Veronica Roth's ALLEGIANT, an Action-Packed Conclusion to the Most Anticipated Finale of the Year

Everyone I know who reads YA has been anticipating this one. When DIVERGENT first came out, I remember telling students that I liked it better than HUNGER GAMES, and that's saying a lot. If you haven't read DIVERGENT, you need to just go do that right now. The rest of you, keep on reading.

Here's your quickie synopsis - The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered--fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready.

Many, many secrets are revealed in this finale. We learn the story behind the creation of the factions, how Tris and her family are involved, as well as what is beyond the walls of the city. The "why" of the factions is the biggest discovery of the book. I think the seed there is enough to begin a whole new book. But anyway, it creates some tension between Tris and Four. They all must continue to make difficult choices, as the uprisings from the second book continue.

Overall, I do believe it's a worthy ending to the series. But, I'm still digesting the ending. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. The writing is wonderful, and the action kept me turning the pages. The best part about reading the finale in a popular series is talking about it with others. So, I'm off to do that now. (And to anticipate the DIVERGENT movie, of course.)

Enjoy this interview with Veronica Roth about the writing of ALLEGIANT, as well as a few tidbits about the movie!

Kick Back and Enjoy a Rollicking Good Time in WHAT I REMEMBER by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

Kylie wakes up in Mexico the morning of graduation, miles away from home where she is scheduled to give the valedictorian speech later that day. As Kylie remembers the previous 24 hours, she learns more about life and herself than the last four years at school taught her.

Here's your quickie synopsis: Just before her graduation from La Jolla's exclusive Freiburg Academy, valedictorian and scholarship student Kylie Flores inadvertently ends up in Ensenada, Mexico, with Max, one of the most popular boys in school, where, in twenty-four jam-packed hours, their lives dramatically change.

At first glance, you may think this is a stereotypical "last day of school" type of book. But the authors bring a lot more than that to the table. First of all, The alternating points of view gave the story more depth. There were some characters that I wouldn't have liked at face value. But, seeing their point of view helped me to sympathize with, or at least understand them, and grow to like them. Mostly, though, the characters were all interesting and fully formed, not stock characters. Kylie is an unexpected feisty little firecracker. Max is also deeper than you would expect, with issues of his own, even with being the most popular senior in school.

In addition to the fun, realistic characters, the action kept me laughing all the way through. It reads very much like an action movie, which is funny, since Kylie is an action movie screenwriter. And she makes blatant references to it, while the action is happening. You'd think that wouldn't work, but it actually does. As Kylie and Max get deeper and deeper into their predicament, the more fun I had being immersed in it. I feel like I was trapped in Ensendad, Mexico for a few days!

I had a great time. FROM WHAT I REMEMBER brought back all the fun times from my own high school days. (Okay, so maybe not the kidnapping or the armed criminals, but you know, lots of other stuff...)

You'll get a kick out of it too, trust me!

I'm so sad that I can't post a trailer for you, but I couldn't find one. :( The only one I found was posted by a student for English class, and I sometimes will post those, but this one had the cast from That 70's Show in it and I didn't like it.) Sorry! Check out the authors' website here.

Gripping Action with Beautiful Storytelling in HOSTAGE THREE by Nick Lake

When a book starts with, "There is a gun pointing right at my head" it's certain to grab my attention. But lately, I've been kinda ADD with books. I've started several and put them down after a few chapters, so keeping my interest has been a mighty task.

This one kept my interest. In fact, I read it mostly in one afternoon.

Here's the synopsis:

As Amy sets out to sea with her family on a yacht, she's only thinking about the peaceful waters and the warm sun. But she doesn't get either after a group of pirates seize the boat and its human cargo, and the family becomes a commodity in a highly sophisticated transaction. Hostage One is Amy's father--the most valuable. Hostage Three is Amy, who can't believe the nightmare she's in. But something even stranger happens as she builds a bond with one of her captors, making it brutally clear that the price of life and its value are two very different things.

There is a lot to love about this book. It has suspenseful - edge of your seat action, along with some deep meaningful storytelling. And I'm not spoiling anything here by saying this (see above), Amy forms a bond with one of the captors and learns about his life back in Somalia. The striking difference between her very wealthy life and his starving family is startling to her. You begin to understand, if not sympathize with, the pirates. There are some gruesome moments. There are many more meaningful and enlightening moments. All the way around, I highly recommend this beautiful book. 

I do want to address something unusual about the writing style. The author does not use quotation marks, but uses dashes/hyphens for dialogue. This was confusing at first. Sometimes you aren't sure if the latter part of the section is still dialogue or internal monologue. SEE:

I was so annoyed at first, that I stopped reading it. Then I thought, oh this is an ARC, so maybe it's just something in the manuscript. So I bought a copy and...it was the same. I finally realized that I was being childish, got over it, and read the book. I totally got used to it after a while. I'm glad I did - it was worth it. But I did want to point that, so you aren't surprised when you see it. 

By the way, if the author is familiar, you may remember that his book IN DARKNESS just won the Printz award this year. (And I checked. Yes, he employs the same dialogue method in that book.)

It was released in the UK in January, but isn't releasing here in Hardback until November. You can buy the ebook now, though. Enjoy!

New Full Cast Audio Play of ENDER'S GAME

Just in time for the movie release, Skyboat Media has released a new full cast audio play of Ender's Game called ENDER'S GAME ALIVE. Check out the video below of OSC explaining how he likes this version of his iconic story better than any others. It sounds like he wrote a new screenplay for this production.

And by full cast, we mean full cast including: Kirby Heyborne, Stefan Rudnicki, Theodore Bikel, Scott Brick, Samantha Eggar, Harlan Ellison, Susan Hanfield, Roxanne Hernandez, Janis Ian, Rex Linn, Richard McGonagle, Jim Meskimen, Emily Rankin, John Rubinstein, Christian Rummel, and a full cast.

Did you notice Harlan Ellsion in there? Yep, he narrated the original Ender's Game audiobook too, as well as books for other authors such as Arthur C. Clark and Terry Pratchett. Cool.

There's even an original score. Can't wait to hear it!


Orson Scott Card - Author of Ender's Game Alive from Skyboat Media on Vimeo.

For more about the production of the audioplay, go here.

BITTERSWEET by Sarah Ockler, Cupcakes and Hockey Make a Delicious Combination

One thing I'm certain about when I pick up a Sarah Ockler novel is that the writing will be beautiful. I adored her book Twenty Boy Summer, so I knew I'd like this one too. She paints a scene like nobody else. She sets the atmosphere so well in this wintry setting that I could almost feel the snow falling on my face.

Here's your quickie synopsis: Hudson Avery gave up a promising competitive ice skating career after her parents divorced when she was fourteen years old and now spends her time baking cupcakes and helping out in her mother's upstate New York diner, but when she gets a chance at a scholarship and starts coaching the boys' hockey team, she realizes that she is not through with ice skating after all.

I really enjoyed this one! Hudson is a spunky girl who makes the best of the difficult situation their father created after leaving. The way she takes on the hockey players is hilarious and bold. The relationship between Hudson and her little brother, Bug, is one of the best parts of the entire book.  As I said earlier, the writing is fabulous! The dialogue is witty and the characters are well developed and memorable. Another satisfying story from Sarah Ockler!

Check out Sarah Ockler's other titles here. Watch the trailer below: