What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Title: What's Left of Me

Author: Kat Zhang

ISBN: 9780062223838

Publisher: HarperCollins

Released: September 18, 2012

Series: Hybrid Chronicles #1

Duration: 9 hours, 37 minutes

Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't. . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she's still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable—hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

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First Lines:

"Addie and I were born into the same body, our souls' ghostly fingers entwined before we gasped our very first breath. Our earliest years together were also our happiest."

Page 5 

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Review:

Can you imagine what it would be like to have another soul in your body? I really can't. What an amazing concept! Not to mention that the dominant soul has to take over before you're a teen. Crazytown.

Addie and Eva share a body. This is totally normal - except for the fact that they are over the age of ten. Now they would be considered Hybrid. If anyone knew that Eva was still there. The dominant soul was supposed to take over, but Eva hung on. Now they are terrified that someone will discover their secret. It doesn't help that a strange girl at school has started talking to them. She seems to know more than she lets on.

I have a hard time imagining having another soul in my body. A constant presence who can feel what you feel... It's just such a strange idea. Though the book does say that they can cut themselves off from each other - having a wall between them. But it's still. Creepy idea. It sort of plays on the whole having an invisible friend as a young child. That friend is just inside your head. With you.

There's also a bit of government control over human's bodies. This country doesn't allow Hybrids to exist, but other countries are run by them. Hybrids are blamed for all terrorism, all evil, and are the boogieman for children. Flood at the art gallery? Hybrids. Riot in the streets? Hybrids. It's sort of an interesting look at government and what sort of influence they have. Plus, they have the ability to split families apart when the idea of hybrids is introduced. It's a little scary!

I'm trying to do this review without giving too much away. There were some things that I could see coming a mile away, but others I was shocked to see how they turned out. So I don't wanna ruin it for you. I really enjoyed it. I'm guessing that there will be a second book because things are left a little incomplete. Not to mention that it's part of a chronicle... obviously. I look forward to seeing where this story goes.

The reader on this book was really good. I liked how the inflection changed just slightly between Addie and Eva. It was enough to know they were different, and didn't keep you guessing on who was supposed to be speaking. I think this book has the potential to get confusing in that way, but the author and the reader did a great job keeping those things clear for you.

I may be a little partial because the author is a local for me. That's really the reason I gave this book a shot (well, that and it's in my wheelhouse). She is definitely talented and I am excited to read/listen to more from her. Fans of dystopian books will enjoy this one - even though that's not really where this one fits in. It's science fiction, but it has the feel of a dystopian. Definitely worth giving a shot.

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Other Blog Review:

Books that Spark

The Book Smugglers

Ticket to Anywhere

The Book Lantern

Books Worth Remembering

Booking in Heels

Reading After Midnight

Alexa Loves Books

Pocketful of Books

Book Nerd Swag

Out This Week (Feb 3-9)

February is going to be an amazing month for releases! I cannot wait to get my hands on all of these. Take a look... 

•  2.5.13 Girl Meets Ghost by Lauren Barnholdt
• 2.5.13 Etiquette and Espionage (Finishing School #1) by Gail Carriger

•  2.5.13 Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society #3) by Ally Carter
• 2.5.13 Homeland (sequel to Little Brother) by Cory Doctorow

•  2.5.13 Pieces by Chris Lynch
• 2.5.13 Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

•  2.5.13 Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer
• 2.5.13 Hysteria by Megan Miranda

•  2.5.13 Midwinter Blood by Marcus Sedgwick
• 2.5.13 Cross My Heart, Hope to Die (Lying Game #5) by Sara Shepard

Also Known As by Robin Benway

Title: Also Known As
Author: Robin Benway
ISBN: 9780802733900
Publisher: Bloomsbury Teens
Released: February 26, 2013
Page #: 369
Source: ARC from the publisher

Summary:
"Being a 16-year-old safecracker and second generation active duty international spy has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having a super cool job. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. Being sent on assignment to Russia - in the dead of winter. For Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations. (If it's three digits, why bother locking it at all?) But when Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case... all while trying not to blow her cover. From the hilarious and poignant author of Audrey, Wait! comes a fast-paced caper that proves that even the world's greatest spies can't develop a mission plan for love."
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First Lines: (quote is from the ARC - subject to change)

"I cracked my first lock when I was three. 
I know that sounds like I'm bragging, but really, it wasn't that hard. It was a Master Lock, the same combination lock that you probably have on your locker or bike."
Page 1
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Review:

I have read one other book by Robin Benway... and now I can say, everything I've read by this author has been hilarious. Like... LOL funny. I can't help but pass the books along to other people because they're so fun. So... yeah...

Maggie is the child of two spies. She can't help but learn the trade. Her specialty is cracking safes and a little bit of forging. All of this is going to help her when she gets her first solo assignment. She has to go to high school and befriend some handsome boy. There is way more to it than she expected - and she finds herself falling for the wrong person. All while being snarky, hilarious, and overall lovable.

Honestly, I wish I could be friends with Maggie. She seems amazing. I can only imagine how someone like that would really be. Of course, I'm not sure that a spy family is all that realistic. But who knows! It seems like a glamorous life and who doesn't want a taste of that?! I also loved her friend, Roux. She has the same snarky, silly personality that makes her lovable.

Can you imagine crashing into high school without having any sort of experience? Especially as a Junior. That would be crazy.The social politics could be overwhelming. Not to mention figuring out who you should and shouldn't talk to. School is stressful enough without all that stuff. But I thought it was so fun to see that setting through the eyes of someone who hasn't been there before. It makes for pure comedy gold.

Truly, I will read just about anything this author writes. I think I've missed one, so I'll have to go see if my library has it (I'm sure they do). I am just amazed at how much I laughed during this book. There are some serious themes as well - along with one high speed chase - but it is really a well done book. I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like it. Definitely give this author a shot!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Blue Sky Bookshelf
Alice in Readerland
The Bookstalker
Ageless Pages Reviews
After the Last Page
Makeshift Bookmark
Reading, Eating, and Dreaming
MARJOLEINBOOKBLOG

Reached by Ally Condie

Title: Reached
Author: Ally Condie
ISBN: 9780525423669
Publisher: Dutton Books
Released: November 13, 2012
Series: Matched #3
Page #: 512
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Cassia's journey began with an error, a momentary glitch in the otherwise perfect facade of the Society. After crossing canyons to break free, she waits, silk and paper smuggled against her skin, ready for the final chapter.

The wait is over.

One young woman has raged against those who threaten to keep away what matters most - family, love, choice. Her quiet revolution is about to explode into full-scale rebellion."
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First Lines:

"Every morning, the sun comes up and turns the earth red, and I think: This could be the day when everything changes. Maybe today the Society will fall."
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Review:

Okay, so at the end of the last book I was really worried about how the final book in this trilogy would turn out. But really it's a great conclusion - giving you a feeling of full circle. Life is the way it should be... and everyone is somewhat happy.

This is the final book in the Matched Trilogy. Cassia has been through some crazy hardships. She's been in the Society, out to the fringe areas, in the Rising, and back into the Society. It's been quite the roller coaster, but she is finally figuring out where she belongs. And who she belongs with. You learn even more about her family and how they have gotten her to where she is and how they help her figure out the greatest mystery of her life.

You know, now that I think about it... this book has the same sort of two-story thing that the second book had. You start out with all of these characters placed around in the Society waiting for something to happen. There is a clear picture of what their lives are like and how things have changed. But then the plague hits and you have a whole new story. It wasn't as drastic as the second book, but it's sort of the same formula. Not necessarily a bad thing... just interesting.

I don't know that I can say I loved this book. The first book was fantastic, but this was probably my second favorite. There is a lot more self-actualization in this one. Cassia is figuring out what it means to be an artist, a poet. Ky has finally found a roll that suits him perfectly - a pilot - and all of the things that affords him. And Xander has become one of the best doctors ever. It almost feels like this story should take place years down the road instead of just after the Rising comes into place.

While this book is about the Rising finally, you know, rising... it's sort of a quiet story. The action is against the plague - which is a quiet disease because all of the patients go "still." And there doesn't seem to be any sort of uprising. I think I was expecting much more of a boom in the end. And some buildings to collapse or something. I would expect the end of the Society to be much louder. But, you know, that's sort of how changes happen for real, isn't it? Small changes with big names... It's an interesting concept.

Sometimes it seems like authors want to leave you hanging on forever. But I really loved that this book comes to a very complete, very satisfying conclusion. There aren't any people you're still worrying about. There aren't any unknowns about how life is going to be from here on out. I just felt very satisfied when it was all over. 

If you haven't read Matched, I highly suggest you do so. You won't be sorry. And I look forward to whatever Ally Condie has for us next. I just know it will be amazing, whatever it is!
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Other Blog Reviews:
 
Katie's Book Blog
Sarah's YA Book Blog
Diary of a Bookworm
Two Chicks on Books
My Not So Real Life
It's All About Books
YA Book Queen
Book Addict
Bloody Bookaholic
Lunar Rainbows

Out This Week (Jan 20-26)

Well, publishing is starting to pick up the pace a little bit. Check out some of the great titles coming out this week...

•  1.22.13 Everbound (An Everneath novel) by Brodi Ashton
• 1.22.13 Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

•  1.22.13 Slither (The Last Apprentice #11) by Joseph Delaney
• 1.22.13 Boundless (An Unearthly novel) by Cynthia Hand

•  1.22.13 Black Ice by Andrew Lane
• 1.22.13 Kiki Strike (The Darkness Dwellers) by Kirsten Miller

•  1.22.13 Ravage (A Deviants Novel) by Jeff Sampson
• 1.22.13 At Somerton: Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

• 1.22.13 The Archived by Victoria Schwab
• 1.22.13 Slated by Teri Terry