Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

May 30th, 2010 · No Comments

Synopsis: Incarceron is a living prison from which no one can escape, but when the warden’s daughter makes a shocking discovery, she works to break Incarceron’s protections with the aid of a boy who believes he was born on the outside. Review: I attempted to listen to the audio book of Incarceron, but the late [...]

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Tags: American Literature

The Healers by Thomas Heric

April 26th, 2010 · No Comments

Synopsis: Recruited by an elite medical society, an idealistic doctor discovers dark plans at odds with their stated mission to heal. Review: When I tell you that the secret of The Healers is Nazis, don’t worry, I’m not giving anything away–it’s right on the spine of the book. Set in the year 2021, the book [...]

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Tags: American Literature

The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon

February 16th, 2010 · No Comments

Synopsis: In the near future, a high-functioning autistic man is presented with the opportunity to be “fixed,” causing him to wonder if he was ever really broken. Review: I first read Speed of Dark a few years ago, on the recommendation of a friend. I really enjoyed revisiting it, especially now that I’m a mom [...]

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Tags: American Literature

Hunter’s Run by George RR Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham

September 15th, 2009 · No Comments

Synopsis: After encountering an alien species in a desolate woods, a man finds himself biologically tethered to a beast-like creature, hunting a man who might be himself. Review: I listened to the audiobook of Hunter’s Run, and really appreciated the eloquence of the prose as a result. The story wasn’t half bad, either, though I’m [...]

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Tags: American Literature

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

August 18th, 2009 · 4 Comments

Synopsis: A 6-year-old wunderkind enters Battle School to train to defeat the aggressive, invading Buggers. Review: This was actually my first foray into audiobooks on the iPod. I am a huge fan of podcasts, but had yet to tackle a book during the time I spend pushing my stroller and nursing Superfast Toddler to sleep. [...]

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Tags: American Literature

The Dark Planet (Atherton, Book 3) by Patrick Carman

May 21st, 2009 · No Comments

Synopsis: Edgar must leave Atherton, the only home he’s ever known, to finish his creator Dr. Harding’s work on the poisoned Dark Planet. Review: The Dark Planet, a stirring conclusion to the Atherton trilogy of science fiction adventures for middle grade readers, finds Edgar heading off his home planet towards the Dark Planet, where children [...]

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Tags: American Literature

Rivers of Fire (Atherton, Book 2) by Patrick Carman

May 18th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Synopsis: With Atherton inverting, a young boy with a penchant for climbing and his friends go on a journey of a lifetime through the hidden corridors of the only world they’ve ever known. Review: Rivers of Fire, being the middle book in a trilogy, concerns itself with questions of war and evolution. Everything on Atherton [...]

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Tags: American Literature

The House of Power (Atherton, Book 1) by Patrick Carman

May 15th, 2009 · No Comments

Synopsis: Atherton is a world with three levels, which have always remained apart; however, when the top level begins to sink the entire society is threatened and a young boy may be the only one with the key to survival. Review: I was glad that I knew very little about The House of Power before [...]

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Tags: American Literature

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

March 21st, 2009 · 8 Comments

Synopsis: Katniss Everdeen takes her sister’s place in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death between teenagers, televised for the whole world. Review: I asked my YA librarian friend if The Hunger Games was any good, and her report was that it wasn’t the best book she’d ever read but she couldn’t keep [...]

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Tags: American Literature

House of Stairs by William Sleator

March 8th, 2009 · 3 Comments

Synopsis: Five orphan teens find themselves trapped in a room filled with nothing but stairs, which quickly turns into an experiment that may have no end. Review: House of Stairs is a book I read about a zillion times when I was a kid. The scenario enthralled me–a seemingly endless room with stairs as far [...]

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Tags: American Literature