Divergent by Veronica Roth

Dystopian series have becoem all the rage and I’m now hooked on another one.  Divergent by Veronica Roth left me wanting more.  I cannot wait until the May 2012 release ofInsurgent.  Every year 16 year olds are put through tests to find out what their true calling is.  Are they honest, selfless, intelligent, brave or peaceful?  After the test they are given the choice to remain with their faction (or family) or join a new faction.  Beatrice was born to the selfless or Abnegation, but she has to make a decision to remain or follow what she is believes to be herself.  She makes her decision.

She and her fellow initiates are put through rigid tests that will not only test their strengths and weaknesses, but their beliefs.  She questions if she has made the right decision and if things are as they seem.  She not only finds friends in unlikely places, but finds that sometimes you have to make hard decisions.  That things she sees in herself are not always what others see.

She will find tough choices along the way, but hopefully she will find out who she really is in the end.

 

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games  by Suzanne Collins

Since the death of her father, Katniss Everdeen has always been the one to protect and provide for her family.  Her younger sister, and somewhat fragile  mother, has made it a necessity.  She, along with her friend Gale, illegally hunt to provide food to their families and other members of the community.

When it is time for the annual Hunger Games all of the eligible children names are put into the drawing, including her twelve year old sister Prim.  One girl and one boy’s name must be drawn from each of the twelve districts.  If everyone is surprised that Prim’s name is drawn, then imagine what they must have been feeling when Katniss volunteers to take her place in the Hunger Game’s arena.

Katniss and her fellow tribute Peeta are taken to the Capital to prepare for the fight of their lives – literally.  Katniss proves that she has what it takes to compete, but she also has a conscious.  Will that be her saving grace for when she leaves the arena or will that be what causes her death?

Read the book to find out!

Also the movie will be out in theaters March 23.

 

The Heist Society Series by Ally Carter

 

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Katrina Bishop wants out of the family business so badly that she conned her way into a private boarding school.  All that comes to abrupt end, when she is expelled for a crime she did not commit – an incident with the headmaster’s beloved Porche.  Imagine getting into a limo to find none other than your friend and former co-conspirator waiting for you.  Not happy is too mild of a reaction.

Hale has a good reason for having Katrina expelled – her father.  He is being accused of stilling priceless art from a well known mobster and if he does not return it he will pay a hefty price.  Hale, Katrina and a group of teenage “criminals” have two weeks to pull off the impossible.  Figure out who stole the artwork, find the artwork and steal it back.  Will they manage to pull it off?

Uncommon Grounds by Ally Carter

Katrina and her crews’ heist from Heist Society, has become known in the circle of thieves.  In Uncommon Grounds she is asked to steal Cleopatra’s Emerald to return it to the “rightful owner.”  Kat and her crew find out that a simple job is not so simple.  Although, the theft of the Emerald wasn’t very difficult it is what comes afterwards that is.  Watch as Kat and the crew battle some conniving con artists.  Who shall win?  The determine Kat or the devious con artists.

http://youtu.be/59kWpaPpUvs

 

I thought the series is highly entertaining.  Ally Carter writing is quick and witty.  She grabs your attention and holds on to it until the last page.

 

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Louisiana girl Aurora  Deveaux (call me Rory)  leaves her native homeland to attend a London private school when her professor parents go on sabbatical in England.  She knew her life was going to change moving to this elite school of well-to-do kids, but she did not know that it could actually become deadly.

On her first day, a serial killer strikes in the style of the Jack the Ripper. Although, she thinks she has nothing in common with the “snobby” kids of Wexford she quickly makes friends with her roommate and a Jerome, a prefect from the boy’s dorm.  Jerome is completely enamored with the current killings and the history of the Jack the Ripper.  These murders have everyone as perplexed as the original murders.  London is full of CCTV, but although they catch some of the murders, they never catch the murderer on screen.

Although, she was interested in the murders…okay maybe not so much the murders, but the boy who was interested in them.  She did not become involved in the case until a body is found on the school campus.  Upon returning to her dorm, after sneaking out to get a better look at the scene, she is stopped by a man.  She becomes confused because although the man is in plain sight her roommate doesn’t see him.  Things become weirder when she realizes she can see people who others cannot.  Is it a human copycat that knows how to alter the videos?  The return of the original Jack the Ripper? Someone else?  If you like ghost stories, murder and intrigue this would be a book for you.  It keeps you in suspense and you do not want to put it down.

 

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

“My name is Hannah Ward. Don’t call me a ballerina.” An outsider looking in thinks that all female ballet dancers are ballerinas. Author Sophie Flack quickly sets the reader straight and sets the stage for a enjoyable first novel.

Hannah is a dancer in the corps of ballet. She dreams of one day becoming a ballerina and has dedicated herself to working hard to reach that goal. However, the 19 year old begins to struggle like we all did at this age. What does she want to do with her life? Is this all she is supposed to do? Being the star of the show means giving up what many of us take for granted – dates with the cute boy next door, holidays with family and eating that second slice of pie on Thanksgiving. Being a star means dancing hours on end, performing and rehearsing on holidays and dieting constantly.

Hannah meets Jacob and begins to question everything. She wants to spend time with him, but it jepardizes her career. At times it becomes a little irritating the way she goes back and forth. See Jacob, don’t see Jacob, see Jacob, don’t see Jacob. However, I for one can admit that there have been times where I have been indecisive and people just want to yell “make up your mind already!”

It’s an enjoyable read, and for those of who fantasized about being a famous ballerina, it gives a great inside look of what happens behind stage.

 

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Okay, I finally broke down and started the Harry Potter series. I didn’t think it would be something I would be interested in reading. I thought it would be boring. How I was wrong! I won’t say I love them, but I am totally enjoying them. If actually started them December 14 and if all goes well I will finish reading #hqw7 this week. Then I need to read Tales of Beetle the Bard.

I’m not going to do a lengthy review, because I think most people of read these long before I. I will say “shame on me” for thinking I would have no interest in them. That they would be boring. They are anything but boring. Long story (7 books and thousands of pages) short. The story is about Harry Potter and his two best friends Heromine and Ron (aind cast of dozen other important characters) trying to stay alive and beat Lord Voldemort.

Now it really isn’t that simple as there are tons of twist and turns, but you are going to have to find that out yourself. Basically, my word of advise is READ THEM. I wish I had sooner, /blockquote>

 

Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson

The Rites & Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson

Janice has dreams to be a renowned anthropologist.  She decides that her goal is to become the youngest person published in Current Anthropology and her hometown would be the perfect experiment.  After all she has been studying these people all her life and what a perfect time to study them but during the Annual Livermush festivities.

She begins writing her observations (or should we say assumptions) in a journal all in the name of science.  However, to the reader it shows reads condescending and judgmental.  Her mother and friend attempt to get her to join in running for Miss Livermush, but she is not about to do that!!Until she realizes that sometimes you have to participate in the ritual to truly understand it.

At first it is difficult to like Janice, but through some hard lessons by her friends she begins to see that she is being unfair.  In the “name of science” she has not been open to things going on around her.  To be a true observer you must be open and not place your opinions on everything.  It is a good coming of age novel, but if you don’t like Janice in the end at least you come to understand her.

 

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

What Meghan Chase thought was true about her life was going to be turned upside down.  Meghan is turning 16 and she is hoping that with this magically age change she would no longer be an outcast. Well, she is right as something is going to change big time.

Her younger brother is kidnapped by fairy  and replaced with a changling.  Suddenly her friend Robbie is a fairy named Robin Goodfellow aka Puck and she is the daughter of a Fairy King.  Together they enter the realm of fairies to save her younger brother from the Iron King.

The twists and turns keep you in suspense.  There are 5 books in the series 1)Iron King, 2)Iron Daughter,  3)Iron Queen and 4)Iron Knight.  I must say the first 3 have kept me on my seat wanting to read more! I cannot wait until I get a copy of the Iron Knight.

 

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2011

352 p

Jacob’s beloved Grandpa Portman always told these fantastic
stories about the Children’s Home he grew up in.  When Grandpa Portman was young he escaped
from Poland to a secluded island with other children.  Once there he saw amazing children that could
levitate, were invisible and other fantastic things.

People thought Grandpa Portman was nuts, but when he was
killed horrifically Jacob begin to question how much is the truth.  Jacob and his therapist convince his parents
that it would help him to go to the island to prove that his grandfather’s
stories were just that – stories.

Once he gets to the Island he finds himself pulled into a
loop with the children and that the stories Grandpa Portman told were
true.  The “children” were stuck in a
loop, reliving the same day over and over.

The book draws you in and you cannot wait to read what
happens next.  It is an enjoyable read,
but disappointing in the end when you realize there is no end and that there is
definitely a sequel on the way.
According to Ransom Riggs website there will be a sequel.  The question for me is after a long wait,
will I want to read it?  We will see.

 

Double Take by Melody Carlson

Double Take
Melody Carlson

2011

 

 

 

 

 

Worldly rich girl meets sheltered Amish girl and trade lives for a week.  Madison and Anna are tired of their own lives and by chance meet in a small coffee shop.  Madison realizes that they are nearly identically and convinces Anna to trade places so they switch clothes.  Neither one of them are sure the can go along with it until it is too late.  Either continue assuming each others lives or be found out.

Anna suddenly on the bus to Manhatten and Madison in a carriage heading to Anna’s Aunts farm.  Both are thrust in worlds that are so unlike their own and are in for a cultural shock.  Both are faced with challenges so unlike their own and you wonder at the end of the week if they will get away with the charade.

Double Take is a quick and somewhat enjoyable read.  It is difficult to believe that these two teens would pull off the charade even for a week.  It is difficult for identical twins to assume each other’s identities when they are known to a person, but to believe to girls that have only known each other for a few hours can pull it off is not realistic.