The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

The Selection Series

by Kiera Cass

• Fiction, Coming of Age, Dystopian, Futuristic, Romance
• 11-20 age range
• published April 24th, 2012 by Harper Teens
• available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, AbeBooks
• Overall Rating ★★★★★

Summary

     "For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

     But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

     Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined."-Goodreads

Overall Review

     Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this series, seeing as it's the kind of books that I do everything in my power to avoid. The "girl meets boy, changes her life for boy, they fall in love, get married and live happily ever after" type book. Typically, I'll put down books if they follow this general plot, but I couldn't ignore all the positive reviews. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I couldn't put the book down and read all 5 books in a week! I loved the series and am sad that there are no more books to come. I am however hoping that a movie will be coming along soon. I'm hoping that by the time a movie version of The Heir comes along, I'll be able to audition for Eadlyn. (Who I wish with every bone in my body to be!)

     However, it is my absolute hate for ALL things romance that causes me to give the series four stars instead of five. I did love this book though and think all teenagers or others that love YA should read it. The writing was good, and most of the characters seemed relatable. Personally, I relate most to Eadlyn, a strong, independent, caring girl in line for the throne, that believes that men will slow her down or distract her from her duty. If you're looking for a book to read and you just can't decide, the Selection series should definitely be on your radar. No matter what it seems, this is not your average romance novel with girly girls who'll give up their life for someone they just met. (For goodness sake the first time America and Maxon meet America yells at him.) I wish I could be more like the strong independent, and brave women in this story. To be honest, I cried multiple times PER book, an impressive feat seeing as the only other book I've cried about is Allegiant.

 Individual Ratings 

*Spoilers ahead!! Read at your own risk.*

The Selection: ★★★★★ 

• Sturdy character development
• Relatable characters
• Interesting and unique plot

The Elite: ★★★★★

• Interesting plot
• Annoying love triangle *cue eye roll*
• (Mostly) Characters stay true to themselves

The One: ★★★★★

• Brave, independent heroine
• America stops being STUPID (Seriously America get a grip!)
• Shows the consequences of rebel attacks through main character deaths (I know it's sad, but do you want a Breaking Dawn situation where there's a lead up to a big battle only to end it with a handshake? Huh, HUH????)

The Heir: ★★★★★

• Shows that women can lead the country too (Go Eadlyn!!)
• Displays that no matter how good the cause, people won't change if they don't want to
• Eadlyn is a strong independent woman who doesn't need a man!
• (Eadlyn in general because she's my favorite character and I wish she was real because I would no doubt 150% be BFFs with her!!)

The Crown:  ★★★★★

• True love is a force to be reckoned with (EW! Why must all good characters fall in love?!)
• Even the "best" people, can have ulterior motives (I'm looking at you Marid!)
• Some rules are made to be broken

Character List

*Spoilers ahead!! Read at your own risk.*

• America Schreave: Main character, wife of Maxon and mother of Eadlyn, Ahren, Kaden, and Osten, formally America Singer, formerly a 5
• Maxon Schreave: Beloved prince of Illéa, husband of America,  father of Eadyln, Ahren, Kaden, and Osten, son of King Clarkson and Queen Amberly
• Aspen Leger: Ex-boyfriend of America, palace guard, wife of Lucy Leger, formally a 6, became a 2 when he became a guard
• Amberly Schreave: Queen of Illéa, wife of King Clarkson, mother of Maxon, formally a 4
• Clarkson Schreave: King of Illéa, husband to Queen Amberly, father of Maxon
• Eadlyn Schreave de Koskinen: First female heir of Illéa, daughter of America and Maxon, sister to Ahren, Kaden, and Osten, wife of Eikko
• Ahren Schreave: Husband to Camille, brother to Eadlyn, Kaden, and Osten
• Kile Woodwork: Selection participant, son of Marlee and Carter, brother to Josie
• Eikko Koskinen: Prince Consort of Illéa, husband of Eadlyn

About Kiera Cass

     "I am a graduate of Radford University with a B.S. in History. I grew up in South Carolina and currently live in Christiansburg, Virginia with my electrical engineer hubby, car-obsessed son, and princess-loving daughter. I'm a #1 New York Times bestseller, woohoo! I'm also a valued customer at my local cupcake shop.

Things I hate:

When people fail to use turn signals, flying, salads.

Things I love:

Office supplies, boy bands, desserts." Kiera Cass's Official Website

Diary of a Teenage Zombie by Kristy Berridge

Diary of a Teenage Zombie

by Kristy Berridge

• Fiction, Horror, Dystopian, Mature YA
• 15+ for mature content, violence, and cussing
• published September 8, 2014 by Shadow Ink Press
• available on Amazon, MineEye, Barnes & Noble, AbeBooks, etc.
• ★★★★★

Summary

     "Dear Diary. Today I ate the mailman. My bad.

     Being seventeen is hard―Katie Palmer has to deal with school, pimples, hormonal boys, and malicious cheerleaders. After the Zombie Apocalypse, though, she no longer sweats the usual teenage drama.

     Athletics star by day and flesh-eater by night, Katie’s done well to hide her transformation from friends and Zone-sanctioned security, but now someone or something’s onto her secret and if she doesn’t feed soon she’ll start falling apart.

     Dead bodies are piling up and all the evidence points to Katie’s blood-stained hands. Will she end up killing the competition before security discovers she’s rotten underneath?"-Kristy Berrige's Blog

Strengths

     Characters

     The characters are strongly built and realistic. (Besides the whole zombie thing!) Katie acts like a normal teenage girl struggling to fit in. Haven't we all had rumors spread about us? Or been teased? I know I have! Berridge brings these fictional characters to life.


     Intensity

    Diary of a Teenage Zombie is the perfect blend of action and description! Berridge knows when to keep the action going and when to slow down and describe the scene a little more. This is a quality that more authors should use in their writing.


     Originality

     I've never read anything like this book! A soda infecting a whole race, almost to extinction. Who could've guessed that? Not to mention the way that the zombies live among them unknown!

     Writing

     The writing is good throughout the whole book. I did find a couple of errors, but they were barely noticeable. The reading level changes as Katie goes along, I believe this is to show how she ages and her knowledge expands.

Weaknesses

     The Ending

     The ending was MY weakness! It had nothing to do with Berridge. She completed a great book with a perfect ending. A cliffhanger again! Why do these authors keep doing this? I really hope there's a next book. If there isn't, I might cry!

Author Bio

    "Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1982, Kristy Berridge was ushered into the world in a decade of bad hair, parachute pants, and blue eye shadow. Fortunately, she managed to avoid all three influences by immersing herself in the business of growing up, and hitched a ride with her fun-loving and adventure-filled parents to the sunny state of Queensland. Here she completed most of her education.

    Besides learning that boys don't have cooties, and that algebra wouldn't kill her, she pointedly set the path of her high school career towards success in Art and English-based subjects, and won numerous awards for her efforts.

    After high school she went on to study Graphic Design and Illustration at James Cook University, and then furthered her studies at the local TAFE College with an Interior Design course. With this knowledge under her belt, she also decided to undertake a three year Design course at Rhodec International in London, to complete her education and propel her towards the successful career she now enjoys.

    She currently resides in Cairns, procrastinates constantly, and tries desperately to avoid the delicious temptation that is the peanut butter aisle at the supermarket."-Amazon

Also by Kristy Berridge

• The Hunted
• The Damned: Volume 2 (The Hunted) 
•  The Aligned: Volume 3 (The Hunted)

Wonderland: Classic Fairytale with a Sci-Fi Spin

*I got this book from the author for free, this in no way affects my opinion of the book.*

  Wonderland

by Robert McKay

•  Book one of the Intergalactic Fairy Tales series
• Science Fiction, Coming of Age
• Includes violence and mild humor.
• Published by McKay Manor August 20, 2015
• 13-25 interest level

    All Alice wants to be in life is a pirate. She wants to do what she wants, when she wants with no one to tell her otherwise. One night after sneaking out, Alice finds the perfect opportunity, a talking space ship. She gets on, claiming it as her own, and rides to Wonderland. However, Wonderland isn't all smiles, it's mildly inappropriate people lose their head for disagreeing with the queen, and animals can talk, which isn't always a good thing. On her adventure, Alice makes new friends, some new enemies, and learns many valuable lessons. How far will Alice go for an adventure?



      "Robert McKay is a clever nerd, who feels uncomfortable being called such. He believes in the Oxford comma, puns, and true love. Stories that wrap all of these things together, along with some outer space adventure, make his heart go pitter-patter and his days a whole lot brighter. When he’s not writing, he’s probably reading, but if he’s not doing either of those things, he may be found bowling, playing tabletop games, or researching how much it costs to rent a space shuttle."-Robert McKay
     

      I believe that the story and all it's assets were very well written. My favorite part was Alice, as almost anyone can relate to her. Even if you haven't accidentally gone to another planet, you've probably gone against your parents just out of spite. Another thing I like is how everything seems realistic. The setting is well described, the characters are complete, and the story is unique. McKay provides a realistic story, including a main character with quirks and flaws.

     Wonderland also features a unique twist on a classic story. Ever since I read Cinder I've loved fairy-tale retellings, and this one didn't disappoint. I recommend Wonderland to any fans of Cinder ages 13-25. Also, if you like space adventures, then this is the book for you. In the end, I loved everything about Wonderland and can't wait for Beauty and the Fleet, the next book in the Intergalactic Fairy Tales series. 

*Unfortunately at the moment Amazon.com is the only place to purchase Wonderland.*

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

I have to say, I wasn't sure if I was going to write any reviews considering Book-Attic prides itself on book reviews by kids for kids. However, since Makenzie will not be reading this book for a while, I am going to tackle the first book in Cassandra Clare's The Immortal Instruments. 

First let me say, I picked up the book at Walmart in search of a newly published vampire thriller just to keep up on with the genre in my effort to become part of it. The summary on the back does mention vampires and werewolves, but that is in no way the typical vampire story.

Clarissa Fray heads to a New York City club expecting the typical club night with her best friend Simon. Instead she meets Jace, Alec and Isabella. The twist, she isn't supposed to be able to see her. Attempting to shake off the nights events, she moves on with her life, but Jace had different plans for her. In time, Clary realizes she is different from other humans, or mundanes as the Shadowhunters call them, and that her short sixteen year life has been nothing but a closet full of secrets. Not only is the world ridden with demons and hunters who destroy them, but she soon finds that ALL stories are real.

 I do have to say, I was incredibly interested to see Clare use a bit of mythology along with the popular Hunter/Vampire themes in a new unexpected way. Warlocks and werewolves, though incredibly important to the story, are not truly what the story is about, though they do serve as a great hidden message about racism, much like that of Rowling's mud-blood reference. Ridden with the ever so typical teenage love triangles (and yes I did make that plural), City of Bones carries a great coming of age message. Readers are able to watch five teenagers fight to find their niche in a rough and crazy world.

I highly recommend this to the millions of Harry Potter lovers that populate the literate world limited to ages thirteen and up due to underlying innuendos. With a reading level of fifth grade, the 485 pages becomes a rather quick read.

Did I mention this the first in a series of four books? Or that IMBD reports  a movie in the making? In the words of Entertainment Weekly, prepared to be hooked!

IL: UG - BL: 5.0 - AR Pts: 20.0

Wolf Tower by Tanith Lee

Wolf Tower  is about Claidi, a 16 year old maid, and Nemian, a handsome stranger from the Waste. Claidi and Nemian are on a mission to Wolf Tower one of the four towers, Raven Tower, Tiger Tower, Pig Tower and Wolf Tower. Claidi, for the very first time, is out of the House and facing the Waste in this exciting adventure.




Characters

Claidi: Maid servant of spoiled and stubborn princess and protagonist

Nemian: handsome stranger from the Waste second protagonist

Jizania Tiger: most important of the old ladies and helps Claidi escape

Blurn: bandit
Argul: leader of the bandits

Wolf Tower takes place in the Waste which is said to be a horrible, poisonous land  populated with bandits. Claidi learns that this is untrue and the Waste actually  has other cities where people can live. On the other hand, some of the Waste proves to be just as horrid as rumors say. For example, in the Rain Gardens the continuous rain is red and a carrot like fruit falls from the trees exploding on the ground.

Claidi's quest begins because she wants to get away from the intolerable House where she serves a stubborn princess. Her search to find a better place ends at Wolf Tower where she learns that the grass may not always be greener on the other side, or is it?

I like Wolf Tower because it is full of adventure and decisions, like whether to escape with Nemian or not. I would recommend this book to people who like dystopian fantasy such as Lois Lowry's Trilogy.

Wolf Tower is the first book in The Claidi Journal Series. Check it out at Tanith Lee at Amazon.com

The Hunger Games

Big Brother meets Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery in a savage arena filled with fool proof means for torture and murder.

The basic storyline is a simple, though driven and dripping with action. Basically, the Capitol uses the Hunger Games as a yearly reminder that they are supreme rulers above all citizens in Panem. Annually, May 8th to be exact, two tributes are chosen from each of the twelve remaining districts to attend the Capitol and partake in the savage competition. Only one tribute is to be chosen victor after weeks of human hunting. The Hunger Games are televised across the nation. Katniss, our antagonist, recalls that this is the only time District 12 gets trustworthy electricity.

Collins’s use of symbolism actually sent me to Google in search of classic symbolic definitions. Katniss sees the dandelion as a vision of hope and possibility prior to her arrival at the Capitol. I was disappointed that Collins did not continue this vivid reference into the arena but instead draws in prominent yellow items such as a bright orange backpack that ultimately proves to be Katniss’s life line and a yellow dress at just the right time. In my opinion, either bright item can replace the vivid imagery of the dandelion.

Suzanne Collins beautifully creates a post apocalyptic world driven by starvation and fear. Though I will admit to throwing the book at the wall, it was more out of frustration at what Makenzie has informed me is the cliffhanger than the vivid storyline. The Hunger Games is action packed and a very quick read. I would, however, be weary allowing children younger than twelve access to young adult novel due to the true savagery embedded within the pages.

Let me clarify, though Makenzie is nine and read The Hunger Games before me, in fact, she reads much more mature content than many children her age. Makenzie wanted to write the review for this particular selection as one instead of hers and mine. Here is Makenzie’s opinion in her own words:

I liked the Hunger Games because it is filled with adventure and risk. The risk makes it exciting because if characters chose the wrong decision it could mean certain death. Also, adventure makes the story exciting because you never know what the next setting or adventure will be. In my opinion risk and adventure combined make a great story.

Tori's Gathering Blue

I am happy to say, I just finished Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry. First, I would like to take a minute to clarify Makenzie’s confusion with a quote from Lowry herself.

“Gathering Blue postulates a world of the future, as The Giver does. I simply created a different kind of world, on that had regressed instead of leaping forward technologically as The Giver has. It was fascinating to to explore the savagery as of such a world. I began to feel maybe it coexisted with Jonas’s world… and that therefore Jonas could be part of it in a tangential way. So there is a reference to a boy with light eyes in the end of Gathering Blue. He can be Jonas or not, as you wish.” –Lowry, afterward.

Gathering Blue tells the story of Kira, a highly talented artist in a fictional society ruled by fear and brutality. The story begins four days after the death of Kira's mother. At roughly twelve, Kira is not an orphan child. but because she has a useless leg that keeps her from doing any physical work, Vandara wants to have her taken to the Field. The Field is where the dead and wounded are taken to be given over to the Beasts. As the story progresses, Kira is given a new home and the materials to encourage her gift to flourish.

One primary lesson within Gathering Blue is to be weary of what seems to good to be true. Kira and her new found friend Thomas soon learn that their luxurious life may not be as great as it appears. Yes, they live in comfort and yes they eat like kings, but what are they losing in return?

Gathering Blue may not be a perfect sequel to The Giver, as Makenzie so clearly points out. Deeply contrasting Jonas's sterile living environment, two-syllablepeople within this society are given another syllable to their name when they reach certain benchmarks in life. Kira lives in a savage community where tykes are harshly punished and the very poisonous plant, oleander, grows like a weed within the community.

Readers are forced to think about situations created within the story. Subtle illusions are made about characters with just enough information to start the wheels of imagination but not enough to give a decisive answer. In my parental/ educational opinion, this companion to The Giver is a wonderful tool to force students to use their cognitive abilities without the realization that they are doing so.

IL: UG - BL: 5.0 - AR Pts: 7.0



Massachusetts Honor Book 2001

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Makenzie's Review

Gathering Blue is the sequel to The Giver but it is very difficult to understand how. Unlike the normal series, Lowry makes everything different in Gathering Blue than in The Giver. I would expect Jonas and The Giver to be in Gathering Blue but they are not. Instead, Kira and Thomas are introduced. However, Lowry does make a reference to Jonas on the last page:

"His eyes be a very amazing blue," Matt said importantly, as if it might matter". (Lowry 214)

Gathering Blue is about an orphan named Kira with a twisted leg. Kira lives in a world where the wounded are given to the beasts and the talented are taken advantage of. The part that stands out in my mind the most is when they try to give her to beasts just because she had a twisted leg.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend this book for people who like fantasy.

The Giver: Lois Lowry

The Giver is set in a dystopian society in which everyone is conditioned to act properly. Through this conditioning, emphasis is placed on the outward appearance and characteristics of each individual. Growing up in this man made society, Jonas faces many difficult decisions. While everyone around him seems to be accepting the life that has been laid before them, Jonas begins to wonder why things are as they are. Soon he realizes things are truly not as they seem.

Jonas has been chosen for a special job within the community; a job that is rarely assigned. He will be the Receiver of Memories. In short, he will be the only being in this small society allowed to know any truths or histories of the outside world. With this job, comes many hardships. He begins to question everything he has ever learned.
Based on a rather generic theme of individuality, Lois Lowry gives readers new ways to approach what it means to be unique. While The Community places quite a bit of importance upon physical difference while maintaining similar personalities, Jonas focuses on what each person is like separately. This leads readers to begin reflecting upon themselves and their society.
Somewhat more complex is a theme that links quality of life with knowledge. A majority of the citizens living in the community live it the dark and therefore can't conceive living another way. Sadly, even the community government is completely ignorant. The Giver, being the only one granted the privilege to read books and hence study outside cultures, then becomes the advisory for the government. While the absence of memory and knowledge allows the community to live peacefully and painfully, readers are able to see through Jonas' point of view why memory is important, memory is the key to knowledge.
The ending leaves readers guessing. It is unclear whether Jonas is witnessing the action or drifting off into a memory. Lowry recreates the first memory transferred from the Giver causing the reader to wonder what happens to Jonas. The only way to know is to read Gathering Blue.