Book Review: Don't Turn Around, by Michelle Gagnon

Don't Turn Around is non-stop excitement. At times, some of the plotting was a bit convenient, but this didn't stop me from frantically turning pages to see what would happen next.

Noa wakes up on a cold metal table with tubes in her arms. She manages to overcome her captors and escapes -- to realize she's in the middle of a warehouse district.

Peter is a hacker. His parents are rarely home and they have provided him with a nice car, a private school, and a computer. He's snooping in his father's desk and finds a mysterious folder. When he begins to search on the computer for the company listed in the folder, he finds a mystery. Before he can figure anything out, his house is broken into by black-clad men, who threaten him and tell him to tell his father they were there.

Noa is a foster child and has been living on her own and off the grid for a while. So she's pretty well-prepared to survive and hide from the men who are obviously determined to find her.

The coincidental part of the plot is that Peter runs a web site/organization that consists of vigilante hackers -- those who punish  people who are cyber bullies, or commit other cyber crimes. Noa is a member of this organization and one with a good reputation. So when Peter needs help researching this mysterious company, he calls on Noa, and she, of course, finds out that this company has files with her name on them.

Once you get past that astounding coincidence, it's a wild ride. These two encounter one dangerous situation after another, and they are piecing together an unbelievable scenario involving human teens as test subjects for medical experiments.

There are other interesting characters that make a contribution to the story, but Noa and Peter are the stars, and of course they eventually end up physically together in their quest to ferret out and conquer the bad guys. Noa has a savior (another very helpful coincidence) and I suspect he will play a bigger part in the second book. Because....

They aren't finished yet, at the end of Don't Turn Around. But they are at least in a temporarily safe place. The ending sets up the sequel, Don't Look Now perfectly. It will be released in August, and I can't wait to see what is in store for these characters.

Give Don't Turn Around to your reluctant readers and other teens who like a lot of action and suspense. This one won't disappoint.

Published by HarperCollins, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
320 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: Boundless, by Cynthia Hand

Boundless is everything I could have asked for in a conclusion to the Unearthly Trilogy. There is tension and danger, with an appropriate mix of romance and friendship.

I know the big issue is "Tucker or Christian." But for me, either one of them is fine. I like the way it all played out. Clara learns more about herself and her powers. We find out more about Christian's family. All the major players appear -- even Clara's mom. I predicted that Jeffrey would cause trouble in the third book -- and I was correct.

Clara is very brave and determined, and I like that. But Christian steps up and supports her, which I liked too. I enjoyed the change of scenery -- most of the book takes place in California instead of Jackson Hole.

I guess I really don't have too much to say about the plot. It's more of the same -- good vs. evil. The Black Wings causing all kinds of trouble. But that's not a bad thing. I certainly think anyone who has started the series should definitely finish it. The world, the characters, and the plot are all strong. Overall, a great book and an end to a great series.

This one will fly off my shelves for sure. I will see that it does.

Published by HarperTeen, January 22, 2013
Copy obtained from the library
448 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: My Life Next Door, by Huntley Fitzpatrick @HuntleyFitz

My Life Next Door had me chuckling aloud on page 4. Any book that can do that earns high marks from me.

Sam watches her next door neighbors from her roof. He mom has no clue -- she wants Sam to have NOTHING to do with those people. Imagine having SEVEN children. Their yard is a mess, and the mom breast feeds the baby in public.

Sam's mom on the other hand, is obsessed with neatness. Both her yard and house are immaculate. She is constantly remodeling and improving her house, and the neighbors are just bring down the property values!

Jace, one of the boys from next door, ends up climbing on the roof and confronting Sam, and thus begins one of the sweetest romances I've read in a long time. All secret from Sam's mom, of course. But Sam's mom is busy with her own new romance with her campaign manager, Clay. Sam's mom is running for senator. Sam isn't at all sure of Clay's motives, but her mom is so busy and she's gone so much, that Sam is able to keep her relationship with Jace a secret.

ALL of the characters in My Life Next Door are priceless. I love Jace's entire family. All of the kids have distinct personalities, and they are extremely entertaining. I even like Sam's mother. She's always been a good mother -- just seems like she's getting a bit off track lately, and her feelings about Jace's family just add drama to the story. Additional tension is added by Sam's best friend and her brother. This is an interesting side story that just adds to Sam's problems.

As I said, I melted a few times during the romantic scenes between Jace and Sam. Very well done without overtaking the entire plot.

The only thing I didn't care for was the eventual situation that caused the drama and the break up. I knew that everything wasn't going to be smooth until the end of the book. I just wish something else had torn Jace and Sam apart. I just thought it was a bit much. But, in NO WAY does it taint my feelings about My Life Next Door as far as a teen contemporary goes.

I'll be anxious to recommend My Life Next Door to my teen girls when school starts. It's a great story that isn't just a romance, but a story about friendship and family. Actually, I have already recommended it, even without reading it. I'm glad I can safely say My Life Next Door was a good call!

Published by Dial, 2012
Copy obtained from the Library
394 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: The Darkest Minds, by Alexandra Bracken @alexbracken

While I didn't find The Darkest Minds to be anything especially unique, I still thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience. I've been wanting to read this book since it came out, but it was always checked out of my library -- I had to wait until it came back for the summer. That's got to say something good about The Darkest Minds!

At the beginning, a huge number of adolescents are dying from a virus. Then, it turns out, those that didn't die are gifted with special powers. These powers are seen as a danger to the adults, so the government incarcerates all of the kids in camps. Of course the government tells the public they are "curing" the kids, but since our story is told from the perspective of Ruby, who is in one of these camps, we know the truth.

There are actually different levels of powers, designated by colors. Depending on what "color" you are, you may be killed, or you may be allowed to basically be a slave in the camp. So you can probably guess, Ruby escapes from the camp with the help of some adults who claim to be fighting for the rights of the kids. But are they? Ruby meets up with some other kids and the adventure begins.

While on the run, she discovers that the government is corrupt and society is barely functioning. The economy has crumbled and the president is basically a dictator.

This story does follow a scenario that we've seen before. Kids against the government. But, I enjoyed the tension as well as the romance, and never lost interest in the plot. The characters are ones that I would like to visit again, and I care about the outcome.

I especially enjoyed the constant dilemma of what do we define as "free." Even when the kids get to what they think is a "safe" place, with all the comforts they've missed -- they discover it might not be what they thought. Deception is everywhere....decisions are difficult.

The Darkest Minds is one to give to your dystopian fans for sure. The Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner -- fans of these books will not want to miss The Darkest Minds. The second book in the series, Never Fade, will be released in October, so you want to be sure you read The Darkest Minds ASAP!

Published by Hyperion, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
488 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Stacking the Shelves -- Edelweiss Frenzy!

I'm back home after a great vacation. I have a few books to review for this coming week. I also went crazy on Edelweiss while I was on vacation! There were just so many I wanted to read ... so here goes...

For Review:

Avalon, by Mindee Arnett from Edelweiss

Uninvited, by Sophie Jordan, from Edelweiss

Her Dark Curiosity, by Megan Shepherd, from Edelweiss

Heartbeat, by Elizabeth Scott, from Edelweiss

Find Me, by Romily Bernard, from Edelweiss

Purchased:

Pivot Point, by Kasie West, eBook

I'm very excited for all of these books. What are you excited about? Leave me a link! Make sure you visit our host, Team Tynga's Reviews, and check out all the participants!

IMPORTANT: Today (Saturday) is the last day to enter my giveaway of The Shadow Tracer by Meg Gardiner! Go enter right now!

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Feature & Follow Friday - Vacation!

Happy Friday! Hope you are looking forward to a great weekend. Here's this week's question from Alison and Parajunkee:

Q: Book Vacay: Where is the best destination reading spot for you? (Where do you like to go to read other then your home)

Great question for me this week, because I AM ON VACATION! (Hence the lack of posts this week.) Here's what we spend a lot of our days doing:

We have enjoyed a great week of sun, sand, water, and food. Tomorrow we go home. This is the 31st year my family has taken a vacation to the lake. The kids in this picture weren't even born when we started going! Hope you get to relax and read this summer too. Leave me a link, so I can check out your favorite vacation spot.

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Stacking the Shelves -- Library Loot!!

I brought home a bunch of books from the library because I'm on VACATION!! I always bring books for me, and try to bring some that I think members of my family will enjoy. And, of course, I have a nearly unlimited supply of books waiting to be read on my Kindle. We spend a lot of time relaxing and reading on the beach. And, along with that, there will be a noticeable decrease in my blogging activities for the next week.

For Review:

Delia's Shadow, by Jaime Lee Moyer, eBook from NetGalley

The Strattons, by Flora Chase, ebook from the publisher allonymbooks

Purchased:

Stormdancer, by Jay Kristoff, eBook Kindle Daily Deal!

From the Library:

The Darkest Minds, by Alexandra Bracken

Don't Turn Around, by Michelle Gagnon

As Easy as Falling off the Face of the Earth, by Lynne Rae Perkins

Just one Day, by Gayle Forman

Seizure, by Kathy Reichs

Boundless, by Cynthia Hand

That's my haul! I'm looking forward to seeing what you got too. Please leave me a link. And, make sure to visit Team Tynga's Reviews and check out all the participants.

Also, you may want to check out my GIVEAWAY of The Shadow Tracer by Meg Gardiner.

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GIVEAWAY of The Shadow Tracer, by Meg Gardiner

The Shadow Tracer is an awesome crime thriller, as you can see from my review here. The publisher, Dutton Books, Penguin Group, has given me one copy to host a giveaway! Please enter below. This is the FIRST TIME I've used Rafflecopter, so I hope everything goes OK!

Thanks for entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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