Review of "The Never List"

"Never get in the car."

     In Koethi Zan's The Never List, even the greatest of preparation isn't always enough. As children, best friends Sarah and Jennifer were safety experts. If there was a statistic, news report, or old wives' tale about a potential hazard, they had it memorized. Tacked to their bedroom wall was the Never List, a chart of everything to avoid in order to survive. They had it all figured out--until college, when they broke their number one rule and disappeared for three years. Now in her thirties, Sarah is a neat freak with an extreme fear of physical contact. When a ghost from her past threatens to reemerge from his cell, Sarah sets off on a road trip to put him behind bars for good. Doing so will force her to face again the horrors of her abduction and finally deal with Jennifer's ultimate fate, but the real danger is yet to come. For her old enemy has plans to return, and he is not alone.

     There's something very disturbing about this novel's atmosphere. Even in the beginning, when we know next to nothing about her captivity, the piece is written through a lens of regret, fear, and resignation as Sarah struggles to cope with her new life of freedom. As her journey takes off, details begin slipping through the cracks: the way she and Jennifer were abducted, descriptions of the cellar in which they lived. Something about Zan's writing makes even the smallest snippets of prose frightfully chilling, yet buried beneath it all is a scrap of hope. If she can find Jennifer's body and convict her enemy for good, there is a chance she can move on at last. It is this hope, shining like a candle in the darkness, that makes the plot so compelling.

     Of course, there is also the fact that the characters are so well-rounded. While Sarah and Jennifer were taken together, they were not the only prisoners in that cellar. It is these women Sarah recruits on her quest for answers, and each bears her own set of scars. Perhaps the most striking thing is their wildly diverse methods of coping, each influenced by the way they grew up and what affected them most during their imprisonment. These, combined with their unique personalities and internal arcs, set them apart as individuals, real people with their own issues and solutions--which gives the trials they went through that much more emotional impact.

     The exact nature of what went on in that cellar is not left a mystery forever. Information about that time is doled out in very cautious doses, revealing just enough to get the point across without spilling the whole three years of terror at once. Readers going into this tale with a preconceived notion of what happened will likely be far off the mark--and not in a good way. Violence is a huge part of the psychological mess these women have to deal with, so readers sensitive to such subjects should avoid this altogether. Profanity is limited to a few F-bombs, and romance is nonexistent. There are a couple of surprise twists that feel somewhat cheap, but the overall plot is quite strong and easy to follow.

     I would recommend this book to adults looking for a fictional tribute to people traumatized by kidnapping and other horrors. Sarah and her companions are a mixed bunch from a wide variety of backgrounds, and their search leads them deep into a chapter in their lives they had all hoped would remain forever closed. Though it is full of potential triggers, contains some profanity, and has a plot twist or two that don't quite fit, this is a strong, absorbing story led by a believable cast whose lives will forever be entangled. Grab a flashlight, because Koethi Zan's The Never List is sure to keep readers up late into the night, from fear if nothing else. It deserves four stars.

Review of "Talon"

"Kill every dragon in sight."

     In Julie Kagawa's Talon, the most famous beasts of legend still roam the earth unnoticed. Hatchlings Ember and Dante are sixteen when they're released into human society for "assimilation". They have trained for this day their whole lives, selecting human appearances and learning about the various cultures. Yet they are not, as Talon reminds them, actually mortal. Garret Xavier Sebastian is a soldier in the Order of St. George, the organization dedicated to eradicating the last of the dragons. With the help of the mysterious entity known as Talon, thousands of these beasts still pose a very serious threat. But he gets more than he bargained for when Ember, his next target, proves to be more human than St. George claims is possible. With both teams hiding critical truths, Garret and Ember will have to decide what they value most--and what they are willing to give up to protect it.

     Ember is not human. From the very beginning, this fact is pounded home. She and Dante are clutchmates, an anomaly among their kind, and in their natural forms are enormous fire-breathing beasts with broad wings. Yet there is a stark difference between Ember and the rest of Talon, something even her "twin" doesn't understand. Now that she sees the mortal world, she wants to live in it. Her fascination with relationships, small pleasures, and exciting experiences is beyond what she has been trained to expect, and it throws her entire worldview out of balance. For her, Talon is an oppressor trying to ruin her fun. For readers, it is a mysterious network of dragons whose intentions span from incredibly noble to shady and terrible. And if the few realizations Ember has about them are anything to go on, there is much more to them than meets the eye.

     St. George is equally layered. On the surface, their quest to free mankind from the draconic threat is admirable, almost romantic. However, the war has come a long way from the ancient sword-versus-claw duels in tomes and paintings. Modern weapons are the new go-to, and soldiers like Garret are taught to give no quarter under any circumstances. Even if a dragon is in human form, it is still a threat and must be eliminated. In light of this, it is amazing that someone as caring as Garret managed to survive boot camp, let alone earn the nickname "Perfect Soldier". His journey from blind obedience to free thought and a cause worth fighting for is just as enthralling as Ember's. He isn't simply another love interest. This boy has a life, a presence, and a story all his own, and they are fascinating.

     The world in which this novel takes place is expansive. From crowded beaches to shopping malls and training rooms, Ember, Dante, and Garret may have separate personal quests, but they tie together well, the process of which leads them to every corner of town and the human experience. The question, though, is whether their secrets will come out and, if they do, whether their relationships will survive the collision. Garret's time in St. George has seen him battle ferocious monsters with very little to protect himself, so he knows how to fight. So do Dante and Ember; after all, this feud isn't one-sided. And with a third party stirring the pot at just the right moments, violence is inevitable. It isn't graphic, however, and serves an important role in the plot. Swearing is nonexistent. Romance, on the other hand, is the primary source of conflict and quite a good read. It does not progress beyond kissing.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a daring fantasy full of twists, turns, and a romance that is vital to the plot. The dragons are portrayed well, with exactly the kind of personalities one might expect of such creatures. St. George is just as bent on their destruction as they should be, going to extraordinary lengths to wipe out their foes before dragons can rise again. Caught in the middle are a soldier with a sharp mind and two hatchlings exploring the world for the first time. Ember and Garret are larger-than-life characters living in a realistic world where everything and everyone is just a breath short of leaping off the page. Every obstacle they face is just enough to inspire more conflict, more tension, and more fire to the story. Julie Kagawa's Talon is a brilliant start to a series sure to be just as awesome, and fully deserves five stars.

Review of "Glory O'Brien's History of the Future"

“We could see everything.”

     When it comes to predictions of doom, Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King takes the cake. High school senior Glory O’Brien is probably the only person in her graduating class who doesn’t know what to do next. Other than Ellie, of course. All Ellie wants is to get as far away from her hippie parents, their commune, and the homeschool system as she possibly can. When they find a petrified bat on Ellie's commune, they decide to toast to their messed-up lives by drinking it. After all, it's not like things can get much worse. That is, until they wake up with the ability to see the past and future of everyone they meet. Suddenly, every decision they make has visible consequences, and Glory is determined to record what she sees for posterity. Even if none of the futures she sees includes her.

     Glory is in a very unique situation. An only child, she lives with her father in a quiet house with a locked-up darkroom and a hole where the oven should be. Her father, a former painter, spends most of his time eating or fixing other people’s software bugs, and together they work toward one purpose: pretending Letter N Day never happened. At the very least, they want to find a sense of closure. But losing a mother is hard enough when she isn’t the one who pulled the trigger—or, in this case, turned on the gas—and neither O’Brien has been able to move on. Through her visions of the future, Glory may be able to fix their relationship, if only she can find enough courage. Yet it is he who holds the power to changer her life, assuming she finds the strength to let him in.

    As she searches for meaning in her life, Glory encounters a variety of troubles. For one thing, there’s her dad’s worry about spending too much time in the darkroom, and her own fears that her late mother’s condition is hereditary. For another, there’s Ellie: annoying, selfish, and her only friend. When secrets about Ellie’s family find their way to the spotlight, Glory must come to terms with a broken relationship from the past and decide how it will affect her present. And as she discovers more about the future to come, it is her duty to sort through the mess, no matter how terrible it may be. It doesn’t help that she only sees evil and tragedy, making her wonder why people bother working toward good if it is going to blow up in their faces. While there isn’t much of an external conflict, Glory’s inner turmoil does a good job keeping the plot going and sparking questions within a reader’s mind.

     Surprisingly enough, most of this novel is dedicated to Glory's relationship troubles than seeing the future. However, the future King imagines is quite horrible: a Second Civil War, an anti-feminist madman tearing the United States in two, and human trafficking all make multiple appearances. Meanwhile, Glory and Ellie struggle to make sense of their new gift even as they deal with Ellie’s possibly-cheating boyfriend, lice in highly inconvenient places, and the truth behind Mrs. O’Brien’s death. This includes a lot of swearing, crude language, and wandering around the mall. The girls wonder about physical relations with boys, and once Glory walks into the middle of a related conversation between a pair of dating teens. When they drink the bat, they refer to it as God and joke that, by drinking it, they are becoming God. The only violence takes place in the future and is not described in detail.

     I would recommend this book to teenagers interested in a well-thought-out story about an only child with a dark past, no real friends, and the ability to everyone’s future but her own. There isn't a lot of plot, and the little we do see of the future is rather depressing. However, Ellie is a great twist on the traditional best-friend-across-the-street and the story's premise is very intriguing. With a little less swearing and crude language, and fewer depressing trains of thought, A.S. King's Glory O'Brien's History of the Future could be fantastic. As it is, it is a strong tale with very solid themes and interesting characters, and deserves three stars.

Review of "The Naturals"

"There will never be another one like the first."

     For the heroes of Jennifer Lynn Barnes' The Naturals, age has no effect on the presence of danger. Cassandra Hobbes is seventeen when a boy from the FBI leaves a business card at the diner where she works. She was twelve when her so-called "psychic" mother disappeared from her dressing room, leaving behind far too much blood. When she calls the number on the card, Cassie can only hope her mother's case has been reopened. Instead, she is recruited into the Naturals program, where kids and teens with extraordinary observation skills solve cold cases the FBI can't. As a profiler, Cassie can work out someone's background, personality, and next move with just a look--a skill sure to come in handy when hunting serial killers. But with a history like hers, Cassie isn't content to solve mysteries long since abandoned. When a present-day killer strikes close to home, the Naturals will need all their skills to survive--and even that might not be enough.

     Cassie's story is a roller coaster of emotions. She may go from sizing up the odds of a decent tip to fighting panic at the sight of crime scene photos in the span of a few scenes. The two attractive boys in the Naturals' group home add to this dynamic, wreaking havoc on the social atmosphere with their constant competition. Revelations, romance, and a compulsive liar make for a great touch of drama within these budding relationships, as Cassie tries to find her place in a group that has been working together for years. She doesn't even have an ability the others have not seen--Dean, one of the boys, and Locke, one of their handlers, are profilers as well. Yet Cassie brings with her something just as valuable as her skills: a curiosity and friendliness that brings the group a little closer than they were before. And in a house full of raging hormones, that is quite a feat.

     Profiling is not the only trick these kids have up their sleeve. Michael is a Natural at reading emotions. Sloane can pick a pattern out of anything, and is an expert at analyzing crime scenes. Lia can sell any lie and spot even the tiniest deception, while the house overseer, Judd, is a veteran with a knack for blending into the background. Together, the Naturals can solve almost any puzzle, if only they can collect enough clues. That is, when Agents Briggs and Locke and the Powers That Be let them anywhere near active cases. In this situation, Cassie and her friends are instructed to mind their own business, so piecing information together is that much more difficult. And when the killer turns an eye toward the program, things become more than deadly. They grow personal.

     While the characters' Natural gifts are presented akin to superpowers, this novel takes the serial killer factor very seriously. In order to get into the minds of their target, profilers walk through the crime as if they are the target themselves. They refer to the Unknown Subject as I or you to further the simulation, which can be kind of creepy sometimes. Additionally, short scenes from the point of view of the killer often appear between chapters, written as if they are "you". These in particular can be quite disturbing, even a bit graphic, as the killer fantasizes about their next victim or sets about torturing them. Sensitive readers should think twice about this one simply for these scenes; however, the rest of the story is a lot cleaner until the climax, and swearing is nonexistent. Romance does not progress beyond kisses, although past relationships are said to have gone further.

     I would recommend this book to teens and adults interested in a murder mystery with a twist. Cassie Hobbs and the other Naturals are intriguing heroes with impressive abilities and plenty of secrets to keep readers guessing. Their handlers are great reads as well, and the cases the team solves feel very real. This particular case is especially chilling, not least because we get a glimpse directly into the mind of such a disturbed criminal. Although there is some gore, Jennifer Lynn Barnes has created a beautifully rich world populated by suitably believable characters and a villain sure to give readers goosebumps. The Naturals is a great book, though admittedly one best read during daylight hours, and as such deserves five stars.

Review of "Hatchet"

"He had nothing."

     In Hatchet, author Gary Paulsen explores the mind of a boy for whom survival is not guaranteed. Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only one who knows about the Secret. His mother thinks he's oblivious, and his dad...well, no one is rushing to fill him in. What he does know, as far as Brian can tell, is that something happened, there is a divorce, and how his son has to fly up to visit him in a fragile Cessna 406 airplane. Brian feels alone because of the Secret, but he does not yet know what "alone" truly means. When his pilot has a heart attack and the Cessna nosedives into a lake, it will take all his strength and courage to make it out alive. He has no food, no tools, only a hatchet his mom gave him as a traveling gift, and that has to be enough to keep him safe until help arrives. Assuming they can find him.

     For the vast majority of this novel, exactly one character appears on the pages, and it is Brian. While we get to know the people in his life through brief recollections, our only direct contact is with Brian, who is not a Boy Scout or a veteran camper. In fact, when it comes down to it there really is nothing special about him. He is simply a victim of circumstance, a young boy trapped in an impossible situation. And that is what makes this story so remarkable: that this kid, who is an all-around average city boy, fares so well in the wild.

     From an overdose of mosquitoes to dangerous animals and an empty stomach, thousands of threats put Brian at risk every day. All he has are the clothes on his back, the money in his pocket, and the hatchet his mom insisted he wear on his belt when he left. This is the ultimate test for any writer, and Paulsen rises admirably to the challenge. Without the distractions of everyday conveniences, Brian's natural ingenuity is given a proper chance to shine. Every problem he faces has a solution, however difficult it may be, and the way he goes about it is well worth reading. As time goes on, he transforms from an ordinary city boy to someone quite different. And, most importantly, he does so without losing that sense of realism that makes his story so absorbing.

     The only issue with the writing style is, debatably, its repetitiveness. In order to capture as honest a glimpse into Brian's mind as possible, the prose is written in a very stream-of-consciousness manner--meaning words, phrases, and whole sentences are often used multiple times in the same scene. While this is a useful tool, it is sometimes overutilized for a less-than-exciting effect. On the other hand, it provides an underlying emotional current that adds a great deal to our hero's inner turmoil.

     There aren't many eyebrow-raisers in this tale. Aside from one animal attack and a brief mention of self-harm, violence is surprisingly absent. There is no romance, though Brian remembers two adults kissing, and the few instances of speech contain absolutely no profanity. Sensitive readers may worry about Brian's need to hunt; however, it is not very graphic and the animals don't go through much pain before the end.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fairly quick read about a boy who must fight every odd to survive. Brian Robeson is a compelling protagonist with an intriguing past and a terrifying problem. While the idea of a tale based solely around life after a plane crash may seem overly simple, Gary Paulsen pulls it off with incredible skill. The only downside is the repetitive prose, and even that does not detract from the plot. Gripping, original, and thought-provoking, Hatchet is a wonderful four-star addition to any bookshelf.

Review of "Ender's Game"

"I thought you said you liked this kid."

     In Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, the end of humanity is at hand. Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is a Third. Legally speaking, he shouldn't exist, but the government saw potential in his older siblings and authorized his birth. Then, after six long years of work, his monitor is removed--and with it, the only thing that makes him special. Without the device planted in the back of his neck, he is nothing more than an embarrassment to his parents and a victim to his brother. That is, until a man in an International Fleet uniform sweeps him away to Battle School, an elite space station that turns kids into alien-blasting soldiers. The administration has high hopes for Ender, and through him, the world. But that doesn't make him the teacher's pet. Nothing is handed to him except trouble, and if he wants to survive, Ender will have to give as good as he gets--and risk losing who he is in the process.

     Ender is an extraordinary child. By the age of three, he had already mastered arithmetic; now, he hacks into the school's electronic desk to make messages march in front of the other students. When a bully tries to pick on him, he makes sure the boy never does so again. Even as a kid, he sees strategy everywhere, understands the fullest implications of zero gravity, and can hold his own in a fight. Battle School only amplifies this. As he ages, Ender learns to navigate the tricky society of child soldiers that represents the future guardians of the earth. He discovers new ways to win battles, both as a soldier and, eventually, as a commander. Yet his empathy, the very thing Battle School frowns on, transforms him from a cold-hearted soldier to a deep, complex human being who only wants to live in peace with his friends. That is, assuming they survive until graduation.

     Aside from Ender, though, the characters in Battle School are not exactly dynamic. Each possesses a specific set of traits that, though they might improve or degrade, remain more or less the same. Back home, though, the other Wiggin children are up to no good. While the misdeeds of Valentine and Peter Wiggin do not play an extraordinarily large role in the plot, they have a life of their own and serve to break up the tension at exactly the right moments, without losing the sense of life-or-death conflict that makes Ender's education so addictive a read. Because of their time in the spotlight, Valentine is greatly expanded upon and deepened to become quite the lovable heroine, even as she makes difficult choices that will affect the rest of her life. Even Peter, psychopath though he is, becomes a little sympathetic as he fights to change his future.

     Battle School is a brutal place. Within hours of enlistment, Ender is cut off from any hope of friendship with his fellows. When his team goes to the Battle Room or takes a class together, they make it their goal to ensure he is miserable. Add in hand-to-hand combat courses, viscous war simulations, and twisted fairy tale video games, and it wouldn't surprise anyone if Ender hated the place. Except he doesn't. Though the losses hurt, the victories lend his heart wings. Against all odds, he forms powerful alliances that could eventually lead to friends. And when the administration throws another variable his way, some part of him secretly relishes the challenge. No matter how discouraged he becomes, readers are sure to cheer him along every step of the way.

     That being said, the grown-ups at Battle School don't joke when they call themselves the bad guys. From the very start, when Ender is six, to the end of the novel, the administration does its best to set Ender up for failure. In their minds, this is the only way to shape him into the military leader they so desperately need. Their form of education leads to multiple bloody fights and a couple of deaths, each detailed just enough to turn the stomach without becoming pointless gore. Ender's video game also turns gruesome on occasion, though it plays a critical role in his internal development. While older students may make mildly suggestive comments and uniforms are optional in team dorms, romance itself is not present. Language is intelligent and generally mild, though humans have adopted a somewhat crude term for their enemies. Genocide is discussed and plays a big part in the plot.

     I would recommend this book to adults and older teens who want a strong, compelling read where the protagonist is wickedly smart and wise beyond his years. Young as he might be, Ender Wiggin is a brilliant boy with great potential, and the grown-ups at Battle School are only too willing to take advantage. While he goes off to become an officer in the International Fleet, his siblings are up to their own trouble, a subplot that is surprisingly consuming. In the end, the troubles plaguing our hero could make or break him, and the fact that either is equally likely is enthralling. Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is a breathtaking read that is not to be missed, and as such deserves five stars.

Review of "Struck"

"The end of the world is at hand."

     In Jennifer Bosworth's Struck, the apocalypse has already devastated Los Angeles, California. At least, that is what Rance Ridley Prophet, cult leader and televangelist, proclaims on his daily report. According to Prophet, the earthquake that has devastated LA is only the beginning of the actual Biblical apocalypse. Seventeen-year-old Mia Price knows better, though her mother doesn't. The earthquake that destroyed Mia's home and left her mother mentally unstable was nothing more than a natural disaster, the same way her unnatural addiction to lightning strikes is a result of bad luck. When a rival cult tries to recruit Mia for an upcoming war against Prophet, she runs into an even bigger problem: all those lightning strikes she's endured have come with a price. And Prophet wants to collect.

     Struck walks a dangerous line, striking a balance between focusing on Mia's mysterious addiction to being struck by lightning, a romance with a boy with ulterior motives, and the cults who want her on their side--or dead. For the most part, this is done well, though there are times when Prophet's claims go a little over the top. Interestingly enough, while Prophet isn't actually the man of God he claims to be, he does have power, and he plans to use it for terrible deeds. But those opposing him may not be as good as they claim, either, which leaves Mia with a difficult choice and no chance to back out.

     This version of Los Angeles, or what is left of it, is extraordinarily detailed in a bare-bones way. We are told the way things are, the way they look and feel, without a great deal of description on Mia's part. Somehow, this manages to form a clear, cohesive image of what her world is like. Similarly, the plot is fast-paced and sleek, every subplot important to the overarching structure, with no extraneous characters or truly unimportant scenes. Overall, this makes for an interesting read that is certain to hold attention well.

     Swearing isn't a big problem in Struck. While there is a bit scattered throughout, it is generally low-level--aside from a single use of the F-bomb. Violence, on the other hand, poses a bit of an issue at times. Gore is generally kept to a minimum, if it is present at all, but there are still plenty of fights throughout the novel. Readers should keep in mind that Mia has an affinity for electricity, the effects of which are not all that pretty. Aside from Prophet's twisted version of Christianity, religion is not brought up. The romance is limited to heartfelt kisses, though more is suggested as a possibility once all the trouble with Prophet is through. At one point, an older gentleman tries to take advantage of a teenage girl, with less success than he'd like.

     I would recommend this book to slightly older readers interested in a world where a lightning addict is the only thing standing between a false evangelist and the real apocalypse. The villain is evil, the plot well-paced, and the characters intriguing. While not the most gripping of reads, Jennifer Bosworth's Struck is well-written and holds onto a reader's attention well, earning it four out of five stars.