Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Scorch Trials, by James Dashner (2010)



She spoke to him before the world fell apart.

The environment is destroyed.  Humanity near the brink of destruction.  Sun Flares have devestated the planet and a virus, the Flare, is slowly killing the world's population.  WICKED's goal is to save the planet from catastrophe.  Or is it?

Once the Gladers escape the Maze, they have a false sense of security and hope.  Enter Phase 2: the Scorch Trials.  Variables.  Group A.  Group B.  And now the Gladers have been infected with the Flare.  They can only receive the Cure if they survive the Scorch.  The rules?  There are no rules.

As the mystery unravels, Theresa is missing.  The Gladers meet Aris, a teenage boy who has just escaped the Maze.  But unlike the Gladers' group, his group was made up of girls.  The similarities between the two groups is uncanny.  And questions arise about the intent of WICKED and the Creators. 

Memories slowly creep back into Thomas' mind. 

Enter the Scorch, one of the most terrifying experiences ever.  This is the scariest book I've read in a long, long time.  You will love this book if you like thrilling stories, fully of suspense and intrigue. 

To check out this book at NOLS, click HERE!

Rating:  7 out of 10 stars

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Incarceron, by Catherine Fisher (2007)


Finn had been flung on his face and chained to the stone slabs of the transitway.

Imagine a world in the future, after the Years of Rage, the first king of the Havaarna Dynasty declares that the world will freeze, technology will not advance, people are forced to follow Protocol and maintain authenticity.  The world looks like 17th century England.  Meet people like Comitatus, Civicry, Halfmen, Sapienti, Sapphique, the Warden of Incarceron, Jormaniric, Gildas, the Steel Wolves, Keiro, Claudia, Jared, Giles, Bartlett, and Attia. 

After the War, the Sapienti developed an experiment to protect society and preserve humanity.  They wanted to create a perfect society in a Prison.  Incarceron.  The Prison is alive.  It feels, it offers justice, it gives and takes life.  Seventy Sapients volunteered to enter Incarceron to oversee the experiment.  Half the population was forced to enter.  Once the prison was sealed, no one could enter or leave the Prison.  Except for Sapphique.

The experiment is a failure.

Finn, a cell born, knows that he hasn't always lived in Incarceron.  He has one faint memory of a different life.  On his hand is a tatoo of the crowned bird, the symbol of the Havaarna Dynasty.  Proof?  When he is given the crystal key, the quest begins. 

Finn must escape Incarceron.

Twists and turns abound, this is an excellent book for a strong reader who isn't intimidated by complex vocabulary.  The dark world of Incarceron is exciting and mysterious.  Enjoy!

Rating:  10 out of 10 stars

Monday, March 21, 2011

Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erskine (2010)


It looks like a one-winged bird crouching in the corner of our living room.  Hurt.  Trying to fly every time the heat pump turns on with a click and a groan and blows cold air onto the sheet and lifts it up and flutters for just a moment and then falls down again.  Still dead.


Soon to be 11-years old, Caitlin Ann Smith has Asperger's.  Her world is black or white, good or bad.  Anything inbetween confuses her, especially when it comes to emotions.  Caitlin adored her 13-year old brother, but he was fatally wounded in a school shooting.  In this delicious read, Caitlin learns about friendship, finesse, and closure.


The resolution of this story is what makes it a great read! 
If you liked reading Because of Winn-Dixie, Pictures of Hollis Woods, Make Lemonade, So B It, you'll love Mockingbird.


Rating:  8 out of 10 stars

The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (2009)


He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air.


Meet Thomas.  Age unknown.  He enters a new world through a metal box.  As the box pushes its way towards the surface, Thomas realizes he has no memory, just feelings of experiences.  Once the box reaches the surface, he is greeted by more than 30 Gladers, boys just like him.  No memory.  No one will answer Thomas' questions.  Thomas' only friend is a boy named Chuck.  Gally glares at Thomas and says cruel things because he saw Thomas during the Changing.  Alby is the leader, the boy who has survived in the Glade the longest.


Once a month the metal box brings a new boy to the Glade.  Everyone has to work.  Order is required.  The Glade is safe; outside the Glade lies danger like you've never known.  Outside the Glade is an enormous maze.  And Grievers.  At sundown each day, the tall stone walls of the Glade close and the maze changes.  Anyone who is left outside the walls in the maze will come to a horrible death by the Grievers.


Two days after thomas leaves, the box returns with a girl.  In her hand she grasps a note:  "She's the last one.  Ever."  Can they escape the maze?  Can they survive the Grievers?  Who are the Creators and what do they want?  How can Theresa and Thomas communicate telepathically?  How are they linked to the Creators?


This dark novel is fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping excitement.  The first in the series...


Rating:  8 out of 10 stars

Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld (2005)


The early summer sky was the color of cat vomit.


Tally Youngblood will turn pretty in three months.  All of her friends are already pretty, living it up in New Pretty Town.  She misses her friends, especially her best friend, Peris.


Tally's world is based on a series of stages: Littlies, Uglies, New Pretties, Middle Pretties, and Crumblies.  Tally is sure she knows what she wants when she meets another Ugly, Shay.  Shay and Tally share the same birthdate - they'll turn pretty together.  But Shay begins to share her ideas with Tally, and they're new and different to Tally.  Tally only begins to think about things differently after Shay escapes Uglyville, leaving Tally with a enormous decision.


If you like books like Fahrenheit 451, Hunger Games, The House of the Scorpion, you'll probably find Uglies an exciting read.


Rating:  7 out of 10 stars

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The Gnome's Eye, by Anna Krez (2010)

"...and stay away from the river," my mother called as I stormed out of our barrack door.


Spring 1954


Theresa Becker is an 11 year old refugee living in a barrack in Austria.  Originally from Yugoslavia, Theresa's family considers themselves to be Danube Swabians because they were from Swabia, Germany originally.  Once World War II begins, Theresa's family has to move to Austria.


Living near Theresa's family are a cast of unique charcters, such as Herr and Frau Besselmeyer with their chickens.  But Theresa's family wants more out of life and finally gets the paperwork to immigrate to Toronto, Canada.


Theresa's best friend, Martin gives her a stone, a "gnome's eye" to offer protection and safety. 


And once they arrive in Canada, Theresa is forced to learn to be brave. 


Rating: 7 out of 10 stars