UGLIES

by Scott Westerfeld

Wow! This story was a great concept and left you thinking how shallow we have become. This is the first book in a trilogy and I'm looking forward to reading the next 'Pretties'.

Set in the future, where your whole world changes when you become 16, Tally is waiting for the day that she will no longer be an 'Ugly' but will have an operation to become 'pretty'. This involves becoming symmetrical, being sculptured, skin sanded, implants and basically cloned to be like a Barbie Doll. Once this operation has been done you then get to live in New Pretty Town where life involves having constant parties and fun, and this is what Tally is waiting for, where she will be united with her good friend Peris.

Tally has a rebellious nature and is always doing 'tricks' on her hoverboard to annoy authorities however when she meets Shay her life goes in a new direction. Shay does not want to become 'pretty' and wants Tally to come with her and escape to the 'Smoke' where you don't have to worry about being perfect and living in a perfect world.

Circumstances arise and Tally has to choose if she will spy on her new friends to save her life and fulfill her dream of becoming 'pretty' or stay an 'ugly' for the rest of her life. The author has created such a wonderful futuristic world which I felt I was living in and I felt close to each of the characters. Clever concepts and great imagination.

THE ROSIE BLACK CHRONICLES

EQUINOX  -  BOOK 2   by Lara Morgan

It's a pity I hadn't read Book 1 first as it would have given me the overview of what was happening, but it didn't take long to get my head around the Sci Fi jargon and characters, so I could be emersed into this trilogy.

It is action packed from the very first chapter. Rosie is a brave teenager living in a futuristic world. After losing her mother and friend in book 1 to a terrible disease, her father is now in hospital with the same disease, along with many others, and this sequel tells of her plan to find a cure and for revenge to bring down the Helios.

Reilly, who is in charge of operations, goes missing,  but before he does he places an implant in her brain to give her the clues to find him if he ever has to flee. The implant however malfunctions and causes Rosie to be in terrible pain and she's only getting distorted messages. As Rosie is once again on the run from the Helios, the implant becomes life threatening, but she must persevere with the help of her friends Pip, Dalton and Cassie to find Reilly and find out what the Helios are building that will effect millions of people.

Along with this fast paced action Rosie has to deal with her feelings between her and Pip, and her new relationship with Dalton. Can Dalton be trusted and will they be able to find a cure for this fatal disease? All will be revealed.

Look forward to book 3.

I AM NUMBER FOUR

I AM NUMBER FOUR   by Pittacus Lore        (LWH)

BOOK BLURB:  Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. Not even close. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books— but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running, all of us are hiding. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

And Number Three in Kenya.

They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

I was anxious to read the sequel to this book, as I'd read reviews from other library staff who enjoyed the sequel 'The Power of Six' (one review can be read by clicking HERE), but knew I needed to read 'I am number four' first, however when my daughter offered to hire the movie for me I thought that I'd take her up on it. With Michael Bay and Stephen Spielberg bringing it to our screen I didn't think I'd be disappointed... and I wasn't... I did enjoy the movie. Having not read the book it may not as been as good, which is often the case, but now I know the underlying story I will be able to jump into the sequel.  Here is a movie trailer to wet your appetite...

GONE

GONE  by Michael Grant    (LWH)

Book blurb:   In the blink of an eye. Everyone 15 yrs and older disappears. GONE.  Not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened. Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your 15^th birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

 

The story transpires in a small town of Perdido Beach (Southern California). In a twinkling of an eye everyone over the age of 15 vanishes – poof! Teachers in mid-sentence, drivers in cars, parents… all gone, but where? It is an intriguing start to the novel and at first the children at school seem thrilled as they ransack the school of food and drink, until panic sets in, interestingly thought it’s not until they realize their cell phones and the internet no longer work that they truly become FREAKED! There is at least electricity.

They soon discover the whole town and its environs have been isolated from the world by an egg-shaped force-field. Our reluctant hero, Sam Templeton (an ordinary unassuming guy), and his friends Astrid, Quinn and Edilio assume responsibility for holding anarchy at bay. The smaller children in the community must be sought out and looked after and fed with no parents around and as panic has totally set it by now.  Mary takes charge of the pre-school nursery, Albert  reopens McDonald's, aware that the availability of burgers and fries will keep the 200 odd children fed for the time being. As hunger eventually threatens, new problems arise as bullies rule, a sinister creature lurks and animals are mutating. 

The teens themselves are changing, developing new talent - unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers, that grow stronger by the day that they don’t know how to use or why they have them. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out for those about to turn 15. Before long a convoy of cars from Coates Academy creeps into town. Coates is a residential school for "difficult/weird” children. The leader of the contingent is Caine, a charismatic boy who assumes power. He is, of course, bad, and soon enough a battle between Sam and Caine, Good and Evil, develops.

Interestingly Michael Grant questions "What can we write to lure boys away from their PlayStations and Xboxes?" His answer  "Books that are prose versions of games".

My fav line in book:  Albert goes to the library to research as there is no internet. He found a set of encylopedias - "It's like Wikipedia, but paper and very bulky ... It was exactly like following hyperlinks, but slower, and with more lifting."

MOVIE TRAILERS AND INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL ON NEXT PAGE...

H.I.V.E. ZERO HOUR

H.I.V.E.  ZERO HOUR   by Mark Walden

(HIGHER INSTITUTION OF VILLAINOUS EDUCATION)

(Review by:  Zac Abbott)

This is the sixth book in the H.I.V.E. series. It is a very enjoyable book with a couple of laughts and it is a very involved book with a storyline that takes you around the world. The main character is a boy named Otto Malpense and he was created to be a home for the A.I. Overlord who is evil. The book is based around his adventures with his friends and his mentor Nero.

Book rating:  8/10

Book Blurb: Otto Malpense is in peril. The evil A.I. Overlord has developed the ability to move from body to body, but only Otto can contain him and survive. Overloard will cease at nothing to locate him. Then no one will be able to stop him. Nero must activate Zero Hour, a plan designed to elimate any villian on the brink of global dominatin. Nero also knows that Otto must not be allowed to fall into the Overlord's hands. The stage is set for a final battle.

To find out more about the other books in the HIVE series click here

H.I.V.E.
1. H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education (2006)
2. The Overlord Protocol (2007)
3. Escape Velocity (2008)
4. Dreadnought (2009)
5. Rogue (2010)
6. Zero Hour (2010)
7. Aftershock (2011)

About the author:  After spending ten years as a video games designer and producer Mark has recently left the games industry to write and be a full-time dad to his daughter Megan. He studied at Newcastle University where he received a BA in English Literature and an MA in Twentieth Century Literature, Film and Television. It was here he met his wife, Sarah. H.I.V.E. won the Confident Readers 9+ category in Richard and Judy's Children's Book Club in October 2007.