GEMX by Nicky Singer - REVIEW

Holiday House – April 15, 2008

Maxo Strang is one of the most perfect people in the Polis, an exclusive district where only genetically enhanced people can live. He is the GenOff (offspring) of the most important scientist in the Polis. Igo Strang, Maxo’s father, is the lead scientist for the Polis. It is his job to continually improve the enhancements. He is always striving for perfections. With the model, GemX, he thinks he is as close to perfect as he can get. Maxo is a GemX.

Maxo enjoys a luxurious life in the Polis. He never gives much thought to the Dreggies that live outside the check points – until he sees Gala on the video screen. Maxo’s life is turned upside down when a flaw in the GemX model is discovered. It seems “cracks,” a.k.a. wrinkles, are appearing on many of their faces and it is up to Igo Strang to figure out what is causing the unexpected early aging in thousands of the most promising young people of the Polis. The problem is, the leaders don’t want to give him the time it will take. Their solution is much more drastic.

Maxo is thrown into an unknown world when he attempts to save himself and others from the secrecy and lies of the Polis.

GEMX didn’t live up to it’s description. The speed at which Maxo and Gala become obsessed with each other is unbelievable and the story didn’t move fast enough. I felt like I was forcing myself to get through it.

HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff - REVIEW

Daisy is being shipped to England to live with an aunt and four cousins she’s never met because her “wicked” step-mother convinced Daisy’s father it was the best thing for her. While she isn’t thrilled with the new arrangement, as soon as she arrives, Daisy feels an overwhelming since of belonging and connection. She feels more at home with these strangers than she ever has in New York City with her father.

Before Daisy has a chance to settle in, her aunt leaves for a conference out of town, leaving her and her four cousins alone. Shortly after, England is invaded by an unnamed force. Bombings and skirmishes scatter the countryside while Daisy and the cousins live in relative safety on their isolated farm – until the military locates their house and decides to commandeer it for their planning headquarters. The cousins are separated – girls to one location and the boys to another.

Daisy makes it her mission to get the family back together. The reader travels the dangerous roads through the England landscape with Daisy as she witnesses death and destruction. Your heart will go out to her and you’ll be emotionally invested with the family by the time you get to the end of the book. HOW I LIVE NOW is great choice if you are a fan of dystopian novels. Amidst the war, a beautiful, but unconventional love story unfolds. HOW I LIVE NOW will easily turn into a single-sitting read. Once you start you won’t want to stop.

THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES by Carrie Ryan - REVIEW

Delacorte Books for Young Readers - March 9, 2010

FYI - This book is a companion to THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, NOT a sequel.

Gabr

y has lived with her mother in the lighthouse for years. She is content with her friends, her quiet world, and dreaming of life in the Dark City where people enjoy more comforts than she is used to.

Gabry's friends are more adventurous than she is.

They like to sneak out of town and explore the unsafe areas where Mudo roam. They particular enjoy going to the abandoned and dangerous amusement park on the other side of the fence. Gabry doesn't want to go where the Mudo wander - she wants to stay safe, but Catcher is going and she wants to be with him. The thought of spending time with Catcher alone and in the dark overpower her thoughts of safety.

Gabry's trip to the amusement part quickly turns into a disaster. She is forced to grow up fast with very little information. The little she learns from her mother sends her on the biggest adventure of her life. One she never even considered a possibility. The only thing that keeps her going is the desire to learn the truth about her family and save the people she loves.

My first reaction when I started reading THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES was disappointment. I wanted more about Mary. Also, there were several times when Gabry got on my nerves. But, after thinking about the book for a while, I have come to the conclusion that continuing to story of the people surviving life among the Unconsecrated/Mudo several years after THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH was okay. How much more could we have seen Mary do? She'd already survived the trip through the forest and found the ocean. What could she do more exciting than that? Plus, Gabry provides a whole new perspective of life after the Return. I can't wait to read the third novel in this wonderful series. Keep up the good work, Carrie Ryan.

This is another example of book covers that have changed. The first cover I saw posted on Goodreads for THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES was this one:

What do you think of the two covers? I prefer the first one. It matches the cover of THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH much better than the new one.

THE RETURNERS by Gemma Malley - REVIEW

Will Hodge doesn’t have many happy days, especially since his mother died and his father’s political involvement has grown more and more radical. In addition to stress at home, Will’s friends don’t really talk to him anymore, he starts losing short blocks of time, and strange people start following him around claiming to know him.

Then, the dreams begin and he starts to think he is going crazy. He dreams of concentration camps during World War II and several other atrocious events from history. At first, Will thinks he is going crazy but soon explains the strange thoughts on the history he is learning in school. Deep down, he knows the dreams are serious.

Eventually, he can’t avoid the strange people anymore. They explain to him that they are Returners, just like him. Returners are “people who have been reincarnated and whose destiny is to recall the atrocities they have witnessed in the past.” When Will learns about the part he plays in this complicated situation he is forced to decide what his role will be.

Are we born with a predetermined destiny or can we change who we were meant to be?

As a fan of dystopian literature I enjoyed reading RETURNERS. The only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 glasses is because I felt it took too long to get to the specific Returners story line. Most of the book deals with Will’s denial of his connection to the strange people following him.

BIRTHMARKED by Caragh M. O'Brien - REVIEW

Gaia (Guy-ya) Stone is following in her mother’s footsteps.  She has been training to be a midwife for years and is ready to accept her role in the community. For as long as she can remember, life on the outside of the wall has been this way.  The first three babies of the month are advanced to the Enclave to be adopted and live their life inside the wall.  While the pain of losing a child is great, the mothers know their baby will be living in a community with conveniences not available to the people living in Wharfton like electricity and running water.

Gaia doesn’t know what to do when her parents are arrested and taken by the Guard of the Protectorat. She finds it hard to believe that her parents know anything the Enclave would want to know, but by the questions they ask her when she comes home to find them gone, they think her parents have important information.  Gaia is completely in the dark.  The only thing she has to go on is the long piece of ribbon with a strange code sewn in it that her mother’s assistant gave her and told her to keep secret at all cost.

Gaia’s life becomes a complicated game of cat and mouse as she attempts to get inside the wall, find her parents, and solve the mystery of the coded ribbon.

Caragh M. O’Brien has written a wonderful addition to the dystopian genre.  Readers get a glimpse of life in the 2400’s after a drastic weather change has drastically reduced the human population and even though the world is completely different than the one we live in, the problems Gaia encounters are very similar – she enjoys time with her family, likes socializing with friends, and is insecure when it comes to love.

BIRTH MARKED is fantastic.  I loved it and stayed up much too late because I couldn’t put it down.  It definitely deserves my Stay Awake Award.  The author leaves the ending open for a sequel and I for one can’t wait to see what happens.

THE LINE by Teri Hall - REVIEW

Dial – March 4, 2010

Rachel has lived on The Property since before she can remember.  Her mother works for Ms. Moore, the owner, as a housekeeper of the large house.  Rachel enjoys living far from town and away from the strong governmental control most other people must suffer.  People living in towns deal with unfair and random taxes and when they can’t pay, are taken to jail.

Most people would hate living on The Property because it backs up to The Line, a small section of the National Border Defense System that separates the people of the Unified States from Away and the Others.  The Line is an invisible barrier that can only be crossed if the government grants permission and deactivates The Line.

Rachel doesn’t feel fear when she thinks of Away.  She even tried to cross it once, but simply bounced back from The Line and landed flat on her back.

Rachel’s quiet life is turned upside down when two things happen.  First, she finds a battered digital voice recorder with a partial message requesting help.  Then, during a trip to town with her mother for the weekly supplies, they witness the arrest of a woman her mother recognizes.  Rachel discovers she doesn’t know her mother as well as she thought she did, that Ms. Moore has some unbelievable secrets, and the Away and the Others are closer than she thinks.  She must use her wits and bravery to get through a dangerous and exciting time in order to save an important historical document and people she doesn’t even know.

THE LINE by Teri Hall is a fascinating dystopian novel full of strong female characters and a dark, creepy plot.  The end, while a bit abrupt, is satisfying.  Readers will definitely want to read more about the adventures Rachel is sure to find.  The author leaves the story completely open for a sequel and I for one can’t wait to read it.

The synopsis isn’t the only thing I found intriguing about THE LINE.  Just take a look at the cover and tell me you don’t want to read it! Fantastic art choice!