Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

I got my copy of Monsters of Men in the mail today!! Yay for bookdepository.com's free shipping!! Thanks for clueing me in, Misty!

Sooo excited to read it now and not have to wait til September :-)

Finally got around to reading The Knife of Never Letting Go. Great story (like everybody has been saying). I can't wait to get the second one!

So worth it! You may want to wait closer until the date #3 comes out to read it (or order a copy from Book Depository and be able to get it now!). They're so gripping!

It was a great story, wasn't it!

I'm with Misty, though. If you can, wait until closer until #3 comes out to read #2. It has a very abrupt stopping-point, and would be better if you can roll right into book #3.

Sigh, I am still thinking about The Knife of Never Letting Go. It still makes my chest clench up. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to stomach a re-read for awhile, *SPOILER* because of what happens to a certain character.

I cried. I'm such a wimp.
And STILL even though I know it can't be, I keep hoping that there's some secret and everything's going to be okay. :(

Yeah I was totally in public while reading that part and my eyes were misting up. OH and I actually looked for spoilers before reading it, because I just had this sense something was going to happen and wanted to be prepared.

Also, I hope for some secret too!

I heart Patrick Ness. I love the voices he gives to all the animals. They are perfect.

They are. When you sent me the message about "boy colt" I got ridiculously happy knowing that #3 was on its way to me and I was not only going to be back in Todd's head, but also Angharrad's. It's weird to think that a submissive horse and a pissed off Spackle teen are among my favorite literary characters...

Right??? Especially when they have such a limited vocabulary! But you can just HEAR their tone of voice. Although Diana and I tried to say Manchee stuff in the voice that we each imagined and they were different. But endearing to ourselves...

I keep wishing there was an audiobook version because I'd love to hear it, but maybe I wouldn't after all!

Yeah, I don't know if I would risk it. I don't want someone else's voice in my head unless it's spot on, and if it is for me, it likely won't be for someone else.

And the Spackle teen doesn't even talk AT ALL and you still have a great idea of his tone! It's incredible!

I'm excited for you to see the bookmark I made (not sent to you though). I hope my person takes a pic of both sides. Oops, did I just discuss my bookmark before the grand reveal? :-)

Naughty.
And mean, because now I have a feeling I am going to want it.
Is there anyone left that hasn't received theirs?
(I want to OPEN!)

I'm almost positive Leslie has received hers, her person said they sent it last Thursday. But Leslie isn't answering in the topic or the message I sent her. Oh well, only one more day... I'm dying too.

My envelope has a little tiny tear in one corner, and I am just. so. tempted...

But really, it's a padded brown envelope, so it's not like I can even pretend it just tore so easily. Those things can be a pain to get into.

I will own up to copping a feel through the envelope. :-)

Mandy wrote: "Finally got around to reading The Knife of Never Letting Go. Great story (like everybody has been saying). I can't wait to get the second one!"

I keep meaning to pick a copy of this up but I always forget :( I keep seeing all these awesome reviews for it, I'm definitely gonna have to hit the library.

Although it might be best to wait for #3 to be out.

doh. it IS out. Now my excuse is gone :\

Get it Allison! Actually, get THEM Allison! The cliffhangers are murder, so it's best if you have the next books ready at hand. :)

When does the 3rd actually come out in the US?

I think it came out at the beginning of May :)

Allison wrote: "I think it came out at the beginning of May :)"

I thought that was in England? Going to check now.... :)

Yeah- Barnes and Noble has it coming out September 28, 2010. I think the May 3rd was UK not US.

ohhhhh, okay. Thanks for correcting me. Now my excuse holds a few more months :)

Allison wrote: "ohhhhh, okay. Thanks for correcting me. Now my excuse holds a few more months :)"

You'll love them (at least the first 2 I have read) when you read them!

Nope, still no excuses! I live in the US, but bought my copy from Book Depository online. They ship from the UK. Hardcover is $19, shipping included :)

I just finished The Carbon Diaries 2015, which was a fantastic dystopian novel and I could really see that happening to us one day.

Without blowing the whole story, how are they rationing CO2? The monitor how much each person consumes and/or creates?

Yeah, they carry cards around with them and there's meters so they can check how much they have left.

I haven't read this thread in awhile, but I did read The Ask and the Answer, and you guys are right, the horses are pretty awesome. I have the third one waiting around for me to read.

But I actually wanted to mention another dystopian book that I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned yet. I just read Declaration where the story is set in 2140. Everyone can live forever due to advancements in science, but due to a constant population any children are considered surplus and are rounded up like stray dogs. Creepy and plausible. I see there are two books written after it... why does everything have to be a series?

Mandy, I don't know why everything has to be a series exactly, but my theory is that there is too much going on in a post-apocalyptic/dystopian world that one book isn't enough for it. Either that, or because it's such a successful genre right now and authors/publishers/whoever want to make the most of it.

Tahleen, you offer two very good points. I know that the world created in The Declaration reminded me of the Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix due to the children being forced into hiding. That series was seven books, though it was written for a younger audience. This genre definitely is in vogue right now, keeping pace with the paranormal books.

I agree about everything being a series.. Too much sometimes!! I mean, there are many books that I didn't want to end, don't get me wrong. But sometimes the feeling of wanting more is what makes a book so good!! And book series often times go the way of movie series... not so good.

I hadn't heard of The Declaration before, but it looks really good. I'm adding it to my TBR. :)

Hi!
I don't think anyone has mentioned POD by Stephen Wallenfels. It's a post-apocalyptic story. Very readable and appropriate for kids 12 and older. Also appeals to boys and girls.

I just finished Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder and I thought it was a fantastic dystopian novel. I can't wait for the sequel Outside In.

I just finished reading The Roar by Emma Clayton. Though more tween than YA, I found it to be an amazing dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel. I can't seem to get enough of the dystopian and/or post-apocalyptic genre, as I love The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, I really enjoyed Uglies and Pretties by Scott Westerfeld, though I haven't had a chance to read the final two. I'm starting to read The Giver by Lois Lowry for the first time, while The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Forest of Hands and Teeth are next on my to-read list! I'm so happy this genre seems to be taking the YA world by storm lately.

I just put Epitaph Road on my tbr list. Someone in another of my groups recommended it.
Fits this genre, so I thought I'd pass it on. = )

Trista wrote: "I just finished reading The Roar by Emma Clayton. Though more tween than YA, I found it to be an amazing dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel. I can't seem to get enough of the dystopian..."

You've just listed some of my all time faves! Happy reading!

Has anyone here read The Book of Ember series? I believe they're dystopian, but I could be wrong. I checked them out of the library today, but I'm trying to finish East of Eden by John Steinbeck before I start them.

Jess wrote: "Has anyone here read The Book of Ember series? I believe they're dystopian, but I could be wrong. I checked them out of the library today, but I'm trying to finish East of Eden by John ..."

City of Ember series?

Book of Amber
or
City of Ember?

City of Ember! I loved those books! Jeanne DuPrau has an impressive grasp on human nature. I think that was the best thing about reading the series- seeing how she takes aspects of human nature and using it to make her characters and situations very real.

There are 4 books in the series (City of Ember, The People of Sparks, (prequel but DON'T READ FIRST-) The Prophet of Yonwood and The Diamond of Darkhold. That's the publication order, and I'd either read it in that order, or put Yonwood last. Don't read it first, because it kind of ruins the mystery of the first book.

I would definitely call these post apocalyptic and I think that there are some elements of dystopia to it, for sure.

I can't wait to see what you think about them! I think these books are best appreciated after discussing them. :)

I've just finished reading The Giver by Lois Lowry for the first time ever. HOW did I go so long without reading this book before now?!? My sister had read it for school as a tween, but I never did. We had it on the bookshelf in our shared room, and I never read it. I wish I had.

However, it makes me wonder whether I would have been able to appreciate this book for all that it is if I had read it when I was younger and much more naive. Would I have understood all that this book was trying to say? Doubtful. So in a way I'm glad I waited until I was an adult before reading it, and yet still disappointed that I deprived myself of such a great book for so long. This has now made the list of the go-to recommendations for my students.

Trista, have you read, or are you planning to read, the other 2 books in the Lois Lowery World's Collection?

The order is The Giver, then Gathering Blue which are both completely stand alone. They are followed by Messenger which is also stand alone, but we see some characters and hints of the societies in the other two worlds. Messenger is probably the closest I've ever come to reading a book with a Utopian Gov't. The place isn't perfect, but it definitely does a good job! I think it's also my favorite of the three. They are each completely brilliant.

Ashley, that's so funny because I think I like it the least out of the three! I did like it, just not as much as the others, though (again) I might have to reread it, like so many other books haha.

Ashley wrote: "Trista, have you read, or are you planning to read, the other 2 books in the Lois Lowery World's Collection?

The order is The Giver, then Gathering Blue which are both completely stand alone. The..."


Yes, I'm planning to read the next two. I'll make a point of getting those books for my library so I can read them! And then my students will have access to them as well. Thanks for the info!

Trista wrote: "I just finished reading The Roar by Emma Clayton. Though more tween than YA, I found it to be an amazing dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel. I can't seem to get enough of the dystopian..."

I love dystopian lit, too - so glad our kids are digging into it. Is anyone else counting down the days until Mockingjay's release?

Has anyone else read How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff?


I finished it a little while ago, and I can't get over how much I liked it. It's the first book (that I can remember) written in the stream of consciousness form, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to when I first started reading it.

I'll admit I thought the incest bit was a little bit much, but I appreciated that Rosoff didn't really dwell on it, but instead used it as a device to more the story along and add another dimension to what was happening.

It's a post-apocalyptic novel more than dystopian but I really enjoyed it. It won the Printz Award in 2005, and I can definitely see why.

Emily wrote: "Trista wrote: "I just finished reading The Roar by Emma Clayton. Though more tween than YA, I found it to be an amazing dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel. I can't seem to get enough o..."

I am!!!

Ashley wrote: "Has anyone else read How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff?


I finished it a little while ago, and I can't get over how much I liked it. It's the first book..."

I really liked this book too. I'd read Just in Case by Rosoff, and didn't enjoy it much, so I didn't have very high hopes for How I Live Now. I was so surprised!

I put it down and just sat there to process it all. Is it wrong that I wasn't totally against the cousin love?! It was so good because you FELT like her. Great, great storytelling.