Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content warnings: murder, violence, gun violence, mentions of gangs, human trafficking, mentions of incarceration, blood, disordered eating.
What the hickity heck did I just read. I picked it up on a whim because the kids at work seem to LOVE this, and I knew within a handful of pages that it probably wasn't going to end well for me. And it didn't.
Liva - short for Olivia and NOT an abbreviation that works well in an Australian accent, let me tell you - is clearly supposed to be a strong female character but I honestly found her pretty gross, especially with the racist assumptions she makes about Jay. The human trafficking plotline wasn't well handled and the way it played out was largely unsatisfying. Liva is also a ballet dancer, so she's got a hefty dose of disordered eating going on, which definitely didn't help my enjoyment.
I *will* say that it's a very fast paced and action packed story and I absolutely flew through it. So for that reason, I'm giving it 2.5 stars. But just know that deep down, I'm giving it 1.5 stars.
What the hickity heck did I just read. I picked it up on a whim because the kids at work seem to LOVE this, and I knew within a handful of pages that it probably wasn't going to end well for me. And it didn't.
Liva - short for Olivia and NOT an abbreviation that works well in an Australian accent, let me tell you - is clearly supposed to be a strong female character but I honestly found her pretty gross, especially with the racist assumptions she makes about Jay. The human trafficking plotline wasn't well handled and the way it played out was largely unsatisfying. Liva is also a ballet dancer, so she's got a hefty dose of disordered eating going on, which definitely didn't help my enjoyment.
I *will* say that it's a very fast paced and action packed story and I absolutely flew through it. So for that reason, I'm giving it 2.5 stars. But just know that deep down, I'm giving it 1.5 stars.
Overall enjoyed this. Quick easy read with a good story line. Lots of action scenes. Who doesn’t love some gun fights around NYC with the bad guys
I read this book while it was on PulseIt (today was the last day and since I started it yesterday, I really had to zoom through it!). I really enjoyed it; it really was an edge-of-the-seat sort of ride.
I liked Liva, but for a protagonist, she was somewhat mysterious, even though the book was told in first-person. I think part of that is due to the fact that she had such a different life from 98% of the world's population, and definitely different from mine. Growing up overseas, having a bodyguard at all times, etc.
I also really think this book has a lot to offer the world of YA fiction. It deals with two fairly tough topics -- although IMO they're tough in different ways. Throughout the book, Liva realizes how much she forces herself not to feel anything -- and throughout the book, Jay shows her that feeling something is better than feeling nothing. Even if that something is not a pleasant feeling. Because when you learn to numb yourself to feelings, sure, you deprive yourself of the negative ones (like guilt, grief, anger) -- but you also deprive yourself of the wonderful ones (happiness, joy, excitement). That's the first tough topic; the reason I call it "tough" is because once you get used to numbing your feelings -- in whatever way, whether it involves drugs, alcohol, self-injury, or just shutting them out and refusing to think about them -- it's so hard to reverse that and learn to feel again. And so many teens/young adults that I know do numb their feelings because it's painful to be sad, to be depressed, to be grieving.
The other tough topic was that of human trafficking. Gotta admit, I totally did not see where this book was going with that. In grad school, whenever we had to write papers on injustice in today's society, I wrote mine on human trafficking. Even where I live (a rural county in Northeast PA), it's an issue. It's an operation that, world-wide, earns billions of dollars a year. And I am so glad that it was tackled in a YA book, in a manner that was not too brutal (IMO) yet gave valuable information about human trafficking.
Definitely a good read. Thought-provoking, too. Well done, Ms. Alderson!
I liked Liva, but for a protagonist, she was somewhat mysterious, even though the book was told in first-person. I think part of that is due to the fact that she had such a different life from 98% of the world's population, and definitely different from mine. Growing up overseas, having a bodyguard at all times, etc.
I also really think this book has a lot to offer the world of YA fiction. It deals with two fairly tough topics -- although IMO they're tough in different ways. Throughout the book, Liva realizes how much she forces herself not to feel anything -- and throughout the book, Jay shows her that feeling something is better than feeling nothing. Even if that something is not a pleasant feeling. Because when you learn to numb yourself to feelings, sure, you deprive yourself of the negative ones (like guilt, grief, anger) -- but you also deprive yourself of the wonderful ones (happiness, joy, excitement). That's the first tough topic; the reason I call it "tough" is because once you get used to numbing your feelings -- in whatever way, whether it involves drugs, alcohol, self-injury, or just shutting them out and refusing to think about them -- it's so hard to reverse that and learn to feel again. And so many teens/young adults that I know do numb their feelings because it's painful to be sad, to be depressed, to be grieving.
The other tough topic was that of human trafficking. Gotta admit, I totally did not see where this book was going with that.
Spoiler
The fact that Liva's father was in charge of a human trafficking ring -- and to the end, continued to justify it -- was horrific to me.Spoiler
I think that many teens/young adults think that they are "immune" to being victims of things such as that -- and so the the fact that Liva was a target for a trafficking operation (well, to be used as a bargaining chip, but I have no doubt that she would endure horrific things during that time) was really quite clever on the part of Alderson, since it kind of takes away that sense of immunity to being a victim from the reader, especially if they can find anything at all to identify with in Liva.Definitely a good read. Thought-provoking, too. Well done, Ms. Alderson!
Whats with ya thrillers cutting off as soon as the action is over? I like to know what happens after you know.
Maybe it is because I haven't read many books on that topic, but I have to say, that this book was really good and I feel like that every message this book wanted to carry into the world, it shouted it loud and clear. I was always on the edge and could not stop reading. I was so intrigued by this story and the writing style was, in my opinion as amazing. Usually I am not person to tear up over a book, but that one got those tears filling my eyes!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Also posted @ http://thepaperbackaddict.blogspot.com/
The description of Out of Control doesn't do a great job of portraying what a good book this is. When I first read it, I thought it sounded a little ridiculous. I mean she witnesses a murder, gets taken into protective custody, and the police station is shot up, and she's on the run with a car thief she met at the police station. It's plot is improbable, but Alderson does a pretty good job of making you forget that part.
Olivia "Liva" is at the police station giving her version of events about the murder she witnessed. Jay is brought in around the same time for stealing a car, and asks her to make a phone call on his behalf when she leaves. Liva can't explain why she agrees, but the instant connection between the two is undeniable. When bullets start flying, the two of them escape together, and do their best to stay ahead of the psycho cop killer. Most of the book is happening within a few days span, and it's a pretty thrilling ride. I do wish the book would have gone on a little while longer, but it was a good read all the same.
The description of Out of Control doesn't do a great job of portraying what a good book this is. When I first read it, I thought it sounded a little ridiculous. I mean she witnesses a murder, gets taken into protective custody, and the police station is shot up, and she's on the run with a car thief she met at the police station. It's plot is improbable, but Alderson does a pretty good job of making you forget that part.
Olivia "Liva" is at the police station giving her version of events about the murder she witnessed. Jay is brought in around the same time for stealing a car, and asks her to make a phone call on his behalf when she leaves. Liva can't explain why she agrees, but the instant connection between the two is undeniable. When bullets start flying, the two of them escape together, and do their best to stay ahead of the psycho cop killer. Most of the book is happening within a few days span, and it's a pretty thrilling ride. I do wish the book would have gone on a little while longer, but it was a good read all the same.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No