Bibliophiles - Book Selection for Feb 21st: THE 5TH WAVE

The 5th Wave is the next selection for the book club, and it's chilling and unforgettable. Check out the trailer. Also, check out the cool website for the book.

C. K. Kelly Martin. YESTERDAY

In 2063, Freya and her mother are captured and taken away. When she wakes up, she doesn't remember anything and....it's 1985. This is weird for us, but not for Freya, because she doesn't remember anything, at first. But she slowly begins to feel like she doesn't belong. She begins having nagging feelings that she can't explain. She even runs into a guy that she feels she's met before, although he doesn't remember her. The circumstances around her father's death are also sketchy. She begins investigating the few details she has about his death and her past.

This is an ambitious book. The author takes on time travel, dystopia, global warming, ESP, the 80's, as well as robots. For the most part she succeeds. I began to care about the characters, and that usually is the saving grace for me. If I can't care about the characters, then it's downhill with no going back on my part.

I enjoyed the time spent in 1985, but I felt the author was a little heavy handed with the 80's details. Maybe it was because I recognized them and felt they were gratuitous  Maybe I wouldn't have noticed it so much if it had been a time period I wasn't familiar with? I don't know. I'll be interested to see if other readers felt that way too.

One other aspect that I want to comment on was the chapter long exposition that took place in the middle of the book. It couldn't be helped. But it was still jarring. Since the main character left 2063 so quickly at the beginning of the book for the mystery to begin, the reader didn't know anything about her world. So, this forced the author to tell us all about it in the middle of the book. I'm not sure she had any other way to go about this large task. Nevertheless, it interrupted the flow of the book.

There were many other aspects that I did enjoy. Again, I loved the two main characters, and the relationship they formed. I liked the way the clues seeped into Freya's life in interesting ways to help her figure out the mystery. Finally, I was intrigued by the future society that Freya lived in. I was interested enough to want to read more about that, even if I was troubled by the premise of how the society ended up the way it did.

If you're intrigued by the idea of someone being thrown into the past, without any clear idea why, you'll love this. Read more about the book and the author at her nifty website below:

Beth Revis. SHADES OF EARTH

“I learned that life is so, so fragile. I learned that you can know someone for just days and never forget the impression he left on you. I learned that art can be beautiful and sad at the same time. I learned that if someone loves you, he'll wait for you to love him back. I learned that how much you want something doesn't determine whether you get it or not, that "no" might not be enough, that life isn't fair, that my parents can't save me, that maybe no one can.”

SHADES OF EARTH is the final installment in the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy. (A MILLION SUNS was part two.)

Elder, Amy, and 1500 others from Godspeed have landed on the planet Centauri-Earth. All the puzzles that Orion left them to solve have led them to the surface of the planet. But now that they've landed, the frozen military officers have been awakened, and the leadership changes. Amy's dad, the colonel, takes over. He doesn't care that Elder is the leader of the 1500 shipborn people.

Although her dad inserts himself as the leader, he does understand that he needs Elder to convince his people to work together with the earthborns to build the colony and survive. They will have to become one colony. But none of that will matter if they can't stay safe. Shortly after landing, danger strikes from all directions. People begin to disappear and their new homes are attacked. Elder and Amy thought they solved all of Orion's puzzles, but there is one more clue they must find. It's the final and most important clue because it will unravel the whole mystery and possibly save the entire planet.

This was my favorite of all three books! It's a roller coaster of action and emotion. There is mystery, along with the science fiction. There is intelligence, along with the romance. It's a truly compelling story that I did not want to put down.

I love the writing. Beth Revis is an incredible writer, and I can't wait to read more from her. I love the character growth of Elder and Amy. Amy really grows into one feisty, strong character. I'll definitely remember her long after reading the book, as well as Elder.

The quote at the top really sums up how much is in the novel. What an amazing journey! I'm so sad it's over. Although I have to say, it was the BEST ending of a trilogy that I can remember reading!!

I wish I could share a book trailer, but alas, there isn't one. You shall have the Facebook fanpage instead:

Across the Universe trilogy on Facebook.

Beth Revis website.

Neal Shusterman. UNSTRUNG

"'And why? Because of words? Words don't hurt you.' Which is one of the hugest criminal lies perpetrated by adults against children in this world. Because words hurt more than any physical pain."

If you are as excited as I am about UNWHOLLY coming out in a few weeks, check out UNSTRUNG to tide you over. It includes a short story and the first few chapters of the sequel.

The story begins with Lev waking up injured in an Indian/Native American Reservation. Somehow he was able to scale the wall and end up there while running from the cops. The People of Chance (as they are called, neither Indian nor Native American seem to fit properly) don't allow unwinding. Since they are independent from the rest of the nation, unwinds are safe within their boundaries.

As the author explains here, this is the story of what happens to Lev between his time with CyFi and when he ends up at the graveyard. Even though Lev is the main character, this story also focuses on Wil and his family. It's just as heart-wrenching and moving as UNWIND. It's amazing how Shusterman can make such a short story so unforgettable. 

As mentioned earlier, you are also treated to a few chapters of UNWHOLLY and a new character named Starkey. The character of Starkey further elaborates on one of the societal repercussions of  the unwind program - storks. Starkey was a storked child and the fact that he wasn't wanted completely changes the course of his life (illustrated by the quote at the top of the page). Inevitably, his parents sign an unwind order for him.  But with Connor the Akron AWOL as his example, he escapes the juvie cops and goes on the run.

This short story is available in ebook format only from various online sources. It will definitely get you ready to dive into UNWHOLLY when it comes out at the end of the month.

I've noticed several authors releasing these short stories a month or so out from highly anticipated sequel releases. I really like it! I especially enjoy when it gives you insight to additional characters or simply more about the universe of the story.

Visit Neal Shusterman's website for more about his books AND be sure to click on the link about the UNWIND movie!

Cat Patrick. REVIVED

I was drawn to this book because I adored Cat Patrick's first book FORGOTTEN so much. (I even interviewed her about the premise.) If you enjoyed FORGOTTEN, you will love this one too!

Daisy is part of a unique program. When she was four-years-old, she was in a school bus accident. The bus skidded off the road into the water and all the kids were proclaimed dead. But in reality, about twenty of the kids were rescued and given a drug called Revive, which brought them back to life.

Since she was an orphan before the accident, Daisy lives with two agents from the secret government program. They monitor her and are seen as her parents to the outside world. Also, if Daisy gets into an accident, they are there to "revive" her. She's died five times already. Death begins to take on a different meaning for Daisy than for other people.

Each time she dies, the "family" must relocate, for obvious reasons. She takes on a different last name each time, but she's able to retain her first name, which gives her some consistency in her life. Daisy doesn't get to attached to people in each new location, because she knows she may not stay long. But this latest move to Omaha, Nebraska is different. Daisy becomes really close with two new people in her life. She also begins to uncover a mystery about the Revive program. She learns some dangerous facts about the organization that she's trusted with her life since she was four. 

The novel is an intriguing and unique mix of realistic fiction, science fiction and romance. It has some wonderful, endearing main characters. I couldn't put it down. I really loved it!

The brilliant execution of such a completely original idea is what I loved about FORGOTTEN and here it is again. Also, as with FORGOTTEN, REVIVED brings up fascinating ideas and questions. Just think about the moral dilemmas inherit in being able to revive people. In the book, the serum costs a million dollars. You see all of the issues attached to that? Why would it be right to revive some people and not others? You see the boatload of questions a reading group could have with this novel??

What a talented writer! I'm a huge fan and cannot wait for another book!

For more about Cat Patrick, check out her website, Twitter and Facebook account. You won't be disappointed with either of her books!

Neal Shusterman. UNWIND.

I've been hearing about UNWIND for several years. But after hearing Neal Shusterman talk about it on a dystopian panel at TLA this year, I told myself that I would finally read it. I now understand what all the hype was about.

UNWIND is set some years in the future after a second civil war, called the Heartland War, has taken place. The war was fought on one single issue. Abortion.

Peace was only negotiated after a compromise called the "Bill of Life" was created. It was designed to satisfy both the pro-choice and pro-life sides of the war.

No one would be allowed to have an abortion at all. But, when a child reaches the age of thirteen, parents have an option to retroactively "abort" their child. This is called unwinding. When a parent decides to have their child unwound, the decision is final. No appeals. No arguments. It's done.

According to the law, when the decision is made, the child goes to a harvest camp where all of their parts must be saved - 100%. These parts are then used to help others when needed for accidents, disease or any other reason. So, the argument is that this is different from abortion because the child isn't really dying. When a person is unwound, they are still living, but in many different forms and helping other people in the process.

Our main characters Connor, Risa and Lev have all been sentenced to be unwound for various reasons. Connor is a smart kid, but has gotten into a lot of trouble. So his parents decided they'd had enough of him. Risa was an orphan living in the state home and due to budget cuts, they decided they couldn't afford her anymore. Lev was his parent's tenth child and is being unwound as a tithe.

They escape on the way to the harvest camp and discover an underground railroad for other Unwinds. If a teen makes it to eighteen, then they can no longer be unwound. So the goal is to stay hidden until that time.

Yes, the premise seems far-fetched at first, simply because the mere suggestion that a parent could ever want to "be rid of" their child is foreign to most of us. (not to mention heartbreaking) But you see how the society in the book got to this point. It's ridiculous, of course, but that's part of why the book is so relevant today. It's a cautionary tale, for sure.

Shusterman is a brilliant author. These characters are fully formed and alive. The story is fleshed out beautifully. I even appreciated how unique the airplane setting is for a major section of the book. I love the smart conversations among the teens. There was a creepy, devastatingly sad part near the end that I don't want to spoil here, but wow! You definitely will feel a huge range of emotions reading this. You certainly won't ever forget it.

This would make a phenomenal movie! Of course, every time I say that, I find out that a movie is in development, already. And...it's true this time too.
However, the trailer below is not from the forthcoming movie. It's a fan-made book trailer. There are  many, but I picked this one because of the creepy feeling it gives you. Enjoy!

***UPDATE*** Yay, this was good timing! I see there's a sequel due out August 28th! I had no idea it's actually going to be a trilogy. Supercool! Book cover below:

Robison Wells. FEEDBACK

It's the sequel to VARIANT, yay! I snagged an advance copy at the Texas Library Association conference, and I got it autographed. So that was super cool!

If you read Variant, you know that it ended with quite a shocking cliff-hanger. If you did not read Variant, please avert your eyes now! Otherwise, you will be spoiled. You've been warned.

If you remember when we left Benson, he had just escaped with Becky from Maxfield Academy. Shortly thereafter, he came across a little town outside the gate where he saw Jane. You know, the Jane who had been previously discovered to be a robot when they killed her inside of the school.

In FEEDBACK, we learn why Jane is in the town. We also see many more people from the school in the town. There is a much bigger, scarier scenario going on then Benson could've imagined. But the Benson we all know and love comes up with a plan.

This sequel is just as exciting as the first book. The plot thickens. Benson is put to the test over and over again. His dogged determination seems to make him stronger and stronger with each challenge. I enjoyed seeing his relationship with Becky blossom. Again, the action gets exciting near the end and we're left with another cliff-hanger! The last half of the book had me flipping pages at lightning speed. I can't wait to see what more people thing of the ending!

FEEDBACK is due out in October. Mark your calendars. And if you haven't read VARIANT yet, get on it!

Check out Robison Wells at his website.

Beth Revis. A MILLION SUNS

A MILLION SUNS is the sequel to ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. If you haven't read it, then you may want to steer clear of this review, because there will be rampant spoilers. *look away, look away - quick*

We join Elder and Amy right where book one left off. Eldest has been killed, Orion was frozen and Elder has just been told that Godspeed will never land. The engines are no longer working, so it will never get close enough to Centauri-Earth to land. Elder takes over as Eldest, although he wants to continue going by the name "Elder."

Elder and the shippers discuss the engines and the other mechanical problems on the ship. They begin working on solutions. The next major thing Elder does as leader is take everyone off Phydus. This causes major issues, because people can choose to work or not work. They begin making all kinds of decisions. Violence, hunger, murder all begin occurring on the ship for the first time since the plague. Elder is truly tested as a leader. There are even rumblings of revolution.

Amy begins getting clues to a puzzle that seems to lead to another big secret. She and Elder begin uncovering another mystery that may be bigger than they can handle. It seems they will have to make a choice that may mean life or death for the entire population.

I loved the sequel as much as the original. It kept me coming back for the suspense and the mood created by the author. She created such a depressing sense of foreboding that I felt exactly how Amy felt about begin trapped on the ship. Her desperation was palpable.

The suspense of the mystery kept me reading. Big issues are uncovered and it makes you think about how you would handle the choices they're given.

I also enjoyed the growth of Elder's character and the relationship between Elder and Amy.

I highly recommend this series! Unfortunately, we have to wait an entire year for the next book. It's called SHADES OF EARTH. In the meantime, enjoy the website dedicated to the series. It's pretty nifty.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis via kwout

Beth Revis. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

New paperback cover (better, IMHO)

Amy and her parents are cryogenically frozen and placed aboard the ship Godspeed that will take 300 years to land on a planet they plan to colonize. Her mom is a genetic scientist and her father is a military strategist, so they are crucial to the mission. Her father gives her the option of staying behind on Earth, but Amy can't imagine being separated from her parents.

Unfortunately, Amy is accidentally awakened on the ship about 50 years before the planned landing. They cannot refreeze her, and she knows her parents cannot be awakened early to be with her. So, she's all alone on a strange ship with a few thousand strangers.

Amy discovers that this new society is strange and completely different from Earth. The leader is tyrannical, but claims to have everyone's best interest at heart. Her one possible friend, Elder, on the enormous ship happens to be the next in line to lead. She isn't sure she can trust him, since he's being trained to lead in the same manner. But when another "frozen" is killed and several others threatened, Amy and Elder become closer as they begin uncovering mysteries and lies together.

Original Hardcover

It's difficult to do a summary of a book with so much going on! I feel like I'm still digesting it and sorting it all out in my brain. So, it's hard to write the review. Maybe that's because I read it mostly one day.

Anyway...it's suspenseful (kept me up very late) and it's a great science fiction story. It has a lot of emotion with a ton of ethical issues. I think the book jacket says it best - "It's a cross between TITANIC and BRAVE NEW WORLD." Yep, that about sums it up perfectly!

I'm so glad I waited to read it, because the sequel comes out in 10 days! YAY!

Find out more about Beth Revis here at her gorgeous website.

The trailer is a GREAT teaser. Check it out:

Robison Wells. VARIANT

Benson Fisher has been tossed around for years from foster home to foster home. He’s never stayed anywhere long enough to make friends. He longs to go to a good school. So, when he’s accepted to Maxfield Academy on a scholarship for orphans, he’s thrilled. He thinks he’ll finally get the education he wants. Since it’s a boarding school, he’ll be able to settle in and make friends.

When he arrives at Maxfield, he realizes that it’s not exactly as the brochure promised. Right after the driver drops him off, the strangeness begins. Two of the students run out of the school and chase the car out to the gate. Later he learns that the two students were punished for running after the car. Then his orientation is lead by a student close to his own age, named Becky. You can imagine his surprise when Becky explains to him that all the classes are taught by students. In fact, the whole place is run by students. There are no adults in the building at all. But that doesn't mean they get the run of the place. Cameras are everywhere. Rule-breaking is still punished.

Benson asks to leave, but it’s too late. He isn’t allowed to leave. All the other students explain to him that no one ever escapes, and if they try, they die. Parents and family members aren’t an issue, since all of the kids are orphans and have no one to come looking for them. It gets worse as Benson realizes that he seems to be the only one who cares about escaping. But if his choice is attempting to escape and possibly dying or staying in the prison-like school, Benson feels he has no choice but to try.

What a chilling, marvelous ride! Every time I put this book down, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. Literally you’ll want to read this in one sitting. The suspense builds slowly throughout each page until the end where you will be SHOCKED!

Benson is a great character, and you'll definitely root for him. The surrounding characters are surprising, but curious. You'll wonder about them. The action is well paced and exciting.

Check out the author here. This is is first YA book.

Elizabeth Scott. AS I WAKE

I've read almost all of Elizabeth Scott's books, and lately I've noticed she's branching off into some unusual territory. (Check out my other reviews here.) This one reminds me of GRACE, because it's so inventive.

Ava wakes up with no memory of who she is, where she is, or anything about her past. Her "mom" tells her that she was in an accident and has lost her memory. But when Ava goes to sleep, she dreams of another place - a place that seems more real that where she is now. After she is re-acquainted with her "friends," she begins dreaming of them in this other world. She wakes up in one place, then wakes up in another. Which world is real? Who is the real Ava? And why does she have this heavy sense of fear while everyone else seems so carefree. The mystery really gets complicated when a boy called Morgan finds her one day and tells her that he knew they would find each other again.

This is one of those books that brings up way more questions than it answers. I'm not saying that the plot isn't resolved, because it is for the most part. But I'm saying that all these other questions come up while exploring this plot.
For example, what if there are multiple worlds and therefore multiple people exactly like us in these worlds. I begin to wonder things like...

• Would you have different personalities in other worlds?
• How would you survive in different worlds, within different societal challenges?
• Would you be drawn to he same people? 
• Would you love the same?
• Would your ambitions and desires be the same?
• and the mother of all questions - Would your fate be the same? Would you die in the same manner, at the same age?

Anyway, Elizabeth Scott continues to impress! The book is a combination thriller, science fiction, and love story all at once, believe it or not! Click below to read a little about the story behind the story and this idea of modal realism from her website:

Elizabeth Scott via kwout

Veronica Roth. DIVERGENT

Wow! I love being blown away by an intriguing, well-written book! At first, this will seems similar to HUNGER GAMES, but it turns our to be very much its own thrilling tale.

In a futuristic dystopian Chicago, the society is divided up into five factions. Each society is founded on a particular virtue - Abnegation (selflessness), Dauntless (bravery), Candor (honesty), Amity (kindness), Erudite (knowledge). At sixteen, teens must choose which faction to align with. First, they take an aptitude test to see which faction they most belong in, then they can decide to follow those results or choose another faction. If they leave their home faction, they never see their family again.

Beatrice Prior gets some unusual results at her aptitude test. The test proctor tells her that her results are inconclusive - that she is part Abnegation, part Dauntless, but really neither. The proctor whispers that she is "Divergent," and she should not tell anyone. It's dangerous. So the proctor deletes the results and enters the results manually as "Abnegation." Beatrice tries to get more information, but she's shushed out of the room and told to be very careful.

After much thought and boredom with her home faction of Abnegation, Beatrice decides to leave Abnegation. She has never really felt like she belonged in her home faction. The strict selflessness, which includes bland food, bland clothing, and lack of excitement, has driven her to the wild looking Dauntless faction. She has watched the kids from Dauntless as they laughingly jump on and off moving trains. Even if their life seems foolish, constantly displaying wild acts of courage, it has an excitement that she craves.

The new recruits to Dauntless must undergo a stringent initiation process. It's brutal and forces Beatrice to face fears she didn't even know she had. Plus, the recruits are in competition with each other, which brings out the cruelty in people. Beatrice must fight others and compete with herself to get through initiation to become a full Dauntless faction member.

This is thrilling, suspenseful, gritty, and thoughtful. It's a roller coaster ride, and I was so sad for it to end! The writing is impeccable. The characters are amazing! You will NOT be able to put it down.

I'm thrilled to hear that it has a sequel. It's going to be a trilogy. In fact, the cover for the sequel was just revealed. Check it out:

And you probably don't need more convincing, but just in case, check out the trailer below:

Suzanne Collins. MOCKINGJAY

I'm so sad it's over. Suzanne Collins is a brilliant writer. It's a large task on its own to create such a detailed fictional world, but to also create such a suspenseful, intelligent, action packed plot as well is genius. It's unforgettable, for sure.

Katniss and Peeta have survived through another game. But the ending was even more rebellious than the first and Katniss has a big surprise for her at the end. She's been rescued by the rebels to be their leader. Will she be the Mockinjay for real, as their symbol for the revolution? Does she really have much choice?

To make things more complicated, Peeta was rescued too, but by the other side. The Capitol has him. Katniss feels it's her fault because of how they were separated in the arena. She knows he's being tortured and it's all because of her. More blood on her hands.

She agrees to help the rebels, but with hope that she can save Peeta and the other remaining victors. Whether or not she can save herself is questionable. But she isn't sure she even cares anymore.

A perfect ending to an intriguing, horrifying, incredible trilogy! You must read it! I warn you that you'll want to have all three on hand. Once you begin, you won't want to stop until the end.

Of course, the trailer:

Suzanne Collins. CATCHING FIRE

After winning the Hunger Games in book one, Katniss and Peeta continue their facade of being in love. The realize that they're on thin ice because of the rebellious way they won. They continue to play the game as they travel among the districts in their victory tour. But they begin to notice little signss of unrest among the districts. And when a man gets killed because he displayed a small sign support for them, Katniss realizes that there is much more going on then she realizes.

Finally, she realizes the effect that their little stunt in the games had when the ultimate punishment is announced. The 75th anniversary of the games, called the Quarter Quell, is a special games. It calls for something unique to happen. Katniss and Peeta must compete again. The President declares that this is to symbolize that the Capitol has power over even the strongest in the districts.

This is just as suspenseful as the first book and leaves even more questions unanswered! You won't be disappointed! I don't think I can move onto another book until I've finished this trilogy!

This post wouldn't be complete without a trailer!

Suzanne Collins. THE HUNGER GAMES

I know, I know...I'm the last person on the planet to finally read THE HUNGER GAMES. Here's the deal. I ordered it for the middle school library I was at when it came out. I planned to read it, since I loved GREGOR and this new book by Collins was already receiving so much buzz in Libraryland. I even began reading it. But the whole idea of fighting to the death just turned me off. Frankly, it didn't appeal to me at all. And there are so many more books to read, that I just declined.

Since then, I've heard so many people rave about it and now it's even becoming a movie. Alas, I finally read it. And yes, it's as good as everyone says. I couldn't put it down. It kept me up at night.

For those few left who haven't read it. Here's the summary:
The setting is sometime in the future and all that's left of North America is a country called Panem. There are 12 Districts and a central district called the Capitol. Years before, the districts rebelled against the Capitol, so now to be continually punished, each district has to give up one boy and one girl to compete in the Hunger Games. The two children are chosen randomly through a drawing, called the reaping. The game itself is brutal. The contestants are put in this arena to fight to the death. The winner is then given a life of luxury and fame for the remainder of their life.

The characters and action are what made the book so appealing. Katniss is the female character. Her younger sister's name is pulled at the reaping, but she volunteers to go in her place. Peeta, the boy who is chosen, has an interesting connection to Katniss. Through the story, we learn more about Katniss's past with her hunting partner, how the death of her father transformed her life and how she may actually have the skills to win the game.

The action wasn't as gruesome as you might imagine. Although the fact the the entire world is watching the games is a little disconcerting, even more so since it's mandatory to watch. Sadly, there are elements of our current society that make the idea of watching this as entertainment not so far-fetched. What I really appreciated was the hunting and survival skills that Katniss needed to use. It reminds you of how important those skills really are when you're in life or death situations. But there were also a lot of mind games, so it was really fascinating.

Overall, it's though-provoking, moving, sad and action-packed!

If you haven't read it yet, it really is a book you won't soon forget. Now I'm really excited about the movie!

Here's a pretty cool fan-made trailer I found.

Orson Scott Card. PATHFINDER

If you know me, you know my all-time favorite author is Orson Scott Card. So, it's no surprise at all to know that I jumped on the chance to read the first installment in a new YA series by Card. I've loved his other books because of the depth of characters, intelligent stories, and ground-breaking science fiction. Those are some pretty high expectations to bring into into a book. Fortunately, I wasn't let down.

PATHFINDER is about a teen named Rigg, who has an unusual gift that allows him to see the paths of people's pasts. In the beginning, we see him using the gift to track animals with his father. It helps them to make a living. Even though they live in a small, rural area, his father teaches Rigg about the ways of the world. He constantly educates him on economics, trade, communication, and most importantly, how to use his gift.

When his father dies suddenly, Rigg is devastated. But when he discovers the bag of priceless jewels his father left for him, he is confused. Where did they come from? Who was his father? His father was constantly teaching him, why would he leave crucial details out about his background or his wealth? Why would he lie to him all those years?

Rigg discovers that his childhood friend, Umbo, has an unusual gift of his own, and that his father had helped him master it while growing up. They discover that their gifts do some incredible things together. So Rigg and Umbo decide to go on a quest to solve his father's mystery.

Check out the trailer for more:



It's another great one by OSC! The book has the rich characterization that I love, the intelligent plot, fascinating elements of science fiction like space travel, time travel paradoxes and robots. But it's also rich with royal history, family battles and revolutions. It's OSC at his best!
I can't wait for the next one!

By the way, for those readers who maybe haven't read any OSC before. You really need to read the ENDER'S GAME series. For those that have read it and love it, you can check this out too:
This is a fan made trailer of the long awaited, but yet to be written & filmed ENDER'S GAME movie:



I repeat, it hasn't been made into a movie. But this is an awesome trailer! OSC calls it the best fan made trailer he's seen. I agree!

More on Orson Scott Card at his website.
You won't be disappointed if you choose any of his books to read! Some others I loved:
*ALL in the ENDER'S GAME series
*THE MEMORY OF EARTH series
*ENCHANTMENT
*THE FOLK ON THE FRINGE
*HOMEBODY
*TREASURE BOX
*THE WORTHING SAGE
*THE WORTHING CHRONICLE
*MASTERPIECES - THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION OF THE CENTURY (edited by OSC)

He writes fantasy, in addition to Science Fiction. You can see all that he writes here at his website.

LOVE IS HELL

I love short story collections! This one is a collection of love stories. But before you start envisioning gooey love letters, puppies and rainbows, let me explain further. It's called LOVE IS HELL. These are all supernatural stories with ghosts, vampires, fairies, and some futuristic sci-fi thrown in for good measure. Each story has its own unique supernatural/sci-fi/fantasy vibe, yet they all have one thing in common - love. If you think about it, that's an interesting combination. Fantasy & love. And I loved every word of it. I loved all of them for different reasons.
I would give too much away to talk about each and every story (and they each deserve equal amounts of attention - lots). So instead, I'll just mention the authors, and that should give you more than enough reasons to want to read the book.
*Scott Westerfeld (the UGLIES saga & the MIDNIGHTERS trilogy)
*Justine Larbalestier (MAGIC OR MADNESS trilogy) *Gabrielle Zevin (ELSEWHERE & MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC)
*Melissa Marr (WICKED LOVELY)
*Laurie Faria Stolarz (BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES).
All those authors together in one book was enough for me to pick it up without even reading the description.

Now I want to read the other "Hell" short story collection from this publisher. Looks creepy & intriguing:

Orson Scott Card. ENDER IN EXILE

If you know me at all, it’s no secret that my favorite author is Orson Scott Card and my favorite series is Ender’s Game. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to read ENDER IN EXILE.

First of all, it goes without saying that if you like any of the Ender books, you must read this one. The neat thing is, you could really read it anytime. If you just read ENDER’S GAME, this would be a great sequel. But it sort of continues the SHADOW OF THE GIANT timeline too. Or if you’ve already read them all, this is a wonderful way to get to visit the Enderverse again. (I’ve already read the series a few times, so a new book was a welcome gift to me).

Now I’ll get to the review. This picks up right after the war. Most of the children are going back home. But Ender, savior of the world, could end up being a pawn to anyone who gets their hands on him, so rather than be in danger on Earth, he’s sent to govern a new colony in space. Valentine knows she’ll never see him again on Earth, so she decides to join him. Peter had originally wanted him home, so he could use him for his own purposes, but realizes that he’ll be better off without Ender overshadowing him.

This novel tells the story of Ender at that first colony then follows him to another colony where his life is seriously threatened. But it’s really about a boy of thirteen figuring out how to live with the guilt of what he’s done. Several good people try to convince him along the way to forgive himself and move on (Graff, Valentine). However, he is the only one who can do that. It doesn’t matter how many people tell him to do it, he must find a way that works for him.

He finally does find a way. Or at least something that gives him great relief. I was hoping this would be the book where he found the Hive Queen.I loved hearing the story behind the writing of The Hive Queen & The Hegemon. I also enjoyed immensely seeing the interactions and relationship build between Ender & Valentine. I always loved the two of them together (almost as much as Ender & Jane).

One event that I wanted to know more about was how Ender went from "Ender - Savior of the World" to "Ender the Xenocide." It was mentioned in other books, but here we see step-by-step how the public opinion was manipulated. It’s actually pretty scary how easily that type of thing can happen.

This was an enjoyable trip, indeed. In fact, I feel like I want to go back and read more from the series.

If you’re a fan, you won’t need my prompting to read this one. If you’re not yet a fan, begin the journey with ENDER’S GAME and you’ll quickly become one.

Click here for Card's fantastic website.

Clare B. Dunkle. THE SKY INSIDE

The cover grabbed me from the beginning on this one. I didn't even read the book jacket description. I just dove right in!

Martin and his family live in a “perfect world.” It was designed by the previous generation because the world was in chaos. Very few, lucky people were chosen to live in the newly created suburbs under these domes. The sky is painted on. The fake snow & flowers are stuck to windows to designate the changing of seasons. They even play music of birds singing (there are no real animals). Every so often, the newest crop of engineered babies is advertised so that couples who are ready can order their baby. However, the Wonder Babies, the latest crop of babies, are asking too many questions. Perhaps they were bred too smart for their own good. One of these babies is Martin’s little sister Cassie, and when they come to take all of these babies away, Martin’s world turns upside down. He starts investigating and finding out information that freaks him out. Then he decides he must do something. It isn’t right to just take a whole generation away. This is an amazing futuristic novel with intriguing ideas about what science can and should do. Oh, did I mention Martin has the coolest dog ever! I don’t want to tell you too much & give the fun stuff away, but you will absolutely love his dog. Martin is pretty cool too.

I was most impressed at the freshness of this book, especially since this sort of topic has been done many times. The idea of an idealistic futuristic society with hidden massive problems has been done for a long while. And that can be really tiresome. But, Ms. Dunkle was successful in keeping this new & fresh!

Click for more information about this wonderful author and her other books:

AFTER you read the book, check out this great interview with the author:

I was excited to read that the she has just finished the sequel to THE SKY INSIDE called THE WALLS HAVE EYES. I’ll keep on the lookout for that one!

Mary E. Pearson. THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX

I intentionally steered clear of any reviews of this book before I read it. After reading merely a snippet of a review, it already seemed so intriguing that I didn’t want to spoil it. I’ll sometimes do that with movies too. I hate getting all the good parts ahead of time in the trailers. That ruins it for me. So, I went in with barely any knowledge, except that I knew it would be good. Indeed it was! Wow! If you’re like me, stop reading right now, go get the book & read it without any sneak peeks. But, if you do need a little more of a teaser, go ahead and read on.

Jenna Fox wakes up after a year-long coma. All she knows is that she was in a terrible accident. She doesn’t remember anything about her former life. She doesn’t recognize her mom, dad or grandmother. She doesn’t even remember the meaning of some simple words like curious or lost. Although, for some strange reason, she can remember certain historical events down to the last detail. She’s been given a set of DVDs of her life try to jog her memory. Her parents must have really adored her, since they recorded nearly every detail of her life. While watching the videos, Jenna notices characteristics that are different between the Jenna on screen and herself. As the memories return little by little, the questions begin piling up. Plus, the accident itself is still a mystery. She wonders what happened to her two friends that are showing up in her memories. Were they with her during the accident, and if so, why does she keep hearing their voices?

This was an incredible book. It lived up to all my expectations. It is set in the near future where science and ethics are even more intertwined than they are today. Scientific advancements have introduced so many questions about what is right and wrong. Just because we can do something with science, does that mean we should? I’m being intentionally vague here, so as not to spoil the book. Read it. It will give you a glimpse into what might be in our not so distant future.

If you'd like to learn more about this author or see her other books, check out her website here. Or her visit or blog here.