Hex Hall

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall trilogy (#1)
Pages: 323 (paperback)
Publication: March 2010
Summary: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My Thoughts: This young adult book was so easy to dive right into. It completely sucked me in and right off the bat I thought to myself, "why has it taken me so long to read this series?" (by the way, how cool is that cover?).

Rachel Hawkins effortlessly builds a supernatural world where her characters thrive. This novel is based at a boarding school for prodigium in the deep south, a world that our protagonist, Sophie, is pretty much new to. Being raised by a human and never having met her warlock father, Sophie is new to the whole mythology and the ways of the prodigium she accompanies at Hecate Hall (Hex Hall for short). I don't think this novel could have been written any other way. This was the best approach to creating and introducing a new world to the reader, and it felt so effortless. The dialogue felt real, the actions of the characters felt real, and yet it wasn't a hard read at all.

Very light, Hex Hall was the perfect book for me to get out of my reading slump that I was slowly sinking into. The dialogue felt real and loved jumping into the world that surrounded Hex Hall. No, it didn't address any hard-hitting issues, but that's what I liked about it. It was simple, but not simple-minded. Effortlessly written without talking down to you while staying entertaining with twists and turns in the plot line throughout the book. I honestly thought it was a perfect summer read for me, and I can't wait to pick up the sequel, Demonglass. I need to know what happens to next! It's addictive!

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

Impulse

Title: Impulse
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Series: Impulse series (#1)
Pages: 666
Publication: January 2007
Summary: Sometimes you don't wake up. But if you happen to, you know things will never be the same.

Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted the ultimate act -- suicide. Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade. Tony, after suffering a painful childhood, can only find peace through pills. And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. But dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.

In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. They grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun -- and tried to end it all. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each other's help, they can find their way to a better life -- but only if they're strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.

My Thoughts: First going into this book, I had such high expectations because I loved the style rawness with which Ellen Hopkins wrote Crank, but I was kind of let down by this book, sadly.  I expected an emotional, roller coaster of a repeat of Crank when I started this book, but the best parts didn't even come until the last 150 pages.

It dragged in the middle for the most part and didn't pick up until the wilderness challenge part. Also, it was quite cheesy in some parts. Especially when they would not shut up about how so-and-so made them "feel again" or how they "never knew love until they met la-di-da." If it came up only a few times, fine, whatever, that's cool. But it felt never ending. It was in these part, too, where the dialogue felt the most forced, too. However I really did like the ending. It made you feel. Think. Appreciate.  I just wished that was the case about the whole of this book.

Although this book wasn't an easy read for me, considering how dark the themes were, I do hope to read the next installment to this series, Perfect, soon. I want to see where life takes these characters and the changes they must face in order to live a more well-adjusted life. They've been through so much, and it'll be nice to see them make it out okay after all the trials and tribulations that life threw at them. It gives you hope.

On another note to my readers: This can very much be considered a trigger book. I only recommend this book to those who can handle themes such as depression, suicide, sex, drugs, cutting, and mental illness. It's not exactly a light, beachy read by any means and if you aren't comfortable with any of these themes, I don't suggest you read it (especially suicide and depression. It is very heavy and graphic in those areas.)
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Program

Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young
Pages: 408 (hardcover)
Series: The Program (#1)
Publication: April 2013
Summary: In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

My Thoughts: First things first, despite the mini-rant that is about to follow, I did really enjoy this book. It's not an instant favorite of mine, though, but I did enjoy reading it and I appreciate the world that Young has built. However I do have a bone or two to pick. When I was reading Part I of this novel, I have to say, I thought Sloane and James were a bit too codependent. I understand that they were in love and all, but it was as if she couldn't function even semi-normally when she wasn't around him, which I'm assuming was a part of the disease. It got a little annoying at first and I found myself skimming the "he's my everything" parts, but once I got to Part II the story picked up in pace. This is when I was sucked in. You learn more about The Program and how it works from the inside out. Not only that, but this is when my favorite part comes into play: the character development. And god I love me some good character development.

My favorite part about this books would probably be how attached you become to Suzanne Young's characters not through the set up, but through Sloane's memories. I'm also a really big fan of dystopian books, but this one felt a little different. It wasn't like the government was trying to control everyone and keep the people under it's ever-watching thumb (does that even make any sense?). The people in the book were free to go where they wanted, eat what they wanted (I mean Coke and McDonalds still exists in this world), and they can even go on vacations. You don't feel that kind of freedom when it comes to other dystopian novels, and I like that change.

Another thing I noticed that sets this dystopian-esque book from the others is that most of the other dystopian societies you read about are ones that are long gone, yet in The Program you can tell that it's only the beginning of the end. It's a theme that you don't really get to see in many dystopians. Usually they might tell you how a society ended up this way, but you don't actually see it happen within the book.

The reason why this novel doesn't get five stars is mostly because of this theme of stubbornness being the female protagonist's fatal flaw.  Kind of like Clary, from Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series, Sloane is loyal and stubborn to the point of illogical recklessness. When you reach the ending, you understand why a little bit more, but it's a theme that's getting a little overused in YA literature. It's less prominent toward the end, but I started to grow tired of how Sloane would rebel for the sake of rebellion and act out for selfish reasons about halfway through reading this book. She doesn't really think of the consequences of her actions much until the end, but that's a problem with most teens so I guess it was quite accurate on that level.

All that aside, I did really enjoy this book. Young brings up a very thought provoking subject: if such an epidemic of suicidal teens were to happen, would it be best to get rid of the thoughts, painful memories, and darkness completely? Or is it best to let it happen, sacrificing the mental well-being of a few but in turn giving teens the freedom to feel a full range of emotion? In the end, it comes down to whether or not you can you really appreciate the highs of life without the lows. 
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars