August Reviews 2013

 Butter
Grade: B-

Butter, is the story of a morbidly-obese, teen who decides to live-stream his suicide by over eating.  After years and years of being bullied and everyone (adults included) calling him "Butter" instead of by his real name, he creates the website "Buttlerslastmeal.com" and invites his tormentors to suggest items for his last meal. The response to the website is overwhelming and unexpected. In fact, it feels a lot like popularity- something that Butter has only experienced as a result of his weight. As the grim deadline approaches, will Butter follow through with his plans or will he save himself?

We have to admit, this is a pretty bold storyline for mature readers and we were thinking about it long after finishing the final page. There were some conversations we wish had happened between characters and others that were so extreme, that it took us out of the story for a bit. We think Thirteen Reasons Why is a better read concerning bullying and suicide, but this one is certainly unique.

    Born of Illusion
                Grade: B-

Possibly a new YA series, Born of Illusion is set in 1920's New York and tells the story of Anna Van Housen and her uncanny abilities as a magician. Many compare her to the great Harry Houdini and some believe she may actually posses supernatural gifts. Her talents attract the attentions of the Society of Psychical Research, who may not just be observing their subjects, but causing them actual harm.

With kidnappings, mediums speaking to the dead, and a bit of romance, Born of Illusion is an okay read (certainly no Diviners). We liked the descriptions of the time and the tension between Anna and her mother, but felt like the plot wrapped up too quickly and shabbily.

    Railsea
                Grade: A

Moby Dick and a bit of Treasure Island combined and updated with a good dose of steampunk. Instead of ships on the ocean, they use trains crossing a vast landscape of rails. Instead of a white wale, they are searching for giant moles that burst from the earth.

We love it when talented authors take Classics and, without dropping the beautiful language, they give us something that feels new and is totally creative. We suggest you give this one a try, then move on to Herman Melville's classic.

    172 Hours on the Moon
                Grade: B+

In an effort to boost interest in returning to the moon, an international lottery is held to select several teens for the honor of representing their countries on another expedition. But there is a terrifying reason why no one has returned to the moon in decades.

If you are looking for a sci-fi thriller on the moon, with a complete lack of reality (and science), then you should try 172 Hours on the Moon. Just go with the flow and don't analyze whether or not NASA would actually send teens into space or if characters would really react this way.

    In The After
                Grade: A

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead. -Goodreads

Are they aliens, zombies, or something else? Amy has been trapped in her home alone for weeks, watching the world fall apart. It isn't until she is forced to leave in search of supplies, that she stumbles across "Baby," a toddler left behind in the chaos. The girls hear rumors of a colony of survivors, but are not sure if the group can be trusted.

We really liked this one. We have also noticed a bit of a book brawl between In The After and The 5th Wave. They do have similar storylines, but we felt that this one was a bit more original and moved at a faster pace.