Nest, By Esther Ehrlich

 Title: Nest

Author: Esther Ehrlich                  

Release: September 9, 2013

Publisher: Random House Children's

Purchase:  Amazon / B&N 

 In 1972 home is a cozy nest on Cape Cod for eleven-year-old Naomi "Chirp" Orenstein, her older sister, Rachel; her psychiatrist father; and her dancer mother. But then Chirp's mom develops symptoms of a serious disease, and everything changes.

Chirp finds comfort in watching her beloved wild birds. She also finds a true friend in Joey, the mysterious boy who lives across the street. Together they create their own private world and come up with the perfect plan: Escape. Adventure. Discovery.

My Thoughts:

Nest is a beautifully written story about friendship and love conquering grief and worry.  Ehrlich does an amazing job of writing the story from Chirp's point of view.  From the beginning I found myself engrossed in Chirp's play full imagination.  I was enthralled by the way Chirp and Joey could create a world all their own and immerse themselves into the adventure they created. 

I enjoyed every part of this book.  I was laughing and crying throughout this entire story.  All I can say is this book is perfect for middle grade and above.  Anybody could pick up this book and fall in love with the characters. The story is the perfect example about how children find comfort in wondrous and beautiful things.  I loved this book!!! 

5 out of 5 stars.

Frozen (Heart of Dread #1)

Title: Frozen (Heart of Dread #1)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz; Michael Johnston
Release: 9/17/13
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Purchase: B&N/ Amazon

WELCOME TO NEW VEGAS, a city once blanketed in neon, now covered by ice.  Like much of the planet, New Vegas only knows one temperature - FREEZING.

At the heart of the city is Nat, a sixteen-year-old blackjack dealer looking for a way out. She's heard rumors of the Blue: a hidden paradise buried somewhere within the barren icy wasteland of the world.  It's a place where Nat won't be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.  But passage to the Blue is treacherous, and Nat's only hope is a young ragtag crew who may be almost as unqualified as she is to survive the journey. 

My Thoughts:

The idea of the world being "frozen" is not an out of this world idea.  And the fact that New Vegas is still full with the worst of human desires, makes the story feel like it could be a near future reality.  These ideas make this book one I was excited to read. 

As I read through the first half, I was disappointed. The characters felt rushed, but the plot line moved very slow.   I felt the characters were not developed well.  I would have liked more dialogue and interaction between the characters.  This being said, the setting development is amazing!  I could picture the places the characters were, and could even get a good sense of what the world is like in Frozen. 

The first half is slow, but once the journey is in full swing the story explodes!  More character development as well as romance and action make the second half worth the wait.
Frozen, is a post-apocalyptic world filled with death, destruction, beauty and magic.  This is a story that leave you wanting the next installment.  Once you get through the beginning, the rest of the story is well written and gripping.  I would recommend this book for a quick fall read.

3 out of 5 stars

Feuds, By Avery Hastings

Title: Feuds 

Author:  Avery Hastings                  

Release: September 2, 2014

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Purchase:  Amazon / B&N 

For Davis Morrow, perfection is a daily reality. Like all Priors, Davis has spent her whole life primed to be smarter, stronger, and more graceful than the lowly Imperfects, or “Imps.” A fiercely ambitious ballerina, Davis is only a few weeks away from qualifying for the Olympiads and finally living up to her mother’s legacy when she meets Cole, a mysterious boy who leaves her with more questions each time he disappears.

Davis has no idea that Cole has his own agenda, or that he’s a rising star in the FEUDS, an underground fighting ring where Priors gamble on Imps. Cole has every reason to hate Davis—her father’s campaign hinges on the total segregation of the Imps and Priors—but despite his best efforts, Cole finds himself as drawn to Davis as she is to him.

Then Narxis, a deadly virus, takes its hold—and Davis’s friends start dying. When the Priors refuse to acknowledge the epidemic, Davis has no one to turn to but Cole. Falling in love was never part of their plan, but their love may be the only thing that can save her world...in Avery Hastings's Feuds.

A NETGALLEY REVIEW

My Thoughts

I was excited to read this book.  After reading the Synopsis, I was intrigued and optimistic that the story was going to be original and well written.  The dystopian setting and the hostility between the Priors and the Imps makes this book interesting to a wide variety of readers. This book has so much potential! However, after a few chapters I began to lose hope..... There are things that make this book disappointing, as well as, aspects that make this book good. So.... Lets get into the details.......

This book is to short. Period. The plot, characters, and setting are underdeveloped.  The story moved so quickly that I was adding in my own interpretations and ideas into the story.  Don't get me wrong, this writing style works well for some books, but not this one.  I do feel that Feuds needed to be longer.  I wanted Davis and Cole to develop more.  I wanted to know more about their families, and the history of why the world is at its current state.  I feel the book is lacking in these details.   But, there is a positive for the story being short, it's to the point.  I got the minimum amount of details to keep the story progressing. Even though I feel the story could have been developed more, I still feel like I got what I was supposed to out of the book.  

This book also has alot of plot lines going on.  There are corrupt politicians, underground fighting, Olympiad trials, and a disease.  All of these are touched upon in the book, but i feel, are not developed well.  Please keep in mind that this is the first in a series.  There is a huge possibility that these lines will be developed.   

Bottom line is this;  This book for me had some issues, but the potential is so great that I will buy the book and buy any sequel.  Why will I do this you ask??? Because, I have attached myself to these characters and this story and I will see it through.  As should anyone who reads this!!  I would recommend this book to any age group.  I will purchase this book, but I will wait till it comes out in paperback.  

2.5 out of 5 stars