Book Review: The Darkest Minds

Title: The Darkest Minds (#1)

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication Date: December 18, 2012

Source: Bought, Hardback

Rating: 5/5

 “The Darkest Minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces.”
― Alexandra Bracken, The Darkest Minds

Summary: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book.

 A couple weeks ago I was watching Christine on Youtube (PolandBananasBOOKS) and she was doing a booktalk on this book. She gave a synopsis and I immediately knew I wanted to read it. 

  

  The atmosphere at the beginning really set the book up nicely. Right from the start I could tell it was going to be an interesting world that we are thrown into. The whole idea of a concentration camp where kids are forced to go to gives me chills down my spine. 

  The main character Ruby is one of those kids at the camp. The book goes through various stages of her life and introduces the world in that way. I like Ruby because she's not like all the rest of the YA dystopian main characters. She isn't too stubborn and has a good mindset. Ruby's character development blew me away. She starts off not being able to stick up for herself, and by the end of the book she's the strongest character.

  The other character in the book were amazing, too. I loved Zu, Chubs, and, of course, Liam. I really enjoyed Ruby and Liam's chemistry. They're relationship also developed immensely and I loved every second of it.

  Cliffhangers always make me mad. But this one was by far the most frustrating in the best way possible. Now I simply cannot WAIT until the second book comes out!

I totally recommend this for those of you who liked Divergent or The Hunger Games. It's a great read and well worth your time. :) Happy reading!

~Bradi~

Anna and the French Kiss Book Review

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Date: December 2, 2010
Source: Library
Rating: 4.8/5

“For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.” 
― Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss

Summary: (Goodreads) Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My Thoughts: Do NOT be turned away by the cover or the title. It may look cheesy, but it's not cheesy. It's a darn good book. I'm serious. I have to admit, I was initially turned off by it because of how I thought it would be. Then I started looking online at reviews and such, 99% of them praising it. So I saw it in my library and thought, why not? Wow. I really wish I had my own copy. 

So in this book, Anna is sent to a school for Americans in Paris by her father. She doesn't want to leave her best friend and crush in Atlanta. But while Anna is there, she meets new people and meets a very attractive, Parisian boy of whom she definitely has her eye on. That makes for some romance that will surely leave you in awe.

Let's just talk about St. Clair for a moment. I don't think there are enough adjectives to describe just how awesome his character is. He's the PERFECT boyfriend and his interactions with Anna are just so dang adorable. Stephanie Perkins did a fantastic job describing St. Clair. I love him.

As for Anna's friends, they weren't the best characters, but that was okay. I was more interested in St. Clair anyway. :)

Overall this was an AMAZING book and I totally recommend it to anyone. I feel like so many people would enjoy this book. Happy reading! 

~Bradi~

Stacking the Shelves (#2)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews as way to share all the great books you've received throughout the week.

 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I've heard SO MUCH hype about this book and how amazing it is. I never wanted to pick it up until recently when I saw it at my school library. I figured, why not get it? So I've read a ton of reviews about this book and I'm more excited than ever to read it.

Borrowed: Hardcover, school library

My Life in Black & White by Natasha Friend

I saw this at the store on an end cap next to the book Before I Fall. I LOVED Before I Fall, so I thought that maybe this book is similar. I read the summary and decided to get it!

Bought: Paperback, at Barnes & Noble for $8.99

Wake by Amanda Hocking (Watersong #1)

I was INSTANTLY attracted to the cover. I Know, I know. Never judge a book by its cover! But how could I not?! Such a beautiful cover and an impelling synopsis. I had to pick it up!

Bought: Hardcover, at Wal-Mart for $12.03

Recommend A... Book With Blue Cover

Summary: Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

Why I Chose It: Obvious reasons. Well first, it has a blue cover. It's the third and final installment of my favorite series, and it's awesome. Although a lot of people didn't, I loved the ending of the series, and Mockingjay was a truly amazing book in my eyes. I would totally recommend this one and the second one for people who read the first one!

~Bradi

My Life Next Door Book Review

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: June 14, 2012
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4.5/5

“It's as though I don't make a ripple as I drop off the face of the earth.” 
― Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door


Summary: (Goodreads) A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

My Thoughts: Coming into this book I had pretty high expectations since many people reviewed it and loved it. I automatically thought I would too, since I love YA contemporary novels. I'm happy to say it did meet my expectations. Although it didn't fully satisfy me at the end, I really liked this book with all of the romance and fun involved.

The characters in this book were great. It kept the book alive. I loved the Garrett's! I thought all of the kids were so different and interesting in their own way, and I had such a vivid picture of each one. I always looked forward to parts with them in it!

My favorite character in this book was Jase. I really loved Jase. What I loved most about him was he was an amazing boyfriend, son, brother, and person. He was always so calm and collective, and that just made me love him even more. He was so sweet and all of the romance parts were adorable. :)

The only bad part about this book, to me, was the ending. I wasn't quite satisfied of where we were left. I'm left wondering about a lot of things. I have many unanswered questions about it. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about.

Overall this was a great summer read. A very interesting, cute, fun book that will have you all laughing multiple times throughout. :)

~Bradi

Recommend A... Book Someone Else Recommended to You

From Goodreads: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Why I Chose It: After I told my friend from Spanish class to read The Hunger Games, (Yes, I had to convince her! Can you imagine?!) she told me to read the Percy Jackson Series because she loved it so much. So after months of her nagging me, I finally took it from my brother's room and read it. Although I liked it, I'm just not into that kind of fiction. I'm not a monster gal, but I still liked the action and suspense and would totally recommend The Lightning Thief to anyone who likes to read about someone fighting monsters!! 

That's such a lame thing to say, but you know what I mean. ^

~Bradi

Recommend A... First Book in a Series

From Goodreads: In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Why I Chose It: Divergent is a great book to kick off a series. It leaves you wondering at the end and it introduces you to the world so well, that you just can't wait to come back and visit it.

My Review On Divergent

~Bradi