Reader: Sam T.
Age: 16
Title: The Abyss Surrounds Us
Author: Emily Skrutskie
Publisher: Flux
Pub Date: 02/08/16
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I liked this book well enough (although I didn't like the cover or the title, but that's discussed later). The character development was nice, and the monsters were cool.
I do have one (very minor) reservation about the monsters, though. The book mentions whales, fish, cephalopods, turtles, and sea snakes being used. This is fine. This makes sense, because they're all water animals. However, one scene alludes to MONKEYS. Aquatic MONKEYS. I get what the author was trying to do, in trying to put forth the idea of humans having captive intelligent animals such as primates. That would make sense if this book took place in the jungle. But it doesn't make sense in a marine-themed book. It seems jarring and slightly ridiculous and out of place.
Another thing I didn't understand was: I get that they made the NeoCetes to feed the Reckoners and keep 150-ton animals from depleting the world's fish stocks. That makes sense. But, the problem is, the NeoCetes have to eat, too. If the NeoCetes eat fish, then won't they deplete the world's fish stocks? Or do they just keep making more genetically modified organisms to feed the other GMOs? As a biology nerd, I appreciated the effort to explain it but was still slightly skeptical.
Finally, why expend all of these resources to build monsters when you could instead use... missiles? Or drones? Some explanation there would be cool.
That aside, though, the monsters are cool. They do a lot of ship-destroying, and the laser-guided commands were one of the coolest parts of this book.
I also loved the action and the romance and the fight scenes. The romance and the ship battles were the best, most exciting parts of this book. But the little details were sort of nagging at me occasionally. Also, the Swift-Cas romance is nice, but it seems a little strange when you consider that Swift held her captive on the ship in the first place. Maybe have a little more development before they go from hating each other into full-on cuddling? Just a thought.
Finally, I'd like to remark on the ending. While it was nice to see Cas and Swift reunited, the ending left a bitter taste in my mouth, like an overripe banana. Throughout the whole story, it is implied that Swift hates the captain and wants nothing more than to escape with Cas. But, at the end, Cas is found enslaving herself once again to the murderous captain, and Swift appears downtrodden.
I feel like a better ending would have been one where the Captain gets shoved into the water by Swift and is eaten by Bao, and then Swift and Cas become co-captains of their new ship and sail the seas on their own terms, as the ship slowly sails off into the sunset. The current one leaves so many loose ends that it's sort of sloppy in my opinion.
Also, I feel like it could've done without the fact that Swift killed Durga. Fabian Murphy could have done it when he visited that morning, and no one could have noticed. No, the author just had to ruin the relationship between Swift and Cas yet another time and also make for a much less satisfying ending.
However, overall, despite the lackluster ending, the title and cover (which I'm getting to) and some minor details to be sorted out, it was still a really original idea executed nicely enough to ultimately win me over, despite its minor flaws.
Memorable or Forgettable: It was a really original book with a cool idea, but I feel like there were some aspects of the story that were taken from other books in its genres. still, it was original, memorable and interesting enough book to read.
Cover: I'm going to start of by saying I really, really didn't like the title of this book. At all. It's vague and only tangentially relates to the story; I don't think it was even said in the dialogue. Something like "Pirate's Reckoning" or "The Reckoners" or even "Monsters vs. Pirates" would have been far, far better than the current title. The current title is bland, generic, clunky, overly long, and contributes nothing to the book and doesn't hint at its content.
I didn't really like the cover. Not even one bit. Sure, the model looks like Cassandra, Otatchi and all, but her facial expression looks bored and lifeless, as if she's watching paint dry instead of controlling a gigantic sea monster.
Moving on, the eye of the monster is depicted as far too large (Bao is estimated to be at around 150 tons, which is about 40 tons heavier than the most liberal estimates for the largest sauropod dinosaur, Amphicoelias). From this size estimate, Bao's eye and head should be a LOT smaller than what is depicted on the cover. Also, turtles have circular pupils. I know it's genetically modified, but still. The water looks a little unrealistic. And, I think I've already mentioned it, but the title is clunky and boring.
The book inside is all right, though, so this cover doesn't really do its insides justice.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
tags: fantasy / dystopian / adventure / romance / ya lit
Reader: Claire W.
Age: 14
Title: A Madness So Discreet
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pub Date: 10/06/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: The plot of this book was a bit slower than I like, but still interesting the majority of the time and well planned out. The character development was truly great and the metaphors that went along with the main character were beautifully crafted. I did question how realistic one character of the book was. This character was a raging feminist and very public about it which I don't believe would have been accepted during this time period.
Memorable or Forgettable: The whole plot made the book memorable and how it was executed.
Cover: The cover was beautiful and related so so so well to the book. Every time I looked at the cover I would notice another detail that directly symbolized the book.
Age Range: 14 through 17
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal
Annotation: Grace is living in an insane asylum, but she doesn't belong there. Grace is there to cover up a scandal caused by her powerful and political father. She just wants to escape and get her revenge.
tags: historical thriller / gothic mystery / ya lit
Reader: Evan W.
Age: 13
Title: Sweet
Author: Emmy Laybourne
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pub Date: 06/02/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book started out as a great idea, and just got really boring. I liked the idea that Solu was a weight-loss drug that started working almost too well, but as soon as everybody who took it started turning into a rampaging zombie type thing, it just got really boring. Again, I like the idea behind this book, it was just poorly executed. The plot wasn't very good, and is overused. For example, how many books are there where there are a few people left who have to escape a very dangerous place without being killed. It just isn't interesting. Also, the character development wasn't the best. It was just not a very good book overall.
Memorable or Forgettable: I didn't really think it was interesting, and that made it kind of forgettable. Also, the characters and the plot weren't very good, so that was something forgettable.
Cover: It kind of reflected the contents. The title was floating in the ocean like the ship in the book, and it was leaking blood. I didn't really get why everything was upside down, though.
Age Range: 12 through 15
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal
tags: horror / romance / ya lit
Reader: Maude L.
Age: 11
Title: Placebo Junkies
Author: J.C. Carleson
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 10/27/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I liked this book because it shows a different view on the world. It also has a really interesting writing style. But the best part is a super unexpected twist at the end.
Memorable or Forgettable: The ending was completely surprising - I had no idea it was coming. It was also just a really interesting subject to write about.
Cover: The cover is very interesting because the words are spelled out on pill cases,so it really makes sense for the story.
Age Range: 14 through 15
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
tags: drama / mental illness / big pharmaceuticals / homelessness / ya lit
Reader: William B.
Age: 12
Title: Hellhole
Author: Gina Damico
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: 01/06/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: This book starts a bit slow and moves faster as it goes on. Characters develop and you learn more. Read carefully, the details can be layered. The chapters are very short but carry meaning.
Memorable or Forgettable: It is forgettable because it just doesn't stick with you. You will forget it if you don't read carefully.
Cover: It says take a chance, try me.
Age Range: 14 through 15
Quality: 3Q - Readable
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal
tags: horror / comedy / action / coming of age / ya lit
Reader: Caroline H.
Age: 12
Title: Seven Second Delay
Author: Tom Easton
Publisher: Holiday House
Pub Date: 02/27/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I usually don’t like post-apocalyptic books, but this was very likely one of the best books I’ve read. The character development was very smooth, and the plot was well-written, though not necessarily very original. It was funny in a grim, sarcastic way, and the dialogue wasn't especially cheesy.
Memorable or Forgettable: I loved that there was always a sense of real danger, even when the characters were perfectly safe. I also really liked the character development of the many different characters in the book. It was an interesting and suspenseful read, definitely memorable for me.
Cover: I really like the cover on this book. It was eye-catching and reflects the contents pretty well.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q - Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal
Additional Comments: I was kinda bummed that the evil Prime Minister got to stay in office and that he didn't get kicked out or assassinated or something like that. It would have made the ending happier, but the actual ending is much more realistic.
tags: post-apocalyptic / dystopian / suspense / ya lit
Reader: Ella O.
Age: 14
Title: Believarexic
Author: J.J. Johnson
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
Pub Date: 10/01/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Jennifer is a sweet girl who has gotten very good at hiding her condition, so when she goes to her parents for help, they don't believe her but schedule an appointment anyway and they go and the doctor agrees that Jenny has a condition. She stays at a recovery place and really does things right for herself. She grows and it's beautiful.
Memorable or Forgettable: Jennifer admitted she had a problem and she wanted to get help. She was doing things for herself and that was great. She decided she wanted something and worked to get it.
Cover: I thought the cover was simple but meaningful. The basic color is perfect for catching the eye and there's a cute design on the front that lets you know it's a heartfelt story.
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
Annotation: Jennifer is addicted to binging, purging, drinking. She wants to stop. She wants people to see she needs help and, furthermore, to receive that help.
tags: eating disorders / recovery / ya lit
Reader: Eli S-M
Age: 16
Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Pub Date: 01/20/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I would recommend reading this book, if only to experience the strange format. The story is told in a series of memos, interview transcripts, emails, and security feed summaries. This gives the book several unique advantages- namely, its retention of suspense- you actually believe the characters might die- the interest created by the novel format (pun), and the unique ability to hold back detail that results in a twist at the story's end. However, the format also has the disadvantage of removing the reader from the action and the emotions of the characters.
Memorable or Forgettable: The most memorable quality of this book was its format and unique story line. The strange format, of course, made it instantly memorable, but the fact that the novel's plot charted a relatively new course made it memorable as well. Perhaps it was just the lens applied by the format, but I felt as though the story line was very unique, took twists I hadn't seen before, and didn't rely on too many tropes.
Cover: The cover did tempt me to pick the book up, but the giant explosion didn't reflect anything at all particularly well. The redacted document cutaways did hint at the novel's format.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 4P - Broad general teen appeal
tags: science fiction / dystopian / suspense / ya lit
Reader: Veronica K.
Age: 15
Title: This is Where it Ends
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pub Date: 01/05/16
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I actually sort of liked the book. The dialogue felt real to the story, the plot was believable, and the characters were actually there, not just cardboard cutouts. I liked how each section was a different character telling the story because it helped explain who the people were. I'm not sure some of the characters would have acted as they acted in the book in real life, though. For example, there is a kid who escapes from a war zone as a child. I highly doubt he would be as calm and collected as he was the entire story if this actually happened. Also, for as small as they claimed the town to be, the police took a reeeeeaally long time to get to the school... Other than those things, this was a fairly good book stylistically.
Memorable or Forgettable: The plot is the most memorable. A lot of books these days would turn this into a secret plot to take over the world, but this one tells a story that could happen, and probably has happened. Not a lot of books these days tell a truthful story like that, with the depth this has anymore.
Cover: Honestly? The cover sucks. It might just be that I have no experience with the real world, but I have no idea where the things on the cover came from, or what they are. The cover was very confusing, and if I hadn't been told it was worth reading, I probably would have skipped it.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal
tags: thriller / school shooting / drama / ya lit
Reader: William B.
Age: 12
Title: Firefight
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pub Date: 01/06/15
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: The author keeps you guessing and shocks you at every page turn. The characters develop more and more. It builds off of and is even more spontaneous than Steelheart. Some dialogue is obsessively used and makes no sense. This book will keep you waiting until you can't anymore.
Memorable or Forgettable: It is memorable because of the writing style.
Cover: The cover is hard to miss. It screams, read me!
Age Range: 12 through 13
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal
Additional Comments: Read Steelheart first.
Annotation: Firefight starts with David and the Reckoners taking out Epics. They realize they will have to kill another Epic that rules over a city. They then start on a journey that will provide more knowledge about the Epics.
tags: science fiction / dystopian / superheroes / The Reckoners series / ya lit
