Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
published October 2011 by Random House
467 pages (hardcover), YA

I have to give you what's written on the inside flap because it's most of the reason why I read this book. I know it's long, but it's a whole lot more concise than any summary I'd write!

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune, and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal disease that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

C'mon, how do you not rush to the library to get your hands on this book after a description like that? Nora Dearly is my favorite kind of female character - stubborn, feisty, and smart. When she's kidnapped by undead soldiers, she assesses the situation and makes the best of it. Sure, it takes her a moment or two to come to grips with her strange new reality, but she's practical and chooses to ask questions instead of cower in fear. I wish more of the book were told in her perspective, but in fact, it alternates between quite a few characters.

I also loved the setting in this book and actually wanted more backstory and description. I kept checking the covers for a map or something, but no such luck. New Victoria in 2195 is an interesting concept, and I love the world Habel has created there. It's wonderful steampunk - a blend of the old and the new. The society has modeled itself after a more genteel time period, the Victorian Era, but one that they ultimately never could have known in great detail because of the many hundreds of years separating them. So, they try to behave in ways they imagine that the Victorians did, but who are they kidding? There are Punks and free-thinkers and people who do not appreciate the classist society they've created. Not to mention the walking dead.

Anyhow, I liked this book. I wanted to love it, but the alternating perspectives were irksome. The dialogue was also odd to me - sometimes it would be very contemporary and others very Victorian. I understand why, but it was still a little jarring to read. But because I like the story and the setting, I will definitely be reading more from the Gone With the Respiration series.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis + Giveaway!

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
published January 2011 by Penguin
416 pages (hardcover), YA
2011 Debut Author Challenge ; YA Reading Challenge ; Dystopian February
*reviewed from ARC

This book begins as Amy and her parents are being frozen, to be awakened in 300 years when the starship Godspeed will land on a new inhabitable planet. Unfortunately, Amy wakes up about half a century too early, as her block of ice is rolled out of its freezer to thaw. Luckily, the doctor on board and future leader Elder are able to save her. The story shifts between Amy and Elder, as they try to figure out who wanted her dead and who is continuing to sabotage the cryogenically frozen people on board the Godspeed.

Elder is a leader in training, under the guidance of Eldest, who has the responsibility of keeping the 2,000+ person society on the Godspeed safe and peaceful. The ship is on autopilot, but the people need someone to watch over them. The society functions smoothly, with clearly defined generations (mating is only allowed during the Season) and jobs. People work in fields, genetics labs, and other parts of the ship out of necessity. Although they may not all live long enough to see the Godspeed land on Centauri-Earth, they have hope that their children will. The back cover of the ARC calls this book Titanic meets Brave New World, and I say that's about right. But I can't tell you why!

Others have already said this, and I will agree that the first half of this book was slow. I took frequent breaks because I just couldn't get into it. But then there's a whole lot of action and secrets revealed all at once, and I was flying through it to see what would happen next. I thought the story was lacking at first - I'm a Star Trek fan, I know how these things work. But this is no ordinary science fiction or dystopia - we have murder mystery as well, and tons of twists and turns. There were quite a few "didn't see that coming!" moments that I was rather happy for. Overall, a solid debut and a refreshing dystopia - what can I say? I'm a fan of space travel. Three purple crayons from me.

Reviewed elsewhere:
Becky's Book Reviews ; holes In My brain ; The Story Siren ; Candace's Book Blog ; A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust ; La Femme Readers

GIVEAWAY

Though the book is out already, I do have an ARC to give away. Fill out the form below for a chance to win! 

XVI by Julia Karr + Giveaway!

XVI by Julia Karr
published January 2011 by Penguin
272 pages (paperback), YA
Debut Author Challenge ; YA Reading Challenge

Nina is fifteen, going on sexteen. In 22nd century Chicago, for a girl, turning 16 means getting tattooed with XVI on her wrist, broadcasting to the world that this gal's ready for sex, anywhere anytime from anyone. They all want it anyway, right? Well, Nina doesn't. She's not completely brainwashed by the Media. She wants to be a Creative, go to art school, and have a life. But then her life spins out of control, with her family in danger and her views of the world shattered, and what begins as a simple dystopia quickly turns into a murder mystery.

I was initially attracted to this book because of the setting - I'd love to know what Chicago looks like in 2150 in someone else's imagination. I was disappointed that it didn't seem so different from today. I understand that's plausible, I suppose, but I wanted a little more fancy. The technology jargon is different, but the devices are familiar. And the society? Well, we only get glimpses into the government, but what is made very clear is that the Media runs the show.

Nina and her friends have designated themselves private investigators and protectors (of each other). It's not safe to talk unless in a Dead Zone (can you hear me now?), and they have much to puzzle through. What if the government is lying to them? What if Nina's father is still alive? What if embracing life as a sexteen isn't all that it's advertised to be? If I'm not making sense, good. There's not much explanation I could give without retelling the story. If you're intrigued, give it a whirl. It should be a quick read.

For me, I read this book at the wrong time. I forced it, and I shouldn't have. I may have liked it better had I not just read The Sky is Everywhere. But still three purple crayons for an interesting story.

Reviewed elsewhere:
Forever Young Adult ; Fiktshun

GIVEAWAY!

I bought this book with the intent of passing it on to one lucky winner. All you have to do is fill out the form! Contest ends Monday, January 24, 2011. Open to U.S. only.

Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power by Robert Simon

Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power: Family Secrets written by Robert Simon, illustrated by Tomomi Sarafov
published April 2010 by Zeta Comics
unpaged (paperback), children's graphic novel
*received from publisher

In this first story of Zoey Zeta and the Sisters of Power, Zoey the scientific genius, middle sister Ella the indestructible, and youngest sister Lexi the supersonic are getting ready for an activity-filled summer vacation when evil villain Dr. Impossible thwarts their plans and puts the country-most importantly kids and their parents-on lockdown. But these girls are superheroes; well, they will be, at least, once they come up with a name and a plan to stop Dr. Impossible.

I quite enjoyed this full-color graphic novel aimed at elementary girls who like superheroes too. The dialogue is smart, as shown by one of my favorite lines, "Parents are cautioned not to weep openly or uncontrollably in front of their children," (in reference to Dr. Impossible taking control of the media world). Because it's aimed at a young audience, I was afraid that the text may be too difficult for my students especially, but I don't think that's the case. Where the language is a bit more sophisticated, the illustrations clearly support it so that the story is not lost. The panels are easy to navigate and the colors just pop right off the page. I'm intrigued by the story, but I'm disappointed that it's separated into three parts. It was over before I really got into it.

Here's a part of the letter I received from the author/publisher about the creation of this comic:

I created Zeta Comics to address the lack of science fiction for young girls. You see, fairies are great but they're not cool. Not unless they're packing molecular disintegrators. Girls need more imaginative, science and engineering based fiction and fun. That's where Zeta Comics is positioning its stories and characters. Get ready for an action-packed adventure starring three powerful little girls with big powers, big attitudes and big adventures.

I'm just going to pretend he didn't bad-mouth fairies there. Because you all know my fascination and love for fairies. Mmhmm.

Anyhow, I plan on sharing this book with my students, and we'll see how it goes! From me, it gets three purple crayons. Solid but too short.

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
published April 2008 by Simon & Schuster
320 pages (hardcover), Middle Grade

Glad the public library still had a copy of this book left on the shelf because mine was checked out Friday morning when the fifth graders assaulted our stack of Rebecca Caudill books. I was pleasantly surprised that they were so eager to get their hands on those nominees. Anyway...

Found is the first book in The Missing series. The book begins with a mystifying event - a plane carrying 36 babies appears from nowhere at an airport gate; once the babies have been unloaded, the airplane vanishes the same inexplicable way it came. Thirteen years later, these babies now teenagers in adoptive families begin receiving notes in the mail that they are the missing and someone is coming back for them. A bit ominous, no? So begins Jonah and Chip's journey to find out what these notes mean, who they really are, and where (and when) it is that they're missing from.

I really liked this book. Mostly. Tons of suspense and intrigue, not to mention the emotional turmoil of Chip finding out that he's adopted and Jonah, who has always known about his adoption, attempting to console his new friend while staying at arm's length. The plot moves this book more than the characters, which will always be a shortcoming for me, but it's fast-paced even though there's not a whole lot of action until the very end. Chip, Jonah, and Jonah's sister, Katherine, embark on adventures close to home in order to uncover clues about what the mysterious notes in the mail could mean, and it's all very realistic.

So, I was confused when I saw the Science Fiction sticker on my library book because up until the last few chapters of the book, I thought I was reading a mystery. If you read jacket flaps or back covers, I won't be revealing anything in saying that hey, there's time travel in this book. While Found is the introduction to a time travel series, I much more enjoyed the mystery in the beginning of the book to the science fiction place it led me to. I worry about how my students will feel about the ending too. Time travel is tricky and confusing. But there's bound to be more action as well, I suppose.

Personally, I don't think I'll be reading more of this series, but I did quite enjoy this book, even though the ending was a bit odd for me. All in all, a hearty three purple crayons.

What they said:
Sweet Reads; One Librarian's Books Reviews; The O.W.L.; Peaceful Reader; Becky's Book Reviews; etc.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
published January 2010 by Penguin
448 pages (hardcover), YA

Incarceron is a prison, an experiment to create the perfect world gone wrong. While the world Outside believes that Incarceron is paradise, the Prisoners form gangs and cults and resort to violence and thievery to stay alive. Finn awoke in Incarceron some three years ago with no memory of his childhood, but with the rare ability to see - a Starseer - visions of the past and of Outside. He needs to find a way to escape. And then there's Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, privileged and educated living in a castle Outside, but in a world governed by Protocol, stuck in the past with no hope of technological (or any) innovation. But Claudia is completely oblivious to the truth of Incarceron until she steals a key from her father's study, a key that enables her to communicate with Prisoners inside of Incarceron, which is how Finn and Claudia come to know one another and the truth about their world.

What can I say? I didn't love it. At times, I didn't even like it. I was confused most of the time, and then, finally, at the end, when everything seemed to be coming together, it was over. I don't like to wait until the end of a book for the pieces to come together. That's just not my preference. Some people love it, but it drives me crazy. The concept, though? I do quite enjoy it, and I will definitely read Sapphique. Because I want to know more! There was a very slow build-up, but now that I'm into it, over 400 pages later, I'd like to know how this world came to be and whether or not it will be fixed.

What was most jarring/unappealing/annoying to me in this book was the constant switching of perspectives - the story alternates between Claudia and Finn, but it happened too quickly for me. I didn't feel like I stayed with either of the characters long enough to get to know them or their stories. Again, personal preference. I'm also one of those people who can't stand large casts of characters.

So, no glowing review from me, even though I did like the book.

Others who liked it better:
One Librarian's Book Reviews; A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy; Teens Read and Write; Presenting Lenore; Reading Rants!; Guys Lit Wire; Fantastic Book Review

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, illustrated by Keith Thompson
published October 2009 by Simon & Schuster
440 pages (hardcover), MG/YA

This will not even vaguely resemble a review. For those of you (like me) who have never read or maybe even heard of steampunk, no explanation or summary I could give you would prepare you for the wonders in this book. My head is still spinning. There are links to proper reviews at the end of this post if you'd like such a summary, but please do come back to review my reflections and reading experiences.

I suppose I should start by saying that I'm not really a fan of science, science fiction, history, or historical fiction. These things make my brain hurt. I blame it on my public education, what with its reading and math rules the world philosophy. But even though I do not enjoy such subjects, which this book could not exist without, I loved Leviathan. Because Scott Westerfeld is more talented than I can comprehend. I can imagine that it may be very easy for a science/history buff with an imagination to write a steampunk novel, but what's not so simple is to write a steampunk novel that is accessible (and enjoyable!) to the least technologically, scientifically, historically inclined (raises hand) of us. This is the reason that Leviathan was so amazing to me - and probably why some steampunk fans were disappointed. Apparently, the audience for this book is the middle grade and younger YA set, but if you've never read in this genre before, age limits aside, this may be your gateway book.

I won't lie, Leviathan is filled with technical and scientific jargon - and even some great, made-up slang. (Because Westerfeld loves to play with words, and we love him for it.) Although most of the descriptions of war vehicles and living aircrafts were completely lost to me, I enjoyed getting to know the characters - which has actually been a criticism of the book by some, that the characters were not developed enough. I assure you that the only reason I continued reading this book was because of the characters - I felt sorry for Alek having just lost both of his parents and needing to flee for his life to Switzerland, and I fell in love with Deryn who had to learn to talk and act like an insufferable boy (and she was darn good at it) in order to pursue her dreams of flying. When the two meet, there must have been stars in my eyes. Not because of the romance which would inevitably brew, but because they have such different personalities and worldviews, which make their interactions hilarious and heart-warming. I sped through the last 150 pages of this book, wanting more of those interactions, more of the clashing of worlds, more of the misunderstandings and secrets and delicate friendships. And at the end, after 440 pages, I wanted more.

Again, I failed to do my research. Leviathan is the first book in a trilogy. Behemoth, the second book, is due out in October 2010. You can bet that I'll be re-reading Leviathan before I get my hands on Behemoth for a number of reasons. 1. I'll understand it better the second time around. 2. The writing is wonderful, and I'd like to star some passages. 3. I'll need to be reminded of what happened in the first book.

By the way, I finally decided to read Leviathan because it's featured on readergirlz this month. Lots of great discussion questions and extra content on the blog + a live chat with Scott Westerfeld this Wednesday, March 17 at 9pm EST. Check it out!

Others said it better:
Book Gazing; Guys Lit Wire; One Librarian's Book Reviews; Fyrefly's Book Blog; Book Nut; Laura's Review Bookshelf; A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
published October 2009 by Random House
384 pages (hardcover), YA

He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air.

Metal ground against metal; a lurching shudder shook the floor beneath him. He fell down at the sudden movement and shuffled backward on his hands and feet, drops of sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool air. His back struck a hard metal wall; he slid along it until he hit the corner of the room. Sinking to the floor, he pulled his legs up tight against his body, hoping his eyes would soon adjust to the darkness.

With another jolt, the room jerked upward like an old lift in a mine shaft.

Harsh sounds of chains and pulleys, like the workings of an ancient steel factory, echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls with a hollow, tinny whine. The lightless elevator swayed back and forth as it ascended, turning the boy's stomach sour with nausea; a smell like burnt oil invaded his senses, making him feel worse. He wanted to cry, but no tears came; he could only sit there, alone, waiting.

My name is Thomas, he thought.

That... that was the only thing he could remember about his life. (p. 1)

When Thomas is discovered, he finds himself in the Glade, surrounded by boys his own age who went through the same disorienting experience of waking with no memories in a metal box. He's the new guy, Greenbean affectionately, and he has a ton of questions about this place. The Glade is a self-sustaining community, almost utopian, except for the fact that there is no way out. Just outside the Glade, surrounded by a high, ivy-covered, retractable wall, is the Maze - the only hope for discovering an escape route. For two years, the eldest of the Gladers have been searching for an exit, with Runners to map out and try to solve the Maze. When Thomas arrives, everything changes. He's different, and everyone knows it. But without any memories, it's impossible to know how or why.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I tore through the pages and was constantly surprised by unexpected plot twists and turns. Really, the whole book was unexpected. Although I liked being in the dark like Thomas was, I was anxious to figure it all out and hopeful that they would find a way out. What I didn't think too hard about was the state the world might be in if/when the boys did escape. After all, who sends a bunch of teenage boys to a happy little trap of an environment with an unsolvable Maze? Oh, and did I forget to mention that there are Grievers, terrifying monsters I'd care not to envision, out in the Maze with the sole purpose of killing anyone who attempts to stay in the Maze past dark? Suspenseful, action-packed, and a little mind-boggling.

As much as I loved this book, I have to gripe a little bit. Let me show you how this book concludes:
END OF BOOK ONE
Really? Really?! That's it. I'm reading the last page before I start another book. I cannot handle another series/saga/trilogy. I'm just tired of it. I can't keep them straight. And I can't wait. I'm not the most patient of gals. And chances are, I will forget this book by the time the next one comes out. I read too much to remember them all. But even more, none of my questions were answered in this book! Where did these boys come from? Will they eventually remember their old lives? Who is responsible for their sad fates? In a nutshell, what in the world is going on?!

So, if I knew (and I should have known) that it was going to be a trilogy, I would have waited to read it until they were all published. Maybe then I wouldn't be so frustrated. But if that's the only criticism I have of the book, then that must mean it was a pretty darn good one.

Read-alikes: The House of Stairs by William Sleator, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Other reviews:
Presenting Lenore, Guys Lit Wire, Books at Midnight, Pure Imagination, Book Crazy, Jen Robinson's Book Page, My Friend Amy




P.S. What is it with Utah and awesome YA authors? Is there something in the water?

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
published May 2009 by Penguin
272 pages (paperback), YA

Aerin Renning is a scarred fugitive, Dane Madousin a rebellious son of privilege. On the surface, they have nothing in common. But the two most competitive freshmen at Academy 7 share an undiscovered bond. Both harbor a dangerous secret that threatens their own destruction. And while their safety depends upon their staying apart, the two are inexplicably drawn to each other. Even as unknown forces conspire to separate them, their competition turns to friendship, and their friendship to romance. Now not only their lives--but their hearts--are at stake. To survive, the two must unite all their knowledge, skills, and gifts to uncover a secret bigger than either could have imagined. A secret as big as the entire universe...

I don't usually include back-of-the-book summaries (because they tend to give away a bit much), but I did this time because it gives away nothing. Nothing at all. Yes, there are two main characters who are drawn to each other, the two most gifted students at Academy 7. Too bad there's no mention of Academy 7 being on the planet of Academia. Yep, it's science fiction. And I'm puzzled as to why this fact was so intentionally hidden.

Perhaps because it's not necessary to be an avid science fiction reader to enjoy this book. It's probably better not to be. There's only so much development of a universe 3000 years in the future that can occur in the space of 200+ pages, but I think it was enough to give me a sense of place without bogging me down with all the minute details.

Aerin has no home planet. She lost her father in a shuttle crash (which she witnessed) some seven years ago and has been enslaved on an X planet since then. When she finally escapes, she is rescued by an Alliance ship, where she takes a series of tests that gain her entry into the most prestigious school in the universe, Academy 7. Dane, on the other hand, is a troublemaker, son of a General and Council member. He's dangerous, suicidal even, but extremely intelligent, even if he tries to mask it with disdain. His father doesn't expect him to be accepted to Academy 7, his alma mater, because the golden child, his older brother, was not. All the more reason for Dane to attend this fancy-pants school. Dane and Aerin drive this story - their secrets, their inner conflicts, and their need to share the most painful parts of their lives.

Some books are like fast friends. After reading merely a page or two, you just know that you won't be able to put it down. This book was that for me, and even though it left me with a lot to think about and question, the experience of reading the book was quite enjoyable. I certainly didn't agree with all that occurred, but I saw how it could happen the way it did. What surprised me the most was that this book left me wanting more. And that's probably the best bookish feeling ever. Aerin and Dane are two characters that I'll probably keep with me - their stories, emotions, and actions felt so genuine, and their attraction to each other was almost a necessity. Today's teens will relate to this intense relationship, for sure.

Other bloggy thoughts:
lucy was robbed - "[...] will appeal to readers of the less swoony paranormals out there and budding (or closet) sci-fi fans."
The Story Siren - "I was absolutely intrigued by the world Osterlund created. I might just have to change my outlook on Sci-fi."
Reading Rocks - "Osterlund manages to make a simple scene of talking or hand-holding into something as intimate and tender as the best of kissing scenes in other books."
Rebecca's Book Blog - "I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy teen fiction. It honestly has something in it for everyone - science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and a story of friendship and romance."