Mini-Reviews-in where I get out some thoughts on a bundle of books Ive read.
October 5, 2010 by Balzier and Bray
Borrowed/Library
Kid knows her school’s corporate sponsors not-so-secretly monitor her friendships and activities for market research. It’s all a part of the Game; the alternative education system designed to use the addictive kick from video games to encourage academic learning. Everyday, a captive audience of students ages 13-17 enter the nationwide chain store-like Game locations to play.
When a group calling themselves The Unidentified simulates a suicide to protest the power structure of their school, Kid’s investigation into their pranks attracts unwanted attention from the sponsors. As Kid finds out she doesn't have rights to her ideas, her privacy, or identity, she and her friends look for a way to revolt in a place where all acts of rebellion are just spun into the next new ad campaign.
Thoughts
So the premise of this book sounds brilliant, on paper though for me this came off as a bunch of high-techie kids playing video games against the system. It kind of reminded me of that old cheesy 80's movie War Games only much more advanced with the entire Internet and google technology. I knew within the first four chapters that this book wasn't for me....I was bored and the MC's name got on my nerves, I couldn't stop rambling "Here Kid, Fetch Kid, Good Kid" so needless to say I was distracting myself and just didn't connect to the story. Things never really picked up or got developed, it was seemed like the story stayed in middle-grade boy video game land. When I read the last page I said: Seriously what the Google kind of ending is that???
Rating
This book is for mature teens, there is a tremendous amount of language, violence and mild sensuality.
Rating
This book is for mature teens, there is a tremendous amount of language, violence and mild sensuality.
2/5- Ya-Dystopia
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
May 18th 2010 by Penguin/Razorbill
Bought/Nook
 And yet again with book 4 leaving us with the willies...book #5 gets even more bizarre...
Everything is butt-backwards in this novel, characters all seem to be different and Rose is really ticking me off. Her and Hot D are acting whiny and side characters like Lissa and Adrian seem to be taking over, not that I don’t like them, but things are just weird with all of them…….and Im not digging the back and forth with Adrian, Rose is totally using him and making some awful choices in the sex department, not cool Rose. I guess growing pains with characters were inevitable in this next chapter to the Academy Clan who are facing down some serious guilt and big decisions....but even with all the needs to find big boys and girls underpants I still cant help loving the drama of this cast. Rating As with all the VA's Ive read, this one begs for a mature audience, language, violence and some pretty sexy scenes bordering on graphic.
4/5- YA-Vampires
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
September 6th 2011 by HarperTeen
Review Copy-Galley
 Sniffle, Sniffle...this sad story about young girl Laurel, takes readers down a road that life can go on after loss. After the death of her entire family Laurel faces a future full of hopelessness. But as we see her slowly move on much growth and a predicted romance blooms between the survivors of the family's affected by the car accident. I remember reading this last month and really liking it, however I cant put my finger on what it was about this novel that made me forget it so easily......Its simple and heart breaking, but it didn't have a lasting effect. Im afraid with the vast amount of books I read, this one kind of blended in with the crowd.
Rating
This can be enjoyed by mature teens (think 15&up) and contains: Death, loneliness issues, grief issues, mild language and mild sensuality (kissing).
3/5- Ya-Contemporary
Thanks to Harper for Review Copy
|
Bummer. Sorry you couldn't connect with Unidentified.
ReplyDeleteYay for Vampire Academy. I just adore that series and all its drama:) I definitely know what your talking about with forgetting The Beginning of After, there was a book I went to review earlier in the week and I literally had to go back and look up the characters' names because I'd forgotten them in the 3 days since I'd read it. Not bad necessarily, just not overly memorable - sounds like that was the case with this one!
ReplyDeleteI didn't like The Unidentified either.
ReplyDeleteAnd GAH! Someday (soon) I hope to get the VA books read.
I still need to read Vampire Academy how awful is that huh....... I love your little mini reviews. I still want to read the beginning of after but def have to sike my self up for it since i will be a blubbering mess. Great mini revies!!!
ReplyDelete"Its simple and heart breaking, but it didn't have a lasting effect. Im afraid with the vast amount of books I read, this one kind of blended in with the crowd."
ReplyDeleteThis really summed it up for me, too!
Really had no interest in the other two.
And omg, I LOVE the knit creations in your banner!!
"When I read the last page I said: Seriously what the Google kind of ending is that???"
ReplyDeleteLOL, that's how I've been feeling with the latest slew of dystopians that I've been reading. I seriously had to take a break from the genre because nothing stood out to me.
Gah, I still have to read the VA series too! Hope to get to them before the year is over. I need to know who this Hot D is and Adrian. My book buddy is already betting that I'm Team Adrian. LOL!
I hate remembering thinking a book was alright...and that's it. It's almost like you'd rather have it be horrible, those I remember, lol.
ReplyDelete