Book Review: Shatter Me

By: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date:  November 15, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: ARC -  Thanks HarperTeen!

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

I am in awe of this book. I was told and told again how great and amazing it was, but I did not expect how beautiful the writing would be or how much I would fall in love with this story! For a story about a girl who can't be touched it's unexpectedly hot .... and so beautiful and full if emotion it's hard not to burst from it.

Let me start with the writing. Lyrical, is a great word to describe it. The imagery Tahereh created with her words, I have never read a blush of the cheeks describe more beautifully than in this book, and the many ways she comes up with to describe such a normal every day thing.  I feel like I could burst from the beauty of her words alone. And the style was amazing, using strikethroughs to emphasize some thoughts Juliette was having.

The plot was fantastic brilliant EXCEPTIONAL. This x-men meets dystopian novel was fast paced, yet still created a complete picture of the dying world that Juliette and Adam live in. I can't wait to learn more about the world and how it came to be in the next book.

And can I say WOW to all the sexy time scenes. First off the shower scenes are some of the sweetest, most romantic and steamy (literally) scenes I have ever read! Adam is definitely a 10 out of 10 in the swoon worthy department. Loyal, passionate, caring, sweet... how could you not fall for him?!?!

I highly recommend this book to dystopian lovers and even those that don't, I think you will enjoy it ;)

My Review in a Tweet:  

This X-men meets dystopian novel has become one of my favorite books. With such open, honest, and heart-achingly beautiful writing and an amazing storyline, you will fall in love with Shatter Me! Another amazing novel of 2011.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5

Memorable Quotes:

I want to put this fist attached to my wrist right through the window.

Just to feel something.
Just to feel human.

Similar Titles:
Some other dystopians...

Other Reviews:

• I Eat Words
• Reading Teen
• Hooked to Books
• Books with Bite 

I tried to find a review of someone who didn't like it, to get two perspectives, but so far there aren't any!

Buy the book here!
**commissions earned from sales are minimal and go towards giveaways!

Book Review : Possession

Book: Possession
Author: Elana Johnson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: June 7, 2011
Pages: 416
Source: GalleyGrab
Date Read: May 21, 2011

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

I have talked and talked and talked to others about this book, and yet I still don't know how I feel about it. So I will just write you the four notes I took while reading and explain them:

ONE   "No explanation of the world yet, but reminds me of Uglies series.... I like how she doesn't care about getting in trouble"

So this note came after the first couple of pages where I still wasn't getting what the world was about. What is this dystopian book about? What is the government limiting or controlling? I had lots of questions like this in the beginning because it pretty much jumps into the action. I actually really liked that about the story, it moved really quickly and a lot of things happened over the course of the book. I can see many authors even dividing the book into two or three parts with how much is learned and how many things happen.

Second part consists of Vi and her badass-ness. Love those type of female leads.

TWO "Contradictions: a land called freedom, bad, and good"

So it seems like this book is alot about labels and how they never really encopass things completely. Freedom wasn't free. Badies weren't all bad. Goodies aren't all good.

THREE "I'm not understanding this, but enjoying the ride."

So this is where I sort of drop from LOVED it to REALLY LIKED IT. The book jumps alot, from one train of thought to another, from on action to another, from one scene to another. Transitions where weird, trains of thoughts where hard to follow and at one point I was COMPLETELY lost. However, that didn't stop me from reading. Not once.

FOUR "Jag"
Simple as that note is, it holds a lot of power with me. I loved loved loved Jag and his relationship with Vi. They really got one another, and I love how their story grew. 

SPOILER-ISH SIDE NOTE (highlight to read): There is no note for this last part but I want to warn before you go into the story... the ending is shocking, and there is no sequel planned. And while I don't need all my endings to be cookie cutter happy, I really wish this one could have been. But I get it, you don't always win.

My Review in a Tweet: I love the idea of this book more than the execution, still I could not put it down. You could say I was Possessed.

Ratings:

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Other Reviews:

• http://www.thestorysiren.com/2011/06/possession-by-elana-johnson.html
•  http://www.electrifyingreviews.com/2011/06/possession-by-elana-johnson.html

Book Review : Divergent

Book: Divergent (Book #1)
Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Date Published: May 3, 2011
Pages: 487
Source: Kindle and Bookshelf (yes so good I bought two copies)
Date Read: May 3, 2011

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

Wow. I am pretty sure every blogger starts their review of Divergent with those words (well not every blogger but at least 90% of them do), because even if people had little complaints about the world building -which I didn’t- or the reason they where split into factions -I didn’t care why- this book packs a hell of a punch. I am not going to go into too much detail about what Divergent is about because I am sure by now you know, and if you don’t read the blurb above.

So I am not going to write a long review, just something short about why I loved this book and why I think you should read it....

First off, the world... now is it realistic that everyone would split into factions - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) - no not really, because how can someone be just one of these. And I think that is the main point of this book. These people are trained to believe it is better to be the best in one, than well-rounded in all. And it makes for a extremely intriguing story. Some of my favorite highlighted quotes comes from the different sayings of the faction, because in spite of it all there is some truth in their beliefs. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was how extremely they follow their faction and their beliefs...

“Faction before blood.”

I would have liked to learn more about how the factions came to be and how other cities work, but I guess time (and the other books) will reveal more.

Second, which I probably should have listed first, I love Four! Like I am absolutely entranced by him. I love the way the romance was built, I love how vulnerable they are only with each other, and I love that there wasn’t a love triangle - if one comes in later I don’t know what I will do because no one can take Four’s place in my heart, NO ONE.

Third, I love how things aren’t easy for Tris. I don’t know how better to explain this other than she had to struggle and fight for what she wanted and make tough decisions. I won’t say more, because if I keep writing I know I will give something away. But let me just say I can totally see how this will be an awesome movie as there are amazing stunts and nail-biting action sequences, along with hot and sweet loving moments.

I can’t stress how much I loved this book and I am DYING to read more! I know I said I would keep this short but I couldn't help it =D

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Memorable Quotes:

It must require bravery to be honest all the time. I wouldn't know. - Tris

and another one...

Human reason can excuse any evil; this is why it's so important we don't rely on it. -Tri's father

Review: Wither

Book: Wither (Chemical Garden #1)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: 3/22/2011
Pages: 356
Source: Publisher
Date Read: 2/23/2011

Summary:
What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

Yani's Analysis:
Wow! Just WOW! I didn't know what to expect from this book and I was completely taken in by the story and the characters. In fact, I finished this book a week ago and have still been thinking about it. This has to be my new favorite dystopian novel. How did Lauren Destefano win me over, I'll tell you...

1.   Relatable, yet very deep characters
Rhine is a strong, compassionate girl who can't help but be taken in by the nice new life her husband has set up for her. If she didn't know what else was out there outside her imprisonment of a marriage, she would be content to live the last four years of her life in Linden's manor. But she has a twin brother out there, anxiously wondering what happened to her.

She and her sister wives, yes sister wives, grow to become a real family. Even Linden, grew on me towards the end so much so I began to pity him. None of the characters are perfect, they all have their flaws and that what made the story even more real for me.

2. Thought-provoking themes and a realistically cruel world
This novel is about many things: life, death, humanity, science, genetics, wealth, love, family.... it touches so much and paints a picture of real life issues in this drastically different world than what we live in. Time, there is so little of it for these people growing up in this world where almost everyone is an orphan and the rich treat people like property. I don't know how to explain how well Lauren creates this world, so realistic and genuine despite never having dealt with anything like this ourselves. I almost felt like out there somewhere this was really happening and I wanted to go and do something about it.

3.   Mystery and Suspense
Is there or will there ever be a cure for this disease? Is Linden genuinely loving or a tyrant captivator? Will Rhine ever escape? Lauren keeps the reader intrigued the whole time with mysteries and suspense galore. Even though it is a long book, I only stopped reading once.

4.   Heartbreak and Hope
Throughout the novel you'll come across these two more than once. Just prepare yourself to tear up and feel for these characters. Tragic lives, with hopeful hearts.

5.   A satisfying, yet open-ended conclusion that makes the reader wonder... What comes next??
I loved everything about this book, even it's design -which I was able to see in e-reader format- and I can't wait to see what comes next. Not just for Rhine, but for Linden and other characters as well.


Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Review: Memento Nora

Book: Memento Nora

Author: Angie Smibert

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

Release Date: 4/1/2011

Pages: 192

Source: ARC Tour

Date Read: 1/31/11

From Amazon:

Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

Yani's Analysis:

When I picked up this book I thought it would be a a miniaturized repeat of other dsytopian novels, and while there are similarities between this book and other works, I was intrigued by the storyline and the character’s chemistry. It reads like a psychology journal- of memories to forget. I liked the fact that because it was a journal of memories to forget, the author doesn’t bore you with irrelevant details. The idea of forgetting to be happy is a similar theme in other dystopian novels and its a relevant topic to today’s world, where people medicate themselves to not live with the pain. Also, the theme of privatized security was really prevalent, without using more than 200 pages Smibert was able to incorporate all these societal evils into one book. Amazing!

Other things I liked:

• I like how the author created  a new slang/vocabulary. It was hard to pick up, but very creative, and reminded me of the Uglies with the words like bubbly. In this book everything is glossy.

• Funny how the reward for memory erased is points, like a credit card. 
• Told in multiple viewpoints, love this in stories...really brings out the whole picture.

Although I understand the point of the ending, it left me a little unsatisfied. I am wondering if there is a sequel in the works??

Ratings: 

Plot: 4/5

Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 3/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Memorable Quotes:

“when in doubt spit it out” Micah

“it was like the superheroes had abandoned gotham, and we the citizens were supposed to pop a pill and forget all about it.” Micah

Review: Delirium

Book: Delirium (Book 1 of Trilogy)

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2011

Pages: 305

Source: Netgalley

Date Read: 1/24/11

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love

Yani's Analysis:

Lena Holway is not your typical lead character. She is quiet, subdued, and obedient (not a rule-breaker like her best friend Hana). You would think that the story would be about the rebel, the one trying to fight the system, but instead there is little Lena who gets nervous attending co-ed parties. That is the point I guess, the amazing power of love. It didn't necessarily change her, but made her stronger, willful, and confident. Whereas Hana cowered in fear at the thought of life without the government's control.

I really enjoyed this book. I know many people will be comparing it to Matched, which is a great book in its own right. I think the story of love and human passion is greater in Delirium. With Matched, everyone sat back and watched while the government told them what to do. While in the world of delirium, you just felt bad for the people who lost the excitement and passion in life and became robots, devoid of love and humanity. 

I loved the way Oliver added verses and scripture from faux law book and religious text in the beginning of every chapter, it really shows the reader the type of world these characters are living in and the logic of their fear of love. When they took love out of the world, I don’t think they ever realized that there is more than one type of love. There is love for your family, friends, your pet, even compassion for others and their hardship. It turns the world insensitive and cold.

“Hate isn’t the most dangerous thing, He’d said. Indifference is.”

I think this book has a powerful message, and it doesn’t hurt that it has a beautiful love story as well. I am anxiously waiting for the second book as the ending of this one left my breathless.

Ratings: 

Plot: 4/5

Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 3/5

Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

• Matched by Ally Condie
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
  

Memorable Quotes:

"I wish I could close my eyes and be blown into dust and nothingness, feel all my thoughts disperse like dandelion fluff drifting off on the wind. But his hands keep pulling me back: into the alley, and Portland, and a world that has suddenly stopped making sense."

Dystopian Novels: A Discussion

Last week, the NYT opinion section came out with a discussion of why young adult fiction was so popular now a days. Several authors wrote pieces for the discussion, which can be found here. I thought it was very interesting what Maggie Stiefvater wrote. 

  "Teenagers want to be able to fight for what’s right -- but finding out what’s right is now 90 percent of the battle. If only the evil in the world was named Voldemort, we could get down to the business of slaying it. And with the dystopian novels, we know just what we're fighting for." - Maggie Stiefvater

With dystopian novels, you know just what and who you are fighting. You are fighting to keep from losing your individuality and from losing your freedom.

But unlike, Ms Stiefvater, I don't believe all is black and white in dystopian novels and THAT is what draws the readers in. The reason these worlds came to be was from good intentions. You can't tell me that whole time reading these books you have never thought how much easier your life would be if some things were chosen for you or if everyone looked the same. The point of these novels, and why I feel people are attracted to them, is that they reiterate what we already know. That life isn't perfect, but without some sadness how can you truly know what happiness feels like.

I just read a preview of delirium and one of the main characters said something similar as she was being carted off to be evaluated for matching. " You can't be really happy unless your unhappy sometimes. You know that, right? I think that's the question that all these dystopian novels ask us, and hopefully at the end of the story your answer is "Yes, I know that."