Aria lives in Reverie, an enclosed pod where the Dwellers are kept safe from crime, disease, and the dangers of the unpredictable Aether storms. Beyond the walls of the pod lies certain death in what the people call The Death Shop. Aria spends her time much like most of the people in Reverie – in the Realms.  The Realms are virtual environments where the people can experience life in ways that aren’t possible in the current world.

Aria has been on her own in Reverie ever since her mother left for Bliss to do DNA research. They try to speak every day, but now that the connection has been lost to the other pod she is very worried. Aria can’t seem to get any information about what is going on in Bliss and is resorting to a very undesirable solution. Aria is going to hang out with the son of the head of Reverie’s security. They are going to break into Ag6 – a disabled pod. Disaster strikes and Aria is accused of a crime and forced out of the pod and left to die in The Death Shop.

Perry, an Outsider who has never known the safety and security that Aria has grown up with, is struggling with life in his tribe. As the younger brother of the Blood Lord of the Tides he is part of a very important family. The only thing that keeps him coming home is the love he feels for his nephew, Talon. Perry comes from a very powerful line of hunters who use their acute sense of smell to sense danger, food, and even emotions. He is convinced he can rule the Tide tribe, but is reluctant to challenge his brother for control because he worries about Talon’s feelings. But, when Talon is abducted by Dwellers and Vale (Perry’s brother) refuses to go after him, Perry is forced to head out on his own to bring him back.

These terrible events throw Aria and Perry together and force them to cooperate with each other in order to survive. Will Aria be able to find out what happened to her mother? Will Perry be able to rescue Talon?

On the perilous journey through the dangerous wilds and Aether storms, Aria and Perry form a strong bond. A bond stronger than either of them have ever experienced before. A bond that never should have happened.  A bond that can never be. UNDER THE NEVER SKY is intoxicating. Full of mystery, adventure, romance, and betrayal it is practically impossible to put down.

Juliette has been locked in a small cell completely alone for almost a year.  Isolation is all she knows.  For 264 days she has been silent.  For 264 days she hasn’t touched anyone. 264 days without information. 264 days without knowing what is going to happen. 264 days of wishing she was dead.

Without warning a boy is shoved in her cell and panic floods her body.  The closeness of his body is too much to handle after so much aloneness.  It doesn’t take long for her to realize who he is. Is it a trick? Why would Adam be in the asylum?

It turns out Adam has a very specific reason for being in the cell with Juliette.  Someone wants her as a weapon to wage war on those rebelling against the Reestablishment. What is it that Juliette can do? Her abilities are revealed to the reader slowly through periodic flashbacks.  Juliette doesn’t have anyone she can trust. No one who wants what is best for her – or does she?

It is easy to see why SHATTERED is being compared to X-men.  In the second half of the book the reader is introduced to a paranormal world bent on putting a stop to the controlling power of the Reestablishment.

What is amazing about this book is the writing. Tahereh Mafi is a master of metaphors. I wanted to constantly jot down my favorite lines from the story.  I really wished for the ability to share the lines instantly over Twitter or Facebook so everyone could see how beautiful the writing is.  For those of you out there that need help with metaphors, pick up the book, open to a random page, and I bet there will be one there.

In addition to the wonderful language in the book, the author has written one heck of a romance. Juliette and Adam’s scenes are HOT. My goodness!  Everyone is going to wish they had an Adam after they finish SHATTER ME.

There will definitely be a sequel.  I mean there is NO WAY there can’t be. Juliette has a lot to learn and a lot to do.

I was immediately drawn to this story when I read the synopsis, but it took me sitting down with it in my hands to figure out why. THE DESERTER is the sequel to THE INFERIOR, which I reviewed on the blog in 2009. Apparently the series is called The Bone World Trilogy. Unfortunately, it is necessary for you to read THE INFERIOR before this one in order to understand what is going on in the story. There is hardly any backstory explained.  This jumps right in where the last one left off (just a few months have passed).

Stopmouth, the Chief of a ragtag group of “hunters” are struggling to survive on what they can hunt. So far, they have been able to kill enough of the other creatures on the Surface and they haven’t had to ask for a Volunteer from the Tribe in a while. His new tribe (a group exiled to the Surface from the Roof) still have a hard time eating the meat of animals, much less their own tribe members. Stopmouth is doing everything he can to make sure his tribe has enough to eat – even going so far as establishing an alliance with one of the other species.

There are two things wrong in Stopmouth’s life. First, his wife, Indrani, has returned to the Roof where she lived before crashing to the Surface. She returned with the promise of bringing back the tools needed to kill the most feared of the species on the Surface.  His other problem are the Diggers, the species Stopmouth and his tribe need help destroying. With reports that the Diggers have made it over the mountain, Stopmouth doesn’t have any choice but to go to the Roof and find Indrani himself. The lives of his tribe members depend on him bringing help back from the Roof.

Stopmouth finds a world in chaos when he arrives on the Roof.  In his attempt to find Indrani, he learns that she is on the run from her own people because of something she has stored in her memory. He goes to great lengths to reach her and feels nothing but relief when he finally has her in his arms again. Until…..

Stopmouth must come to terms with a lot in this story. Survival is difficult. Stopmouth and Indrani constantly have to be on the look out for the dangers that surround them at every turn. He doesn’t even know if he’ll be able to save himself, much less his tribe on the Surface.

THE DESERTER is filled with secrets, betrayals, and heart-pounding action. This is the perfect follow-up novel because we get to see the Roof this time where we only saw the Surface in THE INFERIOR.

I love Stopmouth and Indrani  just as much as I did in the first novel.  Now, since I know this is called The Bone World Trilogy I know we’ll get a third book. I can’t wait.

Beatrice Prior lives with her family in (dystopian) Chicago where people are grouped into factions based on personal beliefs and values. Her and her family are Abnegation in which people consider selflessness and moderation the most important qualities for a successful society. The other factions are Candor (Truth and Honesty), Amity (Friendship, Peace, Harmony), Erudite (Scholars, Knowledge), and Dauntless (Fearless, Bravery). Those who doesn’t belong to a faction are considered factionless and live a very difficult life. They are the ones who do the jobs no one else wants to do and often struggle for food and shelter.

Beatrice is at the age where she is going to have to choose what faction she will align herself with for the rest of her life.  Even though she was born into Abnegation, she doesn’t have to stay there.  In order to help the young people choose, they are given an Aptitude Test, a virtual simulation that takes them through several scenarios to show their true nature.  Beatrice’s test wasn’t very helpful. Instead of revealing one clear faction to join, it only rules out two – leaving her three factions to choose from.  She is Divergent and is warned to keep her results a secret. Being Divergent is dangerous. 

Beatrice must decide between Abnegation, Dauntless, or Erudite. Can she leave her family and join another faction, never to see them again? What is so dangerous about being Divergent? She has never felt like she belonged in Abnegation and has always secretly envied the Dauntless. Needless to say, the night before the choosing ceremony is a stressful one.

Beatrice takes the name of Tris when she plunges into Dauntless initiate training. A new life deserves a new name. Struggling with feelings of guilt for leaving her parents, Tris throws herself into training and experiences things she never thought possible. Getting to know people from the other factions provides some challenges, but the physical and mental trials are even more trying. Life becomes a little more complicated when she begins to have feelings for one of her trainers, Four. Tris comes alive in the Dauntless faction, in more ways than one.

Tris’ world is turned upside down when she learns of a possible conspiracy involving two of the factions. Will she be able to uncover the truth and keep the fact that she is Divergent a secret at the same time? Will she have to do it alone or will Four be able to help?

DIVERGENT is a thrill ride.  There isn’t a moment when the story doesn’t hold tight to the reader. The mixture of drama, mystery, suspense, and romance is perfect. I can’t wait for the sequel, INSURGENT, due out May 2012.

Visit the Facebook page to take the faction quiz.  Where would you belong? 

The plague wiped out most of the Earth’s population. The world is a dangerous place for those outside the safety of the City of Sand. Luckily girls have the opportunity to live at School where they are educated to be the world’s next artists and teachers.

Eve has lived safely inside the walls of School ever since she was 4-yrs-old. The memories of her mother sending her on the government truck to safety still haunt her. Her days are spent attending classes like Dangers of Men and Boys. She has worked hard at School hoping for a chance at a great future in the City of Sand. As her time at School comes to an end, Eve finds out she is the valedictorian of her class. She has nothing but hope for her future.

Until……she witnesses her nemesis, Arden, escaping School the day before graduation. What Arden says sends Eve exploring and what she finds destroys her world.

Eve finds herself alone in the world outside of School’s boundaries and she doesn’t know the first thing about survival. How is she going to make it to Califia, the safe haven for runaway orphans? Does it even exist?

EVE is the first book in a trilogy and the world Anna Carey creates is fascinating.

I would have liked to give this book 5 Glasses, but I couldn’t.  I felt Eve’s transformation from naive schoolgirl to brave heroine was a little too easy. While I liked the characters, I didn’t have a lot invested in them. Also, some of the obstacles Eve encounters on her journey were very predictable. It was kind of like watching a horror movie and screaming at the character to tell her to NOT walk inside the dark, creepy room – you know what is going to happen! 

All in all, EVE is a nice addition to the list of dystopian books flooding the young adult market today.

Check out The EVE Trilogy website for more information.

Do you have something you’d like to forget? A memory too difficult to recall? Have no fear, TFC can take care of your problem.  

Nora is about to experience her first visit to TFC (Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic). Her parents are insisting she go after witnessing a horrible terrorist attack. Nora can’t seem to get the pictures of the dead out of her head. The only solution is to wash them from her head so she can get on with her life.

In a world where terrorist attacks are commonplace, TFC is making a killing. Not everyone trusts them though.  When Nora meets Micah and Winter, she is thrust into a world of mystery and rebellion.  Soon, the graphic novel, Memento, based on their sad and frightening memories becomes a hit.  Copies are spread well beyond their school and into different cities. Will they be able to keep their identities a secret? Will they be able to stay ahead of the people in the black vans? Will they be able to keep their memories?

MEMENTO NORA is an addictive story.  Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. The world Angie Smibert created is fascinating. The technological advances are interesting and probably not far from what will be possible in our near future. At 184 pages, this is a quick read with short chapters. Told from multiple points of view, it is a great choice for reluctant readers.

Everything depends on your score. High scores guarantee entrance to college and low scores make it difficult to get a job at all. Scores in the 70′s give people the option to work in retail or health services – completely respectable professions, but this isn’t the life Imani wants for herself. She’s been hovering in the low 90s for several years and feels confident she’ll get the scholarship since there are only a couple of months left in her Senior year.

Scores are determined by the 5 Elements: Peer Group, Impulse Control, Congruity, Diligence, and Rapport. The cameras are watching all the time. The cameras are everywhere. The cameras sends information about what you are doing and where you are going to ScoreCorp. ScoreCorp’s software analyzes your actions and generates your score. Once a month scores are publicly posted at school for everyone to see.

Not everyone is scored though. Many of the extremely wealthy don’t bother being scored since they can buy their way into whatever they need – college, jobs, etc. Some parents wouldn’t sign the permission slip allowing their child to participate in the program. At school, these students are considered the lowest of the low. Associating with them could endanger your score.

When Imani’s best friend, Cady, does something to plunge her score into the low 40s, it plunges Imani’s to the lowest it has ever been. It seems impossible that she will ever be able to get back to the scholarship range. But, when Diego, a mysterious Unscored guy, asks to work with her on a project, Imani sees a way she might be able to get back in ScoreCorp’s good graces. Will she be able to do what it takes? 

SCORED is a fascinating look at a world where the focus on where you rate goes too far. Where attempting to maintain the right peer group, controlling your thoughts, and always striving to do the score-positive thing determines everything you do.  Do the positives about the score outweigh the negatives? Lauren McLaughlin has created a unique dystopian world based in reality. Could we end up living in Imani’s world?

NOTE: It is important to read THE LINE before jumping into this book. Click HERE for the link to my review from January 2010. 

Rachel is in the Away. Years of reading about it on the net books didn’t prepare her for the actual experience. The thing that occupies most of her thoughts is her father. Pathik knows him, but won’t tell her anything about him. She feels hopeful, but worried at the same time. When they finally reach the camp, most aren’t thrilled to see her.  As a Reg, she isn’t welcome since she is a reminder of what the government did to them when they activated The Line. The Others have been forced to live for generations in the wilds of Away by primitive means. Rachel is amazed. It is hard for her to imagine life without electricity and modern conveniences like running water and medicine.

After delivering the antibiotics to the people looking after Malgam (Pathik’s father), Rachel tries to remain patient for news of her father. Finally, after Malgam is out of the woods, Indigo explains what happened. They suspect Daniel has been taken prisoner by another group of people called The Roberts. The Roberts are a violent and vile group that split away from them when the children in the camp started developing “gifts.”  It will take careful planning to rescue Daniel, but Indigo promises to do everything he can to get him back.

In addition to the stress of living away from home with a group of people she’s long feared, Rachel is also coming to terms with her feelings for Pathik. She is forced to alter her lifestyle without having time to prepare. She worries about her mother, Ms. Moore, and Jonathan who are still on The Property. Have Enforcement Officers come for them yet? Will they be safe now that she “ran away?” Will she ever see her mother again?

Teri Hall has written a satisfying sequel to a great dystopian series. I couldn’t rate it a 5 Glasses for several reasons though.  We needed more of the dystopian/government control part of the story. There are only a couple of instances where we see government officials at all. While I enjoyed reading about  Away I still felt like I needed to know what was happening in the Unified States on the other side of The Line.  Also, I think the very end of the book was great.  It really leaves the reader ready for the next installment of the series, but the part leading up to the end I was where I was a little disappointed.  I think Teri Hall could have done something different and still ended up where she wanted.

All that said, I couldn’t put the book down.  I loved it and can’t wait for the third.  Of course, I’ll probably have to wait over a year for it like I did AWAY.  Grrrr.

Imagine a world where water is virtually GONE. Drinkable water is controlled by the powerful. The everyday people are left dry and thirsty all the time. They are lucky to get the government-issued desalinated water. This is water that comes from the ocean but is run through a purification process to remove the minerals and has chemicals added to make it possible for people to drink it. Vera, the main character, describes it as “slippery on the tongue with a tangy aftertaste – like licking a burnt match.”

Wasting water is illegal. If you use more than your allotment it is possible to go to jail. Everyone is thirsty. Everything is dying without water – including people.

Vera can’t even imagine how her life will change when she meets a new boy named Kai. He is surrounded by mystery – he doesn’t go to school, he has armed guards, and most shocking of all, he always has plenty of water to drink. As she and Will get to know Kai better, they learn some of his secrets. And then he’s gone. Disappeared. Taken.

Vera and Will set off to find Kai – determined to bring him back no matter what it takes.

WATER WARS starts out great.  The idea of a world without water is easy to imagine and the author really paints a clear picture of what life is like for these people dying a little more each day from dehydration. The problems started when Vera and Will leave home to find Kai. The situations they find themselves in had me rolling my eyes and saying you have got to be kidding. I understand the need for adventure, but for some reason this one didn’t do it for me. It was like, how many death defying situations can these kids get out of? Are they indestructible? In the world of dystopian, post-apocalyptic young adult literture, this is one to read only after you’ve already read the great ones.

The World From WATER WARS

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