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Wither: The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano This is a novel I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would. I could hardly put it down!
Wither is a dystopian story about a time in the future when the only remaining continent on earth is North America (somehow all the others have been destroyed by war and sunk into the sea - don't over think it), and all people are infected with a man-made virus that causes guys to die at age 25 and girls to die at age 20. Completely unrealistic and unsupported by the world-building of the story. So it should be a lousy book, right? Wrong. Once you get past the premise, the actual writing and characters make this a really good read. Rhine is a 16-year-old orphan who has been kidnapped by a wealthy man to be one of three brides to his son. In a world dominated by poverty and crime, Rhine can almost be convinced to succumb to the luxury she is married into, and she can't bring herself to hate the kind man who is her husband. She even comes to love her sister wives. But, she can't lose sight of the fact her life is nearing its end and she is not free. In this new world of grandeur, things are rarely what they appear to be. Rhine must not be fooled and she must escape the clutches of her vile father-in-law. Wither is definitely a flawed novel. You may be shaking your head over my description of the plot because the premise is, frankly, ridiculous. But the main character, Rhine, is an incredible and complex heroin whose kindness touches all those around her. At the same time, she is enduring her own suffering and trying to escape her new life. Rhine is at once a child, an orphan, a sister, a wife, a friend and a prisoner. Her experiences and plight make for an entertaining read.
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A book review by guest reviewer Brianna H. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingleman-Sundberg
I would be worried if my parents or grandparents wanted to go to prison instead of stay in their retirement home. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules is about Martha and her friends wanting to escape their retirement home to get into prison. It feels you are committing all the crimes with the four characters, and experiencing all the trouble and hardships they experience. I think you would like to read this book if you like comedy, mystery and adventure books. This is a comedy because what this old lady says is not what normal people say and mystery because it is a mystery of why they do some of their crimes. In the book, these old folks break into a museum and ask for some ransom money, and they break into lockers at their hotel. So will these old folks go to jail? Run on over to the library or bookstore to pick up a copy of The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules! A Monster Calls by Peter Ness A Monster Calls is going to be a classic read for generations to come. I'm certain of it. This book is everything story telling should be - powerful, moving, full of incredible emotion and imagery.
Conor is a 13 year old boy who is battling nightmares while his mother is battling cancer. His parents are divorced (dad lives in America) and his grandmother is doing her best to help the small family. School brings days full of bullies, a best friend who betrayed him, and teachers who treat him with nothing but pity. The recurring nightmare has only made things worse. And then... "The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do." Every night, Conor O'Malley wakes up from a terrible nightmare, one which leaves him screaming, crying, and gasping for breath. One night, at exactly 12:07, there is a monster at his bedroom window, calling his name. But it's not the monster he's been expecting, the one from his nightmares. This is a different type of monster, one from the elements around him rather than from the horrors he sees while he sleeps. And so begins the stories within the story, making this novel a modern fairy tale not to be overlooked. Make no mistake, A Monster Calls is a crying book. A heart-wrenching, emotional journey for all ages. And everyone should read it. Now I need to bring some tissues and go see the movie. www.goodreads.com/videos/111957-a-monster-calls---official-trailer-in-select-theaters-dec-23e The Loners by Lex Thomas Suspend your disbelief. Do you know what this phrase means? It means you need to allow yourself to believe things that cannot possibly be true or real. Honestly, the only way you will enjoy this novel is if you can suspend your disbelief. There is nothing here that can be even remotely real.
But if it's action and violence you are looking for, The Loners is really good!! As soon as you let yourself believe in the premise of this novel, you will be able to get into the action, cheer for the good guys, applaud when the bad guys get what they deserve, and enjoy the experience of Quarantine. McKinley High School students are infected with a virus that is deadly (almost immediately) to adults. Before you can say Suspend Your Disbelief, the army bombs the east wing of the school, drops a grey impenetrable dome over the building and installs steel walls to block all exits. One thousand teens are now trapped and left to form their own version of society together. All heck breaks loose. That's the bad news. The good news is, the army manages to open a seam in the ceiling every two weeks so a helicopter can drop food and other supplies into the atrium, so all is not lost. The teens spend over a year and a half in quarantine, where their lives are ruled by violence and desperation. They form gangs - the jocks become Varsity, the cheerleaders are The Pretty Ones, the artsies are Geeks, etc - and loyalty only extends to those in your gang. Get ready for some tense moments. This is a good book for those who are not offended by the mature content - there are some sexual references and lots of violence. Don't expect any of the Loners to be realistic, just be prepared for lots of blood and death. |
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