Renegades / Marissa Meyer

3.5/5

In the world of Renegades, people with powers exist and they're called prodigies. Prodigies were persecuted until Ace Anarchy rose up and established the Age of Anarchy, where prodigies refused to hide any longer and embraced their powers, calling themselves Villains. In response to the Villains running rampant, other prodigies arose, calling themselves the Renegades, and destroyed the Villains. As the Renegades rebuild the city and their influence grows, Villain prodigies find themselves in hiding again; how can the cycle end? Nova Artino, a prodigy with Villain connections, is sent to infiltrate the Renegades, and becomes caught between the two sides. 

Renegades blurs the lines between the good guys and the bad guys, and questions the meaning of the word "hero." Marissa Meyer takes a hard look at the role of government and law enforcement, and how having power changes the way people view one another, the way they view themselves, and the way they interact with one another. I love books with moral ambiguity and shades of gray, so I enjoyed those themes in Renegades; but there are many moments that are just paragraphs of introspection, and while I really enjoy philosophical thinking, many of these passages repeat themselves. One other thing that kept Renegades from being truly stellar to me is that I felt like Meyer could have fit a lot more plot and action into a novel of this length. It's not so much that the novel was slow, just that it didn't hit a certain level of intensity. There were a few high-stakes moments that had my heart racing, but overall the novel didn't have the drive I would have liked. Adding to that, both Nova and Adrian are a little slow. Each of their hidden identities are incredibly obvious, and I found it ridiculously unbelievable that by the end of a book of that length, both of their secret identities were still intact. 

I'm a fan of Marissa Meyer, and though Renegades can't compare to the Lunar Chronicles, it holds up strong against many other YA fantasy novels. Nova is smart and quick, Adrian is conflicted and compassionate, and the variety of characters are all exciting to meet. The surprise at the end of the novel is not much of a surprise, but definitely enough of a twist to make me want to read the sequel (the fact that this is a duology doesn't hurt either). I would recommend Renegades to Marissa Meyer fans, Strange the Dreamer fans, and fans of moral ambiguity.

Boys Don't Knit (In Public) / T.S. Easton

3.5/5

Boys Don't Knit is well-written story from the point of view of high school underclassman Ben Fletcher. After an incident that wasn't completely his fault, Ben is essentially on probation and must take knitting classes as a way to give back to his community. The novel is not only about Ben finding out that he loves knitting, but also coming to terms with who he is and where exactly he stands in his relationships to those around him.

T.S. Easton does an excellent job in Boys Don't Knit of capturing the stubbornness and immaturity of adolescence but also the natural depth and compassion in Ben. Ben is what most would call a nerd; he likes to keep his head down, stick to the rules, and loves cleanliness. Easton takes what most would find annoying traits and makes Ben relatable and human, and I loved that. The novel is also unfailingly funny; I found myself laughing at Ben's sense of humor, conveyed through various forms, such as his emails. Ben also experiences a huge amount of growth in all of his relationships, from the ones with his mom and dad to the ones with his friends, and with many other people that he probably never expected anything from. The development was natural, and watching Ben slowly grow made me proud.

Overall, Boys Don't Knit is skillfully written and a delight to read. The voice and tone is suitable for a younger audience (it would be middle school appropriate); it is definitely enjoyable for all ages, but just know that going in. I would definitely recommend Boys Don't Knit as a sweet, funny fiction read.  

Jane, Unlimited / Kristin Cashore

2.5/5

In Jane, Unlimited, Kristin Cashore writes five possible courses of events that all vary depending on a decision Jane makes in an instant. The novel is set in a fantastical world written in a sleepy sort of magical narration.

The reviews for Jane, Unlimited had me pumped up for an experience of a novel unlike any other, and while Jane is different from most other novels I've read in terms of style, I did not enjoy it. I like Cashore's idea of having completely different events happen to Jane depending on what decision she makes. I love how it shows that perhaps it is only possible to know a certain amount of information, because a certain choice can only lead you down a certain path. It also reinforces the possibility of multiple universes, which is discussed in the novel. But in splitting the novel into five different stories, eventually I lost interest. My loss of interest was also due to how the level of ridiculousness and extreme magic increased; the novel started off bordering on the bizarre, which is part of its charm, but the last two stories in particular were far too much for me to buy. If you read it, you'll understand what I mean. If not, let me try to explain without spoiling by saying that the new worlds Cashore introduces in these storylines are not hinted at enough earlier in the book to avoid feeling like ridiculous, childish stretches. I was relieved to finish the novel because reading the last two stories felt like a waste of time-- I stuck through it I expected Cashore to wrap up all of the storylines in some way at the end. The wrap-up didn't happen, but I think that suits the novel's theme of multiple possibilities and stories with no ending.

Jane, Unlimited offers a different style of storytelling than is usually seen in YA literature. Cashore also creates some excellently developed characters, and the relationships between them are also of the kind not usually seen. Jane's relationship with Kiran isn't the typical best friends 'til death type. Her feelings toward Ivy are well-captured and a consistent highlight throughout the entire novel. Her descriptions and changing opinions of Aunt Magnolia are different in every story, a testimony to Cashore's writing, and I enjoyed meeting Ravi. 

But overall, Jane, Unlimited is long and dragged out, and the stories do not feel worth the time at all. If you're curious to experience this type of storytelling, then I'd recommend picking it up, but first quickly flipping through the entire book to see if it's something you truly want to invest your time in. Don't worry, this type of book won't be spoiled by flipping to the end. 

Warcross / Marie Lu

4.5/5

Warcross is exciting and new and has me anxiously anticipating the sequel. Marie Lu, you've got me again.

Set in futuristic world where everyone is connected into a virtual reality game called Warcross, Marie Lu weaves the story of Emika Chen after Emika hacks her way through Warcross security and earns the notice of Warcross founder Hideo Tanaka. Hoping to use Emika's hacking talent to his advantage, Hideo invites her to participate in the Warcross championship games while helping him address a bigger threat: an anonymous hacker trying with an unknown endgame. 

First, I want to recognize the diversity Lu included in her novel. Warcross takes participants from all  over the world, and Lu makes sure that her characters reflect that. I loved the ethnic names and various languages, the LGBT representation, the characters with disabilities. And she included all of this without making a big deal out of it; their "differences" never had to be outrightly acknowledged because they're not differences at all-- they're normal. Walk around in the real world and you'll encounter plenty of ethnic names and non-straight people and people with disabilities-- it's normal. Other than diversity, Lu also included culture. I loved that she chose to place her novel against Tokyo, and that her main characters were Asian. As an Asian-American, I am painfully aware of how little representation Asian culture gets, and so this was very meaningful to me. Yes, Tokyo may have been the most sensible location for such a technology heavy plot, but I think Lu chose this location for more than that reason. Her writing shows her appreciation for Japanese culture, and I love that she was brave enough and proud enough to share that with the world, especially with how important it is to have this representation.

In case you couldn't already tell, I love Warcross-- I only write reviews this long when I feel very passionately! It has everything I need in a novel: strong characters and a plot that hooks me in. Emika is definitely strong, and reading her felt natural. Though at first the world may not seem extremely original, as there are plenty of novels that have similar futuristic technology, what Lu chooses to do with the technology is still exciting. Players face off in a virtual world, and I loved being thrown into all of these wild settings that defy physics and always have new obstacles. Throughout the novel I was always eagerly awaiting the next battle, the next twist, the next challenge. The speed grows and grows, and ending left me reeling in the best way.

I could go on about all of the well-developed characters, the intricate world, the fun action, but I think it's best if YA fantasy and science fictions lovers like me read Warcross and experience it themselves. I'm not saying the novel was flawless-- Emika's initial treatment of her teammates was understandable but frustrating, I would have liked to see more development between Emika and Hideo earlier on, and there were some technicalities that made me frown-- but Warcross was so fun that these details are almost trivial. Warcross has reminded me why I am such a steadfast fan of YA science fiction: it's a fun, exciting, wild ride that lets me live lives I couldn't otherwise. 

There's Someone Inside Your House / Stephanie Perkins

2.5/5

There's Someone Inside Your House is a suspenseful murder mystery novel. I usually don't read novels in the horror vein, so I was excited to try something different and had heard good things. There's Someone Inside Your House is set in middle-of-nowhere Osborne, Nebraska and follows Hawaii-native Makani Young when a serial killer starts targeting students at her high school. 

True to its promises, the novel delivers on suspense and intensity, but it failed to truly draw me in. Makani's third person narrative is interrupted with snapshots that allow the reader to experience the death of the victims, which I found exciting. The opening scene of the novel is surely one of its highlights. There was plenty of gore, which I appreciated, but its effect was lessened because I never felt attached to any of the characters. I eagerly anticipated their deaths; they excited me rather than frightened me, even though I think Perkins was trying to evoke feelings of fear and loss. 

One secret that kept me invested in the novel was Makani's past, but I felt like learning her history was a bit of a letdown. There were very strong hints toward some dark past, when in reality the events that occurred did not nearly deserve the amount of build up it got. I was also disappointed that Perkins did not explore or explain Makani's relationship with her parents. But I liked Makani's spirit, her vulnerability and strength, and I didn't tire of hearing her story.

Overall, There's Someone Inside Your House is entertaining and I enjoyed reading such a suspenseful novel. It is definitely a good beginner's introduction to the genre. But while fun, it didn't have the depth or originality that would have made it truly stand out for me. I recommend it to those who are looking for a quick read that has bloodier stakes and a gorier level of intensity.

Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies / Lindsay Ribar

3/5

Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies tells the story of a family that has the ability to take things from other people, such as physical traits like freckles or personality quirks like one's love for ice cream. The novel follows Aspen Quick as he learns more about his ability and what role he wants it to play in his life. 

Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies is a suspenseful mystery, but has similar vibes to Patrick Ness's The Rest of Us Just Live Here, with a conflicted male lead and his growth being a focus of the novel. Aspen is a pretty horrible person who does many unethical things, but Lindsay Ribar captures what motivates him and I was able to understand him. I enjoyed following his internal conflict, his intellect, and his actions, however immoral. 

I didn't realize how supernatural this novel was going to be so I was a little surprised at where the plot was going as the novel progressed, but Ribar's idea is very creative and interesting so I went with the flow. I appreciated how well Ribar explains the workings of the Quick family's ability and how it affects each of their relationships. I would recommend Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies as a quick read for those who like mystery, supernatural abilities, or internal conflict in the veins of morality and identity. 

The Forgetting / Sharon Cameron

3/5

The Forgetting is set in a world where people lose all of their memories every twelve years, but Nadia never has. Everyone lives in a small enclosed community, and power is messily distributed. Nadia scrambles to keep her family safe and her memories protected, while trying to find the root of the Forgetting.

Nadia is tough, brave, and vulnerable. I didn't tire of her voice or her actions and was invested in her coming-of-age story. The Forgetting has strong themes of identity and asks the question, who are you without your memories? Sharon Cameron builds three-dimensional characters, each with their own stories, and I enjoyed learning more about each of them. I especially loved the end of novel and how the plot was resolved. 

The story Cameron tells is a big one, arguably too big to fit in one novel, but I enjoy standalones and I appreciate that there is no sequel. The plot has strong reminders of Across the Universe, and I would recommend this to fans of Beth Revis, strong female leads and exploration, and the relationship between memories and identity.