Dust and Decay

Can a sequel be just as good as the original book? I look forward to it..I check the release date..I eagerly anticipate it. Dust and Decay the sequel to Rot and Ruin by Jonathon Maberry did not disappoint! The characters became even richer and fuller. The book is character driven as opposed to just focusing on the virus driven world they live in.

Nix and Benny are driven to find a better more free way of life and a plan emerges to seek out a Jet they spotted flying eastward. Nothing like that has ever been seen by the younger generation that survived or were born after First Night. But the journey proves to be full of unexpected obstacles that will keep the reader glued to page. I seriously got absolutely nothing done until I read that last page.

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Mayberry

The story of Rot and Ruin takes place 14 years after "First Night". A mysterious virus had caused the dead to reanimate. The survivors have protected themselves by living in small colonies within the Rot and Ruin. For our young protagonist fifteen year old Benny, he has reached the age where he must get a work assignment or face his rations being cut.

Since their parents death and reanimation as "Zoms", Benny has been raised by his half brother Tom, a sword wielding, half-Japanese, Zombie Bounty hunter. When Benny soon sees that getting a job is not as easy as he thought it would be, he has only one option left. Become an apprentice to his half brother. There is nothing cool about Tom in Benny's opinion. He wishes Tom could be more like Charlie Pink-Eye and Motor City Hammer, two Zom Killers who have plenty of cool and harrowing stories to tell each time they return from the Rot and Ruin.

As the story develops Benny comes to see the importance and meaningful thing that Tom has done all these years. The story really is about these two brothers and the evolution of that relationship. The background characters are rich as well. I have to admit I love a good book. Rot and Ruin was especially a good one. I couldn't put it down.

Here's some great news...the sequel Dust and Decay is being released August 30, 2011. This reader cannot wait!!

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

This novel takes place in a not so distant post-apocalyptic future set on the American Gulf Coast. Our protagonist Nailer works light crew; he has the dangerous and dirty job to crawl deep into the wrecks of the ancient oil tankers that line the beach, scavenging copper wire and turning it over to his crew boss. One night a brutal hurricane passes over and a luxurious clipper ship crashes bringing valuable goods that could make them rich. Amid the wreckage, Nailer finds a girl who barely clings to life and will rock his world upside down. He makes tough choices along the way. If he helps her, it could mean his life. This a gritty story with amazing character development. They are complex yet relatable. This is a fast paced read and you'll be taken on quite an adventure. I highly recommend this book as a great summer read. 

The Host

I just came across some exciting movie news! The Host, a novel by Stephanie Meyer is being made into a movie. Ok the release date is not until March 2013, but this will give you plenty of time to read this amazing novel before you see the movie.

If you are reluctant to read The Host because you are not a sci-fi lover don't be. This moving, beautifully written book will surprise you. A species of altruistic parasites has peacefully assumed control of the minds and bodies of most humans curing cancer, eliminating war and turning Earth into paradise. One such alien named Wander does exactly this but unlike other human hosts, her host Melanie refuses to surrender her consciousness to the alien.

Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. The pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend hiding out with a group of rebels fighting to keep even a small part of the human race alive. In the beginning Wanderer is hated. Once the rebels accept Wanderer she finds herself caring for these people which conflicts with her loyalty to her own race.

The Host is a deep and beautiful story, and very different from Meyer's popular, young adult series. The love triangle is like none I have ever read before. This is one of those books you will keep thinking about long after you've finished the last page. I highly recommend this novel to any reader, not only science fiction fans. Enjoy!

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

In the truly original novel Unwind, we find ourselves in a future where a war between pro-life and pro-choice has been fought. The compromise the two sides came to has horrifying results that the whole of society has come to accept without question.

The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. However, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, a parent may choose to retroactively 'abort' a child....on condition that the child's life doesn't 'technically' end. The process by which a child is both terminated and yet kept alive is called 'unwinding.'

The story focuses on three "Unwinds," each from very different backgrounds. It is told in first person from each of their perspectives so we really are drawn into the characters and their motivations.

Some of the concepts such as "storking", seem to be a little far fetched and I won't give anything away but let's just say if I got "storked" I would be a little freaked out!

All in all a great read. I found it to be quite a page turner.

If you get a chance to read it please leave a comment and tell me what you thought. I'd love to hear your feedback!

Divergent (Book 1 of Trilogy) by Veronica Roth

In a future society that takes place in Chicago (reference of the sears tower is made). Societies are divided into five factions that appears to live in peace for many years, each contributing to a different sector of society

The first faction Abnegation fulfilled the need for selfless leaders in government, the people are known to be selfless and humble; Second , Candor has provided trustworthy and sound leaders in law, they are known for telling the truth and being honest; Erudite has supplied intelligent teachers and researchers, they thrive on having knowledge; Amity has given understanding counselors and caretakers and are known for their outstretched kindness; Last, but definitely not least there is Dauntless, which provides protection from threats both within and without, they are known to be brave.

The protagonist is Beatrice, who is Abnegation, at sixteen she has reached the age where society demands you pick a faction for the rest of your life. Growing up she’s never quite fit in as Abnegation, she feels she’s not selfless enough and craves for more. All sixteen year old have to take an aptitude test that although is not a rule but simply a test to help one figure out exactly where they belong. That’s where it all goes wrong. This is a story about a girl who on her way to adulthood discovers that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.

She’s thrown into a world where survival becomes her life. She meets friends along her journey and manages to make some enemies too and when she falls in love she will discover she may be more Abnegation then she thought. The journey she takes is gritty, scary, heartbreaking and full of self-discovery. If you want to read a book about butterflies and rainbows and unicorns, well this book is not for you. Beatrice is right up there with Katniss from the HG. She’s a tough cookie.

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

This is the third and concluding installment in this dystopian series. All the character from the previous books come full circle. Frustrating at times because I took up issue with one of the characters, you'll understand when you read it, trust me! Overall I'm so glad that this series has manifested itself to be pretty amazing. We follow Gabry and Catcher to the city with the purpose of finding Gabry's twin sister Annah whom Elias abandoned (yeah, I said it!).  I've mentioned before in my reviews that I hate giving too much away, so I won't!

Carrie Ryan truly captured the essence, to me, of what a good book is made up of: action, suspense and romance. The journey of these two sisters is gripping and tugs at your heart.  Throughout the book you have no idea what's going to happen next. Truly a roller coaster of a ride, you will not want to put this book down. Out of the three books my favorite was.... ALL of them!! Equally good and exciting. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Share with us your thoughts on this book, blog, or whatever your little heart desires!! Happy reading!!

Z for Zachariah by Robert O'Brien

So this was a tough review to do, probably because I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand I was intrigued and curious on the other I was completely and utterly creeped out. I heard once that if after you finish a book if it doesn't leave you with a reaction, any reaction, then it didn't do it's service. So if that is true, then in this case I did have all sorts of reactions, not all so good but they were reactions just the same.

This is a post-apocalyptic near future, where a world war has occurred and nerve gas unleashed.  This part of the story to me personally was minimal in comparison to the interaction of our two main characters. We get a 1st account detail from our protagonist Ann. Having lost all her family, she's left alone, going a year now, in their country farm where the nerve gas has not reached its air, a little far fetched but it is fiction so I'm not going to scrutinize that. Just when she has accepted her lot in life, Ann, receives a visitor. Writing in her journal this is how the book begins:

              " I am afraid. Someone is coming. That is, I think someone is coming, though I am not sure, and I pray that I am wrong."

That's when things get creepy. This mysterious man  is perhaps a dream come true for Ann or her worse nightmare. She doesn't appear to the stranger right away, she watches him up in a cave where she's hiding. . Despite being a country girl she's not easily trusting. As the book progresses we become quite aware of how naive she is. The question through out the book is, whether or not Ann is in danger of this stranger, called Mr. Loomis. The ending is not an obvious one and I appreciated Mr. O'Brien making sure of that.

Ultimately I was right in the middle with this one. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It was just strange. If you like books with an ending that you don't see coming, then, this just might the book for you. If you've read it I would love to hear your opinion on it. I f you decide to read it, please come back here and share what you thought.   

Enclave (Razorland Series book 1) by Anne Aguirre

Did you love Katniss in The Hunger Games? Did you love reading The Forest of Hands and teeth? Well, if the answer is a resounding yes, than this is the book for you! As I mentioned before in my other reviews I hate giving too much away, so I won’t. Know this; this is an amazing, edge of your seat ride. 

Our protagonist here is Deuce; she is as tough as they come and no wonder she’s given the title of Huntress.  The book is a fast-paced read and left me wishing for more.  Good thing Miss Aguirre has a second book up her sleeve for a later release or else I’d be driven mad.  

The premise is a future society forced to live underground in subway tunnels known as the Enclave. After a flu vaccine causes a devastating worldwide affect, as a result humans are surrounded by chaos.  Pressed and weight down by deceit, lies and denial, living in the enclave, Deuce is forced to take matters into her own hands.  In her case ignorance is NOT bliss! Deuce’s fight for survival leads her to make hard decisions along the way. Enclave has three elements I love in this book: Action, survival and a love-triangle that will have your mind spinning.     

I absolutely feel this series will be the next wave of incredibly successful literature and I personally can’t wait for a movie.  A studio head out there needs to get a hold of this action-packed story and put it on screen, so it can make them the big bucks they enjoy so much to become blockbuster.  Personally, I pictured Kristen Bell as Deuce, Adrian Grenier as Fade and Hunter Parrish as stalker. 

As I mentioned on the onset the 2^nd book Outpost (Razorland Series) coming out in 2012 should give us some answers left in the 1^st book and I’m sure, by the end of the 2^nd we’ll still need answers, which I’m sure is exactly what book 3 in the series Horde, coming in 2013, will bring it all to a full circle. I hope you’ll enjoy this amazing dystopian book as much as I did. Please let me know you’re thoughts on it.     

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

The Glass Castle is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. It is a true story of Author Jeanette Walls heartbreaking, dysfunctional, at times comical upbringing. The book begins with Jeanette standing on a chair cooking a hot dog in boiling water to feed herself. Jeanette is 3 years old.

Jeanette is one of four children born to Rex and Mary Walls. Rex is a highly intelligent dreamer that could be quite charming when sober. He preferred the nomad lifestyle and at times would dissapear  from his family for lengths of time. Mary although physically present much preferred writing and painting to the mundane chores of being a mother. The children more often then not had to fend for themselves as things become more and more chaotic.

The Glass Castle although a true story memoir reads like a novel...a fascinating page turner at that.The triumph of Author JeanetteWalls will leave you amazed. I have actually given this book to several people as a gift, it is really that good. Everyone has gone through hard things in their lives and I don't want to minimize any persons individual hardships but I will have to say once you read this book you will likely come to the conclusion, "I guess my life wasn't so bad after all."

So go ahead and click on the link to buy the book and once you've finished reading it pass it on to someone you care about. That's what I did.

Jane by April Lindner

First off, I loved this book!!! It’s become my new obsession and it’s not going away anytime soon. After I finished this book, I started re-reading it 2 hours later. You will do the same! I’m not going to give every detail in the book as a review and give away too much. I hate when I’ve read a review, that obviously had too much information, and sit there waiting for every detail to pop up, that I’m already expecting. I want you to be shocked, happy and sad all on your own.

Jane is a modern take on Jane Eyre, think about it this way; what if Jane Eyre lived in 2011 and fell in love with her rocker boss who she worked for as a nanny? You will have your mind blown. It is a beautifully written tale full of mystery, romance and laughter.  Yes, it is very funny and I found myself laughing out loud often!

Jane’s character is written so well, she’s smart, complex, intuitive, especially for being only nineteen, and without even meaning to she is funny, and a type of dry humor that is sure to make you smile. The rocker, Nico, is mysterious, dark and extremely frustrating when interacting with Jane. As the book progresses he becomes light, humorous and gentle. Even though this is a modern take, it has all the elements of a classic. April Lindner, Thank you, for opening up our minds and hearts to this amazing book and characters. 

I hope this book gets picked up for a movie because it deserves to become an instant classic movie, as is, in the case of the book. Please share your thoughts on the book and what you loved about it. I give this book a hundred thousand stars on Amazon if I could!    

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Our Protagonist is Rhine, a sixteen year old whose story takes place in a not so distant future where humans are plagued with an early death.  Cancer has been cured but it comes with a price. Generations born after the cure begin to die, males at age 25 and females at age 20.  With life being cut so short and desperation running rampant, females at age 13 and over are being kidnapped and sold as wives for procreation.  Rhine   finds herself in this desperate situation when one day she’s thrown into a van and sold as a wife to Linden along with two other girls.

I feel the story here really centers on the relationship of the three girls and the bond they forge. Rhine becomes engrossed in this creepy make belief world where freedom is only an illusion. In her journey she finds that people are complex and not at all what it seems.  She finds herself torn between her past and her short future.

I absolutely loved this book. Rhine was such a powerful inspiration of determination, strength and purity.  I found her relationship with Linden frustrating and confusing at times but never does her reach for freedom flicker. I savored the last pages because I didn’t want it to end, but I’m happy that this is a trilogy and there are going to be more amazing books written by the talented Lauren DeStefano.

Gone by Michael Grant -Teenagers Perspective Review by Madison Dejulio

Sam is sitting in class when his freshmen history teacher Mr. Trentlake simply disappears before their eyes. Disbelief turns to confusion and rushes into fear as they soon realize that everyone over the age of 15 in their coastal town of Perdido Beach has vanished. Babies are left alone and uncared for, kids are crying in the streets for their parents. The only ones that can help them are the teens. They are left to care for the younger kids while they try to figure out what happened to the adults.
Fourteen year old Sam Temple is one of the teens living in the what they now call the FAYZ (Fall Out Youth Zone). Sam finds out he has special powers before the FAYZ. He discovers he can shoot beams of light out of his hands. He begins to see that in the FAYZ that there are some others that also have powers. If the powers are not useful they are described as one bar, or up to four or five bars if it is super powerful or maybe even dangerous.

Sam, who now takes charge in the FAYZ tries to figure out where the adults went and how he can get then back. Along with him are a few other teens, Quinn, Edildo, and Astrid. Along the way they face challenges involving some trouble with teens from a school called Coates Academy who try to take charge which only leads to disaster. But one of the most terrifying issues for Sam is his fifteen birthday is fast approaching....will he disappear too?

For me this book brought a whole new perspective on how children can survive without adults. When I first heard about this book, I thought about how with no parents or adults around, kids would be free to do whatever they want with no rules to stop them. Author Michael Grant brings on a whole new meaning to the situation. Kids can only try their best to stay alive and face the real dangers of bullying.

I give Gone a rating of 4 out of 4 cupcakes!

The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner Trilogy Book 2) by James Dashner

Obviously if you're reading this review, you have already  read, The Maze Runner, the first book in this trilogy. If not, SPOILER ALERT!!! Please read the book first. Now that we know what the Maze was for and that the Gladers are safe, if you're anything like me, you feel a sigh of relief! The first book was a roller coaster and I wanted it over with. Well, well so much for getting off the ride! James Dashner would have nothing of it! The Scortch Trials, unlike the first book which took a few chapters to get in the thick of it, is a wicked roller coaster from beginning to end. Right away you're immersed into action.Our protagonist, Thomas still reeling from nightmares about the Grievers in the maze is also having flashbacks of his past and the memories he once had lost are flooding back to him. The outside world is introduced to us further. The earth has become a waste land brought about by Sun Flares. A disease called the Flare has  infected the world and now instead of having to deal with the Grievers the Gladers have a new enemy the Cranks, who are diseased humans roaming the earth. Even though there's no maze in this book there is a puzzle of a sorts to be solved and a time frame. Again the Gladers are thrown into a life and death situation and like the maze many won't make it to the end. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did! Let me know what you thought about it in your comments. 

The Maze Runner (Book 1 of the Trilogy) by James Dashner

I do have to warn you that it starts slow probably for the first 5 chapters. I think really those chapters gives us, the reader, insight into the characters, perhaps even to develop an attachment. Once the book gets going though, I suggest wearing gloves because it’s on fire all the way through!!! This book is anything but basic; in fact, there’s a complexity to it that boggles the mind. The protagonist of this book is Thomas, who holds the key to unlock the many mysteries in book 1 and 2. There are six things I can tell you without giving too much away. First, there’s an elevator with special cargo. Second, the special cargo has no memories. Third, the elevator leads to a compound, called the " Glade" with food, shelter and freedom (really?). Fourth,  the Glade is smack in the middle of a maze. Fifth, the maze is very dangerous, deadly even. Sixth, some will stand and some will fall.  There are so many twists and turns in this book. It’s smartly written and a brain teaser. I heart this book because it made me think, laugh and cry.  You don’t get the sense that this is a dystopian book until the second book, because most of book two takes place in the Glade and the maze with very little knowledge, if any, of the outside world.  I will review the second book later this month, so keep watching for it! Please read the book and let me know your thoughts of what you liked or didn’t like about the book.

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

This second book in The Forest of Hands and Teeth series, will answer many questions that you may of had at the end of the first book. We are once again emerged in Mary's world where the Unconsecrated (virus infected) swarm the earth. Gabry, the new protagonist in this 2nd book, is a 16 year old with an interesting tie to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. There are so many twists and turns in this book, that I was dizzy when I finished reading it. The characters have so much depth and you can't help but grow attached to them and will them to survive. Like Mary, Gabry has to deal with decisions that will break your heart. I found myself holding my breath through out the book and when I was done I wanted to read the next book right away!!! Except the third book in the series was not due out for another two months!!! Needless to say a week ago I finished the third in the series, which I will be reviewing soon, and can now move on with my life!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Carrie Ryan really knows how to tug at your heart strings with her gripping tale of a young girl who wants to love and be loved. Don't forget to comment on the book after you've read it, we really want to know what you think!     

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Dead and gone (book 2 of The Last Survivors series) is the story of seventeen year old Alex and how his world changes the day a meteor strikes the moon, shifting it closer to the earth.
Alex is forced to grow up fast as his parents are missing and he now has the responsibility to care for his two younger sisters. Raised in a deeply religious family the things Alex must do to survive in this new world are not only terrifying but break the readers heart.

This is not a continuation of Book 1 (Life As We Knew It), but rather a whole new story told from our Protagonist Alex's point of view and how he deals with the same devastating event book 1 was based on.
I really liked the book. The Author writes her characters so well that you feel as if you're there living through it all with them. It satisfyingly leads us to Book 3 (This World We Live In), where the stories of Miranda and Alex comes to a riveting conclusion.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Mary has lived in the forest her whole life. Her village, protected from the Unconsecrated (people who've returned because of a virus) by a fence designed not only to keep the infected out but keep the the villagers in. Mary hears about stories of the ocean from her mother and dreams that one day she'll see it too. Despite this looking like a zombie book it really is about a girl who is faced with growing up sooner than she should and  it's about her strength and will to survive, love and be loved. There are twists and turns until the end. I loved the characters in this book they have depth, vulnerability and you can easily relate to the complexity of the relationships! There's what I now term as a "LOVE SQUARE" that will make love triangles a thing of the past! There are three books in the series and they are equally as amazing as this first book. If you loved Katniss in the The Hunger Games, you will love Mary as well!!!

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

What happens when a meteor is on a collision course to the moon? Through the eyes of High School senior Miranda in Book 1 of The Last Survivors Series, we are drawn into a new world existence where a slight shift of the moons axis leads to devastating results.

What I love about this book is author Susan Beth Pfeffer doesn't try to take on the whole world and overwhelm her reader. Rather, she brings us into Miranda's small world of family, close friends, and neighbors allowing us to become intimate with the characters and their frightening new circumstances. I was so completely drawn in by the book that at one point I looked into my cupboards at my measly canned goods and toilet paper supply and thought to myself, "I need way more then this to survive!"

The end of the book left me hungry for more of the desperation to survive, the love of those we hold most dear, and ultimately the endurance of the human spirit. Thank goodness for the
Dystopian trilogy! We have, 'The Dead and the Gone' (Book 2) and 'This world We Live in' (Book 3) to immerse us back into Susan Beth Pfeffer's world once again.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

In a not so distant future society, it is thought that love and the emotions that go with it are the reason for the many problems they had in the past. The solution? A cure! On their 18th birthday everyone is mandated to have a procedure to completely remove the disease of Amor Deliria Nervosa. Lena, who is the main protagonist, especially can't wait to have her procedure because the disease runs in her family. I don't want to give anything away but I will say this, at first I was not a believer, it sounded far fetched and strange. Not sure why I gave the book a chance but I'm glad I did! It was an amazing story. It had mystery, action and romance (one of the best romance story). It will not dissapoint! I can't wait for the sequel next year! Please read it and let me know your thoughts on the book or if you've read it already, tell me your favorite part in the book.