INCARCERON-A Book Review

INCARCERON

By Catherine Fisher

442 pages

2007

From Inside Cover:
Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: It's inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities,and unbound wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.
Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can't remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He's going to escape, even though most inmates don't believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.
Claudia claims to live Outside-her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she's doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return.
But they don't realize there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.
Because Incarceron is alive.
My thoughts:
I admit it. I picked this book up totally based on the reviews of other book bloggers. They raved-so I had to check it out. If I had read the inside cover first I probably would have not given it a chance. The plot just sounds too weird for me- I struggle with Fantasy.
The "IT" Factor-The Characters
The characters captured my attention right away. Finn and Claudia both have strong personalities so different yet the same-desperate to escape their situations. He in on the Inside and she is on the Outside. Escape is their highest priority. His from the prison-hers from a loveless marriage.
Finn's relationship with his oath brother, Keiro is complex and at times confusing. As is Claudia's relationship to her father. Does he love Claudia or is she just a bargaining chip? Wow!
The "ICK" Factor-The Prison
Incarceron is alive. A society decides to lock away the bad guys. They lock em up and throw away the key. People forget about Incarceron. Centuries pass and life goes on. Eventually the prison come to life-becomes a living, breathing thing. WTF? I just couldn't get into it.
Would I recommend to other readers?
Yes!
Undoubtedly other readers have the imagination for the parts I struggled with and would very much enjoy the entire story.
The sequel to Incarceron is called Sapphique and I will definitely read it. Incarceron leaves the reader on a cliff hanger and I really want to know what happens to the characters that I've grown to know and love.

Gamer Girl

Just finished Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi. Recommended by a girl that lives for daily doses of Rune Scape. I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to get into it because I know practically nothing about online gaming. Turns out I had nothing to stress about because the story was very easy to fall into.
Maddy Starr is forced to leave her exclusive private school and friends when her mother suddenly decides to leave her father and start a new life in a small town outside of Boston. To make matters worse they move in with her crazy grandma. Unfortunately on Maddie's first day at her new school crazy grandma insists on not only picking out her clothes but also taking her to school. Of course her and grandma run into a crowd of popular kids and Maddy is immediately labeled "freak girl".
As Maddy struggles to find new friends and come to gripes with her parents split she becomes involved with a role playing online computer game called Fields of Fantasy. Her game character is her complete opposite, a beautiful, confident, brave elf named Allora. The plot thickens as she meets a mysterious knight -Sir Leo who seems so charming online but keeps pressuring her to meet in person.
Fields of Fastasy becomes Maddy's escape as she deals with the truth behind her parents divorce and the constant hell that her new school has become.
Can Maddy learn to stand up for herself and face her fears? Can she find a way to fit into her new school? Will she decide to meet Sir Leo in person even though she's been warned of the dangers of online predators?
Check out Gamer Girl and find out for yourself.......

I liked this book, it was a little predictable but still a good story with a solid, likeable character. I would recommend Gamer Girl to readers 12 and up.

This book is available at the Salmon Public Library.

The Earth, My Butt and other Big Round Things

I just finished The Earth, My Butt and other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler. It was published in 2003 and won a Printz award.
It came highly recommended from a group of 8th grade girls my son hangs out with.

The main character Virginia Shreves is a plus size high schooler who lives by the "fat girl code of conduct."
She feels out of place in what she calls her picture perfect family. She is unable to communicate with her mother who happens to be a adolescent psychologist, her busy jet setting father who leers at young hot bodies, her popular older brother that her parents worship and a beautiful, skinny sister who has run off to Africa.
Just when things couldn't get worse her very best friend moves across the country to Walla Walla, Washington so her parents can write a book about onions.

One phone call changes everything she thought she knew about her family and her self.
Virginia is a girl that is very easy to relate to if you remember all the ups and downs of high school drama. I loved being dropped in the middle of her complicated life and watching her grow through out the book. She slowly comes into her own as she figures out a way to deal with not only her own issues but her not so perfect family's issues. Her anger and frustrations felt very real and I liked that her transformation doesn't happen over night.
Good book! I would recommend this book for readers 13 and up. There are some sexual situations to be aware of.

This book is available at the Salmon Public Library.