Category Teen Books

Jun 10 2013
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Book Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

16248068Title: The Elite

Author: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection #2

Genre: Teen Fiction

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea. America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

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The Review:

I can’t tell you how many reviews for this book I’ve read so far – it seems that almost everybody read it (and loved it) before I did. The Selection was sweet, romantic, and engaging, and I loved the element of competition in a slightly dystopian setting. It was exactly what I was in the mood for – a fun, lighthearted read – and I picked up the second one immediately (which is something I don’t usually do – all you have to do is check out my “Currently Reading” shelf on goodreads to see how scattered I am with books). Anyway, although I liked this one, I don’t feel as though I got what I signed up for.

The first book was lovely. It was breezy, romantic, and fun, and even though I expected a little turmoil to show up in this second book, I wasn’t prepared for the level of stress I felt while reading it. I had to fight the urge to write a story-rant review – and that tells me the author did and exceptional job of getting me emotionally involved. I was so invested in these characters that I wanted to scream at them to stop being such idiots. I have never gotten so worked up about a book and have spent the last month or so trying to figure out why it affected me so much.

And I think I finally figured it out…pacing.

Cass used several different elements to throw angst at me for almost the entire end half of the book. It was subtle and slow building until I was riding the proverbial snowball down the mountain. I kept reading faster and faster to try to get ahead of it, but I never did. I practically begged for her to throw me a bone, and she ignored me. From her author’s note at the end,  I think she did it on purpose… and that pisses me off. At first, I was angry at the story, the characters, and the situations they put themselves in. After a month of reflection, I am now pissed at Cass for writing it well enough to do that to me. It was truly evoking and I have to applaud that.

Overall, this was a very well-done book. It sticks with you long after you’ve finished it… at least it did with me. Even though it is the second book in the series, I feel like each one is drastically different as far as the emotional payoffs (or lack thereof) are concerned. It was an emotional roller coaster and I can’t wait to see what ride I’m getting on next. I will probably pick the third book up the day it comes out.

Recommendations: Because I’ve read so many reviews, I know a lot of people enjoyed the series as much as I did. It’s technically a dystopian, but it’s definitely not the most well-conceived society of the genre. I would recommend it to people who lean more towards the romantic dystopians such as Delirium and Matched rather than the more conceptual ones like Hunger Games and The Fifth Wave.

 Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

May 27 2013
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Your Pick for Nik! – May’s Review: Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

b4Title: Darkest Minds

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: Darkest Minds #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

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The Review:

This book gives me turmoil because there were a lot of things I loved about it and only a couple of things I didn’t. Unfortunately, those couple of things were a rather big deal.

Story: Bracken really knows how to weave an engaging story. Not many books can make me dig down deep inside myself to feel genuine pain for what the characters are going through. The story tugged at my heartstrings throughout the entire novel before making me feel anguish and frustration for all of the last fifty pages.

This great use of emotion in storytelling is probably why the relationships within the book quickly became my favorite element. The friendships the main character develops were natural and gradual and led to one heck of a love story without ever turning the book into a “romance.” It was subtle and beautiful and I might actually go back and reread certain passages to experience it again. It was by far the strongest part of the story for me.

Conversely, my least favorite element of the book also had to do with story. I have come to expect many elements of brutality and shall we say “unsugar-coated” events from dystopian novels. It is what gives them their edge, raising the stakes and adding to the overall suspense of the plot. While there are many dystopian novels with far more tragic events than I saw here, Bracken piled them up in a way that made me incredibly unenthusiastic about reading the sequel. She took a lot of risks with the plot and, while it was highly unexpected, I don’t think it did her any favors. Other books like Partials and Divergent had many heart-wrenching and difficult moments. The difference it, at the end of those novels, what keeps the characters (and therefore the readers) moving forward is both hope of a brighter future and and some sort of plan to get there. From what I’ve seen in this first book, Bracken didn’t have those elements leaving me nothing but depressed and dissatisfied.

World Building: I am a sucker for a good concept. The idea of children with varying degrees of dangerous abilities excited me right from the start and Bracken did a great job creating the world around those ideas. On a side note, I get personal pleasure out of seeing things color-coded (I drive my coworkers crazy) so any time an author uses color to organize something, I am on board.

While Bracken does a great job with the concept side of her world building, I felt her settings could have used a bit of work. Not once throughout the novel was I sure if this world was truly suffering. There was one specific moment where we went from an abandoned town like any other post-apocalyptic one you read about to a suddenly crowded freeway where life seemed to move along unaffected. It was a contradiction that showed up many times throughout the book and I had a difficult time getting a feel for what life was supposed to be like for the average person in this world.

Characters: Part of the reason the romantic element was so good was Bracken’s ability to create great relationships between characters. We got to know each one organically and their personalities were perfectly rounded and deep making me feel like I was reading a journal log of real people – they were so lifelike! If I do continue reading this series, it will be because I miss the characters and wants to know where their journey ends.

Writing: Even though I had an issue with elements of story and setting, I still found Bracken’s writing style to be incredibly strong. It was always evoking, gut retching, and beautiful making me feel for everything with a passion. It took me by surprise and impress me with how the many pieces of the story came together with the fluidity that was effortless. she really has that kind of style that draws you in and keeps you there until you finish the book – into the wee hours of the morning and everything.

Pacing: At first I made several notes that her pacing was a bit slow. having now finishing the book I see that the only way to make those relationships develop naturally was to slow the story down a bit. It also provided a great contrast for when the plot really started to take off, building up into a breathtaking momentum that made my eyes weary near the end from trying to keep up. It was very well done, and I’m hoping she carries that same excitement into the second book.

Recommendations: The good news is – my biggest objection revolves around a decision with the storyline which means my lower rating has more to do with personal preferences than any flaws in the author’s craft. The bad news is – I can’t get totally behind her when making personal recommendations. I may change my opinion with the second book, but for now I would probably only recommend this to people who have already read my first 5 dystopian recommends (or if someone just HAS to have a book with a naturally-developing love story).

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

May 15 2013
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Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection #1

Genre: Teen Fiction

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself–and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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The Review:

I picked this one up expecting a light, romantic read and that’s exactly what I got. I knew this would be the perfect book for me because #1 I love competitions (which oddly really was the number one draw) #2 I’m in a dystopian phase #3 my guilty pleasure is The Bachelor (don’t tell anyone, I’ll lose my street cred) and #4 I love sweet love stories. The Selection satiated all those cravings and more… I also really liked the writing style and overall voice.

Interestingly enough, there were lots of elements that evoked images of a watered-down Hunger Games. Something along the lines of “the life and times of the people in the Capitol,” only in this version, the fight to the death is figurative… And over a boy. I found the comparisons fascinating and delighted in the fact that Cass managed to flip it into a lighthearted romance – and as that’s what I was in the mood for, it was perfect.

There wasn’t a whole lot of complexity in the story. Everything was pretty straightforward. So if you’re looking for a well-developed dystopian society where secrets are revealed around every corner, this may not be the novel for you. While I actually liked the hierarchal systems and the post-America histories here, there were a few too many implausibilities for me to take it seriously. That’s okay though, because I didn’t expect it to be profound – I just went with it.

Recommendations: I would mention it in passing to dystopian fans, but would probably hand this to someone looking for more of a romance. Unlike some of the more intense dystopians, I would feel comfortable recommending this to younger teens. This definitely made my “Top 10 Books When you Need Something Light & Fun” list and I liked it so much I’ve already devoured the second book.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Apr 26 2013
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Your Pick for Nik! – April’s Review: Fragments by Dan Wells

FragmentsTitle: Fragments

Author: Dan Wells

Series: Partials #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence–it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Fragments

The Review:

I am so excited to report that Fragments was every bit as good as Partials. In fact, some of the elements were even stronger. The plot was dynamic and suspenseful, the world building was thorough and epic, and the plot advancement has left me staggering a bit. All this wrapped into a beautifully written package. I liked this one so much I can’t imagine the final book in the trilogy being anything less than spectacular. At this point, the only thing I don’t like is that I will have to wait at least a year to find out what happens next.

Story: There were so many good elements of storytelling in this book! It’s like the author sat down with every scene and thought “how can I make this better?” But asking the question is only half the battle.  Not only do you have to know what elements make for a great story, you also have to have the creativity to make it your own. Because Wells has these skills in abundance, we end up with a clever plot that surprised me at every turn. Many elements didn’t go the way I expected them to… they were better. And oddly, it’s not the main arc of the story but rather minor details in a scene that held the most surprise for me. Something about his careful attention to even the most minor story elements kept me incredibly invested in the story and eager for more.

I’ve heard a lot of dystopian readers comment that they like books like Matched and Delirium, but missed that “edge” regarding corrupt government, harsh living conditions, and basic need for survival that made Hunger Games so hard-core. Well, this book has all of those things in abundance! It’s definitely not a “fluffy” book, focusing more on events and story than relationships.

Writing: I often criticize writers for having too many viewpoint characters in a story. Not only does it give your reader permission to lose attention but it also makes it difficult to  get emotionally involved with any one character. After reading Fragments, I think I know why Wells was able to pull it off when so many others could not. First of all, almost the entire first book was written in Kira’s perspective which allowed readers to become fully  grounded in one story. Second of all, although the perspective changes a lot in this book, each viewpoint character was working towards the same overall goal. Finally, each perspective switch usually provided the reader plot-advancing information essential for moving forward with the overall arc of the story.

I applaud Wells for creating a suspenseful, nail-biting novel without introducing even an ounce of false tension. He’s so good at bringing the action to life and making me feel the heat of the moment that I literally held my breath through certain passages. I found it so absorbing that I completely forgot to take notes for this post until almost halfway through the book (as I did with the first one). This goes along with great pacing of the story, which I highlighted in my review of Partials but won’t delve too much into here. Suffice to say it was very well done.

Characterization:  I mentioned at the beginning of this review that I thought certain elements of this book were better than the first one. All of those elements have to do with characterization. Where the first book contain characters that were mostly vehicles to get from one event to the next, this one expanded on those characters giving them much richer personalities and internal conflicts. It delved me deeper into the story, if possible, and made me a lot more emotionally invested. Wells achieved a lot of this through excellent dialogue. There were a number of great verbal exchanges and conversations that reinforce personality without ever feeling forced. If I could to capture even a fraction of those exchanges in my own writing, I would be one happy camper. On another note, this is probably one of the slowest developing love stories I’ve ever read in a teen book, and you know what? I’m loving it, because it feels incredibly organic.

World Building: Wells has obviously done a lot of research on what a post-apocalyptic America would look like, and believe me, he doesn’t tone it down much to make it easier on his characters. His word choice and skill with description create strong images that are almost poetic. It’s beautiful and subtle and quietly brings the world to life. I really don’t have much to say other than it was done well enough that I never had to go reread passages to get a clearer picture. 

Overall, I am tickled that Fragments was chosen as April’s selection because I may not have picked it up so quickly otherwise. As book 1 was easily my favorite teen read of 2012, I can say that this one will be a strong contender for my favorite this year too. I love that I don’t have anything critical or negative to say about this book, I absolutely loved it!

Recommendations: While a lot of the dystopian and novels are geared towards the female audience, this is one I would feel confident recommending to men and women. If you mentioned that you are a Hunger Games fan, this is the first book I would show you.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Apr 19 2013
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Book Review: The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

z1Title: The Sweetest Dark

Author: Shana Abe

Series: The Sweetest Dark #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance / Historical

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
 
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

The Review:

There are several things I really liked about this book. For one thing, the writing style and overall voice were amazing! The overall presentation of the story was unlike anything I have ever read and it made me instantly happy that I picked it up. I also really liked the main character and got behind her story right away. She is smart and sassy and generally the type of person you want on your side. I was completely sold… For about the first 50 pages.

It’s not that she lost me completely – throughout the story the strengths I listed above were still present. She simply Made some outlining decisions that I thought could have been better. For example, the first half of the book was working towards a big reveal (which is a tool used by writers to keep the readers interest as the plot unfolds). Unfortunately the big reveal in this story was something we already knew from reading the Overview. It just wasn’t enough to keep me excited, especially since it also lacked in the romance department. I didn’t realize how essential romantic tension was until I read this book. The whole idea of a preordained soulmate is romantic in itself, but the blind acceptance of that left a bad taste in my mouth.

Speaking of bad taste (on a random note), there seem to be a tad bit of unnecessary profanity in this book. Don’t get me wrong I think swearing can really add to my enjoyment of a book when it is used to help define character or is simply for humorous effect. It did neither here – Abe dropped the F-bomb in a situation that wasn’t serious enough to draw it from an otherwise proper character. While swearing doesn’t bother me in the least, I don’t think it has a place in a teen genre.

Overall, I think the unique approach to this story along with Abe’s obviously excellent writing skills make this a worthwhile read, despite my concerns. She also tied it up well enough that I am genuinely looking forward to reading the second book. I still gave the book 4 out of 5 stars, and I’m pretty sure my little holdups wont bother many other people – it really is a great book!

Recommendations: I would probably feel comfortable recommending this one to teenagers 15+. While there is nothing blatant, there are still a few suggestive elements that would get me in trouble with some parents around here. As always, use your own discretion.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Apr 17 2013
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Book Review: Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck

a1Title: Tiger’s Curse

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: Tiger’s Curse #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Rating: 2/5 stars

The Overview: The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

The Review:

I wanted to like this one, I really did. I’m a sucker for books with exotic animals or different cultures, and this one had both (which were actually the best elements of the story). I even had one of my coworkers swear up and down that this was her “most favorite book ever!” Combine all of that with the strong sales trend I’d been noticing and a killer cover to boot and, needless to say, it didn’t’ take much to talk me into buying this one.

But I didn’t like it. I hate it when that happens.

The basic idea for the book was great, But there were elements to the actual plot line that I think could have been stronger, specifically regarding conflicts. For at least the first 50 to 100 pages there were no conflicts or inciting moments to let us know what the overall arc of the story was supposed to be. There was, however, a plethora of false tension while the main character discovered what we already knew from reading the back of the book. This is a poor choice of pacing on the authors part. The basic conflict of the story should be evident right up front if you really want to grab your readers. The sooner the better, in my opinion.
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In the teen genre, at least some sort of romantic tension has to be present for me to enjoy the book… as long as it’s done right. Tiger’s Curse has so much senseless turmoil between characters that I got bored with that element of the plot pretty quickly. I actually think that without stronger and external conflicts to drive her story Huock was forced to create trouble out of thin air to have something to write about.
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Overall this one was a disappointment for me, not for the story idea or the writing, but with general outlining. I’ve read so many brilliant books of late that it just didn’t stack up. Like I said, though, it sales are strong and I’ve talked to at least three people who absolutely loved it.
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Recommendations: I would recommend this to people looking for a light read. There was also a great deal of fabulous Indian culture throughout which gave the book a unique flavor, so I might actually recommend this to people in the mood for something different (with disclaimers).
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Other books you might like: