Review: The Thousandth Floor

The Thousandth Floor
by Katharine McGee

Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: August 30, 2016

THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR is the breathtaking tale of five teenagers living in the dazzling thousand-floor tower of 2118 Manhattan. In this tower of futuristic technology where everything you dream of is within reach, everyone has something they want, and everyone has something to lose. Take Leda Cole for example, the high floor girl whose flawless exterior hides a deadly addiction, or Eris Dodd-Radson, a beautiful it-girl whose life is ripped apart when a betrayal tears her family apart. And what about Rylin Myers, whose new job as a high-floor maid fills her life with a romance that she never imagined, or Watt Bakradi, the tech genius whose simple task to spy for an upper floor girl turns out to be anything but. Above all sits Avery Fuller on the thousandth floor, a girl designed to be perfect and to have it all… except the one thing she can’t have.

Though some might say that the opening of this was slow, it definitely did not feel like that the whole way through. McGee’s writing felt electric as she took the plot into newer places with each chapter. I loved this about her writing because you never know what would happen next. Another thing that McGee did was overlap her individual characters' storylines. While this sort of thing doesn’t always work out, McGee found a way to make it work perfectly. An example of this is when one character goes to VR laser tag and at the same time meets another character. This might seem like something that happens frequently in books but in reality, the author is putting in two different character perspectives from different chapters. And as she does this, she is creating more room for surprises and plot twists as characters who might seem unconnected actually are, forming a web of interactions throughout the book. This leads me to another aspect of the book, the characters.

Though each character seemed to stem from a particular stereotype, each grew over the course of the book. Eris, for example, who started out as just your basic rich girl without a care in the world, actually transforms into a character who some might sympathize with during her fall from grace. Though McGee did seem to be not the best at creating deep side characters in this first book, I can tell that these side characters will turn out to be better developed in the second or third books.

Lastly, I really enjoyed the setting of this book. The idea of all of Manhattan in one giant glittering tower is one that really intrigued me and made me want to keep reading. I was constantly wondering how people lived in the monstrosity of a giant tower like that, so I was constantly interested in every mention the author made of it. I loved the technologies the author filled the tower with, especially all the futuristic restaurants and places to visit inside the tower. This novel was a great example of world building at its finest, because McGee did not at all rely on previous ideas such as fairies or superheroes, but instead came out with an original setting for a dystopian novel without a complete government meltdown or radioactive monsters. She also made sure to ground this tower to reality by mentioning things such as the SAT or Model United Nations, something that made me feel like I can relate more to the book.

Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of GOSSIP GIRL or ONE OF US IS LYING because of its intricate web of lives and ulterior motives fueled by hidden secrets that each character has. 

Review: The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe
by Ally Condie

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019

THE LAST VOYAGE OF POE BLYTHE takes place a while after Poe’s first voyage, where Raiders killed someone she loved. Since then, she has developed armor and weapons for the Admiral with the sole purpose of killing Raiders as efficiently as possible. But when the Admiral sends her out on another mission, things go horribly wrong, leading her to suspect each and every one of her crew. I really enjoyed this book. It has sort of a steampunk, post-disaster theme that differs from a natural disaster or alien invasion. This book is more of a mystery book than anything else, as each chapter gives insight as to what each crew member was doing, causing you to evaluate and reevaluate each of the crew. However, towards the end, the story jumps to an ending that I thought came out of nowhere. 

Review: Internment

Internment
by Samira Ahmed

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 19, 2019

Samira Ahmed, author of LOVE, HATE, AND OTHER FILTERS, follows up her bestselling novel with a hard-hitting, startling dystopian thriller. INTERNMENT is the story of a society that has begun to detain Muslim citizens and place them in an internment camp. As horrible as that sounds, the description of the book describes it as just “in the near future.”  INTERNMENT follows the reaction of a young girl, Layla, to the horribly Islamophobic times in which she is stuck. In this internment camp, Layla teams up with a group of unlikely heroes in an attempt to expose the camp to the entire nation. Along the way, she learns a lot about faith, identity, and what it means to stand up for yourself in times of strife.

This was a deeply impactful novel. Ahmed does not hold back in her description of the atrocities committed by the internment camp, and because of this, I found myself rooting for the characters more than most books I read. I feel like INTERNMENT was such an emotional novel because even though it was dystopian, it built itself upon a realistic base. Layla’s situation is much like one that could be on the news today. Even more so, I was alerted to my own passivity through Layla’s representation of the American people standing idly in their own positions of privilege, only caring about an event for a news cycle or two. In the end, INTERNMENT was incredibly successful in baring some very deep truths all the while giving the reader a character to root for with whom they can identify.

Review: The Fever King

The Fever King
by Victoria Lee

Publisher: Skyscape
Publication Date: March 1, 2019

Waking up alone in a hospital bed in Carolina, a country in what was once the United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro is now a technopath thanks to the deadly viral magic that killed his family. This attracts the Minister of Defense, who invites Noam to serve his country by training to become an elite magical soldier. But as the son of undocumented immigrants in a country whose Prime Minister promotes nothing but oppression of immigrants, the last thing Noam wants to do is help the government. So when Noam accepts the minister’s offer to teach him the science behind his magic, he secretly plans to use it against the government. But when he meets the minister’s ward, Noam becomes less certain that what he’s doing is right. Stuck between his longing for change and wish for love, Noam must decide if trust is a thing he can give out liberally, or if the more he lends his heart out, the faster his world might come crashing down around him.

Written with so much emotion and power, THE FEVER KING is packed with amazing prose and beautiful storytelling. One aspect that captivated me from the start was the book’s ‘dark characters.’ Nowadays, it is common for publishers to claim that certain books contain ‘dark’ characters/themes. Often when books are marketed as ‘dark,’ they don’t quite deliver, leaving readers disappointed. This is not the case with THE FEVER KING. From page one, it is clear that the author is well-practiced in writing emotion, as a prominent sense of sorrow can be felt as Noam navigates the book’s mysteries. And even when something ‘light’ occurs, the sense that something can still go wrong is prevalent. One of the ways that the author achieves this is through the articles included at the ends of some chapters. The true definition of dark and clinical, these articles chronicle the trauma of one of the characters while helping to promote the overall feel of the book, establishing its dark history. Horrid descriptions of terrifying experiments and twisted recorded conversations are featured through these articles, making the reader wonder just how destructive and horrifying this world is.

The articles would mean nothing without the setting. In a post-war Carolina, the world is in shambles. While there are some ‘good’ parts to some of the cities, most of the people live in disease-ridden ruin and struggle to survive because of the poor treatment they receive. The majority of these people are citizens of the country lining Carolina’s border—Atlantia. Fleeing their home to pursue a better life in Carolina, they’re given few if any rights, treated horribly, and left to die from the viral magic. Being Atlantian is a big part of Noam’s identity, as he’s been fighting for Atlantian rights for as long as he’s been alive. I found it interesting how Lee wove immigration into her book in a way such as this. Readers will appreciate how she didn’t just mention it once and let it be, but fully ingrained it throughout the book, showcasing the horrid and disgusting lengths to which some leaders might go to prove a point or please the wealthy.

This was seen in the character of Noam and how he dealt with various events. As I mentioned before, Noam was raised in fear of the Carolinian government because of what they do to his people. But he is also proactive in his fight against them, doing all he possibly can to help. And though now living in the government’s building, his pain and motivation doesn’t lessen. Noam is a character who would appeal to many in this sense because of the sheer motivation and anger that pushes him to act. I loved how he embodied all those who are marginalized and pushed down. Lee continues in this spirit with her side characters as she gives them each their own characteristics and personalities. With them, Lee took some themes from the main cast and carried them over to the rest of the characters. I loved how she didn’t just write them for the sake of writing them, but wrote them to be a part of the story. 

Another, much needed, aspect of this book was the Jewish and LGBTQ representation it had. Though LGBTQ+ and Jewish characters/themes used to only be popular in contemporary novels, they are slowly starting to make their way into fantasy, which readers will enjoy thoroughly in THE FEVER KING. 

One important world-building aspect to mention in THE FEVER KING was its magic system. Unlike anything else I’ve ever read, I was completely obsessed with how the viral magic was something people feared, not sought. With most books that I’ve read, having magic is something that is wanted and held on a high pedestal. But in THE FEVER KING, it was something to run from. I thought that this added yet another dimension to the darkness of the book, but also increased the urgency of which Noam must save his people. Never have I thought that a book’s magic system would serve as almost an antagonist, which was something I enjoyed greatly in this book.

If you are looking for a fresh twist in YA, THE FEVER KING will serve as that perfect speculative fiction sci-fi/fantasy book that you’ve been looking for. Recommended for ages 14+ because of mild language and adult themes.

Review: Dry

Dry
by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2018

DRY, by father and son Neal and Jarrod Shusterman, portrays an apocalyptic society where in one day water becomes a scarcity and people will do anything to stay alive. When the Tap-Out leaves Alyssa’s family and all of California without a water source, her parents set out to receive water from organized stations along the west coast. When they don’t return, she and her brother end up banding together with her geeky next door neighbor to try and find her parents and survive. As events escalate and it becomes harder and harder to stay alive, people begin to lose sense of societal morality as their need for water becomes more and more desperate. While bleak and frustrating at times, the Shustermans paint a vivid picture of hope in a sea of disparity. 

I really enjoyed this novel although not in the way I had expected. Alyssa’s story is at times excruciating-- it’s rife with false hope, deceit, and of course torture in the form of dehydration. In times of crisis, the worst is brought out in much of society. However, Alyssa and her crew, while at times dysfunctional, stick together through thick and thin despite the extreme situations they must endure. While the characters are well fleshed-out and complex, DRY imagines a vivid nightmare, which more than the characters, takes on a life of its own. Considering the reality that much of California remains in a drought, this conflict hits close to home. In between chapters, different perspectives from victims of the Tap-Out described how the Tap-Out had reached and destroyed many lives. Each person dealt with their own desperation in different and often heartbreaking ways. The effect of these interludes was a sense of realism that in other books you don’t feel as much. Instead of Alyssa and her gang facing an isolated problem, the reader sees how, while they persevere, much of California loses hope. I found this story touching, terrifying, thrilling and ultimately hopeful. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys excitement and adrenaline-filled books.

Review: Lifel1k3

Lifel1k3
by Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 29, 2018

In a near future, post-disaster version of Earth, Humans have created Robots with Artificial Intelligence (Logika) that are governed by the Three Rules of Robotics:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Eve, a Domefighter, struggles to make enough money to buy medicine for her sick Grandfather, and to keep her and her friend Lemon safe. Shortly after Eve manifests mutant abilities, they encounter a Lifelike, an Android not governed by the Three Rules. Together, Eve, the Lifelike, and Lemon go on a mission to rescue her kidnapped Grandfather and discover Eve’s mysterious past.

I really enjoyed LIFEL1K3. The book presents issues that may soon be relevant to us, such as becoming too dependent on technology, at what point is AI considered alive, and how humans would react to such changes. However, I was a bit confused as to who the target audience is. The story is rich and thought provoking, yet is written in a way that seems targeted to younger readers. While this is about a common Sci-Fi scenario, I love the depth it goes into about issues with Artificially Intelligent Androids and robots, who can both feel and think for themselves. This book reminds me of the movie Ex Machina. While LIFEL1K3 is nowhere near as intense as Ex Machina, they cover the same issues in similar ways.

Review: MUNMUN

MUNMUN
by Jesse Andrews

Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: April 3, 2018

Jesse Andrews’ latest novel, MUNMUN, delves into a dystopian world where a person’s height directly corresponds to their wealth, or “munmun.” The richest in the world stand at skyscraper height while the poorest are the size of mere rats. Warner and his sister, Prayer, are littlepoors, the very smallest of the citizens. After the accidental murder of their father, Warner and Prayer set off to try and find Prayer a wealthy husband who will share his wealth and “scale up” Warner’s family. And so begins an epic adventure of hope, humor, and important motifs that are far more serious than how they are presented.

Personally, I enjoyed MUNMUN. Andrews describes this made up world with such precision that I began to believe that it really existed. The roller-coaster ride of Warner and Prayer kept me on the edge of my seat--well, bed--and kept me happily turning the page. The syntax of this book is unique in that many words are pushed together, all acronyms are spelled out phonetically, and more. While it is hard to get used to at first, this style of writing perfectly encapsulates the narrator, Warner. Despite having an ending that left much to be desired, MUNMUN is a well-written, passionate book about the struggles of the poor that I recommend to any interested readers.

Review: Runebinder

Runebinder
by Alex R. Kahler

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: November 14, 2017

I really enjoyed reading RUNEBINDER, however while I completely recommend it, as it is a fantastic book, it is truly a dark novel. To give a little background, the world has rediscovered magic, but instead of creating a utopia, the world is plunged into something akin to hell, after "Howls," magical monsters created by draining a living human of their magic, are born into this world in the event known as “The Resurrection.” Now, three years later, Tenn struggles to survive, but between the Howls, and his own special powers, which often seem to have a mind of their own, can he get out of this alive? And if so, at what cost? But, once again, and I cannot stress this enough, the book really does have a very dark plot. So while I do highly recommend you read this book,  please be prepared for a gruesome moment or two, and a couple adult scenes. 

Review: Scythe

Scythe
by Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 22, 2016


Citra and Rowan live in a world that has conquered hungry, disease, war, poverty and, most importantly, death. Humans are immortal. However, with the population constantly rising, Scythes are the only ones allowed and obligated to take lives. After mysterious encounters with a scythe, Citra and Rowan become a scythe’s apprentice-a job neither of them wants. But after their mentor’s mysterious death, Citra and Rowan are pitted against one another and must learn to become effective killers to stay alive.

Don’t be fooled, SCYTHE is not your classic YA dystopian novel. This book is an action-packed, thought-stimulating and intriguing story with a small--and I mean very small--dash of romance. Shusterman tackles the notion of mortality, immortality and suicide with surprising grace and has his audience contemplating whether or not they actually want to live forever. The characters themselves are relatable and complex, especially Citra and Rowan. These two characters connect tremendously to YA readers because, despite being confused teenagers, they are forced to make life-altering decisions and grow up early. Teenagers in high school can relate to that sort of pressure with college applications looming over their heads. Overall, SCYTHE is the perfect read for both boys and girls looking for an out of the box dystopian.

Review: The Diabolic

The Diabolic
by S. J. Kincaid

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 1, 2016

In the dystopian novel THE DIABOLIC, by S.J. Kincaid, Nemesis, a Diabolic, devoted her entire life to protecting Sidonia Impyrean (Donia) at any cost necessary; it was what she was created to do. As a result of Senator Impyrean, Sidonia’s father, committing a treacherous act against the empire, Sidonia is summoned to the Emperor's palace, the Chrysanthemum. Nemesis, realizing that Donia is in danger, poses as Sidonia and goes to the Chrysanthemum in her place to protect her, convincing everyone that she is Sidonia Impyrean. When the Emperor damages Nemesis in a way she could not predict, Nemesis plots to kill the Emperor with the help of his crazed nephew and heir, Tyrus Dometrean. Throughout the book, Tyrus helps Nemesis realize that she has human aspects in her when she thought she had none, and causes her to realize that it is possible for her to have emotions the way others do.

I enjoyed reading THE DIABOLIC, and I would give it a rating of seven out of ten stars. There was good character development for most of the main characters, and some of the main characters, such as Tyrus, have their background briefly explained later in the book where it has a greater effect. When Nemesis is collaborating with Tyrus, she forms a small bond with him. This connection evolves throughout their partnership and Nemesis realizes that she is forming a connection to someone other than Sidonia, which mortifies her. Still under the grip of the Emperor, she realizes that she may never see Sidonia again, failing her one purpose in life. This eventually makes her less reluctant to bond with Tyrus, and forms somewhat of a love triangle between her, Sidonia, and Tyrus. Nemesis’s love for Tyrus seems a little bit unnatural to me because Tyrus is the first person Nemesis allowed herself to attach to, not because he was the first person she was attracted to, but because he was the first person to attach to after Nemesis’s realization about Sidonia. When Nemesis first arrived in the Chrysanthemum, the Emperor commands her to tell one of her Servitors (human-like creatures unable to think) to skin herself alive, which has some vivid imagery of the gruesome flay. There is one character who seemingly dies, but then is revealed to be alive, but then dies for real in the presence of Nemesis shortly after they reunite. I did not like this story arc because while it does cause emotional trauma for Nemesis needed for the story, it does not do much for the reader. I have already experienced this character's death, and it has less of an impact the second time, even though Nemesis’s presence makes it much more sad. I think it would have been better to either have that character seemingly die, or only die the second time. There is also a point in the story where the Emperor destroys numerous entire planets. There is a sense of loss and grief in the following chapters, but in my opinion, there was an extreme disregard to the actuality of the loss. These people are sad and scared that they lost their homes and families, but very few people show it. To me, this book resembles a mixture of SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD and PATHFINDER. If there was a sequel to this book, I would want to read it. I would also want to read other books by S.J. Kincaid after reading this, but this book does not make me want to put her other books at the top of my list.

Review: Spare and Found Parts

Spare and Found Parts
by Sarah Maria Griffin

Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: October 4, 2016

Spare and Found Parts is about a girl named Nell Crane with a ticking heart who lives in a city devastated by an epidemic, and who decides to create a robot companion. The author's writing style is one that might be a little confusing at first, but then adds to the total effect of the book. I enjoyed the plot and how people are afraid of computers ever since some mysterious epidemic devastated the people on this island. I wish that the author would elaborate a bit more on what exactly happened, because I feel like it would add a lot to the total story. I also liked how she introduced different cool aspects, like secret societies, throughout the book, but I feel as if she sometimes used them as plot devices and could have used them more to improve the total story. If there were a second book, I probably would read it to see where the characters go and hopefully find out more about this novel's mysterious past. I think people who are fans of futuristic post-disaster books will enjoy this book because there are lots of cautionary notes about the dangers of technology.  

Review: Stranger

Stranger by Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith
Publication date: November 13, 2014
Publisher: Viking Juvenile

The book, STRANGER, by Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith, is very exciting and suspenseful. The book switches between points of views, and although it could sometimes be confusing, it helped show the ideas that the characters were forming. The different views allowed more insight into the characters' lives.The plot is also a great idea. The story takes place in what is known as Los Angeles to us, but is now, generations later, Las Anclas. The main character in the story is a man named Ross Juarez, who has brought an ancient artifact into Las Anclas, and people are chasing him down to get it. This story has a great mix of suspense, action, and deceit. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action-packed thrillers.

Review: Legend

Legend by Marie Lu
Publication date: November 29, 2011
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

The book LEGEND by Marie Lu was a great, action-packed book. It had a great storyline and was very suspenseful. I would recommend this book to any reader who likes action or fantasy books. In the book, the main characters Day and June are from nearly opposite worlds, June grew up in a wealthy military family, while Day grew up in the slums and is the countries most wanted criminal. When June's brother is murdered, Day is the prime suspect, and she decides to chase him down. Did Day do it? Read the book to find out. You will enjoy it!

Review: The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Publication date: December 18, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion

This is the story of Ruby, a sixteen-year-old girl with special abilities living in a futuristic, dysfunctional America. After escaping Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp” for kids like her, she joins a group of kids who escaped from their own camp. Together they try to find East River, a safe haven for kids like them, but East River just might not be what it seems.

THE DARKEST MINDS is not your typical dystopian. Alexandra Bracken reels us in by starting the book off with a young, naive Ruby who grows and matures quickly throughout the first three chapters. She captures us within her story using her detailed writing style that makes us feel as if we are really there. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good dystopian series, great for all fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.

Review: (Don't You) Forget About Me

(Don't You) Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: June 10, 2014

Skylar lives in Gardnerville, a utopian city where deaths are rare, except during a fourth year, where teens discover their powers and all hell breaks loose. Skylar is trying to find her mysterious sister, Piper, who disappeared during the chaos of a fourth year disaster. This book was amazing and very creative. It was nothing like I have ever read before. The magical city that seemed like a utopia that has disasters showed me that nothing can ever be perfect. I also think that the characters were well developed. The only thing that bothered me was that at the beginning of the story, Skylar took pills that made her forget everything, pills that to me seemed like drugs. There were also a couple confusing scenes, but other than this, I highly recommend this book. Although unrealistic in many ways, (DON'T YOU) FORGET ABOUT ME by Kate Karyus Quinn was a book with a creative story and great writing.

Review: Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication date: March 5, 2011

DIVERGENT is about Beatrice Prior, a sixteen-year-old girl living in dystopian Chicago, which is divided into factions based on virtues. When Beatrice picks the faction that she wants to belong to, and begins initiation, she discovers that there are dangerous secrets lying beneath the orderly surface of her world. As Beatrice becomes more entwined in her faction, she realizes that people and things are not always what they seem. I really enjoyed DIVERGENT. It was well-written and so compelling that I found it difficult to put down. The romance was not overdone and the ending is a semi-cliffhanger that makes me want to read the sequel. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to fans of other dystopian novels. However, I would encourage readers who did not necessarily enjoy other dystopian novels to try DIVERGENT. I would recommend this book for children ages 14 and up (which is what the book recommends) due to some graphic violence that may be disturbing.