enjoyed this novel so much

Cemetery Boys – Aiden Thomas

Latinx, magic, day of the dead, ceremonies, transgender, coming of age, culture, science fiction, young adult, fiction. 

Rating 9/10

Yadriel wants to prove he’s a brujo worthy to be a part of the brujos. Despite being transgender, he still tries to convince his family to allow him to prove his worth. As they don’t want to accept his gender he will not stop trying to convince them. One night a spirit left the world and that spirit is their cousin. Defying the rules he goes to find where his cousin went and summons his spirit. Except that wasn’t his spirit but of a fellow high school student that died that year. Yadriel also accidentally summoned a relentless spirit that doesn’t want to leave. Yadriel has to clean up the mess he made and prove to his family his gender. 

This was the most beautifully written young adult novel that I ever had read. I was so sad that this book was short and I had binge read this. This novel speaks so many truths behind the fiction of how some families in society do not accept their child’s gender and the pronouns that they prefer. I loved the ending and found it perfect. Usually there are only novels that have families either shun them or the protagonist is accepting of themselves. Never in between and this book made my heart warm and glow. There was some romance and a lot of science fiction going on. I loved it and I would’ve loved it more if there wasn’t a potential dead love interest. That got me bummed out in the end. Overall, I loved this novel and was so glad to have read it.

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This One is ELECTRICALLY GOOD

The Tesla Legacy – K.K. Perez

Young adult, science fiction, genetic, alchemy, fantasy, fiction.

Rating 9/10

Lucy had always lived a pretty normal life minus the constant seizures in her life. Her parents have always had her on lockdown because of this. She never had a normal life until she had convinced her parents to at least let her go to public school, but even then, she felt like an outsider. When she came across a mysterious photo and decides to pursue the photo’s location in which it was taken, she discovers a secret lab of Nikola Tesla. As she learns more and more about her unique powers, one side wants her dead whereas the other side wants her alive. She had to make a risky decision to save her life and others as well.

I enjoyed this unique novel but felt it was too cliched for my taste. A young girl being hid away from the rest of the world and finding out she has something incredible powers or something to that nature. I am fine with this because unlike others this novel was written with in depth narrative. The plot builds up to the climax was incredible and well thought into. I hate the fact that this book left on a cliffhanger which means the author is bound to make a sequel. I really hope that this novel becomes a series because it has immense potential.

I Fear This Dystopian Novel

Secondborn – Amy A. Bartol

Science fiction, dystopian, fiction.

Rating 8/10

In this dystopian science fiction novel, it is set in a time where firstborns are reared as important and great. Secondborns are reared as lowly and unimportant to society. Firstborns are given good quality jobs whereas secondborns are sent into servitude to the firstborns. It is time for Roselle to go into servitude like her fellow secondborns on transition day. When Roselle becomes a solider for The Fate of Swords, she realizes that she must either do what she needs to survive or face death. Along the way she finds allies who find being secondborn as an injustice and being treated differently as wrong, she becomes apart of the rebellion. Roselle wants equality and fights for that equality for all secondborns to be treated just as the same as firstborns. No matter what the cost.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I was satisfied with the plot. It is an interesting new addition to the world of science fiction that isn’t so clichéd as well as it seems like it’s a new idea. I personally thought that this book could’ve been more in-depth with the ideology of firstborns and secondborns. However, it is well written and excellent at capturing my attention when I first saw the title and read the small inadequate synopsis on the back. I would say, if your interested in science fiction, give this a read.

An Insight on The Past

Stranger Things: Darkness on The Edge of Town – Adam Christopher

Science fiction, fantasy

Rating 9/10

Jim Hopper had adopted Eleven, named her Jane Hopper but still calls her El. As the time of Christmas, it isn’t easy for Hopper. For he had a family once before and lost his family in a tragic way. Eleven whose curiosity wonders, asks Hopper of his past. Hopper doesn’t really wish to share about his past, but he gives in and tells her from the beginning. Jim Hopper worked as a detective homicide in N.Y.P.D. There had been three murders exactly alike and it disturbs Hopper and his coworkers as well. Things become eerily dark as truths surface and a sinister evil is looming over the entire town. Hopper retelling all this to Eleven helps him cope with the past a bit more.

This novel was exceptionally good, and it was well written. I enjoyed this novel as it is from one of my favorite shows, Stranger Things. Hopper retelling to Eleven was equally as heart warming as Hopper adopting Eleven as Jane Hopper. If one hasn’t seen Stranger Things, it is wise to go watch it then to read this novel. I would’ve hoped that this book could have been slightly better. This gives insight as to Hopper’s background, where he came from, what experiences he went through before coming back to Hawkins, Indiana.

Should’ve Been A Prequel To Jurassic Park

Dragon Teeth – Michael Crichton

Paleontologists, historical discoveries, science fiction, fiction, thrilling.

Rating: 8/10

Set in the year of 1876, William Johnson whom doesn’t wish to go touring of Europe wants to go with Paleontologist and Professor Marsh to the West to find fossils. After discussing with the professor to let him go, taking photography lessons, and convincing his family to let him go, William is ready to go West. Professor Marsh grows a bit suspicious of William, thinking that William is a spy that was employed by Edward Drinker Cope, Marsh’s was best friend into rival. Marsh abandons William behind because of paranoia. William comes across said “rival” and decides to go with him. This journey takes a turn for the worst.

I genuinely did enjoy this novel. Anything Michael Crichton writes is a masterpiece. However, I feel like this literature was a bit short and too quick paced. I prefer delayed gratification when it comes to thrilling science fiction. I feel as if maybe Crichton could’ve expanded this literature a bit more and go in depth. Otherwise it is phenomenal as Jurassic Park and The Lost World but sadly without the dinosaurs and playing with genetics. This feels as if this is a bridge to Jurassic Park since this is about strictly finding fossils and Jurassic Park explores the consequences of extracting DNA from amber to produce these extinct beings. Crichton should have mentioned like a familiar ancestor to John Hammond. I am not the author, but I feel like Crichton could have a lot of writing opportunities with this novel idea.

A Time Traveling Disappointment

Timeline – Michael Crichton

Science fiction, time travel, horror, thriller.

Rating 5/10

A man was found wandering the desert, speaking nonsense at first, then dies shortly after being admitted to the hospital. In another part of the world, an archeologist grad students comes across a shocking discovery at a current site that dates to the medieval ages, among papers, a letter from the professor who is assisting the archeologists. What the shocking twist is that the professor went missing. ITC, a company who is funding the archeologist grad students and their investigations, give them an offer. The team can go back in time to rescue their professor and be able to take note of history. Whether they come back or not isn’t the matter, surviving in the past is harsh and unbearable. Quickly the archeologist grad students fight for their lives and try to survive to come back to the present.

Michael Crichton sort of disappointed me with this book. It wasn’t as thrilling as his “Jurassic Park” and “Lost World”. However, this novel was good with the plot line and such. Just a slight disappointment that’s all. I’d had such high hopes for this novel, but overall time travel is a fun subject when paired up with history interactions. Its just this novel wasn’t piece of work.

Mermaids, Dragons, Phoenixes, Vampires.. Oh My

Siren Prophecy 1: Shifted – Tricia Barr, Jesse Booth, Joanna Reeder, Angel Leya, Alessandra Jay

Mythological creatures, science fiction, fantasy, fiction, young adult

Rating 10/10

Myreen, a teenager whose mother moved around many times had always wondered why they kept moving around and the rules. Rules such as no staying out after dark and never go swimming. Up until Myreen had it with the rules decides to defy her mother and go out with her new friend Kenzie. After coming home to find her mother dead and a guy taking her off to a school where there are shifters. Oberon introduces her to a whole new world her mother kept from her as well as the fact that Myreen is a mermaid. Myreen has trouble shifting but later on finds out she is a chimera, she can shift into more than just a mermaid, she’s also a siren and part vampire. She is now being hunted by not just any vampire but her father. Myreen sees why her mother had to protect her and forgave her a little.

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more of this series. Not much more to say other than this was an incredible book that had a plot twist.

Dystopian Romance

Divergent – Veronica Roth

Identity, science fiction, romance, dystopian, classes, young adult, fiction

Rating 10/10

In this dystopian novel, there are five factions; Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. On the day that Beatrix or Tris for short turns the right age to choose her new faction, she decides to go with her fate with the Dauntless. However, she is harboring a dark secret of the testing that happened just the day before that she had the results of a different kind, a dangerous kind that if anyone found out she would be dead, Divergent. So in order to survive, she must hide the fact that she is Divergent. Meanwhile after joining Dauntless, this dark and tall stranger has his eyes set on Tris. This stranger, named Four, opens to Tris. As their romance blossoms, dark things are happening with the Dauntless. The ruthless leaders of Erudite and Dauntless wants to control the dauntless to hurt the rest of the factions. Sadly, the leader doesn’t get away with it. Tris and Four plus some now “rogue” dauntless members are in the run.

As I recall this was a book I had read in high school, with my best friend’s recommendation. I simply had enjoyed the book and would reread it again over and over again.

Roth, Veronica. Divergent. Katherine Tegen Books, 2012.

Worst Book Ever

Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut

Time travel, fiction, repetitive, science fiction, war, aliens

Rating -10/10

Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five is about this Billy Pilgrim time traveling through decades and through wars. Then he is abducted by aliens as well as travels through space. He becomes traumatized by seeing deaths and goes insane. There is a lot of going back and forth, the past and present.

This is what I could only remember from reading this god-awful book in high school. I absolutely hate this book. It is confusing, repetitive, and depressing to read. Not sorry to give it an extreme negative review. I’d rather read Stephanie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn than this.

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. Slaughterhouse Five: Kurt Vonnegut. Perma-Bound, 1989.

Virtual Reality Future Predictions?

Ready Player One – Ernest Cline

Young adult, science fiction, future, technology, nostalgic, gaming, virtual reality, romance, drama, action

10/10

In “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline, it is a tale of the future where all happens in a virtual world called OASIS. Wade Watts is a teenager on a mission to decipher these riddles that was proposed by the father of OASIS, James Halliday, who died and, in his wake, had left a competition to get ownership of the OASIS. Seems easy just decipher the riddles and collect the three keys. Wrong. They are hidden across the OASIS. In order to understand where Halliday hid the keys, Wade had studied James Halliday’s autobiography and history as well to possibly find the three keys. Wade isn’t the only one trying to find the keys. Everyone wants to own the OASIS. Even a money hungry corporation that threatens OASIS. With the help of his friends Aech, Shoto, Daito, and Art3mis, they successfully find all three keys.

I have to say this book is incredible and well written as well as well thought into. Very detailed and strong story line that keeps one on their toes. A real page turner at that. I continuously reread this book. Really loved how they explained in detail how society became after OASIS was integrated into daily life. Also with that thought, it gave an insight of how technology can become consuming. Even in the now, as I go out and about, I see people always on their phone. That is getting off topic but relates to the book’s theme.

I had went and seen the movie. I was gravely disappointed that they didn’t fully follow the story line of the book. However, movies tend to be that way especially if they were books at first. Damn you Steven Spielberg… We were rooting for you..

Cline, Ernest. Ready Player One: a Novel. Crown Publishers, 2011