Five Faves #1

Okay, so now that we're moving into July, I wanted to do my June wrap-up.  I chose five fantastic YA books for my Five Faves and spotlighted one that I thought was really special.

In case you missed it, my Five Faves were:

1.) Unwind by Neal Shusterman
2.) Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
3.) Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
4.) The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith
5.) Matched by Ally Condie







My June Spotlight book was Unwind by Neal Shusterman



A little about each book and why I thought these were such standouts:

1.) Unwind by Neal Shusterman

This HAS to be the darkest, most fearful dystopian novel I've ever read.  The idea is based upon a post-war society that allows parents to decide if they want to have their children "unwound."  What that means is that they donate their kid's body parts (from their hearts to their fingers) to the government so that they can be used for transplants.  The only catch?  Yeah, uh, you're still alive when you're parts are harvested.  All of them.  Creepy, dark, intense.  It was just fabulous.  I'm still having nightmares.

2.) Crash Into Me by Albert Borris

Basically we've got a carload of kids who have one big thing in common.  They have all attempted suicide and failed.  After meeting on an online chat group, they decide to go on a road trip to visit the suicide sites of famous people and the final destination, Death Valley, is where they'll all pull the trigger on their own suicides...at least, that's the plan.  I found the voice to be authentic and likable and I just couldn't pry myself away from the story.

3.) Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

First of all, the fact that this book was written by a teenager just astounds me.  I can hardly believe such beautiful prose could come out of a teen!  Second of all, what a LOVE story.  To me, this was the next Twilight.  Supernatural.  Romantic tension.  Worldly stakes.  This book has it all.  I also loved that it was the girl who had the supernatural background (she's an angel) rather than the guy.  After reading a ton of supernatural love stories, I was tired of the "normal girl meets supernatural guy" scenario and this definitely exceeded all my expectations.  They fall in love.  They save the world from evil.  What more could you want?

4.) The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

Okay, if there was a Top 10 for dark and scary books, this one would be right up there next to Unwind.  A scary pair of glasses that take you to another dimension where everyone's trying to kill you (including your best friend) seems like a place you would never want to go again, but the main character can't seem to stay away (and neither could I).  I've also NEVER read such a fast-paced opening in a novel.  Ever.  I mean it.  EVER. I felt like I was in the middle of a hurricane with all the deets Smith tosses at us.  Authentic teen voice and packed with action.  Dark, dark, dark (my thing, can you tell?)

5.) Matched by Ally Condie

Another dystopian novel, here.  Totally loved this premise.  In a world (did that sound like a movie trailer?  Sorry.) where the Society rules (so far as picking your lunch and your husband) everything seems so safe.  But, the thing is, you really don't know what these Society peeps are manipulating beyond the food, the exercise, the leisure activity time, the DAY YOU DIE.  Yep.  There's more.  And it makes you hate this "perfect" society and its officials.  In a place where love and courtship exist through a computer screen, the reader will dare to do the impossible right next to our heroine.  Find true love, as defined by our feelings, not a computer program.  Loved it!!!  Can't wait for the sequel.

So, there you have it folks.  My Five Faves of June.  And now that we've left June behind, I'm staring at my bookshelf, trying to pick my Five Faves of July.  So tough...  Check back for my sidebar updates!

~L