Candor by Pam Bachorz

Candor

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town
where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way
to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them
all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved
teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages
to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to
get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape
Candor, Florida before they're transformed into
cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor,
and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

At First Sight:
I've wanted to read this one for a while. It reminded me a lot of The Giver, one of my favorite books. And of course, the synopsis intrigued me. So when I had the chance, I picked it up and started reading it.

My thoughts:
In one word, Candor was scary. It was frightening everything that went on: how people turned so perfect, how there were subliminal messages, how it was wrong to do so many things. Even if the book started just a bit slow, it was surprising and sort of like a cultural shock to see it being developed that way.

The way Nia and Oscar's relationship progresses is almost hard to witness. We know in the deep down part of our heart that something isn't going to turn out right. These two people are in the constant look out.

But then something happens (I won't tell what) that leaves the reader so shocked that at one point, I was ready to stop the book. Nevertheless, I wanted to know what would happen, even if it seemed that all was lost.

The end of the book is sickening and perfect. It answers enough questions but leaves speculation, too. It was shocking (I know I'm using this word too much already but it was) and I kept thinking about it for days.

In One Sentence:
"Amazing and surprising, a book that encompasses it all."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Gone by Michael Grant

Gone
In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Gone has an amazing premise: a world were adults just dissappear. At first it might seem like, 'Hey, party!' but the truth is, things are harder than they appear.

There's a new generation of kids with unexplicable powers that have something to do with the FAYZ. These teens are in the fight for their lives, espeically after Caine, a kid from town, starts taking over.

Gone is a fantastic novel. It was slow in some places, given but then it was so good I couldn't put it down. It's rather lengthy and I expected it to be more sci-fi than fantasy (you know, I like scientific explanations to things) but after a while, I didn't care.

The characters were all well-developed. I like that the many pages of this book were not spent in nonsense but in the development of the characters and the fleshing out of a great story to come. I can't wait to read the sequel.

In one sentence:
"A great story that everyone has to read!"

Plot: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Characters: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen

The Gardener
Mason has never known his father, but longs to. All he has of him is a DVD of a man whose face is never seen, reading a children’s book. One day, on a whim, he plays the DVD for a group of comatose teens at the nursing home where his mother works. One of them, a beautiful girl, responds. Mason learns she is part of a horrible experiment intended to render teenagers into autotrophs—genetically engineered, self-sustaining life-forms who don’t need food or water to survive. And before he knows it, Mason is on the run with the girl, and wanted, dead or alive, by the mysterious mastermind of this gruesome plan, who is simply called the Gardener.



Will Mason be forced to destroy the thing he’s longed for most?

It's funny how I came across this one. I was reading a blog and someone (I can't remember who, sorry!) reviewed this and I was like "OMG! I have to get this," because I'm recently in a wild dystopian, sci-fi thing. So I emailed the publisher that very day and they were so nice and sent me a copy! It was actually my first time emailng a publisher and having them send me an ARC so THANK YOU!

The book was not what I expected at all. I imagined a very far future dystopian sort of thing but it was not, it's set on current times which makes it even more scary! It really worked well with it.

The book is extremely thought-provoking and I liked both Mason and the girl's relationship. His best friend, Jack, is hilarious. I loved him to death. The Gardener is very fast paced and unique.

OH! And the end is just FANTASTIC. Just wait.

In one sentence:
"A old problem given a completely new and unique premise make this a one-of-a-kind read."

Plot: 5
Characters: 4
Writing: 5
Cover: 4
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.4

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire

SPOLER ALERT

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

You have all heard me talk nonstop about Catching Fire and The Hunger Games series in general but I hadn't actually DONE a review on either of them. So, since I recently re-read Catching Fire, I'll review it today.

Although Catching Fire is a bit slower than The Hunger Games, so much more is at stake that the suspense is breath-taking. I have to say that I liked Catching Fire more because it's more political and much more like a rude awakening at what is happening in these districts.

Katniss is one of my favorite female protagonists in literature so far; she is strong, rash, and a fierce female who you wouldn't want battling against you.

Peeta is as adorable and sweet as any other. But I won't say much more because I am, in the end, a Gale fan. Where Peeta is sweet and talkative, Gale is rough around the edges, dark, serious, but so loyal to Katniss.

Suzanne Collins's writing flows off the page. It's amazing how vivid and real she makes everything: the details, the action, everything!

Even though I read it for the second time, it had me at the edge of my seat and just gasping with surprise at every turn. I can't wait till the next book, Mockingjay.

In one sentence:
"Best series next to Harry Potter."

Plot: 5
Writing: 5
Characters: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5