Wither by Lauren DeStefano

384 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Dragon

Genetically engineered perfection proves disastrous in Wither by Lauren DeStefano, a new addition to young adult dystopian fiction. Their success in creating a disease free and practically immortal humanity accidentally introduces a virus into human DNA. As a result all women live only to age twenty and men to age twenty-five. Panic, poverty and despair reign as girls as young as thirteen are farmed out to be married and turned into baby producing machines in a desperate attempt to preserve the human race. Rhine, kidnapped from her home which she shares with her brother, is sold into a polygamous marriage to a rich man, Linden. She and her sister wives, Cecily and Jenna, are trapped in a fancy prison-like mansion where they're expected to perform their new duties with enthusiasm while outside the rest of the world is trapped in poverty, crime and death. Their marriage is deemed necessary because Linden's father is a scientist bent on discovering a cure for the virus and he needs subjects. Eager to escape and reunite with her brother, Rhine befriends one of the mansion's staff and together they uncover some alarming secrets behind the experiments done in the name of science in the dank and dismal basement forbidden to all but Linden's father. This was truly a gripping book, I could not put it down. A compelling start to the Chemical Garden Trilogy. Fans of Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Bumped by Megan Mccafferty and Eve by Anna Carey will eat this book up.

XVI by Julia Karr

325 pgs.
Target audience:
Rating: Griffin

In this futuristic totalitarian world  each girl upon reaching the age of sixteen gets a government issued tattoo making them available for sex. All girls are primped and primed for years from a barrage of advertisements in preparation for this moment, so much so that they can hardly think of anything as that day approaches. It’s supposed to be for their protection, but instead it turns them into targets for every sex craved individual. Nina doesn’t want to become the typical sex-teen like her best friend Sandy. Nina’s mother is attacked and reveals the shocking truth with her dying breath. Now Nina and her younger sister, Dee move in with their grandparents. As Nina searches for the truth about her father’s disappearance, she is plunged into a world of secrets. If that’s not enough she has to keep one step ahead of her mom’s killer who may be someone she knows. This book starts really slowly and includes many acronyms which are not explained. But stick with it, once it picks up you won’t be able to put it down. Clearly there is strong cautionary message about teen sex, predatory marketing, media-obsessed public and social climbing and can get a bit heavy handed. However it is well written and will provoke some good discussions. Besides you’ll want to read the sequel - see my review.

Truth by Julia Karr
299 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Wizard

          The truth comes from multiple sources and has just as many interpretations. In Nina’s world the truth is whatever the Media says it is. Now that Nina is sixteen and has her tattoo,  everything she thought she knew about her life slowly disintegrates from lies and secrets to newly formed truths – the truth behind her mother’s sacrifice, the truth about her sister’s father, the truth about her father’s disappearance and the truth behind the government’s lies. The more the rebels push, the more dangerous life becomes. Nina’s grandparents  and her little sister, Dee, become targets forcing her to summon all her strength and courage, to put faith in new found friends and to trust her instincts. Nina moves from a passive to an active role in the rebellion. Her relationship with fellow rebel, Sal, becomes more confusing as her feelings grow stronger for her best friend’s brother, Chris. Unlike it’s predecessor this story starts out strong, maintaining the pace throughout. The characters are more developed and three dimensional, plus the author provides meanings for all the acronyms. While the first book focuses on what it means to turn sex-teen, get the tattoo and all it entails, this installment delves deeper into the secrets and lies hidden within the ruling government and the rebellion against it. Overall this was a thrilling look at a fascinating dystopian culture. Recommended for fans of Orwellian societies where the oppressed citizens are fighting the good fight.

(Book provided for review by Children’s Lit  www.childrenslit.com )

Scorch Trials by James Dashner
384 pgs
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

Intense does not even come close to describing this gripping, heart-pounding sequel to Maze Runner. Thomas and his companions manage to escape the horrifying maze only to have the briefest of normal moments before they're catapulted into the desolate and blistering wasteland of the Scorch. Desperate to receive the promised cure to a deadly virus called the flare, they are forced to navigate their way through mobs of zombie-like flare victims, unnaturally huge storms and monsters in order to reach the safe haven by the two week deadline. The enormous physical and emotional stress transforms trust into fear and betrayal.The high energy plot moves at a frenetic pace, twisting and turning and placing the kids in hair-raising and often visually painful scenarios. It is not a story for the weak at heart. Although the author does provide a few answers to the burning questions posed in the series, whether W.I.C.K.E.D, World in Catastrophe Kill-Zone Experiment Department, is good or evil continues to remain a mystery. Scorch Trials firmly places this thrilling, brilliant, and terrifyingly realistic series on the forefront of teen dystopian fiction.

Maze Runner by James Dashner
 400 pgs.
Targe audence: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon (would give even higher if I had a higher rating)

Synopsis from inside front cover
"When Thomas wakes up in thelift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is a blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade - a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days anew boy h as been delivered in he lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up - the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more suprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind."


Wow, wow, wow is this book good! I listened to this on audio and it was amazing. What I liked first was that you are as clueless to what's going on as the protagonist, Thomas. The author doles out information very slowly so that you become so hopelessly hooked that you could not stop even if you wanted to. Twists and turns and unexpected revelations. Very suspenseful and thought provoking. The world of the glade and maze Dashner has created is brilliant and terrifying all at the same time. The characters seem real and you feel for them, well feel for most of them. I felt like I was going through the terror of their life and their desparate need for escape myself as I listened. I found myself looking for excuss to drive just to listen to it which is an absurd waste of gas, but I couldn't help it. It is that good. This is an absolute must for fans of Hunger Games.