Review of "Mila 2.0"

"If I'm not human, why does this hurt so much?"

     In Debra Driza's Mila 2.0, sixteen-year-old Mia Lana, or "Mila" for short, has just lost her home to a terrible fire. Her books, her clothes, and even some of her memories were taken by the flames, but the loss she regrets most is that of her father, who perished in the inferno. In the wake of this disaster, Mrs. Daily takes her daughter to the nowhere town of Clearwater, Minnesota, in the hopes that the small-town atmosphere will aid in the grieving process. Although Mila misses Philly dreadfully, she has finally begun to make friends and settle into a routine--until her boy-crazy BFF tries to show off to Mila's crush and nearly gets her killed. The only sign of injury is a long, alien gash in Mila's arm--which is filled, not with blood, but with the wires and tubing of a machine. Now Mila must face the truth about herself, her mother, and the people who want her in a lab.

     Driza's writing style is gripping. From the beginning, we connect with this girl who is struggling with the loss of her father, and the empty spot in her memory where that event should take place. She struggles to fit in with her friends at school, and doesn't seem to "click" with her mom. When a new boy, Hunter, comes to town, it looks like the beginning of a story of forgiveness and recovery. Then Mila is thrown from a truck, learns a terrible secret from her mother, and begins to see glowing instructions in her head. When the Dailys finally go on the run, readers truly feel the scope of the danger. Their enemy is ruthless, his enforcer cunning. Action and romance are balanced neatly with Mila's one-of-a-kind emotions, forming the basis for a great story.

     One thing I don't like about this book was the way the villain acts. In case you haven't guessed, Mila is an android; her enemy, General Holland, is in charge of the MILA program. Despite the time, research, and money that has gone into making the three MILAs--Mobile Intel Lifelike Androids--Holland treats them like prisoners of war. He runs tests that are designed to break them down to the bare technology, never mind the fact that their humanity is just what makes the MILAs so appealing to the government. I get that he's supposed to be this despicable head-scientist figure, but really--give him some humanity. His disgust at the "creatures" he's created is over the top to the point of irritation.

     Holland aside, the characters in Mila 2.0 are very well-written. Mila grapples with a thousand complex emotions as she comes to terms with her lack of humanity. Hunter is caring, if a little oblivious; Kaylee thinks herself superior to everyone else; and Nicole Laurent, Mila's mom, is truly concerned about her daughter's welfare. Although the characters are close to flat, they have just enough dimension to make them seem real. Mila goes through a lot of development over the course of her story, although most of it is subtle. Despite her emotional turmoil, she is a great character to read.

     As an android designed specifically for military espionage, Mila goes through a lot of fights. She beats people up, gets Tasered, rushes through a deadly obstacle course, stabs a man with a lamp plug, and rushes to save her mother from a horrible death. She is also put into a situation where she is asked to torture a young man. If you are squeamish around such things, this may not be the book for you. There isn't much in the way of cussing, although characters are prone to saying "Oh my God."

     I would recommend Mila 2.0 to any teenager who was looking for a book about trust, choice, and what it means to be human. Any adult who is willing to look past the angst may find that they like it, as well. It does feature violence and mild romance, all of which contributes to the plot. The villain is a little over-the-top, however. For excitement, tension, and writing that sucks you in, I grant Mila 2.0 four stars.

Review of "The Lost Island of Tamarind"

"There are enough problems here without having to worry about flesh-eating vines."

     In Nadia Aguiar's The Lost Island of Tamarind, we explore a fantastical land of strange creatures, glowing sea shells, and sinister mysteries. Thirteen-year-old Maya Nelson has lived her whole life aboard the Pamela Jane, her family's sailboat, along with her parents, her brother, and her baby sister. For a while, it was great fun, but now Maya longs for a life on land. When her parents are washed overboard in a storm, Maya and her siblings must take control of the Pamela Jane and steer her to shore in search of help. They find themselves on Tamarind, an island that is not on any map and is populated by thousands of mystical creatures. With the help of a one-eared hunter named Helix, the Nelsons must tear the island apart to find their parents, but the most difficult task might just be getting out alive.

     As a kid, I was always a sucker for a good fantasy story. If there were dragons, monsters, eerie glowing mushrooms, and toxic flowers, I probably read it and I probably liked it. The Lost Island of Tamarind is one of those books, but it far exceeds those requirements. Sure, there are no dragons or toxic flowers--instead, we have baby- and predator-eating vines, real flying fish, and a terrifying woman who rides about on a jaguar and kidnaps children. The towns, from the tree house village in the jungle to the bustling city of Port Town, are extremely unique, rich with detail, and populated with so many realistic characters it blows my mind. Everybody has a backstory--even the monkeys.

     The writing style used in Tamarind fits the story beautifully. It is geared toward younger(ish) readers, but it is clear and incredibly detailed. Dialogue flows smoothly, no matter the dialect, and foreshadowing is well hidden. The mystery of where the children are and where their parents have gone is unraveled slowly, one little bit at a time, and every piece is tangled together with another. You may find that the things that seemed important at first are worthless, while the insignificant "subplots" are actually clues vital to the characters' survival. This is done well, which makes for some pleasant surprises and startling plot twists.

     There is action in this book, but it is not the usual kind of action. Characters tromp through forests, break out of inescapable prisons, and struggle to escape a village reminiscent of Odysseus's lotus-eaters. Thus, the battles are primarily of a more social nature, but there are plenty of times when talking their way out of a situation is simply impossible. Barrel rides, pirate battles, and kidnappings force the Nelson children through a thousand stressful situations, pushing aside their misunderstandings to form strong, trusting relationships.

     Tamarind's characters are well-rounded and well-developed. Maya is stubborn, wary, and isolated in the way only a thirteen-year-old can be. Simon is curious and impossibly practical. Helix is mysterious, the Evondra is surprisingly sympathetic, and Seagrape the parrot is a wonderful character in all respects. They all start out fairly flat, but over the course of the story they show an impressive array of facets that shape out their personalities. Nearly everyone is sympathetic, even the villains, but not necessarily in a good way--rather, readers may find that the characters embody different pieces of themselves, whether the trait is flattering or not. In short, each character is individual and realistic.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a story about kids who go on adventures and overcome incredible dangers. It's a tale of friendship and trust, but mainly it is a story about choices. Adults and young teens alike will find themselves engrossed in The Lost Island of Tamarind, a trait that fully deserves five stars out of five. Parents, this might be a good one to crack open with your kids.

Review of "City of Pearl"

"They don't bluff and they don't negotiate."

     Today's title is a science fiction piece by Karen Traviss, entitled City of Pearl. It features Shan Franklin, the strong-willed ex-cop who once held ties to an eco-terrorist movement on the planet Earth. Days before her retirement, Franklin is approached by a politician named Eugenie Perault, who wants to recruit her for a special assignment. Franklin will be shipped to a planet approximately seventy-five years away from Earth, but aboard the spaceship Thetis, the journey will take mere months. She will accompany a crew of civilians, scientists, and soldiers on a hunt to discover new life, colonize the world, and search for the remains of a long-lost settlement. When they arrive, they find that nothing is as expected. For one thing, the settlement is thriving; for another, they share the planet with an alien race that has a wary eye on the Thetis and her crew. Franklin must struggle to keep order and deal with her own moral issues in this thrilling opener to The Wess'har Wars.

     If there is one thing that Traviss is good at, it is fashioning characters that feel real on a gut level. Shan Franklin is tough, logical, and persistent, but through internal dialogue she reveals herself to be just as vulnerable as anyone else. She wonders about her eco-terrorist past, her former job, and, most importantly, the future of tomato seeds. Aras is a wess'har (mostly) who acts as an intermediary between the Constantine colony, the Thetis colony, and the other wess'har. He is lonely and mysterious, but has a lot of heart. Josh Garrod, leader of the "Christian" Constantine colony, only wants to keep the peace. Lindsay Neville struggles to balance leadership with friendships and her sudden, unexpected pregnancy. Each character is unique and so multifaceted you get the sense you might never understand the extent of them, just like in real life.

     The writing style in City of Pearl is also beautiful, in a down-to-earth kind of way. The world-building is fantastic, the many cultures distinct and believable, and the pacing perfect. Every sentence is jam-packed with thousands of details. There are several subplots that weave around each other in a delicate balance which Traviss easily maintains. Each alien species--the vegan wess'har, the overpopulated isenj, the aquatic bezeri, and the helpful ussissi--features unique characters, customs, and vocabularies. Franklin sees bits and pieces of these cultures at first, enough to accustom the reader to their existence before diving head-on into the political battles that have the planetary system in turmoil.

     One thing I do not like about this book is the preaching. The scientists are all intent on sample-taking and hold no respect for the aliens or the Constantine colonists and their wishes. Meanwhile, Franklin, Aras, Garrod, and the wess'har are very environmentally driven, to the point of burying settlements underground so as not to interfere with the wildlife, some even going so far as to eat nothing but what falls from a plant on its own. While I would be all right with the characters having these beliefs--it makes for dynamic culture interactions--it is when the wess'har and the Constantine colonists attempt to force these customs on others that they become disagreeable. Humans are referred to as gethes, or "carrion eaters", by the locals, and the crew of the Thetis is suddenly prohibited from eating meat and taking scientific samples. With these restrictions in place, particularly when they are unexpected, it is no wonder that the crew begins to cause trouble.

     City of Pearl is, without a doubt, an adult novel. It deals with various moral difficulties and sexual situations, and characters cuss. The F-bomb, while not a commonly used term, is used in its intended context throughout this book and the series. Franklin is pragmatic about everything, and regards all euphemism a waste of time. However, do not think that this is an erotica novel full of characters who curse every few words. All instances of swearing are intentional and add to the situations presented. Most sexual situations take place later in the series, so in that realm, at least, the first book is relatively clean.

     I would recommend this book to anyone who was interested in a science fiction novel about an independent woman trying to deal with impossible situations, high stakes, and well-rounded companions. Again, THIS IS NOT A CHILDREN'S BOOK. Although it can be preachy at times and has few "action" sequences, it is remarkably well-written and features political battles with plenty of tension. Karen Traviss' City of Pearl features brilliant writing and realistic characters and cultures. Be sure to set aside a block of time if you are planning on reading this, because it is extremely difficult to put down. Due to the drawbacks mentioned above, I would rate it at four out of five stars.

Review of "Redwall"

"Martin is some sort of angel; I'm the opposite."

     The first in a long series by Brian Jacques, Redwall tells the story of Matthias, a young mouse living in the peaceful abbey of Redwall, settled at the edge of Mossflower Wood. Matthias and his friends are preparing to celebrate the Summer of the Late Rose, complete with feasting and song to commemorate the peaceful year they have had. Unbeknownst to the peaceable gentlebeasts, a shadow looms on the horizon: Cluny the Scourge, the legendary one-eyed rat, and his band of cruel fighters are preparing to wage war on Redwall! With hardly so much as a memory of the last warrior they raised, the abbey appears to stand no chance against the invaders. It is up to Matthias to find the long-lost sword of Martin the Warrior and bring peace once again to Mossflower.

     With its straightforward humor and its cast of woodland animals, Redwall might appear to be a children's book, but it doesn't act like one. Jacques writes in such a way as to inspire excitement and wonder, or revulsion and terror, in every passage. From descriptions of delicious feasts to the haunted dreams of a rat, the writing style of Redwall fits the story perfectly. The background of each character, place, and tradition is well thought-out and well integrated, just as the complexity of the various cultures--otters, mice, badgers, squirrels, ferrets, foxes, and more--is distinctive and easily discernible.

     Matthias' story is an epic tale about friendship, self-worth, and acceptance. Over the course of the book he encounters countless situations that will test his resolve and shape his character. Even the small moments play a role in who our hero becomes and what he does with his life. The subplots are rich and interesting, full of charm and mystique. Even the visions Matthias and his comrades encounter feel realistic.

     The characters in Redwall are complex and relatable, so much so that one might almost forget they are animals if not for the habits and idiosyncrasies, distinct to each race, which pop up just often enough to remind readers of this fact. From Matthias, the klutzy young mouse, to Abbot Mortimer, the wizened leader of the abbey, to the great badger, Constance, the creatures that populate this book are well-rounded and well-written. There are occasions where they are wordy, especially near the beginning, but don't let that turn you away. The plot is worth it.

     Pacing is not an issue in this book. Epic battles are balanced out by feasts and games, and tension is released with as much ease as it is built. The mystery of where Martin the Warrior's sword lies, and the quest to find it, is full of riddles and action, lies and hard truths, subterfuge and theft. Cluny the Scourge truly is a terrible beast, and his followers are just as bloodthirsty. Although they don't often end up carrying out their threats, some of the things they say are quite gruesome. Since the inhabitants of Redwall are kindhearted woodland animals, rather than humans, the characters do not curse--however, there is violence and there are a few deaths. This is a war, after all.

     I would recommend this book to any reader interested in a fantasy story about kindness, justice, underdogs, and the battle of good versus evil. The world is captivating, the writing style immersive, and the characters charming. For all these reasons and more, I applaud Brian Jacques' Redwall on earning five full stars.

Review of "Etiquette & Espionage"

“No one said learning etiquette and espionage would be easy, my dear.”

     For any lady or gentleman looking for a spot of steampunk excitement, Gail Carriger has written just the book. Entitled Etiquette & Espionage, this volume tells the tale of Sophronia Temminnick, a sprightly young woman whose mother is absolutely convinced she will never become a proper lady. Then, quite unexpectedly, the Temminnicks are paid visit by Mademoiselle Geraldine, the headmistress of a finishing school where girls are transformed into proper ladies, complete with knowledge of etiquette, décor, seduction, and the application of poison. The headmistress has decided to give Sophronia a trial period at her school, much to her unsuspecting mother's pleasure. But Sophronia soon learns that finishing is about more than foxgloves and handkerchiefs. Someone has stolen a valuable prototype, and it is up to her to get it back...and finally learn to curtsey properly.

     Sophronia's story is remarkable well-written. From mechanicals to dirigibles to evening attire, Carriger uses a distinctive writing style that fits the time period perfectly. The characters are unique and lovable, from the bubbly Dimity Plumleigh-Teignmott to the boiler room worker known as Soap. Throughout the book, the young ladies meet a variety of personalities: a chivalrous werewolf, a fashionable vampire, and a woman who keeps a collection of fake pastries on her office walls. They face danger at the hands of flywaymen, Picklemen, and fellow students. Characters transform drastically throughout the book, a task that is sometimes difficult to write, but fear not: Carriger has mastered this particular skill.

     Though the story is designed for young ladies in their their teenaged years, it is my belief that anyone with an interest in steampunk adventure will find this book to their taste. Much of the action consists of subterfuge and subtle manipulation, but there are also flywaymen attacks, giant mechanimals, and airborne trifles scattered throughout. It is fascinating to watch the various factions fight so venomously over a prototype the reader does not know the purpose of, and it is exciting to puzzle over the clues and the costumes right along with Sophronia. In a word, this book is incredibly well-paced.

     Fans will be interested to note that Etiquette & Espionage, alongside the rest of the Finishing School series, is set in the same world as Carriger's Parasol Protectorate novels. Indeed, it has been stated to be a sort of almost-prequel, as it is set so many years before the aforementioned books. However, one need not have read the author's previous works in order to comprehend the Finishing School ones. Readers need also not fear profanity or sexual content, as such things are harshly discouraged among ladies of quali-tay.

     I would heartily recommend this book to any lady or gentleman, properly Finished or not, who is in the mood for some steampunk intrigue and fashionable intelligencing. Pack your trunks and your bladed fans before you set out--class is in session, and the topic of the day is Etiquette & Espionage. For such a proper book, I can hardly propose anything less than five stars. Welcome to finishing school.

Review of "Fortune's Pawn"

"If I don't shoot something soon, I'm going to pop."

     If you've never heard of the novel Fortune's Pawn, by Rachel Bach, you have been missing out on some serious action. The book features Deviana Morris, a strong-willed mercenary working for the Blackbirds, the greatest private armored company on the planet Paradox. With her suit of high-powered armor and a set of advanced weaponry, she has successfully completed eight tours of duty in the past five years. Now Devi has her sights set on a higher goal: the Devastators, the King's own guard. According to her friend-with-benefits, Anthony, the quickest way into the Devastators is to take a tour as a security chief on a beat-up freighter named the Glorious Fool. Although it goes against her grain to work security, Devi applies for the job...and gets more action out of the bargain than she could ever have asked for.

     Fortune's Pawn is the ultimate military sci-fi story. When Devi leaves the Blackbirds for her new job, she expects little more than a few pirate attacks scattered between long stretches of boredom. What she gets is xith'cal tribal ships, invisible monsters, and symbionts--large, human-shaped creatures covered in dark scales that can protect them from anything. With every encounter, Devi is sucked further and further into a mystery so deep she may never understand the extent of it. She will have to weigh her curiosity against her ambition and her recklessness against her survival, because the Fool holds onto its secrets with unbelievable force, and Devi might not make it out alive.

     This book has everything: action, mystery, romance, and games of dominance. Aside from the adrenaline-packed fight scenes, which are extremely well-written, Devi is faced with mystery after mystery surrounding the Glorious Fool. What is the invisible creature she encounters on that nameless planet? Where does the Fool get her money if she does no trade? And who is the captain truly working for? All these questions and more are woven into a fascinating plot filled with great characters. Also featured is a dynamic romance between Devi and an enigmatic foreigner, which is a little awkward at times but feels realistic enough that it works. As if to balance it out, our hero must also deal with a masochistic security partner whose life goal appears to be making her life difficult.

     Devi's story is 100% an adult read. There is violence, cursing, and sex (although nothing is too explicit), and characters occasionally call each other rather crude names. However, this is all scattered about in small enough doses that it does not overwhelm the story, so if you or your older reader are willing to take it in stride you will find it actually contributes to the story.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great story about aliens, heavy armor, kick-butt soldiers, and plot twists. It is NOT a book for children. That said, for a brilliant plot, amazing writing, and well-rounded characters, I gladly award Rachel Bach's Fortune's Pawn five shining stars. Congratulations, Fortune's Pawn. You deserve it.

Review of "Found"

"Angela could see all the way to the back of the plane, and not a single person stood in her view, not a single voice answered her."

     In Found, the exciting series kick-off by Margaret Peterson Haddix, thirteen-year-old Jonas receives a mysterious letter in the mail: "You are one of the missing." At first he disregards it as some sort of joke, but when he and his friend Chip begin to receive more, they become concerned that something much bigger is going on. Things become more complicated when the FBI step in, concerned that the two boys might just be victims of an infant-smuggling ring. But as the mysteries begin to pile up, rational explanations become few and far between...until Angela, a strange woman with the ability to appear and disappear at will, steps into the picture, bringing with her an opportunity for the boys to change the world, and the course of history with it.

     Haddix has a refreshingly mature writing style for a YA/older-children's book. Jonas's tale is recorded in clear, concise writing. His parents are protective but not overdone, his sister annoying but not Put The Book Down worthy--in fact, she's a great character--and the story is both well-paced and intriguing. Clues and mysteries are introduced at believable intervals, dialogue feels realistic, and when the answers are finally revealed, it's like there was never another logical option. Plot twists aren't gasp-worthy, but the danger, intrigue, and stakes will keep you on your toes with every turn of the page.

     The plot of Found is great. Action, adventure, sibling rivalry, and time travel work together to create a fun, exciting read with great themes. Jonas, Chip, and Jonas's sister, Katherine, quickly go from ordinary kids to major figures in a plot to kidnap and make a profit off of infants and young children. This isn't ordinary human trafficking, though, and it isn't slavery. This is a matter of physics, adoption, and the application of mathematics sending people back in time to commit a terrible crime that will have repercussions--or "ripples"--across the time continuum. What Jonas and his friends must decide is which side to join: those committing the crime, or those who want to ruin their lives by stopping it.

     This is a kid's book--technically--but it is perfectly suitable for an older reader in the mood for a bit of fun. Characters don't cuss. Kidnapping is a major theme, as it's the source of one of the conflicts. Violence isn't used often, but it is used. Throughout the book, characters grapple, Taser people, and threaten to kill each other. One of the nice things about this book is that while the parents are relatively clueless, they aren't disrespected and they genuinely try to help with what they perceive to be the problem. The series is also a great way for parents to get their kids interested in history, as the characters spend a lot of time exploring it in future books.

     I would recommend this book to anyone in the market for a lighthearted read about adventure, time travel, and high stakes, told through great writing and a strong voice. The characters undergo some serious development, and by the end of the book it's easy to believe that they can change the world. For mystery, brilliant logic, relatable characters, and a great plot, I think it's perfectly reasonable to award Margaret Peterson Haddix's Found a full five stars.