Book Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: The Body Finder

Author: Kimberly Derting

Publication Date: 2010

Publisher: HaperTeen

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers. Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him. Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself

My Review

I have to say that this book is definitely one of the best YA thriller novel. It was so intense and addictive wherein the suspense was keeping me on my toes the whole time. The Body Finder is about a high school girl called Violet who can hear and sense the echoes of dead bodies; not just humans, but animals as well. Hence, with each dead body there is a killer, and she is able to sense them too for they are imprinted by the dead people's echoes. The real story begins as a serial killer is on the loose killing young girls around the country, but it happens way too often in the city Violet lives in. Her ability puts her in a dangerous situation where she now is a wanted prey by the criminals. It was really thrilling and amazing. It also wraps up pretty well (I loved the ending ;) )
Overall, absolutely a great and recommended read :)

5/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith (Escape from Furnace #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: Lockdown (Escape from Furnace)

Author: Alexander Gordon Smith

Publication Date: 2010

Publisher: Square Fish

Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.  Together with a bunch of inmates—some innocent kids who have been framed, others cold-blooded killers—Alex plans an escape. But as he starts to uncover the truth about Furnace’s deeper, darker purpose, Alex’s actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that’s hidden from the eyes of the world

My Review

What an adventurous book... Absolutely a masterpiece!!..I felt like I was part of the characters, living every moment and day with them..
I felt so bad and horrified with the thought of being locked up in Furnace. Just thinking of being underground forever with no bail or way out; it can be suffocating. However, Alexander Gordon Smith was still able to maneuver that idea into making it possible to live there where u can still smile and move on with your friends; yet also brings us back to the reality of the scary fact that you might end up dying or taken away any second.
He was able to come up with amazing characters, such as Alex, D, and Zee. They felt so real in which I felt sorry, frustrated and cared about them. They were actual characters, no cliche's, no superheros, and absolutely they're not too goody goodies as well.

I obviously recommend this book to whoever wants to read something very thrilling and keeps you on your toes during the whole story.

5/5 :D

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: The Devouring by Simon Holt (The Devouring #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: The Devouring

Author: Simon Holt

Publication Date: 2008

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

"When dark creeps in and eats the light,Bury your fears on Sorry Night.For in the winter's blackest hours,Comes the feasting of the Vours, No one can see it, the life they stole,Your body's here but not your soul..."

THE VOURS: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.

When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.

To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?

The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?

My Review

The concept of the story is unique and in fact kind of creepy. I enjoyed how Simon created a creature that feeds off people's fears. The book was fast paced and enjoyable; it was definitely a page turner. I felt that I was part of the adventure in which Regina had to save her brother who was dvoured. The adventure was worth the read.

4/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Publication Date: April 5th, 2010

Publisher: Walker Books LTD

Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she's still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen? 

Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. Along with the memories come questions—questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident? 

In this fascinating novel, acclaimed author Mary E. Pearson presents an unforgettable look at one human life and a glimpse into a possible future that may be closer than we think.

My Review

It was a good read.. fast paced, even with the love parts.

Plot: It is about a girl called Jenna Fox who has woken up from a coma. She does not remember anything at all from her past including words and facial expressions. She grasps of who she is by what her parents tell and show her. As she lives each day, she starts remembering things other than what she is told. Jenna has to unravel the truth by her own, but she wonders if she'll like and accept what she finds.

Likes: I liked the whole aspect of the story. Ethan was interesting and amusing, loved his character. Her neighbor, Mr Bender, was a great friend to Jenna, and I enjoyed reading his parts. I liiiked Lilly, Jenna's Grandmother a lot, especially her honesty.

Dislikes: I kindda did not like Jenna's "tantrums" towards her parents. In my opinion, she was too self-centered and selfish. There are parts in the story where I wanted to say to Jenna to just LET IT GO. Of course it does then get better. Also, it was just TOO scientific for me.

Overall, not awesome, but good in its way. If you love science with some thriller, then I would recommend the book to you.

3/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: Killer Kiss Fear Street 42 by R. L. Stine

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: Killer Kiss

Author: R. L. Stine

Publication Date: 1997

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Delia and Karina competed over everything--the handsome new boy Vincent was no exception. But after Vincent ends up dead, the town wants to know which girl's kiss was deadly?

My Review

It was nice to read something from the past again :) When I was younger, I was soo hooked on Goosebumps and anything R.L. Stine wrote. This book is all about competition and jealousy. I have to say that people can do CRAZYY stuff just to get what they want. The story is about a boy called Vincent who is a player. He dates both Delia and Karina who have always been rivals. They both are determined to have him for themselves and in order to do that, things get complicated.

I recommend this book to young readers, and I guess that it can teach them that extreme rivalry and jealousy would get them nowhere, so it would be better to keep things healthy.

4/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Touch #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title:  Deadly Little Secret

Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz

Publication Date: 2008

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

From the best-selling author of Blue is for Nightmares comes a story of paranormal romance that's sure to be a thrilling and chilling teen favorite.

My Review

It is true that this book was fast paced where I kept flipping on the pages eagerly to find out what happens, but the only thing that was enjoyable for me were the action and suspense parts. The romance was not that intriguing; it was cheesy somehow.
It was also interesting to read about the stalker's point of view, which I have to admit was kindda CREEPY!! I hope I don't meet people like that. It is a sad truth to find out that these things actually do happen in the real world, and I wish people would be careful because sometimes predators are close to you without even suspecting them.


The ending was totally unpredictable, I honestly did not suspect that person for a stalker.

Since only some parts interested me I give this book a 2/5


Xoxo Meera

Book Review: A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer

Synopsis by Goodreads

Title: A Prisoner of Birth

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Publication Date: March 6th, 2008

Publisher: HarperCollins

Danny Cartwright is doomed by circumstance. After a quartet of cynical Cambridge friends decide to make him the patsy for a murder one of them had committed, illiterate Danny is tried, convicted, and sentenced to 22 years at hellish Belmarsh Prison. Mind-tormenting incarceration gives him ample opportunity to polish his reading skills and, more central to the plot, his taste for revenge.

My Review

 I have to say that it was suuuper great at the beginning and in the middle... but I truly have to add that some parts of the storyline went by a bit slow for me.
But I loved reading about his time in prison and how he fights to get out. However, as he gets out, that is when it started to move slow, so I kindda got bored a little bit, but wham!!! after that, it got back into greatness again :P lol

Overall, A greaaaaat book, I kindda recommed it cuz I still looove Jeffery Archer!

4/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #1)

Synopsis by Goodreads

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publication Date: September 14th, 2008

Publisher: Scholastic

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Review

When I saw this book at the library, I told myslef I'll get it cuz I've heard a lot of positive reviews on it, but at the same time I wasn't expecting much.
Well, I was wrong...Woow, just as I read the first sentence, or the first chapter to be more precise :P, it is absolutely amazing it just captivated me.
The action was really realy good and I truly felt their anger and the unfairness of the laws. I teared up a bit because it is just UNFAIIIIR!!

Katniss, the main character, is an unexpectedly strong girl. Her sense of survival and her love for her lil sister Prim just amazes me... as of now, she is my most favorite character of all the books I've read. At some parts of the book, she just surprises me with her kisk-ass strength; the action was memorable. Suzanne Collins truly created an amazing world of action and suspense.:D
Peeta was kindda okay, but when Katniss is in danger, he becomes this super sweet young man :D. (I loved him)
Cinna, Katniss's stylist, uhh! I just want to be his best friend, he is soo sweet.
At the beginning, I hated Haymitch, Katniss's and Peeta's mentor at the hunger games, but as the story progresses, I started loving him sooo much.
Well, overall it is a great book and believe me, you would find it hard to put it down as much as i did. The writing style is perfect and it just flows easily. I recommend it to everyone.

I can't wait to read Catching Fire !!!

5/5

Xoxo Meera