Review: Blood Red Road

Details:
Title: Blood Red Road
Author: Moira Young
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pub Date: June 2011
Genre: Dystopia

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization. -- Goodreads

My Thoughts:
A friend of mine went on and on about how amazing Blood Red Road is several months ago. Usually we have similar tastes, so I figured I better add it to my to-read list. And I was itching to read a dystopia (I’ve been reading a lot of books outside my comfort zone lately instead of just reading every dystopia I can find).
Blood Red Road was amazing -- probably one of the top five of this year for me, maybe even top two. The characterization is wonderful, the writing was really good, and the whole world was crafted beautifully. I almost have nothing bad to say about the novel. My only critique is that sometimes Saba felt young to me, several years younger than her eighteen years. But these moments were very brief and also could be easily explained by her sheltered life before her brother Lugh is taken.

Back to the good stuff. Saba is one of my favorite female characters. I loved that she was sort of a mean girl. Yes, she is doing everything thing she can to get her twin brother back, but she can’t stand her little sister and is at times horrible to her. This strained relationship made her feel more real to me and less like an untouchable hero character. Beyond her strong and flawed personality, I loved her relationship with Jack. I don’t to say too much or give anything away, but I loved her reactions to the possibility of a boy liking her. I’m pretty sure I laughed out loud during several of their scenes together.

Saba’s world was so wonderfully crafted. I could totally picture the dustlands, the gladiator arena, everything. The setting, as well as all the crazy characters were so well written that I was quickly and totally pulled into the book. I read the whole book in a few sittings and took an extra long lunch at work so I could finish the book. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

On a side note I got to meet the lovely Moria Young at Wordstock this year. She is one of the nicest, friendliest authors I met so far. So if she’s doing an reading in your area go see her. And congratulations to Moria for winning the Costa Children's award!

Review: Far From the War

Details:
Title: Far From the War
Author: Jeffery David Payne
Publisher: Roche Harbor Books
Pub Date: September 2011
Genre: Dystopia

Economic ruin and partisan rancor have pushed America to the brink of a new civil war. Esther is caught in the middle, serving as a page in the United States House of Representatives when rogue politicians and military leaders stage a modern day coup d'etat. When the coup turns violent, she abandons Washington, D.C. for home. She must learn to survive on her own as transportation and financial networks fail, as the war disrupts food and water supplies. The result is a cautionary tale about political extremism and the true cost of war. -- Goodreads

My Thoughts:
I've been reading a lot of books lately that have been out of my comfort zone; mostly romance and paranormal. So when I heard about Far From the War I decided it was time to get to what I love reading the most: dystopias, especially realistic dystopias.

I really loved the idea of a dystopia that takes place in the very near future because for me the possibility of these dystopic worlds becoming a reality is what really draws me. Far From the War takes place in a completely recognizable United States, which is what really kept me reading. The civil war that begins early on in the book seemed completely realistic and eerily possible in my lifetime. And from this base the way civil war was depicted and the characters' (both civilian and military) reactions to the war all felt real and worked to draw me into the story.

But I kept getting thrown out of the story by all the political and cultural references. The number of very time-specific references made me worried that in even five years teens would feel the novel is outdated even though it's supposed to be in the near future. But beyond the longevity of the novel, these references confused me a bit because I wasn't familiar with them so I couldn't figure out if they were supposed to reference a time period I should know (like the '80s) or if they were made up as future times (like the 2020's). I have this pet-peeve about cultural references, so maybe these parts wouldn't bother most other readers. Along the same lines as the references, there was a lot going on all the time. At some points this worked really well, especially in the opening section of the book and when the war first breaks out, but as the book progresses I felt like there was too much happening and I couldn't keep track of everything. Too many terrible things were happening to Ester and these tragedies started to lose their impact for me by the last few chapters.

Although there were a few things that bothered me about the novel, I really liked the concept of the novel and how it broke away from the usual set far in the future dystopias that are flooding YA right now. Plus I think this novel could be an excellent teaching tool for teens. The more current time period and actually watching a government and society fall apart could really make this novel resonate more with teens.

Rating:  

Review: Bumped

Details:
Title: Bumped (Bumped #1)
Author: Megan McCafferty
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins)
Date: April 2011
Genre: Dystopia

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common. -- Goodreads

My Thoughts:
I'm a huge, huge fan of Megan McCafferty's Jessica Darling series, so I was trilled to hear she was working on a new series. Bumped is so different from McCafferty's first series, but still has her wonderful writing style and awesome characters.

I'll start with my few issues with the book. I found the beginning to be very confusing; the story just suddenly starts and there's a lot going on and the language is a bit strange. But after a couple chapters I'd figured out what was going on. I did go back a re-read the first few pages because the opening scene totally confused me. It didn't take long for me to get into the story, so a confusing beginning wasn't really that big of an issue. Beyond that my only other issue was with the language. It reminded me of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series; there's a lot of strange slang and technology that isn't explained. It didn't really bother me, but it was a little confusing. Spending time explaining what everything meant would have slowed things down and really taken you out of the story. So I guess the language wasn't really an issue, but it might be for some readers.

Ok, onto the good stuff. The story: how on earth did Megan come up with this?! The whole situation of the world and technology is just amazing and although not completely original, a nice unique spin on a dystopian topic that's been around for a while (infertility). Megan was able to take a topic that usually would equal a depressing tale of teen girls/women forced into marriages or pregnancies and turn it into a sometimes funny and light, meaningful story about teens and sex.

I liked both Melody and Harmony, but I didn't connect with them in the way I was hoping to. I felt so connected to Jessica in Megan's other series, and I guess I expected the same sort of connection with Bumped. I didn't dislike the characters, I just didn't fall in love with them. The story felt more story and plot driven, than character driven. Maybe in the next books I'll connect more to the twins as their characters' grow now that the world is created and established.

Although the book was not at all what I was expecting, I loved it and am excited to see where the series goes.

Rating: 

Review: Divergent

Details:
Title: Divergent (Divergent #1)
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Date: May 2011
Genre: Dystopia

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
-- Goodreads

My Thoughts:
I said a million times that I love dystopias, so of course I put Divergent on my to-read list, but I wasn't super excited about it. I don't know why; maybe I've been reading too many dystopias. Whatever the case, I wasn't dying to read it until I started hearing all sorts of really good things about it. And I'm so glad I listened to what some my fellow awesome bloggers were saying about Divergent.

Right from the very first page I was totally into the story (I read all 480 something pages in two sittings). Tris and her world are fascinating and you can't help but be sucked in. I loved the way Roth described the faction choosing ceremony and the initiation process. You can really picture the dystopian society and see Tris change and figure out who she really is.

Tris is an awesome female character; I really loved her and felt instantly connected to her. Her struggle and reactions to everyone around her seemed very realistic to me. Tris doesn't just fit in to her faction immediately and do well; she has to struggle and fight constantly to earn her place in her faction.

I don't think I can wait until next year for the next book. I need to know what happens next!

Rating: 

Wither

Details:
Title: Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy #1)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub Date: March 22, 2011
Genre:Dystopia
Rating: Get this book immediately and begin reading

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left. -- Goodreads

My Thoughts:
I was incredibly excited about Wither; I love dystopias and this one just sounded amazing. It was completely amazing and I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy and see what will happen to Rhine next.

The writing is amazing; Lauren can really craft a story. The book grabbed me right from the beginning and kept me interested the whole way through. The characters, the plot, the world were all interesting and well crafted. It's so important for the worlds in futuristic dystopias to be understandable and well-developed. Lauren did a wonderful job of introducing the world and the conditions of this futuristic society throughout the book without adding long descriptions of the world or confusing the reader by not adding enough backstory.

The characters -- good and bad -- are all complex. I really liked Rhine because even in her horrible circumstances she held on to who she is and did whatever she could to be herself. I even felt for Linden (he may appear to be the bad guy, but it's not that simple) and him to have something more than the life his father has forced him into.

Wither is one of the best dystopias I've read in a while; I loved everything about it.

I've already talked about how much I love this cover, but I have to say it again: it is so beautiful.

Across the Universe

Details:
Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Pub Date: January 11, 2011
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi
Rating: Get this book immediately and begin reading

My Thoughts:
I've been dying to read Across the Universe for so very long, so when I received my package of awesome from Beth Revis (see IMM) I was ecstatic. I devoured the book in about three days (would have read it in one sitting, but I had to go to work).

Beth's writing is wonderful and smart. From the very first lines I was hooked. And boy does she know how to write a page turner! I loved all the plot twists too; they weren't random or just put in to keep the pacing going -- they all connected in the end to give the reader a real understanding of the world of the ship  Godspeed and the events that have taken place since its departure from Earth.

Beth also did an excellent job of telling the story from alternating points of view. Sometimes this device turns me off from a story because I can't feel connected enough to the characters, but that is definitely not the case here. Amy and Elder contrast and complement each other so well that the alternating view points give the reader a greater understanding of both characters. Both characters are interesting and you really want them to figure out what is happening on the ship and who is responsible.

I am so happy that this is going to be a trilogy and I don't have to let go of Amy and Elder here. That being said, Beth did an excellent job of creating a first novel that can stand on its own and isn't simply an opener for numerous other books to follow.

And of course, I have to say a little something about the cover and design of this book. The cover is absolutely beautiful and I love that it's going to be reversible with a schematic of the ship on the other side. Although I did receive an ARC (thank you thank you Beth and Razorbill) I will most certainly buy a finished copy because how can I resist a reversible cover? Plus Razorbill has created some beautiful collateral for the book: book marks, pins, postcards, stickers, and those awesome water bottles Beth is giving away on her blog.

Dark Life

Dark Life
Kate Falls
Scholastic, May 2010
Dystopia

Apocalyptic future, societies living on the ocean floor, crazy out-laws, oh doesn't that sound excellent. The whole idea of society living on the ocean floor seems new and original for YA, and it's all wrapped up into a dysoptia, how perfect.

Set in an apocalyptic future where rising oceans have swallowed up entire regions and people live packed like sardines on the dry land left, DARK LIFE is the harrowing tale of underwater pioneers who have carved out a life for themselves in the harsh deep-sea environment, farming the seafloor in exchange for the land deed.

The story follows Ty, who has lived his whole life on his family's homestead and has dreams of claiming his own stake when he turns eighteen. But when outlaws' attacks on government supply ships and settlements threaten to destroy the underwater territory, Ty finds himself in a fight to stop the outlaws and save the only home he has ever known.

Joined by a girl from the Topside who has come subsea to look for her prospector brother, Ty ventures into the frontier's rough underworld and begins to discover some dark secrets to Dark Life. From Goodreads site

Let's get the bad out of the way first: I had a hard time getting in the story. I really liked the premise and the characters especially Gemma, but for some reason I wasn't dying to find out what would happen to them. There was a lot suspense and the "villain" character was awesome, so I'm not sure what prevented me from absolutely loving this book. The main issue, I think was I came into the novel thinking YA, older characters, and the characters are fairly young and the story felt very very Middle Grade, which I really didn't expect. Maybe that's really the only basis for my issues with the book.

On to the good: have I said how much I love the idea of society on the ocean floor?! The underwater world Falls has created was amazing; I especially loved all the detail given about how the homes function, how the people "farm" and raise animals. It all seemed perfectly logical, nothing too far-fetched. I could easily picture every part of Ty's world.

And Ty himself is an excellent middle grade boy character; he's adventurous, brave, nervous around girls, a little awkward, devoted to his family. Young boys will totally relate to him especially since he always feels so different. And Gemma, his female sidekick is funny, smart, stubborn, brave; girls and boys will like her and relate to her struggle to find her brother and a sense of family. The rest of the cast is excellent created as well, especially the various "villains;" all of whom are more than just bad-guys out to destroy society.

Excellent Middle Grade dystopia adventure story. I think I would have really loved it if I hadn't been so stuck on assuming it was older YA.

Add to your to-read pile

Mockingjay

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic, 2010
Dsytopia

As you all probably already know I've been super, super excited for Mockingjay to come out. I re-read Hunger Games and Catching Fire last month to refresh my memory on everything that has happened and to remember where Collins left off. I finished the book Wednesday night, but have wait until now to write the review because I had no idea what I wanted to say; I didn't want to just ramble away about how it's amazing or I loved/hated the ending. So here's my attempt to do more than that without giving anything away.

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost. From Goodreads.com

Let's just get the initial "I loved it" out of the way; it was an amazing end to an amazing trilogy. Collins created the same page-turning excitement in the final installment as she did in the first two. The plot twists are unexpected and keep you reading, and the build-up to the end is, as always, amazing. Katniss is still just as amazing, interesting, stubborn, difficult as she was in the first two. The love triangle continues on with added twists. And all I will say about the ending is that I thought I worked perfectly with the direction of the last book and the trilogy overall.

I must say although I completely and totally love the whole trilogy, I definitely feel that the first book (Hunger Games) was by far the best. The Games, the suspense, the romance, everything comes together so very well in this first book. The second book (Catching Fire) is wonderful and just as interesting as the first, but there's so much going on. The Games, the possible rebellion, trying to figure out whose side everyone is on made the book a bit overwhelming at times for me. But this works since that's exactly how Katniss is feeling, but I wasn't as "into" the book as I was the first (I did still read the entire thing in one sitting, so obviously I was "into" the book). I most certainly liked Mockingjay more than Catching Fire. The book didn't feel like Collins was just trying to tie everything up in a nice little bow at the end; there were still twists and turns right up to the end.

Katniss has become one of my all-time favorite characters. Right from the beginning I have loved her; I know she can be a bit annoying, difficult, selfish, but I think she's fascinating. In Mockingjay, she's finally allowing all that has happened to sink in, she's become a more broken character. Everything has caught up to her and like most people it's getting to her. She isn't necessarily a more likable character, but I felt even more on her side.

I can finally breathe a sign of relief that the fate of Panem has been determined -- at least for now. I think I need to go begin re-reading right now to truly soak in all that happened now that the "what's going to happen, who's going to die, who's Katniss end up with" is gone.

Get it immediately and begin reading

Mockingjay Tonight!

The time has final come (well almost) to find out what happens to Katniss, Peeta, Gale and all the other residents of Panem. Mockingjay (the third and final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy) goes on sale tonight at midnight if you are so lucky to have a bookstore doing a midnight release in your area, otherwise you will have to wait until tomorrow morning.

Lucky me, my favorite bookstore, Powell's, is holding a midnight release party! If you're in the Portland area check out their website for more details on tonight's festivities. So I will have my very own copy of Mockingjay in about 10 hours. And let me tell you I am dying with excitement; it's like Christmas morning. I will most certainly be staying up all night/morning reading!

Restoring Harmony

Restoring Harmony
Joelle Anthony
Putnam Juvenile, 2010 
Dystopia

I have been looking forward to this book since Publisher's Weekly ran an article early this year about upcoming YA dystopia titles. Restoring Harmony is not mentioned in the article, but did appear in the accompanying list of upcoming titles (this list seems to have disappeared from their site). After reading a few short descriptions of the book, I got super excited -- not only does it take place in Portland where I live, but it discusses what may happen when we run out of oil, plus there's a bit of romance as well.


The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.

Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they’re financially ruined and practically starving. What should’ve been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn’t, Molly’s only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there’s a handsome stranger who’s willing to help. From Goodreads website

Unlike many of the other dystopias I've read recently this one is extremely plausible and realistic. Only being about thirty years in the future rather than hundreds helps with realism and believability, but the events leading up to the current situation are highly plausible and even likely. There's no crazy natural disasters or bizarre epidemics -- the world runs out of oil, pollution is at an all time high, and the world economies collapse. All of which are completely possible. Plus all of this background information is introduced and discussed easily and naturally throughout the story. There's no confusion about why the world is as it is; everything is explained and accounted for.

Besides just really liking the whole premise of the book, I really loved Molly. She's an excellent female character; she's strong, smart, and has a huge heart. Molly makes mistakes and freaks out just like normal teenagers. Everything doesn't go perfectly, but she finds a way to make things work and help her family.


I loved this book; a definite must read for any dystopia lover.
 
Add to the top of your to-read pile

Birthmarked

BirthMarked
Caragh O'Brien
Roaring Brook Press, March 2010
Dystopia


I have been super excited to read Birthmarked all summer and it most certainly lived up to my expectations.

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.

Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned. From GoodReads.com

There's a lot going on in this book; many mysteries all playing together, but it works wonderfully. O'Brien weaves everything together to create an interesting and beautifully writen story. Even though there's a lot happening and you're trying to figure out what's really happening in Gaia's world right along with her, you're never overwhelmed with events, characters, or background information. Each element works together quite nicely.

I loved Gaia from the very beginning. She's smart, strong, brave, and realistic. I think she is one of my new favorite female characters in YA. Gaia must face many very difficult choices and she does what she feels is best or whatever it is she has to do to survive. She's not perfect, she's not this amazing heroine - she's realistic and believable, which is what made me love her so much.

The concept of Birthmarked is super interesting. There are a million YA dystopias out right now, but I can't think of any quite like this one. Telling the story from the viewpoint of a teenage midwife is very intriguing and unique. The story is more than just a genetic dystopia or a story of the ideal society being less than ideal because O'Brien is able to weave together these stories and those of a young girl finding herself and questioning the world around her.

Interesting blog post by the cover designer on the process of creating the cover art and the overall process of book design: The Hows and Whys of Cover Design. I'm not sure how I feel about the final cover choice; I saw an ARC with one of the earlier designs (one with girl's face on front and back covers) and thought it was intriguing, but assumed the book was Sci-fi. The final cover is interesting, but I don't think it will appeal extremely well to its intended audience.

I'm excited to hear that the story will continue in a trilogy format. The book ended nicely and could totally be a stand alone novel, but I'm so attached to Gaia that I have to know what will happen to her next.

Add to the top of you to-read pile

The Owl Keeper

The Owl Keeper
Christine Brodien-Jones
Delacorte, April 2010
Dystopia, Fantasy


I was super excited about this book; dystopia/fantasy for Middle Grade, what could be better? After reading Uglies about a year ago I have been reading all the dystopic, futuristic YA I can find, but I haven't really found many Middle Grade dystopias. So as soon as I heard about The Owl Keeper I knew I had to read it. And lucky for me I managed to score a copy from GetGlue.com. If you haven't check out GetGlue you should immediately. Perhaps I shall make a post about the site and its book connect later this week. But for now back to The Owl Keeper.

Maxwell Unger has always loved the night. He used to do brave things like go tramping through the forest with his gran after dark. He loved the stories she told him about the world before the Destruction—about nature, and books, and the silver owls. His favorite story, though, was about the Owl Keeper.

According to Max’s gran, in times of darkness the Owl Keeper would appear to unite owls and sages against the powers of the dark. Gran is gone now, and so are her stories of how the world used to be. Max is no longer brave. The forest is dangerous, the books Gran had saved have been destroyed, and the silver owls are extinct. At least that’s what the High Echelon says. But Max knows better.

Maxwell Unger has a secret. And when a mysterious girl comes to town, he might just have to start being brave again.

The time of the Owl Keeper, Gran would say, is coming soon. From GoodReads.com

Brodien-Jones has crafted a beautiful, exciting, action-filled story perfect for middle graders. I couldn't put it down; I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen to Max next. Middle grade boys will love the pacing and excitement of this book and want to keep turning the page. Max, Rose, and all the other main characters are all delightfully quirky and interesting. I loved Max and Rose right from the beginning. Even the villains are more than just "bad guys." They're odd and quirky too.

The world creation was one of my favorite parts. It's so important for futuristic and fantastical novels to create worlds that make sense, that the reader can picture, that draw you in. Brodien-Jones does an amazing job of this. The intricacies of the world are revealed slowly throughout the novel as Max comes to realize the true nature of the society he lives in. She doesn't spend an excessive amount of time in the beginning explaining and setting up the world, she jumps right into the story -- right into Max's life -- and lets the world create itself around him. Perfectly done.

A brief comment on the art. Maggie Kneen's spot illustrations that begin each chapter are lovely. I don't know why I like this type of illustration, especially in Middle Grade books, so much but I do. It's a nice pause in action, an added visual. I also really like the cover. It sets the mood quite nicely and gives sets up the novel's emphasis on darkness well.

As far as I know this is a stand-alone novel -- I do feel the story resolved itself nicely in the end -- but I love this world and its cast of characters and would definitely love to read any other future companion novels.

Add to the top of your to-read pile

Mockingjay Excitment

So excited for Mockingjay (the third and final installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy)! Hunger Games and Catching Fire are absolutely amazing, so if you haven't already read them you should do so immediately. They are, of course, extremely violent -- kids killing kids for survival on national television -- but they are amazing. I read Catching Fire in an afternoon; I just couldn't stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen next.

In anticipation of the August 24th release I will be re-reading Hunger Games and Catching Fire in the next month. (Reviews to come)

If you live in the Portland area, I believe Powell's City of Books will be holding a midnight release party. I very much hope that they will be and I will most certainly be spending all night/morning reading. Counting down the days!