What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

         This book pushed the envelope. It edged on the line between good and evil, between justice and revenge, between humanity and monstrosity. When a boy commits suicide, his brother sets out to avenge his death by capturing the girl he feels sent his brother over the edge: Cass McBride. Through the story, the true environment of the dead boy is revealed, as is the path that made him end his life. We also get a glimpse of why the notorious Cass McBride is the way she is. We see how her parents and her expectations and wants of herself lead her to be the cruel girl that - just maybe - might be able to hurt a guy beyond repair. 

           But beyond the simple popular girl vs loner loser characters, there's a deeper psychotic story being told. There's the story of an abusive, self-centered mother, the story of a father/daughter relationship lacking love. The story of the dilemma every older sibling has ever faced; leading their own life, yet still being there for their younger sibling. The story of the kinds of cops that take on such twisted cases. 

          There are some novels meant to make you think. Some meant to disturb you to your core. Some meant to make you see your own flaws and weaknesses. Some meant to teach you a lesson. Others to show you how there's two sides to every story. What Happened to Cass McBride? does all of the above all at once. The large font it's printed in and it's small size would usually connote simplicity and something read by kids. Not in this case. This book has many facets, and any young kids picking this book up should be severely cautioned. 

          But no matter your age, this is a book that will haunt you for days after you've turned the last page.

Nevermore by James Patterson

1,000 stars of 5 stars

Nevermore by James Patterson was...breathtaking. I was gasping so much, it's a wonder i got any breath at all. The twists and turns were so intense, I nearly got whiplash. I knew without a doubt that it was going to end with a bang - a big one. So my mind started to try to untangle the web of hints dropped throughout the novel and the series before I was even halfway through the book, in an attempt to prepare myself so I wouldn't combust from shock. I've read many, many books, and there are patterns that crop up often. But I've never read an ending like this. Ever. The shock was insane, and the conclusion left me wondering. Not about anything in the book though (every question is heart-stoppingly answered) but about after the last page. Which happens with every book, I suppose, but most books end in a place where everything that follows is predictable. They live happily ever after, they try to move past the trauma, blah, blah, blah. That's usually easy to see. This book ended in such a way that trying to guess what happens next takes an enormous amount of imagination, since it seems that practically anything can happen. The epilogue's title says it all: The Beginning. Max's story may have ended, but her world is just beginning...

Now for an in depth review. Let's start with this summary, as taken from Goodreads.com, and appears on the inside flap of the book jacket:

"One last chance...
For Max, Fang, Angel, Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy.
Before it all ends.

Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming."

If you looked up "cryptic" and "not helpful" in the dictionary, you would find this synopsis. But you might also find it under "suspenseful" and "thrilling". This is a synopsis that gets right to the point.,.if you've already read the series. It is not one that would make someone picking up the book for the first time, never having seen the Maximum Ride series before, want to look for the rest. Sure, it makes one question, but really, there's not enough there to interest people other than current loyal readers. I'm a current, loyal reader, so I loved it, but from a third party perspective, they could have done better.

Fang vs Dylan. Honestly, for most of this book, I was Team Dylan. He was sweet, and the chapters in his third person point of view really help us know him a bit better I think. He came into the story in Fang, and was there through Angel, but it wasn't until this book that I feel like I got a feel of his character because Fang is kind of out of the picture. In Fang, Max was in love with Fang, In Angel, she was getting over him. In Nevermore, she's not over him, but she no longer thinks about him as much, which means we get to see more Dylan.
But every hero (or hero's friend) goes through their ups and downs, and Dylan is no different. Except his down was...well, let's just say it was down through the Earth's crust an into the inner depths of hell. His down made me do a double take. It starts off with a decision he's conflicted on, and escalates until I can't see the sweet, nice guy I thought was through the entire book, anymore. It's as if he morphs completely for a bit. He gets it together, but the aftermath leads me to dislike him. But overall, he has great character development here.

We find out who the voice is. Prepare to gasp and/or choke on your saliva.

Does Max save the world? Well, in my humble opinion, that's debatable. Depends on your definition of "world".

What's next? For Max? Anything. Nothing. You're really left wondering until the final page, and maybe even after that if you choose to delve into the unknown.

The last few pages will have you near tears. The first part of the epilogue, entitled: Max's Final Words, will present a conundrum unlike anything I've ever seen. Nearly gave me a migraine as I tried to both figure it out, and not cry at the same time. The second part of the epilogue...well, as I've said, the title speaks for itself.

This book was really a thrilling ending to a series that I believe children, teens, and adults alike will be reading for sometime to come. Action, romance, mystery, sci-fi, these books have had a bit of everything for anyone, and I don't think they'll be quickly forgotten by those who read them.



Look for Confessions of a Murder Suspect, James Patterson's next thrilling, mysterious tale, out 9.24.12.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

     So for an opening post, something about the Hunger Games might not be the best thing to make my latest blog stand out since I'm sure there are plenty of other book reviews about the Hunger Games, especially with the latest movie. But let's face it: the Hunger Games have something other books just don't have. The books manage to incorporate action, romance, politics, outdoor knowledge, and absolutely noteworthy characters all at the same time! Who wouldn't absolutely love a book like that? But my focus for today is the second book of the series, Catching Fire. 
     By the end of the week, odds are that most people will have read the first book in the Hunger Games series, or watched the movie, so there's not much to tell people about that. They can all now make their own opinions. However, the second book hasn't gotten nearly as much credit as it deserves. While it's far from the best book in the series (if you ask me, that's the third book, but that's just my two cents) the second book in the series is vitally important. It serves as a bridge between the first and the third book, setting up and fully describing all the conflicts created in the first book that will then be explored, and hopefully resolved in the third. Let's start with the summary that can be found in the inner flap of the book jacket of the hardcover edition of the book, shall we?

"Sparks are igniting. Flames are spreading. And the capitol wants revenge. Against all odds, Katniss won the Hunger games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create. Much to their shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scared her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying. In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn."

     The first thing I'd like to point out is, Peeta has turned his back on her completely. I have to say, after the events of the first book, I had no sympathy for Katniss whatsoever. I was absolutely on Peeta's side because as far as I was concerned, he got the short end of the stick in the previos book. And poor Peeta's luck only gets worse when he's electrocuted, and then captured. But Katniss prove her worth as well. 
     And the "cruel Victory Tour"? Yeah, that tour was only cruel for Katniss. For everyone else, it was the start of something bigger. It was the start of everything. Or, no, more like the start of the alliance, the...message. 
     This book brings in a ton of new characters that will make you laugh, cry, and occasionally feel like tossing the book at the wall (Finnick being just one of the most memorable ones). And each character has their own part to play, each important. As the saying goes, there are no small parts, just small actors.
     Surprising readers at every turn. No lie. There are many pitfalls and twists. Many things that make you think, "Oh, my god! I never saw that coming, but I totally should have!" Even more that make you shout, "I hate you!" and "No, no, no!" This book has the ability to bring out emotion in the reader, an ability only the best books have. That's why this book get's five stars from me. 
     And maybe an extra star for there being so much Peeta. (He just happens to be my favorite character, but maybe that's not as important as the reason for the other five stars)