Book #40

Initiation by Imogen Rose
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was an okay book but I was sorta disappointed. I always enjoy the Young Adult books set at boarding schools. I wonder why that is? No idea really, but it's a setting I liked. It was hard to figure out if the main character was supposed to be Faustine or Cordelia. This was listed as the 1st in the Bonfire Academy series but it seemed that there were some things that I never quite understood. Then I see there's a book called Faustine but it's #1 in the Bonfire Chronicles. Kinda pisses me off that now I've read this book and there was a previous book that probably should have been read first. So there are two series with some of the same characters? Confusing and not sure if it's worth my while to continue with either series.


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Book #38

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Second book in the Divergent series and it explained a great deal about the factions. The fighting and the war that takes place in this book is again brutal. The manipulation that Jeannine perpetrates is appalling. The romance between Four and Tris was just about right. The family story was phenomenal. I enjoyed then ending and can't wait to read the next book to find out even more.


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#36 of 2012

Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What to say about this book? It's YA. It's dystopian. It's family drama. It's brutal. I liked it alot. Can't wait to read the next book and see what happens.


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#26 of 2012

Wool 2: Proper Gauge by Hugh Howey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second book in this series/omnibus takes us farther into the lives of those in the Silo and further into the Silo.
Since the Sheriff has gone to the cleaning, the Mayor must chose a new one to take his place. His Deputy, Marnes doesn't want the job, but suggests Juliette (who prefers to be called Jules) from Mechanical in the Deep Down. All the way to the 142nd floor deep into the Silo. Mayor Jahns and Deputy Marnes take a trip down the staircase stopping along the way to introduce us to other levels and people and their jobs.
I enjoyed learning more about this world in the Silo and being introduced to more inhabitants. This is an interesting world that Mr. Howey is setting up and I look forward to reading more.


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Book #25 of 2012

Wool by Hugh Howey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Started and finished this in one sitting. Very interesting story, glad I bought the omnibus so that I can start on Wool #2 right away.

Your world consists of living inside a silo, underground where all you see of the 'outside' is a brown, dead countryside and a city filled with decaying, building shells. Your entire life is inside, only those sentenced to death step foot outside the silo. Their crime? Wanting out. Their last job, to clean the cameras that allow those inside to see out. But why do they all clean the cameras so willingly?

This is Holston and Allison's story. We go from present day with the Sheriff, Holston to 3 years ago and his wife's sentence to cleanse the cameras. Why she wanted out, why he has decided to go out.

Thanks Wendy for the recommendation.


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Book 43 of 2011 Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Another YA book that tells a very sad story. We follow Clay Jensen on a completely terrible journey. He' listening to a series of cassette tapes recorded by his classmate and crush Hannah Baker. Hannah committed suicide 2 weeks earlier and mailed out this box of cassette tapes. In the tapes she tells her '13 reasons why' and each corresponds to a person. Each person is directed to mail the tapes to the next person on the list or risk having all the tapes released to the public. There is also a map that goes along with the tapes.

Poor Clay. He listens to the tapes wondering when he will appear and what it was he did or didn't do to be included as one of the 13 reasons why gradually become more distraught. We don't see the effect of the tapes on any of the other 13 and that disappoints me, but the effect on Clay is terrible to read.

I don't like Hannah. How selfish of her to tell everyone after the fact what was wrong with her. I felt like her tapes were meant to hurt. She became a bully, the same as the people she accused of being her 13 reasons


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Book 41 of 2011 Torment by Lauren Kate

Torment by Lauren Kate
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The promise of this series isn't fully realized in this 2nd book. I enjoyed the first much more. This book starts with Luce being spirited away to a boarding school on the California coast. There are 'normal' kids as well as a number of Nephilim at this school. Here she learns bits a pieces more of her story with the fallen angel Daniel and all little about some of her past lives. She also learns more about the 'shadows' and now knows that they are really called announcers and that they can show her the past. Daniel is still keeping too many secrets and Luce is having a difficult time figuring out who is good and who is bad. The book ends on a cliff hanger so I'll probably read book 3 just to see where the series is going.


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Book 38 of 2011 Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another very good Young Adult book. Set at an Alabama boarding school with a cast of characters filled with outcasts, this is definitely one of my favorite reads this summer. The Alaska that is being looked for is a young lady not the state and her story is a compelling one. Her friends Pudge, The Colonel, Takumi and Lara are perfect. I know nothing about boarding schools, but the author of this book went to one in Alabama so I suppose he knows something about them. My favorite part is glimpsing the humanity of the Eagle.


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Book 31 of 2011 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

just saw an article about this one being banned by a school board who admitted that none of them had even read the book. Banning a book makes it more appealing to me. So, I ran over to the Nola Brantley Branch of the Houston County Public Library and snapped it up to read. Back when I'm done to write a review.

Arnold Spirit Jr. is born with hydrocephalus, underwent several surgeries, dealt with seizures and grown to the ripe old age of 14. He's been picked on pretty much his entire life by everyone. After an incident at his reservation high school, he decides to go 'off the rez' to a white high school in a small town. At first he's also picked on there. And the torture from the other Indians on the reservation gets worse.

The book tells the story of that year. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. This book was banned by this school board who decided it was too much for 9th graders (without reading it of course) I think 9th graders would probably think it's pretty lame. It is a little dark, but not so much that it would be harmful for high school kids to read. I'd let my 5th or 6th grader read it.


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Book 30 of 2011 Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Specials by Scott Westerfeld
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book nicely wrapped up the trilogy. While the author left some room for maybe another book or books, it was still a satisfying ending if he doesn't chose to continue the journey with more books I'm okay with that.

In this book we follow Shay, Tally and the Cutters clique of Specials on some unfinished business. Out to find the 'new smoke' and the Smokies. When they finally get there things aren't quite what they expected. Do they finally grow up? Maybe, although Tally still aggravates the hell out of me, she's still a kid and I kept having to tell myself that.


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