Waiting On Wednesday

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
(Philomel/May 7, 2013)

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth. 

Having enjoyed previous works by these authors, I hope Invisibility will prove to be another good read!  (The boy being invisible reminds me a bit of a book I read during my middle school years, Things Not Seen!)

 What are you waiting on this Wednesday? 

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Waiting On Wednesday

Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer

(Razorbill/April 23, 2013)

 

Life turned upside down for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into the scene of flashbulbs, paparazzi, and the fervent adulation that comes with being in the celebrity Angel world. She's trying to juggle her ordinary life—high school, family, friends—with the intense demands of being in the public eye as heartthrob Angel Jackson Godspeed's girlfriend.

And now Maddy must face the most difficult choice of her life. She's been offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed. But more than that, it would mean leaving her mortal life behind—forever—and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans is heading for war. . . . 

I really enjoyed Immortal City and thought it was a stand-alone novel.  The story was a stood quite well by itself and although I am hopeful that this sequel will deliver, I'm a little hesitant!  I thought the ending to Immortal City was nice and left a possibility that readers could imagine and interpret as they will, but I guess that will no longer be the case!  Nonetheless, I have hopes that Natural Born Angel will be another good read and that Maddy will have matured since the first novel!

 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

 

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine



Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

 

Release Date: May 31, 2012
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 224
Source: BEA

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on.

Susan Colasanti's writing is very approachable and honest--and definitely tugged more than a few heart strings in Keep Holding On!  If you're looking for a fun, light-hearted read, this is not the novel for you!  Ms. Colasanti tackles much heavier themes in this novel--bullying, poverty, and dysfunctional families.  She captures the struggles and feelings of pain, humiliation and sadness of someone going through so many things; a young teen being bullied relentlessly at school while receiving no support or help at home.  Although Noelle came off as whiny some times and I wished she would take control and try to make improvements on her own, I can see where she's coming from, since she already has so much to deal with. 

The only major issue I had with this book was how neatly everything wrapped up in the end.  After all the struggles Noelle went through, I don't deny that she deserves a better and happier life, but the way things wrapped up in the end seemed a little too fast and wasn't consistent with the tone and pace of the rest of the novel.  Nonetheless, I though Keep Holding On was a well written book overall, and I am looking forward to Ms. Colasanti's future works!

Overall: 4 out of 5
Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 3.75 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Cover: 3.5 stars 

Waiting on Wednesday

Reboot by Amy Tintera
(HarperTeen/May 7, 2013)

 

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

 

Sounds like a really good read!  Although the bit about "the longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return" sounds a lot like the concept Daniel Water's had in his Generation Dead series, except with zombies.  Although there doesn't seem to be many more similarities between the two beyond that seeing that we're talking deadly soldiers here in Reboot! 

 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

 

  

 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine