Teen review of "Unravel Me" by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

I, like many others, absolutely loved Shatter Me. When Ignite Me came out just a few weeks ago, I knew it was time to dive back into the series. However, I was afraid that had taken too much time in between both books (2 years) and Unravel Me wouldn’t live up to my expectations or I would forget everything that had happened, etc. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I had no trouble remembering events and, overall, Unravel Me surpassed my expectations. The first thing I would like to address is the writing. Why is Tahereh Mafi so amazing? I mean, can her writing not be anymore beautiful and poetic? I just absolutely love the use of strike outs and how the syntax isn’t grammatically correct. The sentences are occasionally fractured, run ons, and formatted like poetry. She uses actual numbers instead of writing them out. And the whole of that is because that is how Juliette thinks and writes. Mafi takes the act of writing in first person to a whole new level.

That being said, I kind of felt that Unravel Me was a different story from Shatter Me (but still as excellent). It’s a continuation of course, but while we see into Juliette’s past in book one and follow her on a journey to discover her powers and potential, book two is more about their preparation for war. We still follow Juliette and see her discoveries of what she can do, but it’s in a whole new setting that we only get a glimpse of at the end of Shatter Me. I feel that she was constantly on the run in the first book, which really held my attention, but book two is much more about character interactions then action. Which, in many ways, I loved. The dialogue and the conversations between the characters were the absolute best part.

Now, on the topic of the love triangle, I don’t know what to think. Reading Shatter Me, I was a strong member of Team Adam. When I started hearing all these things about Warner and seeing the huge amount of supporters he has, I didn’t get it. He was so much of a villain in Shatter Me. But now… I get it. Tahereh Mafi does such an excellent job of crafting each character and showing the good and bad sides of each, and how each of those sides kind of blur together. I really don’t know what to think. Right now, it really could go either way.

Now, let’s take a moment to talk about chapter 62.

I think I was the only one who was actually bored. I’m really not one for romance and it takes a lot for me to really get into scenes like that. (Sweet Evil is the only book so far that has really gotten me to feel those kinds of feels.) So was I skimming a bit through the first half of the chapter? Yup. But the second half? That’s when it got really good.

Overall, Unravel Me was just as addictive as the first book. I ended up binge reading the whole book over a three day weekend, which is not surprising since I ended up binge reading Shatter Me as well. I was a bit hesitant since I haven’t read the novellas, but you really didn’t need to. Those are extra bits that don’t affect the story if you take them out. I’m so glad I don’t have to wait for Ignite Me to be released because I’ll definitely be needing that soon.

- Caroline
Originally posted on The Attic blog

Teen review of "The Immortal Rules" by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
TEEN KAGAWA
RO TEEN KAGAWA

I’ve had a bit of a string of books that were not so good and The Immortal Rules made up for all of it. I absolutely loved everything about it. Now, I’m not a huge fan of vampires. They’re okay, but I don’t really see the appeal. It takes a lot for me to really get into a vampire book, and boy, it didn’t really take me long to get into this one. I love Julie Kagawa’s writing and I’m a huge fan of The Iron Fey, but I believe that, not only has this series become my favorite of her’s, but that she can also write anything. If it wasn’t for her name on the cover, I would have never guessed that it was written by Julie Kagawa. The tone is so completely different from The Iron Fey. It’s much darker and morbidly sarcastic then her romps through the land of faerie. But the one thing they have in common: fantastic world building.

The dystopian landscape was just so well imagined and put together. I had no trouble picturing the landscapes. One element that really added to the experience were the rabids. The rabids are pretty much failed vampires that are almost zombie-like. The rabids mixed with the dystopian setting was really what I need to fill the hole that the mid-season finale of The Walking Dead left. And speaking of rabids and other monsters, I thought The Immortal Rules had the best depiction of vampires and vampire life that I have ever read. I feel that vampires are so romanticized in popular culture, and the book does a really excellent job of dispelling that. They may have been human once, but the will never rid themselves of the hunger and the demon inside them.

And speaking of vampires, Allison has to be one of the best heroines ever. I absolutely loved her character and her progression into becoming a vampire. She is such a strong character. She’s grown up pretty much on her own, living on the fringe of this vampire city and is always on the run, trying to survive, and I think that is what makes her an even strong vampire. She knows how to take care of herself and she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty if she has to. I was also quite happy to see that, although there is a romance, there were no love triangles and it wasn’t that prominent. Allison is a loner and her way of life requires her to be. I guess I like my protagonists to be tortured in some way.

Overall, The Immortal Rules was an excellent novel, and was just the thing I needed to help me wrap up the year and get me out of a reading rut. It had twists that I wasn’t expecting and elements in the plot that made me want to *bookshimmy* (Especially when that have to take a detour to a run down, dystopian Chicago. I always love me some dystopian Chicago). And if anything, it has just exemplified my need to read everything by Julie Kagawa. I’m so glad I already have the second book.

- Caroline
Originally posted on The Attic blog.

Teen review of "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Here we are. We’ve reached the end. The end of a series is always a somber occasion, but more so when it’s a series like Divergent. I didn’t know what to expect going into Allegiant. I was excited, nervous, and scared to find out all the secrets we’ve been wanting to know since the first book. Also, the feedback from other readers was making me a little wary to know how it was going to end. But I did it. I read it all. And, oh my, where do I start…

I feel like Allegiant was much more political than Divergent and Insurgent. We get to see what is outside the city and we are faced with a whole new set of problems. I kind of missed them being in the city, but we all want to know what was outside the walls, right? So that kind of evened itself out. The situation they get themselves into, as I said, starts to delve into politics, and morals and ethics. Every character seems to be going through some type of existential crisis through it all. We get to know more of Tobias, with the new POV for half of the chapters. I really liked getting into his head and learning all his thoughts. He very closed off and that leads Tris and Tobias to run into some trouble, relationship wise, which I always like. It makes the relationship and the romance real. I feel that sometimes, especially in YA, the romantic leads have the “perfect” relationship, with outside events trying to tear them apart, and not interpersonal problems.

One thing I love about this trilogy is that it’s not just another dystopian story of survival. We get that aspect of it, but it’s all about the people and how they grow and change. Each faction, and their characters, teach us something. Erudite teaches us about how knowledge and it’s containment can be one of the most powerful weapons. Candor teaches us about honesty and admittance of our crimes. Amity teaches us about how to bring about peace, and that sometimes peace does not mean passivity. Dauntless teaches us the true meaning of bravery, as well as Abnegation. Selflessness and bravery are at the heart of this series and Allegiant in particular. It takes a lot of bravery to be truly selfless.

When it comes to the ending of Allegiant, I have mixed feelings. Upon finishing the novel, I locked myself in the car and cried for about ten minutes. But the more I thought about it, the ending really portrays all the themes that have interwoven in each novel, and I understand why Veronica Roth made the decision to write what she did. I’m okay with it. I’ve made my peace with it. And I guess the fact that I reacted how I did is a testament to the writing and the character creation. I don’t want to let go, but I have to. We all have to move on in the end.

- Caroline
Originally posted on The Attic blog.

"Allegiant" is here!

Today the final book in Veronica Roth's Divergent trilogy, Allegiant, was finally released. Are you dying to find out what happens? I can't wait to read it!

Don't forget to place a copy on hold (and do your best to avoid spoilers on the internet!)

The movie adaptation of the first book in the series, Divergent, hits theaters March 21, 2014.

Ally Condie concludes Matched series with 'Reached'

The final book in the Matched trilogy, Reached, is finally out today! If you've already read Matched and Crossed, don't forget to place a hold on a copy of Reached.

New books out today, 8/14

Michael Vey: Rise of the Elgen by Richard Paul Evans
#2 in the Michael Vey series

The Kill Order by James Dashner
Prequel to the Maze Runner series

New release Tuesday: "Insurgent," "Bitterblue," & more!

Science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and realistic fiction-- there's something for everyone in today's new releases!

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
I have been waiting for this book for months! Insurgent is the follow up to last year's Divergent. This dystopian series is set in a future Chicago, where everyone belongs to one of five factions: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Erudite, or Dauntless. Author Veronica Roth will be appearing at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville this Friday at 7 PM!

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
The next entry in the popular Seven Kingdoms fantasy series, which also includes Graceling and Fire. Author Kristin Cashore will be appearing at Anderson's Bookshop this Saturday at 2 PM!

The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
This is a companion novel to 2010's dystopian sci-fi thriller Ship Breaker.

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame
Here's something for all you fans of historical fiction: Wentworth Hall is set in 1912 England and has been described as a young adult version of the popular PBS television series Downton Abbey.

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams
As the tragic death of her older brother devastates the family, teenaged London struggles to find redemption and finds herself torn between her brother's best friend and a handsome new boy in town.

Book Bite: "Pandemonium"

"Droplets, droplets: We are all identical drips and drops of people, hovering, waiting to be tipped, waiting for someone to show us the way, to pour us down a path."

-Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

New sci-fi titles

The Way We Fall  by Megan Crewe	BZRK by Michael Grant
172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad	Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Partials by Dan Wells	Fear by Michael Grant
Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts	Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Cinder by Marissa Meyer	Tempest by Julie Cross
A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan	Truth by Julia Karr

Coming soon: "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Insurgent, the sequel to Divergent, is out May 1. Have you placed your copy on hold yet? I highly recommend these books to readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games series.


If you would like to meet Veronica Roth, the author of the Divergent series, she will be at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville on Friday, May 4! Check out their site for more information.

New releases 2/28

Torn by Amanda Hocking #2 in Trylle series Read the previous book: Switched

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver #2 in Delirium series Read the previous book: Delirium

New release Tuesday: Fever

Fever, the sequel to Wither (2011) by Lauren DeStefano, finally hits bookshelves today.

This series is set in a future where all diseases have been eliminated in the pursuit to create flawless human beings. As a result of this manipulation, women have a lifespan of only 20 years while men die at 25. Consequently girls are kidnapped into marriage, with young men taking several wives at a time in the hopes of continuing the population and providing test subjects to experiement on to find a cure. The main character, sixteen-year-old Rhine, was kidnapped and taken away from her twin brother in Wither. She then found herself in a marriage to the rich, clueless Linden, along with sister wives Cecily and Jenna. Rhine finds a friend (and maybe more) in Gabriel, who works in Linden's mansion. That's all I'll say if you haven't read Wither yet!

The Hunger Games series: Reviews from Summer Reading

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins is popular reading material this summer, for both teens and adults alike! Check out a few reviews from participants in our summer reading program:

The Hunger Games

"Even though the theme was hard to think about, it was an exciting book. I couldn't put it down." Rating: 5 out of 5
-- Martha Z.

Catching Fire

"Excellent! Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read Mockingjay. I'll be impatiently waiting to read it!" Rating: 5 out of 5
-- Shannon M.

"I thought it was an okay book compared to the first. What I really liked was the twist towards the end. It sets up a really good way to get readers interested in the following book." Rating: 4 out of 5
-- Martha Z.

Mockingjay

"Not my favorite of the trilogy, but nonetheless a great book." Rating: 4 out of 5
-- Linda S.

"Good end to the series. Lots of surprises. A book you will not be able to put down." Rating: 4 out of 5
-- Shannon M.

The Hunger Games movie: Peeta and Gale cast!

Finally! On Monday it was announced that Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) will play the role of Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) will play Gale Hawthorne in the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone) has already been cast as Katniss Everdeen.

I am very happy that Hutcherson is playing Peeta; a couple weeks ago I posted about my hope that he would get the role. I did not have any strong feelings on who should play Gale, apart from someone a bit rugged and believable as a hunter at home in the woods. I do not remember seeing Hemsworth's name among fan choices for Gale, so I was surprised at that part of the announcement. I have not watched any of Hemsworth's prior work, so I will to trust director Gary Ross's decision (and I'm going to ignore the fact that Hemsworth dated Miley Cyrus). I am totally avoiding reading any online article comments because I do not want to read people's negativity about the actors cast. How can we say so-and-so is a bad choice if the movie hasn't even started filming yet? I doubt author Suzanne Collins would go along with a decision to ruin her vision of the characters she created. If you are not sure about whether Hutcherson and Hemsworth are the right choices for the roles, maybe you'll change your mind after reading Collins' support of the casting of Peeta and Gale.

As of now, no other actors have been cast. EW.com suggests Robert Downey Jr. for the role of hard-drinking Haymitch and Elizabeth Banks for the bubbly Effie. And one writer, Karen Valby, has the same actress suggestion for Prim as me -- Kiernan Shipka from Mad Men!

What do you think of the casting? Do you agree that Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth will fit into their roles alongside Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss? And, most importantly, how are you going to stand the wait until the movie hits theaters on March 23, 2012? I think we need to get a countdown going on the blog!

Jennifer Lawrence is "the girl on fire"

It was announced last week that twenty-year-old actress Jennifer Lawrence will play the role of Katniss Everdeen in the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games trilogy. Fans like me have been waiting to hear which buzzworthy actress would win this coveted role. I previously posted about how True Grit's Hailee Steinfield was my pick to play Katniss, and I was initially disappointed to hear about Jennifer Lawrence's casting. But after reading this article at EW.com in which director Gary Ross explains how he and author Suzanne Collins needed a mature actress to play Katniss, I found myself more supportive of the choice. And then any lingering doubts I had were erased when I read this exclusive statement from Suzanne Collins in which she praises Jennifer Lawrence's audition. Lawrence's previous work includes Winter's Bone, for which she received a Best Actress nomination, and the upcoming X-Men: First Class.

Now that director Ross has found Katniss, I hope we'll soon hear about who will play Peeta, Gale, Prim, Rue, and the other characters. As I write this, no other casting announcements have been made. Josh Hutchersen, previously seen as Laser in The Kids Are All Right, has talked about why he loves the character of Peeta, and I am crossing my fingers that he'll get the role. He definitely understands the character from having read the books himself, and he is a talented actor. Do you have any casting ideas about who should play Peeta or Gale?

Read The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins:
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay