Trapped by Michael Northrop

Trapped by Michael Northrop

What is it about?

"That day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week.

Scott and his friends are among the last seven kids at their school waiting to get picked up that day and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night there, especially when Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall.
The power goes out. Then the heat. The pipes freeze. The roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, the empty halls grow colder and darker and the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision. "
- The blurb of the book.

How did I come across the book?

I don't quite remember.. I think it was on Goodreads, or maybe I found it in a shop.

What did I think?

Spoiler Alert

Oh, good God! I haven't read anything this bad in a while! It was just awful! 

Imagine some kids are stuck in a school, then imagine the end of the book. Because that's all there was to it!
The characters didn't develop at all through-out this book, Scotty (our protagonist) is a normal teenage boy, and that is all becomes in my eyes. For example, he doesn't want to break into the school canteen because he'll get kicked of the team. So in this stupid boys head, it's food or basketball. What a hard decision. There is his fascination with Krista, I mean he used to stare at her neck on bus rides which could be really cute if they ended up together. But the relationship never amounted to any more than a few awkward conversations. Oh, please! 
Scotty's friends are dull. I don't feel sad when Pete dies, at all! I was just like 'Oh, sucks. But hey, it's only a book.' When it should and could have been so more dramatic and emotional. How he does it; "For a second, I saw it all; the soft horrible blue that had crept into his face, the way his hands were frozen stiff, like curled talons of a bird.
I could go on; I remembered every detail. But I won't." I was very close to throwing the book across the room, it wasn't the fact he wouldn't explain Pete in his dead state, it was made quite clear that Scotty found that too much to think about but then the action just continues. And we can't really understand the hardship of watching a best friend die.
And the argument is that Northrop made a realistic storyline but I personally don't want to read thing which are overly realistic. I mean I may as well just not read. I read for the escapism, for the thrill and the connection to both character, narrative and the author. So, Trapped was hell for me. 
Yes, the whole getting-trapped-in-a-school aspect was great, I loved the survival theme but other than that? It was plain boring to read.
Each character was one-dimensional and stereotypical; popular girls, bully, quiet boy, normal guys. And that isn't just my verdict, Northrop actually labels these characters like this at several points during the book and they don't evolve at all. Les is still a bully, Krista and Julie are still (kind of stuck up-ish) popular girls and Scotty is still normal! 
Lastly, everything it mentions in the blurb? That's it. That's the plot! No more, no less.
I just... If you're reading this for inspiration as to if you want to read or not then NO, don't read it. it's just not entertaining. 

Characters;  1/5 stars
Narrative; 1/5 stars
Literature; 1/5 stars
Overall; 1/5 stars
(I do feel kind of harsh but truthfully this is one of the worst books I've read)

I feel so terrible saying this because on Michael Northrop's site he seems so nice and he answers everyone's comments. So if you're reading Michael Northrop, thank you for the read. Not my cup of tea, personally, but thank you non-the-less. 

Some of my favourite quotes from the book

Spoiler Alert

Page 79
""It's only for one night," said Julie."Tops," said Pete. "the snow could've stopped already." 
"We've got jackets," sail Krista.
The talk continued along those lines. The tone was: It's not so bad. The tone was: This too shall pass. The tone was: Forced."

Websites for this book

Websites that look into this book; (right click to open)
Trapped Official Site
Goodreads - Trapped

Websites that sell the book;

Waterstones

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

What is it about?

"When Mara Dyer wakes up in hospital with no memory of how she got there, or any explanation as to why the bizzare accident that caused the death of her boyfriend and two best friends left her mysteriously unharmed, her doctors suggest she start over in a new city, at a new school, and just hope her memories gradually come back.

But Mara's new start is anything but comforting. She sees the faces of her dead friends everywhere and now she started to see other people's deaths before they happen. Is she going crazy? As if dealing with all this isn't enough, Noah Shaw, the most beautiful boy she's ever seen, can't seen to leave her alone. But does he have her best interests at heart or another agenda altogether?"
- The blurb of the book.

How did I come across the book?

I let my sister choose a book for me, which I was apprehensive about at first, but so happy with the result!

What did I think?

Spoiler Alert

If you want a book which is tense, romantic, confusing and dark then The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer (a.k.a The Unbecoming) will be absolutely perfect! Yes, it's supernatural which I must admit isn't usually my cup of tea, but this just kept me turning the pages on and on and on until I finished at 5AM yearning the next one to come out! 

Mara's character is real. The fact she even had a boyfriend before the asylum collapse meant to me that she was kind of real and that she wasn't just getting with Noah for our reading pleasure but because having boy friends when you're a teen is 'normal'. She's also not too much of a 'girly' girl or a tom-boy, she's just herself. Herself in the presence of rugged, just-rolled-out-of-bed perfect guy.

Well, seen as I mentioned him. Noah Shaw is the definition of perfect to me. Here are just a few ways he is described through-out this book; "Whenever he arched his eyebrow like that, his forehead creased in the most appealing way." - page 91. "That mouth. Smoking was a bad habit, yes. But he looked so good doing it." - page 96. "I could see hints of gold in his perpetual five o'clock shadow." - page 99. "Noah-sarcastic, distant, untouchable-Noah, cared. And that made him real. - page 217. Lastly; "I never knew which Noah to expect from day to day. Or hell, from minute to minute." - page 194. And the way he talks just sends shivers down my spine! Makes me proud to be English!
Another thing I loved about The Unbecoming is that it had so many aspects to the plot. What I mean by this is that you never knew which parts were going to be picked up again, like her being tapped on the shoulder. Sometimes this is just a random thing that happens to Mara, other times someone is stealing something from her bag. It made me as a reader always unsure as to what to remember, meaning I could empathise more with Mara and once again she became a real person in my mind.
I loved the secondary characters in this book too, Joseph and Daniel I absolutely adore. Especially Daniel. He is so caring and protective of Mara, it's such a simple bond and so easily created by Hodkin but it works a treat. Then there is Jamie, he offers humour and certain lightness to the book. Another feeling or reality to the sense of this weird world Mara is being sucked into more and more.

Reasons why it's nothing like Twilight (people are making comparisons so I wanted to clear the air); 
-Mara is not fully sufficient on Noah. What I mean is that she isn't too passive, unlike like the character Bella. She is herself and she is dealing with her own problems, just with the assistance of a truly amazing, perfect boyfriend.
-Nothing is certain. In Twilight we know that Jacob is a werewolf and that Edward is a vampire. But in The Unbecoming we really aren't sure of any of this. If this is even real, it could all be one big hallucination or dream. And sure that could be Bella's case to, but the way Michelle Hodkin  writes this, its so uncertain. 
-There isn't a stereotypical, God awful love triangle. Yes, this might've been great in the first YA book book I read, or maybe even the second. But by the twentieth book with yet another love triangle, it a) get's boring and b) get's predictable. You can always tell in the way it's written who will end up together.
-The Unbecoming is dark and sexy. Whereas, well I'll let Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight Saga) explain; "I don't think my books are going to be really graphic or dark, because of who I am. There's always going to be a lot of light in my stories." 

Okay, so I'll stop with the comparisons  obviously (in my opinion) The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer is ten times more thrilling and brilliant in every single way than Twilight. The End. 
On to ratings...

Characters;  5/5 stars
Narrative; 4/5 stars (only because it's supernatural)
Literature; 5/5 stars
Overall; 5/5 stars

Some of my favourite quotes from the book

Spoiler Alert

I'll only give one because I gave some up in the review.
Page 394
""Fix me," I commanded him. "This thing, what I've done - there's something wrong with me, Noah. Fix it."
Noah's expression broke my heart as he brushed my hair from my face, and skimmed the line of my neck. "I can't."
"Why not?" I asked, my voice threatened to crack.
Noah lifted both of his hands to my face, and held it. "Because," he said, "you aren't broken.""

Websites for this book

Websites that look into this book; (right click to open)
Mara Dyer Official Site
Goodreads - The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer

Websites that sell the book;

Waterstones

Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done by Sarah Mylnowski

Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done

This book is also named; Ten Things We Did (and Probably, Maybe, Definitely Shouldn't Have)

What is it about?

"I was about to live a sixteen-year-old's dream

House on the Beach.

No parents.

Parties whenever we wanted.

Boys whenever we wanted.

April and her best friend, Vi, are living by themselves. Of course, April's parents don't know that. It's a little lie that begins the ten things April and Vi shouldn't have done - things that definitely make their lives a LOT more interesting!"

 - The blurb of the book.

How did I come across the book?

I found this in a charity shop and I fancied reading a nice light hearted summer read.

What did I think?

Spoiler Alert

Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done (TTWSHD) does a reasonably truthful portrayal of a stereotypical girl teenagers life. April has a boy friend who isn't unrealistically drop dead gorgeous but isn't ugly, he isn't perfect to her and he is a normal guy! Yes, some parts of the story are unrealistic. The main plot for example, no-one would be left alone like this unless they'd really talked with the parent, at least I know that my parents wouldn't let me. But each to their own. This realistic aspect meant the 'cringey' oarts were even more embarrassing, the fun parts even more personal and exciting and the harsh, sad parts give me a feeling of even more sympathy.

I think this book is very clever in it's awareness for teens. That loosing your virginity does mean something to most people (even though Vi tries to avoid this), that even if you take precautions like birth control and condoms you never can be too careful (like Noah and April) and that partying will make you hungover. However, like I said, it's clever and the warning are understated. And it doesn't tell young readers that sex is completely wrong, or parties are so bad and we will all die. 
It is honest. Parties are almost inevitable for your common teenager (I'm just generalising here) and that mostly having fun in that way is all that; fun. And it also warns you that if you go about sex at the 'right' with the 'right' person with the 'right' protection can be great
And yet, that isn't all I liked about this book; it was funny, the narrative structure was interesting (how it began with the end party scene meant I just had to read on and figure out how this good girl gets to become such a partier), the characters were multi-dimensional. But also, it showed the child's perspective of a parents divorce and how it can affect a person. It gave younger readers an insight to minor depression and in importance of being surrounded with those you love when the going gets tough, the importance of not giving up like April does to easily at the end. 
I recommend this book to young readers looking for a nice, relaxing beach read.

Characters;  3/5 stars
Narrative; 3/5 stars
Literature; 4/5 stars
Overall; 3/5 stars

Some of my favourite quotes from the book

Spoiler Alert

PAGE 234. Reason #8

"WHO WE INVITED TO THE PARTY
Everyone.
Seriously.
Everyone."

PAGE 281. Day.

"...My Dad. Three times. Uh-oh. I was about to hit REDIAL. when it rang again.
Him again.
"Hi," I said.
"I was about to get back on a plane. Is everything OK?"
My heart jumped into my throat. "No! Yes! I mean, everything's fine! I was just upstairs. I didn't hear the phone." 
"I think you should always have your phone on you. So you can always reach us. Or we can always reach you."
"You want me to get one of those mobile-phone belts? People will think I'm a drug dealer." And, hey! Speaking of drug dealers, there's one sitting upstairs! Maybe.
"April, that's not funny. If I call and get no answer, I get worried. I'm a dad. I'm allowed."
"OK, OK. I'll keep my phone with me."
"Next time you don't answer I'm calling the police."
"Dad! That's insane. What if I'm in the shower? I don't want the police barging into the house."
"Then answer the phone."

WHY I MADE MY DAD'S RINGTONE INTO A POLICE SIREN
See above."

Websites for this book

Websites that look into this book; (right click to open)
Sarah Mlynowski's Official Site

Goodreads - Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done

Websites that sell the book;

Waterstones