Wither

Wither
By Lauren DeStefano
March 22 2011
368 pages (galleygrab)

Review: Rhine lives in a world where girls die at 20 and men at 25. In a botched attempt to rid society of disease, people are dying younger and younger. Now men steal orphans to be wives and bare children, and people become desperate to find an antidote. Rhine was looking forward to spending her last few years with her brother, but she is kidnapped and forced to live with two other women as wives to young and wealthy Linden in his strange secluded mansion. Despite the luxurious lifestyle, Rhine doesn’t feel safe and the mansion is not where she wants to be. Can she escape before her time runs out and is there even anything to go back to?

Summary: DeStefano’s strength lies in her storytelling. Nothing about the novel stands out as exceptional, but when all the pieces are put together, a beautiful and enjoyable story is found. The world that she created was interesting and there were elements that made me feel like I was reading a historical fiction, rather than a dystopian. It was quite an enjoyable blend. The writing style made Rhine a little hard to relate to, but I enjoyed reading about her, especially her relationship with the sister wives. The three of them together was the most dynamic aspect of the novel. Readers will also be drawn to Linden as he straddles the line between foe and friend. The book does have a bit of an older feel to it, and readers looking for a fast-paced dystopian might want to look elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for a good read with a unique story, Wither is for you.

This is Lauren DeStefano’s debut novel

If you liked Wither, you might also enjoy: Matched by Ally Condie, The Giver by Louis Lowry and A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Additional Info: Wither is the first book in The Chemical Garden trilogy

Author website: http://www.laurendestefano.com/index.php

Rating:
Writing: 3.5/4
Characters: 3/4
Plot: 2.5/4
Originality: 4/4
Popularity: 4/4
Cover: 4/4
Grade Level: S

Stay

Stay
By Deb Caletti
April 2011
eGalley

Summary: Clara’s relationship with Christian was intense from the start; they were the perfect match. However, the intensity of their relationship starts feeling a little dangerous when Christian starts becoming possessive, obsessive and a little violent. In a bid to start fresh, Clara and her father flee the city and Christian for the summer. As Clara reflects on her role in Christian’s obsession, she begins to wonder if she will ever be free.

Review: Caletti once again creates a beautiful and engaging story that captivates the reader completely. Caletti’s strength lies in her characters who are honest and relatable. Clara is a likable character who reflects on her mistakes and struggles to overcome obstacles. Caletti also writes rich side characters, people you love as much as the main characters. Her writing is always fluid and sweeps you into the story. It is easy to get lost in a Caletti novel. Finally, where some of her stories can have a slower pace to them, with a focus on character rather than plot, Stay was actually rather fast-paced with a lot of suspense. Through flashbacks, Caletti did a great job of building up the story of Christian’s obsession, alongside the present day suspense of him finding Clara. Her best yet.

Also by Deb Caletti: Six Rules of Maybe, The Secret Life of Prince Charming, The Fortunes of Indigo Skye, Honey, Baby Sweetheart, The Nature of Jade

If you liked Stay, you might also enjoy: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Additional Info: If you like Deb Caletti’s books you might notice some of the characters and places showing up again and again. She has a pretty cool character and location map on her website here.

Author website: http://debcaletti.com/

Rating:
Writing: 4/4
Characters: 4/4
Plot: 3.5/4
Originality: 3/4
Popularity 3/4
Cover 3.5/4

Grade Level: S

Book Blogger Hop

Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books

What a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself. What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.

This week’s question: Do you read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?

I have a monogamous relationship with my books. If I do more than one the plot and/or characters get mixed up. My husband on the other hand can have 2-4 books going at once, drives me nuts.

Matched

Matched
By Ally Condie
2010
322 pages

Summary: Cassia lives in a world where everything is decided for her, from her food to her future husband. She believes that it is for her benefit and so she blindly trusts The Society who makes all the rules. That is until there is a mistake at her Matching ceremony and two boys are shown on the screen instead of one, two boys who Cassia knows very well. As the secrets of The Society start to unravel, Cassie begins to wonder which version of her life is the real one; the safe and regulated one with her best friend or the one that challenges everything she’s ever believed.

Review: Condie does a great job of world building. She gives the reader enough detail to make sense of the story, but at the same time leaves things open to suggest that not all is as it seems. The book feels a little like The Giver, in that it is a controlled dystopia. There are also similarities in writing style. The author’s smooth writing style and attention to detail did fill out the novel, but at times resulted in slower pacing. With respect to character development, Matched did feel like a first book in the series. Other than Cassia, there wasn’t much attention given to the other characters. I am looking forward to how the relationships play out in the next novel, especially between Cassia and Xander (who I thought got the short end of the stick).

Also by Ally Condie: The Yearbook Trilogy, Being Sixteen and Freshman for President

If you liked Matched, you might also enjoy: The Giver by Lois Lowry, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Delirium by Lauren Oliver and Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Additional Info: The sequel Crossed will be released in November 2011

Author website: http://www.allysoncondie.com/

Rating:
Writing: 3/4
Characters: 2.5/4
Plot: 3/4
Originality: 2.5/4
Popularity: 4/4
Cover Art: 3.5/4
Grade Level: JS

Coming Soon to a Library Near You

Coming Soon to a Library Near You is a weekly feature inspired by Jill at Breaking the Spine that looks at upcoming books.

This Week’s Book: But I Love Him
Author: Amada Grace
Release Date: May 2011
Summary: Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap. At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight - A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved-and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything-and everyone-in its path. This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

I’m sensing a theme here. Two weeks in a row I’ve had books about abusive relationships. I like this genre; I think it’s important to have books that talk about this sort of thing, because abuse is not an ‘adult’ problem.

Delirium

Delirium
By Lauren Oliver
2011
441 pages

“I love you. Remember. They cannot take it.”

Summary: Lena is counting down the days until she can get the surgery that will save her life. She’s afraid of catching amor deliria nervosa, of being in love, an act which is outlawed. Luckily, in a few months she will qualify to have the cure and her life will set into perfect, safe normalcy. But when Lena meets Alex, an uncured, he shows her that the world is full of beautiful things, and without love there is nothing. The lines between what is right and what is better start to fall away and Lena must decide if she will choose safety or love, even though sometimes with love there is unbearable pain and loss.

Review: The writing is exceptional with Delirium. The pacing ebbs and flows, creating a smooth read that is easy to fall into despite the size of the book. Oliver also somehow manages to create a story that doesn’t feel linear, where readers can be lost in a world that feels more encompassing and complex. While the story lacks the grittiness that is found in many dystopias, Oliver does create a world that is poignant and not without sadness and loss. Readers will feel for Lena as she struggles to realize the truths being kept from her and the value of what she’s expected to give up. The relationship between her and Alex is sweet and slow to progress, giving it authenticity. The ending is unexpected and readers will be left salivating for the next book in the series.

Also by Lauren Oliver: Before I Fall

If you liked Delirium, you might also enjoy: The Uglies by Scott Westerfled, The Giver by Lois Lowry and Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Additional Info: Delirium has been optioned (are we really surprised?) and the next two books are going to be called Pandemonium and Requiem.

Author website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/

Ratings:
Writing 4/4
Characters 4/4
Plot 3.5/4
Originality 2.5/4 (does feel a little bit like The Uglies)
Popularity 4/4
Cover 3/4
Grade Level: S

The Witch Child

The Witch Child
By Celia Rees
2000
261 pages

Summary: When her grandmother is accused and found guilty of witchcraft, 14-year-old Mary flees to the Americas on a ship full of Puritans wanting to rid themselves of the world’s sin. Trying to be vigilant and not found out, Mary is taken in by a widowed healer in the community. But things are difficult to keep hidden in this new community, and when strange things start to happen people turn to the outsider of the group, Mary. How long can she hide her true nature, and when so far from home, where will she go if they find out the truth.

Review: The Witch Child is a polished novel that provides a full picture tale of what it was like for some people in Mary’s situation. Despite the small size of the book, Mary’s journey is detailed and precise. Readers get to see what it was like not only in the colony, but also on the passage from England. This unique perspective added an extra dimension to the novel. Mary herself was an interesting and likable character, easy to relate to despite the historical setting. Readers will be swept into her tale and feel as if they too are always on the verge of being discovered, as there was a lot of suspense. The only downside was that it had a bit of a slow beginning. A great choice for reluctant readers, teens looking for a book for an assignment or just those interested in historical fiction.

Also by Celia Rees: Pirates!, Fools Girl and Sovay

If you liked The Witch Child, you might also enjoy: The Sacrifice by Kathleen Duble, The Minister’s Daughter by Julie Hearn and Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

Additional Info: If you liked The Witch Child and want to know what happens to Mary, there is a sequel called Sorceress.

Non Fiction Connection: The Salem Witch Trials by Lori Lee Wilson

Author website: http://www.celiarees.com/index.html

Rating:
Writing: 3/4
Characters: 3/4
Plot: 3/4
Originality: 3/4
Popularity: 2.5/4
Cover Art: 2/4
Grade Level: J