Book Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Title: Partials

Author: Dan Wells

Series/Standalone: Partials Sequence (Book #1)

Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult, Science Fiction

Pages: 468

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Year Published: 2012

Format: Audiobook (Own Physical Copy)

"Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with Partials- engineered organic beings identical to humans- has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. But sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to fin a solution. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and Partials rests in her attempts to answer questions about the war's origin that she never knew to ask. 

Playing on our curiosity and fascination with the complete collapse of civilization, Partials is, at its heart, a story of survival, one that explores the individual narratives and complex relationships of those left behind, both humans and Partials alike- and of the way in which the concept of what is right and wrong in this world is greatly dependent on one's own point of view."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This was a fun reminder of why I loved dystopian young adults growing up. This has been on my shelf for YEARS and every time I went to pick it up I was deterred by the fact that the cover is pretty cringe-worthy and that it's a dystopian from the 2010s. Imagine my surprise when I was totally consumed by the plot of this book. Yes there are some plot holes and there are some moments where you can tell a teenage girl was written by a man, but overall the concepts, the intrigue and the atmosphere were so amazing to read. I have already borrowed the next audiobook from my library and I can't wait to settle into it and continue the story! Would strongly recommend it if you are looking for a dystopian from this time with a little romance but not a ton along with a wonderful atmosphere!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Reread Thoughts: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Title: The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Hard-hitting, Young Adult
Pages: 444
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Year Published: 2017
Format: Audiobook

"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between the worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterwards, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. 

But what Starr does- or does not- say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I think that I read this at the start of last year and I will reiterate that I think that this story is so very important for our generation. The fact that so many people have been oppressed and treated horribly for years due to difference in skin, or financial status is horrible in itself, but we're in the 21st century and we haven't really helped anything at this point either. I do hope that one day everyone feels protected by officers and not threatened. I'm glad that I reread this book not only for the important message but also to revisit the family dynamics in this story. I loved that parents in this story and though some of the family aspects were "messy" I think it really shows that family isn't only blood. 
I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is open minded to understanding the lives of others in a different situation then themselves, or for someone who needs to feel like they have been heard after a similiar tragedy.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Title: On the Come Up
Author: Angie Thomas
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Pages: 447
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Year Published: 2019
Format: Audiobook

"Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighbourhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri's got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri's life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer wants to make it- she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas's homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and now who everyone expects you to be, and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families."

My Rating: 4/5

I think that Angie Thomas has this amazing talent for making relatable characters. Characters that you can't help but love. This is a story that is important for everyone to read and to understand. So many people who haven't been in these situations don't understand. You can't just stop being in these situations, there are things that happen in life that keep people where they are, it's a system that holds onto people. I can't fully understand either as I never lived these situations but I do think that this book helped me better see other perspectives of life. The only reason that this standalone got 4/5 and not 5/5 is that the writing style just wasn't my favourite, that being said I will continue to read works by Angie Thomas.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny