Matched by Ally Condie

Ahh...once again I have been sucked in by cover art.

It's sort of new age Wizard of Oz, right? Well, while the book has little in common with the Wizard of Oz, I'm pleased to say it is wonderful novel. Matched takes place in a future where a nonspecific global disaster has caused most humans to give up their personal freedoms to "the Society" in exchange for health, security, and stability. The Society uses the data it collects about you to provide you with the optimal diet and exercise plan, to place you in the job best suited to your skills and abilities, and to match you with the person optimal mate both psychologically and genetically.

The main character Cassia largely buys into all this at the novels open. She is preparing for her "match" ceremony--kind of like prom and a debutante ball but with a big screen on which the face of your future spouse will appear for all to see. Cassia is stunned to discover her match is her good friend Xander--both because it is rare to be matched with someone you know and because she wonders how this will change their friendship. The real drama begins when Cassia opens the data card about Xander in preparation for her first date with him and sees a different boy's face flash momentarily across the screen--Ky.

Cassia's curiosity bests her--like a self-fulfilling prophecy she finds herself seeking Ky out and finding him equally attractive to and more compelling than Xander. Meanwhile "The Society" begins cracking down on liberties in her neighborhood and family and Cassia gets disturbing visits from its representative. As events spiral out of control, we, like Cassia uncover more details about what The Society is really up to.

A satisfying, yet cliffhanger ending leaves this reader anxious to read the next installation, Crossed, due out November 1, 2011. I especially recommend this to those who loved The Hunger Games and Graceling--similar strong female characters facing a hostile society and the same strong use of suspense. Be sure to check out the trailer on Youtube.

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

I have never been what one would call picky when it comes to reading. I'm more of your all-you-can-eat buffet type of girl--a little of this, a little of that, a side of this.... I find that this is especially true when it comes to downloadable audiobooks, where I'm less impacted by the cover art, less likely to browse by genre, and more likely to pick based on what's available at the library that day.

Because of this open-mindedness (or, as some would call it, lack of standards) I regularly wind up reading something that isn't at all what I expected it to be. This is certainly true of Girl Parts, a first novel by John M. Cusick.

Girl Parts could certainly be called science fiction, but not so "heavy" that haters of the genre should shy away from it. It is somewhat futuristic, but not so far into the future that our world is unrecognizable--call it "near future." In this near future, we meet two very different young men. David is rich, popular, and constantly connected to the online world. After David witnesses a classmate committing suicide online and does nothing to stop it, the school counselor and David's parents decide he is suffering from disassociative disorder, or, the inability to make true human connections. The counselor suggests David get a "Companion," a robot in the form of a young woman who is programmed to teach young men how to develop healthy relationships. When "Rose" arrives, David is immediately compelled by her, despite knowing she isn't human.

Charlie is a neighbor and classmate of David's, but there the similarity ends: "Charlie Nuvola was weird. He looked weird; he acted weird; he was interested in weird things. Worst of all, he didn't seem to know or care that everyone else thought he was weird." In the high-tech, sophisticated world he lives in, Charlie seems a throwback, a gentleman and a scholar.

When David and Rose's relationship takes an unexpected twist, Charlie is uniquely situated to come to the rescue. But can Charlie and Rose outrun the evil Sakora corporation? Can true love really happen for a boy and a robot? Will you find out by the end of this novel? The answer to that last one is...not really--it's a cliff-hanger ending and controversial with a lot of reviewers. The good news is there's a sequel coming "soon" according the author's Facebook page. Ahhh the suspense!

P.S. MHS Book Club is currently reading this one, so if you'd like to join in the conversation, see Mrs. C.

P.P.S. For video reviews/trailers, see:
http://www.60secondrecap.com/library/
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7478360/19803270

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

As a librarian, I am regularly asked "What is your favorite book." I never have an answer for this. I have many "favorites" depending on my mood and what I need from a book at the moment. However, I will admit to a soft spot for the fantasy genre. I know, I know...it's not for everyone, but the thing is, there's a reason why so many books with cult followings are fantasy. Fantasy like the Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, The Wheel of Time, and Harry Potter have all the hallmarks of good storytelling--well-developed characters whose lives and fates you care about, suspense, drama, and compelling themes. But on top of the storytelling the writers of good fantasy have the almost other-worldly ability to invent entire worlds that are simultaneously foreign to us and yet recognizable. They develop entire mythologies and histories for the peoples in their books and often new languages, new environments and new cultures. We fantasy fans are so loyal to these invented worlds because we find them so wondrous and believable that we want them to be real.

So yes, generally, fantasy is my "go-to" genre, but I'm picky about what I label "really good fantasy." In the past couple years, I've added Kristin Cashore's Graceling and Fire to this list, along with Shannon Hale's Books of Bayern series and Elizabeth Knox's awesome Dreamhunter Duet. I am happy to say I've recently added another--Incarceron by Catherine Fisher.

Incarceron is a prison, created as an experimental closed system to rehabilitate and relocate troublemakers away from the "mainland." The book begins several generations after the invention of Incarceron, when the experiment appears to be going horribly wrong. In the opening scenes we meet Finn, a young man surviving in a gang through ruthlessness and street smarts. Finn can't remember his childhood, but he believes he is from the outside--something those around him dismiss as impossible. Through a chance of fate, Finn comes across an enemy who may be able to get him some answers.

Later, we meet Claudia, daughter of the prison warden, and, in some ways, a prisoner herself. She lives in an artificial world where everyone must stay "authentic" to a medieval time period where loyalty to one's lord and king is all. She has been groomed to marry the prince since childhood but knows she is being manipulated. When she breaks into her father's office looking for proof, she finds a key that connects her to Finn. Can Claudia find the door to the prison before her wedding day and without the queen or her father discovering her? Can Finn trust Claudia with his life and the lives of his companions? Ahh...these are just two of the many deliciously suspenseful questions that get answered by novel's end. This book is just full of imaginative detail and wonderful plot twists that will have you holding your breath as you race to end. And kudos to Catherine Fisher for a bang-up finish with an exciting question left to be answered in the next book in the series (I hate this latest trend of first books having a weak or unresolved ending to ensure the need for a sequel). The sequel, Sapphique will be out in stores December 28. I know I'll be there!


To watch the book trailer for Incarceron, check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMRFsTwwj_U

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

Green Angel is a brief, haunting, modern fairy tale by prolific novelist Alice Hoffman. The protagonist, Green, lives with her parents and younger sister on a farm outside an unnamed city where they sell their produce. Always considered the quiet one with the knack for gardening, Green is left behind to tend the crops on one trip. Resentful, Green climbs the hill on the farm overlooking the city and witnesses its catastrophic destruction by a mysterious fire bombing.

In what follows, Hoffman illustrates the process of dealing with trauma and grief through the mind of a terrified, lonely 15-year old girl. Each day Green loses herself more in the armor she literally and figuratively builds around person while discovering a valuable talent for survival that helps keep her and those around her alive.

It's been a long time since I've read a book through in one sitting, and I so relished devouring this one. It's a gem of a book, and a powerful parable on the humanity of grief. I can't wait to read the sequel Green Witch.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

For shame, Madam Librarian. You of all people, should not have been lured in by slick marketing and a cool cover...but, I must admit that I bought into the hype surrounding The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. The book was getting rave reviews from bloggers, the Amazon book trailer was cool, the blurbs on the back cover were wildly complimentary kudos from authors I like. I was fully prepared to love this book.

I did not.

In its defense, the book has many virtues. The premise--a young woman fights for love and survival in a dystopian future where the human race has been mostly overrun by a plague of zombies--is thrilling. The world in which the heroine Mary lives, a fenced-off compound where technology and societal values are approximately those of the late Middle Ages, is richly imagined and increasingly suffocating as we the audience develop sympathy for the narrators' tragic losses (family members turned zombie), lack of choices (marriage and babies are critical for survival), and constant worry about the zombies banging against the fences for her flesh. Early in the book, Mary is forced to go to the sisters, a group of women who live in the cathedral, much like the nunneries of medieval times. Mary's attempts to penetrate the secrets of this all-powerful society are full of suspense and mystique.

Where the author lost me was about midway through the book when Mary and her betrothed Harry, and her best friend Cass and her betrothed Travis (the man Mary actually loved) are forced to make an awful choice. From this point on, Mary becomes obnoxious and unlikable, in part because the book is written in first-person, present tense. I soon got bored with hearing Mary think, and wonder, and suppose on page after page. Had the book been written in 3rd person, the action and dialogue would have spoken for themselves and eliminated the repetitive descriptions of how the narrator was "feeling." Additionally, the interesting plot thread about the sisters remained undeveloped and left me unsatisfied with the ending.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is the first of a trilogy (the second book, The Dead Tossed Waves comes out Spring 2010) which somewhat explains the inconclusive ending, but I'm finding this trilogy trend in fantasy novels is giving authors the excuse to write sloppy endings. So no, I didn't love this book; I thought it could have used a lot more editing and revising. But a lot of people did love this book (see starred reviews by School Library Journal, Publishers' Weekly, and MTV), so you may not want to take my word for it. If you give it a shot, let me know what you think...am I missing the boat on this one?

Graceling

It's been awhile since I've been this enraptured by a book, and truly, I love Graceling. Kristin Cashore has opened a rich world of seven kingdoms with "seven thoroughly unpredictable kings." In these lands where the kings tend toward tyranny over the people, some individuals are graced with special abilities--some are amazing cooks, others can foretell the future, and some, like Katsa, niece of King Randa of the Midlands, are graced with the ability to kill. Like most of the kings, Randa has claimed Katsa's abilities for his own uses and she finds herself a tool being used to torture and kill the king's enemies. Katsa worries she is becoming a monster and longs to escape her uncle's control. With the help of her mentor and her beloved cousin, she is finding ways to thwart the destructiveness of the kings.

On one such mission to stop an evil plan, Katsa meets Po, a graced fighter and prince of the kingdom of Lienid. Po is a worthy adversary for Katsa and friendship blossoms between them as they practice their fighting. When they join forces to attempt a daring rescue of Po's cousin Princess Bittersblue, new revelations change their relationship and Katsa must confront her feelings and the truth about her abilities...but only after a desperate race for survival through the mountains.

I can't do this book justice in a brief summary. The characters are richly developed and interesting, the plot addictive, the conclusion satisfying without being too neatly wrapped up. Two more books are planned in the trilogy, one a prequel (Fire, out October 2009) and the other a sequel/companion novel following Princess Bitterblue (Bitterblue, in the works).

Love and Peaches

In this, the third and final book of the Peaches series, author Jodi Lynn Anderson brings Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie back to the Darlington Orchard for one more summer of exploration, adventure, and romance before bringing their stories to a close. Wild Murphy cut all ties with Bridgewater, Georgia when she moved to New York City after high school, including those with boyfriend and all-around great guy Rex. Deciding to return home for the summer means facing him again and facing some truths about her emotional hangups. Beautiful, perfectionist Leeda has found love with a perfect new boyfriend at Columbia University, and his love gives her an instant identity complete with a circle of new friends. When she returns to Bridgewater and receives a most unusual inheritance from her eccentric grandmother, Leeda may finally have to confront who she is and what she wants. Meanwhile Birdie had planned to stay in Mexico where she has been studying abroad and where she and Enrico have grown even closer...perhaps too close since Birdie shows up at the orchard unexpectedly at the start of the peach picking season. Birdie finds that her father has plans for the orchard and the house that may destroy her dreams. Now Birdie must decide whether she really wants what she thought she wants and figure out how to follow her true heart.

The writing is a little uneven on this installment, but the characters are richer and those who've read the first two will enjoy seeing where life is heading for the three girls. A sweet story of love and growing up. If you loved the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, you'll want to grab this series too.

The Looking Glass Wars

Think you know the story of Alice in Wonderland? Not even close, according to Frank Beddor's new Looking Glass trilogy. First off, Alice is actually Princess Alyss of Wonderland, whose evil Aunt Redd's invasion has forced Alyss, the heir to the throne, to flee. With the aid of her trusted bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, she escapes through the Pool of Tears and finds herself in another world, namely, Victorian London. Of course, no one believes her fantastical stories about her kingdom and Alyss can find no way to get back. She finally thinks she has found a friend in the Reverend Charles Dodgson (pen name, Lewis Carroll) and tells him her whole story, but he completely changes the details till it is an unrecognizable children's fairy tale. Alice feels betrayed and begins to believe it was all a dream.

Meanwhile, Wonderland is falling apart under Redd's rule, with all of Alyss's mothers laws thrown out and evil and chaos invited in. A small faction of loyal "Alyssians" fight where they can and wait for the day when they can avenge the princess and return Wonderland to peace and glory once more.

The plot moves rapidly and keeps you hooked the way a well-paced movie does (not surprising since one of the author's previous day jobs was a movie producer). Like many fantasy movies, the characters are more ">archetypes than fully developed individuals, but their emotions--love, grief, revenge, wonder, lonliness, honor, loyalty--ring true and lend the story a universal feel that all great fantasies need. Seeing Redd is the next book in the series (and you can bet I'll be starting that tonight) and the third book comes out next fall. There is a companion graphic novel called Hatter M that details the bodyguard Hatter Madigan's adventures during the thirteen years he searched the human world for the missing Princess Alyss. There is also an extensive companion website to the trilogy, complete with book soundtrack, videos, artwork, video games, and other fan freebies (making the series trend on with the new "transmedia storytelling"). To check out the marketing madness go to: http://www.lookingglasswars.com/.

Wake

Have you ever had a dream so powerful you found it hard to wake from? Janie has...in fact Janie does, quite frequently, only the dreams are not her own. Since Janie was 8 years old she has been pulled into the dreams of people who sleep in close proximity to her. She simply falls asleep in the midst of what she is doing and watches the dreams--the secret dreams of the girl at the sleepover, the humilitating dreams of the kid in study hall, the distorted dreams of her alcoholic mother. She sees her best friend's reoccurring nightmare and the frightening, horror-filled dreams of a strange boy she hardly knows. She fights to gain control and fears this affliction will destroy her life--how can she possibly go to college or have a relationship if she can't be near people who sleep?

The novel is written in short chapters over time and dated like diary entries, giving the story much drive and suspense. A couple plot elements are a little far-fetched, but the struggles of kids with rough home lives is portrayed sensitively and realistically, as is the touching romance in the story. Overall I enjoyed this quick read, realistic with some sci-fi-ish elements, and I'm super excited for the sequel, Fade which arrives February 10. Lisa McMann is an author with a lot of talent, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Here's a book trailer I stumbled upon for Wake--it takes a different angle on the book than I would have, but it's interesting none the less.

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Dreamquake-Book Two of the Dreamhunter Duet

While the book Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox is not a perfect book, it did get me so wrapped up in its world that I was dying to find out what happens in Book Two--Dreamquake. Lucky for me it is already out (the benefit of starting a series of books that is already published) and even better than Book One. Dreamquake picks up with the final scene of Dreamhunter and tells it from an alternative perspective, which both catches up the reader and gives a new angle to the scene. From there the plot picks up speed with Laura and her Sandman on the run for forcing her nightmare on the Dream Opera Crowd, the Dream Regulatory Body building a secret, dangerous project in the Place, and, not to be overshadowed, Rose's debut into society. Laura and Sandy's relationship blossoms, though her continued and deepening reliance on her Sandman causes tension with those around her. The pace is fast, the drama high, and once the pieces of the puzzle came together I was left astounded by the author's imagination and storytelling abilities. Full of suspense, romance, and questions, this installment brings the duet to highly satisfying close.