Starters

by Lissa Price

published by Random House Children's Books

available March 13, 2012

synopsis (from Goodreads)

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER 

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . 

MY REVIEW 

Amazing!  This book is hard to describe, is it dystopian? Yes.  Is it a thriller? Yes.  Is it YA? Yes.  It's a combo of everything.  

Callie is the main protagonist of the story.  A 16 year old Starter.   What's a starter? Well, the US has been a victim of the Spore Wars, a biological weapon killed everyone between the ages of 20-60.  The very young and old were the only citizens vaccinated against the spores. Callie's parents are dead.  She is looking after her young brother Tyler while trying to survive in a strange new world.  

Those over the age of 60 who lived are called the Enders, as in End of Lifers.  

Callie is introduced to a buisness named Prime Directive.  They 'rent' the bodies of Starters to Enders who wish to be young again.  Yuck!  It is done through a computer chip allowing the Ender to gain control of the young persons body.   Callie sees this as the only way to protect her brother.  

Well, of course things don't go as planned.  

Callie is an incredible character.  She is both strong and vulnerable.  She is doing everything she can to protect her younger brother in a hostile world.

Some of the other characters are equally spectacular.  I think the readers will like Helena and Lauren as well as Michael and Blake. Of course, there are also 'bad guys' in the book.  Very bad guys, downright evil in fact.

I did enjoy the humorous reference to the border wall built between the US and Mexico to prevent infected Americans from entering Mexico- this was a laugh out loud moment for me. (not a spoiler, just a quick reference to a funny part of the book) 

The book itself was a very quick read.  I didn't want to put it down.  When I finished, and boy what a jaw dropping finish, I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.  

There is a part 2 about the Enders due in the winter of 2012. 

Starters by Lissa Price

Michelangelo

by 

Michael Hirst

Yale University Press

received by NetGalley

This remarkable book is the first of two volumes in what will be the definitive modern biography of Michelangelo. An illuminating study of Michelangelo's extraordinary career, it follows the artist from his apprenticeship in Ghirlandaio's workshop to his final move to Rome in 1534, when, at the age of 59, he left behind his native Florence, never to return. During these years he created such outstanding works as the marble Pietà, the giant marble David, commissioned for the cathedral in Florence, the Sistine Ceiling frescoes, and the new sacristy and library for the Medici family at San Lorenzo. He began the monumental tomb for Pope Julius II in Rome, and he became one of the most sought-after artists of the early 16th century.

Written by the leading Michelangelo scholar, this prodigiously informative account benefits from recent archival discoveries and restorations, and is enriched by material from the long-awaited editions of the artist's correspondence and artistic contracts. The wealth of new information enables light to be shed on the genesis of Michelangelo's works in sculpture, painting, and architecture, and on his complex psychological relations with his family, friends, and powerful patrons.

MY REVIEW 

Michael Hirst is professor emeritus in the history of art at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.

I have long been a fan of Michelangelo.  I've read Vasari's review of his life and Irving Stone's Agony and Ecstacy.  I've read Buonoratti's letters and admired his work.

This is an amazing biograpy of a portion of the artist's life.  The author has done an immense amount of research, that much is obvious.  He has presented the information in an informative and objective manner.  

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  I am grateful for the opportunity to read more about my favorite artist.   

THE UNBIDDEN SERIES

BY 

MARILEE BROTHERS

I could not put this book down (Shadow Moon).  The entire series of books- amazing doesn't begin to describe them.  The only bad part about this book is that it ended!  I'm literally left hanging....What happens to Allie?  I have a thousand different visions of how this is resolved in my head.  I know Marilee Brothers is such an amazing author, none of my visions will be correct.  She will come up with something unique and exciting!   

This is the most current book in an incredible series.  A truly unique series of paranormal beings.  A believable heroine, full of teenage doubts and, at times, questionable self esteem.  Allie 'finds herself' in these books.  We see her grow and mature throughout the series.  She begins with "Can I do this?" and by book 4 she's thinking "Bring it on"!  She meets all sorts of people from all walks of life.  She has friendships with close buddies and experiences a few boy/girl relationships along the way.

As I said, a marvelous series.  Each book is better than the one before it.  I would recommend you read in the order written, to get the full impact of these amazing stories.  

Just think, a series with magic, fairies, half demons, Trimarks, Star Seekers.... it just gets better with each book!

White Witch

by Trish Milburn

published by Bell Bridge Books

available 3/1/12

received from NetGalley for review

synopsis (Goodreads)

Witchcraft Is Her Family’s Business.No One Quits The Family And Lives To Tell About It. “Jax” Pherson has power, enough power to know her future will end in service to the dark coven her father controls. Unless she can stay hidden in a small community in the mountains of North Carolina. She must find a way to live without magic and deny the darkness she feels welling up inside her—the same dark power that fuels the covens around the world. All she wants is a normal life. A boyfriend. Friends. Some place to belong, but all too soon Jax’s barely begun new life hangs in the balance when she discovers that the boy she’s attracted to is sworn to kill her kind. He’s a hunter with good reason to kill everything that goes bump in the night. Even the most fleeting use of her power is tantamount to signing her death warrant and will bring both hunter and coven down on her. But can she walk away when her friends are threatened by an old evil? Something created by the magic of witches? Jax’s only hope of survival is to convince the boy she loves to forget everything he’s ever been taught and help her find a way to fight the covens. To believe there is some good in her

MY REVIEW

This is the story of Jax.  She is a witch who belongs with a coven of dark witches. They are intent on revenge for the witch hunts of the past.  Jax doesn't agree with their thinking and leaves the coven, incidentally, this is a punishable offense (death).

Jax moves to a small town intent on starting a new life, a quiet life, a normal life- no magic.  Well, guess what? It's not going to happen.  She has inadvertently started her new life in an area full of supernatural activities.

This is a very fast paced novel. Too fast at times, my head was spinning with all the information the author wanted to give the reader.  Plot development was as expected, nothing dramatically different from other YA books.  UNTIL the end--WOW..didn't see that coming!  Leaves us open for a sequel.