Dreambender by Ronald Kidd

Title: Dreambender
Author: Ronald Kidd 
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company  
Publication date: March 1, 2016
Pages: 256
Source/format: ARC from Publisher

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Everyone in the City is assigned a job by the choosers--keeper, catcher, computer. Callie Crawford is a computer. She works with numbers: putting them together, taking them apart. Her work is important, but sometimes she wants more. Jeremy Finn is a dreambender. His job is to adjust people's dreams. He and others like him quietly remove thoughts of music and art to keep the people in the City from becoming too focused on themselves and their own feelings rather than on the world. They need to keep the world safe from another Warming. But Jeremy thinks music is beautiful, and when he pops into a dream of Callie singing, he becomes fascinated with her. He begins to wonder if there is more to life than being safe. Defying his community and the role they have established for him, he sets off to find her in the real world. Together, they will challenge their world's expectations. But how far will they go to achieve their own dreams?

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Callie Crawford is a thirteen-year-old girl who is a Computer. As a Computer, she works with numbers, putting them together and taking them apart. Everyone in the City has a place in society. The Warming is a time when people relied on machines. However, machines are taboo to talk about and same goes for war, violence, art and music. Callie has always wondered what is beyond the City. She is curious about what life is like without so many rules. What if people can choose their own jobs?

Jeremy Finn who is a Dreambender who meets Callie in a dream. His job is to adjust people's memories to rid of music and art. To prevent another Warming, people must not focus on themselves individually and must focus on the City collectively. Dreambenders are raised in the Meadow, away from the City. They also cannot visit the City in person but they can visit the City in dreams.

Ronald Kidd does an excellent job writing a dystopian novel for the Middle Grade level. Most dystopians I have read are usually Young Adult ones. Dreambender definitely reminded me of The Giver and it's a definitely a book that will keep you thinking! The plot is simple and explores what it means to be a kid. Children are often curious about the world and when they don't receive an answer to their question, they will seek the answer out.

Dreambender focuses on facts over feelings more than most Dystopians. Everyone must abide to statistics and laws. Feelings are personal and shouldn't be expressed in forms of art, music, dance, etc. It's interesting to see concepts of individualism and collectivism in this novel. These two different principles can be seen today in different societies of the world.

With individualism, the individual's life belongs to the person. With collectivism, the individual's life belongs to the group or society. Individualism supports a person making his or her own decisions as he or she sees fit. They have a sense of choice. Collectivism is when a person will sacrifice his or her values in order to do what is for the greater good of the people as a whole. A person serves the society.

In Dreambender, we can see how some of the societies are collectivists while some are more individualists. Some people in the collectivist societies end up rebelling against collectivist thoughts and are thinking more like individualists.

The sentence structure is very simple and sometimes I feel like the language conveyed in the novel could be more complex for the Middle Grade level. This is more for young readers bridging from chapter books to Middle Grade in terms of reading difficulty. I highly recommend picking up Dreambender if you're looking for a quick Middle Grade dystopian read.

Dove Exiled Blog Tour: Karen Bao Guest Post

I am so glad to have Karen Bao with us today to discuss about her journey from manuscript to publication. Bao has written Dove Arising and Dove Exiled, which are the first two novels in The Dove Chronicles trilogy. The Dove Chronicles is a dystopian trilogy that takes place 200 years from now. Thanks to Penguin and Karen for having me be a part of this blog tour.

Title: Dove Exiled
Author: Karen Bao
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Pages: 336
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks |
The Book Depository | IndieBound

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

The thrilling follow-up to the groundbreaking debut Dove Arising.

Phaet Theta fled the Moon and has been hiding on Earth with her friend Wes and his family. But Phaet’s past catches up with her when the Lunar Bases attack the community and reveal that Phaet is a fugitive. She’s torn between staying on Earth with Wes—whom she’s just discovered her feelings for—and stowing away on a Moon-bound ship to rescue her siblings from the wrath of the government who killed their mother. But when Phaet makes the agonizing decision to return to the Moon, she finds the rebel movement there has turned her into their “Girl Sage,” a symbol of their struggle. She’s the biggest celebrity on the Moon: half the people worship her, and the other half want her dead.

To this day, writing Dove Arising and getting it published feels like a dream. Although I’d always loved books, I never dreamed of sending one out into the world. Here’s the story of my transition from violinist-scientist-wannabe to young adult author.

2012 was a ticking time bomb of a year. As a high school senior waiting to hear back from colleges, I chewed my fingernails down to the pink, constantly searching for an escape from the questions that constantly nagged me: Do you really think you can “make it” as a science major? Are you ready to leave home, anyway?

I combined my insecurities with a hefty dose of science nerdiness and a large pinch of my mother’s stories growing up in communist China. After many sleepless nights (and missed homework assignments), the mixture yielded a story about a 15-year-old introvert named Phaet living on the moon in the year 2347. When her mother is “quarantined” for illness, she must leave home and join the brutal Lunar Militia to save her younger siblings from destitution.

The first draft was crap. As a seventeen-year-old who’d never studied writing, I knew it was bad but had no idea how to fix it. However, I also knew that parts of it were good: for example, I could feel Phaet’s quiet, innocent brilliance, and believed I had captured her likeness on paper.

So I decided to try and get it published.

At this point, the publishing process was a complete mystery to me. Authors (with a capital “A”) wrote brilliant things, sent them into a vacuum…and out came shiny, beautiful bound books. Daunted, I reached out to the one person I knew in publishing: Simon Lipskar at Writers House. He’d conducted an orchestra I’d played in during middle school. My email essentially said, “Remember me, the violinist? I wrote a book. What do I do now?”

Because Simon represented Christopher Paolini, an author I’d admired since childhood, I expected that he’d give me a few editorial suggestions. Maybe talk about how to submit manuscripts to agents.

Instead, he offered representation, saying that my writing had a strong voice and was full of promise. That day was the first and only time I’ve cried of happiness.

Of course, there were caveats: the manuscript was in a dire state, and I’d have to devote months to revising it before we could submit it to publishers. But none of that mattered as much as the fact that I now had an agent.

All of this happened three days after I’d graduated from high school.

When Simon said I needed to revise, he meant it. With the help of a brilliant editor at Writers House, Genevieve, I cut out the last third of the book and reworked the first two-thirds until it was nearly unrecognizable. We exchanged fifteen-page edit letters and emails upon emails of brainstorming. Amid all my biology-major schoolwork, I worked on logical consistency, world-building, and getting to know my “side” characters. Every time I cut out a scene, I felt the page bleeding, even though I knew it had to happen.

The process took a year. By that time, the book was tighter, stronger, and seemed to flow effortlessly. And I was grateful for the struggle, because I felt like a real writer now. I could see problems before they arose, at least more often than before. Now, after finishing the last two books in the Dove Chronicles, I couldn’t be more thankful that Simon and Genevieve put me through Editorial Bootcamp.

I’m a better writer now – but that doesn’t mean that I’ll stop getting fifteen-page edit letters. My next project is a high fantasy series with two narrators that’s infused with the marine ecology I’ve studied in college. As I write bigger books, I expect to hit bigger problems – but at least I know I can solve them.

ABOUT KAREN BAO

Karen Bao is a writer, musician, and aspiring scientist. She has a brother three years younger than her and a violin sixty years older than her. Born in California and raised in New Jersey, she currently studies environmental biology at college in New York City. Karen began writing Dove Arising at the age of seventeen.

For more information about Karen Bao, check out her website.

Don't forget to check the rest of the Dove Exiled Blog Tour!

02/22/16: Live Love Read | Book Playlist
02/23/16: Steph In Wonderland | Guest Post
02/24/16: ButterMyBooks | Top 10 List
02/25/16: Caught Between The Pages | Interview
02/26/16: Nicole's Novel Reads | Guest Post
02/29/16: Pretty Sassy Cool | Dreamcasting Post
03/01/16: Addicted Readers | 25 Random Things About Me
03/02/16: Live To Read | Book Playlist
03/03/16: Fashion By The Book | Interview
03/04/16: Seeing Double In Neverland | Top 10 List

For the Record by Charlotte Huang

Title: For the Record
Author: Charlotte Huang
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: November 10, 2015
Pages: 307
Source/format: Library//Hardcover

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

If Almost Famous were a YA novel . . . a raw, honest debut celebrating music, friendship, romance, and life on the road.

Chelsea thought she knew what being a rock star was like . . . until she became one. After losing a TV talent show, she slid back into small-town anonymity. But one phone call changed everything

Now she’s the lead singer of the band Melbourne, performing in sold-out clubs every night and living on a bus with three gorgeous and talented guys. The bummer is that the band barely tolerates her. And when teen hearthrob Lucas Rivers take an interest in her, Chelsea is suddenly famous, bringing Melbourne to the next level—not that they’re happy about that. Her feelings for Beckett, Melbourne’s bassist, are making life even more complicated.

Chelsea only has the summer tour to make the band—and their fans—love her. If she doesn’t, she’ll be back in Michigan for senior year, dying a slow death. The paparazzi, the haters, the grueling schedule . . . Chelsea believed she could handle it. But what if she can’t?

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Because former singer Hollis Carter wanted a normal life, she left Melbourne. The band owes the record company one more album and Melbourne delivers by finding another lead singer. Chelsea Ford didn't make it on American Pop Star but she was able to score lead singer for the band, Melbourne. And boy is she on an interesting ride to fame and stardom.

Touring the nation and singing in sold-out venues, Chelsea is living a dream for the summer with her friend Mandy and her band mates, Pem, Malcolm and Beckett. However, living in a bus with a bunch of guys isn't the easiest and it's hard to live by certain rules Pem and management lay down. Romantic relationships between the band members are off limits which doesn't help Chelsea who is slightly smitten over Beckett.

Charlotte Huang shows music fans what it's like the be on the other side of the stage. It's interesting to see how a front woman fares with a bunch of guys touring around the nation performing show after show. I used to be a big concert goer back in high school and in college so For the Record is slightly nostalgic. It reminds me of when I was super excited to see a band and I was pumped up for the show. The energy, the rawness and grittiness. The unforgettable memories!

Huang gives each character a distinct personality. At first it took some time getting use to who is who but after getting all the names down, I am glad that there aren't carbon copies of each other. Everyone has their own story to tell. Seeing how musicians are constantly being told what to do either by the media or the record company is difficult. Entertainment can be cruel. It can be vicious! The sad thing is what's important to the media and the record company is the money and what is being produced at the end. After all, it's a money making business to them. They treat musicians in a way where the musician cannot express themselves fully.

To those sensitive to cheating, For the Record has instances of cheating. Although I do not condone in cheating, I know some of the behavior comes with the lifestyle. I enjoyed the extra Melbourne Business of the Music Tour info in the back of the book. It added something special to the novel and it gave a good timeline of all the events and a recap of characters.

I am a big sucker for novels showcasing any type of music and this novel did not disappoint. If you enjoyed reading Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist or This Song Will Save Your Life, definitely check out For the Record.

Dove Exiled by Karen Bao

Title: Dove Exiled
Author: Karen Bao
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 23, 2016
Pages: 336
Source/format: ARC from Penguin

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

The thrilling follow-up to the groundbreaking debut Dove Arising.

Phaet Theta fled the Moon and has been hiding on Earth with her friend Wes and his family. But Phaet’s past catches up with her when the Lunar Bases attack the community and reveal that Phaet is a fugitive. She’s torn between staying on Earth with Wes—whom she’s just discovered her feelings for—and stowing away on a Moon-bound ship to rescue her siblings from the wrath of the government who killed their mother. But when Phaet makes the agonizing decision to return to the Moon, she finds the rebel movement there has turned her into their “Girl Sage,” a symbol of their struggle. She’s the biggest celebrity on the Moon: half the people worship her, and the other half want her dead.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Phaet, reborn as Fay, is known as a former engine room slave from Pacifia instead of being known as the fugitive and Lunar's rebel daughter. Phaet takes refuge with Wes' family at Saint Oda on Earth. However, the Odans detest the Lunars and believe they are Godless demons. Odans remind me of Amity and Agnegation factions from Divergent. They do not like weaponry and fighting. They tolerate peace and helping each other. However, when Tourmalinians show a torture video of Phaet's brother back on the moon, Phaet feels guilty leaving her family with the totalitarian Lunar government.  Things take a turn when Phaet finds out the Lunars allied themselves with Pacifica and are going to take Saint Oda.

At first it was hard for me to get into Dove Exiled. Set four months after the events in Dove Arising, I had difficulty learning all the new characters and about the Odans. However, after time I became invested with the plot line. The pace is slow for the first third of the book but it definitely picks up for the remaining two thirds. It's interesting how Wes is willing to help out Phaet even though his parents don't agree with his actions.

Phaet is willing to help Wes despite the fact that she has to wait to save her family a little bit longer. The friendship between Phaet and Wes is strong. They will do anything for each other. Transitioning from Earth to the Moon is a little bit rocky but I am glad that I am able to see what is going on both planets. Reading about how Lunars and Earthens are affected by the Committee is crucial.

It is fascinating to see the Base IV again and the Militia Phaet and Wes trained with only to be targeted as enemies now. However, not everyone on the lunar base is hunting Phaet and Wes. The couple is in trouble as Phaet tries to save her family while Wes tries to save his. Phaet can only trust a few people on Base IV. Phaet and Wes show some romantic interest in each other but each have their own priorities and they agreed to carry out saving their families first. I admire that. They don't let lust cloud their vision of what's important.

"In the midst of war, with our families clinging to life, we've declared some sort of allegiance to each other." - ARC

Karen Bao definitely did a lot of research about terrains and ecosystems. She spent time weaving her interests in biology and chemistry into her novel. As a lover of biology, I appreciated how clever she incorporates the science facts within the novel. It adds some depth to the story.

Phaet, known as Girl Sage to the Dovetailers, represents hope like Katniss does as the Mockingjay. Dove Exiled is a solid sequel to Dove Arising. It will satisfy readers who enjoy The Hunger Games trilogy and the Divergent trilogy.

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

Title: The Forbidden Wish
Author: Jessica Khoury
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: February 23, 2016
Pages: 352
Source/format: ARC from Penguin

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Zahra has been stuck in a magical lamp for quite sometime until Aladdin finds her among ruins. As a jinni, Zahra is a slave to lamp. Her shape-shifting magic helps her blend in with her surroundings as a girl, a sparrow or as a cat. Zahra is offered the opportunity of a life time by the King of the Jinn but of course at a price. She is to save a jinn for her freedom from the lamp. However, she must complete this task in a month's time. If Zahra fails, death will rain among her and the people in the city she currently resides in.

I am a huge fan of Aladdin and I when I first started reading The Forbidden Wish, I was mesmerized by the elaborate descriptions and the lavish writings of Jessica Khoury. This retelling of Aladdin from One Thousand and One Nights is not a mere imitation of Aladdin but a extension of the world of the Aladdin that most of us know today. Khoury transports the reader as a spectator in this magical journey in which Zahra has to choose love or freedom. Which decision will Zahra choose?

The secondary characters are all unique as well and are not just mere background filler. Each character has its own identity. The Watchmaidens are fierce! Ensi with her magical potions, Khavar with her snake, Nessi with her Jinn charming flute and of course the Amulen Princess Caspida with her spirit and wit.

I found it interesting how Zahra tells her story like she is talking to Roshana. It works. She tells her encounter with Aladdin and about her journey as if it's a folktale. Her storytelling is entrancing and I wanted to savor it.

The romance between Aladdin and Zahra is forbidden but sometimes it is hard to resist happiness. Thank goodness for the slow burning romance. At first the two aren't too fond of each other but they gain the appreciation of each other's company. For so long, Zahra has been confined to her lamp and for so long has Aladdin been an orphan running around the city as a thief. Aladdin's main goal in life is to avenge his parents death while Zahra is trying to figure out whether freedom or love will make her truly happy.

Definitely check out The Forbidden Wish for a captivating retelling of Aladdin through the eyes of a female jinni. It's hypnotic and the novel contains just the right amount of action, adventure and romance.

Looking Ahead: Cover Reveals #4

Although it's still winter, there has been many wonderful cover reveals this week for Fall 2016 titles. I am super excited to see such ravishing cover designs. I know we're not suppose to judge a book by it's cover but sometimes the cover helps draw in more readers. I also love to see covers that portray the books well in terms of plot, characterization and themes. I cannot wait to dive into these books based on their synopsis but I hope each title has a cover that correlate with the novel as a whole.

Entertainment Weekly revealed the cover to Lauren Oliver's Replica. I am definitely loving how there are two books in one. The covers are VIBRANT and the simple. Definitely check out the interview on the EW website. Also, Awesomness Films has acquired the movie rights to Replica earlier this month. You can check out more information on the Deadline site. Congrats to Ms. Oliver!

Title: Replica
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: October 4, 2016

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Replica, the first of the two books, tells the story of Lyra, known by the number 24, a replica – human model – who was born, raised, and observed in a clandestine research facility called the Haven Institute. When Lyra escapes from Haven and meets Gemma, a stranger on a quest of her own, earth-shattering secrets are revealed.

Epic Reads released many Fall 2016 cover reveals this week. On Monday, they revealed the cover to As I Descended by Robin Talley. This Shakespeare-inspired story of Macbeth is sure to please many this coming fall. Ready to see a book full of revenge and redemption? Also, how CREEPY is that cover?

Title: As I Descended
Author: Robin Talley
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: September 6, 2016

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.

Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.

Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word.

But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true. And the first step is unseating Delilah for the Kingsley Prize. The full scholarship, awarded to Maria, will lock in her attendance at Stanford―and four more years in a shared dorm room with Lily.

Maria and Lily will stop at nothing to ensure their victory—including harnessing the dark power long rumored to be present on the former plantation that houses their school.

But when feuds turn to fatalities, and madness begins to blur the distinction between what’s real and what is imagined, the girls must decide where they draw the line.

From acclaimed author Robin Talley comes a Shakespeare-inspired story of revenge and redemption, where fair is foul, and foul is fair.

On the second day of Epic Reads cover reveal week, the cover to Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst was revealed! I cannot wait to read this debut fantasy novel and I am in love with the STUNNING cover design.

Title: Of Fire and Stars
Author: Audrey Coulthurst
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: November 22, 2016

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other. 

Top Ten Songs I Wish Were Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's Top Ten Tuesday asks bloggers to choose a music and books related theme. I decided to share my top ten songs I wish were books. The following songs are songs I would pick for a contemporary book playlist.

S O N G S   I   W I S H   W E R E   B O O K S 

1. Photograph by Ed Sheeran

2. Fight Song by Rachel Platten

3. All of Me by John Legend

4. Apologize by Timbaland and OneRepublic

5. King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men

6. Lovesong by The Cure

7. When It Rains by Paramore

8. From Where You Are by Lifehouse

9. Be Still My Heart by The Postal Service

10. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum 

What songs do you want to see turned into books? What will your playlist look like?