Unwind by Neal Shusterman

I know I probably shouldn't post this before book club discusses it next week, but WOWSA! I really liked this book. I think I've read about 30 books so far this school year, and Unwind is by far my favorite.

This book grabbed me and kept me hooked. There were a number of twists and turns that caught me off guard. The premise is original and twisted. Set in future America after the Heartland War (the second Civil War), a peace treaty was signed after both sides agree to the idea of unwinding - taking 13 to 18 year olds and harvesting all their body parts. Connor finding out he is about to be unwound goes on the the run. Along the way he meets Risa, a ward of the state, and Lev, a child born to be tithed. The three of them try to stay alive. There is lots to think about in this book and plentiful action.

GemX by Nicky Singer

This science fiction novel takes place in a futuristic society where people are either extremely poor or wasteful and rich. A genetically modified “GemX” child, Maxo Strang lives the life of a snotty brat, until one day, when he sees a girl on a TropScreen who he instantly falls in love with. As he finds out who she is and learns her story, both of their lives are changed. This story is somewhat innovate and creative, but is somewhat too unrealistic at times. The author’s naming of ProperNouns is also somewhat distracting. If you like romance novels and reading about dystopian societies, then this is the book for you.

Review by I. Kanreed

Works Cited
"GemX Cover." Online image. LibraryThing. 13 March 2009

Cherry Heaven by L.J. Adlington

In the distant future, humans have colonized many new worlds and developed gills. On one such world, people are sorted into three different classes according to their genes. A massive war has decided the "ranks" of these classes. Cherry Heaven is a story of this world told through two different viewpoints. Luka is a Galrezi, thought to be an inferior class. Kat and Tanka are two adopted sisters who happen to be Atsumisi, the "highest" ranked class. As these characters meet, the story of past events and injustices is revealed. This book tends to drag on a bit, but it is a great read for science fiction lovers who are looking for something new.
Cherry Heaven is the companion novel to The Diary of Pelly D by L.J. Adlington.

Review by I. Kanread

Works Cited
"Cherry Heaven Cover." Online image. LibraryThing. 27 Oct. 2008 http://www.librarything.com/catalog/ewyatt

Simon Bloom: The Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman

The Gravity Keeper brings new ideas to the sci-fi genre in an interesting and colorful way. Sixth grader Simon Bloom stumbles onto the well kept secrets of the Union, a secret society known to everyone but the Outsiders (everyday people). As he learns the fantastic abilities of a mysterious book that literally fell out of the sky, Simon is thrown into a dangerous adventure of saving the world from a tyrant who wants the power of the Union. On the way, he meets Owen, a peculiar boy who is afraid of shredded lettuce, and Alysha, a curious girl who is getting tired of being popular. Together they float, electrify, and ground skate their way through dangerous, and sometimes funny, perils.

Overall this book is a good read that is full of fun adventures and wacky characters, but on the downside, there is not a very strong plot. The book can leave readers with a sense of wanting more story rather than adventure. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

Review by CR

Citation
"Gravity Keeper Cover." Online image. LibraryThing. 15 Oct. 2008 http://www.librarything.com/work/2990767