Book Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

AUTHOR: Alexandra BrackenPUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion
PAGES: 488
STAND ALONE/SERIES: Series
SOURCE: bought
OUTLINE:
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living

MY THOUGHTS:
Have you ever seen the movie PUSH? If not then what I'm saying probably will make no sense to you, but if so then you'll get my drift. When we started learning more about the characters and what they could do I immediately thought of this movie because the main character they're trying to protect from this agency has the ability to control human minds. I say much more then I kind of give away stuff, but let's just say similar.

I am such a POWERS person. By this I mean I love the idea of people having these powers, or unique abilities that defy everything. Mind control, ability to control just about anything. So needless to say when I read the synopsis for this book I was immediately drawn to it. At first it seemed to start off slow, but for the sake of understanding the story I suppose that's ok. I think I really started loving it the moment Ruby and Liam started opening up to each other. I'm such a character reader,and when you can love just about every character in the story that's saying a lot. Liam, Chubs, Zu, Ruby each one of them have that personality that you could grow to love, and I did. Liam for his nurturing and caring ways with the others, Chubs for his love of literature and being that person who all though seems like a complete ass is really just a gooey sweet marshmellow on the inside. Ruby for being that strong, lovable heroine we've come to love from our YA books. Zu for just being that sweet innocent child who believes the world can still be a good place, and that the people in it are seemingly goodhearted.

OMFG!!!! Why? Why Ms. Bracken did you do this to me? Endings like this one bring out so many emotions in me. Sadness, Pissiness (Is that a word?), and more sadness. A few things happened that I really didn't see happening and then some that I figured might, but still I'm not the least be happy about it. Now I'm having to read the second one right now, and usually I'm horrible about reading the second one right after the first, but I wanna see a happy ending for somebody. :(

Quotes:
I had the strangest feeling--like I had lost something without ever really having lost it in the first place---that I wasn't what I once was, and wasn't at all what I was meant to be. -Ruby (pg 203)

We wanted you yesterday, we want you today, and we'll want you tomorrow. There's nothing you can do to change that. -Liam (pg 304)

Ruby, give me one reason why we can't be together, and I'll give you a hundred why we can. -Liam (pg 438)

Book review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

AUTHOR:Tahereh Mafi

PUBLISHED: November 15, 2011

PUBLISHER:HarperCollins

PAGES:336

SERIES/STAND ALONE: Series
SOURCE: Gift From Amy and Tara (I have two copies.)

CHALLENGES: Debut author Challenge

OUTLINE:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

My thoughts:
I wanted this book from the moment the cover was shown, and I read the synopsis. I love x-men, and Rogue was one of my favorite characters so when people compared this book to those movies and her character I knew it was something I wanted I had to read. For the past month or so it's been out, I'm like I will get it and read it soon so when Amy asked me what I wanted for Christmas it was either this or Mara Dyer. I will say I'm glad she chose this one. I like love the way Tahereh Mafi writes. She has such a beautiful way with words, and the uniqueness with which it was written. I love the way the words and sentences have the strike out through them. It shows us what Juliette wants to say, but keeps to herself. I love the story also. I'm a complete sucker for any story with super powers, anything compared to Xmen I will more than likely love.

Characters:
Juliette is an awesome MC. Strong and determined to do what she believes is right. At times she's a little insecure, but with her parents and others treating her like a recluse because of her curse gift it's understandable. Then enters Adam (OMG) I'm telling you I'm stacking up on these YA crushes. :) Adam is an absolute doll. I can say to much about him without giving things away, but I love him. Seriously. Then you have Warner, a high ranking solider in the re-establishment. As much as I wanted to hate him. (which was a lot.) I still have a little bit of a soft side for him. Even though he's pretty much an ass.Then there's Kenji, who I couldn't figure out. We learn later in the book who he is. :P you have to find out though. Then of course Adams little brother James. Needless to say I pretty much liked liked liked every character. :)

The ending:
I can't say to much about it because I just can't but I'm so ready for the second one now because it threw me for a loop.

If you haven't read this book yet then I HIGHLY recommend it. It deserves every bit of the awesome praise that it's getting.

Book Review: Haven by Kristi Cook

 AUTHOR: Kristi Cook

PUBLISHER: Simon Pulse
PAGES: 416
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Series
SOURCE: Bought on Amazon
CHALLENGES:  DAC
OUTLINE: A month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

THOUGHTS:

Overview:

Violet is special, and she doesn't realize how she's special or why she's drawn to her new boarding school. When she gets there she notices things are different, not quite normal. Who defines what's normal though? She learns soon after her arrival from room-mates that all the students (and teachers) have special abilities, and maybe even more.


I was excited to read this book because I love anything to do with powers/special abilities/supernatural and even the whole boarding school set up. I read somewhere where they compared it to X-men. I love the xmen movies so I was ready. I was ready to get inside the school learn what it hid, learn about the students and just all around enjoy the book. Truth be told I was sadly let down. I don't know if it was to much hype around the book, or my expectations were to high I didn't love it like I had hoped.

The first half of the book kept my attention. It was definitely how I pictured it to be. Then it took that dreaded paranormal turn where alot of paranormals tend to go. (I know that may not have sounded right, but just stay with me here.) Don't get me wrong I LOVE paranormals, but I guess I was hoping this wouldn't be that type. (whatever that may be) I can't say much without giving away the twist (at least to me it was a twist) Although it didn't turn out like I had originally thought it would it really wasn't a bad read at all, and I'm going to stick with the series because I want to see what happens with the characters. I want to see them grow.

One thing I did like is that I don't remember there being a love triangle in the book. To me this is always a plus because in so many YA's that seems to be a major point in the book. It's nice not to have to see the girl character (usually) try and juggle two potential loves, and then have to see her complain about it, be whiny and all that. Let's face it choosing one side is sometimes hard on us (okay and maybe also the character) We want them to have that happy ending, and not one where someone is going to get hurt.

All in all for a debut author it was good, and I look forward to reading more from her to see where she takes the story.

QUOTES:

I'll add some quotes once I can find my notebook that has them in it. :)

MY VIDEO REVIEW AS WELL: