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In The End
In The End
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: November 12, 2014
Review
The conclusion to In the After, In the End shows us a world where humanity has been invaded by powerful, violent creatures with incredible strength and senses. Our protagonist is a young woman named Amy who grew up during the invasion and saved a toddler who she named "Baby" and raised upon her own. In the conclusion of the last book Amy reunited with her mother and left Baby in her care at a fortified town. In this book things begin early on as Amy is delivered the chilling news that Baby has ended up in the hands of a sadistic scientist that runs the fortified town, and that she's being used for experiments.
Amy's strong desire to protect Baby at all costs are strongly humanizing elements that are easy to empathize with, drawing the reader in and giving lost of support to the main character and her struggles. In addition to a very human story of saving an innocent, the series delves into the science behind the invaders and reveals a strong twist regarding their origins. For lovers of post-apocalyptic fiction this is a very strong series and I would recommend it to any fan of the genre, particularly to those who enjoy a positive ending.
Overall Book Score: very good
About the Book
Author:
Lunetta, Demitria
Publisher: Harperteen/HarperCollins
Book Type: chapter book fiction
Genre: adventure, science fiction, horror
Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12
Binding Type: trade edition
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780062105486
Price: 17.99
Graduation Day
Graduation Day
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: November 12, 2014
Review
The Third of the Testing series, Cia has been undergoing a process known as the Testing, a process undergone by all potential leaders of the community, and usually conducted in ways that leave the participants with no memories of what happened. Cia does remember, and has learned that the Testing is violent, inhumane, and covers layers of secret corruption and control within her government. She has to navigate murderous intrigue and politics to find ways to end the barbaric practice, but who can she trust, and who will she be putting into danger along the way.
I can't really put my finger on why, but I felt like this series never really 'clicked' well. There was no single element that really stood out as to why, but this series didn't grab me deeply enough to leave me really hungry from the next one. It was a decent series, but not one that comes in at the top of the list.
Overall Book Score: fair
About the Book
Author:
Charbonneau, Joelle
Publisher: Houghton MIfflin
Book Type: chapter book fiction
Genre: adventure, science fiction
Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12
Binding Type: Choose Binding Type
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 978054795921
Price: 17.99
Suspicion
Suspicion
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: February 6, 2015
Review
Suspicion is an interesting blending of genres that makes for a very compelling read. Fans of the Princess Diaries may particularly enjoy Suspicion. Imogen Rockford has spent her life growing up as an average student in America, knowing that she had distant family in England that she met when she was a child, but hadn't seen them since the death of her parents. That remote bit of ancestry comes into sudden relevance as her English kin pass on as well, leaving her unexpectedly with the hereditary title of Countess. Imogen is thrust into a new world as she learns the ins and outs of being nobility, of English history and culture. At the same time the mysterious deaths of her parents and cousins and others at her new manor home linger over everything, and even more is added as inexplicable and impossible things begin to happen around Imogen, as if her presence were somehow awakening things long dormant within the grounds. Spellbinding and mysterious, Suspicion is a well written tale that holds elements to captivate a broad range of readers, and will be hard to put down once you've begun.
Overall Book Score: good
About the Book
Author:
Monir, Alexandra
Illustrator: ,
Publisher: Delacorte Press / Random House Children's Books
Book Type: chapter book fiction
Genre: adventure,fantasy,mystery
Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12
Binding Type: trade edition
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780385743891
Price: 17.99
Sound
Sound
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: March 8, 2016
Review
This is an intriguing sci-fi coming of age stories that travels to many interesting locations. Beginning on a large spaceship and roaming to exotic space stations, strange worlds and even deep beneath the waves of alien planets, it is a book full of adventure and newness around every corner.. Yet is also a book that feels somehow ungrounded in a way that both works with the story and against it. The story revolves around the decision of an impetuous young girl to leave what is comfortable and predictable in order to do what is right, and to follow the first pangs of romantic interest. She quickly begins to question the wisdom of having leaped before she had truly looked at the situation. This forms a theme as Miyole and the ragtag group that end up with her are often left scrambling as they find themselves in over their heads. This sets quite a pace, with the group traveling to new locations and facing desperate situations in a true coming of age adventure. One downside of this swift pace is that while the characters shine, the world setting feels as if it never truly has the chance to establish itself. There are fascinating ideas tossed about such as ships that are engineered and grown out of seashell-like nacre and some interesting depictions of organized crime that would benefit from more time and detail being used to ground them. At the same time, this slightly rushed feeling reinforces Miyole's outlook and wondering if her impulsive decision was a good one or not. Ultimately it was an entertaining and engaging read, but left me feeling that the setting had a lot more to offer.
Overall Book Score: good
About the Book
Author:
Duncan, Alexandra
Illustrator: ,
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Book Type: chapter book fiction
Genre: adventure,science fiction,romance
Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12
Binding Type: trade edition
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780062220172
Price: 17.99
The Darkest Corners
The Darkest Corners
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: March 8, 2016
Review
This story is deep and shows a great deal of introspection as the protagonist returns to the town of her childhood home and has to come to grips with everything from old family trauma, childhood friendships and relationships, to her Sister's murderer whom she helped convict when she was only 8 years old.
Though Callie left her hometown years ago, she is haunted by many figures and events from her past. As she is thrown back into the middle of old controversies, relationships, and rumors in her home town, she must struggle to reconcile the acts, fears and hopes of her 8-year old self with the new reality and perspective that her older and more perceptive and introspective self finds.
Filled with thrilling action and mystery through Callie's past and present, this makes a gripping read from start to finish while showing a fascinating development and maturation of both Callie and her understanding of the world and herself. Don't let this one slip by!
Overall Book Score: excellent
About the Book
Author:
Thomas, Kara
Illustrator: ,
Publisher: Delacorte Press / Random House Children's Books
Book Type: chapter book fiction
Genre: mystery,realistic fiction
Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12
Binding Type: trade edition
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780553521450
Price: 17.99
Ones and Zeroes
Ones and Zeroes
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: March 8, 2016
Review
Ones and Zeroes, the first of the Mirador series, is the near-future story of Marisa, a girl in search of answers about her past, and the Cherry Dogs, a obscure team who play in the most popular VR fighting sport who get a spot in a highly publicized tournament. I expected Ones and Zeroes to be a story focused on the fighting within the game, but what I found was a remarkably nuanced, mature and gripping tale that pays attention to everything from Marisa's parents and their failing Mexican restaurant, the mysterious car accident Marisa was in as a child that injured both her and the child of a local mobster and her father's rigid silence on the topic, all the way to the illegal and surprisingly realistic machinations of the mega-corporation buying up all of the utilities in Marisa's city.
Marisa is a driven character who attempts to hack her way to the secrets about the childhood accident that left her with a cybernetic arm and an unknown connection to a local mob family. While her curiosity gets her drawn into something much bigger than her or the Cherry Dogs, she never forgets the driving forces of her own personal life or the moral questions that surround her. The story never ignores the impact of the choices the characters make or the overwhelming odds stacked against them. A gripping, rich, and surprisingly nuanced story, a must-read for serious science fiction or dystopia fans.
Overall Book Score: excellent
About the Book
Author:
Wells, Dan
Illustrator: ,
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Book Type: chapter book fiction
Genre: adventure,science fiction
Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12
Binding Type: trade edition
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780062347909
Price: 17.99
Blight
Blight
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: November 7, 2017
Review
The future world described by Blight is one that's all too believable: A world in which massive agricultural corporations have taken full legal control over the production of food. They have patented the plants themselves, and maintain strict control over what food is grown to provide enough for society.
There are those who try to live outside the corporation's controls. They're called Scavengers, and they will steal food, grow illegal crops, and do whatever they have to in order to survive.
Tempest is an AgraStar security guard, helping to protect the crops and resources of the corporation. AgraStar provides food, a home, and a group of fellow workers who are the closest thing she has to a family until the day an industrial explosion sets off a catastrophe that changes everything and has her questioning all that she knows.
In the chaos that follows, Tempest runs into other people who present a very different view of the world than AgraStar has given her thus far, and in a classic coming-of-age story she has to come to grips with these differing views and decide the truth for herself. Strong worldbuilding, dramatic conspiracies, and exciting action keep the story gripping and the pace moving right along. This dystopian story has broad appeal for fans of the genre and is clearly only the first of a promising new series.
Overall Book Score: very good
About the Book
Author:
Duncan, Alexandra
Illustrator: ,
Publisher: Greenwillow Books / Harpercollins
Book Type: Choose Book Type
Genre: adventure,science fiction
Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12
Binding Type: Choose Binding Type
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780062396991
Price: 15.99
The Wonderling
The Wonderling
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: December 12, 2017
Review
The Wonderling is a story rich with detail. It follows the story of a young groundling - a creature part animal and part man. In this case it is of a young, one-eared fox creature who doesn't even have a name. Known only as Number 13, he lives in a bleak and dreary home for orphaned groundlings. This story is full of challenges and oppression for the young groundling, from the matron of the Home for Orphaned Groundlings who is spiteful and wicket to the extreme, to the bullying sycophants she controls, and even the world without which often treats Groundlings as second class citizens.
The protagonist of this story ends up on a true adventure, making his way through an unfamiliar world, often without a plan, and is beset by difficulties and obstacles at nearly every turn. The world itself is often quite grim and sets a somber tone for a children's book and harkens at time to Oliver Twist. The story is well written, with twists and turns and red herrings that keep the reader guessing, and the darkness of the world is offset in the end with a happy ending for both the young fox and the friends he's made upon the way, and ends and a few hints of possible stories to follow. A well written tale of adventure, but with a grim and fairly sophisticated setting that would do well with more mature readers of children's books. For those that love animals, songs, or a sweet and innocent protagonist, this is an excellent read.
Overall Book Score: very good
About the Book
Author:
Bartok, Mira
Illustrator: ,
Illustration Quality: good
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Book Type: Choose Book Type
Genre: adventure,fantasy
Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9
Binding Type: Choose Binding Type
Binding Quality: very good
ISBN: 9780763691219
Price: 21.99
Before She Ignites
Before She Ignites
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: January 3, 2018
Review
This is a compelling and well written story that's clearly the first step of a much larger tale.
Mira is a girl born to privilege, not just of wealth, but also fame due to an international accord that is her namesake and sets new rules concerning people's interaction with dragons, the children of the gods. Called the Hopebringer, she is a symbol of the new future the Luminary Council has envisioned for the fallen isles. Above all, Mira loves dragons.
But then, before Mira (Or the reader) can understand what's going on, Mira is cast down from her privileged life and harshly imprisoned without trial. What follows is an opening of Mira's eyes to the more complex and considerably darker political reality than she had ever known, to machinations that endanger Mira, her homeland, her beloved dragons, and possibly the Fallen Isles themselves.
What really adds to this story is Mira herself. Often beset with a crushing and crippling sense of anxiety that she can find some respite from through obsessive counting, she is a very flawed character who is nonetheless very easy to relate to. While the future likely holds opportunities to show just how strong and brave she can be, watching her character develop is every bit as compelling as the magic, drama, and dragons going on about her. This book lays a very strong foundation for what is to follow, and would be an excellent choice for any fan of good series fiction.
Overall Book Score: very good
About the Book
Author:
Meadows, Jodi
Illustrator: ,
Publisher: Katherine Tegan / HarperCollins
Book Type: chapter book fiction
Genre: fantasy
Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12
Binding Type: Choose Binding Type
Binding Quality: very good
ISBN: 9780062469403
Price: 17.99
The Glass Spare
The Glass Spare
Reviewed by: Will Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: January 9, 2018
Review
The Glass Spare is a richly detailed fantasy book. It presents a fantasy world full of legend, built upon alchemy and beginning to discover electricity on a grand scale, there are a wealth of wonders and new possibilities presented to the people within its pages. It is also filled with legends and magic, from the stories of the king who turned all he touched to gold, to the magic that lays hidden in the heart of our protagonist.
Wil, our female lead, is many things. A child of the royal family, a girl who escaped death as a baby, a spy in training, her frailest brother's closest friend and confidant, and eventually a girl cursed to turn anything living she touches into gemstone.
This story contains something for most any fantasy reader, the politics of kingdoms on the brink of war, a story that takes the reader from the most dirty and dangerous alleys to the most opulent of palaces, mysterious curses, young love, and more as we follow Wil as she leaves the familiar halls of her palace home and family and sets out on her own, carrying the burden of heavy secrets.
The highly skilled world building and character development gives the world of the Glass Spare a highly memorable and enjoyable feel. Clearly the first of a new fantasy series, this is a tale that starts well and has a lot more to offer.
Overall Book Score: very good
About the Book
Author:
DeStefano, Lauren
Illustrator: ,
Publisher: Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins
Book Type: chapter book fiction
Genre: fantasy
Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12
Binding Type: trade edition
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780062491282
Price: 17.99
