Review: PANIC by Lauren Oliver

Title: PANIC
Author: Lauren Oliver
Published: March 4th, 2014
Series: N/A
Genre: YA contemporary
Pages: 416
POV: 3rd person, dual
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Electronic ARC
Source: Edelweiss
Rating: The Royal Library, Middle Shelf

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Everyone at the local high school in Carp, Pennsylvania pays into Panic and keeps their mouths shut about the game – or else. But, Panic is open exclusively to graduating seniors, and only the brave will stand a chance at succeeding. A game that is as deadly as it is dangerously exciting, Panic encourages players to risk everything for a jackpot of $68,000 – the kind of money that can change a life, or buy you a new one. From thrilling cliff-side dives to avoiding a bullet, there's never a dull moment or a shortage of "unintended" accidents. But, no matter who gets hurt or what lives are lost, the game must go on. The game always goes on.

With Panic, Lauren Oliver dives (with quite a splash) back into contemporary YA with this this gritty realistic story. Thrilling, captivating, and fascinating, Panic delves into a dangerous game where participants are willing to do whatever it takes to take home an impressive monetary prize. Friendships are tested, sides are chosen, and manipulation is fair game. But even more, this story portrays various familial circumstances, both heartwarming and heartbreaking. While some of the connections – familial, friendship, romantic – flicker out and fade into darkness, others burn brightly as the story progresses. Panic is an incredible story that will keep you up late at night, anxious, excited, and thoroughly captivated.  

Highlights: I read this novel in one day, completely incapable of stopping myself or my curiosity. The characters, while not immediately likable, proved to be fascinating protagonists¹. The game itself took turns that I didn't see coming, and the ending was certainly a nail-biting surprise. I love how focused this story is on family and friends. 

Lowlights: Certain aspects were very predictable and transparent (Dodge's reason for entering, and another character's role in Panic). 

Rating: The Royal Library, Middle Shelf. Panic is fantastic, worth owning, and has earned a spot in the royal library. I enjoyed this story very much, despite a couple small issues, and would recommend this story to other readers.

1 I'm sure there will be plenty of people who will dislike them, regardless. But, I found them to be realistic - they're not all good or all bad. They have moments of being both. 

Other Works By This Author: 

LIESL & PO (Goodreads)

THE SPINDLERS (Goodreads)

BEFORE I FALL (Goodreads)
DELIRIUM (Goodreads)
PANDEMONIUM (Goodreads)
REQIUEM (Goodreads)

Mini-Review: Ten by Gretchen McNeil

TEN
Gretchen McNeil
September 18, 2012
POV: 3rd, limited
Pages: 294
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased

"SHHHH!
Don't spread the word!
Three-day weekend. House party.
White Rock House on Henry Island.
You do NOT want to miss it. 

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives – three days on Henry Island at an exclusive house party. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their own reasons for wanting to be there, which involve their school's most eligible bachelor, T.J. Fletcher, and look forward to three glorious days of boys, bonding, and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly, people are dying, and with a storm raging outside, the teens are cut off from the rest of the world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry isn't scheduled to return for three days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?"

It's the party everyone would kill to be at...and one that may kill you if you attend. Thrilling, horrifying, and strangely entertaining, TEN is a highly suspenseful murder mystery that is nearly impossible to set aside for even a second. The third person narration follows Meg, a sarcastic teenage writer who was dragged along to an exclusive party by her codependent BFF, Minnie. While I never felt a deep connection with Meg, I was rooting for her to survive from the beginning and was eagerly trying to unravel the clues right alongside her. Simply put, TEN is the type of story that will keep you up late at night reading, anxiously turning the pages and warily eyeing every shadowy corner in your home¹. 

Highlights: I was both correct and incorrect about the killer's identity, so I found that to be a pleasant surprise. There is plenty of diversity among the characters, and I like that McNeil didn't follow the typical horror movie pattern entirely. All in all, TEN is one thrilling mystery. 

Lowlights: Neither the characters nor the romance are deep or complex, but that didn't bother me (I feel like this story is meant to be a quick, exciting read rather than deep or emotional). It takes a few chapters for things to get going. A few of the murders seemed a bit convenient (the killer had to get really lucky a few times in order for the right person to fall into the correct trap). 

1 Probably not a good idea to read this one at night, like I did. I don't scary easily, but even I had a hard time falling asleep after reading this one (especially since my house makes creepy creaking noises at night - which so didn't help the situation). *cuddles with flashlight*

What's your favorite horror story? 

Review: Uncontrollable by SR Johannes

Uncontrollable (The Nature of Grace #2)
S.R. Johannes
September 24th, 2012
300 pages (Kindle edition)
Coleman & Stott
Source: Author

As Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program".

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is picking silk plants and growing fake plants.

After a couple of wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. However, when a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues.

Little does she know, she is being hunted too. 

When Grace is offered the chance to work on a project studying red wolves for extra credit, she jumps at the opportunity to get back into the woods and get her mind off the past. But what was supposed to be a simple project quickly goes wrong as wolves begin dying under mysterious circumstances and Grace  suspects that she's being watched by someone in the woods. Trying to survive the harsh winter is challenging enough, but Grace just might have to outwit an old enemy's malice too.

Once again, Johannes excels at creating a thrilling story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Grace's life has complicated since the last novel – her town blames her for its troubles, Wyn's angry, and she's lost two important people in her life. Thankfully, all the good qualities from the previous novel are still present, and Johannes demonstrates plenty of growth among Grace, her family, and her friends. And, as always, Johannes wraps everything up into one thrilling conclusion that will leave readers eager for another novel. All in all, Uncontrollable is great followup to Untraceable – this is one series worth checking out. 

Highlights: Even while I guessed the big twist early, Johannes threw a few more surprises my way. I love how important Grace's family became in Uncontrollable – loved Birdie! Nice descriptions of the settings. I love how the characters in this series are not perfect people. I'm glad the author didn't try to force a romance where it wouldn't work, even if one of the characters did want a relationship. The suspense, the danger, the excitement...it was so difficult to set this story aside. 

Lowlights: Compared to the previous novel, the finished version of this book seemed a bit unpolished - I found many simple errors that could have been caught with another edit. Grace jumped to conclusions again, (spoilerish) assuming everything was Al's doing. Also, I missed Mo and that romantic plot (I'm not a Wyn + Grace fan, regarding romance), but was glad to see Mo in the end.

Note: I think it might be possible to read this book without having read the first novel, but you'd be better off reading Untraceable first.

Rating: 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Across the Universe

Beth Revis

January 11th, 2011

416 pages (hardcover)

Source - Publisher/Purchased

YA Book Queen's Summary: 

When Amy decides to join her parents to embark on a 300 year journey to a new planet, she has no idea just what she's gotten herself into.

After forcibly waking up from her frozen state fifty years too early, Amy finds herself in a society unlike the one she's grown up knowing on Earth. Here on Godspeed, Eldest is in charge, and his protégé, Elder, is learning what it takes to lead the ship. Here on Godspeed, Amy is different...and different is not always a good thing.

There's a killer on the loose, murdering slumbering people who are vital for when the ship lands on the new planet. Fearing for her parent's safety, Amy teams up with Elder and his friend Harley to figure who is behind these murderous deeds, delve into the secrets the Godspeed is hiding, and try to find out just who is going to be the next target. But some secrets may be too much for any of them to handle.... 

This book is so incredible that I would walk across the universe just to get a copy. But thankfully, that's what bookstores are for (whew!).

In Across the Universe, the narrative switches from Amy to Elder, alternating every chapter and giving a full view of two different types of lives. Amy's the girl from Earth. She's a free spirit, loves to run, misses her boyfriend, and desperately misses her parents - who are still in a frozen state. Elder is young as well, trying to learn how to be the next leader (or Eldest) of the ship, and struggling since the current Eldest refuses to tell him everything he needs to know. Both characters are fresh, fully developed, and easy to differentiate from one another when reading the separate POV's. I didn't have a character I preferred, although Amy's perspective is the one reader's will easily relate with since she's experiencing the unusualness of Godspeed for the first time.

Godspeed is without a doubt easily visualized (thanks to the writing and also a very neat map). But more importantly, this book keeps you thinking about the issues taking place. There is some romance, but mysteries lie at the core of this novel. There will be questions, guesses, and finally, there will be answers. The first novel of what will likely be a captivating trilogy, Across the Universe is already on my best of 2011 list.

Highlights: Relationships are built and delved into slowly, realistically. The entire story is very well fleshed-out. The technology and social differences were fascinating and intriguing. Honestly, I think I could praise this book all day. Across the Universe is incredible and an exciting mystery to watch unfold.

Lowlights: This book was everything I wanted, hoped for, and expected it to be. No complaints.

Rating: 5 out of 5