Author Interview: Diana Peterfreund previews For Darkness Shows the Stars

For my spotlight on upcoming dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction series, I interviewed over 20 authors with novels coming out in the genre in 2012/13.  These are exclusive first looks at exciting new works.  Enjoy!

Today I am thrilled to welcome Diana Peterfreund (author of the SECRET SOCIETY GIRL series and RAMPANT, among others) who is previewing her YA post-apocalytpic PERSUASION retelling FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS, due out Summer 2012 from Balzer & Bray (HarperCollins).


Diana is letting me world premiere the full summary:

Generations ago,  a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.

But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

How excited am I? VERY. Now onto the interview questions.

Why do you think people are drawn to "dark" stories?

Dark stories allow people to have a cathartic emotional experience without the corresponding real life suffering. It could be a "there but for the Grace of God go I" thing, or perhaps a mirror or an outlet for something they're dealing with in their real lives. Or maybe it's just entertainment.

It's funny you ask this. I actually think of For Darkness Shows the Stars as a much more optimistic book than my other young adult titles. The characters are trying to rebuild the world -- that's not dark. It's beautiful! Though the society in the novel truly does leave a lot to be desired, I tend to think of it more as "post-apocalyptic" than classic dystopian. There is an expectation, I think, that post-apocalyptic has to show the depths of the aftermath, such as in Jo Treggiari's Ashes, Ashes, or Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth. But there are also shiny post-apocalyptic stories, like Scott Westerfeld's Uglies.

(However, I have written a truly "dystopian" story, the near-future "Foundlings" that will be out this winter in the anthology BRAVE NEW LOVE. The proceeds from the anthology are being donated to the Ali Forney Center, which provides housing to homeless LGBT youth.)

If FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS had a theme song, what would it be and why? 

Sting's "Ghost Story". It's a plaintive, wintry ballad about the memories that consume you after a lost love, and contains so much that maps exactly to the characters and motifs in my book. To avoid sharing every lyric, I'll just point out two of my favorite lines: "this indifference was my invention, when everything I did sought your attention" and "you were my compass star, you were my measure."

What fictional character from another book would Elliot choose as her best friend and why?

Anne Elliot from Persuasion, since Anne was my inspiration for Elliot. And though For Darkness Shows the Stars is a retelling, they are not exactly the same people -- Elliot has a lot more responsibility than Anne was ever allowed, and it's changed her in certain ways. But they are both smart, long-suffering, shy, deeply passionate, and yearn for lives they weren't born into. 

Kai, the other main character, would probably kill to be friends with any inventor from an HG Wells novel (especially the narrator of the Time Machine, another dystopian classic).

What are your top 5 Dystopian lit recs and why? (Don't have to be your very favorites, can also be lesser known titles you'd like to pimp)

Picking five is problematic. I already recommend any book I've mentioned in this interview, especially UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld. I can't imagine that there are many people who haven't read it, but if not, then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? (Especially now that they have the snazzy new covers.) 

It was one of the first books I read during my rediscovery of YA, and I went out and bought his entire backlist. I know Lenore agrees with me on this one (Lenore's note: I do!) -- I would not be here right now were it not for the cover of Uglies calling to me from across a crowded Barnes & Noble. I'm so excited about the recent movie news. 

FEED by M.T. Anderson is a fantastic book published before the current "craze" that blew me away. The voice is stunning.

ORYX AND CRAKE by Margaret Atwood. When I was younger, women the generation older than me would always talk about how scary The Handmaid's Tale was. I read it, but I never got that "ack" sensation. Then I read Oryx & Crake -- it was a dystopia for my generation, one that spoke to the things that scared ME -- terrorism, genetic engineering, internet anonymity, the ascendance of corporate culture... I don't think I slept for weeks after finishing it.

LOST HORIZON by James Hilton. Some might argue this is a "utopian" rather than "dystopian" novel, but I think dystopia is in the eye of the beholder. There are things about Shangri-La that are horrifying. (I wrote my college thesis on this novel, so I'm a little obsessed.)

And..... ugh. Can. Not. Pick. Okay: SKIN HUNGER by Kathleen Duey. It's great because it's a fantasy dystopia, and you don't see that often. Also it's pitch dark and painfully beautiful.

How does your novel stand out from other dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction out there?

I actually don't know anyone else doing a post-apocalyptic retelling of a regency-era classic (original-text mashups like Pride & Prejudice and Zombies don't count). If you find any, let me know!

Thanks Diana!

Visit Diana's website

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Add FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS to your GoodReads wishlist

Book Review: Dead Rules by Randy Russell

In this inventive tragicomedy, Jana Webster dies in an apparent bowling accident and lands in Dead School, an afterlife way station for teen risers (those on their way up) and sliders (those on their way down).  Jana needs to figure out the Dead Rules to facilitate her plan of bringing her boyfriend Michael Haynes to the same plane as her so that they can be together forever.

Jana is the very definition of the smothering girlfriend.  Her identity is so completely tied up in being part of Webster & Haynes, she can’t fathom an existence without Michael.   She’s so single minded in her plan to kill Michael that she doesn’t care what happens to her – or that her skin gets all tingly when sexy slider Mars touches her.

On the surface, this is a wickedly funny story of Jana’s obsession interspersed with anecdotes of the other students about their deaths (all very bizarre – involving lawn darts, birds and drunken uncles).  But there is so much tragedy underneath the hijinks as Jana is revealed as a terminally lonely soul who doesn’t understand her own worth.  What Debut Author Russell set up and executed here blows me away and I desperately want to discuss this novel with others.  Get in touch!!

DEAD RULES is out now.  Find out more about it at the author’s website.

Readathon Book Review: The Ivy by Lauren Kunze

It is Callie from California's first year at Harvard.  But instead of concentrating on her studies, like you might expect, Callie gets on the party circuit and is well on her way to flunking out ...

If my summary sounds like this novel is a cautionary tale, well ... that's just my takeaway.  Because in reality, THE IVY revels in scandal, parties, hooking up, and making fun of the few people who actually take their studies seriously.

It all starts out engaging enough - flip-flop wearing Callie is a fish out of water in a social scene filled with privileged teens from elite families - and at first, I rooted for her to carve out her own niche.  But then ... I started to wonder how someone as apparently brainless as Callie ever got into Harvard.

I can understand the appeal of a fun, frothy expose type read about "what really goes on" in the Ivy League.  And I am sure the type of stuff presented in this book - backstabbing, casual sex, partying, getting drunk, etc - can happen at Harvard just as much as it can happen anywhere.  Unfortunately, Callie's adventures in higher education - a blur of boys and parties - are mostly mind-numbingly boring.

Book Review and Giveaway: Heaven by Lisa Miller

What is heaven? In Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife, Newsweek Religion editor Lisa Miller provides a groundbreaking history of the afterlife and offers a new understanding of this cherished spiritual ideal.


I bought this book last year after reading a blog review because I thought it might be useful as research for my own novel about the afterlife. I didn't start reading it until yesterday, but once I picked it up, I found it difficult to put down.  Lisa Miller's writing is engaging and she is full of enthusiasm for the subject.  She interviews so many people about their concepts of heaven - from laymen like a maimed marine who believes that in heaven he will have his legs back so he can play baseball to Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Mormon and other religious leaders.  And she explores how the concept of afterlife has evolved over the centuries thanks to cultural and theological influences.
Like the best journalistic non-fiction, Miller doesn't color the narrative with her own beliefs, though she does share them from time to time. Her storytelling approach makes even the historical bits come alive.  I learned a ton, and have even marked up my copy with highlighter - something I have very rarely done since graduating university.

Highly recommended!  Visit Lisa Miller's website.

I have one copy to give away thanks to the publisher.  Fill out this form by April 11, 2011 at 11:59 PM CST. US and Canada only.
 
This review has been part of a TLC blog tour.  To follow the tour, go to the TLC tour site.
 

Book Review: Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich

Irene finds out that her possessive husband Gil is reading her diary. She decides to start a “true” diary and uses the “fake” diary to manipulate him. See, Irene has decided that she wants to leave Gil, but Gil insists he’ll never let her go, at least not with their three children. What follows is a family descent into some very dark places…


I’ve been hearing that I should read Erdrich for years (and in fact, have two of her other books unread on my shelves) and I was so incredibly impressed by this novel, I am wondering why I waited so long.

Erdrich gets to the emotional truth of her scenes - of the dysfunctional marriage that is also an artist/muse relationship. Neither character is particularly likeable, and all signs point to a tragic ending, but I was riveted. For me, this was one of those rare treasures, a deep literary fiction novel that is also a page turner.

I read this as part of a TLC tour.  Check out the other stops!
 

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

On her 16th birthday, Beatrice has to choose the faction she wants to be aligned with for the rest of her life. There is Abnegation (the faction she grew up in), Dauntless (the one she wants to join), Amity, Candor and Erudite. But when she takes her aptitude test, Beatrice finds out that she’s a divergent – someone with the strengths of multiple factions. And that divergents are in grave danger.


I heard so much great buzz about this one that I traded someone on Twitter a box full of German chocolate for it. Was it worth it? Oh yes! I do have to admit, though, that at first, a city divided by such seemingly arbitrary factions felt a bit too artificially constructed to me. But soon enough, I was completely sucked in by Beatrice (aka Tris), her struggle to survive life as a dauntless initiate, her search for answers about what it means to be divergent, and her complex relationship with her trainer Four.

DIVERGENT may remind you a bit of THE HUNGER GAMES or CHAOS WALKING trilogies because it is unapologetically bleak in places. It’s a high-stakes, clever, compelling novel and I can’t wait to continue Tris’ journey in book two.

DIVERGENT comes out on May 3, 2011. Find out more about at the author’s blog. Also, check out the starred review in PW!  And remember, you could WIN a copy of DIVERGENT (and other fab books and swag) by posting a review of a dystopian novel this month and linking it up here.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Book Review and Pre-order Giveaway: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

16 year old twins Melody and Harmony are meeting for the first time, and their ways of dealing with their world – a world in which a virus has made everyone over the age of 18 infertile – clash considerably. Melody has a lucrative conception contract, but Harmony thinks pregging for profit is a sin. Hilarity ensues.


I gulped down the pages of BUMPED while on a long plane ride and the story and characters so entranced me that I couldn’t bear to read anything else for days afterwards and break the spell.

McCafferty fully immersed me in her world, pulling me in immediately with a scene at a mall that showcased the conflicting personalities of her twin protagonists. Melody may be only 16, but she’s already jaded and world weary. Thanks to her more sheltered religious upbringing, Harmony is more naïve. When world famous Jondoe enters the picture to knock up Melody, both twins’ worldviews are challenged.

I loved the word choice, the scene construction, the cast of characters (especially Jondoe and his mysterious motivations), the themes…everything just came together into a damn near perfect reading experience.

BUMPED comes out on April 26, 2011 and since I can’t bear to part with my personalized ARC, I am offering up one copy as a pre-order from amazon (so US only this time). Just fill out this form to enter!

Also, read my interview with Megan.

Book Review: Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Kathryn and Brooke are both amazing singers and are motivated to win an annual music competition that offers scholarship money. Though they used to be friends, they are now bitter rivals. Told from both the point of alto Brooke and soprano Kathryn, the novel makes us root for both. But only one can win. Who will it be?


RIVAL is an engaging look at the reasons friends become enemies and how bad blood sours other aspects of their lives. Though I initially had more sympathy for Kathryn, Brooke grew on me. Her characterization as the queen bee who doesn’t care about the popularity game felt unique and fresh, even if her daddy issues were fairly standard YA material. Kathryn can also be pretty clueless, especially when it comes to her one friend. The poor guy let her totally treat him like a doormat. Do unto others, Kathryn, do unto others…

Debut Author Sara Bennett Wealer keeps the tension and stakes high, resulting in a quick, satisfying read and a nail-biter of a final showdown.

RIVAL comes out in hardcover on February 15, 2011. Find out more about it at the author’s website.

Fun fact:  Sara is a fellow Kansan - and she went to KU.  Go Jayhawks!

Book Review and Author Interview: Don't Sing at the Table by Adriana Trigiani

In her latest book, Don’t Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from my Grandmothers, Bestselling Author Adriana Trigiani has us pull up a comfy chair as she tells us in her personable and affable style all about the useful pieces of advice passed down from her grandmothers.

Trigiani strikes a balance between introducing us to Viola and Lucia and their history and relating personal anecdotes about her time together with them. There are some tears, some laughs, and most of all, the desire to share the book with the incredible women dear to your heart.  This would make a great gift for the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and friends in your life - maybe even with a nice hand written letter about how much the giftee means to you.

As part of her blog tour, I had the amazing opportunity to interview Adriana about the book. Here's how it went down:

DON’T SING AT THE TABLE is a lovely tribute to your two grandmothers. If your future grandchildren would write a book about you, what might the content be?Oh my future grandchildren- what a thought! With an 8 year old girl at home- I almost can't imagine it- but will try!

I would hope that some of the lessons I learned from my grandmothers would be passed along to them. These are timeless lessons that withstand all trials and tribulations- so I would hope that the thread that was passed to me would make it safely into their hands.

It’s clear you get a lot of details for your fiction from your family. Is it just stuff that slips in or do you purposely try to find a place for such things?
I rely on technique and education (which is ongoing) to attempt to grow and hopefully perfect the craft of writing. I try to use the best tools, and do indepth and intensive research- then I throw it out the window and trust my imagination. It has never let me down. I don't deliberately use real life, but it is the context for all my fiction.

So, do you still have your polka dot dress (mentioned in the book)? And if so, what condition is it in?
It's around here somewhere! Keep in mind: I've been looking for a velvet bolero festooned with satin roses for 20 years- I know it's here- I just can't find it!

What are your favorite heirlooms from your grandmothers?
The intangibles are what I carry with me each day- ambition, determination, a sense of humor in the face of adversity, an abiding peace- and in terms of earthly things, I come from a big family, so when my grandmothers died, their effects were disbursed; but before they died, I was given gifts from them that I cherish. From Viola: a small iron bank (for dimes) that belonged to her mother, her wedding band (which I was married in), her wedding cake topper (under a dome in my living room) from 1932, and, from Lucia, a religious relic from her family (which my mother gave to me) that was passed down for many, many generations, and a gold ring with 3 knots that was returned to me upon her death, which I had bought for her with my first paycheck as an office temp.

While these things give me comfort, it's really the memory bank of time we spent, and things we talked about. These are the gifts that keep on giving.

Thank you so much Adriana!  DON'T SING AT THE TABLE is available in hardcover now. 

Read an excerpt of the book at HarperCollins' website.
Check out Adriana's website
Become a Fan on Facebook
See pictures of my tea with Adriana back in May
Follow the tour to the next stop:  November 19th at My Friend Amy 

Book Review: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Taylor Markham has a lot on her mind. She’s the new head of her faction in the territory wars, her caretaker Hannah has disappeared, and her love-hate interest Jonah Griggs is back in town. As Taylor begins to investigate Hannah’s disappearance, she discovers that what went down on Jellicoe road in the past might just be connected to her present.


This one was recommended to me by so many people – reviewers I trust – I thought I was going to fall in instant love. But on my first reading (yes, I ended up reading it twice), I was pretty close to hating it. There are two narrative threads – Taylor in the present, and then some seemingly random and unrelated stories about 5 other teens written in italics. For the first 100 odd pages, I was honestly stumped as to why anyone would love this novel.

In the present day, the territory wars were just irritating. I just didn’t care about Taylor and her tenuous grip on power. She’s not a terribly likeable character anyway. She’s prickly, standoffish and often talks to some imaginary guy in a tree. And deal breaker alert – she drowns a cat.

And the 5 teens in italics – that whole part was just confusing. Who were these people and why am I supposed to care? You don’t find out until way into the novel, and by the time you do, for me it was too little, too late.

The second half is a much better read – you’re getting answers and you are getting some steamy action with Jonah Griggs. And even if it is with cat-killer Taylor, it’s still quite touching. They are both broken, and find in each other kindred spirits. Awww!

But still at end of my first reading, I felt so much aversion to the book, I was embarrassed to admit it. I thought there must be something wrong with me. Was I just an unfeeling monster?  How could I not like it when it won so many rave reviews and the 2009 Printz?

So I put it down for 2 weeks and read it again last night. And yes, I enjoyed it much more upon the second reading. Knowing the end, I could finally read the beginning without confusion. It was easier to concentrate and to sympathize.

I have to say, though, I think a book is fundamentally flawed if you have to read it twice before you can really get into it. I’d have been more impressed if Marchetta had found a way into the story that retained some of the cryptic, tragic character, but in way that made me care from the beginning.

JELLICOE ROAD is available in paperback now. Find out more about it at the author’s website.

Book Review: Either You're In or You're In the Way by Logan and Noah Miller

Twin brothers Logan and Noah Miller set out to fulfill a promise to their father to make a movie about his life after his death from alcoholism – and to get Ed Harris to play the lead. It’s a big promise, especially considering making a movie isn’t cheap and the Miller brothers don’t have any money. But what they do have is persistence, a polished script and a few helpful connections from their pro baseball days.


Logan and Noah have a very friendly, conversational way of writing, so that you feel like you’re sitting with them at a bar, listening to them tell you the inspiring story behind the making of TOUCHING HOME. And the story’s a great one, especially if you are a root for the underdog type. The twins have plenty of successes (such as getting a young filmmaker’s grant to help pay for equipment), but a lot of setbacks too (including hiring some of the wrong people for their crew).

I most enjoyed reading about the twins filmed Colorado Rockies spring training footage without permission, how they “ambushed” Ed Harris to get a meeting with him, and how their various meetings with industry people went as they tried to get a crew and financing for the film.

This is very much a behind the scenes look at the process behind filmmaking, so if you haven’t seen the movie like I haven’t, then you might miss some emotional connection to why the twins wanted so badly to make a film about their father. I assume that’s covered in the film itself, which was out in limited release this past summer and will be coming to video on January 4th.

Despite that, I really enjoyed this inside look at making a movie on a small budget, and I look very much forward to buying and watching TOUCHING HOME as soon as it’s available early next year.

EITHER YOU’RE IN OR YOU’RE IN THE WAY is out in paperback now. Find out more it and see an author introduction video as well as the movie trailer at the official website.

New Halloween Picture Books for 2010

I love picture books - and especially ones that include monsters.  I featured a few of my favorite Halloween picture books last year, and this year, I wanted to review some new on the shelves for 2010.

Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Scott Magoon
Simon & Schuster
(Source: Bought)

Bernadette may look like a monster, with her fangs, claws and creepy necklace, but she’s hiding a sweet interior (she likes to …gulp!...pet kittens and other nice things.) She’s not like the other monsters at her school, so she has to find a way to fit in while being true to herself – and comes up with a hilarious solution. The text is spare with excellent word choice, and the chararcter design of the monsters is what I'd describe as "cute scary" (though Bernadette is by far my favorite), so even young toddlers shouldn't get too frightened.

Alpha Oops – H is for Halloween by Alethea Kontis, illustrated by Bob Kolar
Candlewick Press
(Source: Bought)

The letters of the alphabet are doing a Halloween show, and since A is not ready, Z makes H go first, since H is the star of Halloween. The letters all come in as different characters – G is for Goblin, V is Vampire, etc – until all the letters have made an appearance. The story is inventive, with charming asides, but may be too complicated for younger children who don’t have a strong grasp of the alphabet already. Love the illustrations!

Which Way to Witch School by Scott Santoro
HarperCollins
(Source: F&G from Frankfurt Book Fair)

Every year, a group of young witches gathers at Miss Thornapple’s school to learn chemistry, physics, and other subjects important to witches. The subjects studied seem pretty advanced for the target audience here though, with lots of jokes that only older kids are going to get (a poster of Twilight hunk Edward Cullen hangs on the wall in the girls’ dorm, for example). The story might appeal to the younger siblings of Harry Potter fans, as there is a cool boarding school vibe throughout.
 
 
What are some of your favorite picture books featuring monsters?

Book Review: Freak Magnet by Andrew Auseon

Charlie Wyatt is a freak. He has trouble making polite small talk to anyone, let alone to a girl. But he sets his sights on Gloria, a girl he sees in a coffee shop one day. He’s going to chase her down and tell her she’s pretty – because what could be wrong with that?


Gloria Aboud is a freak magnet – to the point that she carries around a notebook to write down all her freak encounters. Other girls thank Gloria when she’s around, because it means less freaks they have to deal with. But then Charlie happens. He’s a certified freak, yes, but why does she feel strangely drawn to him?

FREAK MAGNET starts out fresh and funny and then offers up a surprising amount of depth. Because Charlie and Gloria are not just the freak and the freak magnet, they are also both dealing with some pretty heavy family issues. Because they are both pretty messed up and in need of help, it’s kind of wonderful that they find each other – even though Gloria does her best to push Charlie away and Charlie does his best to freak her out with his freakiness.

Just how much of a freak is Charlie? Well, he’s the type that tells a pregnant woman (a stranger) looking for formula that she should breast feed her baby because formula has been tested with dangerous amounts of lead. He has no internal filter whatsoever, so he just blurts out whatever he’s thinking, no matter how inappropriate.

Customer service is not his forte, so it’s a surprise that his boss at the drugstore he works at let him stay. But it’s a good thing for the reader, because the scenes at the drugstore are hilarious. And there’s a scene between Charlie and Gloria on the roof in the rain that gave me absolute chills it was so touching.

Charlie and Gloria are some of the most real characters I've met in awhile. And I'd definitely go to a party with them, especially if Charlie's friend Edison and Gloria's sister Maggie came too.

So yeah. Read this one! FREAK MAGNET is available now in hardcover. Find out more about it at the author’s website.

Book Review: I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman

Eliza has recently moved back to her native Maryland from England with her successful husband and two bright children. She’s finally feeling reasonably secure in her life when she gets an unexpected letter from Walter, the man who kidnapped her when she was 15 and is now scheduled for execution for murders he committed with her as a witness. Does her kidnapper finally want to talk to her so he can confess to other crimes? To explain why he left her alive when he killed the others? Or is he still toying with her, just because he can?

Lippman is one of my go-to authors for intelligently written literary thrillers, and I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE was such a great read, it even surpassed WHAT THE DEAD KNOW as my favorite of hers.

For the first part of the book, Lippman alternates chapters between the present and 1985, giving us a complete picture of Eliza now and as a teen and showing how the person Eliza is today was greatly affected by her harrowing experience with Walter.

Walter is a very fascinating kind of killer. He’s not your typical evil mastermind, just a confused sort of guy who stumbles into murder because he’s bad with women.

Later on in the book, we get insight into a couple of other characters – an anti-death penalty activist who has befriended Walter and hopes Eliza can deliver some sort of testimony that will stay his execution and the mother of one of the girls Walter killed (Holly) who blames Eliza for not doing more to help her daughter.

And that brings me to one of the book’s central questions: Could Eliza have done more? There are people who believe by not fighting back, Eliza was an accomplice in Holly’s death. But there are also those who believe not fighting back is what kept Eliza alive. Should she feel guilty for that? It’s all very thought provoking.

I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE is out now in hardcover. Find out more about it at the author’s website.

Book Review and Giveaway: Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill

Jacob Durango is a trained regulator on Mars, but fell into disgrace when his father went to prison. Still, he’s bound by the tenets of a regulator, so when a mining crew from the South Pole engages his services to protect them from a band of Draeu, Jacob accepts. He already knows the job won’t be easy or well-paid, but then, he gets more than he ever bargained for…


First off, I loved the voice in this novel. Jacob is snarky and fun and has an easy rapport with the AI grafted to his brain (who also happens to be his former chief, Mimi). The dialogue is fast-paced and often hilarious, making for an enjoyable read despite the rather shallow characterization of some of the supporting characters (for example, I couldn’t for the life of me distinguish between Jenkins and Fuse, two dim-bulb guys on Jacob’s crew).

The plot was mainly action driven with a lot of blowing things up and fighting, but there were enough inventive surprises thrown in to keep me interested. Although we do get some background into the Orthocracy, some sort of now defunct despot leaders, the Mars presented seems more like a wild west sci-fi setting than a true dystopia - think the TV series FIREFLY (and if you are a fan of that, you should love this). Jacob even reminded me a bit of Captain Mal (with a body to match).

4 Zombie Chickens!

BLACK HOLE SUN just came out in hardcover on the August 24th. Find out more about the book at the author's website, and read an excerpt at the publisher's website.

Annnnnnd now, for the giveaway!  I have one hardcover copy up for grabs for my readers in the US, curtesy of HarperCollins.  I'll keep this open until September 6th at 11:59 pm CST. To enter, just leave a comment with your e-mail address.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Lena can’t wait to get the surgery, that at 18, will cure her of the disease that took her mother – the highly contagious delirium nervosa (or in layman’s terms: falling in love). Lena’s main concern is passing the exam that will determine her future status in society. But then she meets Alex and soon becomes “infected”.


Lauren Oliver skillfully introduces us to a society where people are either afraid of love or are numb to it. For the past 43 years, the government has stamped out “messy” emotion in favor of a more ordered existence. Most accept it, as having the surgery makes you immune to heartache and pain. But of course, there are those who resist. As an “uncured”, 17 year old Lena, needs to be protected from those resisters, and there are strict measures in place to ensure her protection – a curfew, raiding parties that look for offenders, unisex education and socialization.

Though it was a bit implausible to me that a society that abhors love would allow the family unit to remain intact, putting its most vulnerable citizens – those uncureds under 18 – at unnecessary risk (if they REALLY wanted them safe, they’d lock them up in unisex dorms until they got “cured” - although that still wouldn't keep everyone safe, obviously), the world-building suited the main plot brilliantly. Because, of course, for the story to work, Lena has meet an uncured guy to her liking (and Alex fits the bill) and have the opportunity to sneak out and spend time with him.

And DAMN, if I may say so, Lena’s scenes with Alex sizzle, making the novel soar to dizzying heights of emotion.

But it isn’t just romantic love that is so well explored here. Lena has a very close relationship with her best friend Hana that is heart-breakingly real, and we also see snippets of the happy familial love she shared with her mother.

The shock ending underlines and gives even more depth to the powerful themes of the necessity of love and the meaningless of life without it. I, for one, can’t wait to read the sequel.

DELIRIUM comes out February 1, 2010. You must read this book.  Find out more about it by reading my interview with Lauren that I posted earlier today.

5 Zombie Chickens – The Ultimate Dystopian Reading Experience

See index of all dystopian Reviews on Presenting Lenore

Book Review and Giveaway: The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

15 year old Kid lives in a dystopian future where corporations run schools, using kids for market research and taking ownership of all of their creations. And if you don’t play by the Game’s rules, it’s GAME OVER for you and your future. Kid’s never really thought about the implications of all this corporate power over her life until one day she witnesses a prank by an anticorporate group called The Unidentified. As her interest in the group grows, she attracts the attention of the corporations, who want to repackage Kid and The Unidentified to fit their own agenda.

This novel just feels really timely, what with our present addiction to social media. Kid’s friend Ari does everything she can to “get branded” since a sponsorship by a corporation means free stuff and education perks. Officially, education being taken over by the Game is a great opportunity for the student since each has an independent study tailored to their strengths – and learning becomes incredibly interactive and fun (the scene which best illustrates this is one in which Kid masters a difficult math concept on a roller coaster type ride). It’s also a great opportunity for parents, because the outside world has become very dangerous and violent, and the Game not only provides a safe learning environment, it also offers tools to keep track of your kids and set permissions for where they can go and where they can’t.

Of course, as we learn through the course of the novel, the apparent generosity of these corporations who run the game comes at a great price – and it doesn’t stop at lack of privacy either (though it’s nothing as sinister as what the Stark Corporation is up to in Meg Cabot’s Airhhead series).

Though the plot is minimal, the setting and world building shines with perceptive insights into the effects of social media and branding. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the Game, and following Kid’s journey from introverted wallflower with low scores to empowered, conscientious consumer.

My rating: 4 Zombie Chickens - An Excellent Example of the Dystopian Genre
 

 
THE UNIDENTIFIED comes out on October 5th in hardcover. Find out more about it at the publisher's website.
 
Since that's a while to wait, I am thrilled to be able to offer a publisher-sponsored copy of the novel to my readers in the US.  To enter the giveaway, simply tell me in the comments what corporation might want to sponsor you if you were playing the Game - oh and don't forget your e-mail address so I can contact you.  Giveaway will remain open until August 31st at 11:59 pm CST.
 
See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Book Review: Gone by Michael Grant + 3 Book Series Giveaway

In the blink of an eye, everyone 15 and older in Perdido Beach is gone. A mysterious dome has also appeared that keeps all the kids inside with no communication with the outside world – if there still is one. Also, some of the kids have begun to manifest strange new powers, and animals are mutating.


After initially happily gorging themselves on candy bars and ice cream, the kids start to panic as time goes on and 14 year old Sam seems a natural choice for leader. Sam is reluctant to take on the mantle of hero though, and in sweep a group of kids from the exclusive Coates Academy, led by the darkly charismatic Caine. This sets up a war for control of the Fallout Alley Youth Zone, with the “good” Perdido Beach kids against the “evil” Coates kids and Sam and Caine in a rush to gain power before each of them also turns 15 and go “poof”.

GONE has me completely torn. It’s daring and compelling with perfect pacing and twists and turns galore, but it is frustratingly lacking in certain areas of character development. It takes itself very seriously, yet it often times comes off as seriously silly.

I’ve never done this before, but the best way to express my thoughts on this one is to do lists of the good, the bad and the unforgivable.

THE GOOD:

- Grant sets up a question that I want to know the answer to: How do people disappear when they are 15 and is there any way to remain past that cutoff date? Using chapter headings that are a countdown to Sam’s 15th birthday, Grant imbues the narrative with a real sense of urgency that kept me frantically turning the pages. And the best part is that although this is the first book of a (LONG 6 book) series, I did get at least some closure and some satisfying answers.

- Grant keeps it real (well, in one aspect of it all anyway): A world where all adults disappear is no picnic. And although its’ similarity to LORD OF THE FLIES is one of the main reasons I initially avoided this (been there, done that), Grant does not shy away from the terrible consequences such a world would have. For example: though Sam’s crush Astrid has the foresight to look for her autistic younger brother, by the time the kids think of doing a house by house search for toddlers and babies left behind, the results are gruesome.

- Out all the characters, I liked Lena and her dog Patrick the most. Lena’s background and solitary journey is very different , and I was most intrigued by her story and her “superpower” (once I finally accepted that superpowers were going to be part of the story, like it or not) … well, until her encounter with the talking wolves….

Which brings me to THE BAD:

- Evil talking wolves! Every scene with the talking wolves made me laugh hysterically, which I am guessing wasn’t the intention. Also the idea of a big bad power lurking in an abandoned mine? Also came off as laughably lame.

- Sam’s friend Quinn. Lily-livered and way too fond of the word “brah”.

- Caine is such a stock villain, it hurts. He’s the most powerful of all the kids (or so he believes) and is the personification of “power corrupts”. In this installment, he doesn’t have any layers (maybe he adds some as the series goes on, but dudes! This is a chunkster of a book – give the boy some layers already!) Yes, we see a couple of motivations for his hated of Sam, but they are your standard villain fare. Boring.

And THE UNFORGIVABLE:

- The moment I threw the book across the room? When a certain bad girl character is invited to redeem herself and come to the good side, she refuses by saying, “Don’t you know that bad girl always goes off with the bad boy?” UGH! How flat is that? Just no.

So yeah, you see why I’m torn? I’m still trying to decide if I should continue with the series. It’s 6 books long! And book 2, HUNGER, has some mutant killer worms which I am not too eager to meet.

Rating? For entertainment value alone, I’d give it a 4, easily. But since there are some very real flaws which would put it more in the 2 category, I’m going to average it out to 3 Zombie Chickens – Well worth reading.

Series order:

GONE (available in paperback)

HUNGER (available in paperback)

LIES (available in hardcover)

PLAGUE (due April 1, 2011)

DARKNESS (due 2012)

LIGHT (due 2013)

Find out more about the series at the HarperCollins website.

AND because so many people LOVE this series, I am thrilled to be able to offer books 1-3 to one lucky reader (US resident) courtesy of HarperTeen. And since I’m on the topic of villains, to enter the giveaway, just leave a comment telling me either the lamest villain or the coolest villain you’ve encountered lately. (You can also tell me even if you don't enter the giveaway). Contest will remain open until the end of August.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

Book Review: Borderline by Allan Stratton

As the only Muslim-American teen in his neighborhood, Sami has always struggled to fit in. It’s difficult to balance hanging out with his carefree friends and living up to his parents’ strict religious expectations. After his father cancels plans to take Sami to Toronto for a father-son bonding weekend, Sami becomes suspicious of his father’s recent secretive behavior. Is his ultra-conservative father having an affair? Or is he involved in something far more sinister?

The best part of BORDERLINE is the character of Sami. As a teen caught between cultures, he’s very sympathetic and it’s easy to relate to his feelings of alienation. It’s because I liked Sami so much that I was willing to go with the flow even when the plot became a bit soap-operatic in the later chapters.

It’s not really a spoiler to say the FBI gets involved, and that there is a terrorist investigation of Sami’s family, because the book is marketed to accentuate that plot point (though it doesn’t come until about halfway through the novel). The portrayal of the FBI here was a bit strange, and I got the feeling the novel was strongly criticizing their procedures. It’s a controversial subject, to be sure. On the one hand, it’s good to know that the FBI and anti-terror agencies are thorough. On the other hand, they can be very quick to jump to conclusions which have long-lasting, life-ruining implications on the accused and their families who are mercilessly battered by the court of public opinion.

BORDERLINE is out in hardcover now. Find out more about it on the author’s website.

Four mini-reviews of forthcoming YA novels

I read the following four forthcoming books recently and wanted to share a few impressions of them. Full reviews closer to pub date!

MATCHED by Ally Condie
Cassia lives in a society that decides everything for its citizens for the greatest good of them all – even who you marry. When Cassia is matched with her best friend Xander, she is thrilled. But when viewing her matching card, another face flashes on the screen – that of mysterious classmate Ky. This seeming glitch awakens an awareness of forbidden desires within Cassia, and for the first time she begins to question a society where the individual has no right to choose.

MATCHED is without a doubt a well constructed novel, hitting all the expected beats of a YA dystopian novel. And while there may be few surprises for avid readers of the genre, there are some genuine discussion-worthy developments. I enjoyed this installment, but hope that the emotional impact quotient is raised in book two.

Come by my dystopian theme month in August for a full review of this title due to release in November 2010.


DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver (no official cover yet)
Lena can’t wait to get the surgery, that at 18, will cure her of the disease that took her mother – the highly contagious delirium nervosa (or in layman’s terms: falling in love). Lena’s main concern is passing the exam that will determine her future status in society. But then she meets Alex and soon becomes “infected”.

While certain aspects of this dystopian society’s set-up seemed a bit implausible (i.e. why would a society that abhors love allow the family unit to remain intact, putting its most vulnerable citizens – those uncureds under 18 – at unnecessary risk?), the world-building suited the main plot brilliantly. Lena’s relationship with her best friend is heart-breakingly real, and her burgeoning feelings for Alex make the novel soar to dizzying heights of emotion. And that ending...whoa! What are you doing to me Lauren?!

Visit my dystopian theme month in August for a full review of this title due to release in February 2011.

MONSTERS OF MEN, Book 3 of the Chaos Walking Triology, by Patrick Ness

Full scale war is on the horizon for the citizens of New Prentisstown. Will Todd and Viola be able to barter a lasting peace for those already on the planet and those on the way?

This last book in a fantastic series exceeded even my highest expectations. A third POV, from a spackle no less, adds even more to our understanding of the world’s politics. Todd and Viola are amazing protagonists – noble yet conflicted, but it is with the antagonists, Mayor Prentiss especially, that Ness really excels. I don’t think I have ever encountered such a layered villain. He’s someone you hate and wish dead – and yet – Ness makes you hope for his redemption. It is really an amazing achievement.

Visit my dystopian theme month in August for a full review of this title due to release in the US at the end of September (already available in the UK).


THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY AND JUNE by Robin Benway
April, May and June are sisters who suddenly gain superpowers. April can see the future, May can become invisible and June can read minds.

There are a lot of clever ideas at play here, but overall, this novel was kind of a downer. The only one who has any fun at all with her power is June (I love how she used her mind-reading ability to try to get in with the popular crowd) while April and May just generally mope around. Despite the consistently witty/snarky dialogue, I got a bit exasperated with the sisters constant drawn-out squabbles. Group hug already, girls!

This one releases at the beginning of August.

Have you read any of these yet? If not, which ones are you excited to get to? If so, what did YOU think of them?

This article was originally published by Lenore for Presenting Lenore. It cannot be republished without express written permisson. If you are reading this elsewhere, it has been stolen.