Lies

Lies
Gone Series #3

Michael Grant

Synopsis:
Life in the FAYZ is worse than ever. The power is now off forever with the power plant destroyed and Zil's Human Crew is growing more openly antagonistic toward the "freaks" in Perdido beach. Sam is growing frustrated with the slow pace that the council is addressing the problem, and friction is growing between Sam and Astrid in particular. Sam learns that Orsay, a girl who can enter the dreams of others, claims to be able to see people outside of the FAYZ. She and her new assistant, Nerezza, are spreading the news that it is safe to "poof" at fifteen, that it brings you back into the real world. Eventually, a vision shows her that death is another way out. When the council hears of this, they try to hush it up, scared that kids are really committing suicide. However, the real trouble, as usual, comes from Caine. Caine and the Coates kids are starving, but Bug knows of an island that should be stocked with enough food for months. Caine manipulates Zil to begin a fire through the town as a diversion to escape, and for Sam, Edilio, and the rest of Perdido Beach, the trouble is only beginning...

My Thoughts:
Sorry for the rather poor synopsis, I read this book and the next, Plague, back to back, so the details run together and I kept thinking of the plot of Plague, not Lies. I would have blogged before starting, but I was on a weekend trip without a computer. Anyway, I was happy to see that the gaiaphage really is alive still, because it really seemed way too simple in the previous book. The way Sam kind of looses control in this book kind of freaked me out; I didn't think he was capable of such hostility. As we learn more about Little Pete, it seems to pose more questions than answers. It is hard to tell sometimes if he is even against or for the Darkness. I also wonder if it is really true that the people who die or poof just appear outside, or if it was a vision that the Darkness wanted Orsay to see in order to manipulate others. My guess is that it was to manipulate, especially the way that Brittany described its relationship with the wall, but the fact that there really were parents and TV crews outside when Pete made the wall go away temporarily does make you wonder if it were true or not. I'd say that this book may have been better than Hunger, but it was a lot more depressing.

Questions for Thought:
1. Were you on the council, would you try to keep Orsay quiet, or let her speak, not knowing if she is telling the truth or not?

2. How should Zil be taken care of? He is an obvious problem, but how could it be done fairly and without making him a martyr?

3. What really happens when you poof?

4. Do you think that the darkness can be destroyed? How?

5. What do you think would happen to the FAYZ if Little Pete died?

6. With new hardships to face, would you leave the FAYZ or stay? Does this differ from your previous answers? Why?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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1984

1984

George Orwell

Synopsis:
Winston is not the same as most of the people in 1984. Winston, despite being a member of the Outer Party, has committed serious thoughtcrime, and when, not if, he is caught, he knows he will be killed. Winston is a member of the Ministry of Truth, or Minitrue in Newspeak, and he works to correct the past to make sure the Party was always right, that Big Brother always made the correct predictions, and that all who were vaporized could never have existed. Unlike most truely orthodox employees of the Inner and Outer Parties, Winston secretly wants to rebell, thinking that things used to be better in the world and Big Brother is lying. Winston starts keeping a Diary of his thoughts, but to whom he does not know. As he puts it, "Either the future would resemble the present, in which case it would not listen to him: or it would be different from it, and his predicament would be meaningless."Still, Winston has hope. One day, a young worker in the fiction department slips Winston a note reading only "I LOVE YOU". Soon after, they find a way to secretly meet beyond the reach of the omnipresent telescreens and the dreaded Thought Police. As their relationship grows, Winston becomes more and more desperate to find a way to rebel, but he knows that every step he takes is a step closer to death...

My Thoughts:
This story is deep. The entire time I was reading, Winston was making very philosophical theories about humanity and, especially toward the end, contemplating the existence of reality itself which the Party seems to override. The book was very good, however I would recommend reading it at a slower pace than all in one day so you truly can enjoy it instead of rushing through like I had to for my English report. This is definitely a book that young adults should read, not only since it has many good themes throughout but also since it makes you think a lot. Personally, since it was such a deep book with very formal and elaborate language, I would recommend reading it again at some point to try and understand more of the undertones of the story that may have been lost the first time through. This kind of story always leaves me thinking about it for a long time afterward, and it is obvious as to why this is considered a classic.

Questions for Thought:
1. Why is the society described in 1984 possible or impossible to appear in the future?

2. Winston describes the proles as being humans while the members of the Party are not. What, in your opinion, makes this distinction?

3. In his book, Goldstein seems to imply that a utopian society could be eventually created if the upper and middle classes were willing. Do you think that a classless society where everyone has the things they need is possible?

4. Winston believes that he is the last true man. Obviously there are others being tortured in the Ministry of Love, but most cases seem to be significantly less extreme than Winston's. Do you think that his assumption is true?

5. Will the proles ever gain enough desire and intelligence to overthrown the Party, or to even know they should?

6. Could such a society as the one created by the Party ever seem like a utopia for those living their? Once Newspeak is perfected and people can never truelly commit thoughtcrime, this seems to be the intent of the Party.


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Hunger

Hunger
Gone Series #2

Michael Grant

Synopsis:
Everyone over the age of 15 has disappeared from the town of Perdido Beach. One moment they were there, and the next, nothing remained but empty space. That was months ago. Since then, Sam has taken control of Perdido Beach and driven out Caine and his band of power-hungry Coates kids. Even though this victory seemed to lighten everyone's mood, when the food supply dwindles, kids start to get desperate. Ridiculous fights about who can watch what movie or when people should go to bed plague Sam and push him to the breaking point. Unfortunately for Sam, now is not a good time to rest. Caine is on the move again. This time, he hopes to control the power plant, regulating who gets electricity and who doesn't. Sam knows a fight is coming, but with little morale, Lana the healer missing, and the "normal" kids beginning to rial against the "freaks", the fight will be harder than ever.

My Thoughts:
Once again, a great book in the Gone series, but not quite as good as the first. This may be because the first has a slightly more positive outlook, but I felt that the ending of this one seemed to easy, and the sacrifice too meaningless. Had it ended in a greater climax, I think it would have been better. Still, the book was great. New characters were introduced, and old characters developed even more under new amounts of pressure. Sam is starting to crumble both physically and emotionally, which saddens me because he was such a strong figure in the first book, even with his reluctance to take power. Really, this extra weakness makes things more suspenseful than the first, and this book continued the demand for the next in the series. It drove me crazy having to wait to start Lies until after I finished 1984 for an English assignment.

Questions for Thought:
1. How would you try to combat the zekes and get the food from the fields?

2. What is the best way to deal with Zil and the HC?

3. Is the idea of money a good one, or should everything be kept free? Or is a bartering system better? How would your system be set up compared to Albert's?

4. Knowing you were the only person who could heal people, would you risk your life to combat the Darkness?

5. Now that Caine has shown cooperation with Sam, how should Sam proceed with their relationship?

6. With new hardships to face, would you leave the FAYZ or stay? Does this differ from your previous answer? Why?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Book of the Month - April 2011

The Book of the Month award for April 2011 goes to...

...Everfound by Neal Shusterman!

Well, this one wasn't a hard choice for once. Had I not read Everfound, it would have been, but I must say, this book blew me away. After I was done reading, I really couldn't think about anything but the book for the rest of the night, and only a truly great book will do that. Really, I shouldn't be surprised, because Neal Shusterman has done that before with Unwind, but for different reasons.

Everfound was so complicated and had so many plot twists to keep the suspense up, there was no way it couldn't win the Book of the Month. The entire Skinjacker seires was good, and as each book was released, it kept getting better, something that just doesn't happen. I can't wait for it to actually be released so you all can read it, too!

I also must give a shout-out to Gone, because had I finished it two days later, it possibly could have earned its own Book of the Month award, but it just couldn't quite compete with Everfound. So while you wait for Everfound to be released, you can read Gone!

Please leave any comments on the book, or your personal book of the month as well!

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Gone

Gone
Gone Series #1

Michael Grant

Synopsis:
Everyone over the age of 15 has disappeared from the town of Perdido Beach. One moment they were there, and the next, nothing remained but empty space. At first, everything seems like a big party. Kids run around the town, eating as much ice cream and candy as they want with nobody to stop them, but Sam knows this won't last. After an incident where Sam runs into a burning building to try and save a stranded girl, he becomes a hero figure, looked up to by all of the kids in the town. Soon, Sam and his friends Quinn and Astrid go and explore the area, looking around for any adults. They find a strange, glassy wall that surrounds the town that shocks you at the touch and is unbreakable. Also, animals are beginning to develop strange mutations, and a few kids are developing unnatural powers. When a group of kids from a private school march into town and take control, Sam and his friends know something isn't right. After harsh discipline is enforced, resulting in the death of an innocent girl, Sam knows that he has to fight back and be the hero everyone wants him to be...

My Thoughts:
I'm sorry that that synopsis doesn't really give the book the exciting advertisement that it deserves, because this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It combines many elements of some of my recent favorite books: the special abilities of certain characters like in I Am Number Four, the society of only younger kids like the Skinjacker Trillogy or The Enemy, the strange barrier/alternate universe like Pathfinder, panicked hoarding of supplies like in Empty, as well as many other similarities. The similarities were definitely different enough from those other books that it didn't feel like a repeat of something I had already read, but it was fun to make some of those connections. The characters in the book were very realistic, having enough flaws for their strengths. Nobody is too good to be true. The rapid mutations of both people and animals keep changing the boundaries of the normal world, leading to a twisty plot line. Many questions posed in the book are not answered, hopefully to be answered in the later books of the series. The book was very suspenseful, and even though it was pretty long, I finished it in a day and a half, and then immediately purchased the sequel and began reading it. If that doesn't show you that it is a great book, I don't know what does.

Questions for Thought:
1. Hearing someone in the burning building, how would you approach the situation? Would you barge in like Sam, or would you get a hose and ladder like Edillio?

2. Would you try to help organize the kids in the FAYZ, or would you let someone else take the responsibility?

3. If you had the power, would you share it with anyone?

4. How would you set up rules in the town? What would you do for punishment?

5. Were you Sam, would you ever be able to really trust Quinn again?

6. Knowing that there is a choice, would you leave the FAYZ or stay?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Against Nature

Against Nature

John Nelson

Synopsis:
A deadly plague has struck the planet, and nobody is sure what it is. Thousands are dying every day, and everyone that is infected will die. The United States rallies its top minds to try and combat the disease, but when research starts, the scientists are stumped. The pathogen seems to be neither bacteria, virus, or any other known organism! One radical scientist, Serena Salus, believes that the organism is an extra-terrestrial "mite" that was brought from a recent space mission, but the U.S. government refuses to publicize this theory, telling everyone that it is a genetically engineered disease from Pakistan that was spread by terrorists. Even as Dr. Salus makes progress, her team is being targeted as anarchists and their research is kept secret. When Dr. Salus discovers a plan that will only give the cure to the American elite, she has to make the extremely difficult choice of continuing with the research to save only the elite, or take her findings and run from a corrupt system...

My Thoughts:
Against Nature came to my attention recently by the author, John Nelson, posting on my blog. After reading the short description and an excerpt from the publisher's website, I was hooked. Against Nature is very different from most of the dystopian novels I have read, but its unique approach was refreshing. The main difference in this novel is that the characters are all adults, and usually genius scientists or military and governmental personnel. The way that the adults in the story are all scared by the disease makes the panic in the book even more real than when kids are scared in other such books, since adults usually are the strong, protective figures. Also, the suspense in this story came from the gradual corruption of politics and social relations between characters instead of action scenes. While some may call the lack of "action" boring, the book made me think a lot about human nature. Since Dr. Salus and Adam are both very intellectual characters, they frequently discuss their views on society. One such discussion in particular, when they discuss whether "good" and "evil" actions really exist, really got me thinking about human actions. Also, the internal debate in Dr. Salus about whether to give the U.S. the cure or not posed many ethical questions. This book did a great job at making the reader think. Another good aspect of the book is that it was very believable. Though I would hope our government would take different paths than the ones taken in the book, if such a disease ravaged our country tomorrow I could see similar events really happening, even though they seem extreme in the book. The shifting perspective from character to character was very effective in showing how the situation in America deteriorated, and what different people wanted to do based on their own interests. My only "complaint" about the changing point of view is that it was somewhat unclear when a shift in view took place, but I did get used to it as the book went on. Overall, this was a really great book that should be enjoyed by teens and adults alike.

NOTE: I must add that this book contained a large amount of swearing, so younger readers may want to select a different book. Personally, I tune the cursing out, but it may bother other readers.

Questions for Thought:
1. How would you plan to distribute a cure/vaccine to the disease, knowing that there may not be enough for everyone?

2. If you found out that you were infected, what would you do with your remaining days?

3. How would you try to survive in the anarchy that ensued from the pandemic?

4. Would you be able to walk out of the research facility with the cure, knowing that people were dying because you didn't think that you were giving the cure to the right person?

5. How do you think the world would recover from such a disease, if at all?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Incarceron

Incarceron

Catherine Fisher

Synopsis:
Finn can remember only his life in Incarceron, but he is determined he came from the outside. Most of the other inmates have accepted their fate to live in the eternal prison, built to house their troublesome ancestors, but Finn has flashes of his past, visions of trees, lakes, and the stars in the sky. When Finn finds a key that allows him to communicate to a girl outside the prison, he takes his oathbrother Keiro, his mentor Gildas, and a rescued slave on an attempt to break out of the extensive prison, a task easier said then done, for Incarceron is not like ordinary prisons. Incarceron is alive, watching Finn and his friends every step of their journey and doing everything it can to prevent their escape.

My Thoughts:
This book was very hard to get into, but it was worth it once I did. The start is very confusing and vague, and explanations came much later, if at all. When reading a description of the book, you read of a prison escape, and the very abstract nature of Incarceron is confusing at first, but make for a very intriguing story, making Incarceron a character as much as a place. Also, the dual worlds (Incarceron and the Outside) can be hard to get used to at first, but the transition is comfortable after a few chapters. The outside world is just as complex as Incarceron with the Era and Protocol restrictions. The way that characters live dual lives, living in the past in front of others and in the future when alone, complicates the world immensely, making you wonder how and why such restrictions would be put in place. Since many of these questions remain unanswered, the reader can make their own version of the world based on the facts they do know. The plot twists in the real world, mainly the politics between the Queen and the Warden about the future of Claudia are very intriguing, making me wonder how much similar scheming went on in the past, or even goes on today. These schemes to put different people in power combined with the struggles of Finn, Keiro, Gildas, and Attia in Incarceron create a very suspenseful balance of politics and adventure that make this story a real page turner once you get going.

Questions for Thought:
1. Were you Keiro, would you believe Finn that he was born outside Incarceron?

2. How many of the stories about Sapphique do you think are true? Was he truely a widely known hero, or was his tale of escape blown way out of proportion?

3. Would it be possible to turn a prison into a utopia, like Incarceron was meant to be?

4. What are the benefits or drawbacks for changing life to a past era?

5. Could Finn, someone who has been in prison all of his memorable life, ever be a decent ruler?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Everfound

Everfound
Skinjacker Trillogy
Book 3

Neal Shusterman

Thank You!
Before my summary and review, I must thank Neal Shusterman himself for the Advance Reviewer Copy of Everfound that he sent me. When I found out that I had won the free copy on Facebook, it was all I wanted to talk about for a week. I literally checked my front porch every day after I found out I had won the book to see if it had arrived, and when it finally did, I dropped everything and started reading, finishing the 500 page book in two days. This book was phenomenal, thank you very much for the chance to read it early! (Don't worry, for the rest of you, Everfound will be available in early May.)

Synopsis:
The stakes in Everlost are higher than ever. Mary Hightower has devised a cunning plan to bring millions of children into Everlost, "saving" them from the terrors of the living world, and her only opposition is divided and weak. Milos and the rest of Mary's children await the resurrection of their idol, and start reaping hundreds of new souls into Everlost. While they wait, alliances start weakening and tension grows between Milos, Jackin' Jill, and Furjacker Jix. Even when it looks like Mary's scheme is going to fall apart, she unexpectedly wakes up months before she is scheduled to. The emergence of the "Eastern Witch" quickly stirs things up, and as characters lose their worth in her eyes, a new band of resistance forms. Together, Allie, Nick, Mikey, Jill, Jix, and the terrifying scar wraith Clarence must stop Mary before she destroys the living world forever...

My Thoughts:
Neal Shusterman has created a masterpiece with this epic finale to the Skinjacker Trillogy. With a whole cast of new characters added to the mix, a whole new series of complications and alliances form, all with conflicting feelings and goals. The novel is a page-turner from the very beginning to the bittersweet end. Shuterman has managed to reverse the usual tendency of a series to start with the best book and gradually go downhill, ending the Skinjacker Trillogy with the best installment yet. Throughout the book, the nature of Everlost is questioned both through inanimate objects and living (and dead) characters. Objects such as the Wurltzer with its powers of foresight complicate the story line, making you wonder if it really is chance or if there is some greater power controlling it. Abilities of certain characters, most obviously Clarence the scar wraith, also make you wonder how and why certain powers in Everlost exist. The complex world of Everlost will never be able to be fully understood, but this fact only adds appeal to the story. In the same way, the complexity of the characters grows in this story, even with new characters. I felt like I knew each character by the end of the story, and it was sad to say goodbye. The emotions of all of the characters were so strong and realistic that I couldn't help but feel for them, cheering them on in their victories and having my heart drop when they failed. The way that emotion and willpower is so powerful in Everlost really makes the story intriguing, but when you think about it, willpower can have just as drastic results in our world if it is strong enough. The depth and complexity of this story really made it stand out, leading it near, if not to, the top of my favorites list.

Questions for Thought:
1. If you chose to be a furjacker, what kind of animal would you choose to inhabit?

2. Do you think that if someone doesn't believe in the power of scar wraiths that they will disappear?

3. What do you think the deadliest power in Everlost is? The most helpful?

4. Would you be able to kill the comatose bodies of Mary's skinjackers to prevent their evil deeds?

5. Do you think Nick will ever be ready to leave Everlost?

6. Were you a skinjacker, would you be brave enough to skinjack your own body and abandon Everlost forever?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Product Review: Kindle and eBook Readers

I said I would make a post reviewing my thoughts about my Kindle a long time ago, and here it is.

For a long time, I was very opposed to eBook readers. In my opinion, books were meant to be ink on paper, not light from a screen. I unknowingly accused all readers of having bright, computer-like screens that would hurt my eyes after a few short minutes of reading, and I feared that the batteries would die in just a few hours, whereas a book never needs to be charged.

Last December, I was at Barnes and Noble when the new Nook Color was on display. A salesman began talking to my mom (a librarian) and I about the cool features. We checked out both the old Nook and the Nook color and were rather impressed. The original Nook had an E-Ink screen, which really makes the screen look like a printed book. (Friends who have seen my Kindle with its E-Ink screen think that it is off because it really doesn't look like an electronic screen.) A cool feature with the Nook is that it did have a color touchscreen at the bottom of the device for navigation. The Nook Color was all a touchscreen with color, so it looked very sharp, and it also had some other applications aside from books. Since I have an iPhone, many of these extra apps would be extraneous, and since the battery life was shorter, though still around 8 hours, I liked the original Nook better. By the time we were ready to leave, I was convinced that I wanted a Nook for Christmas. The only thing I didn't like was that the display reset that is necessary for an E-Ink screen bothered me. (This reset causes a black "flash" when you turn the page.)

When we got home, my mom and I started looking up other types of eBook readers, even though I was sure I wanted the Nook. There were many varieties of readers, but it quickly became clear that there were really only two that would be useful to me: the Barnes and Noble Nook and the Amazon Kindle. These two readers have significantly larger selections of books than most other readers, and in general, the books were cheaper. The only other option we considered was an iPad, but once again I had a good computer and an iPhone, so the other iPad uses would have little impact on me, and once again battery life and screen type were disadvantages for reading. Also, the iPad is many times as expensive. When looking online, the Amazon Kindle began to gain ground on the Nook. The Kindle Store has the largest selection of eBooks available at the current time, and it had a longer battery life. The Kindle lacked the small color touchscreen, but it had a small keyboard for easy searching in the Kindle Store.

In the end, it was a very close call, but I wound up getting the Kindle. One option I did not choose was to get the Kindle 3G, which is slightly more expensive initially, but there is no cost to access 3G networks to download books anywhere. As nice as this feature is, I thought I rarely would need to download a book away from home, which has continued to hold true.

As I have said many times since receiving my Kindle, I absolutely love it. It is very light and is smaller than most books that I read on it would be in print, so it saves space even by having one book on it, let alone 30+ like I do now. Though not all books are available in eBook format, many are and those that aren't are constantly being added. It is also very convenient to simply go on the Amazon website and choose a few books to download instead of having to drive to the store to get a book. Also, eBooks are frequently 50% off, and occasionally more! Many of the classics are free to download, and those that aren't usually cost a dollar or less. Another silly advantage is that you will never lose your place in a book again! The device remembers where you are. Even if you start reading on your eBook reader, then pick up on your computer, and then come back to the reader, as long as you are connected to the internet your spot will be automatically updated to the last page read.

I would STRONGLY recommend an eBook reader to anyone who even just occasionally reads. They are much more convenient than traditional books, and in the long run can be cheaper. For those who are looking to go "green", they obviously save a LOT of paper. I would recommend looking at both the Nook and the Kindle, because each have perks, but I would be hesitant to recommend other devices since the Kindle and Nook have drastically larger stores.

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Blog Update on a new Mac!

Hey Everyone! Long time, no...uh....read? Eh, you get the point...

I realized the other day that I had not done a Blog Update in AGES, so I thought I'd say hello! Not too much blog stuff to talk about today, so I guess I'll just have to randomly ramble for a few minutes about whatever pops into my head.

First, I guess I should explain the title of the post. As it was recently my B-Day, I got a new computer! It is my first Mac and I LOVE it! It runs super fast and has all sorts of neat features. It was sad saying goodbye to my trusty Dell, but the sadness didn't last for long. :)

In other news, I won an advance copy of Neal Shusterman's Everfound! I hope it will arrive sometime next week, but I really have no idea. And don't worry, you will only have to wait a few more weeks before you can get it. Also on the topic of Shusterman, I was intrigued by one of his recent facebook posts. Mr. Shusterman was going to be contributing to an anthology, and he learned that one author's story was rejected because it contained a male-male romance. In response, Mr. Shusterman is writing his story as a male-male romance, but in a very interesting way.

Okay, so here's the concept of the short story I plan to write. Due to all the gender-related troubles of the day, in the future, gender isn't assigned until the teenage years, when people can choose for themselves. Two teens deeply in love choose - one male, one female -- but due to a clerical error, they both end up as male, and it can't be undone. Now they're left to deal with it...

The story, to be titled "A Matter of Personal Pronoun", is very intriguing, and has caused heated debate on Shusterman's facebook page. I personally am not going to be sharing my opinion on this topic, as not to offend anyone, but I think that this story will include the issue of gay relationships in a very interesting and new way, no matter what your personal opinions are on the topic. If you would like to see the posts about this story, see Neal Shusterman's facebook page.

In other news, I have officially heard that the Hunger Games is going to be a movie! I am not really excited about this, because I am VERY nervous that they are going to mess up this great story. If done well, this movie could be AMAZING and VERY powerful, but based on most book-inspired movies, I am doubtful that this will happen. Oh well, there is nothing I can do about it but hope that they do the movie right. I will keep you updated as I find out more info.

Alright, here is the part where I need YOUR help! That's right, I'm talking to YOU! Right now, 90% of my book recommendations come from the Amazon recommendations based on previous purchases, but there are obviously limitations from a computer choosing my books. Since you are reading my blog, you probably like books at least similar to the things I like, otherwise it would be a slight waste of time. (Unless you just like my fantastic writing, which is understood.) My request is for you to recommend some books for me! I still have a few in my wish list on Amazon, as well as a few on my bookshelf that I want to read, but suggestions from you all would be greatly appreciated! Plus, I just like hearing from you ! There are many ways to talk to me: leaving comments on this (or any) post here on my blog, post on the Corey's Book Talk facebook page, or mention @CoreysBookTalk in a tweet! I try hard to check all of these places frequently, even if I do not post frequently. I love getting into extended book talks with people, and that is what this blog is for! Don't be afraid to leave comments on posts; it makes my day every time I see new comments to moderate!

Well, I think that is about all I have to say for now. (And I actually wound up talking about book-related stuff! Miracles happen!) As usual, keep checking up on twitter and facebook for updates, feel free to give any suggestions for books to read, new types of posts for the blog, or any other new blog features, and keep reading!

- Corey

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Ship Breaker

Ship Breaker

Paolo Bacigalupi

Synopsis:
Due to catastrophic global warming and poor management of natural resources, ocean levels have risen extremely high, putting all previous coastal cities and towns underwater, the worst storms seen in the history of Earth crash against the coast, and the world is out of its precious oil. Now, the division between the rich and poor is huge, and for Nailer, this means a life of hard work with little chance of escaping poverty. Nailer is a member of a Light Crew, a group of small kids that clambers around the duct work of old, beached ships, looking for copper wiring or other precious metals that can be sold to make new, environmentally friendly ships called Clippers. One day, the duct Nailer was crawling in breaks, dropping him into a pool of oil. When another of his crew comes looking, she is content to let him drown, hoping that she will be able to smuggle the oil out later, a risky process that can make you very rich. Luckily, Nailer finds a door under the oil and manages to escape this horrible death. That night, the worst storm Nailer has ever seen ravages the beach, causing him and his friend, Pima, to take shelter in a cave for three long days. When the storm is gone, the beach has been totally destroyed, and they are out of work for a few days. With nothing to do, the pair go and explore an island one day, and to their surprise they find a Clipper bashed up against the rocks! The two start taking everything they can carry with the hopes of becoming rich, but when they find a living girl inside that says she can offer them a reward for her safe return to her parents, Nailer and Pima have a difficult decision to make.
Read the first chapter here!

My Thoughts:
This story did a lot of what I wanted Empty to do with the catastrophe that would most likely ensue if the world ran out of oil. The way that the poor are treated and the limited options they have show that it really is a crisis that nobody prepared for. There seems to be no government, only rich companies that control the people by buying, or refusing to buy, their goods. Also, the whole psychological element with everyone, even the kids, being willing to kill each other to gain a few more dollars. Another interesting element was the genetic engineering of the Half-men. Even though many people would be willing to take jobs, they create people that are genetically altered to be faster, stronger, and more loyal to do work for the elite. From what I got from the book, there was a lot of weird biological practices going on, showing that not all technology has disappeared. The futuristic society portrayed in this book is very complicated, and quite frankly very scary, seeing that it is possible that we could end up this way. The overall society is what really impressed me with the book, but it also had a very strong storyline and the characters were very believable. One of my favorite characters was probably Tooth, just because his existence itself is interesting, as well as the fact that he, unlike the rest of his kind, has no master.

Questions for Thought:
1. Were you Nailer and had fallen into the oil, would you have tried to still smuggle some out once you found the door?

2. How do you think Tooth came to have no master?

3. Would you have killed Nita immediately and smuggled as much of the scavenge away as possible to sell later?

4. Do you think that Nailer will get his reward or a job on the Clipper? Or will he just be left on his beach now that Nita has been returned?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Book of the Month - March 2011

The Book of the Month award for March 2011 goes to...

...The Enemy by Charlie Higson!

You would think that with only two books to choose from this month that the choice of Book of the Month would be really easy, but I think that this has been the hardest one to decide on for a while, and I'm still not even 100% sure that this is the right choice.

The thing that edged this book out over Pathfinder was that the story was faster and the characters were more believable. I liked Pathfinder more in the fact that it made me think more, but sometimes Rigg's exceptional ability to deal with adult situations seemed a little too far, kind of like Paul in Frank Herbert's Dune. In The Enemy, the characters all had many faults and acted like young teens. On the other hand, The Enemy was definitely a teen-oriented book, whereas Pathfinder could be enjoyed by an older audience as well. As a teen looking for a fun book to read, I would have to say that The Enemy just edges out Pathfinder, even though Pathfinder may be considered to have more literary worth.

Expect a short Blog Update in the coming days!

Please leave any comments on the book, or your personal book of the month as well!

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The Enemy

The Enemy

Charlie Higson

Synopsis:
Nearly a year ago, everyone over the age of sixteen caught a terrible disease that either killed them or began rotting their bodies, turning them into mindless cannibals, wanting nothing more than to eat the children they once knew and loved. Arran and Maxie have been trying to keep a group of kids alive in the shelter of an old shopping center, but supplies in the nearby buildings are running out, and the bloodthirsty Grown-Ups are getting more and more daring, snatching a kid nearly once a week. When a stranger shows up at their gates claiming to be from a safe haven, filled with food and medicine, the group decides that it is time to move on. But when what should have been a few hour trek to the fabled safe Buckingham Palace is stopped by an army of grown-ups, the kids realize things are worse than they ever thought...

My Thoughts:
Any more, because of games like Call of Duty, killing zombies has been the hot topic, but mainly for gamers. When I saw this book, it looked like I would get some of the action form these games along with actual plot line and character development, and I wasn't disappointed. All of the main characters in the book are very well thought out; none are created as the "perfect character", everyone has enough faults for skills. Also, there was a good balance of action and discussion. Even durring some of the action, thoughts from characters like Maxie who have a more peace-desiring perspective keep it from being all blood-and-gore battles. The book was also very realistic in that main characters die. It sucks, especially because it starts happening quickly, but in life the good guys don't always live. I do wish that there was a little more time to get attached to the characters before they died, but because of the pace of the story, I think that the author did the best that they could. The interactions between characters and the way that the reader sees the different characters' viewpoints of each other does help make up for the lack of time to develop, because you can get an all-around picture of the character. I'm glad that even though you find out that Arran and Maxie liked each other that it didn't really change the way they acted, because in that kind of situation a relationship would be impractical, but I am also hopeful that Blue and Maxie will become more than friends. I just don't want it to turn into another Empty. The final thing that I really liked about the story is that there were many references to current TV shows, games, music, and other items of pop culture. At least for now, it makes the story seem more tangible to the reader. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was very well balanced, and I hope to be able to get my hands on the companion novel, The Dead, very soon!

Questions for Thought:
1. Had the sickness just taken hold and all of the grownups began going crazy, where would you go? Would you try to meet up with friends? Would you hole up in a house, a store, or hit the road and escape to the rural areas?

2. What do you think your most valuable skill would be if something like this happened?

3. Would you vote to head to the country, head to Buckingham Palace, or stay at the Waitrose? Why?

4. Do you think that the museum will be any better than Buckingham Palace?

5. Based on what happened to Nick, do you think that the kids will eventually get the disease once they get old enough?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Pathfinder

Pathfinder
Pathfinder Series 1

Orson Scott Card

Synopsis:
For as long as he can remember, Rigg has been able to see the paths of every animal that has ever lived. He lives with his father in the woods, constantly being tutored, quizzed, and tested over many skills that seem useless for their trade as trappers. But when Rigg's father is mortally wounded by a falling tree, he tells Rigg to journey to the ancient capital of the wallfold to meet a sister Rigg never knew he had. Rigg leaves the small town he occasionally called home with a friend, Umbo, who also has a special gift: the ability to speed up a person's mind, making time appear to slow down. When Rigg and Umbo try cashing in some of Rigg's inheritance to get travelling money, Rigg learns a startling secret about his true identity that puts his life in grave danger...
Read the first three chapters here!

My Thoughts:
This was an absolutely AWESOME book. Many people are familiar with Card's Ender's Game book/series, which is well known science fiction that deals with aliens. This science fiction story, at least in my opinion, is much better and applicable to people. At the beginning of each chapter, you follow (for a few paragraphs) the space journey of Ram, a commander that is the first human to attempt to reach light-speed and bend space and time to reach a destination 31 light-years away, instantly. I am in Physics class this year, so I have heard a few of the theories about why or why not this is considered possible. I love contemplating these kinds of scenarios, and with the special abilities of characters make it more so. Once Rigg and Umbo learn to time travel, another interesting theoretical ability is brought into question. As I said with The Tomorrow Code, I love considering the possibilities and impossibilities of time travel and the paradoxes that ensue, so this book was right up my alley. I was able to make many predictions that came true throughout the book, and I like when the author gradually leads the reader to an assumption that is later stated as correct without making it obvious. The book definitely made me think, but it was also a very enjoyable story, and I am excited for the continuation of the story!

Questions for Thought:
1. Which of the special abilities in the story do you think is the most useful?

2. Were you Loaf and realized that the boy in your tavern had a ton of wealth on him, would you help him and risk your own safety?

3. If you were Rigg, would you try to escape from the hands of the Council, simply let them do what they want with you, or try to find a way to become king?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Book vs. Movie - I Am Number Four

Well, as I just mentioned on my twitter feed (yeah, it's still there....even though I forget....) I saw the movie for I Am Number Four today! This is my first Book vs. Movie in a LONG time, so I might set things up differently for now, see how I like it, and stick to it in the future.

Movie Review
Overall, the movie itself was decent. I think that had you not read the book, things could be kind of confusing, but not so bad that you couldn't follow the story. The movie seemed kind of rushed, so you didn't really get attached to the characters (I am mainly referring to Henri), but the high school kids did a great job as acting like high school kids. Especially Sam. The movie didn't have terribly intense fight scenes, the main characters were usually able to win without much trouble. (One funny thing was that John has the same text ring-tone that I do, so the first few times that he got a text, I checked my pocket before realizing that it was his phone, not mine.)

The Good
The only actor that really seemed to fit the look of the character was Sam. He definitely looked the right age, talked like a high school student, and was good at being picked on. He didn't wear his NASA shirt or his dad's glasses, but those are minor details.

I am very glad that they started the movie with the death of Number Three. I'm not meaning to sound morbid, but this was an effective beginning to the book, and I'm glad that the movie kept it. They messed up a few details, but every movie will.

The haunted hay ride was pretty good. It was supposed to have more people on the ride, and the fight was supposed to last a little longer, but it was one of the more accurate scenes.

My last thing to add is that I LOVED Bernie Kosar (The dog, not the poster. Come on, that should be obvious.) I am definitely a dog person, so the happy little dog following John made me happy. (I didn't like his morph to the giant dog monster though.)

The Bad and the Ugly
I must say that the choice in actors was very poor in this movie. Not that they did a bad job, but they didn't look the part. John was supposed to be fifteen years old, just a sophomore in high school, and he looked like he should be a sophomore or older in COLLEGE. Personally, I pictured him being a little less muscular, a LOT less popular, and obviously much younger.

Henri should have been older and in my opinion, bigger. Not like fat, but just big. Also, he and John needed to be much closer to each other.

Sarah just wasn't what I pictured. I'm not sure how to describe how she looked, but something was off for me in her character. Also, she was supposed to be more popular in general. As for her personality, she should have been less mysterious and more outgoing, friendly, and open about her feelings.

Number Six wasn't the worst character, but she was trying to be way to cool/sexy. I definitely pictured her on that side of the spectrum, but it was overdone. She needed to be more normal and a little less rude.

That is about it for me ranting on characters.

I am really frustrated that they gave NO back-story on Lorien. John and Henri were supposed to have the dreams about it as well as frequently talk about it. Also, the two had very little training time, and John lacked a few legacies....that was a very bad mistake.

The fact that Henri died early really bothered me, but not as much as if would have if they actually developed him as a character in the movie to make the viewer actually care about him! In the book I was crushed, but in the movie I didn't really care.

Aside from the whole story being rushed, and the movie could have added another 45 minutes without being too long, my main disappointment was the final battle with the Mogadorians. The only thing I liked about the way they were portrayed were the awesome coats. Those are exactly what I pictured, but as for the weird tatoos and nose slits, I'm not buying it. I saw them as big, and still probably bald, but their eyes to me were dark and they had big red marks around their eyes, like they got punched really hard by some tough Lorien. And their monsters were pathetic. Honestly?!?!?! They were big, mutant bats! To me, they were like giant, three-story tall humanoid beasts that were incredibly strong but not particularly smart or agile. And Bernie Kosar was supposed to be a giant lizard if I remember correctly. The whole fight scene was WAY too short and left out a TON. This could have made the movie, but they messed it up.

Closing Thoughts
When I left the movie, I really thought it was okay, as a movie. As I sit here and remember all of the things they screwed up, I am liking it less and less. Many things that I didn't even mention for the sake of time were left out of the movie or just not explained. I think that someone who hasn't read the book would be a little confused, and those that have will be disappointed. Will I watch it again? Yeah, most likely. I love the story enough that even a messed up variation makes me happy, but I would rather just get the next book.

Hope you enjoyed the post, and please tell me what you thought of the movie!

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Candor

Candor

Pam Bachorz

Synopsis:
Candor is the worlds only perfect town. Every lawn is always mowed, people are never late to work, and everyone knows each other. All kids excel at school, do their chores, and are courteous all of the time. The town's founder, Campbell Banks, is very proud of his town, and especially of his son, Oscar, the town's most gifted student who everyone wishes their child could be like. What Mr. Banks doesn't know is that Oscar is trying to rebel as much as he can. Oscar knows the town's secret: the music that plays throughout the town is filled with messages that brainwash your subconscious, making every citizen into one of the crowd, not an individual. Oscar has figured out how to resist, and he know sells this talent to rich kids to get them out of Candor before it is too late. One day, a new girl moves into town, and captures Oscar's heart with her rebellious attitude. Oscar is torn between trying to get her out before she loses herself to Candor, or keeping her for himself. When Oscar starts breaking his facade as the perfect student, people begin to get suspicious, and his cover is nearly blown...

My Thoughts:
This was a very hard synopsis to write well, so I am afraid it does not do this book justice. This was a VERY good book, one of the best I read this month. Even though the book was rather easy-going, I was hooked and hated when I had to stop reading. The concept of the perfect town sounds so wonderful to many people, but the way that it happens here in Candor is very disturbing. It reminds of The Compound in the way that I almost believe that Mr. Banks is somewhat mentally twisted like Eli's father. I ran into this website made by either the author or the publishing company about Candor that I though was very cool and worth checking out: http://www.candorfl.com/ By the end of the book, the action is very intense, and I must warn you that the ending is VERY sad.

NOTE: This book did have some brief sexual references, so it should be cautioned against younger readers.

Questions for Thought:
1. Were you Oscar and you found out about the brainwashing, would you leave, or stay?

2. Would you just ignore Nia and let her meld into the community, get her out immediatly, tell her about the messages and try to help her resist, or run away with her? Or another option?

3. Do you think that the messages would be ethical in any situation?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Book of the Month - February 2011

The Book of the Month award for February 2011 goes to...

...I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore!

This book, as I believe I said in my review, was one that was very adamantly recommended to my by Amazon.com based on previous purchases, but I was very hesitant to read it. As it turns out, it was VERY good (obviously, since it is the book of the month) and I am very disappointed that it is going to be a few more months for the sequel to come out. The story was very balanced, containing enough action, excitement, romance (if you call it that in high school), sorrow, and just normal day-to-day life. In my opinion, this balance is one of the hardest things to find in a good book.

I would like to appologize that it took me over half way through March to get this simple post up, and I really will try to get them up right at the end of the month in the future. Luckily for me, I can cheat and make the computer say that this was posted on February 28th, but I would rather not have to use this feature. One last comment is that I have not finished any books this month, but I am nearing the end of a long one, and am about a quarter of the way finished with another long one, so I should have a few reviews in the next week or two. Sorry for the three week lull.

Please leave any comments on the book, or your personal book of the month as well!

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I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four
Lorien Legacies #1

Pittacus Lore

Synopsis:
"In the beginning we were a group of nine.
Three are gone, dead.
There are six of us left.
They are hunting us, and they won't stop until they've killed us all.
I am Number Four.
I know that I am next."

Lorien was destroyed by the Mogadorians in a surprise attack that became a massacre. Only one ship was able to escape the bloodshed, carrying nine young Garde and their Cepans. The Garde develop Legacies, special powers that they use to defend Lorien, and the Cepans train them and guide them along the way. These nine were charmed so that they could only be killed in the order of their numbers, but three have been killed, and Number Four, currently known as John, knows that he is next. John and his Cepan, Henri, have moved to Paradise, Ohio, and John is not optimistic about the new town. After a few days of school, John has already sorted out his problems and made a new friend, has a girlfriend, and found a pet dog! Things are looking great, but Henri finds out that the Mogadorians are closing in. John refuses to leave his friends, and the two begin to fight. One day, Henri doesn't come home, and John knows that he is in big trouble...

My Thoughts:
Once again, I don't think that my review gave this book justice at all. I was very skeptical of this book at first, but I decided since the movie was out, I had to read it so I could give you my expert opinion on things. Okay, okay, my average opinion...but anyway, the book was WAY better than I expected! The beginning was a good story just about John's interactions at school, and the alien thing didn't seem too far fetched. It really added to the story. The book does have quite a bit of relationship stuff in it, but unlike Empty where it got in the way, the relationship actually added to the story in my opinion. It made John seem more human, so you can relate to him more. After some generally happy times, my action side was satisfied by the last 30-40% of the book with a huge fight with Mogadorians! The ending was making me look forward to future books with raised stakes, and sad that it was over. I can't wait to see the movie, but I am worried that they are going to mess it up. John already looks WAY to old in the movie, but hopefully it will be better than I expect.

Questions for Thought:
1. Do you think it would be worse being John, not knowing much about your home planet, or Henri, having to live though the loss?

2. Would you be willing to drop everything and leave all of the time like John, or would you fight Henri to stay?

3. Would you tell close friends that you are an alien? Would you trust them to keep your secret?
Movie Trailer:
http://findnumberfour.com/

Please leave your comments and answers!

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Tunnels

Tunnels
Tunnels Series #1

Roderick Gordon
Brian Williams

Synopsis:
Will Burrows and his father have always loved to dig archaeological tunnels around their town to see what they can find. Mr. Burrows works at the Highfield museum, filling it with his recent finds. One day, a man brings him a mysterious glowing orb that defies laws of chemistry by burning the brightest when exposed to the least amount of light. Mr. Burrows begins investigating the orb, but soon mysteriously disappears. Will, with the help of his friend Chester, find a secret tunnel under the Burrows' house, which must be where Mr. Burrows has wandered off to. Will and Chester head down the extensive tunnel, and they find an old elevator system. They go down, and at the bottom find an old, subterranean civilization! Unfortunately for Chester and Will, the city is still populated and they are quickly arrested, being hated "topsoilers". Soon, a family comes and claims that Will is their long lost son, taken to the surface by his deranged mother! Will is confused, but begins to learn that this new underground civilization is much more sinister than he could have expected. He knows he must find a way to get himself and Chester back to the surface before it is too late...

My Thoughts:
This is actually the second time I have read this book, and I definitely got a lot more out of it. The book was great, with many big plot twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat, especially the first time I read it. The concept of a whole civilization underground is very intriguing, and it is even more so seeing as it is where Will really comes from. The writing really makes you get attached to the characters, and this only grows as the series continues. Overall, a great book with lots of mystery and suspense.

Questions for Thought:
1. What would you think of the strange men in trenchcoats and dark glasses if they appeared in your town?

2. How would you react if your father (or guardian) mysteriously disappeared?

3. Were you Chester, would you have followed Will down the tunnel and down the elevator, not knowing what would happen?


Please leave your comments and answers!

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Empty

Empty

Suzanne Weyn

Synopsis:
The world is running out of oil. Gas prices have skyrocketed, power goes out for days at a time, and stores wait for days to be restocked. War with Venezuela begins over an oil embargo, and terrible storms caused by global warning threaten to destroy miles of coastal towns. For teens Gwen, Tom, and Niki, it seems to be the end of the world. However, even with all of the chaos, the three teens still have time for their ordinary problems. Gwen has always had a crush on Tom, but she can't seem to get him to notice her. Tom, on the other hand, is desperate to go out with Niki, who has previously been dating the star football player. Still, he does find a strange appeal toward Gwen that he can't explain. Niki is still upset from her break-up, and thinks dating Tom will make her old boyfriend jealous so they can get together again. The relationships between the main characters complicate with the situation of the dropping oil. When a super-hurricane ravages their town, a war starts with people fighting for any supplies they can get. Will the three teens be able to find a solution before the world tears itself apart?

My Thoughts:
I think that the concept of the book is a lot better than the book itself. In my opinion, the relationships took the main plot of the story with the oil crisis there just to complicate the already complicated. And the relationship things that are mentioned aren't really that special. I hear of things similar (without the oil crisis, of course) at school frequently. The parts where Weyn shows her thoughts of how society would react to the shortage of oil were way more interesting and exciting than the rest of the book. At the end, I did still feel the need to go find ways to use less gas, as a book like this should, but I think that there could have been more stress on how bad it made people's lives, not how much it complicates high school dating.

Questions for Thought:
1. If you had limited access to electricity, what would you power? Your cell phone? Laptop? Air conditioning/heating?

2. If you were Gwen and had found the house, would you keep it to yourself instead of risking getting killed for your supplies?

3. What do you think will happen when we really do run out of oil?

One quick unrelated note: Once again, I am VERY sorry that it took me this long to get the review up. Some unexpected conflicts came up, and this is becoming common. From now on, if I say a book review coming tomorrow, it may likely mean "next weekend", even though I do not wish for this to be the case.

Please leave your comments and answers!

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