Showing posts with label Recommended Read. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recommended Read. Show all posts

Monday, November 14, 2011

Neurotic Thoughts on Dead Is Not An Option

Dead Is Not An Option
Author: Marlene Perez
Released: May 2, 2011
Genre: YA Paranormal
Published By: Graphia
Source: NetGalley and Graphia
Pages: 240
ISBN: 0547345933


Summary from Goodreads:
It’s springtime of senior year, and psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano is preparing to say goodbye to Nightshade High. But no college acceptance letters have arrived yet, and she’s beginning to worry about where she’ll end up come fall—and if it will be anywhere near her boyfriend, Ryan. But that’s not the only uncertainty Daisy’s dealing with. There’s a vamps-versus-shifters war going on in Nightshade, and things are so tense that there is talk of canceling the prom. The conflict is carrying over to the Giordano home, since Rose and Daisy are both dating werewolves and Poppy’s new boyfriend is a vampire.

Can the paranormal community in Nightshade finally find peace? And will Daisy and her friends survive graduation? All of these questions and more are answered in the latest explosive installment in the Dead Is series.



The Dead Is series is just plain fun. Every time I pick up one of these books I get sucked in, and don't want to put the book down until I'm done. I love revisiting the town of Nightshade and all of it's paranormal happenings. There is always a little bit of romance and a lot of mystery. I love how each book is wrapped up without a huge cliff hanger every time. Since I don't want to give anything away for anyone that hasn't read the rest of the series I will just say that as the last book in the series I thought things were wrapped up as well as they could be for a group of kids just finishing high school. I mean who really knows what waits for you after senior year? If you like light paranormal romance mystery novels, and haven't picked up the Dead Is series I think you may be missing out.  

I just found out that there will be a spin-off series about a new character named Jessica starting out her freshman year at Nightshade high. I really hope that Daisy and Ryan at least make a few cameo appearances. 

Dead Is A Battlefield 
Expected Publication: March 2012
Summary from Goodreads:

Jessica Walsh is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High and trying to forget about the tragic events surrounding her brother’s graduation. She wants to have a normal high school experience. But that’s easier said than done in Nightshade. 

When a new boy shows up at school, the girls are infected with a case of seriously creepy crushes. But when their obsession turns to violence, Jessica and her friends start to wonder if there’s more going on than just a little friendly rivalry. Are the smitten girls turning into love zombies? 

And Jessica has other worries—like her crush on Dominic Gray, the cute but moody new singer for Side Effects May Vary, and the mysterious tattoo that appeared on her arm one day and lets her know whenever there is trouble brewing. Jessica learns she's a Virago, a woman warrior chosen to fight evil whenever it threatens her hometown. But does a lowly freshman really have what it takes to keep Nightshade safe?





Thursday, November 10, 2011

Neurotic Thoughts on Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Awaken
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Released: May 23, 2011
Genre: YA dystopian
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Source: Houghton Mifflin through NetGalley
"I received this book free of charge for an honest review"
Pages: 320
ISBN: 0547371489
Summary from Goodreads:
Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.




My Thoughts:
I read this book back in April and it has really stuck with me all this time. The entire time I was reading it I kept thinking that this book wasn't really that far off the mark. I can easily see our lives developing into this kind of lifestyle. In fact I was just reading an article the other day that reported that out of the 1500 or so college students interviewed 25% said that the internet was more important to them than plumbing. Yikes! 

I really loved Maddie, she wasn't perfect and that made her so real and likable to me. I was happy that when Justin entered the picture that there wasn't an immediate love connection, it developed over time like a real relationship. Speaking of Justin... I loved him. If I were a teenage girl again I would totally go after a guy like Justin. He is rebellious against society, but is loyal to those he cares about to the extreme. 

This book had me thinking about all of the time that my family and I spend online or in front of a screen, and how we all need to take time to remember what is really important. I'm pretty sure I would have to list plumbing above the internet, I'm just saying.

A great edition to the Young Adult dystopian genre.