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Showing posts with label Young adult novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Young adult novels. Show all posts

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Blood brothers and members of the Comitatus, Finn and Keiro both have a privileged standing in Incarceron. They are nontheless as the maestra reminds them prisoners. No one can ever leave the living prison that is Incarceron. The prison has many eyes that watch them and a voice that taunt them.

With the aid of a crystal key, Finn, Keiro, Gildas, and Attia hope to escape to the Outside as they Sappique did. After a dangerous escape from the Comitatus, they embark on a quest that tests and transforms them. 

Nearly killed by a beast in a cave, the four of them are rescued by a strange Sapienti called Blaze. Blaze takes them to a high tower where he tries to convince them that there is no Outside. But Blaze and nearly everyone else is not who they say they are. 

On the outside, Claudia's father plans for her to marry an odious boy, Caspar. John Arlex, her father, is Warden of Incarceron but he refuses to tell her anything about its secrets. He only wants to use her as a pawn to achieve power.

At court there are many factions but Claudia does what she can to protect her tutor, Jared, and Finn, whom she believes is the rightful heir of the kingdom. 

Faced-paced and exciting, this novel is a great fantasy for those who love suspense and plot twists. 

Catherine Fisher's official webpage,
https://www.catherine-fisher.com/





Sunday, April 10, 2016

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

This dark novel is a stand-out for its superb characterization and its exciting narrative pace.

Unlike most superheroes, Ruby is supremely narcissistic. While at first she merely seems to be able to get boys to like her and dominate others, her powers begin to wreak havoc.

Chloe slowly realizes her sister has a strange connection to the Ashokan reservoir. Years ago, the Ashokan reservoir was built to give New York a water drinking supply. In the process, however, nine towns, including Olive, were intentionally flooded.

Townspeople were given plenty of warning but some refused to leave. 

Ruby displays the same kind of arrogance; treating her mother, friends, and boyfriends with disdain. None of the local cops will ticket her. Her workplace looks the other way when she pinches candy.


Despite her unsavory qualities, Ruby will do anything to protect her little sister, Chloe, even if it means becoming involved in supernatural activities.


Nova Ren Suma's website:
http://novaren.com/



Saturday, August 16, 2014

We Were Liars by e.Lockart













Cady's family enjoys idyllic summers on a private island each summer. She has a crush on Gat, a family friend, who joins them at Beechwood each summer. The four of them, Mirren, Johnny, Gat, and Cady are the Liars. Sitting atop Cuddledown's roof, one of the summer houses, Cady feels invincible.

The four of us Liars, we have always been. We always will be.
No matter what happens as we go to college, grow old, build lives
for ourselves; no matter if Gat and I are together or not. No matter where we go, we will always be able to line up on the roof of Cuddledown and gaze at the sea. The island is our. Here, in some way, we are young forever.

A horrible accident, though, during summer 15, leaves Cady critically injured. She was found on the beach with a head injury and hazy memories. Will Cady's memories of summer 15 ever return?

During summer 17, Cady turns her room into an incident room, meticulously recording what she remembers on graph paper and post-it notes above her bed. She is still in love with Gat but something pivotal has happened that has changed their relationship.

Gat, the only non-Sinclair in the group, is the one who first opens Cady's eyes to social issues. Not every family, he says, owns a private island. He is of Indian descent, like his Uncle Ed, who has developed a relationship with Cady's Aunt Carrie. 

Lockhart skillfully interweaves fairy tales in the novel that foreshadows  the surprising twist in Cady's story. Gat, the outsider, is the mouse in many of these fairy tales.

Gradually, readers learn that Harris, Cady's Grandfather, has tried to manipulate his daugthers and grandchildren. Though he's not a bad man, not crooked, he is entitled and reckless with his money. He is prejudiced against Ed and Gat; he pretends to accept them when he actually cannot abide them.

Gat is the first to caution Cady that Harris does not want the two of them to date. The Aunts begins fighting over belongings. Cady, whose motto is to do what she she most fears, undertakes a daring plan to rectify their idyll. 

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