Review: Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne

Title: Sky on Fire (Monument 14, #2)
Author: Emmy Laybourne
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication date: May 28, 2013

Genre(s): Young Adult (Post Apocalyptic)

Source: Publisher (Raincoast)

Format: ARC

Pages: 213

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The world hasn't ended...yet.

In this sequel to MONUMENT 14, the group of survivors, originally trapped together in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, has split in two. Most of the kids are making a desperate run on their recently repaired school bus for the Denver airport where they hope to reunite with their parents, be evacuated to safety, and save their dying friend.

But the world outside is dark and filled with dangerous chemicals that turn people into bloodthirsty monsters, and not all the kids were willing to get on the bus. Left behind in a sanctuary that has already been disturbed once, the remaining kids try to rebuild the community they lost. But when the issues are life and death, love and hate, who can you really trust?

Sky on Fire is the much awaited sequel to Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne. Ever since I finished Monument 14, I've been dying to get my hands on Sky on Fire. I have to say, I wasn't disappointed in the least when it came to the sequel. My only minor complaint is that the book was a bit too short, at 213 pages. The sequel continues from the ending of Monument 14 and this time it is told from two POVs, Dean and Alex, who are brothers. I would recommend anyone who hasn't read Monument 14 to not continue with this review because it might contain minor spoilers for it. 

This book has a dual POV because there are two different settings, one in the greenway store with Dean and Astrid along with three other kids, and the other is Alex on the bus with 5+ others trying to drive 60 miles to the Denver International Airport where it seems to be a sort of safe house meet up for the surviving people. To say that this book didn't keep me on the edge of my seat is a lie. I was frantically flipping the pages trying to find out what happens next in the greenway store then back at the bus. The ending of each chapter is like a mini cliffhanger that makes you read the next chapter (which is told from the other POV) as fast as possible.. and the cycle continued. It was a vicious one that wouldn't let me put down the book at all. While some may think the greenway mall POV is repetitive, since that was the setting of the first book, but it really isn't since the circumstances changed. As for Alex and the rest of the gang, boy, did they get into a lot of crap. I felt so sorry for them at times and prayed that they would all make it back safe to the DIA. 

I know many people who read Monument 14 thought Dean was a bit too whiny and lovestruck to be a pleasant narrator, but I believe he has redeemed himself in this book. Also, I am sure people will really enjoy the chapters told from Alex's POV. Those were very thrilling! As for the way this book ended, I am not sure if there will be a sequel, the way Laybourne finished the book hints at another possible book, but if she doesn't write one, readers do get a good satisfying ending. All in all, I do recommend this series to fans of post apocalyptic and survival novels, especially fans of male POVs! Though I am not fond of male POVs, I have to say that I really enjoyed this series. 

The rest of the series:

Monument 14

Review: Riptide by Lindsey Scheibe

Title: Riptide

Author: Lindsey Scheibe

Publisher: Flux Books

Publication date: May 8, 2013

Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary/Realistic Fiction)

Source: Publisher

Format: Paperback

Pages: 288

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Grace has one summer to prove she’s good enough

For Grace Parker, surfing is all about the ride and the moment. Everything else disappears. She can forget that her best friend, Ford Watson, has a crush on her that she can’t reciprocate. She can forget how badly she wants to get a surf scholarship to UC San Diego. She can forget the pressure of her parents’ impossibly high expectations.

When Ford enters Grace into a surf competition—the only way she can impress the UCSD surfing scouts—she has one summer to train and prepare. Will she gain everything she’s ever wanted or lose the only things that ever mattered?

Riptide's synopsis doesn't promise that it will be a light read, so I don't understand why readers are complaining on how misleading the book was. Just because the book is set in the summer, and the beach, doesn't mean it will be light. I loved every single page of Riptide. It is told from alternating POVs, Grace, our main protagonist, and Ford, her best friend. Both Grace and Ford are surfers however that is when their similarities end. While Ford's family consists of a loving and supporting father and mother, Grace's family is the opposite. Her mom is always looking disapprovingly at Grace, whether it be her worn in jeans or flared shorts or her spending her summer at the beach surfing. However Grace's mother's way of showing her disapproval is through looks or a lecture, which is the opposite of Grace's dad, who tends to take matters into his own hand, literally. Grace has been the recipient of many slaps, and the host of many bruises by her loving father. He is a top notch lawyer but anything and everything sets him off, usually when Grace is present. 

I hated Grace's dad, Mr.Parker, with all my heart. Hated how he would hit her one day, then take her shopping the next day and expect her to forget everything that happened the day before. I hated his expectation of Grace going to an Ivy League school and not even asking her what she wants. I hate how he tries to find anything to ram at Grace, whether her not doing her chores when it is only 7 in the morning, or her showing any signs of disagreement. He turned Grace's life into a nightmare. Of course I can't forget the mom, who just stands idly, with her eyes and ears closed to anything that happens in her house. I honestly can't imagine what Grace went through, and how she kept everything to herself, not even confiding in Ford.

Speaking of Ford, I loved him so much. He was so supportive, so ambitious, and the bestest friend. Of course he would rather be more than that with Grace. He lands an internship at Mr.Parker's law firm. You see the charmer that is Mr.Parker at his job and I seriously resented him. However Ford's POV mostly centers around his dream of becoming an immigrant lawyer as well as his feelings towards Grace and her hot/cold acts towards him. I loved Ford sticking around her even though she was stringing him along. I couldn't blame him since he didn't know what was going on with Grace, even when he tried to find out. He also helps Grace practice for an upcoming competition that might attract the scouts at the university she wants to attend. Of course this is all the opposite of what her parents want so you can imagine how everything went down. Scheibe was able to draw out so many emotions from me. There are many Grace's in this world, many without a supporting friend and a place to welcome them if they ever decide that enough is enough. I just felt helpless and I teared up on many occasions. I loved all the surfer lingo in the book and how Scheibe didn't lose sight of all three major plot lines, the sport itself, the romance, and the main issue. So much happens in the 288 pages of this book, I wished the book was even longer. Ford and Grace had such amazing voices. I loved both of their POVs. 

Fans of realistic fiction will definitely love this book, but I would still recommend it to contemporary readers. This book is not your typical beach contemporary, it has depth and by the end of the book you just don't want to let these characters go. I will definitely keep an eye out for Lindsey Scheibe and any upcoming books by her. 

For fans of North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley 

 

Stacking the Shelves (12) - The one worth six weeks

Meme Hosted by Tynga's Reviews

Event Recap: Penguin/Razorbill Canada Fall Preview

Blog Tour: Mira's Diary: Home Sweet Rome

Review: Icons by Maragret Stohl

Review: The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr 

Review: Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy

Review: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston 

Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Review: How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler 

Review: How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski 

Blog Tour: Wonder Light by R. R. Russell

Review: Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green 

This is my (Juhina's) review stack. I've already read The Sea of Tranquility (LOVED IT!!!), Sky on Fire (Amazing!), and School Spirits (fun!), while the rest are on my TBR. I did a happy dance when I received Truly, Madly, Deadly; I am SO excited for it ever since I read that creepy synopsis! Thank you to Atria books, Penguin Canada, HBG Canada, and Raincoast.

  

A book Farah forgot to picture is SPIRIT by Brigid Kemmerer.


Here are the egalley review books that we received the past month and a half. I (juhina) have basically read most of them. I loved Another Little Piece, The Pirate's Wish, Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend, and The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die. 

I (juhina) finally broke down and bought the fourth volume of Sweep (the only missing one out of the 5 volumes). I will be rereading the full series next month so thought I needed this book to do that! I also bought the Hex Hall trilogy in preparation to Rachel Hawkin's signing on the 25th here. We also received Apollyon which is a giveaway win. I personally can't remember from which blog but thank you! I LOVED it! (can't wait for Sentinel!)

We received these above books when we went to the Penguin Fall Preview two weeks ago. You can check out our recap here. 

What did you get in this week's book haul? leave your links below!

Review: Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green

Title: Truth or Dare (Truth or Dare, #1)
Author: Jacqueline Green 
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication date: May 14th, 2013

Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary/Mystery)

Source: Publisher (HBG Canada)

Format: ARC

Pages: 416

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When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it’s no longer a party game. It’s do or die.

It all started on a whim: the game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin “Angel” Thomas to prove she’s more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn’t eventhere; she was hiding behind her camera like usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they’re forced to play along—or risk exposing their darkest secrets.

How far will Tenley, Caitlin and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who’s behind this twisted game?

Set against the backdrop of Echo Bay, an isolated beach town haunted by misfortune, Truth or Dare is a highly charged debut that will keep readers in suspense from beginning to end.

Being a fan of mystery novels, I was extremely excited for this one. Three girls, who suddenly got targeted with dare notes that they had to do, or else. It was definitely interesting because I've always liked the game Truth or Dare, and I thought it would be fun reading what dares the mystery person would throw on them. I really liked that it was told from all three girls point's of vies. That way, I was able to really get to know each one of them in a personal level. It was interesting that the girls weren't three best friends,  but they all came from different places. 

Caitlin, Tenley, and Sydney were very interesting characters to read about. They were all different from each other, and I guess that's what I most liked about it. I was really able to connect to all three character as well, and they all felt real. If I had to choose a favorite character, it would definitely be Sydney! I loved that she was into photography, and that she was not into the whole "party" life that most teenagers go through. The romance in this book was just AWESOME! I don't know, but I just LOVED Sydney and Graham! Though there was a lot of jealousy and dirty tricks and etc.

Overall, Truth or Dare was a very enjoyable read. The ending was just TRAAGIC! I seriously need to find out what happens next, and I think the last 50 pages were the best! I do think it felt a bit draggy towards the middle, and there were some moments were I got a bit bored, but I still really liked reading it! Fans of Pretty Little Liars and Burn for Burn will love this book!

Blog Tour: Wonder Light by R. R. Russell

Title: Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist (Wonder Light #1)
Author: R.R. Russell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 240

Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.

Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for "troubled" girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.
Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn. A baby unicorn.

Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island's mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig's to care for. That she needs Twig's love and protection. Because there's something out there in the deep, dense shadows that's hunting for them...

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R.R. Russell lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. She grew up traveling the world as an army brat and now travels the country as a coach with a non-profit judo club. She loves to read and draw, and like Twig, once spent a lot of time sketching unicorns. Visit her at rrrussellauthor.com.

Twig is an unwanted child. When she was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, she is sent to a pony ranch for troubled young ladies. Located on an old, seemingly haunted island, Twig is sure something is out there. But one night, when the cry of a horse wakes her, she finds something amazing. A unicorn who had just given birth to a beautiful, silver-white baby pony. With a horn. And cloven hooves. Now Twig is 100% sure this island is hiding something...but what? Can Twig keep this beautiful baby safe and cared for when dangerous threats surround the ranch? 

Twig is a cute main character, with a few mysteries about her. A girl with divorced parents can relate to Twig. Twig's story is placed in a fantasy book that has an interesting twists and turns in the plot. 

Annoying? No. It was cute, quick and quirky. In the first chapter, Twig refers to the island the pony ranch is on as a "haunted island" and that draws you in. So no, it wasn't boring in the start. Or in the end. Or in any place for that matter. The ending was ok, not the best I've ever read, but totally not the worst. It didn't leave me thinking about things, but didn't leave you hanging there like "What the heck was that?" It was ok. 

R. R. Russell is a good author. I probably read other books by her in the summer, when I have time to read more and have absolutely nothing else to do. The flow was great, going slow enough to include good details, but fast enough for you not to skip ahead because if too many boring, unimportant details. Wonder Light: Unicorns of The Mist is a great book for kids ages 9-13.

Author R.R. Russell once spent a lot of time sketching unicorns. In this post, Russell will go into detail about her fascination with these mystical creatures and why they play such a significant role in her novel.

In Wonder Light, Twig, a twelve-year-old girl sent to live at a pony ranch for troubled girls on a misty, isolated island, witnesses the birth of a baby unicorn. Her encounter with the unicorns and the people of Lonehorn Island changes her world.

When I was young, my walls were covered with posters of unicorns, leaping and shimmering with rainbow colors. They seemed to belong in a different, brighter world. They were beautiful, powerful, and free. I loved to look at them and to draw them, but I never really believed in magical, horned creatures bounding through the clouds. So when I sat down to write a book about unicorns, I made them the sort of real, wild animals that could live in this world—the kind that Twig, a lonely girl with a rough past, could believe in.

Twig is the last person who’d dream of discovering wild unicorns. She doesn’t believe in magic or miracles. She’s never even dreamed of having a pony like other girls. She just wants to be left alone, and she’s given up on dreaming. She’s almost given up on herself. But Twig discovers that these mysterious creatures, who at first seemed to be ghosts—always slipping into the shadows, hiding in the mist—really want to be known. To be understood.

She’s the only one on the ranch who understands who the unicorn filly born in the stable really is. Why she’s so different and why she struggles to fit in with the ponies. But Twig learns she must do more than just care for this impossible creature. Nighttime howls fill the mist-shrouded darkness of the island. Something’s out there, hunting, waiting to attack. Twig must become her unicorn’s rider, and she must face the howling darkness with her. Together they must fight to save the last free herd of unicorns.