Birthmarked (Birthmarked #1)

Author: Caragh M. O'brien
Series: Birthmarked, #1

Age Group: Young Adult

Challenge: None

Format: Hardback

Pages: 361

Published: March 30, 2010

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Source: Local Library

My Rating: * * * * *

IN THE FUTURE, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the wall and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. Gaia has always believed it is her duty, with her mother, to hand over a small quota of babies to the Enclave. But when Gaia's mother and father are arrested by the very people they so dutifully serve, Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught to believe . Gaia's choice is now simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

WARNING: This books does contain childbirth and all that, so if blood and all that stuff makes you quesy, well, be careful with this book. But, don't worry too much, Birthmarked does not go into too much detail with all the whole childbirth thing. It only gives you the basic idea.


Well, let's get started. Birthmarked is set way after 2011. In these futuristic times, people have run out of fuel, electricity, and all the comfortable accomadtions that we have nowadays. But, some people still have running water from faucets. Want to guess who? Those who live inside the wall. The rich and priveleged. Unfair don't you think? Consider the people outside the wall who have greater quatities of people to feed. The residents have to travel to the well to get their water.


Here comes Gaia. She, unfortunately, was burned on one side of her face due to an "accident", and has to live outside the wall because she has an "imperfection." Bad for her, right? But, at least she's happy...until everything changes. Parents kidnapped, yatta yatta. Now, here comes the dark and irresistble blue-eyed Leon. A guard, nonetheless. He turns Gaia's world upside down...in more ways than one.


I would continue narrating the story, but that would be giving away too much. Just get this. Leon is AMAZING! Cold, brooding, but with a sincere motive, he is beautiful(yes, I just described a guy as beautiful)! One more warning, though. He does not do well with children(at least, that's what I got from the book)! But what tortured guy does? YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK! Already, this is my second time reading Birthmarked, and I loved it once again. And if you liked Delirium by Lauren Oliver, then this book is definitely for you.


About the Author:

A native of St. Paul, Minessota, Caragh M. O'brien was educated at Williams College and Johns Hopkins University. She has long delighted in codes and languages, especially those that breach the walls that otherwise divide people. Currently, Caragh teaches English at Tolland High School and lives with her family in quiet Storrs, Conneticut. This is her first young adult novel.

Enclave (Razorland #1)

Author: Ann Aguire
Series: Razorland, #1
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: Wish I'd Read That Challenge
Format: Hardback
Pages: 262
Published: April 12, 2011
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Local Library
My Rating: * * * * *

IN DUECE'S WORLD, an enclave deep underground, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed "brat" has trained to join on of the three groups--Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Duece has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.


As a Huntress, her purpose is clear--to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading the ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing's going to stop her, not even a brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Duece's troubles are just beginning.


Fade doesn't like following orders. Duece has never known a boy like him before., someone as likely to touch her gently as use his knives with feral grace.


As Duece's perception shifts, so does the balance in the battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat due to their sheer numbers, now show signs of cunning and even strategy...but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. No matter how hard she tries, Duece cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she's ever known.

Enclave had me begging for more! If you like the kick-butt type of heroine, then this is definitely the book for you! This was definitely my type of book.
Well, let's see...as I mentioned above, the heroine, Duece was a strong heroine. She was a Huntress. The three scars marked her as one. I loved in parts how the guys looked down on her, and she showed them!
The two love interests were Stalker(???) and Fade. What type of a name is Stalker, sounds kind of creepy. But anyways,lately I've been reading books with a lot of romance, and it's been getting on my nerves. So...this book was a change of pace, since the romance isn't the main focus of the book.
Time passed really quickly in Enclave. Usually it went by in weeks, and sometimes in months. It was just very fast, which I liked, because you didn't dwell so much on a specific time.
Fade was....interesting. I didn't really warm up to him too much. He sounded like the stereotype boy. Dark hair and eyes, mysterious past, etc... I liked that he was sweet, but I didn't like that his "relationship" with Pearl. Bleghh!
Well, one complaint I did have is that as soon as I either hated/loved one specific character(s), they had to go and die on me. Really?! It's fine, but Aguire had an obsession with killing off too many characters. But, oh well! When one specific character died, I did think "Oh yeah, you go Aguire!" I hated the character's guts. I won't say who it is, but you'll find out.
What else to say? Hmm....I think that's it, but this book is definitely recommended by me. Oh wait, it was interesting that Duece didn't know about everyday things like utensils and canned food and the like. Usually, we don't even think twice about these things. Just thought I'd throw that in. Anyways, read and meditate on Enclave! Hasta la vista!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ann Aguire is a national bestselling author with a degree in English Literature. Before she began writing full-time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, though not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lievs in sunny Mexico with her husband, two children, two cats, and one very lazy dog. She likes all kinds of books, emo music, action movies, and Dr. Who. This is her first novel for young adults.