ARC Review: The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date:  September 25th, 2012

From the author of the New York Times bestselling ghostgirl series, the start to a captivating and haunting teen trilogy about three girls who become entangled with an enigmatic boy—a boy who believes he is a saint.What if martyrs and saints lived among us? And what if you were told you were one of them?

     Meet Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy. Three lost girls, each searching for something. But what they find is Beyond Belief.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

**Thank you to Southern ARC Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book!!**

I've been trying to write this review for a few weeks, but just keep coming up with nothing. This is going to be a very short review, because honestly, I still have nothing.  You see, I really didn't like The Blessed.  I like the idea of it; the plotline COULD be good, but the execution just didn't work for me, and it's been difficult for me to pinpoint why.  The writing was fine.  The story was okay, and when it was going well, I was sucked in.  Unfortunately, those times were too few and far between.  I was looking back on my notes I took while reading this, and one thing it wrote jumped out at me... "Reads like an acid trip.  Disjointed. Too many snippets.  Jumps around too much.  Way too many lost pieces of time."  That pretty much sums up my feelings toward this book.  The characters were really difficult to follow, the story went everywhere and nowhere at once, and I never really felt like I knew what was going on. In the end, it all comes together some, but it took WAY too long to get there.  I think 100 pages could have easily been shaved off of this book and it wouldn't have lost a thing.  In fact, I think it may have been better if that had happened.  Don't get me wrong, I think this book will appeal to some, but with hindsight being 20/20, I would have skipped it.

My Rating: ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  There is some mature content.  There is some sexual content, drug abuse, language, and violence.  I would say this is for ages 14 and up (9th grade+).

**Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for a SIGNED copy of Lauren Oliver's fabulous new book, THE SPINDLERS!  Click HERE to enter!  US/CAN.  Ends 10/20/2012.**

WWW (32) and Waiting On Wednesday (May 30th, 2012): UnWholly by Neal Shusterman

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great blog that I subscribe to. Here's how it works... Each Wednesday I will answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?

I'm excited to be back to my weekly memes and I couldn't have picked a better week since I have six books going at the moment...

What are you currently reading?

Arise by Tara Hudson~  This is the sequel to Tara's 2011 debut, Hereafter, which I loved (read my review HERE).  I'm only about a third of the way in, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Look for my review later this week.

Fated by Alyson Noel~  I've been looking forward to this book.  I love her Riley Bloom series, but not so much her Immortals series. So far, this book is shaping up to be a good one.  Stay tuned.

Immortal City by Scott Speer~  I'm buddy reading this one with my oldest daughter, and so far it is excellent.  It's quite original, and I'm having a difficult time controlling my urge to read ahead of her....

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder~  My younger daughter and I are still plugging away on the Little House series.  Our goal is to finish by the end of summer.  I love this series, and this is one of my favorites!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien~  I'm reading this to my son so that we can go to see the movie when it comes out (squee!).  This is one of my favorite books of all time and he is LOVING it!

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James~ I had to see for myself what all the hype is about.  Honestly, I'm having an extremely difficult time getting through it.  The writing is just so bad...




What did you recently finish reading?

The Difference Between You and Me by Madeline George~  This book was a decent LGBT coming of age story.  It wasn't my favorite, and I'm certainly glad I got it from the library, but I liked it well enough.  Full review to come...

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini~  This book is the sequel to her 2011 debut, Starcrossed (read my review HERE).  It was one of my my most anticipated 2012 releases, and I was not disappointed!  It was great!  Read my review HERE.

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood~  An extremely good 2012 debut.  I love stories about witches, and although I'm not a big fan of Historical Fiction, I quite enjoyed this book.  Full review coming soon.

Thumped by Megan McCafferty~ This is the follow-up to last year's phenomenal Bumped (read my review HERE).  It was just as good, and much different than I expected it to be.  It was one of those read-in-a-day books.  Full review coming soon.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth~ Another sequel to a beloved 2011 debut; I loved Divergent (read my review HERE), and I loved Insurgent just as much.  The next year is going to be painful, waiting for the final installment!




What do you think you'll read next?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo~ This book releases next week and since I have heard such wonderful things, it has been moved to the top of my TBR.  Look for a review sometime this weekend.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire~ I am so excited to read this! Its predecessor, 2011 debut, Hourglass, was one of my favorite books last year (read my review HERE), and I've been waiting a long time to read this!  It releases on June 12th, so look my my review in the days before.

Underworld by Meg Cabot~  I loved the first book in this series, Abandon (read my review HERE), and have been looking forward to this. I just picked up my copy the other day, and am looking forward to digging in!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is another fun blog event. Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, this event gives us a chance to talk about the books we anxiously await the release of. Since there is ALWAYS a looooooong list of books I'm waiting on (I actually keep a spreadsheet), I figured this is one that I MUST do.


I have been waiting for the cover of this week's book to be revealed for ages so that I could highlight it.  Now that it has been, I can...

UnWholly by Neal Shusterman

Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa — and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp — people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simultaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Unwind is one of my all-time favorite books and Neal Shusterman is probably my favorite YA author- he is brilliant! When I heard that he was writing UnWholly way, way back when, I was so excited I could barely contain myself. As he wrote the book, he sporadically tweeted his progress, and it made me that much more eager to get my hands on a copy! Now its release date is only a few months away, and I am beside myself with anticipation! This is, hands down, my most "Waited On" book of 2012 and August 28th can't come soon enough!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 28th, 2012

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★+++++

What are YOU Waiting On this week?

Review: Dead to You by Lisa McMann

Publisher:  Simon Pulse

Publication Date:  February 7th, 2012

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I had been looking forward to this book for a very long time.  I am a fan of Lisa McMann's and when I heard about this book, I was really excited.  As a Contemporary novel, it's something of a departure from what she usually writes (Fantasy and Paranormal), and I was eager to see what she would do with it.  When I purchased it, I was excited, but had a pile of ARCs to get through... When I finally got a little break from that, I immediately picked up Dead to You.  It's a pretty quick read (most people should be able to finish in a day or two), and it's really good.  That said, I still don't know how I feel about it...  I know it's my 2nd favorite of her books (The Unwanteds, her MG Fantasy, is my favorite), and I enjoyed the writing- technically speaking, there was nothing wrong with the book.  I guess I'm just having a difficult time articulating how I feel because it effected me deeply, and I still have an uncomfortable feeling in my gut after reading it.  It's one of those books that makes you think; I mean, REALLY think.  As the parent of a 10 year old and 7 year old twins, this book kind of hit me hard from the beginning, which I expected.  What I didn't expect was that the hits would keep coming and coming and coming, until the very last page.  I really can't delve deep into the story without major spoilers, but I will say that the synopsis doesn't even scratch the surface of what this book is about, or the intensity of the situation.  Honestly, it's a good thing that this book is so short because the kind of emotional turmoil it brings up would be too much if it were longer.  My only (very small) issue was that I kind of saw some of the ending coming from around the middle of the book.  I wasn't prepared to believe it because it was so heartwrenching, so I tried not to, and that made it all the more shocking when she went there, but I did see it.  I kind of wish that there would be a second book, because I wouldn't mind knowing how everything plays out, but at the same time, the way Lisa ended things was pretty perfectly aligned with the entire story.  This book has left me completely conflicted, and I don't think that will change, but I liked it.  Make sense?

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  There are a bunch of swears, some extremely heavy themes, and some sexual situations.  I would say this book it most appropriate for students grade 9 and up (ages 14+) if they are reading it on their own, however, I think this would be a great discussion book for an 8th grade class or book club.

ARC Review: Black Heart by Holly Black

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date:  April 3rd, 2012

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

(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'm going to begin this review by publicly stating that I am absolutely CRUSHED that this is the final book in the Curse Workers trilogy.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent reading the three books in this trilogy, and I wish that Holly Black would consider writing more of the world it takes place in.  It's not that I'm unhappy with how she ended things.  Actually, quite the opposite is true, I just crave more.  I'm a huge fan of her writing, and when the first book, White Cat, was released, I was skeptical because it wasn't about fae; she is the MASTER to whom all other writers of fae should bow, and I was wondering if she could do supernatural mafioso.  Well, she can, and she has, and now that it's over, I can say, without pause, that she did it brilliantly!!  I loved White Cat (read my full review HERE),  I loved Red Glove even more (read my full review HERE), and this, the final book, was even better.  Now to my review of it...

It's going to be very difficult to review this book without spoilers for books one and two, but I will stick to my "Spoiler Free" policy, and try because I really want everyone who has not read this series yet to run right out and get started!  Because the only thing I didn't like about Black Heart is the fact that it was the last book, I am going to bullet point my love...

• Characters:  The characters are pretty much the same as those in the first two books.  There are a few that aren't part of the story anymore, and there are a couple of new ones, but the main characters are still Cassel, Lila, Sam, and Danica.  Barron makes more of an appearance in this one as well.  The characters are still awesomely flawed, and brilliantly written.  Holly does a fabulous job documenting the internal struggles that they face from Cassel's POV.  The new characters who were introduced definitely added elements of surprise to the story, shaking things up a bit.
• World:  Did I mention that I love this world she's built, and would love to read more books set it in?  A world where everyone wears gloves because you never know who might be a "worker", or what kind of "worker" they might be?   A world where one of the core platforms of every politician is "Worker Rights"?  This world is so smartly woven, with such a modern "what-if" spin.  I love it because it is relateable and plausible.
• Plot and Pacing:  Cassel's internal struggles, general mistrust of everyone, undying love for Lila, and dedication to his mother are all showcased in gigantic ways in this book.  Yes, they played huge roles in the first two, but a lot of things come to a head in this one.  There were some very unexpected twists in the story and everything moved along smoothly.  Cassel had to make a lot of decisions about questions that didn't necessarily have good choices for answers.  This was much more unputdownable than the first two books, and that is saying something!
• The Writing:  Did I mention I'm a HUGE fan of Holly Black's writing.  She manages to draw you in and then use her words like duct tape to bind you to the book until the final page.  I have never been able to a put one of her books down to read something else, and this was no exception.  Her writing truly casts a spell on me.

Overall, my reading of this book was bittersweet.  I loved it so much, but I got more and more sad, the closer I got to the end.  Yes, I loved the end.  It was an absolutely PERFECT ending to Cassel's story, and I could not have asked for more on that, but there are so many other rich characters who I would love to read more about.  Who knows, maybe she'll consider a spin-off series...  *drops to knees in ardent prayer*

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★++ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  I'm going to recommend this as a series, now that it's complete.  I would call this a "Supernatural The Sopranos Lite".  If a movie were made of these three books, it would definitely be PG-13.  There violence, sex, drugs, and crime.  That said, it is thought provoking  and I think the protagonist makes the right choices in the end.  There are lessons to be learned.   This series is suitable for ages 13 and up (8th grade+).

**Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for a SIGNED hardcover copy of Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver.  Click HERE! **

Audiobook Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publication Date:  February 21st, 2012

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I will star this review of Fever by reminding everyone that I absolutely LOVED its predecessor, Wither.  I was initially drawn to Wither because of its stunningly beautiful cover, and when that happens, I often find that they story doesn't measure up.  In this case, not only did the story measure up, but it far, far surpassed it.  If you are interested, read my full REVIEW of Wither, and check out where it ended up placing on my Top 25 Books of 2011 list.  If you haven't begun this beautifully written trilogy, you need to get started...

Now, for my actual review of Fever (book #2 in The Chemical Garden trilogy)...  Even though I have a print copy of this book (I had to have the almost-as-gorgeous cover to match my copy of Wither), I decided to listen to audio of this one.  I listened to the sample on Audible, and really liked the narrator, Angela Lin's, voice and interpretation of Rhine.  Her intonations and manner of speech were perfect- she sounded exactly as I imagined Rhine would sound if she were reading her own journal to me,  Her voice bleeds emotion and I felt the sadness of Rhine's situation on a much deeper and profound level than I would have, had I read this book to myself.  If you loved Wither, and want to feel a different level of connection while reading Fever, I would highly recommend the audio version (if you haven't read either, Angela Lin is the narrator of Wither as well, so I would give that one a go too).  As for the non-audio vs. print points, I am going to bullet point this review, like I did Wither...

• The Cover~ I already mentioned this briefly, but it deserves mention again.  Almost as gorgeous as the cover of Wither, this is one of those books that I would have purchased even if it were made of suck, because I would want the cover in my collection.
• The Writing~ Lauren DeStefano took a story that had many layers, and added many more to it, without anything becoming muddled.  She is amazingly adept at weaving plot points together, and her style is descriptive without being overly verbose.  I can't say that I liked the cliffhanger ending as well in this book as I did in Wither, but I still felt like it left off in the perfect place.  The pacing ebbed and flowed, and for this story, that kind of pacing is perfect.  The sadness of this story could never have been properly expressed if the pacing didn't slow from time to time.  I slow-read this one because I wanted to savor it.
• The Characters~ In addition to a few characters from Wither, there are several new characters.  In every case, my feelings toward the characters were intense and sometimes, erratic; love, hate, empathy, fear, sometimes all of these at once for the same character.  I will say that I now look at both Gabriel and Rhine differently than I did in the first book.
• The Story~ I never in a million years expected this story to go in the direction it went in!  It picks up exactly where Wither leaves off, and WOW!  It just knocked my socks off.  I can't even begin to go into it without totally spoiling, so it will have to suffice when I say that it brilliantly went places I could never have predicted.
• The World Building~ This was one of my favorite parts of Wither, and nothing has changed here.  For me, some of the most vivid pictures from Fever were the flawless descriptions of the world surrounding Rhine and Gabriel.  I think the image of the ferris wheel at the beginning will stay with me for a long time.

Overall, I thought Fever was just as good as Wither.  Was it better?  Honestly, I can't say.  It depends on how the 3rd book plays out.  I really need to know how the story ends before I can say for sure; if it goes one way, then I think Fever was better, if it goes another way, then I kind of hate Fever's guts.   I will let you know in April of 2013!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★+ 

Grade Level Recommendation: This book has some pretty graphic, adult themes, including forced prostitution, the murder of malformed children, and opiate abuse (some of it forced).  I recommended Wither for 9th grade and up, but said that content-wise, it was fine for 6th and up.  For this book I have to stick with the 9th+ recommendation, but this time on content as well. (ages 14 and up)

Review: Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publication Date: January 4th, 2011

Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team, but they're not really her friends. Mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her, and avoiding the popular girls who call her "Choker" after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria.

Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she has her BFF there to confide in.

But just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect—including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger?

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

Yet another book that I picked up for the cover.  So simple and elegant... You would never guess from looking at it, what this story is about.  NOT that I'm complaining!  For a book that is only 233 pages long, it sure packs a lot punch as far a mystery, action, and intrigue are concerned!  This will not be a very long review because I don't want to give anything away, but I will tell you that this book tops my list called, "Books That Made Me Say "WHAT!?!?" at the End".  

There are only a few characters in this book, but as the reader, you will develop feelings toward all of them, although I found that my feelings flip-flopped a lot as the book progressed.    A run down of the important ones:

• Cara- Our protagonist.  She is pathetic.  I just felt sorry for her for most of the book; socially awkward and a seasoned pro at second guessing herself.  I was happy to see her come out of her shell a bit and have some success socially, but I still felt sorry for her because she never left her awkwardness behind.  
• Zoe is Cara's childhood BFF-  This girl is just a hot mess and so bad for Cara.  She is everything Cara wishes she could be personality-wise, but she's also creepy and manipulative.  The girl scared me... 
• The love interest, Ethan-  The out-of-reach popular jock that also has a soul; the one every dorky girl in coming-of-age novels has the hots for.  Ethan is a decent guy and I felt bad for him throughout this book. 
• Cara's parents- Self-absorbed and detached.  I honestly hated their guts.  The type of parents you look at and wonder why they ever had kids.
• The Mean Girls- There are a few of them.  Their names are not important. Of course, one of them is Ethan's girlfriend.  Cara is their target for torture at school.  One ends up dead, another goes missing.

As for the story, well, I can't say much.  It starts with the incident that earns Cara her unfortunate nickname, and rolls right from there into the arrival of Cara's long-lost best friend Zoe.  After Zoe's arrival, bad things start happening in Cara's town.  I went through the book thinking how predictable it was.  I was wrong.  My advice?  Stick with the story.  Let the creep-factor set in good, and let me know what you think once it's over.  I had goosebumps (literally).  This book is a fast-paced page-turner that will have you saying, "WHAT?!?!?!" at the end.  Read it!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:  Probably 8th grade and up.  There are a few mature themes in this book, plus some teen drinking, and language.  Ages 13+

Review: Everfound by Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011

While Mary lies in a glass coffin aboard a ghost train heading west, her minions are awaiting her re-awakening by bringing lots of new souls into Everlost to serve her. Meanwhile Jackin’ Jill has met Jix, a fur-jacker—a skin jacker who can take over the bodies of animals, most notably jaguars. Jix serves a Mayan god who collects Everlost coins, and has his own agenda. In the concluding volume of The Skinjacker Trilogy, Neal Shusterman reveals new sides of the characters of Everlost, who are pitted against each other in a battle that may destroy all life on Earth.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I will start this review off by saying that if you have not read the first two books this series (The Skinjackers Trilogy), then you really MUST.  This is the third and final book, and if you try to read it without reading the first two (Everlost and Everwild), you will not only be doing yourself a disservice, but you will be totally lost.  Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I can move on to my gush-fest...

This was in my my top five most anticipated books of 2011 (and those five are not in any order because I anticipated them equally).   I loved the first two books and I LOVE Neal Shusterman.  He is hands-down, my favorite YA author.  His books are phenomenal, and Everfound is a close second favorite behind the incredibly brilliant, (not enough) award-winning Unwind.  When I read Everlost (book #1) I was blown away; it was smart, action-packed, and almost plausible.  I eagerly moved right on to Everwild, it's sequel, and liked it even better.  Then I had to wait.  Seven long months of agony...

At least I was confident when I picked up Everfound that it wouldn't fall flat.  Shusterman's writing is so reliable, and his storytelling ability so solid, that I had no doubt whatsoever that this book would top the first two.  I was NOT wrong.  This book topped the other two (no easy feat) and then some.  If I could give it more stars, I would.  

There are so many reasons I loved this book...  As always, the world building is amazing.  Shusterman really does take you there.  The character development is great.  I liked how he was able to draw his development out over the three books, but still manage to keep it all straight.  His style of character development kept me on my toes; it was like real life where people change and grow a little with every interaction they have.  Every character had flaws and weaknesses, strengths and positive traits.  Even the characters I was rooting against had their redeeming qualities and understandable motivations.  Shusterman managed to make you empathize with even the villains, showing that there are two sides to every coin (no pun intended if you've read the books).  There were so many characters, side stories, and different settings in this book that it could very well have been a disaster had it been written by anyone else, but in the end Shusterman not only weaves the stories together, but does it in a way that makes you say, "Aha!  I finally get it and this man is a genius! It was totally worth the wait!".

All in all, an amazing ending to an epic series.  If you've not read any of these books, do so.  They progressively improve (from a 5-star rating), and I wasn't disappointed in any way with how things turned out.

My Rating: ★★ ★ ★ ★++ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  I think this entire series is wholly appropriate for grades 4 and up (ages 9+). There are romantic sentiments, but absolutely nothing beyond innocent kissing and hand-holding.  Some with strong religious beliefs might take issue with its setting in a place between living and the afterlife, but I think most people understand that it's fiction.

Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publication Date: March 22nd, 2011

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings. Editor's recommendation.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

This was one of my favorite books of 2011 for so many reasons...  I read this back in July and I really had to allow it to digest before I could write a review; it's one of those books that is so thought-provoking and well done, that I was having difficulty articulating my reasons for loving it.  Since I don't have any complaints about this book, I guess I will just bullet-point my reasons for loving it (in no particular order):

• The Cover~ Is it not beautiful?  The coloring, the photography, even the font evoke the proper emotions to fit this novel. I haven't seen such a story-appropriate cover in awhile.
• The Writing~ Lauren DeStefano knows how to use words!  She builds the story on so many levels; I felt like I was actually there when I was reading this. If you follow her on  twitter, you know that she is very real and her down-to-earth personality bleeds onto the pages.  Add to that expert pacing and an ending that was a cliffhanger, yet tied up nicely enough to not leave me pissed, and I'm a happy girl.
• The Characters~ They became my friends and enemies because DeStefano digs deep into who they are.  Rhine is an amazing, yet underrated heroine.  She's not a kickass fighter like Katniss (The Hunger Games) or Katsa (Graceling), but she is kickass in spirit.  She's so smart and determined.  I just felt bad for Linden; I feel like he should be hated, but how can you?  Daddy Dearest, Vaughn was just so wrong in every way.  I hated him, which was exactly how I was supposed to feel.  Gabriel, Jenna, Rose, and Cecily were all just as well done.  I had special love for Jenna.  She was so strong.  My point is,  all of the characters, even the most minor (Cook), were well written enough that I felt a connection.  Not many authors manage that...
• The Story~ I love dystopia; it's been my favorite genre since I fell in love with George Orwell's books 15 years ago.  It's getting played out since The Hunger Games though.  The market is flooded and it's very hit or miss.  I was worried that I wouldn't like this before I read it because I was getting to the point where they were all kind of the same.  No need!  The story was so original, and dare I say, plausible?  I went to school for genetics and I can honestly say that even 12 years ago when I was studying in this amazing field, that I was blown away by the research and sometimes questionable advances being made.  Very scary to think...
• The World Building~ Oh my goodness!  Bravo to Lauren DeStefano in this area.  Her descriptions of the world the characters lived in blew me away.  It only added to the conflict in my mind over whether Rhine really had it so bad.  She started in one world, and forced or not, ended up in a drastically different, and arguably better world.  The descriptions made the argument (that I still struggle with) possible.

So there you have it.  A review that is much longer than I usually write.  I often have trouble going into this much depth without spoilers, but in this case, I had to try (and I'm so glad I succeeded).  This book deserves it!  I cannot wait for Fever, the second book in The Chemical Garden trilogy, to release on February 21st.  I promise that I will drop whatever I'm reading to start reading it right away.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★+ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  This book is one that is really difficult to rate for grade level.  The wives are basically brought by force to Linden to breed, and with that there is obviously talk of sex, but it's more clinical than anything.  In that respect, I would say 6th grade and up.  However, the concepts behind it are mature and I don't know that a middle schooler would get as much out of it as a high school aged reader.  In that respect, I would say 9th grade and up.  

WWW (13) and Waiting on Wednesday (August 31st, 2011) Double Feature

W. W. W. Wednesday is hosted by Should Be Reading a great YA blog that I subscribe to. Here's how it works... Each Wednesday I will answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you'll read next?


I read a bunch this week and, for the most part, have enjoyed what I've read.  The Decatur Book Festival is this weekend, and I'm super excited for it. Look for some exciting posts next week...

What are you currently reading?

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix~ So far,it's really good.  Intriguing.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin~ This book comes out in October, and you should definitely run right out and buy it.  Superb!

Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard~ I'm kind of embarassed to admit that I'm reading this because this isn't my thing, but the first book was such a cliffhanger, I had to find out what happens next...



What did you recently finish reading?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins~ I LOVED this book!  There is nothing to not like about it.  Perfect in every way!  I can't wait for Lola and the Boy Next Door.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce~ I love fairy tale re-tellings,and Jackson Pearce knowshow to write them. Awesomely modern, grown-up take on Little Red Riding Hood.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce~ The companion to Sisters Red.  Loosely related re-telling of Hansel and Gretel.  Even better than the first book.  Don't expect to put it down...

Across the Universe by Beth Revis~ Even if you've read this, you have to give the audio a shot.  It's so well done, and it really brings this book to life.




What do you think you'll read next?

Dreamland by Alyson Noel~ I've been waiting on this book's release, and I just received a review copy of the audio (yay me!). When I'm done, I'm going to do a giveaway, so stay tuned.

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore~ Got this last week.  Can't wait to read it!  I have very high hopes!

In Trouble by Ellen Levine~ I've had this for awhile and have been wanting to read it. It releases in September and I should probably get it reviewed.  It looks really good, if not sad.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is another fun blog event. Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, this event gives us a chance to talk about the books we anxiously await the release of. Since there is ALWAYS a looooooong list of books I'm waiting on (I actually keep a spreadsheet), I figured this is one that I MUST do.

The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix

In a war-torn future United States, fifteen-year-old Tessa, her childhood friend Gideon, now a traumatized military hero, and Dek, a streetwise orphan, enter enemy territory and discover the shocking truth about a war that began more than seventy-five years earlier.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I'm a big fan of Margaret Peterson Haddix. Her Shadow Children series (Among the Hidden, Among the Brave, etc.) is awesome; one of the first true dystopias written for kids. I've also enjoyed her "girly" novels, Just Ella and Palace of Mirrors. I'm reading her other huge series, The Missing (Found, Sent, etc.), now and it's equally great. I don't know if this is the start to a new series, or a stand alone, but I'm excited! 

What are you waiting on?

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books

Publication Date: November 15th, 2011

My Expected Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★