved country has taken a turn for the worse, and she cannot trust anyone to help her find her parents.

       Safekeeping is a very unique novel due to the fact that it includes a collection of Karen Hesse's original photography to enhance the writing.  Hesse's photographs are nice to look at, but in my personal opinion, they do not add to the novel in any way.  This is because the pictures were not taken especially for the novel.  Therefore, some of the pictures do not match up with Hesse's setting descriptions.  At times, the large photographs take up room that should be filled with text.  I would have preferred if Hesse would have worked more on her plot development than her illustrative photography.  

       Although the characters in Safekeeping are fairly deep and interesting to read about, the novel has no real plot line except for the fact that Radley takes a journey to Canada.  She faces no intense hardships along the way, and most of the time, she is practically handed food and shelter.  Also, she hardly even searches for her parents.  The novel's ending comes up out of nowhere, and it is tied together too perfectly.

       It seems like Hesse just wanted to jump on the dystopian bandwagon, and her unexciting plot line and irrelevant photographs do not combine for a fun summer read. 

Happy reading!

Book Review: Minders

Title: Minders

Author: Michele Jaffe

Publication Date: January 30, 2014

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: Science fiction

Pages: 400

Age Rating: Readers over 14

My Opinion: 2/10

Hi, Readers!

       Usually I read every night before I go to bed, and I always look forward to what will happen next to my favorite literary characters.  However, I could not even finish reading Minders, by Michele Jaffe.  This book actually made me lose interest in reading.  I felt very apathetic towards all of the characters, and the plot line was extremely confusing and disjointed.  This book review is a cautionary warning, because although I'm sure that some YA readers would enjoy Minders, I cannot in good conscience recommend it.

       Sadie is a teenager who is very calculating and apathetic to the world around her.  For this reason, she is selected to participate in the Mind Corps Fellowship Program, where modern technology allows her to enter the mind of an inner-city male named Ford Winters.  She becomes immersed in Ford's world, and while forgetting her own, begins to discover the power of passion and emotions.  However, Ford is dealing with many issues in his life, such as fighting with his mother, getting over the trauma of his brother's murder, and protecting himself and his family from an evil threat called the Pharmacist.  As Sadie comes to know Ford so personally, she is unable to revert to her indifferent personality and she starts to fall for him.  But all along, Ford has no idea that Sadie exists, and she has to helplessly look on as Ford faces danger and trickery from all those around him.

       As I mentioned before, I did not finish reading this book (which is something that almost never happens!) because I entirely lost interest in the plot line and the characters.  For starters, Sadie is probably one of the most lackluster characters on the face of the earth, and author Michele Jaffe created her this way on purpose.  Sadie does not understand passion or true love until the very end of the novel, and it is not engaging to read about a character who is uninterested in life.  Plus, although she is the main character of the novel, she is neither involved in the action nor a strong female role model for the readers.  Next, Ford is a much more dynamic character, but he is entirely unrelatable.  He has suffered through so many traumatic events in his life, and he lives in such an exaggeratedly dangerous city, that even real life city-dwellers or adversity facers cannot relate to Ford's struggles.  Ford never catches a break.  Everything that could possibly happen to him, does.

       For the most part, I enjoy reading longer books because that means deeper character development, more action, and a thoroughly developed plot line.  However, Minders lacks all three of these characteristics.  As pertaining to the plot line, Jaffe attempted to create some interesting dynamics in the beginning of the novel, such as Sadie's relationship with the head of the Mind Corps Fellowship Program.  However, she throws all of these plot starters to the side when she focuses on Sadie living inside of Ford's mind, and I was left wondering what was occurring in the real world.  I wish that Jaffe would have included flashbacks from Sadie's life or jumps to what was happening at the Mind Corps laboratory instead of solely discussing Ford's life.

       To sum up, I was disappointed with Minders, and therefore, I cannot recommend it.  I apologize that my review for this week is such a downer, but there are better choices for a summer read.

Happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Heir Apparent

Title: Heir Apparent

Author: Vivian Vande Velde

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Genre: Science fiction

Pages: 352

Age Rating: Readers over 9

My Opinion: 9/10

Hi, Readers!

       Have you ever dreamed about being transported into an entirely new world?  In Heir Apparent, characters have access to virtual reality video games that immerse their minds in fantastical and fictional worlds for short periods of time.  Heir Apparent is a fun and exciting read, but it is also becoming relevant to modern day society due to the fact that virtual reality games are becoming possible.  This review of Heir Apparent is a part of It's Monday!  What Are You Reading?, a blogging meme hosted by Teach Mentor Texts, Book Journeys, and Unleashing Readers.

       Giannine, who has just turned fourteen, receives a certificate to her local Rasmussem Gaming Center that allows her to play a virtual reality game for half an hour.  She is thrilled to try out a new game, choosing "Heir Apparent", and her mind is virtually transported to the Medieval ages.  She is faced with the task of becoming the next King of a small country, and starts off as a lowly goat herder with no allies.  However, as soon as Giannine starts the game, the Rasmussem Gaming Center has technical difficulties and she becomes stuck in the alternate reality.  She must complete the difficult and perilous quest as quickly as possible - if she takes too long, she risks brain damage and even death in real life.

       Heir Apparent has a very creative plot line, but it is also comparable to Conor Kostick's novel, Epic, and the popular movie, Groundhog Day.  Specifically, Kostick's Epic also involves virtual reality games, but it is geared towards an older audience.  Plus, Heir Apparent is reminiscent of Groundhog Day in that Giannine is stuck repeating the same quest over and over until she manages to complete it successfully.  She doesn't know if she will be able to escape from the game, just like Phil from Groundhog Day when he has to relive the same day until he changes his attitude.  I love Vande Velde's writing because it shares characteristics with these other two works; however, I'm not sure if these similar aspects are intentional or not.

Other Rasmussem books by Vivian Vande Velde

       Virtual reality games are beginning to make their mark in modern day society.  Just about a week ago, Entertainment Magazine had an article all about how these games are becoming more available to society through video game systems such as the Wii and the Xbox Kinect.  Users can immerse their bodies in the games; for example, in Wii bowling, the user swings his or her arm as if throwing a bowling ball.  However, with new inventions like Google Glass, these games are about to become a whole lot more realistic.  I have high hopes for these inventions, but after reading Heir Apparent, I realize that we must be very careful with technology.  Heir Apparent is a very engaging read, especially for younger readers who are late elementary and middle schoolers.  I would recommend it to science fiction lovers as well.

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!

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!