Book Highlight: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

    Breathe (Breathe #1)

    by Sarah Crossan

    

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: Greenwillow Books (October 2, 2012)

Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe . . .

The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alinahas been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinnshould be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Beawants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Watch the video below to find out what inspired the author to write Breathe.




I can't wait to read this book!

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky  (Under the Never Sky  #1)

by Veronica Rossi

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (January 3, 2012)

Goodreads Summary:

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

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My Opinion:

This story is told in third person with each chapter alternating between Aria and Perry . The reason I like chapters set up this way is because it helps me to get to know each of them better without lingering in one place long enough for me to forget the feel of the other character.That allows the story to flow more smoothly for me.
I liked both of the main characters straight away. Aria is smart, talented, and very determined to find her mother. She becomes a strong survivor after being dumped in a place with extreme adverse conditions compared to life inside the pod. Perry has not had the pampered and carefree life that those who live behind the domes have. He has to fight for everything he needs and is a real alpha male who comes to Aria's rescue.

These two suddenly find themselves on a journey together, each searching for a missing loved one. Along the way they have to face deadly weather, cannibals, wolves and the people that threw Aria "Outside". I'm sure you have guessed by now that during their travels Aria and Perry start developing some sort of feeling for one another (after a very rocky start) but the pacing was just right I think.
The one criticism I have would be that in the beginning of the book I wish more was written about Aria's life in the pod to give me that day to day feel for it.
Overall I enjoyed this well-written, original dystopian. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Through the Ever Night.

4.75/5

I read this book as part of Dystopian August. 

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Legend By Marie Lu

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (November 29, 2011)

Goodreads Summary

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

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My Opinion:

I'll start off by saying I loved this book! I don't know why I'm always a little surprised when I read a dystopian and love it.  Maybe it's the typical love triangle or love/hate relationship between two strong characters I'm expecting.

Although this book has some of the same characteristics as other dystopians, it was done in a way that didn't make me want to just skim through parts of it. The story flowed nicely and advanced along quickly enough that I didn't get bored, but not so quick that I felt like it was rushed.

The characters, Day and June, were well developed, although I would have liked to get to know Tess a little more (maybe in the next book?).  

Two fifteen year old kids accomplishing so much may be unbelievable to some people but who wants to read about unremarkable characters in a dystopian? I like having young "superheroes" in the story.

Kudos to Marie Lu for a well written book. It has left me wanting to follow Day's and June's ventures into the sequel. I found Legend to be very enjoyable and I would recommend it.

5/5

I read this book as part of Dystopian August

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Across The Universe #1)

Across the Universe (Across The Universe #1) 
by Beth Revis

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (January 11, 2011)

Goodreads Description:

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

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Review:

Across The Universe kept me intrigued during the entire book. I liked  the main characters (although I wanted to smack Amy a couple of times :D) but I feel they could have been developed a bit more so it took me a little while to get there. I like that the story alternated between Amy and Elder. It keeps you on your toes

 I'm claustrophobic so I felt like I couldn't breath while reading due to the story being set on a spaceship. lol I guess if I look on the bright side of it, the story felt more real to me because of it! It was fun to check out the blueprint of the ship from time to time to get a better feel for the location of each scene.

In Across the Universe, Godspeed is a vast spaceship, the size of a small county. The lives of its passengers are severely regulated. And people are divided into three categories--Feeders, Shippers, and Keepers--represented by the three levels of the ship.

I would recommend this book, I loved it with it's unpredictability and the  unexpected twist.

5/5

Review: Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Inside Out

by

Maria V. Snyder

Paperback, 315 pages

Published April 1st 2010 by Harlequin

Goodreads Description:

Keep Your Head Down.
Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution

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I was introduced to the world of dystopia this past year and was suprised I enjoyed the genre so much. The possibilities of what could be are endless with the dystopian genre because there are no restrictions on the imagination. The author made the characters relatable and interesting. 
I love that the main character, a young girl named Trella, is overcoming such adverse conditions. She is adventurous and determined which really draws me to her character. Her loyalty to her best friend was a trait I admired as well.
From the author's description of the pipes I could picture myself as Trella crawling through them between the levels. I feel the story flowed at just the right pace with some twists and turns that I didn't expect. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel "Outside In" to see what direction the story takes. If you're young at heart this YA novel will be  a fun, adventurous read. I recommend this book.

4.5/5