The Replacement

Author: Brenna Yovanoff
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy/Horror
Publication Date: September 21, 2010
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 343
Date Scoot Read: December 2010
Source: Hardcover Library Book
Scoot's Rating: 8- Really good!

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Scoot’s Review:Can a book be creepy and sweet at the same time? Apparently it can. The Replacement follows Mackie Doyle, a replacement for a human child who was stolen by the Others as a baby. Mackie grows up to be a sweet misfit teen who really just wishes he was like everyone else, and was the REAL Mackie Doyle. Instead Mackie ends up having to face a part of his life he never wanted to admit to. The darker side. Learning to navigate between a potential love interest (who is pissed at him), the slow poison of iron all around him, and creepy monsters that go bump at all times of day, Mackie learns what is really important in life. The book kept a steady pace and had me enthralled from the first page. It is often bittersweet, occasionally a little disturbing, but also very heartwarming. I loved Mackie’s relationship with his sister and his closest friend. Mackie himself was a great character and he was easy to connect with. The character and world building was great. There is a romance in the story, but the main plot goes deeper. I would love the story to continue, but as of right now this book is a stand alone. Go check it out!

Waiting On Wednesday (21)

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

To be Published: June 1st 2011 by Scholastic

A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.

Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

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I love a good Dystopian and this book sounds really intriguing; few survivors, a mysterious boy, and danger lurking around every corner sounds like a good read to me!

What book are YOU waiting on?

 

Behemoth: Leviathan 2

Author: Scott Westerfeld, Artist Keith Thompson
Genre: Young-Adult - Steampunk
Publication Date: October 5, 2010
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 485
Date Scoot Read: December 2010
Source: Hardcover Library Book

Scoot's Rating: 10 – Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!

Synopsis (via Goodreads): The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. It can swallow enemy battleships with one bite. The Darwinists will need it, now that they are at war with the Clanker powers.

Deryn is a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service, and Alek is the heir to an empire posing as a commoner. Finally together aboard the airship Leviathan, they hope to bring the war to a halt. But when disaster strikes the Leviathan's peacekeeping mission, they find themselves alone and hunted in enemy territory.

Alek and Deryn will need great skill, new allies, and brave hearts to face what's ahead.

Scoot’s Review:
I loved this book. It didn’t want to put it down and was sad when it ended! Picking up right where Leviathan left off we rejoin Alek & Deryn on their alternate-WWI adventures. Alek is still trying to save his kingdom and stop the war he feels responsible for, with the little remaining influence he has. Deryn is struggling with her loyalties to Britain and her feelings for Alek; who she really wants to tell the truth to (aka – she’s a girl) but is afraid of losing. With lots of creative Darwinist-beasties, Clanker machines and new alliances around every corner the action keeps a steady pace from start to finish. Alek & Deryn each grow and develop as they make some tough choices, and rely more on one another. The ‘minor’ characters don’t feel minor and you come to know them even better. The book has a blend of love and loss in it and if you enjoyed Leviathan then you will be happy with this continuation of the story. There was only one scene that felt off for me, but I won’t spoil it for you – overall an excellent read. The story is not yet complete and I look forward to reading Goliath when it comes out in September of 2011. I am still crossing my fingers that the story ends the way I am hoping!

The Healer’s Apprentice

Author: Melanie Dickerson
Genre: Young Adult – Romance/Fantasy
Publication Date: September 14, 2010
Age Range:  Young-Adult
Pages:  261
Date Scoot Read: December 2010
Source:  Paperback from GoodReads giveaways

Scoot's Rating:  6- Good read with small flaws.

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Two Hearts. One Hope. Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her---a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

Scoot’s Review:A rare stand alone novel in the world of teen trilogies, The Healer’s Apprentice is a sweet fairytale romance with dashing lords, innocent maidens, and evil-doers.  Rose is a peasant girl raised in a small village who was chosen by the castle healer to be her apprentice.  Rose’s life gets a little turned around when the two young lords return home from abroad and she is called in to assist in healing one of them.  The story felt like a typical fairytale romance, with a few good plot twists.  I was not a huge fan of the heroine (Rose); she was so flighty! She couldn’t decide who she loved and waffling back and forth like that always bugs me.  If you aren’t SURE you love someone, then it probably means you don’t.  The writing flowed well, although at first it was a little confusing because one of the main characters is called by two different names (however, if you read in the back this is historically accurate for that time period).  The story had Christian elements and occasionally seemed a little over dramatic in that way, but otherwise was an enjoyable read.  

Harry Potter Challenge 2011

Marcie @ 2 Read or Not 2 Read is hosting a Harry Potter Challenge 2011! I *heart* all things Harry Potter and thought it would be fun to join up.  The challenge sounds like a perfect way to prep for the last movie that comes out this fall.  Marcie is planning to read all books by July (one a month)... but I am going to spread it out a little.  I am just hoping to have all the books read before November.  I love this series and have read each book more than once already, but it has been a while.  I am looking forward to refreshing my memory on the story! Click here if you are interested in joining this challenge too!