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.

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. 

Insurgent (and Divergent)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Summary: It's the sequel to Divergent.  Any more of a summary than that will help spoil Divergent.  And I'm just not down for that.

Thoughts:  Wow. Wow. Wow.  This might actually be better than Divergent.  It had a couple of plot twists that just blew my mind.  Seriously, I gasped in such horror and shock once my library aide jumped up and was asking if I was okay.  I can't say enough good things about this series...And I just can't wait to see what's in store for the 3rd book.  Any guesses on the title?

Messenger

Messenger by Lois Lowry

Summary: In this sequel to The Giver, Lowry paints the picture of a young man who wants nothing more than to be given his True Name of Messenger.  However, the forest surrounding Village (and the people within Village) are becoming darker and more hostile.  As he works to deliver his messages, he finds he has a strange power.

Personal Thoughts:  This book was pretty good.  It wasn't amazing, but it was a good read that I definitely wanted to finish.  I really wanted to know how the boy turns out in the story.  If you're curious as to what happened after the end of The Giver, you definitely need to read this book.

Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed by Ally Condie

Summary (from GoodReads)
In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Personal Thoughts
Well, okay then.  It was not a slam-bang action adventure.  It is a lot of Cassia's inner dialogue and questioning.  If you liked Matched  you will like Crossed.  I hope the third book is GREAT!  I'd love to see a lot more action, more of the Rebellion, and see a little more interaction between Ky and Cassia.  Worth a read...if only so you know what's going on in the next one.

Matched

Matched by Allie Condie

Summary (from book jacket)
Cassia has always trusted their choices.  It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate.  So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.  Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared follow - between perfection and passion.

Personal Thoughts
Oh. My. Stars.  This book was GREAT!!!  I can see this book being the next Hunger Games.  I loved how easy this story was to read and how much it reminded me of some past classics like 1984.  It was a magnificent tale and should be read by anyone who like the Hunger Games.  Romance, intrigue, scandal, rebellion, questions...Seriously, it was fabulous!  The sequel is titled Crossed and is due out in  November of this year.  (I can't wait!)

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.

Ship Breaker

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Summary (from book jacket)
In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota-and hopefully live to see another day.  But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life.

Personal Thoughts
This was a good read that went pretty fast.  Despite the sometimes awkward and new terminology, it was easy to read and understandable.  The characters were well-fleshed out and the plot interesting and fast-moving, too.  Overall,  I liked this book.  I'm curious to know if there will be a sequel...Aha!  According to sixboxesofbooks.blogspot.com, Bacigalupi is planning a sequel called The Drowned Cities due out in 2011.

Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Summary (taken from Amazon.com)
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

Personal Thoughts
Wow, oh, wow, oh, wow.  I know the library doesn't yet have a copy of this book so I borrowed it from a friend.  (It's on its way, I promise!!)  Several of the people who have already read this and/or reviewed it, said they didn't take away as much from it as the first two books.  Not my opinion.  I really really liked this book.  I thought it wrapped up the trilogy nicely and gave a lot of finality to the series.  It had me cheering, tearing up, and waking up at 1:00 a.m. thinking about it.  At times, Katniss's melancholy bugged me, but it was still a GREAT book.  I'm glad I'm done with it though.  Perhaps now I can get some work done!