"Waiting on..." Wednesday: Wither

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly post hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week, the pre-publication book that I'm getting excited and anxious to read is...

Wither

(Chemical Garden Trilogy, #1)

By Lauren DeStephano

Publication Date: 22 March 2011

From Simon & Schuster:

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?

How can you see this absolutely beautiful cover and NOT want to pick up this book?!  Not to mention a compelling story that fits well within my current adoration of well-written dystopian novels.  I have a coworker who managed to snag an ARC and LOVED this.  She said is is fabulously written.

Here's the hitch: I decided to give up reading for Lent.  Obviously not ALL reading--I am in school after all and giving up church-related reading would seem to defeat the purpose a tad.  I'll be giving up my nightly YA reading in favor of more time spent with my husband (or my homework...semester is getting tough).  Soooo....while this book comes out in mere weeks, I won't be able to read it until the END OF APRIL. Sad, right?

The Limit by Kristen Landon

From the cover:

An eighth grade girl was taken today . . .

With this first sentence, readers are immediately thrust into a fast-paced thriller that doesn't let up for a moment. In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the monthly debt limit imposed by the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he might be next, but quickly dismisses the thought. After all, his parents are financially responsible, unlike the parents of those other kids. As long as his parents remain within their limit, the government will be satisfied and leave them alone. But all it takes is one fatal visit to the store to push Matt’s family over their limit—and to change his reality forever.

 In The Limit, Kristen Landon creates a slightly dystopian world where the amount of debt that a family can incur is closely monitored.  When a family goes over that limit, there are consequences.  Generally, a family is allowed to choose what happens next, whether they'll go on strict spending observation or choose more drastic measures.  For Matt's family, the choice is taken away--Matt is almost instantly carted off to one of the state workhouses to help work off his family's debt.  Once there, Matt is tested and assigned to the Top Floor, where the brightest kids are taken to work.  When strange things start to happen, Matt and his small cadre of friends investigate (using their superior intelligence and planning, of course).  The story offers a good amount of action with some moral lessons on the side.

While the storyline isn't overly complex, it was definitely a fun, quick read. (It's a great read for its intended audience)  I enjoyed the main character, Matt, quite a bit, as he progresses through the story.  I really felt he learned a lot through the process (at least it surely seemed that way in the end).  I start off my synopsis by saying "slightly dystopian" because it didn't have the same "doom and gloom" feel to me that a lot of dystopian stories have.  There is definitely the overly-controlling government aspect as a result of too much debt in the country.  However, there wasn't the same sense of previous destruction leading to such control that I attribute to most dystopias.  A similar lesson was there (watch out how you use your resources) but it didn't have the same effect.

There is a good amount of action that goes on throughout--from Matt's original taking to the mischief he gets into in the workhouse (to other things I won't mention for fear of spoiling the story).  The story really plays into the geeky nature of some of the main characters (a lot revolves around computers and math--need I say more?). I think this is a good recommendation for young male readers especially. (Not to say girls won't enjoy! It just seems like people are always looking for good books for boys)

Haven by Kristi Cook

From the cover:

Violet McKenna isn’t a normal girl with normal teenage issues; she has more to contend with than most people could handle. Violet thought she was just crazy when she had a vivid vision of her dad’s murder. Her life started falling apart when her premonition came true. She’s had flashes of other events too. The problem was nobody believed her until she found a new school: Winterhaven.

At Winterhaven, Violet finally feels like she belongs. She quickly finds a close group friends and discovers that they too have psychic ‘gifts’—as do all the students at Winterhaven. But as soon as she feels settled she discovers the most intriguing and alluring boy she has ever met, and things quickly go awry. As the attraction between them grows, intense visions of the boy’s death start to haunt her. In her premonitions the secret he is unwilling to share begins to reveal itself. And to Violet's horror, she learns that their destinies are intertwined in a critical--and deadly--way. 

When Violet McKenna's step-mom, Patsy, decides to take a  job in NYC, it's up to Violet to either stay with her aging grandmother in Atlanta or move to New York...and pick a boarding school there.  When Violet sees the brochure for Winterhaven, she's inexplicably drawn to the school and chooses it instantly.  At Winterhaven, the reader is introduced to a cast of characters with special gifts, including Aidan--the ultra-hot boy that everyone loves but no one can seem to "get."  Well, apparently, he was just waiting for the right girl--Violet.  The novel follows Violet, Aidan, and her friends through a seemingly ordinary high school boarding school existence..until it suddenly becomes not quite so normal. Plot twists and turns are around every corner.  With a good blend of the unexpected and predictable, the story is one to get lost in.

Cook is a new YA author for 2011 and I'd say that she's debuted on quite a good note. This story really had it all--a solid plot, a cast of likable characters, a swoon-worthy love-interest, and a little life-death action on the side. While I'll be the first to admit that Cook's story wasn't overly original, I thought she did a good job making it her own and adding enough twists to make it interesting.  It was definitely a well-written storyline that pulled me in.  It was a read that I simply couldn't put down once I started. (Ask my husband. I think he was a tad annoyed.)

The main character has the "cluelessness" trait that I have found to be quite prevalent in this genre right now.  There are so many clues that lead you to the obvious (and even not so obvious) conclusions that she just didn't get.  Cook pens her as another very intelligent young woman with little common sense.  If you've read other YA paranormal romance, you know what I'm talking about.  I think authors need to give their female teenage characters a tad more credit...but maybe that's just me.

At the opening of the novel, I was a tad worried that the book was going to be too much like other books that I've read in the genre lately.  However, I will stand by this book and say that in the end it was a good book in its own right.  The comparisons may be legit, but I felt that Haven was able to stand its ground as a well-written story with well-developed characters.

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

When I glanced at this cover on GoodReads, I instantly felt compelled to read it.  I know, I know--don't judge a book by its cover.  But, seriously, how many people can honestly say that they've never picked up a book because it had an awesome cover? No one? That's what I thought.  A lovely professor of mine was kind enough to loan me her copy of this book so I didn't have to place my name on the lengthening list of holds at the local public library.


My judgement: Go find a copy of this book and read it. NOW. No, you don't need to read my review first.  First, you need to go see if your public library has a copy and put your name on the hold list (because I'm sure that all of their copies are check out).  Now, on to the review, which you can read after you have a hold on this book.


From the cover:
IN THE ENCLAVE, YOUR SCARS SET YOU APART, and the newly born will change the future.

Sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone and her mother faithfully deliver their quota of three infants every month. But when Gaia’s mother is brutally taken away by the very people she serves, Gaia must question whether the Enclave deserves such loyalty. A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish.

This is a novel that you will start and not put down until you have read the last page.  The main character, Gaia, is a sympathetic character from the beginning.  The scar on her face sets her apart, even in the world outside of the Enclave.  She's a strong-willed character with quite the determination when it comes to her family.  When her parents are arrested by the Enclave, Gaia, scorning the advice of those around her, insists upon find a way into the Enclave to rescue her parents.  Her determination, quick-thinking, and (ultimately) love drive her to impossible lengths to save those she loves.  The cast of characters that she meets along the way will surprise the reader.  I don't want to spoil any plot points here, so I'll suffice it to say that O'Brien's debut novel is well-written, suspenseful, and moving.  The world and characters that she has created will leave your mind reeling.  Don't despair: the second book in a three book deal is slated to appear later this fall.

"One Two Theme!" Reading Challenge

While flipping through the blog-o-sphere the other day, I happened upon a reading challenge.  You should know, of course, that I'm always up for a good challenge--when books and reading are involved.  I'm taking on my church group reading project this year as well, so...I probably SHOULDN'T take on another project. But, I can't help myself.

Here's how this one works: (info from One, Two, Theme!)

The idea of the challenge is to read about specific topics that interest you, in various degrees of detail. For theme 1 you'll read one book, for theme 2 you'll read two books, for theme 3 you'll read three books and so on. The only rules are these:

The Challenge will run throughout 2011, but feel free to already sign up.

1. You should have a minimum of 3 themes/3 levels, so a minimum of 6 books. You decide how many levels above that you want to go. Feel free to have more than one topic per level.

2. For themes that require more than one book (so all except the first one) you need to read at least one each of fiction and non-fiction.

Here are the themes that I'm considering (as well as my preliminary books):

1. Pakistani Culture
• Three Cups of Tea
2. Nazi Resistance
• Muriel's War
• A Cup of Wrath
3. Female Psychology
• The Female Brain
• The Starter Marriage
• The End of Manners
4. Tudor Court
• Elizabeth and Mary
• The Reign of Henry VIII
• Secrets of the Tudor Court
• The Queen's Fool
5. The 1960s
• Boom!
• Fallen Angels
• The Help
• Ravens in the Storm
• The Postmistress

We'll see how it goes! I always enjoy a good challenge.  I picked a couple of books that I own but have never had the chance to read.  Now I'm forcing myself to get to them!!

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

When Alex wakes up in a boy's bed, she struggles with the reality of the situation.  She doesn't really know the boy (she knows who he is but he's not a friend...barely an acquaintance.  She doesn't remember last night...at all.  As she struggles with the reality that she was date-raped, something she spends most of the book coming to terms with, she must decide how to deal with it.  Her older sister and close friends convince her to take her case to the Mockingbirds, the schools only real justice system for students.  They are a group of students that hear various cases brought to them by students and exact their own form of justice.  I won't go into details about the whole process and the trial here, so as to not spoil anything for potential readers!

Whitney handles the issue of date rape well.  I was initially worried that I would constantly be comparing  this novel to Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak.  However, Whitney held her own in addressing the issue at hand and helping her main character through the coping process.  Many readers will question the vigilante nature of the Mockingbirds and wonder why the main character doesn't go to the police.  However, I felt that the author did well approaching the issue as a high schooler might--the fear, the guilt, the innocence.  Of course you don't want your parents to find out.

This books offers a portrayal of high school as a party atmosphere, which I think is sometimes a little over done in YA literature.  The "normal" high schoolers don't make quite as phenomenal stories (I suppose or at least that's the perception).  However, I wouldn't let that stop you from enjoying this book. It is a good reflection on the difficulties of dealing with rape.