Tehreem: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

To say Poison is amazing would be completely absurd. Amazing doesn't even begin to describe this marvelous escapade of a novel. Everything - including the characters - was so immersing! The world building was very powerful and realistic, but you still got just the right touch of fantasy, intrigue, and (of course) romance.

Kyra is a young potioneer who has a lot to deal with. First, her best friend seems to have gone mental, and is sure to destroy their beloved kingdom. Second, she tried to kill said best friend and failed quite miserably. Third, she is now on the run from everyone she trusts and those who once trusted her. And last off, she can't seem to get the irksome - and all too handsome - adventurer Fred off her mind. Or off her trail for that matter.

Kyra is dying to get a second chance at murder. However, she knows that killing the princess - who was now probably under heavy security - would be no easy task. But that isn't even her main problem. The real issue at hand is finding the good-princess-gone-bad in the first place. And Kyra has no idea where to even start looking.

Hopeless, Kyra is forced to seek help from the "King of Crime" himself, Arlo Abbaduto. While she decides to search him out, his dark-eyed minions find her first and bring her back to his lair. Convinced that Kyra and himself have similar interests in seeing the kingdom fall, Arlo accepts the exchange that Kyra proposed; Kyra will give him ownership of her potioneer coins - coins that always find their way back into their owner's pocket - and he in turn will give her something to aid her in her quest to maim Princess Ariana.

Arlo gives Kyra a piglet. Not just any piglet though. This piglet has the incredible power to track down anyone so long as the scent of the person is given. Now armed with what she needs, Kyra starts her daunting trip, dead set on full-filling her quest.

Journeying with an adorable pig and a handsome, dark-haired, green-gold eyed traveler proves to be more than she bargained for. Through much toil and strife - including witches, obeekas, and a deadly army - Kyra becomes increasingly unsure of herself. Will she be able to terminate the princess? Can she manage to keep her feelings in check? Is she falling for the infuriating Fred? Will she live to tell her story?

Does she even want to?

Bridget Zinn really did create and eye-opening novel about adventure. It's a crime that she didn't get to see this sensation reach shelves. I only hope that everyone sees what an insightful story Zinn crafted. Such beauty shouldn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. I'm truly speechless.

My rating:

Five out of Five Stars! 

Tehreem: Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Everyone wants to believe that they are normal. We all want to believe that we are our own individual, but the same as everyone else. The thing is, we are all normal. We smell the same scents. We taste the same foods. We breathe the same air. We touch the same surfaces. After all, we are all human, right?

What would happen if you found out that you were not like everyone else? What would happen if you found out that you weren't even human?

Sixteen-year-old Mila Daily is the "you" in this situation.

Mila Daily has lived a very dreary life. Her most recent memory is that of a fire; a fire that stole the life of her father. Now, her mother has whisked her away to a new life, with new people, and new "friends". All she wants is to live her life in peace. However, many things - including the new boy in town - like to complicate her life. Kaylee, a "nice" girl who is really a menace in disguise, is set on getting Mr. New Boy (AKA Hunter) to like her instead. When she finally puts two and two together, she realizes that Hunter will only ever have eyes for Mila. In a jealous fit, she winds up hurting Mila significantly. So significantly, Mila comes out of the fight with a hole in her arm.

A hole that protrudes a liquid.

A liquid that is not blood.

Horrified, Mila treks back home to her mother, questions and confusion whirling around in her mind. Mila refuses to believe that her arm is prosthetic. She finds it easier to believe that she may have imagined the hoard of wires harbored in her body. She keeps on trying to convince herself of this, but every time she looks down at the gash, reality strikes her. 

When she arrives at her home, her mother takes one look at the way Mila is covering her arm, and she knows. Instead of shock overtaking her features as Mila expected, her mother pulls out a kit, tells her to sit down, and begins to fix Mila's arm. Her mother - Nicole - then hands Mila an iPod with all the information she needs to understand what she is. And with that, she finds out her whole life is a lie. Mila is simply a Mobile Intel Lifelike Android. She was created in a lab to work as a spy for the U.S. Military. 

And she was stolen from the lab by Nicole.

Confused and betrayed, Mila is torn by the emotions rolling through her. She feels human. She has human emotions. How was this possible? She had a heartbeat - was it even a heartbeat? Or was it something synthetically created like everything else about her?

Nicole tells her that she had no choice but to steal her from the lab. There, she would have been treated like some sort of abomination. Nicole couldn't handle that idea. Mila was too human for that. Though the scientists may not believe that, the evidence of the humanity in Mila was standing before them. Mila understands Nicole, but she cannot ignore the betrayal she feels.

It doesn't matter anyway, because with the sequence of incoming events, she is forced to deal with is.

Suddenly, the peaceful life that she once lived is now in constant turmoil. It seems as though everywhere she goes, someone is trying to either steal her and sell her, or terminate her. Not only does she have to battle with outer foes, but she must learn to accept herself.

Mila and Nicole's lives depend on it. 

Woah! I didn't go into this novel expecting that. Many of the reviews of this book left me skeptical as to whether or not I would like this novel, but I can easily say I'm glad I have it a shot. While I was able to foreshadow many of the events of this story, a lot of the plot twists came as quite the surprise. Personally, I would never have guessed that ending.

The story was well written and very enticing. I could tell that Driza felt comfortable with her characters and knew where this story was going. I really felt like Driza put her best foot forward while writing Mila 2.0. For that, I salute her.

My rating:

Three and a Half out of Five Stars!

Tehreem: Being Henry David by Cal Armistead

Seventeen-year-old "Hank" has found himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of anything --who he is, where he came from, why he's running away. His only possession is a worn copy of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. And so he becomes Henry David-or "Hank" and takes first to the streets, and then to the only destination he can think of--Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Cal Armistead's remarkable debut novel is about a teen in search of himself. Hank begins to piece together recollections from his past. The only way Hank can discover his present is to face up to the realities of his grievous memories. He must come to terms with the tragedy of his past, to stop running, and to find his way home.

Before I start, I would like to state one thing; this book is not about entirely about Henry David Thoreau. If you are expecting some sort of retelling of Walden, you best look somewhere else.

The book starts off with a young man waking up in a subway, and finding that he has no recollection of his life. As far as he knows, he has no name, no family, and no home. When interrogated by the station police, he gives them the name of the author of the bound book in his possession; Henry David. Son. Davidson. After all, how suspicious would it look if he just so happened to carry the same name as Thoreau?

During his stay at the station, Henry meets another homeless boy named Jack. Jack offers a place of refuge for the night if only Henry will buy him some food. Confused and alone, Henry accepts his offer. 

Jack then takes him to his place of refuge which is with his runaway sister, Nessa. However, their place of hiding isn't all that safe. A boy no older than them named Simon demands money from Jack. Money that Jack owes him. Money that Jack doesn't have. When is seems as though Simon is going to slaughter Jack, Henry knocks Simon out cold. Afraid, all three of them seek refuge. They then meet Magpie, a proper Englishmen who is not afraid to maim others. In fear of his threats, they stay with him. 

Well, Jack and Nessa do.

Insisting that Magpie likes them too much to harm them, Jack convinces Henry to run away. So where does Henry run? Concord, Massachusetts; the place where Thoreau is most famous. Alone and determined, Henry embarks on a journey of self-discovery; the pain, the joy, and the truth.

This novel, like almost every novel out there, had its fair share of faults. However, they good far outweighed the bad. The characters of this book were agreeable. I didn't feel like killing off the main character due to a stupid decision(s), which is always a good thing. The quotes really made me understand why this novel was given the name Being Henry David. While this book isn't a retelling, it is also about discovery of one's self. Henry went to many of the sites where Thoreau was said to have stayed. During his visits at these places, Henry tended to rediscover a piece of himself that he lost. The symbolism given off by that is absolutely breath-taking.

Personally, I think this book is one of those books for a select few. I don't really know who I would recommend this story to, but if this terrible review sparked a bit of interest within you, I would say give it a try.

My rating:

Three out of Five Stars!

Andrea: Hate List by Jennifer Brown

 

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

 This book in particular struck me in ways that I didn't think was possible. Val, the main character goes back to school, mainly to make her mother happy. As she walks into the school, she is looked at with fear, disgust, and shock. Can you imagine walking into a building and have no one to be there for you? Not even your old friends? She goes into her classroom and it even goes to the point where a victim of her old boyfriend's shooting starts crying and has to leave the room, and eventually the school.

This book's writing style is an easy read, yet keeps you guessing. You start off with her normal life, however you travel back to her memories. I started off the book wondering what Nick would be like, would he be one of those abusive boyfriends, or one of those who didn't seem to care for their girlfriends? Reading on, it shocked me how amazing of a guy he was. He liked Shakespeare, he really seemed to love Val, and was such a sweet and romantic guy, and throughout the book, you wonder, why? Why did he do that? Was it to save Val from the people they put on the hatelist? Was it to satisfy himself? Was he pressured into it? One of the interesting ways done by the author, is that she ends the book on a big hanging question, allowing you to decide for yourself.

Her younger brother Frankie is one of the sweetest characters. He was always there for Val, even though you could just feel that he was having a hard time coping with the family issues and Val herself. What really moved me was Jessica Campbell. She was one of Val's bullies before the shooting. It's amazing how one event just happens that you never expected to happen, and this just proves that people can change. Jessica was a popular who had everything, friends, poplularity, and yet after Val saved her life, she pushed all that aside, at the cost of her reputation to try her hardest to befriend Val and get her out of her shell. She was just the most amazing person in the book and really shocked me. 

This was definitely another book that greatly moved me. Of course, you can never judge a book by it's cover. You must get to know them first before judging, that is one of the most important points to remember. Also, you must always look at the bright side, the past is the past, and you must look forward to the new possibilities that you have. If someone is in trouble, or needs support, lend them a helping hand. Sometimes all people need to keep them from going the wrong direction is knowing that someone is there for them. I recommend this book for everyone to read, and I think it will encourage you to at change a bit yourself to help others. 

My rating:

five out of five stars

 

Tehreem: How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kristin Miller

A meth dealer. A prostitute. A serial killer.

Anywhere else, they’d be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they’re called prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young criminals for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to graduate. The rest disappear.

Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick’s old flame. They’ve been told only one of them will make it out of the Mandel Academy. Will they find a way to save each other—or will the school destroy them both?

There are two different kinds of criminals in this book; the ones who fight for power, and those who fight to discover themselves. Flick never wanted to rule anything with an iron fist. If he were to try his hand at gambling for power - and succeed - he would end up risking everything he ever believed in. He could end up like his omnipotent father; a man he hates with a passion that burns within his veins like a lit match to fuel. Or he could lose... scratch that. Flick is too dang good for that.

Anyway, the story really beings with a man by the name of Lucian Mandel approaching Flick. He offers Flick money in exchange for getting a few files for him. When Flick accomplishes the task at hand, Mandel stays true to his word, pulls out his wallet, and hands Flick the money he was entitled to. So, with everything being said and done, Flick leaves with his money. However, what happens when you take your wallet out in front of a pickpocket? You never see it again, of course!

Flick walked away from the man hundreds of dollars richer.

But Mandel isn't some dim witted crook as Flick expected.

When Flick opens the wallet, he is surprised to see a business card with Mandel's name on it. The card states that, now that Flick knows Mandel's full name, he is obligated to meet with him once more. Flick, ever so curious, decides to take Mandel up on his offer.

The next day, Flick encounters Mandel again. There, Mandel finally tells Flick why he is so interested in him. Long ago in the 1870's, Mandel's great-great-grandmother founded an institution for the poor, orphaned, and dangerous. This institution was known as Mandel Academy. From the day it was founded, Mandel Academy was worshiped by all Americans. Mandel Academy gave hope and a future for those who were destined to lead a bleak life. The school was known for taking desolate young men and women and morphing them into something extraordinary. This was a place for those who had been forgotten. This was the place that offered redemption.

However, things aren't always as they seems.

Mandel Academy doesn't save people from their lives. The academy doesn't redeem them. The school makes them better at what they do. They also manage to give these people a higher standing in the community. Therefore, serial killers suddenly become our senators. Pickpockets become presidents of large companies. And no one ever cares that these people are their superiors. Why? First of all, their past is wiped clean. Second of all, if anyone were to attempt to expose one of Mandel's graduates, they would be dealt with swiftly and immediately.

Flick is reluctant to go to the academy. Going with Mandel would mean being a pawn in a very large bet. Mandel pleads with Flick and threatens him in hopes of getting him to agree to attend the academy. In the end, Flick accepts the proposition and takes his place at Mandel Academy. However, Flick doesn't go because of Mandel's childish threats. He goes because he knows Mandel is hiding something. Something about the one person who made his life a living hell.

His father.

Wow... I.... wow! This book literally left me speechless. When I finished this book, I could not formulate a coherent thought on how amazing this book is. Kristin Miller actually managed to accomplish something I had thought impossible. She wrote a book in a guy's POV. Now, that's not what is so amazing. The amazing part is that she actually managed to make the guy sound like a guy. If you read a lot of YA like me, you will find that this is very rare, even for male authors. Flick was had very manly characteristics, and I'm not talking about the stereotypical kind of male characteristics. He was actually a human character! I really have to hand that to Miller. She did one heck of a job with her character work.

I'd like to take a moment to talk about the things that amused me. 

When Flick entered found the library for the first time, he said, "It seems to be the sole library at the Mandel Academy, and I thought I'd fine some reading material that could give me hope for the human race."  Also upon entering the premises of the Mandel Academy, he called it, "A Hogwarts for hustlers." Please excuse me while I go and laugh my head off.

Oh, Flick also gets into a fight about a week after attending the academy. Basically, he smashes the dude's head against the wall and, while the boy he hurt is bleeding profusely, takes a bite out of his burger.

No joke.

I think Flick has reached the ultimate capacity of awesomeness.

While reading this book, you will notice many grammatical errors. This is a result of the book being compromised, or sabotaged. They also have changed some of the course descriptions in the book to make them seemingly innocent. Well, as innocent as the art of persuasion can be.

To end my review I would like to say one final thing:

This whole book is based on a true story.

My rating:

Five out of Five Stars!

Meredith: Review of Unremembered by Jessica Brody

 

 

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

When I first ordered this book from our local library, I was extremely excited. Unremembered sounded like the lovechild of Science Fiction and Mystery.

Not quite.

Sera is the only survivor of a horrific plane crash. She's brought to a hospital with no marks on her body - and no memories. She's all over the news: the sixteen-year-old survivor with no past and no family. One night, a strange boy appears in her hospital room (gorgeous, obviously), but then she decides she imagined him. Soon she is ushered off to a foster family; a couple named Heather and Scott who really play no important role, and their thirteen-year-old son, Cody.

But this strange boy follows her. She feels a stereotypical draw to said beautiful boy who insists they were in love. The mystery is overwhelming, right?

Allow me to tell you this: every decision, every solitary decision that Sera makes, revolves around her beautiful love Zen. She literally has no thoughts of her own besides "Must. Save. Zen. Must. Follow. Zen. Must. Do. What. Zen. Says." She has a very small amount of character work, and exactly three possible reactions to every situation she was faced with:
(1) Cry.
(2) Run.
(3) Cry while running.

Speaking of bad character work, the villains were, for lack of a better term, infuriatingly lame. Typically, the "bad guys" are meant to install fear and terror in the mind of the reader. The only reaction these fiends merited from me was a laugh. I will explain with the following passage:

"But clearly something in our calculations was amiss, because here we are." He spreads his arms out wide and chuckles sinisterly.

Chuckles sinisterly.
Chuckles sinisterly.
Chuckles sinisterly.

Tip for would-be authors: don't ever, ever, include a phrase like that when writing for a young adult audience. I don't know about you, but I stopped having nightmares about sinisterly chuckling villains around age five.

Another thing about me: I despise the word "giggle" nearly as much as wimpy female leads (I'm looking at you, Jessica Brody.) Whenever I read it, my subconscious immediately thinks of airhead blondes who've had a little bit too much to drink. Not a pretty picture - and that word was used an overly large amount, along with "chuckle" and "laugh." Your characters don't always have to be amused, Ms. Brody.

Overall, Unremembered was a disappointing read, with an excess of giggling and predictable plot twists and a lack of character development and enthralling word choice. One of the few good things about it was the adorable, geeky foster brother Cody, who we definitely did not see enough of.

my rating:

 

two out of five stars