North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

Grade: A+

Synopsis:

It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her small, stifling town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly into Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Rating:

Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Overall Enjoyment: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Voice: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Setting: 10/10
Total Score: 68/70

Obtained: Bought from good ole Barnes & Noble. :-)

Age Appropriate? PG-13

Cussing: Some, but nothing too bad...
Alcohol, Drugs, etc: A small amount of teen drinking.
Sexual Content: Implied sexual activity; speculation, narration, images, etc, but nothing too too explicit.
Disturbing Images/Violence: Graphic images of poverty.

Review:

North of Beautiful is a book that will redefine your concept of beauty.

It was such a mind-blowing experience, reading this story. Justina Chen Headley has something to say, and she says it well with the heartfelt, deep voice of Terra, who has suffered through life believing that she is hideous and unlovable because of a mark on her cheek and a tyrannical father. We can all relate, I'm sure.

The characters of this novel were carefully, perfectly crafted. All of them were fascinatingly real, decidedly human. Flawed. And all the better for it. Jacob was positively enthralling, completely unlike any boy I've every met in fiction. He was wise and thought-provoking, yet young and broken like everyone else. His and Terra's relationship was achingly real, tangible, tear-jerking...beautiful.

This book will touch you. It will change you. It will make you so unbelievably happy and so unbelievably sad. The vivid settings of average-American Colville and busy-and-bright China will take your breath away. The frighteningly powerful character of her father will terrorize you, just as the gentle helplessness of her mother will distress you, and the lively, wonderful character of Jacob will revitalize you. This book will hold you, peel back the layers of your life, and make you really see the world for what it is: a beautiful thing.

LINKS:

Justina Chen Headley's site
The Find Beauty Challenge!

Dawn by Kevin Brooks

(American version titled DAWN; cover image not available)

Grade: B


Synopsis:

Dawn Bundy lives in a cave. In her head. Where she's been hiding for two years.

Hiding behind headphones. From the two hottest girls at school, in their impossibly short skirts and unbearably tight tops, their razor-sharp cheekbones and taut, smooth shoulders close enough to touch.

Not talking to her mother, not about what matters.

Not thinking about her dad, the drug addict, the ex-con, born-again but far gone.

Two years is a long time. Enough for the cave to grow so small that her breath feels like stone in her throat.

Two years is no time at all. Nowhere near enough to forget. To pretend that nothing happened. Deep one perfect morning.

Rating:

Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Overall Enjoyment: 5/10
Ending: 5/10
Voice: 6/10
Plot: 7/10
Setting: 7/10
Total Score: 49/70

Obtained: Finished copy sent by publisher (Chicken House--SCHOLASTIC USA)

Age Appropriate? R

Cussing: Quite frequently, some rather offensive language.
Alcohol, Drugs, etc: Lots of teen drinking and drunkenness; a lot of smoking and drug use by teens and adults.
Sexual Content: Implied rape and some same-sex speculation, etc.
Disturbing Images/Violence: Murder, graphic images, rape.

Review:

There was something very feverish about this book, some kind of hazy fogginess to the writing. It wasn't difficult to read, but the distant tone made it hard to read with a clear head. It was almost like a dream at some points. This quality was directly related to Dawn's situation, to her character, and it made the book frighteningly believable, even if it was a little disconnected to reality.

Kevin Brooks' writing is curious. Although technically the book is written from Dawn's point of view, I would argue that it is written from the perspective of Dawn's brain. There is so much rambling and thought-process and random memories and sensations that aren't usually included in writing, but here made it all the more effective. By weaving in song lyrics and themes related to the 80's band The Jesus and Mary Chain, Brooks creates a poetic, emotional story of struggle, pain, forgiveness, and love.

Dawn (or Killing God in the UK) has cynical religious undertones (hence the UK title. cough cough) that really put in perspective Dawn's personal struggle. It was a touch that added interest, intrigue, and a little horror. Why does she want to kill God? Why does she ostracize herself from society? Why is there a cave in her head? There's only one way to find out...

LINKS:

The Jesus and Mary Chain Official Site
Darklands (JAMC, 1987) Lyrics
(this is the album that is most influential in the novel)

Book Drum

Check out this awesome new site, taking the steps to add another dimmension to this beautiful world of literature we all love!

And they're looking for people to help.

Do you want to be a part of it?

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle

GRADE: A+

Synopsis:

Hallow Hill has a strange and tragic history. For thousands of years, young women have been vanishing from the estate, never to be seen again. Now Kate and Emily have come to live at Hallow Hill. Brought up in a civilized age, they have no idea of the land’s dreadful heritage. Until, that is, Marak decides to tell them himself.

Intelligent, pleasant, and completely pitiless, Marak is a powerful magician who claims to be a King—and he has very specific plans for the two new girls who have trespassed into his kingdom.

Rating:
Character Development: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Overall Enjoyment: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Voice: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Setting: 10/10
Total Score: 64 /70

Obtained: Birthday present from family.

Age Appropriate? PG
Cussing: I can't remember any...
Alcohol, drugs, etc.: None.
Sexual Content: No scenes.
Disturbing Images/ Violence: Gory and disgusting details of violence

Review:
This was my second time to read The Hollow Kingdom, and the second time was just as good, if not better, than the first. This is a fantastical story like no other. Dunkle's writing is beautiful, true, and easy to read. The world she paints in her readers' mind will forever be imprinted there and will be practically impossible to escape from.

The characters are so intriguing and so believable. You are constantly learning new things about them that make you love them even more! Kate is a strong female protagonist that is impossible to dislike. And Marak, the goblin King, is a masterfully created character.

The magical kingdom of Hallow Hill is enchanting to read about, and its inhabitants even more so. I suggest that you give this trilogy a try. You won't be disappointed.

LINKS:

Clare B. Dunkle's site

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets by Teens Famous + Obscure

Grade: A+

Synopsis:
One life. Six words. What's yours?

True tales of love, loss, good friends, and bad hair days filled Not Quite What I Was Planning, the New York Times bestselling first book in the Six-Word Memoir series—and an international phenomenon. Some of the most compelling were by teens, so now SMITH Magazine has compiled a book written entirely by these bold, brash truth-tellers. From cancer to creativity, prom dates to promiscuity, and breaking hearts to breaking laws, the memoirs in this collection reveal that often the youngest writers have the most fascinating stories to tell.

Obtained: Mooched from Jill (Reading is Bliss)

Age Appropriate? PG
Just a couple curse words.
Brief mentions of sexual content.
Brief mentions of drugs.
Some sad/somewhat disturbing six words.
Overall, it's not bad.

Review:
It is amazing how, in only six words, an entire heart can be read, an entire story can be told. Phenomenal. Reading about other teens in this way will assure you that you are not alone. It will force you to become aware of the mental turmoil people are in around you. It will make you laugh, and it will make you wonder.

This collection of words is like no other. Six words hold the deepest thoughts and feelings of real life teens. Buy it. Own it. Read it.

LINKS:

SMITH magazine Six Word Memoirs (submit your own!)
SMITH TEEN Six Word Memoirs

Breakfast at Bloomingdale's by Kriten Kemp

Grade: C

Synopsis:

Cat's come to New York City with a dream: to be a fashion designer and see her name on a label at Bloomingdale's. But she soon finds that the competition--and the city--is tougher than she expected. It's not a perfect fit, but she's willing to make adjustments. Because after all, there are friends to be made, boys to flirt with, amazements to be found, and the possibility that all her dreams might just come true.

Rating:

Character Development: 6/10
Originality: 6/10
Overall Enjoyment: 4/10
Ending: 5/10
Voice: 6/10
Plot: 4/10
Setting: 7/10
Total Score: 38/70

Obtained: Free copy sent by publisher (POINT)

Age Appropriate? PG-13

Cussing: Quite frequently throughout.
Alcohol, Drugs, etc: Teenage drinking and drunkenness, references to drug use, smoking, etc.
Sexual Content: No actual scenes, but lots of narration/discussion/speculation/etc
Disturbing Images/Violence: Some mentally disturbed characters.

Review:

My expectations for this book weren't high, and they were met. Reading this book was like watching a bad Chick Flick movie on TV--very little character, almost no emotional connection, and idiotic characters. Cat, the protagonist, was a moron. She is exactly the kind of person that, in real life, I would avoid because of her shallowness, girly-girl-ness, and whiny nature.

The story attempted to provoke emotion, but I was dead inside. I didn't care about the characters, I didn't care about any of it really. Mostly I just wanted to finish the book so it would be over and done with. However, the author did a wonderful job of describing New York City and clearly had a vast knowledge of the fashion industry and sewing craft. It was fascinating, some of the descriptions of clothing being designed and put together. I envy Cat's skills, if nothing else.

Overall, if you're into quirky, mindless reading with mild suspense and interesting, if shallow, characters (and if you're interested in fashion design) Breakfast at Bloomingdale's is a good book for you.

Beautiful Creatures Again!

I read this book back in June, and loved it so much that I posted my review then. Beautiful Creatures will be in stores December 1, and I want to share my thoughts with you on it once again! So here you go:

Synopsis:
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.


Rating:
Character Development: 8/10
Originality: 10/10
Overall Enjoyment: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Voice: 8/10
Setting: 8/10
Recommendation: 10/10
Total Score: 63/ 70
Grade: A+

Age Appropriate?
Cussing: Yes, occasionally.
Drugs, Alcohol, etc.: Not where the main characters are involved.
Sexual Content: Suggestive in conversation, depends on interpretation.
Disturbing Images/ Violence: Bloodiness in some scenes.

Review:

Kami Garcia and Margret Stohl have crafted a brilliant start to The Caster Chronicles. The flow from scene to scene is seamless, even if time elapses between them. The uses of flashback and foreshadowing were well placed and very effective. And the plot! The plot was masterly constructed, its depth and believability was obvious from the first chapter. This book is 626 pages, but not one of the pages holds boredom for the reader.

The setting, a small Southern town, was unbearable at the beginning. But as soon as I got further into the novel, I realized it was supposed to be. Ethan didn’t like Gatlin; we didn’t like Gatlin. It was almost suffocating to read; which was exactly the effect that I think the authors were aiming for. As soon as Lena came, Ethan’s life changed, and though his outlook of Gatlin was the same, it was easier to bear because Lena was with him. This made it less of a burden for the reader, as well.

The characterization of the main characters was amazing. The secondary characters were very stereotypical, but this method helped to set the main characters apart and different than the rest of the town.

The themes incorporated into Beautiful Creatures were perfectly portrayed: that everything in life is balanced. Happiness is balanced with sadness, fate with choice, darkness with light, gold with green. This book will disappoint no one. As soon as you read this, you will be anxiously awaiting the second installment in The Caster Chronicles.

Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Grade: A+

Synopsis:
When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her 'cousin' Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future.


Rating:
Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 7/10
Overall Enjoyment: 5/10
Ending: 7/10
Voice: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Setting: 10/10
Total Score: 64/70

Obtained: Bought.

Age Appropriate? PG-13
Cussing: Some, but very limited.
Alcohol, Drugs, etc: Drinking.
Sexual Content: Implied sexual activity/ rape.
Disturbing Images/Violence: A few graphic deaths.

Review:

As classical novels go, I actually enjoyed this one. Though the pages seemed eternal and there were tedious details of every little thing, this novel was written beautifully and contains a tragic and heartbreaking story.

The intense character development was obvious. The inner turmoil of each character was honest, believable, and frustrating (in a good way). When the hugest of changes came about in the characters, it was authentic and convincing.

The plot was also extremely detailed. Every minuscule event had a purpose to be discovered later on. The relationships between the characters and theirs to the plot was flawless and true. My only complaint is that some conflict was drawn out to the point of exasperation; and some events seemed to repeat themselves multiple times in different settings.

The ending is unnerving and powerful. The novel is dark and passionate. The story takes forever to read, but is worth it. :)

Being Nikki Contest

Enter for a chance to win Being Nikki by Meg Cabot:

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Contest ends DECEMBER 1

Winners will be determined with the random number gernerator.

LINKS:

http://www.megcabot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Airhead/155577620651

The Mark by Jen Nadol

This book will be available January 19th, 2010.

Grade: A+

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Cassie Renfield has always seen the mark--a light glow reminiscent of candlelight--but it's not until she follows a man to his death that she understands what it means. Cassie can see when a person is marked for death. She doesn't know how or where, only when: today.

When the mark appears on Cassie's grandmother, she tries and fails to change her fate. The mark seems utterly useless, but Cassie can't ignore it. Desperate for answers, she searches her memories, her summer philosophy course, even her new boyfriend, Lucas, for any clue that might explain her fate each time the mark appears. Cassie's not entirely sure she should use the mark like this, but with each occurrence, she finds answers she needs--answers she never expected.

Rating:

Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 8/10
Overall Enjoyment: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Voice: 10/10
Plot: 8/10
Setting: 10/10
Total Score: 64/70

Obtained: Free ARC provided by publisher (BLOOMSBURY)

Age Appropriate? PG-13

Cussing: Littered throughout.
Alcohol, Drugs, etc: Some teen drinking.
Sexual Content: Implied sexual activity.
Disturbing Images/Violence: A few graphic deaths; one suicide; some rather disturbing images of insanity, etc.

Review:

I expected this book to be good--and it was. Enjoyable, intriguing, tortured, and dramatic, this book is deep, thoughtful, and philosophical while simultaneously being a seriously good piece of writing. The Mark is an intense two-hundred-something pages, and each one is worth it.

Cassandra was a perfectly likeable character, just good enough to be endearing, just flawed enough to be human, just confused enough to be a real teenager, yet mature enough to be one too. Her thought-process and narration were believable, easily relatable, and made for a good story. Her relationship with other characters, particularly Lucas, was so realistic as to be almost frightening. As her feelings toward him changed, mine did--and it was wholly through characterization that I felt this way, through his own actions and Cassie's reactions.

Jen Nadol's debut is an earthbound story that questions life, ethics, happiness, and love in a smoothly riveting way. It's not just another supernatural love story or a cliched "Sixth Sense"-like fantasy novel, but a statement about our world and our fate. The magic and the twisted reality and the hot guy aren't what's important in this novel. The journey, the depth, the insight--that's what carries the weight of The Mark.

LINKS:

Jen Nadol
AuthorsNow

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Grade: B

Synopsis:

If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her "Chief". She'd know about her mom's new family. She's know about her dad's fiancee. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn't have wanted to kiss him back.

Rating:

Character Development: 6/10
Originality: 8/10
Overall Enjoyment: 6/10
Ending: 9/10
Voice: 7/10
Setting: 8/10
Plot: 6/10
Total Score: 50/70

Obtained: Library.

Age Appropriate? PG-13

Cussing: Some throughout.
Drugs, Alcohol, etc: Teen drinking and drunkenness, teen smoking and drug use.
Sexual Content: No actual scenes, but a lot of discussion/narration/etc.
Disturbing Images/Violence: Teen depression and attempted suicide.

Review:

I have heard both great things and terrible things about this book. As it turns out, it falls directly between the two for me. While I enjoyed reading it, I was disconnected from any kind of emotional feedback through the whole story. I didn't care what happened to Naomi. I hated both of her love interests, Ace and James. I hated her.

The writing style was very accessible and smooth, mimicking the voice of a teenage girl perfectly. Naomi's troubled seemed realistic enough, but her actions and emotions seemed false. She was pretty bipolar, moody, unfaithful with her feelings that it made keeping up with her rather difficult.

However, there were some good points to the story. Her past, her history, the amnesia--these things added depth and insight and made reading it not only bearable but acceptably interesting. While I was expecting the amnesia to be slightly more important, it certainly added to the book. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac turned out to be a charming modern-day love story with lots of quirks.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Grade: A+

Synopsis:

Poor and plain, Jane Eyre begins life as a lonely orphan in the household of her hateful aunt. Despite the oppression she endures at home, and the later torture of boarding school, Jane manages to emerge with her spirit and integrity unbroken. She becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she finds herself falling in love with her employer--the dark, impassioned Mr. Rochester. But an explosive secret tears apart their relationship, forcing Jane to face poverty and isolation once again.

Rating:

Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Overall Enjoyment: 7/10
Ending: 8/10
Voice: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Setting: 10/10
Total Score: 63/70

NOTE: As this book is a 19th century classic, these scores aren't entirely reliable.

Obtained: Bought from Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Age Appropriate? G

Cussing: Very limited.
Drugs, Alcohol, etc: Some drinking and drunkenness, but not much.
Sexual Content: None.
Disturbing Images/Violence: Some time-period child abuse (meaning, we consider it abuse, they don't), etc. Small amount of violence and some graphic imagery.

Review:

Jane Eyre is a classic for a reason. I was shocked at the ease of reading. Charlotte Bronte writes with a voice and a diction that, while somewhat archaic, is not yet incomprehensible (like, say, Charles Dickens, etc). This is a masterfully crafted novel that I believe everyone should read whether they like classics or not (generally, I hate them).

The characters of Jane Eyre were a fascinating lot. Jane herself has become one of my favorite protagonists of all. She is strong, likeable, and flawed, and her thoughts and decisions are clear and sensible. Mr. Rochester--wow. He is the perfect foil to Jane's easy calm and inferior, modest attitude. His sarcasm and wit were hilarious, and their conversations will make you fall in love with him. I thought it was a nice touch (and a big statement) that both Jane and Edward were ugly people. Yet Bronte doesn't write with scorn for the beautiful or any kind of prejudice. Indeed, she writes with intimacy and truth, much like our authors today.

If you fancy a novel full of beauty of the heart and mind, intelligence, and grace, read Jane Eyre--but be prepared for a slightly tedious undertaking (it has taken me a week of non-stop reading just to read 500 pages! Gah!). But it is completely worth it.

Book Trailers

Sorry for the recent lack of posts, everyone. School has been keeping us busy with reading classics (Jane Eyre, Tess of the D'urbervilles), if only we were reading warped classics instead...

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies



Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
Visit Seth Grahame-Smith
http://www.facebook.com/people/Seth-Grahame-Smith/574919993
http://twitter.com/sethgs



And here is a quite entertaining rap trailer for Perfect Chemistry
http://www.simoneelkeles.net/index-web.html



Eternal
http://cynthialeitichsmith.com/



A Curse as Dark as Gold
http://www.elizabethcbunce.com/elizabethcbunce/Home.html

Interview with Bree Despain

BREE DESPAIN

author of the upcoming YA novel
The Dark Divine
(December 22, 2009)

Interested?

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

Here's the INTERVIEW:

How did your experience working with underprivileged kids doing theater influence your writing?

Great question. Writing plays in Philadelphia was what made me realize that writing made me happy, and that it was what I wanted to do for my career. It also showed me that writing for kids and teenagers was a lot of fun, that it was where my voice was, and that the audience themselves were pretty awesome.

You mention a car accident in your bio. How did this affect you as a writer?

This was another life changing moment for me. I had decided a few years before the accident that I wanted to be a writer, but I hadn’t accomplished a whole lot. I had let life take over as I was working full time and had just become a new mother. But when I woke up in the hospital, I realized that if I had died, my two regrets would be that I would not be with my family anymore, and that I had not seriously pursued my dream of becoming a published author. I shared this with my husband, and the next day he brought home a used laptop and told me I had better start writing. I still look back at that moment, trying not to forget the lessons I learned from that experience. It reminded me that passion should always be a part of your life and that you should never let the day-to-day get in the way of pursuing your dreams.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? Least favorite?

The best is when I get in a really good groove and the ideas just flow. The story just comes and I get really excited about the characters and what is happening. The high from feeling inspired is incredible. On the flip side, my least favorite part is when I get completely blocked. It is a hard, lonely, and frustrating place to be when the ideas just won’t come. The trick is to just keep writing, though….whichever way the coin lands.

BREE DESPAIN was interviewed by READING ROCKS on NOVEMBER 8th, 2009

Revised Reviewing

Elise and I have conferred, and we have decided to revamp our reviewing style. The number and letter ratings are staying, as well as the Age Appropriate stuff, but we're just adding in things that we think are necessary. If you agree, let us know! If not, let us know that too so we can perfect this thing. Thanks! :-)

EDIT 11/5/09: We are removing the "Recommendation" portion of our number reviews to keep our number ratings consistent and easy to deal with. Besides, with Overall Enjoyment as a category, Recommendation is somewhat superfluous. And it's what the review is for, right? :-)

____________________________________________

Changes are in orange.

REVIEWING FORMAT:

Release date (if not yet released).

Grading Scores: A+:61-70 pts= Fantastically amazing! A: 51-60 pts= Great B: 41-50 pts= Good C: 31-40 pts= put-downable D: 21-30 pts= Not so great F: 0-20 pts= Ew
(moved from below Rating to make it more accessible for at-a-glance readers)

Synopsis: from the jacketflap.

Rating:
Character Development: x/10pts
Originality: x/10pts
Overall Enjoyment: x/10pts
Ending: x/10pts
Voice: x/10pts
Setting: x/10pts
Plot: x/10
Total Score: x/70

Obtained: Where did we get it?

Age Appropriate? G/PG/PG-13/R

Cussing: Keep in mind that we are doing this based on a Young Adult audience.
Drugs, alcohol, etc.:
Sexual Content:
Disturbing Images/ Violence:

Review: My thoughts; both positive and negative things about the book. See below for Review Policy.

LINKS: We will now provide links to author or book sites that are relevant, as well as to related posts and reviews on Reading Rocks.

REVIEW POLICY:
This is our updated review policy that now has a cozy little place in the sidebar!

• We do not review e-books.
  
• Young Adult books take priority over others.
• Books that we did not specifically ask for or agree to review will have low-priority.
• We cannot guarantee that books that are not specifically YA (i.e. Middle Grade, Adult, nonfiction, etc) will be reviewed.
• However, if we do request or agree to review a book, it will get reviewed.
  
• We will always be honest in our reviews, despite any personal contact with the author or publisher.
  
• We will abide by the wishes of the author or publisher as much as possible regarding dates and times and content.
• We will maintain a professional attitude at all times, in regard to all things.

PS - keep your eye out for edits, because this is completely subject to change!

Hunger by Michael Grant

Synopsis:

It's been three months since everyone under the age of fifteen became trapped in the bubble known as the FAYZ. Three months since all the adults disappeared.

Gone.

Food ran out weeks ago. Everyone is starving, but no one wants to figure out a solution. And each day, more and more kids are evolving, developing supernatural abilities that set them apart from the kids without powers.

Tension rises and chaos is descending upon the town. It's the normal kids against the mutants. Each kid is out for himself, and even the good ones turn murderous.

But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them

The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

Rating:

Character Development: 9/10
Originality: 9/10
Overall Enjoyment: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Voice: 10/10
Setting: 10/10
Recommendation: 10/10
Total Score: 68/70

Grade: A+

Age Appropriate?

Cussing: Some
Alcohol, Drugs, etc: Teenage alcoholism, child drug use.
Sexual Content: Nothing explicit; some speculation.
Disturbing Images/Violence: Lots of blood, murder, graphic images, child-against-child violence, and psychopathy/sadism (in one disturbing character). Teen bulimia and anorexia.

Review:

If possible, I loved this second installment in the GONE series even more than I loved the first one! HUNGER is a very different book than its prequel--darker, more depressed, more internal, a different kind of struggle all together. Where the battle in GONE is one against disorder and chaos, HUNGER's struggle is based on the hopelessness of the situation, the overwhelming task of being a leader in this strange world. So much stuff happens in these pages, and it is enough to shatter your expectations.

I was surprised to find how little this story has to do with Sam. Of course, he plays a huge role throughout, but the length of time we actually spend in his head is very limited. There's more jumping around between the many intertwined storylines and less focus on Sam himself. Caine even had a larger role in this book than in the previous one, and now I'm surprised to say that I like him. Wow. Did I actually say that? But it's true. He's more human, less...despicable. Even if he does make some stupid decisions.

With heavier content and lots of high-stress high-emotion situations, Michael Grant has created yet another brilliant and fascinating novel in HUNGER. The world he created is unbelievably vivid and real. It's easy to believe that if the a world of under-fifteens existed, this is exactly how it would play out. Grant's writing has a way of infecting the reader with fear, tension, and dread, but at the same time with hope, and laughter, and beauty. It's fantastic--read it.