Ruby Red by KerstinGier

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier starts a time traveler series. Apparently, there are only a few families who inherit a special gene which is the time traveler gene. Okay, yes you have to suspend reality, but isn't that what reading is all about? There is some historical fiction, where the travelers go back in time to old time England. There is a little romance, and of course some manipulation and suspense.

The series continues with Sapphire Blue and finishes with Emerald Green. Gier has a nice writing style and does not overwhelm with the love story, but it adds a nice flare. The adventure of the travelers is engaging, while incorporating the historical nuances. I truly enjoyed this series and was very pleased when Emerald Green finally came out!

 

The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

 

Veronica Roth does not dissapoint in her Divergent trilogy, Divergent, Insuregent, and Allegiant. I just finished the final book in the trilogy and the only thing I was disappointed in was that I had to wait for Allegiant to come out in October, before I could finish it. Usually with a series, the last book is just okay. Roth does a great job of keeping up the intensity an adventure in this one.

The series is another futuristic dystopic society, which I guess you could compare to Hunger Games.  But this has less of the glitz and glamour of Hunger Games and more of a grim reality. I am not saying I think our future is destined for a society of factions, which is how they break out different groups, as opposed to the Districts in Hunger Games. Divergent sets the scene in the future United States, where things have gone terribly wrong. Society is broken into factions. Each faction has a different trait, in which they are responsible for a job in society. At a certain age you are given the opportunity to test and select a different faction than the one you grew up in. Just because you select another faction does not mean you are qualified for that faction. You must prove yourself. The entire process is gruesome, but Roth keeps the reader engrossed.

Each book in the series has its own challenges. This is a must read if you are into futuristic society!

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

S.A. Bodeen's The Compound

 

I supposed I am stuck on reading more futuristic, dystopia, but this one is an intriguing story. It is about one dad, who builds a nuclear safe compound, underground to protect his family from a nuclear disaster. He stocks the compound so that they can survive for 15 years. Can you imagine being locked together with your family, full time, for 15 years? You have to read this, as there is a definite plot twist.

Every Day by David Levithan

David Levithan's every day

This book is checked out so often, that I figured I better read it too! Levithan has created a storyline where the main character, A, wakes up each day as someone different. Always the same age, but sometimes a girl, sometimes a boy. This is the story of A's life. A has no real family, as he/she changes bodies each day. There are no real attachments either. But A meets someone that changes everything. It is a little hard to wrap your head around the concept of changing bodies daily, but Levithan does an excellent job of drawing the reader in.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddox

Margaret Peterson Haddix's Among the Hidden.

This story is set in the future where the government has set limits on the numbers of children a family can have. They are limited to only two children, but Luke is a third child, who has stayed hidden for the twelve years of his life. He meets another 'third' and finds out about the world outside his home. The government sets rules against many things and Luke starts to question what is right.

This was a story that captured my attention early into it. Luke could be any third child in the future. What if the world were to run out of space or food? Although these problems are not current, this was food for thought. Sometimes it seems scary what the government can get away with and this book makes you question things. With all the dystopian novels that are so popular now, I think this one will definitely capture your attention.

Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

Killing Lincoln was a great story. This book made me really wish I had known Abe Lincoln. He seemed like such a great man and someone who really cared about others. I think I know history, but the details that were part of this story helped to give me a better picture of what life was like during this time period. The assassination of anyone, never mind a President is a tragedy. You may think you know all about Lincoln's assassination, but this gives great detail into Booth's life and those who may have also been involved in the entire conspiracy.

The Racketeer by John Grisham

The Racketeer by John Grisham

This is another great Grisham story. The Racketeer has a few twists and turns to it and of course deceit.

Malcolm Bannister is an innocent lawyer that gets involved in a real estate deal that involves laundered money. Bannister does not know about all the background of the anonymous client and winds up in prison. But the plot continues to twist and turn, when Bannister turns on a former inmate. This is a must read!

Anthem by Ayn Rand

Anthem by Ayn Rand

I had not read Anthem until this week and was so surprised that it is another dystopic society. It seems that many of the books I have read lately are about societies in the future that are dysfunctional. Rand wrote this book back in 1937, but I am intrigued how it incorporates socialist ideas and was not originally allowed to be published in the United States.

Anthem is a novella about a guy, who does not have a regular name, but goes by the name Equality 7-2521. Family life does not exist in this futuristic society. People are raised and put to work and supposedly everyone does things for the benefits of the entire society and not for oneself. Well, Equality 7-2521 does not seem to fit in. He decides to try and challenge this, but quietly. You have to read this novella to find out what he does.

Unbroken A Love Story by Carolynn Amara

This story is about a man, Alex Rodriguez, who returns to his wife, Anna, after fighting in Afghanistan. He is fighting the demons that haunt him. He loves his wife and she loves him, but he is definitely a changed man. This is not the man that Anna married and sent off to war. Alex is struggling with post traumatic stress disorder. Anna is struggling with trying to find her husband inside this troubled being that has returned home.

This story is a hard one, but moves you as you read it. Amara does a great job of allowing you to understand the struggles of returning veterans. We should all read this book, so we can understand what is going on in the heads and hearts of our fighting men and women. In addition to the reality of war, Amara tells a wonderful story of love and healing.

Wanted Series by Kelly Elliott

 Wanted by Kelly Elliott
The first book in a 3 book series.

If you like romance, this book will get your attention! This is the first book for author Kelly Elliott. She is from the Austin area and has written this story using all the local places, so if you are from Austin or know the cool places to go, you will recognize them in this story.

Ellie comes from a dysfunctional home. Her mom verbally abuses her and she does not feel wanted. She is a senior in high school and has worked hard to get into The University of Texas at Austin, where her older brother Jeff plays football. Her best friend Ari has always been there for her and also has a crush on Ellie's brother. Ellie falls for Jeff's best friend Gunner. You must read this! A great love story, full of hardship, and the trials of coming from a messed up home life.

Saved by Kelly Elliott
The second book in this 3 book series.

Kelly Elliott continues with the same characters, but the focus is now on Ari and Jeff. Just because they love one another does not always mean that love can conquer all.

Ari comes from a privileged background. She has had everything she wanted or needed. Jeff was raised by his drunken mother. They are very different, but fell for each other. But a previous encounter with a manipulating Rebecca interferes with their romance.

You have to read this one to find out what happens!

Faithful by Kelly Elliott
The third in this 3 book series.

This one just came out, and I have not had time to read it. Stay tuned...

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Alice Sebold's, The Lovely Bones, was not going to be on my reading list. I thought it was going to be gruesome. Okay, maybe it did have a gruesome part to it, but I decided to read it. Mainly because I had asked some kids what they thought about it and they liked it. Plus, they made it into a movie. Just because it was made into a movie doesn't mean it was going to be a good book, but it was.

Susie Salmon is the main character and as you can probably guess she is killed. She narrates the book while looking down from heaven at all those she left behind. Susie draws you into the story and you feel for her, her family, and her friends. I could envision the scenes that Susie was watching. The story is about loss, both for Susie and those she left behind. But it shows how life goes on, sometimes even when we don't want it to.

I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did, but it is well written and crafted beautifully into a story I was able to easily observe.

Persuader by Lee Child

Lee Child's Persuader is another Jack Reacher novel. Reacher's character envelopes you into the story and brings it to life. Jack gets involved with an undercover operation to assist in busting the operation. But Jack has his own motivation for not walking away. The story reveals things that have happened in the past that have caused Jack to want his own revenge.

I really enjoyed the suspense, although predictable. It reminded me of when I watched Columbo a TV series from when I was a kid. If you like shoot'em up, get the job done type books, this one will fit your appetite. Reacher is a tough character that takes the law into his own hands. I know being a vigilante isn't the way to go, but that's why I like to read fiction.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

Stephen Chbosky’s novel is written in a multiple letter format, dated and written about accounts of that particular day or several days. Charlie, the main character, is the one writing the letters. He writes about his feelings, family, and friends. You read the letters as if you  are the person they were written for. Charlie is also an extremely emotional boy, especially for his age, he has difficulty controlling his tears under stressful situations. The letters are his way of expressing himself and they progress throughout his freshman year, and continue through the summer before entering his sophomore year.


Charlie is a fifteen year old, high school freshman, who finds out early in the book, that one of his best friends commits suicide. Charlie is also exposed to many other high school issues, such as the use of cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol. Charlie is introduced to cigarettes first, then weed, LSD, and alcohol by his new friends. If tobacco, alcohol, and drugs were not enough, adolescent sexuality is a major issue.

Some might think this book has too many issues for a teen to read. I have to disagree. Teens are subject to many or all of the things that Charlie is exposed to. Some kids are not able to talk to their parents and sometimes learn from reading. Books can be the only way some children are educated on these topics.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower does contain situations which are controversial. But sheltering our children may seem like we are protecting them, but it could backfire on us. We need to prepare our children to have the skills necessary to make good choices in life. Chbosky does a good job with this one.

Dan Brown's Inferno

Inferno by Dan Brown

Brown does it again. I have been a fan since I read Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. This time Brown connects Dante's Inferno and The Divine Comedy into his work. I have to admit I have not read Dante, but now I am intrigued and will have to give at least one of them a try!

The main character remains the same, Robert Langdon. He is now investigating symbols from Dante's work and most of the novel is set in Florence and Venice. The problem is that a brilliant scientist has created a plague and hidden it. Langdon must find it before it is too late. I love the way Brown writes. I need to visit Florence now, as I feel like I have been there in my head and will appreciate the visit that much more now.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The cover of this book does not do it justice. I almost didn't pick this book up, but I couldn't put it down! Full of adventure, magic and set in a futuristic warring society, Alina finds that she has special powers that she never dreamed of. Alina is faced with choices between good vs. evil. You have to read this to find out what happens, and I highly recommend it. Do not let the cover deter you!

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion



I took a break from dystopia to read an advanced copy of Graeme Simsion's The Rosie Project. Wow, what a great break! This book is about a man who has aspergers, but does not realize it.

I know, aspergers, really, how can a novel about aspergers be this good. Well, Simsion is able to make you really like the main character, Don. He is odd and has adjusted to life being different. His best friend and wife think that Don needs a wife, but he has yet to find one suitable for himself. I say suitable, as that would be something Don might say. He is a genetics professor and loves research. Don creates "The Wife Project" to find himself a wife. You can only imagine what he thinks is a suitable wife!

While in the midst of this he meets Rosie and starts a whole different project. I do not want to reveal more of this wonderful story, but what a great read. I smiled, laughed, and just took a break for a while to read this incredible story.

The Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver

I just finished Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It has joined the bandwagon of novels in a dystopian society. This was recommended to me and at first I thought, I don’t want to read another one of the same things.But the take on this is that love is a disease. I thought how can love be a disease? Well, Oliver does a decent job of showing how society can end up in this situation (not exactly, but you get my drift). I really enjoyed the story until the end. It seems that everyone is writing a trilogy. Don't get me wrong, I hate a good story to end, but then again, I hate to be left with, what happened? So, now I will have to read Pandemonium.

Never in a million years could I exist in the dystopia that Lauren Oliver has created in her novel Pandemonium. Lauren Oliver's 2nd in her Delirium series is Pandemonium. Okay, maybe I could exist, but I would never want to. The main character from Delirium, Lena, has similar traits to Katniss from The Hunger Games. This may be my attraction to the story line.
Lena learns to survive with nothing. I was a bit upset at the end of Delirium when I realized I was going to have to read Pandemonium. Maybe I need to stop reading trilogies. Sometimes I just want the story to end, but as you can tell, this one continues in the same way.

With that being said, Pandemonium was good, but I was frustrated as Oliver switches back and forth in each chapter between the journey to the city and life in the city. I may have appreciated the journey to the big city more if it had been written sequentially. Life in the city was much more exciting. Therefore, I raced through the chapters on the journey to enjoy the escapades of the city. I understand flashbacks and all, but somehow I got distracted between chapters.

Good vs. evil is what you believe the premise is, but Oliver throws a curve ball and that really surprised me! I like it when a book is not always predictable. There are also a few other unexpected events that make me want to read Requiem. I may take a break from the series, but you can bet that I will be reading the next one, Requiem, in a short while.

Okay, so I finished Requiem! Glad there is not another book in this series, but that does not mean I did not like it. I did! Like Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games, I do not think everyone will be happy with the ending. But then again, we are talking dystopia. Things get a little crazy and the war revs up. Of course twisted love stories are involved and maybe everyone will not be happy with who falls for who, but then again, it is not our story, it's Oliver's.

I love a strong female character. Lena does not start out that way, but she develops into a great character, full of strength she had no idea she had.

Legend by Marie Lu

Legend by Marie Lu

If you like adventure, fighting, plagues, and a little romance you will like this book.

June, a soldier of the Republic is out to avenge her brother's death. Day, a known criminal, wants to protect his family and reveal what the Republic is doing to people. When their paths cross all kinds of chaos follows. In all, a good book and the ending makes me believe there could be a sequel, and apparently there is...Prodigy.

Rubber Houses by Ellen Yeomans

This is a novel written in verse, recognized as a TAYSHA.

Rubber Houses by Ellen Yeomans
It is a beautiful, yet sad story about a girl and her younger brother. The story unfolds showing a very close bond between Kit and her brother, Buddy. They share special times within the lines of the poems. Suddenly, Buddy is in the fight of his life against cancer. The verses are written like a journal from Kit's point of view. What an incredible story that is told in verse.

This was the first novel I have ever read that is written in verse. I found the story profoundly touching. Ellen Yeomans words flow effortlessly from the pages. I was moved by the emotions I felt while reading the wonderful story. I believe anyone, especially those that have been touched by cancer would appreciate this novel.