ReviewEnclave by Ann Aguirre

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.(Publisher's summary from Goodreads)

Although I came to Enclave by Ann Aguirre a bit late, I have to say that better late than never. To be sure, Enclave is a riveting example of just how gripping apocalyptic fiction can be if done right. From the devastated world building, which greatly affects the setting and atmosphere of the book to the sensational characterization that breathes life into the story, Enclave compels the reader to deal with life that is fraught with dangers, and survival trumps love and compassion.

Certainly in any post-apocalyptic tale, the world built must set the scene for what is to come and Aguirre does just that. Like the Enclave living in dark tunnels, Aguirre keeps her readers in dark about what has occurred to force this underground society. Instead, we learn about the harsh realities of life, where twenty-five is as old as it gets, only breeders are allowed to propagate, and children or brats are named only if they survive long enough to become useful members of the Enclave. As we adjust to this new reality we also begin to see that a lack of compassion has worn away much of the essences of humanity, and like Deuce and Fade we begin to question the status quo.

Deuce is an exceptional character and it is through her first person narrative that the story unfolds.  Born and raised in the Enclave the tunnels are her only reality. While she has learned that being a hunter required strength and courage, and for the most part has accepted the wisdom of the elders, we are also given glimpses into her ability to question that wisdom. I loved Deuces ability to kick-ass, but was seriously drawn to her vulnerabilities, which made her stand out in such an unforgiving world of the Enclave and Topside.

Fade, Deuce’s hunting partner, and an outcast despite his expert hunting ability was the ideal counterpoint to Deuce and the other members of the Enclave. Allowed to become a member of the Enclave when he is found in the tunnels, his experiences Topside keeps him from embracing the blind rules set forth by the elders and his fierce sense of right and wrong greatly influences Deuce’s actions. As Deuce learns more about Fade, she begins to trust not only his incredible instincts, but his distrust of the Enclave, and when Deuce stands up for one of her friends and is banished from the Enclave Fade does not hesitate to join her.

Deuce and Fade are spectacular together. As they fight to survive, I found myself on edge rejoicing at their successes and cringing at their desperate plight. I also greatly enjoyed Deuce's Topside education, learning about the sun and stars, and libraries. While the Deuce and Fade find comfort with each other, I was happy that Aguirre held back from allowing their feelings for each other to become overly romantic, which would have negated the harsh realities of the world the perils they face daily. What few  tender moments they did share ended up being very powerful.


Enclave is a fantastic story and while the ending was satisfying, it left me wanting more. I will be looking forward the book two and finding out whether Deuce and Fade's feeling for each other will grow, and whether the world around them will change for the better. I am also intrigued to find out whether some of the secondary character will end up will greater roles. If you are a an of post-apocalyptic fiction then don't miss this one.

  

ReviewAshfall by Mike Mullin

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet. 

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.(Publisher'e sumary from Goodreads)

Ashfall by Mike Mullin authentically captures a world devastated by a large-scale natural disaster through the eyes and actions of sixteen-year-old Alex. From his spot on descriptions of the ramifications of a super volcano erupting and the resulting change of landscape, to his realistic characterization, Mike Mullin has created a post-apocalyptic novel that is suspenseful and edgy and impossible to put down.

Mullin delivers a front row seat to his readers as he aptly describes the effects of Yellowstone’s supervolcano erupting. From the artillery like bombardment of Alex’s home and town, the destruction of all the technology we have become so dependent on, to the ash that completely transforms the landscape into a unrecognizable wasteland, in a matter of a few chapters, Mullin creates an atmosphere where life becomes a terrifying struggle to survive.

As with all disasters, Alex soon experiences first hand that people’s reactions are either positive or negative, and while some readers might find aspects of the plot hard to take I feel that had Mullin not included the more negative actions Alex experiences would have greatly skewed the authenticity of the story.

Besides the realistic portrayal of a land in chaos, Mullin’s did a fantastic job with his characters. Alex is a very typical sixteen-year old who adamantly resists a family trip to his uncle’s farm exasperating his mother enough for her to give in to his demands. From the moment Alex decides to go in search for his family, we begin to see that his journey will be as transforming to Alex's personality as the ash is to human existence . With each new experience, Alex’s personality changes from a spoiled entitled teen to a confident caring man.  Along the way, Alex meets Darla, who proves to be a strong and independent character with great survival instincts. Through a tragic turn of events Darla joins forces with Alex, and each in turn, work together to locate Alex’s family. The romance between them is extremely well-written and adds yet another layer to Alex’s growth without distracting the reader from the dire realities of their situation.

Ashfall is one of the best post-apocalyptic novels I have read. It is extremely well researched with details that maintain a realistic atmosphere I have found lacking in similar novels. Although there are portions of the book that might not be appropriate for younger middle school readers, (murders and rape) these events are not superfluous, and add authenticity of the story. The ending is cautiously hopeful and perfectly aligned with the emotional weight of the story. Highly recommended. 

Source: received copy for review from author

Show Me Five ReviewThe Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Show Me Five is a review format created by That's a Novel Idea as a weekly Saturday meme.  The number indicates how many answers you will provide.

1 Book:

The Gathering by Kelly Armstrong

2 Words:

Fabulously unique




3 Setting/characters:

The Gathering is set on Vancouver Island and is a very important part of the plot influencing not only Armstrong's characterization, but the over all conflict.

The thousand acre park

The main action takes place in the fictional town of Salmon Creek,   surrounded by a thousand acre state park. The town, most of the homes, and the private school were all built by The St Cloud Corporation, a top secret  research facility for the company's employees. Everyone who lives in Salmon Creek works for the St. Cloud Corporation with only a few exceptions.  

Maya's Home

This includes the main character, Maya whose father is the park warden and whose mother is an environmental architect, Kenjii, Maya's German Shepard, and Fitz, a three legged cougar.

Fitz

  

Maya is an fantastic character and the narrator of the story. Her parents adopted her after she was left at a hospital when she was an infant. While she knows she is Native American she does not know what tribe she is from. She has a way with animals and helps her father with the animals they rescue from the park. Her best friend Serena drowned a year ago right in front of her and she is still dealing with that loss. She is smart, sensible, grounded, and strong enough to beat most of the guys she knows rock climbing.  She has a wonderful relationship with both her parents, and with Daniel, who was Serena's boyfriend and now her best bud.

Rafael---Rafe---Martinez is new to Salmon Creek. He lives with his older sister in a cabin they inherited from a distant relative and has been allowed to go to school in  Salmon Creek's so he wouldn't have to spend hours on a bus every day to attend another school in a distant town. While his name suggests he is Latino, his high cheek bones and amber eyes look Native. He is tall, lean with black hair down to his shoulder. He is a player with sexy eyes and crooked smile. 

4 Likes and or Dislikes

I love how original the plot of The Gathering was. It is by far one of the best paranormal books I have read this year. The mystery surrounding Serena's death, the medical facility, and Rafe had me turning pages fast and furiously, and while Armstrong only begins to unfold some of the secrets in this first book I am completely hooked.

Armstrong's characterization is amazing. I adored Maya. Her voice is clear and strong, and she is one of the most sensible female protagonists I have ever come across. As she deals with the death of her best friend, and some strange changes she is experiences, she never becomes angsty or self indulged.  I also am smitten with Daniel, who is Maya's best buddy. He is protective and caring. His home life sucks, but it never affects his positive attitude. I also loved Maya's parents. It was so refreshing to have both parents involved positively in their teen's life.  Finally, although I was not immediately taken with bad boy Rafe because his motives remain hidden during the first half of the book, as  the story unfolds and we learn more about him he did grow on me.

This is the first book I have read by Kelly Armstrong and I found her writing lush and vivid. I enjoyed reading about the unique setting, and felt the pacing of the book was excellent. The prologue drew me in immediately, and while there are a lot  of questions left unanswered at the end, it only makes me want to read the next book in the series.

Finally,  I felt that Armstrong did a fantastic job building the plot and her characters around the setting making this a perfect example of how a writer can use all the elements of fiction to craft a story that builds tension and creates atmosphere. 

5 Stars or Less 

Definitely a five star read for me. I felt the unusual nature of the paranormal aspect was quite inventive, and thought everything about the book was extremely well done.  

 

In the Middle Monday ReviewThe Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

In the Middle Monday is where I review books geared towards the middle school audience.

When her mother moves them from the city to a small town to open up a cupcake bakery, Penny’s life isn’t what she expected. Her father has stayed behind, and Mom isn’t talking about what the future holds for their family. And then there’s Charity, the girl who plays mean pranks almost daily. There are also bright spots in Hog’s Hollow—like Tally, an expert in Rock Paper Scissors, and Marcus, the boy who is always running on the beach. But just when it looks as though Penny is settling in, her parents ask her to make a choice that will turn everything upside down again. A sweet novel about love, creativity, and accepting life’s unexpected turns. (Publisher's summary from Goodreads)

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler is a book I might have missed had it not been a title being considered for next year’s book battle. A 2011-2012 Truman Award nominee, I found not only the characters fun and endearing, but Hepler’s writing sprinkled with sage insights about several teen issues including divorce, death, abandonment, and bullying. 

While the main conflict focuses around Penny dealing with her parent’s divorce, being uprooted her from Manhattan, her father and her friends, adjusting to a small town, and being the target of resident mean girl Charity’s disdain, Hepler brilliantly mixes in through her other extraordinary characters a host of other conflicts as well without making the reader feel overly stuffed.  For example, Tally was a marvelous character, whose quirky nonconformist ways had me laughing and wishing I had had a friend just like her when I was in middle school. Tally gives Penny great advice, and eventually Penny is able to see that her glass is actually half full as she begins to understand that Tally is also dealing with her own issues due to the abandonment of her father.  

Penny also begins to put her own problems into perspective as she gets to know more about Marcus, the cute boy Penny is crushing on.  Marcus is dealing with the death of his mom, and his father’s  disconnect from losing his wife.  The relationship that arises between the two was sweetly portrayed and innocent enough to keep this book firmly within the middle school genre. 

Finally, I loved how Hepler succinctly added insights through the voice of her characters, which kept them from being too philosophical for the book’s audience. For example:

“I think about the problem with running from your trouble. The problem is in the stopping. The whole time you think you’re getting away from everything, the trouble is running like mad, too, trying to catch up with you. And it doesn’t slow down when you do --- it keeps on sprinting. So when trouble finally reaches you, it hits you hard.”

And

"It’s hard when things don’t happen like you think they’re suppose to,” ... “I guess at some point you just have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening.”

Like a cupcake, which is just the right size when you want something sweet and delicious, The Cupcake Queen has all the right ingredients for a good middle school book except that it definitely is written more for girls than boys. Still the insights gained from this story holds true no matter what sex or age the reader might be.