Paranormalcy

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White


Summary (from GoodReads): Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

Thoughts:  I really enjoyed this book.  I thought the way Ms. White portrayed the paranormals and the responses from the humans surrounding them was fun and vibrant.  I'm not usually a reader of vampire, werewolves, and mermaids, but this book was fascinating.  There was a lot of humor, a romance, and action.  This is the first in an expected trilogy.  (So far Supernaturally is pretty good, too!)

Birthmarked

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien


Summary (from GoodReads): In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother’s footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve.

Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

Thoughts:  Wow. Wow. Wow.  I really enjoyed this book.  I loved Gaia.  I really felt her indecision and pain.  There was definitely a lot of action and even some unexpected romance.  This is the first in an expected trilogy.  I will be reading the next novel for sure.  I just have to know what happens.  This is a must-read for anyone who liked City of Ember and Maze Runner.

Uglies, Pretties, Specials

I read two more books in the Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld.  They were great!  I really identified with the main characters.  There was humor, sadness, struggles, and action in all three of these books.  I decided not to read the 4th book, Extras, because the main character is different and the reviews of the book were "Meh" at best.  I would definitely recommend this series to anyone coming down off of a Hunger Games, Maze Runner, or Divergent binge.

Rot and Ruin

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Summary:  In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cashbut what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

Thoughts:  Wow.  Just wow.  Let me start by saying that I hate zombies.  They gross me out.  But this book was more about the human reaction to zombies as opposed to the zombies themselves.  Totally not scary like I thought.  It's well-written, fast-paced, and I just loved the characters.  If you like Divergent, Hunger Games, or the Maze Runner you'd like this book.

Legend by Marie Lu

Summary (from Goodreads): What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Thoughts:  This is an intriguing novel.  The author's flap says she was inspired by the Broadway smash Les Miserables and you can see a touch of the forbidden love.  I thought this book was a great adventure and I really ended up liking the main characters a lot. 

Enclave

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Summary: Deuce lives in post-apocalyptic America in an underground city.  She has just become a huntress when she learns that the Eaters are becoming smarter and are threatening their colony.  Her elders don't believe her and frame her friend of the cardinal sin of hoarding.  She saves him and is banished.  She must now find a new place to live and learn how to survive Topside.

Thoughts:  Great book!  It's kind of a mix of Hunger Games, City of Ember, and The Giver all in one.  Anyone looking to read a post-apocalyptic novel should definitely give this a look.

Rip Tide

Rip Tide by Kat Falls

Summary: Ty now has to save his parents from certain death.  They are being held captive in a sinking township.

Thoughts:  Amazing!  I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed Dark Life.  Ty's adventures seem to leap out of the book and pull me into the water.  It kind of makes me want to be an underwater pioneer!

Lost Stories by John Flanagan

Lost Stories (Ranger's Apprentice #11)

Summary (from GoodReads)
Inspired by questions and letters his loyal readers have sent over the years, John Flanagan offers a gift in response: a collection of "lost" tales that fill in the gaps between Ranger's Apprentice novels. For the first time, readers can learn the truth behind how Will came to be orphaned and what his real relationship to Halt is, or watch Alyss in action as the young Araluen diplomat disguises herself and becomes the perfect spy.

Personal Thoughts
LOVE LOVE LOVE!  I just love when a series as good as this one ends in a way that I found so satisfying.  Even though this technically isn't a novel (it's a bunch of short stories), I just felt that this book filled in the gaps and holes and lingering questions I had.  Oh, and it just ended the series so nicely!  I will admit...I cried!  Totally worth the splotchiness, though.

Ranger's Apprentice: Ruins of Gorlan (#1)

Ranger's Apprentice: Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

Summary (from GoodReads)
He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't realize yet is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied .

Personal Thoughts
This series is super popular in my library.  I couldn't quite figure out why.  A students would turn one in and immediately check out the next one.  After I asked a fellow librarian, she said that they're good and I should read them.  WOW!  I loved it!  I couldn't wait to see what happened on the next page.  I really connected with the characters and could sense their personalities and how likable (or not) some of them are.  The only thing I didn't love about the book was that I had a hard time visualizing the kingdom.  I'm currently reading the second book and will post a review as soon as possible.  So far, it's as good as the first.  By the way, this is a rather long series, so the next several posts will probably relate to these books!

The Roar

The Roar by Emma Clayton

Summary (from book jacket)
Mika lives in future London, behind The Wall, safe from the Animal Plague beyond.  Or so he's been told.  But ever since Ellie vanished a year ago, he's suspected his world may be build on secrets - and lies.  When a mysterious organization starts recruiting mutant kids to compete in violent virtual reality games, Mika takes the chance to search for his twin sister - and the truth.

Personal Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book.  It was a fascinating read...it was also a completely scary because I could see it happening in the future if we're not careful.  I think Clayton did an excellent job of weaving this particular tale.  Like many of the other books I read over break, I'm wondering if there will be a sequel.  And, yes, it is called The Whisper and is due out in Fall 2011.  I'm excited to read it and see how Mika and Ellie work through the Secret and find out what lies beyond The Wall.  Highly recommended for fans of Sci-Fi and Dystopia.

The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (sequel to The Maze Runner)

Summary (from Horizon)
After surviving horrific conditions in the Maze, Thomas is entrapped, along with nineteen other boys, in a scientific experiment designed to observe their responses and gather data believed to be essential for the survival of the human race.

Personal Thoughts
That summary absolutely does not do this book justice.  In fact, if the book jacket summary hadn't been so long I would have copied that one.  The Maze Runner was a fabulous book and The Scorch Trials is a fitting sequel.  The characters are splendid, the scenery is described (but not to death), and the plot is fantastic and mystifying all at the same time.  WICKED, while they keep saying they're good, are just...well...wicked-sounding.  Although, without being a spoiler, this novel throws in some bizarre flashback twists that will blow your mind!  If you liked The Maze Runner, you'll love The Scorch Trials.

The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Summary
This book is a spin-off of the Percy Jackson series.  His name is mentioned, but he is no longer the main character.  The main character, Jason, has just been found and given a quest to save the world.  The only problem is he has absolutely no memory of anything before he woke up on a bus at a camp for "bad kids."

Personal Thoughts
I liked this book just like I liked the Percy Jackson series.  (That was a lot of "likes" in one sentence!)  This one required more thinking, though.  The gods are now being presented in both their Greek and Roman forms...sometimes it's a little overwhelming to keep track of.  All-in-all, I found this to be an enjoyable read.

Maximum Ride: Fang

Fang by James Patterson

Summary
Max and her flock are still fighting Dr. Chu in this novel, but this time Fang's life might be in real danger.

Personal Thoughts
Ahhhh, this was a lot more action-packed than the last couple of novels.  It reminded me of the style of the first couple of books.  Action and adventure abound and there's a new guy!  I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Angel in February.

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning & Max

 
Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson
Maximum Ride: Max

Summary
Max and her flock are at it again...trying to save the world.  This time they're in Antarctica.  (No more summary info or I'll end up giving it away!)  In Max, the flock is back in the states and helping make people aware of the problems they faced in The Final Warning.  But this time, there's a new bad guy on the scene and is ready to take out the flock.

Personal Thoughts
Of the series so far, The Final Warning has been my least favorite.  It's a little preachy and doesn't move as fast as the other novels.  It's still good, but it just doesn't live up to the action that the 3rd novel had. 

However, Max seemed to pick up the action a bit as the flock is hunted again, but this time by a different person.  I'm interested to see how this bunch of people are associated with the Itex people from the previous novels.  Max doesn't fill us in on that, but perhaps the next novel, Fang, does.  Needless to say, it's in my purse and ready to be read!

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
Summary
Max and her flock are still trying to save the world.  Who can they trust?  Who will help them?  The end is near...or is it?

Personal Thoughts
Holy cow!  Another excellent installation.  I can't keep talking about it or I'll be a spoiler!  And, I'm not a spoiler.  All I can say is that I LOVE IT!

Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever

Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever by James Patterson

Summary (from Booklist)
Max and her flock are back in this new volume in the Maximum Ride series, a follow-up to The Angel Experiment (2004). In a flying fight with Erasers, Fang is injured so seriously that the flock takes him to a hospital. It's obvious he's not a normal human (having wings and avian DNA), so it isn't long before the FBI shows up. Anne Walker, the lead agent, takes the flock home to her Virginia farm, where she tries to mother the kids and enrolls them in a nearby private school. Living a somewhat normal life for the first time, Max, 14, manages a date and a first kiss, and others in the flock begin the quest to find their birth parents. Then everything falls apart.

Personal Thoughts
I can't stop!  I'm already half-way through the next one.  This series is wonderfully paced, action-packed, and doesn't give a lot away.  There were some twists that I saw coming, but in the end even those twists were twisted! Love it!

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment  by James Patterson

Summary
Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel are six kids who are 98% human and 2% bird.  But otherwise, they're pretty normal.  Raised in a lab like rats in a cage, they're now free thanks to their father-figure Jeb who sprung them from "The School."  Now they are being pursued by Erasers - wicked, wolf like creatures who work for the School.  The flock's missions are to rescue Angel from the School, track down their missing parents, get revenge on a traitor, oh, and save the world.

Personal Thoughts
I picked this book up because it was popular with the kids and I like to know what they're reading.  I was not looking forward to reading it, however.  I delayed and delayed.  I picked it up on Sunday morning and COULDN'T STOP READING!  Wow!  I've read a lot of other James Patterson [adult] books and this outshone them in terms of action and intrigue.  Plus, all of the characters seemed richly developed.  Now I'm invested.  I have to know what happens in the next book. 

*Highly recommended