This is Not a Test vs. Monument 14

I have not read a whole lot of books focusing on zombies or an apocalypse, but This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers is a story that shares many similarities with another book I read a few years ago, Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne. Admittedly, I enjoyed This is Not a Test a whole lot better than Monument 14 for reasons I will explain later on.

Six high school students, two eighth graders, and six younger children have taken refuge in a chain superstore (for example, Walmart). Occurring outside are a series of escalating disasters ranging from a monster hailstorm to a chemical weapons spill, which are tearing the world apart. This is the first of a series, but I only managed to finish the first one because I wasn't very impressed with the characters and the writing. It's safe to say that I will not be continuing the series. Same goes for This is Not a Test, though only because after two apocalyptic stories, I think I've had enough.

Six students have taken cover in their high school after a zombie epidemic breaks out. Sound familiar? Yeah, very similar story lines, but I enjoyed this one a lot more because it had some good character development. The main character is Sloane Price, who lost her will to live after her older sister ran away and left Sloane to live alone with their abusive father. And now the world's falling apart, and people are dying left and right. What does she do? It's interesting to see Sloane trying to figure out a way to end her life without burdening her five companions who are desperately trying to survive.

Now I won't go into detail about the two books (I hardly remember Monument 14 except for the fact that it had really stupid characters and no development). But I will say that both stories have a very similar layout. I don't know if this is the case with most apocalyptic books as I haven't read much in that genre, but that's the thing I noticed while reading This is Not a Test. Both books have a group of characters taking refuge in a sturdy building with enough supplies to last them a while. Both groups of characters aren't originally friends (they only happened to be there and therefore need each other to survive). There are conflicts between the characters themselves, and a lot of tension because of the chaos going on outside the walls. They also both end in a similar fashion.

If you are a die-hard fan of apocalyptic stories, then I'd recommend This is Not a Test because of the two, this one had a lot more character development and it had a decent story. If you aren't, don't waste your time on either of them because I'm sure there are a ton of apocalyptic stories with a much more original and less cliched story line as these.

Top 5 Science Fiction Books

I don't usually read a lot of science-fiction books mainly because of all the world-building that is required to write it. Authors spend a lot of time describing the world before getting into the actual story, and I often don't have the patience to wade through all of that information. (I'm also not a huge fan of fantasy which involves kingdoms and elves and other mystical beings.) Out of the several science-fiction books I've read, here are my top five.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is set in the future when Earth has been attacked by aliens called the Buggers. In order to combat another oncoming war, the government recruits gifted young children to Battle School where they train to become soldiers. It's one that I've reread over and over again and I haven't gotten tired of it yet. One reason is because the book really makes you think because of all the issues the author explores. Every time I reread the book I discover something new that I hadn't noticed or understood before.

Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card is basically the same story as Ender's Game, but it is told from a different character's point of view. Even though the two books cover the same time period and the same events, you get to see it from two different people with different backgrounds and thought process. Orson Scott Card has written many more books about Ender and Bean about when they're older, but I've only read these two. I would definitely recommend checking either one out to see if you'd like it, though I know science-fiction isn't for everyone.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is set in the future, everyone spends their days in the OASIS, a virtual reality, where the creator had hidden treasure somewhere very secret. Several years after the creator died, Wade Watts stumbles upon the first puzzle. This also had a lot of world-building and information, but I found the description of the virtual reality really interesting. Even though it's set in the future, the world has an obsession with the 1980s, so I thought it was an interesting way to make the context more familiar for the readers. I really enjoyed this book, but it's not one I can reread over and over again.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman is set after the Second Civil War, where the conclusion was this; parents can have their child "unwound" when he/she is between the ages of 13-18. In other words, all of the child's organs will be transplanted into different donors, which means they are technically still living, albeit not in one piece. Three unwanted children, Connor, Risa, and Lev, are on the run to escape this dreaded fate. I really enjoyed this sci-fi because of the concept of "unwounding" which I thought was very unique. It's the first of a series, but I think the first book can stand alone because it had a good conclusion. I didn't find the sequels worth reading.

Gone by Michael Grant is the first of a 6-book series and is about what happens when an impenetrable dome appears over an area in California and everyone over the age of 15 disappears. Electronics cease to work, and what happens after is chaos as the teens and kids attempt to establish order, whilst others are gaining supernatural powers. I really enjoyed this series, but I'm not sure it's for everyone because it is quite lengthy (6 books) and there's a lot of characters to follow. The entire series is chaotic but I think that's mainly why I enjoyed it so much.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin was definitely an intriguing read. I wasn't sure what to expect because I knew almost nothing about the story before reading it. It was a fast read because it kept me guessing and it was full of mystery and suspense.

It's about Mara Dyer who wakes up in a hospital, only to learn that she survived an accident that her friends did not. She is told that she and her friends were in an old building in the middle of the night when it collapsed on top of them, but Mara doesn't remember anything about why they were there or what happened that night. In an effort to help Mara recover from the traumatic event, her family moves to Florida so she can start over.

It is best to go into the book without knowing much about the plot, because the best aspect about the book is the suspense. The author definitely has you thinking while you read, because I was constantly trying to sort out what was going on. Reading from the narrative of someone with PTSD was interesting because sometimes you aren't sure of what is real and what isn't. I really enjoyed that aspect, and it's what made the book entertaining to read. While the whole story wasn't entirely fulfilling (as it's the first of a series), I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a suspenseful YA novel.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Top 6 Fantasy/Paranormal Series

Books that circle around a fantasy or unrealistic world, full of the supernatural and paranormal can give you a break from reality. These include urban fantasy, paranormal, and everything similar.

Of course the first series on this list is the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter is admitted into Hogwarts, a school of witches and wizards, and Harry discovers the wizarding world, a place where he can belong. The seven books cover the seven years of schooling and Harry's adventures as he and his friends have to defeat Lord Voldemort. J. K. Rowling creates such a detailed and magical world that I love, along with all the characters and Harry's adventures. It's one of those series that you can reread over and over again without getting sick of them, because there's so much depth to them.

The Percy Jackson series along with the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan are about a group of demigods who go on adventures in order to save their world. Rick Riordan cleverly creates a world that merges a lot of mythology into it. After reading these series, it peaked my interest in learning more about mythological creatures and the stories behind them. Although it's aimed for younger readers, I still enjoyed them because they were full of humor and adventure. I especially liked the distinction between Roman and Greek gods in the Heroes of Olympus series.

Cassandra Clare's works which include the Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices series along with several others still in the works all take place in the Shadowhunter world. The author is able to merge reality with demons and angels in order to create a great urban fantasy world. She puts in a lot of details into how the world works and each series focuses on a different group of characters in different time periods, and they have to face different challenges in the world while still focusing on family and relationship problems that makes it feel so real.

The Night World series by L. J. Smith is a series of stories in chronological order all taking place in the Night World; a place of vampires, witches, shapeshifters, and, and werewolves. There is one important rule; falling in love with a human is forbidden. I loved this series and the world that L. J. Smith created. Each shorter story is from a different perspective, but put together it has an overarching plot about a threat to the Night World which I found so interesting. Unfortunately this series is not finished as the author has gone on hiatus and it is not clear whether or not it will ever get an end.

L. J. Smith has a gift for creating really unique and interesting paranormal worlds. Another one of her works in the Forbidden Game series, which is about Jenny who receives a game from a mysterious handsome guy named Julian. As she and her friends begin to play it they suddenly fall into a world of nightmares where Julian controls everything. Playing the game is a matter of life or death. This is one of the most unique stories I've ever read and I loved how Jenny and her friends and how they did in the game. It has such a great ending because everything is resolved.

Yet another series by L. J. Smith, the Dark Visions series. It's about a girl, Kaitlyn Fairchild, who is used to being isolate from others because she's psychic. She accepts an invitation to an institute to study with other teenage psychics, and they discover that the institute isn't what it seems. I loved the characters in this story, especially the love triangle with Rob and Gabriel. I also loved the psychic link that forms between the group which made it so interesting to see them have to work together. Out of all the books about teenagers with superpowers, this series definitely is one of the best.

Top 3 Action Series

Here are my three top action (spy, crime, etc.) series.

The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz is one of my favorites. It's about a teenage boy named Alex who discovers shortly after his uncle's death that his uncle was a spy working for MI6. Due to the circumstances, Alex (who has good physical and mental ability) is forced to go undercover in order to stop various evil plans. I loved Alex's character and personality and his ability to act as a spy, and I love the different missions he goes on. Each one is different and has different antagonists. The last book, Scorpia Rising was my favorite because it was a perfect way to end the series.

One of Ally Carter's series, the Gallagher Girl series, is about Cammie Morgan - a student at an all-girl prestigious school. In truth, this school is a spy school, where they train the girls in various areas in order to be a good spy. Cammie and her friends find themselves in a compromising situation that is revealed further into the series and they have to put their skills to the test in the real world. I love the characters and the spy school and it had a lot of action. The last book pulled everything back together and neatly wrapped the whole series in a bow. I loved this series.

Another series by Ally Carter, the Heist Society series, which is about Katarina Bishop, who is part of a family of con artists. When her dad gets suspected for stealing his art collection, Kat gathers her crew of teenage friends in order to steal them back and clear her father's name. Like the Gallagher Girl series, I loved these books because it had that same intensity and action. It's actually better written story-telling than the Gallagher Girl series, and you get a sneak peek of what it's like being a con artist. The characters all have their own personalities, which makes them all the more likable.

Favorite Childhood Books

There are several authors and book series that I really enjoyed reading when I was in elementary school, and today I'm going to be listing several of them.

One of the first series that got me into reading was the Magic Tree House series. They are about siblings Jack and Annie who stumble upon a magic tree house full of books. This tree house transports them back in time; a different place and time period each book. I loved reading about Jack and Annie's adventures as they met historical figures such as Leonardo Da Vinci and the like. I've read up to #38 in the series (there are currently 52 books so far) and eventually grew out of them as I got older. They gave me kind of an overview of different historical events and places and it was a lot of fun reading them.

Andrew Clements was one of my favorite authors growing up. He's written a ton of children books, each one with different characters in different situations. I loved reading about each story and one in particular, Landry News, a story about a kid-written newspaper, inspired me to write my own "newspaper" which lasted 2-3 years until I lost interest in continuing it. Nevertheless, Not only does he write realistic-fiction, one of his books, Things Not Seen, is about a kid who wakes up one day and finds himself invisible. It had a sci-fi twist which I really enjoyed.

Roald Dahl is a British author who wrote many books, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, The BFG, and many others. His books are always really funny and enjoyable because they always have some twist whether it's a s genius Matilda or a big friendly giant. His children books also have a sense of adventure with them, and still contain that childish lightheartedness and humor. Two of my favorites are Matilda and The Witches. Roald Dahl's books are definitely ones that I will always remember as books I loved during my childhood.

The Main Street series is about two sisters, Flora and Ruby, who move to Camden Falls where their grandmother lives after their parents died in an accident. Now what captivated me the most was the description of Camden Falls because I wish it was a real place that I could visit. It talks about how the sisters try to adjust to life in Camden Falls and how they make new friends. Ann M. Martin also wrote other books I've read such as The Doll People and  A Dog's Life, both of which I also loved and found so unique. The Main Street series is about the adventures the two sisters and their friends have in Camden Falls and I loved the characters and the setting.

The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes is about fifth-grader Abby Hayes. The book is written from Abby's perspective (she keeps a journal of everything) and you get to see her journal entries and all the adventures she experiences with her friends. I really liked this series because of the writing style (the journal) and the narratives. Abby also has several siblings with distinct personalities that also make's the characters fun and humorous. It was one of my favorites as a kid and I loved reading about Abby and her friends and the things they did as elementary school students and even into middle school.

The Mysterious Benedict Society is the first of three books in a series by Trenton Lee Stewart. It's about a group of four gifted kids - Reynie, Constance, Kate, and Sticky - and how they try to stop an evil mastermind, Mr. Curtain. I loved the characters and their quirkiness as they tried to solve the puzzles and what not. I really loved the first book; it was full of riddles and it was cleverly written (especially the test they had to take in the beginning). But from there the series kind of degenerated. The series as a whole was decent, but the last two books were less than amazing.

Top 6 Realistic Fiction Books

While books are a way to escape from reality and to delve into another world, sometimes there's nothing more satisfying than reading a story set in the real world rather than a fictional one. Whenever I want to focus more on real characters who undergo a lot of change rather than an action-packed plot, realistic-fiction is there. And so, I bring to you today, in no particular order, my top 6 realistic-fiction books.

First up today is Fangirl, a sweet romance about a college freshman who would rather prefer to lock herself up in her room writing fan-fiction rather than attempting to interact with new people. The characters are all so funny and unique and the story-telling is one of the best. I especially love the use of fan-fiction excerpts to give you a taste of fantasy in a realistic fiction story. The romance between Cath and Levi warms you heart and watching Cath and Wren reconcile as sisters is sweet. Cath grows as a person due to the people she meets and the opportunities she takes. The story-telling and the fleshed out characters make this book stand out from the rest. I loved this book.

Something Real, is about 17-year old Bonnie™ Baker who spent the first 13 years of her life on a reality TV show, Baker's Dozen, along with her parents and her 12 siblings. Four years after its cancellation, after Chloe has finally settled into a normal life, it's back on the air. This story focuses on Chloe aka Bonnie and how she deals with her dysfunctional family and the pressure of being watched 24/7. The characters all feel so real and it's so interesting to watch Chloe, her brother Benton, and their friends as they help each other out. There's a lot of drama and it has a bittersweet ending, but you come to care for the character's and emphasize with their struggles.

Hate List is about Valerie Leftman and how she deals with her family and classmates after her boyfriend Nick opened fire in their school cafeteria, killing several people that were named on a list created by Valerie and Nick of things and people they hated. Now back in school for her senior year, she has to deal with the guilt and isolation she feels, with everyone avoiding her. It's a story Valerie's journey as she finds closure and comes to terms with herself, and learns that she's not the only one who was affected by the shooting. I really enjoyed reading about Valerie's struggles and how at the end she is able to do something for the victims and learn to move on.

Lynn Visible is a book I read a couple years ago yet even now I can remember how much I loved this book. It's about Lynn Vincent, who is passionate about fashion. She loves inventing her own style and is used to being looked down upon due to her unique outfits. When one of her creations lands into the hands of a famous designer, she has to ask herself whether what she wants and what exactly fashion means to her. To her, it's a form of self-expression and a canvas for her never-ending creativity. I loved reading about the characters and Lynn's own struggles with herself.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a story about Clay Jensen who receives a package of thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, a classmate who committed suicide two weeks earlier. In the tapes, Hannah explains the thirteen reasons why she committed suicide. This was such a unique story and to learn about 12 people and how their bullying and actions caused Hannah so much pain was heartbreaking. It was so well-written and shows you how much of an impact your actions can have on other people, whether they were with good intentions or not. The narrative and characters were definitely the highlights of this novel.

Flash Burnout is about Blake who has a passion for photography. One day he snaps a picture of a homeless woman and discovers that it's the long-lost mother of his friend, Marissa. Blake struggles between his long-relationship with his girlfriend and his increasing involvement with Marissa. This book's story was well-written and I loved how the author was able to use photography as a way to describe the obstacles you have to overcome in life. I loved the end when Blake's project for his photography class immortalizes the events that happened up until when Melissa left. The author is able to tie the story back together really well.

Fangirl

Hey guys! It's been a while. I have to admit, I've been in a reading slump lately and just couldn't find anything I wanted to read. The only two books I read over the summer were... for school.

Pathetic, right? I think it's because I've been reading way too many dystopian YA novels and I've found myself growing tired of them. So instead, I decided to check out a realistic-fiction author I've heard good things about, Rainbow Rowell. Her more well-known book, Eleanor and Park, wasn't available at the library, so I decided to settle on one of her other books, Fangirl.

And wow I enjoyed this book so much.

A brief synopsis from Amazon:

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Let's talk about the fanfiction. One unique thing about this book is that it includes several excerpts from the (fictional) Simon Snow series and Cath's own fanfiction story. To be honest, these excerpts were probably my favorite part of the entire book, because it's like a reading a spin-off from Harry Potter (which I LOVE) but it's different enough to make it its own. Fangirl is like two stories in one; Cath's college life and the fictional world she writes about.

Cath and her twin sister Wren were close growing up, especially after their mom left them when they were younger. But now that they are starting college, Wren wants some independence. The two are very different from each other; Wren is more outgoing and likes to go to parties and get drunk, and Cath is more introverted, preferring to lock herself up in her room and write fanfiction all day. Throughout their freshman year, they hardly talk to each other and when they do, it always turns into an argument. By the end of the book however, Wren reconciles with Cath and they are drawn back together through the world of Simon Snow, which I found really touching. Two twins, gone their separate ways, are brought back together because they are sisters and know each other best.

The romance in this book was so cute and sweet. Unlike a lot of YA books where a lot of the romance feels fake or forced, Cath and this guy (name undisclosed to prevent spoilers) start out as acquaintances and slowly develops into something beyond friendship. His and Cath's personalities were both really likable and I thought they were perfect for each other.

Overall I absolutely loved this book, and I look forward to reading more of Rainbow Rowell's books. It's a perfect blend of realistic-fiction, fantasy (Simon Snow), humor, romance, and character development. I recommend it to anyone looking for a light and cute read because I fell in love with the characters and I know you will too.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter. The fifth book of the Gallahger Girl series. This book was amazing.

Wait, rewind. Did you catch that last line? "This book was amazing." Oh, good, I was afraid that you might've missed that vital sentence. Because it's true. This book was way different from the others. It was a mystery, and naturally was full of suspense, shock, and disbelief. Oh, and moments where I was like, "WHY?? NO!!" *sobs in anger*. Which is good thing, trust me.

All that Cammie Morgan remember from her summer vacation was leaving to protect her friends and family from the Circle. That, and waking up to find that months had past, and that she couldn't remember a thing about what she did over her summer. When she comes back to school, she's ready for things to return to normal. But what she realizes is that things may never be normal again. She finds that she is a different person. Someone who knows how to do stuff she couldn't even imagine doing. Things that she does in an instant without it even registering her brain. She is now considered a danger even to her fellow classmates, in the one place she has ever felt safe.

They have to trace back, find out exactly what happened over the summer, and solve the mystery before time runs out. Because the Circle is hot on their trail.

Like I said, I was constantly in suspense, and loved the twists that left me in shock and disbelief. It's a must read. (And yes, my rating is correct. I did consider giving it an 11 out of 10, but I decided that was a bit too much.)

My Rating: 10.5 out of 10 stars

City of Heavenly Fire (NO SPOILERS)

Okay. Okay. It's finally time. *takes deep breath* I just finished reading City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare, and I... OMG WHY DID IT HAVE TO END??

Let me tell you something. I have read so many YA books over the past few years. But I have never gotten my hands on a book that caused me to stay up to 2 in the morning just to finish a 725 page book.

Until now.

After reading both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series, I have to say that Cassandra Clare is one of my favorite authors. I love her writing style, and the way she's able to create such a vivid world, The Shadowhunter World, is amazing. Cassandra Clare is able to weave so many characters into one huge story, that has a hundred different things going on at the same time.

Now let me say something. When I first read City of Bones, I liked it, but I didn't think it was a masterpiece. When I read Clockwork Angel, I even thought about dropping the Infernal Devices series, because it wasn't my cup of tea. But I'm so glad I didn't drop it. Because every single book Cassandra Clare writes is 10 times better than the last one. And this book, all 725 pages of it, had me hooked the whole way through.

Sebastian is such a despicable character. He has demon blood in him after all. He's inhuman, and shows no empathy when he tortures and kills. And as much as I hate Sebastian, I can't help feeling sorry for him. This is what Cassandra Clare is able to do. She can create such a twisted and evil character such as Sebastian, and make him have a weakness that almost makes him seem like a lost little boy who might've lived a normal life if things were different.

Now City of Heavenly Fire is the end of the series, and it wraps up perfectly. I can't think of anything I'd change to make it better. Although it's a bittersweet ending; many things are still not resolved and to think of how many people died in the war against Sebastian... Even then, it's a happy ending because it's more like a new beginning or... ARGH I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS.

Anyway, if you are a fan of Cassandra Clare's works, you won't be disappointed by this last book of the series, as I think it's even better than the last, which was Clockwork Princess. And you don't know how much I loved Jem, Tessa, and Will after that ended.

Rating: 10 out of 10

The Night Circus

Hello! I'm back again with a review on a book I recently finished; The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. This book was recommended to me by a friend, and after reading it, I have mixed feelings over it. First off, I'm just going say that this book isn't for everyone. It's lengthy, and definitely not for those seeking a story with a lot of action. But it is very descriptive and overall I enjoyed the slow-paced and mysterious aura that this book gives off.

This book is about a Le Cirque des Reves; a circus that travels the world, appearing and disappearing without notice. Unbeknownst to most, this circus is the venue of a competition between two talented illusionists. During their childhoods, their respective instructors have placed a bond on them that entitles their participation in a game against each other, a game that will last for many years, all the way into their adulthood. Due to the bonds placed upon them, their is no way to leave the game until a winner is declared, and neither of them were told clearly how the winner was supposed to be chosen. So without being told who their respective opponents were, they began to create incredible feats of magic for those visiting the circus to enjoy, taking turns to counter each other's moves. Once they first meet, they inadvertently begin to fall in love, learning too late that to end the game there must be only one left standing.

The book spans from 1873 to 1903, which is the duration of their entire competition, from the moment they are bound to it until the moment the game ends. I like how the book is set during this time period, because it adds to the mysterious setting and it fits the circus and magic theme very nicely. What really made this book worthwhile to read was the writing-style of the author; she really puts a lot of effort into describing the setting and characters in such detail, that it made this fictional world so much more magic. The description of the circus was so intriguing that I honestly wished it was real just so I could visit it and experience it myself.

I found the story about the two illusionists to be very heartwarming. The author had a pretty big cast of characters with different personalities that you get attached to, and I think it's very interesting that although the game is between the two illusionists, they didn't realize that there would be so many others that were involved as well. This enriched the story even further; the author made use of a great deal of description in order to make the reader grow really attached to the circus and the characters.

As much as I loved the writing-style of this book, this book had many flaws as well. As I mentioned, it's quite lengthy without much development at times, that it's easy to get bored, despite it's detail. Another thing that contributes to the slow-pace is the time period. Each chapter has a location and a date, and because it's not always in chronological order, it takes some time to realize that the events that are happening are often several months apart. It took me a while to realize that the book covered a period of 30 years, that although at the beginning the characters were young and reckless, they've progressed well into adulthood before the game has an end in sight. Also, because the chapters kept jumping from the past to the present, it's easy to get confused and make sense of everything that is happening.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book, as it was something a lot different than books I've already read. What sold this book to me was the writing-style, and although slow, the story line was also touching to read about. I feel as if I've been brought into a whole new world of magic since I read Harry Potter, and I think those with patience and time will enjoy this book as well.

Rating: 8 out of 10