The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Title:The Infinite Sea
Series: The 5th Wave #2
Author: Rick Yancey
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date:September 16th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 300 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

Review

Rick Yancey you took my emotions on a roller coaster ride that lasted the entire book.  I was yelling 'Nooooo!' in some chapters and rooting for the characters in the next, To be honest, I did not like this roller coasters as much as I thought I was going to.  I was given hope at times just to have it snatched away from me, while I think it fit the theme and overall mood for the book it was not something that I really enjoyed.

Even though I typically love alternating point of views, I felt that during some chapters it was hard to remember who was the narrator.  There were also points in the book where I really wanted to know what was going on with some of the other characters but had to wait quite a few chapters until the point of view switched back.  The actual plot line continues to be scarily awesome! Yancey continues to effectively convey a desperate, dangerous environment that the characters have no choice but to face head on.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed in The Infinite Sea, The 5th Wave was a crazy, high stress, alien invasion survival story that had me flipping through every page with such anticipation.  The Infinite Sea lacked some of the 'wow' factor; the story focused on heavy character development while the plot pace took a back seat.  I am still excited for the next book, while this one was not my favorite, I am still invested it the plot and the characters.

Conversion by Katherine Howe

Title: Conversion
Author: Katherine Howe
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Pages: 432
Source: BEA 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
It’s senior year at St. Joan’s Academy, and school is a pressure cooker. College applications, the battle for valedictorian, deciphering boys’ texts: Through it all, Colleen Rowley and her friends are expected to keep it together. Until they can’t.

First it’s the school’s queen bee, Clara Rutherford, who suddenly falls into uncontrollable tics in the middle of class. Her mystery illness quickly spreads to her closest clique of friends, then more students and symptoms follow: seizures, hair loss, violent coughing fits. St. Joan’s buzzes with rumor; rumor blossoms into full-blown panic.

Soon the media descends on Danvers, Massachusetts, as everyone scrambles to find something, or someone, to blame. Pollution? Stress? Or are the girls faking? Only Colleen—who’s been reading The Crucible for extra credit—comes to realize what nobody else has: Danvers was once Salem Village, where another group of girls suffered from a similarly bizarre epidemic three centuries ago . . .

Inspired by true events—from seventeenth-century colonial life to the halls of a modern-day high school—Conversion casts a spell. With her signature wit and passion, New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe delivers an exciting and suspenseful novel, a chilling mystery that raises the question, what’s really happening to the girls at St. Joan’s?

Review

This book is undeniably well-researched and well-written. Even better, this story was inspired by real events, and I don’t just mean the Salem Witch Trials, but the modern day Mystery Illness too. I loved the in depth glimpse at both and the parallels that Howe made between them. It was really, really interesting.

I think I watched, rather than read, The Crucible back in middle school or high school. I am familiar with the Salem Witch Trials but not well versed on the subject. I’ve forgotten most of what I knew and didn’t have all of the history in the first place. That being said, I loved Howe’s rendering of this time in history. As a bit of a history buff, I loved learning about the events that unfolded and how everything escalated and spun out of control. It’s kind of crazy and sad really…

But the story takes time to build, which made for an ending that was much stronger and more exciting than the beginning. I couldn’t read fast enough when I got to the final 3rd of the book but the first 2/3rds didn’t completely pull me in. I admit that I wanted the book to move faster.

I’d recommend this book to fans of Historical Fiction, individuals interested in the Salem Witch Trials, or those who don’t mine a slower paced book. It really is a compelling story in that regard.

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Rebel Belle
Series: Rebel Belle #1
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Pages: 345
Source: YA Book Exchange

Summary from Goodreads:
Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

This book is all kinds of awesome.

Harper Price is this super preppy, super happy, super well behaved girl. And being the perfect Southern Belle means everything to her. So imagine when she is suddenly gifted with superpowers and tasked with protecting her arch nemesis. First, she thinks she must be crazy. Then, when she realizes she is not, she is totally psyched over the fact that she is a superhero with some noble purpose. Until she finds out that her noble purpose is to protect David Stark, the very boy she's been competing with her whole life.

I adore Harper and I got such a kick out of her. She's extremely good-natured, well-intentioned and just all around likable. But she had no clue what was going on, so watching her figure it out along the way, all the while trying to keep up appearances, was the most entertaining thing ever. Some of the situations she found herself in and the way she charmed her way out of them - so great. I was laughing or smiling through most of this book. She was hilarious in a totally unassuming and unintentional way.

And the dynamic between Harper and David only added to the fun - the bickering, the witty banter, the growing feels between the two of them. They were so different in some ways, and yet so similar in others. And they had such history. It just worked and I loved it. It was the perfect progression of a relationship, with just enough insecurity and promise.

All in all, I am completely smitten with this book. I loved the Southern charm. I loved the excitement. The humor. The characters. Everything, really. It is a total feel-good book. AND HOLY COW THAT ENDING. Guys, my mouth was hanging open for like the last 30 pages. If I know anything, it is that the next book is going to be crazy (in a very fabulous, whycan'tihavebooktwoalready kind of way.) I can. not. wait.

Rebel Belle is not my first Rachel Hawkins book, but it is by far my favorite. I HIGHLY recommend this one. In fact, I push it on all of you. Now go read it (please) :)