Contaminated 2: Mercy Mode

Em Garner’s novel, Contaminated 2: Mercy Mode, follows 17-year-old (I don’t know where the hyphens go?) Velvet Ellis, after the wave of Contamination caused by the weight-loss drink, ThinPro. After the diet-craze went global, people later discovered it was infected with corrupted animal proteins which caused the liquid to eat holes in your brain, basically turning anyone who consumed it into a ravenous, raging, zombie-like thing. Later, when Velvet’s mom (Malinda) is infected and her dad disappears during the first wave, she is left with custody of her kid-sister, Opal. And after finding her mom in a Connie kennel during the first book, she meets her boyfriend Dillon, whose mom runs the kennel. When both of his parents disappear during a government sweep, he is forced to move in with Velvet, Opal, their mom, and a neighbor named Mrs. Holly. Facing many struggles like evading the sweeps, trying to survive without electricity, and learning to live with limited rations, Velvet also grapples with her own personal issues; she may be Contaminated, too.

I liked this book better than the first one, I think partially because this one had a backstory and I already knew what was going on. I didn’t really have to figure anything out and I know that sounds like I’m lazy but I am. I’m not one for mysteries and I don’t like having to guess throughout the entire book. I feel like it takes away from the overall experience (learning the characters, following plot development, making connections with the story, etc. and you can’t do that if you’re trying to figure out what mysterious event in someone’s past caused them to hate toast).

I don’t have very many problems with this book I didn’t state in my previous review. Some of the details of the disease are questionable and confusing; it’s like a finished puzzle missing a piece or two because your dog ate it. But it is pretty realistic for a post-modern civilization. On the verge of a dystopian society, crowded with disease, Connies, and an absolute government, the ‘family’ have to scavenge for food and supplies while they invent new ways of doing everyday tasks. For example, they make an easier way to wash clothes with a giant metal tub they find, also using it to heat bath water (she describes the shower temperature as “luke-warm”). They also rummage through empty houses to gather materials. While facing the possibility of a break-in (by government, Connie, or just a dangerous non-Contaminated), being ripped from her ‘family’, and also trying to survive, Velvet also struggles with her own personal issues like if she is Contaminated and her relationship with Dillon. Since she is only 17, (but considered a legal adult in the Contaminated world) she faces normal teenage issues while being forced to grow up and be strong for everyone else. It is also referenced several times throughout the book and I feel it makes it much more personal.

Overall, this series was pretty cool. I haven’t really read any dystopian/zombie books that I couldn’t find something to like. I feel like if I recommended it to someone, they would have some questions though. For the most part, I enjoyed it and I bought it for myself (partially because the library didn’t have the second book). 7/10.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children: Library of Souls

“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” follows average teenager, Jacob Portman as he transitions from his normal life to one of peculiardom. When he visits the island his grandfather grew up on, he expected to find nothing more than fairy tales, but instead finds his unknown calling. After several struggles with wights and hollows, Miss Peregrine is captured and taken away. Following the first book, ‘Hollow City’ is mainly about their journey to save Miss Peregrine from her evil brother, Caul (Jack), and the band of wights he has assembled. Jacob also learns to harness his powers and learns more about the history of his peculiar ancestors. In the last book, ‘Library of Souls’, Jacob strengthens and triumphs as their newest leader and masters his special skills. He also decides on whether to go home or stay with his newfound family.

Okay, just a quick recap, ‘Hollow City’ is mostly about their journey to save their headmistress, as stated previously. I’m not going to lie, I don’t remember all of it, but I know it was still pretty great. The second book has a lot more adventure. The first book takes place briefly in Florida before Jacob leaves, but mainly in Cairnholm, while in the second they are constantly traveling, always moving. They meet all kinds of people (including a collection of gypsies with a peculiar son), and animals (a talking dog with glasses named Addison), and go to all kinds of places (a side-show attraction featuring only the most exquisite peculiars). Towards the end, they find refuge for a short while at an ice fortress made by another ymbryne and her wards. Throughout the book they are always exposed, always running. I thought it was great when I read it and I still think so.

Now, ‘Library of Souls’. This takes place where the second left off: in an underground subway, set in present day London. Long story short, Jacob, Emma, and Addison (the talking dog) were able to get away when an army of wights stormed in and captured the rest of the peculiars. In an epic battle amongst the common normals, they escaped and managed to use Addison’s nose to follow their trail. After getting on a train to follow them, nearly being caught and escaping again, they meet Sharon under the docks of London. A 7-foot tall man in a grim-reaper-ish style cloak, able to scare the bejeezus out of even the toughest of hollow-slayers. Sharon brings them to the epitomy of the wights power: their fortress in a loop known as Devil’s Acre (It is the most vile, putrid, disgusting, horrid loop in all of peculiar knowledge). After slipping away from Sharon, a blood-spattering battle with a hollow leaves all the children in a near-death state. After meeting Bentham, a millionaire banished to Devil’s Acre, his healer nurses them back to health as he explains his history. Through a complicated machine, the kids are able to find a way into the wight’s tower and they endure the most exhilarating battle of their lifetime.

In every review I say how much I love this series so I won’t go into too much detail, but something I love about this series is that it’s extremely relatable. Not in the sense that everyone knows a peculiar child or is one themselves, but that Jacob is a teenager grappling with some real issues and he handles it like a teenager. Deciding whether to go home or stay was a huge issue throughout the whole series; what he would tell his parents if he did go home, what would happen to him and Emma, if he would be in danger because of his powers in the normal world, and everyone finally gets their answer.

Again, the love is real. You can see how he thinks and how he feels and it’s true love he has for Emma. There are parts where he sacrifices himself for her and he worries about her all the time, especially when they are in a battle. At one point he says, “My heart was racing. I felt desperate and pathetic. Screw it, I’d never see my parents again. Fine. But I couldn’t lose Emma.” True love, I think. Maybe a little edgy, but still. He’d sacrifice never seeing his parents again and never being able to enter the present world ever again to stay in a loop with the girl he loves. Although they do come to a heartbreaking resolution, it is still a great ending.

Okay, other than how much I love this book, I don’t have too many notes on it. There is one thing that bothered me slightly; I found it extremely difficult to follow along with the imagery. Usually, the author describes some scenery and the reader is able to visualize it with little to no difficulty. For some reason, I couldn’t. I feel like maybe it was overwhelming or too specific and my brain couldn’t keep up with my eyes. This happened on a few occasions, maybe two or three times, and it didn’t affect me greatly considering the book usually has a picture here and there, but it was just kind of disappointing that I couldn’t get on that level. I am by no means the smartest person ever, but things like this usually don’t stump me as hard as it did.

Also, the concept of the Panloopticon confused me. It’s the idea that a machine (Bentham’s machine) can transfer one loop to loop without ever having to leave their current one, a loop within a loop. It’s a strange concept and I’m sure I could poke some holes in it if I had time to actually think about it, but I don’t so I guess I’ll just have to relish in the idea that it’s just a story.
Besides those notes, I have none. I love this series so much. Each book is unique but also uniform. In conclusion, it was a spectacular journey. Amazing on every platform and I am so happy I got to be a part of it. 10/10, I would recommend it to everybody.

Crank & Glass

 

*Some spoilers? Mild.

 

Crank, by Ellen Hopkins, and the sequel, Glass, follow teenager Kristina Georgia Snow as she makes her descent to rock-bottom. When she goes to see her estranged father (after 8 years of no communication whatsoever), she discovers a whole new lifestyle. Pulled in by her first love, Adam (a.k.a. Buddy) and her dad, she tries meth for the first time. The experience sends her over the edge and into a downward spiral. She eventually leaves her dad’s house to go home, and brings her addiction with her. While she makes new connections, she gets deeper and deeper into trouble. At the end of the second book, she ends up in jail for forging checks, stealing, and the possession and distributing of methamphetamine.

Comments about the books overall: I’m sure I’m going to get some negativity for this at some point, but I hate the format the books are written in. The way the words are actually displayed on the page is what I mean. I’m sure the author had a reason for placing them where she did, but to the average bear like myself, it looks random and unnecessary. For example, every page has a giant title at the top with the first word of the sentence, and if it said, “trouble” the words on the page were in the shape of a T, or if it said, “irony” it was in the shape of an I. Not that it went that way in all cases, sometimes it was in separate boxes for each sentence, sometimes it was just floating randomly on the page. And I am told it is written in a style of poetry, which I could understand, it’s just not my thing.

Another thing, almost every single male she meets is “perfect” and “gorgeous” and just all around spectacular and they’re all coincidentally into what she’s into. Reality check, if a guy was into hardcore drugs like that and did them as often as she did, they’d look like how she described herself at the end of the second book (“hair falling out, not as shiny, teeth chipping, facial sores, usual drug side effects). She paints gorgeous guys with radiant features who all jump at the opportunity to be in her presence. NOT EVERY GUY YOU WANT WANTS YOU, TOO. Another reality check, please. Part of being a teenager (she’s 16 or 17 in the first book and is 17, going on 18, in the second) is facing rejection. Not everyone you like, will like you back, especially if you look strung 24/7. I like relatability in a book, something that is even a little normal, and a lot of the things that make it a teen book, are completely unrealistic and just down-right false advertising.

That being said, the first book was okay. There isn’t too much of a backstory; she goes to visit her dead-beat dad in Albuquerque, meets a boy, and he introduces her to “the monster”. On that note, another thing I don’t like is that they refer to “the monster” way too often. Yeah, I get it. It ruined your life and everything, but we don’t need the exact name mentioned every other page. Anyway, it wasn’t great, and it ended on a not-so-cliffhanger-y note, but, it unrealistically portrays that people can “just stop” doing drugs. Like you can just stop needing or wanting them. Albeit she questions it before she does it a lot of the times, but she basically does it for the summer and a little into school, and just quits.

The second book was better if you like more action, which I do. Cliff Notes: she basically falls off the wagon and gets hooked again, falling deeper into it this time. She ends up getting kicked out of her house, working at a 7-11 (for like a month?) and screwing every guy who pays her even the slightest glimmer of attention. She becomes a dealer, not just a user, and gets arrested for cashing counterfeit checks to support her little hobby. There’s a lot going on, but there are still the same problems that were in the first book. Unrealistically gorgeous and impossible for any guy to say no to a turn on the Kristina-ride. 

Currently, I’m reading the third book (from the point of view of all her older kids: Hunter, Autumn, and Summer) and I don’t even know if I want to finish it. I’ll be honest, I have much more unexplored pages of books at home I’m far more interested in than this one at home. I’ve dedicated a month, give or take, to this series, and although it wasn’t a complete waste of time, I probably wouldn’t do it again. I read it because it got so much hype and now I don’t understand why. If you like extremely inaccurate portrayals of teenage love and the effects of drug use, then by all means, go for it. But personally, I like something to relate to in my weird teenage years, and this series was extremely unrelatable. 3 out of 10.

The Fault in our Stars

The Fault in our Stars, by John Green is the tale of a tragic love story between 17 year olds Hazel Grace and Augustus (Gus) Waters. Told by Hazel, the book starts with Hazel retelling her cancer-story for the umteenth time, going about her life. Medications, doctor visits, and the general depression that comes with being terminally ill. When she meets Augustus Waters in a cancer support group, it is love at first sight. Throughout the book, they fall deeper in love and learn how to cope with the enormous tragedy that is cancer.

So, I’m sure everyone has seen the movie, but for those who haven’t, I won’t spoil anything. Anyway, I absolutely loved the book. I loved the movie too, but I’m 99% positive the sole purpose of this book was to make every girl reading jealous she doesn’t have a charming Augustus Waters in her life. Certainly worked on me. The love they shared was absolutely once in a lifetime and I feel lucky to have even experienced even from second person and even if it was only fictional. That’s one of the greatest things about this story was that it made you feel something. You could feel all the emotions as if they were your own. The love, fear, anger, sadness, all of it is so intense. And I know I’m a total loser for liking a stereotypical “chick-flick” but patronize me if you must, I enjoyed every minute of the movie and the book.

Sappy stuff isn’t usually my forte, but for this I’d make an exception. Like I said, the love was indescribable. Within the short amount of time they had together, they made their own infinity (“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities,” Some of the quotes are just beautiful, by the way). They had a lifetime of love within their numbered days and it makes you feel something. More so with the book than the movie, I believe, but still. I’m not sure if this was or would be true with anyone else, but for me, it also made me stop and reflect on some of my past and current relationships. Not so much comparing as evaluating with new questions. So, I could also tie a personal connection to it and it’s a great feeling being able to do that with a book.  

As for the actual structure of the book: brilliant. It weeds out the people who could not comprehend the strong vocabulary within the first chapter. To understand, you’d probably have to keep a dictionary with you at all times. Not that it’s a bad thing, I enjoyed the long words and how it actually makes you stop and think sometimes. It was chronologically ordered over the few months and it really added to the “journey” aspect. Like, each day you lived their experiences with them.

All in all, I loved this book. I can’t find anything to complain about, other than the obvious “fall-in-love-with-a-character-then-they-break-your-heart” business, but a writer has to do what they have to do, I suppose. I give it a 10. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, because some people definitely don’t like having their heart broken by terminally ill 17 year olds in love, but I think it was a trip and I’m glad I was a part of it.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs, follows the extraordinarily ordinary life of 15-year-old, Jacob (Jake) Portman. For years his grandfather filled his head with stories of his orphanage he fled to during World War Two, filled with what he called “peculiar children”. A boy with bees living inside of him, a little girl which gravity had no bounds on, a little boy who could resurrect the dead, a boy who was completely invisible, all of them under the careful watch of a bird who smokes a pipe. Years later, Jake disregards these stories and later concludes his grandfather’s stories could only be a result of his withering mind. But after his grandfather’s mysterious and untimely death, he conducts an expedition to the small island of Cairnholm his grandfather’s orphanage was on. When he discovers the peculiar children are more than a fairy tale, he realizes he may have more in common with them than he thought.

Okay, I had read this book before a few years ago and it leaves on a cliffhanger so I was pretty upset. Little did I know, it had two sequels. So I got all three and re-read this one so I could refresh and continue the series. From what I remember before I re-read it, I knew mostly what happened and remembered enough but probably not enough to start the second book. Anyway, I’m really glad that I re-read it because now I can continue and get closure and whatnot. I love this book. Anyone who reads my book reviews can see I have a recurring particular fondness of the supernatural/creepy books and having read this a while ago, I knew half-way what to expect. For instance, all of the children have supernatural abilities (anti-gravity, a mouth on the back of one’s head, invisibility, making fire, bees, growing plants, shapeshifting, time-travel, etc.) and it is extremely interesting to a nobody like me. There are kids ranging from 5 to 15 and their actual ages rage from 88 to the oldest being over 115. They are all put in a time-loop in September of 1940 to hide from wights and hollowgasts (their only enemies, besides the fear and ignorance of common humans). And Jake, a seemingly normal teenager, stumbles into their world and is basically hypnotized with their amazing food, always beautiful weather and the pretty girl who can shoot fire out of her hands. Just a few examples, but the supernatural side is definitely satisfying.

Another part I really enjoyed is there are some pictures. Granted, I know some people like to visualise for themselves, but I enjoyed the change of pace from the usual novel. There also aren’t that many, maybe one or two per chapter. They particularly show up when someone is describing something or someone else. Like at the beginning when Jake talks about his grandfather’s stories, his grandfather had some pictures of the children. They looked old but real and went along perfectly with what Jake was saying to describe them. Actually getting to experience them made it a deeper journey. Personally, I liked seeing everything as the author did.

Something else that is a little controversial is its semi-complicated backstory. While it is very thorough and well thought out, it is also a little complicated and hard to follow if you aren’t paying attention. I liked it because it demonstrates Riggs put a lot of time into it, it seems very personal.

Over all, this was a wonderful book. I loved almost everything about it. Like I said, it leaves on a cliffhanger, but that’s what second books are for. I would probably recommend it to anybody, I feel like there is definitely something here for everyone (romance, adventure, suspense, mystery, comedy, etc). 10/10 and I can’t wait to read the next one.

 

Contaminated

 

Contaminated, by Em Garner, features heroine Velvet Ellis straining to adjust to her new “life” after an outbreak of disease, wiping out much of the population. After botched batches of the weight-loss water, ThinPro, are released into the public, a violent disease called the Contamination turns people into mindless freaks. This life-altering situation forces 17-year old Velvet to grow up fast to take care of her younger sister, Opal, and their mother, a Contamination victim. After already quitting school to work full-time, Velvet dedicates all her time to her family and trying to cope with the unfortunate events that follow.

This book wasn’t my favorite, but it had it’s high points. For example, I liked the romance and relationship aspect. Granted, they are scarce, but I did enjoy how normal they made her whole life seem by having average teenage problems. I can’t really explain without giving anything away, but Dillon makes me long for a love like theirs. I also appreciated the attention to detail. There are several moments where Garner displays emotions, sights, sounds, thoughts, and things of that nature well enough for me to feel like I was really there.

But, it had some things I was kind of on-the-fence about. Like how the reader is introduced to a new type of what I would classify as a halfway-zombie. Basically, they aren’t undead and they don’t eat brains, they just run around and kill people (they are also uncharacteristically fast). I feel it’s closely related to Breck Eisner’s thriller, The Crazies. (Small town’s water supply is tampered with and turns everyone into ravenous, pillaging, murderers. Same idea, and one of my favorites.) I mean, I guess it seemed like a good idea if it hadn’t already been done.

Something else I disliked was how it was very confusing at first because the author doesn’t come right out and explain what’s happening. You have to figure it out yourself. The story starts with Velvet in a con-kennel looking for someone, who we later discover is her mother. It takes a moment to fully realize what’s happened. Personally, I would rather the author just explain what’s going on so I don’t start out confused and left to figure things out on my own.

The end of the book also leaves the reader on this HUGE cliffhanger, something I’m not particularly fond of, but I guess that’s what second books are for.

All in all, it was alright. Like I said, it wasn’t my favorite but it would definitely suit some people I know. (I will also be reading the second book to get some closure).

Split

Split, by Swati Avasthi, is the story of 16 year-old heart-throb Jace Witherspoon rebuilding his life after escaping a life with his abusive father. After an explosive fight one night trying to protect his mother, he is kicked out and makes a 19-hour drive to New Mexico to find his estranged older brother, Christian. While he is gets settled there, he reflects on his life, on his father’s actions, and how they have affected his own judgment. He starts at a new school, gets a new job and meets new people who help him understand and deal with what has happened to him.

I absolutely loved this book. Maybe one of my new favorites. One of my favorite aspects of it, was how brutally honest it was. It was a very realistic portrayal of what it would be like to be in a situation like this. Avasthi is extremely realistic. She spared no detail and went as far as she had to to get her views across and I give her major props. There is a part where Jace can recall the memory from 5 years old of the first time he saw his father hit Christian. He describes in vivid detail everything that took place. He tells how his father nailed his mother to the wall after striking his own son and leaving him face-down, with a concussion in a pool of blood and anti-freeze in the garage. He tells about hearing his mother’s screams and about how his father repeatedly kicked Christian even after he was already down. Although it was slightly gruesome, it was extremely necessary (to me) to demonstrate how vivid things can be in an environment like that, especially for children.

Another part of this book I found extremely important was how informative it was. As I said before, it is incredibly realistic and could really happen. Most people don’t know what goes on in one another’s house behind closed doors, and it’s dangerous. This book gives sort of an insider’s look on what domestic abuse really feels and looks like. Also, what kind of effect it can have on the people involved. Throughout the whole book, Jace is laden with effects of his father’s abuse; anger issues from fighting so much and so often in a futile effort to protect his mother, trust issues from loving someone who only hurt him, a warped sense on love and girlfriends, and the obvious trauma that comes from being abused by a parent.

This book is amazing. It was well-written and well thought out until the very end. Extremely realistic and captivating. It kept me on the edge of my seat, always wanting more. Part of the thrill is experiencing something so dangerous and adrenaline-pumping without actually having to endure it and Avasthi executed it brilliantly. She portrayed love, betrayal, thrill, violence, relatability, and heartbreak all very eloquently and precisely. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone because I think everyone could either relate something to it, or want to explore the ideas. 10 out of 10. The only problem was that it wasn’t longer.

Suicide Notes

In Michael Thomas Ford’s novel, Suicide Notes, 15 year-old Jeff is a normal, mild-mannered high schooler. That is, until he wakes up New Year’s day in the mental ward of a hospital with bandages around his wrists. So, for the 45 days he’s there, he journals his experiences. He tells about his ward-mates, his therapist, Dr. “Cat Poop”, and how he grows to understand what got him there. Not to mention some life-changing realizations and experiences.

One of my favorite parts of this book was how relatable it was, especially to younger people.  It describes how he is fumbling through not only his personal life but also his romantic life, as all teenagers do. It really sounds like a teenager is writing it and it is somehow comforting. While I’m sure not everyone has been to a mental ward of a hospital, we certainly all have our bad days and can relate on some level. Personally, I feel a very strong connection with this book.

Another thing I like about this book was how insightful it is. It gives you an in-depth look at the mind of someone who tried to take their life. Not only that, but also a glimpse at his “friends” who also have various disorders. It sheds a new light on some of the things not many people understand.

I would highly recommend this book, especially to someone facing problems with their own mental health. I think it is very fresh, informative, interesting, and connective. I’ve read this book so many times I have lost count and it still continues to be one of my favorites.

The Lovely Bones

*Some spoiler alerts

Alice Sebold’s book, The Lovely Bones, is a chilling novel about a terrible tragedy told by a young girl named Susie. From the dead. Susie was murdered when she was 14 and she watches over her family from heaven, basically narrating their lives after her death. Over the course of many years, she tells about how her family copes with this most unfortunate event, what her life in heaven is like, and how she is learning to let go of Earth.

One thing I liked most about this book was the character development. Being able to see all of the characters years and years later, changing and growing up. For example, the book tells about her younger sister finding love, growing up, and getting married to her high school sweetheart. Another example, her childhood crush, Ray, goes off to college to become a doctor while her friend, Ruth, moves off to New York and realizes her gift for communicating with “the other side”. It portrays her friends and family changing really well.

Another thing I liked about this book is the supernatural side. Granted, it’s not a “ghosts and demons” type of supernatural, but it obviously hints at life on the other side. For instance, at one point, Suzie is able to escape her heaven and falls back to Earth with the help of Ruth’s body. Shortly after, she returns to her heaven and Ruth to her body. Also, the fact that this whole book is narrated by someone who has been dead for over 20 years.

I thought the book was okay. It wasn’t my favorite, but it was good. I can recognize a good book when I read one, whether it suits me or not. I liked the idea of the book, but not how it was executed. I didn’t like its personality. The actual structure and mechanical aspect was perfect but I feel like the author could have taken a different route, even though I don’t know what that would be. Always room for improvement, I suppose. Although I did enjoy some aspects of it, like how detailed and brutal it was, it’s definitely not for everyone. I would recommend it to some, of course.

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