Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Million Suns (Across the Universe, Book 2) by Beth Revis

Razorbill (an imprint of Penguin Teen), 386 pages
Released: January 10, 2012

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

------------------Goodreads Summary

Notable Quote

"Because here's the simple truth--if I hadn't taken the ship off Phydus, people like Jordy and Ellemae would still be alive. And while I could say that a shorter life with feelings is better than a longer life without, the dead can't tell me their side."

**Possible spoilers, but I did my best to be vague and/or muddled enough where it would only make sense to those who read it :)

I named Across the Universe (Book 1) as one of my absolute favourite reads of 2011, and possibly one of my favourites ever.  So naturally, I was a bit scared about A Million Suns. I had high hopes and high expectations for it, as well as a general sense of what I hoped to happen in the plot - any reader knows that's a dangerous mix.  Plus, I learned the series would be a trilogy, and it's a generality that I make that book 2s tend to be...not so great.  They always seem to be more of a bridge, informative but not quite engaging.  It's like they're a set-up and nothing more.  So of course, I went into A Million Suns excited, but worried.

Well, rest assured that all my worries were COMPLETELY pointless.  A Million Suns is a fabulous book, filled with the hope and excitement and terror and breathlessness I was hoping for.  It is incredibly informative as I expect any second book in a trilogy to be, but it maintained action and forward movement.  All the questions and concerns I had after I finished Across the Universe were within the book, too, which is nice.

I did feel like it was slightly less exciting than Across the Universe, if only because I can't really pinpoint one thing from A Million Suns that really stands out to me as heart-pounding, stress-inducing terror like the Season scene in ATU.  AMS had its fair share of suspenseful moments, but it was never something that I couldn't get through.  I will admit that I felt much more sad in Book 2 than I did in ATU, though probably because I cared about the characters much more as well.

I'm also surprisingly frustrated with Amy and Elder.  I understand why she resists being with him, why she's scared and what it would mean if she admitted to loving him.  But it feels so...wasted. Like even though her reasons are fairly valid, it still seems like it's nothing that would really stop a teenage girl.  Probably because I just want them to step up already and be together and live happily ever after, but I had a distinct feeling of them not officially getting together just for the sake of keeping a reader strung along to see what would happen.  Even though I know the end, that little barrier of Orion still feels like it's there to simply make a reader question what could happen enough to ensure they'll read Book 3.  Almost like a literary manipulation, I suppose.

But that doesn't mean I still don't love the book!  I felt like I was part of Godspeed, looking at the stars and trying to take everything in, almost overwhelmed but unable to stop wanting more.  A perfect entrance into Book Three!

(But seriously, I have to wait A WHOLE YEAR for the last book?!  I don't know if I can make it. Someone give me a phydus patch and take me off when it's here, ok?)

4.5 Stars / 5

In My Mailbox (2)

Update: Holy comments and followers on yesterday's post, batman! I scheduled this post when I did the Waiting On Wednesday one since I was bogged down at work (as explained) and only just now got to check - hello new followers and thanks for the comments! I should get back to everyone later today or tomorrow, and I hope you enjoy your stay here :) Happy Thursday!

Normally I'd be happy to get a temp job, but this week I was so disappointed! Not because it's fairly boring work (it is) or for a company I've worked for before and was miserable at (it is) or even because it's  a 45-minute commute in the morning and hour commute in the evening (it is).

I was disappointed because I had an AMAZING haul of books this week and was completely looking forward to spending all day every day reading!

(Making money is nice, don't get me wrong - but seriously, look at my books!)

Hosted by the lovely Story Siren, In My Mailbox is a weekly meme to showcase the books we've acquired this week (via library, purchase, gift, ARC, etc.).

LOOK AT ALL THIS AWESOME YOU GUYS:

Thanks to the YA sale at Barnes & Noble, I purchased these:

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith
Delirium - Lauren Oliver

Which I already powered through The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight in 4 hours because I simply could not put it down (read my review here!).  And I know, it's almost shameful that I've yet to read Delirium.

Via the library, I had these put on hold for me and they finally all came in:

Matched - Ally Condie
A Million Suns - Beth Revis
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson

I don't think you guys understand how excited I am for A Million Suns.  Across the Universe was in my Top 3 Favourites of 2011 and I couldn't get my hot little hands on the sequel fast enough.  I actually waited to post this In My Mailbox until it came into the library just so it could be included!  None of these I've read before but have been highly recommended to me, so I'm excited for them!

Also from the library, I saw these on the shelf and picked them up on a whim:

The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
the sky is everywhere - Jandy Nelson

And actually, if I'm going to be honest about it, the sky is everywhere was shoved behind a bunch of books in the stacks and I happened to see it.  I think someone might have purposely hidden it to check it out, so I feel a teensy bit guilty for nabbing it if someone wanted it - but as soon as I read the synopsis, I couldn't pass it up!

And thanks to the Teen Deals at the iBookstore, also purchased these two on my iPad:

I am not at all ashamed to say that I am eagerly awaiting the weekend so I can read!

Waiting On Wednesday: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Hosted by Breaking the Spine, Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme to spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Knopf, 272 Pages
US Release Date: February 14, 2012

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

-------Amazon.com Description

I know a lot of bloggers have already reviewed this, and it is being released fairly soon - but still! I'm eagerly waiting for it! Ever since I saw the first review, I knew this novel would be something I could really love. Street art is a fascinating subculture that I had a strange introduction to through one of my history students when I was teaching at a local high school, and ever since then it's ballooned into this almost-obsessive interest I want to know everything about!  Plus, I watched Exit Through The Gift Shop recently, by and featuring Banksy (perhaps the most famous street artist) and it is a captivating documentary about the search for graffiti artist - similar to the book!

Add in that it's a YA book filled with the inevitable drama and romance and angst, and it just sounds perfect.

Review: Stand Tall by Joan Bauer

Speak, 182 pages
Released August 26, 2002
MG/Ages 10+

Tree is twelve years old and too tall: six feet, three and a half inches and growing. He's never really been able to fit in at school or on the basketball team, and since his parents' divorce he isn't even comfortable in his own home. Tree copes by helping people like his grandpa, a Vietnam vet who's just had part of a leg amputated, and Sophie, a new girl at school who is being teased by the popular kids. In helping his grandpa learn to walk again, and in listening to Sophie's advice that he be himself, Tree begins to heal, to stand tall. But when a flood threatens his town and his home, Tree's newfound confidence is put to the test.

----------Amazon.com Summary

Notable Quote

"Sometimes you've got to shout the truth and wake people up."

3 stars / 5

Despite the rating, I did actually like this book and found nothing to complain about. It's a simple story of a boy, named Sam but nicknamed Tree due to his tall size (6'3" in 7th grade!), coping with his parents' divorce through helping his Vietnam vet grandfather and befriending a new girl at school.  In every way, it's how a Tall Boy learns to Stand Out.

It's a sweet story, and though I have not experienced anything Tree does (I was 5'2" in seventh grade and my parents are, thankfully, still together), it feels very real. Joan Bauer does fabulous with a male protagonist, nailing the tone and dialogue (or lack thereof, as the case of a 12-year-old awkward boy always is).  I was made to feel for Tree and root for him.  I was sad at how his family seems to be crumbling, happy when he had breakthroughs, hopeful when he has friends and family that love him.

But still...I'm very "meh" about the book itself.  Perhaps I just didn't connect to it because I'm not like Tree at all, but nothing excited me.  It was predictable in a safe way, had a very clear rise and fall and resolution, and was generally just another story for me.  I would recommend Middle Graders read this, as it may speak to them and offer a character to connect with.

Still...quick, good read; but passable.  Library read, if you get around to it.

Happy The Fault In Our Stars Release Day!

Happy Release Day, John Green and Nerdfighters alike!

Because I am poor (unemployed), I didn't pre-order the book since I wasn't sure I'd have enough money in my account.  BUT, I did put it on hold at the library and it is currently in transit, ready for me to be picked up sometime this week :)  So hopefully no spoilers pop up online (or I can avoid them) and I will be able to join in all the inevitable gushing and praise by next week!

I intended to review most of his novels as the last day of celebrating John Green Week, but I realized that 1) I love them all, 2) how many times can I really call him brilliant/amazing/flawless/masterful/other-synonyms, and 3) I seriously have little to say about them all other than everyone needs to read his work.

So instead, I'm going to tell you why I love him, and leave you with my favourite quotes from his 4 main books!

I was actually quite late in the John Green world, partially because his novels were released in my college years and I wasn't reading for pleasure for awhile and mostly because I wasn't reading YA.  My friends don't read YA, so I'm not exposed to much of it.  However, when a trusted blog friend listed John Green's Paper Towns as one of her all time favourites, I thought I'd give it a shot.

Best. Decision. Ever.

I'm not even going to get into the argument of "grown ups" reading Young Adult novels, but let me tell you that I was 22 when I first read John Green and still find everything he's ever written to be a life lesson and applicable to me.  I'm just shy of 25 right now (eep!) and can't imagine life without John Green's writing.  I find such truth in his words, something that's real and hits all those fears and vulnerabilities we're afraid to have.  But more than that, he explores them and makes it feel as though we're not the only one's having these problems and thoughts.  He tackles the big problems, the small problems, the personal problems, the relationship problems: everything.

“When did we see each other face-to-face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that, we were just looking at ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, the light can get in. The light can get out.”- Paper Towns

Paper Towns was the perfect book for me to start with, because at the time I was struggling with my perception of home and the people around me and living in Orange County and Suburban San Diego.  If ever to live in a Paper Town with Paper People who have Paper Thoughts, Orange County is a safe bet there.

After that, I devoured all the books I could find.  Looking For Alaska.  An Abundance of Katherines.  Will Grayson, Will Grayson (a treat, since I love David Levithan too!).  Let It Snow (another treat, love Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle, too).  Not a single one has let me down.

“Thomas Edison's last words were 'It's very beautiful over there'. I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere, and I hope it's beautiful.”- Looking For Alaska

Paper Towns remains my favourite, though that may be just because it was my gateway into this fascinating and wonderful community.  Will Grayson, Will Grayson is the close-by-a-sliver second.  And it's not like I could ever defend why I love them more than the others - I just do.  I love them all, and those two just happen to have an iota of more love.

“That's who you really like. The people you can think out loud in front of.” - An Abundance of Katherines

There's really no point here. I, along with most other readers, people, and nerdfighters alike, admire John Green and what his novels do to us. They bring us together as a community, offer us advice and an outlet for our lives.  He's perhaps one of the most acclaimed authors today - and deserves every single bit of it.

“Maybe there's something you're afraid to say, or someone you're afraid to love, or somewhere you're afraid to go. It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt because it matters.” - Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Happy Release Day!

(and no spoilers if you can help it, please!)

Review: The Scorpio Races (ebook) by Maggie Stiefvater

Scholastic Press, 409 Pages
Released October 18, 2011

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

--------------------Goodreads.com Summary

Notable Quote

"She is my mare and my best friend, and I keep waiting for something bad to happen to her, because I love her too much."

Rating: 5 / 5

I'm going to admit, I was reluctant to read this. It had been recommended to me, and kept seeing it on lists and blogs and getting rave reviews and when I was given the e-version (averse as I may be to those...) I thought ok, let's give it a shot.  Even though I'd read descriptions, I was still unsure. Horses? Races? Magic and myths and the call of the sea? None of that could at all be described as my cup of tea.

Well, I will drink this all for the REST OF MY LIFE.

I was absolutely captivated by this book, almost from the very beginning. The plight of Puck Connolly with her tragic story was enough to make me feel compelled to hope for her, and the quiet strength of Sean Kendrick popped from the pages. Immediately, I had to know Sean - and it seemed like I never would!

When I first started reading, I was a bit like...ok, this is about these Scorpio Races, why is it so far away in the novel? And I feel dumb admitting that, but finally I realized that it wasn't about this Scorpio Race, but about the Scorpio Races, and it's about them the entire time.  What it means to this beautiful little island of Thisby and the culture, way of life, everything.  It's so much more than just a "horse race" - it's about life, and beauty, and love and caring and home and all the pains and struggles and rewards loving someone means.

Everything about this book is absolutely amazing. The descriptions, the treatments, the plot and settings...Maggie Stiefvater creates a brilliant world and manages to explain the myth in a way that brings it to life and makes me really believe in the magic of the water and the calling of the sea.  I was terrified of the water horses and so in love with them at the same time.  I hated Mutt Malvern with a passion reserved for only the worst people in my life.  I was holding my breath the entire time reading this, a lump in my throat, tears threatening to spill, and hope bursting from my heart.  I sent out this tweet towards the end, and it's so true: I felt so raw and emotional!

So, here's the thing.  This entire book is a love story to me. Not the romance and relationship kind, but a story about love. What it means to love things, items, property, things-treated-as-property, people, family, memories.  It's about happiness and what must be done to attain it, and what must be let go.  The sacrifices and terror we'll put ourselves through for the outcome, how sometimes not being able to bear something can show us exactly what we can.  It is a love story in it's purest definition, and I love that it seems like the main romance was such a small (but still entirely important) part to it all.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Even if it doesn't sound your cup of tea, trust me when I say it will be by the end (and probably earlier).


PS. I'm a huge nerd and freaked out when I saw Maggie Stiefvater had tweeted me back, too.  Love!
PPS. Because I read it on my iPad, I can show you my ridiculous notes. Normally I wouldn't want to bare my crazy to the world, but still, I think it's funny. Plus, now you can see the quotes I appreciated!

Click for bigger size!