The Program by: Suzanne Young

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Teen Suicide runs rampant. Depression is a sickness, a virus, it grows deep within its victims and spreads until there is no other choice but Quikdeath. Sloane refuses to let it take her. She's seen what it can do. After her brothers suicide Sloane refuses to follow suit. But, nobody escapes the Program.


The program is a solution, at least that's what the propaganda shoved down teen throats says. You'll come back shiny and new with no memory of your life before. You'll come back better. The program is here to fix what's broken. Sadly, most would rather be broken. The pills wipe away the bad and the good. There is no cloud or backup drive to save you. Once your memories are gone, they're gone. It's Sloane's worst fear and greatest nightmare. One terror she can't wake up from.

While the Program has a plot that would seem to thrill, it focuses more on romance then the dystopian society it has built up. The young adult novel is more focused on romantic tension and bonds rather than destroying an oppressive society. If love amongst chaos is your go to then I recommend this. But, if your priorities lie elsewhere I would not say this is an adventure you would like to partake in. ( 2/5 stars )

Angelfall by: Susan Ee

Angelfall

The apocalypse has settled on Earth. The Angels have come and the world is taken into their deadly grip. Death and destruction reign true as humanity slowly slips into darkness. What the world needs is a hero but that's not who Penryn is, she is just a daughter of man, a human girl trying to survive. If life wasn't hard enough before the apocalypse it might as ell be hell now (literally). Her schizophrenic mother crippled her sister when they were very young. A disability like that gets you killed now-a-days. How is Penryn supposed to protect little Paige from Angels and Demons if she can't protect her from their own mother? That's one of the many questions Penryn asks herself when Paige is stolen by Angels. SHe must team up with a wingless vengeful Angel named Rafe to save her sister, and maybe just maybe the world in the process. But will she get there in time.

Angelfall is a thrilling apocalyptic novel with twist and turns at every page. An amazing cliff-hanger end accompanied by the growing hunger and suspense for what follows keeps readers on their toes awaiting the next book. The way what we know about religion and pop culture blend together to make this wondrous tale is beyond me. It's a swirling storm of family, trust, and daring. A resistance novel mixed with magic and  a moral. Truly fantastic.

Gifted by: H. A. Swain

Gifted

Throughout the book we see the government trying to dictate who the citizens are. They use special schooling and medical procedures to decide who will be a popstar, a scientist, a warehouse worker, and a big shot. Who a person naturally is and becomes isn’t allowed. Society gets to decide not the individual. That is why we see rebellions more commonly known as “brain activist”. These people are fighting for their right to think freely and be who they want to be, not who they're told to be.The whole population is conforming to one man's idea of a perfect society. In this “utopia” your own thoughts aren’t even yours. They are patented and sold by Chason Industries. Only certain select members of the elite are able to afford ASA’s that allow them to become gifted. Without these procedures you are not allowed to have a career in anything. The big shot corporate manager of Chason Industries controls all of society and this cannot continue. It’s time people stood up for themselves and showed the world that their brains aren’t just there for the taking.


This book is one of the better books I have read but lacks a certain crucial piece of a story. It has no falling action and very little conclusion. It seems that the climax is practically the ending. You have this extreme build up to a moment of pure suspense and then are just dropped right into the end. It is one of my extreme pet peeves and bothers me greatly. 3/5 stars.

Rebel Bully Geek Pariah by: Erin Jade Lange

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This book is in the adventure genre along with romance.

REBEL: Andi, popular girl gone rogue, is now a tattooed wild thief.

BULLY: York i the most popular guy at school, but he is also the rudest person you could ever encounter especially to his brother.

GEEK: Boston, with a 4.6 GPA, is tired with his brother's torments and strives to get into Ivy League.

PARIAH: Sam is like a ghost, never to be seen, never to be noticed, until that dreadful night.

These four teenagers would die before they would be seen together, but when they all find themselves in the woods near a raging party, they will have to make an exception. To get away from the cops, they all hop into a car, that is not theirs, to make a get away. Little did they know, an "undercover" cop owns the car that they basically stole. The night of their lives begins now.

What I liked about this book was that it was humorous and very subtle with it.

There wasn't much detail when describing the surroundings, so I had to use my imagination and had to change the entire view if it didn't correlate with the book.

I rate this book a 4 out of 5.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe By: Benjamin Alire Saenz

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Aristotle doesn't like boys, he never has. He feels that they are mysteries, ones that he can't solve. Most of the time he doesn't even want to be a boy. Someday he thinks he will be a man and understand the world, but how he will get there, he doesn't know. His parents never speak of his brother, he's been in prison ever since Aristotle was small. They won't speak of his brother, his father won't speak of the war, nobody talks about anything, especially Aristotle. He was born knowing how to hide his feelings, he's good at it. Until he meets Dante. Aristotle has never meet a boy like Dante. Dante isn't afraid to be who he is, and with Dante, Aristotle learns to accept himself. Aristotle doesn't understand how he feels about Dante, he doesn't understand why Dante makes him feel this way. Aristotle doesn't realize it yet, but he loves Dante, he just doesn't know why. Or how?

This has been and will always be one of my favorite books. I have never before felt such a deep and personal connection with a character. The way Aristotle grew throughout the book physically, mentally, and emotionally depicted what most kids go through during this part in their lives. How he grew from being a confused lost young boy to a strong man was inspirational. The connection him and Dante shared was beautiful. They complemented and offset each other, they helped each other grow and develop. Something I have learned from this book is that we all have a little Aristotle and a little Dante in all of us. We just need a partner to help us find it

5/5 stars.

The Forever Song By: Julie Kagawa

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Alison Skemento, a fringer turned vampire with a seemingly unreachable goal. Her and her somewhat dysfunctional vampire coven are on a mission across the world to stop the psychotic vampire Sarren from releasing his mutated version of the red lung virus called requiem. She is fueled by revenge due to the death of her lover Ezekiel. He was abducted by Sarren, he was tourchered for hours before he was brutally killed. Allison heard the whole thing via demented voice recording. As she travels she keeps hearing Sarren's sick and twisted message in her mind "Sing my little bird and make it a beautiful song" followed by Zekes cries of agony. But when she finds Zeke back from the dead new surprises are in store. He is a childer of Sarren, a vampire who is controlled by their Sire. Zeke is a vampire, a blood sucking demon who shall never once again regain his innocence. Allison is a monster trying to helplessly cling to her only shred of humanity left. Allison, her Blood Brother Jackal, and her sire Kanin, this team of wayward vampires must find a way to change the fate of humanity.

Once again Julie Kagawa has thrilled her readers with a new installation of the Blood of Eden. The third and finally book is a true literary masterpiece. We see the depths of human emotion from each and every character. Love, hate, rage, desperation, and above all fear. I feel that Julie Kagawa can do no wrong when it comes to dystopian societies. She keeps her readers on the edge of there seats for all 485 pages.

Killer Instinct by: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Dark Faerie Tales

This book is within the adventure and mystery genre with a little bit of romance. It is also the second book in a series. The first book is The Naturals.

Cassandra "Cassie" Hobbes is a Natural. She is part of an FBI organization because she is a natural profiler.Knowing who someone is, what they do, and how they act is what she can figure out with just a few details.  In the organization, Cassie and 4 other teens work on active and cold cases solving them when FBI agents can't. After a thrilling last summer, she wishes that she can just relax with cold cases.

She didn't get her wish.

There is a new killer out there, and they seem to be copying everything Dean's serial killer father did. The five teens just can't resist helping their friend find out who is impersonating his father.

What I liked about this book was that it was unpredictable and simply kept you guessing at every turn. Once you think you are right, you will be proven wrong.

There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

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Karou is a girl raised by a race of Chimera hunting for teeth to help create troops against an army of angels. But when deadly enemies burn the doorways that connect worlds, only a wishbone makes it out- a wishbone and a dire urge to solve the mystery behind wishes and the eye tattoos on her hand. A romance from beyond the barriers of reality, a secret intombed in hope, and a winged monstrosity lightly sprinkled in sugar- all of these collide in the razzle-dazzle, climactic adventures of Karou in The Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

My review of the book is an A+. The descriptions were good, and the veiled suspense was handled well. Also, the romance of the story was at the perfect balance of overdone and relevant so that it felt real enough even me, the hater of Thomas and Teresa in Maze Runner, would agree that the romantic elements of the story were essential to the plot. I would say that it was a bit too PG-18 for me in some bits, but again, the perfect balance so that it didn’t feel like I was in an R-rated movie (if I were, I would want Tina Fey to be in it. And Amy Poehler. Okay, I want to be in Sisters. Sue me.) and more as if the author realized that this was a book about adults and this is how they would behave.The only thing is the flashbacks to Madrigal- They could have been shorter, better, and packed more info into less space. I almost skimmed through them. But otherwise, I'd give it 4.5/5 stars!

Thank you for reading this! Have a good day!

Don't Look Back by Jennifer Armentrout

www.notyetread.com

This book is mainly realistic fiction, or it could be placed in the mystery genre. It is also a 2016-2017 Gateway Nominee book.

Samantha doesn't remember. She doesn't remember her birthday. She doesn't remember her mother, her
father. She doesn't remember that she had a boyfriend.

She doesn't remember who killed her best friend.

As if she didn't have enough problems, Sam doesn't want her old life back. Everything about the old her simply disgusts her now. How could she have been that person? She was the typical mean rich girl of her school. Everybody hates her, feared her, yet people act like they are happy to see her back. What exactly did she do to make everyone fear her? Not only that, but she seems to be developing feelings for Carson, the 'help,' when she supposedly despised him before all of this happened.

Cassie is still missing, and it is tearing Sam apart. How can she regain her memories so she can help them find her? With that, the police seem to have a new suspect.

Sam better watch out.

What I liked most about this book is that it has a lot of suspense and really makes you wonder who actually killed Cassie.

There isn't anything that I can find that I don't like about this book.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak: The most reading fun I've had in a long time!

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Guys. This book is so much fun. This book is read until it's too late to finish your homework fun. It's you forget to text your friends back fun.

Written by Missouri author Brian Katcher, The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak is a story from two points of view. Ana is straight-laced, and lives with very controlling and demanding parents. her life revolves around her college applications and living up to others' very high expectations. Zak, on the other hand, is a slacker. He'd much rather being playing video games or table-top RPGs than working on school work or joining a club.

When Zak's attempt at plagiarism goes awry, he and Ana are forced to compete together in state Academic Bowl championships-- forcing Zak to miss Washingcon, his favorite even of the year. While Zak does end up being able to attend his nerdy convention, it's definitely not in the way that he originally thinks-- and a very angry Ana is along for the ride.

This book is as fun as it sounds and more. Don't get me wrong-- it has serious moments and moments that will make you upset, but it's definitely a feel-good book. I loved being able to see the two different sides of the story. Zak and Ana have such different perspectives that the book stays very lively and interesting throughout. Books don't often make me laugh out loud, but this one certainly did.

This book is on the list of Gateway novels for 2016-- so there are some places that are a little mature. There's some swearing and a few inappropriate jokes, but it's certainly fine for a PG-13 reader.

I'd give this book a 6 out of 5 stars, but we made the rule last year that 5 out of 5 would be our max.

On the Fence By: Kasie West

I will be reviewing On the Fence by Kasie West, which would be categorized as a romance novel.

www.goodreads.com

Charlotte Reynolds, also known as Charlie, is a tomboy. The sixteen year old knows absolutely nothing about being a girl, so when she ends up working at a boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she has no idea how she will get through this. Other than that, she can’t let her three brother, and honorary fourth brother, Braden, know about what she is doing. It will surely not end well for her. She has also met a guy. A guy who has never seen the side of her that involves tackling a bunch of guys to the ground.

Because of all that is happening, Charlie has taken to having fence chats with her neighbor, Braden. This only causes another problem for her: she’s falling for Braden. How can see reveal this without jeopardizing her friendship with him?

What I didn’t like about this book was that it wasn’t very detailed in their surroundings, so something would happen and what I had pictured would be wrong. It’s just hard to change your view after you have had it a certain way for a while.

What I liked about this book is that she shows the main character’s relationship with her brothers really well.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Silence By: Becca Fitzpatrick

This book is the third book in the series of the Hush, Hush Saga.

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Nora Grey was kidnapped. She can't remember anything from the five months before. She's trying not of think too much of it. She just wants to be normal again, without everyone pointing and staring at her. But this voice in her head keeps urging her that she's wrong. Something about angels, but angels aren't real, are they? No, they can't be.

When Nora gets caught up with some stranger, she can't help but feel as if she already knows him. Yet, he continually denies that he's even seen her before. With this problem with this stranger, her dad is also seemingly alive. How can he be alive? Did he fake his death?

The next book in this series is called Finale.

Something I really liked about this book is that it was really suspenseful and not too much was revealed at a time.

There really isn't much that I don't like about this book.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars. 

Crescendo By: Becca Fitzpatrick

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I am reviewing the book Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick. It is an action packed book with a little romance. It is part of the Hush, Hush Saga.

Nora isn't sure what is going on. Is Patch cheating on her with Marcie Millar? Patch seems to be getting a little close to Marcie, but if nothing is going on, then why does Patch keep lying about the times when he is with her? That's not the only thing that's happening. Nora's father, he supposedly dead father, is speaking to her. She knows that she's not crazy; she's even seen him before, so how can he be dead? Why did he pretend to die?

What I liked about this book is that it had a lot of detail this time, and the author described all of the emotions that the characters were feeling.

There is nothing that I can think of that I don't like about this book.

The next book in this series is called Finale.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Stake You By: Claire Farrell

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I am going to recommend Stake You by Claire Farrell. This is a good book to read if you like fantasy, action, and romance.

Devlin O’Mara. Everyone knows her. Everyone knows to stay away unless you want her wrath, which usually no one does. Devlin has spent a long time creating her reputation. Nothing is going to get in the way of that. Then life happens. A stalking classmate threatens to send her walls tumbling down. Devlin has to unite and work with the enemy to keep everyone around her safe, and to save her own life from the darkness that lingers.

I really liked how this book wasn’t the cliche Falling-in-Love-With-a-Sparkling-Vampire story but a You’re-Going-to-Die story.

I can’t think of anything that I didn’t like about this book.

I give this book five out of five stars.

Hush, Hush By: Becca Fitzpatrick

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I am going to recommend Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. This book is in the fantasy and romance category.

Nora Grey is your average high school girl. Her best friend, Vee, continually pushes her to get her a boyfriend despite the fact that Nora isn’t attracted to any of the guys at her school. Then Patch comes sauntering in. Nora is drawn to this silent, mysterious guy even though he practically screams trouble. He intrigues her with his way of saying something that increases her attraction towards her, then saying something that repulses her. Also, what is with those V-shaped scars on his back?

Then these horrifying encounters happen, and Nora isn’t sure who to trust anymore. She can’t decide if she wants to be with Patch or to move on from him. Patch seems to know more about her than her closest friends, and he seems to be everywhere she is. Nora wants some answers, but they come with a price. By gaining these answers, Nora just might lose her life.

This book is a series of four. The next one is called Crescendo.

I liked how the author used a more uncommon name for Patch instead of doing something completely ordinary. The way the name is more unusual ties in with this book because a lot of unusual things happen.  

I didn’t like how the author didn’t describe things very much, so for things I didn’t know much about I just had to make it up myself or look it up online.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Pivot Point By: Kasie West

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Pivot Point by Kasie West is what I will be recommending. This book has romance, science fiction, and it might classify as fantasy.

Addie Coleman is a Searcher. Whenever she is faced with a decision, she has the ability to look into the future to see both outcomes. That is exactly what happens to Addie. Her parents have told her that they are getting a divorce. She can stay with her mom, in a world she has always known and is completely familiar with. Or, she can live with dad among the “Norms” where she will have to hide her powers in a world she knows practically nothing about.

In one future she is pursued by the most popular guy in school, and in the other she falls for a shy artist. Addie is then drawn into a murder investigation. With much to lose in either future, she must decide which reality she is willing through and who she is willing to live without.

I liked how this book switched between the futures, heightening the suspense throughout the book.

There isn’t anything I can think of that I don’t like about this book.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

An Unfortunate Fairy Tale: UnEnchanted By: Chanda Hahn

The book I will be recommending is An Unfortunate Fairy Tale: UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn. This has action, fantasy and, as always, romance.

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Mina Grime was always the most clumsy girl ever known, everywhere she would go something bad would happen, she has always been unpopular at her school. Until she saves the popular and rich Brody Carmichael from falling off a catwalk. Who is also her crush. From then on she is known as the hero of her high school. But because of this an old family curse is revealed. Mina is a descendant of the Brother Grimm and she is left with the unfinished fairy tale business. Which means defeating a Story. Mina is on a mission to conquer these fairy tales to break the curse on her family.

This book is in a series of five. The next book is called Fairest.

I really liked how the author integrated many different fairy tales into one book and that’s what made it fun to read it.

I didn’t like how the book had just kind of forgotten her mother when she told Mina about the curse.

I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

UnInvited By: Sophie Jordan

UnInvited by Sophie Jordan is the next book I am recommending. This book is filled with suspense and action with a little bit of science fiction.

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Davy has everything every teenage girl could wish for. An amazing boyfriend, a good future with Juilliard, and the homecoming crown, but all of that comes crashing down when her genetics test comes back positive for the Homicidal Tendency Syndrome. All of her friends and family avoids her, she is put in a special class with other people like her who are basically treated like the murderers they may become. Then she meets Sean who is also a “carrier”. He understands what she feels and tells her that only she controls her actions. Will Davy ever be able to trust herself again?

I liked the way that Sean was sarcastic so the book wouldn’t seem sinister or sad. This book has a sequel which is called UnLeashed.

What I didn’t like was the way her parents were not able to do more to keep her there instead of being shipped off to who-knows-where.

I give this book a 4.5 star rating.

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Delirium, Pandemonium, Requiem

Lena and her best friend Hana are both eagerly awaiting their cures. The thing that will protect them from contracting the disease. Lena has always been careful, quite unlike rebellious Hana, but when she meets the boy with hair the color of autumn leaves her life takes a turn down a path of rebellion, sorrow, and (most importantly) love. 

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In a futuristic society amor deleria nervosa is the root of all diseases; cancer, heart failure, even madness. Commonly known as love.


One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the character development. It was interesting to see not only the visible features of the character but also how the cure affects their personality.

I guess the main thing I didn’t like about this book was that the “good guys” weren’t all good. They were murderous and manipulative almost as much so as the “bad guys”. I just wish they could have been a bit more righteous.

Overall I would give this trilogy 4 out of 5 stars.

Adventures In Funeral Crashing By: Milda Harris

This book is called Adventures in Funeral Crashing: Funeral Crashing Mysteries #1 by: Milda Harris. Obviously it’s a mystery but it does have some romance in it.

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Kait Lenox is known as the weird girl in the school. Her ex-best friend turned into a mean popular girl and basically told people that she likes to go funeral crashing. What makes it worse is that it’s true. At one of her funeral crashes, she happens to go to the one that Ethan Ripley is attending. He is the most popular guy in school, but instead of embarrassing Kait in front of everyone, he asks for her help. Kait is now caught up in a murder mystery, but the most important thing running through her head is that Ethan actually knows her name! Will they find out who the murderer is? How will Ethan and Kait turn out? Will Kait’s sort-of-stalkerish fantasies about Ethan finally come true?

This is a series of two other books.

What I liked about this book is that the author detailed her emotions really well, it helped you connect to how you would usually feel in those situations.

There is not much that I don’t like about this book.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.