ARC Review: Revived by Cat Patrick

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 8th, 2012

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life. 

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

**Thanks to Kelsey, Amber, Shannon, and Lori over at Southern Book Bloggers/Southern ARC Tours for the opportunity to review this amazing book!**

I really enjoyed Cat Patrick's debut novel, Forgotten (read my review HERE), so I was eagerly anticipating her sophomore novel, Revived. There were several reasons I was drawn to this book, and my enjoyment of Cat's first book was only a small one. First off, I find it beyond refreshing when an author writes a stand-alone novel. It seems like every book written now is part of a 3+ book series, and while I enjoy a good series, sometimes it's really nice to have closure at the end of a book, instead of having to wait a year or more for the next installment. Both Forgotten and Revived are stand-alones, and I felt immense satisfaction upon finishing each one; sometimes it's fun to just imagine what happens to the characters in the future. The second reason for my excitement over this book was the synopsis. Did you read it? I was interested immediately, and let me just tell you, the synopsis does not even come close to doing this story justice. Finally, as you may have guessed, I loved the cover, which happens to be even more striking in person. Now, you may be wondering if the book was able to handle the weight of my extremely high expectations, and I can say, without hesitation, that not only did it meet my lofty expectations, it far exceeded them. This book was phenomenal!

Revived was so interesting and original. The story was well-woven, tying together mystery, intrigue, drama, real human emotion, romance, and the typical growing pains every teenager experiences. If not for the mystery and sci-fi conspiracy, it could be classified a YA Contemporary, and pull it off soundly. This book has a little something in it for everyone, which really is a rarity.  Cat Patrick's writing style is so fresh and honest; she manages to write heart-stopping action into a story that has emotional punch, all while making the reader have to stop and consider what they would do if they were in the shoes of not just the protagonist, but many of the other characters as well. I love books that make you think without being preachy or outright telling you to think, and Cat Patrick is a pro at that.

I really loved the character development in this book. There were no hard and fast good guys or bad guys. Each character was complex in his or her own right, and everyone had their reasons for doing the things they did. Some were certainly more noble than others, but I found myself understanding, if not necessarily agreeing with, people and their motivations. Every character was human; they had flaws, triumphs, made mistakes, and had regrets, and as the reader I felt every single emotion right along with them.

I read this book in about a day and a half. I just could not put it down. It was so well paced; the story moved along at a clip, with revelations unfolding at just the right junctures. I would think I had something figured out and then, BAM, a total curveball that I never saw coming. Of course, when that happens, you don't exactly put down the book for later! I wasn't surprised by any of this though, because I felt much the same way about Forgotten to a lesser degree. What surprised me was how much this book stayed with me when I finished it, and how much I wanted to talk about it to other people. I honestly can't wait until it comes out next week so that I can discuss it with more people.

Overall, I think this is one of my favorite books so far this year. While many authors have some difficulty with their 2nd book, Cat Patrick managed to blow her (excellent) first book out of the water. This book really does have a little something for everyone, but never reads like it's trying to. Definitely a must-read!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★++

Grade Level Recommendation: This book is fine for middle school and up. There's some mention of sex, teen drinking, and language, but nothing I would consider explicit. I would let my 5th grader read it now, but might not have at the beginning of the school year. Grades 6 and up (ages 11+).