The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

"I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the cameras, and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go."

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. 

I read The Hunger Games for the first time over two years ago and I've been meaning to re-read it since. With the brand-new movie and my brand-new copy of the book from the wonderful Amanda's Writings, the timing couldn't have been better.

Honestly, I'm sure everyone that by now has heard of The Hunger Games. (If not, how's life living under that rock?) So instead of going on and on (and on) about how amazing it is, I'm going to bullet point my thoughts to keep this nice and short.

1. Katniss. There are definitely people who dislike her character, but I'm totally behind her. Having a hard life makes you into a different person, but Katniss always held onto what's important, and I completely respect her for that. I loved being in her mind the entire book—if it had been written any other way, it just wouldn't have been the same.

2. Plot. Suzanne Collins took a mind-twisting concept and wrote it out to its fullest potential. The world is so believable, and there's so many concepts she thought to put into it that it truly makes The Hunger Games unique among its YA competitors.

3. The relationships. I'm not just talking the romantic ones, but all the people that Katniss connects with: Peeta, Rue, Gale, Prim, Cinna, Haymitch, Effie. You learned so much about Katniss from the way she interacted with these people, and I loved that every one of them was part of the story.

4. Everything. Okay, this is an insanely broad point, I know, but it's true. There is literally nothing I dislike about this book. The moment I finished a chapter, I wanted to go re-read my favorite parts in it. I'm know I'm going to re-read over and over, and my fingers are already itching to pick it up again. 

If you want my recommendation to read it, you have it. I love this book. So. Much. (I didn't even include my usual "what I didn't like" section.) Go buy it. Go read it. Go fall in love with it.

Read other reviews for The Hunger Games at:

Book Stacks on Deck and Young Adult Fiction Today

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

"And as I read down the list of over one hundred and fifty eight-grade boys, I realized that to me, there had only ever been one boy.” 

The first time she saw him, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. That was the second grade, but not much has changed by the seventh. She says: “My Bryce. Still walking around with my first kiss.” He says: “It’s been six years of strategic avoidance and social discomfort.” But in the eighth grade everything gets turned upside down. And just as he’s thinking there’s more to her than meets the eye, she’s thinking that he’s not quite all he seemed.

This is a classic romantic comedy of errors told in alternating chapters by two fresh, funny new voices. Wendelin Van Draanen is at her best here with a knockout cast of quirky characters and a hilarious series of misunderstandings and missed opportunities. But underlying the humor are two teens in transition. They are each learning to look beyond the surface of people, both figuring out who they are, who they want to be, and who they want to be with.

Even though I'd had this book on my bookshelf for a while, I hadn't actually read it. (I was planning to—really, I was.) But it was Amanda @ Born Bookish's review that finally made me pick it up.

When I sat down to write this, I realized if I started raving about how good this book was, I might not stop.

Honestly, I just fell in love with this book: with Bryce and Juli and their families and their lives. This is the kind of book that I wanted to re-read when I wasn't even finished reading it. This is the kind of book that I know I'm going to read over and over because I genuinely love the story and the characters and everything about it.

So I'll try to break down my thoughts for you. What I think hooked me at first was the character's voices. The story isn't just the things that happen but the way that it's narrated. I could read a thousand books from Bryce and Juli's point of views and still want to read more. And the he-said, she-said style is brilliant. I've read books in this style before and I completely hated the way it was done. The way they both saw every event that happened was completely different, because they were two completely different characters with two completely different perspectives. The author pulled it off so well.

I am full of way too much general amazement at this book to find anything negative about it. The five hearts up there say it all.

As it obviously doesn't need to be stated yet again, I love this book, and I can't recommend it more. I'm off to see the movie!

Read more reviews for Flipped at:

Born Bookish and Musings of a YA Reader

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

[Fever is the sequel to Wither, so it is suggested that you read Wither before reading this review so nothing is spoiled for you!]


"But there's no such thing as free. There are only different and more horrible ways to be enslaved."

 
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.

 

I adored Wither, so I was super excited when I won a copy of Fever from the lovely Alice Marvels. I actually can't believe I took as long as I did before I read it.

I don't know how much time I spent raving about DeStefano's writing in my review of Wither, but it's safe to say it wasn't nearly enough. I could quote any sentence in the book as an example of her style; that's how pretty it all is.

One thing I loved was that, even though it has been a few months since I read Wither, and my memories of how the world in it worked were a little fuzzy, I had no trouble at all picking up Fever and reading through it. That's a big plus to me, because I read a lot of series, and when you're reading a book, it saves a whole lotta time if you don't have to read every book that came before it just to keep up with the new one.

I have to say again how much I love every character Lauren DeStefano creates. In this book, especially, I loved Maddie and Lilac and Simon, and I'm still a big fan of Rhine and her sister wives. It was definitely nice that there was more Gabriel in this book, so he was fleshed a little more.

Lastly, I love how action-packed this book is. I never knew what was coming up next in Rhine and Gabriel's journey, but I loved how you got to explore all these parts of the world DeStefano created.

I really don't have any complaints for this one; I give it five big hearts of approval! 

If you enjoyed Wither, chances are Fever will be a win with you, too. Don't miss this sequel—it continues a captivating trilogy, and I'll be thinking about this one until the last book comes out next year.

Read more reviews for Fever at:

The Readable Kingdom and Stuck in YA Books

Legend by Marie Lu

"Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time."

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

 

I'd been hearing a lot about this one, and the synopsis reminded me of Divergent, which I loved, so I decided to check it out. (Literally. Thank you, library.)

There are so many dystopian books being talked about out in the YA market right now, it's incredibly hard to guess which books are going to be good and which ones just have a really fantastic publicist. Legend, fortunately, is one of those books that is just that good.

The book alternates the point of view between June, a teen genius, and Day, a boy renegade, who constantly on the run. (What's really intriguing is that when viewpoints switch in the book, so do the font and the text color—from black to gold. I'd never seen that before in a book, so, naturally, I geeked out over it.)

Anyway, I have to start out with the amazing characters. I don't know about you, but I've read so many books where the main character is supposed to be a genius or a total expert at something, and then, when it comes down to it, they really aren't. June is actually really smart. I loved being in her mind; she's constantly analyzing the situation she's in and making observations on the most minute details. 

Day, on the flipside, was great as well. I have to say that I loved that the alternating point of view because you get to be in Day's mind. There are lots of books out there that don't really flesh out the guy love interest, and his point of view really helped to do that. I loved that we got to see so much of him.

As for plot, I was kept guessing. What I expected to be the finale of the story happened in the middle of the book, and totally threw off my expectationns.

Like a lot of dystopian books, I would have liked a little more world-building. Let me make this clear: I've never really care to know how a dystopian world got where it is then from how it is now; I don't think every book needs to drone on about the history that happened hundreds of years ago. (Example one: The Hunger Games. Did it ever explain its history? No. Was it fabulous still? Absolutely.) What I wanted was more details on how their society works, and more about the world that the author had created.

This book is a fantastic choice for those dystopian lovers out there; I hope many more readers pick this one up so it gets the attention it deserves.

Read more reviews for Legend at:

Teens Read and Write and Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

"She had been innocent once, a little girl playing with feathers on the floor of a devil's lair."

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. 

 

I'd seen this book pop up on blogs and on the library shelf a lot, and I ordered it on a whim. Possibly just because of the epic feather mask. Yeah, mostly because of the mask.

You come across a book, every once in a while, where the writing can only be described as beautiful. Daughter of Smoke and Bone was one of those books. I had to stop every couple of sentences to re-read a particular line because I loved how the words came together. Language-wise, it trumps many of my favorite books.

Karou and her friends and her enemies were all so real. Each of the characters stood a purpose, and they all had personalities that made them as real as anyone I've ever met. When I was reading, I felt the relationships between the characters. I could feel how much Karou cared for the people she cared for, how she was genuinely concerned for her friends and loved ones. Karou is a great and complex character, and I loved reading about her throughout the book.

One thing I personally adored was the setting: Prague, capital of Czech Republic. With pretty much all the books I've read being set in America and my lack of a passport, it was something I'd never experienced. It's kind of like someone opened a door I hadn't ever seen before: it was something new; something unexpected. Karou visited a lot of other places throughout the book, and I really liked the peek into the different worlds.  

There isn't an aspect of this book that I don't want to rave about. I was frustrated and intrigued with Karou on all the mysteries of her life along with her: Where did she come from? Why wouldn't the people who knew, tell her? This book has a world that's masterfully created, with wishes you can spend, creatures unlike any other, and a plot that kept me reading the entire way through.

I could have done with a little more explaining.

I've come to the conclusion that I like facts; absolute truths. Whenever I read a paranormal book,  I want to know the facts about the mystical/fantastical/magical creatures and how they work. I want to know the laws of the society and the do's and don'ts. When someone in a story mentions a tribe of certain magical beings, I want to know how many tribes their are and how they differ. There were parts of the story where I wanted the characters to slow down and explain how things worked. There's a lot of a world to take in this book, so that's my little complaint.

This is a great book. The ending hit me completely by surprise, and I'll be waiting to see how it's continued in the sequel. Don't miss this one: it passes all the tests.

Read more reviews for Daughter of Smoke and Bone at:

Wondrous Reads and Love Vampires

Divergent by Veronica Roth

“I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different.” 

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.

The buzz for this book was huge. Like, enormous. As in, the buzz for Divergent could be relatable to a gigantic mass of starved locusts that devour everything in sight. So, obviously, I had to see what it was about.

I am always insanely cautious about books that have so much buzz, because I'm always afraid it's an illusion; just a lot of pushing from publishers on a story that's not really worth it. And I am even more cautious when the publisher makes the dreaded mistake: comparing said book to The Hunger Games.

For the record, I adore The Hunger Games. What I don't adore is that every book that has been published since it became widely popular has been compared to it. (I could go on forever about books that try to ride on the same wave that another popular book has created, but I'll be good today.)

Divergent was completely deserving of the buzz. Tris, the main character, was exactly what she was made out to be. She didn't just play the part of the heroine; that's who she was. She was actually a very strong character, and you can see how her past life influenced her personality and her standards, and you also see how her experiences in the book change her. I fell in love with her and Four and Will and Christina.

Divergent is definitely one of those books you can't put down; I read it in one sitting because I couldn't bear having to spend a single minute not knowing what was happening in Tris' world. I had to keep reading. I had to know what happened.

I do see some of the comparisons to The Hunger Games, because it has the same dystopia/futuristic feeling, but I see more than that; I see the utopia-aimed society from Matched and the underground-type ambiance of Ann Aguirre's Enclave, but most of all, I see tons of similarities to Ender's Game. If you enjoyed Ender's Game, then I definitely suggest Divergent, and vise-versa. They're both books that have won spots on my favorites list.

I know some people complain about the length, but I never found any place where the story was dragging or that I was bored. Really, I have don't have any complaints about the book.

Divergent deserves the awards its won, and if you're looking for something that's action-packed, something that'll have you holding your breath, you should definitely check it out.

Read more reviews for Divergent at:

Ripley Patton and Narratively Speaking

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

"There is a passion in you that scares me."

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Their father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Victor, with the assistance of his friends, Elizabeth and Henry, immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrad’s life. Scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

 My rating:

I picked it up because:

I saw it Rick Riordan’s blog a while ago. (If you don’t know the amazing-ness that is Rick Riordan, make a beeline for the nearest library/bookstore and find the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Do not read anything else until if you have finished this amazing series. You’re welcome.) Anyway, I saw it at the library yesterday and picked it up.

What I liked:

The setting. It’s somewhere in the eighteenth century, I would guess, and I love the way the characters talk. Their words—and the author’s descriptions—have a poetic kind of sense. Every sentence made me want to keep on reading; I read the 298 pages straight through, never once bored. It’s definitely an adventure, from the very first page until the last word.

I love Victor, the main character, because he’s complex. He isn’t black and white—he’s consumed by shades of gray. He’s quick to anger. Sometimes he realizes he’s after something only for himself. When he wants something, he’s willing to put up his best fight to get it. And when he believes he’s right, he’ll be stubborn in his belief until the end of time. But despite his flaws, I rooted for Victor the whole way through.

What I didn't like:

So this is a purely personal opinion, but I don’t like sad endings. Not that every book’s last chapter must detail the main character’s happy wedding to his or her soulmate, followed by prancing through a field full of lilies and and all wrongs righted. Really, that isn’t what I like—I want endings to be real. But on the flip side, I can’t stand it when tragedy befalls my beloved character and there isn’t some kind of solution or cure or hope that the author leaves us with that things will get better. I can’t stand to think that these characters will forevermore be left how I last saw them.

Overall:

This Dark Endeavor is a prequel to Mary Shelley’s classic, Frankenstein. I haven't read it, so my review on the characters and the plot is based solely on This Dark Endeavor. If I read Frankenstein, I think my review of this book would probably change, based on what the author was thinking when he wrote the prequel for someone else’s book.

But overall, I enjoyed this book; it’s gorgeous. If you’re not one for sad endings, I don’t suggest it. But if you don’t mind it, don’t miss this one. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time to come.

Read more reviews for This Dark Endeavor at:

The Book Smugglers and 21 Pages