Legend

My bookcase is always suffering under weight of books I have yet to read.  I don't think this is something that will ever change.  Especially since I have several I need to read and I plan on buying a couple more before the week is out thanks to Barnes & Noble coupons.  (Yes, they love me after all.)  I don't know how any of you do it, but when I'm deciding what book to read next I feel it imperative that I read the one I'm most in the mood for.  That way I get the most pleasure out of the book possible.  How do I decide which I'm most in the mood for, you ask?  I read the first page of each of them.  There is always one that I keep reading without realizing it.  When I come to my senses on page three, I know I've found the right one.

Last week when I was going through this process I came across two that I kept reading.  Legend by Marie Lu was the one I decided on.  At first I felt I had made a terrible mistake.  I think I was actually more in the mood for an adult book.  However, I prevailed and was delighted with this book.  In the beginning I was thinking it was a little forced and juvenile.  I liked it still, but there was something missing.  (I think I was just in the mood for some adult time with a book.)  There was something missing until the plot twist came.  Then, I couldn't put it down.  The love story did seem to come on rather quickly and without any build-up, and you all know how I love the anticipation, but it still worked out okay.  The writing got better, the action intensified, and it was an enjoyable read.

Legend is the story of Day and June.  Both have a very different history and come from very different backgrounds.  The world is in chaos with the wars between the colonies and the Republic, not only that but a new virus has sprung up and the poor can't afford the cure.  Day is only trying to protect his family and June is trying to do what she knows is right.  When the worlds of these two characters collide their lives will be forever changed.

Enjoy!

The Death Cure

While I love to finish a trilogy it's still always bittersweet.  You (or at least I) wait a year for each book to hit the shelves, hoping it will be better than the last and, you read the books so fast because you're already attached to the characters and you devour it and forget to savor.  I ate this book up just like I did the previous two.

As it says on the back of this last book, "The time for lies is over."  After Thomas has endured the maze and the scorch he didn't know how much worse it could get.  Now he's out in the real world and he's not the only one who wants to bring WICKED down.  He and his fellow Gladers are through with the torture and the death these people have put them through and there has to be a way to stop them.  Will he find it?  Or will he have to endure yet another game?  I'll leave that up to you to find out.

This trilogy keeps you reading and not want to put the books down.  Filled with adventure and mystery and real-life emotion.  Let me know what you think of it.  Personally, I really liked this trilogy.  It didn't end quite how I hoped it would, but I'm not saying it was bad.  Just different than I expected.  This last book was also a bit sad.  With a story like this one there is bound to be a bit of sadness, but overall, it was really good.  I recommend The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Happy Reading!

Scorching!

Whew!  I really liked this book.  It was so exciting, entertaining, and I hardly had a moment to take a breath.  This book was hard to put down.  I love those books where you literally can feel yourself holding your breath right along with the characters. 
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner is the second book in the Maze Runner series.  (If you haven't read the Maze Runner you can refer to one of my very first book posts.)  Thomas finds himself in another trial, only this time it's not a maze and the task at hand seems easier than the first.  But, when WICKED is involved, nothing is ever easy.  He finds himself in worse situations than he could have imagined for himself, all the while still trying to remember why all of this is happening and what he had to do with it.  His memories are starting to come back, but what do they mean?  Like it says on the back cover, "the maze was only the beginning."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the first and I really can't wait until the last one comes out in November.   This is one of the most unique stories I've ever read and one of those that keeps you reading to find out how it can possibly all play out.  I guess that's the curse of the main character whose memory has been erased.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Happy reading!

Going Bovine

Going Bovine by Libba Bray
I just finished reading this book over the weekend and I must say that it deserves all the attention it's been getting especially the little gold sticker on the cover... the Printz Award. For those of you who don't know, it is the highest award a young adult novel can receive. Naturally, this award was what first drew me to this book. I read a sample chapter online to see what it was really like and I was hooked. Her writing in this novel is incredible.
Why it's noteworthy: It handles a serious subject in a funny and original way. It depicts high school life incredibly well for those who are numb to the good things in life or for those who feel like their family is a hinderance to who they are, and shows young adults that battles can be fought and won, just maybe not in the way they expected. What I like most about it is that it can teach young adults to live and love the best they can before it's too late. Life doesn't mean anything if you don't let it. Cameron, the main character, is numb to his surroundings and doesn't understand what he's missing in life until he is somewhat forced into a major change of heart.
Caution: I would recommend this book to older young adults, because language, drug use and sexual references.
Though it is not happy, this book has so much value for young adults, and that is why I recommend it.
If you want to know more about it, I would be more than happy to give you more information.