Forget Tomorrow~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

 

 

 

 

          In a world where your future has already been decided for you, Callie anxiously awaits her 17th birthday to see what her destiny holds for her. But when she sees that her future only holds trouble, she's dumbstruck watching her future self kill her little sister. Shortly after, she's placed in Limbo which is a prison for future criminals.

          When she escapes from Limbo, she tries to change events to alter her future so she doesn't end up taking her sister's life. In trying to run from the government and hoping she can change the future, she sets up events that she hopes will create a new future. If she can't, she will have to find a way to save her sister from the biggest threat of her life; herself. 

            I really enjoyed this book so I gave it 4 stars. I really enjoyed how Callie progressed throughout the book and her actions. I really like Dunn's choice of writing and how she didn't rush the events to get through the book. I liked that each event was very well thought out to help the progression of the book. What I loved most about the book was the dystopian society and being able to see your future right before you. That is extremely interesting to think about because I know a lot of people want to see how their future will play out and what direction they should go in. All in all I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to any of my friends.



The X-Factor--Reviewed by: Sarah Roberts

 

 

 

 

  Maja is your normal, everyday 17-year old. She dreams of becoming a an actress, and her role model is Marilyn Monroe. So when things take an interesting turn at a celebration party for her boyfriend, Maja doesn't quite know how to handle it. One minute she is an average teen, and then the next minute she is at a test modeling photo shoot because some guy thinks she could have 'The X-Factor'. 

                                   
                     But things don't go the way they should have.
 
            Maja becomes exhausted from the countless photo shoots, diets, and a always being in the public eye. So what does Maja do? Well she turns to some "friends" that get her into a lot of trouble. When it all explodes in her face, Maja is left with a drug addiction, no self-esteem,and no true friends. She now is left with one question: How far will she got to reach her dream and land among the stars?


         I really thought this book was well written and enjoyed it immensely. I enjoyed how this book touched on subject matter that others would have been afraid to write. That is why I gave this book a 4 and 1/2 star rating. The characters were well developed and I felt almost everything that Maja felt. The lack of self-esteem that Maja had felt like it would have been experienced by teens today. He book really gives you an inside view of what the modeling industry really is, the it isn't all the glamour and beauty it's made up to be. So all in all, this book was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it to my friends and family.

The X Factor~~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

 

 

                      Maja is just a regular 17-year-old high school who dreams of becoming a big time actress, just like her idol, the beloved Marilyn Monroe. But when she meets a modeling agent at a party, he believes she has the "X Factor", that one special thing that makes her perfect to be a model.

                      Things don't go as she planned though.

                     After countless photo shoots and tiring fashion shows, she's exhausted. For a while, her talent seems to captivate the public, but once things start slowing down and she becomes tired of the strict diet and parties every night, she turns to the wrong people for help. Soon her "friends" and trusted allies begin exploiting her and her world crumbles.

                     Struggling with drug problems and absolutely no self-esteem left, she's left with one question: What price will she pay in trying to live out her dreams?

 

                    I really enjoyed this book so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. What I absolutely loved about this book was that it hit the exact points of what the modeling life really is like, not just what we see from the public side of things. From the surgeries to the crazy nights of partying, we tend to idolize these people, thinking they have life so easy and how amazing their lives must be. This book really shows the true side to things and that modeling is not at all what it seems. In the world that we live in, I see a lot of trends going around of people trying to inspire others to be original and be themselves. I think this book really brings forth that idea that our dreams of trying to become bigger and better versions of ourselves don't always work out because we're fine the way we are. Maja had lived so long hoping that she could become famous and be a model but then she realized all the changes she had to make to herself to really become something "perfect". I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any of my friends. 

 



               

When She Woke - BOOK CLUB

Get ready for a great book group meeting! We are now reading:

RED: the color of blood, the color of murder, the color of sin...

Have you read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne? This novel is a modern day retelling of sorts.

Hannah Payne wakes up in a cell after being injected with a virus that has turned her skin completely red -- her crime: she aborted her illegitimate pregnancy in a new American society where that is illegal. She will not name the father of her unborn child, a famous married minister, nor the abortionist, and is charged and convicted of murder. What happens to Hannah when she is released from the temporary post-chroming seclusion and is thrust back into a society where she is stigmatized and humiliated by everyone who sees her as a Red? Prevented from returning to her home by parents who will not allow her to live with them, Hannah must navigate a scary road to regain her dignity and make a new life for herself in a world where there is no longer separation between church and state -- and no protection for the Chromes.

 I  suggest that you obtain and read this book if you like dystopian, futuristic novels about family, religious controversies, crime and punishment, relationships, and self-discovery. The author weaves a very interesting tale -- yes it does have themes similar to those found in some of the classic literature, but it brings all of those together in a new and very thought-provoking way. This would be a fantastic book for a book group discussion.

I will be recommending this!



Discussion Questions - please post your answers in comment section

1.  Is this futuristic imagining of the direction of reality television believable?

2. What elements within this futuristic society have lead to the acceptability of the cruel treatment of those who've committed crimes?

3. Was Hannah's decision not to reveal the identity of either her baby's father or the abortionist justified?  What does this say about her character?

4. How do you feel about the baby's father and his decisions regarding not coming forward?

5. Discuss how the concept of religion is portrayed through the major characters: Hannah, her mother, her father, her sister Becca, the Henleys, Aidan and Cole.

6. Does Hannah change within the course of the novel? How?

7. What are your thoughts on Hannah's friend Kayla? In what ways is she different from Hannah?

8. How would you describe the halfway house run by the Henleys? Did it serve its intended purpose?

9. What aspects of Hannah and Kayla's flight struck you most? What experiences stood out for you?

10. Was the ending believable?
(Questions issued by publisher.)

Ms C.
Review originally published Sunday, August 19, 2012

This Montstrous Thing~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

“You made a human being. And humans are, by nature, monstrous.”

                Set in Geneva in 1818, Alasdair Finch is part of the Shadow Boys who are illegal mechanics that make men from clockwork parts. It seems Alasdair has lost everything he has cared about; his brother Oliver, his love, and his passion to do anything anymore. But when Alasdair successfully brings Oliver back to life, things start to go horribly wrong for him, and he is left to decide something that could make him lose everything he’s cared about again.

              

                I really liked this book so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I loved that it was set in the Victorian era. Most of all, I loved the character development in this book. Lee also has amazing writing and it makes you want to just keep reading and reading. It was a little hard not to get emotional at some parts because the author really makes the capability of feeling the character’s pain and happiness and anger possible. That’s definitely not an easy thing to do.  All in all, I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone.  

Red Queen--reviewed by: Sarah Roberts

"In school, we learned about the world before us, about the angels and gods that lived in the sky, ruling the earth with kind and loving hands. Some say those are just stories, but I don't believe that. The gods rule us still. They have come down from the stars. And they are no longer kind."

Picture high school. It's ruled by two kinds of groups. There's the popular, almighty people, and then you have the unpopular, lowly people. Well that is the type of society that Mare Barrow lives in.

There are two kinds of people in Mare Barrow's society, except the thing that defines your place is the color of your blood. First you have the Silvers,which are the elite people "whose supernatural abilities make them gods". Then you have the Reds, which are the lowly servants of the Silvers.

Mare Barrow is a Red, who just so happens to be the best pit-pocketer in all the village. Mare lives with her mother, her war-disabled father, and her sister Gisa. Mare also has brothers but they are in the military, which Mare will soon join them...or so she thought. One encounter with a stranger leads Mare landing a job in the royal palace, filled with people she loathes the most. Mare works through rooms filled with Silvers, just simply serving and refilling drinks. Girls appear trying to win the affection of the two young princes, but only one of them is familiar. It's the stranger who got Mare the job.

As the night goes on Mare does her serving duties, and can't wait for the night to end. Suddenly, she is attacked by a girl in the pageant and thrown of the balcony landing on this lightening force field. The only problem is, Mare does burn but controls the lightening. This sets off a chain of events that will change everything.

I loved this book! It really made my imagination come to life. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family. Not only does this book have suspense, it also has betrayal and a hint of love. I love Mare's independent spirit, but also how loyal she is to her friends and loved ones. The storyline is absolutely spectacular! It will give you goose bumps. You feel everything the characters feel, and even feel afraid for some of them at one point. Join Mare in this fantastic tale, and "rise red as the dawn."