The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight

Publication Date: May 3^rd, 2016

Series: The Outliers (bk. 1)

Genera(s): Suspense Thriller/Sci-fi

Subjects: mystery anxiety disorders, emotion, abilities, scientists,

Setting: Boston, Massachusetts and Seneca, Maine

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, present tense: Wylie Lang

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 334 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary/ product description: “From the New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia comes a fast-paced teen series where one girl learns that in a world of intrigue, betrayal, and deeply buried secrets, it is vital to trust your instincts.

It all starts with a text: Please, Wylie, I need your help. Wylie hasn’t heard from Cassie in over a week, not since their last fight. But that doesn’t matter. Cassie’s in trouble, so Wylie decides to do what she has done so many times before: save her best friend from herself.

This time it’s different, though. Instead of telling Wylie where she is, Cassie sends cryptic clues. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie sent him to help. Trusting the guy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn’t feel right, but Wylie has no choice but to ignore her gut instinct and go with him.

But figuring out where Cassie is goes from difficult to dangerous, fast. As Wylie and Jasper head farther and farther north into the dense woods of Maine, Wylie struggles to control her growing sense that something is really wrong. What isn’t Cassie telling them? And could finding her be only the beginning?

In this breakneck tale, New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight brilliantly chronicles a fateful journey that begins with a single decision—and ends up changing everything.”

My Review:  I won The Outliers as an ARC in a giveaway that I almost didn’t enter, so I was hesitant to even read this book. I wasn’t sure what the genera was. Realistic mystery? Sci-fi thriller? It’s a little bit of both. It’s very light on the sci-fi, which was okay. I really did enjoy the non-stop fast pace of this book. It made me feel a little anxious myself with all the crazy twists.

Wylie’s got an anxiety disorder. She panics, and sometimes even passes out when too stressed. Before this trip, she hadn’t left her house in three weeks. Her mom died a few months ago and she feels broken. Her brother Gideon seems to be the normal one, attending school, making jokes. Her father has almost become like a workaholic robot, so focused on her psychological research. Wylie’s best friend Cassie isn’t talking to her anymore. Cassie’s had serious binge drinking problems that only seemed to get worse.

Wylie’s friend Cassie is missing and suddenly starts sending her cryptic texts, one of which asks Wylie and Jasper to drive up north into Maine to rescue her. On the road, they run into trouble with the car, try hitch hiking, which also ends badly. A visit to the police only endangers them even more. It seems like every one is shady. Twist after twist and Wylie’s not sure who to trust except her own instincts. 

I really though the scientific concept behind Wylie’s dad’s research was cool. It played a big role in the story. I’ve read a lot of book about teens with scientist parents that get their kids mixed up in their research, which did happen in this book kind of. Emotional intelligence sounds like a real thing. It’s like empathy, almost like ESP, but with emotions. The ones who could read emotion deaf and blind are called the Outliers in this book. I could totally read emotions, but doubt I could do it like an Outlier. Either way, it’s a really cool idea for a story. Makes me think of Shade Me by Jennifer Brown, but Nikki had synesthesia to read emotions.

I recommend this book to those that enjoyed Shade Me by Jennifer Brown, Revived and Originals by Cat Patrick, Dangerous Lies & Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick, Find Me by Romily Bernard, Black Bird by Anna Carey, Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon, or any other YA thriller that have action, mystery, or even a touch of science fiction.

Cover Art Review: I like the burnt match typography, but the cover itself is kind of boring with the cut off face.

Deadfall by Anna Carey

Series: Blackbird Duology (bk. 2)

Genera(s): Mystery Thriller/Realistic Fiction

Subjects: suspense, action, memory, amnesia, murder, identity,

Setting: New York City

POV/Tense: 2nd person POV, present tense: a girl with amnesia named Lena who went by Sunny

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 243 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary/ product description: “In the compelling sequel to Blackbird, Anna Carey delivers a gritty and adrenaline-filled story of a girl desperate to escape her mysterious and terrifying assailants. Told in second person, this heart-pounding thriller puts the reader in front of the target.

A week ago, you woke up in Los Angeles with no memory of who you are. The only thing you knew: people are trying to kill you. You put your trust in Ben, but he betrayed you and broke your heart. Now you've escaped to New York City with a boy named Rafe, who says he remembers you from before. But the two of you are not safe. The same people who are after you are tailing Rafe as well. As the chase heats up, your memory starts to return, but your past cannot save you from the terrifying circumstances of your present, or the fact that one wrong move could end this game forever.

With enemies on every side, and not a reprieve in sight, Deadfall will grab readers and refuse to let go. Perfect for fans of the Maze Runner series and the Legend series.”

My Review: Deadfall, the sequel to Blackbird is a fast paced book filled with non-stop action, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped. It’s a little like Born Identity because our main character had no memory of her life before waking up on subway tracks in L.A. Now she’s starting to get memories back. She doesn’t know her name until Rafe, a boy from the island, tells her it’s Lena on page 8. Not much of a spoiler, but Sunny is Lena Marcus. She’s been calling herself Sunny. This guy, Ben, helped her when she told him about her predicament and there was some romance. Now Rafe claims than they were together on the island and she has some memory that confirms this. I liked Ben a lot better than Rafe. I didn’t grow to love the characters very much.

The one extremely unique thing about this book series is that it’s written in the 2nd person (and present tense). I have not read a 2nd person book since elementary school, and that was a choose-your-own-adventure book. All the You’s didn’t annoy me in the first book, but it started to feel annoying in this sequel since we now know the main character’s name. This is a duology (2-book series) and is just too short. I wish we got to see the story of being hunted on the island. It’s a great backstory, and I honestly think it would make a great novella prequel. It would probably be more interesting because a island is a more exotic setting than New York or L.A.

The whole hunting-teens-in-the-city-for-fun thing just didn’t feel believable. It made it seem like The Purge movies meets the Hunger Games. I want to relate this book to other things, and I hope they’re not spoilery. It made me think of Arrow, how they we on an island. And then The Forsaken series by Lisa M. Stasse. Also if you like action thrillers in YA, like Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon or Find Me by Romily Bernard, then give Blackbird a shot.

Cover Art Review: I love the title treatment and the girl photo. I wish is had the animal symbol on it instead.

Remember Me by Romily Bernard

Series: Find Me (bk. 2)

Genera: Suspense/Thriller/Realistic/ Contemporary Romance

Subjects: hackers, computers, high school, mystery, murder, crime

Setting: Peachtree, Georgia

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, present tense: Wick Tate

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 355 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary/ product description: “In the sequel to Find Me, Wick Tate, sarcastic teen hacker, is back and once again dealing with criminals and corrupt cops…and a brooding new love interest. Will Wick persevere when some secrets refuse to stay hidden?

Wick had thought her troubles were over.

But she should’ve known better.

Not only is she embroiled in a new murder case, which starts with a body with “Remember Me” carved into it and doesn’t stop there, but she also discovers new evidence surrounding her mother’s suicide…which leads her right back to her imprisoned deadbeat dad. And she has to deal with her flirty new hacker friend, Milo, sniffing around—which her boyfriend, Griff, isn’t too happy about.

The pressure might be too much as secrets—including Wick’s own—climb to the surface.

Remember Me is an edge-of-your-seat thrilling read that’ll have readers turning the pages at lightning speed!”

My Review:  Remember Me, the sequel to Find Me, is an awesome thrill ride full of hacking, mystery and murder. This series is one of the few realistic fiction series that I actually enjoyed. It’s like something out of a movie or TV show. Wick Tate is a funny and sarcastic heroine. She like all you favorite hacker/techie characters combined. In the first book her hair was red (Like Charlie on Supernatural) but now it’s blond. She and her sister Lily have been official adopted by Bren. She’s got a new life and an awesome boyfriend named Griff. Things are going well…sort of.

Carson, that blackmailing cop has got another case for her to investigate with her hacking skills. Something about Judge Bay, who he thinks is a dirty judge. Wick goes to the judge’s costume party and a woman there is murdered and there’s message on the body saying REMEMBER ME. Wick continues to look into Bay’s past and start helping his son with a school project. She’s also looking into the murder.

We meet a new character name Milo, who’s the best “builder” and creates awesome tech. There’s some romance and fight and stuff happens. Wick’s got a lot going on and her sister and Bren could be in danger. Also she’s getting these anonymous DVD of her mother being interviewed by cops. Her mother died jumping off a roof, so Wick hope that she can find out why.

This series is kind of cyber-punk, but mostly and story of suspense and a thrilling mystery. It’ll keep you guessing who the killer is. It’s also got southern style, since it’s set in Georgia, near Atlanta. Awesome guys, and kickass heroines. It’s a real page-turner.

Cover Art Review: I wish that this cover wasn’t gray. Black or white would have given it more contrast so the image that the test is over could stand out better. It works well when it’s really small.