Thursday, June 27, 2013

Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder

source of book: Purchased Stars: Four and a half out of five Pages: 256 Publisher: Razorbill Hazel Stone wants nothing more than to be a part of the hottest clique in school, the Pretty Little Devils. When PLD queen bee Sylvia invites Hazel to one of the group's famous soirees, Hazel is thrilled--but popularity comes with a price. ***************************************************************************************************************************************************** I read Nancy Holder before and I have to say.. I wasn't impressed. Her book that I read was written in poor taste and was a major major cliche, however---Pretty Little Devils was a murder mystery that had me guessing until the end! Even when you thought it was over, it wasn't! It held its grip on me until the very end and I finished it in only a day. It was told in the point of view of Hazel, the girl who want to become a PLD and eventually does. She quickly learns the ways of their group--purple scrunchies and babysitting jobs and their ever-so-famous pranks while watching the children. They pool together their babysitting jobs, and when ever they are sitting, someone pranks them good, followed by drinking the parents stash of alcohol. The group seems fairly innocent, until they start to get strange messages and phone calls and even emails, all threatening and creepy. It starts out with the killer killing--butchering animals, then he or she moves on to people. The PLD think that sticking together will keep them from being harmed from the psycho, but it turns out they can trust no one and no one is safe, not even the pretty little devils themselves. So? Do you think you'll guess who the killer is? I have to say that I was very impressed with this book and Ms. Holder did a very good job keeping you guessing and intrigued until the last printed word upon the page. I think this would have been a great movie, and it did become one... But not under the name Pretty Little Devils.. Its called legacy, and is based on it, I suppose but it is nothing like it, From what I've seen from the trailer. Its rated R.. Which a movie about this book shouldn't be and it takes place in college and the names are entirely different... If you've seen that movie, don't blame the book! And don't watch the movie over the book, nothing beats a good beach read during the hot summer months. Au Revoir, M.J

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love. ********************************************************************************************************************************************** Wow. I usually shy away from dystopian because I find most of them crappy, stupid, cheesy or all three. Delirium, however was a game changer. In Lena's world set in future America in Portland (Maine, mind you) Love is considered a disease that is easily cured with an operation done at the age of 18 or sooner if you are found to be infected. After this surgery, you are matched with a husband or wife and marry after college. Lena actually looks forward to her operation, wondering what it would be like, when something changes and she finds herself dreading the operation. Like every dystopian, Lena uncovers lies that will most likely lead to a revolution in the next two books. Delirium was a well, beautifully written novel that I highly suggest to anyone with a beating heart. Lauren Oliver never fails to disappoint and proves her talent in this breathtaking novel about love.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Alienated by Melissa Landers

I don't know about you, but vampires and werewolves are so last year. The new trend is not bloodsucking hormonal sparkly teenage boys, or boys who turn into wolves, but aliens! No, not the host by the crappy Stephanie Meyer, I'm talking books like Obsidian By Jennifer Armentrout and Gravity by Melissa West (the second book is expected to come out in August!) and the upcoming book in February, Alienated by Melissa Landers. Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket. Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking. But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet. Holy crap monkeys! Doesn't that sound amazing???? I cant wait until February!!!!! I don't know about you, but I am keeping a countdown till the release date!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Source of book: Library Stars: four 1/2 out of five Pages: 433 Publisher: Disney Hyperion Published date: December 18 2012 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 ************************************************************************************** The Darkest Minds is a relatively new dystopian novel written in December.
Unlike other Dystopians "cough" Gone *Cough!!!* this book does not glorify that children are great and adults are evil, and even though it shows that, it doesn't say it..not really. I really loved this book. Ruby was such a well rounded character, but she didn't know/understand somethings which happened to her which I can get because she only has a fourth grade education.. There was one part of the book that I didn't like, when you read it you will see..actually two parts. the part near the end and the ending. the ending made me want to rip Alexandra Bracken amazingly intelligent head off! She is lucky there is another book coming out, or I would have died. Ruby's been through a lot despite her sixteen years of age, and she isn't whiny or hopelessly in love like most characters now a days. There was no insta-love either which was amazing because too many books have that and it pisses me off. You will cry and scream and swoon so be prepared!